Category: United Nations

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Ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of women’s barracks for Anti-Narcotics Force takes place in Islamabad

Islamabad, January 28, 2020 (PPI-OT):United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with support from the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, U.S. Embassy Pakistan (INL-P), has begun construction of barracks for women personnel of Anti-Narcotic Force (ANF). A ground-breaking plaque was jointly unveiled today at the Regional Directorate-North, ANF, Islamabad by: Major General Muhammad Arif Malik, HI (M), Director General, ANF, Pakistan; Ms. Kate Riche, Director (A) (INL-P); and Mr. Ignacio Artaza Zuriarrain, Resident Representative a.i., UNDP.

 

The barracks will contribute to the empowerment of ANF women personnel by providing dedicated facilities. The five-story building will accommodate 48 personnel and will be completed within 18 months. UNDP and ANF, with support from INL-P, are also developing a Gender Strategy for Empowerment of Women.

 

Speaking on the occasion, Major General Muhammad Arif Malik, Director General ANF, thanked UNDP and INL-P for initiating the intervention for women personnel of ANF. Ignacio Artaza, Resident Representative a.i. reiterated UNDP’s continuous commitment to rebuilding public trust in justice and security institutions through legal aid, improving and increasing gender sensitive policing, and supporting women lawyers and police. Mr. Artaza thanked INL-Pakistan for their continuous support to UNDP and to Government of Pakistan. Kate Riche, Director (A) INL-Pakistan, highlighted INL’s commitment to strengthening capacities of law enforcement agencies in Pakistan.

 

For more information, contact:

National Information Officer

United Nations Information Centre (UNIC)

Islamabad, Pakistan

Tel: +92-51-8355720

Cell: +92-300-8553790

Email: ishrat.rizvi@unic.org

 

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One Window Demanded for Wheat Exports Procedure and Payment of Subsidy

Karachi, January 28, 2018 (PPI-OT):The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) welcomed the decision of the government to allow export of wheat and urged the government to allow one window operation rather than involving the provincial governments and making it a cumbersome procedure.

President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said the government has taken the correct decision to export surplus wheat to earn valuable much needed foreign exchange as the country has surplus stocks. This is indeed a wise decision as otherwise the stock get rotten as they are left in open yards, uncovered and exposed to sun and rain. Unfortunate there is no system to manage bumper crops nor there is a system to manage shortage. It is a pity he said.

Thaver appreciated the decision and urged the government to make it one window to facilitate the exporters and also ensure that the subsidy is given in good time and not block the investment of the exporters. He said with the present cumbersome system of multiple windows it will be difficult in fact impossible for SMEs to export.

Secondly he urged the government to beware of tricky exporters to Afghanistan who will merely prepare documents for export but not export it as such. Thaver said the SMEs are the backbone of the economy and the majority sector and need to be included in the export of wheat.

The Union has requested Faud Garib the chairman of the Wheat Exporters Association of Pakistan (WEAP) and the Wheat Traders Association to take up the matter with the government and urge them to allow one window operation and make the payment of the subsidy from one institution prompt and efficient. The Union demands level playing field for all.

The big exporters will manage to manoeuvre and manipulate but the SMEs need a simple procedure. However the one window facility will facilitate both the big and the SMEs. It is pertinent to note that the exporters in the past were made to run from pillar to post in the case of commodities which were allowed to be exported.

For more information, contact:
Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME)
75/1 3rd Commercial Street,
Phase IV, D.H.A., Karachi, Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-35884225-6
Fax: +92-21-35380642
Cell: +92-300-8245307, +92-321-8245307
Email: unisame@gmail.com

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Pakistan to raise issue with UNHCR for early repatriation of Afghan refugees

Islamabad, January 04, 2018 (PPI-OT):The Federal Cabinet has termed the recent statements by the US leadership about Pakistan as detrimental to bilateral relationship between the two countries. The Cabinet, which met in Islamabad with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in the chair, unanimously expressed deep disappointment over these statements. The cabinet reiterated that Pakistan has rendered huge sacrifices, both in terms of loss of precious human lives and substantial damage to the economy. It said the achievements made by Pakistan in curbing the menace of terrorism have been acknowledged throughout the world.

The Cabinet granted thirty days extension in the Proof of Registration Cards for Afghan Refugees beyond 31st of the last month. It also decided that the issue of early repatriation of Afghan Refugees shall be raised with UNHCR and with the international community. The cabinet emphasized that Pakistan’s economy has carried the burden of hosting Afghan Refugees since long and in the present circumstances cannot sustain it further. The meeting accorded approval to publication of Block Level Provisional results of Census 2017. The cabinet approved Maximum Retail Prices of Additional Pack Sizes of already registered Drugs. It also gave approval to the placement of “Institute for Arts and Culture Bill, 2017” before the Parliament.

For more information, contact:
Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage
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