Day: April 17, 2024

Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb has called for a more proactive and responsive global financial safety net to tackle the elevated risks due to climate change.

He was speaking during meeting of Middle East and North Africa Ministers and Governors with the Managing Director IMF in Washington.

The Minister highlighted geo-economic fragmentation and its impact on Pakistan and underlined the importance of review of surcharges policy and prioritizing resilience and sustainability trust in view of climate vulnerabilities.

He thanked the IMF and its partners for their support in helping Pakistan respond to unprecedented challenges.

The Minister welcomed the renewed emphasis of IMF on capacity building through regional capacity development centers.

He underscored aggressive reforms including broadening the tax net, privatizing the loss making state owned enterprises (SOEs), expanding social safety net and facilitating the private sector.

Source: Radio Pakistan

According to a Gallup Pakistan poll, public opinion in Pakistan is in favor of the death penalty.

In a recently conducted survey, a majority of Pakistanis supported the death penalty. The survey conducted by Gallup revealed that five out of ten Pakistanis support it, while four out of ten oppose it.

The survey, conducted between February 29 and March 15, 2024, involved participation from over one thousand individuals across the country.

Gallup Pakistan reports that 45 percent of Pakistanis fully support the death penalty law, believing it is appropriate to impose the penalty on criminals involved in serious crimes. However, 39 percent are strongly opposed to it and are unwilling to support it under any circumstances.

According to the survey, 11 percent of Pakistanis have a neutral stance on the death penalty, neither openly supporting nor opposing it. Furthermore, 5 percent refrained from expressing an opinion and remained silent on the matter.

Source: Pro Pakistani

Federal cabinet at its meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad today decided to write a letter to the four provinces to enhance their wheat procurement targets and set a good price for the commodity.

Briefing media persons about the decisions taken in the cabinet meeting, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said this letter will be written by the Ministry of National Food Security today.

The Information Minister was confident that this decision will bring prosperity in the lives of farmers. He pointed out that the country has abundant stocks of wheat and a bumper wheat crop is expected this year. He said this situation will have positive impact on the rural economy.

Attaullah Tarar said the federal cabinet held discussion on the recent visit of Saudi delegation to Pakistan and the expression of interest shown by the Saudi side for investment in different sectors.

Describing the visit of Saudi delegation as highly productive, he said that matters are expeditious
ly moving forward. He said a high level Saudi delegation will visit Pakistan in the coming months to conclude the agreements. He said a Saudi delegation from private sector is also visiting Pakistan very soon, and their investments and partnerships with Pakistani private sector will have positive impact on the economy.

The Information Minister said delegation level visits from other friendly countries are also expected in the coming days. He said the world financial institutions and journals as well as independent experts are recognizing the steps taken by the government for economic improvement. He said the benefit of this improvement will reach the common man.

Commenting on the political situation, the Information Minister said the gathering of opposition parties in Balochistan was a failed exercise. He pointed out that there are divisions within the PTI and their leader is facing jail on corruption cases. He said the economy is on the positive trajectory and this process will be taken forward for the pro
gress and development of the country.

Meanwhile, the Federal Cabinet approved the establishment of Institute of Modern Sciences in Wah Cantonment.

The Prime Minister directed to form a committee to be headed by Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training to further improve the procedure for establishing new universities and higher education institutions.

The Cabinet accorded approval to Federal Public-Private Policy of Pakistan, 2023-2028. In this regard, the Prime Minister said that economic growth can be accelerated through public-private partnership. He directed all the ministries to submit their proposals under Public Private Partnership.

The Federal Cabinet also approved signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Qatar’s Ministry of Labour and Pakistan’s Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development for labour relations, inspections, professional safety and health.

The Cabinet was told that currently three hundred thousand Pakistanis are working in Qatar, who are
sending 850 million rupees foreign exchange to Pakistan.

Source: Radio Pakistan

The Muttahida Naanbai Roti Association of Punjab has firmly opposed the recent directives to decrease the prices of naan and roti in the province.

Following the Punjab government’s mandate to cap the price of roti at Rs 16, the Nanbai Association has issued a 96-hour ultimatum, insisting on a reduction in the cost of flour.

In response to the crackdown on tandoor shops in Punjab, the Nanbai Association has voiced its discontent, demanding that the price of a 20kg bag of flour be fixed at Rs 1600 to enable the sale of roti at Rs 16.

The Association has warned of a province-wide strike if their demands are not met.

Moreover, they have proposed that the price of a 20kg bag of fine flour be set at Rs 7,500 to facilitate the sale of naan at Rs 20.

It’s worth mentioning that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced via X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday that the provincial government has reduced the price of roti to Rs 16, effective immediately.

Source: Pro Pakistani

President Asif Ali Zardari will address the joint sitting of the parliament on Thursday.

The joint session has been summoned to meet at four pm.

Under Article 56 (3) of the Constitution, the President shall address a joint session of Parliament at the commencement of the parliamentary year after general elections.

This will be President Asif Ali Zardari’s record seventh address to the joint sitting of the National Assembly and Senate. During his five-year stint in the Presidency from 2008 to 2013, he had already addressed the parliament six times.

Source: Radio Pakistan