ISLAMABAD, Jul 13 (APP): Managing Director Associated Press of Pakistan, Muhammad Asim Khichi on Thursday visited the residence of Afzal Butt, President of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalist (PFUJ) to condole the death of his mother.
Muhammad Asim Khichi expressed his deep grief over the sad demise of Afzal Butt’s mother and prayed for the departed soul.
MD APP praying for high ranks of the departed soul in Jannah, said that there was no alternative of parents.
Secretary General of National Press Club Islamabad Raja Khalil, Senior Journalists Nawabzada Khursheed, Rana Imran Lateef, Shakeel Ahmad Abbasi, and Secretary Information Young Media Working Journalists Association Nawabzada Shah Ali were also present on the occasion.
ISLAMABAD: July 13 – Federal Minister for Interior Rana Sana Ullah Khan addressing the foundation stone laying ceremony of Women Police Station. APP
ISLAMABAD, Jul 13 (APP): Minister for Interior, Rana Sana Ullah on Thursday inaugurated a Women’s Police Station in the federal capital in order to empower and cater needs of women by providing state-of-the-art facilities.
“The government has completed all the demands of Islamabad police by the establishing women’s police station, increasing salaries and paying due allowances. Now, it is the responsibility of the police to ensure the safety of the citizen,” he said while addressing the inaugural ceremony.
The minister said that Islamabad was the face of the country as a huge diplomatic community lived here and analyzed the social setting of the country through the infrastructure and intuitions of Islamabad.
“Therefore, every institution of the federal capital should be a role model, particularly the police department as it deals the public mostly,” he added.
Stressing the need of maintaining discipline in the force, Rana Sanaullah said a well-disciplined police department in the federal capital would help create a positive image of the country across the globe.
He said that the PML-N government under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif left no stone unturned to make the city modern and started different development projects in that regard.
Divulging details of the projects, he said that a total development projects worth Rs150 billion were underway in the capital out of which Rs 100 billion would be completed before elections.
“We have recruited 1700 more personnel in the force including 208 women which would help to maintain the law and order situation in the city,” he said.
Paying homage to the Inspector General of Islamabad Police Nasir Akbar, he said that the credit for establishing women’s police station went to him as he initiated the remarkable project and took great efforts for it.
“The behaviour of Islamabad police with citizens is commendable which more needed to be improved,” he added.
ISLAMABAD, Jul 13 (APP): Senator Irfan Siddiqui on Thursday called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and paid him tribute on the finalization of deal with International Monetary Fund (IMF) .
Senator Siddiqui also lauded the prime minister’s effort for the revival of national economy.
Both discussed political situation in the country.
ISLAMABAD, Jul 13 (APP): President of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Dr Sulaiman Al Jasser on Thursday assured Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of continued financial support to Pakistan.
The IDB president, in a telephonic conversation with PM Shehbaz, termed Pakistan a brotherly country and vowed to cooperate with it, the PM Office said.
The prime minister thanked the IDB president IDB for giving one billion dollars to Pakistan and said the received amount also played an important role in finalizing the standby agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
He said without the IDB’s support, the IMF’s deal with Pakistan’s was difficult to materialize.
The prime minister said the Islamic Development Bank was an important partner of Pakistan, which helped it in difficult times.
He recalled his meeting with Sulaiman Jasser in France, and said Pakistan was keen to further strengthen its partnership with the IDB.
He apprised the IDB president of the recently established Special Investment Facilitation Council for the promotion of investment in the country.
The body has been set up to increase investment in various sectors of the country.
The prime minister invited Dr Sulaiman Al Jasser to visit Pakistan.
ISLAMABAD, Jul 13 (APP):Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said despite challenges and conspiracies hatched by the political opponents, the coalition government had successfully managed to put the country in the right direction in the shortest period.
The prime minister, in his over 14-minute address to the nation, said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme agreed by the previous government on the toughest conditions, was the biggest obstacle in the way of the country’s economic revival.
The last regime had brought the country to the brink of default by deviating from that agreement, he added.
He said ironically, the political opponents remained busy in hatching conspiracies and creating hurdles while the coalition government was trying to resume the programme.
The incumbent government had to face the biggest challenges and conspiracies in Pakistan’s democratic history in the shortest period, and steered it out of the deep crisis, he added.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the coalition government was going to end in August on completing its tenure and would hand over the reins to the caretaker set up.
“During the short period of one and a quarter years, due to our collective wisdom and prudent policies, we cleared the debris and economic landmines laid by the previous government,” he added.
He said the period of his government was a journey of moving from the destruction towards construction, economic stability, helping the flood affected people, providing maximum employment to the jobless and relief to the people hit by inflation, and revival of freedom of speech, media freedom and national integration.
He said the coalition parties sacrificed their politics for saving the country from default by taking the toughest decisions. “We always remained worried about increasing the foreign exchange reserves instead of thinking about our vote banks.”
The prime minister said despite anti-state conspiracies, the government did not loose its heart and succeeded to reach a staff level agreement with the IMF.
“Today on behalf of the whole nation, I sincerely thank friendly and brotherly countries China, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, which once again supported Pakistan with sincerity under very difficult situation and that can never be forgotten,” he added.
He said the way, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan played their role in bringing Pakistan out of the crisis, was praiseworthy.
The prime minister also acknowledged the efforts of Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on the diplomatic front. Similarly, he also appreciated Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Chief of the Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir for their untiring efforts to help stabilize the economy.
Now, he said, the time had come to regain the country’s lost glory by moving forward with collective wisdom and struggle. For that purpose, he added, a comprehensive national plan of economic revival had been finalized. The Special Investment Facilitation Council had been set up, which had initiated its work and was paving the way for big investments from the Gulf countries in various fields including agriculture, industry, energy, IT, defence production and minerals, he said.
PM Shehbaz also assured the nation that on this national agenda, the federal government, all the provincial governments, and the armed forces were adopting the whole of the government approach to make it a success.
Expressing satisfaction over the overall economic situation, the prime minister said the trust of the business and investment communities was also reviving while the international rating agency Fitch had also improved Pakistan’s rating to triple C.
Similarly, he said, the United Nation’s Human Rights Council had also testified the improving situation of human rights in Pakistan whereas the country had also showed improvement by seven points in the International Freedom Index.
Shehbaz Sharif said when the staff level agreement with the IMF was announced on June 30, the investors expressed their full satisfaction through the Stock Exchange Market as the KSE-100 index jumped by record 2446 points in a single day.
Now the Stock Exchange had crossed the 45,000 points level which was the highest in 14 months, he said adding that the value of Pakistani Rupee was also improving.
The prime minister said the Rs 1,150 billion historical development budget, Rs 2,000 billion agriculture development fund under Kissan Package, conversion of agriculture tube wells to solar energy, Rs 80 billion Prime Minister Youth Programme, interest-free and concessional loans in agriculture industry, IT and other sectors, provision of laptops to the talented students, educational scholarships, women empowerment, special scholarships to families of martyrs, and timely completion of infrastructural projects were few of the achievements of the incumbent government.
Resolving to break the begging bowl, he asked the youth to come forward to take the country to new heights of development and prosperity.
ISLAMABAD, Jul 13 (APP): Zong 4G, the leading network provider in Pakistan, has introduced a cost-effective international roaming bundle, specifically tailored for pilgrims traveling to Iran.
Recognizing the significance of staying connected, Zong 4G aimed to provide unparalleled convenience and affordable solutions that cater to the diverse needs of travellers, said a news release.
Whether individuals are embarking on a journey to Iran for Ziyarat during the sacred month of Muharram or for business purposes, Zong 4G’s affordable bundles ensure they remain connected with their loved ones back home.
The latest offering includes an exclusive calling bundle, allowing travellers to stay in touch effortlessly. Prepaid customers can avail themselves of 60 minutes of uninterrupted calls for 30 days by paying just Rs.1000 plus tax.
For those with longer stays in Iran, Zong 4G offers an extended package, providing 200 minutes of talk time for Rs.3000 plus tax, with a validity of 60 days. Subscribers can easily access these bundles by dialling *4225# from their mobile phones or by visiting the Zong online shop at https://www.zong.com.pk/onlineshop/ir-bundles or through the My Zong App.
The official spokesperson of Zong 4G expressed his thoughts on the new promotion, stating, “Zong 4G has always been committed to addressing the needs of its customers and providing suitable solutions. This offer enables users to perform Ziyarat while staying connected with their loved ones back at home, without any worries.”
This roaming bundle demonstrates Zong 4G’s dedication to enhancing the overall travel experience, reflecting its relentless pursuit of innovation and customer-centric services. As a frontrunner in revolutionizing travel connectivity, the company understands the importance of offering reliable and affordable means for customers to stay connected during their journeys.
ISLAMABAD, Jul 13 (APP):Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Thursday said that the present government during its 14-month rule had taken several steps to transform the Pakistan Television Corporation and the Radio Pakistan into financially viable organizations.
Apprising the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting about the reforms carried out in the state broadcasters, the minister said the former government had planned to auction the national assets, including Radio Pakistan and PTV.
The committee meeting chaired by Javaria Zafar Aahir, was attended by its members Zaib Jafar, Kiran Imran Dar, Zulfiqar Ali, Naz Baloch, Dr Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro, Nasir Khan Musazai and Asiya Azeem.
Secretary Information and Broadcasting Sohail Ali Khan, Principal Information Officer Mubasher Hassan, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority Chairman Saleem Baig and other officers of the Ministry of Information also attended the meeting.
The minister said now both the Radio Pakistan and the PTV were now on moving path of self-reliance and due to the prudent policies of the present regime, the latter had earned a record profit worth Rs 5.5 billion during the current year.
The government, she added, had regularized all contract employees of the PTV to boost its performance.
She informed the panel that the PTV Peshawar Center had started 24-hour transmission of its programmes in regional languages, including Pashto, while Multan and Karachi centres were airing round-the-clock their programmes in Saraiki and Sindhi languages respectively.
All studios of the PTV Lahore had been upgraded, she said, adding a virtual studio was set up in the PTV Islamabad Center.
Marriyum said for the promotion of filmmaking, the PTV Film Division had been established, besides setting up the Film Production Institute at the PTV Academy.
She said now film production and media related courses were being started in the PTV Academy.
Cinemas were being established on the premises of the Radio Pakistan Lahore and Peshawar, and their foundation stones had been laid, she added.
The minister said 12 new studios were established in the Radio Pakistan Islamabad, while the work of digitizing the entire archive of Radio Pakistan had started.
“On May 9, the building of Radio Pakistan Peshawar was burnt down, but we have started a project for its restoration,” she informed the committee.
The minister recalled the then Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government had introduced the first film policy in 2017-18, and now money had been allocated for the purpose in the current year’s budget.
In the film policy, she added, filmmakers had been given immense incentives. Moreover, she said, health insurance funds had been established for artists and journalists.
The minister said they had worked round the clock during the last 14 months to complete the projects.
“When we came into power, we used the national assets for the people and did not opt for their auction,” she said recalling the tenure of former information minister who had come up with the policy of selling everything.
She said now national broadcasters were playing their due role in providing information to the public in a better way.
RAWALPINDI, Jul 13 (APP):Chief of Staff, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Jody Lyle on Thursday said women’s role in nature conservation and national park service as active and competent guardians of nature was gaining pace in the United States which was a role model for the societies and other countries to take inspiration.
The U.S. Embassy organised an event to interact with young students and media here at the Fatima Jinnah Women University to discuss her journey and achievements while serving at different national parks at home and abroad which will be serving as a source of motivation for young girls and university graduates intending to pursue their careers as nature guards and conservationists.
Addressing the gathering at the Lincoln’s Corner Library, FJWU, Jody Lyle said the US National Park Service was a civilian agency established in 1916 which includes almost 20,000 employees across the US with a budget of $3.48 billion. The protected areas or national parks comprised 423 sites with a total area sprawling over 30 million hectares.
In the US, she said there had been several parks focussing different areas including fossil reserves, architectural and historic parks, science parks including the famous Thomas Edison lab, the Women’s Rights National Historic Park, Cesar E. Chavez National Monument and among others Yosemite National Park famous for unique rock formations.
Lyle said throughout her career she had focussed on environmental education and awareness of people of different age cohorts and races. There was great gender diversity in the US’ national park service as Yellowstone National Park in 1925 had 7% women and 93% men in its workforce whereas the entire agency at present possessed 40% female and 60% male staff and it was also the same in the leadership as well.
She underlined that the Park was right next to Hollywood whereas the movie history of the national park was also preserved which includes around 80 workers at the Park team to manage patrolling, law enforcement, conservation and education and survey. She said, “We employ both men and women and racially diverse people.”
Lyle highlighted that recreation was a big challenge as 180 million people lived next to the national park. However, the national park service used to hire trail crews for maintenance of the forest area and trails. In 1978, a backbone trail was conceived and started in Santa Monica Mountains National Park which was completed in 2016.
She added that the Park was mostly funded by government finance. “However, we generate revenue through permits and leasing largely for filming and still photography. Hollywood producers still come to us and pay the fee for film shooting.”
The Wildfires, she said another challenge as due to climate change wildfire regimes were changing rapidly and it demanded new regimes to cope with the risk.
She said, “The national park service at Santa Monica works closely with sister agencies to put out fires in time. We have shared information on social media and in the press along with the Park rangers who used to hold online lectures for students and also arrange trail hikes for school students under the public programmes through which hundreds of volunteers participated to chip in the plantation and afforestation efforts.”
The Wildlife Research and Action, she said was another intervention of her department and its most famous work was the Carnivore Study under which Mountain Lions were ear tagged and tracking collar belts were installed to study its habitat and nature, she added.
Lyle said, “Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing project is in the pipeline which is inspired by the P-22 Mountain Lion who had trespassed the freeway and travelled to other areas which was not its living place. After the wildcat passed away due to aging a memorial service for expressing love for the lonely animal was held in Los Angeles.”
She mentioned that the National Parks and conservation help promote environmental, social, health, economic and diplomatic benefits. “The national parks are vital part of US economy and help drive a vibrant tourism. Some 297 million tourists and visitors visited protected areas in 2021 and spent $20.5 billion during their fun activities that helped in creating jobs for the local communities.”
Responding to various queries of the University, she said women were having a collaborative role in national park conservation as they had started joining law enforcement area which was traditionally for men only whereas they had been making inroads in science as well and would make the gender ratio to 50-50 in the future.
While responding to media persons queries, she said her purpose of the visit was to focus on Margalla Hills National Park and held interactions with the management of the Park and discussed different areas of interest.
Chairperson, Department of Biotechnology, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Prof. Dr. Azra Yasmin in her welcome remarks expressed her gratitude to the visiting delegates. She also briefed the guests on the faculty and facilities of the varsity and environment provided to the students to flourish as promising graduates.
ISLAMABAD, Jul 13 (APP):The Universal Service Fund (USF) has awarded a contract worth approximately PKR 6.78 billion to Ufone for providing High-Speed Mobile Broadband services in the Sibbi district of Balochistan province and Motorway M-8.
Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Syed Amin Ul Haque and Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Agha Hassan Baloch witnessed the contract signing ceremony and launch of the Research Impact Assessment Study here on Thursday.
Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Syed Amin Ul Haque and Federal Minister for Science and Technology Agha Hassan Baloch witnessing contract signing of High Speed Mobile Broadband Projects for Balochistan in Islamabad on July 13, 2023.
Haaris Mahmood Chaudhary, CEO of USF, signed the contract with Hatem Bamatraf, President and Group CEO, PTCL & Ufone 4G.
While addressing the ceremony, the minister said, “We are gathered here today to commemorate the signing ceremony of two new projects that target the provision of uninterrupted voice and 4G broadband data services in Balochistan. One of these projects is worth Rs.. 1.96 billion that aimed to empower around 34,000 individuals residing in 47 Mauzas of the Sibbi district.
He said additionally, another project worth Rs. 4.82 billion has been initiated to ensure voice and 4G coverage on 478 km of previously unserved road segments along the M-8 motorway. One of the salient features of this project is that national roaming will be enabled for commuters for uninterrupted services. These road segments pass through various districts including Gwadar, Kech, Awaran, Khuzdar, and Jhal Magsi in Balochistan Province, as well as Kambar Shahdad Kot and Larkana in Sindh Province.
Amin Ul Haque thanked Federal Minister, Agha Hassan Baloch for his time and apprised him of the developments of the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication in Balochistan.
He said, Ministry of IT and Telecommunication through USF has been at the forefront of digital transformation in Pakistan, with a dedicated focus on extending meaningful access to connectivity for the people of Balochistan. These efforts included implementing projects to provide 4G Broadband services to unserved populations, deployment of optic fiber cable as well as providing seamless coverage to National Highways and Motorways in the province through national roaming.
He said during the last 5 years, USF has launched 21 new projects worth Rs. 27.12 billion under its high-speed broadband program that targets the provision of 4G data services across the province. Under these projects, 936 BTS sites will be deployed to serve approx. 2.9 million people residing in 2,760 mauzas, and 2,205 km of unserved road segments on Motorway M-8 (Rato Dero to Gwadar), Coastal Highway, National Highway 25 & 65 and 50 & 70 will be provided with connectivity, he added.
Amin Ul Haque said Out of these, 527 BTS sites (approx. 56%) have already been deployed serving a population of approx. 2 million residing in 1,726 mauzas, and 1,727 km of unserved road segments. It is also worth mentioning that among the total 3,096 BTS sites installed in Balochistan, approximately 36.5% (1,131 sites) have been deployed through USF projects. Of these USF sites, around 87.3% (988 sites) are currently utilized for offering voice and high-speed broadband (4G) services across the province.
The Ministry of IT and Telecommunication will continue to provide its unwavering commitment to improving the lives of the local communities of Balochistan by providing them improved access to employment opportunities, education, and healthcare facilities.
While addressing the ceremony, Federal Minister, Agha Hassan Baloch expressed his gratitude towards Federal Minister, Syed Amin Ul Haque, for his initiation of development projects in Balochistan.
He emphasized that the Ministry of Science and Technology is committed to providing full assistance and support for the advancement of the IT industry.
He also commended the dedicated teams of USF and Ufone for their outstanding efforts, acknowledging their potential to bring about transformative change in the lives and livelihoods of individuals. By connecting people to the digital world and creating avenues for growth and development, these initiatives hold the promise of unlocking new opportunities for a brighter future.
Sharing his thoughts at the ceremony, CEO of USF, Haaris Mahmood Chaudhary said: “I am delighted to witness the contract signing ceremony of Sibbi and M-8 projects for Balochistan with Ufone and thrilled to announce the launch of the Research Impact Assessment Study.
This event marks another milestone in our journey towards enhancing connectivity in rural areas. While we have been making remarkable strides in improving connectivity, it was essential to quantify the level of empowerment within each family and assess the consumption of e-services for enhancing their lives. This report holds immense value, not only domestically but also internationally, enabling our stakeholders to make informed decisions regarding interventions and prioritize the needs of our communities effectively. The positive response we have received thus far reinforces our commitment to continue our efforts in bringing about positive change and empowering these communities.”
Sharing his views on the occasion, President and Group CEO, of PTCL & Ufone 4G, Hatem Bamatraf said, “As a crucial player in the telecommunications industry, Ufone 4G plays a pivotal role in shaping connectivity nationwide. We firmly believe that connectivity is the cornerstone of socio-economic development, enabling individuals to access vital services, education, healthcare, and employment opportunities.
He said by actively contributing to the nation’s progress, we strive to make a lasting impact on the lives of millions of Pakistanis. Through this strategic partnership, Ufone 4G and USF are dedicated to expanding the network connectivity footprint in the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan. Ufone 4G understands that these regions have unique needs and require focused efforts to bring them into the digital era. By combining our resources and knowledge with USF, Ufone 4G strives to create an inclusive, digitally empowered Pakistan, where no citizen is left behind.”
At the ceremony, CEO of Agahi, Puruesh Chaudhary said: “It is an honour to witness the positive impact of USF efforts through the launch of Research Impact Assessment study, which sheds light on the remarkable influence on USF initiatives and the impact it has had on the lives of rural communities across Pakistan. This study provides valuable insights into the transformative power of bridging the digital divide. By connecting these communities, we not only did USF bring them closer to the digital world but also foster a sense of community and overall wellbeing.”
ISLAMABAD, Jul 13 (APP):Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, Faisal Karim Kundi Thursday said that around 7.2 million families received their quarterly payments under the Benazir Kafaalat programme till today.
Addressing a press conference, the SAPM said that the Benazir Education stipends were also being disbursed among the beneficiaries along with the Kafaalat payments.
He advised the beneficiaries of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) to only follow the messages which was sent through BISP official number 8171 and ignore the fake messages from other numbers.
The SAPM said that around 0.3 million cards of the beneficiaries, earlier blocked during the previous government tenure, had been reactivated to provide relief to the poor while the remaining cards would be reactivated soon after completing the necessary requirements.
To a question, Faisal Kundi said that beneficiaries of BISP would be able to open their accounts in any bank available near to them instead of only two banks which were designated for this purpose in the past.
Expressing his concern over the Parachinar issue, Faisal Kundi urged the political parties and ulemas (Religious Scholars) from all school of thoughts to intervene for resolving the issue of Parachinar.
“There is need to resolve the issue immediately to ensure peace as Muharram is near”, Faisal Kundi said.
Land occupation was still a major issue in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf led government did nothing for resolving such issues, he said.
Criticizing the attack on the military installations on May 09 by rioters, Faisal Kundi said those involved in the incident must be punished.
“What happened on May 9 was an insult to our martyrs whose families proudly say that our sons died for the sake of our country”, he said.
The minister also criticized International Monetary Fund delegation’s visit to meet a person in Zaman Park who was wanted by the state in different cases and urged the relevant authorities to convey a strong message on it.
