MURREE, April 26 (APP): A two-day workshop hosted by the World Bank opened at Bhurban Tuesday to discuss the way forward for the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).

As BISP works to further improve and deepen the application of the national safety net system for the development of human capital amongst the poor and improving their access to complementary services. The workshop brings together federal and provincial stakeholders, academia, civil society, development partners and international experts in social protection to deliberate on the key themes imperative for strengthening the safety net system.
The Chairperson BISP Marvi Memon said that BISP continues to serve the poor by bringing dignity, empowerment and meaning to their lives through the transparent and efficient delivery of cash transfers to the poor, said a news release issued here on Tuesday.

ISLAMABAD, April 26 (APP): Advisor to Prime Minister on National History and Literary Heritage Irfan Siddiqui on Tuesday directed Department of Archeology and Museum (DAM) to plan construction of National Museum in federal capital on immediate basis.
He stated this in a meeting held here at National History and Literary Heritage division, said a press release.
In the meeting, National Language Promotion Department (NLPD) and DAM briefed the Advisor to PM on performance and future plans of the departments. Secretary NH&LH Division Mohsin S. Haqqani, DG NLPD Saqib Aleem, Joint Secretary Mashhood Mirza and other senior officials of NH&LH Division also attended the meeting.

ISLAMABAD, Apr 26 (APP): Caring orphans in distress is great service to humanity and it is the collective responsibility of our society to ensure proper upbringing and education for such children.
It was stated by Chairman PML-N Raja Zafar ul Haq while
speaking to those who organized a ceremony to distribute school kits among orphan children. President Al-Khidmat Foundation Muhammad Abdul Shakoor, MNA Tahir Iqbal Chaudhry, President Al-Khidmat Foundation Islamabad Hafiz Tanveer Ahmed and President All Pakistan Traders Association Muhammad Kashif Chauhdry were also present on the occasion.
Raja Zafar ul Haq appreciated the welfare activities
of Al-Khidmat Foundation and said that real progress is to take steps for the uplift for the deprived segment of society.

ISLAMABAD, Apr 26 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday terming transparency and efficiency as the government’s vision of governance said no compromise would be made on these components.
Talking to Chairman National Highway Authority Shahid Ashraf Tarar here at the PM House, the Prime Minister said the reforms agenda of the government revolved around progress and prosperity of the people of Pakistan.
Nawaz Sharif said the years ahead would witness a more
progressive and developed Pakistan through sincere and concerted efforts of the government.

RAWALPINDI Apr 26 (APP): Chief of Army Staff, General Raheel Sharif, who is on an official visit to Jordan, on Tuesday witnessed field exercise of Jordanian Special Operations Forces at King Abdullah Special Operations training center.
General Raheel Sharif appreciated state-of-the-art training facility and exchanged views with exercise participants.
COAS vowed to share and benefit from each others’ experience in counter terrorism operations.

ISLAMABAD, Apr 26 (APP): Minister for Planning, Development and Reform, Ahsan Iqbal has stated that the present government was introducing far-reaching reforms in education sector under Vision-2025.
He said today, Pakistan was well-positioned to take off after
coming out of state of despondency due to policies of last two and half years.
“We, now need unity and positivity in our ranks to sustain the efforts for economic development and prosperity of the country”, Minister Planning and Development expressed these views while addressing a ceremony of Pakistan Professional Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

ISLAMABAD, April 26 (APP): Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf Tuesday said that government is determined to eliminate load-shedding from the country till 2018.
Talking to a private news channel, he said the government has initiated a number of power projects under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and majority of them were expected to be completed by 2018. The import of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) would help generate cheap electricity, he added.
Claiming the government was allout for improving the lot of the people he said that PM would visit Mansehra on 28 April to inaugurate the second phase of Motorway and Sui Gas Supply Project for Oghi Tehsil.

ISLAMABAD, April 26 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz on Tuesday postponed his visit to Neelum Jhelum and Danna in Azad Kashmir due to bad weather.
A PM Office statement said the Prime Minister had to return
midway due to sudden change in weather.
The Prime Minister was scheduled to review work progress at Neelum Jhelum hydel project and distribute compensation
cheques in Danna among the people affected by rains and landslide.

ISLAMABAD, Apr 26, (APP): The Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Electoral Reforms has sought suggestion from all political parties regarding the procedure for the appointments of new member of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
The sub-committee met here under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Law and Justice, Zahid Hamid here Tuesday.
Talking to newsmen after the meeting, Zahid Hamid said the current members of ECP were going to retired on Jun 10. He said the committee had asked the representatives of all political parties to consult their leadership to finalize the procedure for appointments of new ECP members.

LAHORE, April 26 (APP): Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani has said the country needs democracy and democratic institutions and any violation of the Constitution will produce harmful results.
He was talking to the media after offering condolence over the death of former federal minister Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor with his son former LCCI president Zafar Iqbal Chudhry, at his residence on Tuesday.
Rabbani said, “Let the river take its natural course, and
any attempt to change it, will result in dangerous consequences.”

ISLAMABAD, April 26 (APP): Minister of State for Federal Education Engr Muhammad Baligh Ur Rehman Tuesday gave away the certificate of academic achievement to Ahmed Farooq for securing the highest aggregate marks in the world for the first year of the LLB (Hons) degree of University of London International Programmes.
The minister of state, in a meeting with a University of London delegation, appreciated the student saying, “I feel privileged to present this certificate to you.”
He said this was an honour for the country. “We have immense talent in Pakistan; have brilliant students, who are not only making us proud at home but globally as well.”

KARACHI, April 26 (APP): Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah here Tuesday expressed his satisfaction over adherence to safety culture in Pakistan Navy.
According to a press release, he was addressing the ceremony held at Bahria Auditorium on “Pakistan Navy’s Annual Safety Review for the year 2015”.
Pakistan Navy safety review is an important forum where safety standards are discussed to mark importance of safety culture which in turn provides a road map to further enhance safe working environment in Pakistan Navy.

ISLAMABAD, April 26 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has expressed sorrow over the death of founder of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Amanullah Khan.

The Prime Minister in a condolence message said the sacrifices of  Amanullah Khan for Kashmiris would be long remembered.

He prayed for the peace of departed soul and for the patience of the  bereaved family.