Pakistan calls for a transparent judicial inquiry, under international scrutiny, into the extra-judicial killing of three innocent Kashmiris in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) on 18 July 2020. The Indian occupation forces had martyred 25-year old Imtiyaz Ahmed, 20-year old Mohammad Ibrar, and 16-year old Abrar Ahmed in so-called “cordon and search” operation in Shopian on 18 July 2020. The young Kashmiri boys had come from Rajouri to work in apple orchard as labourers. To cover up the “cold blooded” murder of these innocent Kashmiris, the Indian occupation army had claimed that the three were “unidentified terrorists.” To further hide their crime, instead of handing over the human remains to the families of the victims, the occupation forces had buried them in a graveyard marked for “foreign terrorists.” Two months after the killing, the Indian occupation Army itself has admitted that the three innocent Kashmiri labourers were killed extra-judicially — a hallmark of Indian occupation forces’ state-terrorism in IIOJK. In a statement issued on 18 September, the Indian Army has accepted that the powers vested under the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) were exceeded. As the world community is aware, since its illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019 in IIOJK, India has taken its brutalization of innocent Kashmiris to a new level. More than 300, mostly young, Kashmiris have been extra-judicially killed by the Indian occupation forces in fake “encounters” and staged “cordon-and-search” operations in IIOJK during the past one year. Pakistan has been consistently sensitizing the world community, including the United Nations and the international human rights organizations, about India’s serious crimes against the Kashmiri people. The Indian Army’s statement of 18 September is an acknowledgement that Indian occupation forces are guilty of war crimes in IIOJK. The BJP leadership must realize that they are directly responsible for crimes against the Kashmiri people. No illegal and inhuman Acts such as Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and Public Safety Act (PSA) can provide impunity against the crimes that are being perpetrated in IIOJK. India should be well-aware that use of brutal force, including extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture in custody, use of pellet guns, burning and destruction of Kashmiris’ houses to inflict collective punishment, cannot break the will of Kashmiri people in their just struggle for the inalienable right to self-determination. The international community must take immediate cognizance of the 18 July 2020 episode in IIOJK as well as other acts indicative of the RSS-BJP regime’s genocidal tendencies and hold it accountable for continuing crimes against the Kashmiri people.
President of Turkmenistan telephoned to Dr. Alvi
President of Turkmenistan, Mr. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov made a telephone call to President Dr. Arif Alvi and exchanged views on Pakistan-Turkmenistan bilateral relations, implementation of TAPI Gas Pipeline project, and TAP Power Transmission lines, here today. They expressed satisfaction over the existing relationship and emphasized the need to further strengthen and diversify trade, economic and energy cooperation between the two brotherly countries. President Dr. Arif Alvi underscored the need for early operationalization of TAPI project that would go a long way in further strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries. While underlining the significance of CPEC, the President said that the Corridor would boost regional connectivity and countries of the region particularly Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics would tremendously benefit from its road and railway infrastructure. He also highlighted the importance of Gwadar seaport which offered shortest route to Turkmenistan and suggested, in this regard, early finalization of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on sister port relationship between the ports of Gwadar and Turkmenbashi. The President Dr Arif Alvi apprised President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov about Pakistan’s policy of smart lockdown that successfully contained the Corona pandemic. He appreciated the remarkable measures taken by the Government of Turkmenistan in curbing the spread of the virus. Both sides discussed the Afghan peace process and stressed the need for early peaceful solution to the long-drawn war. The President highlighted the brutalities and human rights violations being committed by the Indian government against the innocent population of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). He stated that international community needed to take note of the grave human rights situation in IIOJK to stop India from committing human rights violations in the Valley. The President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov proposed online meetings of existing institutional mechanisms between the two countries such as Joint Governmental Commissions and Joint Working Groups on trade, communications, agriculture, industry, transport, and science and technology so as to enhance cooperation in these areas. The Turkmen President invited President Dr Arif Alvi to participate in the international conference titled “Policy of Neutrality and its Importance in ensuring International Peace, Security and Sustainable Development” scheduled to be held in Ashgabat in 2021. President Arif Alvi felicitated President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and the people of Turkmenistan on the 25th Anniversary of the Permanent Neutrality being celebrated this year. He also thanked his Turkmen counterpart for making telephone call, saying such interactions at high levels would bring the two brotherly countries further closer.
Govt committed to make textile industry competitive and realise export potential: SAPM on Petroleum
LAHORE: Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Petroleum Nadeem Babar said Saturday the Federal government is committed to make the textile industry competitive and realise its export potential fully.
While talking to media at the APTMA Punjab office, he said the purpose of his visit to APTMA office was to understand the issues of the textile industry.
He said his meeting with the APTMA leadership and members was very constructive on the energy issues faced by Textile industry and the government would ensure maximum relief to the industry. As regards payment of GIDC arrears, he said that within the ambit of the verdict of the apex court Government would make its best efforts to facilitate the industry.
According to him, the textile industry is looking for a stable textile policy and the government is committed to bring it at the earliest to enable he industry to being in foreign exchange, create jobs and new investment in the country.
He said the government would ensure supply of gas to the industry during the winter season.
SAPM also congratulated Mr Adil Bashir for his unopposed election as central Chairman APTMA and expressed the hope that he would serve the industry out of his best abilities.
Earlier, Secretary General APTMA Muhammad Raza Baqir formally announced official results of APTMA elections. He said Mr Adil Bashir has been elected unopposed as central Chairman APTMA while Mr Zahid Mazhar and Mr Hamid Zaman have been elected unopposed for the office of Senior Vice Chairman and Vice Chairman APTMA respectively.
Speaking on the occasion, Adil Bashir said he would continue to serve the textile industry with the same passion as he has been serving as Chairman APTMA Punjab over the last two years.
He said the textile industry has been revived fully due to the export-friendly policies of the government. The idle capacity has become operational and the textile exports have started picking up over the last two months. The exports are also showing 14% increase during the ongoing month of September, he added.
He said APTMA was working with the government for a viable textile policy.
Earlier, in his presentation to SAPM Nadeem Babar, Chairman APTMA Chairman Adil Bashir said a realistic energy efficiency benchmarks should be re-fixed in consultation with the industry, experts and technical data. Also, he said, the energy audit may be suspended till re-determination of efficiency benchmarks. The industries using gas for in-house consumption should not be charged GIDC at captive tariff. Since textile industry has not passed on incidence of GIDC, therefore, arrears of GIDC should not be recovered from textile sector till decision by Superior Courts, he stressed
According to him, SNGPL has issued GIDC arrears bills at captive connection tariff without determining passing of incidence. The Lahore High Court vide order dated 14-09-2020 has stayed recovery of arrears prior to 2015 and difference of industrial and captive tariff.
He said the textile sector has not passed on incidence of GIDC to consumers. Hence Supreme Court decision not applicable to textile sector. GIDC arrears recovery may be suspended till final outcome of Review Petition.
He demanded of fixation of all inclusive energy tariffs i.e. electricity @ 7.5C/kWh and gas at US$ 6.5/MMBTU for next five years.
He further said that a billing mechanism should be devised for disbursement of subsidy to SNGPL for providing gas to 5 export oriented sectors at US$ 6.5/mmBTU.
Subsidy for all the surcharges and costs above US$ 6.5/mmBTU for the period Oct 2018 – July 2020 should be released to SNGPL, he added.
He has also urged the visiting SAPM to include new electricity/gas connections of industry not previously listed in erstwhile zero rated.
He said the government had announced in October, 2018 an all inclusive energy package for 5 export oriented sectors announced with electricity at 7.5C/kWh and gas at US 6.5/MMBTU. This package enabled the industry in Punjab to compete with domestic and regional competitors, he added.
The Center for Contemporary Art announces the author’s project of a participant in the CCA Lab Research Laboratory within Tashkent Futures
The Insulation Cube project is a structure built in the shape of a cube with an internal hollow space. In it, a person is isolated from the outside world, freeing himself from visual and audio stimuli and disconnecting from the global media stream.
“In the world of intense information flow, temporary self-immersion will help to find emotional harmony and spiritual health,” says the author of the project, Mukhiddin Riskiev, participant of CCALab.
From 1 October, entry and exit are allowed to Uzbekistan through air, railway and automobile checkpoints
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — For those entering Uzbekistan by air, the following rules are established:
Persons who have been in the “green countries” in the last 14 days are allowed to enter the territory of Uzbekistan without restrictions. These countries include China, Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea, Georgia, Hungary, Finland, Latvia, Austria and Japan.
Persons arriving from the “yellow countries” (Azerbaijan, Belarus, the United Arab Emirates and the EU countries (with the exception of Great Britain and Spain), as well as from the “red countries” (all other countries of the world) are allowed into the territory of Uzbekistan only if they have a negative PCR test, produced in the last 72 hours.
In the absence of such a test with a negative result, the passenger will not be checked in for the flight to Uzbekistan.
If a passenger arriving in Uzbekistan has not passed the test, or has symptoms of coronavirus, then he takes the test at the checkpoint at his own expense.
If the result is negative, he is sent to a hotel or home quarantine for 14 days.
If positive – to a quarantine center in Uzbekistan at his own expense or returns to the country of arrival at his own expense.
Persons entering the Republic of Uzbekistan through automobile and pedestrian checkpoints on the border with Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan are subject to the same conditions as for passengers from the “red countries”: a negative PCR test result and a 14-day quarantine in a hotel or at home. In the absence of a certificate, they take the test at their own expense at the checkpoint and are sent to quarantine.
There are no travel restrictions for citizens of Uzbekistan. Each country in the world independently decides whether to accept the citizens of Uzbekistan or not.
PARC to promote local production of Extra Virgin and Chemical Free Olive Oil
Olive cultivation on commercial scale was initiated in Pakistan through Italian funded project back in 2012. Following the encouraging results, Government of Pakistan launched a PSDP- funded project “Promotion of Olive Cultivation on commercial scale in Pakistan” during 2014.
According to an estimate about 2.90 million plants on 25,600 acres has been planted so far under various projects. Olive Fruit is being harvested in considerable quantity in Pakistan and it is the need of hour to provide olive processing units in major olive growing region to facilitate the farmers at their doorstep and to ensure that economic benefits of the olive cultivation can directly be passed to the farmer.
Catering this need, the PSDP project has installed 09 advanced oil extraction units (03 with capacity of 600 kg/hr and 06 of 100 kg/hr) along with all basic accessories like harvesting baskets, oil analyzer for quality analysis, filling, / capping/ sealing machine and olive oil storage containers. These oil extracting units are important part of olive value chain in the country and will serve as pull factor for the uplift of this sector. These were the remarks given by Dr. Muhammad Azeem Khan Chairman PARC, Islamabad while inaugurating the Olive Processing Unit installed at NARC on 17th Sept, 2020 under the said project.
EBRD commits fresh funds to help Uzbek small businesses
Tasshkent, Uzbekistan — The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is scaling up its support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Uzbekistan, where they create about 50 per cent of GDP and employ almost 80 per cent of the workforce.
A new loan of up to US$50 million to Bank Asaka, may be disbursed in three different currencies (US dollars, Euros and Uzbek soms) to cater needs of Bank Asaka. It will stimulate the business activity of small and medium-sized domestic companies affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The loan will be provided in two tranches of US$20 million and US$30 million respectively.
The EBRD funds will also contribute to the further commercialisation, greater efficiency and competitiveness of Bank Asaka paving the way for its eventual privatisation.
The EBRD launched two Solidarity Packages in response to the coronavirus pandemic and now expects to dedicate the entirety of its business investments of up to €21 billion in 2020-21 to overcoming the economic impact of the crisis.
To date, the EBRD has invested €1.8 billion through 81 projects in Uzbekistan’s economy.
Standard Chartered announces S C WomenInTech 2020 Winners
Standard Chartered, in partnership with INNOVentures Global (Pvt.) Limited, is excited to announce the top seven winners of the #SCWomenInTech Programme 2020. This is a global programme aimed at supporting gender representation within technology-based entrepreneurship.
Today’s event saw the announcement of the seven women led businesses shortlisted from over 280 applicants, each winning up to, PKR 1,500,000, in seed grants for their businesses. This year in addition to the regular five grants the programme had announced two additional grants for “COVID-19 relief-based projects”.
The seven businesses were selected from a pool of the top 23 teams that have been through the #SCWomenInTech programme incubator for three months. During this time, they were offered coaching, mentoring and business management skills to grow their businesses to the next level.
The seven winning companies for 2020 are:Details of the seven winners
- ConnectHear– Azima Dhanjee
- CreditBook– Iman Jamall
- OrbitEd—Wajiha Habib & Naveera Waheed
- PakAgri Market—Ayesha Ahmed
- Scaryammi—Ayesha Nasir
- Foster Learning—Hira Javaid
- Skin Deep International—Sadaf Mohyuddin
The winners will be supported with extended mentoring and milestone-based disbursement of the winnings for a period of 9 months.
Speaking at the event Mr. Rehan Shaikh, CEO, Standard Chartered Pakistan mentioned, “I would like to congratulate the winners of the #SCWomenInTech programme and appreciate all the participants who had applied to this programme. Irrespective of the final outcome, remember that in your own right, you are positively transforming our country’s economy and creating more job opportunities. Just like the Bank, you are striving to be a force for good, promoting sustainable economic and social development in the markets and communities where we operate.”
Standard Chartered launched Women in Tech in Pakistan in March 2019. This programme aimed to promote the economic and social development of women in Pakistan through innovation or technology led entrepreneurship.
Shahid Afridi addresses the press conference
Sports legend Shahid Afridi addresses the press conference along with CEO of Green Crescent (GCT) Trust Zahid Saeed at Wangi Goth, Karachi school. Shahid Afridi Foundation runs this charitable school in partnership with GCT.Govt, SBP asked to support manufacturing. Manufacturing sector providing ten million jobs. Manufacturing contracted to 14 percent of GDP: Mian Zahid Hussain
President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum and All Karachi Industrial Alliance, and former provincial minister Mian Zahid Hussain on Friday lauded the government and SBP for supporting the manufacturing sector and asked to take more steps to strengthen this sector.
This sector is providing jobs to ten million people but its share in the GDP has contracted to 14 percent which must be noticed, he said.
Mian Zahid Hussain said that manufacturing is on the decline while the undocumented economy is expanding creating problems and dragging down the quality of products.
Talking to the business community, the veteran business leader said that this critical sector is overtaxed while it is also facing the increased cost of doing business, unnecessary interference by different agencies and dumping from different countries which is a result of flawed trade deals.
He said that textile is the largest subsector of manufacturing which absorbs almost 53 percent of the undocumented labour that are getting lesser pays than those working in the formal sector.
The people working in the informal sector have to rely on meagre salary and they have no protection, decent working conditions, social security, medical and insurance cover and pension etc.
These working conditions keep workers uncertain and concerned about their future which in turn hurt their production that is reflected in the quality and quantity products they produce, he said.
The veteran business leader said that majority of the investor cannot appreciate the benefits of well-paid labour while the situation in rival countries is different therefore India, China, Bangladesh, Vietnam and other countries are successfully grabbing Pakistan’s share in the international market.
Government should reduce the burden of tax on the manufacturing sector and improve working conditions in formal and informal sectors so that they can work with peace of mind and push the country towards progress.
