KARACHI: December 08 –
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar strikes the Gong to mark the launch of Government Sukook Auction at Pakistan Stock Exchange.
KARACHI: December 08 –
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar addressing the Ceremony to mark the launch of Government Sukook Auction at Pakistan Stock Exchange
KARACHI: December 08 –
KARACHI: December 08 –
ICCI and NBF discuss collaboration for joint investment projects
ISLAMABAD, Dec 08 (APP):Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) leading a delegation held a meeting with Sabir Ahmed, Managing Director, National Police Foundation (NPF).
He discussed with him the options of collaboration on some joint investment projects, said a press release.
Muhammad Karim Khan Secretary, Capt. (R ) Atta Muhammad Director Welfare/Security, Syed Ali Mohsin Director Housing and Ishfaq Ahmed Director Finance, National Police Foundation were also present in the meeting.
Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari said that ICCI is working on the establishment of a new industrial zone in the region to boost industrialization and urged NPF to collaborate with ICCI in this important project of national importance.
He said that the local industry is facing a shortage of skilled manpower while the NBF is already running vocational training centers across the country and proposed that ICCI and NPF should join hands to produce skilled workers for local industry to improve its productivity.
He said that NPF is managing a sheet glass industry and ICCI members can explore partnerships in this important project.
He said that ICCI is also interested in establishing a citizen club, hospital, airline, and a university as joint ventures with NPF as these important projects would be very beneficial to society and the economy.
Sabir Ahmed, Managing Director, National Police Foundation welcomed the ICCI delegation and briefed them about the welfare, housing, and other projects of NPF.
He also briefed the ICCI delegation about its mega construction project Broadway Center and said that ICCI members should explore this project for business activities.
He said that despite being an agricultural country, Pakistan is importing agricultural products worth US$ 11-12 billion per annum, which is unfortunate, and stressed that NBF and ICCI should consider collaboration for bringing investment in corporate farming to reduce agriculture import bill.
He said that the business community should invest in R&D to produce quality seeds to bring a revolution in the agriculture sector.
He said that Pakistan has good potential to grow olive oil to meet domestic needs and increase its exports. He said that the business community should play a role in transforming Pakistan from an import-based economy to an export-led economy.
Zafar Bakhtawari, former President ICCI and Secretary General UBG Pakistan said that Pakistan is facing a serious issue of connectivity as many airlines of the world are not coming to Pakistan.
He said that ICCI has planned to launch an airline in the private sector to connect Pakistan with major export destinations to boost Pakistan’s trade and exports and stressed that the NPF should join hands with ICCI in this vital project of national importance.
Raja Muhammad Imtiaz, Ameer Hamza, Saif ur Rehman Khan, and others were in the ICCI delegation.
44 marriage halls sealed
FAISALABAD, Dec 08 (APP):The district administration has sealed 44 marriage halls for violations of the one-dish policy and time since November 4.
A spokesperson for the district administration said here Friday that inspection teams also imposed Rs13.5 million fines on 171 marriage halls. The assistant commissioner and district officers overall inspected 2,367 marriage halls in the district, registered 34 cases besides arresting 17 caterers.
Meanwhile, the teams on Thursday imposed Rs 350,000 fines on five marriage halls/marquees over violations.
Jazz partners with TPL to revolutionize tracking services in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, Dec 8 (APP):Jazz, Pakistan’s leading digital operator, has partnered with TPL Corp to revolutionize tracking technology and ensure unparalleled coverage and reliability by seamlessly integrating satellite and GSM tracking devices.
Under the partnership, Jazz will enable TPL with hardware components and connectivity mediums including Fixed, GSM, and Satellite, a press release issued on Friday said.
The strategic inclusion of satellite connectivity services serves a pivotal role in ensuring comprehensive coverage, particularly in regions where GSM signals may be inconsistent or weak. By utilizing satellite connectivity as a backup, uninterrupted communication even in challenging environments will be ensured.
Commenting on the collaboration, Asif Aziz, Chief Business Officer at Jazz, said, “We are excited to embark on this transformative journey with TPL to redefine the possibilities of tracking technology. Jazz is committed to setting new standards in coverage, reliability, and secure communication solutions. This partnership exemplifies our commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is achievable in the digital era.”
Also commenting on the development Rao Salman, CEO TPL, said, “Through this partnership, TPL and Jazz are committed to delivering practical solutions that redefine the standards of tracking in the industry. This collaboration aims to revolutionize tracking functionality, providing precision and efficiency. Our joint efforts signify a step forward in technological advancement, ensuring a seamless and reliable tracking experience in even the most challenging remote regions.”
The fusion of GSM and satellite technologies for tracking services presents a significant leap forward, particularly in areas characterized by weak connectivity. While GSM provides real-time tracking capabilities in areas with stronger terrestrial network coverage, satellite connectivity acts as a resilient backup, seamlessly taking over in regions where GSM signals may weaken. The result is a robust and comprehensive tracking system that transcends traditional limitations.
Export Advisory Council charts course for Pakistan’s $100 billion export vision
ISLAMABAD, Dec 8 (APP):The Export Advisory Council here on Friday held its inaugural meeting under the chairmanship of Caretaker Minister for Commerce, Dr. Gohar Ejaz, charting the course for Pakistan’s $100 Billion Export Vision.
The council considered proposals to elevate domestic exports to $50 billion within the next five years, said a news release here.
The minister expressed confidence that, with concerted efforts and strategic initiatives, Pakistan’s textile exports could reach $50 billion, contributing significantly to the country’s economic growth.
He stressed that a robust export strategy could potentially alleviate the burden of debt, positioning Pakistan competitively in the global market.
Envisioned Pakistan’s gross domestic product (GDP) to rise to 1 trillion dollars which could increase average per capita income in Pakistan threefold, he added.
He emphasized that Pakistan needed export-driven growth to alleviate the balance of payments problem.
The minister also underscored the significance of the textile sector, acknowledging its largest share in the country’s exports.
He emphasized that despite this, the sector operated below its full potential.
To address this, the council discussed plans to organize a Textile Expo, a dedicated platform aimed at boosting textile exports.
Comprising prominent figures in the export sector, the council boasts members including Mussadiq Zulqarnain, Fawad Anwar, Shahid Surti, Mian Ahsan, Yaqub Ahmed, Aamir Fayyaz Sheikh, Shahid Abdullah, and Ahmed Kamal.
The collective wisdom and expertise of these industry leaders were harnessed during the meeting to address pressing challenges faced by Pakistan’s exports.
During the deliberations, the council focused on identifying practical solutions to enhance the competitiveness of Pakistan’s textile industry on the global stage. The private sector members actively contributed their perspectives, shedding light on critical issues and proposing strategies for their resolution.
India can’t suppress Kashmiris’ struggle for long time: Speakers
MIRPUR (AJK): , Dec 08 (APP): Speakers at a seminar held at European Parliament in Brussels said, in the changing trends of the world, India cannot suppress the voice of oppressed people of Jammu and Kashmir state for a long time.
The were addressing a seminar titled, “Voice of Kashmiri People in this Changing World,” organized by Kashmir Council Europe (KC-EU) in connection with its on-going annual “Kashmir EU Week” involving seminars, debates, meetings and an exhibition on Kashmir in the European headquarters, said a message reached here on Friday.
The speakers of the seminar pointed out that there was a wave of awareness against tyranny in the whole world and in support of human rights. The people of the entire world are coming out to raise their voices in favor of the oppressed human beings. Now is the time to support the voice of Kashmiris as much as possible so that the international community can be willing to stop human rights abuses in the Illegally Occupied Kashmir and play its fair role to solve the Kashmir issue, they said.
Chairman Kashmir Council EU Ali Raza Syed, Rao Mustejab Ahmad, Shiraz Raj, Saddique Khan, Andre Barcs, Muhammad Ajmal, Khalid Mahmood Joshi, Aslam Hussain Shah, Hassan Ali Rahim, Syed Mustafa Bukhari, Zarvaan Ahsan Ghamidi and Amna Iqbal also addressed at the seminar.
Chairman KC-EU Ali Raza Syed said, we will continue to raise our voice in favor of Kashmiris and keep knocking on the conscience of the international community. He said, our continuous voice can change the views of the world’s nations about Kashmir and can increase the support of Kashmiris at the glob.
The Chairman of KC-EU further said, as in these days people in all over the world stood against the state terrorism and atrocities on the common citizens are being condemned, we hope world would prevent Indian brutalities on the Kashmiris.
Ali Raza Syed also expressed his fear that as the world is currently focused on the tense situation in Europe (Ukraine) and the Middle East, the Modi government can take advantage of this situation to carry out some heinous act in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Ali Raza Syed added, under the different pretexts, India wants to maintain its illegal possession of this region for a long time. Genocide of Kashmiris, extra-judicial killings, arbitrary arrests and crude tactics like amendment of domicile laws to change the Kashmiri population ratio are part of Indian nefarious motives.
He asked the international community especially, European Union to take immediate action in order to stop the atrocities against the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir. So that situation of the disputed land should be normalized, and people of Jammu and Kashmir should be provided a peaceful atmosphere where they can use their right to self determination in accordance with their wishes and according to United Nations resolutions.
Kashmir EU Week, the week long arrangement of events on Kashmir started early this week in the European Headquarters Brussels. The program was inaugurated with a photo exhibition on Kashmir at European press club in Brussels and it will remain continued till 15th December.
Beside the intellectuals and experts, a number of the students enrolled in the European educational institutions attended the seminar followed by a debate on different aspect of Kashmir issue at the European parliament.
Ishaq Dar meets delegation from world’s leading investment institutions
ISLAMABAD, Dec 08 (APP): A delegation, representing portfolio managers, economists, and sovereign analysts from several world’s leading investment institutions, led by Marc Zeepvat, President, Trans-National Research Corporation, held a meeting
with Leader of the House, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, at Parliament House.
Senator Ishaq Dar welcomed the delegation, emphasizing the significance of international collaboration for economic prosperity, said a press release issued on Friday.
During the meeting, he provided a comprehensive overview of the investment landscape in Pakistan, highlighting key aspects such as the country’s economic outlook, the ongoing IMF Programme, and the privatization initiative.
During the meeting, Senator Dar apprised the delegation of the economic performance of Pakistan during 2013-17 when it became 24th global economy together with enhanced investment in public sector development works which resulted in Pakistan’s GDP growth to rise above 6% with 40-year low inflation of around 4%.
He shared insights into the reform efforts and challenges faced by Pakistan, underscoring the pivotal role of the Special Investment Facilitation Council in promoting a conducive business environment. He addressed the delegation’s queries regarding the factors influencing the business and investment climate in Pakistan, offering transparency and clarity on the nation’s commitment to fostering economic growth and ensuring a robust foundation for sustainable economic development.
PTA conducts QoS survey in KPK, Punjab, Sindh & GB
ISLAMABAD, Dec 08 (APP):Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has carried out an Independent Quality of Service (QoS) survey in order to measure the performance and quality of Cellular Mobile Operators’ (CMOs).
The survey has been conducted in seventeen (17) x cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh, said news release issued here on Thursday.
Additionally, a joint QoS survey along with CMOs was carried out in seven cities of Gilgit Baltistan during 3rd quarter i.e. July- September 2023.
During the survey, Mobile Network Coverage along with QoS KPIs of Voice, SMS and Mobile Broadband were checked using state-of-the-art automated QoS Monitoring & Benchmarking Tool to ascertain conformance with Next Generation Mobile Service (NGMS) licenses and Cellular Mobile Network Quality of Service Regulations 2021.
Based upon the compliance level of each KPI against threshold defined in the respective licenses and QoS Regulations, CMOs have been ranked between 1st to 5th position in Mobile Network Coverage and Voice Services as per compliance level in surveyed cities.
Similarly, in Mobile Broadband Speed segment, the ranking is with respect to the highest data download and upload speed, network latency and webpage loading time.
The performance of the CMOs was also benchmarked using Ookla ® Speed Test mobile application to gauge the performance of Upload & Download Throughputs and Network Latency.
The survey results revealed that CMOs are compliant with respect to upload and download speed to a great extent, while improvement is observed in network latency and webpage loading time as compared to earlier surveys.
Similarly, some of the Voice KPIs have also been found below the licensed threshold in few areas.
Necessary instructions have been issued to the operators for taking corrective measures so as to ensure improvement in the service quality up to the standards. The survey results are available at PTA’s website (https://pta.gov.pk/en/consumer-support/qos-survey/qos-survey).
The service quality monitoring activity is being carried out by PTA field teams with the ultimate aim to pursue the operators for providing of better mobile services and promote a healthy competition among the operators.
AIOU to hold convocation on January 31
ISLAMABAD, Dec 08 (APP):The Convocation of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) will be held on January 31, 2024, at the Jinnah Convention Center, Islamabad.
According to the AIOU, the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Dr. Arif Alvi, who is also the Chancellor of the University, will be the chief guest at the event.
The ceremony will be hosted by the Vice Chancellor of AIOU, Prof. Dr. Nasir Mahmood.
Federal ministers, secretaries, senior officials of HEC, vice chancellors of various universities, rectors, renowned journalists, eminent social personalities, deans, professors, principal officers, faculty members, and students of AIOU will participate in the convocation.
It is pertinent to mention here that 2024 marks the golden jubilee year of Allama Iqbal Open University.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Nasir Mehmood, has decided to celebrate this occasion by organizing convocations at provincial levels to involve the students in the celebration.
AIOU has already completed the preparations for convocations in Muzaffarabad, as well as all the provincial capitals (Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, and Peshawar).
Students from Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan and Rawalpindi Division (Attack, Chaklala, Jhelum and Rawalpindi) will participate in the convocation on January 31, 2024 being held at Jinnah Convention Center, Islamabad. Graduates of BA, B.Sc, BBA, B.Com, B.Ed, M.Ed, MA/M.Sc, MPhil, and PhD programs are advised to check their eligibility for the convocation on the http://convocation.aiou.edu.pk website.
Eligible students can register themselves on the same link until December 20th.
The convocation for the Karachi chapter has been scheduled for March 3, 2024 and convocation for Lahore will be held on March 28, while Quetta will host the ceremony on May 19.
The convocations for Peshawar and Muzaffarabad chapters are scheduled for June 9 and June 30, 2024, respectively.
All PhD graduates must register in Islamabad only, while the students of MPhil programs will be awarded gold medals and degrees during the convocations held in their respective cities.
For more details about convocation, Students can contact convocation@aiou.edu.pk or 051-9571717.