UN organizes 3rd series of 12 dialogues about sustainable development

Tue, 29 Aug 2023, 9:03 PM

HYDERABAD, Aug 29 (APP):The third of a series of 12 dialogues on sustainable development was held in Hyderabad, Sindh, by the United Nations and the district administration.

In total, more than 1,000 local leaders living in 12 major cities across six provinces and territories will discuss the development challenges which they face, and how they impede economic and social progress in their districts. The dialogues will be held in the different languages spoken across Pakistan in the coming weeks.

“These dialogues will help United Nations agencies better understand which development issues local leaders see as their priorities outside of the federal and provincial capitals,” said Julien Harneis, UN Resident Coordinator in Pakistan.

“We are actively listening to their concerns and to their ideas for bringing about effective progress in their communities. They are telling us how they would like to work together, and with us, on accelerating progress to bridge inequalities and reduce poverty. We will share their suggestions with the Government as we focus on returning to sustainable development.”

In Hyderabad, the discussions focused on four topics chosen by the participants ahead of the event: the cost of gender-based violence; food insecurity; access to basic social services with a focus on water, sanitation and hygiene; and youth employment.

Nearly 100 local leaders — women and men, including youth — participated together with senior Hyderabad officials, the United Nations Resident Coordinator, and other UN staff.

The 12 dialogues are engaging local leaders around development issues such as access to basic social services; gender equality and women’s empowerment; climate change; sustainable, inclusive economic growth and decent work; and governance. All are key to Pakistan’s progress towards the achievement of the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Last week the first two dialogues took place in Bahawalpur and Multan, South Punjab.

The dialogues will help inform discussions ahead of the global SDG Summit which the UN is organizing to accelerate progress towards the SDGs, halfway of the 2030 deadline. The Government of Pakistan will participate in the event in New York on 18 and 19 September 2023.

The SDGs, also known as Global Goals, are 17 objectives designed to help bring about peace and prosperity for people all over the world. They are an urgent call for action by all countries to work together towards ending poverty while improving health and education, reducing inequality, spurring economic growth and tackling climate change.

ECP seeks proposals for transfer/posting of key officials in Sindh

NNPS Desk

Tue, 29 Aug 2023, 9:01 PM

ISLAMABAD, Aug 29 (APP): The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), in a bid to ensure free, fair and transparent elections, on Tuesday directed the Sindh Chief Secretary and Inspector General of Police to suggest transfers/postings of key provincial government officials.

In a meeting, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, it was emphasized that ensuring transparency and impartiality in the elections was the foremost duty of Sindh government’s top officials.

“As an initial measure, the transfers and appointments of crucial officials are necessary to ensure non-controversial elections. Subsequently, the process will involve the appointment of district returning officers, returning officers, assistant returning officers, and monitoring teams,” it was further stressed.

The Election Commission extended its full support and protection to the Sindh Chief Secretary and IGP.

Earlier, both the Chief Secretary and IGP apprised the meeting of their preparedness for the upcoming general elections. They assured their full cooperation to the Election Commission during the entire electoral process.

In a separate meeting, the Balochistan Chief Secretary, IGP and Provincial Election Commissioner briefed the Election Commission about the preparations for the elections.

The Balochistan Chief Secretary said that the proposals for posting/transfer of commissioners, deputy commissioners and additional deputy commissioners, keeping in view performance, merit and ECP guidelines, had already been forwarded to the Election Commission to make the election process transparent.

He said that the repair of the buildings of proposed polling stations affected by the flood had been ensured.

The IGP Balochistan briefed the meeting about the current law and order of the province and the strategy to deal with the situation in the upcoming election.

The CEC said that the Election Commission, being an impartial organization, would complete all the election stages in a peaceful and fair manner in accordance with the law and the Constitution.

Apart from members of Election Commission, Secretary Election Commission, Chief Secretary Sindh, IG Sindh, Chief Secretary Balochistan, IG Balochistan, Provincial Election Commissioner Sindh, Balochistan and other senior officers participated in the meeting.

DG, ANF briefs Interior Minister on narcotics control

NNPS Desk

Tue, 29 Aug 2023, 8:41 PM

ISLAMABAD, Aug 29 (APP): Director General (DG) Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) Major General Aneeq ur Rehman Malik Tuesday brief caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti regarding efforts being made for narcotics control.

All departments will have to work together to save the nation from the curse of drugs, the minister said adding the role of ANF in this regard was very important.

He appreciated the recent raids of the force and arrests of drug peddlers along with recovery of drugs from their possession.

The minister also directed to take strict action against those involved in drugs business.

He said Pakistan would be made a drug free country while the young generation to be protected from the menace for healthy society.

Sarfraz Bugti said the government would provide all kind of support in that regard.

LCCI for addressing exporters grievances regarding SBP Refinance Scheme

Raiq Qureshi

Tue, 29 Aug 2023, 8:24 PM

LAHORE, Aug 29 (APP):Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Tuesday urged Caretaker Federal Minister for Commerce Dr. Gohar Ejaz to immediately resolve the grievances of exporters regarding new guidelines communicated to banks about SBP Refinance Scheme.

“New guidelines are bound to hit the exporters hard besides adding to the miseries of the already dwindling economy,” according to LCCI spokesman here, the Lahore Chamber’s President Kashif Anwar stated this in a letter addressed to Federal Minister for Commerce after receiving various complaints from LCCI members.

The LCCI President said that LCCI member firms representing export sector were facing serious issues with regard to new guidelines communicated to banks about SBP Refinance Schemes. The exporters were economic backbone of the country and their issues must be addressed on priority basis particularly at the moment when they were facing quite tough time.

He said that the commercial banks were informing the exporters about the information circulated by SBP which was binding them to reduce the released funds to exporters against the export limits exposure for refinancing on August 31, 2023 at the time of rolling-over the extended credit limits. By virtue of this act, they were asking either to pay back funds before above-mentioned date or commercial banks would provide them from their own sources at the rate of 25 percent (22 percent KIBOR + 3 percent Banker Spread), he maintained.

Kashif Anwar apprehended that this act would seriously damage the country’s export sector which was already under huge burden. It could be impossible for the exporters, who were already meeting the criteria set by the State Bank, to follow the new instructions on a such short notice.

He added that at the same-time, most of the exporters had not received their approved EE Statements which were still in process with the State Bank. So would it be fair enough to curtail their limits without considering their performance even in such miserable economic conditions.

He said that refinancing rate for exporters had been increased from 3 percent to 19 percent gradually within last two years with the arguments of inflation based increment, somehow exporters were still trying to manage this massive increase but this new policy of curtailment would do severe damages to their working capital capabilities and cost of doing business to compete with international suppliers.

“This would disrupt the slight leverage available to the export sector. We are of the concerted opinion that such policy shifts ought to be taken through due deliberation and consensus of the private sector stakeholders.” the LCCI President said and urged the Federal Minister for Commerce Dr. Gohar Ejaz to reconsider this policy change and find a more balanced approach that takes into account the challenges faced by exporters.

The LCCI President believed that a fair and supportive policy would not only help exporters but also contribute to the overall economic growth of the country.

76 new Covid cases reported in last week

NNPS Desk

Tue, 29 Aug 2023, 8:13 PM

ISLAMABAD, Aug 29 (APP): Health officials on Tuesday said that 76 new coronavirus cases were reported during the last week across the country.

As per the data shared by the National Institute of Health (NIH), the case positivity ratio was 0.82 per cent while two patients were in critical condition.

No death was reported from the coronavirus last week while 9,318 Covid-19 tests were conducted.

Meanwhile, the official of the Ministry for National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination said that the government has strengthened the role of Border and Health Services in Pakistan to deal with any sub-variant of Covid-19.

He said there was a surveillance system at all entry points of the country including airports.

There will be rapid tests and screening of passengers at all airports. He added 90 per cent of the country’s population already got the Covid-19 vaccine.

Man killed after being hit by train

Raiq Qureshi

Tue, 29 Aug 2023, 8:00 PM

WAH CANTT, Aug 29 (APP):A man was killed when he was hit by a train near HITEC University a few kilometers from the Taxila Police station on Tuesday.

According to the police, Azam Khan, who belonged to Taxila, while trying to save his cow from being hit by a train, lost his control and fell on the railway track, resulting in being crushed by the Rawalpindi-bound Jaffar express and died on the spot.

The police moved the body to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital for autopsy and was handed over to his family after the completion of legal formalities.

Taxila Police registered a case and launched further investigation.