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SPEAKERS TERM ROLE OF LOCAL GOVT VITAL FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

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ISLAMABAD, JUN 19 (DNA) – Local governments play vital role in the sustainable development with effective participation of the people. However, this tier of the governance must be strengthened and empowered including fiscal resources to perform and deliver effectively. The speakers from diverse background of expertise on governance systems said this while sharing their views with the participants during the webinar ‘Local Government, challenges, strategies, and the way forward’ held by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) here on Saturday.

Altaf Baluch, Secretary Local Governments, South Punjab, informed the participants that Article 140 exists in law which bound for financial, political, and administrative independence of local government. However, laws and rules should not be changed to serve certain political objectives of political parties in power.

Dr Vaqar Ahmed, Joint Executive Director, SDPI, remarked that we have been drifted away from the ideal and are willing to settle for less than desired local govt models. This has happened because local governments serve limited rather than community-wide objectives.

He added further that on contrary to the spirit of 18th Amendment that highlight the importance of local governments, the idea has not been fully yet. He said that the SDG 11 also recognises the need for local development.

Executive Director SDF, Mr Zahid Islam, on the occasion opined that the biggest challenge for the effective local government is the ambiguity in the legal framework. He said that no binding law or enforcement for establishing and conducting local government activities exists currently.

Ejaz Hafeez, local government expert, was of view that the elected governments do not want to conduct local elections to keep funding and power in the hands of ruling party instead of sharing the resources with locally elected governments.

Aftab Alam, Executive Director IRADA, emphasized that we need to analyse the situation about local governments in Pakistan’s perspective where political parties have been targeted through the local government system.  He added further that we must involve people and empower them to hold the system accountable. Moreover, bureaucracy must support elected institutions rather than rule and govern.

Mr Mushtaq Ayaz, Chairman UC-14, Karachi Central, emphasised that the right to information and transparency must be given to the public and therefore we need reforms. He said that trainings for local representatives on their mandate and use of resources is equally important. 

Former District Member, Peshawar, Barrister Mubashir Manzoor, said that devolution process cannot be reversed at the whim of the governments. The knowledge sharing and ownership is required to strengthen the system and to make it sustainable.=DNA

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AMENDMENTS TO ELECTORAL REFORM BILL ARE VIOLATIVE OF CONSTITUTION: SHERRY REHMAN

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ISLAMABAD, JUN 19 (DNA) – Criticizing the government for bulldozing the Electoral Reforms Bill in the National Assembly, PPP Parliamentary Leader in the Senate, Senator Sherry Rehman said, “The PPP will be placing a number of amendments as the amendments drafted by the government are violative both of the Constitution as well as the Election Act 2017. The amendments made in this Bill are not only controversial in nature but now the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has also expressed their reservations which only goes out to reflect the problematic legislation done by this government”.

“It’s no secret that Tabahi Sarkar has been running the country in a reckless manner but such dangerous legislation is a threat to our democratic system. It seems that the government wants to disempower the ECP so they can have their way in the next elections. What they are forgetting is that these amendments are not for one election but for years to come,” she added.

Highlighting ECP’s reservations, Rehman said, “It does not come as a surprise that out of the 72 amendments drafted by the government, the ECP does not support, fully or partially, 45 of these amendments. 15 these amendments have been termed as a violation of our Constitution whereas only 27 amendments have been supported without any objections. This should serve as a reality check for the government”.

“Tabahi Sarkar’s fixation with open ballot voting, and EVMs all comes down to 2023 elections but this is not how elections are won. ECP has made it clear that these changes cannot be made without everyone’s consensus and they have also shared their reservations on using the controversial EVMs. Had the government taken ECP and opposition on board, this shoddy legislation could have been avoided but they are more invested in theatrics and hurling abuses at each other,” she added.

Vice President PPPP Senator Sherry Rehman concluded by saying, “ECP’s letter has made it clear that they want the government to reconsider the amendments to the Electoral Reforms Bill and take into account their reservations. It is the government’s responsibility to resolve all issues and address our reservations. They need to think beyond party politics and make decisions which benefit the entire country and not just their party”.

Promotion of trade & industry is the top priority: Ali Nawaz Awan

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DNA

ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to Prime Minister Ali Nawaz Awan has said that promotion of trade & industry is the top priority of the government. We make every effort to simplify the process of doing business and running industries and to reduce business costs.

 Ali Nawaz Awan, while meeting with Farhan Ashrafi, Vice Chairman Pakistan Yarn Merchants Association (PYMA) and Convener FPCCI Yarn Trading Standing Committee at his office in Assembly building, said that the government reduced taxes and duties in the budget for the financial year 2021-22 and provided relief to the business community.

Earlier, former President FPCCI Anjum Nisar and Vice President FPCCI Shahzeb Akram along with Farhan Ashrafi also attended a meeting chaired by Senator Muhammad Talha Mahmood Chairman, Senate Standing Committee on Finance Revenue & Economic Affairs. In which Farhan Ashrafi pointed out the budget anomalies from the yarn traders & fabric manufacturers and pleaded to remove it.

Ali Nawaz Awan, Special Assistant to Prime Minister, during a meeting with Farhan Ashrafi, Vice Chairman, PYMA, in his chamber, discussed the budget anomalies, and said that the PTI government had not imposed any new tax keeping in view the plight of the business community. Instead, it removed regulatory duty on industrial raw materials and reduced taxes so that production activities could continue unabated and domestic exports could be boosted.

He discussed in detail the problems faced by the yarn traders & fabric manufacturers due to budget anomalies and assured of all possible cooperation.

IMPORTANCE OF GRAPHIC DESIGN IN DIGITAL MARKETING

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Today 80% of small business owners think that graphic design is critical to the success of their business. They understand that graphic designs are not only meant to entice customers. You will be surprised to know that there are countless advantages of graphic design for companies. 

Graphic design can help attract, educate, inform your target audience and increase brand awareness, trust and sales when used efficiently. So why not use it? Take a look at the importance of web design in digital marketing and why you must use it now!

Why graphic design is a vital marketing tool for businesses?

  • Use attractive graphic design to create a powerful brand impression

Studies show that 94% of consumers leave a website in seconds that has a poor web design. Therefore, not just a great first impression but leaving a lasting impression on customers is essential to boost a brand image. If your audience likes what they see in the first go, chances are they will stick with your brand for a long time.

Your brand’s image depends on its logo, website design, product packaging, etc. Business owners know that an excellent graphic design, including a logo, can keep audiences hooked. For example, look at the logo of Apple. It’s simple, eye-catchy, and effective.

  • Graphic design passes a brand message fast

Let’s be realistic, customers today don’t have enough time or patience to go through lengthy content written on a website. According to research, the usual attention span of internet users is only 6.8 seconds. However, a graphic design expert can convert large chunks of content into fascinating images or graphics.

These graphics can pass on valuable information in a subtle way that a user will like. Attractive graphic designs are not only pleasing to the eyes, but they make content worthy of attention. It won’t be wrong to say that the importance of design in digital marketing is massive. Your design elements also an important factor of your digital branding. If you want to understand the differences between digital branding and digital marketing, you can learn more from our article.

  • Stand out with the best graphic design and build a brand identity

To establish your brand’s identity, you must have something that makes you different from other businesses. Did you know that 92.6% of consumers have reported that their purchasing decision gets influenced by color? Yes, unique graphic design, choice of colors, layout, etc., can make your brand stand apart from the rest.

Check out how a graphic design can help to enhance a brand identity here with this example- https://masalska.myportfolio.com/stash-fine-gin

  • Convey information effectively with interesting pictures

With fierce competition in every field, impressing your clients in a minute is easier said than done. Often, even words cannot effectively convey information within a short time. When it comes to conveying information through graphics or pictures, the importance of web design in digital marketing is massive.

A skillful graphic design can deliver accurate information in the form of reports, charts, and illustrations. Even if you have various products, a purposeful graphic design can impart valuable info with a simple and impressive design.

  • Graphic design can help you win your customers

The importance of graphic design in digital marketing is not just limited to attracting customers with intriguing visuals. A decent graphic design allows businesses to make their audience understand and gain confidence in their brand. Today 60.8% of digital marketers believe that visuals are a vital component of profitable marketing.

Strategic design bridges the gap between business and the user, the possibilities of making a purchase increases. Result? Good brand image, loyal customers, & more sales.

  • Strategic graphic designing means higher conversion and better ROI

Today 73% of companies invest in design to help their brand stay ahead of competitors. Why? The answer is simple. As mentioned earlier, an outstanding graphic design for businesses can help them build trust and gain higher visibility.

Result? Better visibility means an increase in the chances of higher conversions. The equation is simple. If your customers believe in your brand and are attracted to your products, improvement in sales and revenue is certain. Influential graphic designs, therefore, attract more consumers to a brand’s website. Plus, they increase the probability of conversions.

  • Benefits of easy navigation

Enhancing the user experience when customers visit your website is vital for your business. Customized graphic elements is a strategy that always helps in improving navigation and boosting usability. Along with getting aesthetic pleasure from viewing a stylish visual element, these graphics help customers easily navigate through the website and help in conversions.

  •  Appealing graphic design can make your content shine

As the significance of authentic content, the importance of design in digital marketing is worth praising too. Professional graphic designers know that the purpose of a graphic designer is not to divert the customers’ attention to the color or design but the content.

A design should be such that the customer will read the content first. Graphic designs with multiple images or text content can appear cluttered, and reads may ignore it. Therefore, a creative graphic design always focuses on making content clear, understandable, and helpful.

  • Effective graphic design can boost the visibility of your campaigns

If you surf the web, you will find hundreds of marketing campaigns running today. While some will grab your attention, you may spend less than 30 seconds on the one that is not attractive. Now, this means you only get a few seconds to impress the customers. Therefore, with the digital market becoming a competitive space, the only way to make your brand stand out is with stunning graphics.

By now, you must have understood the importance of graphic design in digital marketing. Therefore, do not forget to utilize graphic design in the best way possible to establish your brand identity and boost profit. Remember, the perfect graphic design gives tremendous support to your business. If you want to focus on web design and boost your brand online you can get help from the best online web design courses at DAN Institute.

COVID-19 deaths cases infections, drop to record low since June 1

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DNA

ISLAMABAD, The National tally on Saturday of total active COVID-19 cases was recorded 35,491 with 997 more people tested positive for the deadly virus and 1,282 people recovered from the disease during the last 24 hours.

As many as 27 corona patients were reported to have died during past 24 hours, 26 of whom were under treatment in the hospitals and one out of the hospitals had perished in their respective quarantines or homes, according to the latest update issued by the National command and Operation Centre (NCOC).

During the past 24 hours, most of the deaths have occurred in the Punjab followed by Sindh. Out of the total 27 deaths occurred in the last 24 hours 12 of them had died who were under treatment on ventilators.

There were 2,296 Covid infected patients under treatment in critical care among four of them admitted in various Covid dedicated healthcare facilities in past 24 hours.

The National Covid positivity ratio during past 24 hours was recorded 2.14 percent.

It may be mentioned here that the Covid positivity ratio was the percentage of actual positive cases appearing in every 100 tests performed to identify infected individuals.

The maximum ventilators were occupied in four major areas including Peshawar 19 percent, Lahore 21 percent, Bahawalpur 26 percent and Multan 36 percent.

The maximum Oxygen beds (alternate oxygen providing facility other than ventilator administered as per medical requirement of COVID patient) was also occupied in four major areas of Gilgit 45 percent, Abbottabad 24 percent, Karachi 24 percent and Multan 24 percent.

Around 289 ventilators were occupied elsewhere in the country while no COVID affected person was on ventilator in Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit Baltistan (GB). 

Some 46,269 tests were conducted across the country on Friday, including 13,970 in Sindh, 17,089 in Punjab, 10,342 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 3,103 in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), 971 in Balochistan, 302 in GB, and 492 in AJK.

China’s Guangdong adds new COVID-19 risk area

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DNA

GUANGZHOU, The city of Dongguan in south China’s Guangdong Province on Saturday added a medium-risk area for COVID-19 outbreak, according to the city’s epidemic prevention and control headquarters.

The move comes after a new confirmed COVID-19 case was reported on Friday in a residential quarter in the city’s Nancheng sub-district. The new case is the wife of a COVID-19 patient earlier confirmed in Shenzhen.

As of 5 p.m. Friday, 163 close contacts of the new case had been put under medical observation.

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Pakistan to keep supporting Guterres’ work for multilateralism: Qureshi

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DNA

ISLAMABAD, JUN 19 – Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi congratulated Antonio Guterres on his re-appointment as United Nations Secretary-General for second five-year term, what he said, was manifestation of int’l community’s confidence in his leadership.

 “Many congratulations Antonio Guterres on appointment as UN Secretary General for a second term. This re-election is manifestation of the international community’s confidence in your leadership,” Qureshi said Friday on Twitter.

He said Pakistan would continue to support all of his (Guterres) work to strengthen the spirit of multilateralism.

On Friday, the United Nations General Assembly appointed Antonio Guterres as the world body chief for a second term beginning January 1, 2022. The 193-member Assembly took action days after the powerful Security Council had unanimously recommended his name to it.

The President of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, Volkan Bozkir, announced his re-appointment and also administered the oath of office to 72-year-old Guterres at the podium of the iconic UN General Assembly hall.

ULTRACONSERVATIVE CLERIC RAISI WINS IRAN PRESIDENTIAL VOTE

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TEHRAN, JUN 19 (DNA) – Ultraconservative cleric Ebrahim Raisi was declared the winner Saturday of Iran’s presidential election, a widely anticipated result after many political heavyweights were barred from running.

Raisi won 62 percent of the vote with about 90 percent of ballots counted from Friday’s election, poll officials said, without releasing turnout figures, after the three other candidates had conceded defeat.

  “I congratulate the people on their choice,” said outgoing moderate President Hassan Rouhani, who has served the maximum of two consecutive four-year terms and leaves office in August.

Raisi, 60, is set to take over at a critical time, as Iran seeks to salvage its tattered nuclear deal with major powers and free itself from punishing US sanctions that have driven a sharp economic downturn.

  The head of the Iranian judiciary, whose black turban signifies direct descent from Islam’s Prophet Mohammed, Raisi is seen as close to the 81-year-old supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has ultimate political power in Iran.

    Friday’s voting was extended by two hours past the original midnight deadline amid fears of a low turnout of 50 percent or less.

Many voters chose to stay away after the field of some 600 hopefuls including 40 women had been winnowed down to seven candidates, all men, excluding an ex-president and a former parliament speaker.

Three of the vetted candidates dropped out of the race two days before Friday’s election.

Populist former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, one of those barred from running by the Guardian Council of clerics and jurists, said he would not vote, declaring in a video message that “I do not want to have a part in this sin”.

  Raisi’s victory was confirmed Saturday when he received the congratulations of the incumbent and the three other candidates — ultraconservatives Mohsen Rezai and Amirhossein Qazizadeh Hashemi and reformist Abdolnasser Hemmati.

ANJUM NISAR SAYS BUDGET LOADED WITH INCENTIVES FOR SMES, AGRICULTURE

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KARACHI, JUN 19 (DNA) – The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s Businessmen Panel Chairman Mian Anjum Nisar has stressed the need for putting the economy on a high growth path, which must be sustainable over the long run, observing that the present budget strategy would deliver growth but, at the same time, it also raised the risk of external account stress.

While appreciating the positive growth in large-scale manufacturing for the last several months of current fiscal year, he called for implementing reforms agenda to achieve 7% economic growth rate annually to create two million jobs per annum and reduce the public debt, which has already become unsustainable.

The whole business community of the country is considering that for the first time, during recent past, a budget has been presented that is loaded with incentives for SMEs, agriculture and overall general industry along with potentially game-changing documentation measures, he said. He added that the government fiscal stance in the present budget is fairly realistic but its revenue target does not seem to be completely plausible.

The Businessmen Panel thinks that the federal budget has now laid an excellent foundation for growth in the short run, but ignores very real risks on the external account front, which also needs attention.

The FPCCI ex-president and the Businessmen Panel Chairman said that the low GDP growth may result in pushing 20 million people below the poverty line as with low growth rate job opportunities are not being created. He added that Pakistan’s economy needs up to 7 percent growth rate to avoid falling of more people below the poverty line.

Mian Anjum Nisar said that the government is on the right track by focusing on removing the constraints to economic growth imposed by the balance of payments, as it has rightly identified exports, agriculture, ICT as the drivers of growth.

The problem is that these sectors have suffered policy neglect for years, or active anti-growth policies such as in the case of exports. The reforms required to make these sectors growth drivers are not just structural in nature, but also involve very substantial institutional and governance elements, he said and added that these reforms would take a long period of consistent and coherent implementation before they deliver results.

He pointed out that the budget 2021-22 is facing massive risks such as inflation and a resurgence of the trade deficit, as throughout FY21 inflation has been steadily rising, but with oil prices nearing two-year highs, the circular debt marching on, prices of miscellaneous goods and various industrial raw materials also increasing, and an impending massive increase in the petroleum development levy, could all provide significant impetus to inflation precisely as growth gets going.

The country has been struggling with low economic growth for three decades. For the last three decades, the real GDP growth has averaged 4.2% while South Asia’s other countries have averaged economic growth of 6% over the same period. In the past three years, Pakistan’s annual GDP growth rate has fallen even further, to an average of 1.9%, due to the combined effects of the 2018 balance of payments crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mian Anjum Nisar observed that the government has to formulate long-term and consistent policies for high growth of industry and considerable improvement in exports, as contrary to regional countries, Pakistan’s exports have remained stagnant for a long time, and unless attention was paid to all factors that hamper industrial and exports growth, the country might not be able to achieve desired results.

FPCCI former president said that the industrial sector has a major contribution to the tax collection and the sector’s share in revenues is almost triple than its contribution to the overall economic output.

Mian Anjum Nisar called for out-of-the-box solutions for economic growth, as COVID-19 has adversely impacted the world’s economy as well as Pakistan’s trade and industrial sectors.

He said that the government has to lower the electricity tariffs further instead of increasing, saying that the continuous increase in power tariff can endanger industrial growth momentum, which contributes around 60-70 percent of tax revenue. He said that Pakistan’s inability to fulfill the conditionalities of the IMF programs will have serious financial consequences for the country as in the next three years the country has to pay $40 billion.=DNA

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US DELIVERS MORE COVID-19 PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENTS TO PAKISTAN

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ISLAMABAD, JUN 19 (DNA) -The United States Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), delivered its most recent shipment of emergency medical supplies to Pakistan today in our continuing joint effort to combat the scourge of COVID.

“Today, the United States is pleased to support the Government of Pakistan in protecting the country’s frontline healthcare workers in the fight against COVID-19,” said USAID Mission Director Julie Koenen. 

“During this unprecedented time, the United States will continue to work together with Pakistan to provide critically needed medical supplies.”

Earlier in June, USAID delivered a shipment of protective equipment and fingertip oximeters to be delivered to Pakistani healthcare facilities throughout the country. 

The donation also included $3.5 million in additional funding for local procurement of health-related supplies to support the overall COVID-19 response.

Since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, the United States has delivered $49.7 million in assistance through our partnership with the Government of Pakistan. 

Last July, USAID provided 200 ventilators and trained more than 600 health workers in 64 Pakistani hospitals. 

In addition, USAID has improved and expanded laboratory testing, disease monitoring, case tracking in all districts, infection prevention and control, and patient care.=DNA

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