ISLAMABAD, May 18 (APP):Acting President Sadiq Sanjrani Friday conferred Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) on Vice Chairman of the Chinese Central Military Commission General Zhang Youxia in an investiture ceremony held here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.
The ceremony was attended by Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, Naval Chief Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, Chinese Ambassador in Pakistan Yao Jing and senior officials.
After the ceremony, General Zhang Youxia also called on the acting president.
Sadiq Sanjrani congratulated General Zhang Youxia on the conferment of Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military) and said Pakistan and China were close friends, neighbors and trusted partners because their relations were based on mutual respect and trust.
He emphasized that Pak-China friendship was the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy and our defence relations were the guarantee of peace and stability in the region.
He said Pakistan deeply valued China’s support on the issues of national and regional security including Kashmir.
On this occasion, Vice Chairman of Chinese Central Military Commission General Zhang Youxia thanked the acting president, government and people of Pakistan and said Pakistan and China enjoyed a time-tested friendship which would further grow in the coming generations.
Vice chairman of Chinese CMC conferred Nishan-e-Imtiaz (mly)
Young Lucky in SF of Canon one day club tournament
LAHORE, May 18 (APP):Young Lucky Star club beat Ghalib Sports
by 8 wickets and moved into the Semi finals of 1st Cannon Foam
Challenge Cup one day club cricket Tournament at LCCA Ground here
on Friday.
Brilliant spell of bowling of Saif Rasool (5 for 19 runs) of
Young Lucky Star was the highlight of the match.
Match Summary, Ghalib Sports CC innings, 181/all out in 35 Overs.
Saqib Mehmood 69, Umer Farooq 45, Bilal Muneer 20 & Anas Mustfa 19.
Young Lucky Star CC bowling, Saif Rasool 5/19, Imran Dogar 2/39,
Haider Ali 2/49
Bating Young Lucky Star CC innings, 183/2 in 30.1 overs. Zeeshan
Farooq 70, Haider Ali 46 M Zubair Malik 29 and Amjad Khan 22.
Ghalib Sports CC bowling, Ahmad Raza 2/46 while Ali Raza took
one wicket
4 civilians martyred by Indian firing along WB
ISLAMABAD, May 18 (APP):The acting foreign secretary Friday summoned the Indian high commissioner and condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian forces along the Line of Control (LoC) and Working Boundary (WB), Foreign Office said.
Four people, including three children, were martyred by Indian firing along the WB in Sialkot sector, a statement issued here said.
A woman was also among those martyred by the unprovoked firing incident, which also injured 10 civilians residing along the border area.
The statement said Indian forces along the LoC and WB are continuously targeting civilian populated areas with heavy weapons.
“In 2018, the Indian forces have carried out more than 1,050 ceasefire violations along the LoC and WB, resulting in the Shahadat of 28 innocent civilians, while injuring 117 others”, it added.
This unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by India is continuing from the year 2017, when the Indian forces committed 1970 ceasefire violations.
It said that the deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity, international human rights and humanitarian laws. The ceasefire violations by India are a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation.
The acting foreign secretary urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement and urged India to permit UNMOGIP to play its mandated role as per the UNSC resolutions.
Weekly inflation up by 0.93 pc
ISLAMABAD, May 18 (APP):The weekly inflation for the week ended on May 17 for the combined income group witnessed increase of 0.93 percent as compared to the previous week.
The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) for the week under review in the above mentioned group was recorded at 226.56 points against 224.47 points registered in the previous week, according to data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
Similarly, as compared to the corresponding week of last year, the SPI for the combined group in the week under review increased by 2.70 percent.
The weekly SPI has been computed with base 2007-08=100, covering 17 urban centers and 53 essential items for all income groups and combined.
Meanwhile, the SPI for the lowest income group up to Rs 8000 was also increased by 0.83 percent as it went up from 210.74 points in the previous week to 212.48 points in the week under review.
As compared to the last week, the SPI for the income groups from Rs 8001-12,000, Rs 12,001-18,000, 18,001-35,000 and above Rs35000 also increased by 0.88 percent, 0.93 percent, 0.95 percent and 0.95 percent respectively.
During the week under review average prices of 04 items registered decrease, while that of 21 items increased with the remaining 28 items’ prices unchanged.
The items which registered decrease in their prices during the week under review included garlic, wheat flour, mash pulse and moong pulse.
The items which recorded increase in their average prices included bananas, tomatoes, patotoes, onions, chicken, mtch box, tea (packet), salt, rice (irri-6), wheat, beef, mutton, eggs, milk (fresh), LPG Cylinder, vegetable ghee, (tin) vegetable ghee (loose), red chilly, gur, sugar and masoor pulse.
The items with no change in their average prices during the week under review included rice (basmati), bread (plain), curd, milk (powdered), mustard oil, cooking oil, gram pulse, cooked beef, cooked daal, tea (prepared), cigarettes, long cloth, shirting, lawn, georgette, gents sandal, gents chappal, ladies sandal, electricity charges, gas charges, kerosene oil, firewood, electric bulb, washing soap, petrol, diesel, telephone local call and bath soap.
LSMI grows by 5.89% in 9 months
ISLAMABAD, May 18 (APP):Large Scale Manufacturing Industries (LSMI) of the country witnessed an impressive growth of 5.89 percent during the first nine months of the current fiscal year as compared to the corresponding period of last year.
The country’s LSMI Quantum Index Numbers (QIM) was recorded at 149.26 points during July-March (2017-18) against 140.97 points during July-March (2016-17), showing growth of 5.89 per cent, according to the data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
The highest growth of 3.33 percent was witnessed in the indices monitored by Ministry of Industries, followed by 1.84 percent growth in the products monitored by Provincial Bureaus of Statistics (PBOS) and 0.72 growth in the indices of Oil Companies Advisory Committee (OCAC).
On yearly basis, the industrial growth increased by 1.81 percent during March 2018 as compared to same month of last year, while, on month-to-month basis, the industrial growth increased by 5.88 percent in March 2018 when compared to growth of February 2018, the PBS data revealed.
Meanwhile, the major sectors that showed growth during July-March (2017-18) included textile (0.44 percent), food, beverages and tobacco (2.67 percent), coke and petroleum products (12.31 per cent), pharmaceuticals (4.37 percent), non metallic mineral products (12.14 percent), automobiles (18.95 percent), iron and steel products (27.49 percent), electronics (45.16 percent), paper and board (8.95 percent), engineering products (5.51 percent) and rubber products (5.91 percent).
On the other hand, the LSM industries that witnessed negative growth, included chemicals, production of which declined by 0.37 percent, while the fertilizers production declined by 8.3 percnet, leather products by 9.11 percent and wood products by 32.53 percent.
It is pertinent to mention here that the provisional QIM is being computed on the basis of the latest production data of 112 items received from sources including Oil Companies Advisory Committee (OCAC), Ministry of Industries and Production (MoIP) and Provincial Bureaus of Statistics (PBoS). The OCAC provides data of 11 items, MoIP of 36 items while PBoS proved data of remaining 65 items.
NA passes Rs5.9 trillion budget, amid opposition reservations
ISLAMABAD, May 18 (APP):Notwithstanding reservations by the opposition benches on the passage of budget for whole year, the National Assembly on Friday passed Finance Bill 2018-19 with certain amendments, providing legal cover to budgetary proposals for the upcoming budget.
The house adopted a number of amendments to the bill proposed by Finance Minister Dr. Miftah Ismail, senators and members National Assembly during the debate on Rs5.932 trillion consolidated budget for FY2018-19.
Finance Minister, Dr. Miftah Ismail moved the amendments proposed to the finance bill by the treasury benches in the House that passed the bill with a majority vote in a clause-by-clause reading.
Thanking all the members of the house on passage of the budget, the minister said that the journey which the incumbent government started five years before, no doubt, was difficult but due the vision of former prime minister, Mohammad Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Pakistan has been put on sustainable growth path.
“This journey towards economic development will continue and we will take forward the country towards new avenues of progress and prosperity,” the minister said and expressed gratitude for people of the country, saying that we would also fulfill promises made to them.
The minister thanked the Speaker, members of the national assembly and senate who played very positive role during the presentation of the budget. He also thanked the staff of finance ministry, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and all other relevant departments for their untiring efforts in preparation of the budget.
The minister on the occasion announced five basic pays as honorarium to the employees of various departments who have performed their duties during the budget session of the national assembly.
He said these included, employees of National Assembly, Senate, Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), Pakistan Television (PTV), Radio Pakistan, Press Information Department (PID), Pakistan International Airline, Pakistan Post, Capital Development Authority (CDA), Pakistan Railways and WAPDA.
Earlier, the minister had announced four basic salaries, however changed his decision to take it to five basic pays after responding to a point raised by Speaker National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq that since this was the farewell session, the minister should announce five basic pays as honorarium.
The Minister assured the Speaker that the honorarium would be paid to the concerned employees before the end of the incumbent government’s tenure.
Later the Speaker thanked all the parliamentary leaders and members of the national assembly for their cooperation during the last five years and adjourned the session till Monday 15:00 hours.
The house on Friday also approved all 127 demands of grants of Rs 333,145,342,000 for the financial year 2017-18, relating to various divisions and their related departments during the fiscal year 2018-19.
Dr. Miftah Ismail moved the supplementary demands for 127 grants to meet the expenditure during the outgoing fiscal year.
On the occasion, while responding to various objections on supplementary grants, Miftah Ismail said that the borrowings were done due to fiscal deficit. He said that the current was also serious problem; however, the country’s exports increased 24 percent in March 2018 and 18 percent in April 2018 while the imports have reduced by 2 percent. So the scenario is changing favorably, he added.
Earlier, talking about the supplementary demands of grants on the occasion, Dr Azra Fazal criticized the performance of Law and Justice Department, saying that billions of rupees are being lost by the government as this department was not doing its work properly, suggesting reformations in the department.
Shazia Marri also questioned performance of various departments and questioned various expenditure the government has done during the current fiscal year.
Dr. Shireen Mazari categorically rejected the supplementary budget saying that it was unacceptable, while Sheikh Salahuddin also rejected supplementary budget saying that it would put burden on common people.
Sahibzada Tariqullah stressed the need that the supplementary budget happens to be clear cut violation of budgetary proposals, saying that a proper mechanism should be devised to stop this practice.
Assad Umar said that most of the supplementary budget is related to repayment of foreign debt and its debt services which puts a question mark on it.
Miftah announces honorarium for employees deputed in budget session
ISLAMABAD, May 18 (APP):Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs Dr Miftah Ismail on Friday announced five basic pays as honorarium to the employees of various departments who have performed their duties during the budget session of the national assembly.
The minister said that these included, employees of National Assembly, Senate, Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), Pakistan Television (PTV), Radio Pakistan, Press Information Department (PID), Pakistan International Airline, Pakistan Post, Capital Development Authority (CDA), Pakistan Railways and WAPDA.
Earlier, the minister had announced four basic salaries, however changed his decision to take it to five basic pays after responding to a point raised by Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq that since this was the last budget, the minister should announce five basic pays as honorarium.
The Minister assured the Speaker that the honorarium would be paid to the concerned employees before end of the incumbent government’s tenure.
Later the Speaker thanked all the parliamentary leaders and members of the national assembly for their cooperation during the last five years and adjourned the session till Monday 15:00 hours.
Abbasi, Khursheed Shah for finalizing name of caretaker PM
ISLAMABAD, May 18 (APP):Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and leader of opposition in the National Assembly Friday met here at the PM Chamber to finalize the name of caretaker prime minister.
The two leaders had regular consultations in the past to develop a consensus on a suitable candidate.
The five year term of the PML-N government would end on May 31.
Bilateral, multilateral cooperation is growing deeper: SCO
ISLAMABAD, May 18 (APP):Cultural ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states joined hands at the15th meeting held in Sanya, Hainan province this week.
All participants agreed that cultural cooperation between SCO member states made remarkable progress in the past year, and reports presented at the meeting about diversified exchanges and cooperation clearly showed that bilateral and multilateral cooperation is growing deeper and wider, reported China Daily.
The two-day meeting concluded with the issuance of the 2018-20 Executive Plan. The representatives also joined in a news release welcoming India and Pakistan into the SCO and encouraging more direct contacts and practical exchanges of cultural organizations within SCO member states, as well as joint creation of cultural products and works.
Luo Shugang, China’s minister of culture and tourism, expressed the goodwill of the Chinese government and people in seeking to build a shared community with other countries.
Luo proposed further building up the “Shanghai spirit” through deepening cultural exchanges and the cooperation of member states. He suggested developing creative models to create cultural brands and suggested that local forces should be encouraged to join in cultural exchanges and cooperation.
He said China will continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation to enhance understanding and friendship with SCO member states, based on principles of mutual respect and mutual benefits, to provide ethical and cultural support for the healthy and sustainable development of the organization.
Vladimir Aristarhov, the Russian Federation’s first vice-minister of culture said at the meeting, “More multilateral cooperation among smaller cities in SCO member states should be developed, and more diversified cooperation programmes including education, cultural contests, art festivals and exchanges of students should be cultivated to produce cultural cohesion.”
The governor of Hainan Shen Xiaoming said SCO member states are important tourist resources for the province, which is developing an international tourism and consumption center under the new development strategy laid down by the central government.
Hainan attaches great importance to the SCO tourism market and will build more platforms to promote cultural and tourism exchanges and cooperation with SCO member states, Shen said.
Four martyred, 10 injured in unprovoked firing at LOC by Indian forces
ISLAMABAD, May 18 (APP):Four people including three children were martyred and 10 others injured in unprovoked firing by Indian forces across working boundary at Sialkot sector.
“Indian troops initiated unprovoked cease fire violation along working boundary targeting civil population at Sialkot sector on early Friday morning,” said an Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR), press release.
Punjab Rangers effectively responded and targeted those Indian posts which initiated fire.