Latest news with #Pashtu
Business Recorder
23-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
‘Apna Meter Apni Reading' App unveiled
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif has approved phasing out the role of meter readers in power Distribution Companies (Discos) across the country except KE's service area with initiation of new mechanism 'Apna meter Apni Reading' App, to be launched soon, well informed sources told Business Recorder. Currently, Meter Readers take a snap of consumers' electricity meters which are sent to Discos to Power Information Technology Company (PITC), on the basis of which bills are generated, however, there are numerous complaints of this mechanism as consumers receive inflated bills. In this regard, Prime Minister presided over a meeting on June 17, 2025 wherein issues related to the launching of new scheme and eliminating the menace of overbilling and resolving complains through an automated system came under discussion. Policy for installing more than one electricity meter unchanged, says Power Division amid social media reports According to sources, Prime Minister directed the Power Division to install a Power Smart Mobile App with instructions for use, in both National and four regional languages (Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtu and Balochi) for easy use / application and understanding of common people. Power Division has been directed to conduct a soft launch of Power Smart Mobile App immediately in order to fix/ streamline any teething issues before the nationwide launch / inauguration by the Prime Minister. The sources said, Prime Minister has given one month to the Power Division to chalk a plan for phasing out the Meter Readers from the power metering system. Power Division in coordination with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is tasked to prepare a comprehensive and engaging media campaign clearly spelling out the objectives of this initiative for the review/ approval of Prime Minister this week. Prime Minister has also directed Power Division that savings on account of reduced administrative charges for meter reading shall be passed on to the consumers . To support the initiative, the Power Information Technology Company has also instructed all Discos to prepare comprehensive media campaigns to inform consumers about the benefits of self-reading. This move aims to eliminate the role of meter readers—many of whom have been implicated in over billing and malpractice. The government has allocated Rs. 316 million for the national media campaign. A detailed Terms of Reference (ToR) has been formulated, outlining the scope, objectives, and methodology for the campaign. Additionally, a clear responsibility matrix has been developed to define the roles and responsibilities of PITC and MEPCO—covering aspects such as media planning, vendor engagement, field activation, monitoring, and reporting. Discos have sought guidance from the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PITC with respect to their due contribution in media campaign. Clarification have also been sought on whether this amount should be deducted from the total payment and borne by individual Discos or whether PITC will facilitate the provision of promotional materials (e.g., boards, standees, banners). Discos have also urged PITC to explore the possibility of securing complimentary airtime for public service announcements through electronic media. Discos highlight the importance of PITC's support in providing the necessary documentation to ensure the success of this public awareness initiative. Furthermore, Discos have stressed the need for thorough testing and validation of applications such as the Power Smart App, Apna Meter Apni Reading, CCMS+, and the Lineman Mobile Solution prior to launch. This is vital to prevent technical issues, ensure a smooth user experience, and build consumer trust. The sources told this correspondent that PITC will ensure high performance, reliability, and a seamless user experience across all platforms during the campaign rollout. All relevant details are to be shared with full transparency to meet the codal formalities required for such government initiatives. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Memri
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Memri
Afghan Writer Criticizes Trump's Gaza Plan: U.S. 'Is The Only Power On The World Stage And A Crazy Businessman Issues Nazi-Like Orders'
In a recent Pashtu-language article, Afghan writer Mohammad Hashim Shaheen criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's proposal for the United States to take ownership of Gaza, but added that Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack in Israel introduced a fundamental change in the Middle East in which great powers have become irrelevant. [1] The article, titled "Can America/Trump Really Expel Residents From Gaza?" was published by Shahadat, a media outlet belonging to Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the former mujahideen commander and chief of Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan. "I believe that Hamas's resistance, steadfastness, and the unparalleled sacrifices of the people of Gaza have changed the game and independence [movement]. The U.S., Israel, and the Arab countries have now become largely irrelevant players in the Palestinian issue," wrote Shaheen. He added: "Israel has no alternative but to retreat. It may not even be possible for Israel to return to the 1967 borders, that is, to a two-state solution, in the next decade or two. Allah willing!" An illustration accompanying the article. Following are excerpts from the article, as translated from Pashtu: "No Doubt, One Of The Miraculous Aspects Of October 7 [Hamas Attack In Israel] Is That I Think It Emboldened The Arab Rulers To Some Extent; The Dictators Of Egypt And Jordan Also Clearly Reject Trump's Proposal" "Can America/Trump Really Expel Residents From Gaza? "Over the past few days, there has been a lot of media coverage of [U.S. President Donald] Trump's remarks about the residents of Gaza. Trump's character is that of a funny dictator; his interesting personality is that sometimes he jokes on stage and his level of sensitivity is at a record low; sometimes he shows himself to be so [in]sensitive that all he has to say is: 'I am your Lord, the Most High.' In fact, in some cases he has spoken equivalent to this sentence... "The question is: Can he really make the people of Gaza immigrate to other countries? Will this emigration be permanent or temporary? Of course, this conspiracy can be permanent, not temporary. What will be the role of the United Nations during this period? How much validity will his proposals have? These and dozens of other similar questions require detailed answers... I will try to make a brief comment on them. "First of all, I will say that nothing is far from such superpowers; they do not know spiritual values, nor anything called the shame of history. They only mention historical humiliations and defeats so that this shameful substance does not end with the peoples or rulers of Third World-grade countries and do not [counter-]interact with them similarly. Otherwise, their shameful defeats in Vietnam, Mali, Cuba, Iraq, and Afghanistan and their atrocities in places like Japan are not hidden from anyone. "No doubt, one of the miraculous aspects of the October 7 [Hamas attack in Israel] is that I think it emboldened the Arab rulers to some extent. The dictators of Egypt and Jordan also clearly reject Trump's proposal; this can be considered an interesting change... As for whether they can do this, we will say, in response, if the Israel moved a span beyond the 1967 borders, it was an act executed at the behest and will of the United States. The first and second Nakba were carried out by the Zionists with support of the same people [Americans]; they pave every way for them; there is no question of sanctions against [Israel], nor is there any suspension of aid. "One president says to stop giving them heavy bombs and the next president lifts the same sanctions [2] on the first day [in office]... This is what the whole world is observing; but what will the people without media and dumb people say about it? The leaders of the Islamic world are their own [the West's] brothers. "They (Britain and the U.S.) acted similarly during the League of Nations. Later, when that organization was replaced by the United Nations, they trampled on all the proposals of this new organization and even took actions through this organization that are still a black mark on its face today. Today Trump says that the U.S. is leaving this organization; yesterday he repeated that he will soon part ways with the UNHCR; he also expressed his intention to cut off USAID's aid. "In fact, the U.S. no longer feels the need for veto power or even the need for these powerless organizations themselves. It is the only power on the world stage and a crazy businessman issues Nazi-like orders in the name of the president... Why would they give millions, or billions of dollars in aid to the international community; they have already gotten the entire world to surrender with the help of their corrupt officials and traitorous generals. Anything can be expected from those whose history is based on oppression." "Trump Tried To Convince The Extremist Jews With His Warnings... That It Is Possible To Achieve Their Goals Without War; This Could Be One Of The Motivations Behind The [Proposed] Expulsion Of The Residents Of Gaza" "I would like to briefly mention a comment from a brother that I liked; the two comments may not be related, of course, these are assumptions and speculations, so each one should be heard: "Trump knows that Gaza has been fighting for 15 months; it has been bombed with gunpowder equal to three of the atomic bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima, and they have lost more than 70,000 people, and they still have not surrendered. While American ground forces have been fighting side by side with them (11 million Israelis [sic] are also American citizens). Of course, the Americans were openly involved in organizing the airstrikes and surveillance and reconnaissance; therefore, they cannot be wrong in assessing these facts. It was an amazing war... "The question then is why is Trump making such unacceptable decisions, while even Trump's closest allies, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan, are clearly rejecting this decision? As far as I understand, Trump has two goals in this: "The first goal is to protect the policy of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu (known as Bibi). To understand this, one must examine Israel's domestic politics. Netanyahu's Likud party has only 32 seats in the 120-member Israeli parliament (Knesset); his government is supported by four other small extremist parties; National Security Minister Ben-Gvir resigned immediately after the draft ceasefire agreement was implemented in the cabinet. Six members of his party 'Otzma Yehudit' also left the government (Netanyahu's party's majority in parliament was reduced from 68 to 62), as did Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who has seven senators. His political party 'National Religious Party-Religious Zionism' warned the prime minister that if the war does not resume immediately after the first phase of the ceasefire, they will also leave the union. "If that happens, Netanyahu's government will collapse. That's why he traveled to Washington before the second phase of the ceasefire negotiations; and that's why Trump tried to convince the extremist Jews with his warnings – that is, he made them understand that it is possible to achieve their goals without war; this could be one of the motivations behind the [proposed] expulsion of the residents of Gaza. A screenshot of the article "The second purpose of Trump's warnings could be that he wants to create a favorable atmosphere for the Abraham Accords-II, which he has already initiated. Since the Gaza war after October 7, the prestige of Arab dictators has been greatly damaged, and they are now in no position to normalize relations with Israel. Therefore, the refusal of these dictators to accept such decisions could gain them support in their own nations. "Then, while normalizing Israeli-Arab relations, they can give their nations the lollipop that it is not a loss to engage with Israel in order to prevent the U.S. from occupying Gaza permanently and to thwart the process of expelling all Palestinians. (See the official statements issued by the Emirates, Morocco, and Bahrain when they recognized Israel!) "But I believe that Hamas's resistance, steadfastness, and the unparalleled sacrifices of the people of Gaza have changed the game and independence [movement]. The U.S., Israel, and the Arab countries have now become largely irrelevant players in the Palestinian issue. Israel has no alternative but to retreat. It may not even be possible for Israel to return to the 1967 borders, that is, to a two-state solution, in the next decade or two. Allah willing." [1] (Afghanistan), February 6, 2025. [2] In late January 2025, President Trump lifted the hold that President Biden had placed on the supply to Israel of 2,000-pound bombs. January 25, 2025.
