Tashkent, Uzbekistan — In January-May 2020, the volume of construction works in the Republic of Uzbekistan made up 31.58 trillion soums, which fell by 1.8% compared to the same period of 2019, the State Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan said.

It was known that the volume of construction work is formed by their composition, carried out by large construction organizations, small enterprises and microfirms, as well as the informal sector.

Construction work is carried out by organizations of state and non-state forms of ownership.

As of 1 June 2020, the number of enterprises and organizations in the construction sector reached 38.3 thousand units and, compared with the same period of last year, it increased by 6.5 thousand units.

The main factor in the growth in the number of construction enterprises and organizations was an increase in specialized work by 13.0% (the share of their total number is 57.9%), in the construction of civilian facilities the number of enterprises and organizations increased by 32.1% (a share of their the total number is 9.7%), in the field of construction of buildings and structures – by 32.6% (the share of their total number reached 32.4%)

The highest share in the number of construction enterprises in the republic was observed in Tashkent city – 18.5%, Tashkent – 8.5% and Kashkadarya – 8.2% regions

The volume of construction work carried out by large construction organizations in January – May of this year amounted to 8 154.0 billion soums. Compared with 2019, in the period under review, the growth rate of construction work amounted to 107.4%, and their share in the total volume increased by 2.2% and amounted to 25.8%.

The highest share in the volume of construction work performed by large construction organizations was noted in Tashkent city (20.6% of the total volume of construction work in this region, or 104.2% of the corresponding period in 2019), Navoi region (3.9 % of the total volume of construction work in this region, or 99.6% of the same period in 2019) and Tashkent region (3.8% of the total volume of construction work in the region, or 16.8% of the same period of 2019).

The volume of construction work performed by small enterprises and microfirms, compared with other organizations, decreased in January-May 2020, their share amounted to 58.0% of the total, which is 0.3% less when compared with the same period of last year. Thus, the volume of construction work performed by them amounted to 18.31 trillion soums, which decreased by 2.3% year-on-year.

The share of construction work in the informal sector remained unchanged compared to the same period of last year and amounted to 16.2%, or 5 114.2 billion soums, the growth rate compared to January – May 2019 reached 87.6%.

Construction work in the country as a whole, carried out by state organizations, amounted to 1.14 trillion soums, which fell by 20.6% year-on-year. The volume of construction work performed by non-state organizations amounted to 30.44 trillion soums, decreasing by 0.9%, and their share was 3.6% and 96.4%, respectively.

A significant part of the work was carried out in January – May 2020 on the construction of new buildings and structures. So, 70.6% of the total volume of construction work, or 22.29 trillion soums, were aimed at creating new production capacities in the sphere of economy, housing and communal services and other social facilities.

Large construction organizations completed construction work on new construction of 7.3 trillion soums, or 89.6% of their total volume.

Small enterprises and microfirms carried out construction work on new construction in the amount of 10.49 trillion soums, or 57.3% of their total volume.

In the informal sector, construction work on new construction was performed of 4.5 trillion soums, or 87.9% of their total volume.

The main part of the construction work by type of economic activity was the construction of residential and non-residential buildings, as well as the construction of buildings not intended for living.

The share in the total volume of construction work performed by large construction organizations in the overall structure of buildings and structures amounted to 24.7% and, compared with January – May 2019, increased by 1.8 percentage points. The share of small enterprises and microfirms in this type of activity, compared with January – May 2019, increased by 0.6% points and amounted to 53.1%. The share of the informal sector, compared with January – May 2019, decreased by 2.4 percentage points and amounted to 22.2%.

The share of the volume of construction work carried out by large construction organizations in the construction of civilian facilities amounted to 41.4% and increased by 9.7% compared with January – May 2019. Also, the share of small enterprises and micro-firms in the construction of facilities amounted to 58.5% (a decrease of 7.5%), and the informal sector – 0.1% (a decrease of 2.2%).

In the total volume of specialized construction work, the share of large contractors was reduced by 2.1 percentage points and amounted to 16.0%, as a result of which the share of small enterprises and micro-firms reached 84.0% (an increase of 2.1 percentage points).

The highest share in the total volume of works on construction of buildings and structures in January-May of the current year was noted in Samarkand region (81.0% of the total volume of construction works in this region, or 1.64 trillion soums), Jizzakh region (78.4% of the total volume of construction works in this region, or 956.1 billion soums), Fergana region (77.4% of the total volume of construction works in this region, or 1.44 trillion soums)

The highest share in the total volume of construction of civilian facilities in January-May of this year was noted in Surkhandarya (27.3% of the total construction works in this region, or 495.5 billion soums), Khorezm (21.3% of the total construction works in this region in the region, or 214.6 billion soums) and Namangan (18.2% of the total construction works in this region in this region, or 259.2 billion soums).

The highest share in the total volume of specialized construction works in January-May of the current year was noted in the city of Tashkent (22.1% of the total volume of construction works in this region, or 1508.4 billion soums), Tashkent (20.9 % of the total construction work in the region, or 479.9 billion soums) and Namangan (18.3% of the total construction work in this region, or 259.9 billion soums).

MUZAFFARABAD, JUNE 20 (DNA) – The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan has said that China by erecting a barricade against India’s aggression in Ladakh region has provided us an opportunity to convince the international community that China-India clash in Ladakh was not the real issue but the Kashmir conflict is the root cause of all problems in the region.

“India has capitulated to China in Ladakh but the evil minded Indian rulers may carry out any misadventure against Pakistan and Azad Kashmir in order to divert attention from Ladakh fiasco,” he said.

In an interview with Canada-based Omni TV through video link from here on Saturday, the AJK president said that the United States which is engaged in its domestic issues, has not come up with clear support to India on Ladakh issue.

He said that tension certainly prevails between China and the United States, but the two countries are big trade partners as well. Therefore, the United States would never sacrifice its economic interests just to appease India.

Sardar Masood Khan said that India which had arrogantly moved into Ladakh, after facing humiliating defeat and losing vast area, is now shamelessly claiming that the Chinese Army had not entered in any area under its occupation though the Indian media and some Modi government officials had been crying a few days back that the Chinese Army had captured 60 square kilometres area in Galwan valley.

After facing defeat on the military front, India on one hand talking about slashing its trade volume with China, while on the other, it has intensified brutalities against the defenseless people in occupied Kashmir in order to divert attention.

He warned that reduction to trade with China will be suicidal for India because in case of tension China may shift its 2.5 billion dollars’ investment from India to some other country.

Throwing light on the background of China-India tension, the AJK president said that China considers repeal of articles 370 and 35-A and reversal of the special status of Kashmir by India as a danger to its security and sovereignty.

“We are thankful to China for shattering India’s arrogant expansion policy that had indirectly helped the Kashmiri people and facilitating Pakistan to convene three informal UN Security Council sessions on Kashmir,” Khan said.

To a question, he said that India has always used the bilateral talks as a time buying ploy and has used it to stabilize its occupation of Kashmir. Now that the issue has been once again internationalized, we should stick to our stance of resolving Kashmir issue in accordance with the UN Resolutions.

About India’s non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council, the AJK president said that the Pakistani and the Kashmiri people were highly concerned over bringing the criminal in the rank of adjudicators. India must be brought to justice for its crimes against humanity, he said adding that India’s presence in the Security Council will eclipse the image and credibility of the world body.DNA

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According to Gwadar Pro, Wang Yi, State Councilor and Foreign Minister of China, chaired the Conference in which Foreign Ministers of a large number of ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ countries participated.

Qureshi on the occasion underscored that besides causing deaths, the COVID-19 pandemic had shaken the world and led to economic slowdown, bankruptcies, financial fissures, job-losses and disruption in global supply-chains.

Highlighting the dangers the pandemic had posed to social and political stability, the Foreign Minister said it was time for the world community to “demonstrate unity, solidarity, and multilateral cooperation to fight this pandemic.”

Qureshi underlined that Pakistan was resolutely confronting the outbreak of COVID-19 and taking all possible measures to strengthen the existing health system.

The primary focus remained on both saving lives and saving livelihoods. In order to alleviate the sufferings, Prime Minister Imran Khan had introduced major initiatives including US $ 8 billion relief package for the most vulnerable people and Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program to help the needy.

It was underscored by the Foreign Minister that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of BRI, could play an important role in boosting regional growth and recovery in the post-COVID-19 period.

In that regard, he added, Pakistan and China were taking requisite measures to help the timely completion of the CPEC projects.

While supporting the idea of “Health Silk Road” mooted in the Conference by China, Foreign Minister Qureshi proposed that the COVID-19 vaccine, as and when it was developed, must be declared a “global public good” and made available on an equitable basis.

The Foreign Minister, drawing attention of the participants to the plight of the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, called for lifting of the double lockdowns, allowing access of international health experts to Kashmir, and immediately extending requisite medical help to besieged Kashmiris.DNA

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BEIJING, JUN 20 (DNA) – Spokesperson of Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lijian Zhao has said that Indian border troops crossed Line of Actual Control (LAC), trespassed into China’s territory, built fortification & barricades, which compelled Chinese troops to take necessary measures to respond to the situation on the ground and strengthen management and control in the border areas.

The Spokesperson said “Since April, the Indian border troops have unilaterally and continuously built roads, bridges and other facilities at the LAC in Galwan Valley. China lodged representations and protests on multiple occasions but India went even further to cross the LAC and made provocations.”

“On the evening of June 15, India’s front-line troops, in violation of the agreement reached at the commander-level meeting, once again crossed the Line of Actual Control for deliberate provocation”, he added.

He also claimed that India’s front-line troops violently attacked the Chinese officers and soldiers who went there for negotiation, thus triggering fierce physical conflicts and causing casualties. =DNA

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RIYADH, JUN 20 (DNA) – Saudi Arabia’s holy city of Makkah is set to reopen 1,560 mosques on Sunday under strict safety measures, nearly three months after they were closed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs in Makkah said on Friday it has prepared all mosques to reopen and provided full precautionary measures such as ensuring that prayer rugs are used only once and worshippers remain a safe distance from each other.

The ministry said volunteers had placed “spacing stickers” in mosques to guide worshippers to maintain distance when praying. The volunteers will also inform worshippers of safety measures when they enter the mosques.

Information posters have been placed inside and outside the mosques as well. The health ministry has been expanding its social media campaign to promote social distancing as a kingdom-wide restriction on movement is due to be lifted on Sunday.

Daily confirmed cases in Saudi Arabia exceeded 4,000 for the sixth straight day on Friday, with the health ministry announcing 4,301 new cases in the previous 24 hours and 45 deaths.

The latest data brings the official infections tally to 150,292 with 1,184 deaths. Other GCC states also announced the easing of restrictions. Kuwait said it plans to reduce curfew hours from 7pm to 5am starting from Sunday.

The original curfew was set from 6pm to 6am. Government spokesman Tareq Al Merzem said the move is part of the plan to gradually “restore normality.”

Mr Al Merzem said employees in the public sector are still banned from returning to office due to the rise of coronavirus cases among local citizens. The lifting of the office ban will depend on the assessment of the health ministry, he said.

Citizens requiring treatment for critical health conditions will be allowed to travel at their own expense, Mr Al Merzem said. Students studying abroad can also leave the country to sit examinations, he said.

Kuwait recorded 604 new infected cases on Friday, bringing the total number to 38,678. Since the outbreak of the virus earlier this year, Kuwait has recorded 313 fatalities.

In Oman, the health ministry reported 852 new cases of the virus on Friday, raising the total number of infections to 27,670. The newly diagnosed cases include 368 Omanis and 484 foreign residents.

Six more fatalities were reported during the previous 24 hours, taking the death toll to 125. More than 700 patients recovered in the same period, bringing the total number of recoveries to 13,974. =DNA

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