DNA

RAWALPINDI:  On 29 January 2024, Security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in North Waziristan District, on reported presence of terrorists.

During the conduct of operation, intense fire exchange took place between own troops and terrorists as a result of which Terrorist Naikman Ullah was sent to hell.

The killed terrorist remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities including target killing of innocent civilians. Weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from the killed terrorist.

Sanitization operation is being conducted to eliminate any other terrorist found in the area. Security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country.

ISLAMABAD, JAN 29 – Terming his party’s manifesto remedy for all the crises ahead of the nationwide polls, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has blamed ‘powerful lobbies and bureaucracy’ for the country’s long-standing problems.

Bilawal was interacting with students of the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST) Islamabad campus on Monday regarding his party’s manifesto “Chuno Nai Soch Ko (Choose new thinking)”.

Promising strict measures to end the control of elites and powerful lobbies, the PPP chairman reiterated his vow to provide relief to the underprivileged segments after abolishing all subsidies to the superior class of society.

The election campaigns of all political parties equipped with mollifying manifestos and promises are in full swing across the country ahead of the February 8 vote. PML-N and PPP are eyeing the premier’s office and desperately swaying voters to elect them to power.

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“Inflation, poverty, unemployment and climate change are key issues being faced by the country which needed to be addressed on a priority basis,” said the PPP chief, adding that the economic crisis posed a serious risk to Pakistan.

He said that he and economic experts prepared the party’s manifesto, promising a pro-public economic plan to cope with all crises and immediate relief to the masses.

“Elites, powerhouses and fertiliser industry get annual subsidies worth Rs1,500 billion in our country. We will end all subsidies to the elites and spend the funds to provide relief to the underprivileged segments.”

“We will abolish 17 ministries if voted to power. The country will definitely see economic stability if we invest in agriculture, communication and energy sectors.”

Elaborating on expected difficulties in implementing his plan, Bilawal admitted that “powerful lobbies create problems and a powerful reaction will come from the powerful sector after the abolishment of ministries.”

The politician explained his experience while being part of the previous Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government as a foreign minister. “I spent 18 months in the federal government and knew about the mentality of Islamabad’s bureaucracy.”

Blaming the bureaucrats for hindering the country’s progress, Bilawal said, “They don’t want to work nor do they want anyone else to do something.”

He believed that the nation would definitely support those rulers and their policies who provided them with 300 free electricity units and other facilities.

Bilawal said that the country was facing the severe consequences of the politics of division and hate. Advocating his point of view, the politician said that no one could implement any manifesto without changing the mindset.

He added that PPP could create green jobs for the nation and successfully address the longstanding national issues by providing relief to weak segments and flood affectees on top if elected to power.

After unveiling the manifesto, the Bilawal-led party will also launch the “Bhook Mitao Programme” which will ensure food security, by aiming to make nutritious food available at affordable prices, boost domestic production, subsidise local producers, and connect women with the market economy as active entrepreneurs.

The party had earlier announced the following 10-point agenda for the manifesto:

Double real income for wage earners — 8% increase every year
Free solar energy of 300 units for the poor; every district to have green energy parks
Education for all — rolling out projects for better education
Free health for all across Pakistan
Three million houses for flood affectees and the poor
Ghurbat Mitao: Expand BISP’s scope; introduce more welfare schemes
Khushhaal Kisaan: BISP-like programme for farmers and ‘Hari Card’
Enhanced support for labourers through Benazir Mazdoor Card
‘Youth Card’ for unemployed youth and ‘Youth Markaz’
‘Bhook Mitao Programme’

RAWALPINDI, JAN 29 /DNA/ – Opening ceremony of two weeks long Joint Exercise Al-BADAR-VIII was held at National Counter Terrorism Centre, Pabbi with participation of contingents from Pakistan Army and Bahrain National Guards.

Al-BADAR is a annual bilateral joint exercise in Counter Terrorism domain between Pakistan and Bahrain.

Director General Military Training was the Chief Guest of opening ceremony.

The exercise is aimed at nurturing of joint employment and interoperability besides, harnessing the historic military to military relations among the brotherly countries.

Both countries have displayed zeal and enthusiasm for benefiting from each others’ expertise / experience.

ISLAMABAD, JAN 29 /DNA/ – The Foreign Minister of Islamic Republic of Iran, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, called on Caretaker Prime Minister, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar in Islamabad today.

Underscoring the close relations between Pakistan and Iran, the Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further consolidate bilateral ties.

The Prime Minister also emphasized the need to address common challenges through collaborative and cooperative approaches, rooted in the respect for international law and the principles of the UN Charter, in particular, territorial integrity and sovereignty of both Pakistan and Iran.

The Prime Minister conveyed his warm sentiments for President Ebrahim Raisi and extended an invitation to President Raisi to visit Pakistan at his earliest convenience.

RAWALPINDI, JAN 29 /DNA/ – Foreign Minister of Iran, Amir Abdollahian called on General Syed Asim Munir, NI (M) COAS, at GHQ today.

Realizing the historical, religious and cultural ties that bind Pakistan and Iran, both sides emphasized on strengthening bilateral ties and fostering greater understanding of each other’s concerns.

COAS underscored the centrality of respecting the other state’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, calling it sacrosanct, inviolable and the most important cardinal of state-to-state relationship.

The two sides observed that terrorism was common threat that needed to be tackled through collaborative efforts, better coordination and intelligence sharing. COAS emphasized the need for sustained engagement and utilizing available communication channels to address security concerns. Both sides agreed to operationalize the mechanism of deployment of military liaison officers in each other’s country at an early date to improve coordination and efficiency of response against common threats.

 Both sides reaffirmed the resolve to remain closely engaged and not allow any spoilers to drive a wedge between the brotherly nations. Pakistan and Iran are fraternal neighbours and the destiny of both nations are intertwined. Both sides reiterated their commitment to peace, stability and prosperity in the border region which was identified as an indispensable requirement for the well-being of people living on both sides.

By Faisal Munir / DNA

Islamabad, Jan 29 /DNA/ – Petroleum Conference 2024 to take place at a local hotel in Islamabad, today, on Tuesday, 30th January 2024. This prestigious event brings together industry leaders, experts, and government stakeholders to highlight the industry challenges and discuss the latest trends and policy initiatives in the petroleum sector.

Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, will preside over the event as chief guest, with provincial chief ministers attending to represent their respective provinces. The conference will be attended by international delegates, government representatives, policymakers, regulators, and investors from the Energy & Petroleum (E&P) Sector.

The petroleum sector in Pakistan is facing a lack of desired level of investment due to multiple challenges causing a decline in indigenous production and an increase in energy import bill. Pakistan is heavily relaying on imports for meeting its energy needs. Around 85% of oil consumption is from imports while 25% of gas is also imported as LNG, which puts a heavy burden on the current account.

The Petroleum Conference 2024 will offer ample opportunities for networking and fostering connections among professionals, researchers, and decision-makers. Attendees will have the chance to engage with industry experts, explore potential partnerships, and stay updated on the latest industry developments.

This conference will build on the Ministry’s initiative of arranging two focused workshops involving all petroleum exploration and production companies of Pakistan. The workshops provided an important and direct platform to all stakeholders for meaningful interaction aimed at resolving issues and boosting investment in the industry. Through consultation with all the stakeholders, the Ministry had determined policy and regulatory changes, necessary for Pakistan’s E&P Sector.

The Petroleum Division of the Ministry of Energy plans to communicate policy initiatives with all pertinent stakeholders during this conference. The ministry shall also present recommendations and seek support to foster collaboration between all stakeholders, addressing critical issues and exploring opportunities for synergy.

Petroleum Conference 2024 promises to be a pivotal event for professionals seeking to stay informed, connect with peers, and contribute to the advancement of the petroleum sector.

DNA

ISLAMABAD, JAN 24: As part of their training under the 51^st Common Training Programme (CTP), a syndicate group of 20 probationary officers from the Civil Services Academy visited the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) for an interactive session.

Mr. Saeed Ahmad Nawaz, Member (Office of Fair Trade, MIU), CCP, presided over the session. While speaking on the occasion, he discussed the proactive measures undertaken by the CCP, including the establishment of a Market Intelligence Unit (MIU), to effectively implement the Competition Law.

The syndicate group was led by the faculty in charge, Mr. Rehmat Wali Khan, Deputy Director. The group members, who are currently researching the “Implications of Fifth Industrial Revolution (IR 5.0) on Public Sector Management in Pakistan,” asked multiple questions. While responding to the questions, Mr. Nawaz underscored the significant challenges and opportunities presented by the advent of the Fifth Industrial Revolution.

The syndicate group also benefited from a comprehensive presentation delivered by Mr. Shahzad Hussain, DG (Advocacy)/Registrar of CCP. The presentation explained the substantive provision of Competition Law dealing with Abuse of Dominance, Prohibited Agreements, Deceptive Marketing, and Mergers & Acquisitions. It also traced the historical trajectory of Competition Law, highlighting its pivotal role in fostering a competitive environment conducive to Pakistan’s economic progress.

Reflecting on the visit, the syndicate group members expressed gratitude to the CCP for the warm hospitality and offering invaluable perspectives on the challenges and opportunities posed by IR 5.0. They found the engagement beneficial for their research.

DNA

KARACHI, JAN 29: Austrian Ambassador to Pakistan and Afghanistan Andrea Wicke, joined by Hussain Islam, chairman of the Prime Minister’s Task Force in the Strategic Reforms Unit, and Johannes Brunner, commercial counsellor of the Austrian Embassy Commercial Section, visited the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) to engage with the Chamber’s leadership and gain insights into Pakistan’s economic landscape.

During the meeting, OICCI CE/Secretary General M Abdul Aleem provided a comprehensive briefing to the Austrian delegation on Pakistan’s business prospects, with a focus on attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), ideally reaching three percent of its GDP. Notably, the total capital investment by OICCI members from FY 2013 to FY 2022 amounted to $22.0 billion, while Pakistan’s net FDI stands at $19.9 billion. In the past year (Jan-Dec), Pakistan attracted $1,771 million in FDI, marking a 25% increase from 2022.

Austrian Ambassador Wicke shared her insights on how Pakistan is perceived globally in terms of investment, emphasizing a focus on regional trade, particularly the potential within South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). She stressed the importance of building a positive perception of Pakistan through engagement with foreign media to showcase the country’s overall beauty.

Both Andrea Wicke and Johannes Brunner expressed optimism, highlighting that OICCI’s engagement with potential Austrian foreign investment companies would play a crucial role in providing a neutral perspective on Pakistan’s on-ground economic situation. The visit underscores the growing interest of foreign entities in exploring and contributing to Pakistan’s economic development.

ISLAMABAD, JAN 29 /DNA/ – Meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Pakistan and Iran Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani today met with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, in Islamabad. Senior Officials from both sides were present in the meeting. Foreign Minister Abdollahian is on an official visit to Pakistan at the invitation of Foreign Minister Jilani. 

Underscoring the brotherly relations between Pakistan and Iran, Foreign Minister Jilani reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to deepen and broaden the existing wide-ranging cooperation with Iran.  The Foreign Minister underlined the imperative for collective and collaborative approaches to confront terrorism that posed a common challenge to both Pakistan and Iran.

He stressed that robust institutional mechanisms between the two countries on security cooperation should be fully leveraged. The two Foreign Ministers agreed to immediately appoint liaison officers in Turbat and Zahidan to further strengthen ongoing security and intelligence cooperation. 

Noting that security and development are intrinsically interlinked, the two Foreign Ministers agreed to expand initiatives for economic and development cooperation including through early operationalization of the joint border markets to uplift the socio-economic status of the people of both countries, especially those residing in the border regions. 

The two sides also decided to establish a Joint Coordination Mechanism at the level of Foreign Ministers to oversee and steer progress on common agenda for prosperity and development of the two peoples.  Regular high-level engagements provide a leadership driven impetus to the bilateral relations between Pakistan and Iran. In this backdrop, the Foreign Minister renewed invitation to honourable President of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi to undertake a visit to Pakistan.