RAWALPINDI: A suspect in alleged rape and murder of a woman and her son has surrendered before police.
According to sources, suspect named Wajid was wanted in the case.
Accused Majid had killed the 14-month-old boy with a sharp knife and allegedly raped the woman before killing her.
According to Rawalpindi police, Wajid, who is about 23 years old is associated with wood working business. The case has been registered in Chontra Police Station.
Rawalpindi: South African National Defence Forces Chief General Rudzani Maphwanya appreciated Pakistan’s role in regional peace and stability, especially its role in the Afghan peace process.
General Maphwanya expressed his views during his meeting with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa at GHQ Rawalpindi.
According to the press release issued by ISPR on Tuesday, during the meeting, matters of mutual interests, regional security situation and defence, training & security cooperation between both the countries were discussed.
COAS said that Pakistan attaches great value to its relations with South Africa.
Pakistan views South Africa as a key country in African continent and we appreciate South Africa’s role towards regional peace, security and development of African region.
Both the dignitaries pledged to play their role for further improvement in bilateral cooperation at all levels.
RAWALPINDI: General Rudzani Maphwanya, Chief of South African National Defence Forces called on General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) at GHQ, on Tuesday.
During the meeting, matters of mutual interests, regional security situation and defence, training & security cooperation between both the countries were discussed.
COAS said that Pakistan attaches great value to its relations with South Africa. Pakistan views South Africa as a key country in African continent and we appreciate South Africa’s role towards regional peace, security and development of African region.
The visiting dignitary also appreciated Pakistan’s role in regional peace and stability especially the Afghan Peace Process. Both the dignitaries pledged to play their role for further improvement in bilateral cooperation at all levels.
Quetta: Government of Balochistan is giving top priority to promote irrigation sector so that more barren land could be irrigated to make the province self-sufficient in production of various food grains – Radio Pakistan reported Tuesday.
Officials told Radio Pakistan that over six billion rupees have been allocated in the current year’s budget for construction of 49 new dams in the province.
Similarly, 572.6 million rupees have been allocated for command area development of phase III of Mirani Dam and Subakzai Dam.
The officials said that 8.8 billion rupees are being spent for 510 new schemes to ensure provision of clean drinking water in all districts of the province – radio Pakistan reported.
Quetta: Baluchistan’s Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan has announced to commence T10 Cricket League in Gawadar, later this year.
Baluchistan government’s sports secretary Imran Kachli on Tuesday said that T10 League will be held immediately after T20I World Cup this year, as per the aspirations of CM Baluchistan.
Imran further said that local players and players from neighboring countries will participate in proposed league.
Sources said that league is expected to be played in the last days of November at Gawadar’s beautiful cricket stadium.
Cricket’s international governing body ICC had earlier shared the images of Gawadar Cricket Stadium through their official twitter handle and had captioned it as “Show us a more picturesque sports venue than the Gawadar Cricket Stadium in Baluchistan, we will wait”
PESHAWAR: At least 10 new Economic Zones and 19 Small Industrial Estates would be established during the next 10 years, sources said on Tuesday.
Two extra Special Economic Zones would be setup in the next five years under the new Industrial Policy 2020.
Similarly, Small Industrial Estates Abbottabad, D.I.Khan, Bannu, Dara Adam Khel, Shah Kas and Mardan would be declared Special Economic Zones.
This was told in a meeting held here with Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan in the chair the other day.
Special Assistant to CM on Industries Abdul Karim, Additional Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, Secretary Industries Humayun Khan, Secretary Energy & Power Zubair Khan, Chief Executive Officer Board of Investment & Trade, Hassan Daud and other relevant senior officials attended the meeting.
The forum formally approved an action plan for implementation of new Industrial Policy 2020, besides granting approval for constituting a 15-members implementation and oversight committee to be headed by the Special Assistant on Industries to monitor and supervise the overall implementation process of the said Industrial Policy.
Briefing the forum about various aspects and salient features of the Industrial Policy 2020, it was informed that under the policy concrete steps would be taken for the revival of closed/sick industries in the province whereas provision of uninterrupted utilities to industrial units would also be ensured.
In order to utilize indigenous resources in industrial sector, 10 new economic zones would be setup in the various areas of the province including Chitral, Ghazi, Daraban, Swat, Buner and others.
It is pertinent to mention here that a number of economic zones had already been inaugurated including Rashakai Special Economic Zone, Jalozai Economic Zone, Nowshera Economic Zone (extension), Mohmand Economic Zone (Marble City) and D.I.Khan Economic Zone. Moreover, sector specific economic zones would also be setup on various districts of the province.
Construction of approach roads to industrial units, efficient waste management and development of other allied infrastructure were also the part of new Industrial Policy. It was further informed that, in order to support and encourage existing and new entrepreneurs in the province, credit incentives would be extended to them. State of the art training centre would also be established at Dara Adam Khel to promote cottage industry in the province.
Addressing the participants, the chief minister said that the provincial government was taking pragmatic steps to create employment opportunities for people by promoting Industrial and investment activities in the province.
He said that electricity produced at local level through hydel power projects was being provided to industries on concessional rates.
He added that investors were being provided all the facilities through one window service which was an important development of the provincial government towards good governance strategy.
The chief minister directed all the concerned departments that NOCs required for setting up new industries should be issued well in time to avoid unnecessary delay in the establishment of new industrial units under the policy.
PESHAWAR: Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Sherbaz Bilour has expressed grave concern over ignoring the chamber in the 15-members committee, meant to ensure implementation of the provincial industrial policy 2020 under the action plan. He completely rejected the proposed body.
Sans representation of the chamber and taking relevant stakeholders on board, he said the gaining desired objectives of the provincial industrial policy would not only be difficult, but will be impossible.
Sherbaz was chairing a meeting of industrialists here at the chamber house on Tuesday.
The SCCI chief informed that the provincial government has approved industrial policy 2020, which aims to give six industrial estates established in different districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa status of special economic zones and revive sick industries in the province.
However, he said that the provincial industrial policy 2020 would be proved unproductive, owing to lack of representation of the chamber in the proposed body, which was incomprehensible and strongly condemnable.
He asked: “Is the industrial policy 2020 confined to the government and ‘high-officials, ’?
Sherbaz criticised the provincial government for failing to implement the previous industrial policy 2016, so how can the new policy for 2020 to be executed, he asked.
He added the sustainable business environment and industrialization can only be ensured by taking the chamber and business community on board.
The SCCI chief emphasized that the chamber, being representing a largest trade body and prime stakeholder, needed to be taken on board to ensure promotion of industrialization, especially revival of sick industries under the policy in the province.
Strongly opposing the unilateral decisions and policies of the provincial government, Mr Sherbaz Bilour asked to implement policies with mutual coordination and consultation, which would bring fruitful results.
On one hand, the government emphasized on industrialists and factory owners to implement minimum wage Rs21, 000/-, while it has failed to give representation to the chamber in the proposed committee for industrial policy, which is reflecting double standards of the provincial government, the SCCI chief criticized.
Sherbaz Bilour asked the provincial government to give representation to the chamber in the proposed committee for implementation of the industrial policy in order to remove apprehensions and reservations, and ensure timely execution of the provincial industrial policy 2020.
Lahore: The police team investigating the financial fraud with the Turkish actor of drama serial Ertugrul Ghazi will leave for Turkey next month for further investigation.
According to the Police, an investigation team headed by Punjab Police Officer Ali Bin Tariq turkey will meet the actor and investigate him regarding the fraud that took place with him.
It has also been reported that members of the Lahore Police investigation team have submitted documents to obtain a Pakistani Blue Passport.
The investigation team will obtain other information including copies of the agreement and cheques given to Kashif Zameer, a Pakistani accused of financial fraud with Turkish actor.
The purpose of investigation team visit to Turkey is to punish accused Kashif Zameer in strictest possible terms.
It should be noted that the Lahore Police arrested the accused Kashif Zameer a few months ago and started investigation against him.
Lahore: Thieves stole dowry worth 27 Lacs from a house in Harbanspura area of Lahore.
According to Police reports incident happened when family members were not at home. Report has been registered. Family had gone to northern areas on a joy trip..
In their absences, 6-7 people broke into house and stole 20 tola gold jewellery, 3 LCDs, expensive dresses and electronics.
According to police details, team has been formed to search for the thieves while the accused are being tracked by CCTV cameras.
Lahore: Pakistan former finance minister Dr Hafeez Pasha has warned of difficult time ahead, as the country has witnessed a single month’s record highest import figure of $6.3 billion in June this year while the current account deficit remained $1.3 billion in this period.
Addressing an economic session on ‘Pakistan Economy-Challenges & Solution’ organized by the Pakistan Industrial and Traders Association Front (PIAF), he predicted that the total annual import figure would touch the level of as high as $70 billion which is impossible to manage with the export of just $25 billion.
The former finance minister pointed out that the next year current account deficit will surpass the figure of $6.7 billion, as the country would have to enhance payment in its debt servicing by at least 35 percent, which is alarming.
However, he appreciated the record remittances of $29.4 billion sent by the overseas Pakistanis, but alarmed that the remittances will decline next year as Pakistan spends around $3-4 billion annually on foreign travels which have been saved this year, lifting the figure of remittances.
FPCCI former president and Businessmen Panel Chairman Mian Anjum Nisar asked the authorities to focus on further accelerating exports, besides keeping some check on unbridled imports of luxury items.
He observed that the economic managers will have to chalk out a long-term plan for import substitution and increasing exports so that Pakistan could become self-reliant. He also emphasized the need for adoption of international best practices for priority sectors and consultations with international experts to achieve success.
PIAF Chairman Mian Nauman Kabir said that fiscal sustainability has become a major issue of the Pakistan economy, as its servicing debt accounts for more than one-third of its federal budget.
He stated that Pakistan’s trade deficit keeps on widening despite a much-trumpeted increase in exports, which were, in fact, not sufficient to match the huge surge in imports. He said that government has spent interest payments on debt Rs3.06 trillion while spending only Rs600 billion on subsidies and Rs100 billion for COVID-19 vaccinations.
Mian Nauman Kabir said that Pakistan’s reliance on debt is a violation of the country’s Debt Limitation Act. He said the low exports volume and rising trade deficit were chronicle issues which should be resolved permanently.
Dr. Hafeez Pasha, during a question-answer session, told the trade and industry’s representatives that another National Action Plan should be initiated that was launched against terrorism. The Pakistan Army remained successful to eradicate terrorism from the country but it is re-emerging in the country now, as incidences of violence are rising in Balochistan while Lahore recent bomb blast is also horrifying.
“We are resilient nation as we have approached the IMF 22 times in 74 years history of Pakistan but our economy never collapsed, ” he said. He added that Pakistani nation remained successful in all kinds of crisis but this success story has not been sustainable for the long-term. “When I was the finance minister the US ambassador warned me that he would stop the USAID fund for Pakistan because I was promoting Pakistan products and trade, ” he recalled.
He stressed the need for at least 7 percent GDP growth rate to absorb the large number of unemployed youth, eradicate poverty and to manage the rising public debt. For this purpose, the country needs an equitable taxation system and high growth in exports, he added.
Dr Hafeez Pasha also raised objection over the calculation of GDP growth figures and said that the last fiscal year growth was reported as minus 0.47 percent but actually it had dropped to negative 2 percent because of massive contraction in the economy. He said that the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics needs to be strengthened, so that they could calculate official figures accurately.
He said that our industry contributes more than 70 percent in tax revenue, as industrial sector gives almost Rs3.5 trillion taxes in various forms. On the contrary, the Rs.25 trillion’s real estate sector pays just 12 billion tax which is totally unjust. In the same way 22 percent agriculture land which is owned by just 1 percent of landlord elite, shares only Rs2.5 billion in tax revenue.