Category: Pakistan

Pakistan

Pakistan’s major political parties demand audit of Covid funds

Posted on by admin

ISLAMABAD: Expressing concerns over the reports coming from various parts of the country regarding shortage of Covid-19 vaccine, major opposition parties the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Sunday accused the government of committing a `criminal negligence` and called for audit of the coronavirus funds.

PML-N president and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif asked the government to stop playing with the lives of people and make arrangements for immediate supply of vaccines keeping in view the fact that the total population of Pakistan is 220 million.

`The government must change its shallow-minded approach of ordering a few million doses and working with the vaccine supplies given to Pakistan as charity. The una-vailability of the vaccine is another proof of the government`s criminal negligence and incompetence,` the PML-N president said in a statement on the day Pakistan received another consignment of over 1.5 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine from China.

Mr Sharif said the opposition had repeatedly warned that failure to ensure timely vaccination would not protect the lives of people from the deadly virus. The government, he said, was erring and delaying the supply of vaccines in the same way it had handled the supply of LNG which led to massive losses. But this time round it was a matter of life and death ofPakistanis,he stressed.

Mr Sharif alleged that the `opportunists in this corrupt government` who had already bagged billions of rupees in illegal profit in sugar and flour crises were now trying to seize this opportunity as well to make money at the cost of lives. `It is unfortunate that the government is showing the most serious display of criminal negligence in the matter of people`s lives.

Pakistan’s slots in 14 foreign universities still vacant

Posted on by admin

ISLAMABAD: All Pakistan chairs in 14 universities abroad have been vacant for years but the federal government`s education ministry has turned the selection process farce.

On the other hand, India has around 300 chairs and all are filled and playing an important role in image and relations building of their country.

Advertisements were published one after the other over the years only to postpone the selection process.

There are Pakistan chairs at universitiesin Germany, Egypt, Turkey, the United Kingdom and China. Sources said these chairs have been vacant for six to 11 years.

During the previous PML-N government, the chairs were advertised twice in 2015 and in 2017 but not a single appointment was made. However, when the PTI came to power in 2018, the education ministry decided to fill six of the chairs.

The PTI government advertised the posts but then halted the process. In September last year, another advertisement was published to fill the four chairs set up in universities of Iran, UK, Germany and China. Interviews were held in March this year but since then there has beenno progress.

Prof Dr Saeed Shafgat, the founding director of Centre for Public Policy and Governance, who served at the Pakistan Centre at Colombia University from 2001 to 2005, said: `This is unfortunate that Pakistani chairs are lying vacant for years. These chairs should be filled with-out any further delay and competent scholars after competitive process should be appointed,` he said and added that these chairs were very essential for Pakistan for promoting academic linkage and country`s narrative

Pakistan, IMF fail to come closer, differences exist

Posted on by admin

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the IMF have so far failed to narrow down their differences, so both sides have decided to put completion of the sixth review under the $6 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) on hold for the next few months, it has been learnt.

Pakistan and the IMF authorities could not evolve a consensus on the staff-level agreement, so the completion of the sixth review under the EFF was put on hold till September 2021. The IMF Board was scheduled to take up approval of 6th review by July this year. But now it was decided that it would be completed by September if IMF staff showed satisfaction over implementation of conditions and agreed structural benchmarks, top official sources confirmed to media.

The inability of Islamabad to complete the sixth review of IMF program will have far-reaching consequences for the economy because two program loans having worth of $600 million meant for energy sector and bringing capital sector reforms from the Asian Development Program (ADB) would not be materialized in the absence of letter of comfort from the IMF. However, Pakistani authorities are confident that the much-awaited program loan of $800 million from the World Bank (WB) was on the cards as the WB’s Executive Board was scheduled to meet on June 30, 2021 in Washington, DC, for approving this loan after conceding that Pakistan’s macroeconomic framework was largely stable despite the fact that sixth review was still pending. However, there are two conditions still in pending mode so its disbursement would be linked to fulfillment of these major conditions. The government requires approval of the Council of Common Interest (CCI) in order to fulfill one condition.

Tarin says development package a game changer for common man

Posted on by admin

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Finance Shaukat Tarin on Sunday termed the development package a game changer for common man in shape of providing loans to farmers, job opportunities to unemployed youth, houses to low income people and Sehat Health Card.

“The development package announced in the budget 2021-22 would improve the lifestyle of masses,” he said in an interview with the state-run TV.

The minister said the government had earmarked hefty amount for development projects and social sector in the budget, adding that it was prioritising the agriculture sector to get maximum results in food production.

“The previous governments of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and PMLN had neglected the agriculture sector which was backbone of the country’s economy,” he added.

Shaukat Tarin said the loans would be given to small farmers on fertiliser and seeds to facilitate them in order to enhance their productions to compete with others in the field of agriculture.

The minister said the government achieved a sustainable economic growth due to its prudent policies as it had focused on exports, agriculture, services and housing sectors.

Shaukat Tarin said the government had allocated huge amount for climate change to cope with environmental challenges as per vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

To a question, he said the incumbent government was committed to restructure and revamp the national institutions to yield positive results

Vaccine shortage proves govt inefficient: Shehbaz

Posted on by admin

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) President and National Assembly Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif has expressed grave concern and alarm over the unavailability of COVID-19 vaccine in the country.

In a statement, issued here on Sunday, Shehbaz said the government should make arrangements for immediate supply of corona vaccine and should not play with the lives of people.

He said the government should chalk out plan by keeping in mind the population of Pakistan in this regard.

“The government must change its shallow-minded approach of ordering a few million doses and working with the vaccine supplies given to Pakistan as charity. The unavailability of the corona vaccine is another proof of the government’s criminal negligence and incompetence”, Shehbaz said.

He said the opposition has repeatedly warned that failure to ensure timely vaccinations will not protect the lives of the people from the deadly virus. The government is erring and delaying the supply of vaccines the same way it handled the supply of LNG which led to massive losses, but this time round it is a matter of life and death of Pakistanis, he stressed.

The opportunists, in this corrupt government that bagged billions in illegal profit in sugar and flour crisis, were trying to seize this opportunity as well to make money at the cost lives, he pointed out. It is unfortunate that the government is showing the most serious display of criminal negligence in the matter of people’s lives, he said.

LADIESFUND hosted the closing ceremony of the Pakistan International Film Festival

Posted on by admin

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) LADIESFUND hosted the closing ceremony of the Pakistan International Film Festival, featuring 14 LADIESFUND MasterChef home chefs. These up and coming talented home cooks each showcased their signature culinary creation. Guest of Honour Sindh Minister for Culture Sardar Shah and Chief Guest Sultana Siddiqui, alongside PIFF Festival Director Misbah Khalid, toured and sampled from each pink culinary station and personally presented shields to each LADIESFUND MasterChef. “LADIESFUND is doing a wonderful job to support these women and we thank them for hosting today,” stated Sultana Siddiqui. Sindh Minister for Culture Sardar Shah also praised the efforts as well as the taste of the food.

“LADIESFUND was proud to host the Closing Panel and Meet & Greet for the Pakistan Film Festival, where we curated and showcased the culinary specialities of 15 home chefs.” – Tara Uzra Dawood, President, Dawood Global Foundation – LADIESFUND.

LADIESFUND Home Chefs included Sumaira Waseem (Sam’s Cake Factory), Saima Abdul Qadar (Sam Bakes), Rabia Khurram (Cake n Bake), Umme Hani Rafi (PanPops), Mahreen Moton (Women’s Corner), Sumaira Imran (Baker’s Inn), Rabia Maqsood (Cups n Cakes by rm), Salma Khalid (Cakes ‘n’ Bakes by AK), Aymen Haq (Meethay), Kiran Yousuf (Kiran’s Cuisine), Sara Farhan (Tempting Delights), Hafsa Zaki (Warm Delights), Saadia Zafar (Saydyz), Sana Tahir (Oriental Cakes). Depilex by Nighat Misbah was Beauty Partner and Vital Tea was Tea Partner. Spotted among the crowd were Bushra Ansari, Atiqa Odho, Zeba Bakhtiar, Urwa Hocane, Ameena Saiyid, Taha Saleem, Mustafa Tariq, Khursheed Hyder, Aman Pir, Omayr Saiyid, among others.

Role of Humanitarian Organization in Uplifting Deprived societies

Posted on by admin

Islamabad (Muhammad Yasir) Humanitarian Organizations emerged in real numbers only after the Second World War, concurrent with the dismantling of former colonies. Many such organizations have evolved from anti-colonial independence movements and are now dedicated to the upliftment of the poor and implicitly recognize that government alone can never solve the problems of poverty in general and of destitute in particular. These organization came into existence after most developing nation failed to provide basic necessities of life to their population.

Apart from emergency relief operations, there are several approaches to poverty alleviation, helping those, that cannot help themselves, distribution of alms, food, clothing, shelter, dowry, healthcare, which is the traditional welfare approache.g. Edhi Welfare Trust, Fatimid Foundation, Yusaeid Foundation and thousands of smaller welfare organizations, support for self-help mobilization through government policies of providing productive assets (agricultural land, livestock etc., tools and implements), employment through large public works, through development support organizations, e.g. micro-credit (Grameen, OPP, Network Leasing, AKRSP), housing, drinking water and sanitation (OPP), micro and cooperative enterprise development (OPP, ECDI), healthcare & nutrition, education & vocational training, advocacy, legal aid and unionism (PILER, BLLF), and the organization of solidarity networks or risk insurance, to guarantee a minimum standard or cover against decline into destitution, with individual or group contribution according to wealth and income, e.g. committee system, neighborly help, community funds and service institutions, private, company and public insurance systems.

Mostly humanitarian organizations take up single cause to build their identity and uplift communities but only few national humanitarian Organization that are covering every aspect that is root-causes of poverty and provide sense of deprivation among communities. Beside leading foundation ,Yusaeid Foundation has emerged as prominent organization that is making its impact felt in improving Educations, creating Youth Employment opportunities in post COVID-19 scenario, Free Food to eliminate hunger, Wheelchairs for handicap and many more social welfare programs to create a better equal opportunity society beneficial for every individual.

YuSaeid foundation has endeavored to make a difference by providing highly transparent, extremely efficient, and eminently valuable charity services, both financially and in form of support provided to the underprivileged members of our society. The Managing Director of the foundation, Lt. Col Shahzad Ali Kiani passionately expresses the objectives of the foundation by saying, “Should the need be in any segment of the society, YuSaeid Foundation is ready to expand its wings to help those in need – may it be child labour or providing education, may it be eliminating hunger or raising awareness about unequal distribution of wealth, YuSaeid is there wherever the need be!”

Over the period, These Organizations role has been extended to the level where Government not only appreciate their efforts but partnered with them to support their noble cause to end poverty and deprivation from the society. Mushroom growth of the NGOs is the good sign and a realization among civic societies to bring parity in distributions of resources with less-privilege community.

TikToker Kashif Zameer remanded in police custody

Posted on by admin

LAHORE:A local court on Saturday handed over TikToker Kashif Zameer, involved in cheating Turkish actor Engin Altan Duzyatan, who rose to global fame for his role as Ertugrul inhit TV series “Dirilis:Ertugrul”, to CIA police on two days physical remand.
The CIA police produced the TikToker before Judicial Magistrate Rehman Elahi in Cantt courts.
The investigation officer stated before the court that the police had registered a case against the accused on a complaint of Turkish actor Engin Altan Duzyatan.
He submitted that the accused invited the Turkish actor to Pakistan but failed to pay him.
He submitted that the accused gave fake cheques of Rs 80 million to the Turkish actor.
He submitted that the Turkish actor did not complete his visit and left Pakistan.
He pleaded with the court to grant physical remand of the accused for investigations.
Subsequently, the court handed over the accused to CIA police on two days physical remand and directed for producing him on expiry of the remand term.
Meanwhile, in another fraud case, the court ordered to send the TikToker to jail on judicial remand.

World Music Day fest in full swing in Capital

Posted on by admin

ISLAMABAD- A three-day World Music Day 2021 festival was in full swing here Saturday at rooftop theater of National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage, Lok Virsa.
On second day of the festival today, Eecutive Director Lok Virsa Talha Ali Kushvaha and his band also performed at the event.

A dialogue on music was also arranged at the sideline of three day festival.
The music festival was aimed to entertain the youth and provide them an opportunity to enjoy their favorite musicians, Executive Director Lok Virsa Talha Ali told APP on Saturday.
He said the music festival is organized in collaboration with Hill Joint and Echo Records which will conclude tomorrow (Sunday).

World Refugee Day today

Posted on by admin

 

ISLAMABAD: World Refugee Day will be marked on Sunday (June 20) across the globe including Pakistan to honour the courage, strength and determination of women, men and children who are forced to flee their homeland under threat of persecution, conflict and violence. This year, theme of the day is “Together we heal, learn and shine”. The United Nations decided that June 20 would be celebrated as World Refugee Day from 2001 onwards. This day was designated by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to bring attention to the plight of approximately 14 million refugees around the world. People honor the spirit and courage of millions of refugees worldwide on World Refugee Day.