Hot and dry weather likely in most parts of country:PMD

Fri, 8 Sep 2023, 10:48 PM

ISLAMABAD, Sep 08 (APP): Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast hot and dry weather for most parts of the country during the next 24 hours.

The weather will remain hot and humid in plain areas.

However, rain-wind/thunderstorm is expected at isolated places in Kashmir and adjoining hilly areas.

According to the synoptic situation, continental air was prevailing over most parts of the country.

During the last 24 hours, hot and humid weather prevailed over most parts of the country. However, rain was recorded at Chore 05mm.

The highest maximum temperatures recorded during the period were Dadu, Khairpur, and Rahim Yar Khan at 44 C.

Crackdown launched against Qila Abdullah narcos producing factories

Abdul Hanan

Fri, 8 Sep 2023, 10:44 PM

ISLAMABAD, Sep 08 (APP):The security forces on Friday launched an operation to eliminate drug production and drug factories in the Qila Abdullah district of Balochistan.

On the instructions of Corps Commander Balochistan, Pakistan Army, FC Balochistan, Anti-Narcotics Force, Levies and other law enforcement agencies are participating in the operation, the sources said.

So far 2,000 kg of narcotics have been recovered in the operation, and 3,000 kg of chemical and crude ephedrine has been destroyed.

Some 16 narcotics manufacturing processing machines were destroyed, 18 drug compounds were demolished, and 10 acres of drug cultivation were also eradicated.

Apart from this, four people were detained during the operation. The operation was finalized in a meeting held on August 28 at Headquarters 12 Corps, in which all stakeholders were involved.

On August 30, a jirga was also organized in Qila Abdullah under the Anti-Drug Campaign.

In the Jirga, the local elders demanded the abolition of drug factories to stop the production of drugs in Qila Abdullah and Gulistan and assured security agencies of their full support.

These operations are being conducted by the Pakistan Army and other law enforcement agencies to protect Balochistan, especially educational institutions, from the menace of drugs.

PPP KP calls for holding general elections within 90 days

Abdul Hanan

Fri, 8 Sep 2023, 10:41 PM

PESHAWAR, Sep 08 (APP):Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter called for the holding of general elections within a period of 90 days as per the constitution.

This was decided in a meeting of the provincial cabinet of the party held here in the Provincial Secretariat with Acting Provincial President Syed Muhammad Ali Shah Bacha in the chair on Friday.

Those who attended included General Secretary Shuja Khan, Provincial Information Secretary Amjad Khan Afridi, Deputy Information Secretary Gohar Inqlabi, Farzand Ali Khan Wazir, and all divisional presidents and presidents of the various wings of the party.

In the meeting, it was decided to organize a workers’ convention in the headquarters of all the districts of the province, while deciding the strategy for organizing and mobilizing the workers more actively and preparing for the elections.

The party further decided to participate in protest demonstrations and rallies to resolve the problems mitigate the hardships and address the deprivations of the people while expressing deep concern over the record increase in the power tariff and inflation.

The meeting also expressed concern over the propaganda campaign against the leadership and leaders of the party and decided to confront the opponents and give them a tit-for-tat response to their performance.

Addressing the party meeting, the acting provincial president of PPP KP, Syed Mohammad Ali Shah Bacha said that the party chairman, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is following the footprints of his grandfather Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and trying to complete his incomplete mission.

Syed Mohammad Ali Shah Bacha instructed the party office bearers and workers for election preparations.

He said that party office bearers and workers should to party workers to deliver the party message at the doorstep of the people.

Energy Minister stresses oil & gas exploration to reduce import bill

NNPS Desk

Fri, 8 Sep 2023, 10:40 PM

ISLAMABAD, Sep 8 (APP): Caretaker Minister for Energy, Power and Petroleum Muhammad Ali on Friday stressed the need of exploring oil and gas reserves in order to reduce the import bill.

Addressing a news conference along with Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi, Caretaker Minister for Commerce and Industry Dr Gohar Ejaz and Caretaker Minister for Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs and Privatization Dr Shamshad Akhtar, he said matters related to power generation and petroleum were also discussed in the meeting of Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).

The minister said since 2013 work on the exploration of gas and oil had been lessened while annual import bill to meet their shortage persistently increased with rising circular debt.

“We have to focus on exploration of oil and gas so that we can reduce our dependence on the imported fuel,” he added.

Muhammad Ali said the SIFC discussed ways and means to control the cost of electricity generation and it theft, and save capacity charges payment (to independent power producers) in the winter.

“We want to give industries such a tariff in incremental supply so that we don’t face losses in capacity charges payment even if they use more electricity as compared to previous years,” the minister added.

He said matters related to governance and functioning of distribution companies (discos) and their privatization also came under discussion in the meeting.

“We have to strengthen their governing boards and management, which will in turn help stop power theft and start recoveries,” he said.

The SFIC reviewed the possibility of evolving a mechanism under which the power plants could supply electricity directly to the industry after paying the wheeling charges, he added.

The minister said the gas sector was also facing alarmingly high losses.”We have to improve the gas pricing structure in order to save the government from losses.”

He said the meeting discussed as to how the industry could be provided the required gas despite its increased domestic consumption in the winter

“We have to install more liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals and also bring in more LNG in the coming days so that the industries can work to their full potential.”

Police bust gang of inter-provincial robbers

Abdul Hanan

Fri, 8 Sep 2023, 10:39 PM

ATTOCK, Sep 08 (APP):Police busted a three-member inter-provincial gang, recovering looted booty worth Rs 0.70 million and weapons utilized in the various robberies.

According to police the gang identified as the ‘Bohla group’ comprising Tayyub Shahzad, Awal Noor and Ahsan alias Bohla was involved in a number of robberies and snatching in the area.

While Jand Police arrested two suspects involved in stealing transformers from the area and arrested two thieves.

The suspect identified as Shahnawaz along with Akram Ul Haq stole an IESCO electricity transformer from Chura Shareef village and was transporting it for sale when they were nabbed by Police and sent behind bars after registration of a case.

While Fatehjang Police arrested a man for electricity theft. Police sources said that the IESCO team detected that Tufail Ahmed was consuming electricity while getting a connection directly from an electricity pole.

Moreover, Basal Police arrested a man for contracting a second marriage without the will of his first wife and getting the birth certificate of his son through forgery.

The victim Bushra Bibi has reported to the Police that she married Nawab Khan some ten years ago and has no child.

She added that her husband contracted marriage against her will and permission secretly in the year 2021 and recently his second wife gave birth to a son.

She reported that her husband through forgery entered the name of his son in the Union Council record by showing her as her mother. Police registered a case against the accused and launched further investigation.

NTDC endeavour to ensure smooth power supply in winter

Abdul Hanan

Fri, 8 Sep 2023, 10:34 PM

MIRPUR (AJK): September 08 (APP) ::National Transmission and Despatch Company Limited (NTDC) head Engr. Dr. Rana Abdul Jabbar Khan has issued directives to the engineers of Asset Management (North) to develop a maintenance plan for transmission lines and grid stations.

“The aim is to enhance the reliability of the system and ensure a smooth power supply during winter and adverse weather conditions”, the media wing of NTDC told APP Friday evening.

Managing Director of the organisation Engr. Dr. Rana Abdul Jabbar Khan emphasized that washing, replacement of insulators, and other maintenance work must be completed before the foggy / winter season.

The NTDC Chief was addressing a large gathering of engineers from Asset Management North at WAPDA House. In addition, MD NTDC inaugurated the Transmission Line Monitoring System application and directed immediate monitoring of aging transmission lines, as well as the development of remedial strategies.

During the meeting, Dr. Rana Abdul Jabbar Khan was apprised of the progress of various ongoing tasks, including the pilot project for inspecting transmission lines using quad-copters/drones, the digitalization of utilities, substation automation, transmission line monitoring system, and dissolved gas analysis.

He commended the concerned teams for successfully implementing in-house dissolved gas analysis and directed its expansion nationwide at NTDC installations, which will significantly save costs.

To further expand the scope of online monitoring of transmission lines, the Managing Director instructed the purchase of three additional quad-copters and the initiation of thermo vision monitoring for grid stations.

MD NTDC directed live line training to be conducted at Faisalabad, Rawat and Jamshoro in the coming weeks. He also instructed the initiation of Substation Automation System program trainings at the 500 kV New Lahore and 220 kV Gujrat grid stations, as well as the TSG Training Center Lahore. He urged the officers to work diligently within their mandate to ensure smooth power transmission and the removal of system constraints. Deputy Managing Director (AD&M), General Managers, Chief Engineer, Managers and other seniors officers were also present during the meeting.

Caretaker govt continues to implement int’l agreements: Solangi

Abdul Hanan

Fri, 8 Sep 2023, 10:29 PM

ISLAMABAD, Sep 8 (APP):Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi on Friday said the caretaker government respected the international financial agreements and would continue to implement them in true letter and spirit.

Addressing a news conference here after the first session of two-day meeting of Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), the minister said deliberations were held on the measures which were essential for reducing the government’s expenditures and circular debt.

He was flanked by Caretaker Minister for Finance Dr Shamshad Akhtar, Minister for Energy Muhammad Ali, and Minister for Industry and Production Gohar Ijaz.

Solangi said discussions were also held on working out a schedule for implementing the decisions already taken to carry out privatization of some departments.

He said measures to stop misuse of international agreements, if there is any, also came under discussion. Restructuring of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), measures for removing bottlenecks in foreign direct investment, including visa policy reforms, and steps to improve performance of different departments were also part of extensive discussion held on the first day of the SIFC meeting.

He said an issue of smuggling of commodities, petroleum products and dollars were discussed at length.

At the outset of the press conference, the minister said traditionally, a press release was issued to highlight the decisions and discussions of the SIFC, but from now onward, the public would be informed by the caretaker government through briefings by the relevant ministers.

The main objectives of SIFC were to boost foreign direct investment in different sectors including mining, information technology and agriculture, the minister remarked.

Indonesian productivity experts appreciates Pakistan productivity drive

Abdul Hanan

Fri, 8 Sep 2023, 10:19 PM

ISLAMABAD, Sep 8 (APP):Indonesian productivity experts on Friday declared the industrial and economic productivity drive in Pakistan as important for good and economic sustainable development.

The potential of industrial and economic development in Pakistan is high, in which industrial productivity is extremely important, and Pakistan can become economically strong through this, senior official from Ministry of Manpower from Indonesia and Productivity master trainer Abdul Hafid told APP here.

Productivity master trainers Abdul Hafid, Arif Fianto and Yohan Petmata, who came to Pakistan on the invitation of the National Productivity Organization said that Productivity training in Pakistan was a good step which should be continued.

Productivity master trainer Abdul Hafid said that Association of SouthEast Asian Nation (ASEAN) countries had achieved economic miracles only by working on industrial productivity.

Abdul Hafid said that modern transformation of Indonesia was possible only with the productivity drive from the government. Indonesia is a $1trillion economy today and in 100 years of its independence, by 1945, Indonesia will be among the 10 largest economies in the world, he said.

The Indonesian expert said that Pakistan had a good industrial base and by working on energy productivity, energy could be saved and revenue could also be increased.

He said that modern technology and machinery are essential for productivity, without which productivity cannot be imagined.

He said that cooperation between Pakistan and Indonesia is indispensable for industrial productivity and both countries can benefit from each other’s experiences.

Abdul Hafid further said that Productivity Organization in Pakistan is associated with the Ministry of Industry, while in Indonesia it is managed by the Ministry of Manpower.

He said that labor productivity is very important in industrial and economic development, which needs more work in Pakistan.

On this occasion, Arif Fianto of the Ministry of Manpower said that the capacity building training should run in a better manner in terms of productivity in Pakistan.

On this occasion, Productivity expert Yohan Permata said that Pakistan has full potential for industrial development. Senior Vice President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) Faad Waheed here on Friday praised the Asian Productivity Organization’s (APO) role in Asia-Pacific’s development while emphasizing the need to renew our commitment to inclusive, innovation-led productivity growth.

He said while addressing the closing ceremony of a five-day training program on “Assessor of the Productivity Specialist Certification Program”, and welcomed international delegates and expressed gratitude to APO and the National Productivity Organization (NPO) for addressing this crucial topic.

The National Productivity Organization (NPO), in collaboration with the Asian Productivity Organization (APO), in Tokyo, Japan has organized the training program.

Meanwhile, talking to APP, Senior Vice President of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Faad Waheed highlighted the potential of working together with APO to find solutions to long-standing productivity challenges in Pakistan.

He said the program would help in promoting the cause of producing Certified Productivity Professionals in Pakistan to support and propagate the agenda of creating a productivity improvement culture in Pakistan.

He further said that to meet the current productivity challenges of Pakistan and to achieve sustainable productivity and economic growth, NPO Pakistan is closely working with APO Tokyo.