Day: May 24, 2024

Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf met Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif in Lahore today. Speaking on this occasion, the Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif lauded the brave personnel of the Pakistan Navy for security of country's maritime borders. She said the invaluable services of the Pakistan Navy are viewed with great respect. Source: Radio Pakistan

Pakistan's Ambassador to US Masood Khan has urged IT entrepreneurs to scale up their investments and programs in Pakistan. He was talking to a delegation of IT entrepreneurs, who called on him, in Washington. Appreciating the initiatives being taken by IT entrepreneurs, he said that Pakistan's tech sector had witnessed an impressive growth, especially in fintech, healthtech and other tech associated areas including transportation and real estate. The Ambassador highlighted the fact that Pakistan's IT exports had surged to $4 billion. Discussing Pak-US collaboration especially in IT and Tech sector, he said that the existing partnership had a great potential for growth. He said that the US stood as the preeminent import destination of Pakistani goods. In the fiscal year 2022-23, Pakistan IT and IT-related service exports to the US amounted to $ 1.4 billion. Noting the presence of leading international IT corporations in Pakistan including HP, DELL, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Oracle, NCR, Teradata, and Google , Masood Khan observed that digitization of economy, e-commerce and improved supply chains were driving this change. He said tech startups have particularly been successful in fintech, retail, pharmacy, diagnostics, telemedicine, education, groceries and transportation. The Ambassador also welcomed the intent to manufacture low cost software products in Pakistan for their export to US. He said that Pakistan could be used as a manufacturing hub not only for United States but also for Central Asia, Middle East and North Africa. On the occasion, the delegation said 'Certified Cloud Applied Generative AI' initiative has been launched to train 30,000 IT students, engineers and other professionals to impart practical training and upgrade their Skills. Simultaneously, a database of trained IT individuals/experts in Pakistan was also being compiled to connect them with Pakistani-American tech entrepreneurs especially in the Silicon Valley. Moreover, a platform was also being created for Pakistani freelancers wi th an aim to provide them with better employment opportunities in Pakistan as well as across the globe. Briefing the Ambassador, the delegation said 'Certified Cloud Applied Generative AI' has been launched under Sindh Governor's initiative. They informed that previously they had been contributing, on gratis basis, to promote education, research and business opportunities in Artificial Intelligence, BlockChain, Internet of Things, and Cloud Native Computing under initiative for Artificial Intelligence and Computing. The delegation showed their desire to establish a Tech National Incubation Centre in Karachi and other parts of Pakistan and highlighted that they intended to manufacture low cost software engineering products in Pakistan for export to the United States. Source: Radio Pakistan

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has said the ten billion dollars investment package announced by the UAE reflects confidence of world leaders in Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led government's efforts to revamp Pakistan's economy. Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has said the ten billion dollars investment package announced by the UAE reflects confidence of world leaders in Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led government's efforts to revamp Pakistan's economy. Addressing a joint news conference along with Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal in Islamabad today, he said the warmth shown towards Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif by UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is unprecedented. He said securing an investment package from the United Arab Emirates is a great victory of the government and the Special Investment Facilitation Council on the diplomatic front. The Information Minister further said unfortunately, a political party is unable to digest this success of the government to strengthen economy of Pakistan. He said the world acknowledges Pakistan's potential to deliver. He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, SIFC, and Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir saved the country from default through joint efforts. Resultantly, investments in Pakistan have risen by 172 percent as compared to the last month. Attaullah Tarar said those, who wrote a letter to the IMF and unleashed a campaign to harm GSP plus status of Pakistan, are now attacking the SIFC at a time when confidence of investors and friendly countries is growing. He said they are running an organized campaign on social media, targeting government, SIFC and the armed forces. He said SIFC is lifeline of Pakistan's economy and no one will be allowed to harm it. He said SIFC, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, is ensuring foreign investment by providing an enabling environment to investors. Referring to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government's intention to present provincial budget in adva nce to the Federal Budget, the Minister for Information said they are doing so to deceive the people for political reasons. He said it is the Federal Government, which presents budget estimates on the basis of receivable resources to determine share of the provinces. He questioned as to how a provincial government can make allocations on the basis of assumptions, when the Federal Government has not presented the federal budget. Source: Radio Pakistan

The International Day of Markhor is being observed today. The day recognizes the importance of preserving Markhor and its natural habitat, which was listed as near threatened specie in 2014, highlighting the need to protect it and its ecosystem. The Markhor is an endangered animal found in the mountainous regions of Central and South Asia, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Source: Radio Pakistan

The Senate was informed today that several infrastructure projects executed by the National Highway Authority are nearing completion in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This was stated Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Azam Nazeer Tarar while responding to a question during the Question Hour in the House today which met in Islamabad today with Deputy Chairman Syedaal Khan in the chair. He said these projects include dualization of Indus highway from Sarai Gambila to Kohat, upgradition and dualization of motorway link from Kohat via Jand, construction of Peshawar Northern By-pass, Chakdara-Fatehpur Highway and upgradition of Pezu to Tank road in Dera Ismail Khan. The Minister also informed the House that National Highway Authority is planning to execute new schemes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which include construction of Malakand Tunnel, Muzaffarabad-Mansehra road, Yark Interchange, interchange on Hazara motorway to connect Abbottabad and Sherwan road, Khwazakhela and Besham expressway, Motorway from Ghulam Khan to Esa Khe l, Tanawal interchange on Hazara motorway and tunnel joining Khaki with Oghi in Mansehra district. Responding to a calling attention notice, Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Leghari has reiterated Federal Government's commitment to fund solarization of agricultural tube-wells in Balochistan. He said as soon as the Balochistan government formulates a mechanism for distribution of funds to the consumers, the Federal Government will start implementation of the initiative. The Minister said around twelve thousand illegal transformers are operating on 404 feeders in Balochistan. He added that ninety-six percent of these feeders are running on losses. Besides, there is an outstanding amount of over six hundred billion rupees against various entities including agri tube-wells, in the province. The House adopted a motion moved by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Azam Nazeer Tarar, to elect the Senate House Committee, comprising members as per the proposed list. The House also authorized the Chairman Sena te to make changes in the composition of said committee as and when he deems fit. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Azam Nazeer Tarar informed the House that the Capital Development Authority removed encroachments from PTI's Central Secretariat in Islamabad after fulfilling all the legal formalities. Responding to a point of order by Leader of the Opposition Senator Syed Shibli Faraz, he said the CDA had served its first notice to the PTI central secretariat in 2020 for illegal construction of two floors and occupying public areas by erecting containers and parking sheds. The Minister said the political party gave a deaf ear to CDA's notices and the last letter was sent on 10th of this month but to no avail. The House has now been prorogued. Source: Radio Pakistan

Foreign Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov, will undertake a two-day official visit to Pakistan from 29th of this month. He will hold talks with the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and also call on the Pakistani leadership. Source: Radio Pakistan