Day: June 21, 2021

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Balochistan Assembly starts general discussion on provincial budget

Islamabad, June 21, 2021 (PPI-OT): The Provincial Assembly of Balochistan started debate on the provincial annual budget for the financial year 2021-2022, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet on Monday.

Following are key observations of the House proceedings during second sitting of the budget 40th session:

Members’ Participation

The House met for an hour and 32 minutes.

The sitting started at 05:40 pm against the scheduled time of 04:00 pm.

The speaker presided over the entire sitting while the deputy speaker was also present.

The leader of the House (Chief Minister) attended the entire proceedings.

The opposition leader did not attend the sitting.

As many as 24 MPAs (37 percent) were present at the outset and 30 (46 percent) at the adjournment of the sitting.

The parliamentary leaders of ANP, BNP-A, JWP, HDP and BAP attended the proceedings.

As many as one out of three minority lawmakers was present.

Representation and Responsiveness

Six lawmakers participated in debate on provincial budget for an hour and 11 minutes.

A privilege motion of BAP and PTI lawmakers was referred to the relevant committee. It was against opposition members, who reportedly disrespected Chief Minister Balochistan during the last sitting.

Order and Institutionalization

Two lawmakers spoke on points of order for 17 minutes related to death of ex-senator Usman Khan Kakar and protest of the opposition in assembly premises on budget day.

The House was later adjourned to meet again on Monday, June 22, 2021 at 04:00 pm.

Transparency

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

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

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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Sindh Assembly: 21 lawmakers participate in debate on provincial budget

Islamabad, June 21, 2021 (PPI-OT): The Sindh Assembly continued general discussion on provincial budget 2021-22 and 21 lawmakers took part in the debate, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) its Daily Factsheet on Monday.

Following are key observations of the House proceedings during 13th sitting of the 21st session:

Members’ Participation

The House met for four hours and 26 minutes.

The sitting started at 01:00 pm against the scheduled time of 11:00 am.

The speaker chaired the proceedings for three hour and two minutes while the deputy speaker presided over the rest of the sitting.

The leader of the House (Chief Minister) was absent.

The opposition leader attended the proceedings for two hours and six minutes.

As many as 23 MPAs (14 percent) were present at the outset and 26 (16 percent) at the adjournment of the sitting.

The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, PTI, MQMP, GDA, and MMAP were present, while the leader of TLP did not attend the sitting.

Seven out of nine minority lawmakers attended the proceedings.

Representation and Responsiveness

Twenty-one lawmakers – PPPP (11), PTI (6) and GDA (4) – participated in general discussion on budget for the financial year 2021-22 as well as supplementary budget for the financial year 2020-21. They consumed four hours and 10 minutes of the proceedings.

Order and Institutionalization

Lawmakers belonging to GDA, MQM and PTI protested for seven minutes when the Chair did not give extra time to a GDA lawmaker to continue her budget speech. Later, GDA lawmakers walked out from the House on the same issue for 40 minutes.

The House was adjourned to meet again on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at 12:00 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

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Sindh’s response to Covid promising, but rights record worrying in 2020

Hyderabad, June 21, 2021 (PPI-OT): The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan’s (HRCP) annual report on the state of human rights in 2020 indicates that, by the end of last year, Sindh presented the highest number of Covid-19 infections and deaths in the country, with a death toll of 3,560. The provincial government took a proactive approach to controlling the spread of the virus in the initial phase of the pandemic by closing down schools and imposing a temporary ban on public gatherings ahead of the national lockdown.

The passage of the Sindh Covid-19 Emergency Relief Ordinance 2020 was a welcome development in that it provided some relief to workers, students and tenants. However, these measures were marred by weak implementation, with labour organisations complaining of widespread retrenchments, especially in the private sector. Pakistan Steel Mills also dismissed over 4,500 workers, seeking to retrench about the same number.

HRCP notes that, while the four-year term of local governments in Sindh expired on 30 August, the provincial government had not announced a new date for the next local elections as of end-2020. The report also indicates that 121 prisoners were awarded death sentences in the province in 2020. In a promising sign, no executions were, however, carried out.

Law enforcement remained unstable, with prolonged wrangling between the federal and provincial government over the appointment of a new police chief, creating uncertainty in the police department. The abduction of the Sindh inspector general of police in October by security agencies raised serious concerns over undue political pressure imposed on the police to arrest an opposition leader.

In violation of the right to freedom of association, the federal government formally banned the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (Arisar), a Sindhi nationalist political party, in May. There was also an alarming uptick in enforced disappearances in the province. According to one estimate, a total of 127 persons went missing in Sindh during 2020, of which 112 resurfaced while 15 were still missing at the end of the year. A prominent case was that of political activist Sarang Joyo, who was allegedly subjected to torture during his disappearance.

Children’s access to education remained poor, with Sindh education minister Saeed Ghani stating that around 3.5 million children in the province remained out of school. Honour killings continued unabated: HRCP recorded 197 honour crimes in 2020 for Sindh alone, involving 79 male and 136 female victims. At least six cases of forced conversion of Hindu girls were also reported in the province.

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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PPP won’t allow re-imposition of destructive politics of hatred in Sindh: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari

Karachi, June 21, 2021 (PPI-OT): Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has categorically stated that we won’t allow Altaf Hussain’s type of politics to be re-imposed in Sindh which proved completely destructive. Sindh is the province of peace and tranquility and people in this province live like brothers. Nonetheless, he would take all measure into account to remove despondence and sense of deprivation that the people feel here.

The PPP Chairman expressed these views while addressing an event at Sindh Assembly building to commemorate the 68th birth anniversary of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s birthday today. He said the youth of the province has always been peaceful and on issues their protests have also been peaceful. However, a handful of frustrated elements are as usual busy hatching conspiracies against the peace and tranquility in the province and these elements are eager to create a fuss by misleading the youth, pushing them to acts of violence and acts of terrorism and extremism which has to be stopped.

The youth has to be helped to portray their actual face and it is very crucial to take measures to foil such conspiracies and to bring back those who have been trapped in conspiracies. The PPP Chairman said that it is need of the hour that jobs must be given to the locals who carry local domiciles. There should a new law that should make sure that locals get preferences in acquiring jobs in all businesses and including real estate, he added.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari urged for creating a forum to provide legal assistance to the displaced and affected locals in case they are ignored. We will never allow anyone to inflict damages to lives and property of the others, he said.

He said the fraudulent slogan of ‘Tabdeeli’ on which the incumbent government was selected and imposed on the people is depriving the people of their basic needs of easy employments and shelters. This is what they call a New Pakistan. They are destroying democratic norms and values. These frustrated elements are destroying the concept of Federation and Islamic democratic system that Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had given to the country and provinces were thus integrated.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that in spite of financial crunch, challenges and unprecedented impediments that the global pandemic brought, Sindh government sanely managed things and delivered amicably. The performances of Sindh government are open and deserve due applause. Sadly, the rivals would never praise us.

The PPP Chairman said we will not allow anyone in Sindh to bring back Altaf Hussain’s politics and put to fight one brother against another. Sindh is a peaceful province, people from all provinces live here, he added. He said that the youth of Sindh have always been peaceful and know how to protest for their rights, but now under a conspiracy they are being identified as extremists and terrorists. Steps will have to be taken to get those, who are seduced, in the right direction.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari stressed that all major businesses, including real estate, should be required to give preference to local domiciles for employment. A forum should also be set up to provide legal aid to the victims of such real estate business. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that no one would be allowed to come and burn someone else’s house.

He further said that in the new Pakistan that is being created in front of us, bread, cloth and house is being snatched from the people and at the same time democratic dream is being snatched from us while the Islamic democratic and federal system of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had united all the provinces.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that in spite of challenges, impediments and financial crunch that the global pandemic COVID-19 brought with it, Sindh government served the people of the provinces diligently and managed affairs amicably. However, the rivals feel embarrassed and start criticizing and ridiculing Sindh government. It is as usual as a jaundiced eye always sees yellow in everything.

But they can’t ditch the sane people of Sindh as the GDP of the province is better than other provinces due to well planning and determination of people’s elected Sindh government as compared to selector’s selected ineligible federal government. The selected and ineligible Prime Minister Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi and his Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar can’t compete with Sindh CM Syed Murad Ali Shah. They should take lessons from Shah as how to use limited resources and slashed revenue from NFC for the upliftment and betterment of the people, he added.

He said that there is no denying poverty in the province, but Sindh has reduced poverty as compared to other provinces, while the highest increase in poverty has been in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Sindh province’s rural and urban per capita income is better than other provinces of the country.

He said that poverty is record high in the country but since Sindh government has taken timely measures to alleviate poverty, it is down as compared to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. New NFC has not yet been brought forward by the federal government, which had committed to release Rs.1 trillion for renewal of infrastructure in Karachi along with required upliftment but the selected government took a U-turn on it and duped the people as the federal budget is silent on it.

The PPP Chairman said that jobs in Sindh for the locals have been cut and the people have been deprived of their due rights. Even the ten thousand people have been rendered jobless by retrenching the work force of Pakistan Steel Mills. They are also sacking officers of FIA because they hailed from Sindh, he pointed out. They have closed Public Service Commission in Sindh except all Pakistan. Thus, this deliberate closure of the Commission is a direct threat to employees recruited per the criteria of the Commission since 2016.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that Sindh province is the only province that has beefed up measures to lift the downtrodden by raising their wages and salaries. PPP promulgated Benazir Income Support Program and People’s Poverty Alleviation Program are catering to the needs of the poor successfully. It is a well-documented reality that Sindh’s government is performing well, he added.

He said that other provinces are far behind with regard to gathering revenue through applied taxes. In Sindh, traders and businessmen are never tortured and never treated like thieves. The tax rate in Sindh is lower than other provinces. He said that Sindh CM has raised his voice against the econo-legal attacks on Sindh, and now the PPP has decided to take the people into confidence and apprise them what the federal government is doing against their interests.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari pointed out that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto first included public-private partnership in her Election Manifesto in 1993 and now Sindh is the only province that has completed much work on it. Thar Coal Project is a bright instance of this public-private partnership project in which the Sindh government along with its business community has brought about an economic revolution in Thar. World’s renowned periodicals such as The Economist magazine has acknowledged that Sindh’s public-private partnership is the best model not only in Pakistan but in the entire region, he added.

He said that PPP does not care for Sindh alone but it has concerns for the whole of the country. IRSA case is an example where PPP protested against neglecting three provinces. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari vowed that he would continue to fight for the due share from NFC award. PPP will never compromise on constitutional rights of the people of Sindh as well as of other provinces.

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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Rain washes out fourth day of ICC World Test Championship Final

Dubai, June 21, 2021 (PPI-OT): The rain was the only winner on day four of the ICC World Test Championship Final in Southampton as a washout frustrated India and New Zealand.

New Zealand would have started the day on 101 for two in reply to India’s first innings score of 217 but conditions meant Kane Williamson’s side were unable to make any more progress.

With no play taking place at the Hampshire Bowl, the match will now extend into the designated reserve day on Wednesday, if required, after rain also disrupted day one.

The forecast for the fifth and potential sixth days of the Test is significantly better and an announcement will be made on the extra reserve day on Tuesday.

When play does restart, Williamson and Ross Taylor will be the men at the crease with the Black Caps 116 runs behind India after 49 overs of their first innings.

Virat Kohli’s side lost seven wickets on the third day of the inaugural WTC showpiece, with the India captain the first man to fall to an inspired bowling performance from Kyle Jamieson.

The 26-year-old took a brilliant five for 31 for his fifth five-wicket haul in just eight Tests, with the dangerous Rishabh Pant also losing his wicket to the right-arm fast-medium bowler.

Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane did provide some stubborn resistance on his way to 49 but fell straight into Neil Wagner’s short-ball trap, hastening the Indian batting order collapse.

Jamieson helped wrap up the tail by taking the wickets of Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah in successive balls while Trent Boult and Tim Southee also chipped in with one apiece.

Those five wickets for Jamieson take his overall tally to 44 in eight Tests since making his five-day debut in February 2020, suggesting New Zealand have unearthed another bowling sensation.

In response to India, the Black Caps made steady progress at the start of their innings as Devon Conway and Tom Latham reached the tea session unscathed on 36 for no loss.

India kept posing questions after the restart, but New Zealand openers appeared to have all the answers and put on a partnership of 70 before Latham (30) fell to Ravichandran Ashwin.

Conway, who scored a double century on his Test debut at the beginning of this month, remained resolute however and added yet another half-century in his fledgling Test career.

But in what proved to be the final over on day three, Sharma removed Conway for 54 to leave the match intriguingly poised.

For more information, contact:
Headquarters,
International Cricket Council (ICC)
Street 69, Dubai Sports City,
Sh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE
Phone: +97-143828800
Fax: +97-143828600
E-mail: enquiry@icc-cricket.com
Website: www.icc-cricket.com

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Centrient Pharmaceuticals boosting statins API manufacturing capacity

Rotterdam, The Netherlands, June 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

Summary:

  • Centrient Pharmaceuticals has started production at its newly built statins API manufacturing unit in Toansa, India.
  • With this expansion the company is doubling its production capacity of Atorvastatin and Rosuvastatin, meeting the increased demand for its high-quality uniquely produced statins.
  • Centrient Pharmaceuticals’ statins are one of the most sustainably produced in the industry by eliminating harmful solvents, generating less waste, and a reduced carbon footprint of 32% as compared to traditional manufacturers.
  • Using backward integrated manufacturing methods, and dedicated production facilities, Centrient Pharmaceuticals is able to offer its customers security of supply.

Centrient Pharmaceuticals (“Centrient”), the global leader in sustainable antibiotics, next-generation statins and anti-fungals, announced today to have started production at its new statins manufacturing unit. With the building of its second dedicated unit on the Toansa site in India now completed, the company will double its statins production capacity. This will enable Centrient to meet growing demand for its sustainably manufactured Atorvastatin and Rosuvastatin Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs).

Statins are currently the most prescribed drug class globally for the treatment of high cholesterol and cardiovascular diseases and are among the top-selling drugs worldwide. The markets for Atorvastatin and Rosuvastatin in particular, has shown steady growth in the past years, as a result of the continued global prevalence of high cholesterol issues, replacement of older generation statins, and genericization of the market.

Starting almost a decade ago, Centrient has grown today into one of the leading statin API suppliers worldwide, servicing large pharma companies around the globe.

Next to high-quality features like long shelf life and large batch sizes, the company offers security of supply to customers through its dedicated statins production facility and backward integration. Being backward integrated, Centrient is independent from external imports of starting materials. Its enzymatic route of synthesis and patented technology minimise the use of harmful solvents, generate less waste, and reduce the company’s carbon footprint by 32% as compared to traditional manufacturers.

The news of the facility expansion follows major milestones on statins that the company reached in the past years. In 2012, under the name of DSM Sinochem Pharmaceuticals, it was the first pharmaceutical manufacturer worldwide to offer generic Atorvastatin APIs under a Certificate of Suitability to the Monograph of the European Pharmacopoeia (CEP). Since 2014, it has produced the unique Atorvastatin APIs in its state-of-the-art facility in Toansa, India for third-party customers.

In addition, the company was one of the first three companies worldwide that started to offer generic Rosuvastatin APIs under CEP in 2016. Two years later, the first generic Rosuvastatin and Atorvastatin finished dosage forms were launched in Western Europe.

“With the doubling of our production capacity, we demonstrate our commitment to maintain our leadership position in line with our strategy and to continue supporting our customers’ business growth. Guided by our brand promise of Quality, Reliability, and Sustainability, Centrient’s Rosuvastatin and Atorvastatin offer superior performance in all three areas to the benefit of our customers and the environment.”, says Frans Vlaar, Chief Commercial Officer at Centrient.

Ground breaking of the new manufacturing unit started at the end of 2019 and commercial supplies from the new unit will start in mid-2021. With the new manufacturing line being operational and doubling the production capacity, Centrient will be even better positioned to secure supply, meeting the growing demand from customers and helping to improve the lives of patients who are in need of these medicine.

“We are extremely proud that we have been able to complete this project in a timely way given the challenges of executing such a complex project in the midst of the COVID pandemic,” says Jim McPherson, Chief Quality & Technical Operations Officer. “It reinforces our absolute commitment to meet the expectations of our customers as a partner of choice – delivering reliable and secure supply using leading sustainable technologies. The facility incorporates design features that allow further improvements in GMP and energy utilization, and enable greater automation for improved process control.”

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About Centrient Pharmaceuticals

Centrient Pharmaceuticals is the leading manufacturer of beta-lactam antibiotics, and a provider of next generation statins and antifungals. We produce and sell intermediates, active pharmaceutical ingredients and finished dosage forms.

We stand proudly at the centre of modern healthcare, as a maker of essential and life-saving medicines. With our commitment to Quality, Reliability and Sustainability at the heart of everything we do, our over 2200 employees work continuously to meet our customers’ needs. We work towards a sustainable future by actively participating in the fight against antimicrobial resistance.

Founded 150 years ago as the ‘Nederlandsche Gist- en Spiritusfabriek’, our company was known as Gist Brocades and more recently DSM Sinochem Pharmaceuticals. Headquartered in Rotterdam (Netherlands), we have production facilities and sales offices in China, India, the Netherlands, Spain, Egypt, the United States and Mexico. Centrient Pharmaceuticals is wholly owned by Bain Capital Private Equity, a leading global private investment firm.

For more information please visit www.centrient.com or contact Centrient Pharmaceuticals Corporate Communications, Alice Beijersbergen, Director Branding & Communications. E-Mail: alice.beijersbergen@centrient.com.

Forward-looking statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements with respect to Centrient Pharmaceuticals’ future financial performance and position. Such statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections of Centrient and information currently available to the company. Centrient cautions readers that such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and therefore it should be understood that many factors can cause actual performance and position to differ materially from these statements. Centrient has no obligation to update the statements contained in this press release, unless required by law. The English language version of the press release is governing.

Alice Beijersbergen
Centrient Pharmaceuticals
alice.beijersbergen@centrient.com