F.P. Report
ISLAMABAD: Interim Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, retired Justice Arshad Hussain called on Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar here on Tuesday and discussed the upcoming general election and administrative matters of the province.
The prime minister emphasized the constitutional role of the interim chief minister in assisting the Election Commission of Pakistan to hold polls in a free and fair manner across the province.
He felicitated the chief minister on the assumption of his office and expressed best wishes for his assignment. The meeting also discussed the law and order situation in the province and the control of smuggling.
PM for visa ease, improved banking channels to boost Pak-Uzbek trade:
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar underscored that easy visa procedures, improved banking channels and reciprocal warehousing facilities would further boost trade between Pakistan and Uzbekistan.
The prime minister, in a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Dr Jamshid Khodjaev Abdukhakomovich along with a delegation, expressed the hope that the business community of both countries could easily achieve the bilateral trade target of US$ 1 billion in a short time. The Uzbek deputy prime minister, along with a seven-member delegation, is on an official visit to Pakistan.
Prime Minister Kakar welcomed the Uzbek deputy prime minister and his delegation to Pakistan and recalled his recent meeting with President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyovev, on the sidelines of the 16th ECO Summit held in Tashkent from November 8-9. He expressed satisfaction at the pace of bilateral engagements between the two countries, especially in the areas of trade, defence and connectivity.
He also appreciated the holding of the First Trilateral Meeting of the Commerce Ministers of Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan in Islamabad. The three sides also established a trilateral working group to discuss customs, logistics, trade promotion, tariffs, TIR procedures, etc.
Showing satisfaction at the outcome of the trilateral meeting, the prime minister hoped that the trilateral mechanism would boost trade relations between the three countries. Prime Minister Kakar underlined the need to continue momentum of people-to-people exchanges. Deputy Prime Minister Khodjaev thanked the prime minister for the warm hospitality extended to him and his delegation.
He briefed the prime minister about fruitful meetings with the business community of Pakistan, including the banking and logistics sectors. He expressed the hope that both sides would continue active engagement for the timely completion of the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan Railway Project.
The Uzbekistan delegation included Minister of Transport Ilkhom Makhkamov Rustamovich, Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Badriddin Abidov, Deputy Foreign Minister Bobur Usmanov, Deputy Chairman of State Security Service Maj. General Farukh Mukhtarov and Ambassador of Uzbekistan in Islamabad Oybek Arif Usmanov. The Pakistan delegation included Minister of Commerce Gohar Ijaz as well as secretaries of commerce and Board of Investment, and other senior officials.
PM urges overseas Pakistanis to invest in Pakistan: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar urged the overseas Pakistanis to invest in Pakistan and assured that the government would provide all possible support and facilities to them.
He said protecting the rights of overseas Pakistanis were among the top priorities of the government. The prime minister expressed these views during a meeting with a delegation of the overseas Pakistanis led by Nouman Mustafa that called on him, the PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.
The prime minister observed that transfer of remittances of the Pakistanis residing aboard through legal and safe manner was very important for the country’s progress and urged them to send their amounts through the Roshan Digital Pakistan Account.
He further said that the Roshan Digital Pakistan Account was the safest means for transfer of remittances and its utilization could help in improving the national economy. Protection of their investments and properties were the responsibility of the government and no leniency would be tolerated in that regard, he added.
PM, heritage minister discuss promotion of art & culture: Interim Minister for National Heritage and Culture Syed Jamal Shah called on caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar and discussed matters related to his ministry, the PM Office said. Various steps to promote art and culture in the country also came under discussion.
PM for promoting HE in accordance with contemporary, economic requirements: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar underlined the need of bringing the higher education in the country in conformity with the contemporary and economic needs. He further stressed for introduction of scholarships in technical and scientific subjects in accordance with the global requirements.
The prime minister was chairing a meeting regarding the Higher Education Commission (HEC). The meeting was attended by Caretaker Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Madad Ali Sindhi, Chairman HEC Dr Mukthar Ahmed, secretary education and other senior officials, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.
