ASTORE, Mar 1 (APP)::PML-N Astore President, Alam Shah here on Thursday said Socio-economic empowerment of women
was the top most priority of Gilgit-Baltistan government.
While talking to APP, he said the PML-N government has empowered
women in all sectors of life including education, health, politics, banking and
economy besides increasing their socio-economic status in the society.
He maintained that determined efforts were being made to further increase their participation
in all spheres of life.
He said no country can make progress and move on path of development
without an active participation of women.The government was taking solid measures
to raise their income so that they could live in dignified manner, he added.
Alam Shah said funds and stipend for poor women under Benazir
Income Support Programme (BISP) has been significantly enhanced by PMLN so that
they could continue education and fulfill other needs of their children.
PML-N govt empowers women in all spheres of life
CPEC turns Pak-China ties to true economic relationship: Ahsan
ISLAMABAD, Mar 1 (APP):Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms and Interior, Ahsan Iqbal Thursday said that after embarking upon grand project of China Pakistan Economic Corrdior (CPEC), the long standing strategic and political ties between two countries had been turned into true economic relationship as within a short period of three years, China had become number 1 country in term of Foreign Direct Investment in Pakistan.
“Pakistan and China have been enjoying close and strong relationships for long time but prior to CPEC, our partnership on economic front was nowhere,” Ahsan Iqbal said while addressing at an event hosted by Ministry of Planning to celebrate Chinese New Year and to mark fiver years of CPEC here.
He said benefits of CPEC were not limited to the two countries but its benefits would go beyond the regions.
The fruits of CPEC, he said were ripening now as with the completion of road projects under the Corridor, people of Pakistan specially those belonging to far flung areas were being connected to the big cities, resulting in reducing the poverty level in the country.
Ahsan Iqbal observed that huge natural resources of Thar coal remained unexploited for last seven decades, however thanks to CPEC, work on Thar coal mining and power project were under process and the project would start power production of 5000 MW from next year.
He said work on energy, infrastructure, and industrial zones projects was in process on fast track and hoped that in near future Pakistan would become an industrial hub after completion of long term projects under CPEC.
The minister said the mega project of CPEC was not only reshaping Pakistan’s infrastructure and making it economically strong country but it was also providing China, an opportunity to make its dream of great belt and road initiative true by using this platform.
He said political stability was vital to achieve sustainable development goals. He sighted an example that China was fully focused on political stability in order to achieve the economic goals while Russia lagged far behind due to instability in the country.
He said Pakistan was in a take off mode now, however he said political stability was a must to ensure smooth and sustainable flow of economic development of the country.
Meanwhile, Ambassador of China to Pakistan, Yao Jing said that CPEC was a project of two nations with shared destiny.
He informed that at present six major projects under CEPC had been completed while 14 were under process. Moreover he said that 20 more projects were in the pipeline and these would be materialized soon.
The event was also attended by Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Secretary Planning Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui, CPEC project Director Hassan Daud, Deputy Director Shaukat Khattak, and a large number of Chinese diplomats and businessmen.
Pakistan’s name in FATF grey list not to affect economy: Ahsan Iqbal
ISLAMABAD, March 1 (APP):Minister for Interior Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday said that inclusion of Pakistan’s name in Financial
Action Task Force (FATF), grey list would not affect economy of the country.
The United States was trying to pressurize Pakistan to complete its agenda in Afghanistan, he said while talking to a private news channel. Pakistan had its own policy based on national interest, he added.
“Our aim was to wipe out terrorism from Pakistan,” he said.
As far as Pakistan’s economy was concerned after listing the name in FATF grey list, he said
there would be no threat to our economy. In 2015, Pakistan’s name was included in white list, he added.
Asad Ashraf wins Senate seat
LAHORE, Mar 01 (APP):Dr Asad Ashraf, an independent
candidate who enjoyed support of the Pakistan Muslim League-
Nawaz, was elected as senator in the by-poll for a Senate seat
fell vacant after disqualification of Nehal Hashmi
here Thursday.
According to unofficial results, Dr Ashraf bagged 298
votes while his rival candidate Dr Zarqa Taimur obtained 38
votes.
A total of 350 votes were cast but 14 votes were rejected
on technical grounds. The polling started at 9:00am which
continued till 4:00pm without any break.
Provincial Election Commissioner Sharifullah presided
over the election process. The Election Commission of Pakistan had
declared the Punjab Assembly as a polling station.
Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif also cast
his vote in Senate’s by-poll whereas Punjab Law Minister Rana
Sanaullah was the first to cast his vote.
According to Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan,
the winning candidate Asad Ashraf got 298 votes while they
were expecting 313 votes. “Some of our members could not reach
due to pre-engagements,” he added.
Returning Officer Sharifullah cancelled ballot paper of
lawmaker Waheed Gull for violating the Election Commission’s
code of conduct. Gull had swung his stamped ballot paper
before inserting it into ballot box during the polling.
Pakistan Peoples Party and Jama’at-e-Islami did not take
part in the by-election while Q-League withdrew its first
decision of not taking part in the election process, and its
members actively supported and cast vote to PTI candidate Dr
Zarqa Taimur.
As the Election Commissioner unfolded unofficial results
and declared Asad Ashraf as successful candidate, the
PML-N lawmakers distributed sweets to rejoice the victory
and also extended greetings to each other.
Shehbaz Sharif condemns Indian firing at LoC
LAHORE, Mar 01 (APP):Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz
Sharif has strongly condemned unprovoked firing by the Indian
Army at the Line of Control (LoC).
The chief minister paid tributes to Sepoy Munir Chohan and
Sepoy Amir Hussain, who were martyred due to Indian firing and
extended heartfelt condolences to the heirs.
He said that growing violations of the Line of Control by India were
highly condemnable. The brave armed forces of Pakistan had the
fullest capability to give a befitting reply and the whole
Pakistani nation stood united with the country’s armed forces, he added.
Nasser terms CPEC as key to regional prosperity
ISLAMABAD, Mar 1 (APP):National Security Adviser (NSA) Lt General (R) Nasser Khan Janjua Thursday said China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is key to regional prosperity and to sustainable peace in the region.
He was talking to Deputy General Secretary of the One Belt One Road Center, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Xu Wenhong, who called on him here.
Besides the prospects of One Belt One Road initiatives, the overall regional security situation came under discussion.
The NSA said Pakistan and China share very special and close relationship and Pakistan regards China as most reliable friend and a partner.
Xu Wenhong expressed his satisfaction over the growing mutual cooperation and said China is ever willing to move forward for mutual prosperity and bilateral cooperation.
Both sides discussed different aspects regarding CPEC.
The NSA said Pakistan believes that building of economic corridor is conducive for promoting connectivity and shared prosperity of the entire region.
The two sides expressed support for constructive efforts for peace and stability in Afghanistan. The NSA said Pakistan believes in cooperative relations with all its neighbours on the basis of mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.
Law minister optimistic of Dr Assad’s success
LAHORE, Mar 01 (APP):Law Minister Punjab Rana Sanaullah
said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz backed candidate
would emerge victorious with heavy majority in the Senate’s
by-poll taking place on Thursday.
Speaking briefly to media after casting his first vote in
the Punjab Assembly building, he said PML-N backed candidate
was party member and would remain so after the by-poll.
However,he said those conspiring to make PML-N disappear
from politics would vanish themselves in due course of time.
He said that Dr Asad Ashraf,after his success in the
election,would re-announce his loyalty to the party.
ECP asks media to cover Senate election
ISLAMABAD, Mar 01 (APP):Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has issued directions
to allow media in the parliament house for Senate election coverage on March 3.
According to ECP, the commission has asked the media to go to
press gallery of the parliament house on senate election day as they use it on
routine basis.
In this regard, the Speaker National Assembly has made a contact
with the Secretary ECP Babar Yaqoob. It added Chief Election Commissioner
Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza while taking notice of the matter immediately withdrawn
the restriction of media coverage of all four provincial assemblies and the parliament
house Islamabad.
Chinese envoy lauds Pak army for their sacrifices in war on terror
RAWALPINDI, Mar 1 (APP):Chinese ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing Thursday called on Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Zubair Mahmood Hayat here at the Joint Staff Headquarters.
During the meeting, matters related to changing geostrategic environment and further strengthening of security and defence cooperation between the two countries came under discussion, an Inter Service Public Relations press release said.
Both the sides reaffirmed the resolve for furtherance of deeper strategic ties.
The ambassador applauded the professionalism of Pakistan armed forces and acknowledged sacrifices rendered by Pakistan in war against terrorism.
Work on 38km Darra Adamkhel-Hayatabad gas pipeline to start this month
ISLAMABAD, Mar 1 (APP):The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) would start construction work on 38-kilometer Darra Adamkhel to Hayatabad pipeline during the current month to ensure smooth supply of gas to Industrial Estate Hayatabad, Peshawar.
“The company is trying its best to ensure supply of gas to all industries of the Estate for which it carried out necessary maintenance of gas pipeline network and all consumer meter stations to ensure uninterrupted supply of the commodity,” official sources told APP.
During the current fiscal year, they said ample gas had been supplied to all industries including Compressed Natural Gas stations, Captive power units and cement industries, which is evident from the fact that consumption of industrial consumers had increased by 904 million cubic feet (mmcf) during the first four months as compared to the corresponding period of previous year.
“Peshawar industries’ gas consumption stood at 4,899 mmcf during the period from July-October-2016, while in July-October-2017 at 5,804 mmcf, which shows an increase of 904 mmcf,” the sources said.