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Business Recorder
16-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
‘Success comes with sincere intentions and hard work,' says Punjab CM
LAHORE: 'Public funds are trust of the people, we are accountable to Allah Almighty,' said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif while addressing the 27th meeting of the provincial cabinet. The CM added, 'Success comes with sincere intention and hard work, this year we will work even harder than the last year. We are not only giving a zero tax budget, but the largest development budget. The previous development budget was also a record; we will break all our own records. We not only gave a surplus budget of Rs 740 billion despite fulfilling IMF conditions, but also delivered by imposing emergency in the province.' The Chief Minister said, '100 new innovative programmes and projects started in Punjab, 700 roads are being built, construction and expansion of 12,000 kms of roads is a big record. Full attention is focused on the people; there is no example of such a hefty budget in health and education in the history. Free medicines will be available everywhere. We will also meet our target of providing essential facilities in government schools during this year.' The CM underscored, 'A record of cleanliness was set across the province on Eid. It is easy to increase taxes by increasing their rate, but instead we will focus on enhancing the tax net. If we build two or four big projects, it seems as if a big job has been done, but we have brought 100 new programmes. More than 40,000 houses could not even be made in 40 years but we have made them in just one year.' Maryam Nawaz Sharif said, 'I have memorized figures related to each department in 2025-26 budget which will prove to be an unprecedented budget in the history of the country. We will review the provision of bonus to government employees based on their performance, while minimum wage of a labourer is fixed at 40,000/month.' She emphasised, 'Wage system should be digitalized. The rate of local debt in Punjab has decreased by a record 94 percent. We are presenting a historic package of public service. Governance is improving due to financial discipline.' She added, 'The entire progress will be presented in the provincial assembly, everyone will tell how much funds were spent where. No scandal surfaced due to e-tendering and good governance.' She flagged, 'senior minister worked all night to finalise the budget, and I congratulate her for this. I also congratulate Chief Secretary and his entire team; Nawaz Sharif also praises them. Success achieved was given by Allah Almighty, the intention is good, and we will continue to work even harder.' Senior Minister & Minister for Planning and Development Marriyum Aurangzeb and Finance Minister gave a detailed briefing to the cabinet. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Irish Independent
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Planning sought to turn former Wexford convent into IPAS centre
Although Wexford County Council ruled the development non-exempt in the previous application, Ian Skeffington has lodged another application, with letters supporting the need for the centre. The application is looking to see if the project would be ruled a development or exempt from planning permission, specifying that the occupants are to be Ukrainian and international protection applicants. The cover letter consists of a letter from Farry Town Planning Ltd, as a referral pursuant, that emphasises the need for appropriate accommodation for refugees fleeing conflict. "There is a clearly a great need nationally for all types of residential accommodation, ranging from standard houses and apartments, through student dwellings and nursing homes and onwards to centres for wartime refugees and international protection applicants and every effort needs to be made by the various stakeholders, including the Planning Authority, to accelerate the delivery of such housing,' they wrote. "Indeed, all participants in this overall process must aim to promote the provision of such accommodation, to the degree that these types of dwellings are required immediately and not at some future stage." "We thus respectfully invite Wexford County Council to endorse this referral request, in order that this heritage building can be used for war refugees and international protection applicants,' they added. As part of their argument, they highlighted that, in short, the temporary use of the former convent to house both Ukrainian and international protection applicants does not need the usual planning permissions under current laws. They pointed to the European Union (Planning and Development) (Disgraced Persons from Ukraine Temporary Protection) Regulations 2022 which specifically exempt temporary accommodation for displaced persons from usual planning rules. Regarding housing international protection applicants within the building also, they said this also does not require planning consent under the Planning and Development (Exempted Development) (No 4) Regulations 2022, as long as the building is not protected by heritage laws. A document comprised by Chris Ryan, a RIAI Grade 1 Conservation Architect, also ruled that the proposed change of use would turn an underutilised building into an establishment with use, without negative impacts on the structure while restoring the South garden. Included in the application, is a letter from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth addressed to Ian Skeffington in which they confirm they are interested in using the site should he acquire appropriate permissions.
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First Post
04-06-2025
- Business
- First Post
Pakistan cuts PoK development budget, raises money for Chinese projects
The Pakistani government has slashed the budget for the PoK by 16 per cent, from 75 billion Pakistani rupees to 63 billion ($222 million), which would leave the region 'handicapped' read more The Pakistani federal government has significantly reduced the developmental budget for Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), which includes Gilgit-Baltistan; and raised money for Chinese projects in the country in its national development programme worth a record Rs 4.083 trillion ($14.4 billion). Islamabad cited 'tight control of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)' for its controversial move. Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal admitted the country faced 'some limitations with the IMF programme and thus the challenge ahead was to leverage the limited resources to achieve maximum returns from each project.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD PoK budget slashed by 16% The Pakistani government has slashed the budget for the PoK by 16 per cent, from 75 billion Pakistani rupees to 63 billion ($222 million). Pakistani newspaper Dawn reported that the region would be 'handicapped by lower allocations'. Ahsan Iqbal said that 'the majority [of allocation] is for water, power and highway sector,' with most of the projects being operated by the Chinese. Budget raised for Chinese projects Islamabad has raised allocation for Diamer-Bhasha Dam as well as the Hyderabad–Sukkur Motorway, both are being developed by the Chinese. In May 2020, the Pakistani government had signed a 442 billion PKR contract with a joint venture of China Power and Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), an engineering arm of the Pakistani Army, for the construction of the Diamer-Bhasha dam. Meanwhile, The M-6 Motorway or the Karachi port-Sukkur–Hyderabad Motorway is being built as a part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Interestingly, Islamabad has allocated Rs1 trillion development budget for the upgradation of the N-25 Highway in Balochistan, which runs from Chaman to Karachi through Quetta. 'Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed that Rs120 billion ($426.7 million) be allocated for N25 Chaman-Quetta-Karachi Expressway,' Iqbal said at a press conference in Islamabad. This upgradation too is happening under the ambit of the CPEC. However, the Pakistani government earlier claimed its upgradation was being financed by savings from reduced global oil prices. The 2025–26 budget is expected to be presented by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb in Pakistan's lower house of parliament on June 10, following the Eid Al-Adha holidays. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Business Recorder
03-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
PM orders removal of impediments to execution of Diamer Bhasha Dam
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed authorities to remove all obstacles to the timely completion of the $15 billion Diamer-Bhasha Dam, calling it vital for the country's energy security and agricultural self-reliance. The prime minister, while chairing a high-level meeting on water resources, stressed that building new dams was crucial to expand water storage capacity, ensure reliable irrigation, and reduce the risk of floods. 'The country's self-reliance depends on affordable power and agriculture, both of which require increased water storage and efficient usage,' he said, urging officials to prioritise major hydropower projects. 'Cost of Diamer-Bhasha Dam Project has increased 119.21pc' Sharif added that affordable electricity and agricultural growth were key to the country's economic independence, and vowed full government support to advance these priorities. The Diamer-Bhasha Dam – a 4,500-megawatt concrete-filled gravity hydropower project under construction on the Indus River between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan – is expected to rank among the world's largest dams upon completion. It will not only generate electricity but also irrigate 1.2 million acres of farmland, create 16,500 jobs, and extend the operational life of the Tarbela Dam by 35 years. The meeting was attended by federal ministers,AhsanIqbal, Amir Muqam, AzamNazeerTarar, MoeenWattoo, Adviser RanaSanaullah, Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Gulbar Khan, and senior officials. It is pertinent to mention that last month, Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal said the government would fast-track hydropower projects to counter potential Indian moves to divert water from shared rivers. His remarks came after India put in abeyance its participation in the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, accusing Pakistan of orchestrating the Pahalgam attack. However, Pakistan vehemently denied the allegations, terming it a false flag operation carried out by India itself. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
03-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Dar for meeting SAP uplift targets in timely manner
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister/ Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar chaired the 46th Steering Committee meeting of the Sustainable Development Goals Achievement Programme (SAP). The meeting was attended by key stakeholders, including federal ministers for Inter-provincial Coordination, Planning and Development, Power, Parliamentary Affairs, SAPM Tariq Bajwa; federal secretaries; Members of the National Assembly, and representatives of provincial governments. The meeting focused on reviewing the utilisation of savings and available funds with executing agencies, and streamlining implementation to ensure timely completion of ongoing schemes. 'Resources utilized in best interest of citizens' The DPM/FM emphasised the importance of fully utilising the allocated resources before the close of the current financial year, underscoring the need to deliver results within the stipulated timelines. He directed all stakeholders to expedite efforts to ensure timely development targets. The DPM/FM noted the government's resolve to aligning development efforts with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), for inclusive and meaningful progress that reflects the development priorities of the nation. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
