Day: June 13, 2024

Pakistan has urged the United Nations to address specific cases of missing persons in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

Speaking at an Arria Formula meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, Deputy Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, Ambassador Usman Jadoon said the cases of missing persons in IIOJK have led to the tragic phenomenon of half widows, referring to Kashmiri women who live in uncertainty about the fate of their husbands, sons, and brothers.

He said Pakistan believes that the most effective response to the issue of missing persons in armed conflict is the strict application of international law and a process of accountability.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Special Investment Facilitation Council has taken policy initiatives on a priority basis in the mining and mineral sector over the last year which is bearing far reaching results.

In view of the importance of this sector, a Mineral and Mining Wing has been established under the Ministry of Petroleum, which will be headed by a Special Secretary.

Meanwhile, directives have been issued to complete the feasibility study of the project established for the mining of pink salt at the earliest so that the work on it can start on time.

A national policy is also being framed to improve the management of mining.

Using SIFC’s platform, the Mining and Minerals Division has identified five potential projects in Chaghi, Gwadar and Waziristan that are of particular interest to the UAE.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Coordinator to Prime Minister on Climate Change Romina Khurshid Alam has called for collective action to overcome the challenge of climate change.

She was addressing a seminar titled ‘Disaster-Resilient Pakistan’ organised by National Disaster Management Authority in Islamabad today.

The Prime Minister’s Coordinator said the government is taking all-out policy measures to overcome the impacts and address the country’s worsening climate-vulnerability.

She emphasized public private partnership to cope with the challenge of climate change. She urged the private sector to come forward and support government’s climate resilience building initiatives.

She highlighted the government’s different projects to tackle climate change including the National Environment Policy, National Climate Change Policy, National Forest Policy, the Pakistan Climate Change Act (2017) and Green Building Codes.

Romina Khurshid Alam also mentioned the projects implemented under these policies like Glacial Lake Outburst Flood Risk Redu
ction project, Living Indus Initiative, Recharge Pakistan and Green Pakistan Programme, under which 2.1 billion tree saplings have already been planted across the country.

She warned that failure to act would only aggravate the climate-vulnerability of the country’s socio-economic sectors, particularly agriculture, energy, water, health and education.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has said the government is focusing on education sector in order to exploit the full potential of the youth in various fields especially Information Technology.

Addressing an education expo in Islamabad today, he said the budget of education has been enhanced. He said IT facilities will be provided in the schools and the tech startups will be encouraged.

The Information Minister said the PML-N government has always taken measures to encourage the youth. In this regard, he referred to the provision of free laptops and merit scholarships to the youth.

He noted Pakistan can carve out its rightful place in the comity of nations by equipping the youth with the latest education. He said a framework agreement was signed during the Prime Minister’s visit to China under which a Chinese tech company will provide IT training to two hundred thousand Pakistani youth every year.

Attaullah Tarar said the country’s economic indicators are improving and the world i
nstitutions are also acknowledging the fact. He said there has been record reduction in inflation and the foreign exchange reserves are enough for two months’ worth of imports.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb says the budget for the next fiscal year revolves around five principles, including widening tax base and digitizing economy.

Addressing the post budget news conference in Islamabad today, he said implementing a progressive income tax regime, eliminating non-filers, and protecting low-income groups are other points emphasized in the budget.

The Finance Minister said below ten percent tax to GDP ratio is not sustainable. He emphasized enhancing it to thirteen percent in the next three years.

Muhammad Aurangzeb announced that tax on retailers and wholesalers will be applicable from the 1st of July. He said the Federal Board of Revenue has so far registered thirty one thousand retailers and the process of registration will continue.

Muhammad Aurangzeb said end to end digitization in FBR is aimed at minimizing human intervention and improving transparency and client service.

He said nobody should have any objection on progressive income tax as the affluent class needs to p
ay more taxes.

The Finance Minister said that tax has been enhanced on business transactions of the non-filers. He said this is the first step towards doing away with non-filers in the country.

Replying to a question, the Finance Minister said record allocations have been made for the IT sector to facilitate IT exports and youth in their startups.

Regarding the Small and Medium Enterprises, he said banks are back to finance SME’s, IT and agriculture sectors.

Answering another question, Muhammad Aurangzeb said 81 percent of Public Sector Development Programme spending has been reserved for ongoing projects, while rest of the amount will go for new projects.

The Finance Minister said all the stakeholders including the allied parties are being taken on board on the privatization process. He said transactions regarding the privatization of PIA and outsourcing of Islamabad Airport will be completed by August. He said this will follow the outsourcing of Lahore and Karachi airports.

Regarding relief measures,
Minister of State for Finance Ali Pervaiz Malik said significant allocations have been made in this respect under the Benazir Income Support Programme. Similarly, the largest chunk of subsidies will go for power sector to facilitate electricity consumers, including the protected customers using up to 200 units.

The Minister of State further said additional amount has been reserved for the Utility Stores Corporation to provide essential kitchen items to the deserving people at subsidized rates.

The Minister of State said there is no tax on the employees earning up to fifty thousand rupees.

Source: Radio Pakistan