ISLAMABAD, May 17 (APP): Chairperson Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Ms Leila Khan Tuesday said about 161,840 loans worth Rs 3.4 billion had been distributed under the Prime Minister’s Interest Free Loan Scheme amongst the poorest of the poor.

Chairing a meeting of Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) here, she expressed satisfaction over achievements of the scheme, under which interest free loans were distributed among the poor from 287 Union Councils of 44 districts across the country.

She said these loans had enabled households in establishing their own businesses in livestock, petty trading, agriculture, stitching, embroidery, handicrafts and small scale rural manufacturing, raising living standards of around one million population.

ISLAMABAD, May 17 (APP): Minister for Commerce Engineer Khurram Dastgir Tuesday said the Parliament was the best forum for resolving all issues and the opposition should discuss all matters in the parliament rather than any other place.

Talking to PTV, he said the Prime Minister had presented himself and his family for accountability in front of any forum regarding Panama Papers’ investigation, The Prime Minister did not want any type of immunity and he believed in politics of respect rather revenge, he said.
He said that opposition had staged a walkout after being knocked-out by the Prime Minister’s address in the National Assembly.

ISLAMABAD, May 17 (APP): Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani Tuesday said Council of Common Interest (CCI) should be made more effective and functional keeping in view its importance in the federation.

Giving his remarks on debate in the Senate on annual reports of CCI for the year (2013-14, 2014-15), he said when federating units realized that they had been involved and had stakes, then the federation would be more strong and they would defend it.

He said, “if Parliament was brain in a democratic system then CCI was heart. If heart is not allowed to function, then body goes on ventilator.”

ISLAMABAD, May 17 (APP): Minister for Information Technology Anusha Rahman Tuesday said that nothing was proved against Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif in past probes.

Talking to a private news channel, she said that it was very
unfortunate that whenever the country was on track to development and prosperity such conspiracies were hatched against the elected government.

The minister said allegations were also levelled against the Prime Minister in Musharraf regime but not a single case was proved.

ISLAMABAD, May 17 (APP): Pakistan and China have greatly expanded economic dimension of their relationship as China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a flagship initiative in this regard which would speed up economic cooperation and connectivity.

The political leadership-level interaction had increased which would of course further deepen this relationship, Chairman National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari said.

In an exclusive talk with APP in connection with anniversary of Pakistan and China diplomatic ties here on Tuesday, he said the friendship was all-weather and time-tested.