Month: January 2019

Islamabad, January 09, 2019 (PPI-OT): In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (1) of Article 54 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the President has been pleased to summon the National Assembly to meet in the Parliament House, Islamabad on Monday, the 14th January, 2019 at 04:00 p.m, says a press release received from National Assembly Secretariat today.

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Islamabad, January 09, 2019 (PPI-OT): “Internationally cotton is now 30% of the total fiber consumption and manmade fiber and filament is now at 70%, while the situation domestically is quite opposite” said Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce, Textile, Industries and Production and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood. Advisor held two separate meetings today in Textile Division on improved utilization of manmade fiber and filament in the Textiles Value Chain. The meetings were attended by the Secretaries of Textile and Commerce Divisions and Chairman National Tariff Commission.

The meetings were also attended by the entire manmade chain starting from the producer to user from across Pakistan, especially Ibrahim Fiber, ICI Fiber, Rupali, Gatron, Lotte PTA plant, All Pakistan Textile Mills Association, All Pakistan Cotton Power loom Association, Pakistan Silk and Rayon Mills Association and Pakistan Yarn Merchant Association. The issues pertaining to the PTA-PSF-PFY were discussed including, tariff, regulatory duties, anti-dumping duties, additional custom duties, smuggling and how to simplify the temporary importation schemes for the purpose of exports.

The recommendations from the associations were also discussed and it was decided working level meeting would be held to devise mechanism to simplify the importation schemes for SMEs. The Advisor said that we would make raw material available for the industry and would also give a fair protection to the domestic industry to attract further investment. The filament manufactures group assured that in coming days they will invest $ 125 million to upgrade their existing capacity.

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Principal Information Officer,
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +92-51-9252323, +92-51-9252324
Fax: +92-51-9252325, +92-51-9252326
Email: piopid@gmail.com
Website: www.pid.gov.pk

Islamabad, January 09, 2019 (PPI-OT): Prime Minister’s Inspection Commission (PMIC) has initiated the inspections of various projects and departments of federal government. Various officers of Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform, Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) and Pakistan Sports Board briefed the PMIC on 7th, 8th and 9th January 2019 respectively. The Chairman Evacuee Trust Property Board will brief the Commission on 10th January 2019. The Chairman PMIC stressed upon the heads of officials leading the delegations to gear up the working functions and activities of their offices/projects to facilitate the general public and to ensure assure good governance in the country.

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Principal Information Officer,
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +92-51-9252323, +92-51-9252324
Fax: +92-51-9252325, +92-51-9252326
Email: piopid@gmail.com
Website: www.pid.gov.pk

Islamabad, January 09, 2019 (PPI-OT): Prime Minister Imran Khan today chaired a meeting to review progress on improving Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) in the country at Prime Minister’s Office today. The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Mr. Asad Umar, Advisor to PM on Commerce Mr. Abdul Razzak Dawood, Advisor to PM Dr. Ishrat Hussain, Chairman BOI Mr. Haroon Sharif, SAPM Mr. Iftikhar Durrani and senior Government officials. Chairman BOI briefed the Prime Minister about the progress on various indicators related to Ease of Doing Business (EoDB).

On the issue of number of tax payments, it was informed that the number of payments have been brought down from 47 to 21. Efforts were underway to introduce E-payments of social security contributions in Sindh and Punjab. Chairman BOI said that a new system of VAT refunds would be in place by 31st March which would significantly reduce time in obtaining VAT refund. The Chairman BOI informed that efforts were also being made to improve risk-management system to reduce number of physical audits.

About the ease of starting business, the Prime Minister was informed that integration of SECP with provincial portals and EOBI has been completed in Punjab however, efforts were being made to expedite launch of portal in Sindh. On ease in getting electricity, the Prime Minister was informed that significant progress has been made to facilitate provision of power and timely information to the businesses. Besides availability of required documents on web-site, full online application system was being rolled out and advance notifications were being ensured about change in tariff etc.

In the area of getting credit, it was informed that Registrar would be appointed by the end of this month and rules under Secured Transaction Act were being finalized by Ministry of Finance. Chairman BOI also briefed the meeting about steps being taken to facilitate trading across borders and reducing clearance time in imports and exports. He also identified various issues mostly related to Sindh province in integration of SECP and EOBI with provincial portal, end to end automation of construction permits and availability of complete electronic database of property registry.

The Prime Minister emphasized upon the need for greater focus towards addressing EoDB issues related to Sindh since Karachi was the financial hub of the country. Briefing the meeting about various positive developments with regards to investment facilitation, it was informed that MoU on industrial cooperation has been signed with China last month. MoU with Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is expected to be signed this month whereas Investment Framework MoU with UAE is expected in February 2019.

It was decided during the meeting regular EoDB meetings meeting would be chaired by the Prime Minister with participation of Chief Ministers and the provincial Chief Secretaries. It was also decided that dedicated EoDB offices would be set up at Federal and provincial level for the purpose of removing bottlenecks and facilitating investors in the smooth business operations.

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Principal Information Officer,
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +92-51-9252323, +92-51-9252324
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Website: www.pid.gov.pk

Islamabad, January 09, 2019 (PPI-OT): The meeting of Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) was held here on Wednesday. Finance Minister Asad Umar chaired the meeting. ECNEC had detailed discussion on matters pertaining to the project regarding Operation of Basic Education Community Schools (BECS) in the country. The Committee accorded approval for revised project with a total cost of Rs. 4058.158 million, clearing the previous liabilities and six months expenses of the current financial year up to December 2018.

This will be subject to verification of personnel and facilities by NADRA/Distt. Administration concerned. The Basic Education Community Schools project is based on non-formal basic education system where the community provides for the premises while expenses on teachers’ honorarium, utility bills, text books etc are met by the Federal Government.

For more information, contact:
Principal Information Officer,
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +92-51-9252323, +92-51-9252324
Fax: +92-51-9252325, +92-51-9252326
Email: piopid@gmail.com
Website: www.pid.gov.pk

Islamabad, January 09, 2019 (PPI-OT): Advisor to Prime Minister on Climate Change Mr. Malik Amin Aslam had a Meeting with the Regional Director International Union for Conservation of Nature Ms. Baan Marker Karaj, LUMS associate professors Dr. Naveed Arshad and Nauman and the representatives of Premier Energy. Malik Amin Aslam highlighted the various environmental protection projects of the ministry and remarked that owing to the unprecedented efforts of Pakistan in mitigating the climate change hazards and encouraging tree plantation; Pakistan will be awarded membership of Green Climate Finance next year and it will be a landmark achievement.

Malik Amin Aslam further added that Pakistan is the only country with increased Mangroves forest and the policy of Trophy Hunting has encouraged the private investors to establish a farm of endangered species. He further said that the government as well as private environmental protection agencies have setup a pollution and smog unit for monitoring the hazard of air pollution. Referring to the transboundary air pollution convention, Malik Amin Aslam stated that at international arena regional countries are entering into agreement to mitigate air pollution and ASEAN countries have recently signed “Haze Agreement” to minimize the hazard of trans boundary air pollution and we need such agreement among SAARC countries.

Malik Amin Aslam said that Pakistan has always been a staunch supporter of WHO Convention on air pollution and we will always be supporting such measure for the protection of environment. In order to rise the under water table, the ministry has the new project of “Recharge Pakistan “which will utilise the flood water for raising the under water table and that will be used for the domestic and agriculture purpose.

IUCN Regional Director suggested certain measure for rising the under water table of Quetta city that included ancient method of Kareez and instalment of water treatment unit Advisor to Prime Minister on Climate Change Mr. Malik Amin Aslam meeting with the Regional Director International Union for Conservation of Nature Ms. Baan Marker Karaj.

For more information, contact:
Principal Information Officer,
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +92-51-9252323, +92-51-9252324
Fax: +92-51-9252325, +92-51-9252326
Email: piopid@gmail.com
Website: www.pid.gov.pk