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Category: National

  • Civil societies welcome Pakistan for attending UN HLPF

    Civil societies welcome Pakistan for attending UN HLPF

    ISLAMABAD: The civil society of Pakistan appreciated the government’s presentation of voluntary national review (VNR) at the UN High Level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York.

    The civil society organizations (CSOs) on Friday pointed out addressing the reported regressions and stagnation on critical goals.

    It said that several concerns still exist on critical sustainable development goals (SDG) priorities in the absence of policy coherence, efficient implementation and review mechanisms.

    READ MORE: Need stressed on integrated approach for SDGs

    These concerns were expressed in a joint statement of representatives from a number of CSOs including Pakistan Development Alliance, Parliamentarians Commission for Human Rights, AwazCDS-Pakistan, Sightsavers Pakistan, Malala Fund UK, Save The Children, Umang Champions, The Brook International, UGOOD, PCE, PODA, HomeNet Pakistan, Roots for Equality, Karachi Research Institute and LifeSavers.

    Pakistan is attending the UN HLPF (July 5-15) in New York under the auspices of ECOSOC under the theme “Building back better from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”.

    The HLPF also reviewed in-depth SDGs on quality education, gender equality, life below water, life on land, and partnerships for the goals.

    READ MORE: Fiscal reforms to help Pakistan generate funding to meet SDGs targets: IMF official

    During the session, representatives of 44 countries carried out voluntary national reviews (VNRs) of their implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

    The CSOs, while pointing out over 22 million children are out of school, called for holistic planning, equitable financing, and stronger political will to enhance the educational outcomes prioritizing the millions left behind.

    At least 4-6 per cent of GDP or 20-25 per cent of public expenditure must be ensured to protect peoples’ fundamental right to education, as per Article 25A, they suggested.

    READ MORE: SBP launches report on SDGs from banking perspective

    They were of the view that the gender equality requires multi-sectoral gender-sensitive planning based on comprehensive vulnerability assessment for achieving gender-responsive social protection, health and education outcomes, protection from violence and disasters, and protection of right to inheritance, employability and political participation.

    For the protection of civic spaces and democratic accountability, they emphasized for CSOs’ meaningful inclusion across agenda-setting and planning processes to avoid tokenistic representation.

    The resolved that the civil society needs a world that is considerate of our collective concerns upholding the ideals we all believe in.

  • Pakistan inflation crosses 33% on high petroleum prices

    Pakistan inflation crosses 33% on high petroleum prices

    ISLAMABAD: Inflation based on Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) crossed 33 per cent in Pakistan by week ended July 14, 2022 over the same week last year mainly due to massive hike in petroleum prices.

    The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Friday issued weekly SPI for the week ended July 14, 2022.

    READ MORE: Petroleum prices in Pakistan push inflation 13-year high

    The SPI is computed on weekly basis to assess the price movements of essential commodities at shorter interval of time so as to review the price situation in the country. SPI comprises of 51 essential items collected from 50 markets in 17 cities of the country.

    According to the PBS, the year on year trend depicts an increase of 33.12 per cent. The major rise in prices witnessed in items, including Diesel (141.46 per cent), Petrol (119.61 per cent), Onions (89.33 per cent),  Pulse Masoor (88.60 per cent), Vegetable Ghee 1 Kg (78.92 per cent), Mustard Oil (75.72 per cent), Cooking Oil 5 litre (73.01 per cent), Vegetable Ghee 2.5 Kg (72.44 per cent), Washing Soap (59.93 per cent), Chicken (52.61 per cent), Gents Sponge Chappal (52.21 per cent), Pulse Gram (51.14 per cent), Garlic (40.54 per cent), LPG (39.95 per cent) and Pulse Mash (31.01 per cent).

    READ MORE: Average inflation estimated up to 12% in FY22

    While major decrease observed in the prices of Chillies Powdered (43.42 per cent), Sugar (15.13 per cent), Gur (2.41 per cent) and Pulse Moong (2.09 per cent).

    The SPI for the current week ended on July 14, 2022 recorded an increase of 0.01 per cent. Increase observed in the prices of food items, Potatoes (4.72 per cent), Chicken (4.45 per cent), Cooked Daal (1.43 per cent), Rice Irri 6/9 (1.17 per cent), Rice Basmati Broken (1.14 per cent), Vegetable Ghee 2.5 Kg (1.12 per cent), Gur (1.08 per cent) and Curd (1.07 per cent).

    READ MORE: Average inflation estimated up to 12% in FY22

    Non-food item Washing Soap (1.59 per cent), with joint impact of (0.17 per cent) into the overall SPI for combined group of (0.01 per cent).

    On the other hand, decrease observed in the prices of Tomatoes (24.55 per cent), Bananas (2.82 per cent), Pulse Gram (0.67 per cent), LPG (0.46 per cent) and Mustard Oil (0.05 per cent).

    During the week, out of 51 items, prices of 29 (56.86 per cent) items increased, 05 (9.81 per cent) items decreased and 17 (33.33 per cent) items remained stable.

    READ MORE: Petrol to become more precious than gold

  • New petroleum prices in Pakistan from July 15, 2022

    New petroleum prices in Pakistan from July 15, 2022

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday announced reduction in prices of petroleum products effective from July 15, 2022 after a massive decline observed in the prices of oil in international markets.

    (more…)
  • IRC provides health facilities in South Waziristan

    IRC provides health facilities in South Waziristan

    PESHAWAR: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) provided health facilities through launching a program on Thursday namely “Strengthening Healthcare including Nutrition in Emergencies” (SHiNE), to facilitate the people in Orakzai and South Waziristan districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

    Through this program 150,000 people have so far benefitted from the state-of-the-art health facilities set up in their areas. Among them are 45,000 women and children, who previously had to travel long distances to avail of basic health services.

    Over 12,000 women and children have been screened for malnutrition and 1,390 cases have been enrolled in community-based programs for rehabilitation. It has also proved instrumental in creating awareness about hygiene, healthcare services and increasing their uptake.

    The initiative is launched with the support of the European Union (EU), and in partnership with the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Medical Emergency Resilience Foundation (MERF).

    The program also focuses on improving access to health facilities by strengthening the system to cater to specific needs under maternal, newborn, and child health care. It covers integrated Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) activities, in the vicinity of the targeted health facilities coupled with awareness-raising for infection prevention and improved health-seeking behavior.

    The IRC has urged the federal and provincial governments to mainstream integrated health interventions that are tailored to the unique needs of the most vulnerable populations across the country.

    The Country Director of the IRC, Shabnam Baloch, said “Our recent experience of working in South Waziristan and Orakzai districts has shown that integrated health interventions targeting the specific needs of vulnerable populations can go a long way in  service improvements, community engagement, encouraging long-term public-private partnerships, and systems strengthening. These are all necessary prerequisites to increase coverage, efficiency, and the quality of healthcare services.”

    Chief Executive Officer at MERF, Dr. Shah Miran stated, “For the first time in decades the provision of comprehensive healthcare services has been ensured in hard to reach areas like Mamoozai in Orakzai and Angor Adda in South Waziristan while the people of Shaktoi belt in Anakhel have finally witnessed the operationalization of a Basic Health Unit (BHU) in their area which remained non-functional  for over two decades.”

    This public-private partnership has played a key role in revitalizing the health systems, encouraged repatriation, and created a strong public demand for the continuity of such services.

    Dr. Shah Miran also added, “The provision of nutrition supplies in the target areas that have food insecurity and acute malnutrition as high as 20%, is not less than a blessing at a time when inflation, starvation, and lack of agricultural productivity are already taking a toll on the poorest of households.” 

    The SHiNE intervention, which is in direct support of the provincial government’s ongoing efforts to provide uninterrupted quality healthcare to the underserved populations of the NMDs deserves greater attention by policymakers and legislators.

    Important lessons learned from this program, if replicated and mainstreamed can have a lasting, positive impact on Pakistan’s overall health & nutrition indicators.

  • Gas price hike to further push up inflation

    Gas price hike to further push up inflation

    KARACHI: The recent approval by Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) to increase the prices of gas will further push up the inflation, analysts said.

    The country is already facing the alarming rise in inflation following sure in prices of petroleum products and electricity tariff.

    The analysts at AKD Securities said that ECC approved hike in gas tariff after a break of almost two years, which was last increased in October 2020.

    READ MORE: Gas price hike report baseless: Musadiq Malik

    “The latest increase will put further pressure on already sky rocketing inflation, as manufacturers are likely to pass on the impact, resulting in higher product prices and slowdown in demand,” the analysts said.

    However, the aforementioned hike will put brake on ballooning gas circular debt, which currently stands at Rs1.23 trillion. As per new flows, the move will generate Rs666 billion in revenue for gas distribution companies.

    Export oriented sector including textile companies will also feel the pinch of this increase as the proposed hike for these sector stands at 77 per cent and 38 per cent, respectively.

    This development will severely impact country’s exports due to rise in manufacturing cost and higher financing rate.

    READ MORE: Govt. halts gas supply to export industry: APTMA

    The proposed weighted average gas prices for domestic consumers stands at Rs885/mmbtu, up by 90 per cent. The government has also made some changes in domestic slabs which has now reduced to 5 as compare to 7 slabs earlier.

    The gas bill of consumers who are using gas up to 400 cubic meter are likely to be affected most, due to increase of 253 per cent in tariff.

    They said that the inflationary impact of the said development will be 66 basis points on Month on Month (MoM) basis, taking average inflation to 21.5 per cent for the current fiscal year.

    READ MORE: FBR exempts sales tax on oxygen gas import

    The gas tariff for fertilizer plants is proposed to increase by 42 per cent and 82 per cent for feed and fuel gas, respectively. As per estimates, this will increase cost of urea manufacturing by Rs420/bag for FFC, while the increase for EFERT is Rs340/bag, due to its reliance on PP12 based gas pricing.

    The manufacturers are likely to pass on any increase in gas tariff as they have already increased urea price by Rs350/bag on 1st July.

    The increase in gas prices is expected to bode well for the E&P sector, including Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDC), Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), and Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MARI), as this would lead to improved cash collection for the companies in lieu of gas supply.

    READ MORE: OGDCL discovers oil, gas reserves in Sindh

    As of March 2022 quarter end, OGDC’s receivables from SNGP stood at Rs142.42 million (Rs33.11/sh), whereas those from SSGC stood at Rs163.58 million (Rs38.03/sh). Similarly, PPL’s receivables stood at Rs141 million (Rs51.82/sh) from SSGC and Rs181.8 million (Rs66.81/sh) from SNGP. Whereas MARI’s receivables stand at Rs5.9 million (Rs44.90/sh) from SSGC and Rs8.3 million (Rs61.90/sh) from SNGP.

    Due to liquidity issues, the companies have historically faced challenges in expanding their exploration activities. During 9MFY22, 61 per cent of PPL’s total sales were derived from SNGP and SSGC, hence PPL stands to be a major beneficiary of the proposal gas price hike.

    The much waited tariff increase is a positive development for gas distribution companies as it will improve their cash flows. Similarly, this will provide a breath of fresh air to E&P sector in the form better liquidity, thus allowing them to expand their exploration activities.

    READ MORE: OGDCL declares over 63% net profit for 1HFY22

  • IRC launches rain relief operation in Balochistan

    IRC launches rain relief operation in Balochistan

    ISLAMABAD: International Rescue Committee (IRC) on Wednesday launched a relief operation in Balochistan were the torrential rains have ruined the normal life in the province. Due to flash floods and rain, many people have been killed and around 150,000 population are in the need of humanitarian assistance.

    An emergency has been declared in the provincial metropolitan city followed by relief operations at all levels.

    The assistant commissioner said that the wards and emergency room of Muslim Bagh Civil Hospital were flooded, while rain in the hilly areas of Muslim Bagh damaged more than 100 houses. Most of the access roads to remote areas of Qila Saifullah, Zhob, and Harnai have been affected, hampering rescue operations in several areas.

    READ MORE: Slashing petroleum prices summary to be sent: Miftah

    A Pishin administration official said hundreds of mud-houses were washed away or badly damaged in Malikyar, Don Khanozai and Sheikhmalzai areas of Pishin as floodwater coming from hilly areas of Burshor lashed the area.

    Given the rapidly deteriorating situation, the IRC has initiated response activities in Pishin and Quetta districts. With the financial aid of German Federal Foreign Office, the IRC’s internal funds and support of its on-ground partner, the People’s Primary Healthcare Initiative (PPHI), the IRC has launched a rapid emergency response within 24 hours of the declaration of emergency, which is being implemented in close coordination with the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, Balochsitan.

    CEO of PPHI, Esfandyar Baloch said, “We have so far set up three free medical camps in the flood-affected areas. More than 500 Afghan refugees and host communities have so far availed the services.”

    He further said that under this rapid response, more than 350 food packages and over 250 dignity kits are being distributed among the affected population.

    READ MORE: Gas price hike report baseless: Musadiq Malik

    Muhammad Shareef, IRCs Head of Office, Balochistan, said, “The needs of the target beneficiaries will inevitably be affected by inflation and poverty. The opportunity cost of food items will, in all likability be the healthcare. We understand this dilemma and our efforts are geared towards providing maximum possible relief to those most in need.”

    Shabnam Baloch, IRCs Country Director said, “To minimize the adversity caused by natural disasters, the relevant actors need to plan beyond the immediate response and work closely with geologists, environmentalists, and researchers to examine, assess, and review potential future climate risks to timely alert the decision-makers.”

    She also added that it is equally important to understand that natural calamities further aggravate the vulnerability of women and girls and so, any response or management efforts must be designed keeping their unique protection issues in mind.

    READ MORE: Limited resources affected from overpopulation

    The IRC has also responded to similar emergencies in the past by providing a humanitarian response in terms of food items, non-food items, and basic healthcare camps. The organization is currently also coordinating with the district and provincial disaster management authorities to keep them abreast with the situation and provide relief updates from the target districts.

  • Slashing petroleum prices summary to be sent: Miftah

    Slashing petroleum prices summary to be sent: Miftah

    ISLAMABAD: The finance ministry will send a summary to reduce the prices of petroleum products for next fortnight on Wednesday, July 13, 2022, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail said on Tuesday.

    Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the ministries of petroleum and finance to prepare the summary to reduce prices of petroleum products to provide relief to the masses.

    READ MORE: Pakistan may cut petroleum prices from July 16, 2022

    The government has decided to reduce the prices of petroleum products in the wake of massive fall in prices of crude oil in in the international markets.

    “After receiving the summary from the petroleum division, we will try to send it to the PM House,” Miftah Ismail said while talking to a private TV channel.

    READ MORE: New prices of petroleum products in Pakistan from July 01, 2022

    He said, prices of petroleum would be reduced on the directives of the prime minister for public interest.

    The prime minister, he said, sincerely wanted to give the benefits of low petroleum prices in the international market to people without any delay.

    INFORMATION FROM REUTERS:

    READ MORE: Gas price hike report baseless: Musadiq Malik

    Global benchmark Brent crude tumbled $7 to below $100 a barrel on Tuesday on a strengthening dollar, demand-sapping COVID-19 curbs in top crude importer China, and rising fears of a global economic slowdown.

    “The sharp drop followed a month of volatile trading in which investors have sold oil positions on worries that aggressive interest rate hikes to stem inflation will spur an economic downturn that will pull the rug out from oil demand,” according to the international news agency.

    READ MORE: Govt. halts gas supply to export industry: APTMA

    Brent crude futures were down $7.21, or 6.7 per cent, at $99.89 a barrel by 1:46 p.m. EDT (1746 GMT). U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was down $7.80, or 7.5 per cent, at $96.30.

  • Pakistan may cut petroleum prices from July 16, 2022

    Pakistan may cut petroleum prices from July 16, 2022

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan likely to cut prices of petroleum products from July 16, 2022 in the wake of falling oil prices in the international markets.

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed the authorities to pass on the full benefit of falling oil prices in the international markets to the masses.

    READ MORE: Gas price hike report baseless: Musadiq Malik

    The premier directed the ministries of petroleum and finance to prepare a summary for reduction in oil prices for next fortnight starting from July 16, 2022.

    Chairing a meeting on fuel prices, the Prime Minister said the people spent a difficult time, now they have the right to get full relief.

    He said we will take every step for the provision of relief to the masses who suffered heavily because of inflation caused by the previous government.

    READ MORE: Govt. halts gas supply to export industry: APTMA

    The Prime Minister said if the grace and blessings of Allah Almighty continue like this, they will bring more ease in the lives of the people.

    The meeting was also attended by senior officials of Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OAGRA) and other ministries and departments.

    Previously, the government was continuously increasing the prices of petroleum products since May 26, 2022 by eliminating subsidies and imposition of petroleum levy.

    The prices of petroleum products effective from July 01, 2022, were:

    READ MORE: FBR exempts sales tax on oxygen gas import

    The new prices of petrol have been increased by Rs14.85 per liter to Rs248.74 from Rs233.89.

    The rate of high speed diesel has been increased by Rs13.25 per liter to Rs276.54 from Rs263.31.

    The rate of kerosene oil has been increased by Rs18.83 per liter to Rs230.26 from Rs211.43.

    Similarly, the rate of light speed diesel has been increased by Rs18.68 per liter to Rs226.15 from Rs207.47.

    READ MORE: New prices of petroleum products in Pakistan from July 01, 2022

    Although, the prime minister directed the authorities to reduce the prices of petroleum products in the wake of fall in oil prices in the international markets but the imposition of petroleum levy may not give the government much room to reduce the prices drastically.

    Recently, National Assembly (NA) approved a levy of Rs50 per liter on each petroleum product. The assembly allowed the government to include the levy in the prices of petroleum products up to Rs50 per liter of each product.

  • Limited resources affected from overpopulation

    Limited resources affected from overpopulation

    ISLAMABAD: The government of Pakistan on Tuesday discussed about the need to manage population growth to ensure provision of better human health, economic stability and social life of people.

    The recent data reveals that Pakistan is the 5th most populous country in the world, despite only being the 33rd largest in size.

    READ MORE: NITL declares dividends for funds in FY22

    While its huge population is constantly eating up national resources threatening the national life especially provision of sufficient healthcare as well as quality education, job opportunities, climate change, depleting water resources and even our national security.

    The government ministers showed concerns over the constant population growth and the resources which are quickly running out on the reference of the World Population Day on July 11, 2022.

    The Minister for Federal Health Services Abdul Qadir Patel said on the occasion that, “overpopulation always eats up national resources hindering the national prosperity. There is a misconception that family planning is meant to control child birth. In fact, this initiative was launched to ensure better health of mother and child.”

    READ MORE: Engro Polymer collaborates for industry-academia linkage program  

    Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal discussed, about 60 per cent population in Pakistan is below the age of 30, who want to have better education and reasonable employment. However, with available resources in the country, perfect education facilities and jobs availability is a difficult task but we can improve it with practical measures.

    Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation Shazia Marri, termed the overpopulation a major concern for development planning in Pakistan.

    She said, “If we maintain a balance between national population and resources it would ensure better health of people especially of mother and child.”

    READ MORE: ITMinds, Pak Qater enter into outsourcing arrangement

    She further said that “the data shows that maternal mortality ratio in Pakistan stands at 186 deaths per 100,000 live births. The need for family planning is staggeringly high in Pakistan.”

    She also said that the grassroots challenges are present such as misperceptions, lack of trained health staff, communication gap between the partners, and others.

    To make a real difference in this area and normalize family planning amongst the masses, we need to design and execute behavior change campaigns through use of media tools that reach out to everyone across the board, including rural and most marginalized communities.

    As part of the efforts to raise awareness about the importance of adopting family planning measures, KhairKhwah (campaign name means well-wisher) launched an advocacy campaign on the World Population Day with testimonial videos of government officials. These video testimonials directly speak out to the population of Pakistan on the link between overpopulation and problems facing Pakistan such as economic crisis, unemployment, healthcare etc. and encourage people to adopt family planning measures.

    READ MORE: SECP’s company registration goes up to 169,919 till May 2022

    At the same time, this campaign aims to mobilize the government officials and engage them to make commitments to address this growing issue.

    Names of Officials:

    Names of stakeholders:

    Dr Arif Alvi, President of Pakistan.

    Ahsan Iqbal

    Abdul Qadir Patel

    Dr Zaeem Zia

    Shazia Fatima Khuwaja

    Ali Jan Khan

    Dr. Zaher Gul

    Shazia Marri

    Taimur Khan Jhagra

    Riaz Hussain Pirzada

  • Gas price hike report baseless: Musadiq Malik

    Gas price hike report baseless: Musadiq Malik

    ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Petroleum Musadiq Malik on Friday addressed in a news conference about the baseless speculations regarding the increase in prices of gas.

    READ MORE: Govt. halts gas supply to export industry: APTMA

    While addressing in a news conference he said, we have just proposed new slabs to protect the people with low income while capable people will pay just 50 to 60 percent of the real price of gas.

    READ MORE: FBR exempts sales tax on oxygen gas import

    The state minister also said according to newly proposed prices, fifty percent of the consumers will pay the existing amount or less than that for gas.

    READ MORE: OGDCL discovers oil, gas reserves in Sindh

    He added that our every step is aimed at protecting poor segment of society and for this purpose, we have proposed subsidy for those consumers who use gas for just cooking and they are fifty percent of total consumers.

    READ MORE: OGDCL declares over 63% net profit for 1HFY22