ISLAMABAD, Mar 28 (APP):Minister of State for Finance, Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan Wednesday lauded the services of business community for the development of the country.
Talking to a delegation of Jhelum Chamber of Commerce and Industries led by Farhan Razzaq Dar that called on the him here, the minister said the government would always accord due consideration to the genuine needs and demands of traders and exporters.
The Minister said that the government of Pakistan Muslim League (N) had always supported the development of small and medium enterprises in the country and was fully cognizant of the role small industries had been playing in the provision of employment and development of the local communities.
He assured the delegation of his full support and immediate action in the matter regarding supply of gas.
On the occasion, the delegation thanked the Minister for the meeting and said the business community would keep playing its role in supplementing government’s efforts for strengthening of country’s economy.
Rana Afzal lauds services of business community
Pakistan Investment Forum successfully concluded in Paris
ISLAMABAD, Mar 28 (APP):Pakistan Investment Forum jointly organized by Pakistan Board of Investment, Embassy of Pakistan to France and Mouvement des Entreprises de France (MEDEF), successfully concluded in Paris, a statement of the Pakistan embassy said here Wednesday.
Minister of State and Chairman Board of Investment Pakistan, Naeem Y. Zamindar and President Pakistan-France Business Council, Thierry Pflimlin co-chaired the Forum. Naeem Y. Zamindar led a 17-member Pakistani business delegation to the Pakistan Investment Forum.
The representatives of Punjab & KP Investment Boards made presentations about business and investment opportunities in their provinces. A large number of major French companies including Renault, Total, Suez, GE, Gemalto, Vinci, Credit Agricole, Surys and Engie attended the event.
Addressing the opening session of the Forum, Chairman BoI, Naeem Zamindar said,” Pakistan with its 207 million strong consumer base, growing economy and skilled workforce offers an excellent opportunity to the French companies for investment. He invited them to benefit from Pakistan’s lucrative and liberal investment policies. He assured them government’s full support and facilitation for their investments in Pakistan.
The Ambassador of Pakistan to France, Moin ul Haque said that Pakistan’s economy was going through a transformation with large scale infrastructure development and connectivity projects being undertaken under CPEC. He said it is high time for French companies to explore Pakistan, which is fast becoming a regional hub for trade and business.
Thierry Pflimlin, President France-Pakistan Business Council appreciated Government of Pakistan’s initiative to hold the Investment Forum in Paris. He recalled the visit of the French business delegation to Pakistan last year and noted that such interactions would strengthen the trade and investment relations between the two countries. Noting Pakistan’s impressive economic performance, he also urged France companies to invest in Pakistan.
Later, the representatives of the Pakistan business delegation held B2B meetings with their French counterparts in diverse fields such as infrastructure development, agri-products, energy, IT, pharmaceuticals, security equipment and water management.
Naeem Y. Zamindar Minister of State and Chairman Board of Investment Pakistan also held separate meetings with Thierry Pflimlin, President France-Pakistan Business Council of MEDEF International, who is also the President of TOTAL, Global Services, and representatives of Renault, French Development Agency and Credit Agricole. He also gave interview to French newspapers Le Figaro and Liberation.
Traders asked to offer discounted sale during Islamabad Spring Festival
ISLAMABAD, Mar 28 (APP):Deputy Commissioner, Islamabad Capital Territory Capt. (Retd) Mushtaq Ahmed visited Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) and briefed the business community about the details of organizing a 3-days Islamabad Spring Festival 2018 (ISF) that would commence from April 6.
The representatives of local markets were also present on the occasion.
The Deputy Commissioner ICT said that business community should decorate markets to give them a festive look during the ISF.
He said traders could also organize sales events during the festival. He said that various festivities were held throughout the world to welcome the spring season, but due to terrorism in Pakistan, no such festivity was held in Islamabad since long. However, he said now the things were much improved and under the guidance of Ministry of Interior, ICT Administration has decided to organize an international level 3-days Islamabad Spring Festival. He said the event would promote a soft image of Pakistan.
Mushtaq said the inaugural ceremony of ISF would be held at Fatima Jinnah Park on April 6. He said the festival would feature various events during three days including family gala, food festival, kids’ arena, water sports competition, cycling competition, flowers exhibition, art and craft gallery etc.
He said a cricket match of special persons in collaboration with ICCI would also be held on April 8 at Shalimar Ground.
He said a musical concert would be held at Jinnah Convention Center and said that ICCI should sponsor that event. He hoped that the ISF would also help in better promotion of business activities. He said efforts would be made to organize ISF every year on regular basis and its during could be enhanced from one to two weeks or more.
Speaking on the occasion, President, ICCI Sheikh Amir Waheed lauded the initiative of ICT Administration for organizing Islamabad Spring Festival as it would send a positive message to the outside world and encourage new investment in the country as well. He assured that business community would fully cooperate in making ISF successful. He stressed upon the traders to offer discounted sale during the festival to give additional benefits to the consumers.
PMLN to win next elections owing to record accomplishments: Muqam
PESHAWAR, Mar 28 (APP):Adviser to Prime Minister and
Provincial President PMLN, Engr. Ameer Muqam Wednesday said that PMLN would emerge victorious in next election owing to its performance and record development work.
Addressing public gatherings at Swat, he said that
accomplishments, development and steps taken by PMLN to strengthen country’s economy would pave the way for its success in elections 2018.
He said that despite being out of power in Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa, PMLN has addressed the concerns and issues confronted by people living in KP.
He vowed to continue struggle keeping in view the wishes and aspirations of people who were being left unattended by PTI in the province.
He said that leadership of PTI is in disarray due to ascending popularity of PMLN adding it also reflects the confidence of public on the leadership of PMLN. He said that PTI has delivered nothing tangible but deceived people by misleading slogans.
Muqam said true face of PTI has been exposed before public
who would reject it in next coming elections.
Wajid Zia’s statements washed away all allegations: Nawaz
ISLAMABAD, March 28 (APP):Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif Wednesday said the case was heading towards its logical conclusion and expressed the confidence that he would be cleared of all allegations.
Talking to media after appearing before the Accountability Court, he said reality from Wajid Zia testimonies had been witnessed by all including media as his (Zia) statements before the court had washed away all the allegations leveled against him.
“Prosecution’s star witness Wajid Zia’s testimony has washed away all the allegations against us,” he said.
Nawaz Sharif said all statements of the witness were going in his favour and nothing could be found against him.
Zia, the former director of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) was being cross examined by Sharif’s counsel Khwaja Harris in the court of accountability judge Muhammed Bashir who resumed hearing the Avenfield reference against Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar.
”Those who have filed the case against us should feel ashamed,” Nawaz said.
Nawaz Sharif said cases against him were neither for corruption nor politically motivated, but these were just a fraud.
He said it was unfortunate that he was not allowed to go to see his ailing wife, adding “We are not here to run away.”
Quaid of Pakistan Muslim League said he had always taken action against those elements, who were involved in loot and plunder.
Good governance, inevitable to tackle security challenges : Nasser Janjua
ISLAMABAD, Mar 28 (APP):National Security Adviser Lt General (retd) Nasser Khan Janjua on Wednesday said good
governance was inevitable for tackling non-traditional challenges to the national security.
He was addressing inaugural session of a seminar titled ‘Non-Traditional Security Challenges
to Pakistan’ organized here by Institute of Strategic Studies.
Nasser Janjua stressed the need for devising a comprehensive strategy to address the
challenges posed by non-traditional security threats.
He said negative elements are a potential threat to national integrity and security and
urged the need to bring them in the national mainstream.
He said provision of basic facilities including food, health, education, employment and
justice, plays an important part in country’s security.
He said peace has been restored in the country due to government efforts during the
past four and a half years.
China terms Tashkent conference on peace, reconciliation in Afghanistan very successful
BEIJING, March 28 (APP):Terming the international conference on peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan a very successful, Chinese foreign ministry’s spokesperson Wednesday said the international community should do more to help Afghanistan achieve national reconciliation, cope with terrorism and drug smuggling.
“This Tashkent high level meeting was held very successfully,” Lu Kang said during his regular press briefing here.
He informed that Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong who led a delegation to this meeting expounded on China’s policy on Afghan issue and talked about China’s efforts in supporting the peaceful reconstruction and reconciliation in Afghanistan.
The spokesperson said the Chinese vice foreign minister expressed the hope that international community should do more to help Afghanistan achieve national reconciliation, cope with terrorism and drug smuggling and support Afghanistan participating regional cooperation so as to work for long lasting peace in Afghanistan and the whole region.
Foreign Minister, Khawaja Asif also addressed the conference and emphasized the need of a regional approach for lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan, and the region.
The two-day conference involving the regional powers and other important countries held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on March 26 and 27.
The event was aimed at exploring ways of bringing Afghan government, Taliban and other warring parties into direct peace talks.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani co-chaired the conference which was attended by foreign ministers from about 20 countries.
Seafood exports reach $ 264.18 mln in eight months
ISLAMABAD, Mar 28 (APP):The exports of fish and fish preparations from the country have witnessed
10.18 per cent increase during first eight months of 2017-18, fetching
US $ 264.18 million precious foreign exchange during the period.
During the period July-February 2017-18, the country exported about
108,262 metric tons of fish and fish preparations as compared to exports
of 89,032 metric tons, valuing of US$ 239 million during same period last
year, a data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics showed.
Overall food group exports from the country during the period under
review witnessed growth of 21 per cent as food commodities worth
US$2.842 billion were exported during July-February (2017-18) against
exports of US$2.334 billion during July-February (2016-17).
Meanwhile, when contacted, official sources at Commerce Division
on Wednesday said at present, seafood is being exported to European
Union member states while now it is gaining popularity in China, not only
because of its low prices but also because of support from government
policies.
Earlier, EU had de-listed all the companies exporting fish from
Pakistan in 2007. It was primarily done on account of failure to
meet EU’s Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures.
As a result of the efforts of the present government i.e,
Ministry of Commerce and Marine Fisheries Department (MFD), EU
lifted ban in June 2013. Two exporting establishments are now
being allowed to export to EU member states.
The matter was taken up by Pakistani side during the 8th
Session of Pakistan-EU Sub-Group on Trade meeting held on
October 9, 2017 in Brussels.
The EU side has temporarily allowed two fisheries establishments
to start exporting to EU after assurances given by Ministry of National
Food Security & Research to European Commission to comply with
EU’s SPS measures.
However, the EU side has linked possibility of re-listing the
remaining establishments for exports to EU with the on-ground
visit and authentication of its SPS inspectors.
Pakistani seafood is also gaining popularity in Chinese market
as several seafood distributors said that Pakistani seafood, compared
with seafood imported from other sources, is more cost-effective.
In recent years, the Chinese government has rolled out measures
that have encouraged and facilitated imports of seafood from
Pakistan.
One example is establishment of China-Pakistan Economic
Corridor, a flagship project of one Belt and one Road initiative,
which has enriched the transportation channels for Pakistani
seafood to enter China.
Rs 24,489.515 mln released for various water, power projects so far
ISLAMABAD, Mar 28 (APP):The Planning Commission has released a total of Rs 24,489.515 million against total allocation of
Rs 102,304.807 million in annual Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2017-18
for various water and power projects so far.
According to the data of Planning Commission, a sum of Rs 23,008.461 million was released
for water sector against total allocation of Rs. 36,750 million while Rs 1461.054 million was
released against total 65554.807 million for power projects.
An amount of Rs.10,000 million was released for Kachhi Canal Project, Rs.4225 million for
Extension of Right Bank Outfall Drain from Sehwan to Sea, Rs 2,200 million for Remedial Measures
to Control water logging (Muzaffargarh) and Rs.280 million for rehabilitation of Irrigation System in
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
A sum of Rs 520 million was released for construction of small dams, delay actions dams
(Sindh), Rs 630 million for Lower Indus Right Bank Irrigation and Drainage Project (RBOD-I),
Rs.280 million for Basool dam (Gawadar), Rs 540 million for Channelization of Deg Nullah Punjab,
Rs.840 million for Balochistan Effluent Disposal into RBOD-I (Jaffarabad), Rs.160 million each for
construction of 20 small dams in KPK, Rs 160 million for Darwat Dam, Rs.260 million for Lining of
Distributaries and Minor in Sindh, Rs 170.625 million for Makhi Farash Link Canal Project, Rs 260
million for Revamping of irrigation and drainage system of Sindh.
Similarly, an amount of Rs397.232 million was released for electrification of union council in
NA-50, Rs.229.101 million for electrcity schemes in district Mansehra and Abbottabad, Rs.500 million
for electrification of various localities of Northern Lahore, Rsa Rs.137.237 million for Installation of 50
solar tube wells in Balochistan and Rs100 million for supply of electricity to different location of NA-109
(Mandi Bahuddin).
South Asia to become global leader in agricultural trade: SCCI
ISLAMABAD, Mar 28 (APP):SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Vice President Iftikhar Ali Malik Wednesday
said that adopting a unanimous market-oriented agricultural policy could make South Asian region
a world leader in agricultural trade in the decade to come.
The agricultural trade within the region would also play an instrumental role in poverty
alleviation, he said while representing Pakistan at the concluding session of 74TH General
Assembly and 23rd Executive Committee of SAARC chamber held at Colombo, according
to a message received here Wednesday.
He said that priority should be given on identifying High-Value Crops (HVC) of various
countries of the region.
He said SAARC’s roots lay in Integrated Program of Action (IPA) Declaration adopted by
the foreign ministers of South Asia in 1983, calling for regional cooperation in the areas of
agriculture, health, rural development and population.
According to the message, the newly elected SAARC Chamber President from Sri Lanka
Ruwan Edirisinghe chaired the session, which among others was attended by all VPs and
member of executive committee and general assembly.
Elucidating his vision on agricultural trade in the region, Iftikhar Malik said that agricultural
sector was crucial in taking forward the region in the path of prosperity and in this regard
South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) had very good provisions.
“We need to implement these provisions for the benefit of people of this region,” he
added.
He said that there was a dire need of setting up ultra-modern agriculture research centers
across the region for the study and research on various crops for better yield.
He also underlined the need for educating farmers, saying that it was high time that farmers
are trained on modern lines to boost productivity as cultivable land was shrinking with every
passing year.
“The SAARC nations, at this stage, must not lose their focus on this front because they
have the core competence in the sector and their economies are dominated by it.”
Malik said that one-fifth of the South Asian population was younger than 24 years,
therefore, the countries as well as SAARC should step up efforts to create adequate
and suitable employment opportunities for this age group.
He underlined the need for materializing the dream of making South Asia a world trade
leader, however deplored that poor connectivity was a major drawback for expansion of
agriculture business in the South Asian region while tariff and non-tariff barriers were also
other obstacles in trade promotion.
He said there is also a need of creating a mechanism for technology transfer within
South Asia.