Pakistani Hindus hesitates to visit India due to insecurity: NCM
ISLAMABAD, Oct 21 (APP): Chairman National Minority Commission (NCM) Chela Ram Kewlani said minorities were enjoying equal rights in Pakistan as comparing to India where the lives of minorities have been made miserable by Modi’s Government.
Addressing a news conference flanked by members of NCM and CII chairman Dr Qibla Ayaz on Wednesday in Islamabad, he said minority community members in Pakistan enjoys absolute autonomy.
A Hindu member of minority community has been made chairman of the NCM for the first time in 27 years of commission’s history whereas in India the minorities are badly treated.
He said Pakistani Hindus were reluctant to visit their holy places in India due to insecurity and inhuman treatment of Modi’s government.
Expressing dismay over the attitude of India with minorities, he condemned the murder of eleven Pakistani Hindus in India, saying Indian Prime Minister Narendera Modi’s policies proved to be disastrous.
He said the members of NCM visited across the country to have first hand knowledge about the problems being faced by the minorities.
The NCM having representation from all segment of society, were playing vital role in strengthening minority rights in the country, he said adding that prime minister Imran Khan has assured resolving the chronic issues of minorities.
He said the National Minority Commission (NCM) was planning to brief international media about the facilities being provided to the minorities in the country.
Likewise, NCM would meet minority members next month for evolving consensus on NCM’s minority protection bill and forced conversion bill.
He said the government was taking concrete measures to check forced conversions.
Chela lauded the role of Parliament in impeding forced conversions, saying the forced conversion was the joint issue of provinces and federation.
NCM has finalized the draft NCM law for religious harmony and the bill has been sent to Ministry of Law and Justice for vetting.
Speaking on the occasion Parliamentary Secretary Ms Shunila Ruth said a draft law for preventing forced conversion would be finalized soon after evolving consensus with all stake holders.
The top most priority of incumbent government is to protect the rights of minorities. Five percent quota for minorities in government jobs were being ensured. Whereas seven percent quota for minorities in Ehsas Programm has been ensured.
Chairman Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) Dr Qibla Ayaz said the workings and contributions of NCM should be highlighted.
Qibla Ayaz emphasized for greater interfaith harmony to foil the sordid designs of enemy against Pakistan. Minorities in Pakistan enjoy complete freedom as per the constitution of the country.
“We all should play our role in promoting harmony and cohesion among all segments of society. CII was also the member of NCM.”
Responding to a question, Qibla said the issue of construction of temple in Islamabad would be resolved after detailed study and discussion.
COVID-19 put negative impact on poultry, livestock
ISLAMABAD, Oct 21 (APP): Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam Wednesday said that COVID-19 had put negative impact on livestock and poultry sectors as their output was reduced significantly.
However, he said, the local poultry industry was recovering and measures would be taken to boost the local poultry Industry.
Addressing virtual meeting of Minister of Agriculture of SCO Member States, the minister mentioned that the menace of desert locusts has now been completely brought under control in the country.
He apprised the forum about the measures being taken by the government for capacity building of different institutions including Department of Plant Protection (DPP) to meet the future challenges.
Imam also appreciated the resilience shown against the virus and following standard operating procedures (SOPs) to eradicating the menace.
He said it was collective efforts from the platform of National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) due to which Pakistan minimised the cases.
Syed Fakhar Imam said that due to the economic situation, it is impossible to implement complete lockdown in the country.
However, the government focused on smart lockdown policy, he said adding that it had helped to reduce the out spread of virus.
Pakistan asks Afghanistan for proper management as stampede kills visa applicants
ISLAMABAD, Oct 21 (APP): Pakistan on Wednesday expressed grief over the loss of lives in a stampede at a stadium in Afghanistan’s Jalalabad city, where aspirants of Pakistani visas had gathered, and also urged
upon the Afghan authorities to ensure better management of the process.
“We have received with sorrow and grief the news about the loss of precious Afghan lives and injuries in a stampede at a stadium in Jalalabad, several kilometres away from the Consulate General of Pakistan, where applicants for Pakistani visas were being gathered under the arrangements of the provincial Afghan authorities,” the Foreign Office said.
The Pakistan Consulate had resumed the visa operation after a pause of seven months as security precaution due to coronavirus pandemic.
“While the Embassy of Pakistan and the sub-missions in Afghanistan are committed to implement this new visa policy and to extend maximum facilitation to the visa applicants, we would request the understanding and cooperation of the Afghan people as well as the Afghan authorities to ensure better and secure management of the visa applicants,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.
The statement mentioned that given the large number of visa applications, the Government of Pakistan had recently announced a new visa policy to facilitate Afghan brothers and sisters.
“The embassy of Pakistan in Kabul and the sub-missions in Jalalabad, Kandahar, Herat and Mazar-e-Sharif are now issuing multiple entry visas to Afghan applicants intending to visit Pakistan for family, business, medical treatment, education and other purposes,” it added.
WAPDA chairman calls on prime minister
ISLAMABAD, Oct 21 (APP): Chairman of Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Lt. General (Retd) Muzammil Hussain Wednesday called on Prime Minister Imran Khan here.
During the meeting, the WAPDA chairman briefed the prime minister about progress on the construction work of Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand dams, a PM Office press release said.
GPKSC lambastes Indian occupying forces move of grabbing Kashmiris properties through new construction laws in IIOJK:
MIRPUR (AJK): Oct 21 (APP): Britain-based Kashmiris rights outfit Global Pakistan Kashmir Supreme Council (GPKSC) Wednesday strongly condemned the Indian nefarious move to grab the lands of Jammu & Kashmir State people by amending existing construction and development laws in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK) State.
The puppet IIOJK State Administrative Council headed by Delhi’s installed Lt Governor G.C. Murmu recently approved a proposal to amend the Control of Building Operations Act, 1988 and the Development Act, 1970 for notifying “strategic areas” for use by the Indian occupational forces and regulating construction through a special dispensation.
Talking to reporters here , the GPKSC Chairman Raja Sikander Khan, currently on official visit of Pakistan and Azad Jammu Kashmir to discuss the vibrant role of Pakistani and Kashmiri Diaspora community in Britain and other European countries raising the urgency of early peaceful settlement of Kashmir question, with the Pakistani and AJK leadership, said that the motive behind promulgation of such laws in occupied Kashmir is absolutely clear that the Indian government wants to establish settlements in the so-called strategic areas to house the Indian citizens thereafter granting them citizenship under the new domicile laws.
The move, he said, is aimed at to turn the majority of Kashmiri Muslims into the minority in their own internationally-acknowledged disputed homeland.
“The latest amendments will expedite the process of demographic changes in the occupied state and turn the entire region into an Indian military garrison,” Khan emphasized.
The GPKSC Chairman continued that after the start of construction process by Indian occupation forces, the forests land of the territory will further squeeze and this will have highly negative impacts on the environment of the region.
Raja Sikander Khan maintained that the puppet regime of occupied Kashmir has already handed over 243 hectares of land to Indian military and paramilitary forces, while the occupational Indian Army had already unlawfully occupied over 21 hectors of land.
Raja Sikander said that under the new law, the Indian Army can declare any part of the occupied territory including agricultural lands, residential areas and neighbourhood to be “strategic areas”.
The GPKSC Chairman also vehemently condemned the continual molestation of the Kashmiri women by the Indian forces including recent shifting of three Kashmiri woman leaders Asiya Andrabi, Naheeha Nasreen and Fehmida Soofi by the Indian government to the punishment wards of Tihar Jail in New Delhi.
He called upon the international human rights organizations to raise their voice against the fascist tactics of the Indian government and prevent it from outraging fundamental human rights of the Kashmiri people.
Sikander Khan underlined that since the lockdown enforced by the Indian government in occupied Jammu and Kashmir since August 5 last year, more than 13,000 Kashmiri youth have been detained in different jails of occupied Kashmir and India where they were facing the worst inhuman torture.
The GPKSC Chairman said that the sole motive behind these fascist and imperialist tactics of India was that the Kashmiri people give up their demand for the realization of their right to self-determination, which had been acknowledged by the whole international community including the United Nations through the UN resolutions passed since over seven decades.
Wajiha Akram visits National Skills University
ISLAMABAD, Oct 21 (APP): The Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training, Ms. Wajiha Akram Wednesday visited the National Skills University (NSU) Islamabad.
She was welcomed by the Vice-Chancellor NSU Dr Muhammad Mukhtar who also briefed her about ongoing activities in the university and upcoming skills relevant programs to be initiated.
She expressed her satisfaction with the progress made by the university over the past year.
According to her, developments in the university over the past year are miraculous, adding compared with her visit in the last year, the place is emerging as an education setup conducive to skills education.
Students from the documentary and short film making program welcomed Wajiha Akram and presented her a bouquet. She also interacted with the students and appreciated their skills and professional excellence.
The Vice-Chancellor gave a short presentation about the university progress, establishing the first Senate, two meetings within a couple of months, ongoing building rehabilitation activities, hiring new staff, and faculty process to be initiated for an ultimate passage to excellence.
She also visited the auditorium of the university and the Auto Engineering Technology Workshop.
The Vice-Chancellor presented the Parliamentary Secretary with “NSU Vision 2025 – A Strategy for Youth Skills for Tomorrow” prepared and approved by the University Senate.
Shehryar Afridi conferred Federal Minister Status
ISLAMABAD, Oct 21 (APP): Prime Minister Imran Khan has conferred the status of Federal Minister on Shehryar Afridi, MNA/Chairman, Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir with immediate effect, said a notification issued here by PM office on Wednesday.
According to official sources, Shehryar Afridi was given the post of Federal Minister for effective diplomacy on the Kashmir Cause.
Earlier, Afridi was serving as the Chairman Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir as Minister of State.
Rear Admiral Naveed Ashraf takes over as Commander Pakistan Fleet
KARACHI, Oct 21 (APP): Rear Admiral Naveed Ashraf assumed the responsibilities as Commander Pakistan Fleet in a ceremony held at Pakistan Navy Dockyard, Karachi.
Rear Admiral Naveed Ashraf was commissioned in Operations Branch of Pakistan Navy in 1989, said a Pakistan Navy press release.
During his distinguished career, he has served on various Command and Staff appointments. His important Command appointments include Commanding Officer of three Destroyers, Commandant Pakistan Naval Academy, Commander 18th and 25th Destroyer Squadrons.
His Staff appointments include, Chief Staff Officer to Commander Combined Task Force-150 HQ NAVCENT Bahrain, Captain Training at HQ FOST, Naval Secretary, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Admin), Chief Instructor and Deputy President National Defence University, Islamabad.
The Admiral is a graduate of Pakistan Navy War College Lahore, National Defence University Islamabad and Naval Staff College USA. In addition, he has also done Royal College of Defence Studies Course from UK.
In recognition of his meritorious services, Rear Admiral Naveed Ashraf has been awarded with Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military) and Tamgha-e-Basalat.
During the Change of Command ceremony, the Admiral was presented with Guard of Honour. The ceremony was attended by Pakistan Navy officers, CPOs/ Sailors and Navy Civilians.
Pakistan fully committed to Kuwait’s development: Zulfikar Bukhari
ISLAMABAD, Oct 21 (APP): Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Sayed Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari Wednesday said Pakistan was fully committed to the development of Kuwait and would provide skilled workforce in multiple sectors, aligned with its Vision 2035.
The revival of workforce export to Kuwait was a historic moment for Pakistan as not a single worker had been sent to the Gulf country during the last 10 years, he said while addressing the healthcare professionals, who are scheduled to leave for Kuwait on Thursday.
The SAPM said Prime Minister Imran Khan had an international stature and clout due to which several countries had showed keenness in the recent past for hiring Pakistani manpower.
Zulfikar Bukhari said Kuwait had planned to hire the services of over 1,000 Pakistani healthcare professionals, including doctors, paramedics and nurses.
The first batch to depart on Thursday would comprise 226 medical professionals, followed by the second one of 200.
The SAPM exhorted the healthcare professionals to prove their worth by performing their duties dedicatedly and act as ambassadors of the country as it would pave way for more manpower export.
“It will be you, who will smooth the way for other Pakistanis, aspiring to seek jobs in Kuwait,” he remarked.
He said a high concentration of Pakistani workforce in Kuwait would help foster the bilateral ties between the two countries. “We want to expand our relations with Kuwait in every sector, especially those which are aligned with its vision 2035.”
Zulfikar Bukhari said prior to the coronavirus pandemic , the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government had sent some one million Pakistanis abroad after exploring a large number of jobs opportunities in different countries.
The government’s prime focus was to export skilled manpower to the member states Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) along with the European countries.
Ambassador of Kuwait to Pakistan Nassar Abdul Rehman J Almutair extended his gratitude to the Pakistan government for providing medical assistance to his country during the difficult time of coronavirus. He also thanked the Pakistani medical professionals to help their Kuwaiti brothers face the deadly virus.
The envoy assured that the Pakistani workers would be provided full facilities during their stay in Kuwait. “You are leaving your country to go to your country…you are leaving your families to join your families in Kuwait and I am sure that you will prove to be a great help for your Kuwaiti brothers and sisters,” he remarked.
Ambassador Abdul Rehman said medical professionals across the globe were fighting the coronavirus at the forefront, which was duly acknowledged and appreciated the world over.
SAPM Sayed Zulfikar Bukhari also condoled the demise of late ruler Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah on behalf of the Pakistani nation and the government.
He expressed hope that the ties between two countries would strengthen further under the new Kuwaiti leadership.
Meanwhile, the SAPM and officials of the OP&HRD ministry conducted an interactive session with the outgoing medical professionals to respond their queries about their stay abroad and contract with the government of Kuwait.
