ISLAMABAD, MAR 2 /DNA/ – The nomination papers of Shehbaz Sharif and Omar Ayub for the elections of the prime minister or leader of the house in the National Assembly — slated for Sunday at 11am — have been approved.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) on Saturday submitted nomination papers for Shehbaz and Ayub, respectively.

The Mutahhida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party, and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have all backed the PML-N’s candidate, ensuring that he will be smoothly elected for the prime minister’s slot once again. Ayub, on the other hand, does not have the numbers.

PML-N leaders Ishaq Dar, Hanif Abbasi, and PPP leader Khursheed Shah submitted the documents on behalf of Shehbaz. Seven MNAs are proposers and seven others are seconders for the former PM’s nomination papers.

On the other hand, the SIC has also submitted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Ayub’s nomination papers to the secretary of the lower house.

On February 29, the National Assembly Secretariat issued the schedule of the election for prime minister’s office according to which the election will take place on March 3 (tomorrow).

The time for submission of nomination papers ended at 2pm on Saturday (today) while the time for scrutiny of the nomination papers ended at 3pm.

Both major parties — PPP and PML-N — got their speaker and deputy speaker elected with ease in Friday’s session, with the SIC and PTI-backed candidates suffering defeat.

Following the prime minister’s election, the newly-elected lawmakers will also elect a new head of the state on March 9, marking an end to the tenure of PTI-backed President Arif Alvi.

However, PML-N and PPP’s estranged ally Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, whose party has eight seats in the National Assembly, raised reservations over the polls and said that they would not vote for the president and prime minister.

Although the PML-N had Friday expressed hope for a breakthrough after the party’s top brass met the JUI-F leadership, no positive news has come out yet.=DNA

===============

DNA

ISLAMABAD: The Disposable Food Packaging Association (DFPA) Ahsan Shahid has said that the most serious challenge to the economy for the new government in the current fiscal year would be inflation, because it is already hitting economy due to continuous raise in oil prices and depreciation of local currency.

Ahsan Shahid warned the high cost of doing business has been hurting the economic growth, as the inflation rate bounced back to 32.2% in concluding month, hurting the trade and industry the most, who faced the brunt of a staggering 520% increase in gas prices.

Quoting the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, he said that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) surged to 29.2% last month compared to a year ago. The increase was more than market expectations and has lessened the prospects for a cut in the interest rates, which stand at the country’s highest ever level of 24%.

This reading, the first announced by the PBS after the recently concluded International Monetary Fund (IMF) talks, in which the global lender also cut the inflation forecast for Pakistan to 22.8%, may strengthen the IMF’s view of keeping the policy rate unchanged until core inflation starts easing out when the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meets.

He predicted that inflation would remain high and may even increase further due to market frictions caused by relative demand and supply gap of essential items, exchange rate depreciation and recent upward adjustment of administered prices of petrol and diesel. The trader leader called for keeping check on government expenditure and high cost of debt servicing to contain budget deficit, as the Pakistan’s federal budget deficit projection has been revised to history’s highest to over Rs6 trillion, highlighting the unending fiscal woes that have pushed the country into a debt trap despite putting additional burden of billions of rupees on industry in the current fiscal year.

Expressing serious concern over the high jump in country’s budget deficit, he said the revision has been made in light of agreement with the International Monetary Fund, which exposed the massive underreporting of expenditures at the time of budget presentation by the finance ministry.

This is a highly unsustainable level and has already pushed the country into a situation where debt restructuring seems to be the only viable option. He maintained that the failure to reform the tax system and increase revenue collection is a major factor behind heavy domestic and foreign borrowings by the government. In view of the low level of available FX reserves, the debt management strategy of Pakistan may have to be revisited, to ensure the stability of Pakistani rupee and restoration of international capital markets’ confidence in the economy of Pakistan.

Ahsan Shahid expressed surprise at the impact of the gas price hike, stating that it has surpassed market expectations. His analysis suggests that PBS included fixed costs, such as meter rent, in the weekly inflation calculation in addition to the gas tariff hike.

The pace of inflation increased in urban areas while there was deceleration in rural areas, reported the PBS. The interim government has increased gas prices with effect from November 1st. Contrary to the claim of increasing prices up to 193%, the PBS report revealed that prices were jacked up as high as 520% for consumers.

The people’s purchasing power has massively gone down, and the lenders-pushed energy policies to address fiscal issues through increasing prices have failed to yield the desired results.

ISLAMABAD, MAR 1 /DNA/ – The Centre for Strategic Perspectives (CSP) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) hosted a public talk, titled “Pakistan’s Opportunity for Science Diplomacy in South Asia” on March 01, 2024. Dr. Saleem H. Ali, Chair, Department of Geography, University of Delaware, USA was the keynote speaker. The talk provided significant insights into the opportunities available for Pakistan to conduct successful and effective Science Diplomacy, including in the South Asian region. Featuring as Discussant, Additional Secretary (PP/ACDIS) Mr. Kamran Akhtar highlighted the progress made by Pakistan within the context of the Ministry of Foreign Affair’s; Science Diplomacy initiative.

Director CSP, Dr. Neelum Nigar, welcomed the participants to the discussion, underscoring the subject’s significance for the region.
In his welcome remarks, DG ISSI Ambassador Sohail Mahmood highlighted the importance of Science Diplomacy (SD) in today’s interconnected world and lauded the Foreign Office’s SD initiative which served as a key platform for facilitating the inter-face between the national science & technology stakeholders and international partners. He noted that this was helping to foster beneficial collaboration on key areas of focus with the relevant institutions, international organisations, and countries. Pakistan was also leveraging Science Diplomacy to implement SDGs.
Ambassador Sohail Mahmood added that science diplomacy in South Asia offers the chance to address common environmental challenges and help enhance technological innovation and economic growth. Collaborative research and development projects can lead to the creation of new technologies, improved infrastructure, and increased scientific capacity in the region.

Dr. Saleem H. Ali delivered a compelling presentation in which he outlined the pivotal role of science diplomacy, emphasizing how collaborative scientific efforts can transcends national boundaries to foster peace and sustainable development. He underscored Pakistan’s unique position, given its rich scientific heritage and strategic geographical location, suggesting that the country can play a leading role in utilizing science for diplomatic endeavours on a global scale, not just within South Asia.

Highlighting the need for international scientific collaborations, Dr. Ali stressed the importance of addressing pressing global challenges such as climate change, pandemic preparedness, and sustainable development goals. He advocated for a dynamic and adaptable diplomatic approach, proposing the establishment of international agreements on research integrity, merit-based criteria for international students, mechanisms for prevention science, a crisis research collaboration fund, and effective science communication strategies to counter misinformation.

Dr. Ali’s vision for Pakistan’s role in science diplomacy encompassed a proactive stance in international forums, the promotion of south-south collaboration, and the strategic harnessing of science and technology as essential tools for achieving peace and prosperity. His comprehensive framework positioned Pakistan as an important player in influencing the global scientific landscape and contributing significantly to international cooperation and progress.
The discussion additional depth through the valuable insights shared by Additional Secretary Kamran Akhtar, and Mr. Muhammad Adeel, representing the Embassy of Pakistan in Brussels. Mr. Akhtar provided a detailed overview of Pakistan’s active involvement in various international scientific initiatives, notably the EU’s Science for Diplomacy (S4D) initiative, outreach to the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), and the establishment of strategic university linkages geared towards fostering collaboration among the developing countries (south-south cooperation).

He highlighted Pakistan’s commitment to showcasing the myriad dimensions if its scientific programs, underscoring the country’s dedication to utilizing science for peaceful and developmental purposes. Mr. Akhtar’s insights shed light on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ ongoing efforts to seamlessly integrate science and technology into Pakistan’s diplomatic initiatives. Notable achievements include the signing of multiple Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) within international educational institutions, the expansion of science scholarships, and establishment of science diplomacy focal points in Pakistani missions abroad.

The event concluded with remarks by Chairman BOG ISSI Ambassador Khalid Mahmood. He underscored the need to enhance the role of science in diplomacy, emphasizing its potential to contribute to a different international image of Pakistan. Ambassador Khalid Mahmood highlighted the importance of tapping into the expertise of the highly talented and active Pakistani diaspora, noting their historically pivotal role in the country’s development.
The public talk was attended by senior representatives of COMSTECH and COMSATS, academics, practitioners, and students.

KARACHI, MAR 1 /DNA/ – “The Annual General Council of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society will meet on Saturday, March 02, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at APNS House, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Karachi”, stated a press release of the APNS. 

The Annual General Council will discuss the conditions prevailing in the newspaper industry and take decisions to address the problems faced by the member publications and will finalize its recommendations on the issues pertaining to the Govt. – Press relations, freedom of press and the future of the industry.

The members will consider and adopt the report of the Executive Committee for the year 2023-2024, approve audit report for Annual Accounts for the year 2023 and elect members to the Executive Committee for the year 2024-2025.

The new Executive Committee will elect its office bearers for the new term. The meetings of the General Councils will be attended by full members only.

The Secretary General, APNS has requested publishers of full member publications to attend the above Council meeting positively.”

Bureau Report

PESHAWAR, MAR 1: /DNA/ – Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) provincial Chairman Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao on Friday said that his party would not compromise on the provincial rights and any bid to amend the Indus River System Authority Act 1992 would be resisted with full force.

In a statement issued from Watan Kor, he said the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) was established to monitor the distribution of water from the Indus River among the federating units.

Commenting on the media reports about the appointment of the IRSA chairman, he maintained that the QWP would not comprise on the rights of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and any bid to amend the Act would be resisted with full force.

He said the QWP would continue its struggle to get the rights of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa enshrined in the 1973 Constitution. He said some elements were conspiring to roll back the 18th Constitutional Amendment in an effort to do away with the provincial autonomy.

“We will resist any such bid to undo the 18th Amendment and deprive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of its due rights,” he vowed.  He said the 18th Constitutional Amendment was the first step towards achieving the provincial autonomy, therefore, it would be protected at all costs. Sikandar Sherpao said that undoing the 18th Constitutional Amendment would create unrest among the residents of the smaller federating units, which was not a good omen for the federation.

The QWP leader said true representatives of the Pakhtuns were made to lose the recent general election in order to keep them out of the Parliament under a conspiracy. “We will not rest until the province gets its due rights,” he vowed, adding the QWP leadership would raise its voice against injustice being meted out to the province. He said the QWP would not let the Pakhtuns down and would continue to raise voice for the rights.

ISLAMABAD, MAR 1 /DNA/ – Pearl-Continental Hotel, Bhurban’s exceptional culinary team, consisting of seven professional chefs, garnered notable recognition at the Pakistan International Culinary Championship 2024, receiving several awards across various categories, including Beef Practical Category, Seafood Practice Professional, Chicken Practical Professional, and many others. The Pearl-Continental Hotel, Bhurban, secured four trophies, eight gold medals, five silver medals, and three bronze medals.

The Pakistan International Culinary Championship (PICC) is an event endorsed by the prestigious World Chef Association and was held recently in Lahore with culinary enthusiasts and professionals from Maldives, Malaysia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and several regions across Pakistan. PICC 2024 hosts seasoned professionals worldwide and is a remarkable opportunity for young upcoming chefs to hone their skills and learn from skilled professionals.

Sharing his thoughts on the remarkable victories, the Chief Operating Officer Hospitality and Education Division, Hashoo Group, Haseeb A. Gardezi, said, “We are humbled by this recognition from the World Chef Association and look forward to consistently enhancing our service standards to meet the varying needs of our guests, who remain at the core of our business strategies. Thank you, and well done, team Bhurban!”

Pearl-Continental Bhurban is renowned for its excellent hospitality services and diverse signature restaurants, offering an extensive range of culinary delights from authentic Chinese cuisine and traditional Shinwari to classic Continental dishes. Additionally, the hotel prides itself on its exceptional food safety standards. It has recently attained ISO-22000 & HACCP Food Safety Management Recertifications with 100% Compliance for a second year running, underscoring its commitment to quality and excellence in culinary services.

Cluster General Manager, Pearl-Continental Hotel, Bhurban, Pearl-Continental Hotel, Muzaffarabad, and Cecil Hotel by Pearl-Continental, Nadeem Riaz Chaudhary, remarked, “It is a wonderful experience to have one’s hard work recognized and rewarded on a global stage. We are humbled by our victories at PICC 2024 and will continue to do our utmost to facilitate the best and finest culinary experiences for our valued guests.”

On a related note, the Pearl-Continental Lahore team also achieved significant success at the championship, showcasing their culinary expertise and further establishing the Group’s reputation for culinary excellence.

These awards signify Hashoo Group’s longstanding legacy of nurturing the finest talent within its walls across numerous nationwide touch points, facilitating gold-star hospitality services for an ever-changing guest base.

Hashoo Group is Pakistan’s premium conglomerate with a diversified business portfolio spanning national and international markets. The Group owns and operates the Pearl-Continental Hotels & Resorts, PC Legacy, and Hotel One brands in Pakistan and has business interests encompassing Hashoo School of Hospitality Management – Pakistan’s premier hospitality and tourism education institution, information technology, investment, travel & tourism, and real-estate sectors.