ISLAMABAD, July 12 (APP): Minister for Information Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid said on Tuesday that in the passing away of Agha Nasir, Pakistan has lost a great creative mind.

In a statement, the minister said Agha Nasir’s contribution in the field of art, culture and especially in establishing Pakistan Television would be remembered for times to come.

He said that Agha Nasir was talented and has left behind many pupils who would carry his mission of promoting art and culture forward.

The minister prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved family to bear this loss with fortitude.

ISLAMABAD, Jul 12 (APP): Finance Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar  said Tuesday that the government had embarked upon the journey of achieving target of sustainable and inclusive economic growth as well as employment generation after achieving macro-economic stability.

He was talking to a delegation of the Abu Dhabi Group, led by Group  Chairman Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, which called on Finance Minister here.

Jean Yves Charlier, CEO VimpelCom, accompanied the delegation while  Minister of State for Information Technology, Anusha Rehman Khan, was also present in the meeting.

The government welcomes foreign investment in Pakistan which, he said,  would facilitate achievement of the objective of higher sustainable economic growth.

He said that foreign investors are taking interest in acquisitions and  mergers, which is a positive development.

The Minister also welcomed the merger of Pakistan Mobile
Communications Limited (the “PMCL”) and Warid Telecom (Pvt.) Ltd which is likely to be finalized soon.

The two companies, it may be recalled, entered into an Acquisition  Agreement on 26 November 2015. Pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement, PMCL and Warid shall merge subject to all regulatory approvals and compliance with legal and procedural formalities.

The Minister said the merger was proof of the strength gained by  Pakistan’s economy and the business opportunities provided by Pakistan to prospective investors.

Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan on this occasion expressed  gratitude for the facilitation extended by all stakeholders regarding the Mobilink – Warid merger.

He said that Pakistan had become an attractive investment destination  due to the turnaround in its economy during the last three years as a result of far reaching and comprehensive reforms.

He added that with the merger the telecom service in Pakistan would  improve in quality and outreach thereby helping people in remote areas.

He added that integrating network assets will help introduce new  products and services like mobile financial services, mobile apps and other value added services at scale.

The merger would also result in superior customer experience as well as  easier access and availability due to wider distribution network.

Chairman Abu Dhabi Group added that the merger would also encourage  other foreign investors to take up commercial activities in Pakistan. He thanked the Finance Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and his team for receiving the delegation and extending their support and facilitation for the new venture.

Senior officials of the Ministry of Finance and Minister of
Information Technology also attended the meeting.

PESHAWAR July 12 (APP): The Khyber Pakthunkhwa Governor Engr Iqbal Zafar Jhagra on Tuesday paid a surprise visit of Dogra hospital in tehsil Bara of Khyber Agency and inspected its emergency unit, OPD, wards and dispensary besides attendance of the staff and quality of the medicines.

The Governor was briefed by Medical Superintendent and Agency Surgeon in detail. The Governor directed the concerned authorities to ensure presence of the staff and
provide best facilities to patients.

Iqbal Zafar Jhagra also inquired after the health of patients and met with their relatives. The relatives appraised the Governor about their problems. The Governor directed the hospital administration to immediately address their grievances.

Later, the Governor paid a surprise visit to tehsil headquarters hospital Jamrud in Khyber Agency and inspected its different sections.

He also sought the attendance report of the staff. The Governor expressed dismay and anger on Agency Surgeon and concerned authorities for poor administrative affairs and non-cleanliness in the hospital and directed them to ensure timely provision of all health facilities besides bringing improvement in administrative affairs.

The Governor said that negligence on part of officials in provision of  better health facilities to tribal people would not be tolerated.

ISLAMABAD, July 12 (APP): Deputy Chief of Mission, Chinese Embassy in Islamabad, Zhao Lijian said on Tuesday that five new projects, in addition to 30 infrastructure and energy projects being completed by the Chinese companies in Pakistan, would be launched under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework this year.

“Eight coal, solar, wind and hydro-power energy projects are also under construction to meet the energy requirement of the country,” he told APP here.

Chinese companies are also implementing two mega projects including Thakot-Havailian section of Karrakurm Highway (KKH) and Sukkur-Multan section of Lahore-Karachi motorway at a cost of US$ 3 billion, he said.

Zhao Lijian said, prior to signing of CPEC between China and Pakistan in 2013, China was at number 16 in terms of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Pakistan, adding, now China is the largest investor in Pakistan after initiating multi-billion dollars project under the CPEC framework.

He said, this project would not only change the life of people of Pakistan in days to come but also prove beneficial for the whole region.

Referring to the celebrations of 60th anniversary of Pak-China Diplomatic Relations, he said, the relations between the two friendly countries are touching new heights after the
signing of CPEC.

“The flower of China-Pakistan friendship will become more beautiful in future,” he commented.

It may be mentioned here that energy, road infrastructure, railway and Gwadar airport projects are being completed under CPEC framework.

ISLAMABAD, July 12 (APP): Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Resources,Jam Kamal Khan said on Tuesday that the completion of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would enhance economic and industrial activities in Gwadar and usher in a new era of development and prosperity in Balochistan province.

“This project would also positively contribute towards national security and solidarity,” he said in a statement here.

He informed a special security division of Pak Army has been devised for the security of Chinese works and experts working at CPEC projects.

Jam Kamal said, Hub bypass road would be constructed at a cost of Rs 13.5 billion from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s special fund to connect Karachi with Balochistan.

He said, under the able leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the Balochistan province is moving forward to achieve the goal of development and prosperity.

The Minister said, these road projects would be completed time enabling people from Lasbella to reach Karachi and other cities of Sindh with ease besides promoting trade between these areas.

He said, after completion of CPEC, Gwadar seaport would serve as gateway in the region, adding, the CPEC would not only reduce unemployment and poverty but also become source of economic stability and mutual social benefits.

ISLAMABAD, July 12 (APP): Finance Minister Senator Mohammad  Ishaq Dar Tuesday said that continuous growth in revenue collection during  the past three years has helped in reducing the fiscal deficit to almost half, from 8.8 % to 4.45 %.

He was addressing a function at Federal Board of  Revenue (FBR), organized to congratulate the FBR team for achieving the difficult revenue collection target of Rs 3404 billion during the fiscal year 2015-16.

Among others, the function was attended by Prime Minister’s Special  Assistant on Revenue Haroon Akhtar, Chairman FBR, Nisar Muhammad Khan and top management and officials of the Finance Ministry and the FBR.

Ishaq Dar said that when the revenue target of Rs 3104 billion was  being set many people thought it to be non-achievable, however he lauded the efforts of the FBR team for not only achieving the target but making surplus collection and achieving Rs 3412 billion.

He said that unlike the past practice, there was no downward revision  in growth target this year and the FBR with hardwork achieved the historic target.

He urged the FBR team to do more for achieving another difficult  target of Rs 3621 billion during the year 2016-17.

He said the revenue collection target for the current fiscal
year has been increased almost by 500 billion, which would be a historic growth.

He said that more work is needed to be done in information technology  sector and mitigating the leakages besides making the Sales Tax system a robust one.

He said that the government had to take difficult decision and make  reforms, adding it had to face resistance, but it did this to lead the country towards progress and development.

He said that the future of Pakistan was brilliant, adding there were  people who used to say that Pakistan would default in 2014, but with the grace of Allah Almighty, Pakistan’s rank scoring has not only gone up from negative to stable but is now ranked as positive by international institutions.

He said that there were times when the country had import bill for  only two months but now the foreign exchange reserves stand at $23 billion.

He said Pakistan is now recognized by the world, although some elements  are still critical of the economic policies.

He, however stressed the need for developing a consensus among all the  political parties on one economic agenda and urged that economy must not be politicized.

He said that materializing the dream of becoming 18th biggest economy  could be achieved in half duration till 2030, provided the economic policies continue with the same pace.

He said that the share of provinces from taxes has increased from  Rs 1200 billion to Rs 1900 billion during the last three years.

The Minister said that about 1200 megawatt electricity would be added  to the national transmission system by the end of 2018.

He said that the investment ratio to GDP has also increased from 12.6  percent to 15.6 percent which would further be enhanced to about 21 percent.

Earlier, speaking on the occasion, Special Assistant to Prime Minister  on Revenues, Haroon Akhtar said that the critics must observe that the revenue collection target has been achieved.

He said that the FBR would go behind the tax evaders adding that the  low tax ratio to GDP has more to do with mindset of people than the FBR’s performance.

He congratulated the FBR management for achieving the target with  collective efforts.

Speaking on the occasion, Chairman FBR Nisar Muhammad Khan said that  the Finance Ministry created enabling environment and provided autonomy to FBR.

He said that the country’s economy has been taken around on growth  path and measures were taken to ensure inclusive growth.

He said the focus of the federal budget this year is on promotion of  exports, agriculture and industry.

He said that efforts would be made to remove loopholes in the tax  collection system besides introducing administrative changes and strengthening audit system.

ISLAMABAD, July 12 (APP): National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) has planned to educate prisoners in jails under a massive programme alongwith the skill development to make the prisoners useful citizens after their release from jails.

It was decided in the senior management meeting of NCHD presided by chairperson Senator Razina Alam Khan, said a press release issued on Tuesday.

The chairperson said that making convicts’ useful citizen and bringing them into the mainstream as respectable entities is the prime duty of the society and NCHD will not be failing in its duties.

She said that NCHD has already launched many successful programmes of education and contributed to literate 3.84 million adults in its 164,190 adult literacy centers established since inception.

Whereas, 5,949 feeder schools of Universal Primary Education are functional enrolling 392,869 children, in remote, rural and underprivileged areas of the country mainly to address the core issues of access to education and to meet Sustainable Development goal, she added.

Razina Alam said that students of feeder schools are on the strength of nearby government schools and same curriculum of the government school is adopted.

She expressed her concern over the fact that 57 million people in the country are illiterate while 24 million children never go to school.

The chairperson further deplored that out of 26 million children who are enrolled, only 33 percent reach the matriculation level.

While discussing the grim educational statistic in Pakistan, she said the primary net enrollment is 72 percent out of which 33 percent are dropouts.

Besides its regular programmes NCHD managed to have different educational/literacy and skill related projects through public-private schemes in collaboration with donors and provincial governments, she added.

Razina Alam said these projects dealt with issues such as elimination of poverty, access to education, establishment of formal and non formal basic education institutions, setting up of IT Centers, data collection activities and setting up of Skill Development Centers.

Briefly highlighting about these model projects and initiatives she said, NCHD established 16 Malala Feeder schools in 2013 for the earthquake hit areas in collaboration with I-Care.

She said that NCHD initiated an innovative strategy “Own a School Initiative” and had been able to mobilize funds for 25 Feeder Schools from different philanthropists and 1,254 children were enrolled in them.

Razina Alam said that 400 skill based literacy centers were established under BBSYDP project in sindh. 10, 000 females were provided sewing and stitching skill along with literacy skill.

She said that NCHD launched mainstreaming of Madaris project to provide formal education in Madrasas and had established 100 Feeder Schools in Madaris of AJK, FATA, GB and Islamabad.

The chairperson said that School Nutrition Programme and “Every Child in School Initiative” covering 10 districts of KPK is functional in collaboration with UNICEF.

In order to strengthen policy and planning for retention through intensive enrollment campaign and dropout prevention mechanism, she said that NCHD had carried out a number of activities to mobilize the community in seven districts of KPK and two agencies of FATA with financial assistance of UNICEF.

Every Child in School Initiative (ECISI) is a UNICEF supported initiative which is being implemented by School Education Department and NCHD-Punjab in 10 districts enrolling 51,559 out of school children.