TEHRAN, JUNE 24 – Iran’s President Dr. Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday called for reopening of Iran-Pakistan borders and urged implementation of bilateral agreements.

President Rouhani made the remarks while receiving a copy of the credentials of new Pakistani ambassador to Tehran Mr. Rahim Hayat Qureshi.He emphasized on deepening of Iran-Pakistan relations in all areas, expressing hope that the border crossings between the two countries would reopen after they were closed due to coronavirus outbreak.

Mentioning his meetings and calls with Pakistan’s President and Prime Minister, President Rouhani called on implementation of bilateral agreements, saying that this would help to the expansion of economic ties between Tehran and Islamabad.Pakistan’s new Ambassador to Tehran, after submitting his credentials to President Rouhani, said that ties with Iran is of great importance to Pakistan as all Pakistani officials confirm the fact.

Qureshi said that Pakistan would continue to support Tehran in the international arena, as it considers Iran’s security as its own.

PESHAWAR, JUN 24 (DNA) – In yet another deadline, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Transport Minister Shah Muhammad on Wednesday said that Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project will be completed by June 2021.

Addressing the provincial assembly session, Shah Muhammad said that the initial cost of BRT was Rs60 billion, adding that its cost has gone up due to the changes to its design.

He maintained that if the former government had given the railway track on lease they would have completed the flagship project at a cost of Rs17 billion.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Shaukat Yousafzai had announced to inaugurate Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Peshawar in April 2020.

Expressing his views in ARY News’ programme, Bakhabar Savera, Shaukat Yousafizai had said the final phase of BRT Peshawar will be completed by February 15, adding that 50 buses were available at the corridor.

The minister had said training of the staff and drivers of the project was underway and the provincial government would be able for a test run of the project in April.

Replying to a query, Shuakat Yousafzai had said, the government had assured Supreme Court for the completion of the project in June as a precautionary measure in case of any delay. = DNA

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DNA

Islamabad: June 24, 2020: Capital Development Authority conducted a series of operations against encroachments in Islamabad on Wednesday and retrieved precious state land from encroachers.

Capital Development Authority (CDA) conducted a massive operation in Park Enclave Extension against Bricks Factory. Bricks Factory despite cancellation of lease did not vacate the state land. During the operation illegal constructions inside Bricks Factory were demolished. The operation was conducted by Enforcement Directorate with the assistance of DC CDA and Staff of Land and Rehabilitation and Revenue Directorates.

During the operation one huge shed constructed on the state land by Bricks Factory was demolished while two shops were also razed to ground during the same operation. After expiry of the lease, the land of the Bricks Factory was required to be returned to CDA but constructions still existed there. The said land is part of Park Enclave Extension Project.

Similarly, another operation was conducted in Sector I-15 for obtaining possession of land for establishing site office for initiating development works in the sector. The operation was conducted by Enforcement Directorate while assisted by Islamabad Administration and Local Police. Some people tried to hamper the operation but CDA managed to take possession of the encroached land.

Another operation was conducted in Bismillah Market of I-8 Markaz where a double basement was being constructed illegally on Plot No. 1-F. Boundary wall of the basement in depression was demolished and basement was dumped with soil with the help of excavator.

ISLAMABAD, JUN 24 (DNA) – National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Wednesday dispatched ninth tranche of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to doctors working in hospitals of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to NDMA’s spokesman, the equipment includes medical and face masks, surgical gowns, safety gloves, plastic boats, thermal guns, and safety goggles. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) had also distributed ventilators to all provinces due to the rising number of coronavirus cases across the country.

According to details provided by NDMA, 26 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) ventilators and BiPAP portable ventilators had been provided to Punjab hospitals. 10 ICU ventilators had been allocated for Rawalpindi, Lahore each, while Multan provided six BiPAP and ICU ventilators.

Similarly, 16 ICU and BiPAP portable ventilators were provided Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa each. Last week, NDMA chairman Lieutenant General Mohammad Afzal, had paid visits to special units established at different hospitals in Karachi to treat coronavirus patients.

Lt Gen Mohammad Afzal visited different hospitals in Karachi to inspect the availability of necessary medical equipment in the facilities dedicated for coronavirus patients.

He said that 12 ICU ventilators and 23 BiPAP [Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure] machines will be provided to Qatar, whereas, 10 ventilators and 20 BiPAP machines will be given to Government Hospital – New Karachi.

Abbasi Shaheed Hospital will be given 18 ventilators and 20 airway pressure machines, whereas, Liaquatabad Hospital will get 10 ventilators and 30 machines. = DNA

ISLAMABAD, JUN 24 (DNA) – The All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) on Wednesday rejected the move by the SNGPL to increase the price of natural gas terming it unacceptable as it will damage the fragile economy.

Seeking at a public hearing organized by OGRA, Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha, Central Chairman APCNGA said that the earlier price hike was also illegal which must be reversed as the energy prices are retreating across the world but the gas prices are not being reduced in Pakistan.

He said that according to Clause 7 of the OGRA Ordinance, the government can increase or reduce the price of natural gas after Cabinet’s approval.

The government must issue policy guideline to OGRA under rule 21 of OGRA Ordinance before the public hearing which was not issued until June 24, therefore, the OGRA’s determined gas tariff will be applicable from July 01, he added.

According to Clause 8A of OGRA Ordinance, only the regulator is empowered to fix the tariff of gas for retail consumers which cannot be changed by the government. However, he said, the government can impose developmental surcharge and taxes.

Ghiyas Paracha said that the price determined by the OGRA will be final. He noted that in June 2019 OGRA determined the price of gas at Rs637 per MMBtu but the tariff was pushed up to Rs1283 for the CNG sector which was illegal therefore it should be reversed.

He said that the price of local gas is linked to crude and high sulfur furnace oil which has come down by 35 to 50 percent, therefore, the gas price can be reduced by 40 percent.

The Clause 7F or OGRA Ordinance allows all sectors to operate in the market and allows the regulator to keep the price of alternative fuel reduced. He said that the prices of LPG, flare gas, petrol, diesel, furnace oil, have reduced therefore the price of gas must be brought down.

The ministry of petroleum through a letter on March 10th directed the gas companies to reduce UFG from 6.3 percent to 4 percent, cut profit from 20 percent to 15 percent, reduce depreciation by one percent and cut transmission and distribution losses but the directives were not followed.

He informed that imported LNG is bring provided to different sectors without securing payment and the entire burden is being shifted to consumers of natural and imported gas. The gas companies have illegally jacked up the transmission and distribution losses for which consumers are made to pay.

Chairman OGRA accepted during the hearing that reduced oil price in the international market can result in a reduced price of gas and said that the impact of fluctuation in the price of dollar should not be shifted to consumers illegally. SNGPL was represented by its MD Amir Tufail in the hearing. = DNA

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DNA

Karachi: JUNE 24 – Capt. A Moiz Khan, patron-in-chief, North Karachi Association of Trade and Industry (NKATI) and President Naseem Akhtar have appealed to Prime Minister Imran Khan to reduce 20% gas tariff given the significant reduction in energy prices in global markets and economic crisis due to COID-19, so that to reduce the cost of production of industries and enable exporters to compete in global markets.

In an appeal to the Prime Minister, NKATI leaders requested to make energy cheaper like the neighboring countries in order to save the country’s best economic interests and industries from catastrophe so that the country can move forward on the path of development.

Opposing the request of gas companies to impose an additional burden of Rs 104 billion on consumers, he said that industrialists could not afford expensive energy in the current situation, so the government should take timely and correct decision keeping in view the ground realities. They demanded an immediate reduction in gas tariff as global oil prices have come down drastically but the people of Pakistan have not yet reaped the benefits.

“Despite the reduction in global energy prices, there was no justification for Sui Southern Gas to ask for an increase in tariffs. To compete in the price war in the international markets, which is possible only through measures to reduce the cost of production, because why foreign buyers will buy Pakistani products more expensive than the cheap products of other countries, including China, India”, they added.

Capt. A. Moiz Khan and Naseem Akhtar appealed to Prime Minister Imran Khan to reject any proposal by the gas companies to increase tariffs and announce a reduction of up to 20% in gas tariffs to boost industrial activities and restore the exports.