LAHORE, Dec 19 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was briefed here on Saturday about the law and order situation in the Punjab.
Home Secretary Punjab Maj (Retd) Azam Suleman Khan and Inspector General Police (IGP) Mushtaq Ahmed Sukhera briefed the Prime Minister on the overall law and order situation in the province.
Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan and Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar also attended the meeting.

LAHORE, Dec 19 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was briefed by Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif on various development projects in the rural and urban Punjab .
In a meeting here on Saturday with the Premier in the chair, CM Shahbaz Sharif informed about the ongoing development initiatives like the clean drinking water, rural roads network and rehabilitation of water supply system in the urban Punjab.
Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif appreciated the development projects carried out by the provincial government and expressed his satisfaction over the pace of the development work.
The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Ch Nisar Ali Khan, Khawaja Asif and parliamentarians from the Punjab Assembly.

ISLAMABAD, Dec 19 (APP): President Mamnoon Hussain made history by delivering his speech in Urdu language in the 2nd World Internet Conference held at the river town of Wuzhen in Zhejiang province of China from December
16 to 18.
It was for the first time that a Pakistani President addressed an international event abroad in Urdu, which would not only help promote the national language and pride but would also highlight the rich cultural heritage.
The conference organized by the Cyberspace Administration of China and the Government of Zhejiang province was also addressed by President of China Xi Jinping in Chinese language.
President Mamnoon Hussain in his speech at the forum highlighted the need to make collective global efforts to check the abuse of cyberspace and Internet by terrorists and criminals.
Besides addressing the Internet conference, the President also had a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping and attended a cultural event hosted in his honour by the Government of Zhejiang province.

ISLAMABAD, Dec 19 (APP): President Mamnoon Hussain Saturday said that the economic stability could not be achieved without cohesion among the country’s political and social institutions.
Addressing the concluding session of three-day conference on ‘Vision 2025:

Effective Strategies for Transformational Growth’ held by Pakistan Institute of Development Economics here, he said the the Vision 2025 addressed the subject of pursuing development goals by creating harmony among different
institutions.
Lauding the role of Pakistan Society of Development  Economists for the country’s economic stability and public prosperity, the President hoped that the conference would help carry forward the same goals.
He observed that the recommendations coming out of the conference could help promote good governance by ensuring institutional reforms. This goal could only be achieved by investing in the fields of education, health and human resources, he added.
The President was satisfied to note that economic experts were also paying attention to the issues reasoned by climate change and energy crisis. In this way, any loss to the components of the national economy, including
agriculture, industry, food safety as well as the business could be averted, he added.
He said in the past, various factors, including law and order situation, political instability besides other infrastructural issues confronted the national economic progress.
“I am pleased to say that Pakistani nation has braved all these challenges boldly and sagaciously. The sacrifices rendered by our armed forces and law enforcement agencies and their performance also remained praiseworthy.

Consequently, the lawlessness pervading different parts of the country, terrorism and extremism are now receding. Law and order situation is improving gradually,” the President remarked.
He said consequently, the trust of the investors was reviving and the economic activities were also increasing. President Mamnoon said likewise law and order, the national prosperity and economic stability were also linked with the political situation.

The political ups and downs occurred frequently in the developing countries which begot uncertainty thus decelerating the economic growth, he added.
However, the President said the country’s political situation remained encouraging and except few minor crises, no upheaval hit the national economy.
He assured the audience, comprising the economists coming from across the country, that the country would see further improvements in the years to come and the economic indicators would also bring positive news.
The President said  better economic infrastructure could only bring in meaningful development in the fields of industry, agriculture and other sectors. But unfortunately, the sector faced neglect in the past that affected the productivity and exports besides increasing the cost of production.
He said the government was addressing this issue as availability of skilled manpower was improving.
Terming China Pakistan Economic Corridor ‘Monument of the Century’, the President said after its completion, Pakistan would be able to benefit its geographical importance that would also bring stability to the national economy.
He said the Central Asian states were mulling to link their infrastructural projects with the CPEC. He also called for national unity to ensure completion of this historic project and stand united against the obstacles in this regard.
He advised the youngsters to pursue their goals with passion and ambition.
Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal and Vice Chancellor Pakistan Institute of Development Economics Dr Asad Zaman also addressed the conference.
Later, Ahsan iqbal also presented a souvenir to the President.

ISLAMABAD, Dec 19 (APP): The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved on Saturday the revised PC-I of Neelum Jhelum hydropower project at a total cost of Rs 404.321 billion.
The ECNEC in its meeting chaired by Finance Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar here considered and approved proposals in energy, communication and
higher education sectors.
ECNEC was apprised that the financial issues of the project were discussed in the Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCOE), following which a sub-committee headed by the Finance Minister was constituted to resolve these issue.
The sub-committee noted that the existing PC-I of the project had no provision for certain items including interest during construction.
The Committee therefore directed the WAPDA to prepare a revised PC-I and include all the project related costs inclusive of IDC, taxes and duties etc.
The revised PC-I was accordingly submitted to Central Development Working Party (CDWP) which recommended it to ECNEC for approval.  While approving the project, the Committee directed that the NJHPP related schemes of AJK be implemented at the earliest.
On a proposal of Ministry of Communications, ECNEC also approved the revised PC-I of Sukkhur-Multan Section (392 KMs)of Peshawar- Karachi Motorway Project at a total cost of Rs 314.997 billion.
The section covers the areas of districts of Sukkhur, Ghotki, Rahimyar Khan, Bahawalpur and Multan in the provinces of Sind and Punjab.
The committee was informed that the project was being implemented on EPC basis and therefore there would be no cost escalation during the implementation of the project.  The meeting was informed that despite upward revision of the project cost, a saving of Rs. 112 billion has still been achieved through deep scrutiny.
ECNEC also discussed and approved the revised PC-I for KKH Phase-II (Havelian to Thakot 118.057 KM) project at a total cost of Rs.136.659 billion.
The meeting was informed that increase in cost of the project owed to a number of reasons.
The proposed scope of work includes high level bridges as well as tunnels under poor soil support which requires special treatment and needs heavy spending.
Further the area is prone to seismic activities which require additional safety measures.
Due to poor strata along the alignment, excessive material is required from far off places which needs haulage roads resulting in substantial increase in cost of earthwork.
The road will be built on Chinese standards applicable to similar terrain.

NHA informed the meeting that a saving of Rs. 58 billion has been achieved in the project cost through a reduction in the bid following technical negotiations. The meeting also considered and approved the National Highway N-70, Rakhi Gajj-Bewata, East-West, Road Project at a revised cost of Rs. 22.994 billion.
The road is an important link between Balochistan and southern region of Punjab.
The project envisages revamping of a stretch of 32. 651KM long two lane single carriageway of N-70 from Rakhi Gajj to Bewata in the districts of Dera Ghazi Khan and Loaralai.
The construction work also includes building of a steel bridge which will be one of its kind once completed.
ECNEC also considered and approved the Fulbright Scholarship Support Programme (Phase-II), which will be funded mainly by the USAID. The project involves a total funding of Rs. 12.567 billion.
Under the programme 550 Master/M.Phil and 141 doctoral scholarships will be offered to Pakistani scholars in US universities in specific disciplines focused mainly on science and technology.
The awardees are selected on merit from all over the country, with preference being given to less developed areas as well as to women.

ISLAMABAD, Dec 19 (APP):  Minister Planning, Development  and Reform Ahsan Iqbal on Saturday said that Pakistan can move to top 25 five econnomies of the world by 2025 with the passion of people of Pakistan and the talent of its youth, which can even take the country in top ten econnomies of the world by 2047.
Pakistan is successful emerging state, which can be developed economically through self-belief and postivity by defeating the negativity.
He was speaking at the concluding session of Conference on Vision-2025:
Effective Strategies for Transformational Growth” organized by Institute of Development Econnomies.
Ahsan Iqbal said that Pakistan needs seven to eight percent transformational growth in next ten years to mobilize the resources for social uplift of backward areas of the country and create jobs for growing youth population.
He believed that passion of Pakistani people would make this dream true. He said Vision-2025 and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor would help to realize the dream of economically developed Pakistan.
The minister appreciated the research papers presented at the conference and noted their quality speaks of hard work of researchers. He assured that workable recommendations of research papers would be utilized in policy making.
Professor Ahsan Iqbal, said that in a nation progress ambition plays a pivotal role because to reach for the stars one must have ambition and Vision 2025 is the roadmap to achieve that very ambition.
He said that productivity, quality and innovation, which he called ‘PQI’, would be the slogan for the year 2016 to highlight the importance of these variables for development.
He said that emotional capital is as important as other factors, such as human capital, physical capital, etc. for progress.

RAWALPINDI, Dec 19 (APP): Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Raheel Sharif visited North Waziristan Agency (NWA) and spent his day with troops and tribals of NWA on Saturday.
COAS was briefed in detail by the formation commander about recent progress of ongoing Operation Zarb-e-Azb, IBOs and return of TDPs.
Appreciating the progress, he vowed to continue operation till total elimination of terrorists, said a release issued by Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR) here.
While talking to troops on the occasion, COAS commended all officers and men for their courage, determination and spirit of sacrifice displayed by them in war against terrorism.
Appreciating intense hard work by intelligence agencies and Law Enforcement Agencies, COAS said that terrorist networks and their linkages are being unearthed across the country and this nexus will be broken at all cost to bring enduring peace.
COAS was also briefed on the ongoing rehabilitation work, and its effects on the socio-economic landscape of the area. He was satisfied with the pace of progress of rehabilitation work and directed all concerned to ensure a dignified return of TDPs to a better built and rehabilitated area.
Later, COAS interacted with tribal elders and recently returned TDPs, and assured them that Army will continue to remain in the area till completion of resettlement process.
Tribal elders paid rich tribute to Army for successful operations, and affirmed that with the help of the Army, terrorists will never be allowed to return in the area.
He also inaugurated 110 bedded Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Mir Ali, which has been equipped with state of the art equipment. He appreciated Army Engineers for their dedicated efforts in executing quality construction work.
To enhance education standards and help locals benefit from the emerging economic opportunities, COAS announced construction and opening of a Cadet College around Mir Ali for children of Waziristan.
Earlier on arrival, COAS was received by Corps Commander Peshawar, Lieutenant General Hidayat Ur Rehman.
According to data provided by ISPR of temporary displaced persons (TDPs), out of total 2,91,827 families, 1,08,503 (38%) families returned back while the agency wise percentage of returned TDPs was as NWA 15%, SWA 15%, Kurram 35%, Orakzai 34% and Khyber 78%.