Category: Pakistan

F.P. Report

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Govt has announced to establish tourism authority, for the promotion of tourism in the province.

This was revealed by senior minister for tourism Atif khan while talking to media here on Wednesday.

The minister said that the authority was meant to promote tourism and generate revenue.

“The chief minister, chief Secretary and minister for tourism will oversee the authority” he added

Atif khan further said that local govt and communication Department will also be part of the authority to ensure infrastructure and cleanliness in tourist spots.

“The authority will explore new sites besides providing basic facilities to the existing sites”.

“We are focused on promotion of regional tourism and later foreign tourists will be attracted to ensure revenue generation “he added.

He also claimed that Swat Express Way would be completed by December this year, which he said would help to promote tourism in the province.

He also announced that work on Behrain, Kalam and Kumrat roads would also be started soon.

Senior minister said that FATA districts, now the part of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had a great potential adding that efforts will be made to promote tourism throughout the province alike.

He also said that the govt will pay special attention to the youth, providing them with job opportunities adding that youth will also be given loans enabling them earn the livelihood.

 

 

 

F.P. Report

KARACHI: Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari while paying rich tribute to Shaheed Mir Murtaza Bhutto on his 22nd martyrdom anniversary, said that twenty-two years have passed, but Shaheed Mir Murtaza Bhutto, like the others martyrs of Bhutto Family, failed to get justice from the courts.

He said that under a notorious scheme for toppling an elected democratic government, Shaheed Mir Murtaza Bhutto was martyred.

He said that the people are well aware of conspiracies against the PPP and that is why they have always remembered the martyrs of Gadhi Khuda Bux and defeated the forces of evil that have always acted against Pakistan.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the martyrdom of Shaheed Mir Murtaza Bhutto is an unforgettable chapter in history of democracy and civilian supremacy in Pakistan and that the history is itself a judge.

 

F.P. Report

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Environment, Ishtiaq Urmar has issued directives for strict implementation of the ban on use of non-biodegradable plastic bags in the province.

He issued these directives while chairing a high level meeting held here at the office of Chief Conservator Forest Department in regard with reviewing strategy regarding implementation of the Green Growth Initiative.

During the meeting, the Minister was also briefed about measures taken by Forest Department for Green Growth Strategy.

After threadbare discussion in the meeting, plan was chalked out for making Khyber Pakhtunkwa as more greener under the Green Growth programme by planting more tree after successful completion of Billion Tree Tsunami porject. Different decisions were taken for setting and achievement of plantation targets, protection of wildlife, improvement of environment and for containing of poisonous gases emission from factories. Speaking on the occasion, Environment Minister, Ishtiaq Urmar laid stress on implementation of ban on use of non-biodegradable plastic bags and directed for refresh initiatives in this regard. He also directed concerned officials to cooperate with trading community in introduction and use of substitute of these bags.

Environment Minister also laid stress on creating awareness on importance of water and on its proper use so that people could stop misusing it.

He said our country is facing sever water shortage and its is very imperative to aware masses about scarcity of the commodity and its proper uses.

 

F.P. Report

PESHAWAR: Parliamentary Leader and Provincial General Secretary of Awami National Party (ANP) Sardar Hussain Babak has that he has submitted adjournment motion in KP Assembly against delay of Tribal district in to mainstream.

In a statement issued here Wednesday Sardar Hussain Babak said that after merger of FATA in KP the tribal districts were not legally adjusted in KP and the government was using delaying tactics in this regard. He said that the tribal people were fed up and their problems were increased day by day.

Sardar Babak said that the people of tribal districts were affected of war on terror and they were being deprived of basic rights of life.

He demanded of the government to brought Fata in mainstream and start developmental works in the area. He said that till date about 600 educational institutions were closed and thousands of children were out of schools adding provincial government should consider the issue seriously and resolve their problems on priority basis.

F.P. Report

PESHAWAR (APP): Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Emergency Rescue Service (Rescue 1122) has deployed Emergency Medical Response Unit for provision of on the spot first-aid to mourners on 9th and 10th of Muharramul Harram.

According to a press release issued here Wednesday, the Director General (DG) Rescue 1122, Dr. Khateer Ahmad has said that the medical unit will provide services to mourners at Hussainia Hall, Peshawar Cantonment on 9th Muharram while on 10th it will provide services to mourners inside the city.

The DG Rescue 1122 said that doctors and medical technicians will be deployed at Emergency Medical Response Unit, which has been equipped wioth medicines and other necessary items.

F.P. Report

GILGIT: Minister of State for Interior, Shahryar Khan Afridi here Wednesday said that government would protect interest of the country at any cost come what may and would give all respect and honour to the people they deserved. Addressing a high-level meeting in connection with Moharram-ul-Haram security arrangements here on Wednesday, he said there era of ‘Do More’ has gone rather its period of ‘No More’.

He made it clear that we will not hand over our rights and security for our personal gains to the aliens as the previous regimes used to do so. “We are the citizens of this country which has been bestowed with God gifted natural resources in abundance,” he said, adding our main focus is strengthening of the federal units and economic empowerment of people and assured that the government which was in GB would be given full respect and honor as given to others federating units. “I came here to listen problems of people of this beautiful province and not to dictate any things to GB Government.”

“Our Government was focusing on development and progress of hitherto neglected areas like GB and will make every endeavor to provide all basic amenities of life to people of this province at their doorsteps.” Unfortunately, he said the previous successive governments had ignored the remote and backward areas of the country. Earlier, the Minister was given detailed briefing on the security arrangements made for peaceful observance of Ashura Moharram. He assured full support of the federal government to GB in the maintenance of public order.

Meanwhile, the interior minister for state visited Imamia Masjid and Central Mosque Gilgit and met the people of the occasion. The meeting was attended by Law Minister GB Aurangzaib Advocate, Chief Secretary, IGP, DG Rangers, DG GB scouts and representatives of other security agencies. Later, in a brief chat with media men, Afridi said the government was taking steps to remove sense of deprivation of the people of GB.

To a question he said, all stakeholders were on same page viz a viz national security. He held categorical assurance that Federal Govt would continue support to the GB govt which has been elected through democratic process. He said protection to life and properties was the sole responsibilities of the government and no comprise would be made in this regard. “All are equal before us whether they are in majority or in minority in Pakistan,” the minister concluded.

 

F.P. Report

MARDAN: PTI’s Member Provincial Assembly Iftikhar Ali Mashwani has defended the mini budget presented by the Federal Finance Minister Asad Umer as balanced in the present difficult economic scenario.

In a statement here the PTI MPA said that though certain tough decisions have been taken but it could not be avoided in order to get rid of the economic mess of the previous regimes. Had we not taken these decisions today we would have been in more difficult economic situation tomorrow, he explained. He was optimistic that this difficult time would be ended soon and the country would prosper and flourish in the PTI government in the days to come. We congratulate Asad Umer for presenting a people friendly and balanced mini budget.

The lootmar, plunder of the national wealth and other illegal practices continued for last thirty years by the previous successive regimes, put the economy of the country under huge debts of Rs30,000 billion and stress. With all such debts, it was not an easy task to make a friendly budget, he added.

He said that trading and business circles of the country were happy over the budgetary proposals. The exports of the country will increase which were on the downward trend for the last five-six years. He maintained neither gas tariff has been increased by 46 percent nor any additional tax levied on people having more than 1.2 million annual incomes, no compromise on CPEC and instead pension rate enhanced and farmers provided with subsidy. The opponents were criticizing the budget for the sake of opposition.

The merit, and justice based government has been established under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan in the country. The Prime Minister was making every endeavor to establish a transparent system in the country cleansed of nepotism and corruption. The destiny of the nation would be changed towards better if support and cooperation of the people of the country remained with PTI, he concluded.

 

 

F.P. Report

TIMERGARA: Political workers of various parties here on Wednesday rejected the recent increase in the price of gas and imposition of taxes in utility bills of consumers of Malakand division.

In their written statement issued the media the ANP activist Buzarg Ahmad Jan, JI Syed Musharaf Shah Jan, PPP Aman Khan and others have said that people had voted to the PTI for ending their miseries and hardships. They said the PTI government had been bombing the nation with price hike, taxing the low income class and joblessness. They said the government first increased the price of electricity and then fertilizers and gas. They said the PTI had proved it was not capable to run the state smoothly. The activists threatened to bring people on the roads if the government did not stop teasing the general public.

Also in the day the former nazim union council Samar Bagh advocate Abdul Rehman said that Malakand division was a tax free zone but the government had included different kinds of taxes in utility bills. Condemning the taxes in utility bills he said the government wanted to indirectly tax the people of Malakand.

He said that Malakand division was the worst affected region of militancy, earth quakes and floods and the government should have announced special package for it rather putting the people in the fire. He demanded of the government to end taxing the people of Malakand. Otherwise; he said the people would start agitation and the responsibility of any untoward incidents would fall on the government.

 

 

 

Ghulam Mursalin Marwat

LAKKI MARWAT: District Police Officer (DPO) Asif Gohar suspended from service two police officials on poor performance and directed them to report to police lines at district headquarters complex Tajazai.

During a surprise visit to police stations in Naurang and Dadiwala areas, the district police chief expressed anguish over poor cleanliness condition and not updating record of different sections of police stations. He inspected Moharar rooms, offices of station house officers, lockups, barracks and storerooms and found the record incomplete.

The hygiene condition was also not up to the mark in both police stations. The Moharars on duty could not cite any solid reason for not updating record and keeping police stations clean and beautiful. Mr Asif suspended from service Khamdullah Jan, Moharar at Dadiwala police station and Osman, additional Moharar posted in Shaheed Asmatullah Khan Khattak police station of Naurang town.

He said that Moharars were the backbone of police stations and that any negligence and slackness on their part was intolerable. He directed the station house officers to complete the record of relevant sections and record entries of arrests in relevant registers.

 

 

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Communication Murad Saeed vowed to launch the E-Tendering and billing system across the country to ensure transparency and accountability within the ministry.

Upon assuming the charge as state minister after his portfolio was changed yesterday, Saeed stated that they have embarked on a voyage of reforms and development with full zeal and enthusiasm under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The state minister reiterated that there will be no compromise on transparency and accountability, and from the first day the government has implemented revolutionary vision of change and reforms in the institutions.

He also vowed to implement PM Imran’s vision of eradicating corruption and strengthening public departments.

The state minister was briefed by chairman National Highway Authority (NHA) and other attached departments on the major ongoing, pending and future projects.

He also directed the ministry’s officials to launch a smart phone app within a month to provide necessary information particularly the project’s implementation, execution and progress in the desired region.

“This application is not new as it’s already been functional in most of the developed countries,” he said.

He resented the delay in various projects of NHA hampering tourism and indigenous development of the concerned areas.

Responding to a notice the state minister had taken on four-lane Chakdara to Kalam expressway, the officials informed that the project was delayed due to political interference and maneuvering.

The minister, therefore, ordered audit of all delayed projects since 2002 and claimed that legal procedures would be followed in accountability process.

He urged the officials to abide by the austerity campaign of PM Imran and avoid any unnecessary expenditure as he himself would bear the expenses of tea and refreshment if any guest visits the ministry.

“We are here to resolve issues by action instead of making sweeping statements,” he said.

He said internationally Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) system is important for any project which has never been followed here.

“There was no need to construct flyovers every time to resolve traffic issues rather good engineering must have been employed to make sustainable solutions,” he remarked.

He said that now it is the high time to take crucial steps with team effort, improved coordination, dedication and proper direction to deliver the best to the masses.