KARACHI, Apr 28 (APP):President Mamnoon Hussain Saturday announced setting up a TV studio in the Department of Mass Communication, Karachi University.
During a foundation laying ceremony of Seerat Chair, the president said the department did not have the facility of a TV studio and announced that Aiwan-e-Sadr would provide financial assistance to the university for the purpose, so that the students could get the latest educational and training facilities with the establishment of a TV studio.
He president urged the teachers and students to work hard in their respective disciplines so that high standards of journalism could be further strengthened which gained much significance in the present times, said a press release.
President Department of Mass Communication Dr Seemi Naghmana Tahir expressed her gratitude for the announcement of setting up a TV studio. It was their long standing demand and after its establishment, it would serve as quality training place for electronic media, she said.
President announces setting up TV studio in Karachi University
PML-N to form next government on basis of record development works: Miftah
ISLAMABAD, Apr 28 (APP):Federal Minister for Finance Miftah Ismail on Saturday said Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), would form the next government on the basis of record development works executed across the country.
Talking to a private news channel, he said the present government had given relief to masses by reducing taxes on agriculture products, besides increasing pensions and house rent of the government employees.
About reducing budget deficit, he said there was a need to privatize the non-profitable organizations like PIA, Pakistan Steel Mills, and Discos.
To a question, he said Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) would achieve the targets set by the government through tax amnesty scheme.
To another question, Miftah Ismail said there was also a need to revisit National Finance Commission (NFC) Award.
He said the PML-N government had brought reforms to put the country on the path of speedy progress.
To a query, he said without promoting agriculture sector, the economy of the country could not be improved.
Miftah plans to contest election from NA-243, NA 244
ISLAMABAD, April 28 (APP):Finance Minister Miftah Ismail Saturday is planning to contest in upcoming general election from NA-243 and NA-244.
Addressing the post budget press conference, he said, “I was planning to contest the upcoming general election from NA-252 in Karachi, but after delimitation of constituencies, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has recommended me to contest from both NA-243 and NA-244 seats.”
Miftah Ismail expressed the confidence that he would win the elections due to his prudent steps taken for the uplift of the national economy.
“The PML-N government has announced a lucrative package for Karachi in the federal budget, which the MQM could not announce in 25 years,” he said.
The minister said the federal government had also provided funds for the green buses to facilitate the masses in the port city.
PM invites critics, opponents to open debate on performance of PML-N govt.
HYDERABAD, Apr 28 (APP):Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Saturday called upon the critics of Pakistan Muslim League-N government to compare its performance with all the previous governments in terms of number of mega development projects completed in the last five years.
He said despite all hollow allegations levelled by certain quarters, the PML-N government would go for completion of all uplift projects, aimed at progress and prosperity of the country.
The prime minister was addressing a gathering after inaugurating KPD-TAY Integrated Gas Processing Facility at Tando Jam. Sindh Governor Muhammad Zubair, senators Rahila Magsi and Taj Afridi, high authorities and a large number of people were present on the occasion.
He regretted that previous regimes did not pay heed to projects of national importance which hit snags causing losses of billion of rupees to the national kitty and cited the KPD-TAY integrated gas processing facility as one among them.
He said, “I challenge all who spoke against the PML-N government to hold open debate with us on any issue, including power, infrastructure and energy, and the projects completed by the past governments.”
The prime minister also underscored the importance of continuity in the democratic process and said the PML-N government was going to complete its term and would add strength to the system.
The government had added to the economic stability and presented the sixth public-friendly budget, he said, adding it was the difference between the PML-N and other parties.
The prime minister, in response to criticism by the political opponents, said the public had given mandate to his government to work till last day in the office.
The parliament had to approve the budget and the next government could alter it, he said and declared that the PML-N would form the next government as well.
He also challenged that the budget contained such public friendly measures that the upcoming government would find it difficult to even change a single word in it.
The prime minister said the third lane in the super highway from Hyderabad to Karachi was added by the PML-N whereas no government in the past ever looked towards it.
Could they cite any development work carried out for the people of Sindh province, he questioned and announced the other two lanes in the same highway would also be added by the PML-N which was the main difference between working of his government and the others.
“It is my clear challenge, come and compare the governments of Musharraf and PPP with the performance of the PML-N. There is an evident difference. The PML-N outperformed all the governments in the past 65 years on the basis of completion of mega projects. The people can easily discern as to who is performing,” he added.
He said he did not want to wade through the allegations leveled by the political adversaries. The governments which stuffed their pockets could not deliver.
The PML-N governments always delivered on their promises and there were no allegations against them. The party always spoke about the national progress, he added.
The prime minister also reminded the gathering about the murkier situation during 2013 when the country was faced with crippling energy and power issues. Industries were shut, there was no power and gas and the fertilizer was imported. Growth rate of the country was hovering below three per cent.
He said the law and order in Karachi was alarming at that time when the PML-N took reins of power. “Today the situation is completely changed. Karachi which was once included among the five dangerous cities of the world, now turned out as a destination of attraction for investors and visitors. Now people from the outside flocked the port city.”
The prime minister said those people were now criticizing the tax reforms introduced by his government had not been paying taxes. He said the taxes had been halved and there was no precedent of such relief measure throughout the world.
He called upon the critics of tax reforms package to divulge how much taxes they had paid in the last five years.
The prime minister further reminded that paying taxes was the national responsibility and not an individual choice. He also declared that the government would chase the tax evaders as paying taxes would strengthen the national economy.
He also lauded the OGDCL (Oil and Gas Development Company Ltd) for the completion of KPD-TAY integrated gas processing facility, terming it a project of national importance. It was a project worth Rs 50 billion and pending since 2008.
He reiterated that the PML-N government not only completed various development projects but initiated new ones and completed them. There was not a single week in which a couple of completed projects were being inaugurated. It was possible due to the vision and manifesto of the PML-N and Nawaz Sharif.
The prime minister assured the OGDCL authorities of his all-out support to increase the petroleum and gas supply in the country.
He said the PML-N leadership had never asked for favours from the authorities concerned. He said the PML-N government was keen to utilize the mineral rich Reko Diq, coal reserves and hyderopower in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and stressed that the prime responsibility to tap and utilize the natural reserves for the national prosperity rested with the respective provinces.
The government successfully explored the coal reserves in Thar. Through the completion of China Pakistan Economic Corridor, these reserves would be further utilized, he added.
The prime minister expressed his satisfaction that with consensus, all the provinces and federal government had recently signed the water policy.
The PML-N government allocated funds for the completion of Diamer Bhasha dam. About 1,700 kms motorway from Peshawar to Karachi was being completed and it was not far when the whole regions would be interconnected through it, he added.
He said a total of 10,400MW power was added by his government in the last five years. There was a long list of projects but it was a beginning and the succeeding governments had to build on it.
The prime minister said no achievements could be made with false promises or by using foul language. People had to decide in the upcoming July whether to support the party serving masses or to reel back into darkness of 2013.
He assured the gathering that the people living within five kms radius of the gas reserves in the area would get gas and power supply and expressed the hope that the OGDCL would also initiate education and health projects in the area.
Neelam-Jhelum project’s second generator starts trial operation this month: Chinese contractor
BEIJING, April 28 (APP):The second generator of the Neelum-Jhelum project, one of the largest hydropower stations in Pakistan, will start trial operation this month, followed by the third and fourth units in the latter half of the year, according to China Gezhouba Group Co. Ltd. (CGGC), also the main builder of China’s Three Gorges project.
The first turbine generator officially started supply electricity to the national grid after Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi made the project functional by pressing a button in the main control room on April 13.
The project, around 200 kilometres northeast of Islamabad, has four generators with a total capacity of 969 megawatts. Designed to generate 5.15 billion kilowatt-hours of clean energy annually, the project aims to ease power shortages in part of Pakistan and is estimated to generate a fiscal revenue of 45 billion rupees (442 million U.S. dollars) annually, said the Chinese construction giant, according to China Economic Net.
The Neelum-Jhelum project is an engineering marvel as 90 percent of the project lies underground in high mountainous areas. The project involves constructing a dam on the Neelum River, a waterway system comprising 68-kilometre-long tunnels and an underground powerhouse on the Jhelum River.
Construction of the project began in January 2008 after a Chinese consortium that includes CGGC and China Machinery Engineering Corp. was awarded a 21-billion-yuan contract in 2007. CGGC said the project would provide about 8,000 jobs for locals.
The project created 4,500 jobs besides leading to the socio-economic uplift of the area during the construction.
An amount of Rs 5,237 million has been earmarked to execute the projects for environmental mitigation, including girls high school, road, water supply schemes, recreational parks, grid station, basic health unit, bridges, water treatment schemes and watershed management.
CGGC, headquartered in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, is also known as the builder of the Gezhouba Dam, China’s first hydroelectric project on the Yangtze River.
Currently, its biggest under-construction overseas projects include the 29.6-billion-yuan Caculo Cabaca hydropower plant in Angola and a 36.9-billion-yuan project on the Santa Cruz River in Argentina.
No intention to go for IMF bailout package: Miftah
ISLAMABAD, April 28 (APP):Minister for Finance Dr Miftah Ismail Saturday said the government had no intention to get any bailout package from International Monetary Fund (IMF) as it believed that economic measures taken during the last five years would take the country to strong financial position.
Addressing the post budget press conference flanked by adviser to PM on Revenue Haroon Akhtar Khan, Chairman Federal Board of Revenue Tariq Pasha and Secretary Finance Arif Khan, he said the government had no intention to get any bailout package from IMF as effective economic strategy had been put in place to improve national economy.
“We have no intention to go for bailout package from the IMF. Efforts are being made to avoid the bailout out package,” he said in reply to a question.
The minister expressed confidence that foreign exchange reserves would further improve in the coming days due to prudent policies introduced by the government.
To improve the current account deficit, Adviser to PM on Revenue Haroon Akhtar said, the government had given an export package in its earlier budget plan that greatly helped in “triggering” the country’s exports. “If the exports continued with the same pace, we will have no need to go to anyone for financial assistance. So, there is no need to get panicked.”
Sales tax increased on cigarettes: Haroon
ISLAMABAD, Apr 28 (APP):Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Revenue Haroon Akhtar Khan Saturday said sales tax had been increased on cigarettes in the budget 2018-19.
Addressing the Post Budget Press Conference along with Federal Minister for Finance Miftah Ismail, Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Tariq Pasha and Federal Secretary Finance Arif Khan, Haroon said it would help increase revenue generation as the illegal trade of cigarettes in the country had already declined to 35 per cent from 40 per cent due to the measures taken by the FBR. The government had introduced third taxation tier for the tobacco industry, which had started showing positive results, he added.
Shehbaz Sharif arrives Peshawar, warmly received
PESHAWAR, Apr 28 (APP):President Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Saturday arrived at Bacha Khan International Airport here and was warmly received.
Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Engr. Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, former
governor KP Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan, President Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan
Muslim League (Nawaz) Engr. Amir Muqam, other party leaders and a good number
of party workers were also present on this occasion and warmly received him at
the airport.
Shehbaz Sharif exchanges good words with Governor KP Engr. Iqbal Zafar Jhagra and remained there for some time. He along with Governor KP Engr. Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Sardar Mehtab Ahamd Khan and Amir Muqam discussed various matters of political and national interest.
Shehbaz Sharif said that when coming to power again they would bring real change to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a change of development like they had in Punjab. Peshawar would be developed like Lahore, he added. He said the so called change of PTI govt has badly destroyed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
‘Budget to mitigate business community’s worries’
LAHORE, Apr 28 (APP):Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers
and Exporters Association (PHMA) and Pakistan Tanners
Association (PTA) on Saturday welcomed the federal budget
2018-19, saying that with numerous challenges on economic
front, the budget document is balanced and somehow will
mitigate the business community’s worries.
PHMA Central Chairman Dr Khurram Anwar Khawaja and PTA
sources told APP here that said that the government had
allocated amounts for various development projects of water,
energy and roads which would help in stimulating the economy.
They said the budget was a great success of the PML-N
government and it would attract further investment in the
country and spur business activity, adding that the credit was
due to the government for reducing super tax and corporate tax
which was good omen for the businesses in the country.
They said the financial steps would also bring relief to
the common man and the salaried persons.
They said the government has paid special attention to
the road networks in the country, adding it would enhance
business activity besides providing new job opportunities to
the people. The allocation of funds for dams and tax rebate on
income have been the big achievements of the current budget,
they added.
Imran trying to deceiving Lahore people like KP: Shehbaz
MARDAN, April 29 (APP)::Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif Saturday alleged that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan was now trying to deceive the people of Lahore after deceiving the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) raising the slogan of ‘change’, which his party’s government had failed to bring the same.
Addressing a huge public gathering here at Shergarh, Shehbaz Sharif, who is also president of Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) said Imran had left the KP people in lurch by misusing the provincial resources.
He said Peshawar, once known as the City of Flowers, now lay in ruins due to the mismanagement and ill-planning of the PTI government. Its whole infrastructure had been destroyed on the pretext of BRT (bus rapid transport) system. Imran had not set up even a single new hospital in Peshawar as his politics was aimed at misleading the people by staging sit-ins, he added.
Shehbaz said Imran would not be welcomed by the people of Lahore as they were witnessing the development work carried over by the PML-N there. It was astonishing that the PTI chief had termed the Lahore Metro Bus service a ‘Jangla Bus’, but he himself had started such a project in Peshawar at the exorbitant cost of Rs 75 billion, he added.
Imran Khan, he said, had not fulfilled his promises of launching new power generation projects in KP, but on the contrary the PML-N government had completed projects of 5000 mega watts on self help basis.
He said if the PML-N again came into power, endowment fund would be started in KP to help the needy and deserving people. Owing to endowment fund in Punjab, thousands of people in the provinces were leading respectable lives as doctors, advocates and serving in other professions.
He said infrastructure schemes at the cost of Rs 100 billion were completed in Punjab, while Rs 40 billion interest-free loans were given to the youth. Everyone could witness the PML-N government’s services in Punjab where orphans and widows were being provided free healthcare facilities and financial assistance.
On the contrary, he said, Imran enjoyed weather at Nathiagalli leaving the people of Peshawar at the mercy of dengue fever.
Shehbaz said Imran portrayed himself as a man of principle, but no principle was observed by him in the Senate elections.
He said after winning the general election with the support of people, the PML-N would develop the KP like Punjab and Peshawar like Lahore. Universities, schools and hospitals would be established at division and district levels in the province, he added.
He lauded the achievements of former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, saying under his charismatic leadership, numerous development projects were completed, power load-shedding was controlled and the game-changing project of China Pakistan Economic Corridor was launched.
The Punjab chief minister said the people would reject both Imran Khan and PPP leader Asif Zardari in next elections and elect those, who would serve them with dedication.
The gathering was also addressed by PML-N KP President Engr Ameer Muqam.
Govt presented people-friendly budget: Ch Abid Sher Ali
FAISALABAD, Apr 28 (APP)::State Minister for Power Chaudhry Abid Sher Ali has said that the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) government has presented a public-friendly and balance budget despite limited sources.
Reacting to the federal budget 2018-19 Saturday, he said that 10 per cent raise in salaries of the government employees and 10 per cent increase in pension along with 50 per cent increase in house rent allowance are laudable steps of the government.
He also presented tribute to the efforts of the prime minister, federal finister for finance and his team for presenting a people-friendly budget.
He said that the PML-N, under the dynamic leadership of the Sharif family would continue the mission to bringing a qualitative and quantitative socioeconomic change in the country.
PCJCCI ensures Pak-China businessmen’s direct communication
LAHORE, Apr 28 (APP): Pak-China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI) has launched video conferencing system during a meeting with 24-member delegation of the Chinese professionals from Shandong.
PCJCCI President S.M. Naveed opened the first video session and said that the Video Conferencing Sessions started at PCJCCI would eradicate the communication barriers between China and Pakistan, besides opening new vistas of opportunities to the highest level of efficiency, according to Joint Chamber’s spokesperson here Saturday.
S.M. Naveed also acknowledged that China had extended proactive cooperation to Pakistan for bridging communication gap between two friendly nations by continuously identifying potential sectors of trade, investment and joint venture opportunities. He mentioned that till date, both the countries had earmarked sectors of machinery equipment, machinery hardware, new energy, battery, food, textile, electronics, building material and vehicle accessories from the city of Zibo, China.
The Video conferencing session, which was headed by Frank Fa – Chinese representative in Pakistan, whereas in China the session was headed by Lee. The conference was actively participated by Dawood Ahmed from Inter Sale chemicals, Farooq Sherwani from Shermir Global, Kashif from Hi-Tek Manufacturing, Idrees CEO Novamed, Rehan CEO Sixon Chemical, Waqas Director Noble Origin, Naveed CEO Fasna Group along with Roc Wang, Chris Zhu, Steve Zhu and Grace Meng from China’s city of Jinan. Whereas, PCJCCI President S.M. Naveed and Secretary General Salahuddin Hanif amicably anchored the session, said the spokeperson.
She added that during the productive session, Dawood Ahmed received an offer from the Chinese delegates for facilitation of machinery setup in his industry. He was quite hopeful for its useful prospects.
PCJCCI Chief announced that video conferencing sessions would regularly be held at PCJCCI office to ensure business-to-business match making and to follow up the joint venture opportunities to be identified by the business community of Pakistan and China.
He was of the view that such programmes would help bring relevant business partners together, asserting that making right contacts and finding suitable trade partners had been a major issue in the past, but PCJCCI was now a digital step ahead by offering its members this unique service of business match making through video conferencing.
He urged the Pak-China Joint Chamber’s members to avail this one-stop-shop facility available at PCJCCI in the form of video conferencing system between China and Pakistan.
Govt plans to expand ICT for Girls programme to provinces: Anusha
ISLAMABAD, Apr 28 (APP):Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Anusha Rehman has said that the government is planning to replicate Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for Girls programme in all the provinces to expand knowledge based economy.
Addressing the ‘Taking Stock and Moving Forward’ conference organized by Ministry of IT in collaboration with Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), Ignite National Technology Fund and Universal Service Fund (USF) here, the minister said, “We have endeavoured to provide our woman and girls greater access to education, economic resources, skill development and employment opportunities”.
She said the IT ministry had started a project in Balochistan costing Rs 26 billion to provide the 3G service to the people of province. It was the biggest investment for the province in the country’s history, which aimed to target hundreds of villages to connect through 3G service, she added.
The project, she said, would cover Awaran, Jhal Jao and Mashkai tehsils/sub-tehsils of Awaran district and Bela, Lakhra, Liari, Uthal, Dureji, Hub, Sonmiani and Kanraj of Lasbel district.
Due to the provision of 3G service, other services like Careem would be started in Balochistan which would a great achievement of the Ministry of Information Technology, she added.
Anusha said the provision of both voice and data facilities in Balochistan were part of 3G licenses.
The minister described the DigiSkills programme as an important part of Information Technology initiative of the government. The programme would create online employment opportunities to enable youth to earn 200 to 300 dollars per month as they would have access across the globe.
She said the telecom sector was the most important for speedy development, particularly in rural areas. The telecom companies contributed to the country’s revenue through the USF, she added.
Among the telecom operators of Pakistan, Ufone was able to win the most from the 12 projects. The company was awarded projects worth Rs 14.2 billion in various cities of balochistan, including Sibi, Kalat, Khuzdar, Chagai, Awaran, Kharan-Washuk and Dera Bugti districts.
The minister said the government was making all out efforts to introduce 5G technology in Pakistan by 2020 to bring it at par with the developed economies in terms of technology advancements.
Naveed Ahmed, Chairman PTA, Dr Daniel Ritz, President PTCL, Henry Wang, CEO China Mobile Pakistan Zong), Rashid Khan, CEO PTML (Ufone), Yusuf Hussain, CEO Ignite, and the ministry officials attended the event.
PTI failed to fulfill its electoral pledges: Muqam
MARDAN, April 29 (APP)::Adviser to Prime Minister and Provincial President PMLN, Engr. Ameer Muqam Saturday said that PTI led government has failed to fulfill its election manifesto and now not presenting KP budget.
Addressing a public gathering at Shergarh Mardan, he said
that PTI’ did nothing in the province for the people.
Gathering was also addressed by PMLN Central President and CM Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif.
He said that PTI led government during its five year is a story of complete disappointment.
He said people have rejected PTI leadership and their policies. PMLN would emerge victorious in next coming elections owing to performance and record development work, he added
Business community termed Budget 2018-19 a balanced, growth-oriented
ISLAMABAD, April 28 (APP):Trade bodies and business community across the country on Saturday hailed the government for introducing pro-trade and business initiatives in its Federal Budget 2018-19 and said the measures introduced in budget would help to set a proper direction of the national economy.
They said it was a unique precedent in the national history that an elected government had presented its 6th budget and introduced corrective measures for the revival of trade and industrial sector of the country.
Commenting on the Federal Budget Senior Vice President of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry Mazhar Ali said it was the best budget of the current government as compared to its last five budgets.
The government had introduced some industrial specific measures, which would help to address the challenges and problems being faced by the local sector and would materialize the export potential and achieving the growth targets, he added.
He said many incentives were introduced for the development and promotion of local poultry, dairy, pharmaceutical and fisheries sectors and would generate business activities and bridging the gap in targets fixed for current fiscal year.
The FPCCI vice president further said the government had also suggested incentives for the manufacturing sector and provided tax relaxation for corporate sector and association of persons, adding that it had also proposed positive steps for the social sector development.
Meanwhile, President of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and industry Amir Waheed Shaikh termed the budget pro-poor and growth oriented, adding that government had reduced duties and regulatory duty on import of raw material.
He said the government had set industrial growth target for fiscal year 2018-19 at 6.7 percent, adding that in order to realize the targets, he called for providing conducive environment for local industrial sector and bringing down the cost of doing business.
Govt to solve water issue in Karachi: Miftah
ISLAMABAD, April 28 (APP):Finance Minister Miftah Ismail Saturday said the federal government was committed to solve water issue in Karachi.
Addressing the post budget press conference, he said, “The federal government is well-aware of the water issue in the port city and we are determined to solve it on priority”.
He said it was agreed that the previous PPP led federal government would pay 1/3rd of the cost of K4 water project in Karachi. However, no money was ever paid, and the project never took off the ground.
It was the PML(N) government that started giving funds for the K4 and former Prime Minsiter Muhammd Nawaz Sharif also agreed to pick 45% of the total cost, he added.
He said Lahore, Multan metros were built by provincial funds, however, the Green Line Rapid Transit System in Karachi was being funded by the federal government.
In the current financial year, the minister said Rs16 billion had been spent on this project.
Rs100 bln to be released soon on account of circular debt: Miftah
ISLAMABAD, April 28 (APP):Minister for Finance Dr Miftah Ismail Saturday said the government would soon release Rs100 billion to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) on account of circular debt.
Addressing the post budget press conference along with Adviser to PM on Revenue Haroon Akhtar Khan, Chairman Federal Board of Revenue Tariq Pasha and Secretary Finance Arif Khan, he said the government was making serious efforts to clear the circular debt judiciously and at the earliest.
The minister said the government had added over 12,000 MW additional electricity in the national grid during the last five years, which is a record in the national history, adding ”Increased power generation caused surge in circular debt.”
Bangladesh’s Rohingya refugee camps face life threatening funding crisis
UNITED NATIONS, April 28 (APP):The lives of tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees hang in the balance as monsoon and cyclone seasons threaten camps in southern Bangladesh, the United Nations migration agency warned Friday, appealing for urgent financial support to prepare the area against floods and landslides.
Without new funding, tens of thousands of people who poured into the camps, fleeing violence triggered in Myanmar last August will be at risk, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) cautioned.
“We cannot wait for funding to come in after the emergency is over and possibly preventable tragedies have occurred, said John McCue, IO’s Senior Operations Coordinator in Co’s Bazar.
We need to be able to act now if lives are to be saved, he added.
Almost a million Rohingya refugees live in the Co’s Bazar district under tarpaulins, on steep, sandy slopes 25,000 of whom have been have been identified as at the highest risk of landslides.
Without aid, numerous will have to remain in these hazardous locations and hundreds of thousands of others will also be at risk if roads become impassible, blocking access to aid supplies and medical services.
Tarp stocks are also rapidly running out and IOM, which oversees shelter distribution, reports that by mid-May supplies will fall below critical levels, maintained Mr. McCue, noting that without more funding, neither new shelters nor replacements would be available to those who lost homes during storms.
He also pointed out that other risks included safe water supply systems, which if collapsed could put hundreds of thousands of refugees in jeopardy of waterborne diseases.
Only nine per cent of a $951million joint agency response plan has been secured. Of that, $182 million allocated to provide Co’s Bazar with assistance through December 2018 is facing a shortfall of almost $151 million.
Aid staff on the ground are working to improve shelters, secure key access roads and have emergency response services ready should the worst happens, but the harsh truth is that we cannot keep doing that if we do not have the funds, McCue stated.
IOM, the World Food Programme and the UN refugee agency are working alongside the government of Bangladesh and others to manage the scale of the response in Co’s Bazar “ the world’s biggest refugee settlement.
If significant funding is not secured in the next few weeks to keep operations running, there is a high likelihood that many children, women and men may die, when they could have otherwise been saved, McCue added.
Pakistan students showcase specialities at food and culture expo in China
BEIJING, April 28 (APP):Students from Pakistan served their specialities at an international food and culture expo in Wuxi, Jiangsu province of China.
Pakistan’s traditional food especially Kebab, Biryani, Nan and Kheer delighted the food-loving participating students.
Jiangnan University hosted the food and culture expo aimed at serving local people, and particularly its students, a grand feast, China.com.cn reported on Saturday.
A total of 17 exhibition booths were launched to display various delicacies from Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Japan, Russia, the United States, Kazakhstan, Cambodia, Myanmar, Venezuela, Syria, Sudan, Ghana, Rwanda, Burundi, Indonesia and Yemen.
Wuxi cuisine, a representative style of Jiangsu cuisine and one of the Eight Culinary Traditions of Chinese cuisine, undoubtedly made its appearance at the exhibition.
In addition to delicious food, exotic singing and dancing performances by international students were also staged to bring the feast to a climax.
The annual event, first launched in 2011, serves as a platform for students from China and abroad to share their unique cultures and increase mutual understanding. Over the past years, the event has grown in size and popularity among the students.
Govt takes practical steps by raising funds to promote education sector: Baligh
ISLAMABAD, Apr 28 (APP): Minister of State for Education and Professional Training Engr Muhammad Baligh ur Rahman on Saturday said that practical steps were being taken to promote education sector in the country by raising funds in Federal budget 2018-19.
In an interview with PTV news, the minister said, the present budget shows that educational sector is one of the government’s major priorities.
As part of modernizations process of madrasa education, we have made huge infrastructural developments with scientific and technological facilities in the past six years, he added.
Minister said the government has already taken massive initiatives to promote Islamic education incorporating science and technology aiming to build competent workforce.
He urged students to take their education seriously as Islam stressed on gaining knowledge even if one had to travel to far corners of the world.
The minister advised that teachers should also focus on character building of their students.
Baligh Ur Rehman said it was the need of the hour that we work together to give better opportunities of life and education to the people.