Day: June 28, 2024

The National Assembly has passed a resolution regretting the resolution passed by the US House of Representatives, stating that Pakistan, as an independent and sovereign country, will not accept any interference in its internal affairs. The resolution, moved by Shaista Pervaiz Malik, further asserted that the US resolution reflects an incomplete and erroneous understanding of Pakistan's political and electoral processes. It highlighted that the US resolution fails to acknowledge the free and enthusiastic exercise of voting rights by millions of Pakistanis in the recently held General Election. The National Assembly reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to safeguarding and upholding democratic principles and norms as enshrined in the Constitution, in line with the aspirations of the people and the vision of the country's founding fathers. The resolution also brought attention to more pressing issues for the US Congress, such as ongoing acts of genocide in Gaza, gross human rights violations in the Indian Illeg ally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), and state-sanctioned atrocities against minorities, especially Muslims, in India. The House called upon the US and the international community to take immediate steps to alleviate the suffering of innocent people in Gaza and IIOJK. It expressed hope that in the future, the US Congress will play a more constructive role in strengthening Pakistan-US bilateral relations by focusing on avenues of collaboration for the mutual benefit of both countries. The resolution called upon the government of Pakistan to enhance bilateral cooperation with the United States by improving channels of communication to dispel such misperceptions and work towards harmonious relationships for the progress and prosperity of people of both countries. Source: Radio Pakistan

Pakistan has reminded India of its abysmal human rights record in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Speaking in the UN Security Council in a reply to a statement from an Indian delegate, the Second Secretary at the Pakistan Mission Rabia Ijaz said Indian state terrorism in IIOJK will not dampen the spirit of those seeking their legitimate right to self-determination. Rabia Ijaz said concrete evidence has been shared with the UN establishing beyond any doubt that TTP and BLA have been financed and sponsored by Indian agencies. She said the captured Indian spy, Kulbhushan Yadav, is on record to have confessed to India's support for such terrorist and subversive activities. Source: Radio Pakistan

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf says Pakistan Navy War College is preparing the best manpower by imparting quality education and professional training as per the contemporary requirements. He was addressing of the participants of the 53rd PN Staff Course at War College Lahore. The Naval Chief said a combination of both innovation and core values is essential to tackle emerging challenges in the maritime domain. Earlier, course participants presented a research paper on the use of artificial intelligence in naval warfare. The research panel of the course also presented a review of the opportunities and challenges for the Pakistan Navy in this regard. The Chief of the Naval Staff appreciated the research and suggestions made by the course participants. Source: Radio Pakistan

The efforts on the part of Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) are paving the way for export of salt from Pakistan. Pakistan's salt deposits from mines are the second largest in the world, while salt is also obtained in abundance from the sea. The processing and export of salt obtained from the sea was not given special attention in the past, which was taken up by the Hub Salt Company as an unsolicited proposal. The proposal, which had been lying dormant for two years, was raised at the SIFC forum. SIFC brought together all the stakeholders to consider the proposal and highlight the national and international importance of the project. Taking into consideration the concerns, concerns and needs of all stakeholders, the SIFC proposed a workable solution that created a win-win situation for all parties. Work on this multi-billion dollar project is expected to be started in the next one to one and a half year. The initial volume of the salt obtained from the coastal areas of Pakistan is two mill ion tons per year, which has the potential to increase to twenty million tons per year. Source: Radio Pakistan

Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb says economy has achieved stability. Responding to the points of opposition on the Finance Bill in National Assembly today, he expressed the government's determination to further enhance the stabilization process with the goal of steering the economy towards growth. Sharing the economic indicators, the Finance Minister pointed out that there is reduction in the Current Account Deficit and the fiscal deficit is also under control. He said the currency has been stable over the last six to seven months, expressing the confidence that this stability will remain in the time ahead. He said the foreign exchange reserves have reached nine billion dollars and that the inflation has come down to eleven percent from thirty-eight percent. Muhammad Aurangzeb said enhancing the tax to GDP ratio and reforms in State Owned Enterprises and energy sector are part of the budget for the next fiscal year. The Finance Minister said the tax to GDP ratio will be increased to thirteen percent in the next three years. He said our privatization plan consists of two to three years and it will be executed. Source: Radio Pakistan

Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet has given the principle approval to the Finance Division for the establishment of Pension Fund. The approval was given during a meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb in Islamabad. The committee also approved the proposal of defined contributory scheme for the new entrants from first July this year and for armed forces from first July next year. The ECC also approved technical supplementary grants to various ministries and divisions. Source: Radio Pakistan

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that five hundred and ninety billion rupees have been given to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over the years to augment its capacity in the war on terrorism. Responding to the points of the opposition in the National Assembly today, he recalled that the province was given an additional one percent in resources in the National Finance Commission Award, agreed upon back in 2010. The Prime Minister, however, regretted that counter terrorism department has yet not been established in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are brave people and they have rendered immense sacrifices in the war on terrorism. Source: Radio Pakistan

Central Development Working Party has approved 26 development projects worth 900 billion rupees. The approval was granted during meeting of CDWP that was held in Islamabad with Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan in the chair. The Central Development Working Party recommended nine projects worth 867 billion rupees to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council for its consideration. Source: Radio Pakistan