Prime Minister’s flagship TBTTP, ecosystem restoration generates over 100,000 green jobs: Report

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Govt saves Rs 5.2 bln by detecting 272,149 gas theft cases

ISLAMABAD, Aug 26 (APP):The government saved Rs 5.2 billion on account of detecting 272,149 gas theft cases with total volume of 6,365 million cubic feet (MMCF).

According to three-year performance report released on Thursday, the average monthly loss of high Unaccounted For Gas (UFG) areas was 1,348 MMCF in Fiscal Year 2019-20 which has now been reduced to 859 MMCF during current FY 2020-21.

In order to reduce UFG losses, project regarding Extension and Rehabilitation of gas network in Oil and Gas Producing Districts (Karak etc) under 14 Sales Meter Stations (SMSs) at a total cost of Rs. 9.0 billion (with Rs. 4.7 billion as SNGPL share & Rs. 4.3 billion as KPK Govt. share) was prepared.

In July, this year, Sui Southern Gas Company Limited commissioned a new gas pipeline to augment gas supply for its customers residing in Defence Housing Authority (DHA) and Clifton areas/ The 7-Km, 20-inch diameter, main link distribution project was undertaken by the Company’s Projects and Construction Department.

Work on the project started in December 2020 from the vicinity of Dolmen Mall Clifton.

Open access was granted to private sector to import LNG and Private sector has been allowed to set up terminals in the country with no involvement from Government.

Similarly, two new modern refineries are under development while incentives package is being provided for upgradation of existing refineries.

Meanwhile, 39 new discoveries in oil and gas sector have been made since 2018 while 40 new blocks for oil exploration in process. New downstream oil policy has also been finalized, the report said.

Dualization of white oil pipeline reducing road traffic to be operational soon.
Professional CEOs were appointed in PSOCL, OGDCL, SNGPL, SSGCL, PARCO and GHPL and institutional arrangements have been put in place to provide technical training to ex-cadre employees of Petroleum Division.

The Petroleum Division has also initiated scores of Public Sector Development Projects (PSDP) for ensuring energy security of the country in last three years.

The projects included exploration and evaluation of coal in Nosham and Bahlol Areas Balochistan, Geological Mapping of 50 Toposheets out of 354 unmapped Toposheets of outcrop area of Balochistan province, Legal Consultancy Services for drafting of Model Mineral Agreement and updating of Regulatory Framework, supply of 40 MMCFD gas/RLNG to Allama Iqbal Industrial City Special Economic Zone (SEZ), Faisalabad, supply of 10 MMCFD RLNG to Bostan Special Economic Zone, supply of 13 MMCFD RLNG to Bin Qasim Industrial Park, Pakistan National Research Programe initiated on Geological Hazards (Earthquakes and Landslides) Data Acquisition along Active Faults and Identification of Potential Landslides Hotspot Zones, Development of Strategic Underground Gas Storages (SUGS), expansion and up-gradation of Pakistan Petroleum Core House (PETCORE), supply of 13.5 MMCFD Gas at Doorstep (Zero Point) of Dhabeji Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Sindh, supply of 30 MMCFD Gas at Doorstep (Zero Point) of Rashakai Special Economic Zone

(SEZ) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, up-gradation of POL Testing Facilities of HDIP at Islamabad, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta and ISO Certification of Petroleum Testing Laboratory, Islamabad, establishment of National Minerals Data Centre (NDMC), strengthening and Up-gradation of Karachi Laboratories Complex (KLC).

Similarly, Pak-Arab Pipeline Company Limited (PAPCO) has converted its existing 786 KM long White Oil Pipeline from Karachi to Mehmood Kot (Lahore) from present single product (HSD) to Multi product (HSD+PMG). Furthermore, Pipeline capacity has been enhanced from present 8.0 MPTA to 12.0 MPTA.

PARCO has also converted its existing MahmoodKot-Faisalabad-Machike 284 KM single product (HSD) pipeline to a multi product (HSD+PMG). Pipeline capacity has been increased from 3.0 MTPA to 7.0 MTPA, the report said.

Under the proposed Refining Policy Import duty on Diesel has been reduced from 13% to 10% which will be applicable as Tariff protection for refineries, effective from January 01, 2022 to December 31, 2026.

During FY 2018-19 and 2019-20, storage capacity for MS and HSD have been enhanced from 0.49 million MT to 0.68 million MT and 1.222 million MT to 1.447 million MT respectively to meet the enhanced demand of Petroleum Products.

5,280 accounts of POR card holders opened, deposited Rs 675.4 million

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The Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON

ISLAMABAD, Aug 26 (APP):As many as 5,280 accounts of the registered Afghan Refugees (POR card holders) have been opened with deposited amount of Rs 675.4 million.

The Prime Minister of Pakistan under special dispensation has allowed Afghan refugees to open bank accounts so that this facility may boost their trades/ businesses and ease their daily life requirements, said Three Years Performance Report of the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions here on Thursday.

The SAFRON ministry has revised the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for better management at refugee camps and other refugee related facilities through detailed mapping of health, education, water supply/sanitation, livelihood and community services for efficient and effective monitoring/reporting systems.

Afghanistan Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS) on “Afghan Refugees” held three meetings during the last two years and agreed return of all undocumented Afghans and Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) Holders from Pakistan in shortest possible time and to address all issues related to Afghan Refugees through mutual cooperation.

The road map for return of all Afghans has been discussed with Government of Afghanistan. Further consultation will be made in the 3rd round of APPAPS meeting expected to be held in near future

Indicators affirm success in laying foundation for robust growth: Report

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Najam ul Hassan

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 26 (APP):All key economic indicators have been performing well, affirming the success of the government in laying a foundation for robust growth, according to the Three Years Performance Report released here Thursday.

According to the report, the government had prepared a comprehensive roadmap for stability, growth and productive employment.

It said, the government had taken immediate policy measures to correct macro-economic imbalances and to avert the crisis which it inherited from the past government.

The measures included, bilateral arrangements, multilateral program, IMF program, deferred oil payments, current account deficit managed through exchange rate correction, export industry incentives and duties imposed to curtail luxury import items.

In addition it executed prudent expenditure management through austerity measures and did not allow supplementary grants and had zero borrowing from State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

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“Consequently, measures paid off in terms of improved external and fiscal accounts, stability in exchange market and growing investor confidence,” the report said.
The report added, as the economy was transitioning from stability to higher sustainable growth trajectory, the COVID-19 brought multifaceted challenges for Pakistan.

Like contraction in other economies of the world, the economy of Pakistan contracted by 0.47 percent in FY2020 whereas Pakistan was not the only country in the world that experienced negative economic growth, the whole world faced severe unanticipated recession.

Pre COVID, the global economy was projected to grow by 3.4 percent in 2020 but due to COVID 19, the global growth contracted by 3.3 percent.

The government devised a comprehensive strategy to prevent the spread of the
pandemic on one hand and on the other, it announced the largest ever Fiscal Stimulus Package of Rs 1,240 billion to mitigate the adverse effects of the pandemic on the economy and to protect the vulnerable segments of the society.

This package was also complemented by liquidity support from SBP for businesses especially SMEs.

In addition, a construction package for low-cost housing & jobs creation was also announced and consequently, the economy has largely escaped the devastation and was bounce back compared to its peers in the region.

Meanwhile, in order to meet the financing requirement, the government has been utilizing optimum combination of borrowing sources with prudent degree of risk while ensuring long-term sustainability of debt portfolio.

The government had taken several measures for curtailing the losses of State Owned Entities (SOEs) and make them financially and operationally efficient so that they serve the public better and positively influence the fiscal exchequer.

Efficient SOEs will further unleash the potential of other sectors of the economy including energy, transport and would lead to increased employment, better public service delivery and more inclusive growth.

The prime objective is to attain the sustainable and inclusive growth through
structural reforms rather than taking the usual route of pricing and fiscal adjustments.
The ultimate goal is to improve the socio-economic conditions of the vulnerable and
underprivileged segments of the society.

During the period, the finance division has taken several initiatives in accordance with the Prime Minister’s vision which included no borrowing from State Bank of Pakistan since July 2019; setting-up of Pakistan’s first Global Medium Term Note Programme; introduction of various new domestic debt securities; regular issuance of Sharia Compliant Instruments and development of debt capital markets for Government securities.

In addition it also took measures for discontinuation of bearer Prize Bonds; PSE borrowing through competitive methods.
In addition, the Finance Division has taken two major steps, legislative and policy/stock-taking, in actualization of Government’s vision.

Output of all major crops remained on upward trajectory in three years

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Output of all major crops remained on upward trajectory in three years

ISLAMABAD, Aug 26 (APP):Due to special emphasis paid by the incumbent government on agriculture sector, the output of all major crops witnessed gradual and significant increase during first three years of its tenure, besides introducing measures to promote imports substitutes.

The government had also launched 13 mega developmental projects under Prime Minister National Agriculture Emergency Program for the overall uplift of the agriculture sector and steps were also taken for export facilitation for enhancing local exports of agriculture goods.

The export facilitation actions helped in restoration of export of citrus and guava to UK and Norway in compliance with their SPS requirements which were suspended since 2014, according the ” Three years performance report 2018-21″, launched by the government on Thursday.

In order to enhance the local exports of fruits and vegetables, the government had also established hot water treatment facilities for mango and resultant increase in export of mango, besides record export volume of onion in 2020, which was registered at 24,5031metric tons.

Meanwhile , rice exports increased by 11% during 2018-2020 and during the period under review record increase in production of major crops like wheat increased by 8.1% as total wheat production reached to 27.293 million tons as against 25.249 million tons of same period last year.

Meanwhile, 7.4% increase in maize production was recorded as total output of maize registered at 8.465 million tons as against 7.883 million tons of same period of last year.

The local output of rice, which was another major cash crop of the country and vital component of exports earning grew by 13.6% and total production recorded at 8.419 million tons as against 7.414 million tons of last year.

During the period under review, the sugarcane production in the country increased by 22% and total production was registered at 81.009 million tons as against 66.380 million tons last year.

During its first three years tenure, the incumbent government had also introduced policy initiatives including subsidy on Rabi and Kharif crops to the tune of Rs6 billion for fertilizer, seed and pesticides, besides markup subsidy worth Rs. 4 billion @ 10% for all farmers holding 12.5 acre land through Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited.

The government also ensured food security in country during COVID-19 pandemic and maintained strategic wheat reserves through timely procurement and import, besides ensuring certified seed availability of wheat and cotton crops to the growers.

The Locust Emergency and Food Security Project (LEAFS) worth $ 200 million has been approved and signed by the government and is being made operational for institutional strengthening of the Department of Plant Protection.

On the other hand government had also concentrated to reduce the huge reliance on imported edible oil, which was consuming billion of dollars every year and in three years undertaken several initiatives for the promotion of olive cultivation on commercial scale in Pakistan.

The other initiatives included the cultivation of olives on more than 1,000 acres across the country and installed drip Irrigation system on 1,639 acres as water saving technology to conserve swiftly depleting very important natural resource for bringing more area under high-value crop production.

The government has also established 05 weather stations and 03 value addition labs for the promotion of agriculture sector.

A vendor busy in preparing number plates at his roadside setup

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APP47-260821 LARKANA: August 26 - A vendor busy in preparing number plates at his roadside setup. APP photo by Nadeem Akhtar

A Swan picking a fur in its beak in Rawal Lake during a hot weather in the city

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APP44-260821 ISLAMABAD: August 26 – A Swan picking a fur in its beak in Rawal Lake during a hot weather in the city. APP photo by Irfan Mahmood

A kite and crow picking meat pieces thrown by people as mercy at a roadside

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APP46-260821 LARKANA: August 26 - A kite and crow picking meat pieces thrown by people as mercy at a roadside. APP photo by Nadeem Akhtar

Govt devises concrete strategy to ensure affordable energy for all by 2030

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Govt devises concrete strategy to ensure affordable energy for all by 2030

ISLAMABAD, Aug 26 (APP):The incumbent government devised a concrete strategy to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and indigenous electricity for all by 2030.

According to the three-year performance report of the government released on Thursday, the incumbent government inherited multiple challenges in power sector including system constraints, fast rising circular debt, inefficiencies driven by corruption, theft, growing burden of tariff non-rationalization and lack of policy decisions leading towards shattering of confidence of foreign investors.

Under vision of the government, the most efficient and consumer centric power generation, transmission and distribution system was being developed.

Renewable Energy share in total energy mix was being enhanced to 20 per cent by 2025 and 30 per cent by 2030.

Similarly, the strategy aimed at reducing line losses to the permissible limit, continue the ongoing country-wide campaign against theft of electricity and recovery campaign against current and dead defaulters.

Currently, Private Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB) is handling portfolio of 22 multiple fuel based (Hydro, Thar, coal, imported coal, R-LNG) IPPs with cumulative capacity of 12,028 MW worth multi billion dollars.

These projects were at different stages of implementation which included six Thar Coal based Projects (4,290 MW), 14 Hydro based Projects (6,175 MW), one each Imported Coal (300 MW) and RLNG project (1,263 MW).

Similarly, for power evacuation from China Pakistan Energy Corridor power projects and strengthening transmission line Matiari-Lahore Transmission project (having 4,000 MW Load) has already been completed.

During 2020-2021, Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) facilitated four solar power projects of 250 MW cumulative capacity to achieve Financial Closing of the projects. These solar power projects were now under construction.

An Anti-Theft Campaign was launched on the directions of the Prime Minister since October, 2018 across Pakistan with main slogan of zero tolerance for over billing and zero tolerance for corruption.

As per latest data, a total of 102,823 First Information Reports have been registered while 13,515 persons involved in theft have been arrested. An amount to the tune of Rs. 5295.21 million has been recovered from the anti-theft campaign.

Massive system upgradation has resulted in transmitting 24200 MW record deliveries which has been a prime factor for uninterrupted electricity supply to the consumers across the board.

The industrial consumers were also getting continuous power supply due to these efforts.
Power Sector has one of the most advance complaint resolution system linked via state of the art technology with mobile application, web portal, telephone call and SMS.

In the centralized complaint management system,2,592,355 complaints were received from 1st July 2018 to 30 June 2021. In response to it 2,591,746 complaints were resolved.

Power Division has made significant achievements in removal of hazards from residential areas and has succeeded in removing 19701 such hazards against 37857 identified hazards.

Dedicated portal has been launched for safety of employees and regular trainings are
imparted to make working environment safe for workers.

A project of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) was being launched in Lahore and Islamabad Electric Supply Companies (LESCO and IESCO) areas with the assistance of Asian Development Bank worth US $ 400 million.

To control power theft and check menace of kundas, PESCO and SEPCO have started installation of ABC cables, which are much secure and effective against Kundas.

Gwadar New Airport to be operational in September 2023

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Najam ul Hassan

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 26 (APP):The Parliamentary Committee on China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was informed here on Thursday by the Secretary Aviation division that the progress on New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA) was on track and it would be fully operational by September, 2023.

The meeting of the committee was presided over by its Chairman Sher Ali Arbab. He stressed that Gwadar was gateway to CPEC and undeniably important in entire rationale behind CPEC.

“We have to place it at high priority therefore no effort should be spared in resolving all the outstanding issues of clean water, electricity, infrastructure and livelihoods faced by the people of Gwadar,” the Chairman remarked.

Chairman, Gwadar Port Authority informed that all the efforts regarding completion of Pak-China Technical & Vocational Institute are on the track and the project will be completed in December 2021.

Gwadar Port Authority is also consulting with NAVTTC, TEVTA and Chinese to devise a broad curriculum for the institute.

The committee remarked that while keeping present and future skills required in view, the curriculum for the institute should be devised in a way that there must not be any gap between the skills required and offered in the institute.

The committee also directed the concerned departments to expedite the process of payments to be disbursed among the affected people of damaged houses and land acquisitions so that people of Gwadar, who are already agitating for basic amenities of life, could be compensated.

On agenda of Chashma Right Bank Canal (CRBC), D.I. Khan, Chairman, WAPDA apprised the committee that feasibility study and the detailed engineering design of the project would be completed by March next year.

Chairman remarked that the project was pivotal for the agriculture sector in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and decided that the committee will convene special follow up meeting on the said project in February next year to ensure that the given timelines are met in letter and spirit.

The Committee remarked that $1 billion grant given by China for socio-economic development projects under CPEC framework should be utilized effectively by including the projects having high social impacts and high visibility.

The Committee directed ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives to devise a comprehensive framework through which provinces may choose the projects which could bring value addition and meet true sense of socio-economic development.

The meeting was attended by MNAs Sadaqat Ali Khan Abbasi, Umar Aslam Khan, Mir Khan Muhammad Jamali, MNA, Ms. Nafeesa Inayatullah Khan Khattak, MNA, Mr. Ghous Bux Khan Mahar, MNA, Mr. Murtaza Javed Abbasi, Mehnaz Akber Aziz, Raza Rabani Khar, Zahid Akram Durrani, Senators Muhammad Tahir Bizinjo and Khalida Ateeb.

A white pelican enjoy swim in Rawal Lake during a hot weather in the city

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APP45-260821 ISLAMABAD: August 26 – A white pelican enjoy swim in Rawal Lake during a hot weather in the city. APP photo by Irfan Mahmood

A duck enjoys swim in Rawal Lake during a hot weather in the city

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A duck enjoys swim in Rawal Lake during a hot weather in the city

APP43-260821

23 national parks established in Pakistan to overcome climate change: Zartaj Gul

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23 national parks established in Pakistan to overcome climate change: Zartaj Gul — FAISALABAD: August 26 - Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul unveiling the plaque to inaugurate Miyawaki Forestation at Bagh-e-Jinnah. APP

FAISALABAD, Aug 26 (APP):State Minister for Climate Change Zartaj Gul said on Thursday that 23 national parks had been established in the country in addition to planting one billion trees to overcome the climate change.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony of Kalash Park near Kamalpur Interchange Sargodha Road Faisalabad, she said that Pakistan was facing worst effects of climate change which was not only increasing temperature but also badly affecting the ecosystem.

She said that Prime Minister took cognizance of the issue in-time and prioritized it by initiating 10 billion tsunami tree programme in the country.

She said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had emerged as global leader on climate change as he had motivated Pakistani as well as international community to plant maximum trees to overcome climate change.

She said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had put the country on right track of progress and prosperity and the people would soon reap the fruits of national development.

Zartaj Gul said the government had also introduced E-vehicles to minimize the impact of environmental hazards, whereas barren lands were being under plough under Recharge Pakistan Programme. Similarly, the district administrations had also been activated to adopt environmental friendly policies and plant maximum trees under clean & green programme, she said.

She said that all brick kilns were being converted to zigzag technology to control environmental pollution, however, public cooperation was imperative to achieve the desired results of this programme.

She said that Imran Khan was the first Prime Minister in the history of Pakistan who took people into confidence through his performance. Only the PTI government had raised voice effectively against the oppression and barbarism in Held Valley by the Indian government.

She said the PM also exposed the ugly face of Modi government by highlighting its atrocities at all international forums including the United Nations.

She said that Pakistan adopted a clear stance that it would not become a part of any war rather it would support the peace process in Afghanistan. Prime Minister Imran Khan had also clearly refused to give airbases for destructive purposes.

She said that past governments had wasted public money only on roads, bridges and buildings but Prime Minister Imran Khan had planned to spend it on the people and in this connection, Ehsas programme was launched to help the poor, widows, laborers, farmers and disabled persons whereas the entire money distributing system had been made computerized to ensure transparency to eliminate the corruption from it.

She said that 30% amount of Ehsas programme was being spent in Sindh as the people of this province were living in very miserable condition due to ill-conceived policies and corruption of its rulers.

She said the PTI government had issued Kisan cards to farmers to bring revolution in agriculture sector, whereas poor people had been issued health cards so that they could avail quality health facilities.

The prime minister also introduced ‘one nation one curriculum’ to overcome gap between the rich and the poor which would also help in developing one nation in the country.

Provincial Minister for Colonies Mian Khayal Ahmad Kastro, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Muhammad Ali and others were also present on the occasion.

WFP chief lauds Pakistan’s support to form ‘humanitarian air bridge’ to Afghanistan

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Shumaila Andleeb

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 26 (APP): Executive director of the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) David Beasley on Thursday acknowledged Pakistan’s support for repairing its damaged planes returning from Kabul and establishing a “humanitarian air bridge” to the war-torn country.

“Our damaged planes from Kabul have been repaired, and WFP is now ready to establish a humanitarian air bridge between Islamabad-Kabul and other destinations in Afghanistan. This will allow us to scale up to meet the needs of the Afghan people. Thank you, Government of Pakistan,” the WFP chief said in a tweet.

Standing at the Islamabad Airport, the Rome-based WFP official posted a video message on his official account with the repaired UN and WFP aircraft seen parked on the tarmac in the background.

“Pakistan has really helped us…Here, they give them [aircraft] repair so that we put them back into service,” he said.

Beasley mentioned that helicopters and passenger aircraft flying from Islamabad to Kabul had formed an air bridge, bringing UN personnel, NGOs and aid workers back into operations.

He said WFP would do whatever possible to bring life to normal in Afghanistan.

#NEWS: Our damaged planes from #Kabul have been repaired, and @WFP is now ready to establish a humanitarian air bridge between Islamabad-Kabul & other destinations in #Afghanistan. This will allow us to scale up to meet the needs of the Afghan people. Thank you, @GovtofPakistan. pic.twitter.com/3MBgzDv493

— David Beasley (@WFPChief) August 25, 2021

To expressed his appreciation for the government of Pakistan, David Beasley called on Prime Minister Imran Khan and appreciated the country’s role in facilitating the work of his organization in providing food assistance to the people in Afghanistan.

He also discussed the ways for the continued provision of humanitarian assistance to the people in Afghanistan.

The prime minister appreciated the role of WFP as the leading international humanitarian organization for delivering food assistance in emergencies and for working with nations worldwide to improve nutrition and build resilience.

He underlined that Pakistan was a beneficiary of various WFP projects and valued its partnership with the organisation.

On the evolving situation in Afghanistan, the prime minister reiterated that formation of an inclusive government and positive engagement of international community with Afghanistan, was the way forward to avert any humanitarian crisis and secure peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Afghans repeat history for not bowing before any super power: Shahabuddin

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