BELGRADE: An important breakthrough in the relations of Pakistan and Afghanistan took place when the Speakers of both countries decided to hold bilateral talks at parliamentary levels to promote cooperation and understanding as well as to evolve trust based strategy for fostering people-to-people contacts.
The development took place when the Speaker National Assembly, Asad Qaiser met with his Afghan Counterpart, Mr. Rahman Rahmani on the on the margins of the 141st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Belgrade, Serbia.
The Afghan Speaker appreciated the efforts of the government and parliament of Pakistan for improving the state-of-affairs between the two countries and also lauded the initiatives of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan in expanding the scope of cooperation by opening up the Torkham Border for 24/7 trade operations.
Asad Qaiser informed the Afghan Speaker that the National Assembly of Pakistan was ready to offer its services for enhancing the capacity of the Afghan Parliamentarians and Parliamentary Officials through the platform of Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS). He further extended an invitation to the Afghan Speaker for leading a parliamentary delegation to Pakistan to discuss the outstanding bilateral issues including the relaxation in visa regime as well as expansion of trade and commerce activities between the two countries.
While informing the Afghan delegation on the Indian brutalities in the IOJ&K, the Speaker NA also urged the Afghan Speaker to play his due role in normalizing the situation in the Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir which is under siege for last 72 days in order to avoid a humanitarian crisis in the region.
The maiden meeting between the Speakers of the two countries proved instrumental in paving way for relations and continued cooperation through parliamentary platforms. (With additional input from INP)
ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has awarded the contract for Service Road (North) of Sector E-12 in Islamabad and directed the contractor to mobilize all machinery by Sunday.
On the instructions of CDA, the contractor has set up a site office in Sector E-12 and work would be started in the couple of days.
The tender for the Service Road (North) of Sector E-12 was published in the newspaper on September 12, 2019, in response of which 16 construction companies participated in the bidding. M/s Shabir Ahmed & Brothers gave the lowest bid which was 30% below the estimated cost Rs.139.228 million. After fulfillment of codal formalities and approval from competent forum contract awarded to the lowest bidding company as offered 97.107 (million) rupees.
The contractor will not only construct the entire Service Road (North) dualize, but also scoop of work including three culvert and drainage network on this road in the first step, because of the full development of Sector E-12 at the 45th meeting of CDA-DWP has already been approved the PC-I amounting to Rs.6630.2 million, by which all the infrastructure of Sector E-12, including electrification.
It is pertinent to mention here that sector E-12 remained stalled for three (03) decades due to which the plot allottees were facing difficulties. Incumbent management of the Authority, after prioritizing the development of the sector not only carried out massive operations to vacate land from illegal occupants but also completed codal formalities during a short time spam and approved the Rs.6630.2 million PC-I, due to continuous and efficient efforts, construction of Service Road (North) has been made possible, and construction work will start in the next few days. (With additional input from INP)
ISLAMABAD: President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) Muhammad Ahmed Waheed Saturday said that Jinnah Super Market was one of the important commercial centers of Islamabad and represented the face of the federal capital where foreign clients often used to visit for shopping, therefore, CDA and MCI should focus on the development of this market on modern lines to facilitate the growth of business activities.
He said this while addressing a delegation of Traders Welfare Association (TWA), Jinnah Super Market, Islamabad that visited ICCI led by its President Malik Rab Nawaz. Tahir Abbasi Senior Vice President and Saif ur Rahman Khan Vice President ICCI were also present at the occasion. Asad Aziz Senior Vice President, Ch. Ashraf Vice President, Abdul Rehman Siddiqui Secretary General, Fasih Ullah Khan Joint Secretary, Abrar Ahmed Finance Secretary, Abdul Malik Press Secretary and others were in the delegation.
Muhammad Ahmed Waheed said that CDA had constructed a parking in Jinnah Super by spending millions of rupees, but it was not made operational as yet due to which traders were unable to utilize it. He said that CDA should provide lights, security guards, sanitation staff and other facilities for parking to make it operational. He assured the delegation that ICCI would fully cooperate for resolving key issues of Jinnah Super Market.
Speaking at the occasion, Malik Rab Nawaz President and Abdul Rehman Siddiqui Secretary General, Traders Welfare Association, Jinnah Super, Islamabad said that due to absence of rent law, traders were always feeling insecure as they could be evicted from shops any time. They stressed that government should arrange the early passage of amended bill from the parliament for promulgation of a balanced rent control act in Islamabad. They said that CDA has not done any development work in Jinnah Super for the last many years due to which traders were facing problems.
They office bearers of TWA said that footpaths in Jinnah Super were broken while sewerage system and sanitation arrangements were in pathetic condition and urged that CDA and MCI should look into these issues for urgent redress. They said whenever transformer burnt in the market, IESCO was not repairing it on time. They called upon the CDA, MCI and IESCO to address the key issues of Jinnah Super market to facilitate the growth of trade activities.
Tahir Abbasi Senior Vice President, Saif ur Rahman Khan Vice President ICCI, Zubair Ahmed Malik Group Chairman, Muhammad Ejaz Abbasi Vice President FPCCI, Zafar Bakhtawari, Khalid Chaudhry and others also spoke at the occasion and stressed upon need of better development of Jinnah Super Market, Islamabad. (With additional input from INP)
ISLAMABAD: The number of Dengue patients across the country crossed 50,000 on Saturday as health officials struggled to handle with the deadly epidemic on a mass scale.
According to health department report, at least 250 people have already died of dengue in different parts of the country over the past few weeks. The twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad are the worst-hit areas.
Health officials estimate that at least 25,000 people in the twin cities have tested positive for the dengue virus recently. In the two big hospitals of Islamabad alone, some 8,000 dengue cases have been identified.
Health departments has confirmed at least 35 deaths from the dengue virus in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. On Friday, another death was reported from the Morgah area of the Rawalpindi city.
Reports suggest that at least 750 dengue patients are currently undergoing treatment at different hospitals in the twin cities, where the health staff taking care of them numbers only 35.
At least 150 law enforcement officials have also fallen victim to the dengue virus. Authorities are not revealing the correct figures out of fear of a backlash by the general public.
Meanwhile, Thousands more people reportedly tested positive for dengue in Punjab.
The officials from the provincial health department of Punjab detailed that the tally mounts to 5650 for dengue patients this year including 140 new cases were reported in Rawalpindi, 24 in Lahore so far.
The health department had elaborated that the surveillance teams had checked more than 274,320 places in rural parts and overall 76,580 urban places to detect dengue larvae.
The teams had registered around 124 cases over finding the presence of dengue larvae besides arresting 37 people, the department had said.
As many as 167 fresh cases of dengue fever have been reported during the last 24 hours in Karachi. Last week, two people died of dengue in Karachi, taking the death toll of people dying from the deadly disease to 14 in the metropolis.
According to the Dengue Surveillance Cell the number of patients infected with dengue fever in Karachi has crossed 1500 this month.
In 10 days of this October 1517 people were infected with dengue virus, the cell said in its report.
Overall 4,563 people were infected with the dengue virus in current year in the metropolis.
According to the report, 16 patients of dengue fever died in Sindh, as the overall 4858 patients have been reported so far across the province this year.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa the provincial government was taking preventive measures including separate wards in all government hospitals for dengue patients. (With additional input from INP)
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Saturday fixed imprisoned former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s petition in the Al-Azizia reference for hearing on October 29.
The IHC’s registrar office has issued a cause list according to which a two-member bench comprising Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani will conduct the hearing.
It is pertinent here to mention that Nawaz Sharif had filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court against his sentence in the Al-Azizia case. In his miscellaneous plea, the erstwhile premier had requested the court to hear his stance over judge Arshad Malik’s affidavit.
The application further asked the court to make five persons – including the British expert who conducted forensic audit of the judge’s video – as court witnesses.
The IHC had summoned a written reply from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) after issuing a notice over Nawaz Sharif’s plea. The former PM and Nasir Butt – a character involved in Arshad Malik’s video scandal – had filed miscellaneous petitions after the footage was made public.
Furthermore, attested copies of judge Arshad Malik’s affidavit and press release were provided to all parties of the case over the court’s directions.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday called out the international media for continuing to give “headline coverage” to the ongoing Hong Kong protests but “ignoring the dire human rights crisis” in occupied Jammu & Kashmir.
“I am puzzled as to how international media continues to give headline coverage to Hong Kong protests but ignores the dire human rights crisis in IOJK — an internationally recognised disputed territory illegally annexed by India with 900,000 troops imposing a siege on 8 million Kashmiris [contd] for over 2 months, with a complete blackout of communications, thousands imprisoned — including [the] entire spectrum of political leadership plus children — and a growing humanitarian crisis,” the premier wrote on Twitter.
I am puzzled as to how international media continues to give headline coverage to Hongkong protests but ignores the dire human rights crisis in IOJK – an internationally recognised disputed territory illegally annexed by India with 900k troops imposing a siege on 8mn Kashmiris
“In IOJK, 100,000 Kashmiris have been killed over 30 years fighting for their right to self-determination as committed to them by the international community through UN Security Council resolutions,” he added.
Prime Minister Imran will participate in formation of a human chain today to show solidarity with the people of occupied Kashmir who have been facing curfew for over two months.
The chain would be made after Friday prayers. It will start from D-Chowk and the premier will join it at Gate No 1 of Prime Minister Office.
PTI chief organiser Saifullah Niazi has directed party workers to reach D-Chowk to form the human chain. (With additional input from INP)
ISLAMABAD: The commission formed by the federal government to revise the master plan of Islamabad has proposed relaxation in rules for setting up housing societies in the capital.
Sources said the commission proposed changes to the ‘rigid’ rules and from now housing schemes could be developed on 200 kanals instead of the earlier 400 kanal minimum requirement.
The commission will present its draft report before the federal cabinet soon. It proposed that the CDA should allow developers to set up housing schemes on 200 kanals subject to fulfillment of planning parameters.
The sources said the commission members at their last meeting held on Oct 4 observed that because of the ‘rigid’ rules housing societies had been avoiding getting no-objection certificates (NOC) from the CDA that resulted into unauthorised construction.
Draft report says minimum requirement of 400 kanals be reduced to 200 kanals.
Currently, there are over 100 unauthorised housing schemes in the capital and owners of majority of them have also sold out the land which was initially reserved for green areas, amenities, schools and parks.
The civic agency never took any serious action on time rather in most of the cases kept itself restricted to issuing only ‘notices’ to the violators.
On the other hand, the citizens who purchased plots in housing schemes are now suffering because of the illegal status of the housing schemes. On the recommendations of the CDA, utility companies are also not providing them gas and electricity connections.
Some CDA officials said that in many housing schemes the owners had been facing shortage of the required 400 kanals and after selling the available plots had left the projects abandoned, causing problems for those who had purchased plots there.
A senior officer of the CDA confirmed that from now a housing scheme could be developed on 200 kanals. He, however, said as per the set standards a housing scheme should be developed on 400 kanals. But in those cases where owners do not have 400 kanals, they would be allowed to develop a scheme on 200 kanals. But they will have to leave the amenity land in accordance with the formula of 400 kanals.
“Personally, I support the commission’s decision. Now, the housing schemes have a fair chance of developing societies on 200 kanals as earlier it was practically difficult for them to acquire a 400 kanal compact piece of land in the capital,” he said.
Meanwhile, the commission also recommended one more storey in all commercial centres which are already facing the issue of parking. However, CDA officials said plaza owners who would add a new storey would provide the required parking space. (With additional input from INP)
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday said that economic stability was the top most priority of his government, a private news channel reported.
Presiding over a meeting of his economic team in Islamabad, PM Imran emphasized upon a strong economic system and added that the system will restore investors’ confidence, create new jobs and help boost local industries in the country.
Talking about closed industrial units, the prime minister directed to evolve a comprehensive plan within 60 days to restore the units. He directed the concerned authorities to complete reforms in connection with the closed industrial units at the earliest.
Pakistani Prime Minister chairs meeting of the economic team at Islamabad. (PID)
Speaking on the occasion, PM Imran directed to include private sector in small and medium-sized enterprises. The prime minister directed his economic team to provide every possible facility to investors and take measures for ease of doing business in the country.
On the occasion, PM Imran directed Advisor to the PM on Economy and Finance Abdul Hafeez Sheikh to present a comprehensive strategy in this regard by next week. (With additional input from INP)
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday rejected four applications filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) seeking secrecy during the scrutiny of its foreign funding sources.
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sardar Mohammad Raza also instructed the scrutiny committee to continue its work and instructed PTI representatives to appear before the committee on Oct 14.
PTI’s founding member Akbar S. Babar had filed the case in 2014, alleging that nearly $3 million in illegal foreign funds were collected through two offshore companies and that money was sent through illegal ‘hundi’ channels from the Middle East to accounts of ‘PTI employees’. He had also alleged that the foreign accounts used to collect funds were concealed from the annual audit reports submitted to the ECP.
A scrutiny committee was formed in March last year to complete an audit of PTI’s funding sources in one month. Its mandate was later extended for an indefinite period.
In a previous hearing on Oct 1, the ECP bench had reserved its verdict on PTI’s applications after listening to the arguments of the various parties to the case.
Speaking to media after the verdict was announced, Babar said that the process of the scrutiny of PTI’s funding would be brought to its logical conclusion. He said that the funding case against PTI would reveal the true facts to people and clarified that he did not have any personal enmity with Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Dissident founding member of the PTI Babar had filed the foreign funding case before the ECP in 2014 after he developed differences with PTI Chairman Imran Khan over alleged internal corruption and abuse of laws governing political funding.
The petitioner and former PTI Central Vice President said the petition filed in November 2014 seeks findings on sources of PTI funds in all PTI bank accounts operated in and outside Pakistan, revealed or concealed before the ECP.
He said the details of accounts should include the 23 bank accounts all over Pakistan requisitioned by the State Bank of Pakistan that includes two PTI Lloyds bank accounts operated in the UK, one company registered in Australia with the title ‘Insaf Australia Incorporated’, two companies registered in the U.S. under the signatures of PTI Chairman Imran Khan besides funding details from Denmark, and the Middle East.
Akbar S. Babar stated that he has no personal enmity with PM Imran Khan. “We started this journey of reform together. It was only when I found that the PTI had deviated from its founding ideals that I challenged Imran Khan as my loyalty to Pakistan comes first”. He said until political parties first clean up their act and become transparent and accountable under the law, there can be no change in Pakistan.
He added that the last one year of PTI rule had proved his stance that without merit, accountability and transparency, political parties would remain a mere tool to climb the power ladder, lacking the capacity, competence, and commitment to deliver any good to society.
For over a year, the proceedings of the case were delayed in the ECP as the PTI had filed a writ petition in October 2015 in the Islamabad High Court seeking to restrain the ECP from scrutinising its accounts.
In February 2017, the IHC had remanded the case back to the ECP for a fresh review of its jurisdiction. On May 8 of the same year, a full bench of the ECP had once again declared its complete jurisdiction over the matter and stated that the PTI had failed to produce any evidence that the petitioner had been expelled from the party and hence lost the right to question the PTI’s accounts.
In March 2018, a scrutiny committee had been formed to look into PTI’s foreign funding accounts to ascertain any wrongdoing. (With additional input from INP)
BEIJING: Prime Minister Imran Khan met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing and discussed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, regional situation and matters of mutual interests.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Imran thanked the Chinese president and his government for its principled stand on the occupied Kashmir issue.
The prime minister also briefed the Chinese president about Pakistan’s present situation and said the country has come out of the difficult economic situation and will never forget China’s financial cooperation in this regard.
PM Imran further said China has never asked anything for its support against our national interest and helped the country without any conditionality.
He added that China provided Pakistan an opportunity to come out of very difficult economic situation and appreciated the Chinese support under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework.
The Chinese president lauded PM Imran for speaking on China-Pakistan relations during the UN General Assembly’s session.
He said both countries enjoyed close friendly relations and cooperated with each other in different fields.
Leaders of the two countries had in-depth exchange of views on a wide range of bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest. Meetings were marked by traditional warmth, mutual understanding and strategic trust. Prime Minister Imran Khan also attended the Closing Ceremony of the Beijing Horticulture Expo 2019 as a chief guest.
Prime Minister Imran Khan congratulated the Chinese leadership and people on the 70th Anniversary of founding of the People’s Republic of China. He felicitated China for its remarkable growth and underscored that the reform and opening up process of China was a model for developing countries. He maintained that the steady march of the Chinese nation under its visionary leadership towards national rejuvenation was becoming a reality.
Recalling the Joint Statement of November 4, 2018, which outlined the important bilateral consensus between Pakistan and China, the two sides reaffirmed their firm resolve to further strengthening Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership aimed at building a Community of Shared Future in the New Era.
Stressing that the close ties, deep-rooted friendship and strategic partnership between Pakistan and China served the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples, and contributed to peace, stability and development in the regional atmosphere, the two sides reaffirmed their support on issues concerning each other’s core interests.
Chinese leaders reiterated solidarity with Pakistan in safeguarding its territorial sovereignty, independence and security. The Pakistan side reaffirmed its commitment to the One China Policy. Supporting One Country Two Systems, Pakistan reiterated that affairs of Hong Kong were China’s internal matter and all countries should uphold international law and basic norms of non-interference in internal affairs of other countries.
The Pakistan side briefed the Chinese side on the regional situation of Jammu and Kashmir, including its concerns, position, and current urgent issues.
The Chinese side responded that it was paying close attention to the current situation in Jammu & Kashmir and reiterated that the Kashmir issue is a dispute left from history, and should be properly and peacefully resolved based on the UN Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements.
China opposes any unilateral actions that complicate the regional situation. The two sides underlined that a peaceful, stable, cooperative and prosperous South Asia was in common interest of all parties. Parties need to settle disputes and issues in the region through dialogue on the basis of equality and mutual respect.
Pakistan side underscored that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a transformational project. A CPEC Authority was established to oversee the expeditious implementation of CPEC projects. Both sides maintained that the second phase of CPEC will promote industrial and socio-economic development in Pakistan. Pakistan side also underlined that the Gwadar Port has been granted various facilities enabling it to become a trade and logistical hub for the region. The two sides expressed determination to speedily execute CPEC so that its growth potential can be fully realized making it a high-quality demonstration project for BRI.
The two sides maintained that the ninth session of the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) to be held in November in Islamabad would further fast-track implementation of the ongoing projects and explore new avenues of cooperation, including ML-1. The two sides underlined that Chinese investment in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and collaboration in SME sector would further expand Pakistan’s industrial base and diversify its export base.
Both sides agreed to jointly study identified projects by the Pakistan side in power, petroleum, gas, agriculture, industrial and infrastructure sectors. Those projects were entrusted to the concerned Joint Working Groups (JWGs) for deliberation and subsequent consideration by the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC).
The two sides held in-depth exchange of views on deepening bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, finance, defence and security, education, agriculture, social sector, people-to-people contacts and cultural linkages. Both sides renewed their commitment to reinforce sister-city ties and were happy to note that a major event was being organized in Islamabad in November 2019 to deepen cultural cooperation and people-to-people ties between the two countries.
Both sides underlined that educational links between the two countries were becoming stronger. Prime Minister Imran Khan thanked Chinese leadership for providing opportunities to Pakistani students to study in China. He hoped that those students will play an important role in further deepening historic and deep-rooted ties between the two iron brothers.
Prime Minister Imran Khan thanked the Chinese leadership for China’s consistent support for Pakistan’s economic development. The two sides agreed that early implementation of the Second Phase of the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement would contribute to increase in bilateral trade. Both sides agreed to take full advantage of the China-Pakistan Joint Economic and Trade Commission to achieve balanced and sustainable development of bilateral economic and trade cooperation.
The leaders reviewed the excellent bilateral defence cooperation and agreed to further strength this cooperation in the areas of military exercises, training cooperation, personnel exchanges, and equipment and technology cooperation.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and called on all countries to strengthen international cooperation on counter-terrorism. China appreciated Pakistan’s unrelenting efforts and tremendous sacrifices in countering terrorism. It supported Pakistan in implementing its National Action Plan and called on the international community to objectively recognize Pakistan’s contributions to regional peace and security through its success in fight against terrorism.
Both sides expressed satisfaction over the close cooperation between the two countries at multilateral fora and resolved to deepen strategic coordination and consultation. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and support for multilateralism and win-win cooperation. (With additional input from INP)
