DNA

ISLAMABAD: The submission of documents related to intra-party elections by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has seemingly not satisfied the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) as the top electoral authority raised several queries over the current “status” of the former ruling party after losing “its organisational structure on lapsing of 5 years.”

A two-page questionnaire was sent to the Imran-founded party by the election watchdog after the former submitted documents related to its intra-party elections in a bid to address objections.

The ECP questioned the current “status” of the PTI as a political party besides questioning why not to start the delisting process of the former ruling party’s registration and imposing a fine for not holding timely intra-party elections.

The commission’s first question read that the “PTI did not hold intra-party elections within 5 years, in the departure of Section 208(1). Hence, it lost its organisational structure on lapsing of 5 years. What is the status of PTI now in this perspective, as a political party?”

It also questioned the legality of the party’s chief organiser and federal election commissioner appointed by its General Body, while the PTI’s constitution defines appointments on the former position via its National Council on recommendations of the Chief Executive Committee (CEC).

According to the ECP, a political party would be registered in accordance with the old law under the Election Act if it submits certificates within a week after intra-party polls, besides complete records of elected office-bearers, poll data and results. Moreover, it also requires to submit relevant documents in 60 days under the Election Act.

ISLAMABAD, MAY 13 /DNA/ – Malik Imran Ahmed, country head of The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK) has urged the government to address the pressing issue of massive tobacco consumption among youth by raising tobacco taxes up to 70 percent of the retail price – a bench mark set by the World Health Organization (WHO). 

The proposal comes as government contemplates options to increase revenue collection in the next budget ahead of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a long-term bailout program.

Pakistan has two-tiered system of Federal Excise Duty (FED) on cigarettes. The country made significant strides and increased the FED on cigarettes in 2022-23. The current FED share in retail prices is 48 percent and 68 percent respectively for low and high tiers.

“It is high time to build on the gains and cut the number of smokers,” said Malik Imran Ahmed.

He said that more than 60 percent population of the country comprises youth and it was imperative for the government protect them from the ills of tobacco use.

The data shows that some 19.1% percent of adults (age 15 and above) currently use tobacco in any form. The tobacco users include 31.8 percent men and 5.8 percent women.

Ahmed proposed 37 percent increase in tobacco taxes keeping in view market dynamics, gains of previous tax adjustments and IMF’s recommendation of taxing non-essential items including cigarettes.

Revenue collection from July 2023 to January 2024 has reached Rs 122 billion and figure expected to surpass Rs 200 billion by year-end. Beyond revenue generation, it helped recouping 17.8% of total healthcare costs associated with smoking-related illnesses in Pakistan.

Tobacco consumption is responsible for approximately 160,000 deaths annually, accounting for a considerable 1.4% of the country’s GDP in healthcare expenses each year.

“The industry has the potential to absorb this increase,” he added.

He referred to the surveys and studies including the one by Interantioanl Monetary Fund (IMF) which said that cigarette consumption in Pakistan had reduced by at least 20 percent after the prices were increased.

Earlier, the Social Policy Development Centre (SPDC) had also advocated the increase saying it can save 265,000 lives, generate an additional revenue of Rs 37.7 billion and push 757,000 people to quit smoking.

ISLAMABAD, 13 May /DNA/ – President Asif Ali Zardari has underlined the need to promote business and trade ties with Bosnia and Herzegovina by opening banks, trading in local currencies, and promoting barter trade between the two countries.

The President expressed these views while talking to the Ambassador of Bosnia & Herzegovina (B&H), Mr Emin Cohodarevic, who called on him, at Aiwan-e-Sadr, today.

Welcoming the Ambassador, the President said that Pakistan’s ties with Bosnia & Herzegovina were based on historic and friendly relations spanning over almost three decades. He added that both countries should continue bilateral engagements and interactions to further explore the avenues of cooperation in the areas of mutual interest.

The Ambassador said that his country wanted to deepen ties with Pakistan in the fields of economy, security, and culture. He highlighted that there was a vast scope for economic cooperation for Pakistani businesses in different industries in Bosnia & Herzegovina, including food, tourism, and textile.

The Ambassador expressed his gratitude to the Government and people of Pakistan for their support to Bosnia & Herzegovina during the war in the 1990s. He also solicited Pakistan’s support for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s draft resolution on Srebrenica in the United Nations General Assembly.

The President said that Pakistan would favourably examine Bosnia’s request, adding that Pakistan stood in solidarity with the victims of the 1995 tragedy in Srebrenica.

The Ambassador also extended the invitation to the President to visit Bosnia & Herzegovina to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries.

Mahnoor Ansar

ISLAMABAD: The UK Climate Finance Accelerator Pakistan (CFA) is inviting applications from low-carbon projects helping to combat climate change. Funded by the UK Government, the CFA provides one-on-one specialist support including on financial, gender equality and social inclusion issues. The aim is to strengthen proposals, making them more attractive to investors to secure funding.

CFA Pakistan is looking for projects that are in at least the pre-feasibility stage and require a minimum of $4 million USD investment. Proposals must be submitted by 31 May 2024 by completing an online application on the CFA Pakistan website. Support for projects includes improving financial models, advice on pitching to investors, and how to embed gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) within their business.

British High Commissioner, Jane Marriott CMG OBE, said:

“Pakistan is home to world class innovators finding creative solutions to tackle climate change. But we know that access to finance and compliance with regulation can be a barrier to getting projects off the ground. The UK Climate Finance Accelerator empowers low-carbon innovators through specialised expertise that is crucial for their long-term business success.”

The Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA) is a £12 million technical assistance programme funded by the UK Government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. The UK government has announced up to £40 million to extend the CFA programme from late 2024 until 2029. This will support up to 800 low carbon projects in up to 16 countries across Asia, Latin America, and Africa.

CFA Pakistan has successfully completed two cohorts, providing support to:

• Daewoo, hoping to add 200 electric busses and 15,000 e-rickshaws into their fleet;
• National Foods, aiming for a sustainable greenhouse tomato farming locally to save import costs;
• Shams Power, who have ambition to implement 150MW of solar energy plants at multiple sites across Pakistan; and
• PACT Capital, wanting to increase forest cover on 10,000 hectares of land.

CFA has helped fifteen low-carbon projects that were aiming to raise at least $75 million. The global technical assistance programme is implemented in ten countries, including: Colombia, Egypt, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, South Africa, Türkiye, Uganda, and Vietnam.

RAWALPINDI, MAY 13 /DNA/ – GHQ Investiture ceremony was held at General Headquarters Rawalpindi. General Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), Chief of Army Staff (COAS) conferred military awards upon Army personnel for their acts of gallantry during operations and meritorious services rendered to the nation.

A large number of senior Army officers and families of awardees attended the ceremony. officers & soldiers were awarded medals including Sitara-I-Imtiaz (Military) and Tamgha-I- Basalat. Medals of Shuhada were received by their family members.

Paying rich tribute to Shuhada and Ghazis, COAS said that there is nothing more noble than laying one’s life for defence of motherland and the sacrifices of our martyrs strengthen our resolve to fight with utmost dedication and spirit of sacrifice.

COAS also lauded brave families of Shuhada for their high spirits and sacrifices rendered by them. COAS said that Shuhada and Ghazis are our national heroes and the nation owes its independence and security to the sacrifices of its valiant warriors. Our Shuhada are, indeed, the beacons of hope and resilience for the nation.

ISLAMABAD, MAY 13: Shehbaz Sharif has resigned as the PML-N president, sources said on Monday, two weeks after senior party leaders urged party supremo Nawaz Sharif to take up the party’s reins.

The new president would be elected in the party’s general council meeting on May 28.

Shehbaz was elected the PML-N president unopposed at a convention of the party’s General Council on March 13, 2018.

He preceded his brother Nawaz, who was removed as party president by the Supreme Court but was later rechristened as the party’s “leader for life”.

“I believe Nawaz Sharif is the only Pakistani politician and leader that can be called Jinnah’s political heir,” he told a roaring crowd chanting party slogans. “We are lucky to have been blessed with a Quaid [leader] like Nawaz Sharif.”

Last month, Rana Sanaullah, the adviser to the prime minister on political and public affairs, said that senior leaders of the party have urged PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif to take over the party’s presidency.

“We have hope and believe that his [Nawaz Sharif] passionate leadership will become more popular among the masses,” Sanaullah said at a press conference in Lahore on April 26, 2024.

When asked, he had said that a “quaid” position was created for Nawaz after he was “forcefully” removed from the party in 2017. He added that only Nawaz’s narrative would be followed whether it was about reconciliation or resistance.

In response to a question, he said that the designation of “quaid” was created in the party’s constitution for respect and the operational post was with the president.

“In the past, Shehbaz Sharif may not have taken any decision without his approval. We want to redress the humiliation of 2017.

BEIJING, MAY 13 (APP): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar  Monday met with Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Ambassador Zhang Ming here wherein he emphasised an effective collaboration among SCO member states to harness the region’s potential for sustained progress and prosperity.

The deputy prime minister is on a four-day visit to China to co-chair the Fifth Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue with Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi which would cover the full spectrum of Pakistan-China relations.

Senator Ishaq Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to the SCO Charter and the Organization’s fundamental ideals as enunciated in the ‘Shanghai Spirit.’

He expressed Pakistan’s strong commitment to advancing SCO’s security and development cooperation agenda.

The discussion also touched on Pakistan’s initiatives and contributions in its ongoing Chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of Government.

Ambassador Zhang conveyed his best wishes to the Government of Pakistan on assuming the Chair and reiterated SCO Secretariat’s continued support to Pakistan during its tenure as Chair of the Heads of Government of the Organization.

ISLAMABAD, MAY 13 /DNA/ – Park Ki Jun, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Pakistan, called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister House today.

The Korean Ambassador congratulated the Prime Minister on behalf of the Korean leadership upon his re-election. The Prime Minister thanked the Korean leadership for the warm message of greetings that he received and expressed the desire to work closely to further strengthen bilateral ties.

The Prime Minister said that Pakistan and Korea enjoy good relations, particularly in trade and investment. He said both countries had cooperated since the early 1960s for economic development and conveyed admiration for Korea’s remarkable transformation into a modern technologically advanced economy. He added that Pakistan was keen to learn from Korea’s experience of industrialization and SME sector growth as well as in the field of IT including artificial intelligence. The Prime Minister also offered to enhance export of skilled manpower from Pakistan to meet Korea’s human resource needs.

To promote mutually beneficial trade, he proposed the exchange of business delegations between Seoul and Islamabad. In this regard, the Prime Minister said that he would instruct relevant Cabinet Ministers to coordinate with the Korean side to discuss existing investments by Korean companies as well as to explore new opportunities.

The Prime Minister also extended an invitation to President Yoon Suk Yeol to undertake an official visit to Pakistan.

The Korean Ambassador thanked the Prime Minister for receiving him and conveyed the desire of the Korean government to enhance its bilateral cooperation with Pakistan in a number of areas of mutual interest, particularly trade, investment, IT, culture, tourism and people to people exchanges.