PM performs groundbreaking of Farash Town apartments

Prime Minister Imran Khan has performed the groundbreaking of Farash Town apartments in Islamabad under the Naya Pakistan Housing Program۔

PM Imran Khan, while addressing the event in connection with the Farash Town apartments, said the federal government is making progress in Naya Pakistan Housing Program (NPHP) and Frontier Works Organization (FWO) told him to complete the housing project within two years.

The premier said that their efforts for providing easy loans to the nationals have borne fruit as the banks are ready to provide housing finance and many schemes are also being launched.

There was no mortgage financing system existing in the country and it was a difficult phase to formulate mortage financing here, said PM Khan, adding that they have completed many phases to construct the units for the low-salaried segment who wants to own a house.

He praised Capital Development Authority (CDA) for providing 600 housing units to katchi abadis. He said that the residents of Farash Town apartments will get facilities.

He was of the view that slums are usually created when the people have no resources to own a house. PM Khan said that there is approximately a 40 per cent area of Karachi covered by katchi abadis. He added that the federal government is making efforts to provide houses to the people living in slums.

The premier said that the government was also struggling to increase the revenue in order to get rid of the loans besides trying to strengthen the small and medium industry. During the last year, cement sales have risen up to their record level.

He added that the Centre is also holding dialogues with the Sindh government regarding Bundal Island that will attract foreign investors.

PM Imran Khan said that two dams are being constructed in Pakistan after almost 50 years that will generate low-cost electricity. Moreover, the ML-1 railway project will shrink the journey between Karachi and Lahore to only eight hours.

from Latest Pakistan News - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/3t6rd6I

PM performs groundbreaking of Farash Town apartments

Prime Minister Imran Khan has performed the groundbreaking of Farash Town apartments in Islamabad under the Naya Pakistan Housing Program۔

PM Imran Khan, while addressing the event in connection with the Farash Town apartments, said the federal government is making progress in Naya Pakistan Housing Program (NPHP) and Frontier Works Organization (FWO) told him to complete the housing project within two years.

The premier said that their efforts for providing easy loans to the nationals have borne fruit as the banks are ready to provide housing finance and many schemes are also being launched.

There was no mortgage financing system existing in the country and it was a difficult phase to formulate mortage financing here, said PM Khan, adding that they have completed many phases to construct the units for the low-salaried segment who wants to own a house.

He praised Capital Development Authority (CDA) for providing 600 housing units to katchi abadis. He said that the residents of Farash Town apartments will get facilities.

He was of the view that slums are usually created when the people have no resources to own a house. PM Khan said that there is approximately a 40 per cent area of Karachi covered by katchi abadis. He added that the federal government is making efforts to provide houses to the people living in slums.

The premier said that the government was also struggling to increase the revenue in order to get rid of the loans besides trying to strengthen the small and medium industry. During the last year, cement sales have risen up to their record level.

He added that the Centre is also holding dialogues with the Sindh government regarding Bundal Island that will attract foreign investors.

PM Imran Khan said that two dams are being constructed in Pakistan after almost 50 years that will generate low-cost electricity. Moreover, the ML-1 railway project will shrink the journey between Karachi and Lahore to only eight hours.

from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/3t6rd6I

Corona claims 98 more lives, 5,329 fresh infections reported in Pakistan

Coronavirus has claimed 98 more lives in Pakistan during the past 24 hours, taking the overall death toll to 15,124 reported on Thursday.

The latest statistics of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) showed the COVID-19 has claimed 98 more lives and 5,329 fresh infections were reported during the period.

During the period of a day, the total count of active cases was recorded at 66,994 and the positivity rate stood at 10.69 per cent.

The health facilities across the country conducted 49,816 coronavirus detection tests, taking the total number of COVID-19 tests to 10,584,877 since the first case was reported.

According to the statistics, 173 patients were declared critical, adding to the total number of patients suffering from sensitive health condition up to 3,942.

Overall 623,399 people have recovered from the virus including 2,610 who have regained their health from COVID-19 during the past 24 hours.

from Latest Pakistan News - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/3wBzGRo

Corona claims 98 more lives, 5,329 fresh infections reported in Pakistan

Coronavirus has claimed 98 more lives in Pakistan during the past 24 hours, taking the overall death toll to 15,124 reported on Thursday.

The latest statistics of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) showed the COVID-19 has claimed 98 more lives and 5,329 fresh infections were reported during the period.

During the period of a day, the total count of active cases was recorded at 66,994 and the positivity rate stood at 10.69 per cent.

The health facilities across the country conducted 49,816 coronavirus detection tests, taking the total number of COVID-19 tests to 10,584,877 since the first case was reported.

According to the statistics, 173 patients were declared critical, adding to the total number of patients suffering from sensitive health condition up to 3,942.

Overall 623,399 people have recovered from the virus including 2,610 who have regained their health from COVID-19 during the past 24 hours.

from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/3wBzGRo

New Zealand, Australia launch ‘travel bubble’ to boost tourism

New Zealanders and Australians rushed to book flights on Tuesday as the beleaguered tourism industry welcomed the “lifeline” of a travel bubble between the largely coronavirus-free neighbours.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the two-way, quarantine-free travel corridor would open from 11:59pm on April 18.

Jim Boult, the mayor of New Zealand’s Queenstown, called the move a “saviour for businesses”.

“This is the lifeline we needed; this is what we’ve been asking for,” he said.

Air New Zealand and Qantas announced they were ramping up flights as thousands of tickets were sold immediately after Ardern’s announcement.

A spokesman for Australian flag carrier Qantas said tickets to New Zealand were “selling like hot cakes” with a strong “load” to Queenstown, which is billed as the country’s “Adventure capital”.

Air New Zealand boss Greg Foran said his staff were “rushed off our feet”.

The travel bubble comes more than a year after New Zealand closed its doors in response to the pandemic and six months after Australia allowed Kiwis to fly into selected states without the need to quarantine.

Before Covid-19 brought New Zealand’s tourism industry to its knees, it was the country’s biggest export industry, with Australians accounting for about 40 per cent of the international visitors and contributing more than NZ$2 billion (US$1.4 billion) to the economy.

Tourism New Zealand boss Rene de Monchy estimated the opening of a travel bubble could recoup more than NZ$1.0 billion this year.

The trans-Tasman route is also Australia’s busiest international aviation market with travellers from New Zealand accounting for 18 per cent of all air arrivals and spending A$1.6 billion (US$1.2 billion) annually on travel and tourism.

Ardern described the travel bubble as a world-leading move between New Zealand, with just 26 Covid-19 deaths in a population of five million, and Australia with fewer than 1,000 deaths in a population of 25 million.

“I cannot see or point to any countries in the world that are maintaining a strategy of keeping their countries Covid-free whilst opening up international travel between each other,” she said.

“That means in a way we are world leading.” Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he appreciates the arrangement. “We welcome them back as indeed Kiwis will be welcoming Aussies,” he said.

Last week, the tiny Pacific island nation of Palau, one of the few countries never to have had a Covid-19 case, opened a travel bubble with virus-free Taiwan.

from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/3dDUK0S

EU commission head taken aback as Erdogan and her colleague snap up chairs

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was taken aback to find her fellow top EU official taking the only chair available next to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan when the duo visited Ankara, and her spokesman made that clear on Wednesday.

Footage from their meeting on Tuesday showed the first female head of the Eu, the only woman in the talks, gesturing in disbelief and uttering a surprised sigh as Erdogan and European Council President Charles Michel took the two centre-stage seats prepared, relegating her to an adjacent sofa.

“The president of the commission was clearly surprised,” said the EU executive arm’s spokesman, Eric Mamer.

“The president (von der Leyen) should have been seated in exactly the same manner as the president of the European Council and the Turkish president.”

The Turkish government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

However, a member of the European parliament, Sophie in ‘t Veld, asked why Michel had not reacted.

While the commission conveyed von der Leyen’s irritation, an EU official who declined to be named said that to do so might have provoked a “protocol and political incident, both towards Turkey and the European Council”.

“Turkey meant no disrespect,” the official said. “It extended a very courteous welcome to both presidents and strictly adhered to international protocol.”

In the past, three chairs were provided when the Turkish leader visited Brussels for talks with the heads of the Commission and the European Council, which collectively represents the bloc’s 27 member states.

Mamer said von der Leyen decided not to make “an issue out of it” and in the conversation brought up women’s rights and the Istanbul Convention on violence against women, from which Turkey withdrew last month.

Ties between Brussels and Ankara have been strained since a coup attempt in 2016 prompted a crackdown on civil rights in Turkey, but they are now testing a cautious rapprochement.

from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/3rYPb2i

In meeting with army chief, Russain FM acknowledges Pakistan's efforts in Afghan peace process

Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday acknowledged Pakistan's sincere efforts in the Afghan peace process in his meeting with Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), in a statement, said during the meeting, the foreign minister and army chief discussed matters of mutual interest including enhanced defence and security cooperation, regional security, and in particular the Afghan peace process.

"The visiting dignitary acknowledged Pakistan’s achievements in the war against terrorism and contributions for regional peace and stability especially Pakistan’s sincere efforts in the Afghan peace process," the statement read.

The foreign minister said Pakistan and Russia's relations were on a positive trajectory and would continue to develop in multiple domains.

Meanwhile, the army chief said Pakistan values its relations with Russia and reciprocates the desire for enhanced bilateral military cooperation.

"Pakistan welcomes all initiatives which can bring peace and stability in Afghanistan as the whole region will benefit from it," he stressed.

"We have no hostile designs towards any country and will keep on working towards a cooperative regional framework based on sovereign equality and mutual progress," he added.

The foreign minister is on an official two-day visit — 6-7 April — to Pakistan. His engagements consist of meeting top officials, including Prime Minister Imran Khan and Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi, among others.

Lavrov meets Qureshi

Earlier in the day, Lavrov had reaffirmed Moscow’s commitment to promoting bilateral cooperation with Pakistan in diverse fields, including economy, trade, and defence.

The Russian official expressed the resolve during delegation-level talks with Pakistan in Islamabad. FM Qureshi led the Pakistani side.

Qureshi noted that Islamabad is extending facilities, including that of e-visa to foreign investors.

The foreign minister also said that Pakistan has shifted its priorities from geo-politics to geo-economics.

Pakistan is determined to promote its relations with Russia in diverse fields, he said, expressing Pakistan's commitment for the early commencement of work on the Stream Gas Pipeline project with Russia.

Both sides agreed to hold the next meeting of the intergovernmental commission at the earliest for the promotion of economic relations.

FM Qureshi also briefed his Russian counterpart about the situation in Indian held Kashmir and the regional security situation.

He said Pakistan desires peace in the region and resolution of all outstanding disputes, including that of Jammu and Kashmir, through peaceful means.

Commending Russia's efforts for peace in Afghanistan, he said Pakistan will continue its sincere efforts for peace in the war-torn country.

 

from Latest Pakistan News - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/3mtRjO8