Islamabad, Dec 25: /DNA/ – Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), being the nation’s premier think-tank, amid continuous calls for the Charter of Economy by different segments of the society as well as political leadership, has presented its “Charter of Economy.”

The country’s economic indicators over the course of its entire history have fluctuated widely without a clear and sustainable growth trajectory. Despite experiencing extreme economic and political experimentation, the country fails to get on the road to development. All thanks to the myopic approach.

This was stated by the former Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Renowned Economist, and Vice Chancellor of PIDE, Dr. Nadeem ul Haque while talking to a group of Senior Journalists here in Islamabad.

He said that the focus, thus, has to be long-term, as short-term quick fixes have not worked, and it must start from somewhere. The only way out of the economic turmoil that Pakistan has been stuck in has to be sustained and accelerated growth. How to achieve it? Not without a complete reset of the fundamentals of governance systems and markets.

“In this context, a political consensus in Pakistan is critical because implementing any new rules of the game in letter and spirit seems highly unlikely without a broad-based political consensus. First and foremost, the pre-requisite must be policy consistency for at least the next 15 years. Once there is a political consensus, there should be no off-tracking from the set direction, whatever the case may be” VC PIDE added.

According to the Press Release issued from the PIDE office, Dr. Nadeem ul Haque further said that through this document, PIDE brings to the spotlight the real issues that matter, hitting right at the core, in an attempt to set the fundamentals right. The Charter has been divided into six broad themes that include: Governance for the 21st Century, Sludge and Deregulation, Economic Policy Focus, Developing Markets, 3Ts (Trade, Tariff, and Taxation) and Modernization.

He said that the PIDE views political uncertainty as the root cause of Pakistan’s economic problems. It is evident that policy inconsistency is due to rapid governmental changes and overlapping roles. The undefined jurisdiction of the arms of the state further magnifies the policy bottlenecks. Hence, it is essential to make amends to the political set-up for better system efficiency and smooth economic performance. So, the Charter calls for empowered local governments and local police, new rules for the cabinet and parliament as well as electoral reforms. The suggestions comprise putting limits on the number of cabinet members, terms limit for parliamentarians and direct Senate elections and so on.

“Moreover, it is pertinent to note that economic growth is not limited to just traditional economic indicators. Instead, in modern times as has been practiced globally, growth is supported by seemingly minuscule but significantly important areas. This involves a modern civil service and a network of independent organizations across the economy. So, under sludge and regulations themes, the Charter envisions a modern bureaucracy with digitization at the center, monetization of perks and privileges, bidding farewell to colonial examination and lifetime job security, along with independent authorities with the sovereign board of governors instead of centralized bureaucratic control” Mr. Haque added.

He further elaborated that the third theme is about the Economic Policy Focus. Here, the Charter impresses upon the need for an independent Planning Commission to be the convergence point of all the planning and development across the country. This would bring synergy, efficiency and a collective approach leading to better outcomes. Additionally, it recommends the Parliamentary Budget Office to enhance the technical side of the budget-making process. PIDE, here, is also in favor of initiating five years plans once gain for policy consistency and stable economic signaling. Besides that, an independent Debt Agency is also included in the blueprint.

He said that next theme is about developing markets. The Charter focuses on three key markets: energy, agriculture and real state. The basic argument is to reduce the government footprint, modernize the processes and let the markets evolve and function on their own.

Dr. Nadeem ul Haque added that then comes 3Ts. Taxation, Tariffs and Trade. Firstly, make taxation simple and progressive, while universal income tax treatment should be followed. Secondly, tariff lines must be rationalized and reduced. A clear perspective is required regarding the extent of openness, and broader guidelines for policy directives must be present. Thirdly, a 15 – year Export Policy – owned and monitored by an “Export Cell” at the Independent Planning Commission should be initiated. Having said that, the policy should be targeted to enhance competitiveness rather than spoon-feeding.

“In the last theme, PIDE’s Charter of Economy talks about vertical, dense and inclusive cities. It also urges to unlock the dead capital in Pakistani cities. In a nutshell, cities should be the engines of growth. Lastly, it makes the case of the internet for all – as a basic necessity if we are to plunge into a modern progressive society” VC PIDE mentioned.

However, he said that the PIDE emphasizes that its Charter of Economy must not be mistaken for a policy document, rather it is meant to set the direction for future policy frameworks. PIDE enunciated that the Charter should be considered as a live document, open to changes and improvement. The Institute looks forward to any consultation, feedback or dialogue in this regard.

ISLAMABAD: The nation is celebrating the 146th birthday of the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, today across the country with pledges to uphold his guiding principles of unity, faith, and discipline.

Pakistan is observing the birth anniversary of the father of the nation with traditional zeal and fervour by paying rich tributes to him for his untiring struggle, sagacity and leadership that led to the creation of a separate homeland for the Muslims of the sub-continent.

Public and private departments will hold a variety of events including seminars, conferences, competitions and discussion programs to highlight the messages and vision of Quaid-e-Azam.

The national flag will be hoisted on major government buildings throughout the country on the birth anniversary of the Quaid-e-Azam.

The day dawned with special prayers for the security, progress and prosperity of the country.

Special events have been arranged on this day to highlight and promote the ideals and views of the father of the nation, particularly with regard to the rule of law, the supremacy of the constitution, and the upholding of democracy.

A change of guard ceremony took place at the Mazar-e-Quaid during which Pakistan Military Academy Kakul cadets took over guard duties from the Pakistan Air Force.

Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a true and upright leader whose devotion and committed efforts resulted in the creation of a separate homeland for the Muslims of the Sub-continent.

A lawyer and politician, Jinnah served as leader of the All-India Muslim League from 1913 until Pakistan’s independence on 14 August 1947, then as Pakistan’s first Governor-General until his death September 11, 1948.

President, PM pay homage to Quaid

President Dr Arif Alvi, on Quaid’s birth anniversary, reminded the country that due to his untiring efforts, we were blessed with a country where we can live and breathe as free men and can develop it according to our own wishes and culture and uphold the principles of Islamic social justice.

“On this day, we express our gratitude for carving out a separate homeland for the Muslims of the sub-continent where we are free to realize our dreams as envisioned by the Quaid,” said Dr Alvi.

The president also reiterated the nation’s commitment to always cherish and uphold Quaid’s vision for Pakistan where the country’s resources are utilised in a systematic and organised way.

“We also pledge ourselves to take the right decisions at the right time and ensure the continuation of policies to create stability in the country by embracing Quaid’s advice to ‘think a hundred times before you take a decision, but once that decision is taken, stand by it as one man’,” said the president.

In a separate message, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called on the nation to take guidance from the life of Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and follow his principles to ensure the progress and prosperity of Pakistan.

“The founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam valiantly fought the constitutional and political fight for the rights of Muslims of Indian subcontinent, as a result, today all Muslims were living independently in Pakistan,” he added.

The PM said the efforts of Quaid e Azam were directed not only for the creation of a separate and independent state for the Muslims but also wanted a state in which the minorities lived without any fear or danger and were given equal opportunities of development and complete religious freedom.

The prime minister pointed that because of the rising religious animosity and the thinking of extremist Hindutva, India as a state had failed to protect rights of the minorities.

This situation made evident the farsightedness of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and proved right his arguments for the two-nation theory, he stressed.

RAWALPINDI: /DNA/ – Based on credible intelligence, an Operation has been initiated in Sambaza area of Zhob, Balochistan for last 96 hours to deny Terrorists use of few suspected routes to move across Pakistan- Afghanistan Border to sneak into KP along interprovincial boundary and target citizens and security forces . 

As a result of continuous Surveillance and sanitisation of the area, a group of Terrorists was intercepted in early hours today . During the establishment of blocking positions to deny them escape routes, terrorists opened fire onto the Security Forces.

During ensuing heavy exchange of fire, 1 Terrorists was killed, while Sepoy Haq Nawaz embraced Shahadat and two other soldiers got injured. The terrorists were supported by their facilitators from across the border as well through fire. 

The sanitization Operation continues in the area to apprehend remaining perpetrators.

LAHORE, Dec 24 (DNA): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday here chaired a review meeting on the use of solar energy to meet the requirements of electricity in the country.

He stressed on converting the electricity used in federal government buildings to solar energy. He issued special instructions for formulating a comprehensive strategy to effectively resolve the issues faced in the early completion of the solar energy projects. The PM said the use of solar energy in electricity production could effectively resolve the issues including the energy crisis in the country and rising prices of electricity.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, former prime minister and member National Assembly Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, minister for power Khurram Dastgir, minister for trade Naveed Qamar, and minister for food security Tariq Bashir Cheema attended the meeting through a video link. Special Assistant to Prime Minister Ahad Cheema and Jehanzeb Khan and high-ranking officers also participated in the meeting.

ISLAMABAD, Dec 24 (DNA): The three accused who were found involved in the tax data leak of former army chief general retired Qamar Javed Bajwa could not be presented in the court after completion of their 2-day physical remand.

The accused were to be presented in the Islamabad’s District and Sessions Court by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). However after the completion of court hours today Duty Magistrate Abdul Majid Qazi had left the court.

The three accused could not be presented in the court within court timings. It is important to mention that three officials, Shahzad Niaz, Arshad Ali and Adeel Ashraf, of the Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) have been under investigation in the case of tax data leak of former army chief general Bajwa.

In November, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) had suspended from service two officers of the Inland Revenue Service in connection with the leak of tax record details of outgoing army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and his family.

Sources told Dunya News that Deputy Commissioners Atif Nawaz and Zahoor Ahmad had been suspended from service after preliminary investigations.

According to the report, the data was leaked using the login and passwords of both officers who are currently under investigation for further revelations.

Previously, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar ordered an inquiry into the unwarranted leakage of tax information of the family members of outgoing army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

Taking serious notice, he said this is clear violation of complete confidentiality of tax information that the law provides.

In view of this serious lapse on the part of to-date unknown functionaries, the Finance Minister has directed the SAPM on Revenue Tariq Mehmood Pasha to personally lead an immediate investigation into the violation of tax law and breach of FBR data, affix responsibility and submit a report within twenty-four hours.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry said Saturday that the party would ask Punjab Chief Minister Parvez Elahi to take a vote of confidence as soon as possible.

In a press conference in Lahore, the ex-information minister said the PTI and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) would ensure that the vote of confidence is attained at the earliest, which would, in turn, enable them to dissolve the assemblies.

The Lahore High Court (LHC) had, a day earlier, reinstated Elahi as the chief minister after the PML-Q leader — a strong ally of Khan — assured it that he would not dissolve the assembly once restored to office.

But in a turn of events, he and the PTI both reaffirmed their resolve to disband the legislative moments after the chief minister had submitted an undertaking to the LHC that he would not dissolve the assembly.

“We are confident that we have the majority. If we exclude Speaker [Sibtain Khan], then we have the support of 187 lawmakers. The chief minister has also promised that is ready to dissolve the assembly,” Fawad said.

The senior vice president added that PTI Chairman Imran Khan had summoned a meeting of the party’s senior leadership today, where it was decided that the vote of confidence will take place at the earliest.

As part of the plan, a PTI delegation will meet Elahi and his son — Moonis Elahi — to discuss the decision and fix a date for when the chief minister will take a vote of confidence.

“The Punjab Assembly will be dissolved after the chief minister takes a vote of confidence. Elahi has the support of 177 PTI lawmakers and 10 PML-Q members,” he noted.

Restoration and political turmoil

The political crisis in Punjab does not seem to be ceased soon as lawmakers sitting on treasury and opposition benches appeared at loggerheads over who will get the CM’s Office and who will take it over next.

In his bid to oust the chief minister, the governor — a member of the PML-N — had ordered the CM to take a vote of confidence at 4pm on December 21.

But Punjab Assembly Speaker Sibtain — a PTI leader — termed the order against the Constitution and adjourned an ongoing session till Friday — which resumed today.

In response, the governor disagreed with the speaker and rejected his reasonings for not summoning a session. He added that the ruling has “no bearing” on the order to hold a session for the confidence vote.

Following this, in a notification issued in the wee hours of Friday, the governor de-notified Elahi as the chief minister, citing his reluctance to take a vote of confidence.

Rehman said that since he believes that Elahi does not command the confidence of the Punjab Assembly, he was de-notifying him as the chief minister and also dissolving the provincial cabinet.

But the PTI and PML-Q alike rejected the notification and moved the Lahore High Court (LHC) against it. The court then reinstated Elahi and asked him to not dissolve the assembly.

The court suspended the governor’s order till the next hearing and also did not make it compulsory for the chief minister to take a vote of confidence on the Punjab governor’s orders.

However, it noted that the court’s order “will not preclude the petitioner from taking a vote of confidence on his own accord”.

But the government is still not satisfied with the order and has asked the Supreme Court to take suo motu notice of the LHC’s ruling.

Islamabad: /DNA/ – Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) has called upon the government to strictly follow the vision of founder of Pakistan Qauid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali for making Pakistan a progressive and prosperous country. He said this while addressing a ceremony organized at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) to celebrate the 146^th birthday of Father of the Nation. A cake was cut and the importance of Quaid’s guiding principles of unity, faith and discipline were highlighted at the occasion.

ICCI President said that the economy of Pakistan was in dire straits and implementing the economic vision of Quaid-e-Azam was vital to make the country self-reliant and a welfare state. He said that from the very beginning, Quaid-e-Azam had stressed for developing a strong industrial base besides promoting agriculture and other sectors to reduce Pakistan’s dependence on others. He said that Quaid-e-Azam had termed commerce & trade as the life-blood of the economy and emphasized that the nation should work honesty & integrity to make Pakistan a hallmark of good standards and quality in the world markets.

Ahsan Bakhtawari said that the birthday of Quaiid-e-Azam reminded us to develop strong unity and stability in every sphere of life including political, economic, cultural, religious and inter-faith harmony to make Pakistan a rising economy. He stressed that the government should focus on enabling the trade and industry to flourish by promoting ease of doing business and take all possible measures to address the key issues of the business community for economic revival of the country. He said that Quaid-e-Azam had stressed for eradicating the illiteracy, which can be achieved by promoting the SMEs as these businesses are the largest job creators in Pakistan.

Engr. Muhammad Azhar ul Islam, Vice President ICCI said that Quaid-i-Azam had desired rapid economic progress of Pakistan. He was fully aware of the economic backwardness and poor economic conditions of the Muslim nation and on numerous occasions he advised the Muslims to learn commerce, industry and technical education to prosper.  He stressed that the government should establish a network of vocational & technical training institutes across the country to produce trained and skilled manpower that would help in putting the country on the path of sustainable economic growth.

Zafar Bakhtawari, Atta ur Rehman RPO CTD Rawalpindi, Ch. Javed Iqbal, Raja Imtiaz, Maqsood Tabish, Hamayun Kabir, Khalid Chaudhry, Sai fur Rehman Khan and others were also present at the occasion.