UNITED NATIONS, April 27 (APP):United Nations human rights experts have expressed serious concerns about racism rooted in the fabric of the United Kingdom’s society, given the disproportionate number of people of African descent and of ethnic minorities dying due to excessive use of force by state security.
“The deaths reinforce the experiences of structural racism, over-policing and criminalization of people of African descent and other minorities in the UK,” they said in a joint statement.
The UK government last month responded to the concerns of the experts, recognizing that further improvements were needed to develop solutions on healthcare in police custody, inquests and legal aid and support to families, it was pointed out.
Data disclosed by the Metropolitan Police in August 2017 found that people of African descent and those belonging to ethnic minority groups, in particular young African and Caribbean men were twice as likely to die after the use of force by police officers and the subsequent lack or insufficiency of access to appropriate healthcare.
According to the experts, these deaths occurred in many circumstances, following the use of force involving firearms, tear gas agents, long handed batons, electroshock weapons; physical restraint resulting in the inhibition of the respiratory system and asphyxia; restraint equipment; and denial of appropriate healthcare.
‘”Failure to properly investigate and prosecute such deaths results in a lack of accountability for those individuals and state agencies responsible, as well as in the denial of adequate remedies and reparation for the families of the victims,” they said.
The government said it had commissioned the Ministerial Council on Deaths in Custody to implement the recommendations set out in the Report of the Independent Review of Deaths and Serious Incidents in Police Custody, the experts said.
The UN experts include E. Tendayi Achiume, Special Rapporteur on racism, who will visit the UK from April 30 to May 11 at the invitation of the government; Michal Balcerzak, Chairperson of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent; and Fernand de Varennes, Special Rapporteur on minority issues.
UN rights experts voice concerns about ‘structural racism’ in UK
Chinese Embassy, KP football teams match on April 28
ABBOTTABAD, April 27(APP)::Chinese Embassy and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa sports boards’ friendly football match
would be played at Army Burn Hall College football ground Abbottabad on April 28.
Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani, Deputy Chairman Saleem
Mandwiwala and Chinese Ambassador would be the guest of honour on the occasion.
Earlier the match was scheduled at Kung Football stadium
Abbottabad city but owing to security reasons the match was shifted to Army
Burn Hall College ground.
On April 20 Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan and their
public security team had visited and reviewed the security measures before the
football match between Chinese embassy and KPK teams of the Kung Football while
DPO Abbottabad Syed Ishfaq Haider briefed the Ambassador.
Mirza terms budget balanced, people friendly
ISLAMABAD, Apr 27 (APP):Economic Analyst Mirza Ikhtiar Baig Friday termed the fiscal budget 2018-19 balanced and people friendly as the government provided relief to the masses especially in agriculture sector.
Subsidy had given to the farmers on fertilizers and seeds while agricultural growth had increased
in this season, he said talking to a private news channel.
He said the government allocated two percent sales tax on fertilizers and also earmarked Rs 800 billion to provide loans to the farmers.
Ikhtiar Baig hailed the economic policies of the government as it had allocated hefty amount in all sectors including agriculture, education, health, energy and other public and private sectors.
Economist Dr Shakeel Ahmed Rai lauded the efforts of the present government in decreasing taxes on salaries and cooperate sector.
He said due to hectic efforts of the government, number of people had included in tax net.
BISP funds rise to almost 125 bln for fiscal year 2018-19
ISLAMABAD, Apr 27 (APP):The allocation for Benazir Income Support Progamme (BISP) has raised to Rs. 124.7 billion for the
fiscal year 2018-19.
Presenting the Budget speech on Friday, Federal Minister for Finance Miftah Ismial said, the incumbent government has increased beneficiaries of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), from 3.73 million in 2012-13 to 5.6 million as on 31st December 2017.
He stated that stipend under the program in 2013 was a mere Rs. 3,000 per quarter for each beneficiary which had raised to Rs 4834 per quarter till the current fiscal year, adding that facilitating masses at grass root level is the key objective of the government.
Govt. promoting electrically-charged vehicles in country: Miftah
ISLAMABAD, April 27 (APP):Minister for Finance Dr Miftah Ismail Friday proposed to withdraw 16 percent customs duty on charging stations for electric vehicles aimed at promoting usage of electric vehicles, which are environment friendly.
Presenting Federal Budget 2018-19 in the National Assembly, he said the government was committed to introducing alternative energy in all walks of life with a view to reduce dependence on consumption of fossil fuel.
In line with the strategy, the minister said, the government had also proposed to reduce custom duty on import of electric cars from 50% t0 25% in addition to exemption from regulatory duty of 15%.
While, the minister said 10% duty had been proposed on import of ’CKD kits’ for assembly of domestically produced electric cars.
He said light-emitting diode (LED) was an efficient alternative to save energy. It has been proposed to withdraw 5 % customs duty on specified LED parts and components to further incentivize domestic manufacturing in Pakistan, he added.
Govt to set up desalination plant to resolve water issue in Karachi: Minister
ISLAMABAD, Apr 27 (APP):Federal Minister for Finance Mufta Ismail Friday said the Federal government would execute a new scheme of sea water desalination plant for the citizens of Karachi.
Giving budget speech in National Assembly, the minister stated that this plant would be built by the private sector and produce 50 million gallons of water per day.
He said “Karachi is suffering from a severe water crisis. To solve this long-standing problem, In-Sha-Allah it will be my honour to play a vital role in solving the water problem for my city. For this purpose, the Federal government will bridge the viability gap in partnership with private sector.”
PML-N govt increased investments in road infrastructure to Rs 320 bn: Miftah Ismail
ISLAMABAD, Apr 27 (APP):The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government has increased investments for highways and motorways from around Rs 50 billion in 2012-13 to Rs 320 billion in 2017-18.
This was stated by Minister of Finance,Revenue and Economic Affairs Miftah Ismail here on Friday delivering budget speech.
He said that an amount of Rs 842 billion were allocated through the PSDP during past five years while off-budget financing of Rs 500 billion was also arranged by employing innovative public-private-partnership modes.
He said that through this investment 3,655 km new roads had been added while 1000 new road were added by the predecessor government in five years at the cost of Rs 123 billion.
He said that travelling experience between Peshawar and Lahore had been revolutionized by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif during 1990s.
During his current tenure he has ensured that the same experience is available throughout Pakistan.
Miftah said that Nawaz Sharif’s dream of a trans-Pakistan motorway was near fulfillment and by the close of the fiscal year the length of motorways would be around 2500 kilometres.
Some of the key motorway projects completed included 58 km Faisalabd-Gojra Motorway,56 km Khanewal-Multan Motorway and 136 km Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway,he added.
He said that this year, the government plans to complete Khuzdar-Shahdadkot Motorway,230 km Lahore-Multan Motorway,62 km Gojra-Shorkot and 64 km Shorkot-Khanewal Motorway,91 km Sialkot-Lahore Motorway and 57 km Hazara Motorway.
Mifah Ismail said that north-south connection on the western side was improved by constructing high class motorways and highways from Burhan near Islamabad,Peshawar Motorway to DG Khan and thereon Quetta via Zhob.
This link, he said would be completed by 2020.
He said that Gwadar-Quetta link had already been inaugurated that had reduced the travel time between Gwadar and Quetta from more than 24 hours to eight hours and the for the first time,made the Gwadar port viable for Afghanistan and Central Asian States.
In budget 2018-19, an allocation of Rs 310 billion was proposed,the minister said.
Govt proposes Rs 44.7 billion for AJK, GB
ISLAMABAD, Apr 27 (APP):Federal Minister for Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs Miftah Ismail on Friday said an amount of Rs 44.7 billion has been proposed for Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan.
In the Federal Budget speech 2018-19 in the National Assembly, for the people of AJK we announce a special project of Lipa Tunnel construction which will facilitate the local population.
“For Fata Rs 24.5 billion have been proposed. To bring Fata in the mainstream, a ten-year Fata development plan with total outlay of Rs 100 billion has been approved,” he said and added during 2018-19 Rs 10 billion are proposed to be provided.
Politicians, traders term federal budget balanced, people friendly
HYDERABAD, Apr 27 (APP):The citizens from different segments of life here on Friday termed the Budget 2018-19 as balanced budget and appreciated the government for considering the grievances of common masses.
Talking to APP, President PML-N Sindh Syed Shah Muhammad Shah said the PML- N government had once again won the hearts of people by presenting a balanced budget.
He said the PML-N Government has presented the ever best budget in the prevailing situation of the country and hoped that the budget would provide relief to people belonging to all walks of life.
He said the PML-N government had announced the people’s friendly budget despite number of domestic and international challenges on different fronts.
Syed Shah Muhammad Shah said the government had been successful to steer the country out of economic crisis.
President PML-N Hyderabad District Muhammad Haneef Siddiqui said the main challenge confronted to business and agriculture sectors was energy shortfall and adding that the federal government deserved full credit and appreciation for allocating a huge amount for energy sector uplift in the country.
He said the proper utilization of the allocated amount will surely help in improving the socio-economic condition of the masses.
Haneef Siddiqui also hailed the economic policies announced by the government in the annual budget and said incentives in industrial and agriculture sector as well as curtailment of taxes would help the government to boost economy of the country.
Pakistan Muslim League Central Committee Member Jamal Arif Suharwardi said the PML-N government had presented the ever best budget in the prevailing situation of the country and hoped that the budget will provide relief to people belonging to all walks of life.
Jamal Arif Suharwardi said that the government had resolved many economic crisis being faced by the country for last many years and now it was able to meet any future challenge.
Terming federal budget 2018-19 as pro-people and progressive, he said the budget would check inflation and ensure sustainable growth besides helping farmers, students, salaried class and poor segment of society.
Former President Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HCCI) Syed Shakir Jaffari also appreciated the government efforts of overcoming the water and power shortages and said the announcement of effective implementation of early incentives provision would help in bringing boost to agriculture sector.
Minority leader and Chairman District Hindu Panchayat (DHP) Hyderabad Advocate M. Parkash also appreciated the budget.
Miftah announces to increase minimum pension to Rs 10,000
ISLAMABAD, Apr 27 (APP):Considering the difficulties being faced by low-paid pensioners, Federal Minister for Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs Miftah Ismail on Friday announced to increase minimum pension to Rs 10,000 from the present Rs 6,000.
“Family pensioners would also get increased from Rs 4,500 to 7,500,” he said in his budget speech at the National Assembly.
He said minimum pension of pensioners above the age of 75 would be Rs 15,000.