January 7, 2022 – Page 3 – Madagascar Newswire

January 7, 2022

COVID-19: Six more deaths, 1293 positive cases reported in country

Islamabad, January 07, 2022 (PPI-OT):Six deaths and 1293 positive cases of Coronavirus have been reported in the country in a day. In a tweet, National Command and Operation Centre informed that 51,145 tests were conducted during the said period, and the positivity ratio remained 2.52% percent. It said that 609 patients are in critical care and the total death toll due to coronavirus has reached up 28,961.

For more information, contact:
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Government of Pakistan
4th Floor, Cabinet Block, Pak. Secretariat, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9103557
Email: info@moib.gov.pk
Website: http://www.moib.gov.pk

January 7, 2022

Government taking measures to bring improvement in manufacturing sector: Khusro Bakhtiar

Islamabad, January 07, 2022 (PPI-OT):Federal Minister for Industries and Production, Makhdum Khusro Bakhtiar has said the government is taking all possible measures to bring improvement in manufacturing sector. Talking to media in Islamabad, he said the focus is being given to strengthen Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority.

He said a huge amount has been allocated to enhance production in the industrial sector. In reply to a question, he said the government is striving to create job opportunities for youth. He said sufficient amount has been made available to provide loan facility to the people through different banks to help promote small business in the country.

January 7, 2022

Government ensuring completion of basic amenities projects on priority basis: Prime Minister

Islamabad, January 07, 2022 (PPI-OT):Prime Minister Imran Khan says the government is completing on priority basis the people-oriented projects of basic amenities like health, education, low-cost housing, and provision of clean water. He was talking to Governor Punjab Chaudhary Muhammad Sarwar, who called on him in Islamabad. They discussed matters pertaining to Punjab Aab-e-Pak Authority and reviewed progress on development projects being implemented in the province.

January 7, 2022

Provision of Sehat Cards historic step towards establishment of welfare state: Farrukh

Islamabad, January 07, 2022 (PPI-OT):Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib says provision of Sehat Cards is a historic step towards establishment of a welfare state on the pattern of Riyasat-e-Madina. In a series of tweets on Friday, he said families have started receiving treatment up to one million rupees annually which was not possible earlier due to limited income resources of public.

He said 120 billion rupees have been approved for construction of small houses of three, five and ten marlas. He said 38 billion rupees have already been disbursed in this regard. The Minister of State said bank loans for housing and construction sector have reached 355 billion rupees which is helping to boost other associated industries.

January 7, 2022

Speaker urges international community to extend support to meet Afghanistan challenges

Islamabad, January 07, 2022 (PPI-OT):Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser has urged the international community especially Muslim countries to extend full support to address multi-faceted challenges in Afghanistan. Addressing a ceremony of distributing honorary shields among the OIC countries’ ambassadors in Islamabad, he said a parliamentary committee has been formed to monitor evolving situation in Afghanistan.

The Speaker also lauded Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Ministry of Foreign Affairs for holding a successful 17th extraordinary session of Council of Foreign Ministers of OIC. The Speaker called for joint efforts to bring peace and stability in Afghanistan.

January 7, 2022

Pakistan stock market earns highest aggregate profit in 10 years: Fawad

Islamabad, January 07, 2022 (PPI-OT):Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain says Pakistan stock market has earned the highest aggregate profit in ten years. In a tweet on Friday, he said the stock market earned 258 billion rupees profit despite coronavirus pandemic.

January 7, 2022

Khusro Bakhtiar rules out shortage of Urea in country

Islamabad, January 07, 2022 (PPI-OT):Minister for Industries and Production Khusro Bakhtiar has ruled out the shortage of Urea in the country, assuring additional supplies will be started from Monday next. Flanked by Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar and the fertilizer companies’ owners, he was addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Friday. The Minister pointed out that at present about three hundred and fifty thousand bags of urea are being produced on daily basis which will be enhanced to four hundred and forty thousand bags from tenth of this month.

He said two million bags of urea have been procured from China and if the need arises, more procurement will also be made. Khusro Bakhtiar said additional urea stocks of 4.4 million bags and 8.2 million bags will be available in the months of February and March respectively.

The Minister for Industries and Production said the government is providing subsidy of four hundred billion rupees to the farmers on Urea. He said that the price of urea bag in the international market is eleven thousand rupees per bag whilst in Pakistan it is 1800 rupees per bag. The Minister for Industries and Production asked the farmers to refrain from panic buying and purchase the fertilizer as per their requirement.

In his remarks, Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar said uninterrupted gas is being supplied to the fertilizer plants. He said the year 2021 saw record production of urea due to the constant gas supply to the fertilizer plants. He said we are providing gas to the fertilizer plants at reduced rates as a result of which urea prices are lower in Pakistan than the international market.

January 7, 2022

Government importing wheat, sugar to ensure smooth supply at reasonable prices, Senate told

Islamabad, January 07, 2022 (PPI-OT):The Senate was informed on Friday that a pilot project for 7th Population and Housing Census 2022 will begin from 15th May this year. Responding to a question during Question Hour in the Upper House on Friday, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan said the complete field operation will be carried out from first of August this year.

He said it is the PTI government, which is going to conduct a transparent census after a gap of just five years for the first time in the history of Pakistan. He assured the House that state of the art methodology will be used to ensure accuracy in the Population and Housing Census.

Replying to another question, Ali Muhammad Khan said the government is importing wheat and sugar to ensure their smooth supply at reasonable prices. He said the government is also working on maintaining strategic reserves of wheat, sugar, ghee and pulses.

Talking about relief measures, the Minister of State said it has been decided to release wheat at the rate of 1950 rupees per 40 kilograms to ease out its price and ensure smooth supply in the market and flour mills would provide a 20 kg bag for 1,100 rupees. He said all provincial governments are releasing wheat at the government-determined price. He said sugar price has been set at 90 rupees a kilo. Besides, cash subsidies are also being provided to the poor people on essential food items.

Ali Muhammad Khan said the government is implementing the National Agriculture Emergency Programme amounting to 277 billion rupees to uplift agriculture and livestock sector on modern lines and to enhance production level of major and minor crops. The House started discussion on “The Finance (Supplementary) Bill, 2021” to make recommendations to the National Assembly on the Money Bill.

Taking part in the debate, members from the treasury benches said the bill will help document the economy and will have negligible effect on the poor people as only luxury items have been taxed in this bill, whereas the opposition members believed that the bill will enhance inflation in the country.

Those, who participated in the discussion, include Mushtaq Ahmed Khan, Hidayutllah, Rana Maqbool, Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry, Faisal Javed, Waleed Iqbal, and Maulana Faiz Muhammad. The House will now meet on Monday at three p.m.