Interior Minister condemns suicide blast in Bara Bazar Khaybar

Thu, 20 Jul 2023, 9:17 PM

ISLAMABAD, Jul 20 (APP): Federal Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah on Thursday strongly condemned the suicide blast in Bara Bazar of Khyber district.

He expressed his deep grief and sorrow over the martyrdom of a policeman in the blast incident and prayed to Allah Almighty to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved family to bear the loss.

He vowed to uproot the evils of terrorism from society saying the sacrifices of police personnel will never be forgotten.

He said the entire nation is standing behind the law enforcement agencies in the war against terrorism.

He said the government will not sit idle until the complete abolishment of terrorism from society and the cowardly acts of terrorists cannot demoralize the valiant and brave sons of the soil.

Pakistan’s total foreign reserves rise above $14 billion

NNPS Desk

Thu, 20 Jul 2023, 9:04 PM

KARACHI, Jul 20 (APP): The total liquid foreign reserves of Pakistan rise to US$ 14,065.3 million while reserves held by the central bank reached $8,727.2 million owing to inflows from Saudi Arabia, UAE and IMF.

The State Bank of Pakistan, in a statement issued here on Thursday, informed that SBP received US$ 2.0 billion from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, US$1.2 billion from International Monetary Fund and US$ 1.0 billion from the United Arab Emirates.

Consequently, SBP reserves increased by US$ 4,203 million to US$ 8,727.2 million during the week ended on July 14, 2023.

Meanwhile, net foreign reserves held by commercial banks stood at US$ 5,338.1 million, it added.
In the previous week ending on July 07, 2023, total liquid foreign reserves held by the country was US$ 9,838.5 million.

Among them, foreign reserves held by the central bank were US$ 4,524 million while net foreign reserves held by commercial banks were US$ 5,314.5 million.

Speaker announces six members as Panel of Presiding Officers

NNPS Desk

Thu, 20 Jul 2023, 9:01 PM

ISLAMABAD, Jul 20 (APP): National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on Thursday announced the names of six members as the Panel of Presiding Officers for 52nd session of the Lower House of Parliament.

In pursuance of sub-rule one of Rule 13 of Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in National Assembly 2007, the speaker announced the names of MNAs Chaudhary Barjees Tahir, Hussain Elahi, Ghulam Mustafa Shah, Kishwar Zahra, Javaria Zafar Aheer and Wajeeha Qamar, who would chair the House proceedings in order of precedence, in absence of the speaker and deputy speaker.

Imran violated Official Secrets Act of Pakistan: Dastgir

NNPS Desk

Thu, 20 Jul 2023, 8:55 PM

Strong political will, anti-corruption action vital for power sector revival: Khurram Dastgir

ISLAMABAD, Jul 20 (APP): Federal Minister for Power Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan Thursday believed that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan violated the Official Secrets Act of Pakistan by disclosing the cipher in public, alleging that US had conspired against his government.

“The former Prime Minister (Imran Khan) has violated the Secrets Act of Pakistan. He had also breached his oath to the constitution by disclosing a secret document (cipher) in public,” he said in a press conference here.

Dastgir was of the view that when a Prime Minister took an oath it stated he would not disclose anything secret.

“Imran violated rule of law, people and country, just for his political gains. The PTI chairman destroyed Pakistan’s diplomatic relations with other countries,” the minister said.

He said receiving cipher from different countries and calling their ambassadors to discuss on the subject were a routine matter, but the former prime minister painted the US cipher for his political gains.

“Now the other countries have warned their officials not to share anything with Pakistani diplomats as it can be waved in public just like Imran disclosed the cipher in the public gathering.

“We brought vote of no confidence against the PTI chief but we are still trying to bring the diplomatic relations back on track which he destroyed,” he said.

Dastgir said the PTI chief was not at all ‘Sadiq aur Ameen’, adding “It is nowhere written in the cipher that money was given to topple Imran’s government or for regime change. Imran mislead the people on the matter of cipher,” he said and added that Imran had proved by his statements that it was not the people but he who was a slave.

He said a same type of case was ongoing against Ex US President Donald Trump in which he took the secret documents home.

The minister said the diplomatic relations of a country depended on confidentiality.

“Just for his political gains Imran put the country at stake and made a mockery out of the Parliament, Prime Minister House, Apex Court etc,” he said and added that the culprits involved in May 9 incidents would be brought in rule of law.

President Alvi condemns suicide blast in Bara Bazar of Khyber district

Ishtiaq Rao

Thu, 20 Jul 2023, 8:31 PM

ISLAMABAD, July 20 (APP): President Dr. Arif Alvi on Thursday condemned the suicide blast that took place in Bara Bazar of Khyber district.

He expressed grief over the loss of precious lives in the blast, according to a President House statement.

The president prayed for high ranks of the martyrs in paradise and patience to the bereaved families as well as for speedy recovery of the injured.

BNP chief Akhtar Mengal calls on Prime Minister Shehbaz

Ishtiaq Rao

Thu, 20 Jul 2023, 8:19 PM

ISLAMABAD, July 20 (APP): Chairman of Balochistan National Party and Member of National Assembly Sardar Akhtar Mengal on Thursday called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif here.

In the meeting, they discussed the overall political situation in the country, ongoing development projects in Balochistan as well as the law and order situation.

The prime minister appreciated the BNP’s role in implementation of government’s reforms agenda.

He also thanked the BNP for its support to the government in every of its decision aimed at national development.

Federal ministers Ishaq Dar, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and Ahsan Iqbal, and Advisor Ahad Cheema attended the meeting.

Pakistan achieves remarkable progress under CPEC framework: Nisar Cheema

NNPS Desk

Thu, 20 Jul 2023, 8:18 PM

BEIJING, Jul 20 (APP): The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a game changer and grand project and has provided great employment opportunities to people in Pakistan, said Dr Nisar Ahmed Cheema, member National Health Service Regulatory Coordination Committee.

“There has been remarkable progress in infrastructure and energy projects in Pakistan. On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road, we can say that this project is the best gift to Pakistan as well as the world”, he told China Media Group (CMG) Urdu Service.

He said that China had always attached great importance to the stability and development of the world, especially the neighboring countries.

Emphasizing the importance of cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan, Dr. Cheema said that these exchanges have increased understanding between the people of the two countries. He expressed satisfaction over the presence of a large number of Pakistani students studying in China and said that China is playing an important role in cultivating the future of Pakistan.

He said that the strong diplomatic, friendly and people to people relations between China and Pakistan were playing an important role in the stability and development of the region.
Nisar Cheema said that there was a long history of friendly relations between China and Pakistan. He said that as friends, the people of Pakistan were proud of China’s progress and achievements.

Nisar Cheema paid tribute to President Xi Jinping’s leadership and said that President Xi Jinping’s style of governance is a source of guidance for the leaders of developing countries.
Under the leadership of President Xi, the People’s Republic of China has embarked on a new path of modernization.

Nisar Ahmad Cheema, describing China’s foreign policy as balanced, said that the quality of China’s foreign policy was that China is equal with all countries. He said that China always made the voice of weak countries strong and energetic.

He said that Pakistan and all Muslim countries strongly supported China and were with China, adding, we fully support China’s position on all issues including Taiwan issues. He wished China-Pakistan relations for a bright future.

Word Bank, FBR reviews progress on PRR Project

NNPS Desk

Thu, 20 Jul 2023, 8:13 PM

ISLAMABAD, Jul 20 (APP): The Country Director World Bank Najy Benhassine and the Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Asim Ahmad held a meeting on Thursday at FBR Headquarters to review the progress of the Pakistan Raises Revenue (PRR) Program
during the last financial year.

The World Bank team included the Operations Manager Gailius Draugelis, the Lead Country Economist Tobias Haque, the Senior Economist Lucy Pan, the Public Sector Specialist Irum Touqeer, and the Manager Shabih Ali Mohib.
Member Reforms, FBR, Ardesher Tariq and members of the project team were also present in the meeting, said a press release issued here.

It was noted that during the four years of the project, significant achievements have been made for sustainable revenue mobilization, taxpayer facilitation, and reducing the cost of doing business under the PRRP.

In particular, the harmonization of Sales Tax laws and procedures among provinces and the federal government was a landmark achievement with benefits for taxpayers and all revenue authorities.

Other key achievements include reducing cost of doing business by reduction in withholding lines from 58 to 33, increase in imports and exports through the green channel from 35% to 66% and broadening of tax base.

During the meeting, it was stressed that all efforts should be made for achieving the next objective of launching of Single Portal to facilitate Sales Tax Return filing.

It may be noted that FBR has been publishing detailed tax expenditure reports to improve transparency.
Both sides agreed to continue the focus on the upgradation of IT infrastructure and automation of FBR and for timely completion of project targets. Asim Ahmad highly appreciated the contributions and efforts put in by the teams on both sides.

The Country Director also appreciated the progress and termed the GST harmonization as the flagship achievement of FBR.
The FBR and World Bank agreed to continue cooperation in pursing the reforms agenda under the project.