GAKHAR MANDI – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and forner prime minister Imran Khan on Wednesday expressed his concern over hindrance in elections, saying that if it has been decided to remain neutral and apolitical, so why the institutions delaying holding transparent elections.

Taking a dig at the incumbent government, Imran claimed that the leaders of the coalition government have taken the NRO by plundering billions of rupees. Reiterating that actual freedom would only come when justice is delivered to the people of the country, Imran added that to ‘break the shackles of the slavery’, it is very important that the system of justice prevails in the country.

Slamming the rulers and allies of the government – PM Shehbaz, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, Asif Ali Zardari and Hamza Shehbaz – Imran went on to say that Shehbaz and his son [Hamza] were about to be indicted, when Shehbaz was allowed to become the Prime Minister, while Asif Ali Zardari’s case was also ended.

Warning the incumbent government, the PTI chief said that it would be the big make of it [coalition government], that the PTI long march would be ended in Islamabad as his movement will continue to move forward, unless the elections are held.

– Imran says those who are controlling NAB foisted thieves on country –

The PTI chief and former prime minister Imran Khan said that those who are controlling the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) have imposed thieves on the country.

Addressing the participants of the long march, the former premier [Imran] went on to criticize the incumbent government, saying that the cases of their leaders have been ended. Lashing out at the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) bigwigs – PM Shehbaz Sharif, Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and Hamza Shehbaz – Imran said that, Shehbaz, Maryam and Hamza cases have been finished, while he [Nawaz] is all set to make his way back to the country.

Continuing to take a dig at the coalition government, the PTI chief said that it [government] has rolled out a law that encourages to arrest the small thieves, but sparing the big looters and allowing them to plunder the nation’s money and stash it in foreign accounts.

Imran kept on slamming the government – now in terms of inflation – quetsionong that what made it [government] to increase the prices of POL products, power and other commodities so significantly.

Sardar Shahid Ahmed Laghari says Red Crescent is grateful for the generous relief support from Tetra Pak Pakistan, which will help us in mobilizing thousands of people to safety and providing them with critical relief and much-needed assistance.

ISLAMABAD, NOV 2 /DNA/ – Misbah Burney has said that Tetra Pak believes in serving its part by supporting a major humanitarian actor such as the PRCS that has been actively involved in driving relief efforts across the country with great financial diligence and use of local capacity

Islamabad, November 2, 2022: Tetra Pak Pakistan has also stepped forward to donate a generous sum of PKR 22 million to support the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) in response to their emergency appeal to maximize flood relief efforts across the country to tackle the alarming situation. The donation cheque was presented by Mr. Misbah Burney, Finance Director of Tetra Pak Pakistan, to Chairman Pakistan Red Crescent Society, Mr. Sardar Shahid Ahmed Laghari at PRCS National Headquarters in Islamabad here on Wednesday. 

During this engagement, both representatives discussed in detail regarding current challenges faced by the flood victims and the need for all stakeholders to work together and expand the scope of relief efforts.

Misbah Burney recognized this relief assistance as a firm commitment from Tetra Pak to help protect the communities it operates in. He said, “The massive havoc and wreckage caused by these floods have shattered these communities, driving millions out of their homes and into the open to face danger and disease like never witnessed before. For an efficient capacity building of relief efforts, we believe in serving our part by supporting a major humanitarian actor such as the Pakistan Red Crescent which has been actively involved in driving relief efforts across the country with great financial diligence and use of local capacity.”

Chairman PRCS, Sardar Shahid Ahmed Laghari, said, “We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of so many lives, and the misery and hardship these floods have brought to people across Pakistan who are now trying to seek safety and shelter to protect their families. Red Crescent relief operation is ongoing in the flood-affected areas and our relief teams are on the ground and working round the clock, providing relief and rescue services to the distressed people”.

He said PRCS is grateful for the generous relief support from Tetra Pak Pakistan which will help us in mobilizing thousands of people to safety and providing them with critical relief and much-needed assistance.

The assistance immediately required by flood victims is life saving, however, the impact of this flooding will be long-term. The significant loss to the livestock and agriculture sector will not only impact the livelihoods of those affected by it but also the food security situation of the country in the medium and long term. There is a dire need for all stakeholders to work together and adopt smart solutions.

Islamabad, NOV 2 /DNA/ – Higher Education Commission (HEC) organised online orientation sessions on the Prime Minister’s National Innovation Award (PMNIA) for the Vice Chancellors and Rectors of public and private sector universities.

More than 230 university heads were invited to the sessions, which were aimed at giving them a detailed orientation of various components of the National Innovation Award and how the universities can partake to make this project a success for the country’s youth.

Executive Director HEC Dr. Shaista Sohail, in her briefing to the Vice Chancellors, said that the project is aimed at changing the economic landscape for youth by promoting innovation and creating/supporting local businesses. She explained in detail the nine thematic areas of the National Innovation Award.

“All Pakistani youth aged between 15 to 30 years can take part in the Prime Minister’s National Innovation Award and get business funding of up to Rs 2 million,” said Dr. Shaista Sohail adding that the Award would allow youngsters to turn their potential business ideas into a reality. She further said that in the current situation where Pakistan was facing flood devastations and climate change problems, the new generation needed to come up with out-of-the-box solutions to cope with these challenges.

While briefing about PMNIA Noshaba Awais, Project Director, PMNIA informed the participants that the objectives of the Innovation Award are improving Pakistan’s ranking in the Global Innovation Index, fostering entrepreneurial culture among the youth, and transforming ideas into a successful business.

Vice Chancellors/ Rectors appreciated HEC’s initiative to promote entrepreneurship culture among the youth. They also assured HEC to support the project in every possible way and encourage students to submit their innovative ideas.

It may be mentioned here that PMNIA is open to all kinds of innovative ideas including but not limited to Food Security, Water Management and Sustainability, Sustainable Energy, Urban Planning, Climate Change and Environment, Information Technology and Telecom, Innovative Governance and Reforms, Sociology and Philosophy, Medical and Health Sciences, and others. The selection of awards will be made through an open, rigorous, transparent, competitive, and merit-based process. ​

ISLAMABAD, NOV 2 /DNA/ – Syed Samar Hasnain, ED, Development Finance Group, SBP was the Guest of Honor at the 6th International Conference on Islamic Banking and Finance (ICIBF). It was organized by the Accounting and Finance Department at the Institute of Business Management (IoBM) on November 2, 2022. The two-day conference was held under the patronage of the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI), Bahrain.

During his Welcome Address, President IoBM, Talib Karim suggested that educational institutions should collaborate with the corporate sector and other academic institutions. Dr. Muhammad Imran, Group Head of Islamic Banking, Bank Alfalah, shared that Islamic finance works on the principles of cooperation and generosity in contrast with conventional banking’s concepts of concentration of wealth and its inequitable distribution. Zahid Ahmed, CEO, Al Baraka Bank Pakistan called for the stakeholders to pursue Islamic banking’s sound ideologies. “The association between industry and academia will be the game changer for Pakistan”, remarked Syed Amir Ali, President, and CEO, BankIslami Pakistan.

Ahmed Ali Siddiqui, SEVP and Head, Product Development and Shariah Compliance, Meezan Bank commented that financial inclusion through technology must be used to promote Islamic banking. Syed Samar Hasnain reiterated that financial institutions are important for Pakistan’s economic growth. He shared the five pillars of Islamic banking and provided an introspective analysis of the present state of Islamic banking in Pakistan. Chancellor IoBM, Bashir Janmohammad acknowledged the efforts by Islamic banks in Pakistan and suggested that Shariah-compliant products should be marketed accordingly to create awareness. While addressing online, Omar Mustafa Ansari, Secretary-General, AAOIFI, Bahrain, said that the government’s support and rising public demand will increase the share of Islamic banking in Pakistan. He further said that Shariah-compliance products are limited and must be augmented. IoBM also inaugurated the Center for Islamic Business and Finance during ICIBF-2022. The Global Islamic Finance Report 2022 by the Cambridge Institute of Islamic Finance (Cambridge IIF), UK was also launched. Prof. Dr. Humayon Dar, Director General, Cambridge IIF, UK, presented the report and keynote address.

As many as 40 national and international speakers, Presidents and CEOs of banks, Shariah advisors, and academicians were invited to share key insights regarding the potential, challenges, and developments of Islamic banking in Pakistan. The event was attended by. Dr. Imam Uddin, HoD, Accounting and Finance Department, IoBM, organized the conference with his inspiring team of faculty and students.

ISLAMABAD, NOV 2 /DNA/ – UNODC Country Office in Pakistan continues to strengthen the rule of law in Balochistan through supporting the Police Department of Balochistan towards enhancing its operational capacity and efficiency in handling and investigation of serious crimes.

Under the gracious support of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), UNODC is implementing a 5-year (2017-2022) ‘Improving the Rule of Law in Balochistan-Pakistan’ program in collaboration with the  Government of Balochistan. The Program aims to strengthen trust between citizens and government in the security and justice sector. In addition to policy and legislation reforms, majority of the efforts are geared towards providing the Police Department of Balochistan both with forensic know-how as well as equipment through handing over state-of-the-art Mobile Crime Scene Units (MCSUs). Up until now eight MCSUs have been handed over to the Balochistan Police to enable scientific and systematic processing of crime scene including proper identification and collection of evidence.

In continuation of the INL-led support, a gracefully hosted handing-over ceremony of two additional Mobile Crime Scene Units to the Balochistan Police was carried out by UNODC in collaboration with the Government of Balochistan in Quetta on 2nd  November 2022. The event was attended by key stakeholders and dignitaries from the Rule of Law and Criminal Justice sectors, including the Police Department of Balochistan and UNODC. The participants welcomed the induction of two additional Mobile Crime Scene Units as a significant milestone that will further enhance the capacity and outreach in crime scene investigation of the police in Balochistan increasing the total number of Mobile Crime Scene Units to eight.

These Mobile Crime Scene Units will serve as mobile crime investigation labs, enabling increase in the timely outreach and conduct of extensive evidence collection and processing at crime scene sites to document, such as homicide crime scenes and investigations that involve causalities. The objective is to strengthen the capacity of the local police through deploying a Mobile Crime Scene Unit that acts as a mobile crime investigation and forensic lab staffed with trained technicians who are equipped with skills to document and investigate crime scenes as well as recover and preserve any physical evidence.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Jouhaida Hanano, Criminal Justice Advisor from UNODC reiterated UNODC’s commitment towards improving the quality of investigation by strengthening the Balochistan Police Crime Branch through establishing four Forensic Collection Units in selected districts of Sibi, Khuzdar, Loralai and Gawadar. This will further enhance the outreach and capacity of the front-line police in the district to systematically collect evidence and process crime scene documentation in a timely manner.

The Inspector General of Police from Balochistan, Mr. Abdul Khaliq Sheikh appreciated the ongoing support from the INL and UNODC that has gone a long way in not just providing materials and equipment but enhancing the knowledge and capacity of the Police in crime scene investigation in Balochistan. He further added that as crime-control agents, police must fulfil its duty to deliver a more vigilant and peaceful rule of law, and crime scene investigation and forensics are important means to this end.

Lahore, NOV 2 /DNA/ – The Walima ceremony of Mujahid ur Rehman Saigol, the son of Pakistan Industrial and Traders Associations Front (PIAF) Chairman and former Vice President of Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry Fahim ur Rehman Saigol, was held here the other day.

Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman was the special guest of the ceremony while a large number of businessmen, industrialists, officers, socio-political figures and relatives participated the event. The presence of the Governor made the event really more joyful and memorable for whole family as well as the business community of Lahore.

FPCCI Irfan Iqbal Sheikh, The National Assembly standing committee on Finance Chairman and MNA Qaiser Ahmad Sheikh, BMP Chairman Mian Anjum Nisar, besides officials of trade organizations across the country, current and former presidents of chambers, market leaders, political & social figures and people belonging to different sections of the community also attended the event and wished the newly-wedded couple.

The PIAF Chairman, on this occasion, paid tribute to the Punjab Governor and appreciated other guests to accept the invitation and spared the time to attend the Walima Ceremony of his son.