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Federal Minister for Commerce holds crucial meeting with ‘Fruit Juice Council’

By
Ali Ali
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Jam Kamal
ISLAMABAD, May 8 (APP):The Federal Minister for Commerce, Jam Kamal Khan, convened a pivotal meeting with the M/s Fruit Juice Council at the Ministry of Commerce on Wednesday.
The council, represented by industry leaders, provided an extensive briefing to the minister, highlighting pressing concerns regarding increased tariff rates, including Federal Excise Duty (FED) and Goods and Services Tax (GST), according to a press release issued here. During the session, the council expressed alarm over a significant 40 percent decline in juice sales attributed to the recent tax hikes.
Minister Jam Kamal Khan underscored the importance of focusing on and boosting exports.
He emphasized the government’s willingness to provide incentives, but a comprehensive proposal aimed at enhancing exports.
The minister cited the Prime Minister’s initiative to combat smuggling through a dedicated committee, a move expected to bolster local industries and generate employment opportunities.
Moreover, Minister Jam Kamal stressed the imperative of collaboration with provincial authorities and district administrations to crack down on fake and unregistered food products.
Such measures, he argued, would safeguard registered industries and uphold quality standards.
The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to facilitating exports, highlighting its readiness to support local industries in navigating challenges and seizing opportunities.
The meeting was attended by Additional Secretary Syed Hamid Ali and representatives from leading companies including Nestle, Shezan, TetraPak, PepsiCo, Haleeb Foods, and Popular Group.

UK House of Lords’ member Sayeeda Warsi calls on Deputy PM Dar

By
Najam ul Hassan
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ISLAMABAD, May 8 (APP): Member of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom Baroness Sayeeda Warsi Wednesday called on the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar.

In the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations and regional developments, and resolved to continue working together to further enhance cooperation between the two countries in all areas of mutual interest.

The two sides also discussed matters of trade and investment, and people-to-people links.

ICCI organizes seminar on mental health

By
NNPS Desk
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Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari

ISLAMABAD, May 8 (APP): President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari Wednesday urged the pressing need to provide essential information and vital resources to individuals navigating mental health issues.

Addressing a seminar on mental health care in times of financial constraints, he said that awareness sessions on such crucial issues always proved beneficial for the patients to help them come out of the stress and thereby lead a normal life.

The ICCI always remained in forefront to address such issues of the business community and the general public, he said adding that it was also committed to organize such sessions in future for the benefit of the general public and promote awareness about mental health.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Uzaira Rafique Vice Chancellor of Fatima Jinnah Women University underscored the need for developing strong bounds with nature, families and social values to maintain mental health and reduce stress.

She apprised about the Mental Wellness Center established in Fatima Jinnah Women University and reaffirmed unwavering commitment to promote the well being of the entire community.

She also lauded the efforts of Zafar Bakhtawari and Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari for promoting student linkages with the ICCI and initiating entrepreneur start ups for them.

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiative Prof. Ahsan Iqbal presenting commemorative coin and postage stamp which launched to celebrate the “Decade of CPEC” to Vice Foreign Minister of China H.E. Sun Weidong at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Beijing.

By
Wajid
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0
APP28-080524 BEIJING: May 08 - Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiative Prof. Ahsan Iqbal presenting commemorative coin and postage stamp which launched to celebrate the "Decade of CPEC" to Vice Foreign Minister of China H.E. Sun Weidong at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Beijing.
Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiative Prof. Ahsan Iqbal presenting commemorative coin and postage stamp which launched to celebrate the "Decade of CPEC" to Vice Foreign Minister of China H.E. Sun Weidong at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Beijing.
APP28-080524
BEIJING: May 08 – Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiative Prof. Ahsan Iqbal presenting commemorative coin and postage stamp which launched to celebrate the "Decade of CPEC" to Vice Foreign Minister of China H.E. Sun Weidong at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Beijing.

APP29-080524
BEIJING: May 08 – Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiative Prof. Ahsan Iqbal meeting with Vice Foreign Minister of China H.E. Sun Weidong at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Beijing. APP/AMI/MAF/TZD

President Zardari concludes 3-day Quetta visit, returns to Islamabad

By
Najam ul Hassan
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0

ISLAMABAD, May 8 (APP): President Asif Ali Zardari Wednesday concluded his three-day visit to Quetta, and returned to Islamabad.

The president was seen off by Governor Balochistan, Jaffar Khan Mandokhail, and Chief Minister Mir Safraz Ahmed Bugti.

During his visit, he was briefed on the law and order situation in Balochistan and the ongoing development projects in the province.

President Zardari reiterated his commitment to the development and prosperity of Balochistan and the resolution of public issues.

Managing Director APP Asim Khichi in a group photograph with visiting Executive Director General ISA Arshad Munir and probation officers of Information Group belonging to 41st Specialized Training Programme of Information Service Academy (ISA) at Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) Headquarters.

By
Wajid
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0
APP36-080524 ISLAMABAD: May 08 - Managing Director APP Asim Khichi in a group photograph with visiting Executive Director General ISA Arshad Munir and probation officers of Information Group belonging to 41st Specialized Training Programme of Information Service Academy (ISA) at Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) Headquarters.
Managing Director APP Asim Khichi in a group photograph with visiting Executive Director General ISA Arshad Munir and probation officers of Information Group belonging to 41st Specialized Training Programme of Information Service Academy (ISA) at Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) Headquarters.
APP36-080524
ISLAMABAD: May 08 – 

Pakistan, World Bank agree to New Partnership Framework for reforms, development

By
Najam ul Hassan
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0

ISLAMABAD, May 8 (APP): Pakistan and the World Bank on Wednesday agreed to collaborate on a new, robust and ambitious Country Partnership Framework (CPF) to carry forward the country’s reform and development agenda.

The agreement was reached during a meeting between Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and a delegation led by Regional Vice President of the World Bank for South Asia Martin Raiser.

Welcoming Martin Raiser, Prime Minister Shehbaz lauded the contribution of the World Bank to the development of Pakistan.

The prime minister appreciated the support extended by the Bank for building the climate resilient infrastructure in the wake of 2022 floods in Pakistan. He briefed the delegation on the reform agenda of the government including digitization of the entire tax system, power sector reforms, enhancing per acre yield in the agriculture sector, addressing the issue of child stunting, etc.

Appreciating Pakistan’s aggressive reforms agenda, Martin Raiser said the World Bank was ready to collaborate with the country in its journey of transformation of the economy aimed at sustainable development.

Both sides agreed to engage in a long-term, focused partnership under a new Country Partnership Framework with an annual review mechanism to assess progress and ensure that results are achieved. The strategy will include flexibility for future course correction. The new partnership will have the ambition to achieve transformational impacts over a decade on a selective set of critical development priorities for Pakistan.

The initial set of priorities that were discussed in the meeting included structural economic reforms including domestic resource mobilization, particularly via digitalization and tax policy reforms.

Human capital development, specifically addressing child stunting and improving foundational learning was also discussed.

Likewise, the energy sector reforms, including increased participation of the private sector in transmission and distribution, and transition to green energy to make energy cheaper, cleaner and financially sustainable also came under discussion.

In order to better cope with the increased water scarcity and climate-related shocks, both sides emphasized collaboration in climate adaptation.

For increasing economic opportunities, including in the agriculture sector, Pakistan will benefit from the Bank’s expertise in mobilizing global expertise and best practices, institutional capacity building, leveraging digital transformation and private sector participation, including via the World Bank’s private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency.

The two sides agreed that the process for preparation of the new Country Partnership Framework will consist of consultations with the federal and provincial governments as well as academia, parliamentarians, civil society, development partners and the private sector.

The World Bank will coordinate with stakeholders to discuss the partnership priorities duly aligned with the key development priorities and strategy of the Government of Pakistan.

The prime minister witnessed the signing of a joint communique in this respect by the World Bank’s Country Representative Najy Benhassine and Secretary of Economic Affairs Division Dr. Kazim Niaz.

Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Petroleum Minister Dr. Musadik Malik, Minister of State for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Dr. Jehanzeb Khan and senior government officials also attended the meeting.

SECP organizes workshop on Capital Markets Surveillance

By
Ali Ali
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0
SECP
ISLAMABAD, May 8 (APP):The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP)  Wednesday organized a of workshop for Council Energy and Economic Journalists (CEEJ), focusing on oversight of trading activities at the Pakistan Stock Exchange.
The SECP team explained that the stock exchange played an important role in capital formation, financial inclusion and diversification of investments, said a press release issued here.
The participants were briefed on the trading, clearing, settlement and custodial functions of the Pakistan Stock Exchange, the National Clearing Company, and the Central Depository Company of Pakistan Limited, collectively referred to as Capital Market Infrastructure Institutions (CMIIs).
The presentation on digital online account opening process emphasized the convenience offered by the newly introduced Centralized Gateway Portal (CGP) for retail investors across all financial intermediaries including brokers, asset management companies and insurance companies.
The new process has simplified the process for opening accounts with multiple financial intermediaries by ensuring that most of the required documents and details are available in the CGP.
The presentation on market surveillance explained SECP’s mandate with respect to surveillance.
The participants were informed about different types of market abuse, such as insider trading, market manipulation and briefed about various tools for surveillance that have been deployed at SECP and PSX.
The participants agreed that regular communication between regulators and the media is a good practice that will lead to more effective regulation by the regulators and more responsible reporting by the media.

Six cattle markets for sacrificial animals on the cards

By
Ali Ali
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0
ISLAMABAD, May 8 (APP):Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) will set up six cattle markets for sacrificial animals to facilitate the buyers ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
“Three each cattle market will be set for big and small animals at various locations in the federal capital,” an official in the MCI told APP
About the sites for the cattle markets, he said the authority will establish cattle markets for big animals in Sangjani, I-15 and I-12 while for small animals Bhara Kahu, Lehtrar Road near Sultana Foundation and Zia Masjid along Expressway.
The official said that the sites for establishment of cattle markets of sacrificial animals for the period of 13 days with effect from 1st Zilhajj to 13th Zilhajj on the occasion.
He said the cattle markets will operate, allowing citizens to purchase sacrificial animals for religious occasion.
The MCI has set the fee for small animals at Rs. 250, while the fee for large animals will be Rs. 500.
To allocate the rights to set up and manage these cattle markets, a bidding process will be conducted on May 9 at the office of the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA), he added.
The official said the successful bidders will be granted permission to establish the cattle markets at the designated locations.

Google provides up to 45,000 scholarships

By
NNPS Desk
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0

ISLAMABAD, May 08 (APP): Google has launched Google Artificial Intelligence (AI) Essentials, a new course to help more people unlock AI skills for the future, besides providing up to 45,000 scholarships for Google Career Certificates in 2024, and adding two new programmes to upskill freelancers and women.

The Google AI Essentials is a new self-paced, online course taught by AI experts at Google. This course requires no previous experience with AI, and is designed to help teach people across roles and industries get essential AI skills to boost productivity, and gain hands-on experience via a variety of AI tools, according to a news release.

With this course, people will learn how to use AI tools to brainstorm ideas and speed up daily work tasks. It will also learn how to write effective prompts and use AI responsibly by identifying AI’s potential biases. Google AI Essentials is available on Coursera in English.

In addition to Google AI Essentials, the Google Career Certificates (GCC) prepare learners for entry-level jobs in fast-growing fields, whether it is Data Analytics, Cybersecurity or Digital Marketing. New resources have been added to the certificates to help learners discover how professionals in their fields are using AI, while gaining hands-on experience applying AI to a workplace scenario.

From the first launch in 2022, 80% of GCC graduates in Pakistan reported the programme had helped them advance in their careers.

In addition, according to partner-led surveys (IRM/TechValley, 2023), 28% of women who graduated from the programme reported experiencing financial growth, 24% stated they obtained a new job or got promoted, and 91% felt more confident after completing the programme.

Pakistan is home to the third-largest freelancing economy in the world and it is critical to ensure that the country’s freelance talent remains competitive, especially in today’s rapidly evolving digital environment.

This year, Google, in partnership with the Pakistan Freelancers Association (PAFLA), has developed a programme that will help the freelance community in Pakistan address challenges around soft skills areas such as personal branding, and communication skills. Up to 50,000 PAFLA freelancers could benefit from the programme taught by Google experts.

To inspire and empower women to join and thrive in the workforce, Google, along with its long-term partner Tech Valley, has joined forces to design a Career Kamyabi programme which advocates for gender balance in the workforce and aims to create an inclusive and supportive work environment for women by offering equal employment and professional development opportunities.

The programme, which already has the support of 50+ of Pakistan’s leading employers, helps create economic opportunities for women by connecting them with potential employers.

Farhan Qureshi, Google’s Country Director for Pakistan, said, “With the Google Career Certificates initiative, we are hoping to continue to play an effective role in the digital landscape of Pakistan. Our scholarships and training programs are designed to not only help young Pakistanis explore the realms of the tech world but to also financially empower them. We are grateful to all our local partners who have joined hands with us and have worked diligently to ensure that the Pakistani youth have more opportunities to reach their full potential.”

“Google is committed to building a Future Forward Pakistan with initiatives like the GCC and will continue to invest in providing young talent with the digital skills needed to grow and succeed.”

The third phase of the Google Career Certificates program aims to establish a strong presence in Pakistan and strengthen the culture of learning, empowerment, and inclusivity among all.

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