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ARY NEWS

Abdul Qadir

  • PM Khan green lights body to promote Pakistan as a tourist-friendly nation

    PM Khan green lights body to promote Pakistan as a tourist-friendly nation

    PESHAWAR: The federal government on Monday approved formation of National Tourism Coordination Board for rebuilding Pakistan’s image on tourism front at the international level, ARY News reported.

    The decision was taken during a meeting of Federal Tourism Task Force which was presided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

    The meeting was attended by Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, PM’s special assistants Iftikhar Durrani and Zulfi Bukhari, and other officials of relevant departments.

    The meeting decided the National Tourism Coordination Board will consist of 25 members from federal ministries, provincial departments and other relevant persons.

    The meeting also decided to direct Pakistani embassies to adopt measures regarding promotion of country’s tourism sector.

    https://arynews.tv/en/pakistan-relax-visa-rules-97-countries/

    It was unanimously consented during the meeting that Pakistan would be introduced as a tourism country at world forums. Senior Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Atif Khan also briefed the moot about steps taken by the provincial government for the promotion of tourism.

    During the meeting, Prime Minister Imran Khan directed the officials concerned to implement decisions taken by the government regarding visa policy.

    The meeting also unanimously decided to organise Pakistan Tourism Expo at the international level and reorganise Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC), while properties of PTDC worth Rs 200 billion will be transferred to provinces.

    The government also decided to form working groups for religious, cultural, and historical tourism. Prime Minister Imran Khan directed that 800 rest houses in Punjab and 157 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa be used for commercial purposes for revenue generation.

    He called upon officials to pay special focus on eco-tourism sector.

    It is pertinent to mention here that the government of Pakistan had decided to relax visa rules for 97 countries in the first phase to attract tourists and foreign investment in the country.

    The decision was taken in an important meeting chaired by the Prime Minister Imran Khan with COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Information Minister, Fawad Chaudhry, State Minister for Interior, Shehryar Afridi and others on Jan 24.

  • Malaysian group EDOTCO desires to invest $2.5mn in Pakistan

    Malaysian group EDOTCO desires to invest $2.5mn in Pakistan

    ISLAMABAD: Malaysian business group EDOTCO decided to expand its business in Pakistan as the group has expressed desire of investing $ 2.5 mn more in the country, ARY News reported.

    The desire was extended in a meeting of chairman of the EDOTCO group with Prime Minister Imran Khan at his office, here today.

    Besides chairman Board of Investment Pakistan, Malaysia`s High Commissioner in Pakistan Akraan Muhamad Ibrahim, Dr Naek Ramla, Saresh Naraen Singh Sadhu and Arif Husain were also present in the meeting.

    The prime minister talking to the visiting delegation, welcomed their initiative of investing in Pakistan and said all-out efforts are being made to facilitate foreign investment in the country.

    He also apprised the group of the measures taken in Pakistan regarding ease of doing business.

    The chairman of the Malaysian group also expressed interest for partnership in ‘Digital Pakistan Program’.

    Read More: Bill Gates shows interest for huge investment in Pakistan

    It is pertinent to mention here that, the group is already making investment in Pakistan worth over one hundred million dollars.

    Earlier on January 18, US-based food and agriculture company Cargill had also decided to invest $200mn in Pakistan in agriculture, dairy farming, and cooking oil sectors.

    Marcel Smits, Chairman of the Asia Pacific and Head of Corporate Strategy at Cargill called on Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday and discussed various investment avenues in the country.

    Prime Minister Imran Khan welcomed the company’s decision to invest in the country and assured Smits of his government’s full support.

  • PM Khan directs for elimination of child labour

    PM Khan directs for elimination of child labour

    ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday directed for solid and practical steps to eliminate child labour across the country, ARY News reported.

    Chairing a meeting to review increasing number of child labour at his office here today, the prime minister directed Statistical department, to conduct a survey so that actual number of child labour can be known.

    The PM also sought recommendations from the concerned departments for the enrollment of such children in the schools.

    Mr Khan was briefed by the participants of the meeting about steps being taken to end rights violation in the country.

    Talking on the forced disappearances, the premier said, amendments are being made in the law to declare such actions as ‘crime’.

    Terming the protection of human rights as basic fundamental of Islam and the ideology of Pakistan, the prime minister said, the incumbent government was taking steps to ensure rights of the minorities across the country.

    Read more: PM Imran Khan vows to protect, promote human rights in country

    Back in the month of December, Prime Minister Imran Khan, on the eve of ‘Human Rights Day’ had also expressed his resolve to promote and protect the human rights in the county.

    In line with the vision of our founding father Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan is a democratic, pluralistic and progressive state, said PM Imran and added that Pakistanis aspire for a society based on equality, the rule of law, respect for diversity, and justice.

  • PM Khan directs ‘round the clock’ working of Torkham border

    PM Khan directs ‘round the clock’ working of Torkham border

    ISLAMABAD: Government of Pakistan on Monday decided to continue ‘round the clock’ trade activities between Pakistan and Afghanistan through Torkham border, ARY News reported.

    The decision was taken in a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister’s Aide for Establishment, Muhammad Shehzad Arbab at the PM office, on directions of Imran Khan here in Islamabad.

    The meeting – attended by the Secretaries of Interior, Defense, Commerce and Foreign ministries, officials of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and National Logistic Cell (NLC) and other concerned departments – was briefed that Torkham border remains open 8 to 10-hour daily for trade activities between both the countries.

    Read More: Pakistan facilitating efforts for peaceful solution in Afghanistan: FO

    Arbab ordered the concerned authorities to take immediate steps to ensure round the clock trade activities through Torkham border within 6 months.

    The decision is aimed to expand bilateral relations and trade with the brotherly country, Afghanistan.

    Taking on the micro-blogging website, twitter, PM Khan said, “The step will be instrumental in boosting bilateral trade & enhancing people to people contacts between the two brotherly countries”.

    Torkham border

    Torkham is an Afghan city and a major border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan, located along the international border between the two countries.

    It connects Nangarhar province of Afghanistan with Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is the busiest port of entry between the two countries, serving as a major transporting, shipping, and receiving site.

    Read more: CM KP inspects border fencing process at Torkham

    Highway 7 connects Torkham to Kabul through Jalalabad. On the Pakistani side, the border crossing is at the end of the N-5 National Highway, which connects it to Peshawar in the east and further connects it to Islamabad by other routes.

  • PM Khan approves series of festivals to promote Pakistan’s soft image

    PM Khan approves series of festivals to promote Pakistan’s soft image

    ISLAMABAD: A high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday approved a series of cultural programmes aimed at showcasing Pakistan’s three-thousand-year-old civilisation, diversity and cultural richness globally.

    Expressing his views on the occasion, the prime minister said the cultural programmes will play a pivotal role in portraying Pakistan’s positive image across the globe and will bring a quality enjoyment for the people of the country.

    “The activities will also benefit in making the youth of the country aware of their rich culture,” the prime minister said.

    The meeting was attended by Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, Secretary Information Shafqat Jaleel, Executive Director of Lok Virsa and other concerned.

    Prime Minister Khan was briefed that the programmes will be organised at centre, all four provinces and the district level.

    The schedule of 15 cultural programmes approved by the prime minister includes Lahore’s famous Mela Charaghan, Urs celebrations of various Sufi saints, and Gilgit-Baltistan Festival.

    Read more: Government decides to relax visa rules to attract tourism, investment

    Qawali Festival Pakistan and Shandoor Polo Festival of Chitral were also green-lighted in the meeting whereas the premier also approved Kartarpur Festival, Cholistan Jeep Rally, and Food and Music Festival.

    A film festival, Jashn-e-Iqbal and a folk festival will also be organised, the meeting decided.

    Earlier in the day, Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry made a promising announcement that the government was introducing a new revolutionary visa policy to encourage tourism in the country.

    The policy has been framed after consultations with all stakeholders, he said. “Under this major visa initiative, 175 countries have been extended the facility of E-visa while the citizens of fifty countries will be given visas on arrival.”

  • Government decides to relax visa rules to attract tourism, investment

    Government decides to relax visa rules to attract tourism, investment

    ISLAMABAD: The government of Pakistan has decided to relax visa rules for 97 countries in the first phase, to attract tourists and the foreign investment in the country, ARY News reported on Thursday.

    Sources privy to the matter said that the decision was taken in a important meeting chaired by the Prime Minister Imran Khan with COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Information Minister, Fawad Chaudhry, State Minister for Interior, Shehryar Afridi and others in attendance.

    The prime minister reportedly directed the Foreign and the Interior ministries to form different categories for visa relaxation in a prompt manner to create ease for the visitors, the sources said.

    Reportedly, Mr Khan said in order to attract the tourists and the foreign investments, reach to Pakistan would be made easy.

    Read more: Govt working to ease visa restrictions to revive tourism: Fawad

    In a media briefing, after the meeting, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said that the government has decided to bring massive changes in the visa regime policy.

    “Businessman and journalists will be benefited from the new visa policy. Tourists will come to Pakistan due to the new visa policy,” he said.

    Read more: Pakistan’s Afghan visa policy remains unchanged: FO

    However, the minister said details in this regard will be made public in the coming days.

  • PM Khan, Gen Bajwa discuss overall national security

    PM Khan, Gen Bajwa discuss overall national security

    ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Thursday called on Prime Minister Imran Khan at his office, ARY News reported.

    The one on one meeting between PM Khan and the COAS discussed issues related to the national security and overall situation of the region.

    After the meeting, General Qamar Javed Bajwa attended an important meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan to mull over the visa regime system with different countries of the world.

    The meeting was also attended by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry and State Minister for Interior Shehryar Afridi.

    Read more: PM Imran, COAS pledge to work for lasting peace in first meeting

    In a media briefing, after the meeting, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said that the government has decided to bring changes in the visa policy.

    “Businessman and journalists will be benefited from the new visa policy. Tourists will come to Pakistan due to the new visa policy,” he said.

    In last meeting with the prime minister, General Bajwa briefed the PM about overall security situation of the country, in a meeting held at the PM House.

    During the meeting, matters related to ongoing operation against terrorism were also discussed, said sources within government ranks.

  • Four CTD officials arrested in Sahiwal police encounter case

    Four CTD officials arrested in Sahiwal police encounter case

    LAHORE: On directive of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Punjab Police on Saturday apprehended four Counter Terrorism Department police officials allegedly involved in killing of two men and as many women in Sahiwal, ARY News reported.

    After the PM contacted him, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar had directed the inspector general of Punjab Police to arrest the CTD police officials and lodge a case against them.

    PM Khan has directed Usman Buzdar to forthwith reach at the hospital in Sahiwal.

    The Punjab CM spokesperson said Buzdar will reach Sahiwal from Mianwali to oversee the case.

    It is pertinent to mention here that at least four people including two women were killed and a child was injured during an alleged police encounter by Sahiwal police.

    The child, Muneeba, who was present in the car at the time of the incident said the people killed were her parents.

    ARY News correspondent said that the alleged encounter has turned into a suspicious incident and the Sahiwal police were denying to comment on it. “This is a CTD operation and they can relay accurate details,” said the regional police officer.

    CTD’s version of events

    The CTD officials relayed that a car was signaled to stop along with a bike near Sahiwal Toll Plaza but the alleged terrorists resorted to firing, adding that three terrorists were able to flee away. “This incident was a continuity of the Jan 16 operation carried out in Faisalabad.”

    Eyewitness’s version of incident

    Eyewitnesses relayed that police officers began firing at a car from behind, adding that no weapons were recovered from the car nor did anyone from the car engaged in retaliatory firing.

    The eyewitness said one deceased woman aged around 40 whereas the injured child was around 13 years old.

    https://arynews.tv/en/sahiwal-police-encounter-end-protest/

  • National Youth Survey to be conducted for the first time in Pakistan

    National Youth Survey to be conducted for the first time in Pakistan

    ISLAMABAD: For the first time in country’s history, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf -led federal government has decided to conduct a National survey on youth in collaboration with the United Nations (UN), ARY News reported on Friday.

    The National Youth Development Index Programme will be started forthwith under the name of “Successful Youth”.

    The decision was taken in a meeting held in Islamabad with PM’s Special Aide for Youth Usman Dar in the chair, on the directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

    The meeting was attended by the higher officials of the UN and the Statistical department of Pakistan.

    Dar informed the officials regarding PM vision and said that PTI government has decided to conduct a survey regarding youth for the first time in the 71 year long history of Pakistan.

    Shedding the light on the programme, Usman Dar said that the survey will be conducted after collecting data base of youth on district and Tehsil levels across the country besides analyzing youth expectation from the government and their problems.

    Back in the month of September, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) had also initiated a project in collaboration with Japanese government for employment of youth to have maximum economic participation in Pakistan.

  • PM takes notice of payments to US lobbying firms by PML-N govt

    PM takes notice of payments to US lobbying firms by PML-N govt

    ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday took notice of the huge payments made by the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) government to US lobbying firms, reported ARY News.

    The previous government of deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif had paid huge amounts of money to US firms for lobbying. Services of US lobbying firms such as Cambridge Analytica and Roberti Global were availed to lobby in the United States.

    The firms lobbied for the PML-N supremo and his government and carried out a number of surveys which depict the performance and popularity of his government above than other political parties.

    Sources relayed that the prime minister directed concerned officers to submit the record of amounts paid to the US companies. He has also decided to conduct an audit of the expenses spent over Pakistan’s cases overseas during PML-N’s tenure.

    The officials have also been told to provide details of the payments and the list of the lawyers who pleaded cases for Pakistan in the previous government tenure.