People standing in queues to get their vaccination certificates from state-run government mobile van at Rehmanabad
A street vendor is selling colorful Face Mask for protection against Covid-19 virus at a stall on the roadside in the city
A Farmer busy in collecting spinach after harvesting for delivery and selling at vegetable market
Iranian ambassador meets Pakistani counterpart in Kabul
KABUL, Aug 25 (APP): Ambassador of the Islamic Republic’s of Iran in Afghanistan, Bahador Aminian on Wednesday met Pakistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmed Khan at Pakistan Embassy in Kabul.
The meeting besides discussing bilateral relations also discussed present situation in Afghanistan and formation of new government here.
Both the ambassadors said peace in Afghanistan would ensure progress and stability in the region, expressing their willingness to support the process as neighboring countries.
The Pakistani ambassador told his Iranian counterpart that Pakistan was in the favor of a peaceful Afghanistan and wanted to enjoy bilateral relations between the two countries based on common interests.
He added that Pakistan and the regional countries were in the favor of an inclusive government in Afghanistan for ensuring lasting peace.
A man busy in weaving traditional bed (charpai) on a roadside in the city
Three-year Performance Report: PM to share government’s success story tomorrow
ISLAMABAD, Aug 25 (APP): On completion of three years in office, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday will highlight the key achievements of his government marking a journey of stable economy and several development and welfare projects.
At the capital’s Convention Centre, the prime minister will launch the Three-year Performance Report that gives an insight into the efforts of each ministry and division in facilitating the common man in line with the vision of Naya Pakistan.
The Report 2018-21, compiled by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting under the patronage of its head Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, focuses on the government’s accomplishments despite the global economic recession in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
In 3 years, the journey of development has added several feathers in the cap of government
The 251-page Report gives an outline of the achievements of 44 public bodies including ministries, divisions and departments. Besides defining the baseline of each sector, it also focuses on key objectives, updates on initiatives, long-term strategies, legislative policy framework and the projects in the pipeline.
The content has been explained through infographics and relevant facts and figures.
The 251-page Report gives an outline of the achievements of 44 public bodies
On assumption of power in August 2018, the government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government faced numerous ‘inherited challenges’ including financial instability, poverty, and inadequate education and health facilities.
However, in three years, the journey of development has added several feathers in the cap of the government, particularly sustaining the COVID-19 situation by opting for the ‘smart lockdown strategy’. Pakistan has been recently ranked by The Economist as the ‘third-best performing country’ for handling the pandemic. Administration of 30 million vaccine doses across the country and self-sufficiency in manufacturing of Personal Protection Equipment are key achievements.
To uplift common man, the government launched the projects such as Naya Pakistan Housing Programme for affordable accommodation to low-income groups, Ehsaas programme for social security and the Kamyab Jawan Programme for imparting skills to youth to help them get employment.
In the domain of legislation, 54 laws were enacted including the Code of Civil Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2020, Enforcement of Women Property Rights Act, 2020, and Legal Aid and Justice Authority Act, 2020 to help poor and vulnerable segments of society.
The Report is available for public information at the official website of Directorate of Electronic Media and Publication – http://www.demp.gov.pk/3-years-of-pti-government/.
A potter is busy in making clay pot at his work palace in Kumharpara at Jamshoro road in the city
A child is enjoying swimming in a canal to get relief from hot weather in the city
Punjab Sports Minister greets national cricket team for winning 2nd Test match against West Indies
LAHORE, Aug 25 (APP): Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti has congratulated national cricket team and coaching staff for winning T20 series and 2nd Test match against hosts West Indies cricket team.
In a greeting message here on Wednesday, Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti said Pakistan’s young players especially skipper Babar Azam, pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi and middle order batsman Fawad Alam played key role in extraordinary victory against strong West Indian team.
“After winning T20 series and leveling Test rubber against West Indian team, now our cricketers should put their focus on the preparations for T20 World Cup scheduled to be staged in UAE”.
Punjab Minister said Punjab govt will make excellent security measures for upcoming home series against New Zealand.
Country’s exports to reach at record levels by 2023: Razak Dawood
ISLAMABAD, Aug 25 (APP): Adviser to Prime Minister’s for Commerce and Investment, Abdul Razak Dawood on Wednesday said the government would take exports to record levels by 2023 with providing a better business environment for the industrial sector in the country.
“Improving Pakistan’s ‘Ease of Doing Business Ranking’ will boost foreign investment in the country” he said.
Pakistan’s rise in the last two years from 148 points to 108 points in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business rankings report is a milestone in the growth of foreign investment in the country, he said while addressing a launching ceremony of 7th Reform Action Plan organized by BOI here.
He said that one of our main areas is to work on improving the country’s Ease of Doing Business (EOBD) ranking to provide a better business environment for foreign and local investment in the country.
Besides this the government is also committed to decrease the cost of doing business in the country.
Adviser said that the country has moved from de-industrialization to industrial growth under the Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI) government and now all our industrial units are moving ahead in manufacturing.
He said that the government has given more priority to exports and for this every possible facility will be provided to the industry to increase production.
Adviser said the government has prioritized bringing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the country and in this regard, “We want to improve our EODB ranking to provide a better business environment to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country”.
Razak Dawood said that in the last financial year 2019-20, “our Information Technology (IT) exports increased by 47 percent and textile value addition products by 23 percent”.
He said at present “we are facing a lot of challenges at economy and trade fronts and State Bank of Pakistan is confident to manage the Current Account Deficits and Fiscal Deficit.
He said that the Monetary and Fiscal coordination committee is fully active to observe all issues related to the monetary and fiscal side.
Adviser said the government has followed the policy of tariff rationalization to provide competitiveness to the local industry in the country and government has lowered the huge tariff lines and zero tariff duties on the raw material of potential industries.
Meanwhile, addressing the forum, Federal Secretary, BOI Fareena Mazhar said the DB Report for 2021 and 2022 is likely to be announced by end December this year. “I am very much confident that Pakistan will improve its position further.”
She said that enabling a business environment plays a pivotal role in attracting domestic and foreign investment.
She said that all over the world, the emphasis is on improving the business climate.
Fareena said that higher rankings in the World Bank EODB index indicate better regulations for businesses and stronger protections of their rights.
An environment where new entrants with drive and innovative ideas can get started in business and where productive firms can invest, expand, and create new jobs, she said.
The Secretary said that EoDB ranking is instrumental to improve the size of the formal sector, to curb corruption through transparency and accountability.
She said that in short improvements in EoDB ranking reduces the time, cost and processes involved in starting and operating a business.
Fareena said that it is very encouraging to say that during the last two years Pakistan advanced 39 places to 108th place on the ease of doing business global ranking.
The company’s registration has shown a 63 percent growth and 99 percent of these registrations were done online while 45 percent applicants were issued registration certificates on the same day, she said.
Fareena said the credit of this outstanding performance on the global stage goes to the collective and coordinated efforts of the federal and the provincial governments of Punjab and Sindh – spearheaded by the Board of Investment.
Secretary said the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and Employees Old- Age Business Institution (EOBI) have also played a key role for driving reforms under the federal indicators where Pakistan has demonstrated an exemplary performance.
She said that for every DB cycle an Action plan containing more than 50 reforms actions across all 10 indicators is prepared in consultation with all relevant stakeholders.
So far Pakistan had implemented 6 reforms Action Plans, today “we are gathered here to launch 7th plan”.
She informed the 7th Plan is mainly focusing on improvements in firm entry regulations, reliability of electricity, tax regulations, trade regulations, creditors’ rights, better property rights, and court efficiency etc and reforms in these areas play a major role in the process of economic development
The other recipients including Additional Secretary BOI, Mukarram Jah Ansari, Acting Country head of World Bank, Galilius J. Draugelis, Secretary and Sindh Investment Department,Zahid Ali Abbasi aslo highlighted the different aspects of EODB situation in Pakistan and implementation of reform for improving the business environment the country.
Pak-Afghan bilateral trade shows sign of improvement
PESHAWAR, Aug 25 (APP): The bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan from Torkhem border post has showed signs of improvement in the wake of evolving situation in the region.
Talking to APP, former senior Vice President of Pak-Afghan joint chamber of commerce and industry (PAJCCI) Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi, said Taliban, after taking over, has taken a number of pro-commercial measures ensuing in enhancement in trade between the two countries.
Sharing details of measures which favored improvement in trade between the two neighbouring countries, Zia said Taliban leadership focused on ease of doing business by revoking unnecessary documentation in processing of goods laden trucks.
He said now a days hundreds of trucks are passing through Torkhem border on daily basis to transport goods between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Trucks full of fresh fruits including grapes, honeydew melon, coal, dry fruits are coming to Pakistan and in the same way trucks carrying construction material and other goods are going to Afghanistan.
Zia also shared documents showing crossing of around 659 trucks between Pakistan and Afghanistan during the last couple of days.
The documents showed that around 363 trucks passed to Afghanistan from Pakistan including 47 of Afghan Transit Trade and 316 of export cargo.
While 203 entered Pakistan from Afghanistan including 203 carrying import cargo goods and 93 as empty coming back after supplying transit goods there.
A street vendor arranging and displaying roasted sweet potatoes to attract customers at Committee Chowk
A view of sewerage water accumulated at Waleed Mohallah Road due to choked sewerage system and needs the attention of the concerned authorities
A vendor preparing umbrella with colorful lights for Mehndi functions at Sadar Bazaar
PM stresses upon guidance of young generations under different aspects of Seerat-e-Nabi
LAHORE, Aug 25 (APP): Prime Minister Imran Khan Wednesday said that integrity and honesty were the hallmarks of a true leadership and stressed upon the need of making the young generations acquainted with the Seerat of Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him).
Addressing Punjab Education Convention here, the prime minister said besides, imparting quality education to the young people with the use of modern technology, it was imperative to guide and educate them about the supreme qualities of Seerat-e-Nabi (PBUH) for their character building.
The prime minister regretted that the past rulers never laid emphasis upon education sector as it was not their priority. “No one ever thought of one curriculum in the country,” he added.
In the past democratic culture, the rulers always prioritized short term projects like metro, to get publicity for the elections campaigns, he added.
Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar, Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, provincial ministers, provincial authorities and a large number of people were present on the occasion.
The prime minister said that the English medium education system introduced in the country by the British rulers had alienated the students from their basic culture.
After independence, they should have worked on the education system with one curriculum, but they ended in three parallel education systems in the country ie; the religious seminaries, English medium and government owned schooling.
“In the past, best intellectuals had been groomed in the government owned schools, but later, the system waned and the private sector thrived making us servants of an alien culture,” he observed.
Referring to the incident at Minar-e-Pakistan, he said that he felt ashamed and pained to witness such unpleasant incidents.
The prime minister said Pakistani society had always given huge respect to the womenfolk which was unimaginable.
Cautioning the negative impacts upon society by the use of internet, the prime minister underlined the need that it was prerequisite for them to train children and make them fully acquainted with the Seerat-e-Nabi (PBUH).
He said the world had high esteem for the distinct characteristics of the Holy Prophet’s (PBH) character and life. “He was a sadiq and ameen and the whole world respected him,” he added.
Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had earned fame due to his honesty,” he added.
The prime minister also lauded federal minister Shafqat Mahmood and Punjab minister for their efforts over bringing reforms in the education sector especially introduction of single curriculum and the e-system.
Terming it as ‘a turning point’ the prime minister said these reforms would take time to yield results.
The prime minister further said that Lord Macaulay wanted to create a class in the sub-continent through a privileged educational system.
Criticizing the policies of past rulers, he said the elite and privileged class, always thought that their children would get the English education, then avail the employment opportunities and would be treated as a privileged class.
By opening an English education institute of foreign repute, people reaped huge profits, he added.
Fifty years back, the prime minister said, Pakistan had been progressing at a rapid speed even countries like S. Korea and Malaysia studied the upward trends in the country. The US president used to come to airport to welcome Pakistani counterparts, he added.
The prime minister said the English language should not be made a status symbol and expressed his displeasure at conducting official functions in English language as majority of commoners who watched Tv did not understand it.
In parliament, he said, speeches had been made in English language to impress the people.
“It should be used as medium for getting higher education. Mother tongue is the best medium for imparting education to the children which is helpful in their understanding,” he observed.
The prime minister cited that children in their nascent ages could learn a lot if imparted through their respective mother tongues, and cited Switzerland where the children could speak multi-languages.
Whether in China, Japan or France, they had different sets of educational curriculum? he posed a question, reiterating that single curriculum produced one nation.
Lauding efforts of the Punjab government and the provincial education minister, he said that though they had been undertaking huge work in the province, but it was not properly projected.
The reason for not doing it, might be that the provincial government did not want to publicize its good deeds when compared with the previous government which even went for wide publication of its negligible work.
The prime minister also observed that with the use of modern technology, different issues like corruption and wastage of resources could be overcome.
He cited the paperless working of Saukat Khanum Memorial Hospital and the E-governance system at the federal cabinet level.
The prime minister said in the past, no focus was made on the construction of dams for generation of cheap and clean power as no one ever thought of the future generations.
Expensive power generation was made on costly fuels, he said, adding that forests were destroyed.
He also stressed upon the significance of his government’s 10 Billion Tree Tsunami project which had been launched for securing the future of coming generations.
Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar, on the occasion, said that budget allocation for the education sector was enhanced besides, over 200 per cent allocation for the higher education. Primary education throughout the province had been ensured with drastic steps, he added.
The online services and facilitation was provided to the teachers and students, besides focusing on the education of transgender’s community.
Provincial Minister for Education Murad Raas gave an overview of the steps taken for the promotion of education in the province.
A vendor binding book covers for school children at Municipal Higher Secondary School Road
A vendor selling traditional fresh seasonal fruit (Dodi) at Sheikh Zaid Colony Road
India’s outcry over Afghanistan situation shows disgraceful defeat: Sheikh Rashid
ISLAMABAD, Aug 25 (APP): Minister for Interior, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad on Wednesday said evacuation from Afghanistan and shutting up its consulates was an ample proof of depressed India’s shameful defeat there.
“India’s hue and cry on prevailing Afghanistan situation was natural outcome as they faced a shameful defeat there and the whole world was well aware of India’s such bemoaning condition,” the minister said while talking to media.
He said India’s consulates in Afghanistan were working against Pakistan. They were involved in terrorism in Pakistan through Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and they were involved in making conspiracies against China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he added.
Dispelling the impression, he made it clear that Pakistan was not involved in prevailing political situation in Afghanistan. He thanked Allah Almighty that there was no report of any massacre or bloodshed in Afghanistan as Afghanis were handling their country’s matters in an impeccable way, he added.
He said Afghanis themselves were resolving their outstanding issues with mutual consensus. “They had respected and implemented the demand of international world of general amnesty and opening of educational institutions.”
He said they had also promised that the land of Afghanistan would not be allowed to be used by anyone against Pakistan, in any case.
He repeated the commitment of Prime Minister Imran Khan that Pakistan would not be allowed to use its land against Afghanistan and that Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) would not be given permission to operate against Pakistan from Afghanistan.
Sheikh Rashid said 1100 people had returned back to Afghanistan from Torkham border. “Our responsibility was just to assist them and help them reach border safely.”
He said there was no burden of Afghan refugees on Pakistan, adding that Chaman border was opened for trade and as per past practice, routine movement remained continued and the business activities had increased upto 60 percent in last 15 days at Torkham and Chaman borders.
He added that long-lasting peace in Afghanistan was important for the region as well as for the international world. He said Pakistan would continue playing its role in maintaining peace in Afghanistan and for a stable government.
The minister said peace in Afghanistan was a must for peace in Pakistan and in the entire region, adding, Pakistan was always in the favor of peace and stability in Afghanistan.
He said China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project would not become a target of any external conspiracy. He added, “No one can become a hurdle in the relations between Pakistan and China”.
He assured that the government would take further measures to ensure security to Chinese nationals working in Pakistan. Sheikh Rashid said foolproof security would be ensured to all major and small Chinese companies functioning in Pakistan.
The interior minister said a facilitation center had been established at the Ministry of Interior to facilitate those coming form Afghanistan.
He said security forces were on high alert to avert any terrorist activity against Pakistan from any part of the country especially from Balochistan.
CDA workers busy in fixing stone along sewerage nallah at E-11 Sector to avoid any untoward situation
