ISLAMABAD, Nov 23 (APP): The Foreign Office spokesperson Wednesday said a news story appeared in a leading English daily tilted ‘New Committee to hammer out India Policy’ created a misleading impression.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz had informed the Senate yesterday, in response to a recommendation
by the “Committee of the Whole” of the Senate that a Committee
chaired by the Secretary Foreign Affairs and including the representatives of the concerned Ministries and Departments would
“regularly brief the Standing Committees on Defence and Foreign
Affairs,” a press release issued here said.
FO terms story about committee misleading
Promoting SME sector helpful for impressive economic growth: Leila
ISLAMABAD, Nov 23 (APP): Chairperson Prime Minister’s Youth
Programme (PYP), Leila Khan Wednesday said promoting small and
medium enterprises (SMEs) sector would be beneficial for better
economic growth of country.
“We can achieve impressive economic growth by promoting SME sector in the country”, she stated while chairing a meeting on Prime Minister’s Youth Business Loan Scheme with a team of Ministry of Finance and State Bank of Pakistan.
She appreciated efforts of State Bank of Pakistan for introducing
online data sharing portal for all executing banks of Prime Minister’s Youth Business Loan Scheme to avoid duplication of applicants or guarantors in applying for loans under this initiative.
All the 18 executing banks of the scheme including National Bank of
Pakistan, First Women Bank Limited, Habib Bank Limited, Habib Metropolitan Bank, Bank Al Habib, Sindh Bank, Summit Bank, Soneri Bank, Meezan Bank, Al Baraka Bank, Dubai Islamic Bank, Allied bank Limited, Muslim Commercial Bank, JS Bank, United Bank Limited, Askari Bank, Faysal Bank, and Bank Alfalah can verify data of applicants or guarantors by punching in their Computerized National Identity Cards (CNIC) number in the online portal, she said.
This step would greatly enhance transparency of the scheme and
ensure its outreach to the maximum number of beneficiaries.
So far, more than 9000 loans worth over Rs 9
billion had already been disbursed under the scheme, she informed.
Eradication of corruption vital for strong economy: Chairman NAB
ISLAMABAD, Nov 23 (APP): Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Qamar Zaman Chaudhry Wednesday said eradication of
corruption was vital to make country economically strong and stable.
The bureau was committed to making Pakistan corruption free and has prioritized education, awareness and prevention over enforcement to bring a positive change in society, he said this while addressing a ceremony organized here by Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI).
President FPCCI Abdul Rauf Alam, Chairman, United Business Group (UBG), Iftikhar Ali Malik, UBG’s candidate for presidency of Apex Chamber, Zubair Tufail and others were present on occasion.
The chairman said corruption is mother of all evils and it has a very negative effect on people, society and economy and added NAB has chalked out a comprehensive National Anti Corruption Strategy (NACS) for eradication of corruption while Rs 279 billion have been recovered and deposited in national exchequer.
He said corruption is more prevalent in developing countries as compared to developed ones and it badly impacts society, governance and youth. It is a big challenge to cope with, he said.
He said Transparency International has rated Pakistan in Corruption Perception Index (CPI) from 175 to 126 in 2014 and in 2015, CPI decreased from 126 to 117 which is a great achievement for Pakistan while the CPI of other regional countries remained static or declined.
On the occasion, Abdul Rauf Alam, President FPCCI said corruption makes production, imports and exports costly, resulting in trade deficit.
He paid glowing tributes to Chairman NAB for his efforts to eradicate corruption and hailed MOU with China to ensure transparency in China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and offered unconditional cooperation to NAB.
Abdul Rauf Alam said the trust of international community in our economy is returning for which credit goes to government as well as efforts of anti corruption initiatives of NAB.
He lauded the NAB’s Awareness and Prevention campaign on “Say
no to Corruption” which can now be seen on driving licenses, National Identity Cards, ATMs etc.
India targets civil bus across LoC; 4 embrace shahadat
RAWALPINDI, Nov 23 (APP): At least four boarders of a civilian passenger bus embraced shahadat while seven others sustained
injuries when the vehicle came under attack of Indian forces across
the Line of Control (LoC) in Neelum Valley on Wednesday.
The bus was targeted near Dhudnial town along LoC, according to Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).
Meanwhile, the Indian troops resorted to unprovoked firing and shelling on LoC in Shahkot, Jura, Battal, Karela, Bagh, Bagsar, Hot Spring sectors.
The Indians are targeting civilian population across the LoC.
In retaliation to unprovoked Indian firing and shelling Pakistani troops are targeting Indian posts.
Intense exchange of firing was continuing at the sectors where Indians have been targeting the civilian population.
Pakistan will become Polio free by the end 2016: UNICEF
ISLAMABAD, Nov 23 (APP): UNICEF Country Representative in Pakistan, Angela Kearney said on Wednesday that through coordinated and collaborative efforts of the international organisations and the government of Pakistan, polio will be eradicated from the country by the end of this year.
Talking to Radio Pakistan, Angela Kearny said that in 2014 there were 309 polio cases in Pakistan and the number has significantly reduced to 17 this year (2016).
She said in 2014, 500,000 children could not be accessed for giving polio drops, however, today this number has also been significantly dropped.
High Commissioner of Canada to Pakistan, Perry John Calderwood speaking on the issue said that efforts should be made for the allocation of right resources for the development of the children.
JETRO President extols Pakistan’s economic progress
ISLAMABAD, Nov 23 (APP): President Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Yasushi Akahoshi has written a latter to Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Finance in which he has acknowledged that the economic progress made by Pakistan provides confidence to Japanese companies for increased business collaboration.
Akahoshi appreciated the finance minister and the government
for pursuing economic policies which were geared towards “ensuring stable and strong economic prosperity” in Pakistan and expressed that JETRO is “fully committing all possible efforts toward deepening” the bilateral economic relationship, a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance here said.
President JETRO in his correspondence has further thanked the Finance
Minister for meeting the JETRO delegation which accorded an opportunity to discuss areas for more active economic cooperation between Pakistan and Japan.
Country Director JETRO, Osamu Hisaki while delivering the letter from
President JETRO said that JETRO was thankful to the finance minister, Board of Investment and Federal Board of Revenue for facilitating Japanese companies in doing business in Pakistan.
He said various issues faced by Japanese companies in Pakistan
were getting rectified due to “swift responses by the authorities” and strong pro investment policy of the government, which has created confidence for other Japanese companies to invest in Pakistan.
Country Director JETRO informed that a business exhibition by Japanese companies will soon be held in Karachi under the auspices of JETRO to promote future investment in Pakistan.
No narcotics business being run at educational institutions: Tariq Fazal
ISLAMABAD, Nov 23 (APP): Minister for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on Wednesday rejected media reports that narcotics business was being run at the public and private sector educational institutions in Islamabad.
Responding to a calling attention notice in the Senate, he said that the report published in a section of media that 53 percent children of private schools of the Islamabad use drugs, was without solid evidence or any data.
He said one of the NGO had prepared the report without conducting any survey adding that strict action would be taken against it.
The minister said that ministry of CADD had constituted monitoring teams, which were visiting capital’s schools on daily basis and added that the monitoring system was totally IT based.
Earlier speaking on the calling attention notice Senator Hafiz Hamadullah drew the attention of the House towards the news item published in the print media on October 20, 2016 that the narcotics business was being run in the public and private sector educational institutions in Islamabad.
Pakistan to highlight LoC violations by India at every fora: Qayyum
ISLAMABAD, Nov 23 (APP): Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML N) Senator Lt Gen ® Abdul Qayyum Wednesday said that Pakistan would highlight Indian violation at Line of the Control (LoC) and its atrocities on innocent Kashmiris at every fora.
Pakistan valiant armed forces had been giving befitting response to Indian aggression at the LoC, he said talking to private news channel.
He said Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had courageously
highlighted Indian barbarism in the occupied valley in United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and others forums.
He said that Pakistan had raised voice for Kashmiris basic right of self determination as per UNGA’s resolutions.
Pakistan wanted to resolve all outstanding issues with India including Kashmir issue through dialogue, he said and added,”We did not want any adventure with India as Pakistan always talked about regional peace.”
Abdul Qayyum said the nation, civil and military leadership were ready to defend every inch of the country.
The prime minister has categorically stated that weapons were not for display only but would be used to safeguard the homeland, he said.
1203 persons appointed in Ministry of Science & Technology since 2013: Senate told
ISLAMABAD Nov 23 (APP): Federal Minister for Law and Justice
Zahid Hamid on Wednesday told the Senate that total 1203 persons had been appointed in the Ministry of Science & Technology and its attached departments since 2013.
Replying to a question on behalf of the Minister for Science and
Technology, he said total 987 persons were appointed on merit while 93 from Punjab, 57 from Sindh, 12 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 19 from Balochistan, five from Azad Jammu & Kashmir, 27 from federal capital and three from FATA were appointed on quota basis.
Responding to a supplementary question, the minister said at present some 5,683 employees were working in Zari Taraqiati Bank (ZTBL) on regular basis.
Cameras being installed in train driver’s cabin: Saad
ISLAMABAD, Nov 23 (APP): Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad
Rafique Wednesday apprised the Senate that cameras were being installed in train driver’s cabin to monitor drivers activities.
Responding to a calling attention notice raised by Saleem Mandviwala about the train accident at Landhi Railway Station, the minister said after a detailed inquiry, it had been established that neither the train driver nor the assistant driver were present in the cabin at the time of accident. Both the drivers were responsible for the unfortunate accident, he added.
Saad said a detailed report of the inquiry was received eight days after the accident. According to the report, the train was running at the speed of 90 km per hour at the time of accident and emergency brake was not applied.
He said the driver’s family was also traveling in the train and he (driver) was with his family. Strict action, he said, was being taken against the responsible officials. In the past no stern action was taken in such accidents, he added.
He claimed the Railways was purely being run on non political basis
rather purely merit was being followed.
The minister said the Railways’ revenue had surged to Rs 36 billion
from Rs 18 billion. Over 50 million people were traveling on Pakistan Railways while over six per cent increase was recorded in the freight
business, he said.
He said 60,000 trains were being operated annually. The whole railway track was safe and signal system was also completely functional, he added.
Saad Rafique said a comprehensive plan had been chalked out which
would be announced shortly. It would require billions of rupees, he added.