ISLAMABAD, Feb 20 (APP):The Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) claims to make Roshni sms service error free in one month in a meeting contemplated to find out a solution of public complaints for receiving irrelevant messages of maintenance and billing through Roshni sms service.
The meeting headed by CEO was unanimous to ensure 100 per cent accuracy of the intimation system to its subscribers and correction of the relevant data to reach out actual and genuine consumers.
People are continuously receiving unwanted messages since the start of an SMS-based service (ROSHNI) aimed to provide information regarding their bills, repair maintenance and load-shedding.

Deputy Manager Public Relation IESCO Asim Nazir Raja,while talking to APP, Tuesday informed that Basit Zaman Ahmed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) directed Director General Information System(DGIS) to resolve the issue within one month.

He further told that IESCO had registered 2,754,000 people under “ROSHNI” service out of which 2,623,000 were active customers and only 10 percent’s data required to be revisited for correction.

“The department had to reexamine the entire data after consistent public complaints and soon it will be made error free”, he pledged.
He said sometime data is feed-ed as provided by the complainants on behalf of actual subscribers.
A citizen Hassan Raza compIaining on the issue said, “I’m a permanent resident of Islamabad and there is no single electric meter in my name but I still receive updates about Company Bagh’s Murree Feeder and billing information on a connection.
Another complainat Shahid Qamer said he also receives messages from Roshni about a Kotli Sattiyan’s feeder maintenance and billing. “How my number was added to that locality while I am a permanent resident of Islamabad, he questioned. He asked IESCO to correct the data and ensure whether fake meters are not installed in-connivance of company’s black sheeps.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 20 (APP):Ministry of Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs Tuesday rebutted a news report appeared in a section of press regarding rejection of cheaper loan offer from Japan by Pakistan on February 18, saying that the impression that Pakistan refused Japanese offer of financial assistance is totally misleading.
“Negative reporting of this nature would discourage our bilateral partners who are thinking to enhance their assistance for Pakistan,” a spokesman of the ministry said in a statement here.
The spokesman said Japan has been one of the biggest development partners of Pakistan for the last over six decades.
Pakistan highly values Japan’s economic assistance in the form of loan, grant and technical assistance. Currently, there are more than 20 projects in education, health, energy, infrastructure, environment, security and water sectors for which both loans and grants are being provided by the Government of Japan.
The government of Pakistan desires to further strengthen development cooperation with the government of Japan. In this regard, the 5th Japan-Pakistan High Level Economic Policy Dialogue (HLEPD) was scheduled on February 15, for enhancement of economic cooperation between the two countries, he added.
He said inter ministerial preparatory meetings were also conducted in which senior officer from the Prime Minister Office also participated.
However, the said dialogue has been postponed due to an emergency in the family of the head of the Japanese delegation. The new dates will be mutually agreed soon.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 20 (APP):The National Assembly on Tuesday passed two bills including The Health Services Academy (Restructuring) Bill, 2017 and the Islamabad Healthcare Regulation Bill, 2017.
According to details, the National Assembly passed two bills including The Health Services Academy (Restructuring) Bill, 2017 and Islamabad Healthcare Regulation Bill, 2017 both presented by the Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination.
The Prevention of Drugs in Educational Institutions Bill, 2018 presented by the MNA Shahida Rehmani and The Compulsory Drug Test of Students Bill, 2018 regarding the students of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) both were clubbed and deferred for further deliberation.
Minister for Education Engr Muhammad Baligh ur Rahman speaking on the said above bills told the assembly that it is impossible to take drug test of all students and it is not happening in any country.
While, The Minorities Access to Higher Education Bill, 2018 presented by the MNA Asiya Nasir was referred to the standing committee for further consultation on the request of the minister for education.
The National Assembly also adopted the six motions in the house presented by the different Members of National Assembly.
According to details, the motions regarding the Federal Witness Protection Bill, 2015 and the Religious Scholars, Ulema and Pesh Imams (Prayer Leaders) Welfare Bill 2017 both moved by the Chairman Standing Committee on Interior, Rana Shamim Ahmad Khan were adopted.
The motion regarding the Criminal Law Amendment Bill 2017 moved by the Rana Shamim was also adopted.
While, the motion regarding the Protection of Journalists Bill, 2014 moved by the MNA Pir Muhammad Aslam Bodla was adopted.
The National Assembly also adopted another two motions including the Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill, 2016 presented by the Dr Shezra Mansab Ali Khan Kharal and the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, (Amendment) Bill, 2016 moved by the Dr Hafeez-ur-Rehman Khan Drishak.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 20 (APP):Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry Tuesday said that the parliament was supreme and mother of all national institutions.
Talking to a private news channel, he said that it was the right of the parliament to make legislation on all national issues, adding that the parliamentarian also have the right to discuss or debate the matters at this forum.
He said all national institutions were effectively working under the parameters of constitution and assured that no person-specific law would be made.
Replying to a question, he said former Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was disqualified on having an Iqama and no corruption charges were proved against him.
He said bogus cases had been lodged against politicians in the past. He said that Nawaz Sharif knew how to struggle for stability of the country as he had launched China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to bring about revolution for the people of the country.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 20 (APP):Director General (SA & SAARC), Dr Mohammad Faisal Tuesday summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh to condemn the unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian occupation forces along the Line of Control (LoC) on 19 February in Khuiratta Sector, Jijot Bahadar village resulting in the shahadat of Ayan Zahid, an 8 years old boy.

Despite calls for restraint, India continues to indulge in ceasefire violations. In 2018, the Indian forces have carried out more than 335 ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary, resulting in the shahadat of 15 innocent civilians and injuries to 65 others, said a statement issued here by foreign office.

“This unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by India is continuing from the year 2017 when the Indian forces committed more than 1970 ceasefire violations,” it said.

It is said that the deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas especially children is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity, international human rights and humanitarian laws.

Director General urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 Ceasefire arrangement; investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations; instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC and the Working Boundary.

He urged that the Indian side should permit UNMOGIP to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions.

Earlier, on 15 February, the Indian occupation forces also deliberately targeted a school van leaving the children severely traumatized and martyring the driver. The ceasefire violations by India are a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 20 (APP):Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar Tuesday observed that the parliament was a supreme institution, but it could not make a law which could conflict with the Constitution.
The apex court held the right to review any legislation, he said while heading a three-member bench, which heard the Media Commission case.
The chief justice remarked that he had repeatedly stated that the parliament was a supreme institution but the Constitution was more supreme.
“In one of the cases, we didn’t give any remarks but only asked if a certain person was eligible to hold a public office,” he added.
The CJP asked as to how the court’s remarks could amount to an insult to parliamentarians. “I don’t want to give an impression that I am furnishing an explanation,” he said. “We need to be savvy of the administration’s measures and basic rights of people.”
He observed that the recommendations made in the Media Commission report and the promises made by the government remained unfulfilled. “We have to make PEMRA (Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority) an ideal and autonomous body,” he stressed.
The chief justice remarked that inexperienced persons were being appointed in institutions, though appointment of professionals was necessary to run them in a better way.
He observed that headlines were made when they even asked about something whereas they gave remarks to understand the stance of both parties.
He said, “We will fully utilise the powers of Constitution and law.”
The chief justice also asked the media persons not to report the remarks of apex court judges out of context.
Later, the case was adjourned for 10 days.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 20 (APP):Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has finalized 20 candidates from Punjab to contest senate elections, which are scheduled to be held on March 3.
According to ECP, two candidates will contest for Non-Muslim seats, 10 candidates on General seats, three for women seats and five candidates were in the run for Technocrat seats.
Candidates for Non-Muslim seat included Kamran Michael and Victor Azariah while Saadia Abbasi, Andleeb Abbas and Nuzhat Sadiq will contest election for women seats.
It said five candidates on Technocrat seats included Ch Naseer Ahmad Bhutta, Hafiz Abdul Karim, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Muhammad Nawazish Ali Pirzada and Malik Muhammad Asif Javaid.
Similarly,10 candidates who were contesting elections on General seats included Ch. Muhammad Sarwar, Dr Asif Kirmani, Rana Mahmood ul Hassan, Zubair Gul, Shaheen Khalid Butt, Shahzad Ali Khan, Kamil Ali Agha, Musadik Masood Malik, Maqbool Ahmad and Haroon Khan.