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.

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).

ISLAMABAD, May 20 (APP): President Mamnoon
Hussain on Friday has summoned joint session of the
Parliament on June 2, at 11.00 am

The president has summoned the session, in exercise of
the powers conferred by clause (1) of Article 54 read with clause (3) of Article 56 of the Constitution.

ISLAMABAD, May 19 (APP): Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal has said that the country was moving on right track to progress due to
prudent policies of the incumbent government.

International community has praised the government for taking measures for economic stability, he said while talking to a private news channel.

He said that Transparency International had admitted in its reports that there was massive decrease in corruption during the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML N) current government.

ISLAMABAD, May 20 (APP): Belarusian State
Technological University (BSTU) has conferred an
honorary degree of doctorate on Minister of State for
Education Engr Muhammad Baligh ur Rehman.

The degree has been awarded in recognition of his
service in the field of education, especially technical and vocational education.

“I feel extremely privileged and honored to
receive the degree from the esteemed university of Belarus (Belarusian State Technological University) today, the minister said.

ISLAMABAD, May 20 (APP): Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Broadcasting Mohsin Shah Nawaz Ranjha on Friday apprised the National Assembly that Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has autonomous body adding only policy supervision rested with the federal government.

Replying to various questions during Question Hour, he said that as per PEMRA Amendment Act, 2007, powers of the federal government vested in it vide section 5 was to issue policy directions, gave its opinion on policy issues referred to it by PEMRA or any other government agency.

He said that being a regulator, PEMRA regulated and implemented all rules and regulations.

ISLAMABAD, May 20 (APP): Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique Friday informed the National Assembly that corruption had been eliminated at top level in railways.

Responding to a supplementary question during Question Hour, the minister said railways encroached land was being gradually retrieved.

He said that in past, central and provincial governments did not bother to help retrieve railways land.

ISLAMABAD, May 20 (APP): Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Member National Assembly Talal Chaudhry Friday warned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf(PTI) chief
Imran of action, if women supporters were harassed in his rally in Faisalabad.

Talking to media outside the Parliament, the PML(N) member said If PTI workers whom their chief called them as tiger harassed any woman supporter in their public gathering, Imran would be nominated as accused and case would also be registered against him as a facilitator.

However, he added, the government had made security arrangements on its part to avoid any untoward incident, but he added, God forbid if any ugly incident of teasing of women supporters happened in Faisalabad’s rally, too, like in previous ones, Imran would be also be booked.