Category: Islamabad

ISLAMABAD:Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed to abolish around one hundred and fifty licenses required for various business activities at the local level.

Chairing a meeting on licensing regime in the provinces here on Monday, he also directed the provincial governments to eliminate seventy four different licenses of this nature.

He directed to simplify the process for necessary licenses and introduction of automated system by employing modern technology.

The Prime Minister expressed concern on complex licensing regime and said the requirement of licenses for the businesses of grocery, cloth and bakery is equal to creating difficulties for the common man. He also emphasized to complete the process of eliminating unnecessary licenses in thirty days.

ISLAMABAD:Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Naghmana Hashmi has expressed the hope that friendship between China and Pakistan could reach even greater heights in 2020.

Speaking at China Global Television Network in Beijing, she said relationship between two countries is gaining strength day by day which is also good for the entire region and world.

She said Chinese President Xi Jinping has himself said that Pakistan and China have a very unique all weather strategic cooperative partnership which is like no other relationship between two states in the world.

ISLAMABAD:Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lt General Muhammad Afzal on Monday visited the rains and snowfall affected areas of Balochistan.

Director General Provincial Disaster Management Authority Imran Zargun briefed the Chairman on the losses and damages caused by recent spell of rains and snowfall in the Balochistan province.

Expressing his grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives and properties in the province, Chairman NDMA announced a financial assistance package from the Prime Minister of Pakistan for the affected population of Balochistan.

An amount of Rs500, 000 (Five hundred thousand will be extended to the families of every deceased person, while Rs50, 000 (fifty thousand) will be paid to those who are injured.

Apart from this, a financial assistance of rupees one hundred thousand will be provided for the families with houses fully damaged or collapsed while an amount of twenty five thousand to fifty thousand will be given to the families with partially damaged houses.

During the briefing, the DG PMDA Balochistan apprised the Chairman NDMA that due to inadequate heavy machinery for road clearance, PDMA Balochistan faced challenges in restoring the road network.

Chairman NDMA then assured the PDMA Balochistan that their requirement of heavy roads clearance equipment will be met and funding for this equipment would be done through National Disaster Management Fund (NDMF).

The NDMA Chairman announced that a comprehensive Disaster Management Training will also be arranged for the relevant stakeholders and line departments of Balochistan Government so that they be better trained for coping with the emergency situations.

ISLAMABAD:Chairman Kashmir Committee, Syed Fakhar Imam has said that cruelties by Indian forces continue on innocent Kashmiris in occupied Kashmir which are not acceptable.

Talking to media in Multan on Monday, he said one hundred and sixty-nine days have been passed since India imposed curfew in occupied Kashmir and people of this valley are suffering from unbearable difficulties of life.

He said International Media is widely highlighting the Kashmir issue to provide awareness to world about Indian atrocities on Kashmir people by Indian security forces.

ISLAMABAD:Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that she did not understand the purpose of the Citizenship Amendment Act passed in India that have faced persecution in Bangladesh and other neighbouring countries.

According to reports, in an interview, she said Citizenship Amendment

Act was not necessary. She also said that there has been no recorded reverse migration from India.

But within India, people are facing many problems.

ISLAMABAD:Interior Minister Ijaz Ahmad Shah has said that the government would fulfill all its commitments made with allied political parties and address their grievances.

Talking to a private news channel, he said difference of opinion in political alliances is a routine matter and a part of democracy.

The minister said appointing Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan would be resolved with consensus in coming days. He said the matter of changing IG Police Sindh would be resolved soon but till then IGP Kaleem Imam would perform his duty till further orders.

He said the government is making efforts to enhance working capacity of Federal Investigation Agency, NADRA, Passport Offices and Capital Development Authority with modern technology.

ISLAMABAD:Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that heavy responsibility lies on the shoulders of Pakistani diplomats to cope with the challenges of changing times.

Addressing graduation ceremony of diplomats here at Foreign Service Academy on Monday, he said competition between old and new global power houses poses challenges for Pakistan’s foreign policy.

He said new alignments are taking place in the world with Asia becoming pivotal of global politics. He said trade and investment will be key drivers of our prosperity in future. He said we have to protect the interests of Pakistan at any cost.

The Foreign Minister said interaction of diplomats with various institutions will be helpful in safeguarding Pakistan’s interests abroad. He said the diplomats were also given an opportunity to visit China which will be helpful in their professional learning.