Greater Bay Area to boost Pak-China cooperation

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Sun, 25 Jun 2023, 5:23 PM

Greater Bay Area to boost Pak-China cooperation

BEIJING, Jun 25 (APP):Pakistani jade ornaments, Belgian chocolates, Iranian carpets and Uzbek honey were among a wide range of commodities showcased at this year’s Guangdong 21st Century Maritime Silk Road International Expo held in Guangzhou, China earlier this month.

The expo attracted over 1,000 participating companies and generated deals worth nearly USD 279 million.

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in China, connecting Hong Kong, Macau and nine cities in Guangdong province, is envisioned as an economic powerhouse and drives the Belt and Road Initiative constantly.

A lot of exhibitors at the event expressed their appreciation for the fast development of this area and wanted to build more connections.

“Our main purpose is to enter the market of the Greater Bay Area through this exhibition platform, said a Zelanian exhibitor at the event,” China Economic Net (CEN) reported on Sunday.

“The Greater Bay Area is one of the most important areas in China. It has a large population, and the Gross Domestic Product(GDP) is also very high. I see a huge opportunity for Pakistani traders in this area,” said Muhammad Irfan, Pakistani Trade and investment counsellor in Guangzhou.

The region combined GDP reached nearly USD2 trillion in 2022, up 25 percent from USD1.65 trillion in 2019.

“Most population in the area is urbanized. They have strong consumptive power and great love for international products. This area especially has a very soft corner towards Pakistan. They have very positive reactions toward our products at the exhibition. Muhammad Irfan told us that Pakistan’s export to their consular district was around $350 million in 2020, which jumped to more than $1 billion last year.”

“This area has a huge demand for Pakistani raw materials, including copper and aluminium. Another category is a yawn.”

“Pakistan is supplying a lot of cotton yarn to the Chinese manufacturers here. We are trying to invite these manufacturers to go to Pakistan and start manufacturing in Pakistan as well. We also have a lot of rice coming to this area. There is also great demand for gems and precious stones,” Muhammad Irfan noted.

“The consulate is making efforts to introduce new products from Pakistan, like Pakistani confectionery items, tea items and cookies,” he added.

“The Greater Bay Area offers a lot of opportunities, not only for trade but also for technological corporations and innovation,” said Sardar Muhammad, Consul General of the Consulate General of Pakistan.

“We hope that the continuous improvement of the Greater Bay Area and Gwadar Port will inject new impetus into Pak-China cooperation,” he added.

Women busy in purchasing fruits at H-9 weekly bazar.

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Zia Ur Rehman

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Sun, 25 Jun 2023, 5:21 PM

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Former rulers who ruined economy were crying over possibility of restoration of IMF programme: Marriyum

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NNPS Desk

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Sun, 25 Jun 2023, 5:18 PM

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ISLAMABAD, Jun 25 (APP):Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Sunday that it was strange that those who ruined the national economy were crying over signs of restoration of agreement signed by themselves with International Monetary Fund (IMF).

In a statement, the minister said that on May 9, they burned the country, attacked military and private properties, desecrated the memorials of martyrs and now they were preparing to damage the economic interests of the country again.

“Arsonsits, conspirators and enemies of the country have started crying again as they heard the news that the agreement with the IMF is being restored”, she maintained.

Marriyum said that the previous regime signed the IMF agreement on strict terms, violated it and then suspended the agreement, then hatched conspiracies against the country and the agreement.

The minister said that questions should be asked to those who were crying over the agreement and why did they sign the agreement with the IMF. She said it was ironic that those who were shouting about the agreement, themselves had signed the agreement with the IMF.

“Not only did they violate and suspend this agreement, but they conspired to make the country default”, she added.
The minister said that former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during his tenure had stabilized the country’s economy, but “the foreign agent” shook the foundations of the economy and the country had to seek the IMF’s support.

“Nawaz Sharif is the only leader whose government completed the IMF program and also put the country on the path of development”, she remarked.
Taking a jibe on Imran Khan, she said the person who used to claim that he would prefer to die instead of seeking IMF assistance, why did he knock the door of the IMF.

The foreign agents who laid economic mines and nearly bankrupted the country and deprived the people of the livelihood were today demanding the resignation of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, she said and added that shameless criminals who plunged the country into an unprecedented inflation were demanding resignation of Ishaq Dar, who has stabilized the economy.

PTI chairman exposed badly in ‘Tosha Khana’ case: Tahira Aurengzeb

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NNPS Desk

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Sun, 25 Jun 2023, 5:09 PM

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PTI chairman exposed badly in 'Tosha Khana' case: Tahira Aurengzeb

ISLAMABAD, Jun 25 (APP):Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Member National Assembly (MNA) Tahira Aurengzeb said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan was exposed very badly in ‘Tosha Khana’ case.

Talking to a private news channel on Sunday, she said, our party members suffered jails in false cases due to which the National Accountability Burea (NAB) declared that these cases had no authentic evidence and all these were false cases.

Replying to a question, she said that PTI workers had never experienced jail time even a single day and they thought it like a five-star hotel where everything would be served according to the choice.

PTI workers need to understand the reality of the political system and leadership is not an easy task to deliver in an appropriate manner, she expressed.

India’s belligerence designs, unmatched war-crimes reach climax in IIOJK

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Zaka Ullah Ch

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Sun, 25 Jun 2023, 5:05 PM

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India’s belligerence designs, unmatched war-crimes reach climax in IIOJK

Dr. Saeed Ahmad Ali

LAHORE, Jun 25 (APP): Experts on Sunday termed India’s belligerence as the biggest threat to peace and stability in the region, which is creating war hysteria and deflecting the world attention from serious human rights and war crime situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

They said the dire political and human rights situation in the occupied territory had left India exposed at the international level. Lauding the sacrifices of people living at the Line of control (LoC), experts said that Kashmiris had been braving the brunt of firing at the LoC with the utmost courage.

On June 24, the Indian Army, in a display of usual inhuman approach towards innocent Kashmiris, opened indiscriminate fire on a group of shepherds in Sattwal sector, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

“In sequel to Indian Army unprovoked firing today, while adopting an inhuman approach towards innocent Kashmiris at Sattwal sector, one more civilian embraced shahadat while another was critically injured. (Total two martyred and one critically injured),” ISPR statement said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Chaudhry Anwarul Haq condemned the Indian forces’ unprovoked firing in the Sattwal sector of the Line of Control. In a statement issued here, he regrettably noted that on the one hand, the Indian forces had been committing war crimes in Kashmir, while on the other, they had been brazenly violating the ceasefire agreement by targeting innocent civilians along the LoC.

He said that despite Indian shelling, Kashmiri people living near LoC stand shoulder to shoulder with the Pakistan Army in their fight to defend the country’s territorial integrity. The AJK PM also hailed the supreme sacrifices rendered by the Pakistani forces. He also paid homage to those who embraced martyrdom and directed the authorities concerned to provide the best medical facilities for the injured in the incident.

He also appealed to the United Nations, Security Council and international organisations to take notice of India’s naked aggression.
The Foreign Office (FO), in this connection, summoned the Indian charge d’ affairs to register Pakistan’s protest and condemn the incident. “It was underscored that such senseless acts were in clear violation of the 2003 ceasefire understanding, reaffirmed in February 2021.

It was further underscored that targeting of civilians was contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws. “The Indian side was urged to respect the ceasefire understanding, investigate the incident, and maintain peace along the Line of Control,” the FO said in the release.

Earlier, last month, Indian troops shot dead a 25-year-old inadvertent crosser from Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). Likewise on May 15, Parveen Fatima, a 65-year-old widow from the Pandu sector of AJK in Jhelum valley district, was also killed by the Indian army, after she had strayed across the LoC while picking some medicinal plants.

The development comes days after the United States (US) and India issued a joint statement on June 22, that was issued as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met US President Joe Biden during his visit to the US.
Responding to the statement, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in a media talk that India habitually used terrorism bogey to deflect attention from its brutal repression of Kashmiri people in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), and maltreatment of its minorities.

Responding to media queries regarding the US-India joint statement, the foreign office spokesperson said: “We consider the Pakistan-specific reference in the ‘Joint Statement from the United States and India’, issued on 22 June 2023, as unwarranted, one-sided, and misleading. The reference is contrary to diplomatic norms and has political overtones. “We are surprised that it has been added despite Pakistan’s close counter-terrorism cooperation with the US.” She said, “Pakistan has rendered unmatched sacrifices in the fight against terrorism.

“In laying down their lives, our law enforcement agencies and armed forces have set an example. People of Pakistan are the real heroes in this fight,” she added.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, while speaking in National Assembly, said he was extremely annoyed over the inclusion of Pakistan in the joint statement issued after the meeting between US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In fact, he noted that during Narendra Modi’s time as Gujarat’s chief minister, thousands of Muslims were killed and raped, and the US at the time had banned Narendra Modi from receiving a visa in retaliation for those atrocities.

Hurriyat leader Yasin Malik’s wife Mushaal Hussein Mullick told APP that the RSS-inspired ‘Hindutva’ ideology was being pursued by the BJP-led Modi government, which was a major threat to ‘foreign investment’ in India.
She urged the people of IIOJK to observe a complete strike on Monday, to register their protest against the holding of G20 meeting in Srinagar by Narendra Modi-led Indian government.

Mushaal Mullick said fascist Modi and the Indian Army are turning Kashmiris into a minority in the valley by issuing domiciles to Indian citizens. In IIOJK, over 100,000 Kashmiris had been killed by Indian forces since 1989, while more than 7,200 people were murdered in custodial torture by the Indian army.

The Kashmir Media Service (KMS), in its recent report, revealed that nearly 11,000 women were raped by Indian soldiers and over 110,000 children became orphan, whereas around 23,000 women were made widows by the Indian troops.

The Indian forces are using rape, molestation and sexual violence against women and children as a weapon of war, besides awarding collective punishment, in a bid to suppress the legitimate freedom movement in the occupied valley,” former senator from Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Sehar Kamran (TI) told APP.

Kashmiris have been stating for decades that India intended to settle paramilitary families and military settlements there, as well as establishment of semi-permanent military colonies in Kashmir, she said and urged the G20 member countries to boycott the meeting in the occupied territory and ask India to give Kashmiris their fundamental right to self-determination.

The Indian occupational forces’ state terrorism, war crimes and human rights violations had made life a nightmare for over one million oppressed Kashmiris, especially women, senior citizens and children in IIOJ, she added.

Violating all fundamental rights, India had imposed military siege on some 10 million Kashmiris in IIOJK, by converting the territory into biggest jail on earth, where over 900,000 Indian forces had been deployed with no regard for human rights, Sehar Kamran lamented.

ANP condemns increased target killing incidents in Peshawar city

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NNPS Desk

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Sun, 25 Jun 2023, 4:41 PM

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ANP condemns increased target killing incidents in Peshawar city

PESHAWAR, Jun 25 (APP):Provincial President Awami National Party (ANP) has expressed concern over the increase of target killing and terrorist attacks incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and demanded immediate action against those involved in such crime.

The killing of Manmohan Singh in Peshawar is very alarming and condemnable, Provincial President ANP Amil Wali Khan said in a statement issued here Sunday. Dayal Singh was killed in Ramadan, how long these unknown persons will remain unknown, Amil Wali Khan questioned.

The attacks on members of the minority community in a city like Peshawar gives an impression that Peshawar is not safe, Amil Wali Khan said and added, unfortunately, even today, legal action is not being taken against those people who were accomplices of terrorists.

He condemned the attack on PML-N Provincial President Engineer Amir Makam in Shangla. Thankfully, the provincial president of PML-N was safe in the attack, but how long will this series end, the Provincial President ANP questioned. Everyone of Pakhtunkhwa including people, police, politicians, army personnel have sacrificed their lives in the war against terrorism, Amil Wali Khan said.

He said that today once again our land was being pushed into the fire of terrorism. He demanded for taking strict action against those who bring back the terrorists. Instead of political dramas, the protection of people’s life and property should be the first priority, which is unfortunately not the case, Amil Wali Khan said.

NA passes Finance Bill 2023 with certain amendments

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NNPS Desk

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Sun, 25 Jun 2023, 4:31 PM

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NA passes Finance Bill 2023 with certain amendments

ISLAMABAD, Jun 25 (APP):The National Assembly on Sunday passed the Finance Bill 2023 with certain amendments in the proposed budgetary measures and the total outlay of Rs 14.48 trillion to achieve macroeconomic stability and the set target of a 3.5 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate.

The House rejected all the amendments moved by the lawmakers from the Opposition benches. The Finance Bill, moved by Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, was passed with majority vote after clause-by-clause reading. The House echoed with desk thumping as the House passed the budget.

The passage of the Finance Bill has successfully brought to an end the budgetary process started on June 9 with the budget speech of the finance minister at the National Assembly.

The bill now would go to the President for assent who will sign it into a law and effective from July 1, 2023.

Speaker National Assembly Raja Pervaiz Ashraf put all the amendments proposed by lawmakers Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali, Saira Bano, Nisar Cheema, Zahra Wadood Fatimi, Nawab Sher Waseer, Asiya Azeem, which were with a majority vote; except for Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali’s amendment, which was included in the bill for the Assembly’s approval.

Consequently, the amendment proposed by MQM member Salahuddin was also rejected by the House. In the light of the Senate recommendations, the National Assembly also approved the amendments proposed in the Finance Bill 2023-24 by the Finance Minister.

The bill, presented in the House on June 9 by the finance minister for consideration, got the approval of the National Assembly with certain changes in the figures related to revenue targets and other matters in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

Accordingly, the revenue target of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) had increased from Rs9.2 trillion to Rs 9.415 trillion, provincial revenue from Rs 5.276 trillion to Rs5.39 trillion, federal government expenditures from Rs 14.46 trillion to Rs 14.48 trillion, the pension volume from Rs 761 billion to Rs 801 billion, the subsidy volume would stand at Rs1.064 trillion, and the grants volume at Rs. 1.405 trillion.

As a result of all these measures, improvements would be seen in the budget’s deficit, and the fiscal deficit would decrease by Rs 300 billion.

Budget process in NA witnesses active participation of lawmakers

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NNPS Desk

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Sun, 25 Jun 2023, 4:27 PM

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Budget process in NA witnesses active participation of lawmakers

ISLAMABAD, Jun 25 (APP): In a highly productive 51st session, the National Assembly (NA) successfully approved the federal budget for the fiscal year 2023-24.

Commencing on March 27, the session witnessed the presentation of the Finance Bill, 2023 on June 9, 2023, sparking a thorough and engaging debate on the budget.

The House, after incorporating numerous recommendations from the Senate, passed the Finance Bill, 2023, alongside the adoption of four resolutions addressing significant issues.

The formal budget debate commenced on June 12, with the Leader of the Opposition initiating discussions on the federal budget in accordance with parliamentary tradition.

According to the data compiled through the website of NA and observation of proceedings, a substantial number of lawmakers actively participated in the debate, with around 86 out of 174 NA members lending their voices to the discussions—a significant increase compared to previous years.

It is noteworthy that the incumbent 15th NA comprises 174 members, excluding the Speaker, who plays an impartial role as the custodian of the 342-member House.

During the debate, female parliamentarians played a particularly active role, with 22 female MNAs, accounting for 49% of their representation, expressing their views on the Finance Bill for a combined duration of seven hours and 27 minutes.

Likewise, 64 male lawmakers, representing 50% of male participants, voiced their perspectives on the Finance Bill and the Senate’s recommendations for more than 22 hours. Throughout the budget process, Minister for Finance and Revenue Ishaq Dar, along with State Minister for Finance Dr Aisha Ghaus Pasha, consistently attended the sessions, effectively addressing the concerns raised by lawmakers.

Both the ruling party and its allies, recognizing the government’s efforts to prepare an efficient budget amidst rigorous economic challenges, voiced their support.

Furthermore, a majority of opposition lawmakers hailed the budget’s significance in the face of a demanding economic scenario.

Representatives from various political parties actively participated in the budget debate, including 30 lawmakers from PML-N, 29 from PPPP, ten from PTI, five from MMAP, three from BNP, two each from GDA and MQMP, and one each from PML, JUI-F, BAP, and two independent lawmakers.

In total, the NA convened for more than 59 hours over the course of 13 sittings held between June 9 and June 25. The House adopted four resolutions during the session, including condemnation of a political party and its chairman’s actions on May 9, the transfer of development project funds executed under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) program to the non-lapsable account (NLA) at the end of the fiscal year 2022-23, the commemoration of the 70th birth anniversary of the late Shaheed Mohtrama Benazir Bhutto, paying homage to her significant role in the struggle for democracy, and recognition and gratitude towards international and civil society organizations, as well as the Pakistani diaspora, for their contributions to addressing climate change-related issues.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif delivered policy statements after the US-India joint communiqué. Throughout the sessions, lawmakers raised approximately 62 points of order, discussing matters concerning foreign affairs, judiciary, agriculture, governance, gas and electricity, law and order, climate change, and agricultural concerns.

Moreover, the National Assembly approved 133 demands for grants, with no cut motions moved on 97 of them. The House passed the Finance Bill 2023, incorporating specific amendments to the proposed budgetary measures, amounting to a total outlay of Rs 14.48 trillion, aiming to achieve macroeconomic stability and a targeted 3.5% Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate.

On June 25, during the session, Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar moved the Finance Bill, which received majority approval after a clause-by-clause reading. NA Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf put forth the amendments proposed by lawmakers, including Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali, Saira Bano, Nisar Cheema, Zahra Wadood Fatimi, Nawab Sher Waseer, Asiya Azeem, and MQM member Salahuddin.

The majority of the proposed amendments were rejected, with the exception of Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali’s amendment, which was included in the bill through the Assembly’s approval. Following this, the House also rejected the amendment proposed by MQM member Salahuddin.

In line with the Senate’s recommendations, the NA approved the amendments proposed in the Finance Bill 2023 by the Finance Minister.

The approval of the budget in the House was met with resounding desk thumping, symbolizing the lawmakers’ support. With the successful passage of the Finance Bill, the budgetary process initiated with the finance minister’s budget speech at the NA comes to a close. The bill now awaits the President’s assent, after which it will be signed into law, taking effect from July 1. The approving lawmakers conveyed their congratulations to the government on reaching this significant milestone and expressed hope for greater relief for the public in the future.

Khawaja Asif opposes Chairman Senate Salaries, Allowance, Privileges Bill

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NNPS Desk

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Sun, 25 Jun 2023, 4:26 PM

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ISLAMABAD, Jun 25 (APP):Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Sunday urged the House not to support the Chairman Senate Salaries, Allowance and Privileges Bill passed by the Senate recently as the country could not afford such incentives in the prevailing economic situation.

Speaking in the National Assembly after passage of federal budget for fiscal year 2023-24, the minister said, he has great respect for senators and the Senate as he had started his political career from the Senate. However, the people and business community are in immense difficulties due to the prevailing financial crisis, he said.
He said the salary of MNA stood at Rs 168,000 per month which was lower than a federal secretary.

He said such privilege in the current financial circumstance could not be afforded. Lauding the Finance Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and his entire finance teams, he said that a balanced budget was presented despite of critical situation.

He expressed the hope that a new era of economic stability would start soon.

The minister also clarified that neither the government was bearing expenditure nor giving any special facility for members of the National Assembly for performing Hajj. Even ordinary people were also part of the special flight to carry pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, he added.

NA passes Finance Bill 2023 with certain amendments

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NNPS Desk

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Sun, 25 Jun 2023, 4:19 PM

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NA passes Finance Bill 2023-24 with certain amendments