ISLAMABAD, MAY 28 / DNA / Prime Minister Imran Khan will be participating in a virtual High-Level Event on Financing for Development (FFD) in Era of COVID-19 and Beyond, today.
The High-Level Event is being hosted by the Prime Ministers of Canada and Jamaica and the UN Secretary General. A select number of Heads of State and Government have been invited to address the High-Level meeting.
Apart from Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Presidents of France, South Africa, Kazakhstan, the Prime Ministers of United Kingdom, Japan, Norway, Italy and Ireland, the German Chancellor and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, will address the High-Level Event. The debt vulnerability of developing countries will be one of the six interlinked financial issues to be discussed at the High-Level Event.
In April, Prime Minister Imran Khan had issued a call for a “Global Initiative on Debt Relief “to create fiscal space for developing countries to enable them to recover from the current crisis and revive sustainable economic growth. In response to his call, and under Pakistan’s leadership, a representative group of developing and developed countries, and major financial institutions, have commenced informal consultations on the sidelines of the United Nations to evolve agreement on some measures and practical actions to address the debt challenge of the developing countries.
In his address to the High-Level Event, the Prime Minister will share his vision on possible ways to address the debt issue and the enormous financial challenges facing developing countries.
The invitation extended to the Prime Minister reflects the recognition of his role as a sincere spokesman for the developing countries and the timeliness of his call for collective action to overcome the debt distress of so many developing countries. This recognition has enabled Pakistan to bring together a credible group of countries, including the largest economic powers, to address the debt issue.
The Prime Minister’s leading role in advancing solutions to the vital issues of debt, liquidity, investment and sustainable development will greatly enhance the prospects for Pakistan and other developing countries to secure the international support, solidarity and cooperation needed to ensure a rapid recovery from the most serious recession the world has faced since the Great Depression a century ago.
ISLAMABAD, MAY 28 (DNA) – Qasim coal-fired power station has generated a total of 3.5 billion kWh of energy in 2020, with the cumulative generating capacity exceeding 20 billion kWh, reports Gwadar Pro.
As a project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework, this achievement of Qasim power station could be a grand gift for the 69th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.
The annual generating capacity can meet the electricity demands of over four million households in Pakistan, according to PowerChina, an investor of the power station.
Qasim power station has played an important role in improving Pakistan’s energy structure and boosting its socioeconomic development.
In addition, Qasim power station also did well in fulfilling the corporate social responsibility especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, Qasim power station has taken strict anti-pandemic protection measures to ensure the power supply.
Besides taking good care of both its Chinese and Pakistani employees, Qasim power station has launched donations for National Disaster Management Authority to fight against the pandemic.
The power station’s work staff also provided masks, protective garment and other anti-epidemic materials to the police.=DNA
Tashkent, Uzbekistan, MAY 28 — On 27 May, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev got acquainted with the presentation of projects in the fields of tourism and the privatization of state assets.
The coronavirus pandemic negatively affected the tourism industry. According to the forecast of the World Tourism Organization, by the end of 2020, international tourist trips will be reduced by 89 percent, 74 million jobs will be reduced, and the total losses in the industry will amount to US$800 billion.
As you know, from 16 March, our country is closed to foreign and local tourists. As a result, more than 1.5 thousand tour operators and 1.2 thousand hotels have suspended their activities.
This seriously affected the income of more than 250 thousand people, including guides, artisans, workers of architectural monuments and spa facilities, catering facilities, transport and others.
To mitigate the effects of the pandemic, a number of preferences were also provided to the tourism industry. In particular, 1,750 entities were granted privileges on property tax, land and social taxes in the amount of about 60 billion soums. But these benefits and preferences are temporary. For continuous sustainable development, it is necessary to learn how to work in a pandemic.
In this regard, foreign experience has been studied. A system of sanitary and epidemiological safety for tourists “Uzbekistan. Safe travel guaranteed”.
The head of state reviewed the presentation of this project. Information is also provided on plans for the restoration and development of domestic tourism.
The President emphasized that for starters it is necessary to allow domestic tourism between regions with a green status. Instructions are given for organizing recreation centers in mountainous areas and on the coast of lakes using lightweight structures. Together with the khokims, the deployment of recreation centers will be determined, the relevant data will be posted on the electronic portal.
At the second stage, it is necessary to create a list of countries with a stable situation on coronavirus and gradually restore tourist relations with them, the meeting indicated.
– To resume tourism, first of all, there must be a clear answer to a number of fundamental questions. For example, how hotels will work, how will they receive tourists at the airport, how to organize their movement within the country? Defined rules should be simple and at the same time sufficient to prevent the disease. It is necessary to develop a system that does not require quarantine of the entire hotel due to one infection, said Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
Tourism entrepreneurs who have suffered losses due to the pandemic are unlikely to cover them in the next 1-2 years. In this regard, the President emphasized the need to provide additional benefits and preferences for this industry.
In particular, the previously granted exemption in the form of exemption from tourist fees will be extended until the end of the year. Also, enterprises of the industry, when calculating income tax, will be allowed to deduct losses incurred in 2020-2021 from the profits of subsequent years.
Hotels will be given subsidies in the amount of 10 percent of the cost of the services they provide. In addition, they will subsidize up to 10 percent of payments on loans allocated to working capital.
Competition is one of the most important conditions for economic development. It provides the quality of goods and services, provides consumers with the opportunity to choose. It is these goals that the measures taken today to reduce the state’s presence in the economy and the fight against monopolies are pursuing.
Specific measures in this direction are defined in the Strategy of Action for Five Priority Directions for the Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2017-2021 and the Decree of the President “On measures to radically improve the system of managing state assets, antitrust regulation and the capital market” from 14 January 2019.
Currently, there are 2,965 state-owned enterprises in the country. Most of them work inefficiently, using obsolete methods. More than half of these enterprises are not even able to pay dividends.
At a meeting held on 11 December 2019, the President was instructed to reform these enterprises on the basis of market principles, and to sell them to private investors. In accordance with this, a bulk inventory of such objects was carried out.
Since the beginning of this year, 299 state assets worth 348 billion soums have been sold. New investors invested a total of 3.3 trillion soums in these facilities and pledged to create 4.7 thousand new jobs.
In particular, the former Chorsu Hotel, the Samarkandkimyo enterprise, the state share in the Uzbekistan Hotel and the Kungrad Soda Plant were sold. 425 million dollars will be invested in these facilities; creation of 800 new jobs is envisaged.
During the presentation, information was presented on plans for the privatization of state assets, the identification and effective use of vacant space and land, the implementation of corporate governance in state enterprises.
The President emphasized the need to continue work in this direction, to accelerate the transfer of another 1.4 thousand state assets to private investors. The Cabinet of Ministers is instructed to approve the privatization program.
The State Assets Management Agency and industry leaders are tasked with liquidating 711 inefficient enterprises, reorganizing 262 enterprises, and transferring over 500 markets to the private sector. The importance of introducing a new management system and reforming enterprises that remain at the disposal of the state was emphasized.
ISLAMABAD (DNA)- .Pakistan has reached agreement with Tethyan Copper Company over its dispute of the lease of Rekodic mines by agreeing to pay half the amount that was originally awarded to company by The International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) of World Bank.
Sources claimed that the out of court negotiations with TCC continues for almost a year but this was kept out public view so that things could move smoothly.
The original award was for USD 6 billion that if forced to pay would have damaged Pakistan’s economy for many years to come.
The dispute between TCC and Pakistan started when in 2011 Pakistan refused to grant mining lease to TCC, citing various irregularities in the original award to BHP that later joined hands with Antofagasta to form TCC.
Our sources however claim that the payment schedule for the settled amount is quite stringent and Pakistan may have to pay USD 3 billion within a year. To further ease this pressure the negotiators from the government are trying to find a middle way with TCC.
the SCO countries show a high level of solidarity and cooperation; contacts are maintained on a regular basis at the highest levels; cooperation is also carried out through ministries and departments, between medical professionals, scientists and specialized experts
BEIJING (DNA) -SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov has said
all our countries are facing the threat of the Coronavirus pandemic, which has become a serious challenge for the entire world community, threatening the safety of life and health of people, as well as has had a negative impact on the socio-economic development of countries.
According to the report of the International Monetary Fund, the world economy will shrink by 6.3% by the end of this year.
According to the World Trade Organization, the decline in the volume of world trade this year could reach more than 30%.
He expressed these views while participating in a webinar ‘Digital solutions for entrepreneurs in the era of COVID-19: Key lessons from Alibaba’.
He further said, in this challenging environment, governments have to make difficult choices between protecting and strengthening of public health and rebuilding their economies.
In this context, the SCO countries show a high level of solidarity and cooperation; contacts are maintained on a regular basis at the highest levels; cooperation is also carried out through ministries and departments, between medical professionals, scientists and specialized experts.
The member States not only share their epidemiological and organizational experience, but also provide each other with financial, economic, food and humanitarian assistance. “I am confident that through joint efforts, the SCO countries will stand the test with dignity and overcome the situation with a stronger spirit|.
However in the midst of the epidemic, we are seeing a clear increase in demand for digital services everywhere. In many countries, for example, in China and other SCO member States, information and communication technologies have become more actively introduced into the spheres of health, trade, education and finance.
Thanks to innovative thinking and a visionary approach, the company has been able to quickly implement new technologies and modern solutions to prevent the spread of the virus, assist the public and protect medical personnel.
A special Fund of one billion yuan and an online platform for direct purchases of medicines on the global market, created by the company, allowed timely meeting the urgent demand in the regions most affected by the pandemic.
The Alibaba DAMO Academy has developed COVID-19 rapid diagnostic system using artificial intelligence.
Online consultations through the Alibaba Health app have helped millions of people, and the DingTalk program has enabled online learning in 140 thousand educational institutions for 120 million students.
In this time of Coronavirus pandemic, Mr. Jack Ma and Alibaba group provided humanitarian assistance to many countries around the world, including “SCO family”.
In the context of the pandemic, the Alibaba Group also actively encouraged small and medium-sized enterprises to switch to the company’s online platform at no cost and helped them not lose their business.
At the same time, the Alibaba Group has implemented a number of special measures to strengthen cross-border trade, making it easier for buyers and sellers to use digital infrastructure.
The company said that it will open resources of its Ali-Express, Lazada and Tmall World, which focus on overseas consumers to help small and medium-sized businesses expand their customer reach.
Thanks to the Alipay platform, since the beginning of the epidemic, more than one and a half million people have already got a job.
In particular, in the first few months of the epidemic alone Alipay launched 250 thousand mini-applications, providing 750 thousand jobs related to the development and management of mini-programs.
It is also worth mentioning that this company has created over 46 million jobs in recent years, and more than 110 million companies and entrepreneurs are involved in its platform. Alibaba Group plans to create 100 million more new jobs by 2036.
Under the leadership of the Vice President of Alibaba group, Mr. Brian Alan Wong, Alibaba Global Initiatives has issued a guide under the title: “Digital Solutions for Entrepreneurs in the COVID-19 Era: Key Lessons from Alibaba,” which is an important source to learn from the company’s experience in fighting the threat of the Coronavirus pandemic using digital technology, innovative solutions and mobile applications, and supporting small and medium businesses to withstand the crisis caused by COVID-19.
Small and medium-sized enterprises not only make significant contributions to the economy, but also create necessary jobs.
Therefore, it is necessary to support these enterprises to give them a chance of maintaining their business during the pandemic.
A sustainable private sector that is prepared in advance will ensure a faster recovery from the pandemic.
Thanks to the efforts of the SCO Youth Platform – SCOLAR Network, the handbook posted on the Alibaba Global Initiatives website was translated into Russian in the form of brochures and sent to all SCO countries.
These brochures in English and Russian will also be sent to all participants in the webinar.
Today Mr. Brian has kindly agreed to reveal the content of the enormous work that Alibaba groups have done in the context of the pandemic and will answer all questions from the participants of the webinar.
Dear participants of the webinar,
The pandemic has made it clear that digitalization and information and communications technology are essential for the continued functioning of the economy and society as a whole.
The modern world is on the verge of unprecedented, might say, revolutionary technological changes.
The second era of the digital revolution, connected with the synergy of artificial intelligence working on superfast 5G networks, big data, robotics, 3-D printing, the Internet of things, bio – and nanotechnology combines the digital economy with the real sphere of production.
The SCO region covering almost half of the world’s population is a huge market for implementing joint innovative projects in IT and digital economy.
The SCO Secretariat strives to work closely with the Alibaba Group and other companies in the field of digital economy to help young people in the SCO countries, whose total number exceeds 800 million, to make extensive use of information and communication technologies, to develop digital entrepreneurship and electronic commerce.
On August 26 last year in Chongqing, during our meeting at the international exhibition “SMART CHINA EXPO – 2019” the founder of Alibaba Group, Mr. Jack Ma, supported the idea of developing mutually beneficial cooperation between the SCO Secretariat and the company in this field.
On December 14, 2019 the SCO Secretariat in cooperation with the SCO Youth Platform SCOLAR Network, in partnership with the Innoway Technology Park and with the assistance of the Director of the Department for international cooperation of Alibaba group, Ms. Laura, held a conference entitled “Digital Economy and E-Commerce: Challenges and Opportunities in the SCO Region“, attended by over 200 young students of SCO countries studying in China.
On May 13 this year, with assistance of Ms. Li Ma, Vice President of Alibaba Group, Head of Alibaba Health Program, we jointly held an online training seminar for medical personnel of the SCO countries on countering the new coronavirus, which received a positive response.
Today, we organized a joint webinar to help businesspeople and the young generation of the SCO countries to take advantage of existing opportunities and unlock their great potential to develop their digital businesses, and to assist their countries in strengthening public health and economic recovery.
The young generation is the most progressive and advanced part of any society, creators of new ideas.
Unfortunately, today more than 1.5 billion young people all over the world are in isolation under quarantine, and such events should help to direct them in a creative and constructive direction.
We must make efforts to ensure that every young person around the world has access to modern information technology in order to participate fully in the new digital future that is now emerging.
In this regard, the Spring thunder 2020 initiative, announced by the Chairman of the Alibaba Group, Mr. Daniel Zhang, deserves special attention and support.
The initiative aims to globally deploy the commercial potential and technologies that Alibaba has used over the past twenty years to create digital infrastructure, new supply chains, stimulate new demand, and promote new trade to help entrepreneurs, small and medium-sized businesses win this “economic winter”.
The success history of the creators of Alibaba proves that neither a modest childhood, nor the lack of connections and start-up capital can become an obstacle to achieving goals.
The success story of the company, its values and ideals have inspired many young people around the world who rely on their own strength.
We are glad that more than 400 young people from the SCO countries, as well as the ASEAN, Africa, Europe and America, have confirmed their participation in the webinar.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the leadership of the SCO Youth and Business Council for active participation in this event.
I wish everyone success and hope that our cooperation will continue.
They also discussed the construction of railways linking Uzbekistan with ports in Pakistan and beyond, in particular, discussion of the feasibility of construction of railways along the Mazar-e-Sharif-Herat-Bahramcha and Mazar-e-Sharif-Kabul-Torkham took place
DNA
TASHKENT (DNA) -The text of the following statement was released by the governments of the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan on the occasion of the inaugural U.S. – Afghanistan – Uzbekistan Trilateral Meeting.
Representatives of the governments of the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan convened via video teleconference for the inaugural United States – Afghanistan – Uzbekistan Trilateral meeting. The meeting was co-chaired by American Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale, Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammed Haneef Atmar, and Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov.
Participants reaffirmed the importance of trilateral discussions to address mutual issues of concern including political, security, economic, and human development matters. To this end, participants:
Committed to greater cooperation among themselves, and called on countries of the region and the broader international community, to promote the Afghanistan peace process and to support the goal of a durable political settlement preserving the gains of the past 18 years to end the war in that country;
Welcomed the conclusion of the May 17 political agreement to form an inclusive Afghan government and to create a High Council for National Reconciliation, both of which should help move the peace process forward;
Affirmed the urgency of starting intra-Afghan negotiations to discuss a comprehensive ceasefire and a political roadmap for Afghanistan’s future;
Welcomed the historic Eid ceasefire and the decision by Afghan leadership this week to expedite the release of Taliban prisoners, including the more than 900 prisoners released since that decision was taken, and urged the continued release of prisoners by both the Afghan Government and the Taliban consistent with the U.S.-Taliban agreement of February 29;
Encouraged the continuation of the Eid ceasefire; noted the necessity of Afghanistan not returning to pre-ceasefire levels of violence; and noted the urgency of eliminating civilian casualties in order to create an environment conducive for peace and delivery of essential life-saving services to fight the COVID-19 pandemic; and
Took note of the U.S.-Afghanistan Joint Declaration and the U.S.-Taliban agreement of February 29 and affirmed Taliban and Islamic Republic of Afghanistan commitments to prevent any international terrorist groups or individuals, including al-Qa’ida and ISIS, from using Afghan soil; to this end, the sacrifices of the Afghan National Security Forces and its international partners are greatly appreciated.
Consistent with the needs of our citizens, participants further agreed that the COVID-19 pandemic underscores the need to: strengthen cooperation to respond to public health crises; maintain flows of essential goods and services across borders, including critical medical supplies and foodstuffs; and respond to economic shocks.
Through the trilateral format, the participants intend to deepen cooperation through the following priority areas:
Developing security cooperation and intensifying joint efforts to combat cross-border threats along the frontier between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, and to address issues such as terrorism, drug and precursor trafficking, smuggling, illegal migration, human trafficking, and wildlife trafficking throughout the region;
Improving rail connectivity, including increasing the volume of freight transit traffic between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan and beyond, with a view to the uninterrupted delivery of food, essential goods, medications, especially in the context of the coronavirus pandemic, and improving regional transit integration.
Promoting trade between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan by reviewing and improving legal frameworks, policy reforms, sharing of information, use of appropriate technology, risk management, investment in infrastructure and human resources and removing constraints and bottlenecks, including through the development of the Free Economic Zone at the Termez border crossing;
Discussing the construction of railways linking Uzbekistan with ports in Pakistan and beyond, in particular, discussion of the feasibility of construction of railways along the Mazar-e-Sharif-Herat-Bahramcha and Mazar-e-Sharif-Kabul-Torkham routes;
Mitigating the consequences of COVID-19 on food security;
Supporting regional energy projects such as CASA-1000 (the Central Asia South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade Project), Central Asia Regional Electricity Market (CAREM), multi-lateral development bank electricity transmission projects, the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) Pipeline, and the construction of the 500 kilovolt Surkhan-Puli-Khumri (Khoja-Alvan) power transmission line;
Expanding opportunities for people-to-people exchanges and joint training, including at the Afghan Training Center in Termez;
Increasing humanitarian engagement between our peoples, including through coordination to confront the current pandemic, future public health crises, and natural disasters;
Promoting women’s equality and economic empowerment so that women can serve as drivers of the response to and recovery from the impacts COVID-19; and
Establishing a working group to implement the decisions made under this trilateral.
The participants look forward to continuing and expanding these discussions in person, as soon as public health conditions permit.
KARACHI, MAY 27 (DNA) – The eleven-member investigation team of Airbus has visited radar centre of the Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, citing sources.
The visiting foreign experts reviewed the arrangements at the radar centre for the take-off and landing of aircraft. Moreover, the investigation team also inspected different equipment at the radar room besides witnessing the process of landing and take-off of the planes.
The Airbus team questioned on-duty air traffic controller during the visit, as well as visited control tower. Sources told media that the foreign investigation team reviewed regulations regarding the emergency landing call.
The French team and aircraft investigation team collected evidences from the crash site, however, further probe is underway.
Earlier in the day, the Airbus team which arrived in Karachi on Tuesday to assist the probe in recent air crash of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK-8303, paid a visit to the site of the plane crash again today.
A team of 11 French experts landed in Karachi on a special Airbus 338 yesterday morning and visited the location of the plane crash in Karachi. The Airbus experts today reached the plane crash location and expected to analyse the wreckage and collect samples with equipment.
The team will also get the assistance of drone cameras to inquire into the incident. The team of experts expected to focus on the search of the cockpit voice recorder of the aircraft which was not traced so far.
Except for two survivors, all 97 passengers and crew members of the aircraft that crashed into a residential area near Karachi airport were confirmed dead. However, no resident of the Model Colony’s Jinnah Garden, where the plane crashed, was among the deceased. =DNA
LAHORE, MAY 27 (DNA) – Pakistan Muslim league Nawaz (PML-N) spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb has blamed Prime Minister Imran Khan for giving subsidy despite the shortage of sugar in the country.
Marriyum Aurangzeb demanded that Prime Minister Imran Khan and Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar be produced before the Commission of Inquiry and its proceedings be shown live.
Responding to Shahzad Akbar s press conference, she said that the only purpose of the government is to put political opponents in jails. A circus is held daily in PID. People who demanded resignation on the sinking of a boat are missing after the plane crash, she added
Talking about the sugar Commission report, she said that the Prime Minister and Usman Buzdar are guilty in this case. It was Imran Khan who ratified the ECC decisions
She questioned why Imran Khan had not been summoned by the sugar commission, if Nawaz Sharif can be summoned as prime minister then why not Imran Khan?
Marriyum Aurangzeb said that Shahzad Akbar should also read the reply of Abdul Razak Dawood and Asad Umar in the report. Imran Khan and Usman Bazdar cannot be saved after sugar theft. She demanded explanation that why export of sugar was allowed? Why the commission did not call Khusro Bakhtiar? His brother was a minister in Punjab, she added.
She said that Shehbaz Sharif’s name is being associated with Salman Shehbaz s sugar mill even though Chaudhry Sugar Mill has been closed for the last two years and not a single rupee’s worth of sugar was exported from Salman Shahbaz s sugar mill. =DNA
ISLAMABAD, MAY 27 (DNA) – Pakistan Army has shot down an Indian spying quadcopter in Rakhchikri Sector along the Line of Control (LoC).
According to Director General ISPR Major General Babar Iftikhar, the quadcopter had intruded 650 meters on Pakistan’s side of the LoC. The statement said the Indian quadcopter committed airspace violation in Rakhchikri sector along the LoC.
“Pakistan Army troops shot down an Indian spying quadcopter in Rakhchikri Sector along LoC. The quadcopter had intruded 650 meters on Pakistan’s side of the LoC,” Major General Babar Iftikhar, Director General of the army’s media wing the Inter-Services Public Relations said in a brief statement.
It is the second time Pakistan army has shot down Indian spy quadcopter in less than two months. The Pakistan Army said on April 9 that it has shot down an Indian spying quadcopter in Sankh sector along the LoC after it committed airspace violation.
Pakistan and India had declared ceasefire along the LoC, the de facto border between both countries in the disputed Kashmir region and the working boundary in 2003. However, both sides routinely exchange fire and accuse each other of ceasefire violations.
Tension has been heightened after India lifted special status for the Indian-occupied Kashmir in August, 2019. In its reaction, Pakistan downgraded its diplomatic relations, suspended trade relations and train service with India. =DNA
