ISLAMABAD, June 3 (APP): Prince Sultan bin Salman Al Saud of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has sent flowers for Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif in London.
According to a press release of the Foreign Office issued here Friday,
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United Kingdom also sent flowers
for the Prime Minister.
Saudi Prince sends flowers for PM
PM directs Met Office to submit report on failure to warn about thunderstorm
ISLAMABAD, June 3 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Friday sought explanation from Director General Met Office over the serious lapse by the Pakistan Meteorological Department to timely warn about the thunderstorm that hit Islamabad, Punjab and various parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on June 1.
President for devising education system to prepare youth meet challenges
ISLAMABAD, June 3 (APP): President Mamnoon Hussain on Friday stressed the need for an education system with right direction so as to prepare the new generation effectively address the challenges of contemporary world.
Pervaiz Rashid holds reception in honour of journalists
ISLAMABAD, June 3 (APP): Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid here on Friday hosted a reception in honour of journalists from Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta.
The reception was attended by Federal Secretary Information Syed Imran Gardezi, Principal Information Officer (PIO) Rao Tehseen Ali Khan, Advisor to Prime Minister on National History and Literary Heritage Irfan Siddiqui, Board of Investment Chairman Dr Miftah Ismail, Director General External Publicity Wing Shafqat Jalil, Deputy Director General Press Information Department (PID) Nadeem Haider Kiani and Executive Director Lok Virsa Fouzia Saeed.
Senior journalists including Altaf Qureshi, Rauf Khan,
Pervaiz Bashir, Salman Ghani, Sikandar Lodhi, Taqi Haider, Akmal Chohan, Naseer Ahmed, Tahir Farooq and Bari Malik also attended the reception.
Turkish Defence Minister calls on COAS
RAWALPINDI, Jun 3 (APP): Minister of National Defence Turkey, Fikri Isik, on Friday called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif at General Headquarters.
Pakistan, Turkey bound in fraternal bonds: President
ISLAMABAD, Jun 3 (APP): President Mamnoon Hussain on
Friday said that Pakistan and Turkey are bound together in
fraternal bonds which are rooted in shared history, religion
and culture.
The President said this while talking to Minister of
National Defence, Turkey Mr Fikri Isik, who along with a
delegation called on him here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.
The President praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan’s democratic measures and congratulated on formation of new government under the leadership of Binali Yildirim.
He also congratulated Fikri Isik on being appointed as
Minister of National Defence.
The President said that Pakistan was committed to peace
and stability in Afghanistan and appreciated Turkey’s
participation in the process for peace in Afghanistan.
He commended signing of agreement between Pakistan,
Turkey and Qatar for training of personnel and transfer of
technology.
The President thanked Turkey for gifting Pakistan
Trainer-37 aircraft and hoped that the two brotherly countries would increase cooperation in the defence field and benefit from each other’s expertise.
He invited Turkish delegation to participate in IDEAS-
2016 to be held in November this year in Pakistan.
The President appreciated Turkish assistance during
natural disasters and calamities adding that this reflects
commitment from both sides to extend support to each other during testing times.
The President extended his sympathies over tragic loss
of lives in recent suicide attacks in Turkey and underlined
that both countries are united to uproot the menace of
terrorism and extremism.
Turkish Minister of National Defence Fikri Isik termed
Pakistan-Turkish relations “as being special” and said that he
is extremely happy that his first foreign visit after assuming
office is to Pakistan.
Mr Isik said that cooperation between the two countries
in trade and defence sectors is below actual potential and
called for steps to increase bilateral collaboration in these
fields.
He stated that the people of Turkey hold Pakistan in
highest esteem and affection.
The Turkish Defence Minister reiterated his country’s
resolve to continue efforts for achieving peace in Afghanistan
and hoped that the Quadrilateral Coordination Group’s efforts in this regard will bear fruit.
The President wished the visiting delegation a
productive and comfortable stay in Pakistan.
The President also conveyed best wishes on his behalf
and on behalf of the people of Pakistan for Turkish President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim
and the people of Turkey.
Govt achieves tax collection target: Ahsan
ISLAMABAD, June 3 (APP): Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal Friday said that the government has achieved tax collection target of previous fiscal year.
He termed the budget 2016-17 a people friendly.
While talking to a private news channel, he said recession in agriculture sector is a global phenomena, this is the reason the government has given incentives to the farmers in this budget.
The minister said, the cheapest electricity is being provided to the
farmers and the subsidy has announced on fertilizers to facilitate the
farmers.
He said, when government came into power, the country was facing severe energy crisis and power load-shedding of 20 hours but now the government had reduced its duration to 6 hours.
He said, the country would be able soon to control the line losses due to the steps and measures taken by the PML-N government.
Ahsan Iqbal said, the government has focused on infrastructure sector as it is playing pivotal role in development and uplift of the country.
He termed 2016 and 2017 years of implementation of China Pakistan
Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Budget to stabilize economy, lead to industrial, agri growth: Zubair
ISLAMABAD, June 3 (APP): State Minister for Privatization Muhammad Zubair on Friday said the government’s budgetary measures would stabilize the economy and lead to growth of industrial and agricultural sectors.
In his reaction to the budget presented by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in the National Assembly, he said the long term goal of the government is to stabilize the economy.
He said agriculture is backbone of the economy and the government in the budget implemented the proposals of the farming community while announcing package worth hundreds of billions of rupees.
The minister said the provinces will be getting more resources for social sector including education and health from the federal government as it has increased its available financial resources substantially.
He said at present there is no loadshedding for the industrial sector and the ongoing energy projects would eliminate loadshedding for domestic consumers as well.
Govt allocates Rs 115 bln for BISP to facilitate poor masses: Marvi
ISLAMABAD, Jun 3 (APP): Chairperson of Benazir Income Support Programme
(BISP) Marvi Memon Friday said that the government has allocated hefty amount of
Rs 115 billion for BISP to facilitate the poor masses.
Talking to PTV, she termed the fiscal budget 2016-17 a people friendly
to provide relief to the masses.
She said the government has earmarked Rs 4 billion for Bait-ul-Mal to
provide relief to the common man, adding the government has given priority
to all sectors including education, health, agriculture, railways, transport,
and energy sectors.
Marvi Memon lauded the government efforts for agriculture sector as it
has announced a mega package in this budget for agriculture sector to facilitate the farmers.
She said the government had allocated huge amount for water projects.
The hefty amount has been allocated in this budget for power projects which
would add some 10,000 mega watt in national grid to meet the energy shortage
in the country, she added.
BISP chairperson said the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) had also increased. The ratio of inflation had decreased in the country, she maintained.
Foreign Ministry clarifies report about Fatemi’s audit objection
ISLAMABAD, Jun 3 (APP): The Foreign Office Friday clarified a news report regarding the settlement of an audit objection by Syed Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs.
A statement from the Foreign Office mentioned a news item in a local English daily and submitted the “facts” to counter the “accusations”.
Giving the details the Foreign Office said Ambassador Tariq Fatemi, while serving as the High Commissioner in Harare, with concurrent accreditation to Angola, Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia, had travelled to Namibia on an official duty, alongwith his wife, whose presence was also required on grounds of protocol.
While there, she suffered a serious injury to one of her eyes.
The injury was initially treated in Harare, but when the doctors feared that she might lose her eyesight, she was advised to travel to South Africa, where the medical facilities were much better.
This trip was undertaken after obtaining the Foreign Secretary’s approval as per standard practice. The letter containing the sanction of the President in this regard was sent to the High Commission in Harare on 3rd August 1995, clearly stating that it was issued with the approval of the Finance Division vide their O.M. No. F.7(10)-R.10/94 dated 21st May, 1995.
Moreover, at no stage, was Mr. Tariq Fatemi informed, during his term as the High Commissioner in Harare, or subsequently that an audit objection had later been raised, on this particular case.
It was years later, after Mr. Fatemi had assumed Office of the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, that the Ministry conveyed to him, along with a letter of regret on its failure to inform him earlier, that the Foreign Secretary’s original decision to grant permission of the medical checkup in South Africa, had not been approved by the Finance Ministry (vide letter No. AS (AI&MB)-1/2014 dated 31st March 2014).
Although Mr. Fatemi could have contested this case again, he decided to pay the amount, to set a personal example that as a Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, he intended to err on the side of caution, so that no one could raise a finger on his professionalism and integrity, especially with regards to financial matters.
In fact, during Mr. Fatemi’s 35 years career in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there was not one single instance where an audit objection conveyed to him, was not settled in time, the statement said.
It is sad as well disappointing that a reputed newspaper decided to give a false and unsubstantiated twist to a perfectly normal and legal procedure of settling an audit issue. Officials of the Government settle their TA and medical bills, as a matter of routine.
Moreover, portraying this as a case of embezzlement, hints at the malicious intent on the part of the reporter, particularly as neither the Office of the SAPM, nor that of the Ministry’s Spokesperson was ever contacted, either on phone or on email, to get clarification.
Since the Daily tried to create a “story” where none existed, the Ministry requests this Newspaper, to kindly give equal space to this clarification as well.