Parliamentary committee urges release of arrested traders

ISLAMABAD: The parliamentary committee on Covid-19 on Monday recommended the release of arrested traders and invited the business community to share their concerns caused by the lockdown.

Chairing a meeting of the committee, Senator Syed Shibli Faraz said the government was well aware of the sufferings of traders and mentioned the government’s relief package.

Meanwhile, Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Dr Fehmida Mirza said that there was a dire need to formulate a unanimous policy regarding lockdown in the country. She called for cooperative federalism which would create harmony in relief efforts and combating this disease. She also called upon the participants to discuss the policy issues related to coronavirus in the Council of Common Interests.

The business community was represented by FPCCI President Anjum Nisar and Small Traders Association President Ajmal Baloch.

Mr Nisar stressed that the condition of CNIC might be suspended for some time as many importers were selling their items to the investors under the current lockdown conditions instead of routine trading channel.

They pointed out the problems faced by the business community, including traders and the industrialists, and demanded policy decision on rents as shops and offices have been shutdown for more than a month.

Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar responded to the issue of ban on exports to Afghanistan, whereas the Afghan Transit Trade continued through Pakistan.

The minister said that majority of the exports to Afghanistan were food items and, therefore, in order to ensure food security in the country, the ban was imposed.

He added that a single package could not address the issues of all the industrial sectors, and sector-specific packages would be devised by the government.

The committee members demanded that implementation of the decision taken by the committee must be followed in letter and spirit. It was observed that there had to be legal action against the mill owners who laid off their workers and were not paying their outstanding wages.

The committee, unanimously, recommended for the release of arrested traders in Karachi at the earliest.

On the other hand, members of the parliamentary committee belonging to opposition parties demanded that the government take strong measures to tackle the current situation and stressed that all the decisions of the government had to be in consultation with the provinces.

The members from Balochistan stressed that for inviting representatives of the farming community in the next meeting of the committee to hear their concerns.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2020

from The Dawn News - Home https://ift.tt/2SbdgUA
via IFTTT

Sialkot police bust gang of robbers, seize over Rs20m looted cash

SIALKOT: Police on Tuesday claimed to have busted an infamous gang of robbers and seized Rs20.3 million looted cash from their possession, ARY News reported. A spokesperson for the police confirmed the arrests saying the eight-member gang had looted a pharmaceutical company’s truck full of medicine. He said the looted cash to the tune of Rs20.3 million was also recovered from their possession. The police said the recovered cash and truck have been handed over to their owner. Read More: Youngster battles for life as Punjab police ‘mistakenly’ opens fire on him Earlier, on June 20, Karachi police had apprehended six robbers allegedly involved in a bank robbery of Rs10.5 million last month. The robbers had produced Rs9 million from the bank robbery in front of the police after being taken under arrest. The police also recovered the weapons used by the criminals in the bank robbery. The gang was stated to have a previous record of robbing various places in the city, the police said. ...

Peshawar security forces kill four suspected terrorists

The Peshawar Counter-Terrorism Department personnel gunned down four suspected terrorists after raiding their hideout on the Kohat Road Monday. According to the security forces, the suspects were plotting an attack. A cache of weapons and ammunition has been seized too. On Monday evening, a special CTD team raided the hideout after surrounding it and exchanged fire with them. No CTD personnel was injured in the operation. from SAMAA https://ift.tt/2V8MRbn

Headlines 9am: Karachi to face power outages, coronavirus cases rise

Here are the headlines from SAMAA TV’s 9am bulletin. Pakistan has begun reporting fewer coronavirus infections in the last couple of days. In the last 24 hours, 3,964 cases were reported with 105 deaths. Around 73,000 recoveries have been confirmed so far. Three people were killed in a collision between a motorcycle and ambulance on the Mehran highway. A child was injured as well. Robbers looted a house in Karachi’s Azizabad in broad daylight and in the presence of a policeman. The cop chased the thieves but they were able to escape. SAMAA TV has acquired a CCTV footage of the robbery. A terrorism bid has been foiled in Peshawar. During a raid, security forces eliminated four terrorists. A cache of weapons and ammunition has been recovered. Saudi Arabia has announced it would hold a “very limited” Hajj this year owing to the coronavirus pandemic, with pilgrims already in the kingdom allowed to take part. The Kingdom has informed Pakistan about it as well. Pakistan’s Religious A...

Latest News

Search This Blog