Gwadar termed as jewel in CPEC crown

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Pakistan’s newly appointed Ambassador to China, Moin-ul-Haque, in an interview, remarked that the Pak-China cooperation in hydro projects would promote the socio-economic development of Pakistan. 

The Ambassador rejected the debt-trap conspiracy theories linked to Pak-China projects and said the socio-economic dividends of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would help Pakistan to reduce reliance on external borrowing. 

Terming the Gwadar port a jewel in the crown of CPEC, the Ambassador, while talking to the Chinese media on the Independence Day of Pakistan, pointed out that both sides have ensured having prioritized the development of Gwadar port. 

Enhanced bilateral cooperation in agriculture will also help Pakistan to enhance food security, he added 

“On the economic side, these projects would also contribute to job creation, skills development and transfer of technology. Their hydroelectric component would help instigate climate change efforts, lower the overall cost of electricity thus enhancing Pakistan’s overall economic competitiveness,” the Ambassador explained.

NBP pledges soft loans under PM housing scheme

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), which recently won a couple of prestigious Asian awards, has announced providing soft loans to the general public under the Prime Minister’s housing scheme, in order to let people build their own houses. 

The NBP President, Arif Usmani, during his speech on the Independence Day, hailed the PM housing initiative as a revolutionary programme which would improve the living standard of the common man and besides generating economic activity in the country. 

He added that the construction industry had great potential to grow and more than 40 other industries directly linked to it will also be booming with the housing programme. 

“As the premier government commercial bank of the country, NBP has recently gone through various policy, structural and technology upgrades which would start yielding within the next six months,” the NBP President remarked. 

“Coronavirus (COVID-19) has literally affected every sector and every organization. NBP, however, with its professional commitment and high national spirit has served the masses in the best possible manner,” he acknowledged while promise to announce special allowance for the top performers shortly. 

He urged the bank employees to continue working will total sincerity and professionalism to earn more goodwill for their organization and for their own satisfaction for their contribution will facilitate in bringing prosperity to the country. 

“Since its inception, NBP has been playing a pivotal role in the development of the country. The bank primarily established for jute financing has now been playing a prominent role in every sector of the economy. Serving the nation with more than 1,500 branches, NBP was catering to every aspect of banking including Islamic banking, corporate banking, trade finance, agriculture, SMEs and retail, treasury and home remittances,” Arif Usmani highlighted.

“We proudly discharge our responsibility of functioning as government treasury and have the largest rural network in banking industry. NBP had taken a lead role in government initiated lending and goodwill programs like PM Youth Entrepreneurship scheme and now PM housing scheme,” he observed. 

“In order to manage the foreign exchange need of the country, NBP has taken initiatives for promoting remittances through legal channels that included collaboration with Pakistan Post which created the largest remittance payment network in the country with over 2,000 payment locations,” he continued.

“The customized products in collaboration with Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment have been launched to provide banking facilities to intending emigrant workers. Resultantly, NBP’s market share in remittance business along with remittances volume had considerably increased in last two years,” Arif Usmani shared. 

He didn’t mince words in stating that significant population of the country was below the poverty line and promoting SMEs would be greatly help address this situation. 

“The government of Pakistan was making all out efforts to address these economic challenges and NBP was committed to deliver on the national agenda of inclusive development,” he reiterated.

Tamgha-e-Imtiaz bestowed on two diplomats of Pakistan Embassy Beijing

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Two diplomats of the Pakistan Embassy posted in Beijing, China, have been conferred Tamgha-e-Imtiaz for facilitating and assisting Pakistani students confined in the locked down in the city of Wuhan, the epicentre of novel coronavirus early this year. 

The diplomats, Muhammad Junaid and Muhammad Suleman Mehsud, were the members of a special task force who met Pakistani students in different universities in Wuhan and collected first-hand information on the health and safety needs of the students. 

As a result of their work, the welfare of the Pakistani students was ensured and they were well-looked after during the lockdown in Wuhan. 

The investitures ceremony for the awards would be held on March 23, 2021, the next edition of Pakistan Day.

Jack Ma conferred Pakistan’s prestigious civilian award

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)


Pakistan has announced, on its Independence Day (August 14), the conferment of the country’s prestigious Hilal-e-Quaid Azam award on Jack Ma, the distinguished Chinese philanthropist, business leader, investor, co-founder and former executive Chairman of conglomerate Alibaba Group.

It may be recalled that when COVID-19 was at its peak in Pakistan, his Alibaba Group came out with huge assistance to combat the fight against the pandemic. 

It has been acknowledged that the timely assistance from Alibaba Group had helped Pakistan greatly to controlling COVID-19. 

On his directive, Alibaba Group has launched Cyber Mulan to help 50 million women across the world to realize their dream through technology. 

Jack Ma, also known in Chinese as Ma Yun, is popular all over the world for his philanthropy and promotion of women empowerment as well as sports particularly in less developed countries including in Africa. 

The Hilal-e-Quaid Azam award, as per tradition, will be presented to Jack Ma on the occasion of the next Pakistan Day (March 23, 2021).

Dr Ahmed Ali Palijo, others promoted to BPS-20

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

A total of 114 doctors, which included 21 lady physicians, were promoted to the post of senior medical officer (BPS-20) in the health department of the Government of Sindh.

The notification in this regard was issued by the Services General Administration Coordination (SGAD) of the provincial government on August 12.

The long serving doctors of the province have been promoted on the recommendation of the Provincial Selection Board No: 1 with the approval of the Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah. 

Among those promoted to the BPS-20 includes Dr Ahmed Ali Palijo, who also used to be an active athlete during his five-year student life at the prestigious Cadet College Petaro from 1975 to 1980. 

On the basis of his all-round excellence in academics and sports, he was appointed to the highest student position of Junior Under Officer of Latif House when in Class XII. He later did MBBS from the Liaquat Medical College, Jamshoro. 

Dr Hafeez Ahmed, Dr Hassan Ahmed Afaq, Dr Awais Ahmed, Dr Abdul Rashid, Dr Hadi Bux Wagan, Dr Anwar-ul-Haque, Dr Muhammad Zafar, Dr Moula Bux Shaikh, Dr Gul Muhammad Mari, Dr Muhammad Iqbal Farooq, Dr Sohail Bin Saeed, Dr Abdul Aleem, Dr Aziz Ahmed and Dr Tahir Abbas were among the 93 doctors having been promoted to the BPS-20. 

Dr Farzana Nuzhat, Dr Mubashira Ejaz, Dr Razia Shaheen, Dr Shagufta Mubeen, Dr Huma Rasool, Dr Tabassum Shafi, Dr Shagufta Nasreen, Dr Asma Khan, Dr Razia Hanif, Dr Tabassum Junejo, Dr Samina Mahmood, Dr Rehana Siddiqui, Dr Huma Arif, Dr Nuzhat Kabir, Dr Fareeda Siddiqui, Dr Zahida Shaikh, Dr Farhat Khan, Dr Memoona, Dr Mairaj Fatima Dr Bakhtawar Rabadi and Dr Razia Shaikh were the 21 lady doctors to have been promoted to BPS-20.