12 members of Gilgit-Baltistan cabinet takes oath
GILGIT ,Jul 18 (APP): 12 members of the Gilgit-Baltistan cabinet took the oath of their offices. Governor Gilgit-Baltistan Syed Mehdi Shah administered the oath of office to the ministers.
The oath-taking ceremony was held at Governor House Gilgit. In this important ceremony, Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan Haji Gulbar Khan, Deputy Speaker Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly Sadia Danish, members of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, senior officials of government departments, political workers and civil society people participated.
President approves Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill 2023
ISLAMABAD, Jul 18 (APP):President Dr Arif Alvi on Tuesday gave assent to the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill 2023.
The Bill is aimed at amending the Anti-Electronic Crimes Act 2016, Pakistan Penal Code 1860, and Qanun-e-Shahadat 1984.
The president approved the Bill on the prime minister’s advice under Article-75 of the constitution.
PSX loses 33 points
ISLAMABAD, Jul 18 (APP): The 100-index of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Tuesday lost 33.27 points, a negative change of 0.07 percent, closing at 45,009.34 points against 45,042.61 points the previous trading day.
A total of 254,960,671 shares were traded during the day as compared to 314,785,498 shares the previous day, whereas the price of shares stood at Rs 7.322 billion against Rs 6.770 billion on the last trading day.
As many as 332 companies transacted their shares in the stock market; 117 of them recorded gains and 193 sustained losses, whereas the share price of 22 companies remained unchanged.
The three top-trading companies were Bank of Punjab with 29,935,500 shares at Rs 4.05 per share; WorldCall Telecom with 22,845,944 shares at Rs.1.32 per share and Haves Home Appl with 8,599,500 shares at Rs.6.37 per share.
Colgate Palm witnessed a maximum increase of Rs 74.59 per share price, closing at Rs 1,619.92, whereas the runner-up was Sapphire Tex with an Rs 74.48 rise in its per share price to Rs 1,124.99.
Khairpur Sugar witnessed a maximum decrease of Rs 21.90 per share closing at Rs 270.10; followed by Pak Services with Rs 20.01 decline to close at Rs 749.99.
PM stresses upon efforts to facilitate overseas Pakistanis with IT-related initiatives
ISLAMABAD, July 18 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday stressed the need of making efforts to facilitate the overseas Pakistanis with the introduction of different information technology-related initiatives.
Addressing an inauguration ceremony of the launch of ‘Online Temporary Mobile Registration System for the overseas Pakistanis and Foreign Nationals’, the prime minister termed the initiative a good step to facilitate millions of overseas Pakistanis, by enabling them to get registration of their mobile phones during their visit to Pakistan and without paying any taxes.
He maintained that the facility would enable the overseas Pakistan to use their mobile phones for a period of four months after registration on their visit to Pakistan.
The prime minister also advised the relevant authorities to streamline the process and hinted that a financial package for the overseas Pakistanis would be announced by the government in the coming days.
He opined that the developed countries had made strides in the IT sector and Pakistan possessed immense talent as millions of younger people were getting IT education.
He stressed that the vast opportunities in the IT sector should be fully tapped.
The ceremony was attended by ministers, parliamentarians and relevant authorities.
The prime minister said that under PM’s Youth programmes, a huge chunk of funds had been set aside to imparting vocational and skills development education to the youth besides, the laptops were being given to the students on merit.
Stressing upon the promotion of IT sector, he viewed the growth of IT sector, exploration of minerals and development of the agriculture sector as the main ingredients of the country’s economy.
He advised the authorities to expedite the work on IT park and said with the realization of these IT-related projects, the country would make progress by leaps and bounds.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for IT and Communication Syed Aminul Haque highlighted the efforts of the ministry in the introduction of the facility under the vision of the prime minister for a digital Pakistan.
For the first time in Pakistan’s history, he said, the smartphones were imported by the country.
A member of PTA apprised that the online facilitation system for overseas Pakistanis would be equipped with three linkages.
The overseas Pakistanis, students, foreign tourists and labourers could avail of the facilitation. Overseas could avail of the facility for a period of 120 days, he added.
Rupee sheds Rs3.78 against US Dollar
ISLAMABAD, Jul 18 (APP): Pakistani Rupee on Tuesday witnessed Rs3.78 devaluation against the US Dollar in the interbank trading as it closed at Rs283.04 against the previous day’s closing of Rs279.26.
However, according to the Forex Association of Pakistan (FAP), the buying and selling rates of dollars in the open market stood at Rs281 and Rs284.2 respectively.
The price of the Euro increased by Rs4.45 to close at Rs 318.36 against the last day’s closing of Rs 313.91, according to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
The Japanese Yen went up by 03 paisa to close at Rs2.04, whereas an increase of Rs4.65 was witnessed in the exchange rate of the British Pound, which traded at Rs370.32 as compared to its last day’s closing of Rs365.67.
The exchange rates of the Emirates Dirham and the Saudi Riyal increased by Rs1.02 and Rs1.01 to close at Rs77.05 and Rs74.44, respectively.
Pakistan to utilize Chinese expertise to boost exports, operate SEZs: Ahsan Iqbal
ISLAMABAD, Jul 18 (APP): Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday said China would provide Pakistan with technical ‘know-how’ and expertise to increase exports and help successful execution of the Special Economic Zones (SEZs), under the CPEC project.
“We have requested China not to give us fish, [but] teach us how to catch the fish. Pakistan wants Chinese assistance to increase its exports and in successful execution of the SEZs. So China has promised to attach its experts [with quarters concerned in Pakistan],” he said while addressing an international seminar here.
The seminar titled “China-Pakistan Economic Corridor at Ten: A Gateway to Regional Connectivity,” was organized by Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI).
IPRI President Ambassador Dr Raza Muhammad, Director Pakistan Institute of China Studies (PICS) Sargodha University Fazul ur Rehman, former SAPM on CPEC Affairs Khalid Mansoor, Director China Institute of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR) Dr Hu ShiSheng and Sohail Malik of Team Lead Climate Resourcing Coordination Center (CRC) 
among the leading speakers who spoke at a panel discussion of the seminar and highlighted significance of China-Pakistan relations besides various aspects of the game-changer CPEC project.
The panel discussion was moderated by Assistant Professor, Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU) Dr Salma Malik.
The minister said China had a vast experience in these sectors as it itself attained economic progress by increasing exports and establish vibrant industrial units besides having global chains for marketing its products.
Ahsan Iqbal said Pakistan needed export-oriented policies if wanted to have sustainable economic growth, stressing for clamping ‘export emergency’ to get exponential exports not incremental ones.
He also highlighted the importance to have surplus production of various items to increase the country’s exports as otherwise it could cause ‘local market distortion.”
“Next phase of the CPEC is business-to-business cooperation, not the government-to-government. Now we have to move towards industrial cooperation”, he added.
Elaborating, the minister said first phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, initiated in 2013, was the infrastructure development by 2022, the second phase was industrialization from 2020 to 2025 and the third one was regional integration from 2025-30.
He said the incumbent government had revived the CPEC project, which faced slow-pace during the four years of the PTI government, expressing confidence it would be game changer not only for Pakistan but the whole region.
Now, he said Gulf countries were showing keen interest to invest in diverse fields of Pakistan including agriculture, mining, information technology and energy, for which a Special Investment Facilitation Council had been set up.
The minister said the country needed at least 10-year policy consistency to get the fruits of any development project.
During 2013-18, Ahsan Iqbal said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz achieved great progress in the energy sector and produced around 11500 megawatts of additional electricity under the CPEC and non-CPEC projects and pulled the country out of 18-20 hours of load-shedding.
Now, the incumbent government under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also put the country on a path of economic stability and started completing the CPEC project at a faster pace.
He mentioned the CPEC projects in detail which helped in producing energy by different means, establishing a vibrant road and rail infrastructure across the country, special economic zones and laying of fiber optic cable for high-speed broadband services in remote areas and social welfare projects especially in Gwadar, an ultimate destination of the CPEC.
The minister said the CPEC had emerged as one of Pakistan’s most successful and transformative projects, ushering in a new era of regional connectivity and economic prosperity.
Recalling the inception of CPEC, Ahsan Iqbal highlighted that the project was proposed after the 2013 elections in Pakistan when the Chinese Premier extended the visionary concept to the newly elected Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
This led to the signing of a memorandum of understanding during Nawaz Sharif’s visit to China in July 2013, establishing the joint coordination cooperation committee (JCC) to drive the implementation of CPEC.
Underlining the political will behind CPEC, Ahsan Iqbal pointed out that the MoU was swiftly followed by the first JCC meeting in August 2013.
“This remarkable start marked the beginning of an institutional mechanism for advancing CPEC, paving the way for significant progress in subsequent years,” he added.
He said it was the transformative impact of CPEC that China became the top foreign direct investor in Pakistan within just three years of the project’s initiation.
The minister said “This shift elevated China from a close political ally to a key economic partner, emphasizing the transition from geopolitics to geo-economics.”
Shipping Activity at Port Qasim
KARACHI, Jul 18 (APP):Three ships namely, Maersk Bostan, DM Dragon and Al-Dayeen, carrying Container, Chemicals and LNG, berthed at Qasim International Container Terminal, Engro Vopak Terminal and Engro Elengy Terminal respectively on Monday.
Meanwhile a gas carrier Milaha Ras Laffan also arrived at outer anchorage of the Port Qasim on Tuesday.
A total of 06 ships were engaged at PQA berths during the last 24 hours, out of them a container vessel ‘Maersk Bostan’ sailed out to sea on Tuesday morning (today) on 18th July, while three more ships, DM-Dragon, Aurelia and Andiamo are expected to sail on same day.
A cargo volume of 144,412 tonnes, comprising 128,819 tones imports Cargo and 15,593 tonnes export cargo, including containerized cargo carried in 1,067 Containers (290 TEUs Imports and 777 TEUs export) was handled at the port during last 24 hours.
There are 04 ships at Outer Anchorage of Port Qasim, out of them two ships, Bum Shin and Milaha Ras Laffan & two more ships, Maersk Kinloss and MSC Greenwich carrying Palm oil, LNG and Container are expected to take berths at Liquid Terminal, Gas Terminal and Container Terminal respectively on 18th July, while another containers ship, Maersk Pelepas is due to arrive at Port Qasim on Wednesday.
ANF recovers 828.581 kg drugs in 36 operations; arrests 38
RAWALPINDI, Jul 18 (APP): Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) Pakistan seized 828.581 kg drugs worth US$ 14.687 million internationally and arrested 38 persons including two women, a foreigner besides impounding 14 vehicles while conducting 36 counter narcotics operations throughout the country.
According to an ANF Headquarters spokesman, the seized drugs comprised 255.600 kg Opium, 14.505 kg Heroin, 546.142 kg Hashish, 5.334 kg Methamphetamine (Ice), 6.700 kg Clonazepam tablets (47900 tabs) and 300 grams weed.
ANF Balochistan recovered 11.700 kg drugs in two operations and arrested two accused involved in drugs smuggling. The seized drugs comprised five kg hashish and 6.700 kg Clonazepam Tablets (47900 tabs).
ANF Punjab recovered 304.66 kg drugs in 12 operations and arrested 14 accused besides impounding nine vehicles. The seized drugs comprised 75.600 kg Opium, 6.830 kg Heroin, 219.300 kg Hashish and 2.930 kg Methamphetamine (Ice).
ANF KPK recovered 402.236 kg drugs in seven operations and arrested six persons involved in drugs smuggling besides impounding three vehicles. The seized drugs comprised 180 kg Opium, 0.552 kg Heroin, 221 kg Hashish and 0.684 kg Methamphetamine (Ice).
ANF Sindh recovered 40.755 kg drugs in nine operations and arrested five persons including a foreigner involved in drugs smuggling and impounded a vehicle. The seized drugs comprised 4.735 kg Heroine, 34 kg Hashish, 1.720 kg Methamphetamine (Ice) and 0.300 kg weed.
ANF North recovered 69.230 kg drugs in six operations and arrested 11 persons including two women involved in drugs smuggling and impounded a vehicle. The seized drugs comprised 2.388 kg Heroin and 66.842 kg Hashish.
All cases have been registered at respective ANF Police Stations under CNS Act 1997 (Amended 2022) and further investigations are under process.
19 July, the day when Kashmiris decided to link their fate with Pakistan: JKNF
MIRPUR (AJK), Jul 18 (APP):Jammu and Kashmir National Front on Tuesday, while terming 19th July as a defining moment in Kashmir’s history, has said that it was on this historic date when the Kashmiri leadership unanimously decided to link their future with the yet-to-born state of Pakistan.
According to a report, in his message from India’s Infamous Tihar jail, the incarcerated JKNF Chairman Nayeem Ahmed Khan said that the resolution adopted a month before the creation of Pakistan demonstrated Kashmiris’ unconditional love for Pakistan.
Referring to the partition plan of the sub-continent, the J & K National Front leader said that the state of Jammu and Kashmir was geographically, historically and culturally, and ethnically part of Pakistan but India’s policy of deceit and deception, expansionism and perpetual denial to implement the UN resolutions on Kashmir has pushed the region into a quagmire of uncertainty.
Lauding the unprecedented sacrifices rendered by the Kashmiri nation, Chairman JKNF said that Kashmiris have witnessed relentless killings, widespread death, and destruction at the hands of Indian occupation forces.
During the decades-long struggle for the right to self-determination, he stated that hundreds of thousands of people have been severely tortured and rendered disabled, while the human rights violations at the hands of Indian occupation troops have become the order of the day.
Reiterating Kashmiris’ pledge to take the ongoing struggle to its logical conclusion, Nayeem Ahmed Khan said that the day was not far when Kashmiris will achieve their cherished goal of freedom from Indian occupation.