In partnership with
PRESIDENT RAISI, CM SHAH DISCUSS VAST INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN SINDH
Profit
Wednesday, 24 April, 2024 I |15 Shawwal, 1445
g
DR EBRAHIM RAISI EXPRESSES HIS DELIGHT AT BEING HOSTED IN SINDH
g
PAYS HOMAGE AT QUAID’S MAUSOLEUM, LAYS WREATH OF FLOWERS AFTER RECITATION OF FATIHA
g
GOVERNOR TESSORI CONFERS AN HONORARY PHD DEGREE UPON IRANIAN PRESIDENT
Maryam Nawaz, Iranian President reaffirm to foster bilateral ties LAHORE
STAFF REPORT
T
KARACHI STAFF REPORT
HE President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, arrived in Karachi on Tuesday after his engagements in Lahore and Islamabad. Upon his arrival, Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah extended a warm welcome to the Iranian president at the airport. Governor Tessori expressed gratitude for the distinguished guest’s visit to Karachi, stressing its significance in further solidifying the bonds between the two nations. Member of the National Assembly
Rs 20.00 | Vol XIV No 295 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
(MNA) Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari along with provincial ministers Azra Pechuho, Sharjeel Inam Memon, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Saeed Ghani, and Sardar Shah, joined in extending their greetings to President Raisi, underscoring the importance of bilateral relations. A statement issued by CM Shah’s spokesperson Abdul Rasheed Channa said the Iranian president and provincial chief held a meeting discussing investment issues and bilateral economic opportunities. Provincial ministers also attended the meeting. CM Shah said the Sindh government had always encouraged private enterprise and there were “vast investment opportunities” in various
Nawaz Sharif leaves for China on five-day personal visit ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif left for China on a five-day personal visit. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is accompanying Nawaz Sharif on a visit to China, which happens to be his first international visit since his return from the four-yearlong self-imposed exile in London in 2023. The former prime minister departed for China on Chinese Airline Flight CZ-6038. According to media reports, Nawaz Sharif would hold meetings related to the development works of the Punjab province and will also meet the owners of Chinese companies. He will also undergo a medical checkup during his stay in China. Moreover, the selection of China for his first foreign visit after his return to Pakistan in October last also signifies the importance Nawaz and his party attaches to the ‘iron-brother.’ Earlier, it was reported that 16 Chinese companies had shown interest in the Nawaz Sharif IT City – a brainchild of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz who has envisaged similar projects in all the major cities of the province – while eight others are ready to work immediately. Interestingly, the elder Sharif’s China visit comes before the planned visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif who is expected to hold talks with the Chinese leadership next month. At the same time, Dar accompanying Nawaz shows how much trust he enjoys by the party leadership and highlights the reason for his appointment as foreign minister. It is to be recalled that in November 2019, a high court granted permission to the PML-N leader to travel overseas for medical reasons, following reports from his doctors indicating that he required immediate attention.
The unbreakable bond between Pakistan and Iran spans over decades and we want to take the bilateral relations and cooperation, especially in the fields of agriculture and industry, to new heights, said Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif expressed the views during meetings with the visiting Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi and First Lady Jamila Alamul Huda in Governor’s House. The Punjab CM apprised the Iranian president of the measures taken in the province for socio-economic development, and expressed the desire for close engagement with Iranian cities and provinces for “mutual benefit and prosperity”. Maryam Nawaz highlighted that Punjab offers excellent investment opportunities in the environment-friendly green energy sector. “We are willing to work with Iran on economic projects to eradicate poverty and bring about pros-
sectors across the province. A ceremony was later held in honour of the Iranian president who also ad-
perity,” she emphasized. The Chief Minister said that her government would welcome Iran’s investment in Punjab’s value-added livestock market, stressing that both countries could earn huge foreign exchange by establishing FMD zones to export halal meat. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif warmly welcomed the Iranian President and other members of his delegation on their visit to Lahore. A lunch was also hosted in their honor, where the Iranian guests were entertained with the traditional cuisines. On the occasion, both the Iranian president and CM Maryam Nawaz reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing cultural exchanges and fostering people-to-people contacts. The Punjab chief minister thanked Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi and First Lady Jamila Alamul Huda for their visit to Lahore. She also congratulated them on the 45th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, and prayed for the peace and prosperity of the people of Iran.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
dressed it and “expressed his delight” at being hosted in Sindh.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
Finance Minister sees Pakistan’s forex reserves around $9-10bn by June 2024 g
ANTICIPATES FURTHER IMPROVEMENT IN FOREX POSITION FOLLOWING DISBURSEMENT OF $1.1 BILLION TRANCHE FROM IMF PROFIT
Govt to re-constitute committee on issue of missing persons: Law Minister ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar has said that the incumbent government was committed efforts to address the long standing issue of missing persons and was going to re-constitute the committee on it. This was stated by him while addressing a press conference along with Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar here on Tuesday. Azam Nazeer Tarar said that 10,200 cases of missing persons were registered in the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (CIoED) out of which around 8,000 case have been addressed. He said that the former PDM led government formed a committee on the issue with the representation of all stakeholders including BAP party, PMQ, JUI, PPP and others. Now the incumbent government was going to re-constitute the Parliamentary committee to continue its work on the subject. Azam Nazeer said that the issue of missing persons was four decades old thus it couldn’t be resolved over the night. He said that the involvement of government institutions in the matter couldn’t be denied but no concrete evidence was ever produced before the committee in this regard. He said that reports of missing persons were also not 100% correct every time. Two people were facing jail sentences in various cases while one was found among the attackers of Gawadar attack, he said. The Pakistan army and people, Azam Nazeer said, have lost number of lives in the incidents of terrorism in the country. He said that there was a need to get a political solution along with the legal efforts, adding that if anyone was found involved in a crime he must be prosecuted.
PM Shehbaz likely to visit Saudi Arabia this week
AGENCIES
Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Tuesday that foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) would reach around $9-10 billion by the end of this fiscal year. According to the media reports, he made these remarks while addressing the inaugural session of the 7th “Leaders in Islamic Business Summit” in Islamabad. The finance minister expressed his anticipation that the forex position in June 2024 would be much better than where the reserves were in the previous year. Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves crossed the $8 billion mark again last month after they fell below the said level in late February. Regarding the StandBy Agreement (SBA), Aurangzeb deemed it important to have entered the programme. The minister asserted that the country’s economic situation has improved compared to the previous year. He mentioned that when the new government assumed office, the foreign exchange reserves stood at $3.4 billion, covering only 15 days of imports. However, significant progress had been made, with reserves now exceeding $13.3 billion. He anticipated further improvement in reserves position
ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
following the disbursement of $1.1 billion tranche from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The minister noted the positive performance of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) in recent days, attributing it to the sentiments that were restoring market confidence. Regarding economic indicators, he highlighted a 74% decrease in the current account deficit, which reached $1 billion as compared to $3.9 billion previously. He also mentioned a 24.9% decrease in the trade deficit over the last nine months of the current financial year, which reduced from $22.7 billion to $17.0 billion. The minister outlined the
government’s focus on three key areas for transformation: tax, energy sectors, and reforms in the State Owned Enterprises (SOEs). He expressed his intention to enhance the tax-to-GDP ratio, which currently stood at 9%, through tax enforcement measures and expanding the tax base. Muhammad Aurangzeb affirmed the support of friendly countries both domestically and internationally for Pakistan’s economic growth. He said that the government was implementing the decisions of the Federal Shariat Court to promote an interest-free economy and establish Islamic banking branches across the country.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to travel to Saudi Arabia on a three-day official visit this week. The prime minister will leave for Saudi Arabia on April 28 (Sunday), his second visit to the Kingdom since assuming the top office. Shehbaz Sharif last traveled to Saudi Arabia during his second term as PM at the start of the ongoing month. During his visit, Prime Minister Sharif met with Crown Prince and Prime Minister of KSA Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and discussed further fortifying of the fraternal relations between the two brotherly nations and exploring avenues for enhanced collaboration across various sectors. The prime minister had also performed Umrah and offered Nawafil inside Ka’aba as he was granted access inside ‘Baitullah’, as a special gesture. The premier, during his upcoming visit, will hold meetings with Saudi crown prince and other officials. After PM Shehbaz Sharif’s visit, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will also travel to Pakistan. The visit’s news come days after the Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud visited Pakistan to discuss investment projects.
US turns blind eye to Israel’s violation of human rights in annual report WASHINGTON AGENCIES
A prejudiced US State Department’s annual human rights report likened Hamas and Palstenian Authority violations to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) turning a blind eye to the killings of over 34,000 innocent and unarmed civilians in Gaza. Ironically, the report issued on Monday cited several reported rights violations committed in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza in 2023 by parties including the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, before and after Hamas’s Oct. 7 attacks, not singlling out Israel as prime violator. Hamas, in its attack on Oct. 7 had killed around 1,200 Israelis, and in turn Israeli
forces have so far killed 34,000 civilians in air attacks and bombing besides dismantling health system in Tel Aviv’s occupied and besieged West Bank and Gaza. The Israeli assaults are continuing with the alleged backing of the US who vetoed several ceasefire resolutions in the United Nations Security Council and allowed Israel to continue its offensive by approving additional aid package for Tel Aviv. And US officials declined to say whether they would halt US aid to elements of Israel’s military over alleged abuses. Israel’s war on Hamas has also plunged the Middle East into heightened instability and violence. The Washington Post, in its news story mentioned US report as describing “the resulting conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip has had a significant negative
impact on the status of human rights in Israel. The report also cited “credible” reports of “unlawful killings” by both Hamas and the Israeli government. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the Oct. 7 attacks, which killed about 1,200 people, and the subsequent death of civilians during Israel’s military response in Gaza “have also raised deeply troubling human rights concerns.” But Blinken stopped short of announcing a decision the Israeli government has suggested could be imminent to suspend US security aid to elements of the Israeli military because of alleged human rights abuses. While the Biden administration has declined to say whether it plans to bar aid to any unit under the Leahy Laws, Israeli officials have issued preemptive protests in recent days to such a move.