Gypsy women busy in filling their pots with clean water at Husseinabad
Labourers busy in packing the tomatoes in the wooden boxes at Vegetables Market
Additional Deputy Commissioner Sargodha Arshad Ahmed Wattoo distributing free flour bags among the deserving people at Choongi No. 9
PM reviews distribution arrangements for free flour bags
BAHAWALPUR/Multan March 26 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday arrived here to review arrangements for the distribution of free flour bags among the deserving people under PM’s Ramazan Relief Package.
The prime minister inspected the distribution point at Abbasyia school in Bahawalpur and inquired about the process, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.
During his visits to different free flour distribution centers in both cities, he also interacted with different people, especially the aged ones and females and listened to their complaints.
The prime minister directed the relevant authorities to take care of the elderly and physically handicapped people.
He also inspected a free medical camp set up by the district administration in Bahawalpur.
Earlier, the prime minister had visited Lahore, Kasur and Sargodha to review these arrangements.
Tourists advised to follow precautionary measures amid raining spells
ISLAMABAD, Mar 26 (APP):The intermittent rain which is being continued in various parts of the country turned the weather ideal for tourists to enjoy the chilly weather during the holy month of Ramazan.
However, tourists are being advised to use precautionary measures while visiting hilly areas.
Talking to APP, an official of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) said that the tourists planning their adventures were advised to take precautionary measures and follow the safety guidelines amid recreational activities at Murree and adjoining areas.
He said that the tourists and commuters travelling to the hilly areas were instructed to follow safety guidelines to avoid inconveniences, problems and any untoward incident.
The official said that the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of Punjab had issued directions for tourists to wear long dresses to protect themselves from cough, flu and other diseases, adding that the commuters should stop vehicles time by time.
“All the authorities concerned are advised to remain alert and vigilant to direct the commuters to follow all precautionary measures so that any loss of lives and property can be prevented,” he said while quoting the PDMA advisory.
He said the country is blessed with iconic hilly areas that experience rain and snowfall every year. The official said Pakistan had rich and natural tourism potential that attracts millions of tourists, including locals and people from across the world.
Allottees of Lifestyle Residency asked to pay outstanding installments before Mar 31
ISLAMABAD, Mar 26 (APP): The Federal Government Housing Authority (FGEHA) has asked the allottees of the Lifestyle Residency Project, Sector G-13 Islamabad to pay their outstanding installments before March 31.
“All those members of Lifestyle Residency Project who have not been able to make payment of quarterly installments in time, are informed that EHFPRO Board of Directors has recently approved the last and final amnesty of 70 per cent waiver in surcharge,” an official in the authority told APP.
He said that it may be noted that as per policy, a surcharge is levied in all cases of delayed payment.
The official said that members are requested to avail this last and final opportunity of making payments with minimal penalty. If outstanding dues are not cleared before March 31, a surcharge would be imposed.
About the current development of the project, he said the grey structure of apartments in seven towers on a 10-acre plot had been completed. However, the grey structure of one tower (B-1) is under construction.
In the case of apartments on a 5-acre plot, the construction work was underway. Efforts were being made to complete the project’s two phases at the earliest possible, he added.
He said the FGEHA has initiated a pilot project of a high-rise apartment scheme for federal government employees and other specified groups. The scheme has been launched on land owned by FGEHA in sector G-13 /1&4, Islamabad.
The total plot size of the project is 15.37 acres, of which 10.10 acres are located at G-13/1 and the remaining 5.27 acres are located at G-13/4, the official said.
He said the FGEHA has launched this scheme through a Joint Venture of public-private partnership for the construction of Ground +16 story high-rise apartments on a 10.10-acre plot while ground +17 floors apartments on a 5.27-acre plot, with three basements in both plots.
The official said that in all, 3,273 apartments would be constructed out of which 2,384 have been allocated to federal government employees in all categories while 889 set apart for the general public.
The EHFPRO is a private limited company registered under the Companies Ordinance, 1984 with the Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP). It is a dynamic Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) formed under the joint collaboration of the FGEHA and M/s Progressive Motels & Resorts.
The project is offering facilities that cater to the contemporary needs of urban living like lush green parks, generators as a backup for elevators, a community club, a mini supermarket, a security system, an auditorium, a day care centre for toddlers, a gymnasium for fitness, beauty salon, banquet facilities, grocery stores along with maintenance and garbage disposal services.
Amid recent slowdown in global trade, ‘green goods’ are the winning ticket: UNCTAD
UNITED NATIONS, Mar 26 (APP): Global trade slowed down in the second half of 2022, but demand for environmentally friendly goods stayed strong, according to the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
UNCTAD’s latest Global Trade Update said that trade in “green goods”, which use fewer resources and pollute less, grew by four per cent in the second half of the year, reaching a record $1.9 trillion in 2022.
“This is good news for the planet, as these goods are key to protecting the environment and fighting climate change,” said UNCTAD economist Alessandro Nicita, one of the report’s authors.
Green goods that performed especially well in 2022 included electric and hybrid vehicles, non-plastic packaging and wind turbines.
The findings come days after the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned in its flagship report that greenhouse gas emissions needed to go down now, and be cut by almost half by 2030, if the goal of keeping temperatures from rising more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels is to be achieved.
Overall, global trade was worth a record $32 trillion in 2022, but deteriorating economic conditions contributed to a downward trend in the second half of the year.
According to UNCTAD, the outlook for trade remains “uncertain”; the UN body cited geopolitical tensions, high commodity prices and record levels of public debt combined with high interest rates, as reasons for concern. UNCTAD’s forecast says global trade is set to stagnate in the first half of 2023.
In the second half of the year, however, “positive factors” including a weaker US dollar – the main currency used in trade – stabilized shipping costs and fewer supply chain disruptions, could give trade a boost.
Despite global economic uncertainties, UNCTAD said that growth in green goods is here to stay, fueled by momentum on climate action. UNCTAD’s latest Technology and Innovation Report released last week characterized this moment as the “beginning of a green technological revolution”.
The report predicted that the market for electric cars, solar and wind energy, green hydrogen and other more environmentally friendly technologies would quadruple in value by 2030 to reach $2.1 trillion.
UNCTAD said it believes that international trade patterns will more and more closely reflect the green economic transition that’s underway.
UNCTAD also warned that developed countries were seizing most of the economic opportunities related to green technologies, while developing countries were falling behind.
“Missing this green technological wave because of insufficient policy attention or a lack of investment targeted at building skills and capacities would have long-lasting negative consequences,” the UN body’s Technology and Innovation report maintained.
Among its recommendations, the UNCTAD report urged the international community to support emerging green industries in developing economies through global trade rules and technology transfers – so that developing countries could “catch up economically, while helping to protect the planet”.
Chinese President’s visit to Russia raises hopes of peace, progress: Mehar Kashif
ISLAMABAD, Mar 26 (APP): The Coordinator to Federal Tax Ombudsman Meher Kashif Younis on Sunday said that the Chinese President’s visit to Russia raises hopes of peace and progress.
Talking to a delegation of industrialists and traders led by Shahid Nazir, he said that the international community
attaches great importance to the visit, said a press release.
Perhaps the high price some countries especially under-developing including Pakistan are paying for the Ukraine conflict has raised the international community’s expectations that China can help resume the peace process to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict, he added.
He said this conflict has, directly and indirectly, hit the local economy, which caused ever-spiralling inflation and disrupted the chain supply affecting the imports of raw materials besides deepening the economic growth.
He said durable peace is prerequisite for sustainable economic growth and if Chinese sincere efforts yielded results then it will help greatly to help stabilise the bleak economy and bring life to peace in Eurasia.
He said China’s success in mediating a rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran has raised hopes it could do the same with Russia and Ukraine, particularly because Beijing has open communication channels with both countries.
Congratulating China on its success in mediating a detente between Riyadh and Teheran, Meher Kashif Younis said China is not only an important cooperation partner of Ukraine, but also a major country with global influence, indicating the high expectations Kyiv has pinned on the visit.
He said the visit can help Ukraine and Russia keep alive the hope of dialogue and keep the door open to a political settlement, because China refuses to take sides in the conflict, and remains committed to helping restore peace, while calling on the international community to create enabling conditions for peace talks.
PM terms President’s letter as partisan in nature, anti govt, PTI’s PR
ISLAMABAD, March 26 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday termed the contents of the letter written by President Dr Arif Alvi as of partisan in nature, one-sided and based upon anti-government views’ which were openly espoused by the latter notwithstanding the constitutional oath/office of the president.
In response to the president’s letter of March 24 containing five pages and seven points, the prime minister said that he was constrained to express his disappointment at the blatant partisan nature of the letter, “which in parts reads like a Press Release of the Opposition political party i.e. the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
“Mr. President, the Constitution does not vest any powers in or assigns any functions to the President whereby the President can seek explanation from the Government or the Prime Minister. The only reason I am responding to your letter is because I want to bring your partisan attitude and actions on record and to set the record of our Government straight,” the contents of the letter shared by PM Office Media Wing quoted the prime minister as saying.
The prime minister stressed that he was fully aware of his duties and the duties of the federal government under the constitution and the government was fully committed to preserve, protect and defend the constitution and ensure that the fundamental rights guaranteed to the citizens of Pakistan were not violated.
“However, our government is also determined to ensure that no one is allowed to violate the law, create unrest and attempts to cause irreparable harm to the state of Pakistan. I want to further assure you that our government will thwart any efforts to undermine the constitutionally elected government,” he added.
Further responding to reference made in the president’s letter of Article 46 of the Constitution and Rule 15 (5) of the Rules of Business, 1973 regarding holding of meaningful consultations between the president and prime minister, he said, the objection was out of place.
Under clause (1) of the Article 48, the president, in exercise of his functions, must act on and in accordance with the advice of the cabinet or the prime minister, he added.
The prime minister noted “In very limited instances, the President acts in his discretion under the Constitution. Article 46 and Rule 15 (5) (b) supra are what they ordain. That, is keep the President informed. Nothing more and nothing less. These provisions or for that matter nothing else in the Constitution requires the Prime Minister to consult the President on the exercise of executive authority by the Federal Government.”
Regarding the president’s reference to holding of elections, the prime minister maintained that the ECP had announced October 8 as the new date for polls in Punjab after taking into account the ground realities.
All the federal and provincial government authorities furnished the relevant information to the ECP, he said, adding being the constitutional body, charged with the duty to organize and conduct elections, it was ultimately, the ECP’s decision to assess circumstances for organizing and conducting free and fair elections as required under clause (3) of Article 218.
The prime minister pointed out that the president did not object to the use of language and rather aggressive attitude of the former federal ministers who actively attempted to undermine the authority and credibility of ECP.
The prime minister further opined that at the behest of the PTI, the president gave dates for the general elections on the provincial assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and his decision of election date for KPK assembly was set aside by the Supreme Court.
He said that the president did not raise any concerns on malafide dissolution of the provincial assemblies of the two provinces, that too at the behest of and to satisfy the ego of PTI’s chairman.
“The two provincial assemblies have been dissolved not for any constitutional or legal objective but to blackmail the governments in center and the other two provinces with sole objective of forcing them to dissolve the National and the other two provincial assemblies,” he added.
The prime minister cited that the constitutional distortion also completely escaped the president’s attention regarding effects of conducting elections to two provincial assemblies prior to the general elections of the National Assembly inasmuch, as organizing and conducting free and fair elections under clause (3) of Article 218 might not be possible with the elected provincial government in these provinces.
The prime minister expressed that it was quite saddening given the role of the head of the state that constitution assigned to the president.
In the letter shared by PM Office Media Wing, the prime minister further addressing the president, said that it was a matter of record that previously, he (the president) had acted in a similar patrician manner on several occasions in violation of his oath.
These occasions included i.e. letter for dissolution of the National Assembly on April 3, 2022 on the illegal instructions of the former prime minister (Imran Khan) which was declared as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court on April 7 last year and upon his elections as the prime minister, the president failed to discharge his constitutional duty in terms of clause (5) of Article 91.
“Despite the foregoing and several other instances, where you actively worked towards undermining a constitutionally elected government. I have made all-out efforts to maintain good working relationship with you. However, the contents of your letter, its tone and language have compelled me to respond to it,” the prime minister further added.
The prime minister responding to the points raised by the president regarding alleged fundamental and human rights violations as highlighted by media, said that the reference was quite clear as it referred to the politicians and workers belonging to a political party to which the president also belonged to.
The prime minister categorically said that substantive and procedural due process guaranteed under the Constitution under Articles 4 and 10A was being afforded to all.
“All the actions taken by the law enforcement agencies are strictly in accordance with law to maintain law and order and establish the writ of the state,” he said, adding that in all instances, aggrieved persons had approached the appropriate legal fora.
The prime minister further observed that regrettably due to party allegiance, the president failed to note sheer violation of laws, contumacious disregard of courts orders, attacking the law enforcement agencies, damaging public property, attempts to create chaos, civil and political unrest and ‘in short to bring the country to the brink of economic default and civil war’ by the PTI.
He said what had really tarnished the image of Pakistan in the international community and was casting negative repercussions on the future of democracy and state of human rights in Pakistan was the complete disregard of the laws and the constitution by the PTI.
Moreover, the president, on any occasion, had not uttered even a single word regarding the conduct of Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi, chairman PTI, on his actions in response to lawfully issued court orders for his appearance in criminal proceedings, he added.
The prime minister said “May I also add, never in our history have we ever witnessed such aggressive, rather militant, attitude of political order in complete defiance of court orders.”
The prime minister to another point, maintained that his government ensured complete freedom of speech and expression as enshrined in the constitution.
He regretted that the president never raised his voice or shared his concerns in the manner as he had in his letter, in the past when PTI was in power.
The prime minister referred to the annual world report issued by Human Rights Watch covering 2021 when the PTI’s government was in office, which said “the Pakistan government intensified its efforts to control the media and curtail dissent. Authorities harassed and at times detained journalists and other members of civil society for criticizing government officials and policies. Violent attacks on members of the media also continue.”
The prime minister also referred to AL Jazeera report of last year on the annual World Report 2022 issued by HRW with specific reference to the chapter on Pakistan.
The previous government kept the National Commission for Human Rights dysfunctional for the most part of its tenure, besides deliberately obstructing the appointment of its members and chairperson because the NCHR had issued a damning report on state of human rights.
The prime minister added that there were several reports of the international human rights organizations which reflected poorly on the track record of PTI’s previous government, which unfortunately escaped his (president’s) attention.
The prime minister reminded the president that he did not raise any concerns when the previous government carried out a witch hunt against the opposition.
He said a fabricated and false narcotics case entailing death penalty was made against Rana Sanaullah Khan, then an MNA.
By framing false cases, male and female members of the parliament of other political parties were subjected to the worst kind of political victimization, he said, adding “Even a female member of the family of former prime minister was not spared, solely to politically eliminate them.”
The prime minister said that NAB was used to tame the political opposition and dissent.
IESCO installs 8,702 net metering connections with 106.43 MW capacity so far
ISLAMABAD, Mar 26 (APP): The Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) has installed 8,702 net metering connections having a total generation capacity of 106.43 megawatts (MW) in various circles of the company from January 2016 to February 2023.
Manager Public Relations Asim Nazir Raja told APP here that the company had received 9,177 applications of net metering with 114.29 MW capacity during the said period. The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) issued licences to 9,122 net metering connections with an accumulative capacity of 113.68 MW so far, he added.
He said that the import and export of billing units had been started from 7781 net metering connections with a total capacity of 95.35 MW. The total exports and imports from these connections stood at 133,529,246 units and 167,307,686 units respectively, he said.
Asim said that the company had paid an amount of Rs 2,327,559 to the connections’ holders up to June 2022.
To a question, he said that the company had authorised to grant licences up to 25 kilowatts (kW) capacity while over 25 kW capacity, NENPRA issued licenses for net metering connections.
It is pertinent to mention here that the net-metering project had been launched in 2016 countrywide. It allows any domestic, commercial, industrial and other consumers to have at least a three-phase meter connection.
Under the arrangements, such a consumer may sell the additional energy to the respective power distribution company and make stocktaking (calculations) with it at the end of the month. Since the system allows the consumers to generate electricity from one kilowatt to one megawatt, NEPRA issues licences to the applicants seeking generation below 25kW in the service area jurisdiction of all distribution companies. \778