ISLAMABAD, Nov 16 (APP):Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Thursday said the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a great opportunity for Pakistan, adding it needs to be fully exploited to achieve its fullest potential.

Talking to a group of post-graduate students from School of Politics and International Relations, Quaid-i-Azam University, who visited the Prime Minister Office, to discuss Pakistan’s foreign relations, he said ties with China were based on historical relations which were far beyond the economic relations. The Prime Minister said in general economic ties lead to political diplomacy.

In response to a question, the Prime Minister said Kashmir was a long-standing issue which needs to be resolved in line with the UN resolutions.

To a question regarding FATA, the Prime Minister said its mainstreaming was a process and said the PML(N) government was working diligently to address the matter. He said the government was already working on expansion of jurisdiction of the higher courts to FATA. The government, he said, was also focusing on development of FATA and said a very large 10-year budget was being formulated for the FATA residents.

While addressing the issue of energy shortage, the Prime Minister said the government has shifted dependence from furnace oil to gas for power generation as it was a much cheaper option.

Earlier Special Assistant to the PM Ali J. Siddiqui and MNA Ms. Shiza Fatima briefed the students regarding executive branch of the government and working of the Prime Minister Office.

ISLAMABAD, Nov 16 (APP):Pakistan and India need to engage in meaningful discussion on confidence building measures, arms race and strategic stability in South Asia.
During weekly media briefing here Thursday Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal said Pakistan was committed to its policy of peaceful neighborhood while India’s posture including its false claims of surgical strike and unprecedented escalation on the Line of Control and Working Boundary were threats to peace.
Replying to questions, he said as responsible member of the international community, Pakistan believed in peace but at the same time our armed forces were fully prepared and competent to defend the country against all threats.
“Indian xenophobic posture is threatening to regional peace and tranquility, also developments like testing of missiles underscore the need for two countries to engage in meaningful discussion”, he added.
He said Pakistan and the United States were engaged in a comprehensive dialogue to bridge gap between perceptions of the two countries on different issues.
He said two sides were trying to reach a consensus on how to move forward.
He said the process of renewed engagement started when Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi met American leadership on sidelines of the UN General Assembly Session in New York.
“This was followed by exchange of several visits by senior officials of the two countries and delegation level talks,” he added.
He said the US Congress had authorized reimbursement of 700 million dollars under Coalition Support Fund.
The spokesperson said Pakistan also wants to restart of strategic dialogue between the two countries that had wider avenues for cooperation.
To a question he said Indian attempts to damage CPEC could not deter Pakistan and China from working on economic and trade development as well as connectivity under the project.
Replying to another query, he said the government of Pakistan had offered to arrange a meeting of Indian Spy Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav with his wife, in Pakistan, purely on humanitarian grounds.
The spokesman condemned Indian atrocities against people of occupied Kashmir and urged human rights defenders to stand up for oppressed Kashmiris.
In response of a question, he said Pakistan was in touch with SAARC Secretariat and member states for early holding of summit of the organization in Pakistan.
He said presence of terrorist safe havens in Afghanistan was a reality.
He said report of the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction had confirmed that more than 43% of Afghan territory was not under the control of the government.
He said Pakistan appreciated steps taken by the UK government in connection with anti-Pakistan propaganda through London cabs, which was violation of UN Charter.

LAHORE, Nov 16 (APP):Federal Minister for Interior and Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal Thursday said the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan was conspiring for early polls as he was scared of uprising in his party.
Talking to the media after the 24th Annual Convocation of University of Engineering and Technology Lahore, he said the PTI’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s members had revolted against their leadership so he (Imran) knew, he would not be able to get success in the general election 2018.
“The PTI will lose Senate election 2018 and later on, it will be difficult for it to win few seats in the general election,” he added.
He said process of polling scheme and formation of new constituencies after new census would take four to five
months and the Election Commission was unable to hold election before May 2018.
“In such situation, giving time more than 90 days to any caretaker government will not be a political decision,” he
added.
The minister said the nation was vibrant and it would never elect any inexperienced person, adding that the masses
had elected the PML-N in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan even after a negative campaign against the PML-N.
He said every Pakistani was feeling that the country was progressing so the people would throw out those elements
who were creating obstacles in the way of progress.
Ahsan said Imran Khan had not even experience of running a union council, then how he could be able to run a country.
He said the nation was united on the Constitution and democracy, adding that only one formula would be succeeded
in the election 2018 and that was performance.
“Some forces will try to launch negative propaganda against the PML-N, but despite that the PML-N will win the
next election,” he hoped.
To a question about the killings of 15 citizens in Balochistan, he said an investigation of the incident was underway and commenting on it before the investigation report would be inappropriate.
“It is true that across border, terrorism has been increased in Balochistan so we are adopting measures for
better security there,” he said.
He said monitoring at Afghanistan border was being improved and the government was vigilant.
“Our neighbouring country India is spreading anarchy in Balochistan and other parts of the country to deter from
China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC),” he said.
He said the government would eliminate such incidents in Balochistan and it would adopt measures like it took
against terrorists.
To another question about Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz, he said both were running their business in abroad and
former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif involved them in the judicial process on the ethical grounds.
“The judicial process has become a joke in the world”, he added.
To a question about the verdict of the Supreme Court against Nawaz Sharif, he said the party had implemented
the decision in letter and spirit without wasting a moment but reservations on it was the right of the party.
“Like the PPP has reservations on Zulfikar Ali Bhutto case and courts do not quote it as a reference like some
other cases including Maulvi Tamizuddin case and Nusrat Bhutto case”, he added.
Answering a question about sit-in by Tehrik Labaik Ya Rasool Ullah, he said it was follow up of sit-ins started
by Imran and Qadri, whereas Khatm e Nabuwwat (finality of prophethood) was root of every Muslim’s faith.
To a question, he said working for Vision 2010, Vision 2025, CPEC and education was his achievement.
“Stamp of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif will be observed at every mega or mini development project for the last
30 years,” he claimed.

Earlier, addressing the convocation, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal said student politics of the UET showed him the way of success.
He advised the students to follow ‘five Ds’ in their lives for success including dreams seeing, decisions making,
discipline, delivery of results and divine help.
He said the present government had taken several revolutionary steps and made policies to empower the youth
and gave away laptops to the students.
“The government has launched Prime Minister Internship Programme for 20,000 engineers with the cooperation of Pakistan
Engineering Council,” he said.
He said a ground had been prepared for Pakistan to be among those countries which would introduce 5G technology
as soon as it was launched in the world.
He said international media was recognising efforts of the present government against terrorism and now the country
was considered among the highest growth rated countries.
Provincial Minister for Punjab Higher Education Syed Raza Ali Gillani also addressed the students and gave away
Ph D degrees to the passing out students.
Later, the federal minister gave away medals to the position holders of all campuses of the university.
The UET Vice Chancellor presented the Honourary Ph D degree to the federal minister. Whereas souvenirs were given to the
guests from the UET.

ISLAMABAD, Nov 16 (APP):Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Thursday said federal and provincial governments were unanimously committed for mainstreaming of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and its merger with Khyber Pukhtunkhwa to ensure its development.
Talking to a delegation (Jirga) of youth wings of political parties belonging to FATA here, the Prime Minister said the high-level implementation committee on FATA Reforms was ensuring speedy progress on constitutional, administrative and legal matters, a PM office statment said here.
The delegation said setting aside political affiliations, the people and youth of FATA demanded mainstreaming of FATA on fast-track basis and its merger with KPK.
The delegation thanked the Prime Minister for inviting the representative of youth from FATA at the PM House and providing them an opportunity to present their point of view on important national issue.
They stressed that FATA’s merger must not be delayed on behest of a few people and the matter must be settled on an urgent basis.
The meeting was organized by Journalist Saleem Safi who apprised the Prime Minister that it was the right of people of FATA to get facilities at par with rest of the country.
Federal Minister for SAFRON Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch attended the meeting.
The FATA youth delegation comprised representatives from Muslim Students Federation, Insaf Students, Qaumi Watan Party Youth Wing, Islami Jamiat Talaba, FATA Students Organization, Khyber Students Organization and other organizations.