Day: June 24, 2024

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Chairman Gates Foundation, Bill Gates visited National Emergencies Operations Centre today. Chairman National Disaster Management Authority Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik gave a comprehensive briefing about NDMA and NEOC encompassing the pre and post disaster mechanisms that are in place. The Prime Minister and Chairman Gates Foundation visited different sections of the NEOC whereby experts briefed them about the operations of the organization. The Chairman Gates Foundation appreciated the state of the art facilities at NEOC and underscored the importance of predictions of disasters to mitigate the losses and to expedite reconstruction and rehabilitation in the aftermath. He also appreciated the efforts of the current government in prioritizing this important area as climate change is adversely affecting the vulnerable countries as happened in Pakistan during the floods of 2022. Afterwards, an interactive session including the Prime Minister, Chairman Gate s Foundation, Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Cultural Heritage Attaullah Tarar, Coordinator to Prime Minister on Climate Change Romina Khurshid Alam, Entrepreneurs, Climate Change Activists and Experts was held. The session discussed innovative steps and tailor made solutions for Pakistan regarding health, nutrition, gender balance, preventive diseases, climate change, disaster management, climate resilient agriculture and other multiple areas. The meeting concluded with a firm resolve of cooperation between Gates Foundation and Pakistan to come up with solutions to the issues with mutual cooperation. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif thanked Chairman Gates Foundation Bill Gates for his resolve to help Pakistan in multiple areas that will benefit the common man. Source: Radio Pakistan

President Asif Ali Zardari will visit Sukkur today. He will chair a meeting there regarding security and law order situation in Sindh province. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah will attend the meeting. Source: Radio Pakistan

Gilgit-Baltistan budget for next fiscal year was presented in Assembly in Gilgit today. Finance Minister Muhammad Ismail while presenting budget in the house, said a total of 34.50 billion rupees have been earmarked for Annual Development Programme while 86.60 billion rupees have been set aside for non-developmental expenditures. He announced an increase of 25 percent in the salaries of government employees from grade 1 to 16 and 20 percent in the salaries of employees of grade 17 and above. Source: Radio Pakistan

In Balochistan, hundreds of acres of barren land is being brought under cultivation under Green Pakistan Initiative (GPI). In this regard, Pakistan Army has also started a program in Pasni, Gwadar where five hundred acres of land has been leveled. Such initiatives are aimed at improving the living standards of the landowners in the backward areas. Source: Radio Pakistan

Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi says the government has started consultation with all political parties to resolve issues of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This he stated while talking to leadership of Awami National Party in Peshawar today. Speaking on the occasion, Provincial President of ANP Mian Iftikhar Hussain stressed the need for implementation of the national action plan with true spirit. Source: Radio Pakistan

National Task Force on Polio Eradication has expressed the resolve to employ all resources to eliminate polio from Pakistan. The meeting of the National Taskforce on Polio Eradication was held in Islamabad today with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in the chair. Chair of Gates Foundation Bill Gates together with President Global Development Dr. Chris Elias, President Gender Equality and Michael Galway Dr Anita Zaidi, Deputy Director of Polio Eradication of the Gates Foundation along with partner organizations of Rotary, UNICEF, WHO and Centre for Disease Control attended the meeting. The Prime Minister appreciated Gates Foundation for its key partnership and long association in the polio eradication programme. He also appreciated the dedication of frontline workers, government leadership and partner support for the significant progress against polio. Shehbaz Sharif resolved that as long as the virus continues to circulate and paralyze children, our efforts would continue with full force. He direc ted all stakeholders to ensure that every child in Pakistan receives multiple doses of the vaccine and is protected against polio. He emphasized that provinces should lead polio eradication efforts in their regions with a sense of urgency to interrupt wild poliovirus transmission this year. Bill Gates, in his remarks underscored that his foundation will continue to extend support to Pakistan for polio eradication. He also emphasized obtaining maximum vaccination coverage during polio vaccination campaigns. The meeting was briefed about the challenges in implementing successive polio drives in several areas, particularly in security-compromised areas and some parts of Balochistan. The meeting was also briefed about different steps taken by provincial governments to eradicate Polio Virus and recent trends in immunization. It was told that Punjab has been leading in routine immunization and its ratio is the highest among the provinces. An overview of the ongoing response to the recent surge in wild poliovi rus detections throughout Pakistan was also given to participants. Source: Radio Pakistan

Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider has said that economic prosperity can be achieved by financially empowering farmers, labourers and the underprivileged. Addressing public a gathering on the suburbs of Attock, the Governor said that Attock district would embark on a new era of development and prosperity as the work on a number of development projects are underway. He announced that besides the establishment of a dialysis center in Fatehjang, a state of the art facility would also be established in Pindigheb with the help of local donors. Source: Radio Pakistan

Minister for Education Gilgit Baltistan Ghulam Shehzad Agha has said Government is utilizing all available resources to promote quality education in Gilgit-Baltistan. Addressing the ceremony at Elementary College for Women, Skardu, he said provincial government is giving special attention to the education sector to enable the students to cope the modern challenges. On the occasion, he urged the teachers to fulfill their responsibilities diligently. Source: Radio Pakistan