Day: October 1, 2021

KARACHI: Advisor to Chief Minister Sindh for Rehabilitation and Relief Department Haji Rasool Bakhish Chandio Friday visited various coastal areas of the district Sujawal in order to review overall situation and arrangements made by the district administration to cope with heavy monsoon rains and expected cyclone.

During visit, President PPP Sujawal District, MPA Muhammad Ali Malikani, MPA Syed Shah Hussain Shah and Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Ismail Memon were also accompanied him. Chandio took visit of Shahbandar, Kharo Chahan, Jati and other coastal areas of the Sujawal district and reviewed the overall situation. He passed directives to the Deputy Commissioner Sujawal Muhammad Ismail Memon to ensure all the possible arrangements by utilizing available resources during rain emergency so as to tackle heavy monsoon rains and cyclone in a well manner.

He also directed them to take steps to activate all reverse osmosis plants which were installed at Shahbandar and Zero Point. DHO Sujawal Dr Shahnaz Khawaja and other relevant officers of Sujawal district were also present on the occasion.

KARACHI: Sindh PPP Chief Nisar Ahmed Khuhro has vowed to continue struggle against record price hike, joblessness, increase in POL prices and injustices with Sindh.

This he announced at a press conference held at Larkana Press Club here on Friday. Khuhro said the country could not be run by inexperienced rulers, hence, Imran Khan should quit. He termed increase in petroleum prices as economic terrorism, adding such decision would push the country into chaos. He said people in the country demanded that the government running on IMF dictation should be gotten rid of immediately.

Khuhro said after every 15 days, petroleum prices were raised by the government and its ministers were claiming that the country’s economy was progressing whereas the PTI government was being run on IMF dictation, but the IMF agreement was not presented in the parliament because, he added, government had accepted the condition of the IMF to bring dollar between Rs175-180 and State Bank had also failed to control the devaluation of rupee.

In reply to a question, Khuhro said after the 18th amendment, NAB Chairman and Chief Election Commissioner could be appointed in consultation with the opposition leader and if both did not agree on a name then the Supreme Court could be approached for decision. He said the government intends to run NAB on adhocism. Khuhro said that the opposition leader has not been disqualified hence he should be consulted.

Khuhro said that 70% of the country’s population belongs to farmers and growers who are facing trauma due to water scarcity. He said the rice crop was yet to be harvested and in some areas, it had not been grown due to lack of agricultural water.

He said the government had obtained a loan of $27 billion in six to eight months. The PPP leader said people’s blood had been sucked to fill the pockets of the rulers. He said the government had claimed that tax recovery of FBR was better and if it was so then why the petroleum prices had been increased.

KARACHI: Ms Angela Aggeler, Charge d’Affaires, of the United States of America, along with Mark Stroh, CG-USA and Aleksandra Zittle, Political Chief called on Governor Sindh Imran Ismail at Governor House.

The two sides discussed political, economic, and others matters pertaining to mutual interests. The delegation also talked about the US government-supported programs in the province and underscored the United States’ continued commitment towards regional prosperity and security.

Aggeler said that the US government was desiring to work with the Government of Pakistan toward the fulfillment of the common goals. “The United States is committed to working with the government and people of Pakistan to ensure a prosperous, peaceful, and stable future,” she added.

The Sindh governor said that a strong Pakistan-US relationship was mutually beneficial and important for peace and stability in the region. “By fostering the ties between the two countries, we can further strengthen education, health services, including fighting against COVID, as well as other initiatives,” he added.

The Sindh governor said that the environment for foreign investment in Karachi was conducive. He also highlighted various opportunities for the US investment and bilateral trade. “There is massive scope and potential to accelerate bilateral trade between Pakistan and the US through business-to-business interaction,” he added. The two sides agreed to consolidate efforts to deepen the long-lasting relationship and invigorate business opportunities by exploring diverse avenues to enhance bilateral trade between the two nations.

KARACHI: Administrator Karachi, Sindh Government Spokesman and CM Advisor on Law Barrister Murtaza Wahab, on Friday said that if any cyclone hits Karachi, he will be on the streets and will be seen working in good faith.

“It has been raining continuously for eight to nine hours in Karachi so far which has challenged the drainage system. The situation in Karachi is still under control and will remain better,” the Administrator passed these remarks while addressing a crowded press conference at Frere Hall here. Metropolitan Commissioner Syed Afzal Zaidi and other officers were also present.

Wahab said that they cannot stop the rains but surely do relief work after the rains which he said they are doing. “There has been no drainage problem anywhere in Karachi since Thursday. In the past, underpass got filled with water even after light rain,” he added.

He said that all staffers were on the streets and in different parts of the city throughout the night. “We had already planned where the machinery was needed and installed 16 large pumps in different parts of Karachi,” the Administrator said.

He added that in the past machinery of Karachi Water and Sewerage Board used to come out of the after water accumulation but this time around the machinery was installed since Wednesday. He said that the sanitary workers and DMC staff worked hard and they deserve congratulations. The traffic police also did a good job.

Administrator Karachi said cyclone threat averted but local government emergency would last till October 2. “We are grateful to the people for their support of the government,” he added.

Wahab said that Pakistan’s third Gamma Knife Center has been set up in Sindh province. “It is the first public sector hospital in Karachi. The center has been set up and inaugurated by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah today (Friday), he said and added that the provincial government is also providing various facilities in the health sector. “Those who say that work has not been done in Sindh should look at the development work that is being done in the province,” he added.

KARACHI: Philip Morris (Pakistan) Limited (PMPKL), financially supported Social Entrepreneurship and Equity Development (SEED) for an initiative led by Entrepreneurship and Youth Development Society (EYDS)to support startups in their business ventures through the Social Technology Entrepreneurship Program (STEP).

The focus of the initiative was to identify, mentor, and develop social startups and entrepreneurs who are using technology to deliver sustainable, tech-focused interventions for socio-economic issues facing the country. Under this project, STEP helped out 40 startups in developing their plans and provided funding of USD 10,000 each to the top three finalist start-ups with continuing mentorship for the next three months. It further connected candidates with industry experts and provided them with support for capacity-building and for honing their ideas.

Andleeb (Uroos) Ahmed, Head of Communications at Philip Morris (Pakistan) Limited, while acknowledging the efforts of all the candidates and the three winners, said, “We have been working to ensure sustainability internally as well as externally by employing responsible practices, taking up eco-friendly initiatives and encouraging and supporting others to do the same. To form a truly sustainable society, it is essential for every group and individual to play their part and we are making every possible effort to support them.”

“Technology and innovation have become an essential part of our lives. With creativity and through the ideas presented by young people, this project aimed to pave the way for tech-driven, sustainable solutions for socio-economic issues while enabling the youth of the country” said Shaista Ayesha, Vice president EYDS and CEO of Seed Ventures.

The three finalists of the STEP Program include Greenovation; which produces Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from non-biodegradable plastic waste, Modulus Tech; a startup that aims to revolutionize the construction sector by using economical and green building materials, and DeafTawk; a technology startup that aims to empower the deaf community across the globe by providing quality sign language services through a digital platform.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has congratulated the nation on Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) achievement of collecting Rs1395 billion in the first quarter of current fiscal year against the target of Rs 1,211 billion.

In a tweet on Friday, he said this represents a growth of thirty-eight percent in revenues over the same period last year.

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad has said government is making all-out efforts to provide relief to the common man by checking the price hike.

Talking to Pakistan Television, he said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will form the next government after addressing the challenges of price hike and unemployment in the country. He said Prime Minister Imran Khan is committed to hold next elections in transparent manner through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and the overseas Pakistanis will be given the right to vote in general elections.

Meanwhile, talking to a private television network, the Interior Minister said Pakistan has played unprecedented role for durable peace in Afghanistan. He urged Muslim countries to come forward to provide humanitarian aid to Afghan people as Pakistan has been extending food items to Afghanistan.

Commenting on Indian’s role in Afghan territory, he said after control of Taliban, Indian terrorist network has badly been damaged. He said Pakistan has completed fencing along border to check the entry of terrorists groups from neighbouring region.

The Interior Minister, appreciating the role of security institutions, said Pakistan armed forces are fully capable to handle any unusual situation in the region. He said China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the game changer project, will be completed at all cost despite the hurdles being created by some international forces in its way.