Day: June 24, 2024

National Assembly continued discussion on federal budget for next year in Islamabad today. Participating in the discussion, Shahida Rehmani said the budget envisages no measures for women empowerment. Mir Ghulam Ali Talpur said agriculture is greatly supporting the economic growth rate. He opposed the imposition of taxes on agriculture inputs including tractors, fertilizers and pesticides. Muhammad Iqbal Khan said the true potential of blue economy should be explored to take the country forward. He emphasized that the fishermen should be equipped with the latest tools and equipment as well as training. Sheikh Aftab Ahmed said government will get the budget passed with consensus. He said the PML-N has rendered sacrifices for democracy. He called for collective efforts to steer the country in the right direction. Muhammad Usman Badini said the resolution of the country's problems lies in abolishing the interest based financial system. He said special efforts should be made for the development of Balochista n province. Abdul Qadir Gillani demanded the creation of South Punjab. He said South Punjab should be given its share in development. Sehar Kamran was of the view that the revenue collection target set in the budget for the next fiscal year is not realistic. Waqas Akram criticized the taxation measures in the budget. He also regretted the mob lynching incident in Swat. Ghulam Muhammad proposed the establishment of a fund within the National Assembly for provision of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people. Ibrar Ahmed said despite difficult economic situation, the government has presented a people-friendly budget. He said salaries of employees and the pensions have been increased. Sadiq Ali Memon appreciated the increase in the budget of Benazir Income Support Program. Rana Ansar said steps should be taken to bring down the prices of electricity. Atif Khan said industries should be promoted in order to enhance the country's exports. Maulana Misbah-ud-Din said development of the tribal districts sh ould be prioritized. Shabbir Ali Bijrani welcomed the increase in the defense budget. He, however, said that ample resources should also be allocated for the uplift of health and education sectors. Asad Niazi said the leadership of PPP has always rendered sacrifices for democracy. Gul Asghar Khan said the government has presented a balanced budget by taxing the elite and luxury items, while on the other hand, the salaried class was given relief by enhancing their income. He stressed the need for signing a charter of economy to put the country on the path of economic development. He also proposed to expedite the privatization of loss-making entities. Syed Ali Musa Gilani called for fully implementing the minorities' quota. Shagufta Jumani suggested that tax on powdered milk should be revoked. Sher Ali Arbab urged all the politicians to sit together on a common agenda of steering the country out of crises. Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani said dialogue among political forces is the only way forward to bring politi cal stability to the country. He said the culture of using derogatory language against political rivals should be ended. He said PPP always talks of democracy and its leadership has rendered supreme sacrifices for this cause. Talking about the budget, Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani suggested withdrawing tax on agri inputs. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also attended the session today and interacted with the lawmakers. Those, who also spoke on the occasion, include Usama Hamza, Muhammad Hayat Khan, Khawaja Izhar-ul-Hassan, Danyal Chaudhary, Isbal Zehri, Bilal Azhar Kayani, Shazia Marri, Changez Ahmed Khan, Hina Rabbani Khar, Dr Darshan, Pullian, Anjum Aqeel Khan, Ali Sarfaraz, Syed Rafiullah, Nikhat Shakeel, Nuzhat Sadiq, Shahzada Muhammad Gushtasap, Nabeel Gabol, Shazia Sobia, Ahmad Saleem Siddiqui, Dr. Nelson Azeem, Jamal Ahsan Khan, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Sofia Saeed, Shaista Pervaiz Malik, Ali Jan Mazari and Sibghat Ullah. Source: Radio Pakistan

Italy, in collaboration with local partners and supported by UNESCO, will launch a pioneering "Radio Education" programme across Pakistan next month to bridge educational gaps and empower underprivileged communities. This was stated by Italian Ambassador to Pakistan Marilina Armellin in an interview with APP. She said the initiative will also help in sharing practical information on sustainable development practices for schools. The upcoming 'Radio Education' project will use Interactive Radio Instruction to enhance after-school education and community resilience. Source: Radio Pakistan

Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal inaugurated International Nathiagali Summer College on Physics and Contemporary Needs today. The summer college is being organized every year by Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission since 1976, aiming at transferring and sharing scientific knowledge among the scientific community. Speaking on the occasion, the minister said International Nathiagali Summer College has established a tradition of stimulating scientific activities, particularly in the field of Physics. While recognizing the transformative power of quantum science, he said the government has taken proactive steps to support the development of quantum technologies in Pakistan. The Minister said these projects aim to leverage Pakistan's scientific expertise and technological capabilities to advance the frontiers of quantum science, computing and engineering. Ahsan Iqbal said in addition to supporting research and development efforts, the government is also investing in human capital development in the field of quantum science and technology. Talking about Artificial Intelligence, the minister said, the government has established National Centers of Excellence in key universities, fostering innovation in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Cyber-security, Big Data, Cloud Computing, Quantum Computing, Nano-science and Nanotechnology, Additive Manufacturing, and Mathematics. Source: Radio Pakistan

A delegation of Chinese experts from various fields will visit Pakistan at the end of this month. The aim of the visit is to foster innovation, technology transfer, and capacity building. In preparation for this visit, Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal chaired a high-level meeting in Islamabad today, under the directive of the Prime Minister of Pakistan. Senior officials from federal ministries and heads of various sectors participated, highlighting the importance of this collaboration. Ahsan Iqbal directed the ministries to develop a comprehensive roadmap to maximize the benefits of the experts' visit. The focus will be on capacity building of Pakistani experts through training and knowledge sharing, learning from China's experience in innovation and technological advancements, adapting innovative solutions to Pakistan's specific needs, and skill development in key sectors. The Minister directed the line ministries to be selective and strategic, focusing on areas w here China has significant experience that could be shared with Pakistani professionals. Source: Radio Pakistan