ISLAMABAD, Mar 19 (APP):Benzair Income Support Program (BISP) and National Rural Support Programme (NRSP) Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to lay out and agree on the broad framework of “Business Incubation for Self-employment” (BISE) Programme for graduation of its beneficiaries across the country.
The programme is financed by (Asian Development Bank) ADB under Social Protection Development Project, which is to be followed by signing of Service Level Agreement (SLA) for the BISE Programme, said a press release here.
The first phase of the US$35 Million BISE Programme shall be implemented over two years from April 2018 as further specified in the SLA by NRSP as implementing agency.
Chairperson BISP MNA Marvi Memon stated that the programme was envisaged in 2015 and it took three years to launch. She thanked the Secretary BISP and his team for their unequivocal efforts and further added that, “BISP must continue this programme.” 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. While opening the meeting, Secretary BISP, Omar Hamid Khan welcomed the guests and termed the partnership as “significant and momentous” for the vulnerable segments of society across the country.
He hoped that the partnership would benefit the BISP beneficiaries in unique ways in the years to come.
BISE aims at making poor people ready for taking up viable self-employment.
The program will target a total of 100,000 households in total 5 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.
Director General ADB Mr. Werner Liepach said, “We consider ourselves as partners, not donors.” He said that the partnership between BISP and ADB started with support for the Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) segment only. He added that US$400 million were initially given to BISP to increase the number of its beneficiaries.
He appreciated the efforts of BISP and said that he was happy to see that the programme was moving towards its second phase of graduating beneficiaries.
He further added that the flow of funds would not be a problem as the program progresses.
The key features of BISE programme comprise of profiling and validation of targeted households on their potential for self-employment. It includes social mobilisation 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 includes 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.
Ms. Xiaohong Yong, Country Director ADB added that BISP was rapidly implementing the graduation model and termed it as “light at the end of tunnel.” 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.
Rashid Bajwa, CEO NRSP hoped that this partnership would have a long-term impact on the lives of poor across the country. At the ceremony, Professor Reema Hanna, who is part of MIT-Harvard-LSE research team, stated that the graduation model was being tested around the world to eradicate poverty.
She hoped that the BISP’s graduation model could offer field learning. She further added, “We’ve a real opportunity here as we can utilize this learning at global scale.”
BISP, NRSP Sign US$35 mln agreement on business Incubation programme
Those players backed out of commitment not be part of next PSL draft, Safraz
LAHORE, Mar 19 (APP):Skipper of Quetta Gladiators and Pakistan cricket captain , Sarfraz Ahmad said those foreign players who backed out of their commitment of visiting Pakistan to play the semi finals of the third edition of the Pakistan Super league should not be a part of players draft of the next edition of the mega event.
“It is not fair on part of such foreign players to back out of their commitment at the last minute as they were ready to come to Pakistan”, he told media men at a conference on the eve of the his
teams match against Peshawar Zalmi here on Monday evening at Gadafffi stadium. Make shift captain of Peshawar ,Muhammad Hafeez was also present.
Sarfraz said he is saddened as the top most foreign players of his Quetta have opted not to visit Pakistan which is a set back for his team ahead of the crucial tie.
He also urged the franchisers of the teams not to include such players in the respective squads who did not keep their words. “But we cannot force foreign players to visit Pakistan , nor Pakistan cricket Board or the franchisers can do so but it is the moral duty of players to fulfill their commitments and they should give importance to Pakistan and its cricket”, he asserted.
“Without out our key overseas player Jason Roy, Kevin Peterson, Shane Watson and Ben Laughlin we will be not a full strength side, but in the prevailing circumstances we will be re-selecting our squad to exhibit an all round performance to move into the final”, he said.
The termed the plays off against Zalmi a tough and challenging task and said it is hard to fill the void of our foreign players.
“Now all eyes are focused on our young local players whose role will be very important in the match and I am confident that our players will rise to the occasion for a best possible performance”,
he said.
“Our performance in the last two matches were not good but we will be forgetting all that and also the absence of the foreign players to show a performance which could lead us to the final”, said Sarfraz.
Zalmi make shift captain, Muhammad Hafeez expressed the optimism that his team will demonstrate a higher level of game to brighten its chances for reaching the final.
He said Zalmi and Quetta performed good in the PSL league matches but his team showed excellent performance in the last two matches to create winning streak which is quite vital for lifting his team’s performance.
“We will be playing our play off with momentum and winning streak which have infused confidence in the players and we are ready for a similar performance in tomorrow, Tuesdays match “,he said adding
“In my opinion there is no shortcoming in our side and we are not under pressure as we gained confidence by striking victories in our last two matches”.
Hafeez showered praise on veteran batsman, Kamran Akmal and termed his innings in the two matches ‘match winning’.
“He played outstandingly and led the side to victory and we expect consistency from him in our next game”, said the former Pakistan captain.
Hafeez defended his performance in the PSL and described it good saying he will be aiming to play a fine knock and his due role to inspire the team to success in the match. “I want to demonstrate high quality cricket while playing in my own home ground and in front of home crowd”, he added.
To a question, he said those foreign players who are the part of the PSL played their part in the success of the event and those who refused to come to Pakistan should review their decision.
“I think Pakistan cricket and our PSL are moving in right direction and gradually we are on our way as far revival of international cricket is concerned and that day is not far when we will be having our full fledged international cricket being played in Pakistan”, he said.
20-bed temporary hospital established for PSL matches
LAHORE, Mar 19 (APP):The Sports Board Punjab has set up a 20-bed makeshift hospital, in collaboration with the General Hospital,
at the National Hockey Stadium to cope with any medical emergency for the two Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches in Lahore.
The hospital is equipped with an operation theater and a blood bank. Doctors and paramedical staff has
also been deputed.
It has been established on the instruction of Secretary Sports Punjab Muhammad Aamir Jan as a part of the
elaborate arrangements for the matches, to be played at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday and Thursday
(March 21 and 22).
Finance Ministry to set up separate division for Islamic banking: Miftah
KARACHI, March 19 (APP): Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance and Economic Affairs Dr Miftah Ismail Monday said the Ministry of Finance would soon set up a separate division for increased support to the fast growing Islamic banking.
A meeting of the Committee for Implementation of the Recommendations of Steering Committee for Promotion of Islamic Banking would also be convened soon, Dr Miftah said while speaking here at a two-day World Islamic Finance Forum (WIFF-2018).
The international forum has been organized by Institute of Business Administration’s Centre for Excellence in Islamic Finance (CIEF) in collaboration with key partners with the theme “Expanding the Footprint of Islamic Finance: Innovation, Fintech and Regulations”.
The advisor said the government would soon launch Rs 100 million Sukuk bonds for Islamic banking industry to strengthen its liquidity position in pursuance of its mission of fast growth of Islamic financing in the country.
Highlighting the performance of PML-N government, Dr Miftah said, “We are set to achieve 6 per cent gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate, the highest rate during the last decade.”
He hoped that the 6% GDP growth rate would help create a lot of job opportunities. The country had the potential to even achieve 8 to 10 per cent growth rate. It had huge coal deposits in Tharparker with estimated market value of Rs 9 trillion. There was a big stock of copper and many other natural resources in Balochistan, which should be utilized to the optimum level, he added.
He said the government had removed the basic bottlenecks in getting higher economic growth, including energy shortage, law and order, and red tape for the businessmen and industrialists.
He underlined the need for further simplification of procedure of doing business and reducing the number of taxes, saying the government was moving forward to achieve those targets.
He said, “I am trying to resolve the business community’s problems.” The next budget would aim at maximizing the economic growth instead of maximizing revenue, he added.
Miftah said the government was going to announce an amnesty scheme during the current month. However, there would be certain checks to stop its misuse, he added.
He said in the coming budget, the rate of tax on individuals income would be reduced to support the common man.
Chairman, Shariah Board of The Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) Shaikh Muhammad Taqi Usmani said the people of Pakistan origin, who were holding key positions in Islamic banking industry around the world, were making contribution in developing regulatory framework and above all developing products that were meeting the emerging needs of trade and industry.
He urged the government to take concrete steps for making the economy riba (interest) free in absolute terms.
Taqi Usmani pointed out that Islamic financial institutions had excess liquidity and the government should work on creating avenues for its investment.
“I would suggest the ruling party to include in its election manifesto that riba would be eradicated totally from economy at the earliest,” he said.
Chairman AAOIFI Board of Trustees, Bahrain Shaikh Ebrahim Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, who was the chief guest, said, “It is heartening to note that Pakistan is striving to become another hub of Islamic finance. It has all the basic ingredients — a population of 200 million predominantly Muslims, a robust banking and finance sector, vibrant agriculture, industrial and services sectors.”
The apex regulators – State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, he said, were playing a proactive role. The progress made over the last decade was encouraging, which guaranteed that achieving the target would not be difficult, he added.
Meezan Bank President Irfan Siddiqui requested the federal government to set a target to acquire at least 25 per cent of the local funding through Islamic banking as Islamic financial institutions had excess liquidity and limited avenues for investment.
SBP deputy governors Jameel Ahmad and Shamsul Hasan spoke of the central bank’s initiatives to promote Islamic banking in the country.
CEIF- IBA Chairman and former SBP governor Dr Ishrat Husain deliberated on Islamic banking and its future potential.
CEIF- IBA Director Ahmed Ali Siddiqui, welcoming the delegates, said the centre had emerged as a regional platform for excellence in Islamic finance.
He said focus areas of CEIF included development of Islamic finance professionals and new human resources talent pool through industry linkages and international collaborations.
Panel discussions were also held, which were participated by senior bankers.
Pak Ambassador to China receives special award
BEIJING, March 19 (APP):Pakistan Ambassador to China, Masood Khalid has received a special ‘Outstanding Contribution to International Cooperation of the Belt and Road Initiative’ award.
The event organized by China Home and Abroad News Press on its 17th anniversary was attended by the ambassadors as well as the cultural, press and business counsellors from Pakistan, Belarus, Philippines, Myanmar, Austria, Nepal and other 13 countries.
PM congratulates Chinese counterpart on his re-election
BEIJING, March 19 (APP):Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has congratulated Li Keqiang on his re-election as the Premier of the State Council of People’s Republic of China.
The Prime Minister said that Premier Li Keqiang’s re-election was a manifestation of the confidence reposed by the Chinese people in his leadership abilities, according to a statement issued by Pakistan Embassy here on Monday.
The Prime Minister also noted that Pakistan-China relationship enjoyed full support across all segments of the Pakistani society.
He underscored that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) being the flagship project of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) served as a window of opportunity for the prosperity of two nations, and for regional and trans-regional connectivity, economic integration and development.
China and Belt and Road countries trade volumes amounted to $ 1.1 trillion last year
BEIJING, March 19 (APP):Last year, trade volume between China and countries along the Belt and Road amounted to $1.1 trillion, up 14.8 percent year-on-year, which is 3.4 percentage points higher than the growth of the country’s total foreign trade.
The Belt and Road initiative, proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, refers to building a Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, according to a report published in People’s Daily on Monday.
Over the past five years, the initiative has been positively echoed by over 140 countries and regions, and fruitful cooperation achievements have been yielded under its framework.
Praising a more diversified investment portfolio, the minister said that China had altogether invested over $60 billion to on-route countries in various sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing and infrastructure.
The report pointed out that a group of big projects were making steady progress as well, including the construction of railways, expressways and ports, cooperation programs on energy and resources and the operation of manufacturing projects.
China has established 75 zones for economic and trade cooperation in countries along the routes, with a total investment of more than $27 billion.
The minister said the Belt and Road should be built into a road of peace, prosperity, opening up as well as innovation, and one that connects different civilizations.
For the next step, the ministry will launch new cooperation platforms including the first China International Import Expo, build major investment and foreign aid projects and make them well received like shiny pearls along the Belt and Road.
China will also facilitate e-commerce through big data, promote the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment along the Belt and Road and implement major foreign aid projects.
Critics of Metro Bus, now replicating project in Peshawar: Abid Sher Ali
FAISALABAD, Mar 19 (APP)::State Minister for Power Chaudhry Abid Sher Ali has said that critics of Metro Bus
project of the Punjab government are now replicating it in Peshawar, with some
reports of corruption
He said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
is completing the Metro Bus project in Peshawar with Rs 57 billion, instead of
original proposed cost of Rs27 billion.
Talking to the media after inaugurating new building at Government MC
Girls Primary School, C-Block Allama Iqbal Colony, Faisalabad on Monday, he
said Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif had introduced Metro Bus Project
to provide comfortable, easy and cheap traveling facilities in Lahore, Rawalpindi
and Multan.
The state minister said embezzlement of funds has also been detected in
KP government’s one billion tree plantation project. He said that corruption
story starts from one political leader and end at other leader. However, their
conspiracies against democracy would not succeed, he added.
Chaudhry Abid Sher Ali said that National Accountability Bureau (NAB)
should take notice of embezzlement of funds in Metro Bus Project Peshawar
and in billion tree plantation plan.
He said that Begum Kalsoom Nawaz, spouse of PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif,
is seriously ill in London but he and his daughter Maryam Nawaz are engaged
here and could not go abroad.
On the other PPP leader Dr Asim who is involved in corruption has been
allowed to go abroad.
“These are double standards and the people of Pakistan would not allow
it, as they love their leader Mian Nawaz Sharif,” he said and added that the
people would reject such elements in general election 2018 who are hatching
conspiracies against democracy and PML-N, he added.
He said that the PML-N is a symbol of development as the country is making
progress by leaps and bounds. Chief Minister Punjab has also made tremendous
achievements by taking revolutionary steps for up-gradation of health, agriculture,
livestock and education sectors.
The PML-N government is striving to provide all basic facilities at people’s
doorsteps and Pakistan would emerge ‘Asian Tiger’ very soon, he added.
Provincial Parliamentary Secretary Mian Tahir Jameel, MPA, and others
were also present on the occasion.
Renovation of Ayub Stadium Quetta underway to host national games
ISLAMABAD, March 19 (APP):Renovation and repair of Quetta’s historic Ayub National Stadium is underway at a cost of Rs 710 million to host 33rd National Games scheduled to be held from April 22-29 .
According to an official of Balochistan Sports Board, the work at the stadium, which had the capacity to accommodate over 20,000 spectators, would be completed in time for the national games.
The official told APP that some Rs 300 million had been allocated to meet the lodging and transport costs of over 7,000 athletes, from across the country, who would take part in different sports competitions.
It may be mentioned that Ayub National Stadium was used to hold different sports events, especially football cricket matches. However, presently it is being used for political gatherings.The national games are expected to revive sports activities at the stadium.
A member of the inspection team, which was sent by Pakistan Olympic Association from Islamabad for reviewing the renovation of the stadium, expressed his dissatisfaction over the pace of work.
Talking to APP, he said the Ayub Stadium’s football ground lacked basic facilities, including pavilion, and it was denuded of grass. Similarly, running track, hockey ground, and volleyball, tennis and squash courts had not yet been renovated, while there was no track for cycling, he said, adding the construction of a swimming pool had not been initiated so far.
He, however, expressed the hope that the construction and renovation work would be completed well in time to hold the games.
In case the restoration of Ayub Stadium was delayed then the event could be shifted to some other city, he added.
The stadium had hosted a One Day International cricket match between Pakistan and India in 1978.
Strict security measures taken for PSL matches: Sana
LAHORE, Mar 19 (APP):Law Minister Punjab Rana Sanaullah Khan Monday said strict security measures had been adopted
for the third edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches being played in Lahore on March 20 and 21.
“On the directions of the Punjab chief minister, foolproof security arrangements had been finalised to avoid any untoward incident,” he added.
Speaking to APP at his Punjab Assembly chamber, he said holding of the PSL matches in Pakistan would help revive international cricket in the country.
He said selling of tickets in a record time showed immense interest of people in the game.
He said there would be the best cleanliness arrangements as all departments concerned were in close liaison with each other to make the event a complete success.
Answering a question, the minister said, enemy did not want cricket in Pakistan and for this they had been striving to halt international cricket in Pakistan through subversive activities.
But, he said, they had to frustrate the designs of foes by holding a successful PSL event.