Month: July 2022

Minister for Climate Change, Sherry Rehman has taken notice of the proposal for Limestone Lease and installation of ten thousand tonnes per day Cement Plant by a company, in the area declared as “Salt Range Nature Reserve Complex” in Tehsil Choa Saidan Shah of district Chakwal.

In a press release, she said blasting and quarrying of raw materials by the proposed cement plant threaten the ecology of this rich biodiversity.

The Minister urged Punjab Environmental Protection Agency to conduct in-depth assessments to ensure the protected areas.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Finance Minister Miftah Ismael says government's efforts to reduce imports have finally borne fruit and imports in July, have been only five billion dollars as compared to 7.7 billion dollars in June.

In a tweet on Sunday, he said our government is determined to minimize the large current account deficit left by PTI.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took an aerial visit of flood affected areas of Balochistan and viewed damages caused by recent monsoon rains.

The Prime Minister directed the authorities concerned to immediately set up a medical camp and supply medicines in the affected villages.

He asked the authorities for the provision of two more boats immediately to speed up the relief operations and ration in the affected villages.

Shehbaz Sharif also visited Jhal Magsi and interacted with flood-affected people in Shambani.

He directed to accelerate relief activities and provide food and other relief items to affected families.

The Prime Minister also directed to ensure availability of veterinary doctors for animals.

On the directive of Prime Minister, the Chief Secretary Balochistan dispatched teams in affected areas to accelerate relief activities.

Earlier, the Prime Minister also visited Jacobabad where he was briefed about relief activities in flood-affected areas.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Minister for Economic Affairs Omar Ayub Khan appreciated the German’s enhanced bilateral economic cooperation with Pakistan and expressed that both countries are long-standing development partners.

Talking to State Secretary of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany Jochen Flasbarth in Islamabad today [Monday], he said that Germany is playing a supportive role in providing technical and financial assistance for socioeconomic development in Pakistan.

He briefed the German delegation about the ongoing policy reforms and initiatives and development priorities of Pakistan which include a stronger focus on climate change, green energy, agriculture, regional connectivity and information communication technologies.

He emphasized the need to focus on Vocational and Technical Education in the country and a proposal for establishing a state-of-the-art Technical Training University in Gilgit-Baltistan in under consideration.

The German State Secretary for Economic Cooperation and Development expressed satisfaction at the trajectory of bilateral cooperation in different areas and discussed the ways to further enhance the bilateral technical and financial cooperation. He said that Germany will provide further assistance for Social Sector including Education and Health, Green Energy, Urban Infrastructure, Digital Governance and Start-Up Pakistan Programme.

Both sides also exchanged views on increasing the cost effectiveness of development assistance initiatives and the measures to enhance cooperation with the private sector including export competitiveness through technical and financial assistance.

German State Secretary for Economic Cooperation and Development Jochen Flasbarth who is on three-day visit to Pakistan, met with Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood in Islamabad today.

Both sides exchanged views on bilateral relations as well as regional issues.

The Foreign Secretary said Germany is a valued, long-standing partner and Pakistan remained committed to further enhancing the bilateral relationship in all dimensions.

He said the two countries celebrated 70 years of establishment of diplomatic relations last year as Islamabad values Germany’s role as a development partner for over six decades.

He said that Pakistan is committed to supporting the international community’s efforts to strengthen peace and stability in Afghanistan. He said that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan would result in greater regional integration and connectivity.

He emphasized the urgency to assist 40 million Afghan people in order to prevent a humanitarian crisis and economic meltdown.

The State Secretary appreciated Pakistan’s assistance in its evacuation operations from Afghanistan and hoped for Pakistan’s continued support in this regard.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Prime Minister Imran Khan says Afghan students studying in Pakistani Universities will help in playing a vital role for development of Afghanistan and continue to strengthen people to people contacts between the two countries.

Chairing the 4th meeting of the Apex Committee on Afghanistan in Islamabad today [Monday], he directed that scholarships be continued and all necessary resources be made available.

Discussing the potential of bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Prime Minister said that Pakistan accords top priority to business-to-business relationships and communication projects and will provide full facilitation from the Government side.

He said that Pakistan will support hospitals Pakistan helped build in Afghanistan as well as work to build even greater road and rail connectivity with Afghanistan.

The Prime Minister also directed relevant Ministries to fast-track the projects and commitments announced for aid of Afghan people.

Imran Khan said that Pakistan wants a peaceful and stable Afghanistan and the International community must help avert humanitarian crisis in the neighboring country.

The meeting was attended by Ministers Shoukat Tarin, Fawad Ahmed, Shafqat Mehmood, Azam Khan Swati, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, National Security Advisor Dr. Moeed Yusuf, Advisor Commerce Abdul Razaq Dawood, SAPM Dr. Faisal Sultan and senior civil and military officers.

Earlier, National Security Advisor Dr. Moeed Yusuf provided a detailed briefing to the Apex Committee regarding Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, chairing a meeting on the Overseas Enclave Islamabad, the Prime Minister directed the authorities concerned to ensure high quality construction, fast-track completion and competitive pricing of proposed housing apartments in Islamabad.

Terming overseas Pakistanis as valuable asset, he said the government is fully focused on engaging nine million overseas Pakistanis for economic turnaround and wealth creation in the country.

Source: Radio Pakistan