Category: Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Minister of Defense Eng. Khurram Dastgir Khan has said that India is the largest importer of weapons in South Asia and Pakistan has serious concerns about it.

He was addressing an international seminar titled “India: A pretentious Regional Power” here at a local hotel on Monday. He said according to Asian Development Bank (ADB), 29.9 percent of Indians or about 284 million people are living below the poverty line.

Referring to another recent study the minister said that by 2040, there will be no drinking water in almost all of India. He said India has been committing grave human rights violation in Occupied Kashmir by using pallet guns against innocent Kashmiris and international community should come forward to look into the grave situation.

He said instead of punishing them, protests are held in India in favour of child rapists. He said safety and dignity of human life has become more and more fragile with every passing day. He said minorities especially Muslims and Sikh community are facing deteriorating situation in India which shows the real face of Modi’s government.

The Defense Minister urged the youth to focus on research about this confused so-called regional power instead of believing on the content what they are disseminating through their RSS-backed media.

He said trade activities will reduce tensions between the two counties but unfortunately India doesn’t pay attention towards it. He said that India has been violating the LoC ceasefire agreement and about 400 violations have been made so far in 2018. He further said that India was fearful of Pak-Russia historical economic relations.

ISLAMABAD: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has recommended measures to the federal and provincial governments for making the sugar industry more efficient, improve sugarcane quality, enhance and diversify production processes, and focus on export competitiveness.

Taking notice of the sugarcane procurement crisis, the CCP held an open hearing on 25 January 2018, providing a platform to all stakeholders including representatives of the federal and provincial governments, growers, millers, retailers, distributors, and consumers to express their concerns.

In its opinion following the open hearing, the CCP recommended that the federal government abolishes the price floor/support price of sugarcane and let the market determine the price based on supply and demand.

However, if sugarcane price needs to be set, it should be based on independent and reliable data, taking stock of divergent conditions and factors prevalent in different areas, and consider any applicable support price of other crops such as cotton.

More importantly, where support prices are set, the government must act as an underwriter and ensure complete and timely payments to the farmers.

The Commission has recommended that quality considerations should determine any support price, rather than weight. Farmers who produce higher quality sugarcane should be paid a premium compared to those farmers whose cane is of lower quality.

The government should also encourage and take research & development (R&D) initiatives to reduce the cost of producing sugarcane and increase its quality.

The Commission has also said that millers should make their processes more efficient with incentives that encourage the optimal use of their by-products and reduce the overall cost of sugar production. This will help make them internationally competitive and enable them to make timely payments to farmers.

The Commission recommends that provincial governments review the legislative framework encourage open competition in the sugar sector.

To control price hikes of sugar at the retail/wholesale level, the CCP recommends that the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) keep a minimum reserve of sugar to address any unanticipated fluctuations in demand or any emergency. However, this measure should only be used sparingly as it could affect the free market mechanism.

The CCP also recommends that the relevant government departments should be cognisant of the sugar supply situation at all times.

This will help Pakistan take advantage of any export opportunities when they arise and the necessary measures for this purpose are done on time.

Lastly, the Commission recommends that a committee comprising representatives of all stakeholders, including government departments dealing with the sugar sector at the federal/provincial level, be constituted to discuss ways and means of implementing the recommendations made in the opinion.

ISLAMABAD: A special anti-polio campaign began in different areas of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, FATA and Karachi on Monday.

In Punjab, about eight million children under five years of age will be administered anti-polio drops during the five-day campaign in twelve districts of the province.

These districts include Lahore, Sheikhupura, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Layyah, Bhakkar, Mianwali, Rawalpindi and Attock.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA, during the three-day anti-polio campaign, about five point five million children will be administered anti-polio drops.

In Karachi, one point nine million children up to five years of age will be administered anti-polio drops in 170 union councils of the city during a seven-day anti-polio drive.

ISLAMABAD: The Opposition walked out from the Senate proceedings on Monday to protest against the absence of Foreign and Interior Ministers who were summoned to brief the House about media reports of shifting Dr Shakil Afridi to Rawalpindi from Peshawar, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

The Senate met for three hours and 37 minutes. The sitting started at the scheduled time of 1500 hours. The Chairman presided over the entire sitting. The Deputy Chairman was not present.

The Leader of the House attended the sitting for an hour and 53 minutes. The Leader of the Opposition attended the proceedings for two hour and 53 minutes. Parliamentary leaders of PTI, PPPP, BNP-M, ANP and PkMAP were present.

Sixteen members (15% of the total membership) were present at the outset and 10 (9%) at the end of sitting. Two minority Senators attended the sitting.

Tabled by the Leader of the House, the House adopted a resolution to condemn Indian atrocities in Kashmir.

Eight Senators participated in the debate on Finance Bill, 2018 consuming an hour and 52 minutes of the proceedings.

Four lawmakers spoke on as many matters of public importance for 18 minutes.

The Chairman referred the issue of collection under the head of Gas Infrastructure Development Cess (GIDC) to the Petroleum Committee on the demand of the Opposition lawmakers. Earlier, the State Minister for Finance requested the Chair to refer it the Standing Committee on Finance.

An Independent lawmaker staged a token walkout for two minutes over lack of basic amenities in Balochistan.

Seventeen lawmakers spoke on as many points of order for 79 minutes which were mainly regarding attack on Interior Minister in Narowal, deaths of miners near Quetta, persecution of people from Hazara community and Indian atrocities in Kashmir.

PkMAP lawmakers expressed reservations over trial of police official Rao Anwar in Naqeeb Ullah murder case. They walked out of the House at 1833 hours and did not return till adjournment of the sitting at 1837 hours.

PPPP and PTI lawmakers except the Leader of the Opposition walked out of the House at 1835 hours against the absence of Foreign and Interior ministers who had to brief the House about media reports of shifting Dr Shakil Afridi to Rawalpindi from Peshawar. They also did not return to the House till adjournment of sitting.

The Leader of the Opposition had to join the walkout after speaking on her Point of Public Importance but the Chair adjourned the House to meet again on May 8, 2018 at 1500 hours soon after end of her speech.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has expressed Pakistan’s grave concern over the escalation of systematic brutalities, killing of innocent civilians and human rights violations committed by Indian forces in Occupied Kashmir.

In a statement, the Prime Minister said Indian security forces have recently unleashed a reign of terror against the Kashmiri people. The Hurriyet leadership has been arrested or detained and peaceful protestors are being constantly terrorized and maimed by gunfire and pallet shots.

He further said that Indian state terrorism has resulted in the killing of fourteen people in last 36 hours alone. The denial of access to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and OIC Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission is ample proof of both the Indian oppression and its guilt.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said the continued inhuman oppression by India of five generations of Kashmiris struggling for a just, fair and legitimate right to self-determination calls in question the collective conscience of the world.

He said people of the world must realize their voice against Indian oppression and world leaders must unite to save the victimized and brutalized women, children and youth of Kashmir.

He called upon the United Nations to play its due role to stop the bloodbath of Kashmiris and enforce their inalienable right to self-determination.

The Prime Minister denounced Indian state terrorism in the strongest terms and reiterated to continue providing moral, political and diplomatic support to the people of Kashmir in their struggle for self-determination under the UN Charter and in accordance with the UNSC resolutions.

ISLAMABAD: National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) will develop software for online scrutiny of candidates in the general elections 2018.

The decision to this effect was taken during a meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Sardar Mohammad Raza in Islamabad on Monday.

The system will link up NAB, FBR, FIA, State Bank with ECP for providing required information regarding the candidates to all returning officers.

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has adjourned sine die the hearing of contempt of court case against Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry.

A three-member bench headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan which was hearing the case has now been dissolved due to Justice Ejaz Afzal`s retirement on Monday.

During the course of hearing on Monday, Talal Chaudhry appealed the court for withdrawal of the contempt notice. In his remarks, Justice Ejaz Afzal assured him that he will be given full opportunity to defend himself before the court.