Author: none@none.com (Amin Ahmed)
On the occasion of World Ozone Day, Pakistan celebrates its success in eliminating the consumption of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and its ongoing efforts to phase out hydro-chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). Mohammad Saleem Shaikh, a climate change expert at the Ministry of Climate Change, emphasized the country’s dedication to a greener and healthier future through its actions under the Montreal Protocol. Coordinator to Prime Minister for Climate Change, Romina Khurshid Alam, urged the global community to prioritize sustainable development and climate action. She called upon businesses, industries, and citizens to embrace renewable technologies that protect the ozone layer and contribute to climate resilience. Despite…
In a recent statement, the US mission in Islamabad expressed their commitment to working with Pakistan to combat the malnutrition crisis that has put millions of Pakistani children at risk of death. Following the devastating 2022 floods that disproportionately affected women and children, the spokesperson Jonathan Lalley emphasized the importance of every child having the opportunity to grow up healthy and strong. Out of the $215m provided by the US for flood relief and recovery, nearly $100m has been allocated for addressing malnutrition through partnerships with organizations like the UN’s World Food Programme and Unicef. A significant number of malnourished…
Today, the privatisation process for three major electricity distribution companies in Pakistan has officially begun. The Privatisation Commission has called for technical and financial proposals to appoint financial advisers for private sector involvement in Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco), Gujranwala Electric Power Company (Gepco), and Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (Fesco). Chaired by Privatisation Minister Abdul Aleem Khan and Power Minister Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, the meeting emphasized the importance of transparency and technical considerations throughout the divestment process. Minister Leghari urged swift action on necessary issues for company privatisation and requested prompt access to institution details for interested parties.…
UN Committee Praises Pakistan’s Human Rights Body The UN Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination commended Pakistan for the upgraded “A” status of its National Commission for Human Rights. The country rapporteur for Pakistan, Yeung Kam John Yeung Sik Yuen, lauded the commission’s efforts during a recent meeting. While acknowledging the success, concerns were raised about blasphemy laws and the treatment of minority groups. Members also questioned Pakistan’s plan to repatriate foreign nationals, particularly Afghan migrants. The delegation assured that the repatriation plan was not Afghan-specific and aimed to identify and repatriate illegal foreigners in a phased manner. The meeting…
Government Approves Privatisation of 24 Public Sector Entities The Cabinet Committee on Privatisation (CCOP) met on Friday to discuss the government’s new privatisation programme for 2024-2029. Led by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, the committee approved the privatisation of 24 public sector entities and decided to review additional firms for potential inclusion. The CCOP emphasized the importance of reducing the federal footprint in commercial space and limiting it to strategic and essential State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs). The committee also discussed transferring shares of OGDCL to a sovereign wealth fund or the Ministry of Energy, as well as approving the Privatisation Commission’s…