Day: August 15, 2022

Sugar prices in the first five-months of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government remained stable as he had reduced rates of the commodity to 78 rupees per kilogram.

According to the Prime Minister Office, in a big relief measure, Shehbaz Sharif, just after assuming office of the Prime Minister, had slashed 22 rupees a kilo in sugar prices.

It is pertinent to mention that price of sugar in previous government was 120 rupees per kilogram.

Shehbaz Sharif decreased prices of flour, sugar and other essential items.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed to provide cash assistance of fifty thousand rupees per family to the flood-affected people within three days.

 He was chairing a meeting of the Flood Relief Coordination Committee in Islamabad on Monday.

He said an amount of 50, 000 rupees instead of 30,000 rupees should immediately be provided to all the flood-hit families.

He directed Benazir Income Support Programme to provide the cash assistance of 50, 000 rupees under the supervision of the National Disaster Management Authority.

The Prime Minister also emphasized on ensuring transparency in the provision of relief assistance to the affected people. He said the cash assistance should be provided through electronic transfer to ensure that the beneficiaries get their right.

The Prime Minister directed that a joint survey in cooperation with provinces for assessment of losses due to recent floods should be completed in three instead of five weeks.

Shehbaz Sharif said that the provincial governments should ensure coordination with the NDMA at the earliest regarding the joint survey to ensure timely assistance of the flood affected people.

The Prime Minister said that federal government will ensure relief and rehabilitation of the flood victims from its own resources.

The meeting was further informed that the federal government is in contact with international donors and other welfare organizations in this regard.

It was also informed that Asian Development Bank and the World Bank have assured the government for the provision of necessary funds for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of flood-affected areas under the Emergency Disaster Relief Fund.

Source: Radio Pakistan

 President Dr Arif Alvi has urged the need to adopt international best practices and modern technological tools by the Public Sector Audit and Accounts Departments for better financial control and ensuring efficient and transparent use of public funds in the best interest of people of Pakistan.

Talking to the under-training officers of the 49th Specialized Training Programme of the Pakistan Audit and Accounts Service in Islamabad on Monday, he advised newly-inducted Civil Servants to keep on updating their knowledge and professional and communication skills and technical expertise and to discharge their official responsibilities with humility, justice and ready accessibility to the common man.

The President said that technological developments are happening at an exponential pace whereas our decision-makers and Civil Servants are still making decisions in a linear mode.

He said we need to adopt critical technologies like blockchain, and Virtual and Augmented Reality in the office processes and procedures, besides taking the right decisions at right time.

In reply to a question about the low participation of women in the workforce, the President regretted the fact that due to local traditions and cultural practices, women are deprived of their due rights. He said that although laws had been enacted to give property rights to women, however, in some parts of the country women are kept marginalized due to highly entrenched social and cultural norms.

He said that Pakistan’s dismal standing in socio-economic indicators can only be improved by substantially mainstreaming women, who comprise almost half of the population.

Source: Radio Pakistan

The National Assembly resumed its session at the Parliament House in Islamabad on Monday evening with Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf in the chair.

The House offered fateha for the departed souls of 13 people, who killed in a road accident in district Rahim Yar Khan, and four soldiers of Pakistan Army, who embraced martyrdom in recent incidents of terrorism.

Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali led the fateha.

The House on Monday passed two bills. These include; “The Pakistan Tobacco Board (Amendment) Bill, 2022” and “The Inter-Governmental Commercial Transaction Bill, 2022.”

The House has now been prorogued.

Source: Radio Pakistan