Category: Karachi

Karachi: Sindh Assembly Speaker Syed Awais Qadir Shah along with parliamentary delegation comprising of the provincial Assembly members, participated in the 1st Joint Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Asia and South-East Asia Regional Conference held at Punjab Assembly Assembly in Lahore on Friday.

The Sindh Assembly delegation includes MPA Heer Soho, MPA Dr. Sikandar Shoro, MPA Khurram Karim Soomro, MPA Sadia Javed, MPA Jam Shabbir Ali, and MPA Makhdoom Fakhar Zaman.

According to statement issued here by Sindh Assembly Secretariat, Speaker Awais Qadir Shah extended congratulations to Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan of the Punjab Assembly and his team for successfully hosting the conference.

He emphasized that such international platforms play a vital role in fostering parliamentary cooperation, exchanging experiences, and addressing shared regional challenges.

Karachi: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Friday, injected over Rs 2,538 billion in the market through reverse repo purchase and Shariah Compliant Mudarabah based Open Market Operations (OMO).

The SBP, during the Open Market Operation, Reverse Repo Purchase (Injection) for 7-day and 28-day tenors on February 07, 2025 and accepted an amount of Rs 2,038.35 billion offered through 26 bids.

The central bank received 20 bids for 7-day tenor cumulatively offering an amount of Rs 1,151.25 billion at the rate of return ranging between 12.03 to 12.10 percent while 8 bids were received for the 28-day tenor amounting to Rs 936 billion at the rate of return ranging between 12.05 to 12.08%.

The SBP accepted the 18 quotes for 7-day tenor cumulatively amounting to Rs 1,147.35 at 12.05% rate of return while the entire amount offered through 8 bids for 28-day tenor was also accepted at 12.05% rate of return.

Meanwhile, the central bank also conducted Shariah Compliant Mudarabah based Open Market Operation for the 7-day and 28-day tenors and further injected around Rs 455 billion into the market.

The central bank received 4 bids for 7-day tenor quoting an amount of Rs 394.95 billion at the rate of return ranging between 12.08 to 12.10 % while 2 bids were received for 28-day tenor offering an amount of Rs 60 billion at 12.08% rate of return.

The SBP accepted the entire amount of Rs 454.95 offered through all the quotes for 7-day and 8-day tenors at 12.08% rate of return.

Karachi: National Assembly's (NA) Standing Committee on Maritime Affairs held separate meetings here at Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) building here on Friday and discussed matters related to PNSC and Port Qasim Authority (PQA). The chairman of the Committee Member of National Assembly (MNA) Abdul Qadir Patel chaired the meeting which was attended by all members including Minister for Maritime Affairs Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh who is also Ex-officio member of the Committee. PNSC and PQA officials briefed the NA Standing Committee regarding state of affairs of the respective organizations. Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh while taking to reporter said every one wants reforms in public sector institutions and the objectives of these reforms are to improve their performance. Federal Minister said that PNSC is a profitable institution but there is more need for its improvement. He said that they want reforms in the institutions so that its profits could be increased. The Fe deral Minister said that the clearing of containers at the port should be carried out quickly to create ease of doing business. Addressing the meeting, the chairman of the committee, MNA Abdul Qadir Patel asked the concerned officers of the PNSC to present detailed report regarding daily wages as well as contract employees of the organization. The members of the committee also presented various suggestions for improvement of the Corporation. Secretary Maritime Affairs Syed Zafar Ali Shah clarified that during reforms employees would not be targeted as our objective is to make this organization viable. The committee members included MNA Khurram Munawar, MNA Syed Rafiullah, MNA Hassan Sabir, MNA Khel Das Kohistani, MNA Muhammad Usman Badani and MNA Malik Shakir Bashir Awan, while Federal Secretary Maritime Affairs Syed Zafar Ali Shah, Chairman PNSC Board Sheikh Sultan Ahmed Chawla, Secretary PNSC Muhammad Javed, General Manager Legal Zafarullah, Executive Director Ship Management Syed Muhammad Babar, Executi ve Director Khurram Mirza, Executive Director Finance Syed Jarrar Haider Kazmi attended the meeting. Later, a meeting of the Port Qasim Authority was also held at the PNSC Building, in which Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, members of the committee participated. Chairman Port Qasim Authority Rear Admiral Syed Moazzam Ilyas briefed the committee, while Secretary Port Qasim Jehagir Sajjad was also present on the occasion.

Karachi: In a concerted effort to enhance immunization coverage across Sindh, HANDS and the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) Sindh had entered into a strategic partnership to expand vaccination outreach in some of the province's most underserved communities.

Sindh faces significant immunization challenges, particularly in areas where Lady Health Workers (LHWs) were not present. Recognizing this gap, HANDS had mobilized 120 Lady Health Workers, 5,000 community-based Marvi workers, and 34 social mobilizers to strengthen vaccine delivery and raise awareness about immunization. This large-scale intervention aims to target key districts, including Karachi, Thatta, Sajawal, Umerkot, Badin, Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Dadu, and Ghotki.

Project Director, EPI Sindh Dr Muhammad Naeem emphasized the urgency of increasing immunization rates, particularly for Measles, the Big Catch-Up (BCU) campaign, and the upcoming HPV vaccine rollout. 'Immunization is one of the most effective public health interventions, protecting children and communities from life-threatening diseases. Through this partnership, we are committed to ensuring that no child is left unvaccinated,' he stated.

To formalize this collaboration, HANDS and EPI Sindh have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), outlining their shared vision to improve immunization accessibility and coverage across Sindh.

The MoU signing ceremony was attended by key stakeholders, including: Dr. Muhammad Naeem, Project Director, EPI Sindh, Dr. Shaikh Tanveer Ahmed, Chief Executive, HANDS, Suneel Raja, Communication Specialist, UNICEF, Maqbool Rahu, Deputy Chief Executive, HANDS, Qamar Shaikh, Chief of Health, HANDS and Zulfiqar Sario, Head of Health Department, HANDS

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Shaikh Tanveer Ahmed, Chief Executive of HANDS, reaffirmed the organization's commitment to strengthening Pakistan's immunization efforts.

The collaboration between HANDS and EPI Sindh represents a major public health initiative aimed at reducing vaccine-preventable diseases, improving routine immunization coverage, and mobilizing communities to actively participate in immunization programs.

Karachi: A motorcyclist was killed in a road accident near Shair Shah area of Karachi, tv channels quoting Rescue sources reported on Friday.

According to details, a rashly driven tanker hit the motorcyclist coming from Shair Shah road area. As a result, a man identified as Rehman died on the spot. The Rescue team rushed to the site and shifted the dead to the hospital.

Police also reached the spot. The driver of the tanker managed to escape from the scene.

Police have started search operation to trace the driver.

Karachi: The Chairperson Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) Senator Rubina Khalid called on Governor State Bank Jamil Ahmad here at his office on Friday and discussed matters related to openings of the bank accounts of beneficiaries of the program.

Rubina Khalid said that BISP is committed to transferring the money of deserving women to bank accounts so that the distribution of money to deserving women is ensured in a clear and transparent manner.

In consultation with the State Bank of Pakistan, steps are being taken to transfer the money of deserving women to bank accounts, under which women will find it easier to get the amount in a transparent and dignified manner, Rubina Khalid said.

She said that bank accounts will be opened very soon to provide money to poor and deserving women with ease and dignity.

The objective of this consultative meeting with the Governor State Bank of Pakistan was to discuss various aspects related to opening the beneficiary accounts, she added.

She said that the distribution of quarterly instalments of Benazir Kafalat was underway through 06 banks across the country under the new payment system.

Rubina Khalid said that BISP will provide data of all deserving women to the State Bank of Pakistan, after which their accounts will be opened in banks from where they would receive their money.

Governor State Bank of Pakistan Jamil Ahmad assured all possible help and cooperation to Chairperson Benazir Income Support Program Senator Rubina Khalid in the process of opening bank accounts for women.