Day: November 23, 2022

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Malaysian CG underscores need to review 15-year-old FTA

KARACHI: Consul General of Malaysia Herman Hardynata Bin Ahmad has said that Malaysia and Pakistan, in addition to having several multilateral agreements as members of UN, OIC and D-8, had also signed 20 bilateral agreements including a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) but this 15-year-old FTA, which was inked in 2008, needs to be reviewed with a view to further improve the existing trade ties between the two brotherly countries.

He said that Former PM Imran Khan and former Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamed agreed in 2019 to review the FTA but due to political hiccups in both countries, this review could not take place, according to a statement issued on Wednesday.

“As PM Shehbaz Sharif is in-charge of the country’s affairs now and Malaysia is also about to elect its new Prime Minister, we hope that the pending review of the FTA will be taken up by both the government”, he added while exchanging views at a meeting during his visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI).

President KCCI Mohammed Tariq Yousuf, Senior Vice President Touseef Ahmed, Vice President Mohammad Haris Agar, Former SVP Arshad Islam, Former VP Shamsul Islam Khan and KCCI Managing Committee Members attended the meeting.

Malaysia CG said, “Of course, there are challenges when we try to enhance trade but these can be tackled through joint efforts. Malaysia has the advantage of being a member of Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) so we always offer our trading partners to use Malaysia as gateway for accessing the ASEAN market.”

Commenting on President’s KCCI remarks about reservation of 3,000 acres of land by Sindh government for plantation of palm oil trees, he said that it was a good investment opportunity for Malaysian companies who were always looking forward to make investments outside because the Malaysian market was overcrowded now. “Malaysian investors have already established units in China so they can also look into the possibility of investing in Pakistan as well.”

He said that Malaysia currently faces dire shortage of manpower and was ready to welcome more workforce from Pakistan as currently, out of total assigned quota of 100,000 workers to Pakistan, only 3,000 Pakistani workers were present in Malaysia. “We would certainly welcome Pakistani workers to support our industries, manufacturing, construction and agriculture sectors”, he said, adding that in addition to these 3,000 workers, a large number of Pakistani expats are also working in Malaysia mostly in the fields of Information Technology, healthcare and as Accountants. Many Pakistani students were studying in Malaysia where they can also avail scholarship being offered to post graduate students for PhD. “A Pakistani student, who is currently doing her PhD. from a university in Kuala Lumpur, has availed this scholarship.”

Malaysia CG further informed that before the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, Malaysia received 55,000 tourists from Pakistan and since the opening of Malaysia borders in March this year till September, 19,000 Pakistani tourists visited Malaysia.

“As Malaysian tourist are not much aware of Pakistan’s tourism, there is a need to promote tourism opportunities in Pakistan which holds beautiful sites in northern areas including Karakoram Highway which is the highest highway of the world. If effectively promoted, Pakistan would certainly attract good number of Malaysian tourists particularly the adventure-loving tourists. We try to promote and encourage people to come to Pakistan and I have been recommending commencement of direct flights between the two countries in my reports.”

Earlier, President KCCI Tariq Yousuf, in his remarks, pointed out Pakistan’s exports to Malaysia remained at $432.69 million while the imports stood at $1.15 billion in FY22 which clearly indicates that the bilateral trade between the two countries has remained tilted in favor of Malaysia.

He mentioned that Sindh government has decided to reserve 3,000 acres of forestland in Thatta District near the coastal belt for plantation of palm oil trees while the overall coastal belt was spread over 1,000 kilometers which was very suitable for palm oil plantations. “We look forward to Malaysia’s cooperation in developing Pakistan’s Palm oil plantation”, he said and also asked for reviewing tariff of palm oil products and facilitating crude oil refiners’ tariff in addition to negotiating prices or quotas in the form of forward contracting to help Pakistan develop this industry.

President KCCI informed that quality of Pakistani salt was far better while the pink salt, being produced in Pakistan, was highly demanded in Malaysia and Pakistan holds the largest salt reserves in the world. “Malaysia is importing rock salt from Australia and India but not from Pakistan. Hence, this is an area wherein both countries can enhance their trade. Moreover, Pakistan also has huge potential in Rice, fruits, dairy products, Textile, Footwear, and Sports goods etc.”

He also stressed the need for establishing Joint Business Forum and promote cooperation with Malaysian companies in the agriculture, textile, foods, pharmaceutical and leather and energy sectors. Pakistan, with a population of more than 220 million, has great potential to export its skilled technical and educated human resources to Malaysia. Both countries must work together for capacity building of Pakistan’s skilled workforce so that they could match employers’ requirements and get improved remuneration.

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OGDCL distributes 20 wheelchairs, five rickshaws among Hindus

KARACHI: The Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) said on Wednesday that under its CSR program, it has distributed 20 wheelchairs, five rickshaws and 1021 school uniforms and shoes among Hindu community members in the Tharparkar district of Sindh province.

As a responsible corporate entity, OGDCL distributed the wheelchairs, rickshaws, school uniforms and shoes worth PKR 2.4 million from the company’s CSR funds at the request of the Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC). These items were distributed to the locals of tehsil Islam Kot, tehsil Mithi and tehsil Chachro of district Tharparkar during this month.

Dr. Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, MNA and Patron of Pakistan Hindu Council was the Chief Guest of the ceremony, the event was also attended by Paman Lal Rathi, Joint Secretary, Parshotam Das, Haresh Jeramani of PHC and Barkat Ali Sr. CSR Officer OGDCL. Members of the Hindu community of the area appreciated OGDCL for its generous contribution and support to the cause of education, livelihood and relief to disabled people of the minority community.

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SUC seeks punishment for those speaking against army

QUETTA: Sunni Ulema Council, has demanded that severe punishment be inflicted upon those who speak against institutions of the state and Pak-Army besides declaring them ineligible for public post for good.

These views were expressed Moulana Muhammad Ramzan Mengal, President, Sunni Ulema Council, Balochistan while addressing a Press Conference at Quetta Press Club here on Wednesday.

He said that SUCB, a peaceful religious and patriotic party of the country, condemned conspiracy against Pak-Army and other state institutions, adding that the recent flood wreaked havoc in different parts of the country and skyrocketed inflation had added to the miseries of people, hence, such crucial time needed unity rather than misleading people of the country against state institutions and Pak-Army.

He said that Pak-Army and other institutions of the country did not belong to any nation and religion rather it belonged to all, therefore, all would have to accord respect to Pak-Army. He demanded that severe punishment be inflicted upon those who speak against institutions of the state and Pak-Army besides declaring them ineligible for public post for good.

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2831 patients died in Chandka Hospital within nine months: Report

LARKANA: As many as 2831 patients died at the Chandka Medical College Hospital (CMCH) till September 2022 in nine months out of a total admission of 47,061 while 32,819 were discharged and 2445 patients Left Against Medical Advice (LAMA) for better medical care, PPI learnt here on Wednesday.

According to the statistics, the annual CMCH Out-Patients Department (OPD) is approximately 1.70 million patients and 13,203 major and minor surgeries were performed till the end of September 2022 from January at eye, ENT, general surgery, orthopedics and neuro-surgery departments. Similarly, 120,497 x-rays, 76,251 ultrasounds, 839 CT scans on outdated machine, 1253 MRI, 408,784 laboratory investigations, 10,802 dialysis, 38,097 ECGs, 2,693 normal deliveries, 3,529 dog bite cases vaccination and 701 snake bite cases were treated during the same period which speaks high of its performance which can further be improved if the vacant sanctioned posts of doctors (BPS-17 onwards) and paramedics are filled.

There are no road-worthy ambulances for the patients, not even for shifting the poor ailing people from one ward to another which need to be looked into forthwith as CMCH is scattered at five different places of the city and one of the largest teaching hospitals of rural populace.

CMCH Medical Superintendent Dr. Gulzar Ali Tunio said that if vacant posts are filled and outdated machinery, equipment and instruments are replaced then performance of this hospital would be exemplary coupled with enhancement of annual allocated budget.

He said that old Casualty has been repaired and renovated and no new construction has been made for Medical Emergency Response Center (MERC) where 62 beds have been kept. He said that the SNE of the MERC is pending approval and implementation quickly by the bosses to enable the administration to operate the MERC for the benefit of the indisposed patients of many adjoining districts apart from Balochistan including injured.

He said an express feeder for uninterrupted power supply should also be ensured as frequent electricity load shedding has already crippled life here due to which operations are either delayed or postponed or even cancelled for unavailability of new heavy duty generators.

He said the capacity of the present Pole Mounted Transformer (PMT) must also be doubled. He further said that permission for appointment on vacant sanctioned paramedical staff posts should also be granted and gazetted posts of doctors be filled on merit through proper forum. Dr. Tunio said that an oxygen generation plant should also be sanctioned for CMCVH and annual budget allocation also needs sympathetic revision adding if these demands are accepted at once then the performance of the hospital will increase manifold saving precious human lives.

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Seceding parts of Pishin not acceptable, declares tribal leader

QUETTA: Tribal elder of district Pishin, Muhammad Wasey Tareen Advocate, has said that it was not acceptable to the people of Pishin to secede some parts from Pishin and declare it either the part of newly created district Karezat or the part of Barshore.

Addressing a press conference at Quetta Press Club here on Wednesday with other tribal elders of district Pishin, he said, “We are neither against the creation of a new district with headquarter at Khanozai nor are we against the creation of new district Karezat with its headquarter at Barshore rather we are against the demand that Tehsil Barshore be declared as the part of district Pishin”.

He added, “Legally one district consists of at least two Tehsils and if Tehsil Barshore is seceded from newly created district Karezat, legally it will not be permissible. He said that it was not acceptable to the people of Pishin to secede some parts from district Pishin and declare it either the part of newly created district Karezat or the part of Barshore.

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PDMA employees hold demo against non-payment of two salaries

QUETTA: Authorities have been urged to release pay in respect of the employees of Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Balochistan.

This demand was made in the protest demonstration of the employees of PDMA held outside Quetta Press Club here on Wednesday. Addressing the protest demonstration, Abdul Hameed, leader of the employees of PDMA said that that employees PDMA had not received their monthly salaries for the last two months due to unknown reasons.

He demanded of the authorities to ensure releasing pay in respect of the employees of PDMA. Chanting slogans “Mulazameen Ka Maashe Qadle Aam, Bund Karu”, “Stop economic suicide of the employees”, “Mulazameen ki Tunkhuwaye Bahal Karu” “Release the salaries of employees”, protesters dispersed peacefully.

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Maleria spreading like epidemic in flood camps

SUKKUR: Speakers at a seminar on a post-flood consultation said women, children and elderly are getting sick due to cold weather in flood relief camps.

Malaria is spreading like epidemic in the camps. In every family there are two or three members who are affected. The life has become very difficult for families as still flood water has not receded in the farms where peasants work to provide two times food to her children.

National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) Sindh and The Knowledge Forum (TKF) organized the consultation at a local hotel in Sukkur on Wednesday. The consultation was chaired by Chandan Malhi, coordinator NCHR and Naghma Iqtidar, co-director TKF.

In his opening remarks coordinator NCHR Chandan Malhi said that the purpose of this consultation is to identity the challenges being faced by the vulnerable communities in Sukkur and its surrounding districts. He further said that the purpose of the meeting is to forward recommendations to Sindh and federal governments and inform them about the challenges the vulnerable communities have faced so far in the flood relief efforts.

The participants of the consultation were from civil society, government officials, NGOs, and different marginalized communities from Sukkur and surrounding districts. Noted names from civil society included Ehsan Khan from IOM, Javed Solangi, Abdul Jabbar and Anwar Mehar and Shazia from Nari foundation.

The participants said that in Sindh there were also floods in past but they have not seen floods of this scale in their lifetime but what has been most disappointing is the response from government which has been very slow. In the affected areas nothing is left; schools, houses hospitals and roads have been washed away.

One of the participants said that peasants who work at the farms of the land owners live in mud house and are the poorest and were hit hardest and they are the ones who are being neglected in relief and rehabilitation efforts.

The members from civil society said that the amount being given to each family is meagre which won’t be enough to construct one side boundary of a room how come would it be enough to repair or build new homes which have been badly damaged.

One of the participants said that the camps have become non livable due to widespread diseases and people are suffering psychologically as they have also lost their only means of livelihood which was farming or working at the farms of the landowners.

Another participant said that government doesn’t have any proper and updated mechanism for distributing relief. In several instances, the worst affectees have been left out because of the non-availability of data. In many cases the relief has gone to those people who don’t need or have already received relief.

Sehrish Abbasi, a local journalist, said that she has seen doomsday situation at camps where girls and women are facing harassment at ration distribution centers and due to lack of toilets they have to wait until night. She further said that women and girls are depressed due to being locked up in the tents in most of the time. At the start the response was quick but gradually they affectees are being forgotten by media as well.

In the closing remarks, Chandan Malhi coordinator NCHR thanked the participants for their input and said the at the end of the series of consultations across Sindh, the recommendations given by the participants would be presented to stakeholders who are overseeing relief and rehabilitation efforts in Sindh.