BISP serving 5 million deserving women: Marvi
KOTLI (APP): Chairperson BISP Marvi Memon Saturday said more than five million ladies are getting BISP aid on monthly basis. She was speaking at a gathering of deserving ladies at BISP Kotli office. She said that the present government had increased the assistance amount from Rs 1000 to 1500 on monthly basis for the deserving women. BISP will be made a prime and pride programme of the country, she added. She said the BISP is the largest social safety programme in the country that distributes different benefits to the beneficiary, primarily through women head of the family. She said the federal government has also launched “Wasila-e-Taleem” programme under BISP to give interest-free loans to deserving women.
The BISP is a revolutionary aid programme for the well-being of deserving women and the federal government will continue it, she added. She said that federal government will utilize maximum resources for the welfare of poor women. BISP district officer Shavaiz Chaughtai and other officials were present on the occasion.

Russia to raise grain purchase prices, may ease export duty
MOSCOW (Reuters): Russia's Agriculture Ministry will raise purchase prices for its grain intervention fund and has drawn up proposals to ease the burden of wheat export duty, Deputy Agriculture Minister Evgeny Gromyko said, Russian agencies reported. "We will increase prices," he said in comments cited by TASS. "It will be quite decent. It will suit farmers." Gromyko did not say what level grain intervention prices would be raised to. Russian media have previously reported that the government is considering raising purchase prices for the intervention fund by a thousand roubles per tonne. Gromyko also said the ministry has drawn up proposals for changes to a wheat export duty which, he said, would reduce the burden on business "significantly".
Russia introduced the tax in July, causing concern among grain exporters and traders who say it will harm profitability.
Expectations were already growing that the tax would be softened following lobbying of the government by agriculture industry participants.

Growers can save guavas from attack of fruit fly
LAHORE (APP): Guava growers can obtain good quality amount of yield by timely handling the attack of guava fruit fly. This was stated by agriculture experts while talking to APP on Saturday. Mostly guava fruit fly attack appeared in summer season and fly laid egg by inserting its sting in the fruit as a result small worms came out of eggs and eat pulp due to which fruit fell down, they added. Experts said 4 to 6 methyl euginol traps on per acre of land could be helpful to control fruit fly attack because the fly dies in traps. Growers have been suggested to change methyl euginol present in traps after every 10 days so that flies keep on dying.

Five PIA top officials holding fake degrees
LAHORE (Online): As many as five top officials are holding fake degrees and inquiries against them have been swept under the carpet. According to credible sources, the five officials, who work as assistant manager and duty officers, included Tanvir Qasim, Wajid Salim, Qaisra Tabassum, Irfan Basit and Muhammad Ejaz, who were inducted into the national flag-carrier in 1996 without any test or interview. According to the source, when an internal inquiry was launched against them, these officials purchased fake degree from Al-Khair University in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. According to the source, these officials have undertaken foreign visits several times besides getting promotions by providing fake degrees.
A case has also been pending in a court against these officials.
According to the source several applications were also sent to the FIA for action against these officials but the request fell on a deaf ear. When contacted, PIA Human Resource Manager Muhammad Rashid said that that a case of the five officials was subjudice and he could not comment on the issue.

EPZA role model for industrialists, investors: Jatoi
KARACHI (APP): The Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA) is role model for industrialists and investors. This was stated by Federal Minister for Industries and Production, Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi here on Saturday. He also performed the inauguration of the phase three infrastructure development during a visit to EPZA. The minister said that it augurs well that the land of the Karachi Export Promotion Zone (KEPZ) has been fully utilized for the setting up of the industrial units. He pointed out that recently the EPZA entered into a MoU with FIDMEC for a new zone in Faisalabad. Jatoi termed this as an important headway and that it would also open a new chapter for the development of the country’s economy.
He said that the government was very serious about the Gwadar development zone. Jatoi said that businessmen and industrialists would have to come forward and contribute their bit towards meeting the present day challenges faced by the country. He also asked them to come up with investment for playing a role in the country’s development and prosperity. The Chairman of the EPZA welcomed the Federal Minister on this very occasion.