ISLAMABAD, May 3 (APP):Minister for Interior, Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday said a well-functioning of Civil Registration
System is critical in monitoring country’s progress towards Sustainable Development Goals.
Addressing a launching ceremony of Technical Support Unit –
Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (TSU-CRVS) at Pakistan
Policy and Management Institute (PPMI) here, he said, the setting-up
the Unit is a step in right direction to facilitate national and
provincial organizations, follow up actions and improve education and
health systems.
UNICEF is extending institutional support for development
and functioning of this unit for initial years.
The Minister said by 2025, all people in the country would
benefit from universal and responsive CRVS systems that facilitate
the realization of their rights and support, good governance, and
development.
The CRVS is mechanism of collecting information by civil
registration system on frequency of occurrence of specified and
defined vital events (eg births, deaths, cause of deaths, marriage,
migration, its compiling, processing, analysing, evaluating,
presenting and disseminating these data in some statistical
form.
Ahsan Iqbal, who is also Minister for Planning and
Development, said significance of improvement of Civil Registration
and Vital Statistics (CRVS) has recently been emphasized round the
globe and added CRVS data is critical to support functioning of
National Health System and for a number of other government
functions.
He also urged all development partners to use SDGs agencies
to synergize and coordinate their efforts to support Pakistan in
achieving SDGs.
The Minister expressed his delight on inauguration
of the Unit and described it as a testimony of Pakistan’s
commitment towards SDGs.
The Technical Support Unit would have specific functions
which include overall technical coordination, CRVS advocacy,
organization and follow-up of National/Provincial Steering
Committee meetings, facilitate strategic planning process and
help in capacity building in multiple CRVS disciplines.
In addition, TSU- CRVS would assist in organization of
assessment studies, specific surveys and also promote inter-agency
coordination for CRVS uplift.
Representatives of federal, provincial and districts
governments, UN Agencies, academia and civil society and
international Development Partners were also present.
Civil Registration System imperative to monitor country’s progress : Ahsan Iqbal
ADB funds US$ 35 mln for BISP’s business incubation programme
ISLAMABAD, May 3 (APP):Asian Development Bank (ADB) has provided a grant of US$ 35 Million to Benzair Income Support Program (BISP) for its Business Incubation Self-Employment (BISE) programme.
The first phase of the US $ 35 Million Business Incubation for Self-Employment (BISE) BISE Programme shall be implemented over two years from 2018 as further specified in the National Rural Support Programme (NRSP) as implementing agency.
An official of BISP stated that the programme was envisaged in 2015 and it took three years to launch this initiative. She thanked the Secretary BISP and his team for their unequivocal efforts.
The ADB and the Government of Pakistan mutually agreed to include NRSP as an “implementing agency” responsible for carrying out the “Business Incubation and Inclusive Business Components” of the BISP Graduation Program (BGP) on the terms and conditions to be agreed between BISP and NRSP and duly endorsed by ADB.
The said project has also been endorsed by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, he told APP.
He informed that BISE aimed at making poor people ready for taking up viable self-employment. The program will target a total of 100,000 households in total five districts including Bahawalpur, Charsadda, Jacobabad, Kech and Nasirabad.
The selected beneficiaries shall be competent to be self-employed and show their willingness to be part of the graduation program.
The key features of BISE programme comprise of profiling and validation of targeted households on their potential for self-employment. It includes social mobilization and capacity building specific technical skill trainings and business development support, Income Generating Grants (IGGs), access to working capital through Community Investment Fund, business coaching through developing their capacities in asset and business management, numeracy and functional literacy and linkages development.
It also included insurance of beneficiaries against accidental death, hospitalisation and disability risks, linking up the poor to the value chains of small and large companies in the private sector.
One of the major aspects include an agreement with the selected BISP beneficiary that UCT shall continue for only 1-2 years to provide protection against risks, thus, successfully graduating the BISP beneficiary out of poverty.
Kuch Khaas organized a unique ‘PechaKucha’ nights in capital city
ISLAMABAD, May 3 (APP):Kuch Khaas- the Center for Arts, Culture and Dialogue organized a very unique “PechaKucha” Nights in Islamabad on Sunday with not only presentations by some of the most prominent performers of the country, but also featuring their dance performances.
The event was organized in connection with International Dance Day on April 29.
Renowned artists including Indu Mitha, Suhaee Abro, Wahab Shah, Rafia Ban, Asfandyar Anis Khattak, Sundus Jamil and Gillian Rhodes shared their experiences and showcase their art in the event.
The officials of Kuch Khas said that dance has been a part of our culture and the culture of the Indus region since prehistoric times. The statue of Dancing Girl discovered from Mohenjodaro is a testament to how, even 5000 years ago, our society was enamored by the art of dance .
Asfandyar Anis Khattak is a folk and fusion dancer who has performed on multiple platforms throughout the country enthralled audience with his thrilling performance.
Suhaee Abro began her training in classical dance at the age of seven from the respected classical dancer, Sheema Kermani. She choreographed many of her dance pieces and dance productions; mostly based on various literary pieces.
Next Sundus Jamil, a fitness instructor who uses the medium of dance to keep her clients in shape! and have fun while doing it.
Indu Mitha is an exponent of Bharatnatyam and one of only two in the nation (the other being Sheema Kirmani).
She is also a faculty member at the Rawalpindi campus of the National College of the Arts.
Lawmakers express mixed reaction over budget 2018-19
ISLAMABAD, May 03 (APP):Parliamentarians on Thursday expressed mixed reaction over the budget 2018-19, some of them hailing it for being business and people friendly while others criticizing it for not addressing various budgetary issues.
Participating in budget discussion, Member National Assembly, Qaiser Shaikh said that the government had given tax-free budget, aiming at 6.2 percent growth rate.
He said that all the political parties unanimously endorsed the reduction in taxes, which was a great achievement by the government and would be written in golden words.
He said that the growth rate during fiscal year 2017-18 was recorded at 5.8 percent, which was highest in 13 years.
He said that the inflation has reduced to the lowest level of last 30 years while the government had given many incentives to promote agriculture sector, resulting in growth of 3.8 percent of this sector during FY2017-18.
He said that the government had also taken measure to check undervaluation of real estate.
Qaiser Shaikh stressed the need for developing a consensus on long term economic plan to lead the country towards progress and prosperity.
He said that the metro bus and orange train projects have benefited poor people more than the rich ones, as poor were using these services for travelling from one place to another.
He said that spending on these projects was also funding for education as students and relevant people were using these services. Similarly road facilities have facilitated ill people to reach to
hospitals in less time, which is a service to health sector.
He said that there was need to benefit from the experiences of other countries and promote exports by giving incentives to exporters and focus on value addition.
Meanwhile, Asad Umar, while participating in budget debate, said the growth rate shown by the government was not realistic and the target fixed for next year was also beyond reach as indicated by top economic experts and world financial institutions like International Monetary Fund (IMF).
He said the circular debt has risen to Rs500 billion, but there was no mention of it in Pakistan Economic Survey and no budgetary allocation was made in the budget to repay it. He said that refunds of Rs400 billion were also not mentioned in budget.
He underlined the need for reducing indirect taxes, saying that people were paying about 51 percent on purchase of sugar.
He said that investment recorded average growth of 15.5 percent during last five years, which was lowest in the history of the country, the exports of the country also remained stagnant during the last five years, while the trade deficit has expanded from $20 billion to $40 billion.
He said debt during 1998-2008 increased by Rs3000 billion, while in 5 years of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government it increased Rs10,000 billion and during the current regime, the debts increased by Rs12000 billion.
External debt witnessed increase of $5 billion 1998-2008, $17 billion while in PPP government, it increased by $17 billion and during the five years of incumbent government, the external debt increased by $33 billion, he added.
He said that there was 7000 megawatt shortfall as on May 1st 2018 which was same as in 2013. He said that the government had failed to create employment opportunities for the youth.
ISLAMABAD, May 03 (APP):Participating in the budget, Naeema Kishwar Khan criticized Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf for failing to deliver in
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
She said that focus on agriculture and industrial
sector in the federal budget 2018-19 was a positive measure, which would have
good impact on economy.
She said that binding on non-filers that
they could not purchase property worth over Rs4 million was also good measure.
She also underlined the need for interest free investment and banking system, adding
that the resolution already passed in this regard should be implemented to
eliminate the interest-based system.
Akram Durrani said that improvements have
been witnessed in the management of G-13 and G-14 sectors of Islamabad while
responding to some observations raised by Asad Umar.
Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said that the there
was no enforced acquisition of land by Capital Development Authority (CDA) in Islamabad.
The land is being acquired on market rates. He said that CDA has made a fund to
compensate effectees.
Khawaja Suhail Mansoor while participating
in the budget said that instead of criticizing the budget, there was need to
find out its shortcomings and fix them for bringing improvement in economy.
He said that broadening tax net was not a
rocket-science as potential taxpayers could easily be identified by their life-standard.
He also underlined the need for developing proper import and export policies which
would have positive impact on country’s economy.
He also stressed the need for giving status
of industry to agriculture sector to promote exports.
Chaudhry M. Ashraf said the government took
concrete steps to overpower power load-shedding in the country and added
thousands megawatts to the national grid system. He said many coal and RLNG
based power plants to enhance power generation.
Lal Chand while taking part in the budget
discussion said no relief was announced for the general and poor masses in the
federal budget. He said Sindh produced 70 per cent gas of total country
production but still many areas have not gas facilities.
He alleged that neither federal nor provincial
governments took any pragmatic steps for the development of Tarparkar.
Asia Nasir said there should be education
emergency in the country to steer the country into right direction. She said
despite tall claims of central and provincial governments no concrete steps
were taken to construct dams and over power energy crisis in the country.
She also regretted that women parliamentarians
were ignored during last five years and no development funds were released to
them.
Hamid ul Haq said alleged that the federal
government completely ignored Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa during last five years and no
mega project was started in the province.
Khalil George said budget was always prepared
keeping in view country’s situation rather than as per people aspiration.
He said priority should be given to health,
education and safe drinking water.
Dr Arif Alvi said circular debt and refund claims were not mentioned in the budget.
He called for announcing special package for Karachi in order to address water
issue of the port city.
He said water tanker mafia was active in the city and the people were being
forced to purchase water through tankers.
He alleged that people of his constituency were being punished for not giving
vote to their political rivals.
Later, the House was adjourned to meet again on 10:30 am.
Film Industry hails funds allocation for NFA
ISLAMABAD, May 3 (APP):The film industry on Thursday hailed the allocation of funds for the establishment of National Film Academy (NFA) in Federal Budget 2018-19.
Renowned artists including Qavi Khan, Mustafa Qureshi and others expressed pleasure over the allocation of funds for NFA. They also hailed the reduction in taxes on import of film equipments.
Senior officials of Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) said the Director General of the organization also aims to set up cinema screens within the academy’s vicinity. The vision is to make PNCA a self-earning entity. The film academy would also be established by PNCA, they said. Director General PNCA, Syed Jamal Shah said that PNCA aims to work towards the revival of art
in the country. To support this claim, he said that his organization has decided to launch youth clubs for music, theatre, dance and performing arts in the country.
The government has been allocated an amount of Rs 47 million for the establishment of NFA.
The federal government also extended a proposal about a film industry package in the current national budget.
The budget proposals said that Pakistan film industry was at No 3 in the world in 1960s, and there was great need to uplift it again.
The Customs Duty was reduced to 3 percent and sales tax to 5 percent on the import of goods and machinery related to films, cinema and dramas.
It has also been proposed that income tax may be reduced to 50 percent for the persons and companies which will invest in film-making. The 50 percent concession will also be given to those foreign companies which will produce films in Pakistan.Besides this, a revolving fund will be allocated to help needy artists and film technicians.
PML(N) govt makes record development works in GB: CM
GILGIT, May 03 (APP):Chief Minister Gilgit Baltistan Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman said Wednesday that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led government was taking tangible measures for socio-economic development of Gilgit Baltistan, making record development works during its tenure.
Addressing a press conference, the GB chief minister said unlike opposition political parties, the PML(N) fulfilled all its promises it made with people of Gilgit Baltistan during election campaign in 2013 and its budget was raised upto Rs 24 billion in three years.
Since education and health played important role in uplifting living standard of people, he said the government shifted more focus on the education sector and set up Rs 500 million education endowment fund to provide free education to the poor students.
Similarly, he added the free healthcare services were being provided to 67000 deserving patients under the Prime Minister Sehat card.
He said that past government did nothing for the development of the area and they reneged on all their claims and promises they made with people.
He said tenders of Skardu road were floated in Musharraf regime but work was not launched, similarly Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) did also not bother to construct the road.
It was the PML(N) that started work on the Skardu road, besides making Kharmung and Shigar as districts of GB, adding meeting was held with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi regarding the Council’s abolishment and was apprised him about reservations in this regard.
He said the prime minister declined to continue the council as it had become a sort of third government in the country, thereby the PML(N) was not in its favour.
He said the council was abolished in the larger interest of the country and five members of his party rendered sacrifice, adding federal officers were leading lavish life on the council’s budget.
Moreover, he added that PPP imposed tax in GB while the PML(N) suspended it in order to extend relief to common people. However, he said that officers of grade 18 and above would be taxed while poor employees would be exempted.
BISP inks accord LoA with WFP
ISLAMABAD, May 3 (APP):Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) on Thursday inked a Letter of Agreement (LoA) with World Food Programme (WFP) to conduct study titled “Cost of Solution, Closing the Gap: The Cost of Education, Chronic Malnutrition and Micronutrient Deficiencies in Pakistan”.
Chairperson BISP, Marvi Memon and Secretary BISP, Omar Hamid Khan witnessed the LoA signing ceremony.
The duration of the study will be 3-6 months, with expected cost of US$ 14,000. The research methodology of the study will estimate the coverage requirements and intervention costs to close the existing food insecurity gap in order to eradicate under nutrition, said a press release.
The process of estimation will include evaluation of the problem, Analysis of components of the policy, Quantification of coverage gaps and estimation of unit cost of each intervention.
It is pertinent to mention here, that according to National Nutrition Survey (NNS) 2001, malnutrition rates are alarming in Pakistan i.e 43.7% children stunned, 31.5% underweight and 15.1% children wasted.
BISP will support the study implementation as part of this Technical Working Group (TWG). It will also facilitate the WFP team at national, provincial and district level, in addition to dissemination of final report with wider stakeholders.
Govt completes women mega projects of previous fiscal years
ISLAMABAD, May 3 (APP):Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) government has successfully completed several projects for uplift of women folk in previous fiscal year.
According to available document, several mega projects have been completed while many are being completed which would help improving the life of women in the country.
It claimed that different skill development programmes had been started for girls and training institutes are being imparted technical education through the establishment of vocational training
centres.
Focus on technical and vocational education will not only improve the performance of working women but also increase national productivity.
It said that the government’s strategy to encourage women in getting job remained successful and due to conducive atmosphere the figure of working women has significantly increased.
It said that several projects initiated for women aimed at reducing income inequality to attenuate the degree of poverty by allocating a significant allocation of budgetary resources to implement various measures for uplift of women.
The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) is the most prominent programme to supplement the incomes of the poorest segments of the population. It has been used by the present government to reach out to the most deserving people of the country and women are the primary focus of this programme.
The number of beneficiaries has increased from 3.7 million in FY 2013 to 5.4 million at the end of March 2017. BISP’s annual disbursement increased from Rs 42.9 billion in FY2013 to Rs 115 billion in FY2017. The quarterly cash grant has also been gradually enhanced by the present government from Rs 3,000 per family in FY 2013 to Rs 4,834 in FY 2017.
Among beneficiaries, women segment is also in good number to avail the opportunities from BISP.
Similarly, Maternal and Child Health Programme Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Programme was initiated to improve women and children health conditions through better service delivery and supported health systems.
Mother and Child healthcare is one of the most important areas of public health in Pakistan. The programme aspires to provide better access to Mother and Child health and Family Planning services with provision of comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care services.
The government is well aware of the issue of high population growth and fertility rate and trying to overcome through different programmes like establishment of Family Welfare Centers (FWC), Reproductive Health Services Centres (RHSC), Regional Training Institutes and Mobile Services Unit.
American embassy launches New English-Language Programme at Air University
ISLAMABAD, May 3 (APP):The American Embassy launches ‘New English-Language Programme’ at Air University under which 100 young people from suburban Islamabad will get chance of availing ‘English Access Micro-scholarship Programme’ of the embassy from the university.
At an inauguration ceremony for the new programme, the American Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission John Hoover congratulated the students, a press release said.
He urged the students that take this opportunity to explore new ideas and ask questions of one another, adding, “Challenge each other to work harder and think differently. You will be surprised by what you learn and what new possibilities open up.”
Hoover also expressed his appreciation for Air University’s collaboration. “The American Embassy is a proud partner of Air University and supports the work you are doing to prepare the next generation of Pakistani leaders,” he said.
He said, “Pakistani-American university partnerships like this have forged a spirit of academic collaboration between our students and teachers, and it is remarkable to see another crop of talented students here today.”
The Access Micro-scholarship Programme provides a foundation of English language skills to talented youth from economically disadvantaged communities through two-year, after-school classes and intensive sessions.
Students develop not only their English skills, but also leadership and professional skills that they will use throughout their lives. Since its inception in 2004, approximately 110,000 students in more than 87 countries have participated in the English Access Micro-scholarship Programme. More than 13,000 Pakistani students have participated in English Access Micro-scholarship Programme in more than 20 locations throughout the country since 2006.
No parliamentarian should use derogatory language against women: Tanveer
ISLAMABAD, May 3 (APP):Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanveer Hussain has said no parliamentarian should use unparliamentary language against any segment of society especially women.
“I have never used derogatory language against opponents including women during my political career.” he said talking to a private news channel.
The minister said lawmakers must think before speaking and they should use suitable and appropriate remarks for others to refrain from any controversy or rift.
“Today, the National Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the anti-women remarks issued by parliamentarians,” he said and added that treasure benches had not opposed the resolution.
Rana Tanveer further said women were part of the society and hold respect and dignity as per the principles of Islam.
To a query, he said it was registered in the court of public that how Nawaz Sharif was disqualified. People of the country were well-aware about the story of former prime minister, who was disqualified on having an Iqama but not on corruption charges, he said.
He said Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was the name of ‘ideology’, who always effectively worked for welfare and development of the country and masses.