Daily Archives: February 25, 2022

Rawalpindi

Kazakhstan business delegation visits RCCI, stresses on enhancing mutual trade cooperation

RAWALPINDI: A Kazakhstani business delegation visited the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce, led by Ambassador of Kazakhstan Yerzhan Kistafin, and included representatives from the construction, education, food, healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors.

“Kazakhstan attaches great importance to diplomatic and trade relations with Pakistan. Thirty years ago, on this very day, diplomatic relations were established on the occasion of the visit of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev to Pakistan,” said Kazakh Ambassador Yerzan Kistafin. A business council is being formed comprising two members from the chamber, he said, adding that co-operation between the business community and the private sector is needed to enhance bilateral trade relations. The visit of today’s trade delegation is part of efforts for bringing the business community of two countries closer.

The bilateral trade volume is very much low which needs to be enhanced, he added.

On this occasion, Chamber President Nadeem Rauf said that the bilateral trade volume between Pakistan and Kazakhstan is less than one million dollars, direct flights should be started between the two countries and the banking system should be improved to increase bilateral trade volume.

Pharmaceutical, rice, Marble, construction materials, poultry and tourism are promising sectors in which mutual trade can be increased.

He urged for exchange of delegation at chambers level to enhance networking. He also gave a short briefing to the trade delegation on RCCI current and future programs.

Group leader Sohail Altaf said that Central Asia is an important trading region, Pakistan has ideal friendly diplomatic relations with Kazakhstan which need to be transformed into economic relations.

Senior Vice President Asim Malik, Vice President Talat Awan, Former Presidents, Executive Members and Chamber Members were also present on the occasion.

Rawalpindi

Security Forces conduct IBO in North Waziristan

RAWALPINDI:Security Forces conducted an Intelligence Based Operation (IBO) in Madi Khel area of North Waziristan District and recovered large quantity of weapons and ammunition.

According to ISPR, the recovered weapons and ammunition include Sub Machine Guns, Light Machine Guns, RPG, Hand Grenades, rockets and hundreds of multiple calibre rounds.

Locals of the area appreciated the operation and expressed their full support to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the area.

Lahore

Business-to-business relations a key to steer socio-economic improvement

Lahore: Since the things are improving on economic front, therefore there is a dire need to establish mechanism to support bilateral businesses.

The consensus was developed at a meeting between the LCCI trade delegation, headed by its president MianNaumanKabir, and the members of Mashhad Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

MianNaumanKabir said that there is a dire need to enhance business-to-business relations between Pakistan and Iran to steer socio-economic improvement in the region.

He said that Pakistan always extended its support to Iran for enhancing bilateral cooperation. He invited the business community of Iran to explore the potential economic areas of Pakistan.

“Joint ventures are the finest way to commensurate mutual trade with the respective potential of Pakistan and Iran”, the LCCI president said adding that Pak-Iran trade can touch new heights through collective efforts.

MianNaumanKabir said that Iran and Pakistan are brother countries and their friendship should be translated into the mutual economic ties as well, adding that lack of trade-related information was one of the biggest reasons of low trade volume. He said that Chambers of Commerce & Industry of both countries should play role in this regard.

The LCCI President said that Special Economic Zones on Pakistan-Iran borders may be set up to increase formal trade. He said that long term multiple entry visas should be issued to businessmen of both the countries for the promotion of bilateral trade.

He suggested that there should be exchange of high level delegations from government private sectors should be on regular basis. The importance of such interaction is hard to be measured as these kinds of meetings cause to arrange more and more follow up meetings which ultimately lead to establish long lasting trade and economic relations.

Quetta

On call of BUJ, journalists walk out coverage of Balochistan assembly session

Quetta: On the call of Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) on Thursday, journalists cover Balochistan Assembly session walked out the session in protest against the federal government amendment in PECA Act to empower the FIA to arrest journalists and put them behind bars for six months.

While supporting the journalists walked out from the assembly coverage, Pakhtun Milli Awami Party member Nasurallah said the government was putting to mum journalists and people from different sectors of life.

He said the FIA has been rendered power under the PECA (Amendment) Act to harass and to keep journalists under custody for six months.

The member provincial assembly said the world is heading towards freedom of speech and expression and this incumbent government is working to deprived people from their basic rights. He informed that the articles 8 to 28 identify basic rights, including freedom of speech, expression and media.

He observed that a day after Senate session and two-day before the NA session, the government brought the Ordinance, which is a black law. He said the President House has become a factory of Ordinance.

Lahore

PHMA wants speedy implementation of new Textile Policy 2020-25

LAHORE: Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PHMA) appreciating the approval of the new Textile & Apparel Policy 2020-25, has called for speedy implementation of it, as it is vital for new investment and marketing plan in the major export-oriented sector.

PHMA Central Chairman Shahzad Azam Khan expressed the hope that the $42 billion export target fixed for the next five-year Textile Policy will be achieved, as the timely implementation of the long-term policies would not only bring new investments in the country but would also enable the industry achieve the target of exports in the next five years.

The new Textile Policy approved by the cabinet envisaged three years target as textile exports will be jacked up to $27 billion in the fiscal year 2022-23, $34 billion in 2023-24, and $42 billion in the fiscal year 2024-25. He said that new policy will help in boosting employment opportunities for millions of people. The knitwear industry and exporters welcome the new Textile Policy of the federal government and pin the hope that this would put the economy on track, he added.

The PHMA chairman said that the makers of this Textile Policy have dealt a fair treatment to such textile sub-sectors which were not only undermined but were almost ignored.

The PHMA Central Chairman said that ad-hoc policies cannot prove beneficial for the country’s exports and time has come to implement the long-term textile policy in letter and spirit.

He lamented that the previous Textile Policy has failed to achieve its targets, including enhancing textile exports from $13 billion to $26 billion, doubling value-addition from $1 billion per million cotton bales to $2 billion per million cotton bales as well as creation of 3 million jobs in five years.

Shahzad Azam said that Pakistan can achieve target of $42 billion’s export provided the local industry is facilitated with regionally competitive energy tariffs and business-friendly environment.

Politics

Prioritizing education & health programmes was the most effective way to improve socio-economic status of people: President Alvi

ISLAMABAD: President Dr. Arif Alvi on Thursday said the involvement of various segments of a community including mosques, academia and health workers was important for the effective implementation of social development initiatives, particularly health and education.

Addressing here at the launch of ‘Strengthening of Social Health Protection under Sehat Sahulat Programme’, President Dr. Arif Alvi said communities could bring about social change using these platforms and improve quality of life by adopting collective solutions to address their common needs and problems.

The event, jointly organized by Health Services Academy, Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination, and German Development Agency focused on the government’s health initiatives including Sehat Sahulat Programme partnered by the German government for the last 14 years.

President Dr. Arif Alvi said prioritizing education and health programmes was the most effective way to improve the socio-economic status of people, alleviate poverty and protect families from falling into it.

He said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf since its inception had envisioned transforming Pakistan into a socio-welfare State.

The president said Sehat Sahulat Programme was aimed at providing free of cost health insurance, initially to families living below the poverty line end subsequently to the rest.

He said the universal health insurance would prove as a big cushion for the citizens who faced costly medical treatment.

He expressed satisfaction that GiZ (German Development Agency) was working on improving the programme implementation and expansion and lauded Health Services Academy for winning the contract of third party assessment.

Dr. Arif Alvi said the nation had emerged resilient by dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic successfully and emphasized the same responsible approach in handling several other diseases.

He said various challenges required a preventive mode to address them including hepatitis, polio, malnutrition, stunting, maternal health, child mortality, diabetes and obesity.

Dr. Philip, Deputy Head of Mission at the German embassy said Germany was proud to assist Pakistan in reaching its goal of social health protection.

For the last 14 years he said, the German Development Agency provided technical assistance on Sehat Sahulat Programme with an objective to improve the health services in Pakistan.

Parliamentary Secretary for Ministry of National Health Services Dr Nausheen Hamid said Pakistan as a signatory to universal health targets was committed to addressing the challenge of health-related services for its huge population.

She said the government acknowledged the role of partners, academia and health management for effective implementation of health facilities.

Vice Chancellor Health Services Academy Dr. Shahzad Ali Khan said the objective of today’s launch was developing a ‘strategic purchasing’ policy framework for social health protection.

Meanwhile President Dr. Arif Alvi on Thursday said that instead of supporting any polarization, Pakistan desired win-win cooperation in the fields of information technology and trade with the nations for peace and development in the region.

The president, addressing the concluding session of a two-day international conference on “South Asia: Emerging Opportunities and Challenges” said Pakistan did not want to be part of any polarization as even Pakistan’s forefathers had also advocated the co-existence before demanding a separate homeland.

The president said that he was mistaken to believe that the US would have learned a lesson from the Vietnam War and would not fall into any other trap.

He told the gathering, consisting of former ambassadors and researchers, and academics, that the vested interests dominated morality in international affairs.

He said the world was looking for leadership based on morality and highlighted Pakistan’s humanitarian gestures of hosting millions of refugees contrary to Europe which let them drown in the Mediterranean, besides raping and murdering them.

Referring to Narendra Modi’s biased approach targeting minorities, the president said the BJP government was adding fuel to fire through Hindutva. He said despite the repeated commitments by the United Nations, the Kashmir issue was still unresolved owing to the vested interests of the countries.

He said Europe had decided against any more wars in their own lands but destroyed other countries in Africa and the Middle East.

President Alvi said rebuilding Afghanistan was the best opportunity for Pakistan. He said the world had spent trillions of dollars for mutually assured destructions in wars, which otherwise could have been spent to alleviate poverty.

Calling for the promotion of Chinese investment in Pakistan, the president said Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Russia was of very importance.

He said information technology was the biggest opening for Pakistan and the region. However, he emphasized bridging the gap between the decision-makers and the fast-developing technologies.

He said the fake news phenomenon was getting stronger which could even destroy the countries. He said the people would see an avalanche of fake news in the 2023 general elections as around 60-70% of the social media messages circulated during the last elections in India were found to be fake.

The president said the morality protecting humanity and human rights like the women’s emancipation should be the ideals for society, instead of the vested interests.

Quetta

PECA amendment ordinance challenged in BHC

QUETTA: PECA amendment ordinance has been challenged in Balochistan High Court (BHC).

A constitutional petition has been filed by Balochistan Bar Council (BBC) and Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) with deputy registrar high court in this regard.

Talking to media men before filing the petition chairman Executive Committee Balochistan Bar Council Rahib Baledi said PECA is a draconian law which is tantamount to undermine freedom of expression. People of Balochistan, lawyers and journalists have rejected this amendment ordinance.

President PUJ Iran Saeed said government has taken in haste the step regarding PECA amendment ordinance. This law is bid to gag the voice of media.

Government is not tolerating the media criticism, he added.

Politics

PML-N challenges PECA amendment ordinance in IHC

ISLAMABAD: PML-N has challenged PECA amendment ordinance in Islamabad High Court (IHC);

The petition has been filed by PML-N spokesperson Maryam Aurangzeb making the law ministry, President of Pakistan and FIA respondents.

The petitioner took the plea amendment in PECA through ordinance runs contrary to the constitution.

She requested the court to stop its implementation.

Maryam Aurangzeb later talking to media men said PECA amendment ordinance be nullified. No one is permitted to criticize the government and if some one criticizes government he will have to serve five years jail term.

She underlined PECA amendment ordinance is defiance of constitution. The incumbent government is not government but it is an ordinance factory. PECA amendment ordinance is in conflict with article 89 of the constitution.

Lahore

US officials hand over 4.7 million covid-19 vaccines to Pakistan

Lahore: The US officials have provided over 4.7 million Coronavirus vaccines to Pakistan.

Governor Punjab Chaudhary Sarwar thanked the American Government, members of American Congress and overseas Pakistani Dr Imran Shareef and said that overseas Pakistani are our asset who always safeguarded the interest of Pakistan.

The whole world is praising the policies of Pakistan against COVID. He stated this on Thursday while addressing the media at the 3rd Convocation of University of Health Sciences Lahore. Provincial Minister of Health Dr Yasmin Rashid, Vice Chancellor University of Health Sciences Professor Dr. Javed Akram and Justice (R) Tassaduq Hussain Jeelani were also present on the occasion. Governor Chaudhary Mohammad Sarwar also tweeted the pictures of Pfizer vaccine doses sent by US.

During his address, Governor Punjab Chaudhary Sarwar said that if you are sincere with your country and work with honesty then no power in the world that can stop you from being successful.

He further said that when Allah blesses someone with authority, he should work with good intentions and honesty, adding that it is the priority of PTI led government to strengthen the departments by eliminating politics from them.

We are committed to remove political interference from all universities of the Punjab because it hinders the progress of institutions.

He said that as Chancellor of universities he has appointed all Vice Chancellors on merit, adding that in the past, instead of permanent, ad hoc Vice Chancellors were appointed, but he has appointed vice Chancellor on permanent basis.

Today, universities in Punjab are ranking among the top 500 best universities in the world, he added. Chaudhry Sarwar said that the present Government has taken exemplary initiatives in the healthcare sector for serving people through Insaf Health Card. Even during the testing times of Coronavirus, current Government stood with the people under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan and provided 12 thousand rupees to the poor families without any discrimination through ‘Ehsaas Program.

About his efforts regarding the coronavirus vaccines provided by US, he said that he met the members of American Congress members along with overseas Pakistani Dr. Imran Shareef few months ago during his visit to America, adding that today, due to our efforts and request Pakistan has been provided with 4.7 million doses. It is welcoming that American government and members of American Congress helped Pakistan in fight against the coronavirus.

He stressed that everybody should get vaccinated as soon as possible to prevent the spread of Corona Virus. The Government is committed to vaccinate the general public expeditiously.

While addressing the meeting, Provincial Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid said that our government has upgraded the hospitals across Punjab with the billions of rupees funds and through sehat card every family of Punjab is getting free medical facilities.

She said that the government is providing full support to the universities for research in medical field, adding that the government is focused to provide best facilities in the health and education sectors. On this occasion, Professor Dr. Javed Akram during his speech apprised about the performance of the university as well.

Politics

MQM, PML-Q agree on holding meeting soon

LAHORE: MQM has contacted PML-Q and they have agreed on holding meeting soon.

It has been told allies have contacted each other after opposition contacts the government allies.

MQM leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui talked to federal minister Monis Elahi by telephone.

Sources said MQM and PML-Q leaders have agreed on holding meeting soon. The leadership from the both the sides will soon hold a consultative meeting to implement future strategy. MQM and PML-Q will go side by side on political scene after consultation. MQM leadership has already held a meeting with Chaudhry brothers.