PM forms high-level committee to investigate causes of countrywide power outages

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken notice of the power breakdown in the country.

 

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister Office, the Prime Minister constituted a high-level committee for investigation into the matter.

 

He also sought report from the Minister for Energy Khurram Dastgir in this regard.

 

Expressing his annoyance, he said it should be apprised as to why such a big breakdown of electricity took place in the country.

 

The Prime Minister directed to immediately restore the power supply.

 

Source: Radio Pakistan

Govt to re-launch PM’s Youth Business, Agricultural Loan Scheme

The government is re-launching Youth Business and Agricultural Loan Scheme under Prime Minister’s Youth Program to promote self-employment and entrepreneurship.

 

According to a document available with Radio Pakistan, the people in the age bracket of 21 and 45 years can avail the loan facility of up to 7.5 million rupees under the scheme. For IT and E-commerce businesses, the lower age limit is eighteen years.

 

Micro-financing through small business loans will promote a norm of job creation rather than job seeking among the country’s youth bulge. The addition of agricultural loans will help the rural youth in bringing innovation to farming.

 

There will be no interest rate on the loan of up to 0.5 million rupees. Five percent interest will be charged on the loan of over 0.5 million to 1.5 million rupees. Seven percent interest rate will be charged on the loan of over 1.5 million rupees to 7.5 million rupees.

 

Twenty-five per cent quota has been reserved for women.

 

Source: Radio Pakistan

PM felicitates China on commencement of its New Year

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has extended heartiest congratulations to China’s President Xi Jinping and the people of China on the start of the Chinese New Year.

 

In a tweet on Sunday, he prayed that may the Year of the Rabbit be filled with love, peace and prosperity for our Chinese friends.

 

Source: Radio Pakistan

Political stability vital for progress, prosperity: Shahid Khaqan

PML-N leader and Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has urged the need of political stability to put the country on the path of progress and prosperity.

 

He said this while talking to Journalists at Press Club along with former Finance Minister Miftah Ismail in Quetta on Sunday.

 

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi added that constitution of Pakistan has the solution to overcome all problems.

 

On this occasion, former Finance Minister Miftah Ismail said we have to focus to uplift agriculture sector in the country.

 

Source: Radio Pakistan

Act of Holy Quran’s desecration in Sweden unacceptable: PM

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has condemned act of desecration of the Holy Quran by a right-wing extremist in Sweden.

 

In a tweet today, he said no words are enough to adequately condemn the abhorrable act.

 

The Prime Minister said garb of the freedom of expression cannot be used to hurt the religious emotions of 1.5 billion Muslims across the world. He said this act is unacceptable.

 

Source: Radio Pakistan

Azam Khan takes oath as KP caretaker CM

Muhammad Azam Khan took oath as Caretaker Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Peshawar on Saturday.

 

Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Haji Ghulam Ali administered the oath to him at a ceremony at Governor House.

 

Azam Khan had earlier served as minister for interior, capital administration and development in the caretaker cabinet of prime minister Nasir-ul-Mulk in 2018.

 

He also remained the provincial minister for finance, planning and development in the KP caretaker cabinet of CM Shamsul Mulk from October 2007 to April 2008.

 

Source: Radio Pakistan

Int’l community needs to show common resolve against Islamopohbia: FO

Pakistan has strongly condemned the abhorrent act of desecration of the Holy Quran in Sweden on Saturday.

 

In a statement, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said this senseless and provocative Islamophobic act hurts the religious sensitivities of over 1.5 billion Muslims around the world. She said such actions are not covered under any legitimate expression of the right to freedom of expression or opinion, which carries responsibilities under international human rights law, such as the obligation not to carry out hate speech and incite people to violence.

 

The Spokesperson said Islam is a religion of peace and Muslims, including in Pakistan, believe in respecting all religions. She said these principles must be supported by all.

 

The spokesperson said the international community needs to show a common resolve against Islamopohbia, xenophobia, intolerance and incitement to violence on the basis of religion or belief, and work together for promoting inter-faith harmony and peaceful coexistence.

 

The Spokesperson said Pakistan’s concerns are being conveyed to the authorities in Sweden. We urge them to be mindful of the sentiments of the people of Pakistan and the Muslims worldwide and take steps to prevent Islamophobic acts.

 

Meanwhile, the abhorrent act of desecration of the Holy Quran in Sweden has attracted widespread condemnation and denunciation across the Muslim world.

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia expressed strong condemnation of the Swedish authorities’ allowing the abhorrent act. It reiterated the Kingdom’s firm position calling for the importance of spreading the values of dialogue, tolerance, and coexistence, and rejecting hatred and extremism.

 

Iran has strongly condemned the act of desecration of the Holy Quran in in Sweden calling it an attempt to stoke hatred and violence against Muslims.

 

In a statement, Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said despite the strong emphasis on human rights in Islam, Europeans continue to institutionalize anti-Islamism and Islamophobia in their societies.

 

In statement Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah has said the incident hurts Muslims’ sentiments across the world and marks serious provocation. He called on the international community to shoulder responsibility by stopping such unacceptable acts.

 

Turkish Foreign Ministry described the burning of the Quran in Stockholm as vile attack.

 

In response to Sweden’s permission of the incident, Ankara cancelled Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson’s upcoming visit to Türkiye.

 

Source: Radio Pakistan