Govt, businessmen should continue Edhi’s mission
Lahore (Staff Reporter): Pakistan Industrial & Traders Associations Front (PIAF) Chairman Irfan Iqbal Sheikh has said the government as well as business community should join hands to continue the mission of renowned social worker Abdul Sattar Edhi. Terming his death a national loss, he said the entire nation was in a state of shock and gloom over his demise. Sheikh said that the legendary philanthropist, Edhi, devoted his life for helping the poor and the needy. “We have lost our most beloved angel of mercy, who was a ray of hope for the poor as he was running world’s largest ambulance service as well as nursing homes, orphanages, clinics and women’s shelters, along with rehabilitation centres and soup kitchens across the country,” he added. The PIAF chairman said the country was deprived of a great human being. “Abdul Sattar Edhi was world’s renowned philanthropist, a social activist and a true humanitarian. He was a real gem and asset for Pakistan. We have lost a great servant of humanity.
He was the real manifestation of love for those who were socially vulnerable, impoverished, helpless and poor. This loss is irreparable for the people of Pakistan,” he observed.
PIAF leader said that the continuation of Edhi’s mission is the best way to pay tribute to the great humanitarian Abdul Sattar Edhi. He stressed the need for continuation of Edhi’s mission without any hindrance.
He said Sattar Edhi was not desired for worldly belongings and cared only about serving humanity. He said that Edhi personally worked in the field, helping victims of natural disasters and terrorism, until his health no longer allowed it.
Kissan package will usher in new era of
development in agri sector
LAHORE (APP): Punjab Agriculture Minister Dr Farrukh Javed Tuesday called for ensuring usage of modern agricultural tools in the fields in order to attain high per acre yield. He said that implementation of historic Rs 100 billion Kissan package would leave a far-reaching impact on agri sector besides making the farmers prosperous. He said agriculture was backbone of national economy and progress of this vital sector was imminent to obtain self-autarky in food sector. He said the government had started a big programme for provision of interest-free loans to small farmers. The minister said Punjab government had made huge allocation in the new provincial budget 2016-17 for agriculture which would help change living style of farmers. “Reduction in prices of Urea, DAP and tariff rate for agri tube-wells besides programme of provision of interest-free loans would benefit the farmers,” he mentioned. He said implementation of a programme for repair and rehabilitation of rural roads would result in progress of rural economy.
Dr Farrukh said supply of potable water to millions of people living in villages would be ensured through Rs 30 billion Saaf Pani Project.
He said on the direction of chief minister, an indiscriminate crack down had already been launched against elements involved in ugly trade of spurious pesticides. The minister said the Punjab government had disbursed 30,000 tractors among farmers and given subsidy on solar tube-wells as well.
PIA mulls increasing salary package
of its foreign CEO
ISLAMABAD (Online): Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has decided to increase salary package of its foreigner CEO Brand Hildon, raising it from Rs1.2 million to Rs2 million despite his incomplete security clearance. Hildon is a German national who has a wide-ranging experience in the aviation field and had been serving in Lufthansa Airline for around 40 years. His security matters have not been cleared completely. While talking to Online, the PIA’s spokesperson stated that it is true that matter of salary package increase of Brand Hildon is under consideration and decision in this regard would be taken in the next board meeting. However, he said that the current salary package is not compatible with the status of Hildon and it is matter of pride that man of high caliber like Hidon is working in Pakistan. Performance of PIA has improved following his appointment. He added that the matter of security clearance of Brand Hildon is also pending and department is starving hard to solve it as soon as possible.
He further said that Hildon is not being paid handsome package as compared to the chiefs of other corporations.
Saudi Arabia largest market for
Pakistani workers
ISLAMABAD (APP): More than 1.6 million Pakistanis proceeded to Saudi Arabia from 2011 to 2015 for employment purpose, making the country as the largest market for Pakistani workers across the world. According to an official of Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, overall 49.9 percent (1.6 million) workers proceeded to Saudi Arabia during the period. While 1.3 million people (38.2 percent) proceeded to UAE for employment during the same period. Oman is the third largest importer of Pakistani manpower and 0.26 million (7.6 percent) job seekers have proceeded to Oman during 2011-2015. The illiterate and unskilled workers comprises around half of the total Pakistani migrant workers and only 1.76 percent workers are doing white collar jobs, the official said. Among the skilled workers, drivers are in the highest number, followed by masons, carpenters and tailors.
Since 1971 till December 2015 around 8.77 million Pakistanis proceeded abroad for employment through the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BEOE). Out of this total manpower exports, about 96 percent have proceeded only to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, one percent to European countries and three percent in other countries for employment during the same period. The official informed that the manpower export has registered a significant increase from 0.456 million in 2011 upto 0.946 million in 2015 with the government efforts to find place for Pakistani workforce in the international labour markets.