ISLAMABAD, FEB 24 (DNA) – Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday has directed the concerned authorities to issue advertisement in newspapers to inform the political parties regarding the proceedings on illegal foreign funding case.

According to details, 15 out of 19 heads political parties appeared before the commission today while the remaining four didn’t attend the hearing. The ECP has adjourned the hearing till April 5.

Earlier, the election commission had summoned heads of 19 political parties including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). The decision to summon the heads of all political parties was taken on the request of PTI. = DNA

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DNA

RAWALPINDI: General Nadeem Raza, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, who is on a two days official visit to UAE, called on Lieutenant General Hammad Mohammed Thani Al Rumaithy, Chief of Staff UAE Armed Forces. CJCSC also held separate meetings with all Chiefs of tri-services.

During the meetings, both sides deliberated upon various areas of interest, bilateral cooperation including security, counter-terrorism and prevailing regional environment particularly with reference to Kashmir and Afghanistan. The dignitaries also dilated upon measures to enhance the level and scope of military engagements between both countries and reaffirmed to continue to forge deeper strategic ties.

Chairman JCSC also visited International Defence Exhibition & Conference (IDEX) and Naval Defence & Maritime Security Exhibition (NAVDEX) in Abu Dhabi. CJCSC visited the stalls established by different organisations from Pakistan as well as participating Pak Naval Ships.

Chairman JCSC lauded the efforts of these organizations in showcasing Pakistan’s indigenously manufactured defence related equipment at global level.On the sidelines of the exhibition, Chairman JCSC also called on General Enzo Vecciarelli, Italy’s Chief of Defence (CHOD). During the meetings, Chairman JCSC said that Pakistan defence manufacturing sector is capable of meeting the bulk requirements of foreign customers in the select areas of medium to high end technologies.

ISLAMABAD, FEB 24 (DNA) – Member, Private Sector Development, Planning Commission, Mr. Asim Saeed said that “Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives is the investment arm of the government and is keen to align private sector demands in PSDP.

However, to do the needful, private sector would have to be forthcoming so that its demands-based proposals may get incorporated in the PSDP through relevant ministries. Asim expressed these views in “Industry and Enterprise Sub-Committee” meeting of National Advisory Committee of Planning Commission that met under the convenorship of Dr. Abid Qaiyum Suleri, head of Sustainable Development Policy Institute.

Chairperson Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP), Ms Rahat Kaunain Hassan endorsing the importance of a mapping exercise to find out private sector’s need, highlighted that CCP has not received any report of any industry being non-competitive due to COVID19. “This shows the resilience in our industrial sector”, she added.

Dr. Suleri, earlier highlighted that a better coordination and cooperation between the public and private sector is need of the hour to resolve various issues being faced by the private sector. “The sub-committee is one such forum that may serve as a bridge between both sectors. This bridging is critically important, especially to foster trade and business activities after COVID19”, explained Dr Suleri.

Representatives of different industrial sectors including leather industry, retail-chain stores, pharmaceutical, surgical instruments, automotive parts, and services sector showed optimism that their business activities were getting normalized after first wave of COVID19.

Mr Asfandyar, Managing Director, Hub Leather opined that due to the quick reopening of the lockdowns, the leather sector, especially the retail side is showing improvement. However, several challenges persist on the demand side. He highlighted the need of focusing on the retail side of the industry.

Mr Ashraf Malik, CEO Unique Medical System, was of view that after the second wave of COVID19 in the EU and USA, they have been facing lowering demands from these regions. Eng. M.A Jabbar Chief Executive, Qaim Automotive, highlighted the need to provide SMEs, the type of incentives and stimulus package at par with the Large-Scale Industries.

While representing the Faisalabad Industrial Estate Development and Management Company (FIEDMC), Ms Rabia Zia and Mr Amir Saleemi said that timely provision of gas and electricity along with other infrastructure can give an impetus to the industries.

Private sector representatives unanimously demanded an amnesty scheme for manufacturing and industrial sector in lines with construction sector amnesty package. They were of the opinion that a conditional amnesty to invest in industrial and manufacturing projects would boost Pakistan’s growth manifolds.=DNA

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DNA

ISLAMABAD: Capital Development Authority (CDA) has completed carpeting work on 7th avenue, 9th avenue, Jinnah Avenue, Blue Area, D-12 and other various roads in the city. The work on carpeting and repairing has also been started at IJP road. More than 370 kilometers of roads have been carpeted by the joint efforts of the department of MPO and Road Maintenance.

According to detail, CDA’s work on restoration of road infrastructure is continued. The departments of MPO and Road Maintenance have increased the pace of the work. More than 80% work has been completed during last few days in the markets of sector F-10, I-8, I-9, I-10, D-12. Carpeting work has also been completed at the main road, service road, and U-turn of sector D-12. Small sectors of the city are also being considered. Carpeting work is underway in the streets of I-9 and I-10. More than 90% carpeting work has been completed in sector G-7, G-8, G-9, G-10, G-11, and G-5. Repairing work is in its final stages at main roads including Express way, F-10, I-9, I-10, Soharwardy road, park road, and others.

The work of repairing and restoration on neglected IJP road has also been started. U-turns and shoulders of the roads are also being repaired. Advertisements have been published in the Newspapers regarding further work of repairing and restoration. 100% work of carpeting will be completed in next few months.=DNA

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ISLAMABAD, FEB 24 (DNA) – Ambassador of Uzbekistan Aybek Arif Usmanov presenting a newly-published book on Uzbekistan to Editor Daily Islamabad POST, CENTRELINE magazine and DNA News Agency Ansar Mahmood Bhatti.

Ambassador Usmanov has been appointed to Pakistan as Ambassador to Pakistan. =DNA

Murad Saeed says initiative taken by PRCS will go a long way in saving lives in case of road accidents 

Abrar ul Haq says resource and knowledge sharing between PRCS and NH&MP will help reduce fatalities in road crashes 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and National Highways and Motorway Police (NH&MP) on Tuesday signed an MoU to launch a road safety initiative to help reduce deaths and injuries on the motorway.

Federal Minister for Communications Murad Saeed was chief guest on the occasion. PRCS Chairman Abrar ul Haq, Federal Secretary Ministry of Communications Zafar Hassan and NH&MP IG Kaleem Imam were present on the occasion. The MoU was signed by PRCS Acting Secretary General Dr Adeel Nawaz and NH&MP IG Kaleem Imam.

Under the initiative, PRCS has provided eight fully equipped ambulances to the NH&MP for deployment on M-2 Motorway besides first aid kits for delivery of emergency medical and relief services to commuters in case of any traffic accidents. The PRCS will also impart free of cost first aid training to NH&MP staff besides raising awareness among the general public about road safety so that road fatality rate can be minimized.

Speaking on the occasion, Federal Minister for Communications Murad Saeed appreciated the initiative taken by PRCS which he said will go a long way in helping people and saving lives in case of road crashes. He said with increase in volume of traffic, ratio of road accidents is also going up with each passing day. “It is our duty to not only make the travelling easier but also safer,” he said, and assured the PRCS of all-out support in implementing such initiatives.

The minister said provision of ambulances by the PRCS is a praiseworthy step, however, the more important aspect of this initiative is first-aid training to the NH&MP staff. He said lack of first-aid training is one of the major causes of fatalities in road crashes.

Speaking on the occasion, PRCS Chairman Abrar ul Haq said around 100 people die in road crashes every day in Pakistan, which is an alarming situation. He said time is of great essence in the advent of any traffic accident as 59% of deaths can be averted due to timely and right intervention. “Timely intervention requires good vehicles to shift the injured to hospitals and the right intervention is not possible without skilled people,” he said, adding that resource and knowledge sharing between PRCS and NH&MP will help numerous lives on roads. He said prevention is more important than service delivery, adding that through boosting preventive strategies, not only burden of billions of rupees being spent on service delivery in the health sector can be reduced but also many precious lives can be saved.

NH&MP IG Kaleem Imam assured that the ambulances provided by the PRCS will be used in the best and professional way. He said NH&MP will deploy these ambulances on the motorway at the earliest. He said shifting the injured to hospitals is a very challenging task on the motorway, adding that the PRCS and NH&MP joint initiative will help timely shifting of the injured in case of any accident.

Later, Federal Minister for Communications Murad Saeed, PRCS Chairman Abrar ul Haq and other dignitaries inspected the ambulances being handed over to the NH&MP. On the occasion, symbolic key of the ambulances was also handed over to NH&MP IG Kaleem Imam. Shields were also presented to the dignitaries on the occasion. PRCS and NH&MP senior officers also attended the ceremony.

RAWALPINDI, FEB 24 (DNA) – Punjab council of the Arts has organized Punjab Talent Hunt competitions in poetry, fiction and painting at the district level in Rawalpindi. The special guest of the competitions was Vice Chairman PHA Malik Abid Hussain.

While addressing Vice Chairman PHA Malik Abid Hussain said that our youth are very creative, Talent Hunt will further enhance the art of the youth.

The interest of students in poetry and fiction is commendable. In the painting competitions, the children have given a message of peace to the world by painting beautiful pictures of Pakistan. Director Arts Council Waqar Ahmed said that in line with the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Usman Bazar, a Talent Hunt Program has been launched to promote arts and culture in the province. Talent hunt has helped in highlighting the creativity of our children.

Prizes were awarded for positions in poetry, fiction and painting. Hundreds of students from schools, colleges and universities participated in the competitions.