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Around 336,999 Pakistanis proceed to abroad for employment during Jan 1 to June 30

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ISLAMABAD, Jul 30 (APP):Through the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BEOE) an attached department of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development from January 1 to June 30, around 336,999 Pakistanis have proceeded abroad for employment.
The number of foreign job seekers are also increasing day by day due to the productive policies of the country as new ways of jobs opening for skilled and unskilled Pakistani workers.
An official source of BEOE told APP, he said that since inception of the Bureau in the year 1971, more than 10 million emigrants have been provided overseas employment duly registered with the Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment.
To a question, he said that during the year 2015, the highest number of Pakistanis(946,571) proceeded abroad for the purpose of employment.
He said that so far, 116,300 foreign jobs are available with BEOE Overseas employment was playing a vital role in reducing the pressure of unemployment at home, besides being a major means of earning foreign exchange in the shape of overseas workers’ remittances.
Overseas employment is thus serving as the mainstay for the national economy, by providing much-needed financial outlay for debt servicing, import bills, alleviation of poverty, development projects and economic activities.
Bureau, being a regulatory body, controls, regulates, facilitates and monitors the emigration process followed by the Overseas Employment Promoters (OEPs), in the private sector, besides ‘direct employment’, the mode adopted by the individuals, to seek foreign employment either through their own efforts or relatives and friends living abroad.
The foremost task of Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment encompass collection, compilation and tabulation of emigration data of all those Pakistanis who proceed abroad for employment purpose. In fact, the Bureau has been engaged in maintaining comprehensive statistical record of all the migrant workers since 1971, which provides basis for planning and policy formulation by the Economic Division and other interested government departments.
He said that the main function of this body was to control and regulate emigration under the Emigration Ordinance, 1979
and promote Emigration of Pakistani Citizens.
It was the function of the bureau to look after the interest and welfare of the emigrants and advise the Federal Government on emigration policies and procedures, Monitoring and supervision of Overseas Employment Promoters through 7 Protectorates of Emigrants Offices, Processing of Overseas Employment Promoters (OEP) Licences
Pre-departure briefing to Emigrants.
Mandatory Insurance coverage to Pakistanis workers abroad and Memorandum of Understating with Foreign Countries for Export of Manpower and Management of State Life Emigrants Insurance Fund (SLEIF).

PFA seals meat unit, imposes Rs. 200,000 fine

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LAHORE, Jul 30 (APP): An enforcement team of the Punjab Food Authority (PFA) sealed a meat processing unit and imposed a fine of Rs. 200,000 during a raid in Roohi Nala, Moulanwal, after recovering 2,000 kilograms of unfit and unhygienic meat.
The operation was conducted under the supervision of Special Assistant to Chief Minister Punjab on Food, Salma Butt, following reports of serious violations of food safety regulations.
During the raid, the PFA’s Meat Safety Task Force found alarming lapses in hygiene standards, including filthy and foul-smelling chillers, poor storage conditions, lack of temperature control records, and the absence of pest control measures.
Salma Butt said that the unit was using substandard and unapproved packaging materials and failed to present mandatory documentation, including workers’ medical fitness certificates and food safety training records. She added that the operator also neglected to maintain basic hygiene protocols required under provincial food safety laws. “The unit will remain sealed until it achieves full compliance with food safety standards,” she said. “The use of unsafe meat poses serious risks to public health, and strict action will continue against such violators.”
She reiterated the Punjab government’s zero-tolerance policy towards the adulteration mafia, adding that ongoing operations aim to eliminate such hazardous practices across the province.
Citizens are encouraged to report any food safety violations by calling the PFA helpline at 1223.

CCP enforcement gains pace, 223 cases resolved, Rs 360m recovered

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ISLAMABAD, Jul 30 (APP):The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has made significant progress in reducing its legal backlog and recovering penalties, marking a major turnaround in the enforcement of competition law.
When the new management took charge in August 2023, the CCP faced 567 pending cases across different courts.
Through early hearing applications and aggressive follow-up, 223 cases have since been decided, cutting the backlog by more than 40 percent, said a release issued here on Wednesday.
 The biggest relief came in the Competition Appellate Tribunal (CAT), where 121 cases were decided out of 210, bringing down pendency by 58 percent. The Lahore High Court decided 39 cases, reducing backlog by 78 percent, while the Sindh High Court disposed of 40 cases, a 61 percent cut.
The Islamabad High Court decided 13 cases, lowering pendency by 43 percent. At the Supreme Court, 11 cases were decided, and 171 cases challenging CCP’s mandate have been clubbed for a single hearing.
The resolution of cases has enabled the CCP to recover imposed penalties. In the past year alone, the Commission recovered PKR 360 million, surpassing the total PKR 201 million collected since its establishment in 2007.
One of the landmark judgments was delivered by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in the Dalda Foods vs CCP case, which strengthened the CCP’s enforcement capacity. The apex court unanimously upheld the Commission’s statutory powers to gather information and conduct inquiries under Section 36 of the Competition Act, 2010.
The Court ruled that companies are bound to comply with CCP directives and that the Commission is not required to provide detailed reasoning before launching an inquiry. Similarly, in a case on alleged cartelization in the poultry sector, the Lahore High Court upheld CCP’s authority to pursue investigations into price-fixing.
Justice Jawad Hassan stressed that show-cause notices cannot be prematurely challenged in High Courts and must first go through CCP’s adjudication process, reaffirming the regulator’s autonomy.
A major breakthrough that helped the swift resolution of cases was the revival of the Competition Appellate Tribunal, after the appointment of Justice Sajjad Ali Shah as Chairman with members Dr. Faiz Elahi Memon and Asim Akram.
The tribunal has disposed of 121 cases, leaving only 89 pending, and delivered rulings that have both reduced penalties and clarified key points of law.
Notable decisions by CAT include upholding fines on Reckitt Benckiser (Strepsils), PVMA, ICAP, and British Lyceum, while reducing penalties on PREMA Milk, Diamond Paints, 3N Lifemed, and Pakistan Steel Mills.
In the high-profile Sugar Mills cartel case involving Rs 44 billion, the tribunal remanded the matter back to CCP, ruling that the Chair’s casting vote was invalid.

Mansehra Police ink record 83 MoUs for welfare of personnel & families

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MANSEHRA, Jul 30 (APP):In a significant step towards the welfare of police personnel and their families, Mansehra Police Wednesday has signed a record 83 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), the highest among all districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The initiative, led by District Police Officer (DPO) Shafiullah Gandapur, aligns with the vision of Inspector General of Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Zulfiqar Hameed, and the special directives of Deputy Inspector General of Police Hazara, Nasir Mehmood Satti. It aims to support the families of police martyrs, as well as serving and retired officers and their dependents.
The 83 agreements include collaborations with 75 private schools, 6 private hospitals, 1 law firm, and 1 flour mills association. These partnerships will offer police personnel and their families substantial discounts in key areas such as education, healthcare, legal assistance, and other essential services.
To ensure accessibility, DPO Gandapur directed Traffic Inspector Inas Khan to compile detailed brochures and pamphlets outlining the benefits of each MoU. These materials have been distributed across the district police force, enabling officers and their families to fully benefit from the available services.
This welfare-driven initiative has been widely appreciated as a model for other districts in the province.

PSX turns bullish, gains 447 points

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ISLAMABAD, Jul 30 (APP):The Pakistan Stock Exchange’s (PSX) benchmark KSE-100 Index turned around to bullish trend on Wednesday, gaining 447.43 points, a positive of 0.32 percent, closing at 138,412.25 points against 137,964.82 points last trading day.
A total of 425,836,625 shares were traded during the day as compared to 606,334,880  shares the previous trading day, whereas the price of shares stood at Rs 24.999 billion against Rs 32.685 billion on the last trading day.
As many as 476 companies transacted their shares in the stock market, 152 of them recorded gains and 290 sustained losses, whereas the share price of 34 companies remained unchanged.
The three top trading companies were Bank of Punjab with 24,809,434  shares at Rs 13.72 per share, Cres Star Ins with 20,904,522 shares at Rs4.34 per share and Maple Leaf with 14,501,544 shares at Rs 79.62 per share.
Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited witnessed a maximum increase of Rs 399.61 per share price, closing at Rs 33,020.02, whereas the runner-up was PIA Holding Company LimitedB with Rs 141.57 rise in its per share price to Rs 31,299.00.
SS Oil Mills Limited witnessed a maximum decrease of Rs87.90 per share closing at Rs 791.08 followed by Nestle Pakistan Limited with Rs78.52 decline in its share price to close at Rs7,611.32.

Rupee gains 10 paisa against US Dollar

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ISLAMABAD, Jul 30 (APP): The Rupee on Wednesday appreciated by 10 paisa against the US Dollar in the interbank trading and closed at Rs 282.95 against the previous day’s closing Rs 283.05.

However, according to the Forex Association of Pakistan (FAP), the buying and selling rates of the dollar in the open market stood at Rs 285 and Rs 285.5, respectively.

The price of the Euro decreased by Rs 0.19 to close at Rs 327.00 against the last day’s closing of Rs 327.19, according to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

The Japanese yen gained 01 paisa and closed at Rs 1.91, whereas an increase of Rs 0.69 was witnessed in the exchange rate of the British Pound, which was traded at Rs 378.19 compared to the previous day’s closing of Rs 377.50.

The exchange rates of the Emirates Dirham and the Saudi Riyal came down by 03 paisa each to close at Rs 77.03 and Rs 75.42, respectively.

Dar directs ministries for early finalisation of investment proposals

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ISLAMABAD, Jul 30 (APP): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Wednesday directed the relevant ministries and organisations to increase coordination and streamline their efforts to finalize the investment proposals as soon as possible.

He said this while chairing a meeting of the Committee for Development of Investment Portfolio to attract investment.

The meeting was attended by federal ministers of power, economic affairs and petroleum, Special Assistant to PM Tariq Bajwa, Chairman of Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, federal secretaries of power, petroleum, finance, Board of Investment, and senior representatives from key ministries, divisions and other relevant organizations.

The meeting discussed in detail various investment proposals and identified priority sectors for future investments.

JKSYF launches poster campaign in IIOJK to mark Youm-e-Istehsal

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ISLAMABAD, Jul 30 (APP): In connection with Youm-e-Istehsal, the Jammu and Kashmir Students and Youth Forum (JKSYF) has launched a powerful poster campaign across Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), condemning the illegal and unilateral abrogation of Article 370 by the Indian government on August 5, 2019.

Posters appeared on walls, electric poles and public places in several towns and districts, bearing strong messages against India’s actions that stripped the region of its special status and opened the door to demographic changes under military occupation, said a press release here Wednesday.

The posters, issued by the JKSYF, described August 5 as a “Day of Betrayal” and “Youm-e-Istehsal” (Day of Exploitation), calling on the international community to take notice of India’s violations of international law and United Nations resolutions. Messages on the posters reaffirmed the commitment of the Kashmiri youth to resist colonial repression and continue the struggle for the right to the self-determination.

Security experts term Modi’s speech a failed attempt to cover up Operation Sindoor’s humiliation

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ISLAMABAD, Jul 30 (APP): Security experts have termed Modi’s speech in the Lok Sabha a failed attempt to cover up the humiliation of Operation Sindoor.

In the Indian Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi refused to accept the real outcome of Operation Sindoor, despite repeated confirmations by U.S. President Donald Trump and the international media, they remarked.

The security experts said that in response to Indian aggression, Pakistan’s Operation Bunyan al-Marsus shattered Modi’s war hysteria. India’s declaration of a ceasefire by Colonel Sophia further exposed Modi’s false claims in the Lok Sabha, they said.

They said even Indian Wing Commander Vyomika Singh also admitted the destruction of Udhampur, Adampur, Bhuj, and Pathankot airbases. Pakistan’s effective counteraction in Operation Sindoor forced Modi to back down,” they said.

U.S. leading newspapers The Washington Post and The New York Times also reported that Pakistan effectively responded to Indian aggression and shot down Indian warplanes within Indian airspace.

BBC’s regional editor Amberson Ather John also acknowledged Pakistan’s defense superiority, the security experts said.
“India spent billions of dollars on arms but still faced defeat,” said Amberson Ather John.

According to international media CNN, the U.S. President mediated a ceasefire between the two countries. The U.S. President admitted to intervening over 29 times to de-escalate Indo-Pak tensions and prevent a nuclear war in the region.

Despite global humiliation, Modi’s war-mongering continues to jeopardize regional peace, they security experts remarked.

During the ongoing Lok Sabha session on Operation Sindoor, Narendra Modi claimed, “No global leader asked India to stop the operation except U.S. Vice President who tried to contact me three to four times on May 9 night”. “The U.S. Vice President warned that Pakistan can launch a major attack,” said Modi. “If Pakistan attacks India, our response will be much greater,” he claimed to have told the U.S. Vice President.

Modi made false claimed that India destroyed Pakistan’s power during the nights of May 9 and May 10. “Pakistan now realizes that every Indian response is far more unpredictable than before,” he further claimed. “If needed again, India can go to any extent to respond to Pakistan,” Modi told Lok Sabha.

He threatened, “Operation Sindoor is still going on and if Pakistan repeats such a mistake, it will get a crushing response.

Federal Minister Aurangzeb Khichi visits RCCI Med Health Expo, lauds Pharma Industry’s Export Potential

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ISLAMABAD, Jul 30 (APP): Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Division, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi on Wednesday visited the RCCI Med Health Expo and Summit at the Pak-China Friendship Center in Islamabad, where he praised the efforts of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) in promoting trade, especially in the pharmaceutical and medical sectors.Federal Minister Aurangzeb Khichi visits RCCI Med Health Expo, lauds Pharma Industry’s Export PotentialHe was warmly received by RCCI leadership including President Usman Shaukat, Senior Vice President Khalid Farooq Qazi, Vice President Fahad Barlas, and other executive members.Federal Minister Aurangzeb Khichi visits RCCI Med Health Expo, lauds Pharma Industry’s Export PotentialThe minister toured various stalls showcasing pharmaceutical and healthcare products, commending the innovation and quality demonstrated by local companies.Federal Minister Aurangzeb Khichi visits RCCI Med Health Expo, lauds Pharma Industry’s Export PotentialSpeaking to media representatives at the event, Minister Khichi congratulated RCCI for organizing the two-day expo and highlighted the growing recognition of Pakistani pharma companies at the international level. “The hard work of our companies is driving the nation toward progress. The government is making all-out efforts to elevate the pharmaceutical industry to international standards,” he said, expressing confidence that Pakistan’s pharma sector will emerge as a global leader in the coming years.

Federal Minister Aurangzeb Khichi visits RCCI Med Health Expo, lauds Pharma Industry’s Export PotentialThe Health Expo and Summit, organized by RCCI, has drawn substantial interest from government officials, foreign diplomats, and industry stakeholders. With over 25 stalls on display, the event aims to evaluate the export potential of Pakistan’s healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors while addressing industry-wide challenges.Federal Minister Aurangzeb Khichi visits RCCI Med Health Expo, lauds Pharma Industry’s Export PotentialRCCI President Usman Shaukat emphasized the country’s capability to produce high-quality generic medicines and underscored the sector’s significant export prospects. “Pakistan is known for manufacturing affordable, quality generic drugs, which are highly attractive to global markets,” he stated. However, he also pointed out key hurdles, including regulatory challenges, limited research and development, and stiff international competition, which must be addressed to realize the sector’s full potential.

Ambassador of Turkmenistan Atadjan Movlamov was also present on the occasion.