DNA

KARACHI, MAR 9 – Pakistan Tobacco Company Limited (PTC) was awarded 6 Global Diversity and Inclusion Awards in the Global Diversity & Inclusion Benchmarks (GDIB) conference held in Karachi. The award was received by Waqas Ahmed Khan, Head of Human Resources, PTC and Beenish Kajani, Senior Human Resources Manager.

These awards are conducted by Diversity Hub Pakistan annually and their core objective is to encourage progressive organizations who align Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) with organizational policies and process for sustainable financial and social performance and recognize organisations which fulfil GDIB’s rigorous standards and benchmarks in the D&I space.

Last year PTC was awarded 5 GDIB Awards, however, This year, PTC won 6 awards in the following D&I categories: Vision, Leadership, Structure, Recruitment and Development, Learning and Education, and Communication and out of the 30 companies, which were evaluated, including multinational organizations operating in the country, Pakistan Tobacco Company Limited was ranked 5th nationally.

At the ceremony, Waqas Ahmed Khan, stated that in order to get the right value out of diversity, we are working relentlessly towards building an inclusive culture where difference of opinion, thought and background is not only accepted but respected. “We have made some great progress in Gender Diversity and creating the right work environment that brings the best out of our diverse talent. This is reflected in our strong talent brand and our ability to export great talent from PTC across the globe in senior roles.”, he added.

Ali Akbar, Managing Director PTC, shared his views on winning these awards and mentioned that as responsible corporate citizens in Pakistan, we play our role in creating inclusion by providing employment opportunities to people from different cultures and backgrounds. Diversity and Inclusion is one of our key Ethos that drives the transformation of PTC towards a Better Tomorrow. “My personal aspiration is to make Diversity and Inclusion a part of our DNA and a way of life.”, he added.

ISLAMABAD, Mar 9 (DNA): CPEC has provided Pakistan with an excellent opportunity to transform from an Agriculture-based economy to an industrial-based that can help decreasing poverty to a significant level.

According to Gwadar Pro, Economists in Pakistan believe that CPEC to provide solid support to the industrial sector to modernize itself and become more efficient and competitive for achieving the desired goals.

The various energy projects, coupled with improvements in infrastructure and road networks have already addressed some of the key constraints to growth and for poverty allivation.

Various projects completed under the CPEC have employed more than 100,000 Pakistanis.

More importantly, the development of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) would enable industries to smooth supply chains, enhance collaboration and innovation capabilities, and help reap significant economies of scale.

Analysts believe Pakistan will be the biggest beneficiary of CPEC.
It has already won hearts in Pakistan. This project has emerged on Pakistan’s horizon as the biggest source of jobs for Pakistani youth.

The experts added, Pakistan also needs to learn a lesson from China’s five-year plan policy.

As the building of SEZs takes pace, Pakistani authorities expect the transfer of technology and spillovers from China into Pakistan in a few years.

While China has already transferred coal and road construction technology to Pakistan, authorities here are expecting the transfer of technology in the pharmaceutical, auto sector, and chemicals industry which will boost the economic activity here employing a great number of people.

Authorities are expecting the relocation of Chinese firms making pesticides and synthetic fertilizers to Pakistan.

The relocation of such firms to Pakistan becomes a possibility and CPEC envisions joint ventures in fertilizer and pesticide manufacturing between the Pakistani and Chinese enterprises which will open job opportunities for thousands of graduates of Agriculture sciences.

The plastic industry can see a boom in terms of investment and technology transfer under CPEC.

Pakistani also needs to learn from iron friend China which has introduced “made-in-China 2025”. Pakistan needs to offer incentives to encourage local and foreign companies to set up factories and plants in Pakistan which can employ a huge number of local labor both skilled and unskilled.

Independent analysts and experts in Pakistan believe, Pakistan can not achieve desired growth unless the manufacturing sector and exports are strengthened. Pakistan needs an export-driven growth strategy following China’s vision.

LAHORE : The Punjab government has decided to impose a ban on Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) private militia Ansarul Islam and sent a summary to the concerned cabinet committee, citing sources.

The Punjab home department sent a summary to the cabinet committee, as well as forwarded its recommendations to the chief minister regarding the imposition of a ban on JUI-F’s volunteer group Ansarul Islam.

According to the home department, the final approval of a ban on the JUI-F’s militia will be taken from the Punjab cabinet.
The development came after the opposition alliance, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), made an announcement to organise a long march towards Islamabad against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led government.

In October 2019, the federal government had placed a ban on the entry of Ansarul Islam’s activists in Islamabad as a step to avoid any untoward incident and maintain law and order in the federal capital during the possible sit-in of the opposition parties.

According to a notification issued by the interior ministry, the federal government, under Article-256 had barred the activists of Ansarul Islam, the security wing of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), from entering Islamabad.

The federal government believed that the group has turned into a militant organization and could involve in violence and riots during the possible protest of the opposition parties in the capital, read the notification.

Ansarul Islam’s activists were equipped with batons and sharp tools and can carry out militia-like activities, the notification had stated, adding that the group could create hurdles in maintaining peace in Islamabad.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan will chair the session of the federal cabinet today where the members are likely to approve the salary and allowance of the head of Broadsheet commission.

The other items in the agenda include the approval of donations in the SAARC Covid Emergency Fund and approval to the new licence to Overseas Employment Promoters.

The federal cabinet will be briefed over the Islamabad Metro Bus project, whereas, the members will also approve the decision of the economic coordination and energy committees.
In the previous session, a sub-committee of the federal cabinet, probing the leaked video showing lawmakers allegedly receiving money ahead of Senate elections in 2018, had summoned Senators who were elected despite not having a due number of votes.

The notices had been served to Senator Rubina Khalid, Bahramand Tangi, Dilawar Khan and Mushtaq Ahmed Khan. The lawmakers were advised to submit their replies within seven days in writing or appear before the committee in person to explain how they were sworn in as senators despite not having a party vote.

The notices had also been served to the members’ assemblies who were seen in the video.

It is pertinent to mention here that on February 09, a video surfaced which exposed the horse-trading during Senate elections in 2018 by some party lawmakers who could be seen as counting bundles of currencies and hiding it inside the bag.

GILGIT , Mar 9 : Gilgit Baltistan Legislative Assembly on Tuesday demanded an interim province status for the region from Pakistan’s federal government.

Regional legislature passing a resolution, demanded an appropriate representation for Gilgit Baltistan region in Pakistan’s National Assembly, Senate and other federal institutions.

The assembly in its resolution also demanded an interim province status for the region and amendments in Pakistan’s constitution to provide constitutional cover to it.

“While amending the constitution, it should also be taken in view to ensure a continuity in Pakistan’s stance over the Kashmir dispute,” the resolution read.

The resolution of the legislature also vows that the people of Gilgit Baltistan region would continue their moral as well as political support for the freedom struggle of the people of Kashmir.

It is pertinent to mention here that in regional election held in November last year, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had won the required number of seats in the assembly to form its government in Gilgit-Baltistan.