ISLAMABAD, May 25 (APP): Federal Minister for Planning Commission Ahsan Iqbal said Wednesday that the government took steps to attract Chinese and other investors across the world to invest in Gwadar.
While talking to private news channel, he said that we should address the difficulties of Baloch people besides development of Gwadar.
The minister said the speed of development at Gwadar would increase with every single project coming on the ground under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor.
ISLAMABAD, May 25 (APP): In Peshawar, three FC personnel were martyred when unidentified terrorists opened fire on their vehicle near Patang Chowk at Ring road on Wednesday.
Police and law enforcement agencies have cordoned off the entire area and started search operation.
UNITED NATIONS, May 25 (APP): Pakistan supports expansion of the number of African seats in the United Nations Security Council “on the basis of periodic elections and fixed rotation” as part of the efforts to strengthen African Union-UN cooperation to deal with conflicts in the 54-nation continent, Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi has said.
Speaking in a Security Council debate on UN-AU Cooperation on Tuesday, the Pakistani envoy underscored the role of regional organizations in addressing issues of international peace and security, particularly those pertaining to their own region.
UNITED NATIONS, May 25 (APP): Hailing the global community’s achievements at the first-ever World Humanitarian Summit, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for commitments made to be taken forward for transformative change from the top down and from the ground up.
“The World Humanitarian Summit has been a unique event, in form as well as substance”, the secretary-general said in Istanbul, speaking to reporters on the second and last day of the Summit, dedicated to improving the humanitarian system and alleviating the suffering of millions.
WASHINGTON, May 25(APP): The United States would welcome dialogue between the Afghan government and Taliban even if the Haqqani network took the leadership role, a US Statement Department spokesman said on Tuesday, and reiterated that the U.S. would continue to work with and help Pakistan in fighting terrorism.
Spokesman, Mark Toner replied in affirmative when asked whether the US would welcome dialogue between Taliban and the Afghan government if the Haqqani network assumed the Taliban leadership after the suspected death of their leader Mullah Akhtar Mansur.
UNITED NATIONS, May 24 (APP): A new charter to significantly improve living conditions of persons with disabilities during emergencies has been endorsed at the United Nations World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul.
“The intersection between humanitarian crises and persons with disabilities is very strong,” Catalina Devandas-Aguilar, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, said on the margins of a special session at the Summit on ensuring disability-inclusive humanitarian action, ccording to information released at UN Headquarters in New York.
“Persons with disabilities are always left behind and the
humanitarian response is very complicated because there is no planning to address their needs. We see that constantly “in armed conflict situations, and natural disasters,” she explained.
The Charter on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in
Humanitarian Action urges government representatives as well as leaders of non-governmental organizations and funding bodies to ensure that their future humanitarian actions will be inclusive of people with disabilities, based on five principals: non-discrimination and recognition of the diversity of people with disabilities; involvement of people with disabilities in developing humanitarian programs; ensuring services and humanitarian assistance are equally available for and accessible to all people with disabilities; implementation of inclusive global policies; and
cooperation and coordination among humanitarian actors to improve inclusion of people with disabilities.
“For me, it was absolutely critical that I was [at the special
session], because it reminded me of my responsibility as a citizen, and also as the Adviser on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, to really put people with disabilities much closer to the center of everything we do. We must leave no one behind, and we must be inclusive,” UN Special Advisor David Nabarro, said.
He noted that the endorsement of the charter shows there is “real commitment” to working to ensure that people with disabilities were much closer to the center of humanitarian action.
This message was echoed by Pierre, the Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), where many people have been injured due to conflict.
“When I met young children in Syria who recently had lost limbs because of a car bomb attack, I realized, when I look at them and talk to them, that we need to do much more,” he said. “So [the charter] is an incentive to improve programmes, to include people with disabilities into the planning processes, as part of consultations in far more
systematic way.”
Colin Allen, who will be the next chair of the International
Disability Alliance (IDA), highlighted that the charter will help
address the specific needs of many people, such as those who are deaf, blind, or both.
“My role [at the session] was to make sure humanitarian actors have systems in place that are accessible, so that in the event of any natural disaster or crisis, they are able to facilitate access for people with disabilities,” he said, stressing the need to be prepared well in advance for this kind of assistance, such as having people who know sign language.
He also shared this message about what has been achieved for people with disabilities at the World Humanitarian Summit.
ISLAMABAD, May 24 (APP): President Mamnoon Hussain on
Tuesday said the all-weather friendship between Pakistan
and China had transformed into a strategic partnership, which was not only a source of stability for the two countries but stood for the development and betterment of humankind.
The President expressed these views while speaking at a
special ceremony organized by the Chinese Embassy here to mark the 65th anniversary of Pak-China diplomatic relations.
Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal,
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs
Syed Tariq Fatemi, Balochistan Governor Muhammad Khan
Achakzai, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail
Aman, senior civil and military officials and a large number
of people from different walks of life attended the ceremony.
Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong also addressed the
ceremony.
The President said Pakistan-China friendship started at
a time when the examples of selfless and sincere friendships
were very rare. In such a situation, Pakistan and
China joined hands and developed mutual trust.
“These relations have today transformed into strategic
partnership and durable cooperation encompassing almost all
fields, including economy, science and technology, culture,
sports, education and people to people contact,” he added.
The President expressed his belief that Pak-China
friendship would be a source of progress and betterment for
humanity symbolized by China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.
He said as the world was looking at CPEC with optimism
he believed that the foundation of this Corridor was laid the
day the construction of Silk Road was undertaken.
“The skilled workforce of Pakistan and China worked
shoulder to shoulder to convert this ordinary road into the
Eighth Wonder of the world and even did not hesitate in laying down their lives in the process,” he remarked.
The President said like the Silk Road, Pak-China foreign
policy was a unique example of mutual harmony and solidarity, which never wavered even during challenging international situations.
Both the countries, he said, had played a very useful
role in establishing regional and international peace and
strengthening world order. “Be it One China Policy, Kashmir
issue, intricacies of international conflicts or
reorganization of the UN Security Council, the way both the
countries have supported each other in these matters is a
golden chapter in our history.”
The President expressed his belief that this sincere
friendship would pass on to the future generations and the
world would not only marvel at the exemplary ties but would
also greatly benefit from it which would facilitate global
peace and stability and open up new avenues of progress and prosperity.
He said Pak-China friendship was unique in many ways.
“In the diplomatic world, friendship between two countries is
normally limited to official relations but Pak-China
friendship has moved beyond official level and taken roots at
the people-to-people level unaffected by any international
development,” he remarked.
The President said the sincere Pak-China friendship had
deepened their relations to such an extent where it had become a unique example for the rest of the world and it was now underpinning world peace, brotherhood and progress.
He said the sincere and multipurpose relations between
the two countries spanning over a period of 65 years were an unparalleled model of friendship for the world.
“One can hardly find such instance of friendship in the
history of foreign relations,” the President said and
congratulated Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong for organizing the event on the auspicious occasion of 65 years of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.
The President expressed his confidence that China would
continue to make economic strides under the dynamic and
visionary leadership of President Xi Jinping and Pakistan
would stand shoulder to shoulder with China in this quest.
“I again congratulate Ambassador Sun Weidong for
organizing this wonderful event, which reflects his deep
commitment in cementing Pakistan-China relations,” he
maintained.
Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong, in his welcome remarks,
said the celebration of 65th anniversary of Pak-China
diplomatic ties was a moment of significance in the history
of two countries’ friendship.
He said since the establishment of diplomatic ties in
1951, Pakistan and China were enjoying close and friendly
relations which were growing strength to strength.
Ambassador Sun said these ties were based on equality,
sincerity, mutual benefit and shared prosperity.
He said the two countries had all-round relations
including political, cultural, people-to-people contacts,
trade, economy, security etc.
The Chinese Ambassador said two countries shared views
on regional and international issues and always supported each other at all international fora. “If one faces any difficulty, the other extends helping hand,” he remarked.
He recalled the last year’s visit of President Xi Jinping to Pakistan and said the agreements reached between
the two sides were being implemented on a fast pace.
Ambassador Sun termed China Pakistan Economic Corridor
(CPEC) a new golden era of Pak-China friendship and
expressed his confidence that relations would continue to
further grow and strengthen in future as well.
Later President Mamnoon Hussain along with the Chinese
Ambassador also cut a special cake to mark the occasion.
KARACHI, May 24 (APP): Pakistan Teams qualified for Quarter-finals in the ACBS Team Event Snooker Championship 2016 which commenced in Abu Dhabi on May 23.
According to the information made available by the Pakistan
Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA), both teams Pakistan-1, comprising Mohammad Asif and Asjad Iqbal and Pakistan-2, composed of Mohammad Bilal and Babar Masih, qualified for the Quarter-finals.
Knock-out draw would be after last round matches and last session would start at 8:00 pm on May 24.
Bilal and Babar, combining as Pakistan-2, outplayed Iran 3-2 with frames scores of 05-109, 52-64, 84-32, 94-0, 75-13.
While, Malaysia defeated Pakistan -1, comprising of Asif and
Asjad, 3-2 with frames scores 78-51, 0-92, 124-0, 57-71, 89-06.
WASHINGTON, May 24 (APP): Improvement in water and power management in the industrial sector can help reduce Pakistan’s power shortages and increase manufacturing productivity, according to a new study funded by International Finance Commission (IFC), a lending arm of the World Bank.
The report, led by the National Productivity Organization and the Cleaner Production Institute found that reducing the amount of power, water and raw material used in industry would help over energy shortages, conserve natural resource and improve productivity.
These findings came from an analysis by Ernst and Young of more than 200 resource efficiency audits from manufacturers in the textile, sugar, leather, and pulp and paper industries.
According to the report, some industries could save more than one-fifth of their power consumption, along with billions of Pakistani rupees, by embracing energy-efficient technology.
IFC, in partnership with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Korea Green Growth Partnership, and the Earth Fund Platform, supported the production of this report. It is part of a larger IFC effort to raise awareness about the opportunities and obstacles facing industrial manufacturers.
“Implementing energy and water efficiency practices could help save more than $76 million in energy costs, the equivalent of about 25 percent of the electricity required for the city of Karachi,” said Abdul Ghaffar Khattak, Chief Executive Officer of the NPO, citing the analysis.
The textile sector, the main contributor to country’s exports could save nearly 22 percent of its total energy consumption by implementing cleaner production technologies.
The sugar industry, which places Pakistan among the world’s 10 largest producing nations, could also save at least 1.7 billion Pakistani rupees annually by investing in efficiency improvements.
“By adopting energy and resource efficiency practices, industries can become more efficient and increase their productivity,” said Nadeem Siddiqui, IFC Senior Manager in Pakistan. “Partnering with leading institutions in Pakistan in research like this is an important part of IFC’s strategy.”
However, the study highlighted challenges in achieving the desired goals. Some of the obstacles are weaken forcement of environmental regulations and a lack of financial investment in energy-efficient production.
One of the reasons for this is often insufficient awareness about cleaner production technology and its benefits, according to the analysis.
“Our work aims to demonstrate the business case for resource efficiency by showcasing the market volume and interest in savings measures,” said Azher Uddin Khan, Chief Executive Officer of the CPI.
IFC is one of the largest investors in Pakistan’s power sector. Pakistan represents IFC’s second-largest exposure in the Middle East and North Africa region.
ISLAMABAD, May 24 (APP): Minister for Interior, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Tuesday said it could not be confirmed that the person killed in drone strike in Balochistan was Afghan Taliban Chief, Mullah Mansoor as law enforcement agencies were still investigating the incident.
The victim-driver of charred vehicle was identified and his
body was handed over to the heirs, but at the moment it was not possible to confirm that the second person killed in strike was Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Mansoor.
Addressing a press conference here, Nisar said bodies of
both persons recovered from the spot were charred beyond
recognition. He said Pakistan was officially informed by the United States after seven hours about the strike and the Pakistani authorities had found a charred vehicle, two bodies and a passport from the spot.
“Mullah Mansoor is an Afghan national and Pakistan’s
government has no means to identify Afghan citizens,” said Nisar, adding that an individual has approached to claim body of the second deceased person, saying “he is a relative of Mullah Mansoor”.
The Minister said that DNA samples had been collected
and these would be tested against a relative who came forward to claim the body. So scientific means are being utilized to ascertain the identity, he said.
Interior Minister Ch. Nisar said the US drone strike targeting
Afghan Taliban leader was illegal as he was on Pakistani soil.
He said, “For the US government to say that whoever is a
threat to them will be targeted wherever they are, which is against international law. Irrespective of who was target of the attack, the government strongly condemns the drone strike.”
Nisar said Pakistani government condemns the US drone strike in Pakistan as it is also in contrast to the United Nations charter and the country’s sovereignty.
He said a strategy to cater the issue shall be made after
Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’s return to the country and that a meeting of National Security Council (NSC) shall also be held.
Replying to a question, he said peace in Afghanistan is
possible through dialogue.
He said it was believed that Mansoor was a hurdle in
negotiations whereas various phases of dialogue between Taliban and Afghan government were made possible and postponed with consensus that dialogue is the only solution.
He said the US drone strike would have serious implications
upon relations between the United States and Pakistan. Such actions could adversely impact ongoing efforts by Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) for facilitating peace talks between Afghan government and Taliban.
Nisar said people should acknowledge how drone strikes have decreased in the recent years.
Responding to another question, he said, For the last 40
years now, more than 3 million migrants have reached Pakistan.
Thousands of people cross the porous border on daily basis, however, “We are trying to improve the system by adopting different measures.”
Regarding the passport obtained from the area, the Interior Minister said the passport belonged to a person named Wali Muhammad. The very person had applied for manual identification card in 2001 and computerized one in 2002 whereas he applied for a passport for the first time in 2005 and got renewed in 2011-12.
Nisar said intelligence agencies gave him information about
the identity of the card holder and his Afghan identity on basis of which it was cancelled along with 24,000 others. It was also directed to cancel passports of these fake card holders.
He said his name was not forwarded by National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) for cancellation of his passport as there might be some flaws in the system. However, improvement had been made in recent years in NADRA and Passport Department, he added.
The country, he added, suffered heavily if there was corruption in such vital institutions.
Answering a question, he asked, “Why does a man become a threat for the US when he is in Pakistan, why he was not regarded as a threat when he was in his own or other country?” If the US policy was to be followed, there would be a law of jungle in this world, he added.
The minister said Taliban could not be brought to negotiating
table by killing their leaders. A difficult situation had
been created for Pakistan with the killing of Taliban leader,
he added.
Giving statistics related to Computerized National Identity
Cards (CNICs) that were cancelled on account of security concerns ever since he assumed office as Interior Minister, Nisar said in 2011 only 26 CNICs were cancelled, 493 in 2012, 6062 in 2013, 22,361 in 2014, 96,689 in 2015 and 111,540 CNICs during first five months of this year.
He said 614 employees of NADRA had been sacked for their
involvement in corruption while 65 were also arrested.
Similarly, he said during 2010-2012 only 361 passports were cancelled against 29,000 during last two and a half years.
Giving further details, he said Wali Muhammad had shown
himself to be a resident of Qila Abdullah. His CNIC was attested by two persons, who had now denied.
He said his passport was verified by DCO Hafiz Tahir and Naib Tehsildar Rafiq Tareen. The FIA had been instructed to arrest them or question them on which ground they had verified the passport of Wali Muhammad.
Nisar disclosed that during previous round of talks in Murree
it was under consideration that Kabul should be declared a conflict free zone but talks were sabotaged after the news about the death of Mullah Omar.
He said, “Dialogue is the only way forward for peace. No one
has bigger stakes for peace than Pakistan and Afghanistan.”
Replying to a question, Nisar said the US had not shared
any anything about the strike with Pakistan rather the latter
was informed after seven hours of the incident.
ISLAMABAD, May 24 (APP): Minister for Finance Muhammad
Ishaq Dar Tuesday said the government would enhance development expenditure while no new burden would be put on the existing taxpayers in the budget for 2016-17.
However, steps would be suggested to bring non-filers
under the tax net regime, he said while addressing a pre-budget seminar organized by Express Media Group here.
The seminar was addressed among others by Senator Osman Saifullah Khan of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Deputy Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Vice President SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry Iftikhar Ali Malik, President Federal of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Abdul Rauf, President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) Atif Ikram Sheikh, Stok exchange expert Arif Habib, Ajmal Malik of Express Media Group, Arif
Yousuf Jewa and senior journalist Ziauddin Ahmed.
The Finance Minister said during last three years, the
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government’s prudent economic policies had managed to stabilize the dwindling economic condition as had been endorsed by the major international rating agencies.
He said that when the PML-N government came into power in May 2013, it had inherited a dwindling economic condition and international financial institution were declaring Pakistan as a macro-economically de-stabilized country.
International financial institutions like IFC and ADB
had closed their doors for business with Pakistan, he added.
There was some 18-hour loadshedding in rural areas and
16-hour electricity breakdown in urban areas, he said.
Ishaq Dar said the present government took bold
decisions to stabilize the national economy and saved the
country from a possible default.
He said when the government took power the budget
deficit was 8.8 per cent which had now been brought down to 4.3 per cent. In the first budget, the present
government froze all the discretionary funds, besides
bringing the secret funds of ministries to zero.
The Finance Minister said the present government
had increased the rate of the revenue collection in three years to 33 per cent and during the ten months of the current financial year.
He stressed the need for making joint efforts in order to
ensure that the economic gains must not be destabilized due to any political unrest in the country.
The Finance Minister once again asked opposition members
to sit with the government and evolve a charter of economy in order to make the country’s economy even more robust.
He said in a bid to ensure sustainable economic
development, the government had made deep-rooted structural reforms in various sectors, including tax, energy, agriculture and public offices.
Ishaq Dar assured that in the budget for next year, no
new tax burden would be put on common man and those already paying their taxes.
He, however, viewed that the government would
specially target the non tax filers in a bid to force them to
come into the tax net.
He said the withholding tax imposed by the government had
not only helped increase the number of tax payers but also
collect Rs 20 billion during the year.
The minister said the budget deficit was expected to
remain 4.3 per cent during the current fiscal year which had
witnessed a significant decrease from 8.8 per cent deficit
three years ago.
He claimed that during next fiscal year, the budget
deficit would be further decreased to 3.5 per cent.
He said the government also took numerous austerity
measurers including withdrawing of discretionary funds worth
billions of rupees of Prime Minister House and other
ministries.
He said the government also abolishhed secret funds of 32 public departments. He said that the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth rate would remain 4.71 per cent by the end of current fiscal year.
“This growth rate would have been even higher to about
5.2 per cent if cotton crop had not been badly affected,” he
added.
Ishaq Dar highlighted the initiation of Diamer-Basha
Dam and Dasu hydel project to overcome the energy crisis.
The minister said the US $ 46 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) initiated with the help of China would bring prosperity in the country.
The Finance Minister said that Japan External Trade
Organization (JETRO) had declared Pakistan as the second best choicest palace for investment while Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait were also keen to invest here.
He expressed the hope that if Pakistan stayed on course
it could become the 18th largest economy by 2050. If the
reforms process continued even Pakistan could achieve this
target by 2030, he added.
The government, he said, was focusing on economic growth
for the prosperity of the country.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi on the occasion called upon the
government to focus on agriculture sector for the prosperity
of the country.
The other speakers put forward suggestions to the
government for the growth of national economy.
WASHINGTON, May 24 (APP): Young Pakistani Americans are among a group of Muslims in the US State of Maryland who are entering electoral politics to help counter anti-Muslims sentiments recently spurred by some candidates during the 2016 presidential campaign, a news repor said on Monday.
Raaheela Ahmed, 22, is one such Pakistani American, who recently won the primary election for District 5 seat on the Prince George’s County Board of Education, according to a separate report by the Capital Gazette.
She ran for the post as a teenager four ago but lost, but this time around she was the top vote-getter, beating even the longest-serving member on the board, Jeana Jacobs, who remained President of the board from 2007 to 2013.
Rida Bukhari Rizivi, 32, is another young Pakistani American who ran for the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee but narrowly lost. But, she is very encouraged by results of her first contest and is determined to do more, according to a report by the Washington Post.
“I was reluctant at first, but Hamza (Khan) urged me to run, and it became more than a seat on a committee,” said Bukhari-Rizvi about a Pakistani American colleague, who is an activist of Democratic Party and chairs the Muslim Democratic Club of Montgomery County in Maryland, a neighboring state of capital Washington DC.
Khan, this spring, ran the campaign for Rizvi, a policy analyst, and Nadia Syahmalina, 34, an Indonesian American financial manager who ran in the Maryland primary to become a delegate for Clinton at the National Convention, the report said. Syahmalina also narrowly lost to her opponent.
Hamza Khan, who grew up in Maryland, is very active and working to open the political space to other Muslim groups, especially women. “We have nearly 100,000 Muslims in the county, from many countries and walks of life, but their political influence is zero – Few of them have faith in the democratic process, and many come from patriarchal societies. This is a battle to empower Muslim women.”
Rida Rizvi, who wears a white headscarf, said that they had never been given a voice before, but that she was part of a new crop of Muslim American women who are well-educated and well-spoken. “We can help combat Islamophobia, and we can carve out a future for others. If no one gives us the mantle, we will take it.”
Anti-Muslims sentiments have risen in recent months after some Republican presidential candidates, like Donald Trump, used recent terrorist attacks in Paris and in the US State last year to whip up anti-Muslim sentiments. Trump even demanded that entry of all Muslims in the US should be banned.
Syahmalina, from Indonesia is a supporter of Hillary Clinton, the front-runner of the Democratic Party said she was initially nervous as she thought of politics as ‘dirty’, but was encouraged by her Pakistani American colleague, Khan, to run in the Primary election.
The report quoting Zainab Chaudhry, Maryland state director for the Council on American Islamic Relations, a nonprofit advocacy group, said that with women, there was a trust factor. “People tend to open up more to them, than Muslim men.”
ISLAMABAD, May 24 (APP): Mainly very hot and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country however, rain-thunderstorm is likely at few places in Kashmir and its adjoining areas during next 24 hours.
Low pressure area lies over North Balochistan and its
adjoining areas with its trough extending northeastwards.
A westerly wave is likely to affect upper parts of the country
during next 24 hours, an official of Met office told APP.
In last hours rain-thunderstorm occurred at scattered places
in upper Punjab, Islamabad, Khaber Pakhtunkhwa, FATA,
Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir.
Weather remained hot and dry elsewhere in the country during this duration.
Rainfall recorded during this time span remained Garhi Dupatta 53mm, Rawalakot 17mm, Muzaffarabad 6mm, Kotli 5mm, Lahore PBO 25mm, Faisalabad 21mm, Gujranwala 20mm, Sargodha 16mm, Lahore A/P 12mm,
Jhang 11mm, Murree 5mm, Sialkot Cantt 4mm, Islamabad Z.P 3mm, Mangla 3mm, Sialkot A/P 1mm, Kamra 1mm, Rawalpindi 1mm, Mandibahauddin 1mm, Saidu Sharif 20mm, Pattan 16mm, Cherat 13mm, D.I.Khan 13mm, Drosh
13mm, Kakul 12mm, Parachinar 12mm, Kalam 11mm, Balakot 7mm, Mirkhani 6mm, Dir 4mm, Bannu 3mm, Malamjaba 3mm, Kohat 1mm, Lower Dir 1mm, Peshawar A/P 1mm, Astore 4mm, Gupis 4mm, Hunza 3mm,
Bunji 3mm and Gilgit 2mm.
Maximum temperatures recorded on Tuesday remained Larkana 50øC, Sukkur, Jacobabad, Moenjodaro 49øC, Rohri 48øC, Sibbi, Sh.
Benazirabad, Dadu, Padidan 47øC, Islamabad 38øC, Lahore 39øC, Karachi 36øC, Peshawar 38øC, Quetta 31øC, Gilgit 29øC, Chitral 26øC, Hunza 24øC, Muzaffarabad 34øC, Murree 26øC, Skardu 28øC, Faisalabad 40øC, Multan 44øC, Hyderabad 42øC, Dir 31øC and Kalat 31øC.
ISLAMABAD, May 24 (APP): President Mamnoon Hussain Tuesday said that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a historic step forward under which the development of road, rail, sea and air infrastructure projects would transform the whole region into a hub of regional and global trade.
The President was addressing an inaugural ceremony of Beijing Forum at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST).
President Mamnoon said the CPEC would not only lead to robust regional connectivity but also be a foundation of the historical “One Belt – One Road” vision of China, ushering in an era of global peace, prosperity and stability.
The Pak-China relations were a model for the whole world and both the countries had always adopted a common stance at all forums for resolution of international issues, regional peace and stability, he added.
Both countries had wholeheartedly extended cooperation to the international community for achievement of these objectives.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz,
Minister for Defence Production and Science & Technology Rana Tanveer Hussain, Chairman Peking University Council Prof. Zhu Shan Lu, Ambassador of People’s Republic of China to Pakistan Sun Weidong and Rector NUST Lt. Gen. (R) Muhammad Asghar were also present on the occasion, said a press release.
The President expressed satisfaction that Islamabad had been chosen for holding the Beijing Forum’s first ever session outside China.
He observed that it was a matter of satisfaction that National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST) and Peking University had taken the initiative for organizing this event for which both of the eminent institutions and their organizers deserved praise.
President Mamnoon said that educational institutions not only lay the foundation for national progress and prosperity, but also become a source of transmitting rich traditions and bonds of friendship between nations to coming generations.
He noted that the joint effort by the two leading institutions
of Pakistan and China was a step towards achieving this goal, adding that such efforts would bear fruit, benefitting China, Pakistan and the entire humanity.
The President said the youth of both friendly countries would
play a leading role in this endeavor as highlighted by the founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
President Mamnoon said in order to achieve the greater goal of the betterment of humanity, the youth needed to hone their creative abilities and excel in modern fields of knowledge so that both countries were ready to lead the contemporary world by being in sync with requirements of the future.
He also warmly welcomed the distinguished guests from People’s Republic of China and other friendly countries on the occasion of holding of Beijing Forum in Islamabad and hoped that their stay would be pleasant and comfortable.
ISLAMABAD, May 24 (APP): Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani Tuesday inaugurated an exhibition at the Potohar Gallery at NCA Rawalpindi featuring the works of students of its seven departments.
The Senate Chairman along with Secretary Senate Amjed
Pervez Malik visited the NCA on special invitation of the director of Rawalpindi campus Nadeem Tarar.
Senior faculty members of NCA gave a detailed briefing to the Senate Chairman about the Rawalpindi campus and the people associated with it.
It was told that the campus had 100 members of visiting and permanent faculty members, who were teaching almost 500 students at present.
The college has seven departments, including the Department of Architecture which was the oldest and the biggest one. The college has planned to open two more departments.
ISLAMABAD, May 24 (APP): Minister for States and Frontier
Regions, Lt. General (R) Abdul Qadir Baloch Tuesday underlined that given its extreme vulnerability to large-scale recurring natural disasters, the Government of Pakistan had strengthened its indigenous response mechanisms to natural disasters.
He was speaking to the high level leaders round table convened by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on the theme of “Natural Disasters and climate change: Managing risks and crises differently,” a message received here said.
He said Pakistan was progressively moving towards a proactive approach of Disaster Risk Management, capitalizing on its own rich experiences as well as adopting best global practices.
The seven Round tables of the Summit were aimed at obtaining practical commitments from member states and other humanitarian actors in the seven specific areas identified in the Secretary General’s “Agenda for Humanity”.
Pakistan was one of the lead speakers in the Round table which was moderated by the UN Secretary General and Co-Chaired by the President of Nauru, Deputy President of Kenya and Deputy Prime Ministers of Ethiopia and Nepal.
Outlining Pakistan’s commitments in the area of managing
natural disasters and climate change hazards, the Minister conveyed Pakistan’s firm determination to support all global frameworks in managing risks and crises more effectively with a view to saving human lives and minimizing damages to livelihood and local economies.
In this context, the Minister conveyed Pakistan’s determination to further strengthen its research and capacity
building in disaster risk management, to pursue Multi-hazard
vulnerability and Risk assessment up to micro level by year 2030.
Among other major activities during the Summit, the Minister
chaired a side event organized by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on the theme of “Reaching People in Need:
Pakistan’s Experiences.” Key speakers included Neil Buhne (Resident Coordinator Pakistan), ndrika Ratwatte (Representative UNHCR Pakistan), Dr. Farzana Bari (Head of Gender Studies Quaid-i-Azam University),Tariq Hayat (Joint Secretary, SAFRON), Ahmed Kamal (Member DRR) and Asif Yasin (Former Secretary Defense).
The event was moderated by Chairman NDMA, Major General Asghar Nawaz. Presentations revolved around sharing Pakistan’s experiences in managing the two mega natural disasters of 2005 (earthquake) and 2010 (floods), hosting of millions of Afghan refugees for over three
decades, and successful return and rehabilitation of Temporarily Dislocated Persons from Swat.
ISLAMABAD, May 24 (APP): Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid said on Tuesday that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will be a proponent of peace and regional prosperity.
This he said while addressing a seminar on ” Pakistan China
Iron Brothers”, organised by Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage in connection with 65th anniversary of celebrations of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.
Pervaiz Rashid said the convoys that will ply on the corridor
project would not conquer other countries but help provide basic amenities of life to the people of the region. This road of peace would sprout the springs of development in the region,he added.
He said Pakistan and China harbour no enmity towards any
country and seek peace and friendship with all.
Over the last 65 years, the relations between the two countries have grown from strength to strength despite changes in internal or external situation. This speaks volumes of the bonds between the two countries which are mooted in the will of the people.
He said there was a complete unanimity among Pakistanis
irrespective of their political affiliations, profession or origin
that China is sincere friend and a strategic ally.
While state relations are usually considered to be based on
national interest – relationship between Pakistan and China is an example that inter-state relations based on understanding, mutual respect and people to people centered are enduring, he said.
The minister said that Pak-China friendship was not about the two people only, but it was relationship of over one billion humans. This friendship was beneficial not only to the people of the two countries but the entire region and the entire world.
This relationship has played its role in the peace and prosperity of the entire world and now the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor will prove a road to progress and prosperity.
Pervaiz Rashid said that the construction of ports and road
infrastructure in the region will bring the people closer to each other. Therefore, he said besides the development of Gwadar, Pakistan also welcomes the establishment of other ports in the region.
He said these mega projects will steer the region out of
poverty and backwardness and bring prosperity to the lives of the people.
ISLAMABAD, May 24 (APP): Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar Tuesday said the government was making sincere efforts regarding the Panama Papers investigation and the parliamentary committee constituted to frame terms of reference for the judicial commission, would meet on Wednesday.
Talking to a private news channel, he said the government had agreed for equal members from the government and the opposition.
Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and Security Exchange Commission of Pakistan had been directed to complete their work on the Panama Papers, he said.
Ishaq Dar said meeting of parliamentary committee on Panama Papers would be held on Wednesday in the chamber of Speaker National Assembly.
He said that budget 2016-17 would be presented on June 3.
In order to increase the exports volume, special measures would be announced in the budget, he said adding that agriculture, industry and other sectors would be particulalry facilitated.
He said the government was making efforts to expand tax net and more strict measures would be taken in the budget for the purpose.
The minister said relief would be given to regular tax filers while non-tax filers would be brought to tax net.
ISLAMABAD, May 24 (APP): A book titled “Pakistan-China – an all weather friendship” has been published to mark the 65th anniversary of establishment of Pak-China diplomatic relations.
The 34-page book carries the chronology of important events between the two countries starting from the establishment of diplomatic ties on May 21, 1951.
Directorate of Electronic Media and Publications, Ministry of
Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage, has published the book.
The book also carries rare and historic pictures of the
meetings between the heads of state and government from both the countries and signing of important agreements.
A picture shows the meeting between former Prime Minister
Mohammad Ali Bogra of Pakistan and former Premier Zhou Enlai of China at Asian African Conference in Bandung, Indonesia on April 18, 1955, which laid the basis for future ties.
Another picture shows Chairman Mao Zedong exchanging views with the then Pakistan Prime Minister Huseyn Shaheed Suharwardi in Beijing in 1956. It was first ever visit by a Pakistani Prime Minister to China.
Some pictures of former President Ayub Khan’s historic visit
to China in March 1965 depict the warm welcome accorded to him.
Some of the pictures display the former Prime Minister
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s visit to China and meetings with Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai and signing of bilateral agreements in 1972.
A picture depicts signing of Pakistan-China agreement for
joint commission on economic trade and technical cooperation in Beijing.
Former Chinese Prime Minister Li Peng visited Pakistan in
November 1989 and pictures of his meetings with the then Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and then President Ghulam Ishaq Khan have been included in the book.
Pictures of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s visit to China in
February 1991 and meeting with Chinese President are also included in the book.
In a picture former President Farooq Leghari is conferring the
award of Nishan-e-Imtiaz to Gen Zhang Wannion, Chief of General Staff People’s Liberation Army of China, on December 2, 1993.
A picture shows former Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao inaugurating the Pakistan-China Friendship Centre on December 18,2010.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited China in November 2014 and several memorandums of understanding were signed between the two countries.
President Mamnoon Hussain conferred Pakistan’s highest civil
award Nishan-i-Pakistan on Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on April 21, 2015.
A photo shows Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chinese
President Xi Jinping inaugurating projects through video link at the Prime Minister’s Office on April 20, 2015.
ISLAMABAD, May 24 (APP): President Mamnoon Hussain on
Tuesday said the cultivation of high quality fruits was
necessary to increase the export of fruits.
The President said during the meeting with a delegation
of All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and
Merchants Association (PFVA) which headed by its Chairman Waheed Ahmed called on him, here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.
He President said that exporters should increase their
contact with the federal and provincial exporters’ associations in order to remove impediments in the way of imports and exports.
He said all the stakeholders involved should give
recommendations for plant protection of fruits and vegetables so that its implementation could be ensured.
The President assured the delegation that the issues of
exporters would be resolved by the government at each and every level. Traders associated with the fruit sector should train their human resource so that fruits for export could be packaged and secured according to international standards, he added.
He said the government was committed to the development of agricultural sector and the trading community’s recommendations would help the government in devising policies.
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