Tag Archives: Senate

pakistan

Despite the differences, the Opposition managed to pass a resolution in the Senate | Instant News


The opposition was able to pass a resolution in the Senate on the price of a coronavirus vaccine on Monday, despite disagreements within the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).

Senator Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) Kamran Murtaza moved the resolution against the sale of the corona virus vaccine at high prices.

The Senate approved the resolution put forward by the Opposition, with 43 votes in favor and 31 votes against it.

In the resolution, candidates from the Opposition Party demanded that the government provide a free corona virus vaccine or at a lower rate for the public.

Angered by these developments, DPR Leader Shehzad Waseem said the resolution was a statement of demands against the government.

Senator Faisal Javed, on the other hand, called the resolution “odd”. “The whole world appreciates Imran Khan’s strategy against the coronavirus,” he said, defending the government’s move to vaccinate the masses.

Likewise, the Special Assistant to Poverty Alleviation and Social Security for Prime Minister Sania Nishtar warned politicians against mixing the coronavirus with politics, saying fighting infection was a “national security issue”.

The developments came after the PPP and the Awami National Party (ANP) received notifications indicating the reasons for the alleged violation of the Opposition alliance – the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) – the decision and principle of consensus.

PDM Chairman Maulana Fazal ur Rehman has agreed to issue notification of reasons for both parties.

The day before, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said his party is ready to join hands with allied parties and if they refuse then he is ready to act as the Opposition itself, but said his party will not sit easily until they send a packing “puppet government”.

The PPP chairman, addressing a ceremony in connection with the 42nd anniversary of the death of former prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, said that only “they [the PPP] know how to run a movement democratically “.

The PDM decided last month that the PPP would get a Senate seat while the vice chairman would go to JUI-F and PML-N would get the position of leader of the Opposition.

The PPP and JUI-F candidates for the two slots did not succeed in the election, because the general chairman withdrew seven votes from PPP Senator candidate Yusuf Raza Gilani.

Subsequently, the PPP withdrew from the consensus agreement and chose to secure the position of leader of the Opposition by binding several members of the BAP party, which are part of the government.

ANP supports PPP.




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pakistan

Five parties are demanding a separate Opposition seat allocation when the Senate meets for its first session | Instant News


  • Five opposition parties in the Senate decided to form an independent group in the DPR of 27 members.
  • These parties are PML-N, JUI-F, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, National Party and BNP (Mengal).
  • Meanwhile, opposition leader in the Senate Yousaf Raza Gillani said he would work with all Opposition parties.

ISLAMABAD: Opposition parties in the anti-government coalition of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) clashed in the first official session of the Senate on Monday.

Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani presided over the first session.

Five opposition parties in the Senate, which previously decided to form an independent group in the 27-member DPR, are demanding that they be given separate opposition seats in the Senate. These parties are PML-N, JUI-F, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, National Party and BNP (Mengal).

The group is led by PML-N appointed by opposition leader Senator Azam Nazir Tarrar.

“We must be given a separate opposition bench and hidden cameras [in the Senate elections] must be investigated, “said Senator Tarrar.

Read more: PDM serves cause notification events to PPP, ANP

Senators supporting Opposition leader Yousaf Raza Gillani protested Tarrar’s remarks. Government members, too, protested when senators from the Awami Balochistan Party were awarded gifts and a riot broke out in the DPR.

Tarrar said 27 senators from five parties had formed their own opposition groups. He said the opposition would play a “positive and constructive” role.

He said he was saddened by the appointment of Leader of the Opposition.

On the other hand, the Dilawar Khan group that supported Gillani also demanded a separate seat in the Senate.

The House of Representatives meets today following the election of new senators on March 3, Senate chairman and deputy chairman on March 12 and the announcement of Opposition Leader in Senate Yousaf Raza Gillani on March 26.

Yousaf Raza Gillani promised to work with all Opposition parties

Opposition Senate leader Yousaf Raza Gillani said he would work with all Opposition parties and would also speak on behalf of the government if needed.

Speaking during the first Senate session, Gillani said he is contesting the Senate election in cooperation with the PDM and will accompany the opposition in the Senate session.

Read more: PM Imran Khan will benefit from the difference between PPP, PML-N: Sheikh Rasheed

“PDM has become the voice of constitutional rights for women, minorities and others. We come for the public interest and it is our duty to represent the people. The state faces many challenges that we must work on together,” he said. .

The Leader of the Opposition advised newly elected members of the Upper House to learn from the experiences of old senators.

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pakistan

The Senate passed a resolution on a cheap and free Covid-19 vaccine | Instant News


ISLAMABAD:

A resolution urging the private sector to offer a Covid-19 vaccine for free or at a lower price was passed in the Senate on Monday by a majority vote.

Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam (JUI) Senator Kamran Murtaza presented an at-home resolution stating that citizens of all countries are vaccinated free of charge or at a fixed rate of Rs1,500. On the other hand, the Senator observed, the price of the coronavirus vaccine has been set at Rs8,400 in Pakistan.

“The government has failed to vaccinate the people,” complained the JUI lawmaker, adding that, “Vaccinations must be free or prices must be lowered.”

Responding to the resolution, DPR Leader Dr Shahzad Waseem said the virus was not a political issue and urged political parties to refrain from making it one.

read Pakistan will develop its own coronavirus vaccine, NA said

“This is not a resolution, but an unfounded indictment against the government,” said Waseem, adding that the national narrative must be a reflection of national interests.

He added that neither the politics of protest nor any other threat could deter Prime Minister Imran Khan from his mission.

Senator Wasim also invited opposition parties to cooperate on reform, and hopes the opposition will play a positive role in the DPR. The senator observed that matters related to Covid-19 are not limited to the government or the opposition, but are a matter of survival for the whole country.

However, criticizing the incumbent government’s Covid response, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Sherry Rehman said that the Covid-19 vaccine is provided free of charge worldwide but a price has been set here.

He further questioned the government about the number of vaccines it was getting from other countries.

The decision to lower the price of the coronavirus vaccine or provide free vaccinations was approved by the majority of votes.

Read more One million Sinopharm vaccines were distributed to federated units, the NCOC said

Thousands of Pakistanis in a hurry to be inoculated during the first round of commercial sales of the Covid-19 vaccine starting at the weekend, with vaccination sites in Karachi saying on Sunday, April 4, that they had sold out.

Meanwhile, personal sales vaccine It has already started, the government and importers are still trapped in price disputes.

The first round saw the commercial sale of two Russian Sputnik V shots to the general public for around 12,000 Pakistani rupees ($ 80) for a two-dose pack.

Vaccine price

On March 21, the federal cabinet deciding to limit the maximum retail price of Russian and Chinese Covid vaccines, which are imported by the private sector amid a sharp increase in coronavirus cases and the absence of a broader government-funded vaccination program.

Cabinet approval came through the circulation of a health ministry summary. That happened on the day PM Imran tested positive for Covid-19, said Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Health (SAPM) Dr Faisal Sultan.

The government has set the maximum selling price of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine at Rs8,449 for two doses and China’s Convidecia at Rs4,225 per shot, shows the ministry’s summary of national health services and regulations.

The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan’s (DRAP) Drug Pricing Committee has proposed a price cap for two vaccines – the GAM-Covid-Vac Sputnik V solution, produced by the Russian Ministry of Health’s FSBI NF Gamalaya RCEM and the Convidecia vaccine, produced by CanSino Biologics Inc.

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Food & Drink

Northam signs bill on Virginia restaurant flexibility, food insecurity during pandemic National news | Instant News


(The Center Square) – A bill to give restaurants more flexibility to serve alcohol outside and a bill to establish a food aid program were signed into law by Virginia Governor Ralph Northam.

“This new law will make a real difference in the lives of Virginia citizens and position our Commonwealth for a strong post-pandemic future,” Northam said in a statement. “I thank legislators for their hard work at this session and look forward to our continued partnership in the months to come to build on this progress.”

House Bill 2266, sponsored by Del. Hala Ayala, D-Woodbridge, gives more flexibility to restaurants serving alcohol outdoors and during permitted events. This allowed regions to issue regulations to establish “outdoor refreshment areas” where people would face fewer restrictions on consuming alcohol outdoors.

The bill effectively renames the “local special events” license to the “designated outdoor refreshment area” license. Under the previous law, a special event permit would allow outdoor alcohol consumption in a designated area for no more than three consecutive days and the region could only hold 16 events per year. The bill allows the Virginia Alcoholic Drink Control Authority to extend the duration and frequency of events.

Regions can agree on a long-term zone for this activity, which is designed to reduce the burden on business during the COVID-19 pandemic. Restaurants and bars are suffering one of the heaviest blows of the pandemic and subsequent economic restraints. Although they are now allowed to operate at 100% capacity, social distancing rules make full capacity impossible for some. There is also a midnight curfew for on-site alcohol sales.

Senate Bill 1471 was also signed. The Senate version contains the same language as the DPR version. They both have substantial bipartisan support.

Two laws to establish the Virginia Agricultural Food Assistance Program and Fund were also signed by the governor. DPR Bill 2203 and Senate Bill 1188. Both bills also have substantial bipartisan support.

These laws allow farmers and food producers to directly donate or sell food products to food banks, which are designed to increase availability for families in need. The bill also extends funds to provide money to charitable organizations to reimburse farmers or food producers.

According to the fiscal impact statement, the current pilot program for this fund is supported by $ 1 million in federal CARES Act money. The bill will allocate $ 600,000 as general revenue money for the fund in the second year.

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pakistan

Bilawal did not expect ‘PML-N to react like PM Imran Khan’ | Instant News


PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said on Saturday he did not expect the PML-N to react like Prime Minister Imran Khan to the appointment of Yousuf Raza Gillani as leader of the opposition Senate.

Bilawal’s remarks came hours after PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz said that Gillani has been “chosen” by the federal government.

“The leader of the opposition in the Senate is a very small position. You don’t need to ask for votes from the BAP (Balochistan Awami Party), ”he said. “If you really want that post then you can ask Nawaz Sharif.

“The line has been drawn now,” said the vice president of PML-N.

However, the PPP Chairperson advised PML-N to remain calm. “I’ll ask my friends from PML-N to have a drink, take a deep breath, and be patient.”

He said it was no secret that his party wanted Gillani to become the leader of the opposition.

“I know who the chosen word can be used for,” Bilawal said at a press conference in Karachi. He denied making any promises for the post.

The PPP chairman said he respected Maryam and did not want to comment on Maryam. However, he said, his party was concerned about the statement made by the PML-N leadership.

“Our people feel PPP has been pushed against the wall,” he said, hoping that the PDM would stick together.

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