Tuesday, November 30, 2021

SAPM Dr Sania Nishtar rejects graft in Ehsaas cash

SAPM Dr Sania Nishtar rejects graft in Ehsaas cash

on November 30, 2021 0 Comment
SAPM Dr Sania Nishtar
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Senator Dr Sania Nishtar has rejected the allegations of irregularities in the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme.

“It is unfortunate that the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has challenged the authority of the highest forum like the federal cabinet,” she said in an interaction with the media on Monday regarding special audit report pertaining to the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme prepared by the AGP.

The SAPM said the objections raised by the AGP office were adequately answered and the audit authorities had taken a stand that they were satisfied with the replies submitted in that regard.

She lamented that the AGP has included audit paragraphs in the audit report; nevertheless, the observations made were technical and advisory in nature.

“The objections raised do not point to any misappropriation, corruption or irregularities in the social security programme” she maintained.

She said that the audit objections would now be addressed in the Department Accounts Committee (DAC) and Public Accounts Committee (PAC). “After the post-audit of the programme, the social security scheme will be given clearance,” she said, dismissing the idea that the audit report was kept confidential until the IMF pressured the government to bring it to the fore.

Read Rs40b irregularities detected in PM’s Covid package

The SAPM said that the report contains ten audit observations about the Ehsaas programme and it has already been tabled in parliament. She said that the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme was completed under very unusual circumstances in the times of the Covid pandemic.

The programme was launched within 10 days of its first contemplation. Explaining the ten observations of the audit report, Dr Sania Nishtar said that in one of the audit observation it was maintained that out of the 17 million registered beneficiaries, 1.32 million people did not come to collect cash. The audit teams were told that many people registered themselves dozens of times due to which they were screened and not paid and their refunds were sent to the banks and details as such were reported to the audit authorities.

Another objection referred to government employees and pensioners in the programme. The audit recommended data updates of the BISP, Nadra, PIA, PTCL, EOBI, CGA, MAG and other departments. Dr Nishtar further said that as far as the benefit of Ehsaas Emergency Cash for tax filers and Zakat recipients was concerned, the decision was taken by the federal cabinet.

Regarding the 7th and 8th objections of the audit, Nishtar said that it was the decision of the BISP board regarding the poverty score. Sania said the BISP's poverty score in the survey was 16.17 but the Emergency Cash was raised to 37 because it had to provide assistance to more people who were directly affected by the corona virus economically.

She said that cyberattacks on our system were frequent and cases were handed over to the FIA in this regard. “Also, 11 cases of Ehsaas Emergency Cash have been handed over to FIA.”



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Pakistan stands in solidarity with Palestinian people: FO

Pakistan stands in solidarity with Palestinian people: FO

on November 30, 2021 0 Comment
Pakistan stands in solidarity with Palestinian people
Pakistan on Monday reaffirmed its consistent and unstinted support for the Palestinian people and the Palestinian cause, which has always been a defining principle of the country’s foreign policy.

“The government and people of Pakistan join the world community in observing the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (November 29),” the Foreign Office said in a statement issued.

“The commemoration of this day is a reminder to the international community that the question of Palestine remains unresolved and the Palestinian people are yet to realise their inalienable right to self-determination as provided in various resolutions of the United Nations.

“It is also an occasion to reiterate our support and solidarity for the Palestinian people who continue to wage a just struggle against an illegal and brutal occupation,” the statement added.

The Foreign Office said that the international community must shoulder its responsibility to protect the lives and fundamental rights of the Palestinian people, and play its rightful role in promoting a just and lasting resolution of the Palestinian question in accordance with international legitimacy in the interest of durable peace and stability in the Middle East.

The international community should also ensure accountability for the widespread violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in the occupied territories, it added.

“We renew our call on this day for a viable, independent and contiguous Palestinian State, with pre-1967 borders, and Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital being the only just, comprehensive and lasting solution of the Palestinian question, in accordance with the relevant United Nations and OIC resolutions,” the statement concluded.



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Babar Azam appointed Karachi Kings captain

Babar Azam appointed Karachi Kings captain

on November 30, 2021 0 Comment
Babar Azam
Pakistan cricket team skipper Babar Azam has been appointed as the captain of Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Karachi Kings, owner Salman Iqbal announced on Tuesday.

 

The batter said he had been playing for the franchise for the past five years and "it is like a family for me" now, adding that Iqbal and the franchise had shown confidence in him by appointing him as the new captain and he would give his best shot in the new leadership role.

"I enjoy when I am given a responsibility," he said.

Azam has replaced all-rounder Imad Wasim, who was appointed as the franchise's captain in 2017 and lead the team to victory for the first time in the sixth edition of Pakistan's premier Twenty20 tournament last year. Azam had knocked a commanding half-century to help his side win their first championship in five years at Karachi National Stadium, smashing seven boundaries in his 49-ball 63.

In the video shared by Iqbal, Azam said he would try to continue Wasim's legacy.

"We have already won a title," he said, expressing the hope that the team would perform well in the next edition of the PSL as well.

He also acknowledged the franchise's fans, saying that their support had been boosting the team's confidence.

"We will continue to try to entertain them and give them more [reasons] to celebrate."

Azam will be leading the franchise in the tournament's seventh edition, which, according to a Dawn report, is likely to be held in January and February next year.

The report said the Pakistan Cricket Board and all six franchises of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) had unanimously decided to hold the next edition of the league in January and February next year, with all fixtures planned on home soil.

Citing sources in franchises, it added that the tournament was to start from Karachi and end in Punjab.

 



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Moderna CEO says existing vaccines may be less effective against Omicron variant

Moderna CEO says existing vaccines may be less effective against Omicron variant

on November 30, 2021 0 Comment
Moderna
It will take months to develop a new shot of COVID-19 vaccine that works against the Omicron variant as the existing vaccines may be less effective against the new strain, the head of US vaccine manufacturer Moderna has told Financial Times.

Stephane Bancel told the newspaper in an interview published Tuesday that data would be available on the effectiveness of the current vaccines in the next two weeks but scientists were not optimistic.

"All the scientists I've talked to ... are like 'this is not going to be good'," he told the newspaper.

Bancel's warning came as G7 health ministers held emergency talks on the new variant, which is spreading around the world and prompting nations to close their borders once again or impose fresh travel restrictions.

The World Health Organization has called the risk from Omicron "very high".

Bancel said researchers were concerned because 32 of 50 mutations found in the Omicron variant were on the spike protein, a part of the virus that vaccines use to bolster the immune system against Covid.

He told the FT there would be a "material drop" in the effectiveness of current jabs against Omicron.

Moderna has already said it is working on an Omicron-specific vaccine, as is US drugmaker Pfizer.

Chief executive Bancel said his company could deliver between two billion and three billion doses in 2022 but it would be dangerous to shift all production to an Omicron-specific shot with other strains of the virus still in circulation.

His more alarming tone contrasts with efforts by politicians to project calm regarding Omicron.

US President Joe Biden said Monday the strain was "not a cause for panic".



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