February 9, 2022 – Page 2 – Madagascar Newswire

February 9, 2022

Punjab Uplifts Major Sectors by Approving Various Development Schemes in its 60th PDWP Forum

Lahore, February 09, 2022 (PPI-OT):The Punjab Provincial Development Working Party approved six development schemes of various sectors with an estimated cost of Rs.3,302.104 million. These schemes were approved in the 60th meeting of Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) of current fiscal year 2021-22 presided over by Chairman Planning and Development Board Abdullah Khan Sumbal.

The approved development schemes included Rehabilitation / Reconstruction / Widening and Improvement of road from Sahiwal to Sillanwali via Farooqa, Length = 26.17 Km, District Sargodha (Revised) at the cost of Rs. 878.528 million, Rehabilitation / Improvement of road Bhakkar Byepass to Notak Bypass via Ratta, Mullanwali, Bhilmana, Jam (20 Km and 20 feet width), Total Length 17.35 Kms, District Bhakkar (Revised) at the cost of Rs. 504.652 million, Construction of Double Road (Expressway) to connect Sangla Hill Interchange with Tibba Shah Behlol, Length 11.90 Km, District Hafizabad (Revised) at the cost of Rs. 632.518 million, Construction of Road from Manjipur to Manga Pull, Length = 23.90 Km, District Sialkot (Revised) at the cost of Rs. 521.377 million, Strengthening of AMRI Research and Development Capabilities in Collaboration with UAF for Fabrication of Cost Effective and Efficient Small Agriculture Implements for Small Farmers (Revised) at the cost of Rs. 471.006 million and Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) (PC-II) at the cost of Rs. 294.023 million.

Provincial Secretary P and D Mujahid Sherdil, all Members of the Planning and Development Board, Provincial Secretaries of concerned departments, and other senior representatives of the relevant Provincial Departments also attended the meeting.

For more information, contact:
Directorate General Public Relations,
Government of the Punjab
Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-9201390-86
Website: www.punjab.gov.pk

February 9, 2022

Health Minister’s Meeting with German Ambassador to Pakistan

Lahore, February 09, 2022 (PPI-OT):Punjab Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid met German Ambassador to Pakistan Bernhard Schlagheck in her office here on Tuesday. Present in the meeting were Special Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department Saleha Saeed and Special Secretary Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Ajmal Bhatti. First Secretary Economic and Political Division Christian Boucher accompanied the visiting Ambassador as well. The Health Minister and the German Ambassador discussed Universal Health Coverage and Naya Pakistan Qomi Sehat Card, Corona Pandemic situation, measures to improve mother and child health indicators and issues of bilateral interest.

German Ambassador to Pakistan appreciated the efforts of Dr. Yasmin Rashid for bringing about improvement in health in Punjab. The two dignitaries agreed to enhance cooperation for better healthcare services in Punjab. The Health Minister said there was a great deal to learn from the German healthcare system. The Health Minister said, “Prime Minister Imran Khan has always wished to provide good quality healthcare services to people of Pakistan.

The credit of taking Punjab towards Universal health coverage goes to Prime Minister Imran Khan who fulfilled his promise with the people of Punjab by giving away the Naya Pakistan Qomi Sehat card to all population. Now no one needs to worry about expense on healthcare services in Punjab. By 31st March, Naya Pakistan Qomi Sehat Cards will be distributed to the entire population of Punjab. Govt of the Punjab is spending Rs. 400 billion on the health insurance program. Initially the card was given was to people living below the poverty level in 2019.

Now everyone can avail free healthcare services from empaneled public and private hospitals. The entire world has appreciated Pakistan for overcoming Corona Pandemic. Now Punjab has a capacity to conduct 25 to 30 thousand CVOID-19 tests per day. Punjab is developing seven state-of-the-art mother and child hospitals. These mother and child hospitals are being developed in areas requiring these facilities. Punjab is going to set up a Digital Health Authority. The digitalization of the system shall help provide good quality healthcare services to people.

Punjab is also been specifically focusing on school children through School Health Nutrition Program. Children Hospital has been made a University of Child health Sciences for improved services for children. Punjab is also working on diagnosis, counselling and treatment of genetic disorders. Punjab is running the world’s largest thalassemia program. We are keen to learn from German Best Practices and welcome their wish for cooperation.”

German Ambassador to Pakistan Bernhard Schlagheck said Pakistan had made a significant step forward towards provision of universal healthcare through Naya Pakistan Qomi Sehat Card. He said Pakistan had performed very well against Corona Pandemic. He also said all out support will be provided to Punjab for improving the quality of healthcare services. Provision of free healthcare is a great development in Punjab and the project to digitalize healthcare system is innovative. She said Germany appreciates all health initiatives.

For more information, contact:
Directorate General Public Relations,
Government of the Punjab
Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-9201390-86
Website: www.punjab.gov.pk

February 9, 2022

FBR Rebuts News Story Published in Daily Business Recorder

Islamabad, February 09, 2022 (PPI-OT):Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has categorically denied the insinuation made in the story published in the Business Recorder on February 8, 2022 with the title “Yet another ‘Finance Bill’ on its way?” FBR has clarified that the review of the tax laws is an ongoing exercise which FBR undertakes in routine.

FBR is currently grappled with harmonization of the existing tax laws into IR-Code which would be a major milestone as it would not only add to administrative convenience in the enforcement of tax laws but also contribute to ease of doing business. It is also added that 7th Review Mission under the IMF Program is scheduled in March, 2022. Any changes that might be required as a result of the ongoing exercise could very conveniently be given effect at the budget time through the Finance Act, 2022.

For more information, contact:
Second Secretary (Public Relations)
Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)
FATE Wing, Federal Board of Revenue,
Constitution Avenue, Sector G-5,
Islamabad, Pakistan
Phone: +92-51-9217267
Fax: +92-51-9208456
Email: mujeeb.talpur@fbr.gov.pk, talpur35@gmail.com
Website: https://www.fbr.gov.pk/

February 9, 2022

FBR inks MoU with Pakistan Tax Bar Association

Islamabad, February 09, 2022 (PPI-OT):In a historic development Federal Board of Revenue has taken a watershed initiative to ensure facilitation in filing of tax return by new taxpayers for Broadening of Tax Base by signing a memorandum of understanding with Pakistan Tax Bar at FBR (HQ) on Feb 07, 2022. FBR is all set to launch yet another out of box digital intervention for Broadening of Tax Base through definite information obtained about non-filers. FBR has already collected information about assets and expenditures of the persons outside the tax net from various sources. This information shall be made available to persons outside tax net through Tax Asaan Portal.

Under the MoU, Pakistan Tax Bar will share the lists of qualified and willing members of Tax bar to file tax return of the new taxpayers. FBR will make this list of tax consultants available to new taxpayers wanting to file tax returns and will facilitate this by payment of fixed fee for filing of return to the tax consultants. The facility will be purely voluntary and a taxpayer will have an option to avail this free of cost facility or hire his/her own tax consultant. Broadening of tax Base is a key priority of the government and this facility of filing of tax return is an unprecedented step for facilitation of new tax payers and thus maximize tax compliance in the country.

February 9, 2022

Senate participates in a virtual event on “Advancing Implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration in Asia and the Pacific”

Islamabad, February 09, 2022 (PPI-OT):“Pakistan has the sixth-largest diaspora in the world, with estimates suggesting a population of 9.1 million people of Pakistani origin living abroad, which roughly translates to 5pc of the total Population, the implementation of the Global Compact Migration -Parliamentary Consultation will bring safety, order and economic progress to everyone’s benefit” stated Senator Dilawar Khan while addressing the Virtual meeting on Advancing Implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM) in Asia and the Pacific, here at the Parliament House on Tuesday.

The aim of the event was to provide information on the Global Compact for Migration and its implementation in Asia Pacific Region, and ways in which Parliamentarians can support implementation in their countries and collaborate across migration corridors. Senator Dilawar Khan and Maj. (rtd) Syed Husnain Haider, Additional Secretary (AS), of the Senate Secretariat participated in the virtual meeting.

Senator Dilawar Khan while addressing the Global gathering said that Pakistan has hosted Afghan refugees for more than 40 years, and today hosts 1.4 million registered refugees. The country also extends smart identity cards to Afghan refugees that would give the refugees faster and safer access to health and education facilities and to banking services.

The High-level Parliamentary meeting was apprised by the Pakistani Senator Dilawar Khan that Pakistan has welcomed the first ever agreement among UN member states on all- encompassing Global Compact to better manage international migration. “The Implementation of the compact will bring safety, order and economic progress to everyone’s benefit” he further added.

The Pakistani representative Senator Dilawar khan ensured the promotion and protection of the Human Rights Migrants through the Global Compact for migration (GCM) to actively engage on the prospects, opportunities and path ways for regular migration to facilitate labour mobility and upholding the right to family life with mutually beneficial cooperation. The meeting also included Klaus Dik Nielsen (MC) Pia Oberoi, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and Nenette Motus, Coordinator, Regional UN Network on Migration for Asia and The Pacific.

For more information, contact:
Senate of Pakistan
H.No.7, Cat-II, G-8/2, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9204564534
Fax: +92-51-9205703
E-mail: senate@comsats.net.pk
Website: www.senate.gov.pk

February 9, 2022

Pakistan desires to have broad-based relations with US: Foreign Minister

Islamabad, February 09, 2022 (PPI-OT):Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said Pakistan desires to have broad-based and multidimensional relationship with the United States. He was talking to Pakistan’s Ambassador designate to the US Sardar Masood Khan in Islamabad on Wednesday.

The Foreign Minister said the government is focusing on geo-economics for economic stability of the country. Shah Mahmood Qureshi stressed that the world attention should be drawn towards the investment opportunities available in Pakistan through economic diplomacy.

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

February 9, 2022

Foreign Minister urges Indian Muslims to stand up for protection of their fundamental rights

Islamabad, February 09, 2022 (PPI-OT):Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has urged the Indian Muslims to stand up for the protection of their fundamental rights. In a statement on Wednesday, he said the persecution campaign will not stop if the Muslims remained silent.

The Foreign Minister strongly condemned the banning of Hijab at educational institutions in Karnataka state. He said the flag bearers of human rights should take notice of it and speak for the rights of Muslim girl students who are being deprived of their fundamental right of education.

Voicing concerns over the maltreatment of minorities in India, Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan is hosting 48th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers and it will discuss the issues faced by the Muslim Ummah including Palestine and Kashmir disputes as well as Islamophobia.

February 9, 2022

Network of NADRA offices will be spread to far flung areas of country: Rashid

Islamabad, February 09, 2022 (PPI-OT):Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has said the network of NADRA offices will be spread to the far-flung areas of the country. Talking to the media persons in Islamabad on Wednesday, he said thirteen passport offices will be established in Interior Sindh whilst succession certificate will also be introduced in Azad Kashmir and Balochistan.

The Interior Minister said that salaries of all civil armed forces have been enhanced by fifteen percent and that he has requested the Prime Minister to raise the salaries of other departments as well. Sheikh Rashid said the Iranian Interior Minister is also visiting Pakistan next week. Responding to a question, Sheikh Rashid said Prime Minister Imran Khan faces no threat from the opposition parties who will face defeat if opted for the no confidence motion.