Musadik Malik inaugurates gas transmission project at Hafizabad

Lahore staff report iSLaMaBaD: Bringing ease and convenience for its customers, Telenor Pakistan has partnered with Bookme.pk to integrate its ticketing portfolio into Telenor Pakistan’s retailer app, Apollo. Bookme.pk’s ticketing portfolio, coupled with Apollo’s vast nationwide retailer network, will enable customers, even those who do not have access to a smart digital device or a computer, t zo purchase or book tickets with ease. These include purchasing tickets or making bookings for buses, cinemas, hotels, logistics, cricket, car rental, tours, and events. Customers can walk up to Telenor Pakistan’s Apollo retailer and book a ticket without hassle. Umair Mohsin, Chief Marketing Officer, Telenor Pakistan, said, “Telenor Pakistan has always been keen on its commitment towards ensuring that we digitise the value chain and continue to innovate in our distribution model. I can proudly say that we’re harnessing an increasingly digital economy to reimagine access to services and products. pr

NBP inaugurates first disable-friendly branch on Shaheed-e-Millat Road

Minister of Energy (Petroleum Division) Senator Dr Musadik Malik inaugurated gas transmission project in district Hafizabad. Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Interior and Legal Affairs Attaullah Tarar, former Member of National Assembly Saira Afzal Tarar, Shahid Hussain Bhatti and MD SNGPL Ali J. Hamdani were also present on the occasion. The project which is expected to benefit 57,000 consumers of 150 villages has been completed at a cost of Rs. 2,142 million. Sui Northern Gas spent Rs. 1,609 million while funding of Rs. 533 million was provided by the Government of Pakistan.

The inaugurated gas transmission project includes 25.3 kilometers 8” dia long transmission line, distribution network of 582 kilometers and a Sales Metering Station (SMS) at Pindi Bhattian. The distribution network has already been commissioned by connecting with the existing supply mains. This project while ensuring supply to the new consumers, will also help in addressing low pressure issues of existing consumers of Pindi Bhattian, Kot Sarwar, Kaley ke Mandi, Jalalpur Bhattian and surrounding villages.

Customs seizes smuggled goods worth Rs381m

KARACHI: Upon receipt of credible information from DG I&I that an organized group was about to secretly dump a huge quantity of smuggled goods at a compound near Rizvia Society, Scheme 33, Malir Karachi, the Directorate of I&I Karachi deputed an anti-smuggling team for surveillance of the premises. The team intercepted two suspicious trucks coming out of the premises on Rashid Minhas Road. The search of the trucks revealed them to be loaded with foreign origin assorted laptops. Upon non-production of documents of legal import/possession, the trucks along-with the drivers were escorted to the office of the Directorate.

A third truck exiting the premises was intercepted by the team near Askari Park, University Road, Karachi and found to be loaded with smuggled Aircraft Piston Engine oil. pr always one through thick and thin.

GFS recognizes the outstanding performance of its employees and giving awards to the deserving persons for their achievements throughout the year is an essential part of GFS business strategy. Awards not only boost their involvement in work, but also encourage them to focus on work.

Irfan Wahid said that GFS Builders & Developers has been associated with Karachi's construction industry for the last two decades and has a prominent position in the city for its unique and outstanding projects. GFS stands for high quality and its construction designs shows a fine blend of modernity with a classical touch, and this exclusivity distinguishes GFS from other organizations.

Managing Director GFS, Mansoor Wahid said that GFS awards not only encourage its employees to show productivity but also motivate them to work hard with complete dedication and devotion.

Director Sales and Marketing, Mohsin Wahid, said that GFS Builders initiated the modern lifestyle in residential and commercial projects and introduced a unique idea of citywithin-a-city, which has given rise to a new trend in the world of construction.

ICCI shows concerns over falling forex reserves and rupee depreciation

iSLaMaBaD: The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry has shown great concerns over the falling forex reserves of the State Bank of Pakistan, which have tumbled down to a new low level of around US$ 3.7 billion and sharp erosion in the value of rupee, which has fallen to over Rs.265 against a dollar in the open market on Friday. These indicators show that if immediate corrective measures are not taken, the economy of Pakistan would be heading towards a collapse.

Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that strong foreign exchange reserves of a country give confidence to the local and foreign investors, but the continuous fall in the forex reserves of Pakistan are shaking the confidence of the business community and the potential investors. He said that the government in consultation with the private sector should take war footing measures to boost exports and divert remittances through banking channels to improve the foreign reserves of the country. He said that over 9000 containers carrying essential commodities including petroleum products, LNG and soybean are stuck up at ports due to shortage of dollars. He stressed that the government should explore out of the box solutions to improve the foreign exchange reserves to ensure that all essential imported consignments are cleared on time to save the business community from further losses. pr

Poverty paradigms of Pakistan

“The imbalance between the rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics.” This quote was written by Plutarch almost 2,000 years ago, but despite the passage of centuries, it seems that it has never been more relevant.

where the top 1 percent of farmers own nearly 20 percent of farmed land, the increase in the family household increases the pressure on breadwinners and ensures that they are unable to improve their lifestyles.

In line with SBP’s vision to transform banks’ branches into disability-friendly branches for Persons with Disability (PWD); NBP has inaugurated its first branch having state of the art facilities for PWD on Shaheed e Millat Road. The initiative is part of the bank’s advocacy platform to create a more inclusive community for people with disabilities in Pakistan. The NBP President, (A) NBP Rehmat Ali Hasnie, inaugurated the branch along with Karim Akram Khan, SEVP/Group Chief, LCMG, Imran Farooqui, SEVP/Group Chief, Mehmood Akhtar Nadeem, Group Head, OPG, Shahzad Ahmed Karimi, PSO/EVP and other executives from HRMG, IDG, RBG, Aitemaad, OPG & LCMG. The branch is modified to better suit the needs of people with disabilities focusing primarily on enhanced mobility access. Low-height ATM desks, dedicated areas for wheelchairs in waiting areas, and other new options are added for people with disabilities, to ensure fast-tracked customer service. pr

With economic inequality that exists even in the most prosperous nations, Pakistan has also suffered from the scourge of poverty since its inception in 1947.

Poverty has become a key part of Pakistan’s image in recent years. If you ask a foreigner what comes to mind when they hear the word “Pakistan”, chances are it’s either a scene of overcrowded slums alongside the Ravi or a disheveled beggar walking from car to car outside a department store in Islamabad.

The roots of this problem are deep and widespread, holding back economic growth and preventing the less fortunate from escaping the shackles of poverty. At 2.0%, Pakistan has the highest population growth rate in South Asia, a nerve-racking number when you consider that it borders some of the world’s most populous countries. In an agricultural system

In addition, Pakistan’s dominantly patriarchal system encourages couples to have children until a boy is born into the family: fueling the fire by increasing the number of feedings in already struggling households. In addition to population growth, about half of Pakistan’s population is illiterate. Without education and basic skills training, youth are unable to meet employment criteria. Existing systems have proven inadequate in addressing these issues, which hampers economic growth and societal development.

Without sufficient education, people remain unemployed and do not get the opportunity to break out of poverty. Pakistan also notoriously spends the lowest on education compared to other South Asian countries. Coupled with institutional corruption, the rise of child labor, and the growing trend of madrassa education, a lack of literacy can be seen as a major contributor to poverty. Another major factor contributing to poverty in Pakistan is the unbalanced tax system, which is detrimental to the poor. In a country where four out of ten citizens live without the basic necessities of life, it is disheartening to see the fortunate clearly feeding off the less fortunate without consequence. A lecturer at UMass Amherst, Obed Pasha, is quoted as saying,

“What we have is a completely broken system, where the entire burden is on the poor and large businesses do not pay taxes at all.” With no income opportunities and a parasitic society, the poor cannot afford to pay taxes, reducing their chances of breaking out of poverty. Recent governments have made several policy changes to try to end poverty in Pakistan once and for all. Indeed, Pakistan was among the top 15 countries that showed the largest annual percentage point average decline between 2000 and 2015. However, as famous playwright John Heywood quoted, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.”

The problem of poverty is much deeper than we think. To make significant progress, we need to change our perspective and think in the long term. We must focus on changing the traditionally parasitic system, contribute to job opportunities for the poor and finally try to end the problem of poverty in our beloved nation once and for all.