ISLAMABAD, Jan 4 (APP): Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Monday said that 2015 remained a good year for the power sector as the total recoveries from consumers stood at 93 per cent against 88 per cent last year.
Five industrial estates upgrade under CPEC
ISLAMABAD, Jan 4 (APP): The federal government has upgraded five industrial estates as special economic zones under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor programme.
PSF hopeful of hosting events of US$ 50,000
ISLAMABAD, Jan 04 (APP): Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) has applied to Professional Squash Association (PSA) for hosting events of US 50,000 dollars in year 2016.
Light rain, snowfall expected at isolated places, shallow foggy conditions to continue in plain areas
ISLAMABAD, Jan 4 (APP): Light rain with light snowfall over the hills is expected at isolated places in Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir and its adjoining areas in next 24 hours.
Amateur artisans learn art of Block Printing
ISLAMABAD, Jan 4 (APP): As many as 50 amateur artisans and students started the training of Block Printing here Monday to learn the art from masters in the filed at National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage, Lok Virsa.
Arif Lohar starts production of video album
LAHORE, Jan 3 (APP): Famous folk singer Arif Lohar has started production of video album of 10 songs.
Earthquake jolts different cities
ISLAMABAD, Jan 2 (APP): An earthquake on Saturday jolted
Swat, Peshawar, Lahore, and adjoining areas with an intensity of 5.8 on Richer scale.
Met office reported that the epicenter of the earthquake
was in Hindu Kush Region of Afghanistan, with a depth of 175 Km.
The jolts were reported from Swat, Lower Deer, Peshawar,
Chitral, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Shaikhupura, Chinyot, Muzaffarabad, MuzaffarGarh, Noshera, Attock , Hangu, Dina, Shangla and adjoining areas.
Comedian Rangeela remembered on birth anniversary
ISLAMABAD, Jan 1 (APP): Saeed Khan Rangeela, one of the finest comedians of Pakistan film industry’s history was remembered Friday on the occasion of his birth anniversary.
Rangeela was not only a superb comedian; he was also an intellectual who knew the art of film-making inside-out. He was an actor, director, producer, writer and singer at the same time.
Born on January 1, 1937, Mohammad Saeed Khan he moved to Lahore at a young age in order to find work. In the early days of his career in Lahore, Rangeela painted billboards of the movies. But fate had some other perks lined up for him. One day, when a comedian was absent from the set, Rangeela was called upon to play his part and that he did with ease, leaving everyone on the set wondering.
However, his career formally started at the age of 21 from a
Punjabi feature film Jatti. Rangeela started to do comedy roles after this movie and soon became one of the most sought after comedians in the Lollywood. His funny faces, awkward gestures and hilarious dialogues made him a star. People started copying his style in public.
In 1958, Rangeela decided to start directing movies. His first
directorial was `Diya aur Toofaan’ that was released in 1969.
The song `Gaa Mere Manwa Gaata Ja Re’ is still fresh in the
memories of the music-lovers. The song was sung by Rangeela himself and it featured in Diya aur Toofaan.
Later he formed Rangeela Productions to produce his own
movies. He not only produced films but also directed his
productions, sang songs, and wrote some scripts as well.
His movies, to the surprise of many film industry stalwarts, attracted a large number of viewers. He directed numerous movies under the banner of Rangeela Productions. He died on May 24,2005 in Lahore.
PM announces Voluntary Tax Filing Scheme for traders
ISLAMABAD, Jan 1 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz
Sharif Friday announced a Voluntary Tax Filing Scheme for the traders and said it would help increase revenues and take the country forward on path of progress and development.
Addressing a large gathering here at the Prime
Minister’s Office to launch the Voluntary Tax Filing Scheme by
the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), he said the scheme would prove as a new positive era of close collaboration between FBR and trading community.
The Prime Minister lauded the resolution of a long-
standing dispute between the government and the different
trade bodies over the issue of taxation and said all the
stakeholders who played a part in the matter, deserved
appreciation.
He said the congenial atmosphere developed would help
take the country forward on the path of progress and
prosperity.
He said good government-trader ties would help end
poverty, counter terrorism, create employment and bring peace across the country, particularly in the country’s nerve centre of Karachi.
He said his government took head-on the major challenges
when it took over in 2013 and added that various sectors
resultantly witnessed a sea change.
He said there was a need to make progress in all areas
may it be the shortage of electricity and natural gas, road
infrastructure, poor economy, terrorism, or relations with
India and Afghanistan.
Prime Minister Sharif said his government believed in
addressing the issues with a spirit of tolerance,
understanding and statesmanship, so as to help take the
country forward on the path of development.
He said a nation which addresses all issues with
consensus, can achieve the most difficult of tasks.
The Prime Minister said his government believed that
taxes need to be brought down to a level, where the trading
community feel comfortable and encouraged to play their part in national development.
Prime Minister Sharif said his government believed in
addressing all issues with transparency and cited the example of setting of three new power plants that would cost only Rs 60 billion, against their stipulated cost of Rs 100 billion.
He said he was proud that the national exchequer managed
to save precious Rs 40 billion that would be spent on other
development projects. He said a number of power projects
were being setup that would help the country meet its energy shortage.
The prime minister also directed the Chairman FBR to
direct his staff to ensure that no person was pressurised
unjustifiably and the taxpayers are treated with respect to
encourage the people pay their taxes.
He said he was pleased to announce the tax amnesty
scheme for the trading community on the first day of 2016 and urged all to play their part in nation building.
The representatives of traders community presented a
gold medal to the Prime Minister for taking personal interest
in amicably resolving the issue of taxation between the
government and traders.
PAL to organise Int’l conference on language, literature, society
ISLAMABAD, Jan 1 (APP): Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) would organise a five-day International Conference on “Language, Literature and Society” (ICLLS) from March 2 to 6 in Islamabad.
The Academy would organize the conference in collaboration with Universities under the supervision of Chairman PAL Prof. Dr. M. Qasim Bughio.
The purpose of the said conference is to explore the contribution of literature and academia in bringing about positive changes in the society.
Writers, linguists, research scholars and academics from across the globe will participate in the said conference to exchange their research work and
developments in the field.
The conference aims to deepen understanding of contemporary literature being produced in context of peace building and social development of different countries around the globe.
The conference will bring together academics, researchers and scholars in the domain of interest. The interested candidates are invited from all over the world to present oral presentations, poster presentations and panel discussions at our conference.
Organizing Committee, ICLLS also announced its call for Papers for 5-day International Conference on “Language, Literature and Society” (ICLLS ). The main goal of the conference is to seek and explore new and innovative trends and challenges of research in Language and Literature across the world and its impact on society.
Pakistan Academy of Letters aims to develop academic relationship among the world researchers by providing the premier interdisciplinary forum for national and international researches of different backgrounds and languages.
The Conference will promote studies in the field of languages,
linguistics and society and will serve as an international forum for researchers, scholars, educators, practitioners, postgraduate students and experts in relevant fields to exchange ideas, research results and good practices.