ISLAMABAD, Apr 16 (APP):President Mamnoon Hussain on Monday said the recent tax Amnesty Scheme would help prevent money laundering and
would also bring back foreign assets in the best interest of the country.
Talking to media persons here during his visit to Directorate General of Immigration and Passports (DGIP), the President
said similar amnesty schemes had been successful in Malaysia and Indonesia.
President Mamnoon rejected the impression that all the money stashed by Pakistani nationals in foreign countries was
achieved through ill-gotten means. Instead, he said, most of the assets were the result of hard-earned money of Pakistanis and it
was not correct to target them across-the-board.
President Mamnoon Hussain this month had given assent to the tax reforms package for undeclared foreign and domestic
assets and reduction in income tax rates.
To a question on friction among state institutions, the President said each should work in its own ambit to avoid such situation, which could be detrimental for the country.
When asked if he would like to play a role in minimizing this strife, the President said he believed that all were mature enough
to sort things out at their own in national interest.
He mentioned that the country was rightly heading towards prosperity in shape of implementation of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and said it required a joint effort by all for a smooth journey.
On next general election, the President said he was confident that the polls would be held on time.
Earlier, the President visited the token counter for renewal of his passport and passed through all procedural formalities. He expressed satisfaction over the arrangements of passport issuance and renewal.

ISLAMABAD, April 16 (APP):Adviser to the Prime Minister on Aviation, Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan said on Monday that
no decision would be made regarding the privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) without the consent and will of the employees of the national carrier.
Talking to PIA Air League delegation here, he said that the employees of the national airline were its real custodians and any decision would be made with the consent of all the stakeholders.
The PIA Air League delegation was led by Central President, Shamim Akmal. President Islamabad PIA Air League Usman Khan was also present on the occasion.
The members of delegation apprised the adviser about the problems and difficulties, which the employees of the PIA had been facing and put forward their suggestions.
The adviser assured them to take all necessary actions to resolve their grievances on priority and said that all-out efforts were being made to uplift standard of the national carrier. He also assured the delegation that 10 per cent incremental allowances would be given to the employees of the Engineering Department of PIA.
Sardar Mahtab directed the officials concerned to implement the decision without delay. Approval of the provision of the incremental allowance will be given in the next meeting of the Board of Directors of PIA.
He said that the incumbent government was well aware of the difficulties and issues, being faced by the employees adding that steps were being taken to resolve their problems. He said immediate steps would further be taken for the redressal of the problems of the employees.

ISLAMABAD, Apr 16 (APP):The social protection model presently being implemented through Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) across the country was meant to effectively support and empower women, children and poorest segments of the society, Ms Marvi Memon, Chairperson BISP stated while welcoming the
foreign study tour participants from Senegal.
A Senegalese delegation on the invitation of BISP, on behalf of Government of Pakistan,
called on Chairperson Ms Marvi Memon, on the opening day of their study visit (April 16-17) here
on Monday, said a press release.
The 14-member Senegalese delegation was led by Gningue Pape Malick Director of the
National Cash Transfer Program Senegal, accompanied by Special Advisor to Prime Minister
Ms. Ndiaye Adjaratou Diakhou, Advisor to Secretary Diallo Abdoulaye Djibril and other Social
protection specialist from World Bank, based in Senegal.
The opening session was attended by the Secretary BISP Omar Hamid Khan, along with
Director Generals from other sections.
Ms Memon shed light on the specific programs including National Socio Economic Registry (NSER), recently introduced Graduation Model and other modes of Conditional/Unconditional Cash transfer (CCT/UCT). “I’m confident that the visit of senior social protection experts from Senegal government will prove beneficial for both countries. This visit will definitely result into joint-learning process, which would be beneficial for either side”, she added.
Secretary BISP Omar Hamid Khan, apprised the delegation that the programme was the first
ever comprehensive and transparent social safety net programme initiated by the Government of Pakistan. “We at BISP, were partnering with the leading global academic institutions including MIT, Harvard & LSE to tailor social research models, in-lined with latest sociological research methods”,
the secretary added.
He said that to make transactions more transparent, ensure timely delivery and efficiency
BISP had launched Biometric Verification System (BVS).
He further highlighted BISP latest initiatives regarding a new programme on nutrition
Conditional Cash Transfer to prevent the malnutrition amongst children of BISP beneficiary
households.
Moreover, a programme was also being designed on immunization Conditional Cash Transfer
(CCT), keeping in view the low awareness on immunization by the beneficiary households.
Expressing felicitation, Gningue Pape Malick Director of the National Cash Transfer thanked
the Secretary BISP for such a warm hospitality and extending the invitation for such a worth-learning study tour.
He broadly presented the Senegalese Model of Social Protection in coordination with other experts from Senegal and hoped to learn from the BISP management, and expressed desire to
share their practical working model.

LAHORE, Apr 16 (APP):Federal Minister for Defence Production
Rana Tanvir Hussain called on Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, here Monday.
Different matters of mutual interest including political issues
and public welfare projects came under discussion during the meeting.
Shehbaz Sharif, who was also the President Pakistan Muslim League-N, said the government had given priority to welfare of public while political opponents wasted their time in the political name-calling.
“The number of development projects completed during present tenure
of PML-N is a new record,” he said.
He said, that opponents had set records of speaking lies while
they had made new records of development projects. “Our development
schemes are a conspicuous example of transparency, standard and speed
and the people will always remember the politics of public service
rendered by the PML-N government,” Shehbaz said.
The chief minister said the PML-N was the most popular and
largest political party today due to its public service and the
opponents had also realized that they had wasted time of the people
in their respective provinces. “Now these elements will face the
people with what face,” he said.
He said, “Our government has always succeeded before the people and we shall go to them with
our heads high during the next general elections.” He said people
would hold accountability of those who had looted the national
resources and impeded the journey of development. Those who ignored
the people in their provinces would be hiding their faces in the
general elections.
“One political party has ruined the KPK while
the other has wreck havocked the province of Sindh.” He said people
had given them a mandate to serve them but they ignored it and
added that opposition of development schemes was, in fact, tantamount
to enmity with the masses. “Those who were responsible for delay in development schemes due to sit-ins have no concern with the future of the people,” he added.
Shehbaz said, due to merciless plunder of national resources
by corrupt rulers of the past, the country had plunged to the abyss
of poverty, unemployment and ignorance. “The PML-N has promoted
the culture of transparency, quality and merit,” he maintained.
He said, “We believe that merit is the only ladder of development
and success and government has taken practical steps for collective well-being and prosperity of the people. The sincere efforts made by the government are bearing fruit. If an opportunity is given
again in the next general election, the chief minister said, the
journey of development would be extended to across the country
and midnight oil would be burnt to make Pakistan a realm of
Quaid and Iqbal’s vision.

LAHORE, Apr 16 (APP):Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif presided over a meeting here on Monday to review overall
situation of security in the province.
The meeting was given briefing about the security related-arrangements. The CM issued necessary instructions to the officials concerned in this regard and said that security arrangements should be further improved. Senior officials should personally monitor the security arrangements regularly, he added.
He made it clear that no leniency of any kind would be tolerated with regard to security arrangements, adding that the agencies concerned should perform their duties diligently.
Advisor Rana Maqbool Ahmad, Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary , IG Police and officials concerned attended the meeting.

ISLAMABAD, Apr 16 (APP):The Ambassador of Denmark to Pakistan, Rolf Michael Hay Pereira Holmboe here on Monday said the people of Pakistan are taking keen interest in the promotion of education.
Speaking at the Annual Function and Prize Distribution Ceremony of OSC School organized here at Fatima Jinnah Park, the Ambassador lauded the role of Pakistanis living in Denmark for their support to promote education among poor segments of the Pakistan’s society.

The event was organized by the International Foundation for Education, Empowerment and Learning (iFeel) in collaboration with Helping Humanity, an NGO based on Pakistani community in Denmark working for the development of education in Pakistan.

The Ambassador further appreciated the efforts of OSC School for their untiring efforts to educate the people especially the old age across the country through their 13 branches.

He assured for his full support to the institutions working in Pakistan by providing free education among the needy people of the country.

He also distributed the prizes among 17 best students who took highest marks in 5th class exams held under Federal Directorate of Education (FDE).

Earlier, Head of the iFeel in Pakistan, Saqib Naseem briefed about the role of organization in education sector across the country.
Chairperson OSC School, Dr Tayyba Siddiqui thanked the chief guest,parents, students and participants for attending the event.