Day: September 13, 2021

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has said the government has been vigorously pursuing the ease of doing business policy.

Talking to a delegation of heads of Chinese companies here on Monday, he said incentives are being provided to investors and procedures are being made easy. The Prime Minister assured the delegation that he himself would chair the review meeting every month to address their issues on priority basis. He said Pakistan could learn a lot from China about industrial development. He said the Chinese investment would create employment opportunities in Pakistan and the human resource would get skills.

The Prime Minister said Pakistan has immense potential for growth of small and medium enterprises in which the Chinese companies can play an important role. He emphasized on focusing on agriculture, fisheries, vegetables and fruits, information technology and small industries. He said the government would fully facilitate investors.

Islamabad: A virtual meeting held today between Mr. Omar Ayub Khan, Minister for Economic Affairs and Eng. Hani Salem Sonbol, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), ITFC to discuss the scope of ITFC financing.

It was discussed that how ITFC can arrange financing for broader trade activities in Pakistan under commodity financing. The Minister for Economic Affairs appreciated ITFC who arranged financing of about US$ 7 billion for import oil and LNG from 2008 to 2021. It was highlighted that Pakistan’s POL financing requirement is much bigger, therefore, ITFC can get bigger portion of financing from the existing US$ 1.5 billion each year. It also came under deliberations that how this financing facility may also be utilized for import of food related commodities. Eng. Hani Salem Sonbol, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), ITFC thanked the Minister for Economic Affairs and appreciated EAD’s interest in ITFC to meet the short-term trade financing needs.

He also encouraged to include other commodities in addition to POL under the 4th Framework Agreement to be commenced from January 2021 and to increase annual financing from US$ 1.1 billion to US$ 1.5 billion. He further added that ITFC arranged two Warehouse Receipt Financing workshops in Islamabad and Karachi during 2019 in collaboration of EAD and State Bank of Pakistan and will provide technical assistance for capacity building in the Agriculture Sector.

The CEO, ITFC updated that the ongoing syndication is about to complete and US$ 600 million will be available to Pakistan during this month. ITFC further assured that Pakistan is the top priority for the Corporation to invest in trade financing and meet country’s POL procurement requirements.

ISLAMABAD: The first PIA flight landed at Kabul Airport on Monday after the new interim setup in Afghanistan.

The PIA crew took foreign journalists to Kabul and returned with a team of World Bank and international media organizations. This was the first international passenger flight after the new setup in Kabul.

In a statement, Chief Executive Officer PIA Air Marshal Arshad Malik said the objective of the flight is to promote goodwill between Pakistan and Afghanistan. He said this flight operation is very important for PIA and the entire world. The PIA CEO expressed hope that the flight operation would soon be fully restored.

ISLAMABAD: Senator Dr. Sania Nishtar, SAPM together with a delegation of international development partners on Monday visited One Window Ehsaas Center in Sitara Market. The official delegation comprised of H.E. Christian Turner, British High Commissioner; Najy Benhassine, Country Director World Bank; Chris Kaye, Country Director, WFP; Annabel Gerry, Development Director, FCDO; Knut Ostby, Resident Representative, UNDP Pakistan; Tobias Becker, Country Director GIZ; Stephen Langrell, Team Leader Rural Development and Economic Cooperation, EU Delegation to Pakistan; and Luis Gorjon, Chief Social Policy, UNICEF.

The delegation was briefed on the One Stop Shop operations of Ehsaas which integrate all benefits and services for 14 different target groups in one space. They were also apprised that One Window Centers will be expanded to all districts nationwide to enable rule-based delivery of the multiple Ehsaas programmes through a single window. International Development Partners of Ehsaas took stock of the wide ranging One Window Ehsaas services and met beneficiaries being served. They gained a first-hand experience around how One Window Center of Ehsaas was helping people to access all Ehsaas services and benefits under one roof by facilitating procedural requirements. “Having all Ehsaas services at one place, facilitate Ehsaas beneficiaries who previously needed to go to many offices to get their issues resolved”, said Dr. Sania.

The delegation widely lauded the One Window Ehsaas Operations and appreciated that for the first time in the country, a comprehensive single window operations had been formulated to facilitate a common man. Knut Ostby, Resident Representative, UNDP Pakistan commented, “Very impressed today by visit to Ehsaas One Window Center. Access to wide range of services for health, education, social protection, financial inclusion, income generation.

Ambition is for these to be established in each district. Many congratulations Sania Nishtar!” “Impressive new Ehsaas One Window Centre Islamabad”, remarked Annabel Gerry, Development Director, FCDO. On the occasion, Secretary Ismat Tahira, DG Noor Rehman, DG Naveed Akbar and DG Khalid Siddiq were also present from Ehsaas.

The one window center houses wide ranging services including Ehsaas Kafaalat, ATM machines of partnering banks for payment, NADRA office for biometric verification, and desks for Ehsaas Education Stipends, Ehsaas Nashonuma, Ehsaas Undergraduate Scholarship, Ehsaas Amdan and Ehsaas Interest Free Loan, Ehsaas Digital internet café, Ehsaas Langar, Ehsaas Tahafuz along with a desk to serve differently abled, shuttle service to take people to Panagahs, Ehsaas Utility Store for the forthcoming targeted subsidies, fully equipped training room, survey registration desk, retiring room for women, information and complaint desks and several others.

Ehsaas one window initiative has six components: Its first component is Ehsaas centre, whereas others include back office digital interface; a public facing digital information and services platform; a mobile app; cognitive API architecture – the integrated database; and the Ehsaas One-Window Beneficiary Selection and Targeting Policy. Prime Minister had inaugurated this first One Window Ehsaas on June 9, 2021.

ISLAMABAD: As part of Pakistan’s humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, a C-130 carrying relief goods comprising foods items and medicines has reached Mazar-e-Sharif.

This is the 4th such consignment in as many days manifesting Pakistan’s commitment to provide relief assistance to Afghan brothers and sisters. Meanwhile, World Food Program is also continuing flight from Islamabad to Kabul.

HUB: Hub police claimed to have arrested two bandits red-handed in an operation conducted in Industrial area of Hub city District Lasbella in Balochistan province on Monday.

Following the directions of SP, Lasbella, Tariq Elahi Mastoe, police force Hub under the supervision of DSP, Hub circle, Younas Raza and Station House Officer, Police Station Hub, Amin Lasi arrested two alleged bandits red-handed while trying to rob labourers in industrial area of Hub. One pistol was also recovered from the possession of alleged accused.

A case against the alleged bandits Abdul Hameed and Ghulam Qadir was lodged. Further investigation was being conducted by the concerned police authorities.

FAISALABAD: At least 15 people were arrested over illegal LPG refilling, gambling and one wheeling from different areas of the city.

Police said here on Monday that three shopkeepers Waqas from Jamia Chishtian Chowk, Imran near Manchester Hospital and Arshad Ali were rounded up from Sargodha road over illegal LPG refilling.

The teams caught 11 gamblers red handed from gambling den, Noorpur and accused Adeel over one-wheeling near GDA Chowk. All the accused were sent behind the bars after registering cases, said police.