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Five illegal LPG refilling shops sealed

By
Iqra Yousaf Iqra Yousaf
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MULTAN, Nov 24 (APP): The district administration has launched a crackdown against illegal LPG refilling and sealed over five shops here on Friday.
Assistant Commissioner City Seemal Mushtaq led the operation seized the cylinders and filling units and launched legal action.
On this occasion, AC city said that the protection of properties and lives of people would be ensured by controlling illegal refilling.
The crackdown against brick kilns and commercial vehicles causing smog was also underway, she concluded.

Call to set up national gold bank

By
Iqra Yousaf Iqra Yousaf
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LAHORE, Nov 24 (APP): Gold & Gems Art Promotion Council of Pakistan  (GGAPCP) President Muhammad Ahmed has demanded Caretaker Federal Finance Minister Dr Shamshad Akhtar and State Bank of Pakistan Governor Jameel Ahmed to set up a gold bank at national level for dealing with fluctuation in gold prices.
Muhammad Ahmad, who is also FPCCI Regional Standing Committee Convener for Gems & Jewellery, and Chairman Lahore Division Sarafa and Jewellers Association, expressed these views while addressing a meeting to review election arrangements for new office bearers of the council here on Friday.
He said the government should control gold prices as ever-rising prices of the yellow metal were affecting small businessmen. He said if a gold bank was set up in the country, people could be able to buy the yellow metal direct from the bank, which would end the role of middlemen. He was of the view that the government could control prices of gold like it regulates the prices of petroleum products and other commodities.
The GGAPCP president further said the government had granted the gems and jewellery sector the status of industry in 2005, but facilities to the industry could not be provided accordingly.
 Muhammad Ahmed also demanded the government to remove impediments to gold and jewellery exports which would not only promote the industry but also help increase foreign exchange.

MP scales devised in 1998 to bring professional from private to public sector: Senate told

By
NNPS Desk
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ISLAMABAD, Nov 24 (APP): Caretaker Minister for Finance and Revenue Shamshad Akhtar on Friday apprised the Senate that Management Position (MP) Scales were devised in 1998 to bring highly professional persons from private sector to Public sector.

Replying to a calling attention notice raised by Mian Raza Rabbani regarding the revision of Management Position (MP) Salary package with effect from 1st October, 2023, she said the package was also revised in 2007, 2012 and 2017.

The package was also duly approved by past leadership, she said.

She said in July 2022, basic pay of civil servants was also enhanced around 48 per cent.

The process of package enhancement was started in July 2022 to take on board the Cabinet and the Establishment Division, she said.

The minister said that the prime minister approved it after limiting it to 45 per cent of basic salary.

She said there were some technical areas in energy, economy and Finance etc which needed specialized persons and specialized skills.

Earlier, moving the calling attention notice in the house, Raza Rabbani said that persons appointed in MP scales had already getting hefty perks and privileges than the elected representatives- senator and member national assembly. Now, the salary package of MP scales had further been enhanced manifolded, he added.

He said the basic salary of a senator was mere Rs 150,000 per month while MP scale employee was getting minimum over Rs 350,000 per month basic salary excluding other perks and privileges.

The Senator went on to say that someone was drawing over two to three million rupees per month salary. Such people were burden over the national exchequer, he added.

Meanwhile, Mushahid Hussain Syed on behalf of Chairman, Standing Committee on Human Rights Waleed Iqbal presented report of the Committee on a point of public importance raised by Senator Saifullah Abro on 7th April, 2023, regarding murder of Professor Ajmal Sawand in Kandhkot, Sindh in the House.

 

IRSA releases 87,100 cusecs water

By
NNPS Desk
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ISLAMABAD, Nov 24 (APP): Indus River System Authority (IRSA) on Friday released 87,100 cusecs water from various rim stations with inflow of 44,1100 cusecs.

According to the data released by IRSA, water level in River Indus at Tarbela Dam was 1503.77 feet and was 103.77 feet higher than its dead level of 1,398 feet. Water inflow and outflow in the dam was recorded as 22,800 cusecs and 42,000 cusecs respectively.

The water level in River Jhelum at Mangla Dam was 1181.70 feet, which was 131.70 feet higher than its dead level of 1,050 feet. The inflow and outflow of water was recorded 6,200 cusecs and 30,000 cusecs respectively.

The release of water at Kalabagh, Taunsa , Guddu and Sukkur was recorded as 52,700, 43,500, 44,100 and 14,400 cusecs respectively. Similarly, from River Kabul, a total of 6,900 cusecs of water released at Nowshera and 2,200 cusecs released from River Chenab at Marala.

No Licence-No Driving’ drive continues in Faisalabad

By
Iqra Yousaf Iqra Yousaf
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FAISALABAD, Nov 24 (APP):A special drive ‘No Licence-No Driving’ is in full swing in the district as traffic police are taking action against underage and drivers without licences under zero tolerance policy.
Chief Traffic Officer Maqsood Ahmad Loone said here Friday that traffic police had taken action against 18,000 underage drivers during the last 10 months. Traffic wardens registered 113 cases against underage and licence-less drivers and impounded more than 525 vehicles at different traffic circles and police stations during the last two days, he said.
The traffic officer, in his message to citizens urged them to get their driving licence without delay and appealed to parents not to hand over their vehicles to children.
He said that the objective of traffic police is to ensure safety of people on roads and not issuing challan and generating revenue.

Online case hearing system inaugurated in central jail Peshawar

By
Iqra Yousaf Iqra Yousaf
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0
PESHAWAR, Nov 24 (APP): Caretaker Provincial Minister for Prison and Social Welfare, Justice (R) Irshad Qaiser here Friday inaugurated an online case hearing system to facilitate prisoners and address backlog issues.
She inaugurated the new system during her visit to Central Jail Peshawar. Speaking on the occasion, she said the new facility would help curtail petrol expenditure and address security concerns while presenting high-profile inmates.
Under the new system, accused charged in high profile cases would be produced before courts online for hearing, she said.
The jail authorities would receive bail and release prisoners’ decisions online.
She said the renovation of four jails in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was completed including Peshawar Central Jail.
Besides jail reforms and free treatment of prisoners, she said vocational skills were also being provided to them.

Improved sanitation stressed for healthy environment at schools

By
Iqra Yousaf Iqra Yousaf
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DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Nov 24 (APP):Pakistan Red Crescent Dera Ismail Khan held a function in connection with World Toilet Day to raise awareness among people about cleanliness and sanitation.

The event was held at Government High School, Mahrrah where the staff, students, and volunteers participated in the awareness activities with regard to the day.

The participants underlined the need for the government to ensure the availability of toilets at schools as well as public places to ensure cleanliness.

In this regard, they said most public schools lacked functional toilets, leading to the spread of diseases among students.

Emphasizing the use of latrines, health and hygiene promotion, and the importance of cleanliness, the participants said concrete measures should be taken to ensure the availability of a decent toilet infrastructures at schools to provide a healthy environment for children.

IMF disbursed $ 1.2 bln under Stand By Arrangement so far: Senate told

By
NNPS Desk
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ISLAMABAD, Nov 24 (APP): Caretaker Minister for Finance and Revenue Shamshad Akhtar on Friday informed the Senate that International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board approved the Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) worth $ 3 billion, of which $ 1.2 billion had been disbursed.

Replying to various questions during Question Hour, she said the duration of the program was 9 months.

The SBA would have two reviews which would be held/completed in November 2023 and March 2024, she added.

The minister said the completion of each review would lead to disbursement of the remaining amount.

The principal repayment was due within 3.25 years of disbursement in eight equal quarterly installments while the interest rate currently stood at 4.198%, she added.

She said “We have met the target of primary deficit in line with the standby arrangement reached with the IMF,” adding the government had also managed to reduce expenditures.

The minister said the prices of essential commodities would now gradually come down as a result of the government effective policies.

To another question, Shamshad Akhtar told that State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) was a body corporate, established under the State Bank of Pakistan Act, 1956 (Act).

The oversight of the affairs and functions of the Bank was entrusted to the Board of Directors under the Act, she said.

Moreover, the Board of Directors was empowered, among other things, to make regulations regarding recruitment, compensation and terms of service of employees, she added.

She said a total of 1178 employees were working in SBP as on May 29, 2023. Out of total 1101 were regular employees while 77 employees had been appointed on contract basis.

The minister said there were two compensation structures at SBP namely Old Monetized Salary Structure (OMS) and New Compensation & Benefits Structure (NC&BS).

The NC&BS was defined contributory retirement scheme and employees (around 81%) who were currently serving SBP under this scheme were entitled to contributory provident fund and gratuity while the employees serving on OMS (around 19%) were entitled to pension based on the last drawn salary, as end of service benefits, she said.

The minister said a total budget of Rs 6,818 million had been allocated by the State Bank of Pakistan for the fiscal year FY 2022-23 for salaries and benefits of employees.

To a separate question, Shamshad Akhtar said that during last three years, 15 Audit teams visited 65 Missions abroad comprising 8, BPS-19 and 20, BPS-18 officers which incurred Rs 46.419 million total expenditure.

Responding to a point raised by Senator Mushtaq Ahmed, she said that the government would issue directives to Principal Accounting Officer (PAO) of all ministries to control consumption of electricity, gas and other charges.

Overseas minister sings LoI with Saudi conglomerates to grab employment opportunities for Pakistanis

By
NNPS Desk
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ISLAMABAD, Nov 24 (APP): Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Jawad Sohrab Malik has inked two letters of intent with the Saudi conglomerates FNRCO and MAHARAH in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to secure more employment opportunities for Pakistanis.

The objective is to bolster collaboration and facilitate the recruitment of Pakistani workers and professionals for various large-scale projects in KSA.

The signed agreements outline plans to establish training and orientation centers in Pakistan which will cater to the skill development needs aligned with the demands of the Saudi labor market, a news release said.

Expressing optimism, SAPM Malik underscored that this collaboration marks a significant milestone, paving the way for increased recruitment avenues for skilled workforce from Pakistan. He emphasized the mutual benefits for both nations, providing the Pakistani workforce with opportunities to contribute to the objectives of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

FNRCO is a prominent Saudi Arabian company which specializes in administrative solutions and project management and has a focus on recruiting highly qualified human resources. Currently engaged in major projects of KSA, including those in NEOM, FNRCO is positioned as a key player in the Saudi job market.

Meanwhile, Maharah Human Resource Company is the largest human resource solutions provider in Saudi Arabia and offers a comprehensive range of services such as recruitment, staffing, payroll, outsourcing, and training.

With a successful track record, Maharah has collaborated with major entities in Saudi Arabia, including Saudi Aramco, SABIC, and STC. FNRCO’s and MAHARAH’s partnership with Pakistan signifies a strategic move that will enhance workforce capabilities for the benefit of both nations.

Anti Polio campaign to begin from Nov 27 in Sukkur

By
Iqra Yousaf Iqra Yousaf
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0
SUKKUR, Nov 24 (APP): A district-wide anti-polio campaign will begin from November 27 to December 2, in which children under five years of age will be given polio vaccine with vitamin A drops.
Speaking about the anti-polio campaign in the district, Additional Deputy Commissioner Sukkur Liaquat Ali Kalhoro urged the parents to fully cooperate with the polio teams and ensure that their children are vaccinated against polio.
He said that eradication of Polio from the country is the responsibility of every citizen.
He said that the incidence of polio has been reduced to only a few areas of the country.
The ADC Kalhoro said that the global certification requires that no polio case emerges for three consecutive years.
He urged the educated people to create awareness among the masses about the crippling disease.
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