ISLAMABAD, April 26 (APP):Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance Dr Miftah Ismail Thursday said gas consumption in the country witnessed 19.7 percent increase during eight months of the current fiscal year (Jul-Feb)as compared to last fiscal year.
“During July-Feb, average natural gas consumption was about 3,837 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) including 632 MMCFD volume of Regassified Liquefied Natural Gas, compared to 3,205 MMCFD gas last year,” he said while unveiling the economic survey for the year 2017-18 here.
He said Pakistan had an extensive gas network of over 12,829 km transmission, 132,065 km distribution and 34,631 services gas pipelines to cater the requirement of more than 8.9 million consumers across the country.
The government is pursuing its policies for enhancing indigenous gas production as well as importing gas to meet the increasing demand of energy in the country, he added.
During the period, the adviser said, the two gas utility companies (SNGPL & SSGCL) had laid
328 km gas transmission network, 8,861 km distribution and 1,216 km services lines and connected
231 villages/towns to the gas network.
During the period under discussion, he said, the gas utility companies had invested
Rs 1,351 million on transmission projects, Rs 10,202 million on distribution projects and Rs 11,198 million on other projects bringing total investment to about Rs 22,751 million.
Additional gas connections of 428,282 were provided across the country including 426,721 domestic, 1,519 commercial and 42 Industrial.

ISLAMABAD, Apr 26 (APP):Broadband subscribers base in the country have showed growth during first six months of the current year, crossing 50.51 million mark as compared to 44.59 million at the end of the last fiscal year.
According to the Economic Survey of Pakistan 2017-18, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Investment, Miftah Ismail in a press conference here Thursday said that the number of net subscriber additions in the period stood at 6 million while by the end of February 2018, the total mobile broadband subscribers were 53.5 million.
He said the next generation mobile services were introduced in 2014 through spectrum auction for provision of 3G and 4G mobile services in the country.
The transparent spectrum auction generated US$ 1.2 billion for the national exchequer and opened new horizons of ICT development in the country, he added.
He further said the Auction received international acclaim and the Government of Pakistan (Ministry of IT & Telecom) won the “Spectrum for Mobile Broadband Award 2015” at GSMA’s Mobile World Congress Event held in Barcelona, Spain in March 2015.
Miftah said that 3G and 4G LTE subscribers had reached at 48.19 million at the end of December, 2017 as compared to 42 million as of June 2017 which shows that on average, there have been more subscriptions to 3G&4G LTE networks per month.
He informed that more coverage and reduced tariffs have further increased the pace of 3G and 4G LTE subscriptions which stood at 51.2 million by the end of February 2018.

ISLAMABAD, Apr 26 (APP):The federal government has proposed a number of projects to reduce the disastrous effects of climate change through developing policies and procedures during the next fiscal year 2018-19.
According to the plan shared by Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance Miftah Ismial while releasing Economic Survey of Pakistan here Thursday, it would focus on transformation of existing environmental policies into practice by implementing a programme-based approach and to identify gaps and issues.
A realistic approach in the management of ecosystem would be carried out with the special emphasis on imperative ecosystem segments such as protection of biodiversity, water conservation and soil erosion protection, carbon sequestration and biodiversity protection, etc.
A strategy to improve sanitation of safe drinking water and to expand access particularly, in rural areas would be implemented with the help of provincial governments during the next economic year.
To treat and recycle industrial effluents, a Waste-water Treatment Programme would be initiated in the country in collaboration with the provincial governments.
For increased forestry cover and enhancement of natural resources, a strategy to develop forest cover along with conservation and restoration of the natural resources of the country would be implemented through applied approach of ownership.
A strategy would also be designed to prepare locals to manage forest areas and wild lands around their residences. This would also include provision of alternate energy resources to the residents of forest cover areas such as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) at affordable price.
The new auto policy would enable the government to keep a vigilant eye on the producers, while, a vehicle certification policy was also under consideration, which would not allow polluting vehicles on the road.

ISLAMABAD, Apr 26 (APP):Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has disbursed the collected Zakat fund of Rs 8009.77 million among provinces , federal areas during the financial year of 2017-18 as per the approved formula of Council of Common Interests (CCI).
Prime Minister Advisor to Finance Miftah Ismael while announcing Economic Survey 2017-18, said the total Zakat fund disbursed at various areas including Rs 197.024 million in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), Rs 104.119 million has been disbursed in Gilgit Baltistan; Rs 259.541 million in FATA.
In Punjab Rs 4,272.796 million in Punjab; Rs 1,766.178 million in Sindh; Rs 1029.464 million in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Rs 380.648 million has been disbursed in Balochistan.

ISLAMABAD, Apr 26 (APP):Agriculture sector recorded a remarkable growth during the financial year 20117-18 and grew by 3.81 percent and surpassed its targeted growth of 3.5 percent.
Agriculture sector had witnessed 2.07 percent growth during last year’ according to the Economic Survey of Pakistan 2017-18 launched here on Thursday.
This stemmed from higher yields, attractive output prices and supportive government policies,
better availability of certified seeds, pesticides, agriculture credit and intensive fertilizers off-take.
The crops sector performed well and witnessed a growth rate of 3.83 percent against
the last year’s growth of 0.91 percent.
The growth in sub sectors, important crops, other crops and cotton ginning registered a significant growth of 3.57 percent, 3.33 percent and 8.72 percent, respectively.
All major crops including cotton production recorded 11.8 percent growth and it was recorded at 11.396 million bales against the production of 10.671 million bales.
Sugarcane production grew by 7.4 percent and 81.102 million tons of record production were achieved during the season, which was stood at 75.84 million tons in same period last year.
Rice production grew by 8.7 percent and it was recorded at 7.44 million tons as compared to the production of 6.9 million tons of last year, where as areas under crop grew by 6.4 percent.
During 2017-18, wheat crop out put decreased by 4.4 percent and it was recorded at 26.492
million tons as against the last year’s production of 26.6 million tons.

KARACHI, Apr 26 (APP):Many Russian companies are interested
in joint ventures with Pakistani private sector in potential economic
sectors like textile, agriculture, power, oil, gas, light engineering,
aviation, pharmaceutical and chemical besides increasing collaboration between academia of the two countries.
Russians wanted to come in, with modern technologies and
expertise. Pakistan and Russia have a long history of cooperation in
economic and social sectors. The dynamics of the world are changing.
Russia and China have emerged as strong strategic partners, and Pakistan has gained high importance in this scenario, said Chairperson, Sindh Board of Investment (SBI), Naheed Memon on Wednesday evening.
SBI Chairperson was talking to APP here at the conclusion of
two-day meetings with a 40-member business delegation from Russia representing different industries and academia. The SBI hosted this Sindh-Saint Petersburg Forum 2018.
On the second day, memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Pediatrics Medical University of Saint Petersburg and Dr Ziauddin Medical University in the presence of Vice Governor of Saint Petersburg , Movchan Sergei Nikolaevich and Consul General of Russia to Karachi Dr Aleksandr Khozin. Another MoU was inked by NED University and an engineering university of Saint Petersburg for exchange of information. Light Industrial Park in Saint Petersburg and Landhi Industrial Park had already singed similar agreement, she said.
Naheed Memon informed that over the two-days , the
delegates representing big Russian companies also held B2B meetings
with Pakistani counterparts to discuss in detail the modalities to
increase bilateral trade and for joint ventures.
She said in October 2017, Governments of Sindh and Saint
Petersburg had singed MoU for increasing collaboration on economic and
social fronts by declaring Sindh and Saint Petersburg as sister
provinces. The visit of Russian delegation was the follow up of that
development.
She said Saint Petersburg was the cultural capital of the
world. There was need for exchange of cultural delegations between
Pakistan and Russia especially Saint Petersburg.
She said the world was divided into regional blocks like
ASEAN and Europe, and this model of economic cooperation had proved
very successful. Pakistan was also aware of the demands of the
changing world and of its important position. Russia was a big power
and we could not neglect it, she said.
It was need of the hours to increase economic and regional
cooperation between Pakistan and Russia including boost to bilateral
trade, she asserted.
“Now, Pakistani businessmen must look outside demand for
Pakistan’s textile and agricultural produce,” she remarked.
Saint Petersburg’s Vice Governor Movchan Sergei Nikolaevich
said Russia wanted to further strengthen friendly relationship with
Pakistan. For this purpose, he added, his country was actively
pursuing for increased cooperation with Pakistan in different sectors.
He agreed that absence of banking channel between the two
countries was one of the major hurdle to increase bilateral trade.
Mocow and Islamabad should work on and solve this issue.
Aleksey Popovich, Chief Technology Officer, Hydrolex company
dealing in heating systems and heating equipment, expressed his
satisfaction that most of B2B meetings would bear fruit and would led
to partnership in different sectors in the future. Both the countries
would come more closer to each other with the passage of time.
He informed that in September this year, Oil and Gas Forum
would be held in Saint Petersburg. Pakistan had assured to
participate. There was also possibility of signing contract with his
company to supply machinery and equipment to Pakistan.
In Pakistan, there was big demand for Russian machinery.
Russia also wanted to make Pakistan as the center of its trade up to
Middle East.
He noted that Karachi was very much safe for foreigners as well.
During his two-day stay, he along with other Russian visiting friends
had visited some areas of the city and found it very peaceful and safe
place.
Recalling his recent visit to India, he remarked “I felt
unsecure there. But, here I am very comfortable.”
Prominent Pakistani businessmen were also present including Dr Mirza
Ikhtia Baig and Waseem Ahmed Vohra.
Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig said Federation of Pakistan
Chambers of Commence and Industry had planned to send its delegation
to Saint Petersburg in September or October this year.

ISLAMABAD, Apr 26 (APP):Pakistan Post has established mail links with all the countries of the world except Israel.
According to Pakistan Economic Survey, 2017-18, exchange of mail is carried out under rules
and regulations of the Universal Postal Union. Direct mail links exist with 68 countries and rest of the
mail is exchanged by utilizing the transit facilities of intermediary countries.
Pakistan post dispatches more volume of mail than it receives for delivery. Thus, it always
remains net-creditor.
Pakistan Post received an amount of Rs 14.870 million during the period from July 2017 to
January 2018 on account of terminal dues for international mail received from and dispatched to other countries.
Pakistan Post has earned Rs10.8609 million during the period from April to December 2017
through commission on disbursement/recovery of First Micro Finance Bank (FMFB) loan and
services/space provided to the FMFB operators.

ISLAMABAD, Apr 26 (APP):Per capita income of Pakistan during financial year 2017-18 increased by 0.5 percent to $1641, according to Economic Survey released by the federal government on Thursday.
As per Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, per capita income during 2017-18 is Rs 162,230 ($1641) based on provisional figures of Population Census 2017 held in March 2017 i.e 207,774,520.
The revised series of per capita income will be compiled after finalization of 6th Housing and Population Census results.
Per capita income is one of the most widely used measures of the general well being in an economy.
It is computed by dividing Gross National Income (GNI) by population while GNI is obtained by adding Net Factor Income from abroad in GDP at market price.

ISLAMABAD, Apr 26 (APP):The mining sector witnessed 6.13 percent growth rate, the highest in last 11 years, during the first eight months of the current fiscal year.
The growth was observed on the back of stellar performance of Large Scale Manufacturing (LSM) sector, according to the Economic Survey released here Thursday.
The overall manufacturing sector contributed 13.6 percent in gross domestic product (GDP). It has three sub- sectors, including Large Scale Manufacturing (LSM), Small Scale Manufacturing and Slaughtering.
The Large Scale Manufacturing (LSM) sector had 80 percent share in manufacturing and 10.8 percent share in the GDP, the Small Scale Manufacturing had 13.8 percent share in manufacturing and 1.9 percent in the GDP, and Slaughtering had 6.5 percent share in manufacturing and 0.9 percent share in the GDP.
The industrial sector maintained its upward growth trajectory at 5.8 percent which was the highest in last 10 years. Ample liquidity in the banking system, a highly investment friendly interest rate environment, low inflation, strong domestic demand for consumer durables were responsible for continued reasonable growth in the sector.