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Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Tarar, Naqvi discuss important issues
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and Federal Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi held a meeting to discuss matters of mutual interest, the overall law and order situation, and the constructive role of the media in national discourse. During the meeting, both ministers agreed on adopting a coordinated strategy to strengthen the state narrative, maintain public confidence, and counter misinformation on social media platforms. 'The integrity of the country, dignity of national institutions, and social harmony must be protected at all costs. No negative propaganda against these will be tolerated,' said Minister Tarar. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Indian Express
16-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, the new scheme to develop 100 agri districts across the country
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY), a scheme to develop 100 agricultural districts through the convergence of 36 schemes of 11 ministries. The scheme has an outlay of Rs 24,000 crore per year, and will be implemented for six years beginning with the current financial year, 2025-26. A master plan for the implementation of PMDDKY, which will include agriculture and allied activities, will be drawn up for every district, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said. This District Agriculture and Allied Activities Plan will be prepared by the District Dhan Dhaanya Samiti headed by the Collector, and will have progressive farmers as members. 'The District Plans will be aligned to the national goals of crop diversification, conservation of water and soil health, self-sufficiency in agriculture and allied sectors as well as expansion of natural and organic farming,' an official statement said. The plans will be based on extensive consultations and understanding cropping patterns and allied activities as per agro-climatic conditions. Committees will be set up at the district, state, and national levels for their effective implementation. Central Nodal Officers (CNOs) will be appointed for field visits, review and monitoring. Every district will have central and state agriculture universities as technical knowledge partners. PMDDKY is designed on the lines of the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) that was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2018 in the country's 112 most underdeveloped districts, with the aim of transforming them quickly and effectively. The ADP is based on the 3 Cs, Convergence (of central and state schemes), Collaboration (of central and state level nodal officers and District Collectors), and Competition among districts through monthly delta ranking based on incremental progress in 49 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) under five broad socio-economic themes: Health & Nutrition, Education, Agriculture & Water Resources, Financial Inclusion & Skill Development, and Infrastructure. The NITI Aayog, which plays an important role in the implementation and monitoring of the ADP, will also provide 'overall guidance and capacity building' support to PMDDKY. PMDDKY districts too will be ranked based on their performance. The progress of the scheme in each Dhan-Dhaanya district will be monitored on a monthly basis on 117 Key Performance Indicators, the statement said. A portal/ dashboard will be developed for this purpose. Aim of the PMDDKY The scheme was announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Union Budget presented on February 1. 'Motivated by the success of the Aspirational Districts Programme, our Government will undertake a 'Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana' in partnership with states. Through the convergence of existing schemes and specialised measures, the programme will cover 100 districts with low productivity, moderate crop intensity and below-average credit parameters,' Sitharaman had said. According to the government, the program has five objectives: (i) Enhancing agricultural productivity; (ii) Adopting crop diversification and sustainable agriculture practices; (iii) Augmenting post-harvest storage at the panchayat and block level; (iv) Improving irrigation facilities; (v) Facilitating availability of long-term and short-term credit. 'As the targeted outcomes in these 100 districts will improve, the overall average against key performance indicators will rise for the country. The scheme will result in higher productivity, value addition in agriculture and allied sector, local livelihood creation and hence increase domestic production and achieving self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat). As the indicators of these 100 districts improve, the national indicators will automatically show an upward trajectory,' the government has said. Selection of PMDDKY districts The 100 districts will be selected on the basis of three parameters – low productivity, moderate crop intensity, and below-average credit parameters. Cropping intensity is a measure of how efficiently land is used. It is defined as the percentage of gross cropped area to the net area sown. Simply put, cropping intensity means the number of crops grown on a piece of land in an agricultural year (July-June). At the all-India level, cropping intensity was recorded at 155 per cent in 2021-22, but there were variations across states. 'The number of districts in each state/ Union Territory will be based on the share of net cropped area and operational holdings. However, a minimum of one district will be selected from each state,' the statement said. Harikishan Sharma, Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express' National Bureau, specializes in reporting on governance, policy, and data. He covers the Prime Minister's Office and pivotal central ministries, such as the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Ministry of Cooperation, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Rural Development, and Ministry of Jal Shakti. His work primarily revolves around reporting and policy analysis. In addition to this, he authors a weekly column titled "STATE-ISTICALLY SPEAKING," which is prominently featured on The Indian Express website. In this column, he immerses readers in narratives deeply rooted in socio-economic, political, and electoral data, providing insightful perspectives on these critical aspects of governance and society. ... Read More
Business Recorder
12-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
MoITT explores AI-driven sign language solutions
ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT), under the leadership of Federal Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, convened a high-level meeting to explore AI-driven sign language solutions aimed at improving communication accessibility for the hearing-impaired community in Pakistan. The meeting brought together senior officials including Federal Secretary of Information and Broadcasting Ambrin Jan, representatives from the Ministry of IT, Ministry of Information, Ignite, and prominent startups from the local innovation ecosystem. Two leading Pakistani startups—ConnectHear and DeafTawk—presented their cutting-edge platforms, featuring real-time sign language interpretation, AI-powered communication tools, and offline public alert services specifically designed for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. This consultative session was held under the subcommittee on IT formed by the National Policy Board, as part of the implementation of the Access to Media (Deaf) Persons Act, 2022. The subcommittee, chaired by Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, is tasked with evaluating AI-based sign language practices and recommending inclusive technologies for public media platforms. During the session, the secretary of Information and Broadcasting proposed a pilot project on PTV, selecting one daily news bulletin for AI-based sign language interpretation. Ignite endorsed this phased approach, emphasising the importance of measurable impact to build trust in the technology. It was agreed that Connect Hear and DeafTawk will jointly develop a proof of concept (PoC) in collaboration with the Ministry of IT. Ignite will also assess the possibility of launching a National Innovation Challenge through its incubation centers to attract more tech-driven solutions for accessibility. Commending the efforts of the startups, Minister Khawaja reiterated the government's commitment to inclusive digital transformation. She stressed the need to develop a comprehensive 'super app' featuring AI tools and voice-command capabilities to enhance accessibility for persons with disabilities. The meeting concluded with consensus on inter-ministerial cooperation and support for scalable, innovative tools that can foster digital inclusion in public media and civic services. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
10-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Dialogue Among Civilisations: Tarar arrives in Beijing to attend Ministerial Conference
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar arrived in Beijing to attend the high-level Ministerial Conference on Dialogue Among Civilisations, where he will deliver a keynote address on the theme 'Civilisation Exchange and Mutual Learning: Cultural Heritage and Innovation.' The two-day forum, taking place on July 10–11, is being organised by the Publicity and International Departments of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee in collaboration with China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is part of President Xi Jinping's Global Civilization Initiative, which aims at promoting mutual respect and deeper understanding among world cultures. Minister Tarar's participation underscores Pakistan's commitment to fostering dialogue and cooperation among civilizations in the fields of culture, media, and innovation. During his visit, Minister Tarar is also scheduled to meet with Cao Shou Min, Deputy Head of the CPC Central Committee's Publicity Department and Party Secretary and Minister of China's National Radio and Television Administration. The meeting will focus on strengthening Pakistan-China media cooperation, exploring opportunities for cultural exchange, and enhancing mutual understanding between the two nations. Highlighting the importance of intercultural dialogue, Minister Tarar stated, 'Dialogue among civilisations is the foundation of global harmony, peace, and development. Pakistan will continue to play its active role in this vital process.' He added that growing media and cultural collaboration between Pakistan and China is bringing the people of both countries closer and strengthening bilateral ties. Calling the event a unique opportunity to foster mutual respect and learning across global civilisations, the minister emphasised that such initiatives reflect the shared vision of the leadership and people of Pakistan and China. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hans India
02-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Cabinet nod to upgrade TN highway
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet has given its nod for the construction of a 4-lane Paramakudi-Ramanathapuram section of the national highway 87 in Tamil Nadu, worth Rs 1,853 crore. The project aims to upgrade approximately 46.7 km of NH-87 from Paramakudi to Ramanathapuram to a 4-lane configuration, which will decongest the existing corridor, improve safety, and cater to the mobility needs of rapidly growing towns. "The project will not only enhance connectivity between major religious and economic centers but also boost tourism to Rameshwaram and Dhanushkodi, opening new avenues for trade and industrial development,' Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw said, briefing newsmen.
