Uzbekistan keen to promote bilateral trade with Pakistan
ISLAMABAD (APP): Uzbekistan considers Pakistan an important country of this region which is emerging as an attractive market and is keen to promote bilateral trade with it because the two countries have huge potential to improve trade and economic relations.
This was stated by Parviz M. Aliev, Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan, while exchanging views with business community during his visit to Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
He said direct connectivity between the private sectors of both countries is the way forward to promote bilateral trade and exports up to real potential. He said ICCI and Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce & Industry should have frequent interactions to explore new avenues of mutual cooperation between the two countries. He said Uzbekistan have 60 joint ventures with Pakistan and wants to develop more joint ventures with Pakistani businessmen in potential areas of interest.
The Ambassador said that Uzbekistan can help Pakistan in energy sector and in improving its railways system as Uzbekistan has good expertise in this area.
He was of the view that Pakistan and Uzbekistan should work together to bring stability in Afghanistan as a stable Afghanistan was essential to develop railway communication between Pakistan and Uzbekistan. He said Russia is a huge market for Pakistani products and enhanced relations of Pakistan with Uzbekistan will provide it easy access to Russian market.
Pervaiz M. Aliev said Uzbekistan is going to organize a Cotton Exhibition in October this year and lot of companies of Uzbekistan would attend the event. He invited ICCI delegation to participate in that exhibition while his Embassy will coordinate for organizing B2B meetings between the entrepreneurs of both countries. He said Uzbekistan Embassy grants visa to ordinary Pakistanis within 10 working days so that both countries could develop strong people-to-people level relations. He said Pakistan and Uzbekistan should join hands to cope with the common problem of terrorism.
Speaking at the occasion, Zafar Bakhtawari, President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry, said that Uzbekistan should provide visa on arrival to those Pakistani businessmen who hold the valid visas of USA, UK & Shenzhen countries, which will greatly help in promoting tourism and bilateral trade between the two countries. He said Turkey is already providing this facility to Pakistan and Uzbekistan should also seriously consider this proposal, which will have far reaching positive impact in improving bilateral trade and economic relations.
He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is enthusiastic to develop communication infrastructure in the country including motorways, roads and railways and Uzbek investors should come to Pakistan to explore investment opportunities in such big projects.
He urged that leadership of both countries should meet on the sidelines of forthcoming UN General Assembly session in New York to explore new avenues of cooperation between Pakistan and Uzbekistan. He said Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan have huge potential to promote economic relations and they should explore all areas of potential cooperation to improve the living standards of their people.
He stressed for more direct air links between the two countries and suggested that Uzbek airline should connect Pakistan with Central Asian countries by increasing its flights to Pakistan. He assured that ICCI delegation would participate in Cotton Exhibition in Uzbekistan and Uzbek Embassy should facilitate delegation members for grant of visas.

Media training on income tax
ATTOCK (PR): A media training event was organised by The Network for Consumer Protection and funded by USAID for building capacities of journalists in District Attock on income tax.
The media training was initiated by debate on Taxation for Development. Indeed, Project Advocacy Officer Tariq Sattar remarked that the campaign “Taxation for Development” certainly will be a milestone for sustainable economic growth for the country. The project not only advocates the responsible consumerism but also identifies challenges faced during online income tax returns submission system.  
M Server Munir Rao, a renowned journalist and ex. general manager PTV, conducted the media training and shared how media can play an important role to motivate the general public to file their income tax return and pay income tax.
Hamza Nasir, Mobilization Officer in The Network for Consumer Protection, gave presentation on how a person can file an income tax return on FBR’s Web Portal at the end of every fiscal year and how to get back substantial amount of taxes which are already paid during the year from FBR.
The Network for Consumer Protection is a non government, non-profit organization striving for consumer rights in Pakistan for last two decades. The Network is a sole voting member (from Pakistan) of Consumer International, the umbrella body of world consumer organizations. The Network is advocating the rights of responsible consumers in health, energy, and taxation. 
At the end, Chairman Press Club Nadeem Raza appreciated the efforts of The Network and said that the media training enhanced the capacity of local journalists on income tax. The media training was attended by print and electronic media.

2 Lahore cinemas revived
LAHORE (PR): The Super Cinema Shabistan/Prince located on Lahore’s historical Abbot Road has been revived and revitalized with a complete refurbishment of all facilities.
Both cinemas have a seating capacity of more than 800 cine goers with exclusive boxes, esteemed gallery area and halls. These cinema facilities will be operating under the banner of Super Cinema Shabistan and Prince and shall be an interesting mix, with a fusion of modern outlook while retaining all the grand aspects of the single screen cinema.
From the technical angle, the sound speakers are state of the art while the 3D installed is as good as the IMAX. A silver screen has replaced the old massive screen of 60ft of the past and viewing will simply carry a touch of excellence. Other manifold features include fully air conditioned theatre, most comfy cinema seats, visual magic of 3D Digital Screens and a food court that will add to the delight of families.
This initiative on the part of Super Cinema management is going to revive the glory of these theatre halls. The cinemas will no longer be relics of the olden days; instead everything about them will represent quality and state of the art technology. For the convenience of the young and old alike, there will be multiple shows which means providing different options to different people. For pre 3pm shows the ticket range will be in the Rs150 bracket on the lower end and Rs250 at the highest level. Further, traditionally these cinemas have never played Hollywood stuff but now the choice of English movies will also be there.