RAWALPINDI
To honour Olympian Arshad Nadeem’s historic achievement, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir, NI (M) hosted a ceremony at Army Auditorium GHQ. The event was attended by sports teams and legendary olympians including 1984 Olympic and National Hockey Teams, National Cricket Team, Street Football Team, Army Polo Team, Visually Impaired Cricket and Women Goal Ball Teams, Medal Winners of Common Wealth, SAF and Asian Games and participants of Paris Olympics 2024. Notable legends included Jehangir Khan, Isalah Ud Din, Shahbaz Senior, Sohail Abbas, Muhammad Asif and Aisam-ul-Haq. The event was also attended by Arshad Nadeem’s close relatives, associates and coaches
RAWALPINDI
To honour Olympian Arshad Nadeem’s historic achievement, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir, NI (M) hosted a ceremony at Army Auditorium GHQ. COAS presents shield to the national hero
RAWALPINDI
President praises security forces for successful operation against Khawarij terrorists
ISLAMABAD, Aug 16 (APP): President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday commended the security forces for launching successful intelligence-based operation against Khawarij terrorists in North Waziristan.
In a statement issued by the President House, the president praised the bravery of the forces for killing 3 terrorists in the operation.
He vowed to continue operations against the Khawarij until the complete elimination of terrorism.
The whole nation is united against the menace of the terrorism, President Zardari said.
Rs 1.45m released for medical expenses of police employees
LAHORE, Aug 16 (APP):Inspector General of Police Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar has released an additional 1.45 million rupees for the medical expenses of employees serving in various districts, including Lahore.
According to details, Sub-Inspector Nadeem Anwar Asim from Sahiwal has been given 250,000 rupees for cancer treatment, Retired Constable Syed Shamshad Hussain from Sheikhupura Police has been granted 200,000 rupees for medical expenses.
Inspector Muhammad Ishaq from Sahiwal Police has received 250,000 rupees for liver disease treatment.
The wife of Constable Nadeem Amir (deceased) from Gujrat has been given 150,000 rupees for a wheelchair. ASI Muhammad Shafiq and Head Constable Rab Nawaz Khan from Lahore Police have been granted 100,000 rupees each for treatment.
ASI Muhammad Ashfaq Anjum from Special Branch and PC Constable Muhammad Mohsin Asad have been issued 100,000 rupees each for medical expenses. ASI Shaukat Javed Khan from Mianwali and Sultan Ahmed from PC Farooqabad have also been granted 100,000 rupees each for treatment.
IG Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar issued these funds after the approval of the Welfare Branch’s Scrutiny Committee.
He said that no police employee or their family member facing health issues will be left alone during their illness, and the support from the Police Welfare Fund will continue.
He also directed that RPOs and DPOs should maintain close contact with the force and continue to prioritize health welfare initiatives.
Revival of economy govt’s topmost priority; Rana Mashhood
ISLAMABAD, Aug 16 (APP):Chairman of the Prime Minister Youth Programme(PMYP) Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan has said that the revival of the economy was the priority of the government and efforts were underway to address this challenge.
Talking to the media here on Friday, Rana said that PMYP in collaboration with the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) was equipping young individuals with both high-tech and conventional skills to empower them for future opportunities.
He informed that as many as 1.5 million youngsters would be trained to get employment abroad stating, “Our goal is to ensure that every young Pakistani has the skills necessary to succeed in today’s competitive landscape. By focusing on both high-tech and traditional skill development, we aim to enhance employment prospects and foster economic growth.”
Referring to the recent maiden visit of Commonwealth Secretary-General RT Patricia Scotland to Pakistan, he said that the mutual interest between Pakistan and the Commonwealth will help promote cooperation in various fields of youth development programmes.
LHC reserves verdict on petition against disruption of internet services
LAHORE, Aug 16 (APP):The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday reserved its verdict on a petition filed against the disruption of internet service across the country.
The single bench, comprising Justice Shakil Ahmed, heard the petition filed by Advocate Nadeem Sarwar.
During the proceedings, the court summoned a federal law officer and ordered him to seek instructions from the relevant quarters until 12 pm, while adjourning the hearing for a short while.
Later, as the proceedings resumed, the law officer requested time to submit a detailed response to the petition, stating the need to consult with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority regarding the slow internet speed.
However, the court noted that this was a public interest petition and that appropriate orders would be issued, besides questioning the level of seriousness of the law officer.
Subsequently, the court reserved its verdict on the petition.
The petitioner submitted that disruption in internet service and slow speed were severely affecting individuals associated with IT. He also submitted that those conducting online businesses were facing significant difficulties. He pleaded with the court to direct the concerned authorities to end the disruption in internet service.
NHA Chairman launches tree planting campaign
ISLAMABAD, Aug 16 (APP):Chairman of the National Highway Authority (NHA) Muhammad Sheheryar Sultan Friday inaugurated a Tree Planting Campaign on the NHA road network by planting a sapling on the Thalian Airport carriageway.
According to an NHA spokesman, the campaign aimed to plant over 46,000 saplings and wild plants along the Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway (M-1) this year.
The Chairman said that planting trees was a form of Sadaqah Jariyah (ongoing charity). He noted that Pakistan was among the countries most affected by climate change and reiterated the NHA’s commitment to increasing greenery, reducing temperatures and mitigating the impacts of climate change through this national initiative.
The tree planting campaign will be carried out in three phases; in the first phase, 23,000 saplings, including olive trees, local fruit-bearing and shade trees and forest plants, from the NHA Gate to the Thallian Interchange on the Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway (M-1) would be planted.
In the second phase, two 23,000 saplings around the road network near the Burhan and Brahma Bahtar Interchanges would be planted. The third phase will focus on making the section of the motorway from the Islamabad Toll Plaza to Brahma Bahtar environmentally friendly, green, and aesthetically pleasing. This year, the country has set a target to plant over 100 million trees.
PM hails Punjab government’s historic relief for electricity consumers
ISLAMABAD, Aug 16 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday welcomed the historic package for the electricity consumers announced by Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif under the leadership of PML-N President and former Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
“The decision to reduce electricity rates by Rs 14 per unit for consumers who use up to 500 units per month is a notable example of a people-centric initiative by Nawaz Sharif and the Punjab Chief Minister,” the prime minister said in a statement issued by the PM Office.
He said under the guidance of Nawaz Sharif, public relief had remained the government’s top priority since day one of assuming his office.
Recently, he said the federal government had announced relief for the electricity consumers using up to 200 units per month by cutting the size of its annual development budget by Rs 50 billion.
He highlighted that under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif, the government was taking steps to make the lives of the people easier.
After economic stabilization, the country is heading in the right direction, he said adding that public relief and reduction in inflation were the top priorities of the government.
He assured that the government was working for the long-term solution of reduction in electricity prices and all possible efforts were being made in this regard.
SBP enhances clean lending limit for SME’s to Rs10 million
KARACHI, Aug 16 (APP):The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), in order to facilitate Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) sector’s access to finance, on Friday, increased clean lending limit for SMEs to Rs10 million.
The banking regulator has made an amendment in Prudential Regulations for SME Financing and SME Regulation SME R-4 regarding Limit on Clean Facility been updated accordingly to enhance the clean lending limit for an SME borrower from Rs5 million to Rs10 million.
SBP’s SME, Housing and Sustainable Finance Department issued a circular in the regard advising heads of all banks and DFIs stringent compliance of the regulatory measures taken in light of National SME Policy 2021.
“Banks & DFIs can take clean exposure (facilities extended based on cashflows of an SME secured solely against personal guarantees) of up to Rs 10 million on an SME borrower,” the circular read and further clarified, “the clean exposure limit shall not include the clean consumer financing limits like Credit Card and Personal Loans, allowed to a sponsor of the said SME under Prudential Regulations for Consumer Financing”.
The central bank had already revised the definition of SMEs amending the respective regulations- Regulation SE R-1 and Regulation ME R-1. As per revised definition an enterprise having Annual Sales Turnover up to Rs150 million to be categorized as ‘Small Enterprise’ while enterprise with AST above Rs150 million to Rs800 million will fall in the category of ‘Medium Enterprise’.
The central bank advised Banks and DFIs to ensure circulation of the mentioned amendment among all their offices and branches for meticulous compliance in letter and spirit while non-compliance of Prudential Regulations will lead to punitive action under the relevant provisions of BCO, 1962.
TAL joint venture announces discovery of gas condensate in Kohat District
ISLAMABAD, Aug 16 (APP):The TAL Joint Venture, comprising MOL Pakistan Oil & Gas Co. B.V. (Operator), Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), Pakistan Oilfields Limited (POL), and Government Holdings Private Limited (GHPL), has discovered of gas condensate from the Lockhart Formation in the Razgir-1 exploratory well, located in district Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The well was spudded on January 9, 2024, and has been successfully drilled to a depth of 3,773.98 meters True Vertical Depth (TVD), according to a news release.
Based on the interpretation of wireline log data, the Lockhart Formation (Exploratory Target) was tested successfully (post-acid stimulation) at a rate of approximately 17.9 million Standard Cubic Feet per Day (MMSCFD) of gas and 153 Barrels per Day (BPD) of condensate, with a choke size of 40/64 inches and a Wellhead Flowing Pressure (WHFP) of 2,017 Pounds per Square Inch (Psi).
This discovery mitigates risks associated with further exploration in the TAL Block, presenting new growth opportunities.
This find is expected to enhance the country’s energy security by utilizing indigenous resources and contribute to the hydrocarbon reserves base of MOL, its Joint Venture partners, and the nation.