ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia has allowed direct entry from Pakistan with effect from December 01, 2021, according to a report.
The nationals of Pakistan are now eligible for direct entry without spending 14-day quarantine in a third country.
According to Saudi Press Agency report quoting an official source at the ministry of interior, the directive will come into force from next Wednesday, December 01, 2021.
Saudi Arabia along with Pakistan also allowed direct entry from Indonesia, India, and Egypt. Brazil and Vietnam are the other countries that are included in the new list of countries allowed direct entry into the Kingdom.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that Pakistan will emerge from a food deficit to a food surplus country.
The prime minister on Sunday said that the prices of oil, gas and edible oil were not in the government’s control. “However the owing to the record crops this year, Pakistan would emerge from a food deficit to a food surplus country.”
He said that Pakistan had comparatively managed “much better” than other countries amidst unprecedented price hike of commodities caused by the COVID lockdown.
In a Tweet, the prime minister said that an unprecedented rise in commodity prices internationally had adversely affected most countries in the world as a result of the COVID lockdowns.
However, he said, “Pakistan MashaAllah has fared relatively much better.”
Quoting the data of Food and Agriculture Organization, he said from September to October this year, food prices increased by 1.9 per cent, World Cereal Index by 3.2 per cent, edible oil prices by 9.6 per cent, and dairy products by 2.6 per cent.
However, he said despite the worldwide inflation trend, Pakistan’s exports recorded an increase of 17 per cent in October and are likely to touch $30 billion mark this year. Textile exports are expected to reach $22 billion this year.
He said consequent to the government’s timely measures, the non-oil imports of the country reduced by 12.5 per cent last month making a difference of $750 million.
He said due to increasing income, tax collection also surged with 32 per cent increase in four months making the government to receive additional Rs 151 billion compared to last year.
He said according to the latest data, country’s cotton crop increased by 81 per cent during the last four months. In August, the industry recorded a growth of over 12 per cent and companies’ profits by 21 per cent.
“All this shows that the country’s economy is heading fast and employment would be required in the coming days,” the spokesperson commented.
Addressing a question about any relief for the middle class in PM’s recently announced Rs 120 billion relief package, he said the government had already announced a concession of Rs5-7 on every electricity unit to be consumed more than the previous year’s consumption during November to February.
Moreover, he said the sugar prices would fall in the near future owing to record sugarcane crop.
“All these things will appear on the ground in coming days,” he remarked.
KARACHI: Shaukat Tarin, Advisor to Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue, on Friday said that comprehensive economic plan is pivotal to regain Pakistan’s economic glory.
“Comprehensive economic plan and political will was pivotal in order to regain country’s lost economic glory,” he said.
He stated this while addressing as a chief guest at 18th Annual Excellence Award ceremony of Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) Society at a local hotel.
He said almost all economic indicators were showing positive growth.
Shaukat Tarin said when the PTI government came into power there was large current account deficit and devalued rupee. The government entered into a tough IMF program with many conditions which initially led to slowing down the economy.
Then came the COVID-19 pandemic which also damaged our economy to some extent.
However, he said, Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visionary idea to impose smart lockdown which was recognized globally saved the country from further economic crisis.
Shoukat Tarin said PM concurrently invested in agriculture, housing, industrial and exports sectors. All those areas which promoted employment in the country and resulted in 3.94 growth last year.
He said the government to strengthen industry and exports the government gave incentives to both sectors with prime focus on IT industry and its related exports.
Besides, the government also was going to give subsidies to energy sector for its uplifting.
Advisor to PM also shed light on economic crisis caused by the improper plannings and no execution of policies of previous governments.
Saqib Naseem, Central Chairman Pakistan Yarn Merchants Association (PYMA) and Muhammad Junaid Teli, Vice Chairman, Sind & Balochistan region in a statement on Monday expressed serious concerns over the sharp rise in the petroleum prices.
They appealed to Prime Minister Imran Khan to significantly reduce in the petroleum prices in the best economic, industrial and public interest of the country, so that the business & industry can survive in COVID-ridden economy.
The PYMA office bearers said that despite the adverse economic situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the sharp rise in prices of petroleum products by the government was a matter of grave concern to the business community, as the increase in the prices of petroleum products is not only a sign of a huge increase in inflation but also cause a huge increase in the production cost of business and industry.
They said: “Raw materials for industries in particular, whose prices have already skyrocketed, will now rise to unbearable levels with the government’s recent move, which will destroy industries, especially SMEs, and increase unemployment in the country.”
The PYMA officer bearers appealed to Prime Minister Imran Khan to reverse the recent rise in petroleum prices, and significantly reduce prices to make it easier to do business and run industries.
They also requested the Prime Minister to review the economic situation of the country and direct the economists to formulate policies according to the ground realities so that steps can be taken to make the country economically stable and prosperous.
Otherwise, in the current situation, it will be very difficult for traders to do business and for industrialists to run industries, which will be a severe blow to the country’s exports.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has spent an amount of $400 million on import of COVID-19 vaccines during the month of September 2021 and overall $1 billion during first quarter (July – September) of fiscal year 2021/2022, said a statement issued by the ministry of finance on Wednesday.
Overall, the deficit in the first quarter reported at $3.4billion. It is important to note that the surge in import bill is due to combination of few one-off imports, rising global commodities and energy prices, it said.
Therefore, adjustment with vaccines import, the current account deficit for the quarter has reduced to $2.4 billion.
Moreover, the sudden surge in import bill is function of abnormal surge in commodity prices. Energy prices including oil, LNG or coal prices are following upward trend. While, chemicals, steel and food prices are also on rise. “We expect supply bottlenecks of above-stated items will streamline in the months to follow. This will further reduce pressure on import bill,” said the statement.
On Export front, the trend is increasing on month-on-month basis to $2.64 billion in September 2021 or 12.5 per cent. In the first quarter, exports recorded at $7 billion. It is expected that exports will be close to $31 billion and $6-7 billions services exports in June ending 2022.
Similarly, remittances are right on track to mark $32 billion. Remittances and exports of goods and services combined will be in the range of $70 billion in fiscal year 2021/2022.
Lastly, due to better crop outlook, the import of sugar, wheat and cotton will witness massive slowdown during the second half of fiscal year. This will further reduce the import and in-turn, current account deficit.
The risk to above includes further hike in global commodity and energy prices, the finance minister said.
BEIJING: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the national flag carrier of the country, has transported 5.9 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines through two special flights from China.
The PIA through its two special cargo flights transported a new batch of 5.9 million doses of vaccines from Beijing Capital International Airport to Islamabad.
Special cargo flights – PK6852 and PK6853 took off from Beijing Capital Airport for Islamabad on Monday and Tuesday and transported 5.9 million doses, Qadir Bux Sangi, PIA Country Manager for China told state media here on Tuesday.
On August 29, the national flag carriers airlifted around 12 million doses of anti-Covid-19 vaccines through its four special cargo flights.
The PIA special flights PK-6852, PK-6853, PK-6854 and PK-6856 transported 12 million doses of Sinovac vaccine procured from China for vaccination of people under government’s ongoing prevention and control drive against Covid-19 pandemic, he added.
He said that under able leadership of its Chief Executive Officer, Arshad Malik, the national flag carrier has so far airlifted over 63 million doses of anti-Covid-19 vaccine through 49 special flights.
It is worth mentioning that the government under its mass vaccination drive has set a target to vaccinate 75 million population by end of 2021.
Chinese vaccines namely Sinopharm, Sinovac and CanSino besides other vaccines are being used in the mass vaccination drive.
The health authorities launched the nationwide vaccination drive with around a million doses of Sinopharm vaccine donated by China, starting with older people and frontline healthcare workers, in March this year.
The drive began with a focus on the oldest people in the community, generally over the age of 80 but now the vaccine is being administered to the people aged over 18 years.
Islamabad received the first COVID-19 vaccine consignment after a military aircraft transported it from Beijing on February 01, this year.
ISLAMABAD: Turkish Government has further eased quarantine regulations for Pakistani nationals intending to travel to Turkey.
Announced on September 2, these regulations will become effective from September 4, says a press release received here on Friday Ankara.
Irrespective of vaccination status, all passengers will submit a negative PCR test result that should be made at most 72 hours before their entry into Turkey.
As per the new regulations, passengers arriving from Pakistan who will have documentary proof of COVID-19vaccination will be exempted from quarantine.
Such vaccination should be of two doses approved by the World Health Organization (except for Johnson & Johnson which is a single dose).
Quarantine exemption will be applied to those vaccinated whose last dose was administered at least 14 days before their travel.
Pakistani travelers who cannot provide proof of vaccination will be quarantined in their residences or addresses that they will declare, tourists will quarantine at their booked hotels.
They will be PCR tested on the 10th day of the quarantine period and in case of a negative result, the quarantine application will be terminated.
The persons who do not take a PCR test on the 10th day will be kept under quarantine for 14 days. In case the test results are positive, the case will be dealt with as per the guidelines of the Turkish Ministry of Health.
Before the Turkish Government announced these revised regulations, the Pakistan Embassy was in constant touch with the relevant Turkish authorities, sharing the status of vaccination and measures in place in Pakistan for controlling the spread of COVID-19 infections.
The Pakistan Missions in Turkey are available to assist our nationals to the best of our abilities. An English translation of the complete notification of the Ministry of Interior of the Turkish Republic is attached for reference.
ISLAMABAD: The President of Pakistan, Dr. Arif Alvi has said that the economy of the country is heading in the right direction. It reflects the confidence of the business community in the economic policies of the government.
BIEJING: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Sunday carried fresh batch of 12 million doses of Sinovac vaccines through special flights from Beijing, to Capital International Airport of Islamabad.
The PIA airlifted the Sinovac vaccines obtained from China and brought it to Pakistan for the people under government’s ongoing prevention and control drive against Covid-19.
The PIA Country Manager for China said, “PIA special flights PK-6852, PK-6853, PK-6854 and PK-6856 transported 12 million doses of Sinovac vaccine procured from China for vaccination of people under government’s ongoing prevention and control drive against Covid-19 pandemic.”
He further said that under able leadership of its Chief Executive Officer, Arshad Malik, the national flag carrier had so far airlifted 57 million doses of anti-Covid-19 vaccine through 47 special flights.
He added,“Till now, PIA has brought around 17 million doses of Sinopharm and 40 million doses of Sinovac and CanSino vaccines from China to Pakistan.”
It is worth mentioning that the government under its mass vaccination drive has set a target to vaccinate 75 million population by end of 2021.
So far, over 32 million vaccines have been administered with a maximum of 1.07 million doses in a day on August 02.
Chinese vaccines namely Sinopharm, Sinovac and CanSino besides other vaccines are being used in the mass vaccination drive.
The health authorities launched the nationwide vaccination drive with around a million doses of Sinopharm vaccine donated by China, starting with older people and frontline healthcare workers, in March this year.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday said that his government has put the economy on right track despite various challenges, including COVID-19.
Presenting three years performance of Pakistan Tehrik e Insaaf (PTI) government, the prime minister said during the last three years, the current account deficit has been significantly reduced from $20 billion in 2018 to $1.8 billion, foreign exchange reserves increased from $16.4 billion to $27 billion, revenue collection from Rs 3800 billion to Rs. 4700 billion, workers’ remittances from $19.9 billion to $ 29.4 billion.
Imran said that when the present government took reign of affairs in 2018, the country with the highest ever $20 billion of current account deficit was close to default and rupee was depreciating.
“If the friendly countries including Saudi Arabia, UAE and China did not help Pakistan, rupee in the country would have further depreciated,” he added.
The Prime Minister also mentioned 18 per cent growth in the Large Scale Manufacturing (LSM) sector as well as 42 per cent increase in cement sale during the previous fiscal and said it showed enhanced industrial activity.
He said that the receipt of an additional income of Rs 1100 billion by the farmers in agriculture sector and the historic sales of motorbikes, cars and tractors during the previous fiscal also depicted prosperity in rural areas.
The Prime Minister said that the government’s successful strategy to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic also led to saving the economy and poor masses, adding, the international institutions including the World Economic Forum and the World Health Organization appreciated Pakistan’s strategy on COVID-19.
He said that despite the criticism by opposition parties, the government did not go for complete lockdown of the economy, which, if opted, would have caused increase in poverty and hunger like in India.
The Prime Minister appreciated the National Command and Operations Center (NCOC) for its timely and effective decisions to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Prime Minister said his message to the youth was to follow the sublime path, set by Allah Almighty and Last Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). “We have to learn from the life and teachings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).”
He said sports did inspire him to never give up and keep on striving and cited the example of Quaid-e-Azam who strove for a great cause and succeeded in creating Pakistan.
He said due to economic mismanagement of the past, the people had to endure price hike and inflation and the government had to take loans from International Monetary Fund (IMF) on stringent conditionalities.
He thanked Pakistan Army and Pakistan Air Force for countering aggression of India after the Pulwama incident and said there was no reason to have critical views about national institutions.
He said the PTI government was fully committed to its three guiding principles of humanity, rule of law and self-respect.
He said no country could progress if there was no of rule of law. He recalled that Asif Ali Zardari landed in jail because of his corrupt practices whenever the PPP government was ousted in the past.
He said the countries got weakened when the ministers indulged in corruption and cited the Holy Prophet’s system of justice of the Riyasat-e-Madinah.
He referred to a UN report which pointed out that $1000 billion was being transferred from developing countries to the developed ones every year which resulted in a widening gap between the rich and the poor.
According to another report, $10 billion was sent from Pakistan every year to bank accounts abroad to purchase properties there, he added.
He said the anti-corruption department of Punjab had recovered only Rs 2.5 billion during the regime of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz while in the tenure of present government, its recoveries stood at Rs 450 billion. Similarly, the recoveries of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) rose to Rs 519 billion in the last three years from Rs 290 billion in 18 years, he added.
Imran Khan said for the first time, the PTI government launched Ehsaas programme and enhanced the social sector allocation from Rs 110 billion to Rs 260 billion.
The World Bank declared Pakistan’s Ehsaas programme as the third best in the world, he said and added the programme played a vital role in taking care of the poor during the coronavirus pandemic.
Additional funds were allocated for scholarships of girls as compared to the funds for boys, the PM said and added the government empowered women with renewed focus on their education.
He said the government took steps to fully facilitate women in getting succession certificates and share of inheritance.
Under the Kamyab Naujwan Programme, he said, youth of four million poor families would be given interest-free loans, health insurance cards, and skills training.
Easy interest-free loans were given so that low income groups could build affordable houses, he said, adding 30 percent of the country’s population consisted of the youth.
Imran Khan said farmers would be given subsidy through Kisaan Card so that they could buy fertilizers, pesticides and other agriculture inputs.
Ten reservoirs including Mohmand and Dassu dams would be built to meet water requirements, he added.
He said uniform curriculum would be introduced and Seerat-e-Nabi courses would be taught in classes from eight to ten.
Expressing concern over the rising crimes against women and children, he underlined the need for character building of the youth with imbibing moral values.
He told the audience about Rs1300 billion special packages for merged tribal areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and districts of Balochistan, Sindh and Gilgit-Baltistan to eliminate backwardness and deprivation of local people.
The Prime Minister said the past leaderships did compromise dignity of the country by begging and getting loans from other states. Pakistan could make rapid progress by developing its agriculture, industry, mining, tourism and banking sectors, he opined.
He said today business confidence had markedly improved in the country while foreign remittances were on the rise.
He recalled Pakistan sided with the United States in the war on terror but latter carried out 480 drone attacks on its soil.
Over 70,000 Pakistanis lost their lives in the war fought on behalf of another country, he added.
The Prime Minister said the Afghan defence forces declined to fight for their corrupt leaders.
He called upon the world to support the Taliban as they wanted an inclusive government in Afghanistan, and declared general amnesty for all, besides assurance that no one would be allowed to carry out terrorist attacks from their soil against other countries.
He said the world community should help the Taliban to maintain peace in Afghanistan.
Imran Khan recalled that Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, folk singer Attaullah Khan Esakhailvi, Ibrarul Haq and many others played an important role in taking forward Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).
He thanked the allies including Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid), Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Grand Democratic Alliance for extending support to the PTI government during the last three years.
