Tag: COVID-19

(Court): PSDF represents Pakistan as skills expert at GSG Global Impact Summit

Karachi: CEO Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF), Jawad Khan, spoke at the GSG Global Impact Summit 2020 in the session on ‘Upskilling the Unemployed’ to discuss the importance of impact investment in training and an outcome-based approach to re-skilling and up-skilling programmes targeting the vulnerable and unemployed.

The GSG Summit attracts change makers from across the world to work on a just and impact-led recovery that benefits all people and the planet. This year’s virtual summit focused on how to place impact at the heart of COVID-19 response and recovery and bring forward solutions that can help rally and re-build.

The three-day summit brought forward influential speakers from 32 countries across the world, from the public and private sector, such as Achim Steiner, The Administrator of the UNDP, Emmanuel Faber, CEO at Danone, Jessica Alba, founder at The Honest Company and Ibukun Awosika, Chair at the First Bank of Nigeria.

The 2nd day of the summit included the session on ‘Upskilling the Unemployed’ which looked at the adverse economic impact of Covid-19, and ideated on impact investment and outcome-based vehicles that could be promising to achieve scale and maximum social outcomes.

At the session, CEO PSDF, Jawad Khan, joined as one of the prime speakers on global labour market trends and the challenges and opportunities brought forward by the Covid-19 pandemic, and focused on how ‘pay for success’ financing and schemes can help ensure a rapid and fair recovery. He further expanded on PSDF’s involvement in leading a number of cross-sector partnerships in the skilling space, such as the National Accelerator on closing the skills gap (Parwaaz), that identifies high-growth sectors and declining and emerging job roles, to skill, re-skill and upskill the current and future workforce.

Other speakers at the session included Annie Plancher, Vice President of Staff and Strategy at Social Finance US, Maha Keramane, Head of Microfinance and Social Entrepreneurship from BNP Paribas, and Dr. Swapan Bala, Professor at University of Dhaka.

ECC: (ECC allows amendment in scheme for import of duty free car by disabled persons)

Islamabad:Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has allowed the amendment in the import of Customs Duty Free Cars under disabled persons’ scheme.

Advisor on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh chaired the ECC meeting here on Wednesday. Under the new amendments, the income bracket of the person who is importing the vehicle is increased from the current limit of Rs20,000 to Rs100,000 to Rs100,000 to Rs200,000 per month.

He will be allowed to import the vehicle if he has not imported or purchased locally assembled car during the last 10 years under the scheme provided that he holds NTN Certificate and files annual tax return. The ECC approved the Incorporation of Pakistan Single Window Company under section 42 of the Companies Act, 2017 with its objectives as contained in the Memorandum and Articles of Association.

It also gave approval for the provision of technical supplementary grant of Rs219.631-million for the reimbursement of the expenditure of National Coordination Committee on Covid-19 for the current financial year. Six billion rupees were approved for the Ministry of Railways as additional grant to defray its mandatory liabilities including pay and pensions.

Two technical supplementary grants amounting to Rs160 million and Rs96 million were approved for the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training to carry out the Skill for all program and for Mainstreaming of Religious Education and matters related to Deeni Madaris respectively. The Publication of Rolling Spectrum Strategy 2020-2023 was also approved by ECC.

(Assembly): KP Assembly Discusses Billion Trees Afforestation Project

Peshawar:The Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) discussed Billion Tree Afforestation Project and passed a government bill on Tuesday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

The House met for two hours and 49 minutes. The sitting started at 1521 hours against the scheduled time of 1500 hours. The Speaker presided over the sitting for an hour and 35 minutes while rest of the sitting was presided over by the Deputy Speaker. The Leaders of the House and the Opposition did not attend the sitting. As many as 45 (31%) MPAs were present at the outset and 60 (41%) at the adjournment of the sitting. The parliamentary leaders of BAP, ANP, PML MMA attended the sitting. Two minority members were present in the sitting.

Moved by the Provincial Minister for Food, the House passed COVID-19 (Prevention of Hoarding) Bill, 2020. Tabled by an MMAP lawmaker, the House adopted a supplementary resolution in connection with International Day of Democracy to strengthen democratic institutions of the country.

Provincial Minister for Law responded to two Call attention Notices regarding construction of a road in Tank city and one percent tax collection in district Mardan for several months.

The House took up all eight starred questions while lawmakers also asked four supplementary questions. As many as 15 lawmakers debated the Billion Trees Afforestation Project for an hour and 14 minutes of the proceedings. Minister for Environment, Forest and Wildlife concluded the debate on it during his 15-minute speech.

The House did not hold discussion on the state of the education in the Province. Four privilege motions of as many lawmakers were referred to the relevant committee.

The House was adjourned to meet again on September 18, 2020 (Friday) at 1000 hours.

(Cricket): PCB announces Covid-19 protocols for domestic season

Karachi:Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced Covid-19 protocols for the 2020-21 domestic season, which begins from September 30 with the National T20 Cup.

From the beginning of the season, squad members, match officials, duty doctors and security managers will be placed in bio-secure zones, where they will be able to roam around and interact with each other freely. To ensure that the bio-secure zone is virus free, they will be required to return two negative Covid-19 tests, which is in line with the practices carried out at present in international cricket.

Members of the First XI and Second XI squads are required to submit the results of their first Covid-19 tests by September 16 and 18, respectively. The PCB will reimburse the costs of the first tests and conduct all following tests during the course of the season.

Those returning negative results will be invited to PCB designated central stations, where they will undergo second Covid-19 tests under the supervision of the PCB medical team. The second tests of the First XI and Second XI squads will be conducted on September 18 and September 21, respectively.

The players who toured England with the men’s national team for three Tests and three T20Is will travel to Multan on September 23 and after their second negative test will join their respective domestic teams on September 25 as they have been granted a period of relaxation following their 10-week-long tour.

The PCB has taken the responsibility to conduct all Covid-19 tests of the teenage cricketers. Their first Covid-19 tests will take place on 1 October.

Similar to the Covid-19 practice for the players and player support personnel, match officials will be required to submit their results by September 24 and their second tests will be conducted on September 27 at a PCB designated central station.

(City): Pakistanis believe they have skills to thrive despite COVID-19 slump: Survey

Karachi:A Standard Chartered survey finds that COVID-19 has already had a significant impact on incomes globally – with one-third (35% in Pakistan) already earning less.

Yet over three-quarters are confident they have the skills needed to thrive in an increasingly digital world (83% in Pakistan). This is driven by young people (18-34) and those in emerging markets, who are the most confident, and prepared to work hardest to realize opportunities post-COVID-19.

The study of 12,000 adults across twelve markets – Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mainland China, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, UAE, Kenya, Pakistan, the UK and the US – offers insights into their financial wellbeing and employment outlook in these challenging times, and how banks can play a role in helping them manage their money. An infographic of the Global survey and the Pakistan outcomes is attached for your understanding.

Ben Hung, CEO of Retail Banking, and Wealth Management and Regional CEO for Greater China and North Asia at Standard Chartered, said: “Young people around the world have been hit particularly hard by the economic impact of the pandemic. Many are in insecure employment or graduating into a tough job market. Yet their confidence, adaptability and willingness to work hard, especially in fast-growing markets, provides hope for the recovery.

Many are considering starting a new business in the wake of the pandemic but want to learn how to manage their finances better. They must be supported. Banks have a role to play both by helping them manage their money and providing tools that make banking easier so they can focus on leading the way to recovery.”

Ms Khadija Hashimi, Head of Corporate Affairs and Brand and Marketing, at Standard Chartered Pakistan said: “Pakistan is a country with a young and vibrant population, and it needs to make space for them to play an active part in the future development of the country. With 70 percent of the population younger than 29, Pakistan’s vibrant youth are eager to engage with a dynamic, open mind to resolve problems.

The current pandemic has enabled us to understand that adopting Digital technology will be a game changer for the country. Digital transformation coupled with building an active entrepreneurial ecosystem, will provide opportunities for creating new jobs and helping exploit the untapped potential of the society. Financial institutions and especially Banks need to step forward and provide guidance and support to make people understand how to make better and more productive use of their money.”

(City): COVID-19 claims three more lives in Sindh

Karachi:As many as three more patients died due to corona virus, lifting the death toll to 2,448 while 341 new cases emerged when 13642 tests were conducted.

This was stated by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah in a statement issued here from CM House on Tuesday. The CM said that COVID-19 claimed three more lives overnight, lifting the death toll to 2,448 that constituted 1.8 percent death rate.

He added that 101 more patients had recovered. The number of patients recovered so far had reached 127,727 that came to 96 percent recovery rate. Shah said that 13,642 samples were tested against which 341 cases were detected that constituted two percent current detection rate. So far 1158,904 tests have been conducted which diagnosed 132,591 cases which constituted 11 percent overall detection rate.

The CM said that currently, 2,416 patients were under treatment, of them 2137 in home isolation, five at isolation centers and 274 at different hospitals. The condition of 165 patients was stated to be critical, including 19 shifted to ventilators.

According to Murad Ali Shah out of 341 new cases, 173 had been detected from Karachi. They include 66 South, 46 East, 32 Korangi, 13 Central, 11 West and five Malir. Dadu has 34 cases, Jamshoro 33, Sukkur 17, Shaheed Benazirabad nine, Hyderabad seven, Tando Allahyar four, Tando Mohammad Khan and Sujawal three each, Larkana, Matiari, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar and Thatta two each and Khairpur one.

The chief minister said that they all have to wear masks, wash hands frequently, avoid hand shaking and crowing. “This is the only way to stay safe,” he said.

166 new COVID-19 cases emerge

Karachi:Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that 166 new cases of coronavirus emerged when 12,093 tests were conducted and fortunately no death has been reported overnight. This he said in a statement issued here from CM House on Monday.

The chief minister said that fortunately no death has been reported overnight and we have 2445 deaths which constituted 1.8 percent. Mr Shah said that 12093 tests were conducted against which 166 new cases of coronavirus emerged that constituted 1 percent current detection rate. He added that so far 1145262 samples have been tested which diagnosed 132,250 cases, of them 97 percent or 127,626 have recovered, including 177 overnight.

According to the CM, currently 2179 patients are under treatment, of them 1897 in home isolation, six at isolation centers and 276 different hospitals. The condition of 163 patients is stated to be critical, including 19 shifted to ventilators.

Murad Ali Shah said that out of 166 new cases, 74 have been detected from Karachi, including 26 from east, 19 South, 12 Central, 11 Korangi, four Malir and two West. He added that Hyderabad has 16 cases, Badin 13, Umerkot nine, Ghotki eight, Kambar seven, Thatta five, Khairpur, Larkana, Naushehroferoze, Sanghar, Shaheed Benazirabad, Shikarpur, Sujawal, Sukkur and Tando Allahyar two each, Jamshoro, Tharparkar and Dadu one each.