Balochistan Minister for Finance Zmarak Khan Achakzai addressing Post Budget 2023-24 Press Conference at Civil Secretariat
Rallies held in South Korea, Thailand to condemn May 9 incidents, solidarize with Pak Army
ISLAMABAD, Jun 20 (APP): The overseas Pakistanis in South Korea and Thailand have staged rallies to condemn the attack on military and civil installations on May 9 and express solidarity with the security forces.
The expatriates held a solidarity rally in South Korea’s city of Pyeongtaek.
The representatives of South Korea Car Association and the business community solidarized with the armed forces and paid tribute to the sacrifices of martyrs.
The participants strongly condemned May 9 incidents and called for taking all perpetrators to the task.
The Pakistan Business Association of South Korea also announced to hold similar rallies in Incheon and Daegu cities.
Similarly, the Pakistani expatriates in Thailand also staged a solidarity rally in the Phuket city in which the participants expressed solidarity with the Pakistan Army and its leadership.
Holding placards, the participants resolved that the overseas Pakistanis would continue to play a constructive role for country’s development and would make all-out efforts for its political and economic stability.
They said that the Pakistan Army and other security institutions had always played a laudable role to serve the country’s interests.
The rallies are part of the protest demonstrations being held within Pakistan as well as abroad as the May 9 incidents had not only angered Pakistanis within the country but also those living across the globe.
Andrew Mitchell expresses deep grief over deaths in Greece boat incident
ISLAMABAD, Jun 20 (APP): Britain’s Minister of State, Andrew Mitchell on Tuesday expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of lives of a huge number of Pakistani citizens in the recent boat capsizing incident in Greece.
He conveyed condolences in a virtual meeting with Finance Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar.
Finance Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar expressed gratitude for receiving the condolences and voiced that
illegal human trafficking has become a major issue worldwide and needs to be curtailed at the earliest.
Finance Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar also apprised Andrew Mitchell about the progress on IMF talks
with Pakistan on the 9th review.
He informed that Pakistan has completed all prior actions in time and is making continuous progress in terms of
major economic indicators.
He also informed Andrew Mitchell about the pragmatic economic decisions being taken by the incumbent government
under difficult economic circumstances and measures the government has proposed to uplift the social and economic
well-being of the masses through the recent budget.
Andrew Mitchell acknowledged that the government of Pakistan has been vigilant in bringing economic stability
through various policy reforms.
He also assured of continuous support and assistance of the British Government to Pakistan.
Pakistan loses to Bangladesh in five-nation int’l basketball c’ship semifinal
ISLAMABAD, Jun 20 (APP):Pakistan fell to Bangladesh 65-79 in the semifinal of the five-nation international basketball championship at Male, Maldives on Tuesday.
According to information received here, Pakistan were down 17-25 in the first quarter but were up 19-15 in the second quarter.
In the third quarter, Bangladesh were again at the top as Pakistan conceded 11-24. Pakistan fought back in the fourth quarter, moving up 18-15. However, at the end of the fixture, Bangladesh were 13 points ahead of Pakistan to book a spot in the final.
NA body expresses serious concern on PHF elections
ISLAMABAD, Jun 20 (APP):The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) on Tuesday expressed serious concern regarding the elections held by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) and directed the Ministry of Inter- Provincial Coordination (IPC) to conduct a thorough audit of the funds provided to the PHF as sports grants.
The committee, which met here at the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination under the chairmanship of Nawab Sher, also directed that the audit report be submitted to it for review.
It emphasized that the Report of the Management Committee, constituted to finalize the recommendations in the matters pertaining to the PHF’s affairs, should be submitted to the prime minister as soon as possible.
Furthermore, the committee directed the Secretary Interior and the Director General of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to enforce strict measures and not allow any players or officials of sports federations to leave the country unless they acquire a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of IPC and the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB).
At the outset, the committee was informed by the Secretary IPC that there were many audit paras pending in the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) against the PHF.
The PHF Secretary said elections were conducted according to the Federation’s constitution. However, the committee noted that the International Hockey Federation allegedly granted permission to the PHF in that regard.
Minister for IPC Ehsan Ur Rehman Mazari pointed out that the prime minister had constituted a high-power committee on the affairs of PHF under the chairmanship of Minister for Defence along with Minister for Economic Affairs Division and Minister for IPC.
The high-power committee, he said, recommended to conduct financial audit of accounts of the PHF by Federal Audit and Performance Audit by the Management Committee headed by the PSB Director General. The said Management Committee unanimously recommended that the prime minister being the Petron-in-Chief of PHF might call for a free and fair election of the Federation and nominate an interim committee for at least six months.
The standing committee emphasized that the report of the Management Committee should be submitted to the prime minister at the earliest. it also directed the Ministry of IPC to conduct a thorough audit of the funds provided to the PHF as sports grants and audit report thereof should be submitted to the standing committee for its review.
While briefing on the National Sports Policy 2022-2027, the IPC Minister informed the committee that draft of said Sports Policy was under consideration with the Federal Cabinet for its approval. The committee asked the minister to expedite the National Sports Policy 2022-2027 from the Federal Cabinet in order to ensure transparency, accountability, and fair governance within the realm of sports in Pakistan.
The meeting was attended by MNAs/members of the committee including Rana Mubashir Iqbal, Zulfiqar Ali Behan, Shahida Rehmani, Rubina Irfan, Makhdoom Syed Sami-ul-Hassan Gillani, Javairia Zafar Aheer (through video-link). Dr. Mahreen Razzaq Bhutto, MNA/Mover was also present in the meeting. The senior officers from Ministry of IPC, Pakistan Olympic Association, Pakistan Hockey Federation, Pakistan Sports Board and Pakistan Football Federation were also present in the meeting.
Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Syed Amin Ul Haque witnessing contract signing for TDM to IP and Copper wire to Optical Fiber Cable Migration of National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) Exchanges Phase 2
Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani in a meeting with Ilyas Masih, President of All Neighbors International and Dr. Chris Gnanakan, American Professor at Parliament House
Govt unveils Economic Revival Plan to exploit Pakistan’s potential, facilitate investment
ISLAMABAD, Jun 20 (APP):The Federal Government, in the wake of economic hardships confronting the country, Tuesday unveiled an elaborated ‘Economic Revival Plan’ with a view to capitalize Pakistan’s untapped potential in key sectors, fast-track the development projects and facilitate investment.The Plan was unveiled during a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and attended by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), chief ministers, federal and provincial ministers, and high-level government officials, a PM Office press release said.
The Economic Revival Plan envisages capitalizing Pakistan’s untapped potential in key sectors of defence production, agriculture, livestock, minerals, mining, information technology and energy, through indigenous development as well as investments from friendly countries.
To fast-track the development of projects, the establishment of Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) has been undertaken to act as a ‘Single Window’ interface for the potential investors as well as to adopt a unified approach.
The setup will shorten heretofore cumbersome and lengthy business processes through a cooperative and collaborative ‘whole of the government approach’ with representation of all stakeholders. It is aimed at creating horizontal-vertical synergy between the federation and provinces; facilitating timely decision making; avoiding duplication of effort; and ensuring swift project implementation.
The high-ranking participation from federal and provincial governments, clearly manifests the national resolve to turn around the economy despite all odds.
The COAS, speaking on the occasion, assured the Pakistan Army’s all-out support to complement the government’s efforts for Economic Revival Plan, considered fundamental to socio-economic prosperity of Pakistanis and reclaiming Pakistan’s rightful stature among the comity of nations.
Prime Minister Shehbaz recalled that his government inherited an economy which was on the brink of collapse. With bold and difficult decisions, it was now being steered towards growth and development, however, there were massive challenges ahead, he added.
He said export-oriented foreign direct investments held the key to economic revival and the government had, therefore, decided to adopt a holistic/whole-of-government approach which fostered partnerships within the federal and provincial governments for effective implementation and execution.
The investors would be given primacy and fast-track approvals, through a well-coordinated approach, he added.
The prime minister observed that the expected investments would create jobs and livelihoods for the youth and women, and advised that the focus should be on empowering young and females to realise their full potential.
“Let us resolve to work together, leave no stone unturned and be single minded in our focus and direction. We can transform the destiny of Pakistan and its people. It would, however, not happen without hard work and staying the course on the path of progress and development,” he remarked.
PM Shehbaz said Pakistan and Pakistanis deserved nothing less from those who had been bestowed the responsibility to administer the country by Allah Almighty and the people.
Naeem Ullah Khan, High Commissioner-Designate to Rwanda called on Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani at Parliament House
Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Defence presiding over a meeting of the committee at Parliament House
