ISLAMABAD, May 4 (APP):Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Friday said lawyers had a critical role in dispensation of justice and expressed hope that the country’s legal fraternity would continue to play role in strengthening of judicial system and provision of speedy and affordable justice to the people.
The Prime Minister expressed these views in a meeting with the delegation of High Court Bar Association Rawalpindi Bench and District Bar Association Rawalpindi here at his chamber in the National Assembly.
The Prime Minister appreciated the struggle and sacrifices of the lawyers’ community for democracy and rule of law in the country.
He also assured the delegation that every possible effort would be made to address their issues.
The delegation highlighted the role of lawyers’ community towards rule of law and strengthening of democracy in the country.
The issues faced by the lawyers’ community also came under discussion.
Lawyers role critical for strengthening judicial system: PM
Association of Friends of Pakistan launched in Paris
ISLAMABAD, May 4 (APP)::The first ever advocacy group, the “Association of Friends of Pakistan” was launched during a simple but an impressive ceremony held in the Embassy of Pakistan in Paris the other day, says a press release of Embassy of Pakistan to France.
The ceremony was attended by a large number of people including former French ambassadors to Pakistan, representatives of French companies doing business in Pakistan, scholars, researchers, journalists and officials from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Parliament.
Speaking on the occasion, the Ambassador of Pakistan to France, Moinul Haque termed the launching of this Friendship Association as a milestone in Pakistan-France relations. He stated that the association will bring together people from all walks of life and would serve as an effective forum to strengthen the existing friendly relations and to facilitate in further developing economic, cultural and educational linkages between Pakistan and France.
Mr Pierre Lafrance, former Ambassador of France to Pakistan, Mr Thierry Pflimlin, President of France-Pakistan Business Council, Ms Aurore Didier, Head of France Archeological Mission in Pakistan, Dr Bruno Figadere, French Biochemist, working with Pakistani universities, Mr Olivier Lapidus, French renowned fashion designer who helped to establish the Pakistan Institute of Fashion Design, Lahore and Ms Sonia Barbry, Deputy Director (South Asia) in the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs also spoke on the occasion. All speakers welcomed this initiative and extended their full support to make it a success.
The Association of Friends of Pakistan will be registered under the French laws and will have a bureau to manage its affairs. It will organize various events to promote relations between the two countries.
A presentation tracing 70 years of Pakistan-France relations was also presented on the occasion.
ADB’s Private Sector Operations Commitments Reach $2.3 Billion in 2017
MANILA (Philippines), May 04 (APP):Asian Development Bank (ADB) private sector operations over the past year reached $2.3 billion, growing the bank’s overall portfolio of private sector operations by 17% to $10.9 billion, according to ADB Private Sector Operations Department’s (PSOD) Development Effectiveness Report 2017.
The 27 new private sector operations committed in 2017 accounted for 13.4% of overall signed regular ordinary capital resources financing. Last year’s commitments were complemented by $5.9 billion in co-financing, representing 50% of all co-financing mobilized by ADB. The report was released here at the 51st Annual Meeting of ADB’s Board of Governors.
“ADB is firmly committed to partnering with the private sector to help improve infrastructure, expand access to finance, and achieve the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals,” said ADB Vice-President for Private Sector and Co-financing Operations Mr. Diwakar Gupta. “PSOD will continue to ambitiously work to expand its private sector operations from 13.4% to 20% of total commitments by 2020, including by working in new frontier markets and sectors and increasing support for high-level technologies to improve development impact.”
ADB private sector transactions committed in 2017 are expected to create 17,000 new jobs in Asia and the Pacific, while generating more than $492 million in government revenues and enabling the procurement of $2.2 billion of goods and services from local firms. Private sector commitments last year are also projected to improve infrastructure access and services, helping treat 750 million cubic meters of wastewater every year and generating around 7,755 gigawatt hours of electricity—enough to power 870,000 households.
Private sector operations support for financial inclusion in 2017 will result in over 11.8 million individuals and small businesses in the region having better access to finance. Among these, 90% are expected to be women or enterprises owned by women. Agribusiness projects committed last year will help more than 2,800 farming households, while over 400,000 farmers and rural households are expected to benefit from improved financial services.
Active private sector operations have already contributed to the region’s economy, providing employment for an additional 133,850 people and training 308,000 beneficiaries, mostly in financial literacy. ADB’s private sector clients have also achieved carbon emissions reductions of 4.1 million tons annually.
The figures in the report are based on ADB’s new performance measure of “commitments,” or the amount of loans, grants, and investments signed in a given year. This indicator was introduced in 2017 to promote project readiness at approval stage, expedite post-approval steps, and get closer to project disbursement, by placing more emphasis on when the projects are signed, rather than when they are approved by ADB’s Board of Directors.
The report said Global trade, estimated to have a total value of $1.5 trillion in 2017, is the source of many business and employment opportunities. Some 40% of
global trade has originated in Asia and the Pacific.
Through its Trade Finance Program (TFP), PSOD helps to overcome market barriers and stimulate cross-border trade by providing banks with guarantees and loans. In 2017, TFP facilitated 3,505 transactions valued at $4.5 billion, with over $2.8 billion cofinancing from banks, private insurers, and official agencies, exceeding the results from previous years. Among the 22 TFP countries of operation, the five most active were Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, and Viet Nam. Of the total transactions, 2,822 supported SMEs and 853 supported trade between DMCs.
Mushahid Hussain elected as Chairman Senate Foreign Affairs Committee
ISLAMABAD, May 4 (APP):Senate Foreign Affairs Committee unanimously elected Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee.
Senator Javed Abbasi proposed his name and it was seconded by Senator Nuzhat Sadiq, who was the outgoing Chairperson of the Committee, said a press release received here on Friday.
All the members congratulated Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed on his unanimous election and said that he was the most appropriate person to promote, preserve and protect Pakistan’s national interest and international image in his capacity.
Speaking on the occasion Senator Mushahid Hussain appreciated his predecessor for nominating him and said she had been a good chairperson and we will build on the success achieved by the Committee in the last three years. He also thanked Senator Javed Abbasi for proposing his name.
Senator Mushahid said that foreign policy was one area on which there was a need for a broad national consensus above party lines so that the national interest and international image of Pakistan is preserved, protected and protected effectively.
He said that he would endeavor that the committee speaks on one voice on foreign policy issues, adding that foreign policy should be under monitoring and oversight by the Parliament of Pakistan since it represents the elected representatives of the people of Pakistan and foreign policy should represent the ethos of the people and their interests and aspirations.
He said among the priorities of the Foreign Affairs Committee would be peace and good relations with neighbouring countries, take CPEC forward and promoting unity among the Muslim Ummah while pursuing Pakistan’s proactive and principled policy on Kashmir, Palestine and issues like the Rohingya.
He said that the Foreign Affairs Committee will seek to be a bridge between the Parliament and the government, as well as seeking intellectual input from academia, media and civil society, through seminars, public hearings and research papers.
He said the committee would strengthen the institution of the Foreign Office. Senator Mushahid Hussain said that accountability of the government in foreign policy would be carried out through thorough scrutiny and ensuring transparency and the Committee would seek to protect the sovereignty of Pakistan from any infringement from outside.
He urged the need for a Made in Pakistan foreign policy reflecting Pakistan’s worldview particularly the
teachings of the Quaid-i- Azam who said that the foreign policy should reflect “peace within and
peace without”.
The meeting was attended by Leader of the House, Senator Raja Zafarul Haq, Senator Muhammad Javed Abbasi, Senator Dr. Asif Kirmani, Senator Nuzhat Sadiq, Senator Rehman Malik, Senator Sherry Rehman, Senator Anwarul Haq Kakar, Senator Mian Ateeq Shaikh, Senator Sitara Ayaz and Secretary of the Committee, Dr. Syed Pervaiz Abbas.
OIC Council of Foreign Ministers meeting to be held in Dhaka
ISLAMABAD, May 4 (APP): Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua would lead Pakistan’s delegation to the 45th OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) meeting, to be held in Dhaka from May 5 to 6.
A day before the CFM, the Bangladeshi government organised a visit of OIC heads of delegation to Cox’s Bazar, which hosts the largest Rohingya refugee camp. The foreign secretary interacted with refugees and assured them of Pakistan’s support in their hour of misery, a Foreign Office press release issued here on Friday said.
OIC’s Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs held a media interaction at the refugee camp, in which he highlighted the deep concern of OIC with regard to the Rohingya situation and efforts being made by the OIC and the Muslim Ummah to support the refugees from the Rakhine region.
Lawmakers propose measures for economic development, making budget result-oriented
ISLAMABAD, May 04 (APP):Lawmakers belonging to different political parties Friday put forward various proposals to make the budget for fiscal year 2018-19 result-oriented and help promote sustainable economic growth.
Resuming debate on the budget at National Assembly, the lawmakers identified different areas where they suggested the government to focus and lead the country towards progress and development.
Participating in the budget debate,Sahibzada Tariqullah stressed the need for collecting tax from the wealthiest people of the country, which he said would contribute substantially in enhancing the revenues.
He said that the government at one side had announced tax-free budget but at the same time provided many exemptions, questioning how it was going to meet the collection target of Rs4436 billion, set for the current fiscal year.
He said that only 0.9 percent of country’s total population was paying tax, whereas the ratio was much higher even in our neighboring countries.
Sahibzada also lamented that as many as 109 schemes, which were included in Public Sector Development Programme(PSDP) during previous years, were not included in the next PSDP.
He said that the government was advised to announce budget only for four months and let the upcoming government to present budget for the whole fiscal year, which was its right.
He said that though the government has presented its 6th budget, but unfortunately it was presented by an unelected representative.
Taking part in the debate, Shahji Gul Afridi, while highlighting the importance of enhancing trade among regional countries, stressed the need for paying attention towards transport sector to
tap its full potential.
He said that since Pakistan was member of Convention on International Transport of Goods, TIR, it should take full
advantage of it and promote its transport sector, adding that if Chinese transport could operate in Pakistan why can’t Pakistani transport operate in China.
He said that China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) also provides an opportunity to promote transport sector, which
he said was paying taxes of Rs500-Rs600 billion annually.He demanded policy intervention to tap the full potential of this sector and highlighted the need for devising long term policies instead of focusing on short-term policies to take the country
forward.
On the occasion, Azra Fazal Pechuho said that the debt of the country has inflated and the government has failed to give
any paradigm to promote growth and lead the country towards development.
She also drew the attention of the government towards Rs400 billion sales tax returns which it had to pay to business community.
Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho said the budget had no provision to pay huge circular debt.
She said the government should not come in influence of mafia and property
value tax should be increased to get more revenues.
She was of the views that the tax amnesty scheme would not help bridge trade deficit.
She also called for preparing a concrete plan to reduce population growth in the
country.
Chaudhary Khadim Hussain while taking part in the debate said PML-N government completed
various development projects in the country. He said his party was neither
against judiciary nor armed force.
Amjad Ali Khan said the government has presented its last budget, however pointed out
the targets set in previous budgets were not achieved. The government has obtained massive foreign
loan and people were being exploited financially, he added.
Shahida Akhtar Ali said that 60 percent of the country’s population was youth which
could prove productive for the country if appropriate policy was devised,
however lamented that no proper strategy was given in the current budget to tap
this potential.
She also highlighted importance of devising a comprehensive policy to address the
issue of unemployment.
She said that the imports of the country were more than double of exports, so
special attention was required to promote exports. She also highlighted the
issue of clean drinking water.
Arbab Amir Ayub while participating in the debate claimed that no mega fund was
provided by the government for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Waseem Hussain while participating in the budget said that the focus of budget should be
on welfare of people, however the budget presented by the government was
depicting different picture.
He said there were no university and medical college in Hyderabad despite population
of millions of people. He called for setting up university and medical college
in Hyderabad.
He also called for establishing more provinces on basis of administrative units in
the country.
Later the house was adjourned to meet again on Monday at 05:00 pm.
People can’t be fooled with hollow slogans now: Talal Chaudhry
FAISALABAD, May 04 (APP)::State Minister for Interior Talal Badar Chaudhry said that the people will make their decision in the General Election 2018, as they can’t be fooled with hollow slogans any more and they were not interested in politics of protests and sit-ins.
Addressing corner meetings in connection with his election campaign in different villages of his constituency, he said on Friday
that Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) had completed record development projects in the country and many other schemes were in progress to make the dream of a developed and prosperous Pakistan come true.
However, some elements were hatching conspiracies against the PML-N by leveling baseless allegations. But these elements would be rejected in general elections as the people love the PML-N and they want continuity of development, he added.
He said that the PML-N government had not only eliminated load-shedding and terrorism but also put the country on the road to progress and prosperity.
He said that the PML-N government initiated mega projects like China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which would change the destiny of the nation. However, anti-development elements were finding it hard to digest the development works of the PML-N.
The state minister said that Imran Khan was hoodwinking the nation on the pretext of ‘Nya Pakistan’ as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa had failed to deliver during the past five years.
Due to people-friendly and development-oriented policies of the PML-N, the people will once again vote for the PML-N in the upcoming elections, he added.
CM condemns killing of labourers in Kharan
LAHORE, May 04 (APP):Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the firing incident on labourers in Kharan area of Balochistan.
He expressed his deep sense of sorrow and grief over the loss of precious human lives and extended heartfelt
sympathies and condolence to the bereaved families. He said that those who played with the lives of the laborers were
savages. Killing of labourers is a monstrous act against humanity, he added.
The CM said that all his sympathies are with the bereaved families and the Punjab government and the people are standing
with them in this hour of trial.
SC restrains sale purchase of land in Bahria Town Karachi
ISLAMABAD, May 04 (APP):Supreme Court (SC) on Friday restrained Bahria Town from selling or allotting land in the Bahria Town Karachi project by terming allotment of land to the company by Sindh Government and by Malir Development Authority (MDA) illegal.
A three-member bench headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan also directed the National Accountability Bureau to file references against responsible for violations.
“We, therefore, request the Chief Justice of Pakistan to constitute a bench for the implementation of this judgment in its letter and spirit,” the verdict said.
The judges said that transactions between the Sindh Government and Bahria Town could be made legal, but the stipulations on these transactions will be established by the SC’s special bench.
The verdict cleared that the government land would go back to the government and the land of Bahria Town exchanged for the government land would go back to Bahria Town.
The judgment stated that Bahria Town scheme no doubt had a dynamic modern design and its layout gave a spectacular look and was also being well organized by its management, but does that mean it should be one of the considerations in overlooking the illegality committed in the transfer of MDA’s land in its favour.
From the voluminous record of MDA placed on record it is established that no board meeting of MDA was held in which decision was taken as to what land from its controlled area was to be handed over to Bahria Town for its scheme, what to
speak of settling the terms and conditions on which it was to be handed over, it added.
It is for this reason that no site plan was prepared to show on what date, how much land, from which Dehs and with what boundaries was being handed over by MDA to Bahria Town.
Presently Bahria was in occupation of 12,157 acres in the above referred five notified Dehs which MDA had acquired from Board of Revenue at concessional rates for launching its own schemes.
The apex court maintained “It is really astounding that Bahria first occupied most valuable land available in MDA’s controlled area without any legal process and straight away launched its scheme and later requested MDA to exchange the land under its occupation for several parcels of land which Bahria at its own convenience had purchased through its agents in far off scattered locations of 39 Dehs and MDA and Government of Sindh bent backwards in obliging it and quietly abandoned the launch of MDA’s housing schemes on such land. Bahria may have the reputation of being one of the leading property developers of Asia, but then it should do its business on legitimately acquired land”.
“Since a great deal of work has been done by the Bahria Town and a third-party interest has been created in favour of hundreds of allotees, the land could be granted to the Bahria Town afresh by the Board of Revenue under the provisions of COGLA 1912.”
“What would be the terms and conditions of grant, what would be the price of the land, whether it would be the one at which the Bahria Town sold the land to the people by and large, how much of government land and how much of the private land has been utilized by the Bahria Town, and what Bahria Town was entitled to receive in terms of money on account of development of the land are the questions to be determined by the implementation bench of this court.”
“Bahria Town shall not sell any plot, built-up unit, apartment etc after the announcement of this judgment. Any allotment made after the announcement of this judgment shall be void,” the court ordered.
“The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) shall pick up the thread from where it left and take its investigation to its logical end.
The investigation report which was submitted in the Court and sealed under its order may now be collected for further action. “The investigation be completed within a period of three months from the date of announcement of this judgment and a reference be filed in the Accountability Court against all those who are found responsible for causing loss to the state exchequer,” the court ruled.
“We have been told that government land has also been allotted to DHA and many other societies on cheaper rates as compared to the rates in this case. If so, we would request the Honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan to take Suo Moto action in this behalf so that like be treated alike.
Governor urged donor agencies to continue support in providing jobs to tribal youth
PESHAWAR, May 04 (APP):Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor, Eng. Iqbal Zafar Jhagra appreciating the achievements of FATA Development Authority (FDA) in implementing technical and vocational education reforms urged national and international donor agencies to continue their support in providing respectable job opportunities to tribal youth.
Addressing a ceremony in connection with Technical, Vocational Education Reforms Project in here on Friday, the Governor said, “the government is focusing on development of vocational, technical education training in FATA in line with the market demands and to promote job opportunities, eradication of poverty and generating economic activities”.
He said it is a best way to ensure long term stability in the area and involve youth in nation building process.
“We are in fact actively engaged in rehabilitation, reconstruction and ensuring better future to people of FATA and are successfully heading forward”, he pointed out. Although stakes are high,
targets seem to be insurmountable and the available resources are scarce, yet, we on our part are putting special attention to achieving our goals, he said.
The Governor welcoming support and cooperation of G.I.Z. Technical Vocational Education Training Sector Support Program, UNDP and other national and international donor agencies appreciated role and services of FATA Secretariat and FATA Development Authority for betterment of FATA youth.
Large number of tribal elders and representatives of national and international donor agencies, Additional Chief Secretary FATA, Sikandar Qayyum, Chief Executive FDA, Syed Alamgir Shah and concerned officials were present in the ceremony.