ISLAMABAD: Premier Imran Khan says taking care of helpless, poor and vulnerable segments of the society is the responsibility of the state.
Talking to the focal person for shelters, Naseem-ur-Rehman here on Friday, he said the cooperation of the private sector in the government‘s shelter homes program reflects the positive values of our society.
During the meeting, the Premier discussed the proposed improvements in the management of shelter homes established throughout the country and their further expansion in the next twelve months.
For the next twelve months, a comprehensive program is being launched in major cities of the country for shelter homes.
In this context, shelter homes will be improved to meet the best practices and sustainable development goals.
ISLAMABAD: Sindh Governor Imran Ismail on Friday briefed Prime Minister Imran Khan about the details of his recent talks with the leadership of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) in Islamabad
During the meeting, both the leaders agreed to accelerate efforts to woo MQM-P, said sources.
Matters pertaining to the transfer of IG Sindh, development projects, current political situation and other issues were discussed in the meeting.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s biggest food festival ‘FOODFEST’ announced by Activemedia and Foodies R Us the 3rd Season of Food and Music Event, SOUL Festival (Previously COKEFEST) that kicked off in Lahore, routed its way to Karachi is now ready to hit the capital, Islamabad on 7th, 8th & 9th of February at F-9 Park.
The event will bring Pakistan’s Top eateries and Best Music together to create a one-of-a-kind experience for its attendees. After 15 overwhelmingly successful festivals over 2 consecutive years, Organizers “Activemedia and Foodies R Us” are now looking to give #FOODFEST, a brand new identity.
This will be the first installment of “SOUL” Festival with a promise of being BIGGER, BETTER and BOLDER than its prequels. The festival will feature, not just food and music, but a lot more in terms of festivities, colors, entertainment and fun, promising a perfect day out for families. The SOUL Festival after kicking off in Lahore, made a grand stop in Karachi and is now finally hitting Islamabad.
The SOUL Festival offers a variety of cuisines with flavors and delicacies catering to a wide range of audience. Not only do you find a diverse panel of culinary talents but also several home based Foodpreneurs as SOUL Festival prides itself in serving a platform for the promotion of solopreneurs and providing a boost to the homebased food market. #SOUL Festival promises to offer all the season’s freshest flavors ranging from Desi to Continental, Asian (Chinese, Japanese, Thai), Turkish/Lebanese and Italian.
Organized by “Activemedia and Foodies R us”, the SOULFESTIVAL is Sponsored by KASHMIR cooking oil, PSO (digicash), Nestle Everyday & Samsung. Cool n Cool as hygiene partners and Uber, SWVL, Ariel, Carient, Kinetic as Co-sponsors. Easytickets (as ticketing partners) and TV One, News One, and FM91 as media partners.
The most fascinating and awaited part of the event is the music which is where the entire audience comes together swaying to the beat while relishing the great taste of their food.
This year, the SOUL Festival promises to give its audience an unforgettable experience with an incredible lineup of musicians, from within and outside Pakistan such as Ali Zafar, Farhan Saeed, Sahara UK, Jost, Natasha Baig, Nabeel Shauqat and other immensely popular local international artists. Furthermore as promised, Soul is bringing a new wave to music by introducing EDM night, first time ever with such an immersive crowd.
When asked to comment, CEO at Activemedia (The Organizer), Saad M. Khan said; “The season 1 of FOODFEST in 2017 saw the biggest celebration of Pakistani culture with more than 250,000 people enjoying the festival with their loved ones. Season 2 of the FOODFEST created History and became an international award winning event. We are extremely excited and looking forward to welcome our guests and provide world-class entertainment through more food, more music and even more fun at this 3rd season of FOODFEST that has a new identity; SOUL Festival.”
It is likely to biggest winter celebrations of the year with more than 100 tasty food stops, 25 outstanding musicians and nonstop entertainment. SOUL Festival is going to be a “Families only” event.
ISLAMABAD: Chinese national suspected of carrying coronavirus is not infected, medical reports from the National institute of Health (NIH) confirmed.
Earlier, the Chinese national was shifted to an isolation ward in the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital from the capital’s airport. The patient’s test samples were sent to the NIH for confirmation. The patient will be kept under observation for at least 12 hours.
The NIH’s officials said that they had received 25 samples suspected of coronavirus from Islamabad, Sindh, Azad Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which were examined and termed negative.
China’s top leadership admitted “shortcomings and difficulties” in its response to the coronavirus outbreak, as state media said a new hospital built at breakneck pace began receiving patients in the epicentre of the crisis.
More than 560 people have died as a result of the virus since it emerged in a Chinese live seafood and wild animal market at the end of last year.
ISLAMABAD: Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish President will arrive in Pakistan on an official visit from February 13 to 14.
The President will be accompanied by a delegation of Turkish businessmen.
Pakistani businessmen who are interested in a business-to-business (B2B) with the delegates are requested to contact the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP).
ISLAMABAD: Judicial remand of former Prime Minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was extende by Accountability Court till February 21 in liquefied natural gas (LNG) case
on Tuesday.
During the hearing, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has also submitted report on accused Shahid Islam in the court.
Earlier, Islamabad High Court (IHC) had sought reply from the anti-corruption watchdog on bail pleas of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Ahsan Iqbal.
On September 10, 2018, the apex court had directed the NAB to complete inquiry against Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and others for the alleged corruption in the LNG contract.
As the minister for petroleum and natural resources, Abbasi has been accused of granting contract on LNG to favourite company.
In June 2018, the NAB approved inquiry against former premier Nawaz Sharif and Abbasi, who was the former minister for petroleum and natural resources at that time.
It was also observed that this contract had allegedly caused a loss of billions of rupees to the national exchequer. In January, the NAB interrogated former finance minister Miftah Ismail in the same case. Abbasi was taken into custody on July 18, 2019.
KARACHI: Another flight of China Air, with 39 passengers on board, landed at the Karachi airport on late Monday night. Coronavirus is yet to pacify as death toll is at rise besides number of infections is also at rise.
According to sources, all the passengers underwent scanning and another test in China before the flight. The airport manager at the Karachi airport said that the screening of the passengers was completed on their arrival.
Earlier, a private airlines’ flight QR 632, carrying 40 Pakistani students stranded in China due to coronavirus, has reached Islamabad after temporary suspension of flight operation to the neighboring country.
According to details, the 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 brought back 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.
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.
