Day: January 20, 2022

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ECP unveils schedule for KP LG polls second phase

ISLAMABAD:The Election Commission of Pakistan on Thursday announced the schedule of second phase of local body elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s 18 districts.

According to ECP, the second phase of elections would be held in 18 districts on March 27, 2022. The nomination papers could be submitted with the election body between 7-11 February, according to a schedule. The initial list of the candidates will be issued on February 12 and scrutiny of the nomination papers will continue until February 22.

“The candidate could file an appeal against the scrutiny process conducted by the Returning Officer by February 19,” the ECP said adding that the candidates would be allotted election symbols on February 28. The polling in 18 KP districts would be held on March 27, while the election commission will announce final results by April 1, the ECP notification stated.

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HEC Announces PhD Scholarships in US Universities

ISLAMABAD:The Higher education Commission (HEC) has announced scholarships for PhD Programme in United States of America (USA) FIR Fall 2022 and Spring/Summer 2023.

According to HEC information on Thursday, the scholarships have been announced under US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor, a project of Higher Education Commission, Pakistan. HEC has invited applications for scholarships in PhD Programme in designated US Universities.

According to details, the scholarship is only for PhD Programme and does not include MS Leading to PhD. HEC asked the candidates to submit their applicants for scholarships online via HEC scholarship portal (http://scholarship.hec.gov.pk), not later than 28 February, 2022.

For further information, HEC has informed the candidates to visit http://www.hec.gov.pk/site/US-Pakcorridor/.

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COVID in Sindh claims 17 lives, infects 3,739

KARACHI:As many as 17 more patients of Coronavirus died overnight lifting the death toll to 7,727 and 3,739 new cases emerged when 17,002 tests were conducted.

This was stated by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah in a statement issued here on Thursday. He added that 17 more patients of COVID-19 lost their lives lifting the death toll to 7,727 that constituted 1.5 percent death rate. Mr. Shah said that 17,002 samples were tested which detected 3,739 cases that constituted 22 percent current detection rate.

He added that so far 7,419,686 tests have been conducted against which 514,863 cases were diagnosed, of them 91.9 percent or 473,340 patients have recovered, including 332 overnight. The CM said that currently 33,796 patients were under treatment, of them 33,398 were in home isolation, 30 at isolation centers and 368 at different hospitals. He added that the condition of 306 patients was stated to be critical, including 21 shifted to ventilators.

According to the statement, out of 3,739 new cases, 3,289 have been detected from Karachi, including 1,345 from East, 773 South, 655 Central, 261 Korangi, 145 Malir and West 110. Hyderabad has 145, Naushero Feroze 34, Jamshoro 29, Tharparkar 20, Tando Muhammad Khan 19, Badin 16, Dadu 15, Thatta, Umerkot and Sanghar 12 each, Larkana 11, Tando Allahyar, Jacobabad, Khairpur and Mirpurkhas 10 each, Shikarpur nine, Ghotki five, Shaheed Benazirabad four and Matiari one.

Vaccination: Sharing vaccination data the CM said that 32,462,394 vaccinations have been administered upto January 18th, and added during the last 24 hours 237,284 vaccines were inoculated – in total 32,699,678 vaccines have administered which constituted 59.01 percent of the vaccine eligible population. The chief minister urged people of the province to follow SOPs.

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Two killed, 28 injured in Lahore blast

LAHORE:Two people were killed and 28 others injured in a blast near Lahore’s Anarkali Bazaar area on Thursday.

The blast from improvised explosive device (IED) created panic in the areas windows of nearby shops and buildings were shattered by the explosion. The vehicles parked near the blast site were also damaged. The rescue teams reached spot of incident and shifted the injured to Mayo Hospital. Police said that around 1.5 kilograms of explosives were used in the blast. It was further learnt that the explosives were placed on ground between motorcycles.

Preliminary report said that the blast took place at 1:40pm and razed a building and destroyed eight motorcycles. Talking to media persons, DIG operations said that police teams are collecting evidence from the place of incident and soon the details of the blast will be confirmed.

Mayo Hospital officials said four people are in critical condition, with the doctors trying to save their lives. The medics have given first aid to other injured people. Chief Minister of Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar took notice of the blast and sought report from Inspector General (IG) Punjab.

Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan condemned the blast at New Anarkali in Lahore. The premier, while taking notice of the explosion, has directed the concerned authorities to arrest the responsible people as soon as possible. He further extended condolences to the bereaved families of the explosion victims.

President of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Mian Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over loss of precious human lives in Lahore blast and said that poor and minors were affected by the blast which is strongly condemnable.

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PN assumes Command of Combined Maritime Task Force

ISLAMABAD:Pakistan Navy assumed the Command of Combined Maritime Task Force 150 (CTF-150) for the 12th tenure. During the Change of Command Ceremony held at Headquarter of US Naval Forces Central Command (US NAVCENT) Bahrain, Capt Brendon Clark of Royal New Zealand Navy handed over the Command to Commodore Vaqar Muhammad of Pakistan Navy.

CTF-150 is one of the three Task Forces operating within the ambit of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) in Indian Ocean Region. The mission of Task Force is to promote maritime security in order to counter terrorist acts and related illegal activities perpetrated by the terrorists’ networks.

Pakistan Navy had the distinction of Commanding CTF-150 eleven times earlier and this being the 12th Command, which is manifestation of the trust reposed in Pakistan Navy by the coalition partners. Over the years, while protecting Pakistan’s maritime interests, Pakistan Navy has been actively participating in international coalition operations to ensure peace and maritime security in the region.

While addressing at the ceremony, the incoming Commander Combined Task Force 150 (CCTF-150), Commodore Vaqar Muhammad assured that his team is fully geared up to shoulder this prestigious responsibility to contribute towards Maritime Security and stability in the region. He lauded the outgoing Captain Brendon Clark of Royal New Zealand Navy for their dedicated efforts to achieve the set objectives during his tenure of Command and reaffirmed his resolve to continue with the same spirit.

The change of command ceremony was attended by Ambassador of Pakistan to Bahrain Mr Muhammad Ayub, Ambassador of New Zealand to Bahrain Mr Barney Riley, Commander Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) Vice Admiral Charles Bradford Cooper and other distinguished civil and military guests including senior diplomats and representatives of several other navies operating with CMF.

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Thousands of women stage sit-in against LG law

KARACHI:Thousands of women on Thursday held a sit-in at the main University Road in Karachi against the PPP government in Sindh for bulldozing a bill in the Sindh Assembly that further squeezed the already curtailed powers of the local government setup.

The sit-in exclusively held by women was staged in connection with the JI’s sit-in being held outside the Sindh Assembly building for the past 21 days. JI Women Wing General Secretary Durdana Siddiqui, head of Sindh chapter Rukhahinda Muneeb and head of Karachi chapter Asma Safeer presided over the sit-in.

It is worth mentioning here that the sit-in outside the Sindh Assembly building continued during the Sit-in. Engr Naeemur Rehman while addressing the female protesters said that the JI has launched a historic and the most prolonged sit-in in the history of Karachi.

He made it clear that the JI Welcomes only meaning full dialogues. He expressed his vow to continue the struggle for the megalopolis. We will not bow down, neither compromise on the due rights of Karachities, he said. On the 21st day of the sit-in, the JI leader announced that a big party convention would be held on Sunday, January 3, to be addressed by JI Pakistan Ameer Sirajul Haq.

Reiterating his demands, he said that the megalopolis deserves an empowered mega city government and would not be able to survive if the federal and the provincial governments do not change their policies. He asked the provincial ministers to carefully read the Sindh Peoples Local Government Ordinance 1972 and provide the same powers to city government setup as mentioned in the law constituted by none other than Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. He said that the black local government bill was passed on the basis of majority in the provincial assembly despite the fact that its content was totally in violation of the constitution.

The JI leader said that the city generates 95 percent revenue for the province, contributes in revenue for the center by 70 percent, it also contributes in exports by 54 percent and generates 42 percent of total tax collection in the country. However, he maintained, the city was facing acute water shortage, infrastructure crises, shortage of electric supply and a very deep crises of gas among other issues. Engr Naeem said both the center and the province are treating Karachi like a step daughter. JI leaders Osama Razi, Syed Abdul Rasheed and others also addressed the sit-in.

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Privatization Board meets in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD:A meeting of the Privatization Board was held here on Thursday under the chairmanship of Federal Minister Privatization, Mohammed Mian Soomro.

Federal Secretary Privatization, Interior, board members and Chairman CDA attended the meeting. The board discussed the report pertaining to the prequalification of potential investors for the revival of Pakistan Steel Mills (PSMC). Six parties submitted SOQs before and a prequalification committee was formulated to scrutinize the pre-qualified parties.

The pre-qualified parties are leading international investors of sound rating and it is welcoming that they expressed to invest for the revival of Pakistan Steel Mills. The PC Board granted approval for pre-qualified investors/parties. The Virtual Data Room (VDR) will be opened for pre-qualified bidders for their due diligence for a period of thirty days.

The matter relating to Jinnah Convention Center (JCC) was discussed in the meeting while representatives of the CDA were also present along with the Chairman CDA, it was decided that CDA will issue a consent letter to Privatization (as directed by the Federal Cabinet) regarding the conversion of JCC land from amenity(ies) to Commercial. The Ministry of Privatization clarified that the infrastructure charges incurred will be borne by the successful investor.

It was also agreed upon that CDA and FAs from the Ministry of Privatization will evaluate the property and make a comprehensive evaluation report regarding infrastructure cost in possible scenarios of land use in future for the investors, within two weeks. It was briefed to the board that after receiving the letter from CDA for conversion of plot into commercial, the VDR for the pre-qualified investors/parties will be opened.

The Privatization Commission Board was briefed about the update on the transaction status of Heavy Electric Complex (HEC). The board while considering the way forward on the privatization of HEC, after threadbare discussion and deliberation agreed and allowed to extend bidding date up to one month as requested by one of the potential bidders. The Board was also briefed about the updated status of legislative matters and the receivables and payables thereof.

Federal Minister Mohammed Mian Soomro asked the legal team to rigorously pursue the matter and bring the money payable to the Ministry of Privatization. Later a meeting regarding House Building Finance Company Limited (HBFCL) was also chaired by the Federal Minister, Secretary PC, board members, DG, Transaction Manager and advisors/consultants also attended the meeting. GoP is in the process of privatization of HBFCL through sale of up to 100% shares along with management control. In this regard, Invitations of EOIs were advertised on December 27, 2021 and re-advertised on January 17, 2022 for potential investors.

The Financial Advisor Consortium (FAC) led by MCB Bank, apprised about the response of potential investors which appears encouraging. Nevertheless, it was observed that engagement with more local/ global investors is needed which would require some additional time for evaluation. Hence it was proposed by FAC to extend the date for submission of the EOIs to further increase investors’ horizon for the transaction. HBFCL privatization is one of the prominent transactions due to be completed in 2022.