Privatisation Process running steadily and cautiously: Muhammad Mian Soomro

Islamabad, March 27, 2020 (PPI-OT): Despite dire situation of lockdowns and non connectivity, Privatisation program is moving ahead at consistent pace by quickly shifting to video conferences and completion of pre-requisites of due diligence by national and international financial advisors(FAs)as per the original timelines, so far.

 

By the consistent efforts of Ministry of Privatisation Commission team and supervision of Minister/ Chairman PC, Muhammad Mian Soomro, all out efforts have been made to complete all the pre-bidding formalities. All relevant partner organizations have been requested to complete the due processes despite the problems being faced in the availability of relevant officials.

 

An important meeting of NEPRA was held today on 27th March, under the Chairmanship of Mr. Tauseef Ahmed, Chairman NEPRA, regarding tariff determination for RLNG plants which is likely to be announced early next week. A series of video conferences have also been planned with the prospective investors of RLNG plants in the coming week despite difficulties in accessing all stakeholders.

 

However, as the prospective investors and their counterpart IFIs have indicated concerns in the wake of downfall in international markets, the bidding timelines have become unpredictable. Prospective investors have requested extension in timelines which are being analyzed and considered in view of the rapidly changing situation.

 

Most of our transactions are at an advanced stage and can be completed on time provided the national and international markets quickly recover from current health crisis situation and overcome Corona related obstacles. The sale of 28 properties for final auction has also been delayed due to government restrictions on gatherings and non-availability of auction houses and related facilities.

 

For more information, contact:

Privatisation Commission

5-A EAC Building Constitution Avenue,

Islamabad- Pakistan

Tel: +9251 920 5146 -47

Fax: +9251 920 3076

Email: info@privatisation.gov.pk

UNHCR steps up efforts to support the COVID-19 response in Pakistan

Islamabad, March 27, 2020 (PPI-OT): UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency is dispatching core relief items in support of the Government of Pakistan’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The relief items include medical supplies and sanitation products such as sanitary clothes, soap and disinfectants. They will be provided to health facilities in support of refugees and host communities in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.

 

On Thursday, four trucks carrying some of the many items left from UNHCR’s central warehouse in Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; destined for Balochistan. More items will be delivered next week. “UNHCR is committed to supporting the Government’s COVID-19 prevention and response measures,” said the UNHCR Deputy Representative in Pakistan, Mr. Iain Hall.

 

He said that the Agency’s priority is to contribute to the overall effort to minimize the spread and impact of the virus. It will provide medical supplies and consumables including personal protective equipment (PPE), which will be delivered to support the people of Pakistan and the Afghan refugees that they have so generously hosted for forty years.

 

UNHCR is currently focusing interventions in three main areas: prevention and response; water and sanitation; and risk communication. The Commissionerate of Afghan Refugees (Ministry SAFRON) and UNHCR’s NGO partners are amplifying the Government’s messages and reminders based on WHO guidance on COVID-19 infection prevention and control, including self-hygiene and social distancing.

 

For more information, contact:

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Quaid-e-Azam University Road, Diplomatic Enclave 2,

Sector G-4/2, Islamabad

Tel: +92-51-2829502-6

Cell: +92-300-5017939

Fax: +92-51-2279455

E-mail:khand@unhcr.org

Website: www.unhcr.org.pk

Important Notice

Lahore, March 27, 2020 (PPI-OT): The Government has decided that All Public, Private Colleges and Universities to remain Closed till 31st May, 2020.

 

For more information, contact:

Higher Education Department

Government of the Punjab

Civil Secretariat, the Mall, Lahore, Pakistan

Tel: +92-42-99210039, +92-42-99210042

Fax: +92-42-99210040

Email: info.hed@punjab.gov.pk

Website: https://hed.punjab.gov.pk/

Higher Education Commission to fund research to address covid-19 crisis: Chairman HEC

Islamabad, March 27, 2020 (PPI-OT): The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has sought proposals from universities, institutes, and individual researchers on ideas to address the Novel Coronavirus crisis. This was decided on Tuesday in a special video meeting of HEC’s senior management.

 

The bulk of HEC staff has been directed to work from home, following the directives of the Health Ministry, so all the work of the Commission is conducted electronically. Applications are received online or through courier, meetings are conducted by video link, and all papers and files are handles electronically. These arrangements have been out in place in order to ensure that all major services of the Commission continue to be provided without interruption during the current emergency.

 

The research initiative launched today, with the support of the World Bank, is entitled the RAPID Research and Innovation Fund (RRIF) program. It aims to mobilize the research capacities of universities in support of national efforts to address the COVID-19 crisis.

 

Under the initiative, a rapid assessment and review mechanism has been established to analyze research and innovation proposals urgently. Each applicant seeking funding through the RAPID Research and Innovation Fund can propose an idea based on one of the priority themes. The proposals are due by April 3, and funding decisions will be made within the month of April. Funding will be provided to selected research-intensive institutions for analysis of data, testing of specimens, access to facilities or equipment, or development of essential products or services.

 

Besides the research initiative, HEC has also been working with universities to minimize the impact of the lockdown of universities on academic activities. To this end, three specialized committees have been established to help arrange IT facilities, software, tech support, and curate substantive online content. The objective is to enable faculty members to (virtually) continue teaching their courses from where they left off at the time of closure of universities.

 

Individual faculty members will share their course outline/s and required reading materials with their students through online learning management systems. Universities will develop repositories of online courses. HEC will facilitate access to an extensive digital library of lectures and courses.

 

HEC’s COVID-19 Technology Support Committee has prepared a working paper to assist the senior leadership of Universities in easing the transition to virtual instruction. The paper provides the minimum technology requirements and recommendations on the choice of digital platforms for the University.

 

For collaboration and video conferencing, all public sector Universities have been provided free access to Microsoft Teams software. HEC and Microsoft have been working together to ensure smooth introduction of this platform.

 

Chairman HEC, Tariq Banuri reiterated that all stakeholders should be sensitized to keep abreast of the latest information about the coronavirus and share it with other people in their communities. Necessary guidelines and safety instructions have already been circulated among universities and are available at the HEC website.

 

HEC management is continuously monitoring the developing situation arising out of Covid-19 and is in contact with the university leadership for further planning so that all possible support is extended to minimize academic disruption and safeguard faculty and students’ academic and research interests to maximum possible extent in the prevailing situation.

 

For more information, contact:

Director (Media)

Higher Education Commission, Pakistan (HEC)

Sector H-9, Islamabad

Tel: +92-51-90402404, +92-51-90402412

Email: aikram@hec.gov.pk

Website: www.hec.gov.pk

Telecom sector revenues cross PKR 552 billion in 2019

Islamabad, March 27, 2020 (PPI-OT): According to the Annual Report 2018-2019 issued by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), telecom sector contributed over 96 billion to the national exchequer in terms of taxes, duties and levies, attracted investments to the tune of US$ 636 million while sector revenue crossed Rs. 552 billion. Sector attracted USD 236 million FDI during the year. The Annual Report presents a comprehensive overview of the PTA and telecommunication sector’s performance for the year 2018-19. PTA Annual Report is a regular feature under section 18 of the Pakistan Telecom Reorganization Act, 1996, depicting performance over previous year.

 

As per PTA Annual Report, telecom sector continued to grow positively in terms of subscription, revenues and teledensity. The sector showed a steady growth in subscribers and total subscriber base increased to 163.5 million at the end of FY 2018-19, showing a year-on year growth of 7%. Total teledensity reached to 77.7% where the main contribution is by the mobile sector with penetration crossing 76.4%. Pakistan has over 44,919 cell sites covering the length and breadth of the country. Subscription and usage of Broadband service in the country has seen an exponential growth. Data usage over broadband networks was 2,545 PB for FY 2018-19 from 1, 207 PB in FY 2017-18 showing a year-on-year growth of 113%.

 

In order to promote latest technologies, PTA took number of initiatives. To set the stage for launch of 5G technology in future, PTA unveiled plans for tests and trials of 5G which is expected to reshape the technological, social and economic landscape of Pakistan.

 

PTA as a regulator kept playing its role prudently by ensuring an open, competitive, fair and well-regulated sector. PTA has made a meaningful contribution to the national economy by restricting import of mobile devices through grey channels by implementing Device Identification Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS). Resultantly, import of mobile phones through illegal channels has been minimized and FBR’s revenues increased exponentially. Implementation of DIRBS has also created incentive for local assembly / manufacture of mobile phones. PTA has also been working very closely with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) for enhancing digital payments.

 

Expanding 4G coverage through latest technology, promoting broadband connectivity, availability of additional spectrum to mobile operators, affordable 4G handsets, addressing Right of Way (RoW) issues, expanding fiber connectivity, improved Quality of Service (QoS) parameters, ensuring better coverage, and 5G technology testing and preparations will continue to be PTA’s priority areas in the current year.

 

For more information, contact:

Public Relations,

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA)

PTA Headquarters, Sector F- 5/1, Islamabad – 44000, Pakistan

Tel: +92-51-2878152

Fax: +92-51- 9219921

Email: pr@pta.gov.pk

Website: https://www.pta.gov.pk

State Bank of Pakistan implements Regulatory Approval System for ease of doing business

Karachi, March 27, 2020 (PPI-OT): SBP has launched a Regulatory Approval System (RAS) for submission of cases related to foreign exchange policy and operations dealt by its Exchange Policy Department (EPD), SBP and Foreign Exchange Operations Department (FEOD), SBP‐BSC respectively. SBP RAS, which has become operational from March 24th, 2020, provides an online platform to banks to interact with the SBP/SBP‐ BSC for submission of cases and receiving regulatory decisions.

 

Bringing ease of doing business, a key feature of the system is to keep the business customers updated about the status of their requests routed through banks from the day it is received at SBP. Customers will receive system‐generated update status reports, at their email address provided by bank, from the time of case submission till completion. Customers will also be able to check out the updated status of their cases on SBP’s website anytime.

 

Using SBP RAS, banks will electronically submit foreign exchange operations related cases to the Foreign Exchange Operations Department (FEOD). The paper based submission of cases by Authorized Dealers to FEOD has been abolished forthwith. Similarly, foreign exchange policy related cases pertaining to Exchange Policy Department (EPD) will also be submitted electronically through SBP RAS. However, for EPD, in addition to electronic submission, manual submission of cases through surface mail will continue, for the time being, till further instructions.

 

SBP RAS is expected to conserve resources and bring efficiency by allowing timely FX‐regulatory approvals and replacing the paper based submissions that are prone to logistic and storage issues and unnecessary delays. SBP RAS is a step towards digitalization intended to leverage technology for improving public service and promoting ease of doing business in the country. The initiative is a part of SBP’s Vision 2020 under which a Knowledge Management Project was initiated aiming to implement a modern framework for the retention and sharing of information and knowledge.

 

For more information, contact:

Chief Spokesman,

State Bank of Pakistan (SBP)

Central Directorate

I.I. Chundrigar Road, Karachi, Pakistan

Tel: +92-21-111-727-111

Tel: +92-21-39212562

Fax: +92-21-39212433 – 39212436

Email: chief.spokesperson@sbp.org.pk

Website: www.sbp.org.pk

 

1000-Bed Field Hospital at Expo Centre Lahore to be functional in a week

Lahore, March 27, 2020 (PPI-OT): In the wake of coronavirus threat, sites have been identified to establish field hospitals across the province and a 1000-bed field hospital would be functional in Expo Centre Lahore in a week. This was stated during a meeting held to review strategy to contain spread of coronavirus and maintain supply chain during lockdown in the province. Chief Secretary Punjab Major (r) Azam Suleman Khan, Provincial Law Minister Raja Basharat, Inspector General of Police Shoaib Dastagir and officers concerned attended the meeting whereas all divisional commissioners and regional police officers (RPOs) joined the meeting through video link.

 

The meeting decided that carpets should be removed from mosques for disinfecting them and space between rows in congregational prayers should be doubled by skipping one line. The Chief Secretary asked the Secretary Health to conduct visits to sites of field hospitals and complete arrangements regarding provision of beds and other facilities as early as possible. He directed that there should be no hurdle in free movement of good transport for supply of commodities, however action be taken against those using goods transport as private means of travelling. He said that field officers should regularly visit jails and set up isolation wards there.

 

He ordered that only prescribed number of persons be allowed in private cars and stern action be taken against violators. The meeting deliberated on a proposal to use railways and NLC for transportation of good from Karachi. The IG Punjab told the meeting that at present 50,000 policemen are performing duties to enforce the government’s measures against coronavirus. The Senior Member Board of Revenue briefed that mask and hand sanitizers would be provided to police very soon.

 

For more information, contact:

Directorate General Public Relations

Government of the Punjab

Lahore, Pakistan

Tel: +92-42-9201390-86

Website: www.punjab.gov.pk