ISLAMABAD, Mar 8 (APP): To mark International Women’s Day, the Embassy of Pakistan Washington D.C. hosted a special event last night showcasing the achievements of the women of Pakistan as well as women of Pakistani descent in the United States, Pakistan embassy in Washington said in a statement here Thursday.
Foreign Secretary of Pakistan, Tehmina Janjua was the Guest of Honor on the occasion. In her remarks, the Foreign Secretary highlighted the growing contribution of Pakistani women towards national development and progress.
She stated that the Government of Pakistan remained committed to the empowerment of women in the country, particularly through active participation in the political and economic spheres. While acknowledging that a lot of work remained to be done, the Foreign Secretary said that women in Pakistan enjoyed far greater rights
and freedom today than ever before.
Earlier, Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry welcomed the Foreign Secretary, who is the first woman to hold this high position. While lauding the rise of women to important positions in Pakistan and the improved awareness in the country vis-à-vis the rights of women, the Ambassador also highlighted the contribution made by
Pakistani American women in the United States.
To highlight the diaspora’s accomplishments, three prominent Pakistani American women, representing different walks of life, were also invited to share their personal experiences. The speakers gave brief accounts of their achievements and encouraged women of Pakistani descent to work hard and excel in their respective disciplines to build a stronger diaspora and help build stronger ties
between Pakistan and the United States.
U.S. Government officials, representatives from the academia and think-tank community as well as prominent members of the Pakistani American diaspora attended the event.
Women playing a critical role in Pakistan’s development: Tehmina
COAS highlights women’s role in national progress
RAWALPINDI, Mar 8 (APP):Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa Thursday highlighted the important role and contributions of great Pakistani women towards national progress.
“We are proud of role and contributions of our women in uniform and especially the ones who belong to martyrs’ families. The great Pakistani women have a role and responsibility towards progress of Pakistan,” the COAS said, according to a tweet by Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor.
Meanwhile, the ISPR released a song to pay tribute to ‘Daughters of Pakistan’ commemorating March 8 – the International Women Day. The song depicts strong commitment, active role and participation of women in every sphere of life.
Senate body highly applauds women role in nation building
ISLAMABAD, Mar 8 (APP):Senate Standing Committee on Interior on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution and highly applauded the women role in nation building.
The committee met here at Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS) under the chairmanship of Senator A. Rehman Malik, Chairman of the Committee.
The resolution was moved by Chairman Committee Senator A. Rehman Malik, on International Women Day.
The committee demands the government to enhance the women role in National Security by appointing women members to National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) and all other institutions related to National Security.
Chairman of the committee said that it was pride for Pakistan to elect first female Prime Minister in Islamic world, adding that late Benazir Bhutto Shaheed was an example for the women across the globe.
The committee also recommended that Easy Pessa should be regulated, if it was being in terror financing.
The committee sought detail report on the issue of Easy Pessa terror financing from the ministry of Interior.
Earlier, Ministry of Interior and Foreign Affairs briefed the committee on the measures taken by the government to counter of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) gray-list.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police also briefed the committee on the investigation done regarding incidents of target killing issue in Dera Ismail Khan.
Chairman of the committee expressed concerns over the target killing issues in D.I.Khan and observed that some elements may be willing to create sectarian issues.
13 reports presented in Senate, two reports of Finance Committee adopted
ISLAMABAD, Mar 08 (APP): The Senate on Thursday adopted two reports of Standing Committee on Finance and witnessed presentation of 13 reports of various bodies in the House.
Under Rule 196 (1), the Senate adopted two special reports of Standing Committee on Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs which were about legislation in respect of the Federal Consolidated Fund (FCF) and Public Account and separation of cadres of Accounts and Audit in order to avoid conflict of interest. Earlier, the motion to adopt these reports moved by Senator Murtaza Wahab on behalf of
Chairman Senate Sanding Committee on Finance.
Convener Special Committee on China Pakistan Economic Corridor
Senator Taj Haider presented reports regarding visit to Gawadar from May 2 to May 4, 2017 and also visit to China from November 29 to December 3, 2017.
Chairman Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication Senator Shahi Syed presented special reports of the Committee for the period from May 13, 2015 to February 28, 2018.
On behalf of Chairman Standing Committee on Industries and Production, a member of the committee Khalida Perveen presented special report of the Committee for the period from October, 2017 to February, 2018.
On behalf of Chairman Standing Committee on States and Frontier Regions, a member of the Committee Senator Sitara Ayaz presented special report of the Committee for the period from August 17, 2017 to February 23, 2018.
On behalf of Chairperson Functional Committee on Human Rights, a member of the Committee Farhat Ullah Babar presented special reports of the Committee for the period from May 21, 2015 to February 9, 2018 and the procedure of filing mercy petition. He also presented report about proposed procedural changes to prevent misuse of Blasphemy Law.
On behalf of Chairman Standing Committee on Energy, a member of the Committee Senator Sardar Azam Musakhel presented report regarding the Pakistan Power and Infrastructure Board (Amendment) Bill, 2017.
Chairman Standing Committee on Housing and Works Senator Maulana Tanveer-ul-Haq Thanvi tabled report on a starred question asked by Senator Ahmed Hassan on January 24, 2018 regarding plots under the quota for constitutional bodies.
On behalf of Chairman Select Committee, a member of the Committee Ghous Muhammad Khan Niazi presented report regarding the Prevention of Witchcraft Bill, 2017 which was tabled by Senator Chaudhary Tanvir Khan in the House on August 21,
2017.
Chairman, Functional Committee on Government Assurances Senator Agha Shahzaib Durrani presented report of the Committee on the assurance given by the Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training in the House on January 26, 2018, regarding measures taken by the Government to eradicate the menace of
plagiarism.
On behalf of Chairman, Standing Committee on Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, a member of the Committee Senator Murtaz Wahab presented report of the Committee on the subject matter of Calling Attention Notice moved by Senator Muhammad Usman Khan Kakar regarding thirty promotional posts of Custom Inspectors lying vacant in the Customs Collector of Quetta.
The House passed a motion under Rule 194 (1) granting extension of 45 days to the Special Committee on performance of PIA for presentation of its report regarding breach of privilege by the Secretary Aviation Division and Chief Executive Officer, PIA.
Nawaz, Marryam welcome to be historical: Minister
BAHAWALPUR, Mar 08 (APP):Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training, Engr. Muhammad Baligh-ur-Rehman has said that central leaders of Pakistan Muslim League-N including former premier, Nawaz Sharif and Marryam Nawaz would be accorded a warm welcome in Bahawalpur on March 9 which welcome would set a history.
Talking to journalists, he said that arrangements had been finalized to accord a warm welcome to Quaid of PML-N and former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif and another senior leader of the party, Marryam Nawaz.
“Tens of thousands of people of Bahawalpur will accord a warm welcome to their beloved leaders in Bahawalpur city on March 09,” he said.
He said that several convoys of PML-N from all districts of Bahawalpur division and other nearby areas would reach Bahawalpur to accord welcome to their leaders and to listen to them in a public gathering. “Our leader, Nawaz Sharif, Chief Minister Punjab and Acting President, PML-N, Shahbaz Sharif and senior
leader Marryam Nawaz had played pivotal role in allocation of huge development funds for Bahawalpur and several mega projects in the region.
Meanwhile, spokesman for PML-N Bahawalpur, Amjad Shaheed has said that public gathering of PML-N would begin at Dring Stadium Bahawalpur after Friday prayers.
Women can play vital role for development of country: Governor Balochistan
QUETTA, Mar 08 (APP):Governor Balochistan Muhammad khan Achakzai said in his message regarding World Women’s Day on Thursday that
men and women have equal rights in economic and social development as they equally share in all matters and without their participation no development and prosperity is possible in the country.
He said in our society women are viewed with great respect and Islam and our traditions do not allow punishing them adding Balochistan’s women do not lack capabilities but low resources and opportunities are obstructing them to move ahead .
Governor said women are serving in different services sectors including health and education shoulder to shoulder with male while rural areas’s women education were better so measures needed to be increased in this regard.
He hoped that women would play their vital role in development and prosperity of the country.
Country’s exports increases by upto15 percent in Feb: Miftah
ISLAMABAD, Mar 7 (APP):Adviser to the Prime Minister on Economic Affairs Miftah Ismail Wednesday said the country’s exports have increased by up to 15 percent in the month of February this year while increase in imports remained at 8 per cent only due to some duties imposed by the government.
Further improvements would be made in the exports sector and incentive package would be announced soon, he said talking to a private news channel.
He said the matter of circular debt would be resolved soon as the Economic Coordination Committee has approved a plan presented by the ministry of power to settle circular debt and work on it would get started soon.
Miftah said the government had to bear a loss of Rs.110 billion in power sector so the government has to enhance recoveries as power generation had also increased in the country.
He said there was need of better enforcement to increase recoveries rather to put burden of extra tariff on those consumers who were already paying bills regularly.
We were negotiating with the provinces to sought solution of the problem because performance of some DISCOs was very bad and it was difficult to manage in such governance, he added.
Investment in youth ensures peace, prosperity in region: Ahsan
ISLAMABAD, Mar 7 (APP):Interior Minister Professor Ahsan Iqbal Wednesday said the government’s utmost priority is to make investment in youth for ensuring peace and prosperity in the region.
Chairing a meeting at NADRA Headquarters held here to review the Readmission Case Management System (RCMS), the interior minister said the government’s policy is to curb human Trafficking. We have taken robust steps in this connection and crackdown against the human traffickers is underway throughout the country, said a press release.
“We will not allow any Pakistani to live illegally anywhere in the world. Pakistan has become among the countries, who have initiated the E-Passport facility that will minimize the cases of forgeries and render swift verification of the identity of Pakistanis living in any other country of the world,” he said. The interior minister stressed that Pakistani nation has rendered unparallel sacrifices in the war against terror. The world should acknowledge our achievements by understanding the remarkable commitment of Pakistan as a peace loving country of the world.
The minister said arm twisting methods will not yield the favorable results in the war against terrorism. Rather, placing us under conditions will give terrorists the opportunity to take refuge behind the pretext that they are being subjected to international agenda, whereas eliminating extremism is our own national agenda.
He said Pakistan is eager to cultivate people to people relations with the European states and also values the development of relations with European Union.
Ambassadors of European Union (EU) countries also participated in the meeting.
He said we want strong links with European Union by developing a Knowledge platform with European countries so that our youth can study in the top European universities.
He added that youth equipped with modern education will take part in the prosperity and development of the country.
The interior minister said economic relations between Pakistan and European countries should be based on bilateral trade ; adding that Pakistani markets have the huge potential to attract the foreign investors.
Later, Chairman NADRA briefed the participants on the New Electronic Readmission Case Management System.
It is to be noted that Government of Pakistan and European Community signed an Agreement titled “European Union Readmission Agreement (EURA)” to adopt a procedure for safe return of the persons residing without authorization.
On the directions of Ministry of Interior, NADRA signed an Agreement with International Organization for Migration (IOM) on electronic Readmission Case Management System (RCMS) on 20 April, 2017.
The basic aim of the project is to develop an electronic platform to make readmission process more efficient and less time consuming between GOP and EU Member States. System deployment and configuration in EU Member States (Germany, France, Belgium, and Greece) was completed in February, 2018.
Senate chairman be elected in spirit of CoD: Asif
ISLAMABAD, Mar 7 (APP):Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Wednesday said revival of Charter of Democracy (CoD) was need of the hour and the Senate chairman should be elected keeping in view its spirit.
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), he said, was a signatory to the CoD, but now it was deviating from its history and
tradition of democratic norms. The PPP was an ideological party, but its present leadership were more interested in their personal gains which ultimately damage the state, he added.
Talking to a private news channel, the minister said parliament was a supreme institution, whose main task was to frame constitution. All institutions, including the judiciary, were working within their constitutional domains. It was the parliament, which had the authority to amend existing laws or frame new ones, he added.
Khawaja Asif said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had made long struggle for the restoration of judiciary in the country. He said he had long affiliation with the PML-N and he could work with both Maryam Nawaz and Shahbaz Sharif, he added.
To a question, he said the armed forces, police and civilians had given a lot of sacrifices in the fight against terrorism. Pervaiz Musharraf had brought the war to Pakistan and it would take time to steer the country out of the situation, he added.
To another question regarding foreign policy, he said Pakistan’s relations with Gulf states, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran and Russia were growing day by day.
As far as the Afghan issue was concerned, he said, the whole region was facing trouble due to the Afghan situation. Pakistan’s ties with Afghanistan were also improving, he added.
Replying to a question, he said next general election would be held on time. He prayed for the continuity of democratic
system in the country.
BISP, FMBL sign MoU for financial inclusion of BISP beneficiaries
ISLAMABAD, Mar 7 (APP):Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and FINCA Microfinance Bank Limited (FMBL) Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), here for financial inclusion of BISP beneficiaries.
Chairperson BISP/MNA Marvi Memon hoped that this partnership would make a difference in the lives of poor beneficiaries. She said that, “we should always remember that we are dealing with most vulnerable segment of society, and therefore ensure financial inclusion which means improving livelihood.”
She added that she is proud that BISP is the first social safety net in the world to have a program of financial inclusion and graduation.
The partnership is aimed at increasing the female financial inclusion footprint and graduation of BISP beneficiaries to women entrepreneurs by leveraging FINCA Microfinance Bank Ltd’s digital financial services offering, a digital wallet (app) which offers easy and quick on boarding, zero transaction fee and access to range of services including bill payments, money transfer, lending and online marketplace amongst other offerings, said a press release.
The collaboration will involve females from the most under privileged, excluded and marginalized segments of society to be trained as field agents of FMBL so that they not only earn for themselves as contractual employees of FMBL rather spread the Branchless Banking movement and bring in other members of their respective communities to the branchless banking network. Initially, a pilot project will be undertaken by FMBL with collaboration and assistance of BISP and on the basis of the data collected during the pilot phase, the project will be extended on regular basis.
Muhammad Mudassar Aqil, CEO FMBL shared that 96% women are financially excluded in Pakistan. He added that it is proven globally that financial inclusion is a key to poverty eradication. He hoped that this partnership will help BISP beneficiaries in graduating out of poverty in a sustainable manner.
FMBL Branchless Banking will enable BISP to graduate women beneficiaries to female entrepreneurs. The pilot will be based on a sample set of fifty women in two locations. BISP will share data of 200 women beneficiaries out of which 50 will be selected through a rigorous and thorough process, keeping basic literacy level of women and their influence in their respective communities, as key considerations.
The women will work on similar model as the existing Lady Health Workers, who are closely engaged with the local community and conduct house-to-house visits and call community meetings. These women will be equipped with tablets to open and operate mobile accounts for other women in their respective communities.
Moreover, Training and awareness sessions will be conducted on how to use digital financial services via tablets issued, and provide overall understanding of financial inclusion. Women becoming of this pilot will have access to loans, savings and other products offered via FMBL Digital Financial Services (DFS) portfolio.
In addition, women will be educated on the opportunity of a digital marketplace/e-commerce encouraging them to promote local goods/services through FINCA’s digital financial services and integrated platforms.
Secretary BISP, Omer Hamid Khan thanked FMBL and hoped that the partnership is going to be helpful for BISP beneficiaries. He hoped for a long-term partnership which will enrich and upscale the lives of BISP beneficiaries.