Category: Islamabad

Beijing: Pakistan and China on Thursday signed three different Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to enhance cooperation in the areas of renewable energy, cement and fertilizer manufacturing sectors.

President Asif Ali Zardari along with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah witnessed the MoU signing ceremony here.

An MoU was signed between Pakistan's Thatta Cement Company and China's Zhonggang Construction Group to help establish an additional production line at Thatta Cement to increase cement production by 5000 tons per day in Pakistan utilizing the locally sourced Pakistani coal.

Another MoU was signed between the Sindh Energy Department and China's Ming Yang Renewable Energy Company that would promote cooperation on various renewable energy projects in Pakistan. It also aims at facilitating the two sides to explore several renewable energy projects, fulfill the goals of carbon peaking, carbon neutrality, and emission reduction.

The third MoU was signed between the Sindh government and Meskay Femtee CG and M, Chinese company for a coal gasification and urea production plant which would be jointly established for making up direly needed coal gasification plant for the manufacturing of fertilizer.

Islamabad: National Emergency Operation Center (EOC) has said that the national anti-polio campaign continued on Thursday for the fourth day across the country.

According to EOC officials, Prime Minister's Focal Person for Polio Eradication, Ayesha Raza Farooq visited the Polio Control Room established at National EOC.

She was given a detailed briefing regarding the ongoing national polio campaign in the polio control room, National EOC.

During the first three days, more than 37 million children have been administered polio vaccine.

During the campaign, 86% of children in Punjab, 71% in Sindh, 79% in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 78% in Balochistan have been vaccinated.

Around 66% of children in Islamabad, 93% in Azad Kashmir and 85% in Gilgit-Baltistan have been vaccinated against polio.

National EOC officials said that nationwide polio campaign will continue uninterrupted till February 9.

Meanwhile, Ms. Ayesha Raza Farooq visited various high risk Union Councils of Peshawar, Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

She reviewed the national polio immunization campaign and met the polio teams in the field.

Ayesha Raza Farooq appealed parents and community to open their doors to polio workers and be part of the national campaign, .

She said that it is our national responsibility to ensure vaccination of all children under the age of five.

Islamabad: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) reinstated the membership of three additional parliamentarians on Thursday after they submitted their annual statements of assets and liabilities.

An ECP official confirmed that the restored members include one each from the Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assemblies.

These lawmakers had earlier been suspended for failing to submit the mandatory declarations of their assets and liabilities, along with those of their spouses and dependents. The ECP's decision to restore their memberships came after the lawmakers complied with the legal requirement to file their asset details.

Islamabad: The Government of Pakistan has directed Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) for quarterly monitoring of bottled/mineral water brands and publicize the results for awareness of public health.

For the 4th quarter of year 2024 (October to December), 176 samples of mineral/bottled water brands were collected from 20 cities, said a press release issued here on Thursday.

The comparison of test results with the bottled water quality standards of Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) has revealed that 28 brands were unsafe for human consumption due to microbiological or chemical contamination.

Ten brands (Miran Drinking Water, Pak Aqua, Jel Bottled Water, Neo, Aab-e-Dubai, Eltsen, Pure Water, Aqua Health, Oslo, More Plus) were found to be unsafe due to presence of higher levels of sodium, five brands (One Pure Drinking Water, Indus, Premium Safa Purified Water, Orwell, Natural Pure Life) was found to be unsafe due to presence of higher levels of arsenic, while, one brand (Hunza Utter Water) were found unsafe due to presence of high level of Potassium than the permissible limit. Sixteen brands (SS Water, Sip Sip premium drinking water, Miran Drinking Water, D-Nova, Sky Rain, Neo, Pure Water, Dream Pure, Aqua Sharav Pure Drinking Water, Marvi, Ice Well, Akb Sky, Karakorum Spring Water, More Plus, Essentia, Life Inn) were found contaminated with bacteria and thus were unsafe for drinking purpose. General public is encouraged to look at the detailed report to know about the status of water quality of bottled water brands they consume.

Islamabad: The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration has taken a significant step to eliminate counterfeit stamp papers by making biometric verification mandatory for their issuance.

This move aims to ensure secure transactions and prevent fraud, addressing long-standing issues faced by citizens.

According to the spokesman of ICT administration, in Islamabad, the issuance of stamp papers will now require biometric verification. Any stamp paper issued without this verification will be considered invalid.

The new system simplifies the verification process through a biometric slip attached to each stamp paper, he added.

Authorities have directed stamp vendors to comply with the biometric verification requirement. Vendors who fail to adhere to these guidelines will not be allowed to issue stamp papers.

In this regard, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Islamabad, Irfan Nawaz Memon emphasized that this measure will help eradicate counterfeit stamp papers from the city.

Previously, fake stamp papers caused numerous problems for citizens, particularly in revenue and legal matters.

Several fraud cases linked to counterfeit stamp papers were reported, prompting the need for stricter controls. With the introduction of biometric verification, residents can now conduct transactions with greater confidence and security.

Irfan Memon stated that the new system will ensure the complete elimination of fake stamp papers. This development is expected to streamline processes and reduce fraudulent activities, benefiting both the government and the public.

Islamabad: Acting President Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday said that the facilitation of the business community was inevitable to promote investment in the country.

The acting president, addressing the inauguration ceremony of a private hotel's restaurant here, said that Pakistan had immense potential for private sector's growth.

Calling the Pakistani cuisine globally popular, he said that the country's culture also held a unique identity.

The acting president also emphasized the concerted efforts to make Pakistan an attractive tourist destination.

He recalled that while being the tourism minister, he elevated the country's tourism sector to the status of an industry.

He said that the Special Investment Facilitation Council was providing a one-window facility to investors as the business community needed encouragement.

Acting President Gilani also stressed the need for removing the unnecessary impediments for the business community.

He told the gathering that while serving as the minister and prime minister, he had got completed various development projects in Islamabad besides taking multiple steps to promote construction sector while being the housing minister.