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Caretaker PM requires reforms to make ECO extra vibrant, environment friendly

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  • Lauds corridor-based method to maximise potential as a step in proper route
  • Discusses widespread challenges, regional cooperation and collective prosperity with Azerbaijan President

ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar has careworn for making Financial Cooperation Group (ECO) extra vibrant and environment friendly by way of accelerated reforms to comprehend its full potential.

Addressing the sixteenth ECO Summit in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, he mentioned a well-connected area can carry colossal financial and peace dividends for our peoples.

The Prime Minister famous that the hall primarily based method adopted by the ECO to maximise potential was a step in the fitting route. Such corridors will result in better connectivity amongst the member international locations and usher in a brand new period of large financial progress within the area.

He mentioned the hall tasks will facilitate an enabling atmosphere for the personal sector to widen enterprise and funding alternatives. Terming operationalization of Istanbul-Tehran- Islamabad hall a major growth, he mentioned Pakistan is upgrading its rail and highway infrastructure to facilitate commerce with the neighbors and past. He mentioned it’s crucial that extra border crossing factors within the ECO area are notified in order that commerce operations are facilitated.

Anwaarul Haq Kakar mentioned Afghanistan has a vital position in regional connectivity. Initiatives comparable to CASA 100, Trans Afghan railways, TAPI and others aren’t solely merely financial tasks, they’re additionally strategic investments in our shared future. He mentioned Pakistan, due to this fact, appears ahead to working carefully with different ECO international locations in direction of the shared objective of constructing a peaceable, affluent and interconnected Afghanistan.

The Prime Minister identified that the ECO commerce settlement quota is a landmark preferential commerce association. He urged the member international locations to signal the quota and thus promote regional commerce.

Highlighting the newest growth within the funding panorama of Pakistan, he mentioned the federal government has established a Particular Funding Facilitation Council that may function single window platform for cooperation in 5 key sectors together with agriculture, defence manufacturing, IT, power and mining. This physique has the mandate to offer instructions to any authorities establishments and guarantee coverage continuation and execution.

Denouncing Israeli atrocities in Gaza, the Prime Minister mentioned this challenge must be addressed in accordance with the related UN Safety Council resolutions. He urged the ECO member international locations to push for a ceasefire in Gaza, help the decision for provision of humanitarian help and rally efforts to carry Israel to account.

Highlighting the Indian atrocities in illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Anwaarul Haq Kakar mentioned Pakistan continues to depend on its fraternal ECO international locations to help the train of proper to self-determination by the individuals of Kashmir within the gentle of related UNSC resolutions.

Caretaker PM, Azerbaijan’s President talk about bilateral ties

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar held a gathering with President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Thursday and reviewed the progress in bilateral relations particularly within the area of commerce, defence and power.

The Prime Minister welcomed the announcement of direct flight operations of Azerbaijan Airline (AZAL) to Pakistan terming it a constructive growth in individuals to-people exchanges and to advance two-way enterprise and tourism.

Anwaarul Haq Kakar and President Aliyev mentioned widespread challenges together with Islamophobia and local weather change and the vital position of ECO to advertise regional cooperation and collective prosperity.

World and regional developments together with the dire humanitarian scenario in Gaza and protracted Indian atrocities in Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJ&Okay) had been additionally mentioned. Prime Minister Kakar reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering help for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, particularly with respect to Karabagh.

 

 



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National

Commerce physique declares closure of retailers unsuitable option to management smog, air pollution

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ISLAMABAD: The official commerce physique of the retail sector within the nation has opposed the closure of markets and retailers in view of controlling the rising smog, as the federal government is attempting to manage mitigate air air pollution by decreasing industrial exercise.

Addressing a ceremony on Thursday Chairman CAP Tariq Mehboob noticed that heavy transport, burning of waste and crop residue and non-compliant factories contribute to smog probably the most, not the retail sector.

“No different nation or area is shutting down markets to manage air air pollution. As is the case in China and our neighboring nations, the main focus should be on controlling motion of huge automobiles which use low high quality gas and emit black smoke; cracking down on burning of waste and stopping factories which might be polluting by burning wooden, tyres, and many others. because of the absence of pure fuel,” he identified.

Talking to media, Tariq Mehboob stated, “For the reason that previous one 12 months, the retail timings are already restricted to 10 PM as per the orders of the Court docket. For the previous few weeks, extra restrictions have been utilized together with late opening and full day closures that are leading to big losses to retail companies and allied sectors, employment and tax technology.”

For the reason that Covid-19 pandemic, shutting down retail has turn into the norm each time any disaster emerges and it solely has a superficial influence on the issue. Retailers have skilled over 30 extended bouts of restrictions on working timings and days over the previous 4 years, with compliant retailers being the worst affected each time.

Much less distinguished markets seldom observe any restrictions imposed by authorities resulting from restricted enforcement capability, as per CAP.

“Not too long ago, ad-hoc modifications to notifications have resulted in confusion and abrupt disruptions for our companies and workers. Furthermore, eating places and different service sectors have been allowed to stay open whereas retailers should shut, so motion of small automobiles nonetheless continues throughout closed interval.

We can’t help the closure of any industrial exercise as a result of it doesn’t addressing the basis causes of smog. Shutting down just one sector repeatedly won’t create the specified leads to smog discount or electrical energy saving,” acknowledged Asad Shafi, Vice Chairman CAP.

On this challenge, Tariq Mehboob defined that, “implementation of full retail shutdown in 6 main divisions of Punjab on final Sunday has resulted in a rare lack of Rs. 10 billion for retail companies, the home provide chain and tax revenues.

That is along with losses already incurred over the previous few weeks throughout associated restrictions. November and December is the height season for retail and companies have allotted their funding a number of months prematurely. Whereas nearly all the pieces else stays open, the organized retail sector has repeatedly turn into the sufferer to abrupt selections and knee-jerk reactions from the authorities. Our business is structured to run 7 days per week and after we are restricted in timings or off-days, we take successful as most of our prices proceed for the closed interval. Furthermore, our suppliers and distributors additionally endure as a result of demand of their services and products are affected, resulting in a domino impact. Such counter-productive selections are creating an pointless drag on revitalizing the financial system and boosting employment.”

The federal government ought to take us into confidence at each stage and applied balanced options that don’t damage the financial system. Whereas we wholeheartedly abide by the choice of the Punjab Authorities, we want to suggest an alternate method which will successfully contribute to smog discount with out adversely affecting home commerce.”

“For instance, the federal government is closing retail on weekends that are the best sale days and hypothetically solely decreasing smog for 10-12 hours of retail timing for 2 days.

If retail closure is seen as a vital measure, our suggestion is to contemplate adjusting the day by day retail working hours to start at 1 or 2 pm, permitting for a day by day saving of 4-5 hours within the morning which might be extra sustainable. This modification goals to strike a steadiness between mitigating smog influence and persevering with financial actions, and, consequently, employment and taxation revenues.

Moreover, manufacturers have thousands and thousands of followers on their social media and authorities can collaborate with them to coach and talk to common public for such initiatives on how you can scale back air air pollution and keep away from its dangerous results.

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KP witnessed 563 terror incidents in 2023, reveals report

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PESHAWAR: The Anti-Terrorism Division (CTD) on Thursday launched a report on the fear incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2023.

In line with the CTD report, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) witnessed as many as 563 terror incidents this yr. Out of 563 incidents, police had been focused 243 occasions.

In line with the report, the very best 132 incidents of terrorism had been reported in Dera Ismail Khan, 103 incidents in Khyber and 89 terror incidents had been reported in Peshawar?

The report additional revealed that 86 occasions terrorists attacked North Waziristan and 50 occasions South Waziristan? The report additional stated that as many as 837 terrorists had been taken into custody.

The best variety of arrested outlaws was from Peshawar 245.

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Sindh broadcasts winter holidays for colleges

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KARACHI: The Sindh authorities on Thursday introduced winter holidays for personal and authorities colleges and different instructional establishments, throughout the province.

In line with a notification issued by the Sindh Schooling and Literacy Division, the winter holidays will begin from December 22 to December 31.

All private and non-private training establishments within the province will stay closed as a result of winter holidays from December 22 to December 31.

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