August 26, 2022 – PPI News Agency

IG Punjab Faisal Shahkar visits CTD Headquarters Punjab, presides over an important meeting

Lahore, August 26, 2022 (PPI-OT):Inspector General Police Punjab Faisal Shahkar has said that Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) equipped with modern technology and facilities is a very important and professional wing of Punjab Police which has played a very effective role in eradicating terrorism from the province.

IG Punjab directed that the process of effective monitoring of banned organizations and their facilitators and financiers should be continued and by implementing the laws formulated under National Action Plan. He also stressed upon tightening of noose around the extremist elements.

IG Punjab directed that zero tolerance should be adopted for the violation of religious hate speeches and content and the anti-social elements involved in sectarianism should be brought to justice and punished. IG Punjab said that CTD will be provided with more resources to face the new challenges and staff shortage will be addressed soon and consideration will also be given to fix the tenure for posting of officers in CTD.

IG Punjab said that elimination of evil-doers, terrorist elements and their facilitators, financiers from the society is one of the basic duties of CTD and the role and sacrifices of CTD in eliminating terrorism from the province are commendable.

He expressed these views while presiding over an important meeting on the occasion of his visit to CTD Headquarters Punjab today. Addl IG CTD Imran Mehmood briefed IG Punjab about actions and activities of CTD across the province.

IG Punjab Faisal Shahkar while giving instructions to the officers said to improve the coordination with RPOs, CPOs, DPOs, Special Branch and related institutions. He stressed upon undertaking search, sweep, combing and Intelligence based operations against criminals.

During the meeting, while giving a briefing to the IG Punjab, it was told that CTD Punjab is keeping a close watch on those who spread cyber-terrorism, sectarianism and religious hatred through social media. The sites have been reported to the PTA and so far more than 74 thousand such links and sites have been blocked.

IG Punjab visited various sections of CTD headquarters and also reviewed the working of the staff. IG Punjab said that all available resources shall be provided to CTD for accomplishment of their activities on priority basis.

For more information, contact:
Punjab Police
Punjab Police Computer Bureau,
5th Floor, Central Police Office (CPO),
Punjab, Lahore
Tel: +92-42-99213019, +92-42-99213013
Fax: +92-42-99213012
Email: sapcb@punjabpolice.gov.pk
Website: www.punjabpolice.gov.pk

Sarah Zeid terms BISP role model for other countries

Islamabad, August 26, 2022 (PPI-OT):World Food Program’s Special Advisor on Mother and Child Nutrition and Jordanian Princess Sarah Zeid along with Country Director World Food Program visited Benazir Income Support Programme headquarters on Friday.

During the visit, she was briefed about different operations of Benazir Income Support Programme, its initiatives like National Socio-Economic Registry, Benazir Kifalat, Benazir Taleemi Wazaif, Benazir Nashonuma and the registration process.

She was informed that Benazir Income Support Program has also introduced a special mechanism for the registration of transgender community and if declared ineligible they could also have the right to appeal for their inclusion in the program.

Terming Benazir Income Support Program a role model for other countries, the Jordanian Princess appreciated the Program for uplifting the underprivileged segment of the society. She also visited Benazir One Window Center for inspecting the BISP facilities under one roof. She interacted with women beneficiaries of Benazir Income Support Programme who came there for resolving issues related to their registration in different initiatives of the program.

For more information, contact:
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Government of Pakistan
4th Floor, Cabinet Block, Pak. Secretariat, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9103557
Email: info@moib.gov.pk
Website: http://www.moib.gov.pk

Major General Muhammad Aneeq Ur Rehman Malik, HI (M) assumes Charge of Director General Anti-Narcotics Force

Rawalpindi, August 26, 2022 (PPI-OT):Major General Muhammad Aneeq Ur Rehman Malik, HI (M) assumed the charge of Director General ANF. In this regard, the Change of Command Ceremony of Director General Anti-Narcotics Force was held at HQ ANF. The ceremony was attended by ex-DG ANF, new DG ANF, all Force Commanders, officers and officials of ANF.

During the ceremony Major General Ghulam Shabeer Narejo presented the Flag of Command to the newly arrived Director General ANF Major General Muhammad Aneeq Ur Rehman Malik, HI (M). Ex DG ANF Major General Ghulam Shabeer Narejo addressed the gathering and presented brief account of achievements of ANF during his command. He shared his experience of serving as head of the force which is on a mission to eradicate biggest menace to our society. He said it was a great honour and he tried to serve the country to the best of his abilities.

He expressed that he will always pray for the improvement of ANF and assured that the department will progress more under the command of new DG who has joined the force with intention to optimize department’s efficiency and eradicate drugs as a holy mission. Major General Ghulam Shbeer Narejo expressed his good wishes for the new Director General Major General Muhammad Aneeq Ur Rehman Malik, HI (M) and the department.

For more information, contact:
Headquarters,
Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF)
National Park Road, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9270173
Fax: +92-51-9270165
Email: anf@anf.gov.pk
Website: www.anf.gov.pk

Senate Standing Committee on Interior meets under the chairmanship of Senator Mohsin Aziz

Islamabad, August 26, 2022 (PPI-OT):The Committee took a detailed look at the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2022 (Addition of new Sections 52B, 512, 513 and 514 to PPC and Amendments to Schedule II of CrPC). The proposed bill was sent to the Senate after approval by the National Assembly. The purpose of this bill is to bring the perpetrators of the heinous crime of enforced disappearances to justice so as to provide some relief to the families whose loved ones have gone missing.

The Interior Secretary said that a meeting of the committee chaired by the Law Minister will be held soon on the proposed bill and consideration of the bill by the committee should be postponed. Law Ministry officials were of the view that the amendments proposed in the bill are already there in the existing law and there is no need for new legislation in this regard.

The chairman committee deferred the discussion on the bill for one month according to the opinion of the committee members. The Anti-Rape (Investigation and Prosecution) (Amendment) Bill, 2022 (insertion of new sections 24A, 24B and 24C) moved by Senator Mohsin Aziz was considered.

The purpose of the bill is to monitor the movement of persons involved in sex crimes within the country so that such persons cannot go to another city in the country and commit such crimes again. Minister of State for Law, Senator Shahadat Awan, opposed the approval of the bill without consulting the provinces.

The committee members approved the bill with a majority vote. The Islamabad Capital Territory Maternity Benefits (Amendment) Bill, 2022 presented by Senator Fawzia Arshad was considered in the committee meeting. The committee members unanimously approved the bill after due deliberations. Capital Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2022 introduced by Senator Fawzia Arshad was reviewed.

The purpose of the bill is to determine the persons responsible and punishment for delay in completion of housing projects in different sectors of the federal capital. CDA officials and Chief Commissioner Islamabad requested to amend several clauses of the bill.

The Chairman Committee said that such a procedure should be devised with regard to these projects that new projects and schemes should not be approved until the completion of the ongoing projects so that grants can be issued to the projects in time. The committee members approved the bill after the necessary amendments.

In the light of the previous instructions of the Committee, the question raised by Senator Fida Muhammad Khan regarding shifting of Libraries Department to Sector H-9 Islamabad was considered. Chief Commissioner Islamabad assured the committee that the Director General will be appointed in the concerned department within a week. The Chairman Committee gave instructions that the seniority of the employees should not be affected by the appointment of the Director General and the transfer of the department.

The committee meeting was attended by Senators, Maula Bux Chandio, Saifullah Abro, Shahadat Awan, Fawzia Arshad, Kamil Ali Agha, Dilawar Khan, Fida Muhammad, Chief Commissioner Islamabad, CDA and officials from Ministry of Interior.

For more information, contact:
Senate of Pakistan
H.No.7, Cat-II, G-8/2, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9204564534
Fax: +92-51-9205703
E-mail: senate@comsats.net.pk
Website: www.senate.gov.pk

CDA to donate one day’s pay for the flood relief operations

Islamabad, August 26, 2022 (PPI-OT):CDA decided to give one day’s salary to flood victims of employees of grade 16 and above 40 lakhs a day for employees of grade 16 and above, Chairman CDA and district administration have set up camps for the flood victims in different areas of the city, Chairman CDA Camps have been set up for flood victims in F6, F8 and F10, Chairman CDA Citizens should openly help the flood victims, Chairman CDA Capt Retd Usman.

For more information, contact:
Public Relations Directorate
Capital Development Authority (CDA)
Main Office, G-7/4, Islamabad
Tel: +92-51-9252614
Email: getreply@cda.gov.pk
Website: www.cda.gov.pk

Flood situation in DG Khan Region and fear of more rains, police are high alert on the instructions of IG Punjab Faisal Shahkar, Pre-emptive measures completed

Lahore, August 26, 2022 (PPI-OT):Inspector General Police Punjab Faisal Shahkar has said that the police teams are actively participating in the relief activities in the flood-affected areas of South Punjab and besides bringing the flood victims to safe places, their property and livestock are also being rescued. IG Punjab directed the Additional IG South Punjab to personally monitor the relief work of the flood victims and review the relief activities by expediting the field visits of RPOs, DPOs.

Spokesperson Punjab Police said that in view of the flood situation in DG Khan Region and the fear of more rains, the Punjab Police is on high alert and the preliminary measures regarding the relief work have been completed. IG Punjab has directed the police to use all possible resources for the relief and rehabilitation of the flood victims and in this regard the Additional IG South Punjab has dispatched 200 more police officers and personnel from Multan to help the flood victims.

Spokesperson Punjab Police said that police teams have so far shifted 10787 people from the flood affected areas to safe places while 4382 cattle have been rescued from the affected areas of DG Khan and Rajanpur. Spokesperson Punjab Police further said that more than 12660 packets of relief goods have been distributed among the flood victims.

According to the details, RPO DG Khan Muhammad Salim said that more than 1450 police personnel are participating in the relief activities in DG Khan and Rajanpur and the police are working to inform the people in the low-lying areas in time and move them to safe places. Police teams are present in sensitive areas across the region under the supervision of RPO DG Khan Muhammad Salim.

RPO Muhammad Saleem said that on the orders of IG Punjab, all the river outposts are on high alert and more than 500 police personnel are engaged in rescue activities at 25 river outposts. RPO Muhammad Saleem said that all the officers and personnel of police are working day and night to help the victims and no effort will be spared in serving and protecting the citizens.

SBP sets agriculture credit disbursement target of Rs1.8 trillion for FY23

Karachi, August 26, 2022 (PPI-OT):State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has assigned annual agriculture credit disbursement target of Rs 1,800 billion to the financial institutions for FY23 to cater to the agriculture credit demand in the country. Moreover, in line with the national food security requirements and need for mechanization of farms to enhance agriculture productivity, specific targets of Rs140 billion for production loans of wheat crop, Rs45 billion for tractor financing, and Rs20 billion for financing for harvesters, planters and other farm machinery have also been set under the overall target for FY23.

In addition, SBP has also enhanced the per acre indicative credit limits for agriculture financing to support the farming community to avail adequate financing from banks and optimize their agriculture inputs’ usage. With a view to ensure food security, per acre indicative credit limit for wheat has been enhanced from existing Rs60,000 to Rs100,000 which will allow farmers to deploy quality inputs for improved yields.

During FY22, the financial institutions managed to disburse Rs1,419 billion to the agriculture sector compared with the disbursement of Rs1,366 billion during FY21 whereas the outstanding agriculture credit recorded an encouraging growth of over 10% and reached Rs691 billion by end June 2022.

The unprecedented disbursement and growth in agriculture credit portfolio was supported by various recent initiatives of SBP to promote agriculture credit and financial inclusion in the country. One of the major recent initiatives of SBP was the introduction of a comprehensive agriculture credit scoring model to bring focus of banks towards improving qualitative aspects and regional distribution of agriculture financing in the country.

The model, adopted by the Agricultural Credit Advisory Committee, provides individual scores reflective of each bank’s agriculture credit performance against a multi-dimensional criteria based on various indicators including sectoral disbursement, regional performance, outstanding amount, and outstanding borrowers etc.

Recently, growth in agriculture credit disbursement remained subdued due to various challenges such as adverse climate change effects, resource constraints in banks, underutilization of approved limits by borrowers etc., while a few banks, particularly large public sector banks, among others, also performed slower than usual and struggled to achieve their assigned annual targets.

SBP has also released the annual ranking of banks under this scoring model to bring transparency and competition among the various agriculture credit providers. As per the model’s results for FY22, HBL ranked on top among Large Banks with a score of 75.4, Bank of Punjab scored 62.1 and ranked highest among Mid-Sized Banks, and Bank Islami stood first among Small Banks with a score of 55.7.

Further, U Microfinance Bank ranked the highest among Microfinance Banks with a score of 80.4. Complete results for FY22 and detailed criteria of the scoring model will be accessible at https://www.sbp.org.pk/ACS/Index.html.

For more information, contact:
Chief Spokesman,
State Bank of Pakistan (SBP)
Central Directorate
I.I. Chundrigar Road, Karachi, Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-111-727-111
Tel: +92-21-39212562
Fax: +92-21-39212433 – 39212436
Email: chief.spokesperson@sbp.org.pk
Website: www.sbp.org.pk