C a R e ta K e R C a B i n e t n o t t o a C C e p t S a l a R i e S d u R i n g t h R e e - M o n t h S t i n t

CA R E TA K E R Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi presided over the first Provincial Cabinet meeting at CM Office on Saturday which discussed ensuring the holding of general elections in a transparent, fair independent and peaceful manner

Caretaker CM Mohsin Naqvi while addressing the meeting emphasized that basic responsibility of the caretaker government was to hold transparent and fair elections on instructions of the Election Commission of Pakistan

He expressed his resolve to undertake such public welfare works which can provide real relief to the masses The Punjab caretaker Cabinet by following the footsteps of caretaker CM Mohsin Naqvi voluntarily announced not to take salary and official residence

Approval was granted to allocate one billion rupees funds to provide financial assistance to the families of police martyrs during the meeting while Rs 3 5 million financial assistance per family will be provided to the families of police martyrs

Civil Cour t dismisses Sh Rashid’s plea in lal haveli case

RAWALPINDI

Civil Judge Naveed Akhtar on Saturday dismissed the petition filed by the brother of former federal minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed for obtaining an injunction against the possible operation to take possession of the Evacuee Property Trust Board-owned Lal Haveli The court in it’s ruling, passed here, had declared that under Evacuee Trust Property Management and Disposal Act 1975 and under Section 14 of the Act any court or institution could neither issue an injunction nor can issue any order which was equivalent to stopping the proceedings under the act It further said Therefore under Section 56(d) of the Act, the court cannot interfere in the measures taken for public interest by any institution of the federal or provincial governments

The petition was filed by Sheikh Rashid’s counsel Sardar Abdur Razzaq before the local court

hike in gas price not to affect poor strata: Musadik

ISLAMABAD S ta f f r e P o r t

Minister of State for Petroleum Dr Musadik Malik on Saturday said that multiple proposals were papered for IMF review, elaborating on: “let me be clear, the poor people will not be burdened from gas price hike Talking to a private news channel, the state minister claimed that his Ministry had devised a broader framework under which 50 percent of the country s total population, comprising the poorest of the poor, would be saved from the gas price hike “The Prime Minister has been presented with suggestions that if approved, will satisfy both the IMF and the general populace”, Musadik Malik claimed and added: “Very soon we would be able to cut down circular debt and the problems in the gas sector will be fixed ”

Repudiating the possibility or proposals to extend the constitutional term by imposing a financial emergency, he said that no such proposal or possibility had been considered at the party level so far

O G R A f O R AvO i d i n G s p e c u l At i O n s

A b O u t p O l p R O d u c t s’ p R i c e s: Meanwhile, a spokesman for Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) on Saturday expressed concern over the circulation of speculative reports about the prices of petrol and diesel in the media “It has been observed that speculative prices of petrol and diesel are being reported in the print and electronic media since last evening that is misleading and incorrect,” OGRA spokesman Imran Ghaznavi said in a brief press statement He advised the elements, spreading misleading and incorrect information, to avoid disseminating speculative prices of petroleum products in the public interest

It was decided to ease departmental rules to induct children of martyrs in police and a special relaxation will be given to the martyrs children regarding height and chest measurements

Financial assistance for the widows of police officers and jawans was increased from Rs 2500 to 25000 Inspector General of Police and senior police officials will hold open kutcheries for prompt redressal of public grievances whereas immediate orders will be issued to make expeditious action on public complaints in the open kutcheries T h e c a r e t a k e r C M w h i l e d i r e c t i n g t o m a k e a d v a n c e p l a n n i n g i n o r d e r t o p r o v i d e m a x i m u m r e l i e f t o t h e p e o p l e d u r i n g R a m z a n - u l - M u b a r a k , s a i d t h a t p r e p a r a t i o n f o r R a m z a n p a c k a g e s h o u l d b e u n d e r t a k e n f r o m t o d a y o n w a r d s s o t h a t p e o p l e c o u l d r e c e i v e r e l i e f in real terms during the Holy month He directed all provincial ministers to undertake visits of cities so as to review availability of subsidised flour in the markets The CM ordered to launch a wide scale crackdown and an indiscriminate action against land- grabbers and land mafias along with stopping usage of ice and other narcotics in the educational institutions

19 fabric, garments manufac turers to take par t in Int ’l expo

ISLAMABAD

At least 19 Fabric and Garments manufacturers from Pakistan are going to take part in the International exhibition, Texworld/Apparel Sourcing, being held next month in Paris

According to officials the Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), an attached department of the Ministry of Commerce will be organizing the Pakistan Pavilion at the fair from February 6 to 8 2023

As per details Texworld Evolution Paris brings together twice a year in Paris a thousand exhibitors from the fashion industry It offers professional buyers from all over the world a sourcing platform with a wide variety of products ranging from basics to the most creative and qualitative

With nearly 750 companies from some twenty countries, these three days will be an opportunity for visitors to renew their acquaintance, after three years of instability with the offer of the great Asian weavers embroiderers, and garment makers in particular There will be 5 country pavilions of Ethiopia, Ghana, South Korea Pakistan and Turkey China will have a big participation with 428 exhibitors Fair will display a global range of fashion products from the major manufacturing countries of Bangladesh, China, Cambodia, Korea, India, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and Pakistan Pakistan will have direct exhibitors and a national pavilion organized by TDAP

Cour t fines K h A sif, Imran’s law yers in Rs10b damages c ase

ISLAMABAD S ta f f r e P o r t

A l o c a l c o u r t o n S a t u r d a y f i n e d b o t h t h e c o u n s e l s – f o r p l a i n t i ff a n d d e f e n c e – R s 1 0 , 0 0 0 e a c h i n R s 1 0 b i l l i o n d a m a g e s c a s e f i l e d f o r m e r p r i m e m i n i s t e r I m r a n K h a n a g a i n s t F e d e r a l M i n i s t e r K h a w a j a A s i f

The judge approved an adjournment plea of Khawaja Asif ’s lawyer with Rs10,000 fine

The shortage of dollars and subsequent reluctance of banks regarding making payments are not only causing a mess for importers but the situation is also going to force the foreign shipping lines to stop services for Pakistan Through a letter sent to Minister of Finance

Senator Ishaq Dar the Pakistan Ship s Agents Association (PSAA) has warned that banks have stopped the remittances to the shipping companies, which could create serious issues for Pakistan s foreign trade

Earlier in a number of letters sent to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Ministry of Commerce and State Bank of Pakistan, the association has informed that the foreign shipping lines are considering stopping services for Pakistan, stopping the inflow and outflow of all goods from the country, as their payments have been stopped by the banks It may be mentioned here that almost all of the international logistics of the country is catered through sea trade and handled by the PSAA “If international trade is stopped the economic situation will worsen,” said the PSAA, adding that the foreign shipping lines are already considering winding up their services in Pakistan due to reduced cargo volumes

Formed in 1976 PSAA is the largest and oldest trade association representing shipping lines, and its members handle all types of cargo i e containerized cargo, liquid cargo and dry bulk cargo at Pakistan seaports

Through the letter sent by Abdul Rauf, chairman

Additional District and Sessions Judge Umeed Ali Baloch also imposed fine of same amount on the counsel for Imran Khan for not opposing the plea seeking adjournment T h e c o u r t a d j o u r n e d f u r t h e r h e a r i n g o f t h e c a s e u n t i l F e b r u a r y 11 P T I c h i e f h a s f i l e d d e f a m a t i o n s u i t a g a i n s t K h a w a j a A s i f i n 2 0 1 2 f o r l e v e l l i n g a l l e g a t i o n s a b o u t i r r e g u l a r i t i e s a n d m o n e y l a u n d e r i n g t h r o u g h t h e S h a u k a t K h a n u m H o s p i t a l f u n d s

PSAA the association has requested that the concerned ministries and institutions intervene in order to ensure continuity in Pakistan’s seaborne trade by allowing outward remittance of surplus freight amounts to respective foreign shipping lines forthwith

“Due to discontinuation of outward remittance of surplus freight amounts to respective foreign shipping lines, was hampering Pakistan’s seaborne trade which is heavily dependent on foreign shipping lines,” the letter added

It added that judging from the current state of affairs, where the shipping sector is badly hit by economic ups and downs, any further delays in remitting their legitimate dues will constrain Pakistani foreign trade

The main role of ship agents include booking ships in and out of the port, and arranging the berthing of the

Approval was granted during the meeting to reconstitute Cabinet Standing Committees for Finance and Development,Legal Affairs and Privatisation and Law and Order The Caretaker Cabinet accorded a formal approval for the appointment of Doctor Usman Anwar on the post of Inspector General of Police Punjab The Cabinet was given a briefing about law and order situation in the province and launching crackdown against criminal elements The Cabinet was also given briefing about wheat reserves and its needs Chief Secretary briefed the Cabinet about government affairs,duties and performance of departments, administrative structure and rules of business It was apprised during the Cabinet meeting that the Punjab government had 14 lac 80,000 metric tonnes wheat available while 2 lac 50000 metric tonnes wheat is being procured from PASSCO A 10 kg wheat bag is available for 648 rupees and flour mills were being released 26000 metric tonnes wheat daily

Wish revival of good ties between Khan, establishment: Sh Rashid

ISLAMABAD Staff rePort

Former interior minister and Awami Muslim League (AML) Chief Sheikh Rashid on Saturday asserted he wants revival of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)

Chairman Imran Khan’s ties with the Establishment

Speaking to a private TV channel program 11th Hour , the former interior minister alleged that PPP coChairman Asif Ali Zardari has given money to a terrorist organization to assassinate Imran Khan Zardari wants Imran Khan to be disqualified,” Sheikh Rashid said, adding that former president was behind a new plot to assassinate the PTI Chairman The AML chief further expressed hope that the date of general elections will be announced in March or April, adding that the elections of national and provincial assemblies will be held together The former minister added that Imran Khan will decide whether he would contest election or not “Imran would come out in public after a few days and destroy the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) ” he said vowing that he would always stand by the PTI chief Responding to a question, Sheikh Rashid said that whoever came to demolish Lal Haveli will be dealt with constitutionally and legally Earlier in the day, Imran Khan alleged that former president and Pakistan People s Party (PPP) co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari was among four people who were planning to kill him, ARY News reported on Friday Imran Khan accused Zardari of being involved in the assassination attempt saying that the former president was among four people who were planning to kill him

FM Bilawal leaves for Russia on official visit today

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f r e P o r t

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will undertake an official visit to Russia on the invitation of his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov As per details, the foreign minister will leave for Moscow on Sunday (tomorrow) and will return on January 30 The Foreign Minister will hold official talks with his Russian counterpart where the two sides would deliberate upon the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest ships submitting information of the local and foreign crew and any passengers to the local immigration authorities, completion of all relevant vessel clearance documentation and other services required for loading and unloading of the cargo

Meanwhile in a statement the PSAA says that members of the association are deeply perturbed due to the discontinuation of outward remittance of surplus freight amounts to respective foreign shipping lines which will badly hamper Pakistan s seaborne trade which is heavily dependent on foreign shipping lines Judging from the current state of affairs, where the shipping sector is badly hit by economic ups and downs, any further delays in remitting their legitimate dues will constrain Pakistani foreign trade