ISLAMABAD: Minister for Interior Sheikh Rashid Ahmed Thursday said that Pakistan was closely monitoring the situation after US exit from Afghanistan and would not allow for the use of its territory against anyone. Addressing the participants of Security Workshop of 12th Core, the minister said that policy of Pakistan was very much clear that Afghan people should decide about their future themselves. He said that stability and sovereign government in Afghanistan was in the interest of Pakistan and it does not want anarchy or civil war there. The peace in both countries was inter-linked and Pakistan has given clear policy that Afghan people should decide their fate themselves, he added. The interior minister said that other countries including China, Turkey, Russia and Iran were observing the regional situation while Pakistan was also closely monitoring the same. Responding to a question, the minister said that 85 percent fencing work at Pak-Afghan border has been completed. He said that the Interior Ministry was responsible for administrative affairs at Pak-Afghan border and Chaman as well as Torkham borders which were being equipped on modern lines. Sheikh Rashid said the report of special committee about Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) has been forwarded to federal cabinet which would further decide on it in its next meeting. Pakistan has ensured compliance on 26 out of 27 action plans of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), he said and hoped that the country would be on white list soon. The minister said the economy of Pakistan was on right track and GDP of the country would be further improved in the days to come.
Pakistan to never allow for use of its territory against anyone Sheikh Rashid
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday launched Pakistan’s first ever locally manufactured electric motorcycle.
Speaking at a ceremony in Islamabad, the prime minister said the launch of the electric motorcycle was a “futuristic step”, adding that his government’s new electric vehicle (EV) policy laid down a plan and defined a direction for the future.
The launch of the electric motorcycle is part of the present government’s five-year Pakistan Electric Vehicles Policy 2020-2025, approved last year. The policy envisages targeting a robust electric vehicle market having a 30 per cent and 90 per cent share in passenger vehicles and heavy-duty trucks by 2030 and 2040, respectively.
During his speech, the prime minister said the EV policy was part of the larger initiative of making the country clean and green.
“EVs, particularly electric motorcycles as they are used more, will have to be introduced in cities to curb pollution,” he said.
He added that “When you decide to keep your air, water and cities clean, you have to take initiatives like the 10 Billion Tsunami programme,” and lamented that Pakistan was one of the few countries with minimal tree cover.
The prime minister said another step that the government had taken to increase the tree cover was the setting up of national parks.
He said it was for the first time that measures Pakistan was taking to improve the environment were being acknowledged internationally.
“The world now recognises Pakistan as one of the few countries that are leading the campaign against global warming.”
The PM stressed the need for long-terming planning, terming it crucial for a country’s progress.
“Countries that have progressed thought about the future,” the premier said, giving the example of China.
The prime minister said if policies in a country kept on changing from election to election, the country would have no roadmap for the future.
“Policies have to be devised for the long term so that we leave a roadmap for future generations,” he emphasised.
The prime minister also announced that the government was preparing master plans for cities.
Particularly giving the example of Islamabad in this regard, he regretted that tree cover in the capital had reduced significantly over the years, which he said was due to a lack of planning.
“And so we are making master plans for cities, and some of these plans are due to complete in six months,” he said. “We will be focusing on water treatment, discharge of waste and installation of [waste] treatment plants [as part of the plans].”
With regards to Lahore and Peshawar, the premier recalled that the cities were once called the cities of gardens.
“But now pollution has increased to such an extent, especially in Lahore, that it poses threats to human life,” he said.
Similarly, in Karachi, sewage was being dumped into the sea, he said, again attributing these problems to the lack of long-term planning.
“We are working on long-term plans for these cities for the first time in Pakistan,” the prime minister said.
He added the government was also taking measures to ensure that the country did not face a current account deficit and to restore people’s confidence that the taxes they pay would not be squandered.
PM launches Pakistan’s first ever local electric bike
Earlier, Federal Industries Minister Khusro Bakhtiar addressed the ceremony, saying the government had announced the policy to boost automobile production in the country and giving incentives for the manufacture of EVs.
He said that the launching of electric motorbikes would introduce a new sector in the economy that would ultimately help pace up its growth rate.
The minister said the new policy would not only focus on auto development but auto exports as well.
PESHAWAR: Peshawarites expressed deep grief over the demise of their city’s most famous son, Dilip Kumar, who died in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Dilip, 98, was born as Yousaf Khan in Peshawar in 1922 and migrated to Mumbai in 1930 along with his family where he left his indelible imprints on Bollywood.
Dilip Kumar’s death was received with much heartache in the provincial capital and funeral prayers in absentia were offered for the departed soul at his ancestral home in Mohallah Khudadad area of the city, which has recently been acquired by provincial government to turn it into a museum.
In the evening, candles were lit in the method actor’s memory at his ancestral residence. The funeral prayers were attended by a large number of actor’s fans, relatives and residents of Peshawar.
Talking to journalists on this occasion, the late actor’s nephew Fawad Ishaq said that Dilip Kumar became identity of his native city. He said that his uncle not only ruled the world of cinema but also the hearts of his fans. “He was a true lover of humanity,” he added.
Mr Ishaq said that Dilip Kumar was consummate talker and well versed in different subjects. He said that his death was not only loss of Peshawar but the whole of subcontinent. He said that they also applied for Indian visa to go to Mumbai to offer their condolences.
He also thanked the provincial government for acquiring Dilip Kumar’s ancestral residence to turn it into a museum.
Shakeel Waheedullah Khan, a social activist who had been regularly celebrating the acting legend’s birthdays since 2009, told media that Dilip Kumar’s death was a huge loss for the provincial capital.
He said that he came into contact with the actor as part of people-to-people contact initiative to reduce tension between both countries and tried to solidify such contacts by engaging Peshawar’s origin Bollywood artists.
Mr Khan said that Dilip Kumar being a peace lover agreed to be a part of the initiative. He said that they used to celebrate his birthday every year since 2009 and either he or his close family members would attend the celebration through a live call.
He said when he met the actor in 2011, he expressed his desire that his ancestral residence should be turned into a museum or some cultural centre for the benefit of people. He said that the actor’s death was a great loss and someone like him would never be born again.
The provincial government spokesperson, Kamran Khan Bangash, in a video message expressed his sorrow over the demise of the actor. He said that Dilip Kumar was a Peshawari and had great love for his ancestral city.
He said that every citizen of Peshawar was sad over the death of acting legend. He said that government was going to set up an open museum in his ancestral residence to keep his memory alive.
Dilip demise: Peshawar grieved over son of its soil
PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakthunkhwa Finance Department here Thursday notified 50pc increase in the house rent allowance of all Provincial Government employees with effect from July 1, 2021. According to Finance Department KP notification, all employees from Grade-1 to 6 would get Rs 2,600 per month under head of washing, dress and integrated allowance collectively while Grade-7 to 16 employees who did not get any allowance, would take Rs 3,500 per month as special allowance. The employees of Elementary, Secondary and Higher Education Departments would get 20 per cent teaching allowance on their basic pay 2017 from July 1, 2021. Police Department’s employees, who were wearing uniform, will get 63 per cent increase under the head of Risk Allowance. Similarly 150% executive allowance would be provided on ongoing basis pay and the condition of scheduled post for this allowance has been abolished. Technical allowance would also be provided to mines and mineral engineers. Similarly, at least 50% increase has been made in the house rent’s allowance of all provincial government employees. Likewise, IT allowance equal to one basic pay would be provided to IT Officers serving in Grade-17 and above while health professional allowance of the paramedics and nurses have been increased from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000. The employees and departments that left from pay and allowances’ increase may contact with the Complaints Resolution Committee.
KP Finance Dept notifies increases in govt employees salaries, allowances
SUKKUR: A scandal of fake appointments of 705 primary school teachers in 2010 by the-then executive district education officer Deedar Hussain Jalbani has come to the fore, following a NAB query. The Director NAB, Sukkur, had written to the secretary schools education to provide details of a complaint of misuse of authority by the then EDO district Qamber-Shahdadkot Deedar Hussain Jalbani, who allegedly appointed 705 primary school teachers, besides illegally promoting 450 of them as higher school teachers. According to the complaint, Jalbani allegedly also released salary identification of around 400 primary school teachers. Acting on NAB’s communication, the secretary schools education Sindh asked Director Schools Larkana to furnish a report on the subject. Thereafter, the Sindh government suspended the director school education elementary, secondary and higher secondary Sukkur.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Thursday advised all provincial and federal authorities to remain on “Alert” as the active phase of Monsoon season has been predicted to prevail in the next week. The MET Office in its Monsoon Alert issued here informed that monsoon onset would likely to remain in active phase during next week. The Forecast alert issued mentioned that rain-wind and thundershowers were predicted in upper and central parts from weekend. The Met Office informed that strong monsoon currents were likely to penetrate northeastern parts of the country from weekend perpetrating the monsoon active phase. Rain-wind-thundershower (with few heavy falls at time) was expected in Kashmir, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Okara, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Sargodha, Mianwali, Khushab, Bhakkar and Layyah from Saturday (evening/night) till Wednesday. Rain-wind-thundershowers (with few heavy falls at time) was expected in Dir, Swat, Buner, Kohistan, Shangla, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Mardan, Swabi, Charsadda, Nowshera, Peshawar, Waziristan, Kurrum, Bannu, Kohat, Lakki Marwat, Tank, Karak and Dera Ismail Khan, Gilgit-Baltistan (Ghizer, Astore, Diamer, Skardu, Gilgit, Hunza Nagar, Ghanche and Kharmang) from Sunday (evening/night) till Wednesday. Rain/wind-thundershower (with isolated heavy falls) was also expected in Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Multan, Khanewal, Sahiwal, Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan, Sibbi, Kohlu, Loralai, Barkhan, Sukkar, Jaccobabad, Tharparker, Sanghar and Mirpurkhas from Monday (evening/night) till WednesdayIt warned that heavy rains might generate flash flooding and also trigger landslides in the vulnerable areas of Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhuwa from Monday to Wednesday (next week).
Met Office alert authorities ahead of Monsoon active spell
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday issued a written order regarding pre-arrest bail of former president Asif Ali Zardari in New York City Property inquiry. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Aamer Farooq issued the written order on the petition of former president. The court directed the former president Asif Zardari to cooperate with the investigation team of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) regarding the matter. The court also instructed Zardari to appear before the court on every hearing in his pre-arrest bail case. The court granted bail to the accused against surety bonds worth Rs 0.5 millions. The court also sought comments from NAB and adjourned the case till July 28.
Seeking cooperation, IHC issues written order in Zardari bail case
ISLAMABAD: A division bench of Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday restored President National Bank of Pakistan (NAB) Arif Usmani and Chairman Zubair Sumroo on their posts and suspended the decision of single member bench. A two-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Athar and Justice Aamer Farooq heard the miscellaneous appeals against the decision of single member bench regarding the above matter. Attorney General of Pakistan Khalid Javed adopted the stance that Arif Usmani and Zubair Sumroo had been affected by the decision of single member bench. There was no need of issuance of an advertisement for the appointment of president NBP, he said. The court served notices to the respondents with above instructions and adjourned hearing of the case.
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday rejected a plea of Nadeem Mandviwala, the brother of former Deputy Chairman Senate Saleem Mandviwala, seeking removal of his name from Exit Control List (ECL) in Kidney Hills reference. The court observed it was the authority of accountability court to take decision on such matter once the reference was filed with it. Justice Mohsin Akhter Kiyani of IHC announced the decision which was reserved on last hearing by the bench after listening arguments from the petitioner”s side. The court asked the petitioner to approach the trial court for removal of his name from the ECL.
IHC rejects Nadeem Mandviwala s plea for exit from ECL
LAHORE: An accountability court on Thursday adjourned hearing of assets beyond means, Ramzan Sugar Mills and Ashiana Iqbal Housing scheme references against Opposition Leader in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif and others till August 16.Shehbaz Sharif and other accused appeared before the court in three references while Hamza Shehbaz also attended the hearing of Ramzan Sugar Mills reference in which he was a nominated accused. Duty Judge Sheikh Sajjad Ahmad conducted the proceedings of the references as a regular trial judge had not been appointed after the transfer of the judges of accountability courts. It is pertinent to mention here that the Lahore High Court had granted bail to Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Shehbaz in the references. In the assets beyond means and money laundering reference, besides Shehbaz Sharif, Hamza Shehbaz, Javeria Ali, Fazl Dad Abbasi, Rashid Karamat, Muhammad Usman, Masroor Anwar, Nisar Ahmad, Shoaib Qamar, and Qasim Qayyum had been indicted in the case. However, Salman Shehbaz, Nusrat Shehbaz, Rabia Imran, Syed Muhammad Tahir Naqvi, Haroon Yousaf Zai and another could not be indicted due to their absence. In a reference, comprising 55 volumes, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had alleged that the Shehbaz Sharif family committed massive money laundering of Rs 7 billion. Yasir Mushtaq, Mushtaq Ahmad, Shahid Rafique and Aftab were made approvers in the reference. As per Ramzan Sugar Mills reference, the NAB has accused Shehbaz Sharif of misuse of authority in the case. Shahbaz Sharif, allegedly approved an amount of Rs210 million for the construction of the drain to benefit the mills. Hamza has been charged in the case for being the chief executive of the Ramzan Sugar Mills. In the Ashiana Housing case, the NAB had alleged that Shehbaz Sharif being the chief minister of Punjab misused his authority by unlawfully assuming powers of the Board of Directors of the PLDC. It said he in connivance with his co-suspects awarded a contract to an ineligible proxy firm that resulted in failure of Ashiana Housing Scheme causing a loss to public exchequer and deprived 61,000 applicants of houses.
References against Shehbaz: Court adjourns hearing till August 16
