Over Rs 248.671 billion released for
uplift projects
ISLAMABAD (APP): The government has released Rs248.671 billion for different social sector developmental projects so far under its Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2016-17 as against total allocation of Rs800 billion. According to the latest data released by the Planning Commission of Pakistan, Rs7.234 billion has been released for different projects of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission against its total allocation of Rs27.690 billion for fiscal year 2016-17. In order to improve and modernise the road infrastructure, the government has released Rs79.86 billion for different developmental projects under National Highway Authority (NHA) against the total allocations of Rs188 billion for current year’s development programme. The government has also released Rs13.522 billion for uplift and development of Pakistan Railways in order to improve the performance and service delivery of Railways as against the total allocation of Rs41 billion for the current financial year.
Under PSDP 2016-17, development programme, an amount of Rs8.548 billion has released for different projects of Higher Education Commission in order to promote higher education as against the total allocations of Rs 21.486 billion.
Fresh fruits export surges
48.3pc in July-October
ISLAMABAD (APP): The export of fresh fruits from the country witnessed a sharp increase of 48.3 percent during first four months (July-October) of fiscal year 2016-17 as compared to same period of preceding year. According to latest data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the fruits’ export rose to $122.517 million in July-October 2016-17 from $82.617 million in the first four months of last year. On month-on-month and yearly basis, the fruits export in October 2016 went up by 2.75 percent and 19.38 percent when compared to the exports of September 2016 and October 2015. The monthly and yearly export rose to $30.804 in October 2016 from $29.979 million in September 2016 and 25.804 million in October 2015. Meanwhile, the export of vegetables during first four months of current fiscal year decreased by 36.32 percent as compared to the same period of last year.
The vegetables export during the period under reviews was recorded at $36.017 million, while during July-October 2015-16 it was recorded at $56.557 million.
On month-on-month basis, the vegetable exports witnessed an increase of 18.43 in October 2016 as compared to the previous month as the exports went up to $9.369 million in October from $7.911 million in September 2016.
Ukraine likely to transfer agro-science knowledge to Pakistan
ISLAMABAD (APP): Ukrainian Ambassador to Pakistan Volodymyr Lakomov has said that Ukraine wanted transfer of its agro-science knowledge to Pakistan for development of the sector and further boosts collaboration in the field. Talking to APP here on Monday, the ambassador said that Ukraine is a largest grain producer with having great experience in this field and wanted the promotion of agriculture sector as Pakistan is an agriculture country and majority of the population of the country depend on this important sector. To a question, he said that both countries are enjoying the best cordial relationship hoping more agreements would be signed between the two countries in future. Volodymyr said, “We strongly believe that there is a need to enhance trade between the two countries by focusing on diversification. In my opinion, trade potential exists as Ukraine - with its mining expertise, power generation, avionics and aerodynamics - can be a negotiating hub for transfer of technology to Pakistan.”
Rs1.8 billion approved to purchase traction motors for Railways
ISLAMABAD (APP): Pakistan Railways (PR) would spend Rs1.8 billion for reconstruction and purchase of 300 traction motors to improve the reliability and productivity of the existing fleet of locomotives. The official sources in the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms informed here on Monday, the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has already accorded approval to PC-1 of the project. According to details, the PR owns a fleet of 409 diesel electric locomotives out of which 239 locomotives have outlived their normal economic life of 20 years and their average life is 35 years. PR has 2,334 traction motors for working these 409 diesel electric locomotives. The Railways requires an efficient and reliable locomotive fleet on sustainable basis to achieve its operation targets and to eliminate operational delays. However, funds allocation for the routine maintenance of locomotives has been quite inadequate viz a viz the requirement.
As such it is not possible to maintain the locomotive fleet in optimum operational condition.