Thursday, June 11th, 2020
Pakistan’s economy contracted 0.38% in FY2020 as coronavirus wreaked havoc: Economic Survey
ISLAMABAD: Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance Abdul Hafeez Shaikh presented the Pakistan Economic Survey 2019-20 on Thursday, highlighting the state of the Pakistani economy in the outgoing fiscal year. Shaikh highlighted the fragile condition of the economy, which was ravaged considerably by the COVID-19 pandemic in the last quarter of the year. He revealed that the GDP is expected to contract 0.38% in FY 2020 despite 2.67% growth in the agricultural sector, as the industrial and services sectors see growth of -2.64% and -0.59% respectively this year. TalkingRead More
The Forgotten Lockdown By Moinul Haque
The entire world is in the grip of Coronavirus. Lockdowns, curfews, social distancing are being employed to contain the pandemic. The normal way of life of billions of people is impacted. Educational institutions and businesses are closed, hospitals for normal patients are inaccessible, international travel is suspended, and people are being forced to stay indoors. Governments around the world are facing critique from their public for these strict measures. In western democracies, questions of fundamental freedoms and human rights have been raised. Even in these extraordinary times, theRead More
Measures to help SMEs imperative: experts
ISLAMABAD (DNA) – The business regulatory environment for small & medium enterprises (SMEs) needs to be improved through appropriate measures to enable them to cope with the unprecedented challengers posed by Covid19. This agreed notion was shared by the stakeholders during online public-private dialogue ‘Better business regulatory environment for SME sector in Pakistan’ organized by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), here on Wednesday. The participants on the occasion noted that measures are required beyond the short-term relief which may be announced in Federal Budget for the year 2020-21 and take a mediumRead More
Letter of the United States President to the President of Uzbekistan
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (DNA) — His Excellency Shavkat Mirziyoyev President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Dear Mr. President! I want to express my condolences to You and the victims of the partial collapse of the Sardoba Reservoir Dam on May 1, 2020. It was devastating to see the images of flooded homes, displaced people, and ruined roads and farms. Through devoted personal attention and a very quick response, You demonstrated leadership. The Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development also reacted quickly to this tragedy and freedRead More
CGSS, Islamia Varsity sign MoU
ISLAMABAD (DNA) – Major General Hafiz Masroor Ahmed (Retd), Vice President CGSS and Brigadier Abdullah Khan (Retd), Senior Member Advisory Board CGSS visited Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB). The visiting dignitaries met with Engr. Prof. Dr. Athar Mahboob, Vice Chancellor, Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB), Senior Head of Departments and Faculty Members. During the occasion, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed between Center for Global & Strategic Studies (CGSS), Islamabad and Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB). Both the institutions agreed to facilitate cooperation in academic research. ItRead More
‘US troops should not fully withdraw’
Washington: (DNA) The US Central Command’s top general, Marine Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie, said that he cannot recommend a full withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan unless the Taliban demonstrate they no longer support al-Qaida forces there. “If conditions would allow, we’re prepared to go to zero” by May, McKenzie said in a video conference hosted by the Washington-based think tank Middle East Institute. “If asked my opinion, those conditions have not been fully met.” The US is currently on track to reduce troops to 8,600 by next month,Read More