ISLAMABAD, May 20 (APP): The ongoing week-long youth drama festival would promote healthy activities among the youth and revives the concept of theater with theme of promoting peace, love and harmony.
This was stated by Director General Pakistan National Council
of the Arts (PNCA) Iftikhar Babar while talking to APP.
He said that the youth drama festival is part of PNCA’s
activities to introduce the trend of theater in the twin cities.
ISLAMABAD, May 20 (APP): Ministry of Religious Affairs and
Interfaith Harmony has directed corporate entities/public sector organisations to submit their sponsored Hajj applications by June 2.
According to a notification, corporate entities, public sector
organisations have been directed to submit lists of their sponsored labour/low paid employees, who are being sent to perform the sacred religious obligation on the reserved seats.
As per Hajj Policy, 500 seats have been reserved in Government Hajj Scheme for labour/low paid employees sponsored by public sector organisations/corporate entities.
ISLAMABAD, May 20 (APP): Senator of PML-N Dr. Ghous Muhammad Niazi has said that Pakistan-China Optical Fiber Cable (PCOF) project between the two countries would be a milestone in the telecom sector aimed at boosting communication services through this modern system.
Talking to Radio Pakistan, the senator said that the Optic fiber project would help in providing alternative telecommunication route between Pakistan and China as the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would transform Pakistan into one of the world’s leading economies.
“Our government is committed to end the darkness of the
country by serving the nation and would discourage agitational politics and those again want to disrupt the democratic process in the country”, he said.
ISLAMABAD, May 20 (APP): Lok Virsa in collaboration with
Chinese Embassy will organize a two-day Chinese ‘Mela’ from May 21 in Line with 65th annual celebrations of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.
The ‘Mela’ would highlight the Chinese Culture, cuisine and
photo exhibition along with Pakistani Artisans and music would also be arranged.
The performers would present fusion of Pakistani and Chinese culture and traditions with a focus on performing arts of both countries, an official of Lok Virsa told APP.
ISLAMABAD, MAY 20 (APP): Minister for Law & Justice Zahid Hamid said so far 9,020 persons availed the facility by filing their returns under the Voluntary Tax Compliance Scheme (VTCS), depositing Rs 850 million tax under the scheme.
Speaking in the Senate on behalf of Minister for Finance, he said at the outset, it was stated that neither any tax amnesty bill was introduced nor passed by the National Assembly.
However, he added Voluntary Tax Compliance Scheme (VTCS) was announced by the government and presented in the form of a Bill before the National Assembly.
KARACHI, May 20 (APP): Following are the selling/buying rates of major currencies issued by the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), here on Friday.
U.S.A 105.55/
103.04
S.ARABIA 28.00/
26.34
U.K 154.04/
150.39
JAPAN 0.9582/
0.9350
EURO 118.23/
115.43
U.A.E 28.73/
26.34
ISLAMABAD, May 20 (APP): Sri Lanka’s religious and political leaders have welcomed receiving the holy relics of Lord Buddha from Pakistan’s Gandhara region.
The religious leaders performed special pooja (worship) on arrival of the most sacred relics at a ceremony held at Sri Lanka’s Bandaranayake International airport Thursday night.
Sri Lankan Minister for Public Administration and Management, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Minister for Sustainable Development and Wildlife Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, senior monks and officers of Pakistan’s High Commission in Colombo received the holy relics amidst hordes of devotees.
ISLAMABAD, May 20 (APP): Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) will organise a two-day cultural show from May 21 in line with the 65th Pak-China Friendship anniversary.
The Council has arranged a number of colourful performances in the cultural show, an official of PNCA told APP.
The performers will present a fusion of Pakistani and Chinese culture and traditions with a focus on performing arts of both countries.
ISLAMABAD, May 20 (APP): National Institute of Folk and
Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) will pay tribute to revolutionary poet Habib Jalib on May 23 at Lok Virsa.
Habib Jalib was a big name in the Urdu poetry.His work
besides affecting the modern poetry of the language also had a very positive and construction impact on the poetry of other languages.
He was a progressive writer and soon started to grab the
audience with his enthusiastic recitation of poetry.
ISLAMABAD, May 20 (APP): Pakistan has submitted its formal application for the membership of Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
In a letter addressed to the Chairman of NSG on May 19,
the Ambassador of Pakistan in Vienna stated that the decision to seek participation in export control regime reflects Pakistan’s strong support for international efforts to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery.
“Pakistan has the expertise, manpower, infrastructure, as well as the ability to supply NSG controlled items, goods and services for a full range of nuclear applications for peaceful uses,” the letter said.
ISLAMABAD, May 20 (APP): Advisor to the Prime Minister
on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Friday said Pakistan has a vital stake in peace and stability in Afghanistan.
“It goes without saying that without a stable
Afghanistan, the security challenges facing Pakistan cannot be effectively addressed,” he said in his inaugural address at
the 5th round of Pakistan Afghanistan Dialogue organized by
Regional Peace Institute (RPI).
Sartaj Aziz said, for Pakistan, the security situation
in Afghanistan was a matter of serious concern, adding, “We have strongly condemned recent terrorist incidents in Afghanistan, particularly the 19 April terrorist attack in Kabul.”
SWAT May 20 (APP): Prime Minister, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif here Friday directed the authorities concerned to lay a separate power transmission line for the newly constructed and state-of-the-art ‘Nawaz Sharif Kidney Hospital’ here to ensure uninterrupted power to facilitate patients.
The Prime Minister passed these directives during his visit to different sections and wards of the hospital following its inauguration by him today.
This 110-bed hospital, located at Sangota in Manglawar on Swat-Kalam Road, is easily accessible to people of all the six districts of Malakand Division.
ISLAMABAD, May 20 (APP): Minister for Industries and Production Ghulam Murtaza Khan Jatoi said Friday the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) was operating 5455 stores throughout the country, providing daily use commodities to masses at affordable level.
Answering a question in the Senate the minister said in Punjab there 2993 stores in Sindh 671 3, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 1312 4, Balochistan 294, AJK 80 and in Gilgit Baltistan 105 retail outlets.
He said out of 5455 stores, 4472 stores were regular stores of the Corporation being operated by Corporation itself and 983 were functioning as franchise stores.
ISLAMABAD, May 20 (APP): President Mamnoon Hussain on Friday administered oath to National Party’s Mir Hasil Bizenjo and Pakistan Muslim League’s Sheikh Aftab Ahmed as federal ministers.
The oath-taking ceremony was attended by political leaders and senior officials here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.
Sheikh Aftab Ahmed has been working as Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs in the cabinet of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
ISLAMABAD, May 20 (APP): Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, Takashi Kurai Friday said that improved environment and economic stability were attracting more Japanese investors to Pakistan, especially in the auto sector.
The Ambassador who called Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar here, said that he was receiving positive indications from Japanese companies in this regard and that he fully encouraged them to come over and explore business opportunities in this country.
Ishaq Dar said that the Government welcomed enhanced Japanese presence and investment in the Pakistan auto market.
ISLAMABAD, May 20 (APP): Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Dr Asif Kirmani Friday said the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML N) would celebrate the Youm e Takbeer in a befitting manner on May, 28 across the country.
He, in a statement, said the PML N would hold functions in federal and provincial capitals of the country including Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar, Muzaffarabad and Gilgit to mark the day when the party leadership made the country’s defence impregnable.
He said the May 28 had a great significance for the country.
On May 28, 1998, he said, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had made the country’s defence invincible by conducting nuclear tests in response of the Indian tests, setting aside all pressure.
ISLAMABAD, May 20 (APP): Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Chaudhry Muhammad Barjees Tahir Friday said China, being the time tested friend, had always supported Pakistan’s principled stance on the longstanding Kashmir issue with India.
“Pakistan China friendship is higher than himalayas, deeper
than oceans and sweater than honey,” he said in an interview to APP in connection with the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.
China, he said, had effectively helped Pakistan in diverse
fields including setting up of basic infrastructure to overcome
energy crisis, economic development and supported Pakistan’s view points on different international issues at every fora.
RAWALPINDI, May 20 (APP): Federal Minister for Planning,
Development and Reforms Prof. Ahsan Iqbal Friday said Pakistan will be among the top five fast growing economies of the world in 2018 by persisting the current growth momentum.
The economy of the country re surged by moving on positive growth trajectory for the consecutive last three years due to indigenous factors. The international community is reposing confidence in Pakistan which is presently in the top eight fast economies of the world.
Ahsan Iqbal expressed these views while speaking at a seminar on Saemaul Undong (New Village Movement) and its lessons for escape from Rural Poverty in Pakistan here on Friday at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS AAUR).
LAHORE, May 20 (APP): Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said that Pak China friendship was unprecedented in the history and the great gift of China Pakistan Economic Corridor reflected the confidence of China in the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
He was addressing a special ceremony with regard to completion of 65 years of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China at Alhamra Hall which was arranged by Chinese Consulate.
The CM said that Pak China friendship was higher than Himalayas, deeper than ocean, sweeter than honey and stronger than steel and the CPEC projects were an example of splendid friendship between Pakistan and China.
SWAT May 20 (APP): Adviser to the Prime Minister, Engr. Amir Muqam said here on Friday that the entire nation fully support the development agenda of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif for sustainable uplift of the country.
Addressing a mammoth public gathering of PML N workers at Grassy Ground Mingora City to welcome Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif who arrived here on a brief visit to inaugurate Nawaz Sharif Kidney Hospital in Sangota Swat, he said “PML N would form next Government on the basis of its record development works.”
The workers of PML N and people of Swat who were carrying party flags raised full throated slogans of “Qadam Barhao Nawaz Sharif Hum Tumharay Sath haen” (Move ahead Nawaz Sharif we are with you and Long Live Nawaz Sharif).
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