Students to be given three marks for tree plantation

Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul has said that a bill is in the pipeline which would grant students who plant trees during their graduation studies with three additional marks. She was speaking at a function held at a private university in Rawalpindi on Tuesday. “In 1947, the forest area of Pakistan was 33%, which was reduced to 4% in 1995,” she said. Now 70% of trees have been cut down in Lahore and the groundwater level in Balochistan has dropped to 1,200 feet, she added. The construction of 10 dams by the incumbent government will protect future generations, she said, adding that they would be completed within three years. Across Punjab, we have also shifted all brick kilns to environmentally-friendly zigzag technology, she added. Further, 1.47 billion trees have also been planted, she said. “We have also developed a policy on polythene bags,” she added. “Plastic bags are also found throughout Pakistan. Instead of seeing butterflies on the motorway, plastic bags collide with vehicles,” she said. “Glaciers are also melting now,” she said. The minister said that every city and corner of Pakistan was beautiful. “Unfortunately, Pakistan is one of the countries most affected by climate change,” she lamented. The minster urged students to come forward in eco-friendliness. In the end, she said that the more that are planted, the less pollution there will be. Published in The Express Tribune, March 3rd, 2022.

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Gas supply projects inaugurated in Haripur

Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Omar Ayub on Tuesday inaugurated gas supply projects costing over Rs172 million. The projects will provide gas to the residents of Changi Bandi, Mohri No-1 and Akhon Bandi areas. While addressing a large gathering, Omar Ayub said that the area residents have been provided with the gas facility after overcoming the long-standing problems of electricity. As a result, he said, the lifestyle of the people in the rural areas will also improve rapidly. He further said that record development work has been carried out in the last three and a half years and further work will be carried out at the same pace in the next one and half years. The minister said that no stone will be left unturned for the development of the district. He said that the coronavirus had a serious toll on countries including Pakistan, however, due to the prudent strategy of the prime minister, “we overcome the epidemic”.   Published in The Express Tribune, March 2nd, 2022.

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Opposition having sleepless nights: state minister

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib on Tuesday said the opposition was having “sleepless nights” after Prime Minister Imran Khan announced a mega relief package for people by cutting the fuel prices and power tariff. Responding to the news conference of PML-N senior leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, the state minister said the former premier instead of appreciating the government relief measures for the masses was resorting to point-scoring. PML-N leaders were looking upset over the public relief package, he said, adding that it was their party which left the government without addressing difficulties and challenges faced by the nation. The country was suffering from corruption, looting and destruction of institutions due to bad governance of both PML-N and PPP, he added. He said the ruling PTI was only bringing amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 while the law was introduced by the PML-N.  

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Imran's eyewash relief package to add to inflation: Abbasi

Former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government's desperate relief plan fiasco would further destroy the national economy, burden the people with more taxes and make the future of Pakistan bleaker. At a press conference in Islamabad, flanked by former finance minister Miftah Ismail, Abbasi said that the incumbent government had already surrendered the entire economy and national economic institutions to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).  In its mini-budget, PTI imposed over Rs700 billion in taxes on the people. "Imran Khan has announced a relief package but there is no money allocated in the main or the mini-budget foray for this. This means that this package is a desperate action to take more loans and add more burden to the economy to win back voters who had abandoned Imran due to the disastrous PTI rule," he lamented. Abbasi said the PTI had clearly said that there was no room for any reduction in petrol prices and electricity prices because it had to fulfil the pledges made to the IMF, adding that this package means that the government would make running the country virtually impossible for anyone who proceeds after them. “This strategy was a clear manifestation of intentionally destroying the national economy for political gains and vengeance at the same time,” he added, further claiming that inflation would increase due to a decrease in the power tariff by Rs5 per unit. The former prime minister stated that Khan’s speeches did not mention the budget and Pakistan will have to fulfil the IMF policies by taking additional loans, leading to further inflation will increase. Abbasi said that the prime minister denied all his policies and said that the government is reducing inflation which is contrary to the reality as the prices of petrol and diesel increased Rs40 in the past four months. If the government was to curb the inflation then they should have slashed the prices of wheat, ghee and sugar, he added. The PML-N leader said that the people of the country were in such a miserable state that these crutches offered by the government would not bear the burden of this catastrophic PTI government. He further said that the government came to power in an unconstitutional manner but will be sent home packing in a constitutional way. “The so-called accountability was brutally exposed with no evidence and no witnesses but mere false accusations by PTI touts and abuse of power by Imran Khan to misuse authority,” he maintained.

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PML-Q assures PM of full support

As the opposition teamed up to topple the incumbent government, Prime Minister Imran Khan met with the top leadership of his main ally, the Pakistan Muslim-Quaid (PML-Q), here on Tuesday, which assured him of their full support if the opposition moved a no-confidence motion. Premier Imran, along with federal ministers Fawad Chaudhry, Khusro Bukhtiar, Shafqat Mahmood, Hammad Azhar, Commerce Adviser Razak Dawood, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and other senior leaders of the Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf (PTI), paid a short visit to the Chaudhry brothers’ residence in Lahore. Both sides discussed the prevailing political situation in the country and exchanged views on matters of mutual interest. During the half-an-hour-long meeting, Imran also enquired after the health of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and prayed for his full recovery at the earliest. From the PML-Q side, the meeting was attended by the former prime minister Shujaat and Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi besides members of the National Assembly Salik Hussain and Shafay Hussain. According to a statement issued by the PML-Q, the Chaudhry brothers informed the prime minister about their recent meeting with National Assembly Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif. On the no-confidence motion plans, the PML-Q leaders said the move had no chance of success. The statement said that they informed Shehbaz that if the opposition’s attempt to remove Prime Minister Imran from power failed then their political future would be bleak, adding that “what is the use of such a trick which has no chance of success”. The PML-Q leadership assured Prime Minister Imran that the opposition’s no-confidence motion plans were nothing more than a “myth”. The Chaudhry brothers appreciated prime minister’s announcement of reduction in fuel prices as well as the power tariff and praised him for his visit of Russia. Shujaat advised the prime minister to put his ministers on duty to keep an eye on prices in the bazaars also, so that the benefit of relief measures reached the people. Elahi said that announcement of the package for the industries was also a very good initiative, adding that similar announcement should also be made for the industrial estates in Punjab. Imran appreciated the idea, saying that Punjab industries would also be included in this package soon. Earlier, during a meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, the prime minister directed him to take effective measures and ensure provision of maximum relief to common man. He instructed Buzdar to protect the rights, lives and property of people and take stern action against encroachers, hoarders and miscreant elements in society. Imran also met with Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar at the Governor House. During the meeting, Sarwar apprised the prime minister of his meeting with the European delegation related to the extension of the GSP+ status. Matters related to current political situation and governmental affairs also came under discussion. On this occasion, Imran said that it was a priority of the government to ensure the development and prosperity of the country and the people. “We will provide more relief to the public in the coming days. For the development and prosperity of the people, we are taking unprecedented measures. We will strengthen the institutions because their development will strengthen the country,” he added. Also read: PM Imran ‘inquires after estranged PTI leader Jahangir Tareen’ Investment package Prime Minister Imran arrived in Lahore on Tuesday morning on a day-long visit. During the visit, he also unveiled an incentives package for the promotion of industrial sector with focus on attracting investment from the local and expatriate business community and strengthening the country’s export-oriented industrial and manufacturing base. “Along with local businessmen, we are also inviting the overseas Pakistani entrepreneurs to invest in the country’s industrial sector,” Imran told a ceremony, which was attended by a large number of businessmen and representatives of the chambers of commerce and industry. “Besides the expatriates, the local businessmen in the joint venture will also enjoy a five-year tax holiday without questions.” The prime minister said that the government was doing all it could for the promotion of export-oriented industries and to strengthen the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) besides the revival of sick industrial units. He said that there was a need to attract the nine million overseas Pakistanis – a precious asset for the country – to invest in their homeland by incentivising them and giving them confidence about the protection of their hard-earned capital. Also read: Opposition ‘divided’ over no-trust move The prime minister added that the present government’s two-pronged industrial policy focused on the promotion of SMEs through improved regulations and ease-of-doing business; and the revival of sick industrial units. He pointed to a slow growth of information technology (IT) sector over the last many years due to lack of policies, saying that the present government was incentivising the IT sector, which had a lot of potential to take the country forward in terms of exports. “Since Pakistan stands second in the world in terms of young population, it is important to promote the IT sector. For the first time, the present government has come up with an IT policy,” he said. “We are trying to get the country stand on its own feet.” Later, the prime minister dilated on the salient features of the incentives package for the promotion of the industry. The package envisaged investment in new industrial units and expansion and modernisation of existing units. The salient features are: 5% across-the-board payment of tax for all amounts invested; minimum investment threshold of Rs50 million; industrial unit to be set-up as a company; commercial production to begin by June 30, 2024; previous beneficiaries of amnesty schemes of 2018 and 2019 not eligible; and bank loan defaulters in last three years not eligible. The incentives for revival of sick units are: applicable only to companies; industrial units having accumulated losses in continuous three years to be treated as sick units; acquiring company allowed to adjust losses of the sick units against its income for three years; and revival of the sick unit to be completed within three years of acquisition. The incentives for foreign investment in industrial sector are: Pakistani citizens, who are non-resident for five years and resident Pakistanis having declared foreign assets, are eligible to invest; one-time tax credit equal to 100% of Pakistani rupee equivalent of remittance to be availed in five years; investment to be made in a new industrial unit; commercial production to start by June 30, 2024; and new industrial unit to be a company. (WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM APP)    

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Punjab speaker, JI chief back journalists’ struggle against PECA

  Leaders of the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) and Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND) met Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi in his chamber on Tuesday. The media delegation comprised Mian Amir Mahmood, Chairman, Shakeel Masud, Chaudhry Abdul Rehman and Mohsin Naqvi of the PBA; CPNE’s Kazim Khan, Ejazul Haq, Irshad Arif, Yousuf Nizami; APNS President Sarmad Ali, Nazafreen Saigol, Omar Shami, Shahab Zubair; and Muhammad Usman, Ayaz Khan and Mian Tahir of the AEMEND. On the occasion, Elahi fully supported the demands of the media’s Joint Action Committee (JAC) and called for immediate repealing of the amendment to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). “PECA ordinance discriminates against journalist community and the people of Pakistan,” Elahi said. “Media is the fourth pillar of the state, we believe in its independence.” He stressed that freedom of media was very important for the development of Pakistan. “It is not in our interest to impose any restrictions on the freedom of media. We have always worked for the freedom of media and the welfare of its workers. Independent media is essential for the security and survival of Pakistan,” the speaker said. Elahi said that a record number of electronic media licences were issued during the tenure of the PML-Q. “During our tenure, we openly accepted media criticism. We always took the element of reform from it.” Punjab Assembly Muhammad Khan Bhatti was also present on the occasion.   Meeting with JI chief The JAC delegation also met Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq at Mansoorah, and apprised him of its concerns about PECA. During the meeting, Siraj assured the JAC that the JI stood by them in the struggle against all laws that restrict the freedom of media, especially the recent black law, which was enacted through a presidential ordinance last week. He strongly condemned the government tactics of restricting freedom of expression and silencing the media. “Restrictions on free media are not acceptable. We reject the PECA Amendment Ordinance,” the JI chief said. READ Seems PM misguided about PECA ordinance: IHC CJ JI Secretary General Amirul Azeem, Information Secretary Qaiser Sharif and Deputy General Secretary Muhammad Asghar were also present. Siraj said that the government had recently enacted the PECA Ordinance, under which, anyone who shared fake news on digital media could face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to Rs1 million. “This crime has been made a non-bailable [offence] to some extent. The Jamaat-e-Islami strongly supports the protests of the journalists and the human rights organisations in this regard,” he said. He welcomed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) ruling that restrained the government from making arrests under Section 20 of the law. He said that the most important issue was that the law did not define fake news. “Who decides which news is fake? The implementation of the ordinance without the definition and interpretation of fake news is beyond comprehension,” he continued. The PECA law would make anyone punishable even before conviction, he added. The JI chief said that thousands of journalists were rendered unemployed during the tenure of the present government. “Many important institutions were closed down in the last three years due to restrictions on journalism,” he added. Besides, Pakistan was the ninth country in the world where journalists were killed and harassed the most,” he added. In the last two decades, he continued, nearly 150 journalists had gone missing and were killed in the country. Siraj stressed the need for promoting unity among the journalist organisations, emphasising that due to differences, the government’s hands were getting stronger and they were trying to restrict the freedom of media. “This has been happening for the last 73 years,” he said. “We want the journalist organisations to introduce their own code of conduct. We are not in favour of setting up government’s regulating committees for electronic, print and digital media. He added that the real conspiracy of the government against the media must be exposed to the public so that the facts could be brought to the notice of the nation. On the occasion, the delegation apprised Siraj of the concerns of the media regarding PECA. The delegation said that the journalists were united against the new law and they would continue their fight for the freedom of media. They thanked Siraj and other JI leaders for their support.

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PML-Q assures PM of full support

As the opposition teamed up to topple the incumbent government, Prime Minister Imran Khan met with the top leadership of his main ally, the Pakistan Muslim-Quaid (PML-Q), here on Tuesday, which assured him of their full support if the opposition moved a no-confidence motion. Premier Imran, along with federal ministers Fawad Chaudhry, Khusro Bukhtiar, Shafqat Mahmood, Hammad Azhar, Commerce Adviser Razak Dawood, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and other senior leaders of the Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf (PTI), paid a short visit to the Chaudhry brothers’ residence in Lahore. Both sides discussed the prevailing political situation in the country and exchanged views on matters of mutual interest. During the half-an-hour-long meeting, Imran also enquired after the health of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and prayed for his full recovery at the earliest. From the PML-Q side, the meeting was attended by the former prime minister Shujaat and Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi besides members of the National Assembly Salik Hussain and Shafay Hussain. According to a statement issued by the PML-Q, the Chaudhry brothers informed the prime minister about their recent meeting with National Assembly Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif. On the no-confidence motion plans, the PML-Q leaders said the move had no chance of success. The statement said that they informed Shehbaz that if the opposition’s attempt to remove Prime Minister Imran from power failed then their political future would be bleak, adding that “what is the use of such a trick which has no chance of success”. The PML-Q leadership assured Prime Minister Imran that the opposition’s no-confidence motion plans were nothing more than a “myth”. The Chaudhry brothers appreciated prime minister’s announcement of reduction in fuel prices as well as the power tariff and praised him for his visit of Russia. Shujaat advised the prime minister to put his ministers on duty to keep an eye on prices in the bazaars also, so that the benefit of relief measures reached the people. Elahi said that announcement of the package for the industries was also a very good initiative, adding that similar announcement should also be made for the industrial estates in Punjab. Imran appreciated the idea, saying that Punjab industries would also be included in this package soon. Earlier, during a meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, the prime minister directed him to take effective measures and ensure provision of maximum relief to common man. He instructed Buzdar to protect the rights, lives and property of people and take stern action against encroachers, hoarders and miscreant elements in society. Imran also met with Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar at the Governor House. During the meeting, Sarwar apprised the prime minister of his meeting with the European delegation related to the extension of the GSP+ status. Matters related to current political situation and governmental affairs also came under discussion. On this occasion, Imran said that it was a priority of the government to ensure the development and prosperity of the country and the people. “We will provide more relief to the public in the coming days. For the development and prosperity of the people, we are taking unprecedented measures. We will strengthen the institutions because their development will strengthen the country,” he added. Also read: PM Imran ‘inquires after estranged PTI leader Jahangir Tareen’ Investment package Prime Minister Imran arrived in Lahore on Tuesday morning on a day-long visit. During the visit, he also unveiled an incentives package for the promotion of industrial sector with focus on attracting investment from the local and expatriate business community and strengthening the country’s export-oriented industrial and manufacturing base. “Along with local businessmen, we are also inviting the overseas Pakistani entrepreneurs to invest in the country’s industrial sector,” Imran told a ceremony, which was attended by a large number of businessmen and representatives of the chambers of commerce and industry. “Besides the expatriates, the local businessmen in the joint venture will also enjoy a five-year tax holiday without questions.” The prime minister said that the government was doing all it could for the promotion of export-oriented industries and to strengthen the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) besides the revival of sick industrial units. He said that there was a need to attract the nine million overseas Pakistanis – a precious asset for the country – to invest in their homeland by incentivising them and giving them confidence about the protection of their hard-earned capital. Also read: Opposition ‘divided’ over no-trust move The prime minister added that the present government’s two-pronged industrial policy focused on the promotion of SMEs through improved regulations and ease-of-doing business; and the revival of sick industrial units. He pointed to a slow growth of information technology (IT) sector over the last many years due to lack of policies, saying that the present government was incentivising the IT sector, which had a lot of potential to take the country forward in terms of exports. “Since Pakistan stands second in the world in terms of young population, it is important to promote the IT sector. For the first time, the present government has come up with an IT policy,” he said. “We are trying to get the country stand on its own feet.” Later, the prime minister dilated on the salient features of the incentives package for the promotion of the industry. The package envisaged investment in new industrial units and expansion and modernisation of existing units. The salient features are: 5% across-the-board payment of tax for all amounts invested; minimum investment threshold of Rs50 million; industrial unit to be set-up as a company; commercial production to begin by June 30, 2024; previous beneficiaries of amnesty schemes of 2018 and 2019 not eligible; and bank loan defaulters in last three years not eligible. The incentives for revival of sick units are: applicable only to companies; industrial units having accumulated losses in continuous three years to be treated as sick units; acquiring company allowed to adjust losses of the sick units against its income for three years; and revival of the sick unit to be completed within three years of acquisition. The incentives for foreign investment in industrial sector are: Pakistani citizens, who are non-resident for five years and resident Pakistanis having declared foreign assets, are eligible to invest; one-time tax credit equal to 100% of Pakistani rupee equivalent of remittance to be availed in five years; investment to be made in a new industrial unit; commercial production to start by June 30, 2024; and new industrial unit to be a company. (WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM APP)    

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