ISLAMABAD
Imam-e-Kabah H.E Professor Dr. Sheikh Saleh bin Abdullah bin Humaid calls on Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar
ISLAMABAD
Imam-e-Kabah H.E Professor Dr. Sheikh Saleh bin Abdullah bin Humaid calls on Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar
ISLAMABAD
Imam-e-Kabah H.E Professor Dr. Sheikh Saleh bin Abdullah bin Humaid calls on Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar
ISLAMABAD
Imam-e-Kabah H.E Professor Dr. Sheikh Saleh bin Abdullah bin Humaid calls on Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar
ISLAMABAD
Gomal University, University of Mianwali sign MoU
DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Nov 24 (APP): Gomal University and University of Mianwali Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) for academic collaboration in several disciplines and joint ventures in various fields of research.
Registrar Gomal University Prof Dr Muhammad Shoib and Vice Chancellor University of Mianwali Prof Dr Islamullah Khan signed the MoU on behalf of the respective universities in a ceremony held here.
Deans of all departments of Gomal University, administrative officers including Registrar of University of Mianwali Dr. Abdul Majid Rana and Director QEC were also present on this occasion.
The MoU features the programs, seminars, symposiums, and other initiatives that promote national and international collaboration in academic, research, and educational activities between the two universities besides involving mutual faculty and student exchange programmes.
Speaking on the occasion, the heads of both universities termed the MoU as a milestone towards promotion of reach-based knowledge among students.
They said that students and faculty staff would take great benefit from the mutual initiatives under the agreement.
Weekly inflation goes slightly down by 0.06 pc
ISLAMABAD, Nov 24 (APP): The weekly inflation, measured by the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), witnessed a slight decrease of 0.06 percent for the combined consumption group during the week ended on November 23, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported on Friday.
The SPI for the week under review in the above-mentioned group was recorded at 307.12 points as compared to 309.09 points during the past week, according to the PBS data.
As compared to the corresponding week of last year, the SPI for the combined consumption group in the week under review witnessed an increase of 41.13 percent.
The weekly SPI with the base year 2015-16 =100 covers 17 urban centers and 51 essential items for all expenditure groups.
The SPI for the lowest consumption group up to Rs 17,732, decreased by 0.18 percent and went down to 307.81 points from last week’s 308.35 points.
The SPI for consumption groups from Rs 17,732-22,888; Rs 22,889-29,517; Rs 29,518-44,175 and above Rs 44,175 decreased by 0.14 percent, 0.10 percent, 0.08 percent and 0.02 percent respectively.
During the week, out of 51 items, prices of 18 (35.29%) items increased, 12 (23.53%) items decreased and 21 (41.18%) items remained stable.
The items, which recorded a decrease in their average prices on a week-on-week (WoW) included tomatoes (5.78%), vegetable ghee 2.5 kg (1.36%), cooking oil 5 litre (1.31%), banana (0.91%), vegetable ghee 1 kg (0.82%), eggs (0.33%), sugar (0.20%) and tea packet (0.17%).
The items that recorded an increase in their average prices on a week-on-week (wow) basis, included garlic (4.61%), onion (2.42%), chicken (1.81%), potatoes (1.69%), pulse masoor (1.01%), lpg (0.76%), firewood (0.59%), wheat flour (0.54%), match box (0.52%), pulse moong (0.52%) and bread plain (0.47%).
On a Year-on-Year (YoY) basis, the items that witnessed decrease in prices included onions (36.18%), tomatoes (18.10%), mustard oil (4.06%) and vegetable ghee 1 kg (2.85%).
The commodities which recorded an increase in their average prices on YoY basis included , gas charges for q1 (1108.59%), cigarettes (94.20%), wheat flour (88.18%), chilies powder (81.74%), rice basmati broken (76.57%), garlic (71.03%), rice irri-6/9 (62.28%), gents sponge chappal (58.05%), gents sandal (53.37%), tea lipton (53.00%), gur (50.80%) and potatoes (47.90%).
Ombudsman’s interventions improved public services: Ejaz Qureshi
KARACHI, Nov 24 (APP): The Federal Ombudsman Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi on Friday claimed that visible institutional improvements had been witnessed in public sector organizations like National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), Central Directorate of National Savings (CDNS) and at airports due to intervention of the Wafaqi Mohtasib.
Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi, while addressing to a media briefing along with Senior Advisor Syed Anwar Hyder here at Federal Ombudsman Secretariat Regional Office Karachi, said that the Federal Ombudsman Secretariat (FOS) had not only disposed off the public complaints against the government organizations and department within 60 days, but had also implemented the judgments through an efficient mechanism.
The implementation on judgments was ensured in 72 percent cases this year while in the remaining cases matters were either moved to courts or delayed due to non availability of relevant record, he clarified.
The Ombudsman said that his secretariat received public complaints mostly against power distribution companies, gas providers, BISP, Postal Services and other government organizations providing public services. The organizations having a vast clientele naturally have the most number of complaints filed against them, he said.
As result of mass awareness and efficient working of the FOS, the number of complaints received has registered over 80 percent growth as compared to previous year and it is expected that number of filed complaints this year may reach near 200000, the Ombudsman stated, adding that despite of limited resources and extensive work pressure, a single advisor was hearing over 200 cases monthly.
Ejaz Qureshi said that Wafaqi Mohtasib was also facilitating mediation between two parties under section 33 of the relevant law and aggrieved persons were getting their issues resolved in a shorter time without any expenses.
The Ombudsman informed that a quarterly review meeting on prison reforms was held with provincial administration and matters relating to health and hygiene , clean drinking water, disease prevention, skill development and other issues were reviewed in detail.
He said that after submission of prison reforms report to the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the Ombudsman Secretariat was continuously monitoring the progress on the reforms that demonstrates its commitment with resolving issues of prisoners.
He appreciated the Sindh government for progress in certain areas and said that quality of food being provided to prisoners has improved and funds were issued for some ongoing schemes. However, more measures were required in some other areas, he stressed.
FOS has suggested to form an oversight committee to regularly monitor the progress on prison reforms as prison department and other allied services and departments were provincial subjects and an oversight committee could deal with the issues in a better manner, he asserted.
For resolving grievances of oversees Pakistanis a dedicated section was established in Ombudsman secretariat and a special advisor was assigned to look into the complaints, Ejaz Qureshi said adding that Mohtasib also approach the Pakistani Embassies through the foreign office for resolution of issues being faced by the citizens out of the country.
He said that issues of individual nature were heard and resolved within the shortest possible time while in matters involving systematic or institutional impediments the FOS presents reports to the government with recommendations for resolving those issues.
Basically dealing with systematic issues and introducing fundamental reforms in public sector organizations and instituting a mechanism for remedy of public grievances was responsibility of elected assemblies and cabinet, he argued.
Talking about expansion in outreach of the ombudsman secretariat, Ejaz Qureshi said “Our regional offices were functioning in major cities of the country and we are also encouraging online hearing of cases to facilitate the complainants belonging to far flung areas.”
The FOS intends to set up its regional offices in Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kasmir as well as other cities and towns of all the provinces to expand its services but paucity of funds is the major impediment in the regard, he said adding that if provincial governments provided office space, the FOS was all set to establish more regional offices.
Ejaz Qureshi further informed that Federal Ombudsman of Pakistan, for the second time, was elected president of Asian Ombudsmen Association unopposed for a four year term in 17th general assembly of AOA held in Kazan Russia.
He urged media to spread awareness regarding the role and performance of the FOS as it not only sensitize citizens about an efficient and economical mechanism of grievance redressal but it would also encourage the advisors and staff of the FOS.
Rupee shed 11 paisa against Dollar
ISLAMABAD, Nov 24 (APP): Pakistani Rupee on Friday witnessed 11 paisa devaluation against US Dollar in the interbank trading and closed at Rs 285.37 against the previous day’s closing at Rs 285.26.
However, according to the Forex Association of Pakistan (FAP), the buying and selling rates of the Dollar in the open market stood at Rs 284.1 and Rs 286.9 respectively.
The price of the Euro increased by 09 paisa to close at Rs 311.31 against the last day’s closing of Rs 311.22, according to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
The Japanese Yen lost one paisa to close at Rs 1.90; whereas an increase of Rs1.43 was witnessed in the exchange rate of the British Pound, which traded at Rs 358.19 as compared to the last closing of Rs 356.76.
The exchange rates of the Emirates Dirham and the Saudi Riyal increased by 03 paisa each to close at Rs 77.70 and Rs 76.08 respectively.
Five illegal LPG refilling shops sealed
MULTAN, Nov 24 (APP): The district administration has launched a crackdown against illegal LPG refilling and sealed over five shops here on Friday.
Assistant Commissioner City Seemal Mushtaq led the operation seized the cylinders and filling units and launched legal action.
On this occasion, AC city said that the protection of properties and lives of people would be ensured by controlling illegal refilling.
The crackdown against brick kilns and commercial vehicles causing smog was also underway, she concluded.
Call to set up national gold bank
LAHORE, Nov 24 (APP): Gold & Gems Art Promotion Council of Pakistan (GGAPCP) President Muhammad Ahmed has demanded Caretaker Federal Finance Minister Dr Shamshad Akhtar and State Bank of Pakistan Governor Jameel Ahmed to set up a gold bank at national level for dealing with fluctuation in gold prices.
Muhammad Ahmad, who is also FPCCI Regional Standing Committee Convener for Gems & Jewellery, and Chairman Lahore Division Sarafa and Jewellers Association, expressed these views while addressing a meeting to review election arrangements for new office bearers of the council here on Friday.
He said the government should control gold prices as ever-rising prices of the yellow metal were affecting small businessmen. He said if a gold bank was set up in the country, people could be able to buy the yellow metal direct from the bank, which would end the role of middlemen. He was of the view that the government could control prices of gold like it regulates the prices of petroleum products and other commodities.
The GGAPCP president further said the government had granted the gems and jewellery sector the status of industry in 2005, but facilities to the industry could not be provided accordingly.
Muhammad Ahmed also demanded the government to remove impediments to gold and jewellery exports which would not only promote the industry but also help increase foreign exchange.