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LG Dept -Nadra sign MoU to facilitate citizens in KP

PESHAWAR : The Directorate General of Local Government and Rural Development Department, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra).

The ceremony was presided over by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Caretaker Minister for Local Government, Sawal Nazir. Among the distinguished attendees were Secretary Local Government, Amer Afaq, Director General Local Government, Iftikhar Alam, Director General CRMS Nadra HQ Islamabad, Col (r) Sohail Mehmood, and other officers.

During the event, Minister Sawal Nazir expressed his appreciation for the partnership between Nadra and the Local Government Department. He emphasized that the MoU aimed to facilitate the citizens of the province in obtaining easy access to birth certificates.

Both departments pledged to collaborate closely to address any remaining issues and obstacles in the seamless service delivery of birth and death registration, particularly in remote districts and newly merged areas.

Minister Sawal Nazir further stressed the need for computerizing the service fee deposit process for birth and death certificates to ensure accountability and transparency. He also suggested that the domicile-making process be computerized to provide citizens with greater facilitation in accordance with relevant legal regulations, if feasible. Additionally, he highlighted the importance of revising existing rules, particularly the provision related to the requirement of a court decree in certain time-barred cases, as it is currently creating difficulties for people.

The Secretary of the Local Government, Amer Afaq, extended gratitude to the Nadra team for their hard work and offered the government’s willingness to explore and adopt any national or international best working models to enhance the civil registration and certification process in the province. He also proposed the exploration of ways to integrate birth registration systems with hospitals and Basic Health Units (BHUs) for real-time data exchange.

The signing of the MoU signifies a step forward in facilitating citizens’ access to essential services and aims to streamline the civil registration and certification process in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

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Pakistan to host first-ever minerals summit on August 1

ISLAMABAD :  The Pakistan government is set to hold its inaugural minerals summit in the country on August 1, aiming to explore and unlock the significant potential of the minerals industry, as reported by state TV on Sunday.

Pakistan, a South Asian country, boasts vast reserves of both metallic and non-metallic minerals, including gold, copper, iron, chromite, barites, gypsum, and rock salt. Alongside the flourishing oil and gas exploration sector, Pakistan has witnessed remarkable growth in the precious gemstone and marble industries in recent years. The country’s geostrategic location offers substantial opportunities for related industries in the global market.

The “first-ever” Pakistan Minerals Summit is expected to attract stakeholders from various sectors to delve into the immense potential of the minerals industry. The event aims to explore avenues for further growth and investment in the sector, propelling economic development in the country.

This move comes in the backdrop of Pakistan’s establishment of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) to address the nation’s economic challenges and attract international attention to business opportunities in agriculture, mining, information technology, and defense production in Pakistan. The council has already approved nearly two dozen projects worth billions of dollars, including the construction of the Diamer-Bhasha dam and mining operations at Reko Diq in Balochistan’s Chagai district.

In another strategic effort to boost foreign and domestic investments, the government recently approved the Pakistan Investment Policy (PIP) 2023. The policy, developed in consultation with the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation, aims to attract up to $25 billion in investment over the next few years, according to officials.

The combination of initiatives demonstrates Pakistan’s commitment to fostering economic growth, attracting investments, and leveraging its abundant mineral resources to bolster various industries in the country.