Day: April 30, 2022

Co-Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Bill Gates has appreciated Pakistan Army for supporting national polio drive, ensuring proper reach and coverage.

During a telephonic conversation with Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Bill Gates also appreciated Pakistan's success against COVID-19 despite resource constraints.

The Army Chief attributed the success to a true national response, executed through the mechanism of NCOC which allowed optimization of resources.

General Qamar Javed Bajwa said it was a national cause and credit goes to all involved in the process.

The COAS appreciated his efforts towards this noble cause and assured him continued cooperation.

Matters related to Pakistan's commitment for comprehensive Polio eradication and COVID-19 were discussed during the conversation.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Speaker National Assembly Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has written letters to all the parliamentary leaders in National Assembly to forward nominations from their respective parties for the Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms.

The Speaker has asked the parliamentary leaders to forward their nominations within seven days.

The Speaker, in his message, wrote that National Assembly in its sitting held on 16th of this month adopted a motion to constitute a Parliamentary Committee to evaluate shortcomings in previous elections and to make recommendations for electoral reforms to ensure that elections are held in free, fair and transparent manner.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says Pakistan wants to transform its historic relations with Saudi Arabia into a deep and diverse strategic partnership.

In an interview with Arab News Pakistan Edition, the Prime Minister said our two countries have this special bond for the last seven decades. He said it is now our earnest desire to transform this relationship into a deep, diverse and mutually beneficial partnership.

The Prime Minister said both countries are now working on exploring new and non-conventional areas of bilateral cooperation, with a particular focus on promoting economic, trade and investment ties.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman in Jeddah last night and exchanged views on matters of mutual interest.

Earlier, on his arrival at Royal Palace, he was received by the Crown Prince.

He was also presented guard of honour on the occasion.

Source: Radio Pakistan

The Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) has devised a comprehensive hydropower generation expansion plan to increase hydel energy share from existing 9406MW to 20,591MW by 2028-29.

Official sources told APP that the share of hydel energy would be added in two phases.

Under 1st phase, the share of hydel energy would be enhanced from 9406MW to 12,366MW by 2025 and in next phase it would be jacked up to 20,591MW till 2028-29.

The WAPDA officials said, at present, hydel share in overall energy mix stood at 31 per cent with annual energy generation of 37 billion units.

The WAPDA, under its generation plan would add 17 billion units of low-cost hydel electricity raising the number of units from 37 to 54 billion by the year 2025.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Sajid Hussain Turi has expressed the government's determination to address the problems of overseas Pakistanis on priority basis.

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Saturday, he said we collectively will take such decisions which protect the rights of overseas Pakistanis.

PPP Secretary Information Faisal Karim Kundi in his remarks said that we do not believe in character assassination of the political opponents.

Source: Radio Pakistan