October 21, 2020 – Page 5 – PPI News Agency

October 21, 2020

President asked management of National School of Public Policy to start online short courses for Government officers

Islamabad, October 21, 2020 (PPI-OT):President Dr Arif Alvi has asked the management of National School of Public Policy (NSPP) to start online short courses for the Government officers to strengthen their capacity and to enhance their understanding about various issues. He underscored that training programs needed to be aligned with the best international practices of public policy to make the government officers publicly-responsive and highly-motivated to manage the challenges being faced by Pakistan. He made these remarks while chairing the 17th meeting of the Board of Governors (BoG) of NSPP, at Aiwan-e-Sadr, today.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Human Rights, Dr Shireen Mazari, Secretary Establishment, Dr Ijaz Munir, Rector NSPP, Mr Azmat Ali Ranjha, Dr Faisal Bari, Ms Arifa Subohi and other members of the BoG. Rector NSPP, Mr Azmat Ali Ranjha briefed the chair about the role of NSPP in imparting training to government officers. He highlighted the steps taken by NSPP for offering online courses during the Covid-19 pandemic.

He informed that NSPP, as a first step, had split the duration of Mid-Career Management Course (MCMC) into two parts i.e. 10 weeks at NSPP and 4 weeks of domain-specific technical training at the respective specialized training institutes. The BoG constituted a Search Committee with the mandate to prepare customized criteria and draft terms and conditions for selection of the Deans. The Board ratified the decisions taken by the Executive Committee of the BoG concerning the promotion cases of BS-17 officers of NSPP and its units. The President expressed satisfaction over the role of NSPP that responded well during the Covid-19 pandemic by completing ongoing training courses through online classes.

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October 21, 2020

Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Sultanate of Oman Sign MoU in the Field of Military Cooperation

Islamabad, October 21, 2020 (PPI-OT):The Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Sultanate of Oman signed an MoU in the field of “Military Cooperation’ between the two friendly countries at the premises of the Ministry of Defence Complex, Muscat on 20 October 2020. HE K. K. Ahsan Wagan the Ambassador, Islamic Republic Pakistan and HE Muhammad bin Nasir bin Muhammad Alrasbithe Secretary General, Ministry of Defence, Oman signed the MoU.

The aforesaid MoU aims to frame the aspects of military cooperation between the Sultanate of Oman and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in a way that enhances the existing cooperation and serves the common interests of the two friendly countries. This MoU will surely contribute towards further strengthening Pak-Oman bilateral diplomatic relations in general and military cooperation in particular.

October 21, 2020

Privatisation Commission Board Reviewed The Auction Result of Govt Owned Properties

Islamabad, October 21, 2020 (PPI-OT):Federal Minister for Privatization Mohammedmian Soomro chaired the Privatization Commission (PC) Board meeting today in Islamabad. Privatization board members and senior officials of the Ministry attended the meeting. In the meeting the auction results of federal government owned properties were discussed. The government owned 26 properties were specified for the open public auction and the process started on September 7th and culminated on 28th September 2020. Out of 26 properties 23 were successfully auctioned with 1.113 billion PKR auction proceeds against the 1.011billion reserved price. The Meeting started with the approval of the minutes of the previous board meeting and the discussion regarding the auction of properties ensued.

Privatisation Commission Board unanimously approved the bidders’ price for the auctioned properties. Moreover for the matter regarding the future status of three unsold properties, (Republic Motors Lahore, Commerce Division’s land in Multan and land in Rahimyar Khan owned by Aviation Division) would be placed before the Cabinet Committee on Privatisation for delisting or otherwise. It is pertinent to mention that the in recent IMC meeting the representative of the Ministry of Industries Production proposed that the RML be delisted owing to the litigation involved as the 35% of the property is owned by private owners and eviction of 51 tenants would require a considerable length of time.

It is therefore suggested by the PC Board members that the decision relating to its status be decided by the CCOP. The last item was about the Wapda Rest House, KPK. The auction had to be postponed as the provincial government requested to allot/ handover the property, hence the Privatisation Board members recommended that the subject property be delisted from the privatisation list and the proposal be placed before CCOP.

The meeting of CCOP is likely to take place on Friday 23rd October. Federal Minister and Chairman Privatisation Board, Mohammedmian Soomro reiterated that we are cognizant of all the rules and regulations and hence moving ahead steadily by consulting all relevant forums and are undertaking every transaction/ auction in transparent manner.

October 21, 2020

US Charge D Affaires Calls on Federal Minister for IT Syed Amin Ul Haque

Islamabad, October 21, 2020 (PPI-OT):US Charge d Affaires Ms. Angela Aggeler called on Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Syed Amin Ul Haque here on Wednesday. The Federal Minister for IT welcomed the US Charge d Affaires in his office and during meeting matters related to Information Technology and Telecommunication, and digitalization were discussed. Federal Secretary Ministry of IT Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui and senior officers of the Ministry were also present in the meeting.

Talking to US Charge d Affaires, Federal Minister for IT Syed Amin Ul Haque said that the environment for foreign investment in Pakistan is conducive. He said that under Prime Minister’s vision of Digital Pakistan, Ministry of IT is committed for provision of broadband services across the country. Through Ministry of IT’s attached department Universal Service Fund (USF) steps are being taken for the provision of broadband services both in underserved and unserved areas of the country, he added. He said that Ministry of IT is also acting upon the policy of women empowerment. He said that direction has been given to increase the ratio of women from 20 percent to 50 percent in all the programs of the Ministry of IT.

He said that the IT sector of Pakistan is rapidly growing and IT exports also increased. The Federal Minister for IT also apprised the US Charge d Affaires about National Incubation Centers and regarding developing of IT Parks in the country. Earlier, Secretary IT briefed the US Charge d Affaires about Ministry of IT’s projects.

October 21, 2020

Sources of increase in External Debt and Liabilities During 24-Month Period from 30 June 2018 to 30 June 20

Islamabad, October 21, 2020 (PPI-OT):This is with reference to a news item published in a section of press regarding the increase in external debt and liabilities of the country during the past two years. The figure of increase in External Debt and Liabilities by $ 17billion reported by SBP needs to be properly interpreted for a better understanding. The figure of External Debt and Liabilities consists of the following four components: 1. External Public Debt 2. Public Sector Entities’ (PSE) Debt 3. Foreign Exchange Liabilities of State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) 4. Private Sector’s External Debt Out of the total increase of $ 17.6 billion in External Debt and Liabilities during Jun 2018 -Jun 2020: $7.8billion (44% of the increase) has been borrowed by the Government for financing of its Fiscal Deficit.

This amount of $ 7.8billion was the actual borrowing of the present Government during its first two years. It is important to highlight that these additional borrowings were from multilateral and bilateral development partners whereas portion of loans from commercial sources were repaid. Borrowings from multilateral and bilateral development partners were contracted on low cost and longer tenor, which contributed towards enhanced external public debt sustainability during the tenure of present government; $4.8billion (27% of the increase) is on account of SBP’s foreign exchange liabilities.

It should not be interpreted as Government’s Debt because it is offset by cash balances and liquid assets of SBP; $2.9billion (16% of the increase) has been borrowed by private sector from external sources which is a healthy sign indicating private sector’s capacity to borrow from abroad for domestic investments; $2.2billion (13% of the increase) has been borrowed primarily by PSEs for spending on their financing needs mostly related to development expenditure.

October 21, 2020

Shehryar Afridi Calls into Question India’s Fake, Malicious Media Campaign against Pakistan

Islamabad, October 21, 2020 (PPI-OT):Chairman of Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir Shehryar Khan Afridi has taken strong exception to fake news reports originating from India regarding an alleged ‘civil war’ in Pakistan. “A figment of India’s state machinery’s imagination, reportage pertaining to imagined unrest in Karachi amounts to 5th generation propaganda warfare which is an evident ploy at perpetuating misinformation with regard to Pakistan, both at home and abroad,” he said in a statement.

“Pakistan strongly denounces this organised propaganda which has backing from Indian deep state. The international community is urged to take note and condemn the spread of fake news by India targeting Pakistani state institutions,” he said. Shehryar Afridi said that Indian media and social media accounts were involved in malicious propaganda against Pakistani state institutions maligning them of internal squabbling. He said that irony was that there was no action by the management of social media applications against Indian state actors and non state actors who were spewing venom against Pakistan packed with white lies. He warned that if this nefarious propaganda is not stopped immediately, Pakistan reserves the right to seek legal action against those individuals or groups involved in malicious campaign against the state institutions of Pakistan.

October 21, 2020

Adviser to PM on Finance Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh addresses Ministers and Governors of Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan Region of IMF on the occasion of MD IMF’s interaction with Ministers and Governors of the Region through video link

Islamabad, October 21, 2020 (PPI-OT):Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh addressed the Ministers and Governors of Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan (MENAP) Region of the IMF on the occasion of MD IMF’s interaction with Ministers and Governors of the Region through video link. The discussion focused on the impact of Corona Virus on the economies of the region, lessons learnt through the experiences and policy guidelines to be adopted to deal with the crisis of such magnitude which has caught the world by surprise. The participants thanked the MD IMF Kristalina Georgieva and her team for arranging the discussion and highlighted the need to play a more effective role as a multilateral development partner whose advice would be of much value and importance according to the needs of the changing times.

The participants agreed that the virus has exposed the world’s need for health spending and to focus more on technological solutions to various problems. It was observed that after the first wave of the pandemic almost all the countries have lost a significant share of their GDP and unemployment has become the biggest challenge. It was agreed if the second wave comes, losses will be massive and the achievement made by some countries during the crisis will be lost if the preventive measures are not adopted as a part of their everyday life.

The participants praised the Debt Suspension Initiative of the G-20 and said that there is also a need to provide more finances to the vulnerable economies. It was a consensus that employment generation, equality and inclusion will be the new challenges from the perspective of women and youth and new strategies will be needed to help the women and youth in the region. The Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance said that the Pandemic has undone a considerable share of the achievements of the Government in Pakistan.

Though there were fiscal constraints, after the Pandemic, the Government has devised a strategy to provide whatever it can to its people and businesses by direct cash transfers and sharing the load of various expenditures of the small businesses. “The Government is determined to provide employment and fight in-equality”. He reiterated that if the government wants to continue economic reforms, there are two real challenges; arranging funding for pro-poor expenditures and prioritizing the need for development spending. The Adviser observed that incurring more expenditure to provide for the people at or below the poverty line will require more borrowing as it would not be possible to increase taxes at a time of declining growth in the economy.

Adviser Finance said that there was a need to adopt a coherent strategy with the partner countries in the region for development. He added no matter how fair or transparent the Governments are in their intentions and operations this unusual situation has made them realize that there is a need for taking support from their friends and development partners in the form of technical advice and financial support and for that all must contribute.