Pakistan to get $2bn funds in flood support from World Bank

Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar has said that the Government is cognizant of economic issues and is taking pragmatic steps to resolve bottlenecks to growth.

He was talking to Country Director World Bank Najy Benhassine and his team in Islamabad on Saturday.

The Finance Minister said that the present government is committed to set the economy on sustainable and inclusive growth path. He also informed about the devastations caused by the recent floods in the country.

Najy Benhassine extended felicitations to the Finance Minister on assuming the charge of the office and briefed on existing programs and future cooperation of the World Bank for Pakistan.

He informed the Finance Minister that the Bank is allocating $ 2 billion funds from existing World Bank financed projects for emergency operations in flood affected areas to support Pakistan. He further informed that around $ 1.5 billion funds would be mobilized this year due to emergency situation.

The Minister appreciated the World Bank for being a source of support in pursuing reform agenda and implementing various development projects for the country. He further said that Pakistan values the financial and technical support provided by the World Bank for the institutional reforms and economic development of the country.

 

Source: Radio Pakistan

Govt prepares national program for children with autism, mental retardation

Government has prepared the country’s first national program for children with autism and mental retardation.

Minister for National Health Services Abdul Qadir Patel, in a statement today (Saturday), said his ministry will extend cooperation for the establishment of Autism and Mental Disorder centres in the four provinces, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan.

He said a state of the art center will be established in Islamabad for children suffering from Autism which will provide both education and treatment to them.

Abdul Qadir Baloch said legislation will also be carried out in the parliament for the protection of children with Autism and mental disorder. He said a survey will be carried out in the country to collect the data of such children.

The Minister for National Health Services said the UNICEF is ready to cooperate with the government on this matter.

Abdul Qadir Patel said practical and effective measures are being taken to bring improvement in the health sector.

 

Source: Radio Pakistan

8th October one of darkest days in country’s history: PM

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said the 8th October is one of the darkest days in the country’s history.

In a tweet on Sunday, he said the day brings back the heart-wrenching memories of the earthquake of 2005.  He said the massive loss of life our people suffered continues to sadden us to this day.

The Prime Minister prayed for those who lost their lives in the calamity.

 

Source: Radio Pakistan

Armed forces won’t allow anyone to destabilise country: COAS

Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa has emphatically stated that the armed forces with the support of the citizens will never allow any country, group or force to politically or economically destabilize Pakistan.

Addressing the passing out parade at Pakistan Military Academy Kakul on Saturday, he said Pakistan is a peace loving country. He said Pakistan in its quest for peace has extended sincere and all out efforts to evolve good neighbourly relations with all neighbours and regional countries.

He said we are trying our best to break the political logjam which has denied the countries of South Asia to move forward and resolve all regional and bilateral issues in a peaceful and dignified manner.

The Army Chief stressed that people of South Asia also deserve prosperity and better living conditions. This can only happen with sustained economic growth, development and above all lasting peace. Therefore we must try hard to keep flames of war away from the region.

He said we must give peace a chance by developing a mechanism to resolve all bilateral issues peacefully. He said we should collectively fight hunger, poverty, illiteracy, population explosion, climate change and disease.

General Qamar Javed Bajwa however said Pakistan’s desire for peace should not be construed as its weakness. He said no one should make any mistake about our collective resolve to defend our core interests and every inch of motherland. He reminded that we have paid both in blood and kind to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and integrity.

The Army Chief said Pakistan Army with the full support and confidence of the nation turned the tide against terrorism in the last  two decades and ensured that organized terrorism is decisively rooted out from Pakistan. This is indeed a unique accomplishment that not many countries or armies can claim.

Commending the exemplary show of discipline and professionalism by the cadets, the Army Chief expressed the confidence that the prestige, security and safety of our country is in safe hands.

He advised the cadets to always remain focused on their job and never get distracted by fake news and political wrangling in the country. He also advised them to respect the democratic institutions and be always ready to defend the territorial integrity, sovereignty and constitution of Pakistan with their life.

 

Source: Radio Pakistan