NUT Desk- QUETTA: The Afghan transit trade, Nato supplies and trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan were restored on Sunday after four days of suspension. On Wednesday, tribesmen had blocked Quetta-Chaman Highway at Khojak Pass in protest against seizure of their non-duty paid 17 vehicles by personnel of the Frontier Corps in the Gulistan area of Qila Abdullah district. The tribesmen belonging to different tribes had put boulders and barricades at Khojak Pass which is the only route to reach Chaman. Qila Abdullah Deputy CommissionerTariq Javed Mengal held negotiations with the protesting tribesmen. `After many rounds of talks with the reconciliation committee headed by Deputy Commissioner Tariq Mengal, the tribesman agreed to open Khojak Pass for traffic,` official sources said. The FC personnel had seized the vehicles and detained their drivers during an operation against smuggling and non-customs paid vehicles. `The issue has been resolved and owners of vehicles have been asked to pay duty and other taxes for release of vehicles and goods,` Mr Mengal told Dawn. The road was opened and traffic was seen late in the night on Quetta-Chaman Highway, he added.
Category: Pakistan
Pakistan
Online platforms for investors launched in Pakistan
NUT Desk- ISLAMABAD: The Board of Investment (BoI) on Monday launched three platforms to provide local and foreign investors ease of online registration for zone enterprises as well as a comprehensive database of existing and potential investors that will promote business activities. The three platforms Pakistan Regulatory Modernization Initiative Strategy (PRMI), Special Economic Zone Management System (SEZMIS) and Investor Relationship Management System (IRMS) were launched by World Bank Country Director Najy Benhassine, British High Commissioner to Pakistan Christian Turner and Senior Private Sector Specialist IFC Charles Schneider respectively.
while Explaining the objectives of the platforms, BoI Secretary Fareena Mazhar said the aim was to go for gradual transition to a paperless environment that will reduce the compliance burden for businesses. Secretary General Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce & Industry Abdul Aleem and CEO Pakistan Business Council Ehsan Malik in their remarks expressed satisfaction with the government`s direction for acceleration of private sector growth through digitisation and reformation of the regulatory landscape.
`We have been working with BoI to design and implement investment strategies while modernising systems through revamped websites and digital portals,` said IFC Senior Country Manager for Pakistan Nadeem A Siddiqui.
Lowest Covid-19 positive cases recorded: NCOC
NUT Desk – ISLAMABAD: The country on Tuesday recorded the lowest number of positive cases reported in a day for the past two weeks of June; the national tally of total active COVID-19 cases was recorded 40,929 with 838 more people tested positive for the deadly virus and 1,576 people recovered from the disease during the last 24 hours.
Fifty-nine corona patients have died during past 24 hours, 56 of whom were under treatment in hospitals and three out of the hospitals in their respective quarantines or homes, according to the latest update issued by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC).
During the past 24 hours, most of the deaths have occurred in the Punjab followed by Sindh.
Out of the total 59 deaths occurred in the last 24 hours 17 of them had died who were under treatment on ventilators.
There were 2,611 Covid infected patients under treatment in critical care with 15 patients brought into various Covid dedicated healthcare facilities in past 24 hours.
The National Covid positivity ratio during past 24 hours was recorded 2.39 percent.
It may be mentioned here that the Covid positivity ratio was the percentage of actual positive cases appearing in every 100 tests performed to identify infected individuals.
The maximum ventilators were occupied in four major areas including Peshawar 20 percent, Lahore 24 percent, Bahawalpur 24 percent and Multan 40 percent.
Pakistanis may travel to Saudi Arabia after AstraZeneca jab
NUT Desk- ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan Tuesday said that Pakistanis travelling to Saudi Arabia can get the AstraZeneca vaccine after showing documents at the mass vaccination centres.
The country’s top health official shared that the government has decided to revise guidelines for AstraZeneca vaccines and will allow citizens who are 18 or older to get the jab which was earlier restricted to those aged over 40.
Protests had erupted across the country asking the government to allow the AstraZeneca vaccine.
The kingdom has only approved Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, while in Pakistan, Chinese vaccines are mostly being used.
The SAPM said that Pakistanis who are travelling to Saudi Arabia can get the Oxford vaccine after showing their documents, adding that the government is in talks with Saudi health officials to allow Chinese vaccines.
Earlier, in May, the Pakistani health authorities had restricted the use of Oxford for people under 40.“(On the recommendations of an expert committee), we have updated the interim guidelines (for the use of vaccine AZD1222) today. There are two key changes: Use among less than 40 years be restricted irrespective of gender (till the availability of further data). 2. Interval between doses fixed 12 weeks instead of range of 8-12 weeks mentioned in an earlier version,” Director General Health Pakistan Dr Rana Muhammad Safdar had told the English Newspaper.
He had maintained that both above changes will lead to operational ease and added that guidelines remain interim as new data from around the world keeps pouring.
Dutch ambassador visits FCEPL’s dairy plant
Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) The Ambassador of Kingdom of Netherlands to Pakistan, Mr. Wouter Plomp, visited FrieslandCampina Engro Pakistan Limited’s state of the art manufacturing facility in Sahiwal this week for a guided tour of the dairy plant and farms.
During the tour, Mr. Plomp was given a thorough briefing on the operations, from milk procurement, milk collection, and quality checks to supply chain and production. A tree plantation was also carried out along the dairy plant as the Dutch Ambassador’s contribution to the Billion Tree Tsunami Project.
Visiting the dairy farms, Mr. Plomp appreciated the role FCEPL’s Dairy Development Program has played towards the education and training of farmers on best dairy farm practices to improve the quality of milk and increase the yield per cow.
Expressing his views at the end of the visit, Mr. Plomp said, “Throughout this visit, what stood out to me the most, apart from the efficient security and quality controls taken by FCEPL, is the rich tradition of dairy in Pakistan. The dairy farms in Pakistan make me feel almost like home in the Netherlands as both countries share the same values when it comes to cows, milk, and dairy. I am thoroughly impressed with FCEPL’s initiative of empowering men and women farmers alike. The quality control measures being upheld in the collection, processing, and packaging of milk by FrieslandCampina Engro Pakistan also demonstrate world class standards and highlight the dairy sector’s progress in Pakistan.”
FrieslandCampina Engro Pakistan Limited is a Pakistani dairy company which is a subsidiary of Royal FrieslandCampina, a Dutch multinational dairy cooperative. Bringing 150 years of experience to the dairy landscape of Pakistan, FCEPL is committed to transforming the health and wellbeing of Pakistanis by ensuring the supply of safe and quality milk while also enhancing the livelihood of farmers. Headquartered in Karachi, the Company operates two processing plants in Sukkur and Sahiwal.
Lahore`s Temperature on its peak, 44.1 degrees Celsius
NUT (WEB DESK)
The temperature in Lahore remained high Wednesday as the city recorded a temperature of 44.1 degrees Celsius, but the real feel index put it at 43 degrees Celsius.
The Meteorological department has forecast the temperature in Lahore is likely to go up to 44 degrees Celsius today (Thursday). Dusty winds are likely in Lahore in the evening, the Met office said, adding that the wind speed in the evening could be 36km per hour.
A system of rains is likely to enter from tomorrow evening, the Meteorological department said, adding that this may reduce the heat intensity. Currently, the humidity in Lahore is 45%.
Citizens of Lahore have been advised to remain indoors and not leave their homes for any unnecessary reason.
‘I’ve no animosity with army’: Hamid Mir apologises over his outburst
NUT (WEB DESK)
Senior journalist says he did not want to hurt the sentiments of anyone
Prominent TV anchor and journalist Hamid Mir on Wednesday issued an apology for his controversial remarks against the Pakistan Army during his speech at a protest outside National Press Club (NPC), in Islamabad.
In a joint statement of the committee formed by Mir, Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ), NPC, the journalist said that protests outside the NPC on May 28 were against attacks on journalists.
“Disappointment was being shown as nothing was being done against the attacks on journalists which also included me,” Mir said in the written statement.
The veteran journalist said that during the demonstration, some journalists present gave strongly-worded statements. “I am fully aware of negative sentiment/narrative caused by my statements”.
“I want to say, without being under pressure of any kind and with full responsibility and consciousness, that I did not take anyone’s name during my speech nor do I have any animosity with the Pakistan Army.”
Mir added that he had closely witnessed the sacrifices rendered by the troops from Siachin to the Line of Control (LoC) and from FATA to Balochistan.
“I felt honour in covering them,” Mir said.
He further said that he did not want to hurt the sentiments of anyone and apologises “from the bottom of his heart” if he did so.
The journalist also urged the federal government to take action and stop the attacks on journalists and arrest the perpetrators who did so in the past and bring them to justice. Mir urged the government to pass a law in parliament for the protection of journalists as soon as possible.
Heat wave in the country has left everyone sick and nauseous
The heat wave in the country has left everyone sick and nauseous. Temperatures rise with every passing day, due to which at least 25 children were rushed to a hospital after they fainted during school timings due to the intense summer heat.
Students of a local school based in Islamabad passed out as a result of the sweltering heat and load shedding.
Moreover, according to reports, children also suffered from nose bleeding after which their instructors poured water on their faces and heads.
Due to the alarming and unfortunate incident, almost 200 children were sent home by the Federal Government due to the power outage in order to avoid any more health issues.
(NCOC) has decided to keep businesses off for only one day instead of two.
Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Previously, due to the third-wave of coronavirus, the government closed all businesses for two days. But now as things have eased, the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) has decided to keep businesses off for only one day instead of two.
The decision to choose a day has not been taken as of yet and will be decided by the provincial units themselves.
Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar chaired the meeting and the decision was taken in his presence. It was declared that vaccination was to be made compulsory for all government and private employees. All private employees must be vaccinated by the 30th of June, 2021 said the NCOC.
Attendance to be increased from 50% to 100% in all offices, decided the NCOC. In-door gyms will be opened as well, but all members have to be vaccinated.
Walk-in vaccination for the people who are 18+ will start from the 11 of June, 2021.
Webinar held to discuss role of technology in agri sector growth
Experts urge government to create special industrial zones in every farm district equipped with cold storages, food processing units
Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Pakistan Biotechnology Information Center (PABIC) Lahore Chapter in collaboration with CropLife Pakistan and Forman Christian College University Lahore organized a Webinar on “COVID-19, an opportunity to reform the Agricultural system of Pakistan.
The webinar has been attended by scientists, policymakers and representatives from leading biotech institutes, academia, crop science industry, farmers and other stakeholders.
Dr. Kauser Malik, Dean of Postgraduate studies FCCU and Director of PABIC Lahore, highlighted that Crop biotechnology has all the ways to make the agricultural sector of Pakistan to flourish. The government needs to focus on supporting small and marginalized farmers and promote small scale innovative technologies to promote growth in this sector. A lot of strategic planning is needed in streamlining the biotechnology products in the country.
“Government should play a leading role to ensure food security and control price. Introduce special industrial zones in every farm district, equipped with cold storages, food-processing units, connected with retail chains and export industries. Improving water management is key as the four major crops (rice, wheat, sugar cane and cotton) consume 80 per cent of water but contribute only 5 per cent to GDP. Improving the nexus of agriculture, education, training and research and technology is the need of the hour.” Dr. Kauser explained.
Prof. Dr. Iqbal Choudhary, the Coordinator General COMSTECH, said that during pandemic period the science has demonstrated the true spirit of researchers to find solutions under limited national capacity.
Dr. Sianghee Tan, Executive Director CropLife Asia also participated in the Webinar. He said that “The global pandemic has wreaked havoc on food supply systems in Pakistan and across Asia. Existing issues across the food value chain have been exposed and exacerbated by COVID-19, while new ones have been created as well. Our responsibility as stakeholders is to ensure the men and women who drive food security across the region are supported to do just that. This includes providing policies that enable and empower our farmers to produce more safe and nutritious food on less land and with fewer impacts to the world around us.”
At this occasion, Dr. Yusuf Zafar – Former Chairman PARC gave talk on wake-up call to modernize the grain storage and reporting systems in Pakistan. He said “The way forward is revisiting the procurement policies, incentivizing the private sector for grain storage and involving foreign investment to develop modern storage and handling system.” He further added that strong coordination between API, PBS, SUPRCO and Provincial CRS departments is crucial for the success of this sector.”
Representing CropLife Pakistan, Mr. Murtaza Quddusi, Regulatory Affairs Manager at BASF, briefed the participants on various disruptions to the agriculture supply chain due to COVID lockdowns across the country and rest of the world. Mr. Quddusi highlighted the potential of digital technologies for farmer outreach and knowledge dissemination activities, and shared the success of CropLife member companies in overcoming physical restrictions to serve the farmers through such innovative methods.