ISLAMABAD, May 24 (APP): Minister for National Health Services Saira Afzal Tarar has called for greater emphasis on equity in access to health-care and people-centered set of universal and transformative goals and targets for the future.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), she said, with strong focus on equity would serve to ensure that “no one is left behind”.
Addressing the 196-nation World Health Assembly in Geneva, the minister said health was positioned as a major contributor to the other SDGs, and reciprocally benefitted from progress towards them, according to a message received here from Switzerland on Tuesday.

The challenges we face, she said, were related to building health systems capable of providing integrated, people-centered care.

She said addressing new health priorities without compromising existing programmes required careful balance. The non-communicable diseases, she added, were becoming a global challenge in developed and developing countries alike. They would sooner or later overwhelm the existing health system capacities unless rapid investments were made in disease prevention and health promotion.
Noting the need to strengthen linkages between health, development and humanitarian work, the minister said a growing concern in many countries would be how to better integrate humanitarian and development assistance.
She informed the Assembly that Pakistan was taking strides in prioritizing universal health coverage through launching Prime Minister’s National Health Programme for population living below poverty line.

The programme, she said, was being implemented across the country in phases and was providing free of cost treatment to hundreds of thousands of families through both public and private health facilities.

She said that Pakistan was giving attention to implementation of International Health Regulations to stop spread of disease across borders in a globalised world.

Most recently, she said,”we have completed our Joint External Evaluation of International Health Regulations and Global Health Security Agenda.”

The External Evaluation assessed the country’s capacity to prevent, detect and rapidly respond to public health threats, she added.

The minister said that Pakistan was the first country in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and in Asia to volunteer for this assesment.

On polio eradication, Saira Tarar informed the global health
leadership that the country had taken major strides to arrest spread of polio with 11 cases restricted to three well-defined regions as compared to 24 in corresponding period last year.
This year 9 per cent environmental samples were found positive as compared to 22 per cent last year, she said, adding that the intensity and distribution of wild poliovirus had declined significantly.

Aggressive campaigns were being undertaken in 2016 to stop poliovirus transmission with major strides in security for teams, campaign quality and monitoring, she added.

ISLAMABAD, May 24 (APP): Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said that early closure of markets especially in Karachi and Punjab could help save 1500 MW.

In a statement here Tuesday, he said that day light must be used for business. “Around world, market aren’t typically open past midnight,” he added.

He said that with early closure of markets would not help reduce the power tariff but also 1500 MW free electricity would be available.

Asif said that a megawatt saved was far better than a megawatt generated.

He also called up the provincial governments and traders to cooperate in this regard.

ISLAMABAD, May 24 (APP): Pakistan and Czech Republic on
Tuesday called for the need to further the exiting ties in the field of defence and defence production.

Secretary Defence Lt Gen (retd) Muhammad Alam Khattak and visiting Chief of General Staff Czech Republic General Josef Becvar discussed modalities to enhance defence cooperation at a meeting in the Ministry of Defence, Rawalpindi.

According to news release, both the sides exchanged views on matters of mutual interest, including the present status of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation which was signed between the two sides back in 2010.

While deciding to further enhance their existing defence
cooperation, the Secretary Defence informed the visiting dignitary about the capability of Pakistan Armed Forces in the field of military and technical training along with a well-established defence industry which was compatible to the defence industries of the developed countries.

He expressed the desire to benefit from the expertise of Czech Republic in the field of defence industries.

The visiting dignitary was informed about the present status
of Zarb-e-Azb along with efforts for reconstruction and
rehabilitation of Temporary Displaced People in FATA region.

General Josef Becvar, while appreciating the military and
technical capability of Armed Forces of Pakistan, stressed on
diversifying the defence cooperation between the two countries and also dilated upon the present refugee crisis in Europe.

He apprised the Secretary Defence that at present a contingent comprising about 2000 personnel of Czech Republic was stationed in Afghanistan.
General Josef Becvar was installed Chief of the General Staff
of the Czech Republic on May 01, 2015.

RAWALPINDI, May 24 (APP): Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff
Committee (CJCSC) General Rashad Mahmood, currently on official visit to Turkmenistan, today called on Deputy Minister of Defence and Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Ismallov Ismail Allamyradovich.

According to ISPR, both dignitaries discussed matters of
professional interest and reiterated the need to enhance mutual cooperation between the Armed Forces.

The Minister lauded Pakistan’s commitment to eradicate
terrorism and acknowledged the sacrifices rendered by Pakistan in fight against this menace.

All Services Chiefs of Turkmenistan Armed Forces were also
present during the meeting.

CJCSC also called on Colonel General Berdiev Yaylym
Yagmyrovich, Minister of Defence.

Upon arrival at Ministry of Defence, CJCSC was presented the Guard of Honour.

CHAGAI, May 24 (APP): Federal Minister for Commerce Eng. Khurram Dastagir Tuesday said Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had directed for practical measures to create employment oppportunities for the youth of Balochistan on priority basis.

Mega projects to be launched with the cooperation of Iran and Turkey in the province would also generate jobs for local people, he said while speaking during his visit to border area of Taftan in Chagai district.

He was accompanied by Additional Secretary Commerce Ms Robina Aata, Collector Custom Balochistan Dr. Saeed Jadoon and other officials.

The minister said: “It is desire of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif to strengthen friendly ties with Iran and Turkey.”

The joint projects being carried out by Pakistan, Iran and Turkey would also generate a lot of jobs for the people of Pakistan, especially for the youth of Balochistan, he added.

He said steps were being taken to boost trade activities with Iran through rail and road links.

The minister visited Zero-Point Gate, Custom House and other important government installations. He also met with the officials and personnel of Iranian Border Force.

LAHORE, May 24 (APP): Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif visited Chinese Embassy in Islamabad on Tuesday and met Chinese Ambassador in Pakistan Sun Weidong.

According to a handout, the Chief Minister congratulated Chinese Ambassador on completion of 65 years diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.

Talking to Chinese Ambassador, Shehbaz Sharif said that unflinching relations of friendship existed between Pakistan and China. He said that people of both the countries were proud of bilateral relations and friendship. He said that China had been standing with Pakistan like a sincere friend and supported it in every time of need. He said that Pak-China relations have further strengthened during the period of
present government. He said that China was making historic investment of 46 billion dollars in Pakistan.

He said that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was a game changer and the projects being set up in the country under CPEC had resulted in further promotion of bilateral ties and opened new vistas of development in Pakistan.

Shehbaz Sharif thanked Chinese leadership and government for release of funds for Orange Line Metro Train project and said that cooperation of China in the project of Orange Line Metro Train was commendable.

Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong talking on the occasion said that Pak-China friendship and bilateral economic cooperation was promoting with every passing moment. He said that efforts of Shehbaz Sharif for promoting Pak-China friendship were appreciable.

He thanked Shehbaz Sharif for holding excellent ceremony of 65th anniversary of Pak-China relations.

ISLAMABAD, May 24 (APP): The first cargo flight of relief
goods from Pakistan, for the victims of the recent devastating floods, landslides and torrential rains in Sri Lanka, landed Tuesday at Bandaranaike International Airport Katunayake.

The Pakistani cargo plane brought full load of C-130 aircraft
carrying priority relief items indicated by the Sri Lankan
authorities, said a message received here.

The relief items containing generators, shelters, tents,
medicines, etc, were handed over by the High Commissioner of Pakistan in Sri Lanka Maj Gen (Retd) Syed Shakeel Hussain to the Sri Lankan Minister for Disaster Management Anura Priyadarshana Yapa M.P, in a solemn ceremony.
Secretary, Ministry of Disaster Management S. S. Miyanawala, other senior official of national disaster management authority Pakistan ,Sri Lankan Government officials as well as Officers of the High Commission were also present at the ceremony.

Floods and landslides caused by torrential rains with gale
force winds in Sri Lanka have left many people dead, missing, and over 400,0000 people are affected by the adverse weather.

ISLAMABAD, May 24 (APP): Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and his Maldivian counterpart Adam Shareef Umar Tuesday agreed to further increase defense cooperation between the two countries.

Both the leaders discussed matters pertaining to
counter terrorism and training of military officers of Maldives,
said a press release issued here on Tuesday.

While welcoming the Maldivian counterpart, Khawaja Asif
highlighted the importance of Maldives among SAARC countries and the role being played by the Maldives in regional and global scenarios.

The bilateral relations between the two counties were based
common religion, culture and principle of respecting each others sovereignty and territorial integrity, he added.

Adam Shareef Umer while reciprocating the sentiments said that both countries enjoy excellent bilateral relations based on mutual trust, confidence and commonality of views on various regional and international issues.

He pointed out that exchange of high level visits and regular
meetings are instrumental in strengthening cooperation between two countries.

Both the sides agreed to further strengthen and diversity
thier existing bilateral defence relation to include counter
terrorism cooperation besides further enhance and availing training courses by personnel of armed forces of Maldives in the training institutions of Pakistan and holding of regular joint seminars to learn from each other’s experiences.

HYDERABAD, May 24 (APP): Nine persons including two children were died while more than 37 others received injuries when a speedy Coach over turned on Indus Highway near Sunn town of district Jamshoro, some 90 kilometers from here on Tuesday morning.

According to the police, the Karachi bound coach, carrying more than 45 passengers, was coming from Osta Muhammad town of Balochistan via Shahdadkot, however, when it reached near Dari Ganjhi bus stop, the driver lost the control over steering while overtaking a truck and it turned turtle.

The deceased were identified as Shahzad Ahmed, Sher Khan Baloch, Sakir Khan Baloch, Jameel Baloch, Husna Brohi, Ajeena, Kainat, 5 year old Niamat Bhatti and cleaner of the coach Shoukat Jamali.

The rescue workers reached at the spot and shifted the deceased to different hospitals of Sunn, Manjhand as well as Liaquat University Hospital Jamshoro and Hyderabad Branches.

The injured persons include Arfa Mangi, Bushra Mangi, Javed Baloch, Saeed Ahmed Bhatti, Fayyaz Baloch, Shah Muhammad, Gull Khan, Mumtaz Ali, Abdur Rasheed, Sameer Ahmed, Ayoub Magsi, Zubaida Bibi, Ghulam Fareed
Magsi, Sajid Baloch, Irfana Mangi, Nazia Bhatti, Asia and Gulfam. Most of the injured were discharged after treatment while five were in critical condition.

Injured passengers admitted at civil hospital Hyderabad told that they were coming from Osta Muhammad town of Balochistan and coach was carrying over 45 passengers. The driver was over-speeding and driving the coach recklessly, they said adding that the ill fated coach met the accident while over taking a truck.

Later, the road was cleared for traffic and the coach was removed from the road by using a crane. Police also collected baggage of the passengers from the scene and shifted it to police station.

ISLAMABAD, May 24 (APP): The Saudi-Pak Industrial and
Agricultural Investment Company moved against the decision of the court which allowed the Auditor General for Pakistan (AGP) to conduct audit of the company while simultaneously dismissing its claim of complete immunity from audit.

The Company in its Intra Court Appeal (ICA) challenged the
single judge bench comprising Justice Aamer Farooq which maintained that the company 500 shares are held by government of Pakistan, then how it could claim complete exemption from audit by the AGP.

In the ICA, Azid Nafees counsel for the Saudi-Pak company
stated that the company is not amenable to audit by the Auditor General of Pakistan in terms of article 170 (2) of the Constitution, adding that it is an unlisted public limited company and laws applicable to the public sector shall not apply to it.

Nafees said, the impugned order has disregarded the judgments placed before the court wherein it was observed that the government of Pakistan does not have controlling shares in the appellant and therefore writ cannot be exercised against the appellants in terms of Article 199 (5) of the Constitution.

The counsel said that neither does the federal government have exclusive, complete and final authority to take vital policy decisions, nor does it exercise administrative and financial control over the appellant.

He said that the appellant is a public (unlisted) limited
company which was established under a joint venture agreement entered into by Pakistan and KSA in 1980.

Under the agreement, 50 percent of the shares of Saudi-Pak
Company are held by KSA and the other 50 percent are held by the State Bank of Pakistan in the name of the government of Pakistan.

He added petitioner is a joint venture company with management control of KSA and appellant’s accounts are regularly audited by internal and external auditors and regular inspection is also conducted by the State Bank of Pakistan as a regulator.

The director general commercial audit & evaluation, Karachi,
however, refused to allow immunity from the state audit and
intimated to the appellant it intention of sending out an audit team to the appellant’s premises in the second week of January 2016.

He has prayed the court to reverse the order of the single
judge bench dated April 13, 2016, as it is not sustainable in law, adding that the letters issued by the director general commercial audit & evaluation, Karachi and Lahore, be declared illegal.

Secretary cabinet division, Auditor General of Pakistan and
the director general commercial audit & evaluation, Karachi have been listed as respondents.

ISLAMABAD, May 24 (APP): National Police Bureau (NPB) in a bid towards constructive integration and inculcating a
sense of professionalism among the existing 15 police
organizations of the country conducted first ever Police
Shuhada Memorial Shooting Competition at Police Training
College, Sihala.

The three-day event included four categories of marksmanship of Pistol and rifle fire. Overall nine
teams from ICT, GB, Punjab, KP, Baluchistan, Sindh, National
Highways & Motorway Police, IB and FC participated. Despite
scorching heat, the participants including female police officers, left no stone unturned to excel and to earn laurels for their departments.

ICT won the championship trophy. M. Suleman (ICT) was
overall first with gold in 25 M Pistol and 100 M Rifle. M. Naveed Akram won gold in 300 M Sniper rifle. Mrs. Fozia Hanif of ICT Police won gold in the ladies 15 M and 25 M Pistol. She also won the silver medal in the open competition which included male participants as well. Amir Bangash (Sindh Police) won gold in the 15 M Pistol and silver in 25 M pistol.

Baligh ur Rehman Minister of State, Federal Education
& Professional Training, Interior & Narcotics Control graced
the closing ceremony and appreciated the efforts of the participants and of NPB. He said there is no better way to commemorate Shuhada but holding events in their names. Shuhada are those who have laid down their lives so we may live in peace and suggested for more such inter police events in other disciplines as well. Pakistan police are second to none, and despite constraints perform well.

DG NPB appreciated the organizing committee led by Amjad
Khan for their efforts, Col Wahid and former IGP Sarmad Saeed for being competition adjudicator. He said that the essence of good marksmanship is self-discipline which is a quality to making a good police officer.

ISLAMABAD, May 24 (APP): Children’s rights in Pakistan will be reviewed by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child on May 25 and 26 in sessions that will be webcast live.

The discussions will take place at Palais Wilson in Geneva on
Wednesday May 25 from 15:00-18:00 (18:00-21:00 in Islamabad) and on Thursday May 26 from 10:00-13:00 (13:00-16:00 in Islamabad).

Themeetings are public and will be webcast here: http://www.treatybodywebcast.org/.

Pakistan is one of the 196 States that have ratified the Convention on  the Rights of the Child and so is required to undergo regular examinations of its record by the Committee of 18 independent experts.

Committee members will hold discussions with a government delegation  from Pakistan on how the Convention is being implemented.

They will base their evaluation on the delegation’s replies, as well as information from civil society groups.

Among the possible issues for discussion are execution of people for  crimes committed when they were under 18, children on death row;ú Gender-based crimes, including female infanticide, “honour” killings; Extremely low rate of birth registration; úProtection of children from religious minorities from sectarian violence, forced marriage, forced conversion and prosecution under blasphemy laws; Torture and ill-treatment of children in police stations and prisons; High rates of malnutrition; Children working in slave-like conditions in bonded labour; Protection of schools in view of attacks, especially on non-religious and girls’ schools;
Privatisation of education, growing number of private “madrassas” used by non-State armed groups to radicalize and recruit children.

Prohibition and criminalization of recruitment of children under 18 by State armed forces and by non-State armed groups, including for suicide bombing missions.

The Committee will hold a news conference at 12:00 on June 9 at the  Palais des Nations in Geneva to discuss its findings on Pakistan and the other countries being reviewed – Samoa, Nepal, Slovakia, the UK, Gabon , Bulgaria and Luxembourg.