Day: January 12, 2022

Islamabad, January 12, 2022 (PPI-OT):Governor State Bank Reza Baqir has said that basic economic indicators of the country were kept under control even in the times of pandemic. Addressing a ceremony in Karachi on Wednesday, he said that all segments of the society were compensated during the pandemic, Ehsaas Cash Programme was initiated to help the worker class and loans to business and trade community were provided through banks in cooperation with the government.

He said Ehsaas Cash Programme has been recognized at international level. Reza Baqir said that due to economic challenges the government contacted with international financial organizations and said that as compared to other neighbouring countries the economic situation in Pakistan remained under control.

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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

Islamabad, January 12, 2022 (PPI-OT):The Interior Ministry has introduced an elaborate mechanism to facilitate relief activities of international non-government organizations in Afghanistan. This was informed during a meeting of the Afghan Inter-Ministerial Coordination Cell, chaired by National Security Adviser Dr. Moeed Yusuf in Islamabad.

The meeting was informed that new international NGOs as well as those already registered will benefit from this mechanism. The National Security Adviser appreciated the initiative and said it would immensely help in humanitarian assistance efforts for the people of Afghanistan.

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

Islamabad, January 12, 2022 (PPI-OT):Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has urged the Spanish government to review the Pakistan travel advisory following remarkable improvement in law and order situation in the country. He was talking to his Spanish counterpart Jose Manuel Albares in Madrid.

During the meeting, bilateral relations, trade and economic relations, besides regional and global situation were discussed. Later, addressing a joint press stakeout, both foreign ministers expressed satisfaction over the existing bilateral relations between Pakistan and Spain and agreed to further strengthen the ties.

Both sides stressed the need to further activate the mechanism of Annual Bilateral Consultation and agreed to hold the fifth round of the consultation soon during the current year. Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan, being a market of 200 million people, is an attractive market for foreign investment in textile, housing, construction, pharmaceutical, renewable energy, agriculture and sports industries.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also met with Spanish Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism María Reyes Maroto Illera in Madrid. They held detailed discussions on enhancing bilateral trade and economic cooperation between Pakistan and Spain. Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the annual bilateral trade between the two countries is more than 1.3 billion dollars which is a proof that Spain is one of the important trading partners of Pakistan.

He said Spanish investors and companies in Pakistan can get benefit of investment opportunities in housing and construction, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, agriculture and sports sectors. Discussing the Afghanistan situation, he urged the European Union to play an effective role to avert a humanitarian crisis in the war-torn country.

Regarding the situation in India Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the Foreign Minister apprised his counterpart of the threats posed by Indian policies to regional peace. He said Kashmir is a core dispute between Pakistan and India and its just resolution is inevitable for regional peace and stability.

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

Islamabad, January 12, 2022 (PPI-OT):Prime Minister Imran Khan will launch the country’s first ever National Security Policy on Friday. According to official sources, the original version of the policy will remain classified, but a public version of the document will be released.

The policy provides overall direction about national security, focusing on increasing national resource pie to strengthen Pakistan’s traditional and non-traditional security. The sources said the national security policy is a comprehensive document prepared with input from relevant federal departments, provincial governments and experts.

The policy gives guidelines for economic, military and human security. It also dilates upon hybrid warfare, internal security and foreign policy. In foreign policy, peace and economic diplomacy will be focused. Human security consists of population, health security, climate and water, food security and gender mainstreaming. The official sources said that an implementation framework has been prepared to ensure execution of the policy. Sources revealed that the policy will be reviewed every year and every new government may also review it.

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

Islamabad, January 12, 2022 (PPI-OT):President Dr Arif Alvi has upheld a decision of the Banking Mohtasib advising the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) to pay PKR 500,000 to a citizen who had been the victim of bank fraud at the hands of a former branch manager. He ordered that the bank must return the lost money to the victim and expressed dismay that the bank refused to own up to its responsibilities when a fraud had been committed by the employees of the bank against its customers.

Mr Muhammad Abdul Rasheed (the complainant), a resident of Faisalabad, had opened a bank account with the Hassan Road Branch, Jaranwala, and had handed over cash of Rs 500,000 to the then manager, Mr Akhtar Hussain, who gave the complainant a duly signed and stamped deposit slip.

Later, upon visiting the Branch to get his chequebook, the complainant came to know that an internal fraud had been committed by the then branch manager and he was one of the many victims of bank fraud and his money had not been deposited in his account by the manager.

56 affected accountholders submitted their claims to the bank amounting to Rs 98.018 million for refunding their defrauded amounts. Mr Abdul Rasheed also approached the bank to receive his claim but has was not provided with any relief. Subsequently, he sought the assistance of the Banking Mohtasib to retrieve his lost amount who ordered that the bank pay the complainant his lost money.

NBP then filed representation with the honourable President against the decision of the Mohtasib. President Dr Arif Alvi rejected the representation of the bank on the grounds that the deposit slip carrying the manager’s signature and stamp constitutes a valid receipt and binds the bank to honour it.

He upheld Mohtasib’s observation that although the bank manager had been dismissed by the bank and FIA was investigating the matter, the proceedings of the Mohtasib are of civil nature and are independent of any criminal prosecution by the FIA. He further noted that the complainant was dealing with the authorized agent of the bank who was not only in active service of the bank as the Branch Manager but had received the cash during banking hours within the premises of the bank against a valid deposit slip.

While terming the act of the ex-manager an act of maladministration and malpractice, the President further observed that the perusal of the relevant sections of the Federal Ombudsmen Institutional Reforms Act, 2013 shows that in matters falling within the jurisdiction of the Banking Mohtasib, the jurisdiction of other courts or authorities is excluded.

He wrote that the bank was given ample opportunity to refute the claim of the complainant and it failed to discharge the burden and statutory liability cast upon it under the law. Since no justification has been made to upset the original order of the Mohtasib, therefore, the representation of the bank is devoid of any merit and deserves to be rejected, he ordered.

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Islamabad, January 12, 2022 (PPI-OT):Federal Minister for Education, Professional Training, National Heritage and Culture Shafqat Mahmood presided over the meeting of Cabinet Committee on Institutional Reforms today which was also attended by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam, Federal Minister for Maritimes Affairs Syed Ali Haider Zaidi and SAPM and Establishment Muhammad Shehzad Arbab.

The Cabinet Committee on Institutional Reforms has deliberated the transfer of Sugar Advisory Board (SAB) from Industry and Production division to National Food Security and Research division. The committee was of the view that all staple food items should be placed under National Food Security and Research division which could better deal the stock position, matters related to import and export of essential food items according to the need of the country as the food security of the country is primary responsibility of ministry of National Food Security and Research.

However National Food Security and Research division requested the CCIR that there was overlapping of certain functions of Sugar Advisory Board between Industry and Production division and National Food Security and Research division so a study may be conducted on the matter before the decision making.

The Chairperson of CCIR Shafqat Mahmood directed the Planning division to hire a consultant to conduct a short-term study on the matter and give their recommendations to the CCIR. The Cabinet Committee on Institutional Reforms also discussed the placement of National Archive of Pakistan in National Heritage and Culture division.

The views from Cabinet division and National Heritage and Culture division on the matter were taken and after detailed discussion it was decided by the committee that National Archive of Pakistan should stay with the Cabinet division. The CCIR also noted that National Archive of Pakistan and National Document wing which had the identical functions may be merged together. The meeting of CCIR is adjourned till next Wednesday.

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Islamabad, January 12, 2022 (PPI-OT):Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Mr. Shaukat Tarin presided over the meeting of the National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC), held at the Finance Division, today. Federal Minister for Industries and Production Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, Provincial Chief Secretaries, Economic Advisor Finance Division, Chief Statistician PBS, MD Utility Stores Corporation, Deputy Commissioner ICT and other senior officers participated in the meeting. Economic Adviser Finance Division apprised the NPMC on weekly SPI which increased slightly by 0.08% in the week as compared to previous week when it decreased by 0.50%.

It was informed that 33 food items contributed decline in the SPI by -0.14%, whereas 18 non-food items contributed increase of 0.22%. Prices of 07 items registered decline which contributed decline in the SPI by 0.46%. During the week, prices of Tomatoes declined by 0.11%, Chillies Powder 0.26%, Eggs 0.05% and others 0.04%. NPMC was informed that prices of 22 items remained stable and 25 items registered increase in prices which contributed increase in the SPI by 0.54%.

Prices of Potatoes increased by 0.03%, Chicken 0.12%, Petrol 0.21% and others by 0.18%. It was informed that prices of Tomatoes and Onion in the last week were at the lowest as compared to their prices three years earlier. The meeting expressed satisfaction on the decline in the prices of the essential item. NPMC was updated on the prices of wheat flour and the meeting expressed satisfaction on the stability in the Wheat flour prices and availability of sufficient stocks of wheat in the country. NPMC was briefed on the sugar prices and its stock position in the country and expressed concerns on the slight increase in sugar prices in various cities.

The meeting was informed that the slight increase in price was due to disruption in the supply caused by rain and fog. NPMC was also apprised on the variations in the prices of Pulses and it was informed that except the prices of Moong Pulse, there was increase in the prices of other Pulses and it was mainly due to exchange rate variations and increase in freight charges. Further, arrival of local production of Gram Pulse in near future will ease its price.

The Finance Minister expressed concerns on the increase in the prices of Pulses and enquired about production trend of Pulses in the world. He directed the Ministry of National Food Security and Research to build strategic reserves of Pulses considering the lowest prices of Pulses in the international market.

He also directed Ministry of Food Security and Research and Provincial Governments to take creative measures to ensure smooth supply of pulses at fair prices. The NPMC was briefed on the availability of essential goods at subsidized rates at the Sastaa and Sahulat Bazaars across the country.

Finance Minister Mr. Shaukat Tarin lauded the efforts of the Government of the Punjab, KP, and Islamabad Administration in providing key items at discounted prices through arranging Sastaa Bazaars and also expressed satisfaction on the availability of essential items at low rates in Sastaa Bazaars in Sindh and Baluchistan.

He also advised Government of Sindh and the Baluchistan to extend Sastaa Bazaars for the welfare of the general public. In his concluding remarks, the Finance Minister underscored the efforts being made for keeping the prices of essential items in check and measures to ensure smooth supply of essential commodities throughout the country.

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Press Information Department (PID)
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Website: www.pid.gov.pk