ISLAMABAD, Feb 25 (APP):Advisor on Finance and Economic Affairs, Miftah Ismail has said that seeking name of our country into the list of Financial Action Task Force (FATF), would not affect Pakistan’s rising economy.
It was only effort of some countries including United States to malign Pakistan, which would not be successful as many countries supported our position, he said while talking to a private news channel.
He, however, said Pakistan would have to focus on long term planning and implement “action plan”.
There was no name of Pakistan mentioned in the list of FATF, he said.
Putting the name in the watch list would not affect emerging economy and investment in Pakistan, he assured.
FATF not to affect rising economy, investment in Pakistan: Miftah
Shabbir creates course record of winning 3rd RMI Open Golf Championship with 19 under 197
PESHAWAR, Feb 25 (APP):International Muhammad Shabbir Iqbal created new record of 19 under 197 over 54-holes and clinched the trophy
of the 3rd RMI Open Golf Championship played here at PAF Golf Course on Sunday.
Shabbir Iqbal succeeded in breaking the 18 under 198 score record of leading professional Imdad Hussain who created it in way back 1997 during the then Frontier Open Golf Championship.
In-form Shabbir Iqbal added a very vital 64 on the third and last day to his overnight score 66, 67 by winning the prestigious event.
“It is certainly an honor for me as I have great association with PAF Golf Course and making a record in a course where I love to play is surely very encouraging for me,” Shabbir Iqbal told APP in post-match talks. “My putting was par better in this Championship as compared to Sindh Open concluded recently where I lost to Matloob Ahmad while I succeeded in hitting all regulations which eased my job to go for birdie-putt,” he added.
“Playing in Peshawar always fascinate me and I’m very happy the way golf is being promoted with increase in prize money as well certainly that would attract more golfers in future,” he said. He further said that the Championship being organized always attracted leading golfers because of the dedicated efforts of international golfer Maj Arshad Mehmood who cares after the golfers besides superb hosting.
Shabbir Iqbal carded three under 33 at front nine and five under 31 at back nine with birdies at 1, 6, 9, 12, 14, 15, 16 and 17.
His close rival Matloob from Lahore Gymkhana added five under 67 to his overnight 69 and 68 to make an aggregated total 12 under 204.
Matloob Ahmad, a Lahore Gymkhana professional carded three under 33 at front nine and 34, two under at back nine to score one bogy and birdies at 3, 5, 11, 12 and 17.
Muhammad Ashfaq, who was a stroke behind the leader Shabbir Iqbal on the second day, slipped to third position with his gross score nine under 207.
Muhammad Ashfaq added one over par 73 to his overnight 70 and 64 with only two birdies and three bogeys. He carded one over 37 at front nine and par 36 at back nine. Another leading golfer of Pakistan international M. Munir got fourth position with his gross score 207, five under, by adding one over par 69 to his overnight 67, 71. Muhammad Munir played well and carded par 36 at front nine with just one birdie and three under 33 at back nine with three birdies at hole no. 12, 17 and 18 and a missed stroke at hole no. 3. His second short at hold no. 3 par-4 landed in rough but he managed out quickly by finishing with just one missed stroke.
Muhammad Wisal Khan of Peshawar Golf Club scored five under 211, Ansar Mehmood (213), Muhammad Alam and Muhammad Naeem (214) each were the other leading golfers.
In the Amateur 12 and below Zubair Hussain carded 221 by taking first position, followed by Ghazanfar with 223 score and Taimur Khan with 224 score while in the Net Abdul Qayyum Bokhari carded 212 and got first position, followed by Hamza Khan with 214 and Khushal Khan with 217 over 54 holes.
In Junior professional Bilal Khan won first position with gross 151 over 36 holes, followed by Asad Khan and Syed Bilal Hussain. In 13-18 HCP Shanan Khan won first position, followed by Zahid Shafiq and Wing Commander
Jawad Ali Raja. In the Net Azmat got first position, followed by Yasir Huda Khan and Laraib.
In boys U-17 gross Hamza Bilal won first position, followed by Basil and Ahmad, in Net Laraib got first position, followed by Abbas and Muhammad Bin Qasim, in Boys Under-14 gross Adan Bokhari got first, followed by Hazi and Danial and in Net Bilal, Darmal and Jalal got positions.
In Senior Amateur gross international golfer Col Saud won the title, followed by Mohsin and Brig Iqbal while in Net Azhar Ul Habib won first position, followed by Dr. Shahkar and Rahim Bari while in Veterans gross Imdad Hussain of Railways won the title with five under par 67, followed by Asad and Mehmood Kiyani of PTV, in Net Col Safi won the title, followed by Col Saeed and Jamal Ul Hasnain. In Ladies US National Ami Qin won the title in gross, followed by Tahir and Asma and in Net Aisha won the title, followed by Zeenat Aisha and Aisha Hamid.
In Media Putting Javed Iqbal of Dawn TV won first position, followed by Hashim of Frontier News and Jehanzeb of Al-Safawat Sports Magzine.
At the end, Governor KP Iqbal Zafar Jhagra who was the chief guest on this occasion gave away trophies and cash prizes to the position holders. A total of 350 golfers from across the country took part in the event.
Efforts underway for uplift of Karachi: President
KARACHI, Feb 25 (APP):President Mamnoon Hussain Sunday said special focus was given to the resolution of issues confronting Karachi and appreciated the performance of the present experienced and talented financial team of the federal government.
During a meeting with delegation of business community led by noted businessman and PML-N leader Ishtiaque Baig, the president stressed upon making of efforts for the uplift of Karachi and Sindh province irrespective of all the political affiliations as the country’s development was linked with Karachi.
The president observed that political issues had not affected the government’s performance, declaring that the political issues would settle down soon, said a press release. He also assured to resolve issues of the business community.
The president said planning was underway for establishment of economic zones under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. A strong foundation for development and progress of the country had been laid in the last few years.
The eminent businessmen from Karachi, on the occasion, credited the federal government for restoring peace in the port city.
In the last four years, improvement in the national economy and decline in inflation had been noted. The federal government had chalked out major development projects for Karachi, they added.
Saad sends defamation notice of Rs 5 bln to Fawad
LAHORE, Feb 25 (APP):Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique has sent a defamation notice of Rs 5 billion to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhary for levelling false allegations against him.
Saad Rafique, in a statement on Sunday, demanded an unconditional apology from Fawad over his statements against him regarding the Paragon Housing Society.
Addressing a news conference on February 22, Fawad Chaudhary had alleged that Saad was the owner of Paragon Housing Society. He also alleged that the Railways Minister was a member of the land mafia, who had deprived common people of their property.
The minister demanded that Fawad should either prove the allegations or tender apology publicly within 14 days, and in case of his failure to do so, legal proceedings would be initiated against him.
Saad Rafique, in the notice, stated the Constitution allowed every person to protect his sanctity and that no one
should level baseless allegations against anyone.
Ahsan distributes 691 laptops among brilliant students
SIALKOT, Feb 25 (APP):Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal Sunday distributed 691 laptops among brilliant students at Narowal Public School.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister stressed the need to ensure an easy access of every one to quality education.
He said parents and teachers should focus on the character-building of their children and students,
enabling them to serve the nation and the country in a better way.
Ahsan Iqbal said promotion of quality education was the top priority of the government. Being future of the nation students should be encouraged to get advanced education and knowledge and the government was also providing them maximum facilities for the purpose.
The minister said for the first time in the country’s 70-year history, university campuses were being opened in every district. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government had started many educational projects across the country, he added.
He said five years back, foreign media had declared Pakistan a dangerous country and today it was ranked the fifth among the fast growing countries. Billions of dollars were being invested in the country under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, he added.
Member of Provincial Assembly Rana Abdul Manan Khan, Narowal District Council Chairman Chaudhary Ahmed Iqbal, educationists and others also attended the ceremony.
Occupied Kashmir is in the line of fire: Masood Khan
MIRPUR (AJK), Feb 25 (APP)::President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Sardar Masood Khan has said that the Indian occupied Kashmir – the
paradise on earth – was on fire and the world community was not sending any firefighters or peacekeepers to extinguish the raging fires there.
He made these remarks while addressing a convention of British Councilors, Lord Mayors and Mayors in
London, hosted by the Pakistan High Commission in the United Kingdom, a message received here on Sunday said.
He paid tribute to Pakistan High Commissioner Ibn-e-Abbas for successfully organizing and hosting the event and congratulated the councilors of Pakistani and Kashmiri extraction for their successful integration into the British political fabric.
He said that this was no accidental fire, but Indian occupation forces were the “arsonists” who would not let any firefighter enter into the region and extinguish the fires. And the world was busy appeasing India and the arsonists instead of sending peacekeepers to the region because they say they have their economic interests tied with that country.
The president also said Jammu and Kashmir was the most obscure conflict in the region where thousands of people are killed, maimed, tortured, and incarcerated every year. Unlike other conflicts, Kashmir has little visibility on the international radar screen and Kashmir is also the least reported conflict, he said.
The United Nations Security Council and the United Nations Secretary General, instead of hiding behind bland statements, should intercede to take full cognizance of the situation in the Indian occupied Kashmir and stop massacres, killings, and illegal
detentions.
India would never agree to the UN Secretary General’s good offices but why should the SG be deterred by India’s non-compliance? The president asked: Has the UN not intervened in South Sudan, Mali, Central African Republic, Yemen, and Libya, without waiting for the consent of the parties to the conflict?
Sardar Masood said the UN Security Council should, instead of acting as a bystander in the Kashmir dispute, should take full cognizance of the matter and play its rightful role.
He appealed to the Councilors, mayors and lord mayors to raise the visibility of the Kashmir dispute in the parleys in the legislative bodies, conventions and conferences. This, he said, could be done by raising questions on the floors, moving resolutions, and holding events on the sidelines.
He said Pakistan should stop talking to India on Kashmir because of three reasons: Kashmir is an international, not a bilateral, dispute; secondly, India has closed all doors for bilateral dialogue; and thirdly, the rounds of bilateral engagement so far have proved to be a mirage and totally unproductive. The real pressure for the solution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute will come from the international forums and global civil society.
The AJK president clarified that Jammu and Kashmir never was and never will be an integral part of India.
“That’s a falsehood coined by India, which it cannot sustain or justify, as is evident from the situation on the ground”, he said.
He also underlined that Kashmir was a trilateral issue between Pakistan, India and the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the Kashmiris were the most important party in this dispute because they have to decide their political future in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.
He said India wants to resolve the Jammu and Kashmir through the use of unbridled and brutal state terrorism; whereas Pakistan believes in dialogue, diplomacy and the rule of law as written into the UN Charter. Kashmiris were not, he said, terrorists but were waging a peaceful movement for the libertarian of their own homeland.
“This is neither terrorism, nor a crime by any law or standard; this is a legitimate aspiration”, he said.
The president introduced Azad Kashmir as a destination for investment, commerce and economic activity. He apprised his audience how Azad Kashmir had become part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor and a hub for economic activity focusing on roads, hydropower generation, high quality and higher education, universal access to health, organization of tourism as an industry, exploitation of extractive industry, and development of the agriculture sector. He told his audience that work on the Rathua Haryana bridge will be completed with speed.
Marriyum Aurangzeb condoles demise of Bollywood actress Sridevi
ISLAMABAD, Feb 25 (APP):Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb on Sunday expressed grief and sorrow over the demise of renowned Bollywood film actress Sridevi.
In a statement the minister said that Sridevi was a versatile actress who proved her mettle in showbusiness through stellar performances in several films.
She said that her fans all over the world were mourning her sudden death.
She expressed heartfelt condolences with the family members of the deceased actress.
Computerization of 223 National Savings Centres completed to facilitate investors
ISLAMABAD, Feb 25 (APP):National Saving has completed automation and computerization of its 223 Centres to facilitate investors and ensure more effectiveness in execution of routine work.
More than 200 such Centres are now centrally connected, official sources at Finance Division said on Sunday.
The sources said present government under ambit of National Savings had taken steps to attract more investment in National Savings Schemes and to facilitate investors and these included launch of non-financial version of Mobile Application i.e Qoumi Bachat Digital.
The National Savings has become first-ever non-bank member of Banking Clearing House System which has reduced cheque processing time from 7-10 days to 1-3 days only.
The Department has also launched state-of-the-art Call Center which is backed by a Computerized Complaint Resolution System and added Call Centre can be accessed through a dedicated number and all complaints of customers are tracked through system generated complaint ID till their final resolution.
The other steps included mobile application enabled National Savings to view up-to-date Certificate and Account Balances, access product-wise investment details, get SMS and email alerts on any transactions in accounts/certificates, view transactional history and account statements, search draw results of prize bonds and save prize bond numbers for future draws.
Permission for Third-Party Payment against National Savings Withdrawal Slips was another step through which customers of Savings Account can now pay their routine expenditure like utility bill, school fee etc. to beneficiary directly.
The National Savings has also developed schemes for family members of martyrs called Shuhada Family
Welfare Account (SFWA) and extension of Bahbood Savings Certificates (BSCs) to Persons with Disabilities
(PwDs)
Structuring of a new scheme for Non-Resident Pakistanis through Overseas Pakistanis Savings Certificates
(OPSCs), consideration and establishment of a Sharia Window of National Savings to launch Islamic Schemes
and launch of Rs 40,000 Premium Prize Bonds (Registered) with dual features of both prize money and bi-annual
profit payments were the other major steps introduced.
PML-N govt has set new records of selfless services: Shehbaz
LAHORE, Feb 25 (APP):Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Sunday said the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) government had set new records of selfless services during the past over four years.
Talking to a party delegation here, he said Niazi Sahib (Imran Khan) had also set records but of those of telling lies and U-turns. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa had showed the worst performance during the period.
He said the ‘sit-in group’ had created only hurdles in way of progress of the country.
The chief minister said those who had kept levelling baseless allegations against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had been fully exposed now as Niazi Sahib had now become the ‘lord of liars’.
Shehbaz Sharif said that the opponents of public welfare were afraid of popularity of the PML-N. The people knew the reality of their enemies and they would mot vote for them in the next elections, he added.
He said that Niazi Sahib introduced the culture of abuse in the country. Those, who wasted the time of the nation through their sit-ins and lockdowns, would not get anything as defeat in the elections was their fate.
The chief minister said the people had no concern with hollow slogans and negative politics, as they only wanted
development and prosperity. He said that good governance, merit and transparency were the basis of the PML-N
politics.
Asia-Pacific countries pledge women, girl’s empowerment at a UN forum
UNITED NATIONS, Feb 25 (APP):Senior government representatives from Asia and the Pacific have committed to empower rural women and girls,
to lift their standard of living and combat structural barriers impacting their human rights at a UN forum in Bangkok.
“If we do not take concrete actions, we risk leaving rural women and girls behind,” Shamshad Akhtar, Executive
Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), said in her opening
statement at the regional consultation for the 62nd session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women
(CSW62).
Achieving adequate living standards, women’s economic empowerment, land rights, food security, health care,
quality education, resilience and preparedness to deal with disasters and conflicts are among the main challenges
rural women and girls in Asia-Pacific confront.
The High-Level meeting, Challenges and Opportunities in Achieving Gender Equality and the Empowerment of
Rural Women and Girls, adopted a set of recommendations that will feed into CSW62 to be held at the UN
Headquarters in New York from 12 to 23 March 2018.
“Development which does not empower rural women and girls is antithetical to a rights-based approach enshrined
in the 2030 Agenda,” Ms. Akhtar, a former Pakistan State Bank governor, stressed.
“We must work together to create an enabling environment which supports women and girls in rural areas of
Asia and the Pacific to unfold their full potential as powerful agents of change,” she added.
The recommendations reflect the urgent need to strengthen normative and legal frameworks, and ensure
coordinated action for their social and economic empowerment and meaningful participation in society.
Delegates further highlighted the need for improved availability of data and gender statistics to enhance
evidence-based policy making.
“The 2030 Agenda is a commitment to leaving no-one behind,” Miwa Kato, Regional Director for Asia and
the Pacific for the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), reminded
the participants, adding that the difficulties women face are “partly due to negative gender stereotypes,
harmful practices and structural inequalities that must be addressed.”
For her part, Kundhavi Kadiresan, Regional Representative of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO), underscored, “Evidence shows that if rural women had access to, and control of, the same resources
as men, their contributions would increase food production by as much as four per cent,” benefiting the entire
family.