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Business Recorder
22-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
NA panel reviews SMEDA, PIDC performance
ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary panel on Wednesday conducted a comprehensive examination and review of the performance, operational functions, and organisational structures of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) and the Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC). The 2nd meeting of the Sub-Committee of National Assembly Standing Committee on Industries and Production met here on Wednesday with Muhammad Mobeen Arif in chair. The committee was appraised that SMEDA is an autonomous institution of the under Ministry of Industries and Production. SMEDA was established in October 1998 for encouraging and facilitating the development and growth of small and medium enterprises in the country. SMEDA is not only an SME policy-advisory body for the government of Pakistan but also facilitates other stakeholders in addressing their SME development agendas. Further the body formulate a policy to encourage the growth of SMEs in the country and advise the government on fiscal and monetary issues related to SMEs, facilitation of Business Development Services to SMEs and facilitate the development and strengthening of SME representative bodies associations/ chambers. Currently, SMEDA has a portfolio of twenty-eight projects with a total outlay of Rs4.2 billion. The authority has provided more than 0.15 million SME facilitation, over 4750 trainings, more than 400 pre-feasibility studies and over 600 consultants profiles. PIDC primarily operates as an infrastructure developer of industrial parks /estates to facilitate industrial growth across Pakistan. Five Industrial Parks are being developed/ managed by PIDC. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
26-02-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
150 kids get bone marrow transplant in a year
"Free treatment is the right of every patient," Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has asserted while announcing that 150 bone marrow transplants have been successfully performed during the past year at Lahore Children's Hospital. She added, "Success rate of bone marrow transplant operations is above 89 per cent, very much in line with the world standards. More than Rs4.2 million has been spent on each bone marrow transplant, and children not only from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and other provinces but from Afghanistan as well were among those who underwent free bone marrow transplantation in the Children's Hospital." The chief minister said, "I will soon issue a bone marrow transplant card. Every child is more important to me than my own children. After getting the card, the parents of ailing children will be free from expenses. There is no compromise on the health of children, all resources will be provided for the purpose."
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Express Tribune
25-02-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Maryam Nawaz announces free bone marrow transplant card
Listen to article Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has announced the imminent launch of a bone marrow transplant card to facilitate treatment for patients in the province, Express News reported. According to reports, under the chief minister's initiative, 150 successful bone marrow transplants have been conducted at Lahore's Children's Hospital. The Punjab government is covering over Rs4.2 million per procedure. Children's Hospital is the first public-sector facility in Pakistan to offer bone marrow transplants. In the past year, its cancer ward has treated 2,000 patients, while more than 25,000 children have benefited from outpatient services. The hospital's bone marrow transplant success rate exceeds 89%, aligning with international standards. Patients from Sindh, Balochistan, and other provinces have also undergone procedures at the facility. Additionally, Afghan children requiring transplants have been treated free of charge in Lahore. Vice Chancellor of the University of Child Health Sciences, Dr Masood Sadiq, stated that the chief minister had directed that no child should be denied treatment due to financial constraints. The government also provides free post-operative medication, and patients undergo follow-up check-ups every 15 days. Maryam, in a statement, said, "Every child is more precious to me than my own. Free treatment is the right of every patient, and the state will fulfil its duty." She added that the introduction of the transplant card would relieve families of financial burdens. "There will be no compromise on children's health, and we will allocate all necessary resources," she affirmed.
Arab News
09-02-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Senior UN official slams inadequate global support for Pakistan's climate efforts
ISLAMABAD: United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Mohamed Yahya criticized the lack of global support for Pakistan in combating climate change this week, urging 'stronger solidarity' with the South Asian nation to aid in the reconstruction of homes following the floods over two years ago. In 2022, floods inundated one-third of Pakistan especially affecting the southeastern Sindh and southwestern Balochistan provinces, impacting 33 million people, causing 1,739 deaths and resulting in $14.9 billion (Rs4.1 trillion) in damage and $15.2 billion (Rs4.2 trillion) in economic losses, according to Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority. The Global Climate Risk Index says Pakistan is among the countries most at risk from climate change. Extreme weather events like floods, droughts, cyclones, torrential rainstorms and heatwaves have been occurring more frequently and with greater intensity across Pakistan in recent years. 'One other things we are concerned about is the lack of stronger solidarity for Pakistan around the reconstruction after the 2022 floods,' Yahya told Arab News on the sidelines of the Breathe Pakistan Climate Conference in Islamabad on Friday. He noted this was despite the fact that 'Pakistan contributes even less than one percent of global emission and is in the top five countries impacted by climate change.' Yahya described it as 'unjust' for Pakistan to be asked to take loans for rebuilding homes destroyed in floods and mitigating a crisis caused by other countries, noting that 20 countries were responsible for 80 percent of global emissions. According to the UN, the 20 countries contributing to the global greenhouse gas emissions include China, the United States, India, Russia, Japan, Germany and Iran etc. 'We obviously welcome the loans Pakistan has received but Pakistan should not be using or taking loans to rebuild things that it had very little to do with and that we think is not just,' he added. The UN official maintained the world body consistently urged polluting countries, which have contributed to the climate change disaster, to do more and show solidarity and support to the countries bearing the brunt of the climate change impact. International donors in January 2023 committed over $9 billion (Rs2.5 trillion) to help Pakistan recover from ruinous floods a year earlier, exceeding its external financing goals. Officials from some 40 countries as well as private donors and international financial institutions gathered at a meeting in Geneva as Islamabad sought funds to cover around half of a recovery bill amounting to $16.3 billion (Rs 4.5 trillion). Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also called for a grants-based and flexible financial assistance for climate resilience for developing nations like Pakistan this week. He told the Breathe Pakistan Climate Conference that without global empathy and support, 'the path to climate adaptation and green transformation will remain elusive.'
Express Tribune
04-02-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
PM inaugurates Jinnah Square
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on Tuesday, officially inaugurated the newly constructed Jinnah Square and praised the authorities for completing the project in a record time of just 72 days. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Prime Minister described the completion of the project as a significant achievement, highlighting its key features: three underpasses, 10 lanes, and the widening of 14 kilometres of roads. He expressed confidence that this development would greatly ease traffic flow in the capital. In addition to improving the flow of vehicles, the newly opened Jinnah Square is expected to enhance public convenience, reduce traffic-related pollution, and make commuting smoother. The Prime Minister extended his gratitude to the Minister for Interior and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) team for their remarkable pace and sense of responsibility, ensuring the project's swift completion. He further stated that the completion of the project was a cause for celebration, as such rapid development could help transform the future of nations. "The speed of development in Punjab has now been replaced with Mohsin's speed," the Prime Minister remarked, commending the Interior Minister's leadership and expressing his confidence that future projects in Islamabad would be completed with the same efficiency. The Prime Minister also emphasised the importance of the ongoing beautification drive in the capital. The ceremony was attended by members of parliament, the Chairman of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), the Commissioner of Islamabad, secretaries, and other relevant authorities. Federal Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi spoke at the event, acknowledging the excellent planning carried out by the CDA team, who worked tirelessly to ensure the project's completion. He also praised the efforts of the contractor and NESPAK. Earlier, the Prime Minister was briefed that the Jinnah Square project was completed in just 72 days48 days ahead of scheduleand at a reduced cost of Rs4.2 billion. Key features of Jinnah Square include three underpasses: one on Srinagar Highway from Zero Point to Murree (939 meters), another from Murree to Zero Point (939 meters), and one on Suharwardy Road, from the Convention Centre to Aabpara (835 meters).
