A shopkeeper is making dholki in traditional style at his shop
Workers repairing the gas pipeline near Chauburji Chowk during the development work in the city
A laborer selling chips, poppers and crispy items on a handcart at Hall Road
A street vendor selling wall clocks to the customer at the roadside
Long-lasting reforms in economic sector may help Pakistan address economic issues: US Official
ISLAMABAD, Feb 17 (APP): Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs at the US Department of State, Elizabeth Horst Friday said that long-lasting reforms in the economic sector and creating business-conducive environment for the investors could help Pakistan cope with the prevailing economic issues.
“Pakistan has a lot of investment potential in various sectors of economy, while the robust policies can help attract local and foreign investment in the country, ensuring sustainable development”, she said while responding to the questions of the students in an interactive session.
The session was held here at National University of Science and Technology (NUST)’s Lincoln Corner. The US high official was accompanied by United States Ambassador to Pakistan, Donald Blome.
She said, “The US recognizes the fact that Pakistan has been a victim of terrorism, and has rendered endless sacrifices in its fight against terrorism.
“The recent attack in Peshawar Police Lines mosque is a reminder that a lot of work needs to be done to wipe out terrorism completely.
“Terrorism is a global issue which needs to be addressed through ensuring that the space for terrorists shrinks, and root causes are eliminated”, she said.
“United States is an active partner of Pakistan in its struggle against terror and we will continue working together for finding out solutions to end the root causes of terrorism”, she said.
About climate change impacts on the world environment, Elizabeth Horst said that there were no easy solutions to address the climate change issue which was impacting the citizens globally.
“This is the time that we have to join hands and come up with the solutions to mitigate climate change impacts, when countries like Pakistan are witnessing transition into the new technologies”, she said.
Earlier in her opening remarks, Elizabeth Horst said, “The United States and Pakistan have been enjoying cordial relations for the last 75 years, having a positive momentum especially in terms of strong people to people contact and economic ties”.
“Although sometimes these relations get little bit distracted due to the regional and security issues that are going on, but at the heart of Pakistan-US relations is, its people to people contact and growth”, she said.
She said that the US had been offering an extensive range of educational, cultural and exchange programmes to Pakistani students which were fostering bilateral relations and people to people contacts.
“The US-Pakistan Green Alliance is the most exciting part of bilateral cooperation to address global climate crisis. The US administration recognizes that this is the crisis that no country can manage by itself. I am hopeful that both the countries will come up with such solutions to address climate crisis under this alliance, enabling us to look into global as well as local problems.
“Pakistanis have endured a terrible flooding last year, and we have to address climate crisis together.”
She pointed out the need for the countries to come up with the best possible solutions to address climate change in which “the science and technology sector will be most important to ensure comfortable life style of people along with addressing climate issue.”
Along with the public sector efforts for micro-economic stability, private sector should also contribute for economic growth in the country.
Talking about the value of democracy and freedom in the society, she said that the current US administration was focusing on strengthening democracy and human rights.
“As a part of such efforts, we have planned a second summit for democracy by the end of March that speaks of the fact that democracy is a supreme value that cannot be compromised in a welfare state.
“Pakistan is a great example of democracy, with a vibrant political system as in the US”, Elizabeth Horst said.
Students are participating in long jump competition during Intercollegiate Sports Event 2023 organized by Education and Sports Department
NA passes bill for establishment of Pir Roshaan Institute in Miranshah
ISLAMABAD, Feb 17 (APP): The National Assembly on Friday unanimously passed a bill for the establishment of Pir Roshaan Institute of Progressive Sciences and Technologies in Miranshah area of North Waziristan district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, after clause-by-clause reading.
Taking up supplementary agenda under the constitutional provision, Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf allowed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Zeb Jaffar to move the bill on behalf of Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Rana Tanveer Hussain.
According to the statement of object and reasons for the bill, the institute would provide a new identity to the district as well as to the Ghulam Khan border (Afghanistan) as a ‘knowledge corridor,’ connecting South-East, South Asia, and Central Asian states.
“The peacebuilding development driven academic friendly gesture of the federation for the youth of Waziristan may provide a platform to global partners in development to invest in training youth for global peace and development,” it said.
The strategic importance, engaging state citizenry, local commitments, and a huge gap in training to harness human capital for development could attract youth beyond Waziristan, deep into Afghanistan and Central Asia, the statement said.
The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training had drafted the Pir Roshaan Institute of Progressive Sciences & Technologies, Miranshah, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Act-2022, and processed it after due consideration by the Federal Cabinet.
Following the bill passage, independent lawmaker Mohsin Dawar thanked the House, Speaker National Assembly Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the bill’s smooth passage.
He termed the establishment of Pir Roshaan Institute of Progressive Sciences and Technologies in Miranshah a “welcoming step”.
The lawmaker said people of the area, who in the past had been facing severe law and order-related issues, would now be able to get a modern education facility for their children and play a due role in contributing to national development.
Pakistan to focus on supply of winter tents to quake-hit Turkiye: PM
ADIYAMAN, Feb 17 (APP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said that considering the needs of the quake-ravaged Turkish people, Pakistan would now focus on the provision of winterised and fireproof tents to Turkiye.
The prime minister, who is currently visiting Turkiye to solidarize with the distressed Turkish people, said Pakistan had earlier been supplying blankets, food stuff and other relief goods.
However, the prime minister said after his discussion with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, his government had changed the strategy to merely focus on the supply of winter tents.
In an interview with Turkish TRT television during his visit to the quake-affected area, the prime minister said he would hold a meeting with the tent manufacturers of Pakistan and devise a plan to ensure speedy manufacturing of tents to provide a temporary shelter to the Turkish brethren.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said he had assigned the task to Chairman of National Disaster Management Authority and assured that the tents would be dispatched by land, air as well as sea routes.
He said the people of Pakistan and Turkiye enjoyed historical relationship marking Islamic brotherhood and recalled the unprecedented Turkish support to Pakistan after it was hit by an earthquake.
He said being a Muslim brotherly nation, Pakistan was obliged to support its Turkish brothers and sisters and expressed the hope that both Pakistan and Turkiye would jointly cope with the pervading challenge.
PM to announce major austerity measures soon: Ayesha Ghous Pasha
ISLAMABAD, Feb 17 (APP): Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Dr Ayesha Ghous Pasha on Friday said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would announce major austerity measures in all the government institutions to control the fiscal deficit by minimizing the government expenditures.
“The Prime Minister has already formed a Commission to finalize the austerity measures and he himself would announce the recommendation finalized by the Commission,” the state minister said while speaking on the floor of the Upper House of the Parliament here.
She said all the cabinet members of the federal government had already voluntarily announced not to get their salaries from the national exchequer.
Ms Paha said the PDM government was acting upon the agreement made by the PTI regime with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) only to save the state at the cost of their politics.
Referring to the Finance (Supplementary) Bill, 2023 presented by the government in both Houses, she said the government had no option but to take tough decisions as the country’s economy was on the verge of default.
“No doubt inflation is high and the people are extremely worried but the point is that this is the time to make structural adjustment because without this we will sink in further darkness”, she added.
However, she said that to safeguard the extremely poor segment of the society from the inflationary shocks, the government had decided to raise the allocation for Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) by Rs 40 billion to Rs 400 billion.
The minister also made it clear that whether the government go with the IMF programme or not, it would have to make structural reforms in key areas of the economy as without it the country’s economy would not get stabilized.
The state minister of finance said that the recently increased tariffs in electricity and gas sectors would not apply to the small consumers.
She called upon all political parties and other stakeholders to support the government in this hour of need as the country badly needed tough decisions to bring it out of economic crisis.
After her speech the Senate Chairman adjourned the Senate Session to meet again on Monday (February 20, 2023).
Foreign Secretary for expanding Pakistan-US cooperation in diverse fields
ISLAMABAD, Feb 17 (APP): Foreign Secretary Dr. Asad Majeed Khan has stressed the need to expand bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and the United States in the fields of Agriculture, Education, IT, and Science & Technology.
The Foreign Secretary expressed these views as he received the U.S. Department of State Counselor Derek Chollet here at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
Welcoming Counselor Chollet, the Foreign Secretary stated that the frequent bilateral visits were a manifestation of the positive trajectory of the Pakistan-U.S. relationship.
He expressed satisfaction on the second Mid-level Defence Dialogue and the upcoming Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council meeting in Washington D.C.
The Foreign Secretary emphasized the importance of sustained cooperation through the institutionalized dialogues in trade and investment, energy, security, climate change and health.
Counselor Chollet reaffirmed that the United States was committed to advancing the bilateral relationship.
He expressed U.S. solidarity and support with Pakistan and its people in recovery from the 2022 floods.
The Foreign Secretary thanked the Counselor for U.S. support and hoped to remain engaged in the long-term recovery and rehabilitation efforts.
Counselor Chollet was accompanied by Clinton White, Counselor of the United States Agency for International Development, Ambassador Donald Blome and Elizabeth Horst, Principal Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.