ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Fawad Chaudhry, on Friday has urged that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leadership should not lodge ‘fake protests’ over its humiliating defeat in its stronghold Larkana city.
Fawad Chaudhry, in his tweets, said, “PPP’s
leadership should cognise its serious mistakes as the people of Sindh
want reforms in your governance style. It is not the time to protest but an opportunity to think about it.”
“If you say no to bringing reformations, than the
outcomes in Sindh will be same just like you are witnessing in other parts of Pakistan.”
Following the defeat of Pakistan People’s Party
candidate Jameel Ahmed Soomro, the political secretary of PPP chairman Bilawal
Bhutto Zardari, PTI leader Ali Zaidi took to Twitter Wednesday saying,
“Democracy is the best revenge, and today the people of Larkana have
taken their revenge.”
It may be noted here that the joint candidate of Grand
Democratic Alliance (GDA) and Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Moazzam Ali Khan Abbasi, had won the PS-11 Larkana II
by-election held on Thursday (yesterday).
According to unofficial results, the joint candidate of GDA
and PTI, Moazzam Ali Khan Abbasi, got 31,557 votes, whereas PPP’s
candidate Jameel Ahmed Soomro secured 26,021 votes.
The Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) candidate had also been
supported by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F).
The seat had fallen vacant after the Supreme Court declared
the Grand Democratic Alliance’s (GDA) Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA)
Moazim Ali Khan Abbasi over failing to declare his assets following a petition
filed moved by PPP’s Nida Khuhro.
It is pertinent to mention here that the GDA leader had won
the polls in the PS-11 Larkana-II constituency during 2018’s general
elections after defeating the daughter of President PPP Sindh PPP Nisar Khuhro,
Nida Khuhro, after her father was declared disqualified over the petition of
Moazzam Ali Khan Abbasi that challenged his nomination papers. (Additional Input From INP)
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday inaugurated “Kamyab Jawan Program” for the welfare of youth across the country.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Program, he said that Rs100 billion had been allocated for it, adding that the program would provide loans to youth for their business ventures.
“Youth are the future of Pakistan and our destiny depends on them. PTI government strongly believes in merit and transparency,” said PM Imran, adding that the Kamyab Jawan program is the program of merit.
The premier said that only those nations move forward in the world that follows the rule of merit. He said the main reason for demise of Muslims in the world was the adoption of monarchy and not giving democratic rights to their society.
The Prime Minister urged the youth to read about the life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as he is a role model for the whole world.
The Prime Minister congratulated all stakeholders for launching the first phase of the program for youth of the country.
Highlights of Kamyab Jawan Program:
The Kamyab Jawan Youth program comprises two categories: In the first category, the youth will be provided with loans from 100,000 to 500,000 rupees to start their business whilst in the second category, the youth will be provided with loans from 500,000 to five million rupees.
The youth are being provided with loans under three categories. It is anticipated that the program will benefit one million youth. 200 feasibilities have also been made available online to help assist the youth in working on business ideas.
A quota of 25 percent has been allocated for women to increase their share in the national economy. Kamyab Jawan program has been prepared under the National Youth Development Framework.
The program will help cope with unemployment and poverty. An integrated system has been developed for transparent and modern scrutiny of applications. Past governments neglected youth, says Usman Dar
Earlier, briefing media about the program in Islamabad, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Youth Affairs Usman Dar said governments in past neglected youth of the country.
Dar said the youth of the country supported Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the 2018 General Elections, which helped us to form the government. “We are paying special attention to uplift youth of the country.”
Terming the establishment of the first Youth Council, as a step to autonomous the youth of the country, the SAPM said the council will represent the youth of the country at the international level. (With additional input from INP)
LAHORE: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Emir Senator Sirajul Haq has said that PML-N and PPP legislators should resign from assemblies if they want early elections in the country.
Talking to journalists after addressing “Mashaikh Conference” at JI headquarters Mansoora on Thursday, he said JUI-F had right to protest against the government and that it was now responsibility of Prime Minister Imran Khan to fulfill his words and provide container and food to the protestors planning to enter in Islamabad on Oct 31. He regretted the government and opposition lost interest in Kashmir.
Custodians from different shrines attended and addressed the conference proceedings on the agenda of unity of Muslim Ummah, protection of the faith on finality of the prophet-hood and Kashmir.
Key speakers included JI Secretary General Ameerul Azim, JI AJK chapter head Dr Khalid Mahmood, Pir Syed Ghulam Rasool Awaisi, Pir Shahzad Chishti, Pir Naubahar Shah, Mian Maqsood Ahmad and others.
Addressing the event, JI chief said the government and opposition had set their own priorities, completely putting Kashmir cause on back burner. The rulers, he added, wanted to fight the case of Kashmir while sitting in air-conditioned halls of Islamabad without realizing the threat posing the RSS goons led Modi government to the country’s sovereignty.
He warned the rulers against designs of New Delhi which bent upon changing the demography of the region. He said the government should make pre-emptive strike to thwart the designs of enemy against Pakistan.
He demanded the government announce clear roadmap for the liberation of Kashmir from Indian yoke. He sought suggestions from the scholars and masharikh on Kashmir, asking them to play their role in creating awareness among the people on the important issue which was matter of life and death for Pakistan.
Ameerul Azim, speaking on occasion, highlighted the need for unity in Muslim world. He said western powers had long been unleashed an attack on Islamic ideology which could only be confronted if Muslim Ummah demonstrated unity among its ranks forgetting differences in the names of sects, regions and castes.
The JI Sec General expressed grave concern over the silence of the world on humanitarian crisis in the India held Kashmir. He said the time had approached that the Pakistan government took practical steps in support of the besieged brethren of IHK.
The conference vowed to defend with full force the every article and sub-article of the constitutional dealing with the Islamic ideology of the country, stating the laws were close to the heart of every Muslim.
The participants expressed concern over the plight of Muslims in Palestine, occupied Kashmir, Syria, Iraq and Burma, stressing the need of unity among Muslim countries to address the problems facing the Ummah.
The conference unanimously demanded of the government to take practical steps in support of the people of occupied Kashmir.
The conference called for ensuring free education till matriculation with the teachings of great Sufis of Islam make part of the education curriculum. The participants asked the government to take measure to ensure protection and safety of common man. (With additional input from INP)
ISLAMABAD: First Afghan transit cargo ship that contains 15,000 tons of chemical fertilizer will arrive at Gwadar deep sea port on Sunday.
It signaling that Gwadar port has set sail as the post competitive port in transit of Afghan Cargo, reports Gwadar Pro media network, quoting Zhang Baozhong, Chairman, China Overseas Port Holding Company(COPHC).
Ministry of Commerce, and Federal Bureau of Revenue have
approved the clearance of Afghan Transit Cargo arriving at Gwadar International
Terminal after the confirmation that the trade related infrastructure at
Gwadar port is ready to handle bulk cargoes to and from Afghanistan.
Hailed the approval as a milestone event that has been long
expected for many years, Zhang Baozhong said excitedly that, “It has
been 18 years since Gwadar
Port was constructed, and
the day it wields its power in bringing economic benefits finally comes!”
Zhang hinted the first transit cargo that ships 15,000 tons
of chemical fertilizer will arrive at Gwadar port on October 20, signaling
Gwadar port has set sail as the most competitive port in transit of Afghan
Cargo.
According to the Ministry of Commerce, the bulk cargoes
imported at Gwadar
Port for onward transit
to
Afghanistan will be
transported in containers after stuffing/loading the same into containers of
international specifications.
A team responsible for clearance of Afghan Transit cargo has
also been established to fulfill the according duties, citing an office order
by the FBR. A sub-committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Maritime
Affairs at a meeting held last week acknowledged that Gwadar
Port’s main competitors would be
Singapore and Dubai ports, since
incentives such as no cargo demurrage charges and three months storage
facility would surely divert business to Gwadar.
Official data showed that Pakistan is regaining its share in
the Afghan transit trade as flow of cargoes rose 43.95 per cent to 93,732
containers in 2018-19 from 60,516 containers in the preceding year.
The assessed import value of the transit cargoes also grew a
robust 54.88pc to $5.715 billion in 2018-19 from $3.97bn a year earlier.(Additional Input From INP)
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has decided to form a committee under Defence Minister Pervez Khattak to hold talks with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F).
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, while briefing media about the core committee meeting of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said that the meeting has decided to constitute a committee to hold dialogues with JUI-F.
“Defence Minister Pervez Khattak-led committee will hold negotiations with JUI-F to defuse political tension and restrain it from holding Azadi March,” he added.
FM Qureshi said that Pakistan was fighting Kashmir’s case at international forums and striving hard to address the economic issues.
“Pakistan will continue its diplomatic support for their cause and raise the matter on all relevant forums.”
“Kashmiris are looking towards Pakistan in this time of dire need. We should give a strong message to the world over Kashmir issue by showing unity,” he added.
The foreign minister said that the meeting has also decided to conduct local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab without delay.
“The first phase of local government elections will start from February 2020. The government wants to solve grass-root issues at grass root levels,” he continued. (With additional input from INP)
SRINAGAR: In occupied Kashmir, Indian troops martyred three Kashmiri youth in Islamabad district as military siege and communications lockdown in the Kashmir Valley and Muslim majority areas of Jammu region entered 73rd successive day on Wednesday.
The youth were killed in a fake encounter by the India troops during cordon and search operations at Pazalpora area of the district.
Although the voice call service on post-paid mobile phones has partially been restored, yet the situation is far from normal. Mobile internet and broadband as well as about two million phones using prepaid SIM cards continue to remain suspended.
Shops in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley usually open only for a couple of hours in the morning and evening to restock supplies, keeping shutters down during the day.
Public transport continues to remain mostly absent and only private vehicles and those with special permits can be seen on the roads. Offices remain almost empty and there are virtually no students in schools and colleges which reopened recently.
Many believe that the continued lockdown is due to popular anger at India’s Aug 5 unilateral action, comparing it to a campaign of civil disobedience.
Observers say the mood in the valley continues to remain sullen and defiant, adding there is certain spontaneity with the way people have reacted. They maintain there is a lot of resentment, a sense of humiliation at the way things have been done and people have been completely disconnected from the world and each other as well.
A media report said that a number of new checkpoints have been installed in different areas of Srinagar where the forces are checking vehicles, adding many new bunkers have also been established in Srinagar city in the last few weeks. (With additional input from INP)
ISLAMABAD: Director General (SA & SAARC), Dr. Muhammad Faisal has summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner Mr. Gaurav Ahluwalia again on Wednesday and condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian occupation forces along the Line of Control (LoC) in Nezapir Sector on Tuesday.
Due to indiscriminate and unprovoked firing by Indian Army in Nezapir Sector of LoC, three innocent civilians, Ghulam Qaider s/o Lal Din 55 years, Mariam Bibi 12 years and Haider Ali 10 years, residents of village Kirni, embraced shahadat, while eight others, including women and children, sustained serious injuries.
The Indian occupation forces along the LoC and Working boundary have continuously been targeting civilian populated areas with artillery fire, heavy-caliber mortars, and automatic weapons, which still continues. This unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by India is continuing from the year 2017 when the Indian forces committed 1970 ceasefire violations.
The deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity, international human rights and humanitarian laws.
The ceasefire violations by India are a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation.
The Director General (SA & SAARC) urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 Ceasefire arrangement; investigate these and other incidents of ceasefire violations; instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC and the Working Boundary.
He urged that the Indian side should permit UNMOGIP to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions. (With additional input from INP)
Islamabad: Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), the country’s leading telecom and ICT services provider, has announced its financial results for the nine months’ period ended September 30, 2019 at its Board of Directors’ meeting held in Islamabad on Wednesday.
PTCL Group’s revenue for the nine months has grown year-on-year (YoY) by 4.5% to Rs. 98 billion. Ufone revenue has increased 6% YoY, UBank, a microfinance banking subsidiary of PTCL, has shown significant growth of 50% in its revenue over last year. PTCL Group’s operating profit and net profit for the nine months have decreased by 15% and 32% respectively as a result of high inflation, significant devaluation of PKR against USD and higher power tariffs.
PTCL revenue of Rs. 53.8 billion for the nine months is slightly higher than last year by 0.4%. PTCL’s flagship Fixed Broadband services posted revenue growth of 5%. PTCL continues its journey to upgrade its top revenue generating exchanges under Network Transformation Project (NTP) in different parts of Pakistan.
For the 95 exchanges fully transformed to date in 12 cities, YoY revenue growth is even higher at 12% and there is a 35% reduction in customer complaints. Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH), deployed in major cities with more than 100,000 lines, has received a positive response from customers.
Corporate, Wholesale and International businesses continued their growth momentum from 2018 and has achieved 7% overall revenue growth. PTCL has entered into strategic partnership with a local telecom operator for its network expansion, with edotco to enhance Pakistan’s connectivity capabilities and Irdeto for Wi-Fi management and parental control functionalities.
Wireless revenue for the period has declined on YoY basis due to strong competition by the cellular companies providing wireless data services. There is continued decline in voice revenues due to continued conversion of subscribers to OTT, cellular services and illegal/grey traffic termination resulting in declining voice traffic volumes.
PTCL has posted a Net Profit after Tax of Rs. 5.5 billion for the nine months which is 14% higher than same period of last year. Operating profit for the period remained under pressure compared to last year mainly due to increase in operating cost on account of significant hike in power tariffs and currency devaluation. However, non-operating income has increased due to higher income on investments as a result of increase in interest rates and translation gain on forex based assets.
VIS Credit Rating Company Limited (VIS) has reaffirmed entity rating of PTCL of “AAA” (Triple A) and short term rating of “A-1+” (A-One Plus). The medium to long-term rating of ‘AAA’ denotes highest credit quality, with negligible risk factors, being only slightly more than for risk-free debt of Government of Pakistan.
The assigned ratings reflect PTCL’s leading market position, extensive network infrastructure, strong financial risk profile and adequate business risk profile. Ratings also incorporate strong sponsor profile with majority shareholding of 62% vested with the Government of Pakistan and 26% stake along with management control being held by Etisalat International Pakistan, a 90% owned subsidiary of Etisalat Group.
This year, PTCL portrayed its connection with the people of Pakistan through our Independence Day campaign TVC that was viewed more than 7 million times on social media platforms. The main theme of the TVC was along the lines that PTCL is the backbone of connectivity in Pakistan and a company trusted by customers for their daily connectivity needs in turn trusts PTCL to enable provision of these services.
As part of ‘Clean & Green Pakistan Movement’, PTCL undertook beautification, renovation and re-landscaping of 3 main places in the capital city. PTCL participated to support the startups incubated at National Incubation Center (NIC) Karachi at a special graduation ceremony, at NED University Karachi, for the first cohort of startups.
PTCL held a special ceremony to commemorate Defense Day, observe solidarity with the people of Kashmir and pay tribute to the families of martyrs who lost their lives protecting the motherland.
ISLAMABAD: The Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms informed that the government is trying to achieve the target of sustainable GDP by controlling fiscal deficit, improving balance of payment, increasing exports through improving domestic production and decreasing imports in a meeting on Wednesday
The 6th meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Reform was held with MNA Junaid Akbar in chair.
The Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms briefed about salient features of the draft 12th five years plan and suggested that the Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Reform and Standing Committee on Finance & Revenue may examine and suggest valuable opinions on draft plan before finalizing.
For improvement in domestic productivity the Government is planning to pay special attention towards agriculture sector, small medium enterprises (SME) and large scale manufacturing. He also invited the Committee to visit the Ministry for detailed briefing on the PSDP.
The Committee discussed the compliance report regarding the recommendations of the previous meeting; the committee was not satisfied with the reply of Ministry regarding Mansehra Airport. The Committee constituted a Sub-Committee to examine the Mansehra Airport Project, under the convener-ship of Mr. Saleh Muhammad alongwith two committee members. The Ministry submitted comprehensive analysis on last three 5 years Plans.
The Committee recommended that the pending issues relating to devolved ministries may be resolved at the earliest by the Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination with consultation of Cabinet Division. The Director General (Works) CDA briefed the Committee about construction of additional family suits for the members of Parliament.
The Committee appreciated the KPK Government for inclusion of Marble City Buner Project in the Provincial Development Programme 2019-20 on the recommendation of National Assembly Standing Committee.
Members/MNAs Sher Akbar Khan, Saleh Muhammad, Shaukat Ali, Syed Faiz Ul Hassan, Nawab Sher, Dr Seemi Bukhari, Muhammad Sajjad, Sardar Muhammad IrfanDogar, Ms Shaza Fatima Khawaja, NaveedDero, Syed Agha Rafiullah, Abdul Shakoor, Minister, Secretary and senior officers from the Ministry of Planning, Development & Reform, CDA, Civil Aviation and representative of Provincial Governments attended the meeting. (With additional input from INP)
ISLAMABAD: Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Prince William and Kate Middleton, on the third day of their five-day trip, visited the foothills of the Hindu Kush mountain range to witness the devastating effects of climate change, which is one of the key areas of focus of their visit.
Google Image
Earlier on Wednesday, the royals arrived in Chitral, where they were gifted traditional hats and a book of photos commemorating the trip of Princess Diana, who visited the valley in 1991.
Google Image
“Fantastic,” the prince remarked as he sifted through the pages of the book. The residents also gifted an embroidered coat to Prince William and a shawl to Middleton.
The couple visited Chiatibo Glacier in Hindu Kush mountain range in Chitral to witness effects of climate change and consequences of global warming, said PTI on its official Twitter account.
The duke and duchess arrived in Pakistan on Monday night on their maiden visit. Their second day was a busy one, which started with a visit to a girl’s college in the capital and then Margalla Hills, where they attended an event regarding environmental protection. The couple was hosted by President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan at the Aiwan-i-Sadr and Prime Minister House, respectively.
In the evening, they attended a glitzy reception, hosted by British High Commissioner to Pakistan Thomas Drew, at the National Monument where William, in his first official address, paid tribute to all the people who “endured sacrifice and helped build Pakistan to the country it is today”. (With additional input from INP)
