FARUKH SHEHZAD

ISLAMABAD, DEC 8 – Referring to Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)’s upcoming public gathering in Lahore, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz Tuesday asked the citizens to stay away from its rallies to save their own and their families’ lives from the second wave of coronavirus pandemic.

Addressing a post-cabinet press briefing along with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Youth Affairs Muhammad Usman Dar, Shibli urged Lahoris and others to refrain from falling into the PDM leaders’ trap as they were liar and deceitful, and had nothing to do with the public welfare.

He said the PDM leaders did not bother about the ordinary people as they just wanted to use them for their own agendas and vested interests. Their level of sincerity with the people could be gauged from the Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari’s engagement in which the COVID-19 test was mandatory for the participants.

Once the rallies were over, they would not even help the people to get tested for the coronavirus, he added.

Their public gatherings were only meant to get relief in the corruption cases by building pressure on the government but they were mistaken as they had to meet their ultimate fate,” the minister said adding Prime Minister Imran Khan was an honest leader and would never compromise with them corruption cases.

He said the PDM leaders had looted the country with impunity bringing it at the brink of destruction and weakened the national institutions.

The opposition leaders during their tenure promoted nepotism and appointed their blue-eyed people on covet positions that eventually led to the massive brain drain of the country as competent people opted to move abroad for jobs, he added.

Shibli said when the PDM leaders were in the power, they took every possible step to weaken the country’s economy. They kept the economic trajectory upward with cosmetic measures and put the tough decisions under the carpet, he added.

He said people had rejected them in the last general elections for their corruption, but now they refused to accept the results, especially in those areas where they were lost.

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Jakarta [Indonesia] - Indonesia has received 1.2 million doses of a Covid-19 vaccine made by China's biopharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech.

The world's largest archipelagic is now drafting the rules governing their distribution across the country, a task that is to be completed within two weeks, The Strait Times reported.

The vaccine doses arrived in Indonesia late Sunday on a flight from Beijing to Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta Airport. They were taken to Bandung in West Java province to be stored at state drugmaker Bio Farma's facilities.

Another 1.8 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine will arrive in January.

During a media briefing on Monday, Indonesia's minister heading the national Covid-19 task force, Airlangga Hartarto said, "The arrival and availability of the vaccines will be gradual and so will the vaccination programme, which will be carried out gradually, with priority given to the medical workers and public service officers.""The government will adopt a dual approach for the vaccination programme, with some getting the shots for free and others covering the cost of their vaccination," The Strait Times quoted Hartarto as saying.

Late Sunday, President Joko Widodo welcomed the vaccine in the country and said that The Indonesian Drugs and Food Supervisory Agency (BPOM), will have to give emergency approval for the vaccination programme to start.

"Before roll-out, the distribution system across the country's 34 provinces including more than 500 regencies and cities must be finalised," Widodo said.

"Once we decide a date for our vaccination programme to start, everything will have to be ready," He said, adding that supporting equipment, human resources, and a distribution system must first be in place," he added.

The Strait Times quoted Finance Minister Mulyani Indrawati saying,"During the same briefing that her office has allocated funds for the health ministry, as well as the regional governments ( including cities and regencies), to operate the vaccination programme.""The government has procured hundreds of vaccine refrigerators and other supporting equipment, including vaccine carriers, cold boxes and syringes," Indrawati added.

The plan is for 107.2 million people aged 18 to 59 out of Indonesia's 270 million to be vaccinated. Those with pre-existing medical conditions or deemed unfit will not be included in the programme, The Strait Times further reported. 

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COURTESY indonesianews.net

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BUCHAREST, DEC 8 - PSD obtained the most votes in Sunday's parliamentary elections, in the Chamber of Deputies, 29.38%, followed by PNL - 25.16%, USR PLUS - 14.96%, GOLD - 8.93%, UDMR - 5.85% , and PMP and Pro Romania are below the electoral threshold, with 4.68%, respectively 4.17% of the votes, according to the data announced on Tuesday by the Central Electoral Bureau, after the centralization of the votes from 99.02% of the polling stations, News.ro reports .

The Chamber of Deputies: 

PSD - 29.38%

NLP - 25.16%

USR PLUS Alliance - 14.96%

Alliance for the Union of Romanians - 8.93%

UDMR - 5.85%

PMP - 263,688 - 4.75%

Pro Romania - 235,209 - 4.13%

Senate :

PSD - 29.81%

NLP - 25.56%

USR PLUS Alliance - 15.44%

Alliance for the Union of Romanians - 9.1%

UDMR - 6%

PMP - 271,249 - 4.16%

Pro Romania - 238,021 - 4.90%

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COURTESY universul.net

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ANKARA, DEC 8 - European leaders have run out of patience with Recep Tayyip Erdogan and are ready to impose sanctions on Turkey at the end of this week.

The Turkish president has angered the EU with what the bloc called a “cat and mouse” game over oil exploration in Greek waters, with Erdogan recalling the survey vessel Oruc Reis to port before EU meetings then redeploying it when the meetings are over.

 
EU foreign ministers met on Monday and said enough was enough. “There are limits even to German patience,” one diplomat said.

“It was made clear that there should be a response to Turkey,” Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said, because it had “continued its delinquent behavior.”

The exact nature of the sanctions will be decided at an EU leaders’ summit on Dec. 10-11. They are expected to target areas of Turkey’s economy linked to hydrocarbon exploration, although France and the European Parliament are leading calls for wider and tougher measures.

Tensions flared in August when Erdogan sent the Oruc Reis to map out energy-drilling prospects in Greek waters. Germany had hoped to mediate between Athens and Ankara, but was angered when Turkey resumed its gas exploration off Cyprus in October after a brief pause.

“There have been too many provocations,” German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Monday.

Turkish officials said Greece was “the spoiled child of Europe” and Turkey would not be intimidated. “These decisions, sanctions or whatever else, will not contribute to the solution of issues,” Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said.

Erdogan called for talks. “We believe we can solve the problems of the eastern Mediterranean by not excluding each other, but by bringing all the actors together around the same table,” he said.

Charles Ellinas, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, told Arab News the sanctions “will be a clear sign of the EU’s loss of patience and hardened attitudes resulting from Erdogan’s continuing aggression and unwillingness to pull back and negotiate.”

Ellinas said: “On the one hand he calls for negotiations but on the other he continues with threats and aggressive actions. Pulling Oruc Reis back just before the summit is not going to work this time.

“If nothing changes, Erdogan is likely to be facing even stronger measures next year, through the combined weight of the EU and the new US administration.”

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ISLAMABAD, DEC 8 – Chief Daniel Ilesanmi Imuzie. Current President (NCP) &  Engr. Michael Lance Okafor. Secretary General (NCP) paid a courtesy call on the  President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan  on Monday, 7th December, 2020 and Discussed the strategy to further strengthen Pakistan-Nigeria Trade Links  in future.

Chief Daniel Ilesanmi Imuzie. Current President (NCP) informed the President(ICCI), Sardar Yasir Illyas Khan that Nigerian Community in Pakistan is determined to  enhance trade ties with Government of Pakistan in various sectors such as Agriculture and Agro-chemical products, Pharmaceuticals, Textile &  Garments, Leather products, Electrical products, as well as Agriculture Research and exchange of Agriculture scientists.

On this occasion, Engr. Michael Lance Okafor. Secretary General (NCP)  said that  diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Nigeria at the Government to Government level is getting stronger day by day. He said that the Nigerian Community in Pakistan is also active at their own level to further strengthen trade and economic ties with Pakistan through linking Nigerian and Pakistani companies for greater economic interaction.

President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan  appreciated the concern of NCP for popularizing & sensitizing the Nigerian Business Community in Pakistan and back home in Nigeria about the huge  potentials in various sectors such as  agriculture machinery, & research, minerals & energy, pharmaceuticals & surgical equipments,  oil & gas, textiles & garments, energy & pharmaceuticals beside the fact that Pakistani Tractors have great market in Federal Republic of Nigeria which is the emerging Market in African, particularly the whole of West African Nations.

He also personally thanked Chief Daniel Ilesanmi Imuzie. Current President (NCP) &  Engr. Michael Lance Okafor. Secretary General (NCP) for their support to improve the economic destiny of Pakistani & Nigerian Nations and assured assistance and cooperation to Nigerian Community in Pakistan to expand their businesses across Pakistan.

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ISLAMABAD, DEC 8 – Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman announced on Tuesday that all opposition lawmakers will submit their resignations to their respective party heads by December 31.

Rehman made the announcement at a press conference in Islamabad after the PDM leadership held a meeting to decide its future strategy. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz were joined by the JUI-F chief as he addressed the media.

“By December 31, opposition lawmakers from provincial and national assemblies will hand in their resignations to their respective party heads.”

He said that the steering committee will meet tomorrow to decide the schedule for further rallies and demonstrations. The meeting will also decide the time and the date for the long march towards Islamabad, he said.

The PDM chief said that former premier Nawaz Sharif and former president Asif Ali Zardari also participated in the meeting during which all the participants expressed the commitment towards holding the next rally in Lahore on December 13.

Responding to reports about Prime Minister Imran Khan calling for a national dialogue, Rehman said the PDM had rejected his offer. “He is not worthy of dialogue.”

He said that the decisions were taken “unanimously”, adding that the opposition will not disappoint the people of the country. “The Lahore rally will be historic and it will be the final nail [in the coffin] for the government.”

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ISLAMABAD, DEC 8 – Utility Stores Corporation of Pakistan (USC) established Information Technology (IT) infrastructure by establishing a modern data center with Private Cloud in its head office during the financial year, 2019-20.

The data center has the capacity to meet current and future IT infrastructure requirements and is the only data center in any Public Sector organization in Pakistan, built on OpenStack Cloud environment. Moreover, a robust data communication network is also established in its Head Office and office located in G-9 Markaz, Islamabad.

An international leading ERP System has been deployed on USC data center and customization of ERP system as per USC requirements is under process. All USC stores and warehouses will be automated and linked with central ERP System for real time sales and inventory management. All USC business processes including Supply Chain, Warehousing, Financials, HR, Payroll, and E-Commerce will be automated by June, 2021.

Once the ERP system implementation is completed purchasing activity will become a structured process whereby situation arising due to over or under stocking of inventory can be controlled. The whole inventory will be controllable and USC will be able to forecast amount of items needed, thus preventing both product shortages and overstocking.

Through automation of USC, synchronization of warehouses and retail outlets data into the centralized data center will provide a consolidated view of the corporation performance. The automation will help identifying trends in top selling items and locations. This will enable stocks to be moved with precision and achieve higher sales volumes. Also the automation will enable USC to start targeted subsidy for the poorest segment of the society with the surety that subsidy is dispersed to the right individuals.

The automation will provide greater business insights through more accurate and timely financial information. It will help USC to save operating cost. Since repetitive and time-consuming processes will be automated. USC will be able to forecast its income and expenses more accurately and budgeting can be done in a better and cost effective manner.

Recording prices of products along with discounts/subsidy will help USC to control prices. Also, centralized sales monitoring will bound store staff for timely sales deposits.

A pilot project of deployment of Point of Sale (POS) system is successfully executed initially at 10 Utility Stores. Data transformation of all USC saleable items with barcodes to be used with warehousing and POS system is also completed. The POS system is ready for future expansion and has an attribute of quicker development and fast rollout.

The objectives of pilot POS system deployment was introducing technology and system to improve acceptability; transformation of all Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) of the corporation to a new integrated system; identification of problems and issues in automation of the corporation; identifying and removing barriers in stores’ automation; bringing cultural change and training people to use new system efficiently. All USC SKUs are also digitized with barcodes to be used with warehousing and POS system.

USC has also introduced Online Vendor Registration System to collect and maintain accurate suppliers’ data for efficient vendors’ management.

Other initiatives during the year 2019-20 includes deployment of an Online Stores Information System by geo-tagging all Utility Stores. This online system helps to get the stores’ information including location, size, rent, and sales during the last 5-year.

USC has implemented a Demand-based Online Purchase Ordering System integrated with Finance Payable System. Through this system, a huge amount of time and money is saved in managing suppliers payments as per goods received. Also, complete supply chain process becomes simpler, from purchasing goods from suppliers, shipping to stores and selling to the customers.

A centralized employees’ leaves and attendance system through Facial Recognition Machines have been deployed which are working effectively in all USC offices. This attendance system has helped USC in managing its payroll in an efficient and effective way.

Mr. Umer Lodhi, Managing Director USC said that in our efforts to uplift standards of services at all utility stores across the country and provision of grocery items at prices lower than the open market, automation is being under implementation in USC.

While talking about automation, Mr. Shakeel Ahmed, General Manager, IT USC said that we are automating the corporation with an aim to make it compatible with the needs of 21st century and developing USC employees’ skills in a way to work efficiently in a fully automated environment, making the corporation a profitable entity.  Our mission is to provide the corporation with technology solutions and unparalleled customer services, he added.

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ISLAMABAD, DEC 8 - On behalf of the people and the Government of Pakistan, I wish to felicitate the Governments and the citizens of the Member States of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) as we commemorate the 36th SAARC Charter Day.

The SAARC Charter was envisioned to promote regional cooperation and to accelerate the pace of social and economic development in South Asia. The Association encapsulates the hopes and aspirations of one fifth of humanity. It symbolizes the hope that the challenges faced by the region can be overcome through regional cooperation.

The global Pandemic is a grim reminder to all of us that we need to work together and cooperate on issues of common interest more than ever. The onset of the Pandemic has further underscored the importance of poverty alleviation for the national governments in a region that is home to one of the world’s largest poor populations and remains one of the least integrated globally. Now is the time to come forward to pool our resources, rather than look inwards, for providing a better future to the vulnerable segments of our societies through the platform provided by SAARC.

Pakistan, being a founding member of SAARC, attaches great importance to the Organization’s success and reaffirms its commitment to the objectives and purposes of its Charter. It is only through adhering to the principles of sovereign equality and mutual respect among Member States, that we would be able to utilise the true potential of SAARC and achieve our cherished goal of a prosperous and developed South Asia.

Pakistan’s pivotal geo-economic location offers a great opportunity for the region. My government’s vision for Pakistan is to leverage our location to act as a trade and transit hub to benefit the peoples of region and beyond. It is unfortunate that due to longstanding unresolved disputes amongst the Member States, SAARC countries have been unable to take advantage of Pakistan’s potential as a melting pot for positive economic interest and consequently the region has not been able to achieve the desired socio-economic cooperation and prosperity in the region so far. I hope that the SAARC Process would be allowed to move ahead without artificial obstacles being erected in its progress and SAARC would be enabled to function as an effective instrument of regional cooperation.

It is the need of the hour that we move forward with the spirit of cooperation that was instrumental in the formation of SAARC.

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OSLO – On Monday, the governing parties and the Progress Party (FRP) tightened Norway’s asylum and immigration policy by raising the residence requirement for the right to permanent residence from three to five years.

When the budget agreement was ready, FRP leader Siv Jensen boasted that the party had managed to push through its proposal despite opposition from the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Christian Democratic Party (KRF).

“The fact that we forced KRF and Venstre to bend shows that we’re getting far more outside of the government than when we sat there, also in the field of asylum and immigration,” she said.

The policy change entails an extra two years of temporary residence. Furthermore, if it becomes safe in a refugee’s home country, the residence permit can be withdrawn and the refugees sent home.

“The fact that the residence requirement increases does not deprive one the right to live in Norway as long as the conditions in the home country give a reason for protection,” KrF’s parliamentary leader Hans Fredrik Grøvan told news bureau NTB.

“But it gives a longer period of uncertainty for those concerned,” he added.

In line with the agreement

The FRP hopes the tightening of residence requirements can impact how many people get permanent residence in Norway. 

The rule change is also an important signal to make Norway less attractive to asylum seekers, the party believes.

Last Thursday, the parliamentary leaders of the four parties presented a joint representative proposal in the case.

On Monday, the Progress Party and the three government parties secured a majority when the matter came up for a vote in the Norwegian parliament (Storting).

“We register and understand that the FRP celebrates its breakthroughs, which we, of course, vote for in line with the agreement,” the Liberal Party’s parliamentary leader Terje Breivik told NTB.

“In the same way, the Liberal Party is pleased that we have received a majority for a budget that is very good for green growth and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.”

From December 1 

Specifically, the residence requirement for the right to a permanent residence permit is raised from three to five years for foreigners who have been granted a residence permit under the Immigration Act, and for foreigners who have been granted a residence permit in family immigration with such a foreigner.

“The proponents propose that the changes shall apply to all applications submitted after December 1, 2020,” it is stated.

However, the changes do not apply to foreigners who, as of December 1, 2020, fulfilled the residence requirement of three years for the right to a permanent residence permit (regardless of whether an application has been submitted or not), provided that the person applies for a permanent residence permit by February 1, 2021.

Must have earned income

The Progress Party (FRP) also gained support for tightening the so-called maintenance requirement.

That means that people won’t be able to take the introductory benefits and then bring a family or spouse to Norway with that income as a basis. Applicants now have to earn a living.

“It is not the taxpayers who have to support the family. You should be able to do that yourself if you want to bring them to Norway,” Siv Jensen said.

At the same time, FRP suffered two clear defeats in the field of asylum and immigration in the budget talks, which ended last Tuesday. 

The party was not allowed to negotiate the level of development assistance, which is set at 1% of the gross national product (GNP). 

Furthermore, the party did not get to reduce the number of quota refugees Norway plans to accept next year.

“KRF won a great victory on behalf of the many persecuted in the world in the budget negotiations. The demand from FRP was to reduce the number Norway would receive to 0. The result was 0 in a reduction of the 3,000,” Grøvan said.

The policy change must formally go through a second reading in the Storting before the decision can take effect.

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OSLO – Norway climbed four places and is now in eighth place on the Climate Change Performance Index. Sweden remained in fourth place, while the top three places were empty.

The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) ranks countries in four areas: greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy, energy use, and climate policy.

No country is doing well enough in all areas to deserve a place on the podium, according to the CCPI.

“Even if all countries did the same as those at the top, it would not be enough to avoid dangerous climate change,” the CCPI warned.

“More is required”

Thus, the Swedes are the best in the world, despite the fact that they are in fourth place. Behind them follow the United Kingdom and Denmark.

Norway ended up in twelfth place a year ago but is now in eighth place.

Thus, the country surpassed Finland and India.

Norway is doing well in renewable energy and emissions. Despite a significant decline in energy consumption per person in recent years, Norway still got a low score in that category.

“Countries that are ranked high have no reason to relax. Even greater efforts and action from the authorities are required to get the world on a course to keep the temperature rise below 2 degrees. Or even better, keep it below 1.5 degrees,” the CCPI added.

US at the bottom

The EU is highlighted as a winner and has risen six places to number 16.

The Union has announced that it plans to be climate neutral by 2050.

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PESHAWAR, DEC 8 – After successfully equipping 500 females with digital skills from the province, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Technology Board has embarked on the next phase of the journey to further train 2500 young women and enable them to play their role in boosting the digital economy of the province in specific and Pakistan in general. The said initiative is a component of KPITB’s initiative, “Digital Jobs in KP”, applications for which have been opened for registrations.

‘Women Empowerment through Digital Skills’ is a component of Digital Jobs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa project, an initiative of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Technology Board (KPITB), funded by Multi-Donor Trust Fund, administered by The World Bank and executed by DEMO and TechValley Pakistan. The program aims to train 3000 women across the seven divisions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including newly merged districts on employable digital skills to ensure women’s inclusion in the digital economy.

While talking about the success of ‘Women Empowerment through Digital Skills Program’ Ziaullah Khan Bangash, Advisor to Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Science and Information Technology praised the initiative and also assured the continuity of government efforts for promoting such interventions and developing the capacity of women to benefit from digital employment opportunities. He encouraged females to come forward and contribute their part to the digital economy. Bangash further added that this program will set an example for other provinces to follow. “We are very hopeful that with the help of this program, different job opportunities will emerge for women across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he added.

Managing Director KPITB Dr. Sahibzada Ali Mahmud elaborated that ‘Women Empowerment Digital Skills’ is one of the many initiatives taken by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to encourage and educate the youth and provide a digitally skilled workforce to the industry of Information Technology. Dr. Mahmud further added that these training programs are significantly increasing the digital skills of youth and it provides them the opportunities for earnings.

Maira Yousaf, a resident of Peshawar and a graduate of the first phase of ‘Women Empowerment through Digital Skills Program’ expressed that she completed her training in Social Media Marketing, the course was very well structured. She furthered that through interactive live sessions the trainers provide them basic and advanced knowledge about Social Media Marketing. “They equipped me with the right tools to help me get started in this field,” she added.

Muhammad Bilal, Project Manager of Digital Jobs in KP revealed that women between 18 to 30 years of age, holding KP Domicile and have a minimum of Intermediate education are eligible to apply for this training program. He further said that the second cycle of “Women Empowerment through Digital Skills Program” will be also conducted online and on-campus training depending on the prevailing situation of COVID-19. Applicants can enroll themselves into one of the following digital skills currently being offered; Social Media Marketing, Graphic Designing, WordPress Design and Development, Blogging & Content Writing, and Digital Tools Productivity.

“Applicants for this training program must have access to a computer with a good internet connection. They can apply online at www.kpyep.com/we before December 21, 2020,” Bilal underlined.

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