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Waqas Dar

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Blog Entries posted by Waqas Dar

  1. Waqas Dar
    ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, will formally launch the Economic Survey 2016-17 on Thursday.

    The minister will share the key economic indicators and the performance of different sectors of the economy with the media here at a press conference.
    The Finance Minister will also provide an overview of the economic progress made in recent years in Pakistan, official sources said.
    He will highlight the main features of the comprehensive reforms agenda undertaken by the present government, which had resulted in macroeconomic stability and a ten-year high growth rate of 5.28 percent.
    The Finance Minister will present the budget for FY 2017-2018 on the floor of the National Assembly on Friday (May 26).
    Budget 2017-18?s salient features revealed
    Budget will be presented on Friday, May 26
    In his budget speech, the Finance Minister will provide details of the revenue, expenditure and relief measures envisaged for the next fiscal year.

    The survey will cover the development of all the important sectors of the economy, including growth and investment, agriculture, manufacturing, mining, fiscal development, money and credit, capital markets, inflation, debt and liabilities.
    The survey will also highlight the performance of agriculture, education, health and nutrition, besides showing the overall population, labour force and employment, poverty, transport and communication and per capita income.
    It will also highlight issues of environment, contingent liabilities, tax expenditure as well as economic and social indicators.
    The government would also launch the annual plan, highlighting government's preparation and planning for the upcoming fiscal year in different sectors of national economy.
    Meanwhile, the National Economic Council (NEC) chaired by Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on May 19, had already approved the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth target at 6 percent for the financial year 2017-18 while the government achieved a GDP growth rate of 5.3 percent in the outgoing fiscal year.
    The NEC also approved country's consolidated development budget of Rs2.5 trillion for the upcoming financial year (2017 18), showing highest ever increase in the overall national outlay.
    This included Rs1001 billion Federal Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), Rs1112 billion provincial PSDP while Rs400 billion would be spent by various corporations from their own resources to carry out their development projects.
    Social sector has been given importance in the development budget 2017-18, financing for which has been increased from Rs90 billion to Rs153 billion.
    Furthermore, in order to promote higher education and lead the country towards development, the budget for Higher Education Commission (HEC) has also been increased from Rs21 billion in 2016-17 to Rs35.5 billion in 2017-18. Similarly, the government also envisaged establishing of university campuses at district levels across the country within three years.
    The Atomic Energy Commission was also being provided additional funds to upgrade its cancer facilitation centres.
    For the promotion of literature and culture, the government would be expanding the outreach of Academy of Letters across the country by establishing its centres.
    Likewise, an amount of Rs17 billion has been specifically approved for Balochistan to improve communication system and for different water-related projects.


  2. Waqas Dar
    ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, will formally launch the Economic Survey 2016-17 on Thursday.

    The minister will share the key economic indicators and the performance of different sectors of the economy with the media here at a press conference.
    The Finance Minister will also provide an overview of the economic progress made in recent years in Pakistan, official sources said.
    He will highlight the main features of the comprehensive reforms agenda undertaken by the present government, which had resulted in macroeconomic stability and a ten-year high growth rate of 5.28 percent.
    The Finance Minister will present the budget for FY 2017-2018 on the floor of the National Assembly on Friday (May 26).
    Budget 2017-18?s salient features revealed
    Budget will be presented on Friday, May 26
    In his budget speech, the Finance Minister will provide details of the revenue, expenditure and relief measures envisaged for the next fiscal year.

    The survey will cover the development of all the important sectors of the economy, including growth and investment, agriculture, manufacturing, mining, fiscal development, money and credit, capital markets, inflation, debt and liabilities.
    The survey will also highlight the performance of agriculture, education, health and nutrition, besides showing the overall population, labour force and employment, poverty, transport and communication and per capita income.
    It will also highlight issues of environment, contingent liabilities, tax expenditure as well as economic and social indicators.
    The government would also launch the annual plan, highlighting government's preparation and planning for the upcoming fiscal year in different sectors of national economy.
    Meanwhile, the National Economic Council (NEC) chaired by Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on May 19, had already approved the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth target at 6 percent for the financial year 2017-18 while the government achieved a GDP growth rate of 5.3 percent in the outgoing fiscal year.
    The NEC also approved country's consolidated development budget of Rs2.5 trillion for the upcoming financial year (2017 18), showing highest ever increase in the overall national outlay.
    This included Rs1001 billion Federal Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), Rs1112 billion provincial PSDP while Rs400 billion would be spent by various corporations from their own resources to carry out their development projects.
    Social sector has been given importance in the development budget 2017-18, financing for which has been increased from Rs90 billion to Rs153 billion.
    Furthermore, in order to promote higher education and lead the country towards development, the budget for Higher Education Commission (HEC) has also been increased from Rs21 billion in 2016-17 to Rs35.5 billion in 2017-18. Similarly, the government also envisaged establishing of university campuses at district levels across the country within three years.
    The Atomic Energy Commission was also being provided additional funds to upgrade its cancer facilitation centres.
    For the promotion of literature and culture, the government would be expanding the outreach of Academy of Letters across the country by establishing its centres.
    Likewise, an amount of Rs17 billion has been specifically approved for Balochistan to improve communication system and for different water-related projects.


  3. Waqas Dar
    ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar on Wednesday directed the chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to prepare a framework for regulating the use of social media and targeting blasphemous and defamatory content.
    Chairing a high level meeting here, he directed that initial draft of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) should be prepared in a week's time for further consideration.
    The meeting was attended by secretary interior, chairman PTA, advocate general, chairman National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad, senior officials of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the ministry.
    He also directed chairmen NADRA and PTA to review relevant laws and regulatory frameworks of neighboring democratic countries and that of the developed nations for devising a system that ensures freedom of expression while simultaneously checking unbridled misuse of social media.
    The PTA was directed to consult all stakeholders including service providers, civil society, mainstream media and others, for setting guidelines, duly supported by the legal framework, to regulate use of social media for constructive purposes and nation-building process.
    No attack on social media, only demand checks and balances: Nisar
    Nisar discussed details of a meeting held with all representative bodies of media
    The minister asked speaker National Assembly to convene a meeting of representatives of all political parties for evolving consensus for putting in place a framework to ensure that social media platforms are used in a positive manner.

    He asked Foreign Office to get in touch with the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) Secretary General for convening a meeting at OIC level on issue of blasphemous content on social media as per commitment given to him by the secretary general during his last visit to Pakistan.
    Pakistan is willing to play host of OIC conference.
    He said being a democratic government it is our obligation to ensure and protect right of every citizen for freedom of expression but that ?We are equally bound by law and constitution of the country to protect our citizens and institutions from assault which is carried out through social media under garb of freedom of expression.
    Nisar takes notice of criticism of army on social media
    It is unacceptable to ridicule Pakistan Army or its officers under the garb of freedom of expression, said the interior minister
    Chaudhry Nisar observed no conscientious person could be a silent spectator to the threat posed to our socio-cultural values and our younger generations and sometime propagated by a section of social media.
    He said right to free speech goes hand in hand with the sense of responsibility and ownership.


  4. Waqas Dar
    RAWALPINDI: Indian Army once again committed ceasefire violation at Line of Control, targeting United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) vehicle in Khanjar Sector, an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement said.

    According to ISPR, the vehicle was carrying UNMOGIP Officers Major Emmanual of Philippine and Major Mirko of Croatia on a visit to LoC with UNMOGIP blue flag hoisted as per procedure.
    Both officers remained safe as they were off the vehicle in near immediate distance and now back at their location, the statement added.
    Army says Indian claims of destroying Pakistani posts along LoC are false
    Indian army had claimed it had fired and damaged Pakistani posts along the LoC
    Six injured in unprovoked Indian firing at LoC
    Pakistan Army gives ?befitting? response to Indian hostility








    On Tuesday, Pakistan Army denied claims made by Indian Army of destroying Pakistani posts along the LoC.
    Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a tweet: "Indian claims of destroying Pakistani post along LoC in Naushera Sector and firing by Pakistan Army on civilians across LoC are false."
    Indian army had claimed it had fired and damaged Pakistani posts along the LoC.
    Pakistan?s High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit also denied the attack in Naushera sector and said he had not received any such report.




  5. Waqas Dar
    RAWALPINDI: Indian Army once again committed ceasefire violation at Line of Control, targeting United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) vehicle in Khanjar Sector, an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement said.

    According to ISPR, the vehicle was carrying UNMOGIP Officers Major Emmanual of Philippine and Major Mirko of Croatia on a visit to LoC with UNMOGIP blue flag hoisted as per procedure.
    Both officers remained safe as they were off the vehicle in near immediate distance and now back at their location, the statement added.


  6. Waqas Dar
    MUMBAI: Indian skipper Virat Kohli on Wednesday played down the hype surrounding the hotly-anticipated India-Pakistan clash.

    "As a cricketer, you can?t even think of the non-striker when you are facing a ball, so forget about things that are not in our control," Kohli said of playing Pakistan amid a tense political climate between the rivals.
    "Yes, an India-Pakistan game is always exciting for all the fans watching but for us as cricketers, it?s just a game of cricket."
    India begin their Champions Trophy campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on June 4 in Birmingham.
    Kohli suffered a shoulder injury during the Australia series to miss the final game. He then returned to skipper Indian Premier League side Royal Challengers Bangalore, only to see them end last in the ladder.
    But he was confident the Twenty20 tournament had made him match-fit, a boon ahead of the short-format Champions Trophy event.
    "I don?t think you can have too much similarity in both formats but getting some game time it helps a lot of people to stay in the zone of being match-fit," he said.
    "...IPL allows you to be in that zone. Play against the world class players from all the teams. It could be the most competitive game that you could be a part of (in IPL) before the Champions Trophy."
    Kohli said that his side would be ruthless in defending their Champions Trophy title next month, describing the competition as tougher even than the World Cup.
    India won the last Champions Trophy in 2013 and head into June?s tournament in England and Wales as favourites after a hugely successful home season with 10 Test wins.
    They are number one in the Test rankings after series victories over New Zealand, England, Bangladesh and Australia, and hope to carry that form into the 50-over Champions Trophy event.
    "The hunger to win and ruthlessness is what we speak about all the time. In Test cricket we have done well with that mindset," Kohli told reporters in Mumbai before the squad?s departure for England.
    "That goes a long way in a tournament like this. If we think in that manner, we will get the results we want more often than not."
    India will play South Africa, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Group B, while England, Australia, Bangladesh and New Zealand form Group A. The two top sides from each group will progress to the semi-finals.
    Kohli, who was part of Mahendra Singh Dhoni?s side in 2013 that claimed the Trophy, said the eight-team event offered little room for error.
    "I think because the tournament is much shorter and you have got top eight teams in the world, the competitiveness is much higher from the word go," said Kohli.
    "In a World Cup you have league games and you have time to get into the tournament and dominate in the later half. But in Champions Trophy you need to be on the top of your game from game one. If not, then your chances go down pretty soon."
    India have retained eight members of their title-winning squad that overcame England in 2013.
    Kohli described wicketkeeper-batsman Dhoni and veteran batsman Yuvraj Singh as "the two pillars" of the current Indian side.
    "They have so much experience that if you give them freedom to play their own game in the middle order then I am sure they are the best judge of how to win a game," said Kohli, who assumed the one-day international captaincy from Dhoni in January.


  7. Waqas Dar
    File photo KARACHI: Jamat-e-Islami members started gathering to protest against K-Electric on Wednesday at Karachi?s Shahra-e-Faisal.
    To deal with any kind of situation, a contingent of police and an armored vehicle has reached the area. A water canon is also present at the site of the protest.
    Earlier, JI Emir Hafiz Naeem announced that the party would protest against loadshedding, over-billing and looting of billions of rupees by KE.
    He had further said that if efforts were made to stop the peaceful protest then all the responsibility for the bad situation of the city would be on the government and administration.
    The JI Amir said that Governor Sindh Muhammad Zubair was unsuccessful in solving the issue.
    JI calls off sit-in against KE on Governor Sindh?s assurance
    KARACHI: Jammat-e-Islami on Tuesday decided to end their sit-in protest against K-Electric in Karachi after negotiations with Governor Sindh Muhammad Zubair. Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, the party's city...
    The Governor?s writ is absent or he is involved in the matter, claimed Naeem, adding that Zubair should be a part of the protest for the rights of Karachi?s residents.
    Hafiz Naeem had said that to ensure the peaceful protest, a concrete plan was put into place.
    The JI had earlier protested against the KE but ended the sit-in after Governor Sindh Zubair assured the party to resolve the grievances within 15 days.
    Police release JI Karachi chief, Shahra-e-Faisal cleared for traffic after protest
    JI workers had earlier blocked the road completely, where the party had planned its protest against K-Electric
    Hafiz Rehman had demanded from the power utility to cease over-billing, fuel adjustment, double bank charges, meter rent and return back about Rs 200 billion to the people of Karachi. The spokesperson of K-Electric had refuted the claims of over-billing.


  8. Waqas Dar
    File photo KARACHI: Jamat-e-Islami is all set for its protest against K-Electric on Wednesday at Karachi?s Shahra-e-Faisal.
    To deal with any kind of situation, a contingent of police and an armored vehicle has reached the area. A water canon is also present at the site of the protest.
    Earlier, JI Amir Hafiz Naeem announced that the party would protest against loadshedding, over-billing and looting of billions of rupees by KE.
    He had further said that if efforts were made to stop the peaceful protest then all the responsibility for the bad situation of the city would be on the government and administration.
    The JI Amir said that Governor Sindh Muhammad Zubair was unsuccessful in solving the issue.
    JI calls off sit-in against KE on Governor Sindh?s assurance
    KARACHI: Jammat-e-Islami on Tuesday decided to end their sit-in protest against K-Electric in Karachi after negotiations with Governor Sindh Muhammad Zubair. Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, the party's city...
    The Governor?s writ is absent or he is involved in the matter, claimed Naeem, adding that Zubair should be a part of the protest for the rights of Karachi?s residents.
    Hafiz Naeem had said that to ensure the peaceful protest, a concrete plan was put into place.
    The JI had earlier protested against the KE but ended the sit-in after Governor Sindh Zubair assured the party to resolve the grievances within 15 days.
    Police release JI Karachi chief, Shahra-e-Faisal cleared for traffic after protest
    JI workers had earlier blocked the road completely, where the party had planned its protest against K-Electric
    Hafiz Rehman had demanded from the power utility to cease over-billing, fuel adjustment, double bank charges, meter rent and return back about Rs 200 billion to the people of Karachi. The spokesperson of K-Electric had refuted the claims of over-billing.


  9. Waqas Dar
    ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arranged training of 12,458 individuals from all walks of life to serve purpose of controlling cyber crimes during last four years.
    National Response Centre for Cyber Crimes (NR3C) arranged these trainings on digital forensic comprehension for interpreting forensic reports, evidence extraction methods and laws application to judicial community.
    Official sources on Wednesday said concerned wing of FIA also registered 894 cases since January 2013, out of which 179 cases were so far decided.
    During the said period, the FIA also arrested 689 accused, who were allegedly involved in cases related to cyber crimes.
    The sources, while listing measures to control such crimes, said technical facilitation has been extended through digital forensic analysis, cyber tracking, digital crime investigation to local law enforcement agencies (LEAs) in cases such as murder, robbery, extortion and others.
    The other step was technical trainings on cyber crime, digital forensics, information security to LEAs including local police.
    Awareness workshops and seminars at various academic institutes and organisations were also conducted under crime prevention and detection through awareness.
    The measures adopted under research and developments included development of Live Evidence Acquisition Dongle (LEAD), which is a forensic tool to extract live evidence.
    The other initiatives included development of a tool to help track and identify location of e-mails, originating from unknown source, development of in-house software application for forensic request management, development of in-house software application for complaints management and tracking, inputs regarding five-year counter-cyber terrorism strategy to National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) and furnishing a report on problems faced by LEAs to track down sub-standard mobile phones with same IMEI number.


  10. Waqas Dar
    MADRID: Spain´s Supreme Court on Wednesday confirmed a 21-month jail sentence and 2.09-million-euro ($2.25 million) fine imposed on Lionel Messi for tax fraud, months after the Barcelona football star lodged an appeal.
    The Argentina international and his father Jorge Horacio Messi were in July 2016 found guilty of using companies in Belize, Britain, Switzerland and Uruguay to avoid paying taxes on 4.16 million euros of Messi´s income earned from his image rights from 2007-09.
    The income related to Messi´s image rights that was hidden includes endorsement deals with Danone, Adidas, Pepsi-Cola, Procter & Gamble and the Kuwait Food Company.
    Both Messi and his father were given 21 months in jail -- sentences likely to be suspended as is common in Spain for first offences for non-violent crimes carrying a sentence of less than two years.
    They appealed to the Supreme Court.
    While the court confirmed the sentence for Messi on Wednesday, it reduced it to 15 months jail for his father, taking into account that his football star son had paid back the defrauded money to tax authorities.
    During last year´s trial, Messi had argued that he trusted his father with his finances and "knew nothing" about how his wealth was managed.
    But the Supreme Court argued that he would have known about his obligation to pay taxes on income earned from his image rights.
    Messi´s tax fraud trial in June last year took place against a backdrop of simmering voter anger over steep cuts to health and social spending, as the government struggles to bring Spain´s public deficit down.


  11. Waqas Dar
    KANDHKOT: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is all set to display political strength in Kandhkot on Wednesday.

    PTI Chairman Imran Khan will address the participants at Anaj Mandi ground.
    The preparations have been finalised for the party?s rally scheduled in the city.
    Strict arrangements of security have been put in place at the venue. For participants, walkthrough gates have also been installed at the main routes leading to the ground.
    At the venue, more than 10,000 chairs have been placed and the stage is 20 feet in height and 60ft wide.
    According to party leader Haleem Adil Shaikh, PTI Chief Imran Khan and other leaders would leave from Sukkur for Kandhkot at 5 PM.


  12. Waqas Dar
    A California woman was arrested on Tuesday on federal charges of conspiring to procure and illegally export sensitive space communications technology to her native China, the US Justice Department said in a statement.
    Si Chen, also known as Cathy Chen, 32, could face a prison term of up to 150 years if convicted of all charges contained in the 14-count indictment returned against her by a federal grand jury on April 27, the department said.
    She pleaded not guilty at an arraignment in US District Court in Los Angeles and was ordered held with bail pending a bond hearing set for Thursday, according to a spokesman for the US Attorney's Office.
    Chen, a resident of the Los Angeles suburb of Pomona, is accused of violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which controls the export of certain goods and technology from the United States.
    Specifically, the indictment alleges Chen purchased and smuggled sensitive materials to China without obtaining required export licenses, including components commonly used in military communications "jammers."
    She also is accused of smuggling devices typically used in space communications applications, and falsifying the paperwork used in shipping those items to list them as worth $500, rather than their true value of more than $100,000.
    The exports in question date from March 2013 to December 2015.
    In addition to various export-related offenses, Chen is charged with conspiracy, money laundering, making false statements on an immigration application and using a forged passport, according to the Justice Department.
    "Federal export laws are designed to protect American interests by preventing the proliferation of technology that may fall into the wrong hands," acting US Attorney Sandra Brown said in a statement.
    A trial date was scheduled for July 18.


  13. Waqas Dar
    The man was arrested by police on The Mall outside Buckingham Palace - Photo: The Telegraph LONDON: A man with a knife was arrested from outside the Buckingham Palace just before the Queen passed, The Telegraph reported on Wednesday.

    The arrest came as soldiers were deployed outside the British parliament for guard duty after the government raised its terror threat level following an attack that killed 22 people in Manchester on Monday.
    Armed soldiers will replace police at key sites under the plan announced by Prime Minister Theresa May, freeing up police resources to pursue an investigation into a possible wider network behind the attack in Manchester. 


  14. Waqas Dar
    ISLAMABAD: Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique on Wednesday announced a reduction in rail fares ahead of Ramzan.
    "A twenty percent reduction in fares for all classes of all Pakistan Railways trains will be applicable from Ramazn 1st till Ramzan 20th," Rafique announced.
    The minister said that the pays and pensions of railway staff have been increased by Rs20 billion, and also demanded that railway police's compensations should be at par with the provincial police.
    "Pakistan State Oil and Pakistan Railways have agreed on a five-year fuel transportation agreement," he announced, stating that the former will be liable to transport two million tonnes of oil through Pakistan Railways.  


  15. Waqas Dar
    A policeman in Karachi warns visitors from swimming too far into the sea. Photo: AFP KARACHI: The Sindh government on Wednesday banned swimming at Karachi's beaches after continuous cases of drowning surfaced in the last several days.  
    The ban will last for six months unless otherwise stated, according to sources.
    The provincial government usually bans swimming in the sea as a preventive measure during public holidays such as Eid when people throng beaches. 
    On Tuesday, at least six people drowned while bathing off different beaches in Karachi, rescue members confirmed.
    In the first incident, four school friends drowned while bathing off Sandspit beach. Rescue members recovered all the bodies.
    The deceased were residents of Orangi Town.
    Three others drowned off Sea View, out of which one was rescued, while bodies of other two were recovered later.
    The number of bathers drowned in the last four days has jumped to 12, raising questions on administration's performance.
     


  16. Waqas Dar
    A policeman in Karachi warns visitors from swimming too far into the sea. Photo: AFP KARACHI: The Sindh government on Wednesday banned swimming in Karachi's beaches after continuous cases of drowning surfaced in the last several days.  
    The ban will last for six months unless otherwise stated, according to sources.
    The provincial government usually bans swimming in the sea as a preventive measure during public holidays such as Eid when people throng beaches. 
    On Tuesday, at least six people drowned while bathing off different beaches in Karachi, rescue members confirmed.
    In the first incident, four school friends drowned while bathing off Sandspit beach. Rescue members recovered all the bodies.
    The deceased were residents of Orangi Town.
    Three others drowned off Sea View, out of which one was rescued, while bodies of other two were recovered later.
    The number of bathers drowned in the last four days has jumped to 12, raising questions on administration's performance.
     


  17. Waqas Dar
    Pope Francis urged US President Donald Trump to be a peacemaker at their highly anticipated first meeting on Wednesday, and Trump promised he would not forget the pontiff's message.
    Under clear blue skies, Trump, who exchanged sharp words with the pope during the US election campaign last year, received a tribute from the Swiss Guard in a Vatican courtyard when he arrived to meet the pope.
    Trump entered a small elevator taking him to the third floor of the Apostolic Palace and, after a long ceremonial walk past frescoed corridors, shook the pope's hand at the entrance to the private study, which the frugal pope uses only for official occasions.
    Francis smiled faintly as he greeted Trump outside the study and was not as gregarious as he sometimes is with visiting heads of state. Trump, seeming subdued, said "it is a great honour."
    Even when the two were sitting at the pope's desk in the presence of photographers and reporters, the pope avoided the kind of small talk that usually occurs before the media is ushered out.
    The two talked privately for about 30 minutes with translators.
    Both men looked far more relaxed at the end of the private meeting, with the pope smiling and joking with Trump and his wife Melania.
    Francis gave the president a small sculptured olive tree and told him through the interpreter that it symbolized peace.
    "It is my desire that you become an olive tree to construct peace," the Pope said, speaking in Spanish through an interpreter.
    Trump responded: "We can use peace."
    Francis also gave Trump a signed copy of his 2017 peace message whose title is "Nonviolence - A Style of Politics for Peace," and a copy of his 2015 encyclical letter on the need to protect the environment from the effects of climate change.
    "Well, I'll be reading them," Trump said.
    Trump's softer stance on environmental regulations is at odds with Francis' view that climate change is caused mostly by human activity.
    Parting promise
    Trump gave the pope a boxed set of five first edition books by slain US civil rights leader Martin Luther King.
    As Trump and the pope said goodbye at the door of the study, Trump told the pope: "Thank you, thank you. I won't forget what you said."
    The meeting with the pope was the third stop on a nine-day foreign tour due to end on Saturday, and part of his world tour of religions after meeting leaders of Muslim nations in Saudi Arabia and visiting holy sites in Jerusalem.
    While his talks in Saudi Arabia and Israel were mostly friendly, the meeting between the head of the Roman Catholic Church and the thrice-married, blunt-spoken Trump had the potential to be a little more confrontational.
    The pope said last year a man who thinks about building walls and not bridges is "not Christian," a sharp reprimand for Trump's vow to build a wall along the US border with Mexico.
    Trump said it was "disgraceful" of the Argentine-born pope, who represents just over half of the world's two billion Christians, to question his faith.
    "If and when the Vatican is attacked by ISIS, which as everyone knows is ISIS' ultimate trophy, I can promise you that the pope would have only wished and prayed that Donald Trump would have been president," Trump said during the campaign.
    The Vatican also took a dim view of Trump's anti-Muslim campaign rhetoric, although he softened his tone considerably in a major speech in Riyadh.
    Part of Trump's motivation for meeting the pope was to dramatize how the three major religions should rally against the threat from Islamist militants.
    Trump at first did not plan to stop in Rome during his visit to Europe, which some in the Vatican saw as a snub. When he changed his mind, the Vatican squeezed him in at 8:30 a.m. on a Wednesday morning, an unusual day and an unusually early time.
    After the meeting, Francis held his weekly audience with the general public in St Peter's Square.


  18. Waqas Dar
    ISLAMABAD: Geo News on Wednesday obtained the salient features of the budget recommendations for fiscal year 2017-18. The major points of the upcoming budget ? to be presented on Friday ? are as follows:

    1. Total outlay: Rs4.778 trillion
    2. Development budget: Rs1,001 billion
    3. Defence budget: 940 billion
    4. Recommendation to allocate Rs1,401 billion for interest payments on loans
    5. Recommendation to increase FBR?s tax collection target by 15%
    6. Two recommendations to increase government employees? salaries
    a. Proposal to merge old ad hoc salary after 10 % increase in salaries
    b. Proposal to increase running salaries by 10% after merging old ad hoc
    7. Proposal to allocate Rs230 billion for subsidies and grants
    8. Proposal to allocate Rs123 billion for Benazir Income Support Programme
    9. Proposal to allocate Rs90 billion for rehabilitation of homeless people and security arrangements
    10. Proposal for GDP growth in upcoming fiscal year: 6%
    11. Estimated inflation [CPI]: 6%
    12. 4.1% fiscal deficit
    13. Rs272 billion for development schemes for parliamentarians
    14. Current account deficit targeted at 2.6% of GDP


  19. Waqas Dar
    ISLAMABAD: Geo News on Wednesday obtained the salient features of the budget recommendations for fiscal year 2017-18. The major points of the upcoming budget ? to be presented on Friday ? are as follows:

    1. Total outlay: Rs4.778 trillion
    2. Development budget: Rs1,001 billion
    3. Defence budget: 940 billion
    4. Recommendation to allocate Rs1,401 billion for interest payments on loans
    5. Recommendation to increase FBR?s tax collection target by 15%
    6. Two recommendations to increase government employees? salaries
    a. Proposal to merge old ad hoc salary after 10 % increase in salaries
    b. Proposal to increase running salaries by 10% after merging old ad hoc
    7. Proposal to allocate Rs230 billion for subsidies and grants
    8. Proposal to allocate Rs123 billion for Benazir Income Support Programme
    9. Proposal to allocate Rs90 billion for rehabilitation of homeless people and security arrangements
    10. Proposal for GDP growth in upcoming fiscal year: 6%
    11. Estimated inflation [CPI]: 6%
    12. 4.1% fiscal deficit
    13. Rs272 billion for development schemes for parliamentarians
    14. Current account deficit targeted at 2.6% of GDP


  20. Waqas Dar
    The foreign nationals had gone to eat at a local restaurant from where they were kidnapped. Photo: Geo News screen grab QUETTA: Three foreign nationals were kidnapped by unidentified men from Quetta?s Jinnah Town on Wednesday, according to Quetta DIG.
    The foreigners are said to belong to the same family, said the police, adding that kidnapped persons include husband, wife and a child.
    Moreover, a person sustained injuries after gunmen opened fire on him after he tried to stop the kidnapping.
    According to the details, the foreign nationals had gone to eat at a local restaurant when the incident occurred.
    Further investigation of the incident is under way.


  21. Waqas Dar
    ISLAMABAD: Key points of the Pakistan Economic Survey 2016-17 were acquired by Geo News on Wednesday. These indicate that in the outgoing fiscal year 2016-17, the country?s growth rate was 5.3%.

    Moreover, the per capita income in the outgoing fiscal year grew by 2.9%, and now stands at $1,629.
    The agriculture sector ? the biggest chunk of the economy ? grew by 3.46%. Crops sector grew by 3.02%, wherein major crops grew by 4.12% and minor crops by 0.21% only. The sub-sectors of cotton ginning grew by 5.59% while livestock by 3.43%.
    The country?s industries sector grew by 5.02%, with large-scale industries growing by 4.93% and small-scale industries growing by 8.18%.
    The electricity and gas production and distribution grew by 3.40% and the manufacturing industry grew by 9.05%.
    The services sector saw a growth of 5.98%. The retail and wholesale sector grew by 6.82% while the banking sector grew by 10.77%.
    The Foreign Direct Investment rose by 12.4%.
    In the first 10 months of the outgoing fiscal year, exports fell by 2.3% while imports increased by 19.88%.
    In the same time period, the trade deficit stood at 40% while inflation at 4.8%.
    In the first nine months of the outgoing fiscal year, foreign remittances fell by 2.3%.


  22. Waqas Dar
    If you're waiting for any update of Nawazuddin Siddiqui's Manto then this news is for you!
    The first look of the most anticipated film 'Manto' was finally unveiled at 70th Cannes Film Festival and we just can't get over it.


    While the poster bears Nawazzuddin Siddiqui with an intense look which was a compulsory element for Manto, it also shows a stain of blood along with Saadat Hasan Manto's writings in Urdu. 
    Director Nandita Das shared the first poster for her upcoming movie on Facebook.
    The talented actor-turned -director also shared some behind the scene stills too with the poster.


    Nawazuddin Siddiqui plays the role of protagonist and Rasika Duggal plays the role of Manto's wife named Safiya.

    'Manto' is based on Saadat Hasan Manto, who is known as one of the greatest writers of short stories in South Asian history. 



  23. Waqas Dar
    RAWALPINDI: Two hardcore terrorists who were tried by Military Courts were executed on Wednesday, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

    The terrorists were involved in committing heinous offences relating to terrorism, including the attack on Army Public School Peshawar, killing of innocent civilians, attacking the country?s armed forces and law enforcement agencies.
    Details of the executed terrorists are listed below:
    Atta Ullah S/O Muhammad Sultan
    The convict was an active member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). He was involved in attacking Law Enforcement Agencies which resulted in the death of several soldiers and injuries to an officer and a soldier. He was also in possession of firearms and explosives. He admitted his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court and was awarded the death sentence. 
    Taj Muhammad S/O Alaf Khan 
    The convict was an active member of TTP. He was involved in attacking Armed Forces of Pakistan and harbouring suicidal bombers, which were later on used in the attack on Army Public School Peshawar, causing the death of 151 persons including 125 children, injuries to 147 persons and killing a civilian. He admitted his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. He was awarded death sentence.


  24. Waqas Dar
    ISLAMABAD: Defence analyst Lieutenant General (retired) Amjad Shoaib, on Wednesday, slammed the Indian media?s claims about the ex-serviceman stating that RAW agent Kulbhushan Jadhav was arrested from Iran.

    In an article published on the India Today website, the publication claimed that ?an ex-ISI official has admitted that Kulbhushan Jadhav was captured in Iran.?
    Puncturing Pakistan's claim that it arrested Kulbhushan Jadhav on its own soil, Amjad Shoaib ? an ex-ISI official and a retired Lieutenant General ? has admitted that the ex-Indian Navy officer [Jadhav] was captured in Iran, India Today said in its article published on May 24.
    Rubbishing the Indian media?s assertions, Lt Gen Shoaib said on Geo News: ?The video [circulated on the Indian media] is doctored. I have countless recorded interviews with many television channels including Geo News, where I have clearly said that Jadhav was operating from [Iranian port city of] Chabahar but was apprehended in Balochistan.?
    ?The outlet should have checked with me,? he said, adding that, ?India Today did not contact me in this regard.?
    The former general, while talking to Geo News, disclosed that the word ?operated? from his recorded interview was snipped out from the video that was being circulated in the Indian media.
    ?They [Indian army] do such disgraceful things and don?t understand that these tactics won?t help them,? he said, adding that the unedited versions of his interviews with the Pakistani media are readily available on the internet.
    Lt Gen (retd) Shoaib also recollected an incident where a recorded video of his with a statement on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was doctored by the Indian media.


  25. Waqas Dar
    Pakistani Canadian Sabrina Rehman received the 2017 Prime Minister?s Awards (PMA) for Excellence in Education. Photo: press release  Pakistani Canadian Sabrina Rehman has been recognised as one of the top five educators in Canada, according to Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage press statement.
    Rehman, who works at Little Scholars Montessori, Ottawa, received the 2017 Prime Minister?s Awards (PMA) for Excellence in Education during a weeklong event ceremony in Ottawa.
    The Prime Minister's Awards 2016-17 national recipients visit Ottawa. Photo: Government of Canada  Rehman was awarded by Canada?s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. During the ceremony, the recipients also met with the Governor General David Johnston along with PM Trudeau.
    ?The Prime Minister?s Awards (PMA) for Excellence in Education honour outstanding and innovative educators for their leadership, exemplary practices, and their commitment to education in Canada,? read the press statement.
    Other award recipients include Sarah Marshall of Kenville Nova Scotia, Patricia Furman of Winnipeg Manitoba, Erin Pauls of Whitehorse, Yukon and Caren Eigenmann of Port Moody BC. 
    The 2016-17 recipients of the Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence and Excellence in Early Childhood Education. Photo: Government of Canada About Sabrina
    Sabrina Rehman. Sabrina, an engineer turned educator, works as a curriculum development director at the Little Scholars Montessori, which she joined in 2003.
    She has pioneered an innovation STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) programme and implemented it at the educational institute. She oversees four Little Scholars Montessori schools in the Nepean / Barrhaven area of Ottawa, Ontario and Manotick Montessori, also part of the BrightPath portfolio.
    Speaking about the award, Rehman remarked ?Being recognised as one of the top five early childhood educators across the nation is a great honour. As someone who is passionate about early learning and the lasting impact these early years have on the lives of children, this is a truly inspiring and humbling experience,? according to BrightPath Early Learning website.
    ?Rehman believes that children are the future and invites them to celebrate their uniqueness. She sees the environment as their third teacher and organizes it with open-ended materials that her students can explore and use to communicate their ideas,? reads her bio data available online.
    She is the daughter of Squadron Leader (retd) Khalid Rehman.


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