Business Observer

Members of National Assembly held a meeting with Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq in Islamabad today and discussed the formation of standing committees. Those who met the Speaker included Syed Naveed Qamar, Shazia Marri, Malik Aamir Dogar, Mujahid Khan, Aijaz Jakhrani, Khalid Hussain Magsi, Gul Asfar Khan, Noor Alam Khan, Zain Hussain Qureshi, Aminul Haq, Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Hafeez Uddin and Moin Aamir. Source: Radio Pakistan

Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain has expressed the commitment to facilitate industry and business to improve their competitiveness. He was addressing the closing ceremony of four-day international training programme on gemstone in Islamabad today. The Minister said it is our collective responsibility to make sure that industry is facilitated and its true potential is realized, while all stakeholders are expected to be more determined towards industry-led economic growth. Rana Tanveer Hussain further said that special efforts are being made to promote gem and jewelry industry in the country. Source: Radio Pakistan

The Senate began its session at the Parliament House in Islamabad this afternoon with Chairman Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani in the chair. Maulana Abdul Wasay and Faisal Wawda took oath as senators today. Chairman Senate Syed Yusuf Raza Gillani administered the oath. Later the newly elected Senators signed the roll of members. Seven ordinances were laid before the House today. These include: 'The Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023', 'The Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023', 'The Pakistan Postal Services Management Board (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023', 'The National Highway Authority (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023', 'The Criminal Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023', 'The Pakistan Privatization Commission (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023' and 'The Establishment of Telecommunication Appellate Tribunal Ordinance, 2023.' 'The Election (Amendment) Bill, 2024', 'The Motion Pictures (Amendment) Bill, 2023' and 'The Establishment of Special Court (Overseas Pakistanis Pro perty) Bill, 2023' were introduced in the Senate today. Meanwhile, Minister for Foreign Affairs Ishaq Dar laid a copy of the Money Bill, the Tax Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in the House. He also moved that the Senate may make recommendations, if any, to the National Assembly on the Money Bill and 'The Tax Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024.' The Chairman referred the Money Bill to the Special Committee in order to examine it and make commendations to the National Assembly by Monday. Source: Radio Pakistan

President Asif Ali Zardari has emphasized collective efforts to curb malaria. In his message on World Malaria Day, he said Pakistan is determined to implement new initiatives under the Global Malaria Programme. He said the measures are aimed at testing, confirming and standardizing the treatment of every suspected case of malaria. Expressing concerns over the rise in Malaria cases in different parts of the country due to the devastating floods of 2022, Asif Ali Zardari called upon the provincial governments and other stakeholders to unite to deal with this alarming situation. He also called for raising awareness about the disease. Source: Radio Pakistan

Fertilizer Review Committee has recommended import of urea fertilizer for Kharif season. Chairing the committee's meeting, Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain said two hundred thousand metric tons of urea fertilizer should be imported immediately to avoid shortage. Demand for urea fertilizer in Kharif season is three point six percent higher than the last year. In his remarks, Rana Tanveer Hussain said the purpose of import is to ensure food security in the country. He said this will increase the productivity of the farmers. The Federal Minister assured that the farmers will have uninterrupted supply of urea fertilizer in Kharif season. He said all local urea fertilizer plants will also remain operational at full capacity. He said the government is ensuring gas supply to the fertilizer industry for the benefit of farmers. The final decision to import urea fertilizer will be taken by the Economic Coordination Committee in the next meeting. Source: Radio Pakistan

Pakistan has underscored the urgent need for concerted global efforts to combat the growing inequality and reverse the alarming trend of poverty resurgence. Deputy Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations Ambassador Usman Jadoon made these remarks in a statement he made today during the General Debate at the Financing for Development Forum (FFD) held at the UN headquarters in New York. Highlighting the stark reality of over 150 million people falling back into poverty in recent years, Ambassador Jadoon emphasized the critical importance of realizing the commitments outlined in the 2030 Agenda and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda. He said we do not lack solutions, but rather, we lack the political will to implement them. The long-standing failures to fulfill the 0.7% ODA target and to mobilize $100 billion in annual climate finance are only two such examples. Looking ahead to the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development to be held in Spain next year, the Pakistan deputy U N envoy expressed optimism about its potential to rebuild trust between the Global North and Global South. He stressed the need to reinvigorate political will to fulfill existing commitments and explore innovative solutions to bridge the SDG Financing Gap. He reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to actively and constructively participate in the preparatory process for the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development. He said Pakistan aims to ensure that the conference results in a financing for development architecture that is more equitable and responsive to the needs of developing countries. Source: Radio Pakistan