
Over 3,000 applications for financial assistance for veteran artists received
Responding to a question raised in the parliamentary sessions by Mr. Ramesh, the Union Ministry of Culture and Tourism replied that the quantum of financial assistance under the scheme has been enhanced from ₹4,000 per month to ₹6,000 per month effective from June 2022. The enhancement recognises the significant contribution by veteran artists in promoting art and culture, and to mitigate the hardships faced by them.
To ensure smooth and timely disbursal of financial assistance to the selected artists, an MoU has been signed with Canara Bank on June 28 in 2023, the Ministry said in its reply.
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Hindustan Times
7 hours ago
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Economic Times
8 hours ago
- Economic Times
Pakistan, Iran decide to increase bilateral trade to USD 8 billion annually
AI-generated image used for representation Pakistan and Iran agreed on Sunday to increase bilateral trade to USD 8 billion annually, taking advantage of their geography and the "discount of distance," as trade ministers from the two countries held discussions to deepen economic and political ties. The agreement was reached during a meeting between Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan and Iranian Minister for Industry, Mines and Trade Mohammad Atabak on the sidelines of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's two-day state visit to Pakistan. Pezeshkian landed in Lahore on Saturday afternoon and then flew to the capital in the evening. A statement by the Commerce Ministry here said the high-level discussion between Khan and Atabak marked a renewed commitment from both sides to accelerate trade, remove border bottlenecks, and build trust-based partnerships across priority sectors. "[During the meeting], Kamal envisioned that, if fully leveraged, bilateral trade between Pakistan and Iran could easily exceed USD 5-8 billion annually in the coming years," the ministry said. Before departing from Tehran, Pezeshkian had said Iran and Pakistan have always maintained "good, sincere, and deep relations" and plan to increase bilateral trade volume to USD 10 billion annually. During Sunday's meeting, emphasis was placed on maximising the potential of neighbourhood trade, with Khan highlighting how ASEAN countries have benefited enormously by trading within their region. "Geography is an advantage. Pakistan and Iran must utilise this discount of distance. If we don't, we lose both time and cost benefits," he stated. The Pakistani minister suggested organising targeted trade delegations that include representatives from federal and provincial chambers of commerce, enabling focused discussions on market access and regulatory facilitation, according to the statement. "We've done this model successfully in Belarus and elsewhere," he was quoted in the statement as saying. "Let's do the same for Iran, starting with sectors that show the greatest potential for mutual benefit." The ministers also expressed a shared commitment to increasing the use of existing trade corridors and border facilities. Atabak also highlighted ongoing discussions about increasing Pakistani exports to Iran and encouraged swift follow-up on newly signed agreements. "Traders and industrialists in both countries are ready. They trust each other. What they need now is a clear and consistent facilitation mechanism from our side," he noted. Khan said that beyond bilateral gains, such connectivity could expand to Turkey, Central Asia, Russia, and even parts of West Asia, creating an economic bloc of substantial power and resilience. Atabak supported the idea of holding a dedicated B2B day during every high-level visit and offered to bring Iranian business groups to Pakistan for in-depth meetings, the statement said. Both ministers agreed on the importance of identifying specific sectors such as agriculture, livestock, services, energy, and cross-border logistics for future collaboration, the statement said. "With high-level political alignment and mutual trust, Pakistan and Iran appear poised to enter a new phase of strategic economic partnership that could reshape regional trade dynamics," it added.


News18
9 hours ago
- News18
Pakistan, Iran decide to increase bilateral trade to USD 8 billion annually
Last Updated: Islamabad, Aug 3 (PTI) Pakistan and Iran agreed on Sunday to increase bilateral trade to USD 8 billion annually, taking advantage of their geography and the 'discount of distance," as trade ministers from the two countries held discussions to deepen economic and political ties. The agreement was reached during a meeting between Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan and Iranian Minister for Industry, Mines and Trade Mohammad Atabak on the sidelines of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's two-day state visit to Pakistan. Pezeshkian landed in Lahore on Saturday afternoon and then flew to the capital in the evening. A statement by the Commerce Ministry here said the high-level discussion between Khan and Atabak marked a renewed commitment from both sides to accelerate trade, remove border bottlenecks, and build trust-based partnerships across priority sectors. '[During the meeting], Kamal envisioned that, if fully leveraged, bilateral trade between Pakistan and Iran could easily exceed USD 5–8 billion annually in the coming years," the ministry said. Before departing from Tehran, Pezeshkian had said Iran and Pakistan have always maintained 'good, sincere, and deep relations" and plan to increase bilateral trade volume to USD 10 billion annually. During Sunday's meeting, emphasis was placed on maximising the potential of neighbourhood trade, with Khan highlighting how ASEAN countries have benefited enormously by trading within their region. 'Geography is an advantage. Pakistan and Iran must utilise this discount of distance. If we don't, we lose both time and cost benefits," he stated. The Pakistani minister suggested organising targeted trade delegations that include representatives from federal and provincial chambers of commerce, enabling focused discussions on market access and regulatory facilitation, according to the statement. 'We've done this model successfully in Belarus and elsewhere," he was quoted in the statement as saying. 'Let's do the same for Iran, starting with sectors that show the greatest potential for mutual benefit." The ministers also expressed a shared commitment to increasing the use of existing trade corridors and border facilities. Atabak also highlighted ongoing discussions about increasing Pakistani exports to Iran and encouraged swift follow-up on newly signed agreements. 'Traders and industrialists in both countries are ready. They trust each other. What they need now is a clear and consistent facilitation mechanism from our side," he noted. Khan said that beyond bilateral gains, such connectivity could expand to Turkey, Central Asia, Russia, and even parts of West Asia, creating an economic bloc of substantial power and resilience. Atabak supported the idea of holding a dedicated B2B day during every high-level visit and offered to bring Iranian business groups to Pakistan for in-depth meetings, the statement said. Both ministers agreed on the importance of identifying specific sectors such as agriculture, livestock, services, energy, and cross-border logistics for future collaboration, the statement said. 'With high-level political alignment and mutual trust, Pakistan and Iran appear poised to enter a new phase of strategic economic partnership that could reshape regional trade dynamics," it added. PTI SH NPK ZH NPK NPK view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.