Day: November 19, 2021

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Together with the government we are working for the welfare of the people inside and outside the parliament: Ch Parvez Elahi 

Lahore, November 19, 2021 (PPI-OT):PTI Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions (Safron) Sahibzada Mehboob Sultan along with Ghulam Bibi Bharwana MNA and Dr Khalid Irshad calls on Speaker Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, Federal Minister for Water Resources Moonis Elahi and Salik Hussain MNA at their residence today. Chairman PAC Punjab Assembly Sajid Ahmad Khan Bhatti was also present in the Punjab Assembly on the occasion. Issues of mutual interest including the current national and political situation were discussed during the meeting.

Ch Parvez Elahi said that PML is working with the government on the path of welfare of the people and in this regard they are playing their role well inside and outside the parliament. Sahibzada Mehboob Sultan while inquiring about the welfare of Ch Shujat Hussain said that the period from 2002 to 2008 was a golden era in Punjab, the wheel of prosperity was in full swing, that is why the people are still remembering that period of development.

For more information, contact:
Mediacell, Pakistan Muslim League
30-C, Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi Road,
Gulberg-II, Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-35878428
Fax: +92-42-35877329
Website: www.pmlmediacell.com

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The founding day of Pakistan Peoples Party will be celebrated in Peshawar under any circumstances: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari 

Karachi, November 19, 2021 (PPI-OT):Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that time is up for Imran Khan to be worried as highly committed Jiyalas (PPP’s diehard workers) are ready to defeat him at his home-ground. Addressing a packed public gathering here on Friday, Chairman PPP said that his party belongs to working-class, laborers, students and all the segments of the society, adding that it is party martyrs and Jiyalas, which never demolished the houses of the poor, rather it gives them houses, and it does not snatch jobs from the youth, but provides. He said that when someone is Selected and brought, he will only make the selectors happy.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari asked the participants in the public-meeting whether their children got jobs from the present government. To this the participants replied in negative. He asked another question, “Did any of you get home?” The people in the answered in unison, “No, no house was found.” He asked said “Imran Khan is a liar, and makes false claims”.

He further said that Imran Khan had promised 10 million jobs, but he snatched employment from million. Thousands of Pakistan Steel mills were laid off. Under the guise of encroachment, the houses of the poor were demolished. This government has attacked every institution, including PTDC, federal bodies, and institutions of provincial governments. What kind of justice is this, and what kind of “Tabdeeli” is this? The youth of the country are walking around with even two degrees in their hands.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that when there was PPP government, it used to give jobs, not snatch them. He pointed out that the PPP government had launched the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) to provide financial assistance to poor women. Pensions were increased by 100% and salaries by 150%, while salaries of soldiers were also increased by a record. But now the result of Khan’s anti-people policy and the IMF deal have upset the all the people.

He said that we can solve the problems of poor people by following the manifesto of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and the ideology of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, but all that is required for this is that there should be a government of “Jiyalas” in the country. PPP Chairman further said that Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, during his pro-people government, gave jobs to the youth, and for whom employment was not being arranged in the country, Shaheed Bhutto provided them free passports and managed jobs for them abroad. He said that as for Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, it was famous that “Benazir will come, will bring employment”.

Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto not only provided employment to the youth and men of the country, but also created employment opportunities for the women of this land. “In the history of Pakistan, no one has given as much jobs as Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto”, he added.

He said that Pakistan needs a government which must be a pro-poor and gives relief to the common man, adding that there is no need of the government which, like the present regime, provides relief only to the billionaire owners of the construction sector and banks. He said that the common man can be given relief in the form of increase in salaries, increase in minimum wage, and increase in pension.

“When the PPP will come into power, labour cards and youth card will be issued for the laborers and youth respectively. He said that the current government does not have a single policy to reduce poverty and unemployment, adding that Imran Khan’s every effort is to rob people’s votes and pockets, but we would thwart all such conspiracies through the struggle.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that this is his message to Imran Khan that PPP cadres could no longer forgive the puppet-government and would hold it accountable, and the arrow is out of the bow. He said that the founding day of Pakistan Peoples Party would be celebrated in Peshawar under any circumstances. He said that workers from all corners of the country should come and attend the public-meeting to be held in Peshawar on the occasion of party’s Foundation Day. He said that now is the time for PPP, and the era of Pakistan Peoples Party has returned.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, addressing the participants, said that he was hopeful that by voting for the PPP in every next election, they would elect the youth like Ahad Khattak. “The 70-year-old player who was trying to fool people in the name of youth has now been badly exposed”. He said that now there will be youth’s politics, there will be youth’s government and the problems of the youth will be solved. “Now is the time for a new generation,” he concluded.

For more information, contact:
PPP Media Cell (Sindh)
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)
Peoples Secretariat Shikarpur Colony,
Behind Mazar-e-Quaid-e-Azam, Karachi, Pakistan
Cell: +92-305-3370383
Email: contact@ppp-tu.com
Website: https://www.ppp.org.pk

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Senate passes four government bills amid opposition’s protest 

Islamabad, November 19, 2021 (PPI-OT):The Senate passed four government bills on Friday amid opposition’s protest, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in the Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during the seventh sitting of 315th session:

Members’ Participation

The Senate met for two hours and 14 minutes.

The sitting started at the scheduled time of 10:30 am.

The chairman presided over the entire sitting.

The deputy chairman was also present.

The leader of the house attended the entire sitting.

The leader of the opposition did not attend the sitting.

The Prime Minister was not present.

As many as 21 lawmakers (21%) were present at the outset and 64 (64%) at the adjournment of sitting.

The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, PTI, PkMAP, PML, PML-F, BAP and JI attended the sitting.

Three minority lawmaker were present.

Output

The House passed two government bills appearing on the agenda which were the Higher Education Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2021 and the Higher Education Commission (Second Amendment) Bill, 2021.

Four bills were referred to the relevant committees which included the Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the National Commission on the Rights of Child (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Juvenile Justice System (Amendment) Bill, 2021 and the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

The House considered supplementary agenda which included two bills including the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Bill, 2021 and the National Accountability (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

Moved by Minister for Human Rights, the House passed the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Bill, 2021. Thirty-five (35) lawmakers voted in favour of the bill and 29 lawmakers opposed it.

Minister for Law and Justice moved the National Accountability (Amendment) Bill, 2021 which was passed by House.

On behalf of Chairman Committee on Delegated Legislation, a member of the committee presented first quarterly report of the Committee for the period from June to August 2021.

Representation and Responsiveness

The House took up 12 out of 53 starred questions while the lawmakers asked 31 supplementary questions.

The House passed eight motions granting extension to various standing committees for presentation of reports on legislative proposals and matters referred to them.

A motion of thanks to the President for his address to Parliament on September 13, 2021 was not taken up.

Five lawmakers spoke on points of public importance for ten minutes.

Order and Institutionalization

The opposition staged protest for 36 minutes during the proceedings against the consideration of supplementary agenda.

The session was prorogued sine die.

Transparency

Orders of the Day was available to the legislators, observers and public.

Attendance of lawmakers was available to the media and observers.

For more information, contact:
Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN)
FAFEN Representative
FAFEN Secretariat 224, Margalla Road F-10/3 – Islamabad
Tel: +92-51-2211026
Fax: +92-51-2211047
Cell: +92-321-5017355, +92-301-8549188
Email: media@fafen.org
URL: www.fafen.org

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Men: Make Your Health a Priority

Karachi, November 19, 2021 (PPI-OT):​Men’s health is often neglected – shoved under the carpet of masculine strength and fortitude. This neglect invariably leads to health problems, often not limited to just physical, but also mental health issues. International Men’s Day on November 19 celebrates the contributions and achievements of men and is observed also to advocate for men’s physical and mental health. The Aga Khan University Hospital supports the cause to talk about and promote the importance of men’s health and wellbeing. The University Hospital offers tertiary care for common medical problems men face, and this year, is focusing on conversation around men’s mental health and prostate and testicular cancer.

Mental Health

Society’s expectations and traditional gender roles explain why men are less likely to discuss or seek help for their mental health problems. Gender stereotypes can be damaging and raise mental issues for men. Suicide is one of the most common reasons of death in men under the age of 50.

Research also suggests that men who can’t speak openly about their emotions may be less able to recognise symptoms of mental health problems in themselves and less likely to reach out for support.

According to Dr Nargis Asad, Clinical Psychologist and Associate Professor Department of Psychiatry at the Aga Khan University, Karachi, the most common mental health issues men and boys suffer from include depression, bipolar illnesses, schizophrenia, neurodevelopmental disorders, autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

“Cultural norms related to traditional masculine role puts men under immense stress; culture expects men to be strong, in control of emotions, and showing signs of distress or emotionality is akin to being weak. The role of a bread earner is also a strain, and asking women to help financially is again considered as unmanly,” says Dr Asad.

Prostate Cancer

The prostate is a gland in the urine passage which produces semen. Men in later years of life can develop cancer in the prostate gland. Unfortunately, there are no apparent signs of this disease in the early phase and there are no clear causes. However, an overall unhealthy lifestyle, tobacco use, and multiple sex partners are some general causes.

According to Professor and Section Head, Urology at Aga Khan University, Dr Hammad Ather, prostate cancer is the 13th most common type of cancer in Pakistan and 5th most common among men. Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men over 60 years of age.

Asian men less likely to develop prostate cancer. Even men at greater risk due to age, race, or genetics can reduce their chances of developing this type of cancer by adopting healthy diets and lifestyles. However, early detection is in high-risk populations is the only way to receive early treatment. One of the risks besides genetic and race is a family member (father or brother) having prostate cancer.

“Prostate cancer is preventable by reducing fat intake, increasing the consumption of fruits, vegetables, green tea, soy, and avoiding charred meat,” says Dr Hammad.

Testicular Cancer

Testicular cancer manifests itself as a hard lump in the testes and is often not associated with any pain. According to Dr Hammad, testicular cancer is not very common in Pakistan and ranks 28th in terms of frequency. Two in every 100,000 people are affected by this cancer.

“If testicular cancer is diagnosed in its initial stages, it can be treated by surgical removal of the testis followed by radiation and chemotherapy. This tumour responds very well to chemotherapy and is considered as the most responsive to chemotherapy.”

Family history of testicular cancer is also a risk factor, and it is advised to do testicular self-examination regularly to identify the disease early. This form of cancer is highly treatable, even when it has spread beyond the testicle. Depending on the type and stage of testicular cancer, you may receive one of several treatments or a combination.

To book an appointment, call: (021) 111 911 911 Or visit our website to request an appointment​.

For more information, contact:
Marketing and Communications,
The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH)
Stadium Road, P.O. Box 3500, Karachi – 74800, Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-111-911-911
Email: akuh.information@aku.edu
Website: https://hospitals.aku.edu/pakistan/

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Balochistan’s coal miners must not be neglected any longer

Quetta, November 19, 2021 (PPI-OT):A Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) fact-finding mission is gravely concerned to find that coalminers remain vulnerable to severe human rights violations. According to the Pakistan Central Mines Labour Federation, at least 176 miners were killed and 180 injured in mining accidents in 2021. Miners in Balochistan face the additional risk of targeted attacks by non-state actors.

Based on the sample of mines the team visited, onsite healthcare is the exception rather than the norm. Given that coal mining is classified internationally as a hazardous occupation, mine owners and contractors must ensure that every mining site has a functioning ambulance service and onsite emergency health worker, and that regular internal safety inspections are carried out. With respect to external safety inspections, the fact that only 27 mine inspectors are available to oversee health and safety in over 6,000 mines in the province is also cause for concern.

The mission’s broad findings reveal that the majority of coalminers are not registered with the EOBI or other social security programmes. This implies that they are not eligible for employment benefits or pensions, leaving them highly vulnerable once they are no longer able to work. There are also concerns that the compensation for death and injury is lower in Balochistan (PKR 300,000) than in other provinces (PKR 500,000) – this must be rectified promptly.

Many labour union representatives also say they are deeply unhappy with the contractor system of operating coal mines because contractors have less stake in ensuring the safety and security of their workers and resort to cost-cutting measures. It is also a matter of concern that, in many cases, contractors themselves function as the heads of labour unions, which represents a potential conflict of interest.

HRCP also recommends that the government upgrade the status of the coal mining sector to an industry and hold mine owners as well as contractors accountable for running their sites in line with the provisions of the Mines Act 1923 and subsequent amendments.

The government must also ratify and implement ILO Convention 176 on safety and health in mines as soon as possible. We also urge the state to invest in health, education and infrastructure in and around coal mining areas specifically and across the province in general. The mission’s detailed report will be released as soon as possible.

For more information, contact:
Chairperson,
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP)
Aiwan-i-Jamhoor, 107-Tipu Block,
New Garden Town, Lahore-54600
Tel: +92-42-35864994
Fax: +92-42-35883582
Email: hrcp@hrcp-web.org
Website: www.hrcp-web.org

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Sindh Assembly addresses one-fourth agenda 

Islamabad, November 19, 2021 (PPI-OT):The Sindh Assembly addressed one-fourth agenda on Friday and adopted a supplementary resolution, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the House proceedings during the third sitting of 24th session:

Members’ Participation

The House met for an hour and 24 minutes.

The sitting started at 11:16 am against the scheduled time of 10:00 am.

The deputy speaker presided over the entire sitting in the absence of speaker.

The leader of the House (chief minister) did not attend the sitting.

The opposition leader was present for 43 minutes.

As many as 34 MPAs (20 percent) were present at the outset and 57 (34 percent) at the adjournment of the sitting.

The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, PTI, MQMP and MMAP attended the proceedings.

Seven out of nine minority lawmakers attended the proceedings.

Output

The House did not consider seven audit reports, the budget execution report from July 01, 2021 to September 30, 2021 and report of standing committee on food on the Sindh Food Fortification Bill, 2020.

Tabled by a PPPP lawmaker, the House adopted a supplementary resolution recommending the federal government to take parliament into confidence regarding talks with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. A lawmaker spoke on this resolution for five minutes.

Representation and Responsiveness

The House did not consider an adjournment motion and a privilege motion.

The House took up one out of five starred questions while lawmakers asked seven supplementary questions. Four questions were not taken up due to absence of relevant lawmakers.

The House took up three calling attention notices (CANs) regarding tests conducted for appointment of teachers, release of funds to Administrator local government for all DMCs of Karachi Districts and the death of Mst. Zakia Shahid during anti-encroachment drive at Gujjar Nallah.

Two other CANs on the agenda were not taken up.

Ministers for irrigation and energy gave policy statements in the House regarding shortage of water and gas in the province.

Order and Institutionalization

Lawmakers belonging to MQMP, PTI and GDA protested for five minutes during the proceedings when the Chair disallowed its lawmakers to speak on points of order.

The House was adjourned to meet again on Monday, November 22, 2021 at 02:00 pm.

Transparency

‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.

The attendance of lawmakers was not available to the media and observers.

For more information, contact:
Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN)
FAFEN Representative
FAFEN Secretariat 224, Margalla Road F-10/3 – Islamabad
Tel: +92-51-2211026
Fax: +92-51-2211047
Cell: +92-321-5017355, +92-301-8549188
Email: media@fafen.org
URL: www.fafen.org