ISLAMABAD, Jun 2 (APP): Sustainable civil nuclear energy was essential for Pakistan’s future energy security and economic development and a non-discriminatory approach by Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) was imperative to ensure strategic balance in the region.

“Any country’s specific exception will not be beneficial for
non-proliferation regime which will affect strategic stability of
South Asia and credibility of NSG itself,” Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria in a weekly press briefing said here Thursday.

The Spokesman said Pakistan’s application for membership of NSG stood on solid grounds of technical experience, capability and well-established commitment to nuclear safety.

He said on NSG membership, Pakistan had a principle support of adoption of non-discriminatory, equitable and criteria-based approach, which was also supported by a large number of NSG participating governments.

He mentioned that Pakistan had operated secured and safeguarded nuclear power plants for a period of over 42 years.

He said Pakistan’s membership of NSG was in the interest of
nuclear training countries as it would further promote NSG non- proliferation objective by the equation of the state by the nuclear supplier’s capabilities and its adherence to NSG guidelines.

About an agreement signed between Japan and India on building six nuclear power plants in Andhra Pradesh, the Spokesman said Pakistan’s position was clear that it should not be any discriminatory treatment to a country which was not even party to the NPT.

“This will further add to the reasons behind disturbing the
strategic stability in the region,” he said.

About prospects of Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG)
following the death of Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Akhter Mansour, the Spokesman said Pakistan had been making consistent efforts for peace in Afghanistan as it was in the interest of two countries.

He confirmed that QCG was still functional and said Pakistan
believed that politically viable solution was important for Afghan peace and stressed to avoid use of military force.

“All parties should refrain from violence, since violence
begets violence,” he said.

On FIR lodged against the drone strike by the family of the slained driver along with Mullah Mansour, he said it was their right to file grievance and judiciary is independent to take up the matter according to legal course.

Zakaria clarified that the deadline for Afghan refugees was
June 30, 2016. However, a request from Afghanistan’s concerned ministry has been received in this regard, which is under consideration by the concerened department, the Spokesman mentioned.

About Indian Prime Minister Modi’s statement that ‘India was ready for peace talks provided Pakistan stops supporting terrorists’, the Spokesman said terrorism had affected Pakistan more than any other country of the world.

He said the phenomenon of terrorism had resulted in loss of
60,000 lives of Pakistanis desides huge impact on the country’s economy.

To a question about issues discussed during telephonic
call between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said “It was all about exchanging wishes before the former’s heart surgery.”

Talking about the health of Prime Minister, he said that the Prime Minister after his surgery was recovering and expressed gratitude to the several countries sending him good wishes for his health.

About any sleeper cell still active after the arrest of Indian
spy Kulbhushan Yadav, the Spokesman said his apprehension vindicated Pakistan’s stance of Indian involvement, adding that world community was being apprised on it.

On China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the Spokesman said the project was of great economic significance for not only Pakistan and China, but for the entire region.

He said CPEC was a flagship project which had six more
programmes under the concept of ‘One Belt One Road’.

ISLAMABAD, June 2 (APP): Minister for Climate Change
Zahid Hamid has underlined the need for involving local community in conservation of snow leopard – a rare species.

He expressed these views during a ceremony held to commemorate the  bestowal of the Whitey Award – the Green Oscar by the Royal Geographical Society on Muhammad Ali Nawaz for his efforts to protect the endangered snow leopard in Pakistan.

Whitley award was given to Ali Nawaz on April 27, 2016 in London in  recognition of his efforts to protect the endangered snow leopard in mountains of the country’s northern parts.

The Princess Royal had presented him the 2016 Whitley Award, a  prestigious international nature conservation prize, at the Royal Geographical Society, London, which was attended by over 550 guests including Sir David Attenborough.

He said “The involvement of local community will not only help  generate income but beneficial for the conservation of special and unique species.”

“The award is an important recognition of Pakistan’s efforts on the  conservation front, and will catalyze local and national efforts to accelerate snow leopard conservation, and improve coordination among stakeholders across the large landscapes snow leopards need to survive,” the minister said.

The minister said the efforts of Ali Nawaz were exemplary to save the  endangered species in Pakistan.

“Nawaz has made whole Pakistani nation proud by bring this Green Oscar  in Pakistani,” said Zahid Hamid.

He said “The majestic snow leopard is, no doubt, is a symbol of pride  for its range states, including Pakistan.”

Zahid Hamid said Pakistan was blessed with varied and interesting  diversity of fauna and flora, starting from mangrove forests along country’s coastline to snowcapped mountains in north Pakistan was endowed with a rich biodiversity.

“The habitat of snow leopard and other wildlife of mountainous tracts  of Himalayas, Karakorum and Hindukush besides providing scenic and aesthetic value also provide numerous ecosystem service,” he minister said.

The snow leopard is an iconic flagship species of the mountains of  central Asia.

It is estimated that about 200 snow leopards exist in Pakistan’s north  mountains including Hindukush,Himalaya, Karakorum, Pamir itchiest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu Kashmir.

The species is categorized endangered in the IUCN Red list and listed  in appendix-I of the convention on international trade in endangered species.

The representatives of foreign embassies in Pakistan partner
organizations and participants of 6th ECO Working Group Meeting on Environment also attend the event.

The minister also distributed mementos among the participants of the  ECO Working Group Meeting and the award recipient Ali Nawaz.

ISLAMABAD, Jun 2 (APP): Members of the European Parliament  Amjad Bashir and Jan Zahradil Thursday called on Special Assistant  to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Syed Tariq Fatemi, at the  Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to a Foreign Office statement, both the members conveyed their good wishes and expressed hope for complete and  speedy recovery of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.

ISLAMABAD, June 2 (APP): Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani  on Thursday referred both Credit Bureaus (Amendment) Bill, 2016  and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (Amendment)  Bill, 2016 to concerned standing committee for further deliberation.

Minister for Finance and Revenue Mohammad Ishaq Dar presented  both the bills including the bill further to amend the Credit  Bureaus Act, 2015 [The Credit Bureaus (Amendment) Bill, 2016] and  bill further to amend the Securities and Exchange Commission of  Pakistan Act, 1997 [The Securities and Exchange Commission of  Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2016] in the House.

The bills have already been passed by the National Assembly.

ISLAMABAD, June 2 (APP): Finance Minister Senator Muhammad  Ishaq Dar will present the fourth Federal Budget of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government with an outlay of over Rs 4.8 trillion for  the fiscal year 2016-17 in the Parliament on June 3 (Friday).

Special budget sessions of the National Assembly and Senate
have already been summoned by President Mamnoon Hussain.

According to official sources, the budget will envisage
further improving economic growth, overcoming challenges,
particularly energy crisis, maintaining fiscal discipline  and reducing non-development expenditures and providing relief
to the masses, besides promoting investment for jobs creation  and people-friendly policies for the socio-economic prosperity  of the country.

Main focus in the budget would on the development of
energy, infrastructure and human resource sectors.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects would  also be prioritized.

The budget is likely to enhance allocations for social
safety net for providing maximum relief to vulnerable segment of the society.

It would also focus on social sector development and
revenue enhancement measures. Besides, reforms would also  be introduced for improving governance and boosting private sector investment for the overall progress and prosperity.

The National Economic Council (NEC), chaired by Prime
Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, through video link from London approved Rs 1.675 trillion development outlay including Rs 800 billion as federal Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) and Rs 875 billion as provincial Annual Development Programme (ADP).

The NEC was informed that 4.71 growth rate was achieved
during the outgoing fiscal year (2015-16), which is the highest  growth for the last 8 years while other economic indicators have shown a marked improvement in the fiscal year 2015-16.

The sources said that “Pakistan of 2016 is far better
than the country whic was in 2013 and now it is gradually
progressing”.

The economy was now on the take-off stage and
would further improve, trhey added.

They further said that the National Economic Council
(NEC) in its meeting held on Wednesday, has fixed GDP growth  rate target of 5.7 percent for the forthcoming budget  2016-17.

They expressed the hope that keeping in view of
improving economy, the government would be able to achieve  the said target of 5.7 percent.

The Government had earmarked Rs.1,675 billion in the
forthcoming budget for the development schemes under the
Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the year
2016-17.

“Out of the total allocation, Rs.875 have been
earmarked for the provinces,”, the sources said .

Giving break-up of the allocation, they said that
Rs. 468 billion were allocated for infrastructure including
Rs.157 billion for power, Rs.260 billion for transport and
communications, Rs. 33 billion for water, Rs.18 billion
for Physical Planning and Housing.

Out Rs.89 billion allocated for social sector,
Rs.29 billion were earmarked for Education including Higher
Education Commission (HEC), Rs.30 billion for Health and
Population, Rs. 20 billion for Sustainable Development
Goals Programme and Rs.10 billion for other social sectors.

The sources added that, Rs.9 billion were allocated
for Science and IT, Rs. 8 billion for Governance, Rs.42
billion for Special Areas including AJK, FATA and
Gilgit-Baltistan respectively.

They added that out of Rs.4 billion for Production,
Rs. 2 billion each were earmarked for industries and Food
and Agriculture sectors while, Rs.28 billion were earmarked
for special federal development programme under PSDP.
The sources added that government in the Budget 2016-17
is likely to announce a special package for the promotion of agriculture sector in the country.

The budget speech of the Finance Minister would be
broadcast and telecast live from the Parliament House on the Friday afternoon.

QUETTA, June 1 (APP): China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will boost economic activity in the region and benefit more than three billion people, said spokesman of Government of Balochistan Anwar ul Haq Kakar.

Talking to APP after his return from international conference
on CPEC, he said this corridor would be a game changer in the region and a new era of economic and industrial revolution would start in Balochistan.

He said that international airport and port would be
established in Gwadar ensuring uplift of trade in Balochistan.
The spokesman said that 30,000 megawatt electricity would be included in the system through CPEC. He said that Sino-Pak cooperation is underway in fields of education, culture, economy and politics which would guarantee progress in the region.