ISLAMABAD, Aug 2 (APP): Expressing satisfaction at the ever-growing cooperation between the two fraternal countries, Pakistan and Turkey Tuesday agreed on the need for sustained engagement for enhanced cooperation in diverse spheres.

The agreement to this effect came during the bilateral meeting between Advisor to PM on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz and Foreign Minister of Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu here.

The importance of early conclusion of bilateral Free Trade Agreement was also highlighted as it would significantly contribute towards the overall vision of the leadership of the two countries to transform the traditionally cordial bilateral relations into a robust economic partnership, a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

The entire spectrum of Pakistan-Turkey bilateral relations as well as global and regional issues of mutual concern, with special emphasis on Afghanistan, came under discussion during the meeting.

The Adviser congratulated the Foreign Minister on the successful thwarting of the coup attempt on the night of July 15, 2016 and reiterated Pakistan’s unequivocal support for the democratic institutions of Turkey under President Erdogan.

He also expressed condolence on the loss of precious lives in recent terror attacks in Turkey and stated that he had no doubts that the Turkish nation would soon decisively overcome the scourge of terrorism.

Foreign Minister Cavusoglu lauded the successes achieved by Pakistan, especially through Operation Zarb-e-Azb and the National Action Plan.

Both leaders agreed on the need for intensified efforts in the international fight against terrorism.

The Adviser also briefed Foreign Minister Cavusoglu on the latest situation in Afghanistan, including reconciliation efforts, steps taken to improve border management between Pakistan and Afghanistan and the status of Afghan refugees.
He also underscored the imperatives of reaching a sustainable and lasting peace in Afghanistan through reconciliation and dialogue.

On the issue of migration, the Adviser lauded the generous spirit of the people of Turkey in welcoming and hosting refugees from Syria.

The two leaders called upon the developed countries to increase their contributions in this regard.

Since both countries host the largest refugee populations in the world, the leaders agreed that there was an urgent need for a more forthcoming response from the developed countries in order to reduce the disproportionate burden on developing countries.

Foreign Minister of Turkey, Mevlut Cavusoglu visited Pakistan from August 1 to 2. During his stay in Islamabad, he called on the President and the Prime Minister and held delegation-level talks with Sartaj Aziz, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs. He also met Minister for SAFRON.

During Cavusoglu’s call on the Prime Minister, both leaders expressed satisfaction at the continued expansion and deepening of bilateral relations.

The Prime Minister emphasized the importance that Pakistan attaches to its relations with Turkey and underlined the need to hold regular high-level exchanges.

The President, in his meeting with the Turkish Foreign Minister, stressed on the importance of fostering unity among the Muslim Ummah to tackle modern day challenges faced by it and noted that both Pakistan and Turkey had an important role to play in that regard.

Both the President and the Prime Minister reiterated their strong condemnation of the attempted coup in Turkey and lauded the successful defence of democracy by the people of Turkey under the popular leadership of President Erdogan.

ISLAMABAD, Aug 2 (APP): Out of US$ 46 billion under
China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework, projects worth more than US$ 10 billion had already hit the ground, while remaining schemes were in advanced stages of the pipeline.

The remaining projects amounting to US$ 36 billion would
soon be launched, according to a senior official in the
ministry of planning, development and reforms here on Tuesday.

Chinese President, Xi Jinping during his visit to Pakistan
in April last year, signed several memorandum of understandings and so far a huge amount of US$ 10 billion had been invested in Pakistan, he added.

He said, a CPEC summit would be held on August 29 in
the Federal Capital to further enhance business to
business cooperation between the two brotherly countries.

He said, the Chinese companies were also working on two
mega projects including Thakot-Havailian section of Karrakurm Highway (KKH) and Sukkur-Multan section of Lahore-Karachi motorway at a cost of US$ 3 billion.

Gwadar would be connected with Quetta in December this year while D.I. Khan to Burhan section of the road would be completed in June 2018.

Energy, road infrastructure, railway and Gwadar airport
projects were being completed under CPEC framework.

The construction work on various projects of various
sections of Western route were being completed as per
timeline to operationalize it at the earliest.

Work on Port Qasim Power Plant, Thar Power Plant, HUBCO
coal Project, Sahiwal Power Plant and other hydro power projects was on track and these would be completed as per the schedule.

The fast track work on these projects would help tackle
energy crisis and power needs of industrial zones in future
under CPEC.

According to a senior official of the Chinese Embassy in
Islamabad, as many as five new projects, in addition to
30 infrastructure and energy projects being completed by the Chinese companies in Pakistan, would be launched under CPEC initiative this year.

“Eight coal, solar, wind and hydro-power energy projects
are already under construction to meet the energy requirement of Pakistan,” added.

He said, prior to signing of CPEC between China and Pakistan
in 2013, China was at number 16 in terms of Foreign Direct
Investment (FDI) in Pakistan, adding, now China is largest investor in Pakistan after initiating multi-billion dollars project under the CPEC framework.

He said, this project would not only change the life of
people of Pakistan in days to come but also prove beneficial for the whole region.

ISLAMABAD, Aug 2 (APP): Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Chaudhry Barjees Tahir Tuesday said United Nations should put pressure on Indian authorities to stop violence against innocent Kashmiri people.

Addressing the seminar titled “Bleeding Kashmir Seeks World
Attention” organized by Muslim Institute, he said peace and stability in South Asia could not be ensured unless maintaining peace in Kashmir.

“We are celebrating 70th Independence Day and my heart feels pain for the Kashmiri people who have been facing worst kind of atrocities for the last seven decades”.

He said the intensity and style of violence of the Indian forces was becoming worse day by day adding use of lethal weapons had injured 5500 innocent Kashmiris which making many of them life time blind and 72 dead.

Speaking on the occasion, Senator Gen ® Abdul Qayyum said the government had a clear cut policy about Kashmir and was raising the Kashmir issue at all the international forums.

He said that Pakistan would never compromise on the issue of Kashmir and would stand always with the Kashmiri people for their efforts toward right to self determination.

Former Minister for Foreign Affairs Inam ul Haq on the occasion said that Pakistan should not be apologetic in pleading the case of innocent Kashmiri people.

It is the right and obligation of Pakistan to highlight the Kashmir issue at every forum unless its resolution.

Director General, Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad
(ISSI), Masood Khan, Convener All Parties Hurriyet Conference (APHC) Ghulam Muhammad Safi and Chairman Muslim Institute Sahibzada Sultan Ahmad Ali also spoke on the occasion.

SARGODHA, Aug 2 (APP): Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Broadcasting, Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha said the PML-N government  was not afraid of negative propaganda as its energies were focussed on ushering in prosperity through development projects in the country.

Addressing ground breaking ceremony regarding construction of a canal at village Jalip Tehsil Kotmomin with an estimated amount Rs. 14.7 million, Ranjha said the opposition was afraid of popularity of PML-N government, adding that conspiracies by opposition will fizzle out easily.

Ranjha said former government marred the national economy by exploiting the resources,whereas Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was working hard to strengthen the country’s economy.

He said that with the completion of new Minor Canal the farmers of six villages would be able to irrigate their fields and the incidents of water theft would also get decreased.

Some local leaders of PML-N including Ch. Rabnawaz Ranjha, Makhdoom Haroon and Mian Pervez also addressed the ceremony.

ISLAMABAD, Aug 2 (APP): Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms, Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday said that the nutritional and health conditions in Pakistan had reached alarming level and it was now become even a bigger challenge than the terrorism.

“The number of people dying of bad health and polluted water is far bigger than that of killed in terrorism”, Ahsan Iqbal said while addressing a launching ceremony of united for healthier kids movement here.

The movement was launched by Nestle Pakistan in collaboration with Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms, Lahore Grammar School, Jang Media Group, Geo Network, Service Sales Corporation, Silver Oaks School and Parwaan.

Ahsan Iqbal said a healthy nation was pivotal to economic and social development, which was one of the major pillars in the Vision 2025 plan, and the government’s collaboration with the united for healthier kids movement was a step in the same direction.

“Our government is committed to realizing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which seeks collaboration between government and private sectors”, he said adding the government’s partnership was in the spirit of synergizing resources of public and private sectors for a healthier Pakistan.

Bruno Olierhoek, Managing Director Nestle Pakistan added, “We strongly believe that the health challenges our children face cannot be tackled by a single organization or entity but only through a multi-stakeholder approach.

“We are grateful to the ministry of Planning as well as our other partners for coming on board with this movement and giving us their valuable support”, he said adding “We are committed to making Pakistan a healthier society by utilizing all the resources at hand”.

Later, in the panel discussion, the panelists said that the movement aimed to help parents establish healthier eating, drinking and lifestyle habits in children through game-changing education and fun ideas to inspire action and influence behavior.

They informed that currently, Pakistan had the third highest number of children suffering from stunned growth; 43.7 per cent of the total children under the age of five suffer from it, 15.1 per cent are wasted and 31.5 per cent are found to be underweight.

ISLAMABAD, Aug 2 (APP): State Minister for Health Saira
Afzal Tarar has said that people buying animals for sacrificial
purpose on Eid ul Azha must ensure their cleanliness to prevent the Congo virus.

Talking to a private news channel, the Minister said that though the probability of spreading the virus was quite low as only animals having ticks in their bodies are harmful.

She said that more than 100 people infected with Congo virus have been isolated from gerneral public in Lodhran and Bahawalpur while a team of medical officers from federal capital had also reached there.

“We had received 61 more samples from Lodhran and Bahawalpur and all are negative”, she added.

When asked about the patients infected by the virus she
informed that their condition was stable now and quick response from the government saved many lives from this fatal virus.

To a question she said that its diagnosis was carried out in
spacial labs that were only available in Islamabad and Karachi so far.

“Symptoms of Congo virus are high fever, body/muscles pain with red spots appearing on body however about 80% patients can be cured if they are diagnosed at early stage,” she said.

ISLAMABAD, Aug 2 (APP): The preparations for celebrating the Independence Day, to fall on August 14, have started in the federal capital with great patriotic zeal and enthusiasm.

The main markets of the city have started displaying colourful stalls carrying Jashan-i-Azadi accessories like national flags, buntings, badges, souvenirs, balloons, T-shirts and other stuff.

“It is astonishing that capital once considered as dormant place in celebrating such occasions but this year it started the I-Day preparations before the advent of August”, Amir Masood, a resident of G-7 Markaz said.

Talking to APP, he said, the capital is wearing green and white look of national flag with display of flags and stalls carrying Jashan-i-Azadi accessories in different nook and corners.

Ejaz Aslam, a resident of I-8 sector said, “the display of bunch of stalls on the road side area in the main markaz of I-8 sector has become center of attraction for most of the people”.

He said, “I see huge rush of children and youngsters at these stalls while going back from my office in evening which reflect their patriotic spirit and enthusiasm”.

Samia Noreen, a young student said, “Me and my friends will wear the flag coloured suits on I-Day. We will also visit market for buying other accessories like green and white bangles, shoes and pin badges.

She said, I-Day is getting the shape of a festival or gala and people irrespective of their ages participate in the I-Day activities vigorously.

The public and private departments have planned a number of activities including seminars, discussion programmes, debate and national songs competitions, walks and other events in connection with the I-Day celebrations.

Different programmes would be arranged to pay tributes to the national heroes and the leaders of Pakistan Movement who laid their lives for the country.

One of the striking feature of the I-Day preparations is of Azadi Train which would start its month-long journey to across the country couple of day before August 14.

The Azadi train, comprising of 17 decorated coaches, would stop at every big station of the country and hold musical shows, cultural dances and other activities.