RAWALPINDI Apr 26 (APP): Chief of Army Staff, General Raheel Sharif, who is on an official visit to Jordan, on Tuesday witnessed field exercise of Jordanian Special Operations Forces at King Abdullah Special Operations training center.
General Raheel Sharif appreciated state-of-the-art training facility and exchanged views with exercise participants.
COAS vowed to share and benefit from each others’ experience in counter terrorism operations.
COAS witnesses field exercise of Jordanian Special Operations Force
Govt to introduce far reaching reforms in education: Ahsan
ISLAMABAD, Apr 26 (APP): Minister for Planning, Development and Reform, Ahsan Iqbal has stated that the present government was introducing far-reaching reforms in education sector under Vision-2025.
He said today, Pakistan was well-positioned to take off after
coming out of state of despondency due to policies of last two and half years.
“We, now need unity and positivity in our ranks to sustain the efforts for economic development and prosperity of the country”, Minister Planning and Development expressed these views while addressing a ceremony of Pakistan Professional Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Load-shedding to be eliminated by 2018:Yousaf
ISLAMABAD, April 26 (APP): Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf Tuesday said that government is determined to eliminate load-shedding from the country till 2018.
Talking to a private news channel, he said the government has initiated a number of power projects under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and majority of them were expected to be completed by 2018. The import of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) would help generate cheap electricity, he added.
Claiming the government was allout for improving the lot of the people he said that PM would visit Mansehra on 28 April to inaugurate the second phase of Motorway and Sui Gas Supply Project for Oghi Tehsil.
PM postpones visit to Neelum Jhelum, Danna due to bad weather
ISLAMABAD, April 26 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz on Tuesday postponed his visit to Neelum Jhelum and Danna in Azad Kashmir due to bad weather.
A PM Office statement said the Prime Minister had to return
midway due to sudden change in weather.
The Prime Minister was scheduled to review work progress at Neelum Jhelum hydel project and distribute compensation
cheques in Danna among the people affected by rains and landslide.
Suggestions sought from political parties on procedure for appointment of ECP members
ISLAMABAD, Apr 26, (APP): The Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Electoral Reforms has sought suggestion from all political parties regarding the procedure for the appointments of new member of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
The sub-committee met here under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Law and Justice, Zahid Hamid here Tuesday.
Talking to newsmen after the meeting, Zahid Hamid said the current members of ECP were going to retired on Jun 10. He said the committee had asked the representatives of all political parties to consult their leadership to finalize the procedure for appointments of new ECP members.
Violation of Constitution will produce harmful results:Rabbani
LAHORE, April 26 (APP): Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani has said the country needs democracy and democratic institutions and any violation of the Constitution will produce harmful results.
He was talking to the media after offering condolence over the death of former federal minister Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor with his son former LCCI president Zafar Iqbal Chudhry, at his residence on Tuesday.
Rabbani said, “Let the river take its natural course, and
any attempt to change it, will result in dangerous consequences.”
Ahmed Farooq honoured for academic achievement
ISLAMABAD, April 26 (APP): Minister of State for Federal Education Engr Muhammad Baligh Ur Rehman Tuesday gave away the certificate of academic achievement to Ahmed Farooq for securing the highest aggregate marks in the world for the first year of the LLB (Hons) degree of University of London International Programmes.
The minister of state, in a meeting with a University of London delegation, appreciated the student saying, “I feel privileged to present this certificate to you.”
He said this was an honour for the country. “We have immense talent in Pakistan; have brilliant students, who are not only making us proud at home but globally as well.”
Minister Aftab to visit Bahawalpur on Wednesday
MULTAN, Apr 26 (APP): State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and In-charge Minister for Prime Minister’s Public Affairs and Grievances Wing Sheikh Aftab Ahmed Tuesday said the PML-N government was determined to solve peoples’ problems at their door steps.
Talking to media persons at circuit house here, he said he would be visting Bahawalpur on Wednesday and DG Khan on Thursday to establish gross roots level contacts with common people in accordance with the vision of Prime Minister, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
He said it would be his utmost desire that their cell would work unbiased and neutrally.
Younus agrees to play Pakistan Cup after Shahryar's assurance
ISLAMABAD, Apr 26 (APP): Former Test Cricketer Younus Khan has agreed to participate in the remaining of the ongoing Pakistan Cup in Faisalabad after his conversation with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shaharyar Khan.
According to a private news channel, Younis had made a telephonic contact with the PCB Chairman and apologized for the incident that happened during the Pakistan Cup.
He appraised the Chairman about his willingness to participate in the remainder of the tournament.
Naval Staff expresses satisfaction over adherence to safety culture in PN
KARACHI, April 26 (APP): Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah here Tuesday expressed his satisfaction over adherence to safety culture in Pakistan Navy.
According to a press release, he was addressing the ceremony held at Bahria Auditorium on “Pakistan Navy’s Annual Safety Review for the year 2015”.
Pakistan Navy safety review is an important forum where safety standards are discussed to mark importance of safety culture which in turn provides a road map to further enhance safe working environment in Pakistan Navy.
SAPM stresses enhanced Pak-Hungary ties
ISLAMABAD, April 26 (APP): Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi on Tuesday said the existing cordial relations between Pakistan and Hungary needed an increased engagement in political, economic and other areas.
The Special Assistant to PM (SAPM) stated this in a meeting
with Hungarian Minister of State for Economic Diplomacy Levente Magyar here at the Foreign Office.
The SAPM commended the Hungarian oil and gas company MOL for its successful operations and contribution to the energy sector in Pakistan.
Pakistan committed to friendly ties with India as per PM's vision: Foreign Secretary
ISLAMABAD, April 26 (APP): Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed met his Indian counterpart Dr S.Jaishankar in New Delhi on Tuesday and underscored Pakistan’s commitment for friendly relations with all its neighbours including India in line with the vision of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
Aizaz Chaudhry arrived in the Indian capital Delhi Tuesday to participate in the senior officials meeting of the Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process.
“The meeting provided a useful opportunity to exchange views on recent developments in bilateral context,” Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria said, as posted on his official twitter account.
PM grieved over death of JKLF head
ISLAMABAD, April 26 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has expressed sorrow over the death of founder of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Amanullah Khan.
The Prime Minister in a condolence message said the sacrifices of Amanullah Khan for Kashmiris would be long remembered.
He prayed for the peace of departed soul and for the patience of the bereaved family.
Pakistan fully qualifies to become NSG member: Fatemi
ISLAMABAD, April 26 (APP): Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi on Tuesday said Pakistan fully qualifies to become a member of the multilateral export control regimes, particularly the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
In a meeting with Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
Sergey Ryabkov here at the Foreign Office, the SAPM called for a principle-based and non-discriminatory global regime on
non-proliferation.
Ryabkov is leading the Russian delegation for the 10th Meeting of Pakistan-Russian Consultative Group on Strategic Stability.
Senior UN official arrives Islamabad Wednesday to visit Pakistani side of LoC in Kashmir
UNITED NATIONS, April 26 (APP): A senior United Nations official is to begin a four-day trip to Pakistan on Wednesday during which he will visit a field station of the United Nations Military Observer Group on Kashmir on the Pakistani side of the Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed region, according to UN sources.
Deputy Military Adviser for Peacekeeping, Maj Gen Adrian Foster will also have meetings at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad and at the Military Operations Directorate in the course of the April 27-30 visit.
Gen Foster’s visit coincides with reports about India toughening its stance against UN Military Observers Group on India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP).
UN Security Council calls for Yemen roadmap on security measures
UNITED NATIONS, April 26 (APP): The United Nations Security Council has called on all parties involved in the intra-Yemeni peace talks to develop a road map for the
implementation of interim security measures as they work towards a comprehensive agreement that will bring a permanent end to the political crisis in the country.
Adopting a Presidential Statement, the 15-member body welcomed the commencement of the nationwide cessation of hostilities in Yemen on 10 April as well as the launch of the intra-Yemeni peace talks in Kuwait, reiterating a call to all parties to engage in the peace talks in a flexible and constructive manner without preconditions, and in good faith.”
In its statement, the Council called on all Yemeni parties to develop a road map for the implementation of interim security measures, especially at the local level, withdrawals, handover of heavy weapons, restoration of state institutions, and the resumption of political dialogue in line with relevant Security Council decisions, the Gulf
Imran not accepting ToRs due to written off loans of Tareen: Pervaiz
ISLAMABAD, April 25 (APP): Minister for Information,
Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid Monday said the news of Jehangir Tareen getting his loan written off from the banks is obvious reason that Imran Khan is not accepting ToRs for the Judicial Commission.
“We are serious in probing all allegations regarding Panama Papers but PTI leadership is hiding something murky from
people of Pakistan that is why they are opposing the ToRs,” he added.
Companies of Member National Assembly of Pakistan, Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) Jehangir Khan Tareen got waived off Rs 49.819 million of loans from various banks.
'Our politics is of development, not of sit-ins': PM
KOTLI SATTIYAN, Apr 25 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad
Nawaz Sharif Monday said his politics was the “politics of
development” aiming at ending poverty and bringing prosperity to the country.
“We do not believe in the politics of sit-ins that is detrimental for the country and revolves around blatant lies,” the Prime Minister said in his address to the public gathering here at tehsil Kotli Sattiyan.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said his government had always served the country selflessly and would continue to do so.
Jehangir's waived off loans: A political burden on Imran Khan
ISLAMABAD, Apr 25 (APP): The news of waived off loans
of PTI’s MNA Jehangir Tareen amounting to millions of rupees has become a political burden on PTI chief Imran Khan, as now he does not seem to be interested in the judicial commission and its Terms of Reference (ToR).
According to political commentators, there is a question mark about Jehangir Tareen’s business acumen, his influence in the party and about his political wisdom after the news appeared about his waived off loans.
Jehangir Tareen got prominence during Musharraf’s regime and made tall claims and got financial benefits and reportedly installed water filtration plants worth billions of rupees about which nobody can verify.
Pakistan, Afghanistan should maintain trust for promoting peace in Afghanistan: Aizaz
ISLAMABAD, Apr 25 (APP): Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed
Chaudhry on Monday said that Pakistan and Afghanistan should maintain trust and cooperate with each other for promoting long term peace and stability in Afghanistan.
“Pakistan is sincere in its efforts to bring peace to the war ravaged country but responsibility for instability in Afghanistan cannot be put on Pakistan as such kind of things will not resolve the issue,” he said while talking to a
private television channel.
He said Pakistan wanted peace in Afghanistan as
history had proved that peace in Afghanistan was vital for
peace in the region.