Federal Minister for Planning Development & Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal addressing to the All Pakistan Chartered Accountants Conference 2022 at local hotel
SC continues hearing of petition against amendments in NAB law
ISLAMABAD, Oct 19 (APP): The Supreme Court on Tuesday continued hearing of Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s petition against amendments in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Ordinance.
A three-member SC bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah heard the case.
During the course of proceedings, Justice Ijaz asked whether anyone was left who had not been exempted from the NAB law. Even the chairman and vice chairman of a Tehsil Council were exempted to take any decision after the NAB amendments.
Justice Mansoor observed that no decision could be stated as wrong until any financial benefit from it was proved. Apparently the government officers and public office-holders had been given the freedom to make decisions through the NAB amendments, he added.
Advocate Khawaja Haris, counsel for Imran Khan, said more than Rs 8 billion was recovered from such decision makers in the past. Upon this, Justice Mansoor asked whether the recovery was made from the public office-holders.
Khawaja Haris responded that the recovery was made from those who were minting money for the public office-holders.
Justice Mansoor said every government decision benefitted some section or the other. The counsel responded that there was no wrongdoing unless the benefit taken was unlawful. It was wrong not to take action against a particular officer for giving an illegal benefit to someone, he added.
He said NAB could not lay hands on any regulatory authority and government company.
Justice Mansoor asked why the Pakistan Army had been exempted from NAB law, and why Imran Khan did not raise that point in his petition.
The chief justice remarked that fundamental human rights should also be balanced. If there were rights of common citizens, then there also the fundamental rights of national interests and the society, and there should be a balance between the two, he added.
Addressing the counsel, he said he was linking individual benefits to those of the society.
He said the court needed assistance if the cases were filed in other forums.
The chief justice questioned how the NAB law was against the public interests.
The counsel responded that NAB’s limit of action on corruption of Rs 500 million could be reduced to Rs 100 million.
His client’s objection was application of the amended NAB law from the past.
Subsequently, the case was adjourned till Monday.
Top priority to improve road infrastructures of tribal districts: Minister Asad Mahmood
ISLAMABAD, Oct 19 (APP): Federal Minister for Communications and Postal Services Maulana Asad Mahmood on Wednesday said it was one of our top priorities to improve the road infrastructures of the tribal districts.
A delegation under the leadership of Federal Minister Mufti Abdul Shakoor met the Minister for Communications and Postal Services Maulana Asad Mahmood, said a press release.
Chairman National Highway Authority (NHA) Captain (R) Muhammad Khurram Agha, former federal minister Hameedullah Jan Afridi, Haji Manzoor Afridi and senior officials of the ministry were also present on the occasion.
In the meeting, the minister said work on Peshawar Landi Kotal Bypass would be started after consultation with the people.
The participants of the delegation informed the minister about the concerns and problems of the residents of the Peshawar Landi Kotal Southern Bypass area. They further informed that the locals were facing losses due to the construction of Peshawar Bypass.
To which, the minister assured them of all possible cooperation in addressing their concerns. “Solving problems of tribal districts and creating facilities for them are among our top priorities. We will develop tribal districts and do everything for their welfare.”
On the occasion, he also instructed the Peshawar Landi Kotal Bypass-related department to consult with tribal districts so that work could be started on the project. Mahmood was also invited by the delegation for a visit there to meet the locals, to which he accepted the invitation.
Govt signs agreement with JICA for deferred payment of loans under G-20 DSSI
ISLAMABAD, Oct 19 (APP): The Government of Pakistan on Wednesday signed a Debt Service Suspension Agreement (DSSA) with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), amounting to the deferment of payment of loans worth USD 172 million, under the G-20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) framework.
This amount, initially repayable between July and December, 2021 will now be repaid over a period of six years (including one-year grace period) in semi-annual installments, said a press release issued here by the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Due to the support extended by the development partners of Pakistan, the G-20 DSSI has provided the fiscal space which was necessary to deal with the urgent health and economic needs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
The total amount of debt that has been suspended under the DSSI framework, covering the period from May 2020 to December 2021, stands at USD 3,686 million.
Pakistan has already concluded and signed 102 agreements with 21 bilateral creditors for the deferment of its debt repayments under the G-20 DSSI, amounting to suspension and deferment of almost USD 3,441 million.
The signing of the above-mentioned agreements brings this total to USD 3,613 million. Negotiations for remaining agreements to be signed under the G-20 DSSI are on-going.
Pakistan, KSA agree to step up mutual cooperation in film, drama fields
ISLAMABAD, Oct 19 (APP): Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb and Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki, in a meeting on Wednesday, agreed to continue mutual cooperation in film and drama related spheres on fast track basis.
Both the dignitaries agreed to constitute a committee comprising representatives from the two countries, to implement the Pak-Saudi joint ventures in the fields of film and drama making.
The long-standing bilateral relations between Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in various fields were also discussed in the meeting.
It was decided to finalize a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for enhancing mutual cooperation.
Marriyum Aurangzeb congratulated the Saudi ambassador on the appointment of Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman as the Prime Minister of the Kingdom.
The government and the people of Pakistan had immense respect for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Saudi leadership, she said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, she said, had the vision of further strengthening trade and business-to-business ties with the KSA.
The minister also appreciated the important role played by the Saudi ambassador in the relief activities and his personal visit to the flood affected areas of Pakistan.
Speaking on the occasion, the Saudi ambassador said a large number of Pakistanis were playing an important role in the development of Saudi Arabia.
He said he was deeply saddened by the loss of lives and property caused by the recent rains and floods in Pakistan, and assured to continue providing all possible assistance to the flood victims.
APP/szm-nvd
WHO provides assistance to establish medical camps in Sindh
ISLAMABAD, Oct 19 (APP):The Sindh health department has established camps to cater to over 10 million affected people in the province with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO).
According to WHO, medicines and essential health supplies have been provided to the health department in Sindh to support flood victims.
WHO Representative in Pakistan, Dr Palitha Mahipala handed over essential medicines and supplies to the Sindh health department.
Dr Palitha said that WHO was supporting flood relief operations in Sindh and provided 30 vehicles to provide medical facilities and 13 boats to reach areas still under water.
He said that World Health Organization was supporting health service deliveries in Sindh flood-affected areas by providing essential medicines, medical equipment and supplies, nutritional supplements as well as renovating and refurbishing damaged health infrastructure in the province, coordinating closely with the department of Health.
Dr Palitha said that the floods and rain emergency has caused widespread losses of lives and property and the most affected area was health infrastructure. He said 2000 health facilities have been damaged which was 12 percent of the total health facilities in the country.
Dr Palitha said that the WHO will continue to support the health department in controlling the spread of malaria, waterborne disease and to establish 19 Nutrition Stabilization Centers (NSC) to mitigate the effects of malnourishment in children.
Director General Health Sindh, Dr Muhammad Juman Bahoto thanked WHO for its active role in relief and rehabilitation efforts for the flood-affected people in Sindh.
He said that with WHO support, the Sindh health department has been able to establish many health camps and reached areas and people still under water.
President Dr Arif Alvi addressing the international conference on “Evolving Global Order: Challenges and Opportunities”, at the Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies (CASS)
A Chinese delegation of experts on Disaster Management calls on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in a group photo with the Chinese delegation of experts on disaster management
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chairs a meeting to review progress on CPEC Projects
