logo
PM plans to replicate Azerbaijan's 'Asan Khidmat' model in Islamabad

PM plans to replicate Azerbaijan's 'Asan Khidmat' model in Islamabad

Express Tribune26-02-2025

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was briefed by Ulvi Mehdiyev, chairman of the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovation about the services offered by 'Asan Khidmat' during his visit to one of the centers in Baku, Azerbaijan on February 25, 2025. Courtesy: Press Information Department
Listen to article
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif embarked on a two-day visit to Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan this week, with a focus on strengthening bilateral relations, exploring innovative governance models, and fostering economic collaboration.
During his visit to Azerbaijan, PM Shehbaz visited the Asan Khidmat (ASAN XIDMAT) centre in Baku, a one-stop facility offering over 400 services to residents.
He praised the centre's advanced technology and efficient service delivery systems, which he described as a reflection of the visionary leadership of Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev.
The PM expressed interest in replicating this model in Islamabad, stating, 'We would love to benefit from Azerbaijan's experience,' and announced plans to initiate a pilot project based on the Asan Khidmat model.
The centre, which integrates services from over 30 government and 15 private institutions, has become a symbol of efficient public service delivery.
PM Shehbaz was briefed on the centre's comprehensive governance reforms, which ensure transparency, accountability, and the involvement of citizens' feedback in improving services.
Additionally, he learned about the Mobile Asan Khidmat service, which delivers public services directly to local communities through specially designed buses and trains.
In a move to further strengthen ties, PM Shehbaz invited a team from the centre to visit Pakistan and explore potential cooperation opportunities.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

PM hails rising remittances and PSX boost
PM hails rising remittances and PSX boost

Business Recorder

time4 hours ago

  • Business Recorder

PM hails rising remittances and PSX boost

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday hailed a sharp rise in remittances and record gains in the country's stock market, describing them as signs of growing investor and public confidence in the government's economic policies. In a statement, the prime minister expressed satisfaction over a 13.7 percent increase in remittances for May 2025, compared to the same month last year. Pakistan received $3.7 billion in remittances during the month, contributing to a total of $34.9 billion for the current fiscal year – up 28.8 per cent from the previous year. 'The increase in remittances is evidence of the growing confidence of overseas Pakistanis in the government's economic policies,' he added. Sharif credited the government's economic strategy and the newly unveiled 'people-friendly' federal budget for 2025-26 as signs of a brighter future. He emphasised that the budget, presented a day earlier, introduced no new tax burden on the general public and included pay raises and tax cuts designed to ease pressure on the salaried class. Sharif also celebrated a record high in the Pakistan Stock Exchange, which surged to 124,000 points – a milestone he said reflected growing investor confidence. 'The journey to national economic progress has begun,' he remarked. 'The people of Pakistan have made immense sacrifices. Now, we all must work together to improve the life of the common man.' He paid tribute to his economic team, crediting them for reducing inflation, increasing foreign exchange reserves, boosting exports, and helping Pakistan avoid default. 'This historic economic turnaround, achieved through hard work and prioritising the national interest, will be remembered in history,' he said. Separately, a delegation from the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) met with the prime minister to express full support for his initiatives aimed at economic development and public welfare. The delegation, led by Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain, praised the government for presenting what they called a balanced and forward-looking federal budget. They also commended the prime minister for his leadership during recent tensions with India and his efforts to raise Pakistan's profile on the global stage. Local development issues relating to their constituencies were also discussed during the meeting. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025

Budget has failed to provide any relief to agri sector, business community: PBF
Budget has failed to provide any relief to agri sector, business community: PBF

Business Recorder

time4 hours ago

  • Business Recorder

Budget has failed to provide any relief to agri sector, business community: PBF

KARACHI: The Pakistan Business Forum (PBF) has expressed serious reservations over the federal budget for the fiscal year 2025-26. Speaking to the media, Chief Organizer of PBF, Ahmad Jawad, stated that the budget fails to provide any relief to the agriculture sector and the business community. 'Contrary to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's vision, the agriculture sector has once again been overlooked. With no substantial support, how does the government plan to achieve its 4.5% agricultural growth target?' Jawad questioned. He noted that in the ongoing fiscal year (2024-25), farmers already delivered with 0.56% growth in response to government's priority, a warning sign that remains unaddressed. Jawad further criticized the government's economic strategy, pointing out that this is the fourth budget by Shehbaz Sharif's team, yet it shows no roadmap for export-led growth. 'There was an expectation for a significant reduction in super tax, but the relief provided is negligible,' he added. The PBF also voiced strong objections to certain provisions in the Finance Bill, specifically Sections 14AC, 14AD, and 37AA. 'These measures, along with the new tax collection target of PKR 14,131 billion — a nearly 9% increase from last year will fuel inflation,' Jawad warned. He also criticized the absence of any strategy to broaden the tax net, while the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has been granted unchecked powers that may stifle business activity. Furthermore, the PBF called for a review of the allocation of over PKR 8 trillion to the provinces. 'Provinces should contribute to national development projects and the defence budget. The Punjab government currently enjoys a cash surplus and should return part of it to the federal government,' Jawad suggested. The forum also rejected the possibility of an increased petroleum levy and opposed the introduction of a carbon levy. Jawad said the business community had hoped the government would announce a reduction in electricity tariffs to 9 cents per unit. Instead, the government plans shall take a loan of PKR 1,250 billion to settle the circular debt and the interest of that loan will be bear by consumers through electricity bills. Jawad also said that the budget is disappointing for those who thought the economic stability achieved over the last year and a half would encourage implementation of deeper structural reforms for sustainable economic growth. 'There is not much in the budget to give hope for such a structural shift.' Despite these concerns, the PBF official welcomed the reduction in Federal Excise Duty (FED) and withholding tax in the property sector and acknowledged a significant change in the regulatory duty regime as a positive step. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025

PM leaves for UAE today
PM leaves for UAE today

Business Recorder

time4 hours ago

  • Business Recorder

PM leaves for UAE today

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will embark on an official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday (June 12). The visit reflects the deep-rooted fraternal ties between Pakistan and the UAE, which are marked by mutual trust, shared values, and close cooperation across multiple sectors, said the Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson in a statement. The prime minister will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, federal ministers, and other senior officers. Prime Minister Sharif will hold high-level meetings with the UAE leadership, including a bilateral meeting with the President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. A wide range of bilateral, regional, and global issues of mutual interest and concern will be discussed during the high-level interactions. The Prime Minister's visit will serve to further strengthen the longstanding brotherly relations between Pakistan and the UAE, deepen economic ties, and foster multifaceted collaboration. This visit is a manifestation of Pakistan's and UAE's shared commitment to bolstering the mutually beneficial strategic partnership, enhancing cooperation in existing areas of mutual interest, and exploring new avenues for further strengthening the bilateral cordial relations. Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif undertook an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) on 5–6 June on eve of Eid-ul-Azha. He was accompanied by a high-level delegation. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store