ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has underlined the need for taking urgent steps to stabilise the security situation, address humanitarian needs and ensure economic stability in Afghanistan.
Talking to German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, who called on him on Tuesday, the prime minister said a peaceful and stable Afghanistan is vitally important for Pakistan and the region. He stressed that at this pivotal moment in Afghanistan’s history, it is important for the international community to remain in support and solidarity with the Afghan people.
The prime minister emphasised that both Pakistan and Germany should work closely for the promotion of shared interests relating to regional peace and stability.
Foreign Minister Heiko Maas conveyed cordial greetings of Chancellor Merkel, shared Germany’s viewpoint on the evolving situation in Afghanistan and thanked the prime minister for Pakistan’s support and facilitation for Germany’s evacuation endeavours from Afghanistan.
Maas also highlighted the celebration of the 70th anniversary of establishment of Pakistan-Germany diplomatic relations during 2021. The two countries are holding a series of events to celebrate this milestone in a befitting manner.
Separately, Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that the federal government will provide every possible assistance for promotion of higher education in the country.
Speaking at a meeting on Tuesday on promotion of higher education in the country, he said that higher education carries special significance in modern knowledge to enhance the youth capabilities.
The meeting was informed on the progress in establishing Sialkot Engineering University. It was apprised that ECNEC has approved the project worth Rs16.69 billion. The federal government and the Punjab government will jointly construct Sialkot Engineering University.
The meeting was also told that teachings about Seerat Un Nabi (PBUH) are being incorporated in the curriculum of 8th, 9th and 10th classes, and the new curriculum for these classes will be issued soon.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan Tuesday inaugurated Pak-ID Mobile app created by National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to provide convenience, especially to the overseas Pakistanis.
In a tweet, the prime minister commended Chairman NADRA Tariq Malik and his team for this revolutionary step. The tweet further stated that the applicants by visiting http://id.nadra.gov.pk can now capture fingerprints, photographs and documents using mobile phones.
According to a press release by NADRA, the mobile app is meant to facilitate citizens applying for the national identity card, using the Pak-ID portal.
The prime minister applauded Chairman NADRA Tariq Malik’s innovative idea of the mobile app which is a step towards implementing the PM’s vision of inclusive registration and a digital Pakistan, the press release added. The statement further said that with the introduction of the NADRA Pak-ID app, Pakistan has become a trailblazer in the ID management industry.
The app captures biometrics – fingerprints, facial recognition – and scans documents needed for the processing of citizens’ ID cards and documents. The app will allow all citizens, including expats to digitally capture fingerprints, photographs and documents. The app is a step towards ending conventional modes of specialised equipment and physical papers for processing IDs.
“The innovation will revolutionise the National ID ecosystem in Pakistan by providing public convenience,” the NADRA chairman said.
Malik said that the digital dividends of such a technological innovation would yield positive results in financial inclusion, ease of doing business, and e-governance initiatives, by offering remote identification and e-Know Your Customer (KYC). He said that the app would open “new avenues for businesses” allowing them to rapidly take users on board and provide password-less authentication.
He further stated that small businesses, startups and fintech organisations will also be able to harvest their digital dividends as rent-seekers will be eliminated and the cost of conducting business will reduce. The offering of digital goods will stimulate young entrepreneurship and promote e-services, the statement said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday said it was his government’s top priority to make Pakistan self-sufficient in food production.
He stated this during a meeting with Minister for Food Security Fakhar Imam who briefed him about the expected increase in the production of crops of rice, sugarcane, corn and cotton.
The prime minister said the government was ensuring implementation of agriculture transformation plan to modernize the sector. He was also informed about the reforms brought by the ministry in the sectors of livestock and fisheries.
The prime minister was told that improvements were being introduced in the reproduction of livestock, supply of food and provision of health facilities.
He was apprised about the reforms that were being introduced in the research institutions for further increase in the production of crops.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday held a meeting with Minister for Civil Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan and received a briefing about the outsourcing of airports and operation and regulatory role of Civil Aviation Authority.
Ghulam Sarwar told the prime minister that the construction of 500 flats in Labour Complex Taxila were completed.
Seventy flats in this complex were allocated for the martyrs of Ordnance Factory Wah, he said, adding balloting of these flats would be held soon.
Meanwhile Dr. Ishrat Hussain paid a farewell call on Prime Minister Imran Khan here on Tuesday and presented him a performance report on institutional reforms.
The two-volume report not only included the introduced reforms but also a detailed future strategy in that regard.
The Prime Minister lauded the services of Dr. Ishrat Hussain and expressed best wishes for his future.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday said at the level of higher education, teaching youth the contemporary modern sciences was key to progress and development.
Chairing a review meeting on the promotion of higher education, the prime minister said the federal government would provide all possible assistance to provinces to promote higher education.
The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Asad Umar, Chaudhry Fawad Hussain and Shafqat Mahmood, Special Assistant Shahbaz Gill, Chairman Prime Minister’s Task Force on Science and Technology Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission and senior officials.
The meeting was apprised of the progress on the establishment of Sialkot Engineering University for which the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) had already approved the project worth Rs 16.69 billion.
The Sialkot Engineering University will be set up jointly by the federal and the Punjab government for which half of the money and land will be provided by the Punjab Government.
The meeting was informed that the teachings of Seerat-un-Nabi were being included in the syllabus of the grade 8, 9 and 10 and the new syllabus for these classes would be launched soon. TLTP, NNI