Islamabad: Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights on Tuesday discussed The “Islamabad Capital Territory Domestic Workers Bill, 2021”.

The meeting of the Committee was held under the Chairmanship of Senator Walid Iqbal at the Parliament house.

The bill was discussed for the 2nd consecutive day.

The chairman termed this bill as a “Pioneer law” for the underprivileged class of the society.

The Senate Standing Committee unanimously approved the “Islamabad Capital Territory Domestic Workers Bill, 2021” with substantive amendments.

The Bill will provide legal cover for regulating the employment of domestic workers in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and protecting their rights. It also envisages for improving the working conditions and terms of employment of domestic workers.

The proposed legislation contains provisions for their social protection and welfare, including working hours, minimum wages, the entitlement of leaves, safety and medical care etc.

The minimum age of employment was amended from “sixteen” to “eighteen” years in all the sections of the bill, hence a bar of 18 years as the minimum age for engaging into domestic employment.

During the clause by clause consideration of the Bill, the Committee pointed out some serious lacunas with regards to the working hours of a domestic worker, compensation amount for extra work and complaint mechanism.

A detailed discussion on the appellant authorities in terms of appeals and disputes of the employers and the workers was taken under considerations.

The Committee decided to provide a comprehensive yet simple mechanism for filing complaints under the proposed law and providing relief.

A Committee comprising of three Members including a female will be notified to receive complaints and appeals against the order of the Committee can be filed with the Ombudsperson.

Regarding the Penalties for contravening the provisions of the Domestic workers Bill it was observed that the penalty of ten thousand rupees is a meagre amount and shall be raised up to hundred thousand rupees.

Clause 36, of the bill, was amended to provide that the Rules under the law shall be made by the Ministry within a period of six months as it was observed that the absence for Rules for long greatly hinders implementation of laws.

Earlier in the meeting, the committee members lamented the fact that the bill went unread by the Ministry of Law and Justice as well as the Human Rights Ministry, unfortunately a senior panel of 5 members from both the ministries was present with very little knowledge on the Bill.

The Chairman pointed out glaring mistakes in terms of grammar, punctuation, spellings, capital letters and articles. “Meticulous attention is required, while reviewing the legislation and assisting the committees”, the Chairman Committee stated.

The members unanimously approved the amendments in the bill for the final copy to be shared with all the committee members for review prior to presenting the bill in the House before September 24th, 2021.

The meeting was attended by Senator Sherry Rehman, Senator Muhammad Tahir Bizinjo and Senator Seeme Ezdi, Senior Officials from the Ministry of Human rights and Law and Justice were also in attendance.

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided to serve notices to Federal Ministers for Information and Broadcasting and railways Fawad Chaudhry and Muhammad Azam Khan Swati over allegations levelled by the federal ministers.

As per details, the Election Commission will take action after serving the notices. The Election Commission of Pakistan also sought a record of the allegations of the ministers from Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), further action will be taken after the record is released.

Earlier Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dr. Sikandar Sultan Raja on Tuesday chaired a meeting over allegations levelled by the federal ministers. According to details, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) members Nisar Ahmed Durrani, Shah Muhammad Jatoi and higher officials of the ECP attended the session.

The participants deliberated upon the discussions on the allegations levelled against Election Commission of Pakistan and Chief Election Commissioner which took place during the meetings in Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs and President House. The ECP denied these allegations and rejected them. The ECP has summoned the concerned record of the Aiwan-e-Sadr, Senate Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs and press briefing for taking further action.

It is worth mentioning here that earlier on last Friday, Federal Minister for Railways Senator Muhammad Azam Khan Swati had levelled serious allegations against the ECP of taking bribes.

During the session of Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, the minister criticized the commission for making fun of the Parliament. In a protest against the statement of Azam Swati, the ECP officials had walked out of the meeting.

ISLAMABAD: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dr. Sikandar Sultan Raja stated that holding of local bodies polls could not be further delayed owing to any problems and directed provincial governments to fulfil their responsibilities of holding the elections. He added that Ministry of Defense furnished all data for recent cantonment polls held in all four provinces.

A three member bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Dr. Sikandar Sultan Raja, on Tuesday, heard the case in Election Commission of Pakistan pertaining to local bodies polls in Balochistan where Secretary Local Government Balochistan Ahmed Raza Advocate and Advocate General Balochistan appeared before the ECP.

On the occasion, the CEC thanked ministry of defense on holding cantonment board polls and showed resolve of holding local bodies’ elections. He also directed provincial governments to fulfil their responsibilities for holding the elections and assured that ECP would fulfil its duties in that regard.

During the hearing, the Advocate General of Balochistan said that they had got the election law amended and cabinet’s recommendation was yet to be taken. He added that they had requested CM Balochistan Mir Jam Kamal Khan to pass an ordinance for local bodies’ polls and had sought a time of three weeks as new constituencies had been formed.

The CEC emphasized that the constitution did not allow delay in holding of local bodies’ polls and that they could not deprive a common man of a local government. He added that they would hear the case pertaining to the polls in Balochistan after four weeks and that the ECP would pass a timely order in that regard. The CEC adjourned further hearing of the case till 14 October.

ISLAMABAD: President Dr. Arif Alvi has called for creating awareness and early diagnosis of cancer as these measures can help reduce the risk of disease. He said that the incidences of cancer were rising in Pakistan and it required timely diagnosis and adequate treatment facilities to cope with the situation.

He made these remarks at a briefing about cancer cases, particularly breast cancer, in Pakistan, at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Tuesday. Chairman, Cancer Care Hospital and Research Center (CCHRC), Lahore, Professor Dr. Shahryar, Professor Dr. Areesha Zaman and Professor Dr. Nabila Shami attended the meeting.

Chairman CCHRC, Professor Dr. Shahryar, briefed the meeting about the cancer cases and the treatment facilities being provided by his organization. He informed that around 353, 000 people got afflicted with cancer every year and only 71, 000 patients were getting adequate treatment while the rest remained deprived due to the lack of sufficient health care facilities. He also highlighted the achievements of CCHRC that provided free-of-cost treatment to the patients.

The President appreciated the efforts and contributions of Cancer Care Hospital and Research Center (CCHRC), Lahore, in providing free-of-cost treatment facilities to cancer patients.

Islamabad: National Airline welcomes the new airbus in to aircraft fleet.

According to the Spokesperson of PIA, Abdullah Khan, PIA received two passenger aircrafts as per tender given. Both the planes are 2017 made out of which one has reached Islamabad and the other one will reach in a few days.

Abdullah Khan further said that COVID and International flying conditions caused a 2 years delay in the dispatch of the aircrafts. With the addition in the fleet, the passengers will have a good flying experience and comfort.

Air Marshall Arshad Malik quoted that it is by the blessings of Allah Almighty and the endless efforts of our team that we have received these aircrafts.

CEO PIA specially thanked the PIA board directors and Minister for Aviation in this regard.

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar said that the positive cases of COVID-19 are gradually coming down in the country.

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Tuesday, Asad Umar was confident that the situation will further improve in the next fifteen days and reduce the existing pressure on the hospitals. He however warned that the threat is not over.

The Minister for Planning said tougher restrictions were imposed in twenty four districts earlier this month to curb the spread of the virus. He expressed satisfaction that the situation has now improved in eighteen districts.

He said that the high degree of restrictions will stay in place in the remaining six districts till 22nd of this month. These include Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Sargodha, Gujarat and Bannu.

The Minister for Planning said that educational institutions are being reopened from Thursday in a staggered manner. Intercity transport is being allowed with fifty percent occupancy. Outdoor dining will now be allowed in these districts by twelve midnight but indoor dining will remain closed.

The Minister for Planning said that amusement parks are being opened for fully vaccinated people. He said outdoor gathering of four hundred people is being allowed.

Asad Umar urged the people to get themselves vaccinated against the disease. He said those not getting the vaccine jab will have to face restrictions such as on their air travel and visit to different places such shopping malls, guest houses, hotels from 30th September.

Islamabad: Minister of state for information and broadcasting Farukh Habib has said that opposition alliance PDM only wants an ‘NRO’ from the government and is politically blind.

Addressing a press talk at PID, minister for state said that PML-N and PPP kept laundering money during their respective tenures instead of increasing national productions.

Farukh quoted a UNFA report revealing as ‘From February 2020 to August 2021, prices of food items were increased by 127 percent globally, which is most in past ten years’.

Comparing Pakistan’s market prices with those of global market, Farukh said that despite importing 70 percent of pulses and cooking oils, Pakistan kept their prices under control. Government is working on food security, he added.

Minister for state was of the view that commercial and residential projects were initiated to compensate middle class and people with low income. Labourers’ daily income has also doubled from 600 to 1200, he claimed.

Farukh Habib said that world has acknowledged Prime Minister Imran Khan and his government’s policies to combat covid-19. Opposition leaders were demanding for a complete lockdown, he added, without caring for daily earners.

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Tuesday demanded strict action against elements involved in delaying the import of wheat and sugar.

Unnecessary delay in import of wheat and sugar has not only increased prices in the local market but will also inflict heavy losses on the national exchequer, it said.

Change in Afghanistan has also increased demand for wheat which will have an impact on prices in Pakistan therefore wheat should be imported without delay, said Chairman PRW Brigadier (retd) Muhammad Aslam Khan.

In a statement issued here today, he said that Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) delayed import of wheat and sugar despite repeated requests from Ministry for National Food Security.

The government decided to import half a million tonnes of sugar in the month of January but so far only one hundred thousand tonnes of sugar was imported which pushed up the prices locally benefitting hoarders, he said.

ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is such institution which is liable to be held accountability.

“Chairman NAB is now 76 years old but his performance for the government is good. 33 percent more benefit could be reaped in the case which ran against us on installation of terminal”, he said this while talking to media men on the occasion of his appearance in the Accountability Court (AC).

He underlined the government of Pakistan could not get desired advantage from this case. Therefore, government to keep him in the post till 80 years of his age.

“Now see what the Finance Minister (FM is saying. No consultation was made with chairman NAB about opposition leader.

What the world will say about the country where the laws are enacted to restrict the media, he questioned.

The latest scandal in the country is wheat scandal. NAB is keeping over government irregularities. All the facts will come to light one day that why NAB was silent.

I have not heard the speech of the president, he said adding it is job of the president that he should bring the facts before the nation rather than praising the prime minister.

President is unaware of the facts, he remarked. Does he not see the inflation.

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister of Industries and Production Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar held a virtual interactive session with Sherali Kabir, Minister for Industries and New Technologies, Government of Tajikistan on Tuesday.

Ismatullo Nasredin, Ambassador of Tajikistan to Pakistan and senior officials from both sides also attended the meeting. During the meeting, the sides deliberated upon the framework of industrial sector cooperation between the two countries in view of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s official visit to Tajikistan in couple of days. Both sides identified six areas of cooperation including textile, mining, leather, food processing, pharmaceuticals and surgical equipments.

The Minister apprised that Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan would be accompanied by delegation of businessmen reflecting each identified sector of cooperation. He said that presence of business community and industrialists from both sides would help to establish long-term B2B cooperation between Pakistan and Tajikistan. He also highlighted the Investment-friendly atmosphere of Pakistan and offered the attractive opportunities for foreign investment including joint ventures in priority areas of cooperation.

While speaking with Tajik counterpart, the Minister called for industrial complementarities and synergies between both countries to energize business to business interaction avenues to expand bilateral trade and industrial development agenda. The Minister also underscored the vibrant industrial sector of Pakistan along with highly skilled labor force in construction, textiles, leather, footwear, surgical equipment, sports goods, automotive and mobile phones manufacturing and light engineering sectors. The Minister also apprised the meeting about promulgation of National Electric Vehicles Policy and Mobile Device Manufacturing Policy. He said that the revised version of Automotive Development Policy and the new National SMEs Policy would expand our industrial base.

Sherali Kabir, Tajik Minister for Industries, shed light on five years’ plan of Government of Tajikistan for mining and exploration of rare metals, coal and minerals in his country. He also discussed the setting up of free distribution channels along the border of neighborhood and invited Pakistani companies to explore opportunities in increasing trade and financing across the region. He also expressed the hope for enhancing economic and industrial sector ties between both countries amidst official visit of Prime Minister of Pakistan to Tajikistan.