ISLAMABAD : The federal cabinet is likely to approve the launching plan of a ferry service in Pakistan and mass transit authority’s ordinance, citing sources.

A session of the federal cabinet is underway under the chair of Prime Minister Imran Khan today.

The discussion related to the expansion of legal boundaries of the cabinet committee for disposal of legislative cases, mass transit authority ordinance, appointment of the chairman of Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE), establishment of a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal at Port Qasim – Karachi, initiation of ferry service in Pakistan.An annual report for the financial year 2018-19 will be presented by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), whereas, the members of the federal cabinet will also be briefed over the Industry Report 2019.

The cabinet members will approve the decision of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) and the cabinet committee for energy. Moreover, the provision of special powers to Rangers under Article 147 and briefing on PPRA rules and review plans for public and private construction are also part of the agenda.

The decision took by the federal cabinet in 2005 for the installation of electricity meters in Islamabad will be reviewed in the ongoing session.

It is expected that the federal cabinet will greenlight the launching of a ferry service in Pakistan. It is pertinent to mention here that the Ministry of Maritime Affairs had announced its plan in September last year to start a ferry service that would connect Karachi and Gwadar ports with Middle East seaports.

According to the plan, the ferry service will link Pakistani ports with Dubai, Oman and Bandar Abbas (Iran) to facilitate people who want to travel among these destinations by providing them alternate routes which would also be used for facilitating pilgrims.

ISLAMABAD : The federal government has decided to establish a cybercrime wing for Ehsaas programme with an aim to tighten nose around the impersonators pretending to be agents of the programme and deceiving people.

Special Assistant to PM on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, Dr Sania Nishtar said that the move has been taken to protest masses from the frauds being done under the name of the Ehasaas programme.

The SAPM said that her ministry is receiving news about scams with the people by some impersonators pretending to be agents via fake messages and other means.Those involved in the fraud will be dealt with an iron hand, she vowed.

Dr Nishtar added that cybercrime wing would be established at the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) office.

Earlier on August 30, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Sania Nishtar had announced the extension in the deadline for receiving the payments under Ehsaas Emergency Cash till September 15.

Taking to Twitter, Sania Nishtar had said the relatives of the deceased and the beneficiaries facing bio-metric verification issues will be able to receive their due payments up to 15 days after the closing date (September 15)

KARACHI : The Sindh High Court (SHC) has summoned progress report from a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) and records from anti-terrorism court (ATC) Islamabad in money laundering case against Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder and others.

The Sindh High Court (SHC) conducted the hearing of a petition of a MQM leader Khawaja Rehan Mansoor where the judge sought the details of investigation in the money laundering charges on the accused persons.

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) Islamabad has been directed to provide details of the case, whereas, a progress report was sought from the joint investigation team (JIT) by the high court.A former investigation officer of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Ali Ahmed Abro, appeared in the hearing. He told the high court’s judge that an interim challan of the case had been submitted and the investigation authority had been given to ATC wing.

The defence counsel argued that no progress was made in the case since the last 34 months, whereas, the concerned authorities have not submitted their response in the plea for the transfer of the case from Karachi to Islamabad.

Later, the court adjourned the hearing till October 8.

The money laundering case had been filed by Sarfaraz Merchant, a London based businessman closed to the political party’s leaders, against the MQM founder and others prominent leaders including Babar Khan Ghauri and Khawaja Rehan Mansoor.

It is pertinent to mention here that FIA had detected 69 foreign bank accounts of the MQM leaders, according to its report submitted to an anti-terrorism court on August 3 – 2018.

The FIA revealed that Rs1,321,509,608 were collected from people through extortion and ransom, and during the years 2013-15, that money was deposited in the bank accounts of Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation,

The report further disclosed that those funds were then transferred to the bank accounts of MQM UK, Simon and Simons and other accounts.

The Islamabad gets water from three sources including supply from Khanpur Dam, hundreds of Tube Wells being established in different sectors and household Bore-water 

Waheed Hussain

ISLAMABAD: Water resources are really depleting in the country and Islamabad is bitterly hit by the same. No doubt Islamabad is one of the beauteous capital cities in the world, however, the growing population and regular construction of housing colonies on its green land are devastating its natural beauty as well as resources.

The Islamabad gets water from three sources including supply from Khanpur Dam, hundreds of Tube Wells being established in different sectors and household Bore-water.

Yet need is not fulfilled. In the summer season citizens face problem, in winter the shortage is worse. There is a tanker mafia with the connivance of CDA make millions. Well who cares? If you contact CDA gays deputed for the water issues they would simple say either the dam is empty or the area tube well is out of order. When you ask them from where these tankers are being filled and supplied they would simply say we don’t know. The water supply to the residential area is disconnected to make money by tankers. This is not the problem of only Islamabad but most of the big cities like Karachi face this problem on the regular basis. Few years back the CDA out-sourced water filtration plants to the private companies.

These plants were constructed near the tube wells in various sectors of the city so that people could get the clean drinking water.Unfortunately, today many of these filtration plants are either not being operationalized or out of order. When you talk to the Tube Well operators about their bad condition they reply that these plants are being managed by the private parties not by the CDA.

Surely those who had been awarded the contracts must have made lot of money or maybe CDA might not made required payments to them. Whatever is the case main responsibility lies of the CDA and MCI. There is another administrative issue regarding powers and responsibilities between CDA and Islamabad Metropolitan city administration.

ISLAMABAD : An accountability court here on Tuesday sought arguments on an application filed by former president Asif Ali Zardari seeking to quash the Thatta water supply reference filed against him and others by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

The accountability judge adjourned the hearing of the case until September 17 after an associate of Faroof H Naek, the former president’s lawyer, appeared in court and sought time on his behalf to forward arguments in the case.

The court, granting the request, adjourned the hearing with directions for the counsel to forward arguments on next hearing.

According to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the case pertains to illegal award of a contract by Special Initiative Department for water supply scheme, Thatta to a private contractor, Harish & Co.

Zardari was released after being granted bail by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Dec 11, last year, on medical grounds.

LAHORE : Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has approved launching of Punjab Rozgar Scheme for providing soft loans programme worth Rs30 billion for new and running businesses.

Punjab CM Usman Buzdar said that businesspersons and entrepreneurs could acquire up to Rs10 million loan under the new scheme. He added that transgender persons could also avail the easy loans facility, whereas, the government finalised plan for low mark-up to women.

The chief minister directed relevant authorities for launching the employment scheme this month. He said that the provincial government is providing financial relief to the affected businesses amid COVID-19 crisis.

He also announced that the provincial government will review plans for further reducing the mark-up. CM Buzdar said that the young generation will not only groom their skills but also be provided employment.
Earlier in January last year, the Punjab IT Board and Ministry of Youth Affairs had jointly launched a three-month free E-Rozgar Training Programme for the youth, aimed at imparting vocational training to the jobless, enabling them to earn their livelihood honourably.

The 25 technical training centres throughout Punjab will impart training to the aspirants.

ISLAMABAD (DNA). PML N leader Mian Nawaz Sharif and the President of Pakistan Muslim League Mian Shahbaz Sharif have approved appointment of Sh. Arslan as Vice President China and Central Asian states.

Sh. Arslan in his new capacity will be responsible to cultivate friendly relations with China and Central Asian states in order to further strengthen international affairs wing of PML N.

Ishaq Dar has issued a formal notification in this regard.

Sh. Arslan enjoys excellent relations with the diplomatic community. The diplomatic corps has welcomed his appointment and assured him of its full support. DNA

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