KP citizens only need valid CNIC for Sehat Sahulat Programme

The PTI on Wednesday clarified that the citizens do not need to register for the Sehat Sahulat Programme and only a valid CNIC is required to get benefit from the health insurance scheme.

"All KP citizens with a valid CNIC will be automatically registered in the Sehat Sahulat Program, free of any charges," the ruling party said in a Tweet three days ahead of the launch.

The PTI also announced that the CNIC will become the Sehat Card Plus+ for residents of KP after the programme is officially launched in four phases from Friday onwards.

Prime Minister Imran Khan had on August 20 launch the scheme under which each family is eligible to receive health coverage of Rs1 million.

Under the first phase, the project will be launched in KP's Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Malakand, Swat, Upper Chitral and Lower Chitral districts.

According to report, under the second phase, the programme would be extended to Abbottabad, Mansehra, Battagram, Torghar and Kohistan districts by November 2020.

In the third phase, it would be extended to Haripur, Swabi, Mardan, Buner, Nowshera, Charsadda and Peshawar by November 2020.

Under the fourth phase of the plan, the programme would be extended to Kohat, Hangu, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan and Tank by January 1, 2021.

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Saudi Arabia plans to cancel foreign worker sponsorship system

Saudi Arabia plans to cancel the foreign worker sponsorship system, also known as kafala, and replace it with a new contract between employers and employees, financial newspaper Maaal said on Tuesday, citing unnamed sources.

Saudi Arabia, which this year is chairing the Group of 20 major economies (G20), seeks to boost its private sector and make it more attractive to foreign talent under an ambitious plan to diversify its oil-based economy.

The kafala system, which Maaal said has been in place for seven decades in Saudi, generally binds a migrant worker to one employer. Rights groups criticise the system and say it leaves workers vulnerable to exploitation.

“The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development intends next week to announce a new initiative that improves the contractual relationship between employers and expatriate workers,” the Maaal report said.

The initiative will be implemented in the first half of 2021, it added, without giving further details.

Currently more than 10 million foreign workers live in Saudi Arabia under the kafala system, which requires them to be sponsored by a Saudi employer and be issued an exit/re-entry visa whenever they want to leave the country.

The Kingdom was scheduled to abolish the sponsorship system during the first quarter of 2020, but it was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

According to Saudi Gazette, the move aims to improve the contractual relationship between expatriate workers and their employers and is part of economic reforms being carried out in line with Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman’s Vision 2020.

“The abolition of the sponsorship system would give expatriate workers freedom to secure exit and re-entry visas, receive the final passport exit stamp without a sponsor, and gain employment without the approval from a sponsor,” wrote the Saudi Gazette.

“With the abolition of the system, the foreign workers will also have freedom of movement according to what is stipulated in the work contract.”

The new law also aims to discourage negative activities such as black markets for runaway workers and iqama violators. Additionally, it would prevent violations internationally classified under the clause of human trafficking.

The development comes as the next step after the introduction of Special Privilege Residency Permit (Premium Iqama) which allows all those who have ties with the Kingdom, irrespective of nationality, “to obtain a permanent or temporary residency that would grant them many privileges as well as the chance to avail of several services for themselves and their families”.

The new legislature allows holders of this iqama to enjoy several privileges previously extended only to citizens. These included owning real estate, renting out of properties, educational and health services, and other utilities specified in the Executive Regulations.

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Saudi Arabia plans to cancel foreign worker sponsorship system

Saudi Arabia plans to cancel the foreign worker sponsorship system, also known as kafala, and replace it with a new contract between employers and employees, financial newspaper Maaal said on Tuesday, citing unnamed sources.

Saudi Arabia, which this year is chairing the Group of 20 major economies (G20), seeks to boost its private sector and make it more attractive to foreign talent under an ambitious plan to diversify its oil-based economy.

The kafala system, which Maaal said has been in place for seven decades in Saudi, generally binds a migrant worker to one employer. Rights groups criticise the system and say it leaves workers vulnerable to exploitation.

“The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development intends next week to announce a new initiative that improves the contractual relationship between employers and expatriate workers,” the Maaal report said.

The initiative will be implemented in the first half of 2021, it added, without giving further details.

Currently more than 10 million foreign workers live in Saudi Arabia under the kafala system, which requires them to be sponsored by a Saudi employer and be issued an exit/re-entry visa whenever they want to leave the country.

The Kingdom was scheduled to abolish the sponsorship system during the first quarter of 2020, but it was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

According to Saudi Gazette, the move aims to improve the contractual relationship between expatriate workers and their employers and is part of economic reforms being carried out in line with Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman’s Vision 2020.

“The abolition of the sponsorship system would give expatriate workers freedom to secure exit and re-entry visas, receive the final passport exit stamp without a sponsor, and gain employment without the approval from a sponsor,” wrote the Saudi Gazette.

“With the abolition of the system, the foreign workers will also have freedom of movement according to what is stipulated in the work contract.”

The new law also aims to discourage negative activities such as black markets for runaway workers and iqama violators. Additionally, it would prevent violations internationally classified under the clause of human trafficking.

The development comes as the next step after the introduction of Special Privilege Residency Permit (Premium Iqama) which allows all those who have ties with the Kingdom, irrespective of nationality, “to obtain a permanent or temporary residency that would grant them many privileges as well as the chance to avail of several services for themselves and their families”.

The new legislature allows holders of this iqama to enjoy several privileges previously extended only to citizens. These included owning real estate, renting out of properties, educational and health services, and other utilities specified in the Executive Regulations.

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Pakistan Navy conducts live weapon firing of anti-ship missiles

Pakistan Navy has conducted Live Weapon Firing (LWF) of anti-ship missiles from surface and aviation platforms in the North Arabian Sea, the spokesperson said on Wednesday.

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi witnessed the live weapon firing where the naval combat ship, aircraft and helicopter have successfully destroyed the targets with the anti-ship missiles having the capability to target objects from surface and aviation platforms.

Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi said that the exhibition of live weapon firing is the evidence of Pakistan Navy’s operational preparedness. He expressed satisfaction over combat readiness to defend Pakistan’s maritime frontiers.

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Pakistan Navy conducts live weapon firing of anti-ship missiles

Pakistan Navy has conducted Live Weapon Firing (LWF) of anti-ship missiles from surface and aviation platforms in the North Arabian Sea, the spokesperson said on Wednesday.

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi witnessed the live weapon firing where the naval combat ship, aircraft and helicopter have successfully destroyed the targets with the anti-ship missiles having the capability to target objects from surface and aviation platforms.

Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi said that the exhibition of live weapon firing is the evidence of Pakistan Navy’s operational preparedness. He expressed satisfaction over combat readiness to defend Pakistan’s maritime frontiers.

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Accountability court grants Asif Zardari exemption from personal appearance

An accountability court in Islamabad on Wednesday approved former president Asif Ali Zardari’s plea seeking exemption from personal appearance in the Park Lane reference.

Accountability Judge Azam Khan resumed the hearing of the case. Zardari’s lawyer, Farooq H Naek appeared before the court, requesting the judge to grant his client exemption from personal appearance in today’s hearing.

All co-accused, except one named Sher Ali, nominated in the case were in attendance in court. The court started recording testimony of witness Ahsan Aslam.

Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur and other accused face charges of corruption through fake bank accounts and embezzlement in the financial facility for Park Lane Private Limited and Parthenon (Pvt) Limited.

The Park Lane case is being investigated under different sections of the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 1999, and the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2010, over Zardari’s alleged involvement in a loan and its misappropriation by Parthenon Private Limited.

A loan worth Rs 1.5 billion was taken from a bank and transferred to the company’s account in a private bank.

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Accountability court grants Asif Zardari exemption from personal appearance

An accountability court in Islamabad on Wednesday approved former president Asif Ali Zardari’s plea seeking exemption from personal appearance in the Park Lane reference.

Accountability Judge Azam Khan resumed the hearing of the case. Zardari’s lawyer, Farooq H Naek appeared before the court, requesting the judge to grant his client exemption from personal appearance in today’s hearing.

All co-accused, except one named Sher Ali, nominated in the case were in attendance in court. The court started recording testimony of witness Ahsan Aslam.

Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur and other accused face charges of corruption through fake bank accounts and embezzlement in the financial facility for Park Lane Private Limited and Parthenon (Pvt) Limited.

The Park Lane case is being investigated under different sections of the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 1999, and the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2010, over Zardari’s alleged involvement in a loan and its misappropriation by Parthenon Private Limited.

A loan worth Rs 1.5 billion was taken from a bank and transferred to the company’s account in a private bank.

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