ISLAMABAD: Forty Pakistani students were among 183 people returned from China on Monday.
A private airlines’ flight QR 632, carrying 40 Pakistani students, who were stranded in China due to coronavirus outbreak, reached Islamabad on Monday after temporary suspension of flight operation to the neighboring country.
These students were allowed to go to their homes following complete medical checkup.
It is to be mentioned here that the first direct flight landed in Islamabad from China were having 61 Pakistanis.
The authorities told that a total of 183 people including 11 Chinese have arrived in Pakistan on different flights.
On Friday, Pakistan had halted flights to and from China with immediate effect, a civil aviation official said, as the death toll from a virus outbreak spreading in China mounted and the World Health Organization called it a global health emergency.
Earlier, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr Zafar Mirza said Pakistan was fully capable of diagnosing coronavirus after China sent approximately 1,000 kits to Pakistan to detect the deadly disease.
On the other hand, China’s death toll from the coronavirus epidemic further increased on Monday, with deepening global concern about the outbreak and governments closing their borders to people from China.
The fresh toll came a day after China imposed a lockdown on a major city far from the epicentre and the first fatality outside the country was reported in the Philippines.
Authorities in Hubei, the province at the epicenter of the outbreak, reported 56 new fatalities, with one reported in the southwestern megalopolis of Chongqing. That took the toll in China to 361, exceeding the 349 mainland fatalities from the 2002-3 SARS outbreak.
ISLAMABAD: No Pakistani will be allowed to travel back to the country from China till they complete a 14-day observation period.
This announcement was made by Dr Zafar Mirza, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health here on Saturday while addressing a press conference in Islamabad.
He said that the agreement in this regard had been finalized in a meeting held with the Chinese envoy in Pakistan. However, the official informed reporters that further details of the agreement are still being worked out.
Mirza shared that the policy is being implemented after China declared that no Chinese citizen will be allowed to travel abroad till the completion of the 14-day observation period. “Those declared free of the virus after the period will be issued with a certificate that assures the airport officials that they are free from the disease,” Mirza said.
“Through this one measure we have ensured Pakistan remains free from the disease. Because our case definition says that travelling and staying in China is an important factor [behind the spread of the disease],” said the SAPM.
Dr Mirza stated that If Pakistan was able to control the disease in Pakistanis present in China, then it has secured the country from the disease, according to the information that doctors have at this point.
Dr Mirza also shared with the reporters that the country will soon receive the health kits which would allow the country to detect the virus. “From tomorrow or today we will start carrying out tests to determine the coronavirus,” said Dr Mirza.
ISLAMABAD: Price hike and devaluation of rupee forced the Parliamentarian to stand for increase in their salaries and some members of the parliament have submitted a draft bill in the Senate Secretariat to increase the salary of the Senate chairman, the deputy chairman, the National Assembly speaker, and the deputy speaker, by up to 400 per cent.
The bill also includes a proposal to raise the salary of the members of the National Assembly by 100 per cent keeping in view the price hike, besides seeking an upward revision in the traveling allowance for all lawmakers and their families. The raise has been proposed in light of “price hike and devaluation of the rupee”.
The price hike, according to the statement of objects and reasons outlined in the bill, has affected the Senate chairman, the NA speaker, the Senate deputy chairman, and the NA deputy speaker, are all members of the parliament “alongside the general public”.
How much will lawmakers make if bill is passed?
A copy of the bill, which the Senate Secretariat has already referred to the ministries of parliamentary affairs and finance for their input, seeks amendment to Chairman and Speaker (Salaries, Allowances and Privileges) Act 1975 to increase the existing salary of Senate chairman and NA speaker from Rs250,000 to 870,000, which is equivalent to basic pay of a judge of the Supreme Court.
The bill also recommends an amendment to the Deputy Chairman and Deputy Speaker (Salaries, Allowances and Privileges) Act 1975 to increase the salary of the Senate Deputy Chairman and NA Deputy Speaker from existing Rs185,000 to Rs829,000, which is equivalent to basic pay of the judge of the Islamabad High Court.
The draft bill also recommends an amendment to the Members of Parliament (Salaries and Allowances) Act 1974 to increase the salaries of Senators and MNAs from the existing Rs150,000 to Rs300,000.
Proposed changes to other perks enjoyed by MPs
Additionally, the draft amendment to the existing statutes seeks to allow each MP the entitlement to 20 business class open return air tickets from the airport nearest to their constituency to Islamabad. The bill says that the spouse and children – up to 18 years of age of the Senator/MNA – can also utilise these tickets for traveling within the country.
The bill also includes the provision that the traveling allowance allowed to lawmakers in respect of a journey between two stations shall be admissible on the basis of the shortest of the practicable routes between those stations.
It adds that, “a member who performs a journey between the place where a session or meeting of a committee is held or other business connected with his duties as a member is transacted and a place which is not his usual place of residence may draw travelling allowance for a journey between the place where the session or meeting is held or other business is transacted and his usual place of residence”.
Who will table the bill?
According to a letter penned by the Senate Secretariat to the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs on 28th January, Senators Naseebullah Bazai (independent member from Balochistan), Sajjad Hussain Turi (independent from erstwhile Fata), Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan Nasir (PML-N), Dilawar Khan (independent, KP), Dr Ashok Kumar (National Party, Balochistan) and Shammim Afridi (independent, erstwhile Fata) “have given notice of their intention to introduce the subject cited in the bill in the Senate”.
The statement of objects and reasons, as mentioned in the bill, states that it has been felt that no substantial increase in the salaries of parliamentarians has been made so far. Resultantly, the salaries drawn by Chairman or Speaker, Deputy Chairman or Deputy Speaker and MNAs and Senators are not sufficient to meet their daily expenditures.
Committee recommends salary raise for government employees
The Secretaries Committee, which is the highest forum for bureaucrats, has asked the government to give employees from Grade 1 to 22 of the Federal Secretariat a 120 per cent raise in salary, reported The News on Saturday.
The publication also reported that the panel has recommended an increase in the executive allowance for federal secretaries and additional secretaries that may be deputed to other divisions and ministries from January 1 of this year.
According to the publication, the recommendations were made in a committee meeting held on January 23 of last month. The committee has also asked the Finance Division to process cases in this regard.
During the meeting, Additional Secretary Finance Sohail Rajpoot briefed the committee regarding the salary differences of provincial and federal secretariats as the finance secretary could not attend the meeting, said the newspaper.
The official informed the committee that the finance division has completed its homework regarding the matter and said that it is considering a 120 per cent raise for employees from grades 1 till 22.
ISLAMABAD: Government has decided to roll out an Islamic financing facility for youth under its flagship Kamyab Jawan program, said Usman Dar, Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Youth Affairs.
He met State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Reza Baqir to discuss the dos and don’ts of the scheme, which is slated to be launched in April. Officials privy to the development say conventional banks will be engaged in Islamic financing for the youth.
Usman Dar, explaining how the facility will work, said it is in line with persistent demands of the youth for Islamic financing.
The SAPM said consultations with the central bank and all stakeholders have been completed in this regard.
He said loans are being disbursed among youth under the Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme (YES) after due scrutiny in the first phase and that successful applicants would be entitled to Islamic financing in the second phase.
It is noteworthy that the YES was launched under the banner of Kamyab Jawan Program in October last year under which Rs100 billion allocated for the youth and loans ranging from Rs100,000 to Rs5 million would be disbursed among the youth coming up with practicable business ideas.
“Some 1.3 million youth applied for the loan scheme in merely 15 days which brings it into international spotlight as a team of the United Nations has discussed this Kamyab Jawan program for attracting such a large proportion of youth,” the special assistant had said.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Government and people stand firmly with their Chinese brothers at this hour of need and will provide full assistance as Beijing tackles the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, said Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday during telephonic conversation with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.
During the conversation, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Qureshi that Pakistan’s offer for help and support to China in this difficult time once again highlighted the deep friendship between the two neighbours.
Qureshi said the Pakistani people will stand firmly with their Chinese brothers and provide full assistance in this difficult time. Under President Xi Jinping’s leadership, the Chinese people will surely win the battle against coronavirus outbreak.
Wang noted that Pakistan had nearly a thousand citizens in Wuhan, and also thanked the Pakistani government for trusting the Chinese government and deciding not to rush them out of the country.
In the same phone call, Wang noted that a certain country has turned a blind eye to the recommendations put forward by the World Health Organisation and “imposed sweeping travel restrictions against China”.
“This kind of overreaction can only make things even worse. It’s not the right way to deal with the pandemic,” Wang told Qureshi. The Chinese foreign minister also assured him that Beijing will continue to safeguard the safety and health of Pakistanis and provide them with all necessary assistance.
In the same phone call, FM Wang noted certain country has turned a blind eye to WHO recommendations and imposed sweeping travel restrictions against China. This kind of overreaction could only make things even worse. It’s not the right way to deal with the pandemic.
He stated that under President Xi Jinping’s personal deployment, China had established a nationwide mechanism and taken decisive measures to prevent and control the epidemic.
“At present, all work is progressing in an orderly manner, and China is fully capable and confident in achieving its final victory,” he added.
ISLAMABAD: Travel advisory for Pakistan was relaxed by the United States of America, due to improving security situation.
Pakistan foreign office described the update in US Travel Advisory as a step in the right direction, saying it has made resolute efforts to enhance security throughout the country.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui in her tweet said: “Pakistan has noted the update in the U.S. Travel Advisory, which has acknowledged that “Pakistan s security environment has improved.” This is a step in the right direction.”
“Significant improvement in the security environment has led the United Nations to re-designate Islamabad as a family station for its personnel,” she said.
“Recently, the United Kingdom, while acknowledging the measures taken by Pakistan, has revised its Travel Advisory which is a welcome development,” the spokesperson added.
The Foreign Office spokesperson further said the positive decisions by Portugal and Norway with regard to their Travel Advisories for Pakistan also reflected the confidence of those European Governments in Pakistan s security environment.
“Pakistan has also been declared as one of the “Best Holiday Destinations for 2020″ by an award-winning travel magazine Conde Nast Traveler ,” she added.
ISLAMABAD: Opposition parties slammed the government on Friday for not repatriating Pakistanis stranded in Wuhan and at risk of contracting the coronavirus.
The criticism from opposition lawmakers came during a session of the Senate where the outbreak of the disease in Wuhan and the measures that the government had taken were discussed.
Leader of the House Senator Shibli Faraz said the government had deposited $840 into the bank accounts of Pakistani students. He said the Chinese government was taking care of Pakistanis stranded in Wuhan, Geo News reported.
Senator Mushahidullah of the PML-N criticised the government for not doing anything to evacuate Pakistani students from China. He said that the mothers of those students in Pakistan were “upset and crying” out of worry for their children. He said that important issues were being ignored by authorities.
“Pakistan has the largest embassy in China,” he said. “People there [in the embassy] don’t seem active.”
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Siraj ul Haq urged authorities to keep contact with parents of the Pakistani students stranded in China. He said that it was unfortunate that the students were running out of money.
PPP leader and former interior minister Rehman Malik said the government should send a special plane to bring back Pakistanis from Wuhan. He said if there was risk of the disease spreading in Pakistan then a proper screening process should be conducted so that the virus is contained.
Earlier, the government said it would not evacuate Pakistani students stranded in Wuhan as it was not advisable to do so. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza said during a press conference that government will not become a part in spreading the virus.
He said the government stands with its Chinese counterpart and would respect the directions of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Beijing.
“We don’t want to take any emotional decision which will cause this virus to spread further,” he said. “It is also our responsibility to ensure that our citizens in Wuhan are being properly taken care of and see to it whether they are being provided food or items of daily use or not,” he added.
ISLAMABAD: Coronavirus outbreak is a serious issue and Pakistan is taking steps for safety of its nationals in China. All out efforts are being made for the assistance, safety and welfare of Pakistani nationals in China ever since the outbreak of coronavirus there.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said in weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Thursday.
“Our embassy and consulates in China have reached out to all the Pakistani students” Aisha said, adding that Pakistan is also in touch with the Chinese officials who have assured us about the safety and wellbeing of Pakistani nationals.
She thanked the Chinese authorities for extending best possible assistance to Pakistani nationals.
She pointed out that a high powered committee has also been established in which all the stakeholders are represented to constantly monitor the situation emerging from the outbreak of the virus.
The spokesperson strongly regretted that constant jingoistic rhetoric and war hysteria unleashed by the Indian leadership against Pakistan.
She said India is making desperate attempts to divert attention from growing domestic and international criticism of their discriminatory, anti-Kashmir and anti-minority policies. She said nobody should underestimate our resolve to effectively thwart any aspiration of aggression again Pakistan.
Expressing concerns over blatant human rights violations in occupied Kashmir, Aisha Farooqui urged the international community to take cognizance of the situation in the valley.
She said Pakistan is effectively raising the Kashmir dispute at the international level. She said our missions abroad have also prepared a comprehensive plan to fully observe the Kashmir solidarity day and draw world attention to the lingering dispute.
When asked about the US’s Middle East Plan, the spokesperson said Pakistan has constantly supported a two state solution as per the relevant UN resolutions.
She renewed call for the establishment of a viable, independent and contiguous state of Palestine on the basis of internationally agreed parameters, the pre-1967 borders and with Al-Quds al Sharif as its capital.
ISLAMABAD: Talks of Pakistan with International Monetary Fund (IMF) for third tranche of $450 million, under the $6 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) finalised in May last year, will commense from February 3.
The IMF delegation will perform quarterly review (from October till December) of the economy in the current fiscal year FY20.
The global moneylender will also consider the performance of various ministries and government departments, and in particular, energy and tax reforms under the current regime.
The delegation will also meet finance advisor Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh and FBR Chairman Shabbar Zaidi.
In late December, Islamabad received second tranche of $454 million from the IMF, and the global moneylender at that time declared that Pakistan’s reform programme was “on track and has started to bear fruit”.
Following the release of the second tranche, the total amount of money so far granted by the IMF under the current programme rose to $1,440m.
The Fund, after completing it’s first review of Pakistan under the EFF, noted that “decisive” implementation of government policies had helped preserve economic stability in the country.
In a press release, the IMF had noted that the “transition to a market-determined exchange rate has been orderly [and] inflation has started to stabilise, mitigating the impact on the most vulnerable groups of the population.”
The IMF had further observed that the “authorities remain committed to expanding the social safety nets, reducing poverty, and narrowing the gender gap.”
At the same time, however, the Fund had warned that “risks remain elevated”. The press release had quoted IMF’s First Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair David Lipton as saying: “Strong ownership and steadfast reform implementation are critical to entrench macroeconomic stability and support robust and balanced growth.”
“The authorities are committed to sustaining the progress on fiscal adjustment to place debt on a downward path,” Lipton had said, adding that: “The planned reforms include strengthening tax revenue mobilisation, including the elimination of tax exemptions and loopholes, and prudent expenditure policies. Preparations for a comprehensive tax policy reform should start early to ensure timely implementation.”
“The flexible, market-determined exchange rate remains essential to cushion the economy against external shocks and rebuild reserve buffers,” he had suggested.
Lipton had also pointed out that “faster progress [was] needed to improve the AML/CFT framework supported by technical assistance from the IMF and other capacity development providers” in order for Pakistan to be removed from FATF’s grey list.
Under the terms agreed, the government is required to apprise the parliament about its income, expenditure and savings by February 28.
The government is also required to introduce the state bank’s sovereignty bill in the parliament by March 31. The bill will restrict printing of new currency notes for covering the fiscal deficit.
The government will implement the two major provisions of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) under which banks will strictly monitor the transactions of their customers, and the bank secrecy rules will not be applicable on the implementing agencies.
The IMF package, which was approved in July last year, is an effort to revive Pakistan’s ailing economy through periodic release of funds over a 39-month period, conditional on the government meeting the Fund’s policy guidelines.
Pakistan was placed on FATF’s grey list in 2018. In October, 2019, the FATF retained Pakistan on its grey list and gave the country four-months to take stronger measures to combat terror financing and money laundering.
ISLAMABAD: Four Pakistani students in Wuhan, the epicenter of the worst Coronavirus have tested positive for the coronavirus, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza confirmed at a press conference in Islamabad on Wednesday.
The SAPM, however, refused to share the names of the affected students with the media. “The government will take good care of the students who have contracted the virus,” he said at the presser.
The confirmation came after a group of Pakistani students in China appealed to the government to evacuate them from the virus-struck country. There are 500 Pakistani students currently studying in different universities in Wuhan, the epicentre of the deadly virus.
“Four students have been confirmed to have the coronavirus. Their condition is better now,” Dr Zafar Mirza said. He said that health ministry is in contact with the Pakistani embassy in Beijing.
“Pakistani officials in China are in constant touch with all the students,” he said.
‘No confirmed cases of virus in Pakistan’
The SAPM also clarified that there have been no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Pakistan yet. There were reports that four individuals, including a Chinese national, in Multan were suspected to have been suffering from the disease.
Mirza said that their health was improving and according to the lab reports, he can say that they are safe.
The coronavirus has claimed 132 lives since emerging in a market in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, and spread around the world.
The virus has infected people as far as North America and the United Arab Emirates. “The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention announced a case of the new coronavirus affecting people from one family coming from the city of Wuhan in China,” state news agency WAM reported on Wednesday, without saying how many were infected.
