ISLAMABAD, MAR 30 (DNA) – Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) said that due to the rise in the 3rd wave of coronavirus, the government has started to put restrictions on businesses like banning all indoor and outdoor wedding functions from 1st April, keeping businesses closed for two days in a week and limiting timings for business activities, however, these measures would result into great losses for businesses besides rendering thousands of people jobless.
He said the government should realize that when businesses would be closed, how would they pay rents and salaries to employees. He called upon the government to consider announcing a bailout package for businesses in order to enable them to combat the impact of 3rd wave of Covid-19 pandemic without suffering more financial losses.
He said that Pakistan has already reportedly suffered an economic loss of up to Rs2.5 trillion due to Covid-19 pandemic in the current fiscal year and further closure of businesses would cause more loss to the economy.
Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan said that the governments around the world have announced bailout packages for businesses in order to keep them afloat, but in Pakistan instead of providing relief to businesses, the government was taking measures that would create more problems for them.
He said that the USA has announced a package of USD 1.9 trillion to help small businesses, especially restaurants, UK unveiled a $6.2 billion rescue package for businesses while Australia announced several stimulus and relief packages of around USD 100 billion to sustain small businesses.
However, in Pakistan instead of announcing any bailout package for businesses, the government through a Presidential Ordinance has withdrawn tax exemptions of Rs.140 billion from many sectors besides unilaterally registering all tax returns-filing real estate dealers as Designated Non-Financial Business and Professions (DNFBPs) and has directed them to provide full details of their clients and property transactions after completing customer due diligence. He said that these measures would affect the PM’s construction package and discourage new investment in the construction sector.
Fatma Azim Senior Vice President and Abdul Rehman Khan Vice President ICCI said that the government through another Presidential Ordinance has put a power tariff burden of over Rs.700 billion on people that would further enhance the cost of doing business.
They said that instead of taking measures that would hurt business activities, the government should focus on promoting ease of doing business and announce a bailout package, especially for SMEs so that these businesses could be saved from further losses due to the restrictions of coronavirus.=DNA
Karachi, MAR 30 – – Emirates is showcasing the UAE’s remarkable progress in its vaccination programme with a special flight that will carry only fully vaccinated crew and passengers onboard.
On 10 April 2021, special flight EK2021 will depart Dubai International Airport at 12:00hrs local time, to cruise over various areas across the UAE. The flight will return to Dubai at 14:30hrs local time.
The one-off flight EK2021 is a unique event that not only celebrates the success of the UAE’s vaccination programme to date, but also highlights Emirates’ progress in vaccinating its staff and in particular its pilots and cabin crew. Aviation has been and continues to be an irreplaceable force for good, connecting people and cities, facilitating important trade flows and passenger journeys that bring economic prosperity and joy to millions of people.
Passengers will have the opportunity to experience Emirates’ newest A380 aircraft which features the airline’s brand-new Premium Economy seats, and refreshed cabin interiors across all cabin classes.
The Emirates A380 remains a customer favourite for its unmatched comfort and spaciousness. From the award-winning ice inflight entertainment experience, to the iconic A380 Onboard Lounge service for Business and First Class passengers, from a full-course gourmet meal in all classes to the friendly Emirates cabin crew, flyers can expect the full Emirates experience onboard this special flight.
Passengers travelling on EK2021 will be able to experience all of Dubai International Airport’s services and amenities on the ground before boarding.
In addition, customers can also try out first-hand, all the latest measures to help travellers enjoy a safe and smooth journey, including the new biometric and contactless technology which Emirates has recently implemented at the check-in areas and boarding gates at Dubai airport.
This month, Airbus has launched a travel companion app called “Tripset”. The application aggregates and provides flight and travel information to ease and restore passenger’s trust in their end-to-end journey when traveling by air during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tripset allows for passengers to be informed with the latest and most relevant travel conditions, restrictions and health requirements in place, without having to consult a variety of sources.
The UAE is one of world’s leading countries in administered vaccinations for citizens and residents, and has made four COVID-19 vaccines available for free to everyone. To date, over 8 million vaccine shots have been administered in the UAE, protecting over half of the UAE’s population.
The Emirates Group has supported the national vaccination programme by making COVID-19 vaccines readily available to its UAE-based workforce at multiple locations within the company’s premises. To date, over 35,000 Emirates employees have received their COVID-19 vaccine shot from one of the company’s vaccination centres, with over 85% of the airline’s pilots and cabin crew already receiving two doses of the vaccine.
Special flight details
Tickets for flight EK2021 will be available to UAE citizens and residents who have completed the two week period after their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Tickets can be purchased from the Emirates contact centre, Emirates sales offices in the UAE, as well as local travel agents. Tickets are priced at AED 1,000 per person in Economy, and AED 2,000 in Business Class. Customers can visit https://www.emirates.com/ae/english/about-us/get-on-board-ek2021/ for more information about the flight and to check the special terms and conditions.
All fares collected for this special flight EK2021 will be donated to the Emirates Airline Foundation, the airline’s non-profit charity organisation which supports projects around the world aimed at improving quality of life for disadvantaged children.
As with any regular flight, customers for special flight EK2021 will be expected to arrive at check-in with their flight ticket, from 3 hours before flight departure. They will be required to bring their UAE ID or passports, as well as vaccination certificate. All customers travelling on EK2021 will be provided pre-departure rapid Covid-19 testing, free of charge. In accordance with precautionary measures, customers must observe physical distancing protocols and wear their masks throughout the journey.
KARACHI, MAR 30 (DNA) – The All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) thanked Mahmood Khan, Chief Minister KP, Kamran Bangash, Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Information, Arshad Khan, Secretary Information and Imdadullah Khan, Director General, Information for accepting the demand of APNS for timely payments of provincial government advertisements.
Sarmad Ali, President and Ms. Naz Afreen Saigol Lakhani, Secretary General, APNS in a joint statement, have stated that on the consistent efforts of Haroon Shah, Chairman, APNS KP Committee for the years 2019-2021, the KP government has agreed to evolve a mechanism for timely and regular payments to media in the first week of every month.
This measure will go a long way in helping the newspaper industry in the KP province as the member publications were facing acute liquidity problems due to delayed payment by the provincial departments.
The APNS is confident that the announcement will be implemented in letter and spirit and the member publications will get their due payments by the appointed date.
The APNS appreciates this gesture of the KP Government which was made possible with the consistent efforts of Haroon Shah and the cooperation extended by DG Information, Mr. Imdadullah Khan.=DNA
ISLAMABAD, MAR 30 – Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi called on President Ashraf Ghani on the sidelines of 9th Ministerial Conference of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process in Dushanbe today.
During the meeting, the strengthening of bilateral relations and continued efforts for lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan were discussed.
The Foreign Minister reiterated that Pakistan believed there was no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan and that an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement was essential for durable peace and stability in Afghanistan.
The Foreign Minister remarked that Pakistan was a partner for peace in Afghanistan and towards that end, Pakistan was constructively engaged with the international community to reinforce the efforts for peace.
The Foreign Minister further underlined that Intra-Afghan Negotiations in Doha achieved progress which should lay the foundation to take the process forward.
The Foreign Minister expressed the hope that as the peace efforts moved forward, the Afghans would make important decisions for reaching the negotiated political settlement.
Highlighting the importance of the regional connectivity, the Foreign Minister said that durable process in Afghanistan would enhance opportunities for working together on infrastructure and energy connectivity between Central Asia and West Asia through Afghanistan.
Foreign Minister Qureshi also had a separate meeting with Foreign Minister Haneef Atmar to discuss bilateral relations and the Afghan peace process.
ISLAMABAD, MAR 30 (DNA) – An online meeting was held between the Management of Regional Integration Center, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Nukus State Pedagogical Institute Named After Ajiniyaz, Uzbekistan and Center for Global & Strategic Studies (CGSS), Islamabad.
During the meeting students of the Nukus State Pedagogical Institute were introduced to the University of the Punjab, Lahore. Dr. Fozia Hadi Ali, Director, Regional Integration Center, University of the Punjab, Lahore explained the departments, degree programs and the criteria of admission to the students who wish to secure an admission in the University of the Punjab, Lahore.
The students were enthusiastic to continue their studies in Pakistan and inquired regarding their programs and areas of interests.
All institutions agreed that Student Exchange programs between University of the Punjab, Lahore and the Nukus State Pedagogical Institute Named After Ajiniyaz, Uzbekistan will help in strengthening the academic linkages between both countries.
ISLAMABAD, MAR 30 (DNA) – Matsuda Kuninori, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, appreciated the start of the Nationwide Immunisation Campaign for a polio-free Pakistan, which started yesterday and will continue until April 2. Ambassador MATSUDA hopes that the campaign will be implemented successfully and it will lead to a polio-free Pakistan in the near future.
He paid tribute to the polio workers and hopes that the polio workers will be safe from COVID-19 amid the growing third wave in Pakistan.
Japan has been supporting Pakistan in its effort to eradicate polio from Pakistan with a cumulative amount of $229 million since 1996.
Ambassador MATSUDA said, “Japan has been cooperating with Pakistan in collaboration with international organizations to eradicate polio from Pakistan as one of the most important areas of Japanese cooperation and will continue helping Pakistan in the future.”
Turkmenistan on Sunday held its first elections to a newly created senate but there were no opposition candidates.
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Mar 30:Turkmenistan’s autocratic president Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov received a seat in the secretive country’s new upper house, state media reported Tuesday, in the latest move hinting at a succession strategy.
Turkmenistan on Sunday held its first elections to a newly created senate but there were no opposition candidates.
The president was elected to a seat along with 47 other candidates, said the Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper.
The candidates were elected by local councils and the newspaper did not say which council had elected 63-year-old Berdymukhamedov. An official cited in a separate publication said the head of state had received 100 percent of the vote.
Full control of the senate is important to the Berdymukhamedov family because the head of the upper house will be second-in-line to the presidency following constitutional changes passed last year.
Berdymukhamedov’s 39-year-old son Serdar has received a series of promotions viewed as grooming him for the top job.
The president’s candidacy for the upper house had not been previously announced, but the number of candidates cited as running by state media changed from 111 to 112 on the eve of the vote.
The president must now pick a further eight members for the upper house and select a member to chair the house in order to complete its formation.
Speculation over an early succession in the isolated country comes as it weathers an economic storm resulting from the long-term downturn in prices for its natural gas exports and the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
Turkmenistan is one of the few countries not to record a single case of the coronavirus infection, although foreign media have reported deaths from the disease.
Serdar Berdymukhamedov in February gained three new positions, becoming a deputy premier, a member of the powerful security council and the auditor general.
The younger Berdymukhamedov has in the past filled a senior diplomatic post and worked as a lawmaker.
If he were to be elevated as leader in the near future, it would herald a first hereditary succession in Central Asia, a former Soviet region where politics are often dominated by powerful families.
Berdymukhamedov senior served as a personal dentist and then health minister to Turkmenistan’s first post-independence ruler, Saparmurat Niyazov, before taking on the top job after Niyazov died.
ISLAMABAD: President Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine sent his best wishes for a speedy recovery from Covid-19 to President of Pakistan.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the President and all those affected by coronavirus around the country.
TRNC to get international recognition beyond expectations; EU has last chance to correct its past mistakes; relations with Pakistan are excellent; our Islamabad office gets same treatment we get in Ankara; TRNC shall be opened for international tourists from mid April; status quo in Verosha area to be eliminated
Exclusive
Ansar M Bhatti
LEFKOSA: Foreign Minister of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu has said that there is no common ground. There cannot be a common ground so long as we’re treated unequally as we have been all these years,” he said in an exclusive interview to Daily Islamabad POST, CENTRELINE magazine and DNA News Agency.
He further said, after decades of negotiations based on the idea of reunifying the island through the creation of a federal state, the approach should be abandoned in favor of a two-state solution, a position in line with the stance of the new president of the TRNC, Ersin Tatar. Tatar was elected in October by supporting a two-state solution, a policy backed by motherland Turkey.
Further dilating upon 5+1 meeting the minister said this meeting is not an open-ended negotiation process. Ertuğruloğlu also rejected calls by Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades in January for the EU to play a role in the discussions, which in the past have also involved Turkey, Greece and former colonial power Britain. We do not accept the European Union representative presence in the meeting with an observer status. The Greek side is member of the EU and they pursue their own interests in various mechanisms within the union, therefore the EU cannot be impartial. The meeting title is 5+1 and 1 means the United Nations so EU has nothing to do with this meeting. He said the EU committed a grave mistake by admitting the Greek side to the European Union as member. Now it is time for the EU to correct its mistake. In fact by admitting Greek side as a member, the EU blatantly violated the Copenhagen criteria of membership.
“We will attend the meeting in good faith and if the other party responds in the same way, there will be a forward-looking opportunity”, the minister added. Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu further said the UN parameters, which have been on the agenda for years on Cyprus have not yielded results so far and it has emerged that an agreement cannot be reached with these parameters. To insist on the available parameters such as federal model will end on deadlock. Turkish Cypriot side’s views of a solution model are based on the cooperation of two sovereign states with equal rights living side by side. After the collapse of talks in Crans Montana due to the Greek Cypriot’s willful intransigence, the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres also stated that new views and options on the Cyprus issue could come to the table.
If it is necessary to give more time for both sides and stakeholders to help find some common ground, then we can surely give this initiative another chance but one thing is for sure that this process should not be open-ended. There has to be an understanding within next few months. If there is no agreement, then TRNC will go for international recognition. We are sure there are many countries in this world who do not accept Greek side stand point on the issue.
However, I would make it clear here that once these negotiations fail, then we will sit with our motherland Turkey to devise future course of action. We have all along been in constant touch with motherland Turkey therefore in this scenario ostensibly Turkey will be kept in the loop.
To a question about Pakistan-TRNC relations Minister Tehsin said, they had unique relations with Pakistan and people of Pakistan. We always keep Pakistan in high esteem. Our office in Islamabad gets the same treatment we get in Ankara. TRNC though a small state, yet it fully supports Pakistan on the issue of Kashmir. “We wish Pakistan all the best and we will for sure work together even in the coming days”.
When it comes to Muslim countries in general, there are some Muslim countries who shall not be allowed by other countries to support us. Being a Muslim country does not mean that they would support TRNC. As I said, Muslim countries, under pressure from other countries, may show reluctance to recognize us. But I am sure, once we embark on recognition campaign, we will get recognition from countries beyond expectations. These countries include both Muslim and non-Muslims.
When asked how optimists he was about the outcome and positive approach from the Greek side, the Foreign Minister categorically stated why they should come up with an open mind and positive approach. The world is spoiling them and treating them as if they were the Republic of Cyprus, while this is not the case. Since, the world is supporting them therefore why they should feel it necessary to attend these talks with a positive mind. Having said this, we know very well where do we stand and where the Greek side stands.
To a question the minister told, the government of TRNC has taken a decision to undertake steps on the fenced area of Maras starting with a scientific inventory survey. Steps taken are in line with the international law, first and foremost protecting and respecting the rights of possession of former inhabitants of this town as also called for the relevant United National Security Council resolutions. The unacceptable status quo on the island, which is also valid for the fenced area of Maras, have continued for all these decades due to political considerations and propaganda, instigated by the Greek Cypriot leadership, to the detriment of the said area and more importantly at the expense of its former inhabitants. It should be noted that the TRNC govt decision of asking the initiative of progressive opening of Maras in October 2020 was welcomed by the former Greek Cypriot inhabitants of the fenced area of Maras and they have publicly stated that this decision will provide for them to go back to their properties.
To yet another question about exploration of resources in the area, the Foreign Minister said, the Greek Cypriots have unilaterally licensed international oil companies to conduct hydrocarbon activities and they have passed a legislative bill to establish a so-called national investment fund to manage unilaterally the future capital income from hydrocarbon reserves. Moreover they have signed bilateral agreements with many countries regarding the delimitation of its unilaterally declared so called exclusive economic zone. As a result of Greek Cypriot side’s increasing unilateral actions, the Turkish Cypriot side has been obliged to take steps to protect its own rights and interests regarding the hydrocarbon resources around the island.
To a question about COVID situation in TRNC, the Foreign Minister said everyone is suffering and so is the TRNC. But daily cases in our country are less and number of deaths is very low, but then you know we are a small country. Our government is conscious about spread of virus and we are thankful to motherland Turkey for providing us the vaccines. As regards tourist activities we plan to open up country for international visitors and tourists in the mid of April 2021 but with double vaccination.
ISLAMABAD, Mar 30 : Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination Dr. Faisal Sultan Tuesday said that the COVID-19 case positivity ratio has become doubled in the past few days reaching 12.31% in the federal capital.
Dr Faisal said that the overall case positivity ratio in the country was 8.83% while 10.43% in Punjab, 8.55% in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 2.98% in Sindh, 2.15% in Balochistan, 8.98% in AJK and 2.33% in Gilgit Baltistan.
He said that Covid cases are jumping up for the past two weeks and urged the citizens to strictly follow COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) to prevent the disease in the wake of a sudden increase in the number of infections in the country.
“We regularly monitor positivity ratio at national, provincial and city level and when it increases it incurs burden on healthcare capacity. Pressure is mounting in the federal capital, Peshawar, Karachi and major urban centers of Punjab.”
He said that keeping in view the disease risk certain restrictions were imposed focusing on high-risk sectors with mass gathering, however, he said that an overall poor administrative compliance of guidelines and actions was seen and requested all provincial administrations to seriously take note of this.
He said that there are certain variants of the virus originating from African States where travel restrictions are being imposed to contain disease spread.
He said that senior citizens walk-in registration was introduced for above 70 year age citizens and now they can visit for vaccination from all listed vaccination centers.
He said that this time is not of any complacency rather strict compliance of SOPs. “COVID-19 is a deadly virus but we can control it just as we controlled it by following the SoPs during the first wave.”
Dr Faisal said that the government is seeking full cooperation of the citizens in adhering to the SoPs. “We can save precious lives including those of our near and dear ones by taking preventive measures.”
He asked the citizens to wear a mask, maintain social distance, wash hands with soap frequently and avoid crowded places.
He urged the healthcare workers and those eligible to get vaccinated to protect themselves as well as their loved ones.
He said that better services are being ensured at COVID-19 vaccination centers to facilitate the senior citizens. He said that keeping in view the interest of senior citizens for COVID vaccination, the staff and number of centers are being increased.
