Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif addressing a ceremony commemorating the 10th anniversary of signing of the agreement for CPEC
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif addressing a ceremony commemorating the 10th anniversary of signing of the agreement for CPEC
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Chargé d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad Ms. Pang Chunxue and Federal Ministers cutting a cake marking the 10th anniversary of the signing of the agreement for CPEC
High-level Azerbaijan defence delegation calls on Israr Tareen
RAWALPINDI, Jul 05 (APP):A high-level defence delegation of Azerbaijan, headed by Khalid Ahadov, Advisor to the President of Azerbaijan called on Minister for Defence Production, Muhammad Israr Tareen in his office at Rawalpindi.
The minister welcomed the delegation and appreciated the brotherly feelings of the Azerbaijan government for Pakistan on all international forums, including the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the United Nations.
He said that Pakistan was a peace-loving country, strictly believing in the policy of peaceful co-existence with all.
He reiterated that Pakistan’s commitment to peace was evident through its major contribution to UN peace efforts in war-torn countries in different parts of the world.
The minister also expressed Pakistan’s strong desire to broaden and strengthen its partnership with Azerbaijan in all fields.
Khalid Ahadov thanked the Pakistan government for the warm hospitality extended to the delegation and for providing the opportunity to discuss various avenues of cooperation.
Progress on CPEC restored within year: Ahsan Iqbal
ISLAMABAD, Jul 5 (APP):Federal Minister Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal said here on Wednesday that progress on the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has been put back at a position wherefrom the project would become a game-changer for regional development.
Addressing a ceremony here to mark a decade of the signing of CPEC, the minister said that unfortunately the project was scandalized by the previous regime and was totally ignored.
He said, even the investors left Pakistan which caused huge damaged to the game-changer CPEC project, the minister said adding that the incumbent government made efforts during the past one year and got the project back to rhythm.
“For last one year, we tried our best to get CPEC back to rhythm and gain investors’ confidence,” he said.
The minister said that $29 billion projects under CPEC have either been completed or are nearing completion adding that next target was to promote industrial cooperation to open up new opportunities for Pakistan.
He said, CPEC was not given proper attention after 2018 and the projects that were left by the previous region during past four years were accorded priority during past one year by the incumbent government.
He said, the issues related to water and power at Gawarar port were resolved during the past one year to address the grievances of people.
He said, as envisaged, by 2030, CPEC would help bring revolution in agriculture, industry, technology sectors, create new opportunities for country’s youth and get a deserving place for Pakistan in the region.
He recalled that ten years before, a MoU was signed in Beijing to strengthen economic relations between the two countries and help make Pakistan geo-economic hub by leveraging its geographical location and become centre for trade, commerce, manufacturing and agriculture centre.
ICCI for enhancing regional connectivity to accelerate economic growth
ISLAMABAD, Jul 5 (APP):President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari Wednesday emphasized the need to enhance and strengthen regional connectivity to promote trade and business ties with these countries for achieving sustainable economic growth and social prosperity in the country.
In a statement, he said that economic development was not possible without strong linkages with regional and other developed economies of the world, adding that regions like European Union and ASEAN were great examples in this regard.
These regions have accelerated economic growth by improving connectivity through rail, direct air links and road networks.
He urged the need for strengthening regional connectivity through rail, road and direct air links and stressed the need for starting direct flights of Pakistan International Airlines to other countries of the world.
He also urged the government to announce a fast-track privatization program of PIA without wasting more money and capital in order to improve the efficiencies of the national airline.
He said that Pakistan was an important member of several regional and international groups including SAARC, D-8, ECO, SCO, and OIC, adding that due to the lack of railway, road and direct air links the existing trade and commercial benefits were still unexplored.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Chargé d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad Ms. Pang Chunxue and Federal Ministers cutting a cake marking the 10th anniversary of the signing of the agreement for CPEC
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Chargé d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad Ms. Pang Chunxue and Federal Ministers cutting a cake marking the 10th anniversary of the signing of the agreement for CPEC
Court summons PTI chairman in Toshakhana case on Thursday
ISLAMABAD, Jul 5 (APP):A local court of Islamabad on Wednesday fixed the Toshakhana criminal case for hearing on Thursday and also served notice to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman to appear in person.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Hamayun Dilawar will take up the case for hearing.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC), on the plea of the PTI chairman, had set aside the verdict of trial court about the maintainability of the Toshakhana case and directed it to re-decide the matter within seven days after hearing the PTI leader.
The IHC in its order observed that the trial court had dismissed the PTI chief’s petition on weak grounds.
SC allows PIA to make 205 new professional appointments
ISLAMABAD, Jul 05 (APP):The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to make 205 new professional appointments while postponing the recruitment of 45 others.
A two-member SC bench comprising Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan and Justice Ayesha A Malik heard the case filed by PIA seeking permission for 250 recruitments of pilots, cabin crew, IT specialists, finance and management officials.
In its verdict today, the apex court allowed the recruitment of pilots, cabin crew and IT specialists.
During the course of proceedings, the court also directed the PIA’s administration to make the recruitment process clear and transparent.
Justice Ayesha Malik asked why PIA was not able to pay its dues and why did it had to recruit more people?
Justice Ijaz said that the quality of services of the PIA was not up to the mark. The new recruitments would burden the organisation by more than Rs 90 million annually, he added.
CEO PIA Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Amir Hayat said that the national airline’s profit for the last six months was three billion rupees and flights were operating on profitable routes.
He said that the PIA was starting flight operations on international and national routes.
Justice Ijaz said that the flight staff of other airlines was less and questioned if the recruitment would be on a permanent or on a contractual basis.
The CEO replied that the recruitment would be on a one-year renewable contract basis.
The apex court allowed the recruitment of 205 employees after hearing the arguments of the CEO and additional attorney general.