Day: February 24, 2021

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EFP seeks one-year extension in financing schemes

KARACHI: Ismail Suttar, President Employers’ Federation of Pakistan (EFP), on behalf of the manufacturers and exporters, has appealed to the government to extend financing schemes like deferred loans and advanced salaries by just one more year, as COVID-19 is not over and business community is still fighting with the effects of the initial shutdown in global trade and industries of the crisis.

In a statement on Monday, EFP president lauded Prime Minister of Pakistan for rising to the occasion of the global pandemic and enforcing timely and effective policies that have today brought visible relief to the industries. Packages like the Rs 1.1 trillion Relief Fund, and the record slashing of policy rate and the timely refunds of sales tax have helped keep the wheels of the economy churning.

“According to the National Industrial Survey conducted by the Economic Council of EFP, the lockdown had compelled 61% of manufacturers to shut down. The survey also revealed that despite having lost revenue equivalent to four months, manufacturers were actually rolling out salaries, which validates the request for extension in financing facilities,” he added.

Suttar, while expressing hope of a prosperous future in light of the pragmatic measures by the cabinet, requested the government to consider the proposed one-year more extension in financing Schemes for the industry.

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Heirs protest for delay in postmortem

LARKANA: Members of Agani community held a protest demonstration in front of mortuary of the Chandka Medical College Hospital (CMCH) here on Wednesday against prolonged delay in performing autopsy of deceased Abdul Ghafoor Agani who was allegedly kidnapped and gunned down last night over old enmity near village Moria Faqeer in the limits of Naundero police station.

 

Police said that the deceased was going to his village Datar Dino Agani on bike along with his two relatives Ihsan and Halim when they were intercepted by almost eight armed men. Ihsan and Halim ran away for safety but Ghafoor was caught by the accused. His body was found from Guava orchard near Wada Agani village.

 

Meanwhile, credible sources said that CMCH police surgeon Dr Shamsuddin Khoso has retired today in BPS-19 and there are only two medical-legal officers who have been posted as MLOs on local arrangement basis Dr. Ashok Kumar and Dr. Afzal Memon. Three doctors who were posted to work as MLOs by the health secretary have refused to work as MLO hence their salary has been stopped, sources claimed.

 

There is no woman medico-legal officer and all women medical officers of BPS-17 have to perform rotation duty. CMCH is facing acute shortage of doctors including MLOs and very badly needs proper MLOs and WMLOs on a permanent basis or else justice will be delayed as the medico-legal certificates are delayed along with autopsies and examination of the injured.

 

Sources further said that there are eight posts of MLOs, WMLO and senior MLOs at the CMCH and unfortunately seven are vacant since very long. There are four posts of MLOs of BPS-17, one post of WMLO of BPS-17 and three posts of senior MLOs each of BPS-18. Only one post of MLO is filled as no doctor wants to be a medico-legal officer (MLO), sources added, because of frequent appearances in court cases.

 

The CMCH Medical Superintendent, Dr Syed Ershad Hussain Kazmi, recommended to the health secretary four names of doctors in November 2020 for posting them as MLOs (BPS-17) and two names of other doctors for posting as senior MLOs (BPS-18) but only one is working as MLO, another got his order modified due to influence and two have refused to be MLOs and posts of WMLO and senior MLOs are still vacant which need to be filled on emergency basis. This section needs one permanent WMLO for periphery female cases and another for Larkana city cases.

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QMC employees continue hunger strike till death

QUETTA: The employees of Quetta Metropolitan Corporation continued their hunger strike till death against the QMC for the third consecutive day on Wednesday at their camp outside Quetta Press Club.

 

The QMC employees observing hunger strike included Muhammad Shakir Tareen, Sanaullah, Zulfiqar Masih, Qadir Bakhsh and Habib-ur-Rehman Kakar.

 

Talking to PPI, Dr Abdul Haleem Kasi, President, Grand Employees Alliance, Metropolitan, Quetta said until the acceptance of all demands presented by GEAM to the authorities, hunger strike till death would continue.

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Rizwan and Fawad promoted to Category A and C, respectively

KARACHI: PCB Test Cricketer of the year 2020, Mohammad Rizwan, has been promoted to Category A of the PCB’s Central Contract List 2020-21 following stellar performances across all formats in the ongoing season.

 

In the elite category, the 28-year-old has now joined Pakistan captain Babar Azam, former captain Azhar Ali and star fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi.

 

Since the current central contracts were announced on 13 May 2020, Rizwan is Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in Tests with 529 runs in seven matches at an average of 52.90, while he is overall the third leading run-scorer in T20Is with 325 runs at an average of 65 and strike-rate of just under 139. In the three ODIs against Zimbabwe, he scored 25 runs.

 

Behind the wickets, Rizwan has accounted for 16 batsmen in Tests, three in ODIs and eight in T20Is in the season during which Pakistan played international cricket against England, Zimbabwe, New Zealand and South Africa. Their upcoming assignments are in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

 

As part of its policy to acknowledge, incentivize and reward high-performing cricketers, the PCB has also elevated Fawad Alam from A+ domestic contract category to Category C of the PCB Central Contract List 2020-21, while it also offered Category C contract to T20I specialist Mohammad Hafeez, which he politely turned down.

 

Fawad Alam scored centuries against New Zealand and South Africa, and has now aggregated 320 runs in 11 innings of six Tests. His 102 against New Zealand in the Boxing Day Test earned him the PCB Individual Performance of 2020 award.

 

PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan: “I want to congratulate Rizwan and Fawad for earning well-deserved and well-earned promotions. This is a reward for their hard work and high-quality performances during the difficult and challenging bio-secure environments that tested their determination, resolve, commitment, mental toughness and physical fitness to the limits.

 

“The decision to promote the players was made during a meeting with the Chair of the Selection Committee, Muhammad Wasim, while we were reviewing player performances in the 2020-21 season and discussing the upcoming commitments.

 

“It was agreed during the meeting that three players were the most deserving and outstanding performers in the season to date and, as such, they needed to be rewarded now instead of waiting for the time when PCB Central Contract List for 2021-22 will be reviewed and announced.

 

“However, Mohammad Hafeez declined the reward and while I am disappointed, I fully respect his decision. He wants to wait for the PCB Central Contract 2021-22 list, which he is fully entitled to. Hafeez has been one of our star performers of the season and we hope he will carry the form and momentum to Africa.

 

“I am sure this merit and performance-based decision will once again send out a loud and clear message to all professional cricketers that the PCB will not only recognize, appreciate and acknowledge their performances and achievements, but will also reward them so that they can strive to do better next time.”

 

Updated PCB Men’s Central Contract List for 2020-21:

 

Category A – Azhar Ali (Central Punjab), Babar Azam (Central Punjab), Mohammad Rizwan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa)

 

Category B – Abid Ali (Central Punjab), Asad Shafiq (Sindh), Haris Sohail (Balochistan), Mohammad Abbas (Southern Punjab), Sarfaraz Ahmed (Sindh), Shadab Khan (Northern), Shan Masood (Southern Punjab) and Yasir Shah (Balochistan)

 

Category C – Fakhar Zaman (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Fawad Alam (Sindh), Iftikhar Ahmed (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Imad Wasim (Northern), Imam-ul-Haq (Balochistan), Naseem Shah (Central Punjab) and Usman Shinwari (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa)

 

Emerging Players’ Category – Haider Ali (Northern), Haris Rauf (Northern) and Mohammad Hasnain (Sindh)

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QMC Administrator assured to address service structure, says Khan

QUETTA: Hazrat Khan, President Metropolitan Corporation Tanzeemi Ittehad Quetta has said that Saidal Khan Luni, Administrator, Metropolitan Corporation had streamlined all the affairs of QMC within a shorter period of time.

 

These views were expressed by him while talking to a delegation led by Asghar Khan Nasar that called on him in his office here on Wednesday. Khan said that record tax had been collected by the Tax Branch of QMC, Quetta during the tenure of present administrator besides carrying out cleanliness campaign in the provincial capital by utilizing meager amount.

 

He said that the credit of streamlining all the affairs of QMC definitely went to Saidal Khan Luni. He said that the incumbent Administrator of QMC intended to revitalize Quetta Metropolitan Corporation and for the purpose he desperately needed the cooperation of all employees.

 

He added that new vehicles were being procured for MT Workshop and Mechanical Engineering Branch. He added Metropolitan Corporation Tanzeemi Ittehad Quetta had brought the issue of service structure of the employees of Quetta Metropolitan Corporation into the notice of Saidal Khan Luni, Administrator QMC and it was assured that service structure of the employees of Quetta Metropolitan Corporation would soon be addressed.

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Minority community has full freedom in country, governor tells USA delegation

KARACHI: Sindh Governor Imran Ismail has said that the government is pursuing a policy of zero tolerance on propaganda against any religion in the name of freedom of expression and religious bigotry.

 

“Prime Minister Imran Khan is committed to building an enlightened and interfaith society in the light of Islamic ideology,” the governor said during a meeting with a 12-member delegation of International Religious Freedom (USA) at the Governor’s House here on Wednesday. Member National Assembly J Prakash and Member Provincial Assembly Jamal Siddiqui were also present on the occasion. The delegation was led by Elyas Younis Masih.

 

The governor said that the Sindh government was taking steps to further strengthen interfaith harmony. He said that the present government believed that complete religious freedom and peace to the minority community was essential for the development of the country. Ismail further said that the present government had done great jobs in protecting the rights of minorities in Pakistan and innovative of them were the establishment of National Commission for Minorities and inauguration of Kartarpur Corridor.

 

The governor Sindh said that minorities across the country had full religious freedom as they were performing their religious rites freely at their respective worship places. Speaking on the ongoing human rights violations in Kashmir, the Sindh governor said that Kashmir is currently known as the largest prison in the world. He urged all other international organizations, including the International Religious Freedom (USA), to play their roles to end the atrocities and inhumane treatment in Kashmir. Elyas Younis Masih said interfaith harmony is a way forward for coexistence, peace and prosperity among people of different faiths.

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DS, DIG visit Police Lines Karachi

KARACHI: Divisional Superintendent Pakistan Railways Karachi Muhammad Hanif Gul and Deputy Inspector General (Operations) Shahzad Akbar paid a joint visit to Police Lines Karachi today morning.

 

The visiting officers were holistically briefed about the issues being faced by the employees especially the anti-encroachment task force. The DS Karachi said that the anti-encroachment squad of Railways Police had been entrusted with the most important task so all their needs would be fully catered and be provided with the best available facilities.

 

The recent retrieval of a petrol pump at Shahrah-e-Faisal, godown from a well-known brand at Jumma Goth and railways’ precious land in ongoing anti-encroachment operations by the railways police were highly lauded by the visiting officers.

 

Prior to that the Divisional Superintendent also visited the Washing Line at Cantonment station Karachi. He admired the round-the-clock services performed by the washing line staff and said that cleanliness in trains could highly improve the perception of the department among the public.