Female Umpires induction course to begin from Saturday

Fri, 12 Jan 2024, 5:21 PM

PESHAWAR, Jan 12 (APP):The four-day female umpire’s induction course will take place at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore from Saturday.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) received applications from aspirants in December 2023 as per the criteria where a minimum of intermediate education was mandatory for applicants, except for international players, while the age bracket was kept between 28 to 40 years.

Member of ICC’s Elite panel of Umpires, Ahsan Raza and PCB’s International Umpire Asif Yaqoob will be the instructors of this course. The candidates will be required to undergo a three-day basic training course initially and on the fourth day, a written test, a fitness test and interviews will be conducted.

Successful candidates will be inducted into the PCB Female Panel of Umpires for the next domestic cricket season, which will allow them to officiate Region, District and Club level matches.

Chairman BISP emphasizes digital literacy, financial inclusion of needy women

NNPS Desk

Fri, 12 Jan 2024, 5:13 PM

ISLAMABAD, Jan 12 (APP): Chairman of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Dr. Amjad Saqib Friday underscored the importance of opening bank accounts for needy women, emphasizing digital literacy and financial inclusion.

He was presiding over a high level meeting to review the progress on the BISP’s key initiatives, including enrollment of widows, inclusion of adolescents in Nashonuma, Hybrid Social Protection Scheme and Benazir Social Protection Accounts.

During the meeting, Dr. Amjad Saqib emphasized the BISP’s commitment to serving the impoverished.

Secretary BISP, Amer Ali Ahmad provided a detailed overview of the agenda items during the meeting.

The Director Generals (DGs) of various wings also updated the Chairman BISP on the discussed topics.
DG NSER/CCT, Naveed Akbar informed the meeting that the target for opening accounts under the Benazir Social Protection Accounts had been successfully achieved, with a total of 9,800 accounts opened.

Furthermore, 6,700 applications were received under the BISP Saving Scheme. Data of 8,900 widows have been identified.

The Financial Literacy program, spanning 13 districts and benefiting 4,000 needy women, has been successfully completed.

Dr. Amjad Saqib urged that field offices receive training to educate underprivileged women about Social Protection Accounts, identifying those who already possess bank accounts as a priority.

He instructed the officials to ensure the operationalization of accounts opened under the Benazir Social Protection Accounts, BISP Saving Scheme, and the Financial Literacy program by the end of January.

Present at the meeting were Additional Secretary BISP, Dr. Muhammad Tahir Noor, DG Finance Wasim Ahmad and DG OM Dr. Asim Ijaz whereas Zonal Director Generals of BISP also virtually participated in the meeting.

Rainfed areas to remain under water stress conditions due to lack of rain:PMD

Ali Ali

Fri, 12 Jan 2024, 5:05 PM

ISLAMABAD, Jan 12 (APP):The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) Friday said that the rainfed areas will remain under water stress conditions next week due to persistent dry and cold weather conditions, advising the citizens to use water judiciously.

The PMD, in its advisory, informed that due to stable weather conditions, cold and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country during the next week.

Very cold weather conditions are likely to continue in plains of Punjab during the next week.

Dense foggy conditions are also likely to continue in plain areas of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and upper Sindh in patches. Frost is also expected to occur in upper parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pothohar region including Islamabad and Kashmir.

Light rain with light snowfall over the mountains is expected in Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan on January 13, January 16 and 17.

The PMD has also termed the rumours on social media regarding snowfall in plains of Punjab as baseless and urged the public to ignore fake information.

About the impacts, the PMD said that the rainfed areas will remain under water stress conditions so the general public is advised to use the water judiciously.

Due to foggy conditions in plain areas, day temperatures are likely to remain 04 to 06 degrees celsius below normal.

The farmers are advised to manage their crops and keep their livestock at warm places due to prevailing cold weather conditions.

The travellers are advised to remain extra cautious during foggy days.

The latest updates about the weather conditions can be accessed through https://www.pmd.gov.pk/en/.

A view of smog during morning in the city.

Wajid

Fri, 12 Jan 2024, 5:04 PM

APP11-120124 LAHORE: January 12 - A view of smog during morning in the city.

A German delegation of international food wholesaler, METRO Group, led by its CEO Dr Steffen Greubel, calls on President Dr Arif Alvi, at Aiwan-e-Sadr.

Wajid

Fri, 12 Jan 2024, 5:03 PM

APP12-120124 LAHORE: January 12 - A German delegation of international food wholesaler, METRO Group, led by its CEO Dr Steffen Greubel, calls on President Dr Arif Alvi, at Aiwan-e-Sadr.

Italian Ambassador to Pakistan, Andreas Ferrarese pays a farewell call on Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar.

Wajid

Fri, 12 Jan 2024, 5:01 PM

APP13-120124 ISLAMABAD: January 12 - Italian Ambassador to Pakistan, Andreas Ferrarese pays a farewell call on Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar.

PTA conducts raids against illegal issuance of SIMsy

Ali Ali

Fri, 12 Jan 2024, 4:52 PM

ISLAMABAD, Jan 12 (APP):Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Zonal Offices in Lahore and Sukkur, in collaboration with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cyber Crime Circles, successfully conducted raids against franchises of two mobile phone companies in Sharaqpur Sharif and Kandhkot.

The aim was to curb the illegal issuance of SIMs, which is often associated with criminal activities such as fraud, identity theft, and other illicit operations said a news release issued here on Friday.

During the raids, 13 active SIMs were confiscated, and 08 Biometric Verification System (BVS) devices, used for the illegal activation of SIMs, were seized.

The owner of the Sharqpur Sharif franchise has been arrested, while two individuals at Kandkot franchise have been nominated in the FIR.

The FIA is currently investigating the cases. The ongoing crackdown against the illegal issuance of SIMs highlights PTA’s commitment to eradicate this menace.

PSW introduces Russian language ‘helpline’ to facilitate Central Asian trade

Ali Ali

Fri, 12 Jan 2024, 4:50 PM

ISLAMABAD, Jan 12 (APP):In a strategic move towards advancing international trade facilitation, Pakistan Single Window (PSW) has launched its dedicated Russian language ‘helpline’ to benefit international transit trade with Central Asia.

Introducing this helpline service, would address the crucial language barrier faced by traders particularly from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan using Pakistani ports as transit routes for imports/exports with Central Asia, said a press release issued here Friday. The helpline is expected to bridge communication gaps and provide guidance and facilitation to foreign traders to ensure compliance with Pakistan’s Customs and trade regulations applicable on transit trade.

In addition to the helpline service, PSW is taking another step by incorporating a Russian language option in the WeBOC system’s transit module to facilitate traders and their authorized clearing agents in filing of transit declarations, which would further underscore PSW’s dedication to providing comprehensive solutions for international traders.

Pakistan recently signed transit agreements with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan as part of its vision to position Pakistan as a trade, transit and transshipment hub and to promote regional connectivity with Central Asia and beyond.

PFVA for carrying R&D to develop onion varieties with longer shelf life

Ali Ali

Fri, 12 Jan 2024, 4:48 PM

PESHAWAR, Jan 12 (APP):Patron-in-Chief All Pakistan Fruits & Vegetables Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA), Waheed Ahmad while expressing concern over escalating prices of onion in local markets has laid stress on carrying out research and development (R&D) for developing better varieties of onion with longer shelf life.

In a message shared on social media, PFVA chief said through the introduction of longer shelf line varieties, we can effectively control the prices of different products. He said in our neighbouring countries, onion can be stored for a longer period of three to four months while we can hardly do so for a month.

Referring to a prevailing spike in prices of onion in markets, Waheed Ahmad believed that it is because of the export ban on the product by India ensuing in the concentration of international buyers towards Pakistan’s markets.

To control the price, he continued, PFVA had a meeting with the Ministry of Commerce and proposed an upward revision of export price to USD 750 per metric tonne with 100 percent advance payment to contain export.

However, when the price sharply increased, we again revised the export price upwards to US dollar 1200 per matric tonne so as to control high price and it would be implemented from Friday (January 12), he continued.

He said, we have to bring a balance in trade of onion by allowing its export in controlled limits. If we impose a ban on the export of onion, it would reduce its price to a level that will affect growers who are already suffering due to floods and other impacts of climate change.

“Our growers do not sustain losses otherwise they would not grow onion crops next year leading to a further shortage of onion and consequently the price will shoot up,” Waheed commented.

“We have to see the interest of our growers, exporters and local market and thus keep a close eye on the price of onion,” he said. He also expressed lament over the fact that market committees of different cities are not controlling the price of onion and why the price-controlling department appears to be helpless in exercising its duty of price stabilisation. He said that market committees and district administration have to play a role in preventing traders from making excessive profit by bringing abnormal increases in the price of the commodity.

ICCI urges political parties to unveil their manifesto for the revival of the economy

Ali Ali

Fri, 12 Jan 2024, 4:42 PM

ISLAMABAD, Jan 12 (APP):Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) on Friday urged the political parties to unveil economic agenda of their election manifesto for the revival of the economy to achieve sustainable economic growth and prosperity.

The trade body said that it would provide a direction to the business community and investors and help them finalize their short and long-term business and investment plans for the country.

Talking to a delegation of traders and industrialists President ICCI Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari said that less than one month period is left in the next general elections, but most of the political parties have not announced the economic agenda of their election manifesto as yet.

Ahsan Bakhtawari said that the economy of Pakistan is facing many big challenges as the external debt has exceeded US$124 billion by June 2023, the power sector circular debt has crossed Rs2.3 trillion, the inflation rate surged to over 39 percent in 2023, which has drastically reduced the purchasing power of the common man and reduced the growth of business activities.

ICCI President said that the UN’s World Economic Situation and Prospects Report for 2024 has also projected that the economy of Pakistan is confronted with many challenges, including inflationary pressures, currency depreciation, and high levels of sovereign debt.

He called upon the political parties to announce the economic agenda of their election manifesto to address these challenges and revive the economy, which will help the voters including the business community to see which party offers them the best solutions to address the economic issues and put Pakistan on the path of sustainable economic growth.

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Associated Press Of Pakistan

Female Umpires induction course to begin from Saturday

Chairman BISP emphasizes digital literacy, financial inclusion of needy women

Rainfed areas to remain under water stress conditions due to lack of rain:PMD

A view of smog during morning in the city.

A German delegation of international food wholesaler, METRO Group, led by its CEO Dr Steffen Greubel, calls on President Dr Arif Alvi, at Aiwan-e-Sadr.

Italian Ambassador to Pakistan, Andreas Ferrarese pays a farewell call on Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar.

PTA conducts raids against illegal issuance of SIMsy

PSW introduces Russian language ‘helpline’ to facilitate Central Asian trade

PFVA for carrying R&D to develop onion varieties with longer shelf life

ICCI urges political parties to unveil their manifesto for the revival of the economy

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