HYDERABAD
HYDERABAD
Labourers taking nap to rest under the flyover near railway station
HYDERABAD
HYDERABAD
Pigeons picking food thrown by people at cantt graveyard
HYDERABAD
Democracy ensures provision of fundamental rights: Governor Kundi
PESHAWAR, Sep 14 (APP): Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Faisal Karim Kundi, on Saturday highlighted the significance of democracy as a system that ensures the provision of fundamental rights and representation of public opinion.
The Governor, at the eve of International Democracy Day, emphasized that democracy is an ongoing journey driven by principles of public welfare, justice, and equality.
In his statement, Governor Kundi referenced Pakistan’s democratic history, saying the significant struggles made for the restoration and stability of democracy in the country.
He paid tribute to the leadership of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), acknowledging their immense sacrifices for the preservation of democracy.
Kundi highlighted the contributions of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, who fostered democratic awareness in Pakistan and encouraged citizens to voice their rights.
He also mentioned Benazir Bhutto’s extraordinary efforts against authoritarianism and her ultimate sacrifice for democratic restoration.
Kundi praised Benazir Bhutto’s leadership in upholding the constitution, law, and democratic principles, and commended President Asif Ali Zardari for his pivotal role in stabilizing democracy after Bhutto’s martyrdom.
He further said that current PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and the party leadership continue to promote democratic values and advocate for public voices at the highest levels.
He stressed that International Democracy Day serves as a reminder to reinforce democratic traditions and ensure adherence to constitutional and legal principles.
Kundi underscored that a stable and robust democracy is the path to advancing Pakistan’s development.
He asserted that public participation, institutional freedom, and adherence to constitutional principles are essential for a better future.
Kundi called for a renewed commitment to advancing democratic values in Pakistan and contributing to the nation’s stability and prosperity.
09 out of 11 DISCOs’ BoDs notified by Power Division, Musadik tells Senate
ISLAMABAD, Sep 14 (APP):Minister for Energy, Senator Musadik Masood Malik on Saturday apprised the Upper House of the Parliament that nine out of the total 11 electric power distribution companies (DISCOs)’s board of directors (BoDs) have been notified by the Power Division after fulfilling the codal obligations.
He was responding during the calling attention notice of Senator Saifullah Abro on delayed appointment of new Chairmen and Members of Board of Directors of Hyderabad Electric Supply Company, Sukkur Electric Supply Company and Power Planning & Monitoring Company (PPMC) as the Government has already dissolved the other Boards of DISCOs.
Senator Abro had alleged that there were 10 DISCOs across the country and out of that eight’s board of directors were nominated but the two in Sindh were still awaiting namely Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) and Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO).
Minister for Energy Musadik Malik said there was no doubt about the fact that the country was passing through harsh times and improvement of the boards of DISCOs was critical.
“Inflation and employment are the important issues of the public. The 40% inflation rate has dropped to 9% and growth rate spiked up from 0 to 3% and the developing areas where farmers live are facing 6% development ratio this means that some improvement is taking place and I would like to present the economic indicators when the House permits,” he said.
Senator Musadik Malik noted that there were 11 DISCOs under the Power Division out of which nine of them got their boards notified while three were pending.
Among the pending, the first was PPMC whereas its Board nomination committee was held and the board was formed. However, the BODs’ list was sent to the Prime Minister and he has approved it whereas it was also presented before the cabinet committee on SOEs which has also approved it. However its gazette notification was pending, he added.
The Minister underlined that the SEPCO and HESCO shared the same status as board nomination committee meetings were held and the nominated boards’s list were sent to the PM Office and then to SOE subcommittee of cabinet which would be notified in the next two weeks.
“All the three boards have been formed and would be notified in the coming days,” he said. Unprecedently, the quorum was pointed out by treasury benches whereas the Chairman Senate said, “The quorum should have been pointed out by the Opposition whereas the agenda has been completed and the counting for the quorum would commence so that the media headlines should not flash that the Senate was adjourned without completion of its agenda.”
The chair on protest of the Opposition ordered to ring bells in the House to call other members outside the chamber to complete the quorum for five minutes. However, there were only twelve members present in the House and it lacked quorum. The House was adjourned to meet again on Sunday (September 15th) at 4pm.
Bilawal terms PTI founder’s tweet as an attack on democracy
ISLAMABAD, Sep 14 (APP):Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Saturday condemned a tweet by the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) calling it an attack on democracy.
Addressing in the National Assembly on a point of order, Bilawal Bhutto referenced a statement allegedly made by “Prisoner No. 804,” accusing him of undermining every constitutional institution for personal political gain and to seek relief from ongoing cases.
Bilawal Bhutto urged the PTI leadership to verify whether the tweet was genuinely from their founder.
He emphasized that, until recently, the country had been progressing positively, with efforts made to strengthen democracy through legislation. However, he accused the PTI founder of showing contempt of court by attacking the Chief Justice and making politically motivated allegations against the Chief of Army Staff, with the aim of creating controversy around the position.
If the statement was indeed made by the PTI founder, Bilawal said he must face the consequences under the Constitution and laws of Pakistan. If not, he called on PTI’s leadership to clarify the matter.
He said that it was the responsibility of the Leader of the Opposition or the party chairman to explain whether the account was being managed by Ali Amin or Mr. Marwat.
Bilawal Bhutto highlighted that these actions are part of a broader pattern that has emerged since the no-confidence motion ousted the Prime Minister.
He noted that PTI had previously rejected the motion, which Bilawal described as a violation of the Constitution under the pretext of Article 5, and accused the party of attempting to make the appointment of the Army Chief controversial.
During his speech, Bilawal also congratulated Makhdoom Tahir Rashiduddin on his recent election to the National Assembly and expressed gratitude to the people of Punjab and Rahim Yar Khan for their support of the PPP.
He said that their support had helped end the politics of hate and division.
Bilawal Bhutto praised the PPP’s organization in South Punjab, commending their dedication in overcoming political challenges through the power of the people. He noted that the party’s candidates had earned the trust of the public, as demonstrated by the presentation of Form 45 from every polling station.
He stressed the importance of unity among politicians to restore both the Parliament and the political process in the country. However, he emphasized that this unity would only be possible if those who lose elections accept their defeat gracefully, and those who win do so with humility, respecting the will of the people.
Bilawal thanked all the candidates who participated in the recent elections, reiterating that the people of Pakistan reject the politics of hate and “Prisoner No. 804.”
ICT Police nab suspect in Girl’s assault case
ISLAMABAD, Sep 14 (APP):Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) police Team from Golra Police Station and the Special Sexual Investigation Unit (SSIOU) have successfully apprehended the accused involved in the sexual assault of a young girl.
According to a police spokesperson, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered at Golra Police Station following the victim’s report.
Upon receiving the report, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Islamabad, Syed Ali Raz, ordered an immediate response and directed the SSIOU team to take swift action, he said.
As a result, the accused, identified as Noman Shafiq, was arrested,” he added. He said DIG Islamabad, Syed Ali Raz, assured the public that the suspect will be prosecuted based on strong evidence to ensure a fitting punishment.
Syed Ali Raz further emphasized that protecting women and children is a top priority, declaring them a ‘red line’ and warning that those involved in such crimes will not escape the law, he added.
CEC’s visit to Layyah cancelled: Spokesperson
ISLAMABAD, Sep 14 (APP):The Spokesperson Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday said that the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) has cancelled his scheduled visit to Layyah on Monday.
He would remain in his office at ECP Secretariat on Monday, said a press release issued here.
Anti-polio campaign entered catch-up phase
RAWALPINDI, Sep 14 (APP):The anti-polio campaign in Rawalpindi has entered the catch-up phase. Motorcycle mobilizers and drummers have also joined the field health workers to give vaccinations to children.
According to the details, kids and adults performed traditional ‘atan’ dance on the beat of drums at Union Council 6 and 8 in Rawalpindi on Saturday. The area depicted an amusement environment when residents very well appreciated and warmly welcomed the police vaccinating teams.
It is worth mentioning that in Rawalpindi, 10 motorcycle mobilizers and 20 drummers are deployed with Polio Teams of various Union Councils. Announcements are being made in various union councils with the help of drums and publicity through non-traditional methods is aimed at drawing attention to polio.
Sindh cabinet approves contributory pension scheme from July 2024
KARACHI, Sep 14 (APP):The Sindh cabinet approved the implementation of the Sindh Defined Contributory Pension Scheme 2024 starting from 1st July 2024 under which the government and employees will contribute at a provisional rate of 12 per cent and 10 per cent respectively.
The meeting was held at CM House and was attended by provincial ministers, advisors, chief secretary, and concerned officers.
During the over five-hour-long provincial cabinet meeting, several important decisions were made, including the introduction of the Sindh Defined Contributory Pension Scheme 2024. This scheme will commence from 1st July 2024, and both the government and employees will contribute at a provisional rate of 12 per cent and 10 per cent respectively.
The cabinet approved the insertion of a new subsection in Section of the Sindh Civil Servant Act 1973.
According to the proposed amendment, “an individual who is appointed or regularized as a civil servant on or after the commencement of the Sindh Civil Servant (Amendment) Act, 2024, will be considered a civil servant, except for pension and gratuity.
Instead, they will participate in a Defined Contribution Pension Scheme as prescribed. In place of pension and gratuity, the civil servant will be entitled to receive the amount contributed by them, along with the contributions made by the government to their account in the mentioned Fund, in the prescribed manner.
In the unfortunate event of the civil servant’s death, their family will receive the amount from the Contribution Pension Fund, as prescribed in the Defined Contribution Pension Rules to be framed by the government.
The cabinet allowed the laying of the proposed amendment in the Sindh Civil Servant Act 1973 before the Provincial Assembly.
The Sindh cabinet in the light of Sindh High Court Circuit Mirpurkhas decided to declare Karoonjhar Moutain/Range comprising 21,000 acres as a protected Heritage and directed the Culture department to notify the official gazette.
The Livestock & Fisheries dept told the cabinet that Fisheries play a vital role in contributing to food security, bringing economic opportunities and providing a significant share of livelihood. However, overfishing, destructive fishing techniques and the use of prohibited nets have contributed to the deterioration of economically important fish stocks.
It was pointed out that Bottom Trawling was the main root cause of destruction of biodiversity and narine resources. Consequently, the marine resources of the country are facing massive pressure and need sustainable enforcement measures in the preservation of fish stock.
Bottom trawling is an indiscriminate fishing method as dragging the large, weighted nets sweeps away everything from the seafloor and in the process a large quantity of by-catch, non-targeted species are trapped. It also destroys the natural seafloor habitats and affects all bottom-dwelling biomass including plants and animals. Bottom trawling has a detrimental effect on sea life and marine ecosystems.
The cabinet approved the amendment in the Fisheries Rules 1983 under which no person would be allowed to fish with an encircling net or improvised purse seine net locally called “wire net” or ring net and bottom trawl net locally called “trawls” or “Gujja”, Gujjo or Gujji in the creek areas of the province and up to twelve nautical miles from the shore along the coast and territorial waters of Sindh.
The Agriculture Dept told the cabinet that the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) had approved a Cash Freight Support of Rs 10.70 per kg for sugar export in September 2017. This support was to be shared equally by the provincial and federal governments, and the provincial share was to be paid to Sugar Mills through the State Bank. Additionally, the Sindh government announced an extra cash freight of Rs. 9.30 per kg on sugar export.
However, the payment to Sugar Mills was halted by federal govt institutions. After the High Court of Sindh, Karachi issued directions for the release of outstanding amounts to the Sugar Mills. The cabinet approved the release of Rs 3.3 billion to the State Bank for further distribution to the relevant sugar mills as 50 per cent of Cash Freight Support at Rs 10.70 per kg.
Furthermore, the cabinet also sanctioned Rs. 281,966,700 for further disbursement of payments through Sindh Bank to the concerned Sugar Mills on account of Additional Cash Freight Support at Rs 9.30 per kg.
The State Bank of Pakistan and the Cane Commissioner of Sindh will be responsible for disbursing the released amounts to the concerned Sugar Mills after reconciliation, and proper verification of claims, the cabinet said.
The Sindh cabinet approved Rs434.109 million to operationalise the Islamkot Mega RO plant of 1.5 MGD in District Tharparkar. The Chief Minister directed the Public Health Engineering Department to expedite the rehabilitation of the RO plant within the next three months for the benefit of the local population.
The cabinet after discussion approved the formation of “Sindh IT Company to start the journey towards Digital Sindh.
The School education department told the cabinet that the teachers of the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) and Basic Education Community Schools (BECS) 5,019 teachers were still drawing an honoraria of Rs25,000 per month.
The NCHID and BECS teachers were handed to the Sindh government in August 2022. Their services were engaged on 11th August 2022 with the School Education and Literacy Department on fixed terms and conditions such as fixed Remuneration of Rs. 25,000 per month with a 5 per cent annual increase till they attain the age of 55 years.
The cabinet after thorough discussion approved a grant of Rs37,000 remuneration per month to the NCHD and BECS teachers and it would be an additional burden of Rs539.542 million on the exchequer.
The cabinet endorsed the decision to hand over Cadet College Kakar, District Dadu to the Pakistan Navy along with approval for establishing a Board of Governors. The cabinet also approved a grant of Rs. 250 million for completing the remaining components of Cadet College Kakar.
The cabinet directed the College education department to start the admissions in the Cadet College and start its functioning. It may be noted that Cadet College, Kakar has been established over an area of 104.22 acres.
The Excise, Taxation & Narcotics Control Department (ET&NCD) told the cabinet to establish a comprehensive legal framework to regulate and combat narcotics. It plans to control the production, processing, and trafficking of narcotics by proposing to introduce stringent laws and regulations.
The cabinet was told that there were 46 Excise Police Stations, including six in Karachi. The Narcotics Control has a sanctioned strength of 333, of them only current 27 were working. It has registered 791 FIRs during the last five years. The cabinet was told that there was no CRO (Criminal Record Office) system in the Department, and an end-to-end system was to be developed for FIRs to convictions.
The Sindh cabinet approved the issuance of the Benazir Hari card to the Haris having a maximum of 25 acres of land. Various kinds of subsidies, facilities, relief, and distribution of Bardana for wheat procurement and other government interventions aimed at farmers/tentants and landholders of agricultural land may be provided through Benazir Hari Card holders.
The Sindh cabinet approved shifting of administrative control of the Sindh Institute of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (SIPM&R) from the Health Department to the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPD) because the Sindh Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SEPD) Act 2018 gives an exclusive mandate to the DEPD to protect all rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
The cabinet approved an amendment in the SIPM&R Act 2019 and referred to the assembly for enactment.
Sindh cabinet approved the grant of charter to Denning Institute of Technology and Entrepreneurship (DIET) and referred it to the assembly for enactment.
The Cabinet approved the re-appointment of Mr. Justice (R) Shahnawaz Tariq as Provincial Ombudsman Sindh, Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace for the third consecutive term (four years) from 06-04-2025 to 05-04-2029.
The cabinet approved seven years imprisonment for Cultivation Prohibition and 10 years and above imprisonment and Rs1 million fine for manufacturing/operating premises and three years imprisonment and Rs1 million fine for possession for Prohibition & Possession of Narcotics Drugs. The proposal was referred to the Assembly for enactment.
Managing exports only way to achieve sustainable economic growth: Ahsan Iqbal
ISLAMABAD, Sep 14 (APP):Federal Minister for Planning, reforms and Special Initiatives, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal on Saturday said that managing exports are the only way to achieve sustainable economic growth in the country.
In a meeting with consultants from Kearney and officials from Public Private Partnership Authority, Minister Ahsan Iqbal discussed making a new economic vision in consideration with the 5Es framework,said a press release issued here.
He said that the framework made during the 16 month tenure of PMLN was introduced to pull the country out of serious economic crises.
The 5Es framework, approved by NEC in 2023, outlines national priorities in 5 key areas which will put Pakistan on a sustained growth trajectory.
“Our first priority should be to see how fast we can grow exports from 30 billion dollars to 100 billion dollars,” stated the minister while highlighting the importance of setting goal based plans.
Citing the example of how competitive Pakistan’s economy was in 1960s, the Minister said that in 1960’s Pakistan’s manufactured exports were 200 Million Dollars, South Korea’s were about 100 Million Dollars and Malaysia’s Exports were about 60 to 70 million Dollars while Thailand was about 30 million Dollars. But due to political instability in the ensuing decades, Pakistan’s economy started dwindling.
Emphasizing on the current economic state, he said that economy needs to be improved by leveraging our national goals. He said that reasonable infrastructure had been laid down in 5 years of the government’s previous tenure. He added that the government, presently, is making ambitious plans to expand the country’s exports.
He mentioned the under process initiative of a large multi modal transport system which will connect Pakistan to Central Asia. “Exploring new markets and building connectivity with those markets is part of our regional expansion plan.”
Minister Iqbal further said that when basic fixes are done on macroeconomic side, steps should be done to attract more investment. “We need a macroeconomic structure totally geared towards exports. Unless we align our targets with increasing exports, we cannot become a competitive economy.
He directed Kearney to produce a comprehensive strategy aligned with 5Es framework and 5 year plan which would be unveiled next month.