ISLAMABAD, Nov 13 (APP):President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Monday conveyed deepest condolences on behalf of the people and government of Pakistan to the Iranian President Dr Hassan Rouhani and Iranian brethren on the devastating earthquake.
They had sent condolence messages to Dr Hassan Rouhani on the devastating earthquake that struck the bordering regions of Iran and Iraq on the night of November 12, causing massive casualties in the Iranian province of Kermanshah, a Foreign Office statement said.
They in their respective messages expressed that Pakistan firmly stood by them in braving this calamity.
In order to assist the Iranian government’s rescue and relief efforts, the president and the prime minister had offered to send immediate consignment of humanitarian supplies including tents, blankets and other associated items along with rescue and relief teams.
The authorities concerned in this regard were in touch with the Iranian side to ensure that humanitarian supplies were sent according to the Iranian needs, the statement said.
President, PM condole with Iranian president, people over strong quake
President approves grant of financial aid to deserving artists
ISLAMABAD, Nov 13 (APP):President Mamnoon Hussain Monday accorded his approval for grant of financial support to the deserving artists from across the country out of the Federal Government Artists Welfare Fund.
He also directed for making special arrangements for the treatment of the ailing artists under the Prime Minister’s health programme. The ministry of health was directed to take immediate steps after ascertaining the situation.
The president was chairing a meeting of the steering committee of the Federal Government Artists Welfare Fund at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, said a press release.
The meeting was attended by secretaries and representatives of the ministries of finance, cabinet division, information and health and members of the steering committee of the Fund.
The meeting considered the applications for extending financial aid and granted its approval. The president also directed the committee not to give its approval for screening of any foreign propaganda movie against Pakistan.
The members of the steering committee of the Fund who attended the meeting included Attaul Haq Qasmi, Asghar Nadeem Syed, Arif Habib, Mustafa Qureshi, Najeebullah Anjum, Shahid Shafiq, Qavi Khan, Salman Alvi, Zaiba Muhammad Ali and other high official.
Marriyum Aurangzeb grieved over demise of veteran journalist Habibur Rehman
ISLAMABAD, Nov 13 (APP):Minister of State for Information,cBroadcasting and National Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb Monday expressed deep grief and sorrow over the demise of veteran journalist Habibur Rehman.
In a statement, the minister prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved family to bear this loss with fortitude.
Always took practical steps for people’s welfare: Shehbaz
LAHORE, Nov 13 (APP):Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Monday said the government had always taken practical steps for betterment of people, instead of pursuing negative politics.
Talking to elected representatives hailing from various
districts, he said that Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N)
government believed in serving the nation for which several
programmes had been launched to ensure standard health
facilities to people.
He said that CT scan machines were being installed in all
hospitals to facilitate poverty-stricken patients.
The CM said that they had made history by completing
energy-related projects at a fast pace.
Saudi envy calls on naval chief
ISLAMABAD, Nov 13 (APP):Ambassador of Saudi Arabia, Nawaf Saeed Al-Malkiy Monday visited Naval Headquarters Islamabad and called on Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi.
During the meeting, professional matters of mutual interest came under discussion, a news release said.
The naval chief also highlighted Pakistan’s commitment and performance in the fight against terrorism, including participation of Pakistan Navy in Coalition Maritime Campaign Plan and Counter Piracy Operations in collaboration with international maritime partners.
The Saudi ambassador lauded Pakistan Navy’s role and focused commitment in support of maritime security for peace and stability in the region.
OPC treating complaints regarding housing schemes on priority
LAHORE, Nov 13 (APP):Commissioner Overseas Pakistanis Commission (OPC) Punjab, Afzaal Bhatti has said that on the special instructions of Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, complaints of expatriate Pakistanis regarding housing schemes are being treated on priority basis.
Interaction has been developed with the management of these schemes to ensure timely handing over of plots and houses to Overseas Pakistanis.
He was presiding over a meeting to review the status of development work in a private housing scheme here on today.
Afzaal Bhatti instructed the management of the scheme to expedite the development work and report in this regard be sent to OPC head office on weakly basis.
He further said that construction of roads,sewerage,water supply and drainage system be completed before stipulated period so that handing over of plots to Overseas Pakistanis and other allottees could be ensured in shortest possible time .
Afzaal Bhatti informed that as a result of the efforts of OPC,
as many as 170 plots and houses in a private housing scheme have been handed over to the overseas Pakistanis.
Commissioner OPC also visited the site and inspected the pace of development work.
CM grieved over loss of human lives due to earthquake
LAHORE, Nov 13 (APP):Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad
Shehbaz Sharif has expressed a deep sense of sorrow and
grief over the loss of precious human lives due to an
earthquake in the border areas of Iran and Iraq.
He has extended heartfelt sympathies to the grieved
families and prayed for early recovery of the injured.
Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the Pakistani
nation stands with the bereaved families and added that all
our sympathies are with the heirs of the persons who have
lost their lives.
Pakistan’s pavilion inaugurated at Foodex 2017 exhibition in Jeddah
ISLAMABAD, Nov 13 (APP):Prince Abdullah bin Saud bin Mohammed Al Saud Head of Tourism & Entertainment Committee at Jeddah Chamber of Commerce Monday inaugurated Pakistan’s pavilion at Foodex in Jeddah.
According to a message received here, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) in collaboration with Commercial Section Consulate General of Pakistan participated in Foodex Saudi Exhibition Jeddah this week at Jeddah Center for Events & Forums.
Consul General of Pakistan Consulate Shehryar Akbar Khan said that promoting bilateral trade between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is one of the foremost responsibility, among others, of Pakistan Consulate.
He said that 11 Pakistani companies are participating in the exhibition. The participating companies/ exhibitors are among the top exporters from Pakistan dealing in rice, beverages, spices, bakery and confectioneries.
He said that while Saudi Arabia is the region’s largest food producer with 74.1 percent of total products in the GCC, it imports more than $25 billion worth of food and beverage products each year to meet its rising consumption demands.
He added that with growing demand at an annual rate of 18.5 percent due to expanding domestic market on account of growing population and increasing annual pilgrimage, Saudi Arabia’s food and drink imports are likely to reach around $ 70 billion per annum in next four to five years.
Reliance on imports is also likely to increase as the Saudi government has decided to reduce wheat production to conserve water, he told.
He said these developments, offer huge opportunity to Pakistani companies to further penetrate into Saudi market and increase their market share.
Given the fact that Pakistan is an agricultural country, and more than 50 percent of its exports are agro and textile based it has enormous potential to increase its exports by tapping halal food market of Saudi Arabia, which currently imports more that 80 percent of its total food and beverages requirement.
Commercial Counselor Shehzad Ahmad Khan said that Pakistan Consulate is extending full cooperation to Pakistani businessmen match-making for their products in Saudi Arabia and to tap enormous opportunities emerging out of Saudi Vision 2030 to promote bilateral and investment.
Gov’t releases Rs 220.24 bln for development projects under PSDP 2017-18
ISLAMABAD, Nov 13 (APP):The government has released over Rs 220.2 billion under its Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP)
2017-18 for various ongoing and new schemes against their total allocations of Rs.1001 billion.
The released funds include Rs 50.55 billion for federal ministries and Rs 24.047 billion for special areas, according to data released by Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform on Monday.
Out of these allocations, Rs 2.649 billion have been released for Communication Division (other than
National Highway Authority) for which the government has earmarked Rs 13.66 billion under PSDP 2017-18.
Railways Division received Rs 9.202 billion out of its total allocation of Rs 42.9 billion whereas Aviation
Division received Rs 623.14 million out of its total allocation of Rs 4.348 billion.
The government also released an amount of Rs 6.508 billion for various development projects of
Higher Education Commission out of total allocation of Rs 35.662 billion, while Rs 3.083 billion have
been released for Atomic Energy Commission .
Water and Power Division (water sector) received Rs 8.3 billion out of its total allocation of Rs 36.75
billion under PSDP 2017-18.
The government also released Rs 2.1 billion for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination
Division, for which an amount of Rs 48.701 billion have been allocated in the federal PSDP 2017-18 while
Rs 114.612 million have been released for Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority out of its total allocations
of Rs 409.553 million.
An amount of Rs 2.267 billion have been released for Finance Division out of its total allocations of
Rs 20.143 billion while Rs 326 million have been released for Climate Change Division out of its total
allocations of Rs 815 million for the current year.
Similarly an amount of Rs 2.198 billion have been released for Petroleum and Natural Resource
Division out of its allocations of Rs 3.692 billion, Rs 1.46 billion for Planning, Development and Reform
Division out of its allocations of Rs 10.869 billion whereas Rs 1 billion have been released for SUPARCO
out of its allocations of Rs 3.5 billion.
Likewise, the government also released Rs 61.25 million for Human Rights Division, and Rs 322
million for National Food Security and Research Division.
The government has also released Rs 8.228 billion for AJK (block and other projects) out of its
allocations of Rs 25.344. billion,Rs 6.168 billion for Gilgit Baltistan (block and other projects) out of
its allocations of Rs 18.3 billion whereas Rs 9.649 billion have been released for SAFRON/FATA
(Block and other projects) out of its total allocations of Rs 26.90 billion for the FY2018.
The government also released Rs 30 billion for Prime Minister’s Global SDGS Achievement
Programme whereas Rs 1.8 billion have been released for ERRA out of its total allocations of
Rs 7.5 billion.
An amount of Rs 9.199 billion have been released for Prime Minister’s Youth Hunarmand
Programme out of its total allocations of Rs 20 billion, according to the data.
The Planning Commission of Pakistan has been following a proper mechanism for the release
of funds and accordingly funds are released as per given mechanism.
The commission releases 20% of funds in first quarter (July September), 20% in second quarter
(October December), 25% third quarter (January March) and 35% in fourth quarter (April June).
Astroturf laid at Shahnaz Sheikh Hockey Stadium
ISLAMABAD, Nov 13 (APP):An astroturf has been laid at the Shahnaz Sheikh Hockey Stadium in Rawalpindi.
Talking to APP, former Olympian Shahnaz Sheikh said officials from Holland and Australia have come here to lay the astro-turf in the stadium. “The astroturf has been laid but it will take a week to finalize the astro-turf’s finishing stages,” he said.
It may be mentioned here that the whole stadium project is worth Rs 149 million and has a sitting capacity of 50,000.
“A match between ex Olympians will be played in the stadium once the stadium is finalized,” he said and added this stadium is a gift to the people of Rawalpindi.
He said an academy for male and female players is also in the plan to be established at the stadium. Shahnaz thanked Punjab government, Punjab Sports Board and PML-N leader Hanif Abbasi for their utmost efforts to encourage and promote the game of hockey in Rawalpindi.
Speaking about Pakistan hockey team ending on a low note in the Four-Nation International Festival of Hockey in Australia, Shahnaz said it was very disappointing to see Pakistan coming fourth in the tournament.
“If this goes on then the future of Pakistan hockey is gloomy,” he said.