ISLAMABAD, July 2 (APP): Minister for Information, Broadcasting
and National Heritage, Senator Pervaiz Rashid has expressed deep
grief and sorrow over sad demise of the mother of Chief Editor,
Daily Kashmir Express, President AKNS Sardar Zahid Tabassum.
In a condolence message, the minister prayed Allah Almighty
to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved family to bear this loss with fortitude.
ISLAMABAD, July 2 (APP): President Mamnoon Hussain offered
special prayers in the Holy Ka’aba in Makkah Mukarrmah for the peace, security, prosperity and progress of Pakistan.
The President, who is in Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah,
offered special prayers on the eve of 27th Ramazan that also coincided with the independence of Pakistan in 1947, according to a President House statement on Saturday.
During his prayers, he said that Pakistan was fortunate
and blessed to have been created on 27th Ramazan and prayed Allah Almighty to enable the people of Pakistan to shape their lives in accordance with the true teachings and spirit of Islam by shunning extremism and fostering brotherhood, compassion, tolerance and understanding.
He also prayed for the unity of the people of Pakistan
and Muslim Ummah in surmounting all problems, being faced by them and for the liberation of Kashmir and Palestine.
President Mamnoon said that Pakistan was destined to
become stronger and prosperous and no force on earth could
harm Pakistan, as it was created with the blessings of Allah
Almighty in the sacred month of Ramazan.
He also prayed Allah Almighty to foil the nefarious
designs of the enemies of Pakistan and make them bite the dust.
Prayers were also offered for expeditious and successful
conclusion of anti terrorism operation Zarb e Azb and all other operations to rid all parts of the country from lawlessness and anti state activities.
The President prayed for complete recovery of Prime Minister
Muhammad Nawaz Sharif after his open heart surgery and his early
return home to continue to serve the people of Pakistan and steer the country to peace, progress and stability.
President Mamnoon Hussain is in Saudi Arabia on a private
visit on his own expenses to perform Umrah and worship during the last 10 days of the holy month of Ramazan.
ISLAMABAD, Jul 2 (APP): Finance Minister, Senator Mohammad
Ishaq Dar Saturday took strong notice of the difficulties being
faced by pensioners in collecting pensions at various bank branches.
Talking to Governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on telephone,
the finance minister asked him to contact the National Bank Authorities and redress the problems of the people.
The Minister also advised SBP to ensure 24 hour operation of
Automated Teller Machines service by the banks to facilitate
customers during the Eid holidays.
The Finance Minister said that sufficient cash must be kept
available in the ATMs to facilitate people and save them from any inconvenience, according to statement issued by the ministry.
It is pertinent to mention that the SBP has advised all
commercial banks to take necessary measures for facilitation of
general public by ensuring uninterrupted availability of Automated
Teller Machine (ATM) services on the occasion of Eid ul Fitr.
The ATM sites of commercial banks will be examined by
inspectors of State Bank and verification teams of SBP’s Banking Service Corporation (BSC) field offices during the period from 1st July 2016 till 10th July 2016 to verify their operational status.
In view of the extended Eid holidays, banks have also been
advised to intimate SBP BSC Field Offices, in advance, about the extra cash that they may need so that adequate arrangements could be made for replenishing their ATMs during Eid Holidays.
Banks will also make sure that in addition to ATMs, continuous
services are also available on Point of Sale (POS) and other Alternative Delivery Channels (ADC) Channels.
ISLAMABAD, Jul 2 (APP): Pakistani fast bowler Muhammad Amir
feels that the national team would make great progress under head coach Mickey Arthur.
Amir while praising Arthur said that for the first time he had
learned much in a single training session as Arthur mingled up with the players creating a better environment for them.
“Fitness level will increase to a better level and there would
be fewer cases of injury with Arthur’s training”, a private news channel quoted him as saying.
He also said that fitness camp for England tour was very
beneficial and the fitness test after every two weeks would also be helpful in maintaining fitness.
Amir expressed satisfaction over English conditions and said
that players were focused. He hoped that players would give a better performance against England.
Amir will likely be resuming his Test career at Lord’s on July
14 where he played his last Test match nearly six years ago in 2010.
Amir made his domestic comeback playing for Omar Associates in
the Grade II Patron’s Trophy on March 13, 2015. He took a wicket in his first comeback over.
On August 19, 2015, Amir was declared completely free to play
all forms of cricket from September 2, 2015.
He made his return to international cricket on January 15 this
year, in a Twenty20 match against New Zealand.
In February 2016, Amir took a hat trick in a Pakistan Super
League match for Karachi Kings.
ISLAMABAD, July 2 (APP): Federal Minister for Gilgit Baltistan
and Kashmir Affairs, Chaudhry Muhammad Barjees Tahir Saturday said
this was a sad fact that AJK government was spending public money on
protocol of PPP’s leaders in Islamabad and Lahore.
The AJK government, he said, have to answer that in which capacity it was providing protocol to Faryal Talpur and other PPP leader in different cities of the country.
In a statement, the federal minister said Election Commission should take notice of use of AJK government resources in election process that was the violation of code of conduct of elections and law.
Barjees said the incident of misbehave with the sister of PTI chief Imran Khan by the protocol officials was sad, however, saying that Mr. Khan never tried to know the reality due to enmity with PML-N.
UNITED NATIONS, July 2 (APP): Top United Nations officials have condemned the terrorist attack in a cafe in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka that reportedly killed 20 hostages over the weekend.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon “hopes that those behind this crime will be identified and brought to justice,” his spokesperson said in a statement, adding that Ban “stands firmly by Bangladesh as it confronts this threat and stresses the need to intensify regional and international efforts to prevent and combat terrorism.”
The Secretary General also assured the Government that the UN is prepared to assist in efforts to prevent violent extremism in all its forms, the spokesperson said.
A condemnation also came from the UN tourism agency.
“UNWTO (World Tourism Organization) strongly condemns the hideous attack perpetrated yesterday in a cafe in Dhaka, Bangladesh,” Taleb Rifai, the agency’s Secretary-General, said in a statement.
“This is not an attack on Bangladesh but is once again an attack on our way of life, an attack on freedom,” he added.
Both Ban and Rifai conveyed their heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the families and friends of the victims.
QUETTA, July 02 (APP): Minister of State and Chairperson, Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), Ms. Marvi Memon has said that BISP aimed to help poor women of Balochistan in order to make them financially independent and part of mainstream life.
She said this while addressing a gathering of BISP’s beneficiary women in Dalbandin, the district headquarters of Chagai district, on Saturday.
She was accompanied by Director General, BISP Balochistan, Abdul Rauf and other officials.
She said “BISP has been playing significant role in poverty eradication across the country, especially in backward areas by financially helping poor women who were registered under BISP program and regularly got their stipend”. She said that she would take stern action against those who would be involved in embezzlement of stipend of BISPs beneficiary women.
In reply to a question, the Minister of State said that she would fulfill the task what Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif and Finance Minister, Ishaq Dar have assigned her.
I was assigned task to implement BISP in letter and spirit so that maximum number of poor segments of the society could become beneficiaries of the program, she said.
She said there was poverty in Chagai district and added that new survey would be started in the region to register more women under BISP. She said the government had been taking solid measures to provide financial assistance and technical training to women.
ISLAMABAD, July 2 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif
Saturday expressed his deep condolences on demise of the mother of
Chaudhry Hamid Hameed, MNA, who passed away during Umrah in Makkah.
In his message, the Prime Minister prayed for eternal peace
in heavens for the departed soul and commiserated with the bereaved family and prayed for their patience and forbearance to bear this irreparable loss.
RAWALPINDI, July 2 (APP): US Special Representative on Pakistan and Afghanistan Ambassador Richard Olson on Saturday called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif here at the General Headquarters.
Matters related to regional security with particular reference to Afghanistan came under discussion, an ISPR news release stated.
LAHORE, July 2 (APP): Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said on Saturday that a historic package of Rs 100 billion had been announced for uplift of the agriculture sector and farmers.
Presiding over a high level meeting regarding implementation of Kisan Package here, he said that agriculture was the backbone of national economy and implementation of the package would leave a far-reaching impact on agri sector.
He said that elements involved in the trade of spurious pesticides would not be spared and an indiscriminate crackdown against them would be launched.
The Chief Minister said that progress of agriculture and prosperity of farmers was the foremost priority of the government, and federal and provincial governments had taken unprecedented steps for the development of agriculture sector.
Shehbaz Sharif said that government was fully aware of the loss suffered by farmers in the past and Kisan Package would compensate these losses.
The Punjab government had also evolved a big programme of provision of interest-free loan to small farmers and its implementation would soon be started, he added.
He said the Agriculture department had to play an active role to discourage the business of spurious pesticides and initiate action against elements involved in this trade.
The Chief Minister directed the Agriculture department to take immediate steps for curbing spurious pesticides.
MUZAFFARABAD, July 2 (APP): At least 8 passengers were killed
and 10 others critically injured when a van plunged into a deep
nullah at Gohi Naala near Rawalakot some 90 kilometers south of here
on Saturday,
According to police sources, the van was enroute to Rawalkot
from Rawalpindi when its diver lost control over the steering and it fell into the nullah at Gohi Naala near Azad Pattan.
The dead and injured were shifted to a nearby hospital, the
police said.
ISLAMABAD, Jul 2 (APP): Chairman Board of Investment (BOI) Miftah Ismail Saturday said the government of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) has reduced inflation rate and poverty in the country.
Talking to a private TV channel, he said the petroleum prices has
reduced at globly and the incumbent government of Pakistan has passed on relief to the people of the country in this regard.
He said the PML-N government decreased the petroleum prices in the
region but other regional countries did not decreased prices of petroleum products.
He said that due to restless efforts of the PML-N government and its
leadership electricity load-shedding has reduced as compared to past, adding it will be totally removed from the country in the beginning of 2018.
Replying to a question, he said Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)
would activate as per its constitutional time.
He said the government was showing flexibility on the matter of Terms of Reference (ToR) but the opposition especially Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) were showing rigidity in this regard.
Miftah ismail said the opposition has started legal fight against the
government and now it has no any logic to come out on the roads for agitation or demonstration.
Although the Prime Minister name was not mentioned in Panama Papers but he had presented himself and his family for accountability, he added.
UNITED NATIONS, July 2 (APP): At least 662 Iraqis – half of them civilians – were killed and another 1,457 were injured in acts of
terrorism, violence and armed conflict in the country in June, according
to the latest figures released by the United Nations political mission
in Iraq.
“We had hoped for a period of calm during holy Ramzan, a month of
peace and compassion, but unfortunately the violence continued to take its toll on civilians,” the Special Representative for Iraq, Jan Kubis, said.
He noted that terrorists did not spare an occasion to strike at
markets, mosques and areas where people gathered, in order to exact
maximum casualties among civilians, “in total disregard of the values
of Islam.”
The overall casualty figures dropped over the previous month of May,
but the casualty figures for June are likely to increase due to the
combat to liberate Fallujah in Anbar Governorate, according to the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).
In an earlier statement, Kubis, who heads UNAMI, strongly condemned
a terrorist suicide bombing at a popular market in a southwest
neighbourhood of Baghdad in which a number of civilians were killed or wounded.
UNAMI also expressed concern about other violence which left a
number of people killed or wounded in two separate gun attacks
on Wednesday night in Baghdad.
RAWALPINDI, July 2 (APP): Senator John McCain, Chairman of
US Senate Arms Services committee, accompanied by a Congressional
delegation, including Senators Lindsey Graham and Joe Donnelly who
are on an official visit to Pakistan, called on Chief of Army
Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif here Saturday.
According to an ISPR press release, during the meeting matters
of mutual interest and regional security, with particular reference to Afghan situation, came under discussion.
The COAS dilated upon security challenges faced by Pakistan and
its contribution in regional stability and global peace. Pakistan’s
successes in war on terror and need for an effective border management across long porous Pak-Afghan border to check illegal movement on either side of the border were also discussed.
The COAS said a stable Afghanistan was in Pakistan’s interest
and relationship between the two countries held key for regional peace
and security.
Senator McCain, while acknowledging Pakistan’s successes in the
operation Zarb-e-Azb, said Pakistan Army’s achievements in
counter-terrorism operations were phenomenal and reflected Pakistan’s determination to eliminate terrorism.
He said Pakistan and the United States (US) needed to cement
relations in all dimensions and must strive for greater coordination
for optimal deliverance of peace dividend in the region.
MUZAFFARABAD, July 2 (APP): At least eight passengers were killed and 13 others critically injured when a van plunged into a deep nullah at Gohi Naala near Rawalakot some 90 kilometers south of here on Saturday,
According to police sources, the ill-fated Van Bearing No GA- 4056) was enroute to Rawalkot from Rawalpindi when its diver lost control over the steering and it fell into the nullah at Gohi Naala near Azad Pattan.
Eight of its occupants were found dead on the spot and 13 others injured, including five seriously, were shifted to CMH Rawalakot, police said.
ISLAMABAD, July 2 (APP): Pakistan on Saturday condemned the senseless terrorist attack in Dhaka that had led to the loss of precious lives and injuries to many innocent people.
“The Government and the people of Pakistan extend their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and the brotherly people and Government of Bangladesh over the loss of innocent lives and wish the injured early recovery,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.
Pakistan stands in solidarity with the brotherly people of Bangladesh and is confident that the Government of Bangladesh will effectively counter this cowardly attack, the statement said.
“Pakistan reiterates its condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” it added.
UNITED NATIONS, July 2 (APP): Pakistan has demanded an immediate
cessation of drone strikes that violate the territorial integrity and sovereignty of States, saying such attacks also breach the fundamental rights of the victims and further fuel violence and extremism.
Speaking in the U.N. General Assembly, Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi condemned the continued use of drones and described it as blatant disregard of existing international commitments on the use of remotely piloted aircraft.
She was elaborating Pakistan’s position after the adoption by the 193-member Assembly of a resolution on the UN Global Counter Terrorism Strategy.
During the negotiations on the resolution spanning over a month, Pakistan is understood to have made strenuous efforts to further strengthen international commitments regarding illegal drone strikes and their impact.
Pointing to the progress in this regard, Ambassador Lodhi highlighted
recognition by member states of the notion that counterterrorism measures violating territorial integrity and sovereignty of States can be counterproductive and also fuel violent extremism.
She emphasized that noting the conclusions and recommendations of the report of the Human Rights Council on the use of drones, was the first step in the right direction. The report raises legal questions on the use of drones, points out their grave impact on fundamental human rights and expresses serious concerns on how their use undermines counterterrorism efforts.
The Pakistani envoy welcomed the consensus on the resolution, which she said served as a strong and united signal against the scourge of terrorism.
She also appreciated a renewed focus on the preventive approach to
terrorism, which included addressing the root causes of terrorism as well as the internal and external drivers of violent extremism.
Ambassador Lodhi said that for Pakistan, such an approach was closely
linked to promoting a culture of peace. The UN Declaration and Plan of Action, now included in the resolution, at Pakistan’s initiative, stresses the need to resolve protracted conflicts, ensure full realization of the peoples right to self-determination and addressing Xenophobia and all forms of discrimination on the basis of religion, culture and ethnicity.
In the resolution, as an active member of the Organization of Islamic
Conference (OIC), Pakistan was also able to mobilize support to revive the international community’s focus on ending foreign occupation, resolving conflicts and confronting oppression, as well as enhancing intercultural understanding and ensuring respect for all religions and religious values.
The Global Counter Terrorism Strategy, adopted in 2006, is considered as the single most comprehensive and consensus-based counterterrorism strategy in the United Nations. It is reviewed every two years by UN Member States, through a resolution that seeks to develop understandings and measures, in particular regarding new challenges and developments. It represents a broad consensus on the mutually shared goals and principles in the global fight against the scourge of terrorism.
By the terms of the resolution, the Assembly affirmed the importance of integrated and balanced implementation of all four pillars of the Strategy: addressing conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism; preventing and combating terrorism; building the capacity of States and strengthening the role of the United Nations; and ensuring respect for human rights and compliance with the rule of law.
Also by the 72-paragraph text, the Assembly urged all Member States, as well as the United Nations, to unite against violent extremism, as and when it was conducive to terrorism. It called upon Member States to strengthen international, regional, subregional and bilateral cooperation in countering the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters, to engage with domestic financial institutions and share information on terrorist financing risks, and to adopt legal measures for the prohibition of incitement to commit terrorist acts.
Further, the Assembly called for enhanced engagement by Member States with the work of the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force, and for greater coordination and coherence among United Nations entities and with donors and recipients of efforts to build counter-terrorism capacity. The Assembly stressed the significance of a
sustained and comprehensive approach to addressing conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism.
Opening the two-day debate, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on the international community to act with unity and resolve to deal with the unprecedented levels of terrorism and violent extremism across the world.
“We have an urgent moral duty to do all we can to prevent and end this
carnage,” the Secretary-General said.
“Taking collective preventive action against terrorism, in the spirit of our United Nations Charter, is the only way to secure peace and prosperity for succeeding generations,” he added.
DHUDIAL (AJK), Jul 1 (APP): Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid Friday said that the dawn of July 21 would bring the message of victory of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz in Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections and freedom of the state.
Addressing an Iftar dinner organized for the PML-N workers here, the minister said that PML-N would launch an era of progress and prosperity in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and education, health and
infrastructure would be developed.
The minister said Rs 50 billion had been allocated for the roads of Azad Kashmir and Rs 10 billion would be spent every year on building roads in AJK.
The minister said AJK is a mountainous area and it was difficult to take patients to hospitals.
Nawaz Sharif had announced launching of a helicopter ambulance
service for the patients of AJK, he added.
He said that the PML-N after coming to power would make Azad
Kashmir a model state and the Kashmiris living across the Line of
Control would take pride in it. The party would bring prosperity and
development in the liberated territory.
He said that the federal government gave Rs 300 billion to the
AJK government during past five years but instead of spending the
amount on development work, it was pocketed by the high ups of the
PPP government.
If the AJK government had spent the Rs 300 billion on welfare of the people, Rs 30 billion would have been share of every district, the minister added. If they had spent only Rs 5 billion on Dhudial, its roads and hospital would have been in a very good condition, he said.
He said that the people of the area go abroad and earn precious foreign exchange for the country and send remittances here but when they return home they are greeted by broken roads.
He wondered as to how the PPP leaders would come to ask for votes from the AJK people as they had failed to deliver in the past five years.He said that after coming to power, a carpeted road would be built from G.T Road to Dhudial to provide them a modern travelling facility.
He said that PML-N would build Mirpur-Muzaffarabad Expressway
to provide modern highway facility to entire Kashmir. The minister
said Mirpur and Muzaffarabad would be linked through the modern
expressway.
He said that PML-N government had set an example in Pakistan
by eliminating terrorism and overcoming energy crisis.
He thanked the PML-N workers for showing unity after distribution of party tickets for the Legislative Assembly elections and supporting the nominated candidates wholeheartedly.
The minister said that the PML-N government in AJK would hold local government elections to resolve problems of the masses at their doorstep.
ISLAMABAD, Jul 1 (APP): The Embassy of Pakistan held a reception at a local hotel in Beijing on Friday to celebrate the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.
Assistant Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, People’s Republic of China, Kong Xuanyou was chief guest on the occasion.
Ambassador Masood Khalid gave a key note speech and highlighted the importance of Pak-China relations.
He underscored the need to adopt a win-win strategy to reinvigorate Pak-China relations in the political, economic, cultural, commerce and trade, education and science and technology domains under the aegis of China Pakistan Economic Corridor, according to press release received here from Beijing.
Mr Kong Xuanyou in his speech acknowledged selfless support of Pakistan, during the hour of need, to China.
He appreciated momentous launch of CPEC and reassured that Chinese government will extend all out support for successful realization of the initiative.
He reiterated the need to further strengthen bilateral relations and emphasized to work in unison to achieve developmental targets of regional connectivity, energy security and socio-economic uplift of the people of two countries.
He expressed his resolve to consolidate Pak-China traditional friendship, deepen win-win cooperation, strengthen people to people exchanges and write a new chapter of friendship in their history.
President of China-Pakistan Friendship Association Ambassador Sha Zhukang, speaking on the occasion highlighted the need to ensure smooth implementation of CPEC initiative for realizing “Chinese Dream”.
He said friendship between Pakistan and China was based on trust and mutual support and his Association would leave no stone unturned to further strengthen this trust and confidence so as to develop better understanding through effective communications and diversified linkages between the people of Pakistan and China.
Jin Liqun, President, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and senior representatives of PLA also attended the ceremony besides a number of influential figures from business and academic circles.
They admired the growing relations and reaffirmed their commitment to raise Pak-China bilateral relations to new heights.
Minister of State for Water and Power, Abid Sher Ali, who was leading Pakistan’s delegation at the G-20 Energy Ministers Conference, also attended the event.
A group of persons with disabilities from the Beijing Shanshui Orchestra also played Pakistani and Chinese songs.
ISLAMABAD, July 1 (APP): Juma tul Wida, the last Friday of
holy month of Ramazan and Al Quds Day was observed with religious
zeal and fervor across the country on Friday.
According to a private news channel, security was tightened across the country on this occasion.
A large number of fasting faithful thronged the mosques and imambargahs to offer Friday prayers and seek blessings of Allah Almighty.
In Islamabad, the main congregation was held at the Faisal Mosque where envoys of Islamic countries and the parliamentarians offered their prayers.
In Lahore, large gatherings of Friday prayers were held at Data Darbar, Badshahi Mosque, Jamia Naeemia, Grand Jamia Mosque in Bahria Town, Shuhada Mosque and Jamia Ashrafia.
Security was extended while dividing the mosques in three categories.
The 167 mosques included in A-category were declared as sensitive whereas 767 mosques were placed in B and C category.
More than 4200 police officials were deployed for safekeeping the mosques whereas police patrolling was increased in the metropolis while installing checkpoints at important points.
Foolproof security arrangements were made and additional contingent of police were deployed outside mosques in Balochistan including Quetta.
Strict safety measures were devised on all the entry and exit points of the province with additional police and Frontier Constabularly (FC) officials positioned outside mosques, imambargahs and madrassas.
A ban was imposed on pillion riding and weapons exhibition under section- 144.
Moreover, a rally was also arranged in accordance with Youm-ul-Quds for which security remained on high alert at the relevant routes.
In Karachi, police was positioned outside the Jamia mosque.
Ulema shed light on the importance of Jumatul Wida, Ramazan
and Laila tul Qadr in their sermons and prayed for the stability and security of the country.
Special prayers were offered for the progress and prosperity of the country and unity and harmony amongst the Muslim Ummah.
Prayers were also offered for the liberation of occupied lands of Kashmir and Palestine from the yoke of occupying forces.
Muslims protesters were marking al-Quds Day on Friday by leading rallies in Pakistan and Iran among other countries against Israeli occupation of Jerusalem and violence against Palestinians.
Muslims across the world express their solidarity with the victimized Palestinians on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramazan which is known for fasting.
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