ISLAMABAD, June 19 (DNA): Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) and BF technologies on Friday jointly launched short-courses for youth, providing them income-generating opportunities for having a better life,

as well as to enable them to take part in the country’s socio-economic

development.

The launching ceremony held at the University’s main Campus, presided

over by the Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Zia Ul-Qayyum. The two sides held

threadbare discussion on development of these courses as per

international standard through the use of new technology.

Through these courses, the concept of knowledge-sharing and E-Commerce

Skill development will be promoted. The program will be implemented

through the Center for Social Reconstruction, AIOU.

Those who participated in the discussion included Prof. Dr. Shoab Ahmed

Khan from NUST, Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhry, Coordinator General

COMSTEC, Dr. Shahid Mahmud, Chairman Interactive Group, Dr. Ghazna

Siddiqui, Special adviser to UNHCR and Capt.(R) Bilal Hussain, Chief

Executive BF Technology.

As per the MoU signed by the two sides to this effect, the courses will

enable the youth to develop life-long E-commerce skills that promote

employment and assist in getting Pakistan’s economy back on tract on

post-COVID-19 period.

Under the concept of “Enabling GIG Economy from Home program”, the

courses will help the youth to generate income from home. It is hoped

that this program will contribute in eliminating poverty, generating

jobs and adopting technology skills as per the vision of the present

government.

While highlighting the significance of the proposed courses, Prof. Dr.

Zia Ul-Qayyum said that these courses are the part of the University’s

recent initiative and its consistent efforts of mobilizing community in

the country’s socio-economic development and providing institutional

support to the government for ensuring a better future for the new

generation.

The AIOU, he added is working for a viable mode of communication to

provide quality education to its around 1.4 million students across the

country. Emphasis is being laid on Online learning and distance

education with the quality assurance to meet the challenges, being faced

by the nation in wake of COVID-19 crisis, he added.DNA

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ISLAMABAD, JUNE 19 (DNA) – The Standing Committee on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs in its meeting held on Friday took up the Finance Bill 2020, containing the Annual Budget statement presented in the House on 12 June, 2020. Review of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 and Federal, Excise Provisions of Finance Bill, 2020 was completed.  Amendments recommended by the Committee in the Public Finance Management Act 2019 were carried out and shared with the Committee.

Chaired by Senator Farooq Hamid Naek, the meeting was attended by Senator Mohsin Aziz, Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, Senator Musadik Masood Malik, Senator Mian Muhammad Ateeq Sheikh, Senator Senator Talha Mehmood, Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq, and senior officers from the Ministry for Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs, Ministry of Commerce and Federal Board Revenue.

The Committee deliberated over Restriction on deduction of profit on debt payable to associated enterprises. Agreements for the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion were discussed as well.  Special concessions have been awarded to items that are essential during COVID 19 Pandemic.  The Committee appreciated the measures taken by the FBR to deal with vast consequences of the Pandemic.  Omission of collection of advance tax from dealers, commission agents and arhatis etc., by market committees was welcomed.  This is an important measure to promote agriculture in the country.  Advance tax on education related expenses has been omitted as well.  In an attempt to discourage the use of caffeinated drinks FED has been increased from 13 percent to 25 percent.  Imported cigarettes, cheroots, cigarillos, cigars of tobacco and tobacco substitutes have been subjected to FED at 100 percent.

The Committee strongly rejected the amendments to the Tax Payers Profile, Appeal to Appellate Tribunal, Offences and Penalties and Power to Enter and Search Premises.  Clauses related to Real Time Access to Information and Databases have been disapproved as well.

Peshawar : Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s tax free budget for Fiscal Year 2020-21 with a total outlay of nine hundred and twenty-three billion rupees was announced today.

Presenting the budget in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly in Peshawar on Friday afternoon, the Finance Minister Taimur Saleem Khan Jhagra said the province will receive about four hundred and five billion rupees from the federal divisible pool.

He said the province will receive one hundred and sixty-one billion rupees from Federal Government for development of merged tribal districts.

The Finance Minister said province will also get forty-eight point six billion rupees from the federal government for the war on terror.

He said fifty-eight point three billion rupees will be provided to province as net hydel profit while over twenty-four billion rupees as a royalty of oil and gas from federal government.

Taimur Saleem Jhagra said twenty-four billion rupees have been set aside for the expected expenditure linked to COVID-19.

He said the government has allocated one hundred and fifty-two billion rupees for the promotion of education while one hundred and twenty-four billion rupees for improvement in healthcare system.

Ten billion rupees will be spent on provision of Sehat Insaf Cards to all the population of the province.

Lahore , JUNE 19 (DNA) –  The Pakistan Industrial & Traders Associations Front chairman Mian Nauman Kabir has endorsed the recommendations of National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), directing the government to include hydropower projects in the scope of renewable energy, as the country cannot afford to rely on costly and anti-environment fossil fuels.

In a joint statement with the senior vice chairman Nasir Hameed and vice chairman Javed Iqbal, PIAF chairman emphasized the importance of dam development, stating that as much as 20 million acres of barren land can be brought under plough if the water is made available by developing water storages in the country. He said that with construction of dams, the country can strengthen its agriculture to attain food security and cope with the fast growing needs of water in domestic and industrial sectors besides injecting sizeable low-cost hydroelectricity into the national grid to stabilize the national economy

According to reports, the NEPRA has written letters to Private Power & Infrastructure Board (PPIB), National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) and Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB), asking them to implement the directives of the regulator. According to Nepra, it has been observed that hydropower is not being considered under the scope of renewable energy which is contrary to the definition and standards used worldwide.

The regulator maintained that hydropower is the most advanced and mature renewable energy technology and provides some level of electricity generation in more than 160 countries worldwide including Australia, Norway, Brazil, Canada, Vietnam, Sweden, United States and China etc. Moreover, hydropower is an attractive renewable option given the low-cost of electricity it produces, low greenhouse gas emissions and the flexibility it provide to the grid.

PIAF chairman, commenting on the factors behind the current scenario of water and hydropower sectors in the country, observed that the situation can be improved by putting a robust development mechanism in place and exercising prompt decision making. All stakeholders including the business community are ready to play their due role to implement the National Water Policy for water, food and energy security of the country, he said.

PIAF senior vice chairman Nasir Hameed said that Kalabagh dam should not have been ignored in the federal budget at any cost, as water scarcity is heading towards the point of no return. Those opposing the Kalabagh Dam are unaware of the ground realities,” he said and added how can a mega water project be harmful for an agrarian country?

Nasir Hameed said that one million acre feet of water gives benefit valued at $2 billion annually to the economy, while Pakistan is throwing away 35 million acre feet of water by delaying construction of the dam. This means that we are wasting $70 billion a year, which is almost equal to the country’s external debt, he added.

PIAF vice chairman Javed Siddiqi said that PIAF fully supports the voice of NEPRA, advising the public sector organizations to consider adding hydropower in the scope and definition of renewable energy in various energy policies, rules and regulations. He asked the PPIB, NTDC and AEDB to make necessary amendment in all relevant documents and include hydropower projects in the scope of upcoming policies to promote hydropower electricity in the country.

ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Zafar Mirza said on Friday the government has brought in an integrated complaint management system to address complaints of healthcare workers battling Covid-19.

Speaking at a press conference, he said healthcare professionals could call at 1166 or message through WhatsApp at 00923001111166 to have their grievance redressed. He said healthcare workers’ complaints will be addressed on a priority basis.

The special assistant said when a complaint will be received from a health worker on the helpline, its category will be determined, and then it will be forwarded to the government’s focal points in the respective province. The complainant would also be informed about the status of their complaint, he added.

Dr Mirza said welfare of healthcare workers on the frontline of the government’s fight against Covid-19 is a top priority of the government. He said a comprehensive package has already been announced for them.

Earlier, on June 4, Prime Minister Imran Khan had lauded the services of doctors and paramedics at the forefront of the country’s fight against the novel coronavirus.

Speaking to a delegation of Insaf Doctors Forum at the PM Office, he had said the entire nation pays tribute to health professionals struggling to turn the tide against the pathogen that has so far infected more than 150,000 people and killed over 3,000.