ISLAMABAD, AUG 18 (DNA) – The federal cabinet on Tuesday lauded the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan on successful completion of two years of the PTI government.
Speaking in today’s cabinet meeting, the prime minister said his 24-year long struggle has not ended yet as he has gotten a lot to do for the weak segment of society. “Every weak Pakistani is the central point of our struggle,” he maintained.
“Sparing a thought for the weak segment is true faith,” he said, adding he wants to matrialise his vision of turning Pakistan into Medina-like welfare state and vowed to incorporate the idea of such a state in national curriculum, for which, he said, he has given instructions to Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood.
Initially, a uniform curriculum will be prepared for 8th and 9th grade students, he pointed out.
The prime minister said he achieved success through hard work in difficult times. “Come hell or high water, I will not leave people alone,” he pledged, maintaining that the true objective of his struggle is to improve living standards of commoners.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi apprised the cabinet on the government’s achievements on the diplomatic front and shed light on regional issues, including those related to India. Whereas, Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar briefed the meeting about the government’s plans for the country’s growth.
He said the country was able to curb coronavirus with Prime Minister Khan’s successful strategy. He added the premier would play a long inning after having settled at the crease. =DNA
Islamabad, AUG 18 – Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) organized an online “Weekly Celebrations of Independence” discussion on “Freedom and Our Fiction”. Discussion Presided over by Dr Anwar Ahmad, Muhammad Hameed Shahid was the Chief Guest and Mirza was the Guest of Honor.
Dr Zia-ul-Hassan, Dr Najiba Arif and Amjad Tufail presented papers. Dr Yousuf khushk, Chairman PAL presented an introductory note. Discussion moderated by Dr Adia Tahir. Dr Anwar Ahmad said that Pakistan had geography even before it came into existence and even before the establishment of Pakistan was the identity of Pakistan.
Dr Yusuf Kushk, Chairman, PAL, thanked the participants and said that all the literature written in Pakistan has described different aspects of Tehreek-e-Pakistan. If fiction in Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, Balochi and other languages is read, then every writer has described Tehreek-e-Pakistan, Qiyam-e-Pakistan instability of Pakistan in his own way. Such creative work requires thorough research.
Jeddah, AUG 18 – The Union of OIC News Agencies (UNA) will host Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL), Dr. Muhammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, on Thursday, via videoconference in the second edition of a series of media forums organized by UNA.
The Forum will be held in the presence of representatives of the Union’s member national news agencies and senior officials the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and its various organs, as well as ministers and stakeholders from the Islamic world.
Sheikh Al-Issa will talk about coexistence among followers of religions and cultures. He will also highlight the MWL’s efforts to support and consolidate dialogue and coexistence, in addition to improving the stereotypes of Islam and Muslims.
The Forum will feature an open debate to answer the most common questions about coexistence and intercultural dialogue.
Islamabad, AUG 18 – Dr. Fouzia Saeed, Director General, Pakistan National Council of the Arts congratulated all the recipients of civil awards. In her message coupled with bouquet from Pakistan National Council of the Arts to the laureates, Dr. Fouzia paid rich tributes to the legendary artistes of Pakistan and hailed their services and contributions. She declared these artists as true ambassadors of Pakistan.
She highly appreciated the services of these artistes which have been acknowledged worldwide. Artists are the ones who present the true image of a society and earn a good name for their country.
They play a very positive role in elevating and improving the mental approach of the people towards life by inspiring them through their art. Their lifelong services in the field have been recognized and acknowledged for their sheer commitment. She wished them prosperous and bright future.
These awards were announced by the President of Pakistan on the occasion of Pakistan’s 74th Independence Day. These awards of “Nishan-e-Imtiaz”, “Sitar-e-Imtiaz” and “President’s Award for Pride of Performance” will be conferred upon Talat Hussain, Bushra Ansari, Sultana Siddiqui, Hamayun Saeed, Ali Zafar, Abida Perveen, Prof. Zahoor-ul-Akhlaq, Madam Indu Mitha, Farooq Qaiser, and Muhammad Ali Shehki in the field for Arts and Culture on March 23, 2021. DNA
Islamabad, AUG 18 – Muhammad Ahmed Waheed, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) along with Malik Sohail Hussain, former Senior Vice President ICCI and Chief Coordinator UBG FPCCI held a meeting with Dr. Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmed, Member (Inland Revenue-Operations), FBR in his office and discussed with him tax related issues of business community for redress.
Dr. Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmed, Member (IR-Operations), FBR said that business community was playing important role in the economic development of the country and efforts would be made to address their key issues in order to facilitate them in business promotion. He lauded the role of ICCI in facilitating the growth of business activities as it was acting as a bridge between the government and the private sector. He was of the view that the close liaison and smooth working relations between FBR and ICCI were important to resolve issues and generate more economic activity in the region. He also shared the various initiatives being taken by the government to further improve the taxation system for promoting the economy.
Speaking at the occasion, Muhammad Ahmed Waheed, President ICCI said that FBR should focus on complete automation of income tax, sales tax and customs duty refunds for timely payment of all refunds that would address the liquidity issues of business community and help in promoting exports. He also discussed the issue of Sec-8B of Sales Tax Act that allowed adjustment of input tax amount of only 90 percent of the output tax for a period and emphasized that FBR should allow adjustment of input tax amount of the 100 percent of output tax to facilitate the business community in these tough time. He said a facilitation desk of Pakistan Customs has been setup in ICCI that would help in resolving customs related issues and further strengthen the relations between both sides. He discussed many options with Member (IR-Ops) FBR for broadening the tax base in order to further enhance the tax revenue of the country.
Malik Sohail Hussain former Senior Vice President ICCI and Chief Coordinator UBG FPCCI expressing his views said that a taxation system characterised by low compliance cost and low tax rates would be instrumental in promoting tax culture and improving tax revenue of Pakistan and stressed that FBR should work on these lines.
Expanding its ecommerce footprint and propelling digitization in the country, Daraz, the leading platform for online shopping in Pakistan, has focused on innovative answers that will not only propel digitization in the country but also offer millions convenience in fulfilling routine tasks.
The platform has launched dBills – a channel dedicated to the payment of electricity, water, telephone-internet and gas bills which will eliminate the need for Pakistanis to step outside of their houses to clear their dues.
The COVID19 pandemic has proven a catalyst for change and digital adoption in Pakistan with consumers relying on digital solutions for entertainment, to shop and to make payments. Daraz is focused on offering innovative answers that offer millions convenience in fulfilling routine tasks. dBills allows customers to make payments using a variety of digital payment methods including credit cards and offers discounts up to PKR 500. Daraz has simplified the payment process so customers can easily open their Daraz app, enter their details and make their payment. The platform has partnered up with NADRA to ensure that customers across the country are able to avail the channel.
“Customer-centric innovation remains the driving force at Daraz and over the past few months, we have focused more keenly on offering our users digital solutions for different areas of life. We are confident that dBills will revolutionize utility bill payments in Pakistan while offering unprecedented ease to millions of Pakistanis.” said Riaz Ali, Regional Head of Digital Channel at Daraz.
The launch of dBills has been preceded by the launch of dTravel through which customers have easy and immediate access to online bus tickets for intercity travel. The channel serves as a unique one-stop solution as it allows customers to browse routes, timings and prices from different bus services, eliminating the need for customers to visit different digital platforms to search for tickets that suit their preferences. Earlier this year, Daraz also launched Daraz First Games – an immersive free online gaming platform that provided users entertainment and helped them connect digitally with friends during a period of social distancing.
Daraz is confident that the new channels will help spur on digitization in the country and ensure that digital solutions become an integral part in the lives of millions of Pakistanis.
ISLAMABAD, AUG 18 – Missing Persons Commission has disposed of 4616 cases upto July 30, 2020 as per monthly progress report of mission persons released by Secretary (ColoED) on cases of alleged enforced disappearances upto July 30, 2020.
A total number of 6686 cases were received by the Missing Persons Commission upto June 2020. During July 2020, 43 more cases were received by the commission and total numbers of cases reached to 6729. The Missing Persons Commission disposed of 23 cases in July 2020 and thus total disposal of Missing Persons upto July 30, 2020 is 4616 and balance as on July 30, 2020 is 2113.
The Commission has already started hearings in cases under investigation. The visit of the Commission to Quetta and Lahore for convenience of families of Missing persons has also been planned. It may be mentioned that disposal of cases by the Commission includes 876 cases received from UN Working Group on Enforced in Involuntary Disappearances, Geneva and 256 cases are under investigation. During investigation of a number of cases, it has come to light that a large number of persons who are being reported as missing have actually left for Afghanistan and Syria on the instinct of jehadi elements like Daaish.
Honorable Mr. Justice Javed Iqbal, Chairman, Missing Persons Commission and other Honorable members have disposed of 4616 cases upto July 30, 2020. The relatives of missing persons have lauded the efforts of Honorable Mr. Justice Javed Iqbal Chairman Missing Persons Commission and other Honorable members of Missing Persons Commission for taking personal interest in locating their near and dear ones. Honorable Mr. Justice Javed Iqbal, Chairman, Missing Persons Commission is serving Missing Persons Commission in an honorary capacity and is drawing no salary and availing other faculties which are admissible as per law. We are making all out efforts with the help of Law Enforcement Agencies and Intelligence Agencies to resolve the issue with utmost sincerity.
Islamabad, AUG 18 – More than 1900 Pakistani workers struck in United Arab Emirates have been brought back by Memon Khidmat Forum (MKF). “After outbreak of Covid-19 thousands of Pakistanis, who lost their jobs in UAE, were helped to fly home under the spirit of service to humanity”, said Chairman of the organization Haji Masood Parekh.
He said MKF received thousands of messages from stranded expatriates seeking to return home and we managed a special charter flight to bring them back immediately and the remaining were brought via ordinary flights. These were the expatriates who had lost jobs due to outbreak of corona virus and they were unable to purchase tickets and live there anymore.
On return to Karachi airport all these people were given candies, blankets, chocolates, ladies suits and five thousand cash as well so they could not be ashamed in front of their family members.
He said on this occasion we are also grateful to Chaudhry Nisar of Alamgir Welfare Trust for his cooperation in making this work possible.
Haji Masood Pareikh said that the Saudi authorities gave permission and we are also taking steps to bring back the Pakistanis stranded in Saudi Arabia soon.
He also thanked his team members Arif Punjabi, AK Memon, Amin Sharif, Haji Arif and Amin Manda who worked day and night to make this operation successful.
On August 17, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a videoconference on creating decent conditions for citizens working abroad and working systematically with them.It should be noted that this issue is being discussed in this format for the first time in the history of Uzbekistan.Every year, 600-700 thousand people enter the labor market of Uzbekistan.
As a result of measures taken to develop economic sectors and regions, up to 500 thousand jobs are created per year. Consequently, employment of almost 200 thousand people has to be provided by external labor migration. This is a natural process that all developing countries go through.
Where labor migration is organized properly, there is an increase in employment and family income, and an increase in the skilled labor force.In recent years, much attention has been paid to protecting the rights and improving the living conditions of our compatriots abroad.
International agreements on labor migration have been concluded with Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Japan and the United Arab Emirates. A Fund has been created to support citizens working abroad and more than 100 billion UZS have been allocated for this purpose.
At the same time, the position of the Advisor to the Prime Minister on External Labor Migration has been introduced. Despite this, there are enough problems waiting to be solved in this system.Issues of social, legal, material and cultural support for our fellow citizens working abroad were discussed at the meeting.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations, the Ministry of Supporting Mahalla and Family and khokimiyats were instructed to assist compatriots who returned from abroad in employment, taking into account their profession, qualifications and future plans.The importance of expanding cooperation with major employers was noted, so that Uzbekistan citizens abroad could work in decent conditions. To do this, first of all, it is necessary to train qualified specialists in accordance with the requirements of these enterprises.In this regard, it is planned to introduce a new system. The authority of territorial branches of the Agency for External Labor Migration will be expanded with the right to conclude direct contracts with foreign employers and negotiate with migration services. The branch manager will be considered an assistant to the regional khokim.Responsible persons were instructed to negotiate with major employers in foreign countries, increase the number of specialists in demand, as well as allocate low-interest loans of up to 10 million UZS to migrant workers for travel expenses and expenses related to obtaining a patent and insurance.The Resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan of August 11, 2020 defines measures to train population in professions in demand on the labor market, the basics of entrepreneurship and foreign languages. Practical aspects of implementation of this document were discussed at the meeting. Issues of improving citizens’ skills who want to work abroad, creating vocational training centers, organizing courses and mono centers for this purpose were considered. The importance of adapting the educational programs of these institutions and developing competencies to the needs of foreign employers was noted.The Head of the state instructed to attract funds from the Fund for Supporting and Protection of the Rights and Interests of Citizens engaged in working abroad for life and health insurance of migrant workers.Instructions were given on simplifying exit procedures and open representative offices of the Agency for External Labor Migration in the cities with a large number of our compatriots. The task was set to strengthen the legal protection of citizens abroad, create an online platform and a call center for this purpose and attract qualified lawyers.The President noted that Uzbekistan embassies should strengthen relations with diasporas of our compatriots abroad. Proposals were made to recognize merits and award persons who, out of patriotic and noble feelings, help Uzbekistan people abroad.It was noted that culture is an important connecting link between workers abroad and their Homeland. Instruction was given to hold more cultural events for them. It was recommended to widely cover the activities of embassies and consulates on television for people’s benefit.The Ministry of Supporting Family and Mahalla has been instructed, together with khokimiyats, to regularly visit families of citizens who work abroad, to inquire about the health of their parents, their children’s education and to help solve their problems.The need for supporting entrepreneurial initiatives of citizens who returned from abroad after working or studying was emphasized. A system of targeted work with such compatriots and their financial support will be created for this purpose.Thus, heads of sectors, representatives of labor bodies and mahallas will form lists of those who want to engage in entrepreneurship and consider their business projects. They will provide assistance in registration, providing rental subsidies for up to 3 months. In addition, credit resources will be allocated for starting a business with partial compensation for the cost of the insurance policy on credit collateral. By the end of the year, 25 billion UZS will be allocated from Employment Assistance Fund for these purposes and 100 billion UZS will be allocated for loans.It is noteworthy that only 4,500 people are registered in the system for recording the length of service of citizens working abroad. In this regard, responsible persons were instructed to extend the procedure for registering and calculating work experience to migrant workers, similar to that applied to self-employed persons.Deputy Prime Ministers were instructed to develop a separate program on organized migration, which provides for introduction of a system of economic, financial and organizational-legal assistance. The program will cover such issues as professional and language training, development of skills to work abroad, travel expenses, obtaining a patent, insurance, pensions and loans. Measures will be defined to create decent conditions for compatriots through intergovernmental commissions, as well as mechanisms for crediting them through foreign banks.Heads of responsible ministries and agencies, regional khokims and ambassadors of Uzbekistan to foreign countries reported on the priority tasks identified at the meeting.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting on measures to create decent conditions for citizens of Uzbekistan working abroad and systemic work with them.The situation related to the pandemic in the country was analyzed.
It was noted that the number of people who recovered from the disease increased significantly as a result of a sharp increase in work to counter the coronavirus in July and August. In particular, those who recovered over the past 5 days increased from 77 to 87 percent.
The number of people receiving treatment dropped from 7 thousand to 4 thousand.This is undoubtedly thanks to the selfless work of our doctors.“I repeat again: the health and life of every citizen is very important for us. We are doing everything possible to protect our people from the threat of coronavirus, we are introducing the world’s most advanced treatment experience”, the Head of the state said.
It was noted that about 40 highly qualified specialists from Russia and 10 from China have arrived in Uzbekistan, they will visit regions and begin to treat patients and train doctors using the most effective methods.The President emphasized that in order to make life easier for people, taking into account citizens’ appeals, lockdown restrictions have been softened, but at the same time the risk of the spread of the virus will significantly increase due to the greater presence of people in public places.With this in mind, the task was set to explain the importance of maintaining vigilance and caution, strict adherence to established requirements to protect yourself and your families from the virus, as well as provide practical assistance and maintain control.“Iron discipline must remain the primary rule for all of us. Everyone in enterprises, organizations, agriculture and construction sites, transport and public places must also strictly adhere to these requirements”, the President said.It was determined that khokims, heads of sectors, healthcare systems, makhallas, internal affairs and others bear personal responsibility in relevant regions and spheres for the situation related to the pandemic.
