Public welfare projects mainstay of my 15 month govt: PM

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Thu, 3 Aug 2023, 11:15 PM

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chairs the 3rd meeting of International Partner Support Group — APP File Photo

ISLAMABAD, Aug 3 (APP):Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Thursday here said the focus of his government was the projects of public welfare and for implementation of these projects clear and comprehensive policies were adopted during the last 15 months
He was chairing a meeting to review performance of the government in achieving the set targets set.
During a detailed briefing given to him, he was told that revenues of the government increased by 16 percent while the number of active taxpayers rose by 1.3 million.
Under the Benazir Income Support Programme, the government provided assistance to additional nine million families while the power sector recovered 94 percent of its billed amount. Due to special interest of the prime minister, the exports of information technology sector increased substantially in the last four months.
It was informed that in the last financial year, the IT sector exports rose to 2.6 billion dollars because of the government policies and measures. The foreign investment in the last fiscal was recorded at 1.45 billion dollars.
While the establishment of Special Investment Facilitation Council would lead to considerable boost in foreign investments. It was told that 99 percent of the targets set under the historic Rs 1.8 trillion Kissan package for assistance and facilitation of farmers were achieved.
Shehbaz Sharif said the government’s measures saved the economy from default and put the economy on the path of stability.
The incoming caretaker government and the next elected government would benefit from the institutional reforms of the present government, he said and hoped that these governments would continue to pursue the current vision.
He stressed the need for a comprehensive system of inter-ministerial resolution of problems and cooperation.
It was noted that the prime minister chaired 26 review meetings on the performance targets of the government.

The prime minister said he was leaving behind the legacy of “whole of the government approach” – a critical element for economic progress of the country.
He thanked the ministers, development partners and government officers for their cooperation.
Federal ministers Ishaq Dar, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Syed Naveed Qamar, Tariq Bashir Cheema, Engineer Khurram Dastgir, Abid Hussain Bhaio, Special Assistants Tariq Bajwa, Jehanzeb Khan, Chairman FBR and high ranking officers attended the meeting. Sir Michael Barber especially attended the meeting from Britain through video link.

UN raises alarm on escalating food crisis in strife-torn Sudan  

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NNPS Desk

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Thu, 3 Aug 2023, 11:12 PM

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UNITED NATIONS, Aug 03 (APP): The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), a Rome-based UN agency, has issued a grave warning regarding the deepening food crisis in Sudan, as the country grapples with conflict and economic decline.

Since mid-April, the conflict between Sudan’s armed forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has caused displacement, death, injury and an unfolding humanitarian crisis.

FAO said 20.3 million individuals in Sudan face severe hunger, a figure that had nearly doubled since last year.

Projections indicate that 42 per cent of the population endures high levels of acute food insecurity, exacerbated by disruptions in the market and skyrocketing food prices, which hinder access to essential goods and services.

According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phases analysis, the common standards for classifying food severity, the situation is critical with 14 million people facing ‘crisis’ and more than six million people, around 13 per cent of the population, are now one step away from famine.

The regions most severely impacted include Khartoum, South and West Kordofan, as well as Central, East, South and West Darfur.

Abdulhakim Elwaer, FAO’s Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa, said, “The conflict has had devastating consequences on the food and nutrition security and well-being of millions of people. Families are facing unimaginable suffering.”

The displacement of over four million people due to ongoing fighting has also resulted in critical infrastructure damage, further exacerbating food insecurity and malnutrition.

FAO warned that insufficient resources continue to impede humanitarian efforts to address the situation.

The UN agency has urgently appealed for an additional $65 million in funding to assist over six million people and support farmers in preparing for the upcoming planting season.

The UN food agency expressed concern at the the projections for the period from October 2023 to February 2024 – with around 15 million people likely to face a food crisis.

“It is vital that FAO is stepping in to support more than one million farmers this season to produce enough food for Sudanese people,” said Mr Elwaer.

This week, UN agencies confirmed that over four million people have been displaced due to the conflict, the majority of which within Sudan itself.

The UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, on Wednesday warned that hunger and displacement due to the war are spiraling out of control.

Foreign Minister of Iran, Mr. Hossein Amir Abdollahian, calls on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif

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Zia Ur Rehman

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Thu, 3 Aug 2023, 11:07 PM

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Foreign Minister of Iran, Mr. Hossein Amir Abdollahian, calls on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif

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Zia Ur Rehman

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Thu, 3 Aug 2023, 11:07 PM

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Building high-quality infrastructure, enhancing regional integration priorities in CPEC second phase: Ambassador Haque

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NNPS Desk

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Thu, 3 Aug 2023, 11:05 PM

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BEIJING, Aug 3 (APP): Pakistan Ambassador to China, Moin-ul-Haque Thursday said that building high-quality infrastructure and enhancing connectivity and regional integration would be prioritized in the second phase of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) development.

The first phase of the CPEC was about fixing the “hardware” side of development, and the upcoming second phase would upgrade the “software” of development by focusing on agriculture, science and technology, skill development, innovation, industrialization, economic growth, health, and education, he told Global Times on the development of the flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

In that context, Pakistan and China would hold regular meetings of the CPCE’s Joint Working Groups (JWGs) to evaluate and review progress made by each side in relevant fields. This would enable us to attain desired results expected from CPEC.

While assessing the overall impact and achievements of the CPEC on Pakistan’s economy and development, he said that CPEC marked a new phase in China-Pakistan relations by placing economic cooperation and connectivity at the center of the bilateral agenda.

“This year, as we celebrate the CPEC’s 10th anniversary, it is an opportune time to review and reflect upon its achievements and successes,” he added.

Ambassador Haque remarked that the CPEC has been a “game changer” transforming the economic landscape of Pakistan. It has helped Pakistan to develop and upgrade its transport and communication infrastructure and address our essential energy needs. A network of highways and motorways has provided more reliable China-Pakistan connectivity across the Karakoram Mountains and smoother inland communications.

Around 50 projects under the CPEC have been completed with a total investment of approximately $25 billion. The creation of over 200,000 jobs through these projects has helped Pakistan to improve livelihoods and reduce poverty, leading to the economic empowerment of its people, he added.

He said that the CPEC has seen the success of important early harvest projects and has now entered into its second phase which is even more promising as it broadens the scope of cooperation and focuses on socio-economic development, science and technology, agricultural cooperation, and industrialization.

While identifying specific sectors which benefited the most from the CPEC, he said that fully aligned with the national development agenda of Pakistan, the CPEC is the key to our socio-economic development and is an excellent example of an open, coordinated, and inclusive development paradigm that benefits all parts of the country and all segments of the society. Governed by the Cooperation Framework, the CPEC is supported by four pillars: Gwadar Port, energy, transport infrastructure, and Industrial Cooperation.

Ambassador Haque said that construction of Gwadar Port is a key CPEC Project, and is now operational and ready to serve as a hub for trade and investment. Phase I of the Gwadar Free Trade Zone has been completed. In order to support these economic activities, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated the Eastbay Expressway in June 2022. In a few months’ time, the Gwadar New International Airport (GNIA) will be inaugurated.

“We are confident that all these projects will lend a fresh impetus to the high-quality development of Gwadar Port in the coming years,” he added.

Ambassador Haque said that similarly, the energy cooperation, under the CPEC has been satisfactory. Thirteen new energy projects have been completed, injecting 8,000 MW of electricity into the system, boosting industrial output, and thus contributing to steady economic growth.

He said that transport infrastructure cooperation, under the CPEC, has also achieved significant progress. Signature projects like the KKH-II (Havelian-Thakot), the Peshawar to Karachi Highway (Sukkur-Multan), and the Lahore Orange Line are fully operational. Both sides are also committed to implementing the ML-1 railway and Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) projects, once matured.

Ambassador Haque said that industrial cooperation, under the CPEC is pivotal for the second phase of its high-quality development. In 2022, both sides signed the CPEC Framework Agreement on Industrial cooperation. The Special Economic Zones (SEZs), being developed under the CPEC, are aimed to rejuvenate Pakistan’s industrial sector and further spur economic development.

Socio-economic development cooperation, under the CPEC, has also achieved remarkable progress. So far, 27 projects in six areas of agriculture, education, health, poverty alleviation, energy, and professional training have been implemented leading to an improvement of people’s livelihoods, he added.

On Pakistan’s role in the broader context of the BRI and its potential to foster regional economic integration and connectivity, he said that Pakistan considers the historic BRI is a win-win proposition aimed at bringing shared prosperity for humankind.
It has emerged as a new model for deepening regional connectivity and economic integration among partner countries.

The BRI provides a strong impetus for a wave of globalization by boosting bilateral and multilateral trade and foreign direct investment projects, he added.

He said that through a network of various corridors, the BRI is reshaping the geo-economics of the participating countries and has become a beacon of hope for them.

The BRI has also significantly contributed to stabilizing supply chains along the route while promoting a culture of economic resilience through industrialization, creation of jobs, entrepreneurship promotion, innovation, and advancing technology, he added.