Provincial govts agree to accelerate wheat release from official stocks
ISLAMABAD, Oct 20 (APP): Provincial governments on Tuesday expressed their firm commitment to accelerate wheat release from their official stocks in order to maintain smooth supply of the commodity as well as curbing inflation in the country.
The consensuses to this effect was developed in a consultative meeting, which was chaired by the Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam.
The meeting was attended by the chief secretaries of all provinces who expressed their committed to accelerate wheat release for tapping the inflationary issued in local markets.
The meeting was informed that Punjab had started its wheat release from July 7, adding that the grains releases have been increased from 16,000 tons to 20,000 tons per day.
It was further informed that these releases to be increased to 25,000 tons per day that would help in significantly bring down the prices of flour and wheat in local markets.
The Chief Secretary Punjab apprised the meeting that 196 Sahulat Bazaars have so far been set up to ensure the supply of flour to the people at affordable rates.
Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Sindh said that the process of regular release of wheat by the Sindh government would start in the next one or two days.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa told that wheat release had been started from of August 7, besides administrative measures were also taken to control the prices by ensuring the smooth availability of wheat.
It was informed that sasta bazaars were also establishment and the official release of wheat by the KPK government will be increased from 3,000 tonnes per day to 4,000 tonnes per day.
China welcomes decision to lift ban on Tik Tok
BEIJING, Oct 20 (APP): China has welcomed the decision to lift ban on Tik Tok after receiving assurance that the company would block all accounts repeatedly involved in spreading obscenity and immortality.
“We have noted the relevant report. The Chinese government always maintains the companies operating overseas should strictly abide by international law and local rules,” Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said during his regular briefing while commenting on the issue.
He said, these companies should fully respect local customs, practice and their religion.
“We glad that two sides can properly deal with the relevant issue through amicable solutions,” he added.
According to reports, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority said that it has decided to lift a ban on popular social media app TikTok after the company vowed to block all accounts involved in spreading “obscenity and immorality.
The move comes some 10 days after the authority blocked Tik Tok for failing to block “immoral and indecent” content.
“TikTok has agreed to moderate accounts in accordance with local laws,” said a spokesman for the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), adding that the app had some 20 million monthly active users in the country.
TikTok was the third most-downloaded app in Pakistan over the past 12 months, behind WhatsApp and Facebook, according to analytics firm SensorTower.
PTA had said it was open to discussions with TikTok if the company was willing to moderate unlawful content.
TikTok, owned by China-based ByteDance, has become hugely popular in a short period of time, by encouraging young users to post brief videos.
But the app has been mired in controversy in a number of countries, with authorities raising privacy concerns and security fears.
Competition among 19 cities under Clean Green Index soon: Amin
ISLAMABAD, Oct 20 (APP): Ministry of Climate Change will hold a competition among different cities of the country under ‘Clean Green Index ‘ soon to gauge performance on the basis of their baseline data.
Initially nineteen different cities have been selected for the competition as relevant authorities would share their baseline data regularly on portal which would be gauged and ultimately the cities would be rewarded, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Climate Change, Malik Amin Aslam said.
He was addressing a ceremony of ‘Encouragement Award Clean Green Index’ where different cities were awarded as per their performance.
He said that the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan had taken initiatives to provide long term environmental benefits to the country.
Amin said a web portal has also been established to highlight performance of each city, district and union council and also to ensure check and balance.
He underlined the need that people should show their responsibilities to make their cities clean and green.
It merits mentioned here that there are five core points of phase-1 of ‘Clean Green Index’ which include hygiene, solid waste, plantation, sanitation and access of water.
Zimbabwe cricket team arrive in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, Oct 20 (APP): A 32-member Zimbabwe cricket squad arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday to play two limited-overs series against Pakistan.
Zimbabwe players will undergo a seven-day isolation period, starting from Wednesday before they commence training at the Pindi Cricket Stadium Rawalpindi from October 28.
They will play three ODIs and as many T20Is against Pakistan. The ODI series is scheduled for October 30, November 1 and 3. Then the two teams will travel to Lahore for the T20 series – set for November 7, 8 and 10.
The series is crucial for Pakistan as it will be launching its bid to qualify directly for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 by taking on Zimbabwe in the three ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League matches.
The ICC has introduced the Super League to provide context to ODI cricket and will serve as a qualification for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 with the hosts and other top seven sides automatically booking their spots for the India event.
Featuring 13 teams, the 12 Test-playing countries and the Netherlands, the Super League will see each side play four home and four away three-match series.
The three ODIs were originally scheduled for Multan, but have been moved to Rawalpindi due to logistical and operational challenges.
The change in the ODI venue also changed the venue for the three Twenty20 Internationals as initially these were planned to take place in Rawalpindi.
Zimbabwe last toured Pakistan in 2015 for three ODIs and two T20Is. However, they now return after international cricket has resumed in Pakistan with full force following the successful tours of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in the 2019-20 season.
In addition to this, HBL Pakistan Super League, for the first time in its young history, was staged in Pakistan until the last four matches were postponed on 17 March due to the Covid-19 pandemic. These matches of the fifth edition will be staged in Lahore on 14, 15 and 17 November.
Series schedule:
21-27 Oct – Isolation period & practice
28-29 Oct – Practice at Pindi Cricket Stadium
30 Oct – 1st ODI, Pindi Cricket Stadium
1 Nov – 2nd ODI, Pindi Cricket Stadium
3 Nov – 3rd ODI Pindi Cricket Stadium
4 Nov – Travel to Lahore
5-6 Nov – Practice at Gaddafi Stadium
7 Nov – 1st T20I Gaddafi Stadium
8 Nov – 2nd T20I, Gaddafi Stadium
10 Nov – 3rd T20I, Gaddafi Stadium
12 Nov – Zimbabwe departure for Harare
Cement export increases 8.27% in Q1
ISLAMABAD, Oct 20 (APP): The exports of cement from the country witnessed an increase of 8.27 percent during the first quarter (Q1) of financial year (2020-21) as compare to the corresponding period of last fiscal year.
The country exported cement worth US $72.296 million during July-September (2020-21) as against the exports of US $66.773 million during July-September (2019-20), showing growth of 8.27 percent, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
In terms of quantity, the exports of cement increased by 30.09 percent by going up from 2,196,835 metric tons to 1,688,687 metric tons, according to the data.
Meanwhile, on year-to-year basis, the exports of cement grew by 23.85 percent during the month of September 2020 as compared to the same month of last year.
The exports of cement from the country during September 2020 were recorded at $27.788 million against the exports of $24.623 million in September 2019.
On month-on-month basis, the exports of cement also rose by 28.75 percent during September 2020 as compared to the exports of $21.583 million in August 2020, the PBS data revealed.
It is pertinent to mention here that the overall merchandize trade deficit increased by 2.02 percent during the first quarter of current fiscal year (2020-21) as compared to the deficit of the corresponding period of last year.
The deficit during July-September (2020-21) was recorded at $5.804 billion as compared to the deficit of $5.689 billion, showing increase 2.02 percent.
During the period under review, the country’s exports registered negative growth of 0.94 percent, by going down from $5.510 billion last year to $5.458 billion during the current year.
On the other hand, the imports decreased by 0.56 percent, from $11.199 billion last year to $11.262 billion during the current year.
China lauds NSA Moeed Yusuf’s remarks about Xinjiang
BEIJING, Oct 20 (APP): China on Tuesday lauded Prime Minister’s Advisor on National Security, Moeed Tusuf for his remarks about the situation in Xinjiang and upholding a fair and objective stance on the relevant issue.
“China commends this position. It proves that seeing is believing. China commends Pakistani side for upholding a fair and objective position on relevant issue,” Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said during his regular briefing held here.
He said, in fact, the international community knows very well that what the truth is on Xinjiang related issues.
“As many as 48 countries made a joint statement at the third committee of the UN General Assembly expressing just stance on relevant issue.”
He said, these countries showed their understanding and support to China’s position and opposed politicizing and applying double standard on human rights issues and also opposed groundless accusations against China.
“This shows people know what is true and what is false,” he added.
Zhao informed that since 2018, more than a thousand people from more than 90 countries and regions have visited Xinjiang. They have seen themselves that Xinjiang is stable, prosperous and enjoying rapid development.
He said, all spoke highly on counter terrorism and de-radicalization efforts in Xinjiang. They believe these efforts are worth learning.
“We welcome all people upholding objective and fair stance to visit Xinjiang where they can see what is happening in Xinjiang on ground,” he added.
Zhao said that the Chinese side believes that more countries will speak for truth and for justice just like Pakistan has done.
Ntional Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf said in a recent interview that Pakistani delegations visited Xinjiang and saw the real situation there. People of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang enjoy equal rights protected by law and lead happy lives.
Country sees 140 pc increase in COVID mortality rate: Asad Umar
ISLAMABAD, Oct 20 (APP): Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar Tuesday said that last week, the country witnessed surge in daily mortality rate by about 140 percent compared to the previous few weeks, and on average as many as 12 people died of COVID during last week.
“We are collectively committing a blunder by recklessly ignoring all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and the results have started to show,” he said in a tweet.
The minister who also chairs meeting of National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) for corona virus warned that it the people do not follow the precautionary measures, the situation could again become worst.
“If we do not change our current path we will lose both lives and livelihoods,” he warned.
Meanwhile, according to NCOC, the total active COVID-19 cases in Pakistan on Tuesday were recorded 9,461 as 625 more people tested positive for the deadly virus during the last 24 hours.
As many as 14 corona patients, 12 of whom were under treatment in hospital and two out of hospital died on Monday.
Political actors staging drama to save corruption: Shibli Faraz
ISLAMABAD, Oct 20 (APP): Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz Tuesday said the political actors had staged a drama for the last few days with the aim to save their corruption done in the past tenures.
In a tweet on social media platform Twitter, he said these people were national criminals as they had looted the national exchequer.
چند روز سے سیاسی بہروپیوں نے ایک ڈرامہ رچا رکھا ہے۔ جس کا واحد مقصد اپنے ادوار میں کی گئی بے تحاشا کرپشن پر پردہ ڈالنا ہے۔ یہ لوگ قومی مجرم ہیں انہوں نے قومی خزانے پر ڈاکہ ڈالا ہے۔یہ جان لیں عمران خان کسی دباؤ میں نہیں آئے گا۔ ان سےایک ایک پائی کا حساب لیا جائے گا۔
— Senator Shibli Faraz (@shiblifaraz) October 20, 2020
They should know that Imran Khan will not come under any pressure and will hold them accountable for every penny.
At UN, Pak reports intensification of India’s reprisals against Kashmiri human rights defenders
UNITED NATIONS, Oct 20 (APP): Pakistan has called on the United Nations to closely monitor the situation in the restive Indian Illegally Occupied Kashmir where reprisals and attacks against human rights defenders were growing amid a harsh security clampdown.
“Acts of intimidation and reprisals against those who cooperate with the UN system undermine the credibility and effectiveness of the UN as a whole, including its human rights machinery,” Pakistani delegate Qasim Aziz Butt said during an Interactive Dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, Mary Lawlor.
The dialogue took place in the General Assembly’s Third Committee, which deals with social, cultural and humanitarian issues.
Butt, a second secretary in the Pakistan Mission to the UN, said the gravity and frequency of the reprisals had intensified. Thousands of Kashmiri youth, human rights defenders, journalists and lawyers were arbitrarily arrested, tortured and put into incommunicado detention.
Civil society organizations and international media had been denied access, as the fourteen-month digital and physical lockdown put the occupied territory into a communication and information blackout.
The Pakistani delegate referred to last month’s “cold-blooded murder” of lawyer Babar Qadri, a renowned Kashmiri Human Rights Defender, by unidentified men, saying he joined the long list of critical voices who have been systematically eliminated through extra-judicial killings in occupied Kashmir.
“Similarly,” he added, “activists like Khurram Pervez have been subjected to arbitrary travel bans and indefinite detention in relation to their cooperation with the United Nations.”
Major human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have continued to express concerns about these systematic reprisals against human rights defenders in India and occupied Kashmir, the committee was told.
“Instead of responding to these concerns,”, he said, “the Indian government has embarked upon a witch hunt against those who dare to report these crimes.”
Only last month Amnesty International ceased work in India citing constant harassment at the hands of the government authorities. In the words of the Executive Director of Amnesty International India, the government’s goal is to “stoke a climate of fear”, it was pointed out.
“Needless to say, such sweeping restrictions and ongoing curtailment of rights in IIOJK, including the right to free speech and expression and the right to peaceful assembly and association have a direct bearing on the safety of human rights defenders, and their ability to carry out their work effectively,” Butt added.
Azerbaijan lauds Pakistan’s firm support on ‘just position’ against Armenia
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov on Tuesday lauded the firm support extended by Pakistan over the issue of Nagorno-karabakh region against Armenia.
“Highly appreciate the firm support of brotherly Pakistan to the just position of Azerbaijan,” he said in a tweet following a telephonic conversation with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
Discussed the current situation in the region with the MFA of Pakistan @SMQureshiPTI, including intensive shelling of Azerbaijani civilians and residential areas by #Armenia.
Highly appreciate the firm support of brotherly #Pakistan🇵🇰 to the just position of #Azerbaijan🇦🇿. pic.twitter.com/QADTp6XxZk
— Jeyhun Bayramov (@bayramov_jeyhun) October 20, 2020
Talking to FM Bayramov, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security situation in Azerbaijian’s Nagorno-Karabakh (NKB) region, saying “Pakistan believed in restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty”.
Qureshi also expressed concern over the reprehensible targeting and killing of civilians by the Armenian forces.
He hoped for a peaceful resolution of the crisis in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.
The two Foreign Ministers discussed bilateral relations and the ongoing conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia on Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Foreign Minister Qureshi also recognized Azerbaijan’s valuable support to Pakistan on Jammu and Kashmir dispute at various international fora, including the Organization of Islamic (OIC) Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir.
He briefed his counterpart on the grave human rights violations and other repressive actions being perpetrated by the Indian occupation forces in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu &Kashmir (IIOJ&K).
Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov appreciated Pakistan’s support to his country and briefed about the latest situation.
In his tweet, he said, his discussions with FM Qureshi also included current situation in the region including intensive shelling of Azerbaijani civilians and residential areas by Armenia.
The two Foreign Ministers expressed satisfaction over the state of bilateral relations and agreed to further strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest including trade and economy, culture and education.
Foreign Minister Qureshi extended an invitation to his Azeri counterpart to visit Pakistan.
After the telephonic conversation, Azerbaijan’s ambassador in Pakistan Ali Alizada in a tweet in Urdu language quoted Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi as saying that the sustainable peace between the parties was dependent upon “full implementation of UNSC resolutions and troops withdrawal of Armenia from the territory of Azerbaijan”.
وزیر خارجہ محمود قریشی: فریقین کے درمیان پائیدار امن کا انحصار اقوام متحدہ کی سلامتی کونسل کی قراردادوں پر مکمل عملدرآمد اور آزربائیجان کے علاقوں سے آرمینیائی افواج کے انخلا پر ہوگا۔🇵🇰🤝🇦🇿#StopArmenianAggression #StopArmenianOcccupation #KarabakhisAzerbaijan https://t.co/ujHDHZwQIZ
— Ali Alizada 🇦🇿 (@Ali_F_Alizada) October 20, 2020
Match officials for Zimbabwe series confirmed
By Sohail Ali
LAHORE, Oct 20 (APP): Aleem Dar has been assigned on-field duties in five of the six upcoming white-ball matches between Pakistan and Zimbabwe, which will be played from October 30 to November 10.
The three 50-over ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League matches will be played in Rawalpindi, while Lahore will host the three 20-over fixtures, said a spokesman of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Aleem, the three-time ICC Umpire of the Year from the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires, will stand in all the three ODIs as well as the first and third T20I, while he will be the third umpire for the second T20I.
The ICC has appointed Prof. Javed Malik, member of the ICC International Panel of Match Referees, as match referee for the series.
“ As per the ICC’s interim playing regulations, Aleem and Javed will be the ICC-appointed match officials. The PCB appointed the umpires from the ICC International Panel of Match Officials, namely Ahsan Raza, Asif Yaqoob, Rashid Riaz and Shozab Raza”,he said adding “ When Ahsan Raza will walk out to officiate the second T20I, he will become the first umpire to complete a half-century of T20Is.
Aleem Dar is second on the list with 46 matches, while Shozab Raza shares fourth spot with South Africa’s Shaun George with 36 matches”.
Ahsan, a former first-class cricketer, began his international umpiring career in February 2010 by standing in an ODI between Afghanistan and Canada at Sharjah Cricket Ground.
Later that year in October, he officiated his first T20I match when Pakistan played South Africa at Abu Dhabi. Overall, the 46-year-old has stood in 85 international matches, he said.
ICC’s interim playing regulations, which are applicable to the upcoming series:
Ban on applying saliva to the ball: Players will not be permitted to use saliva to shine the ball. If a player does apply saliva to the ball, the umpires will manage the situation with some leniency during an initial period of adjustment for the players, but subsequent instances will result in the team receiving a warning.
A team can be issued up to two warnings per innings but repeated use of saliva on the ball will result in a 5-run penalty to the batting side. Whenever saliva is applied to the ball, the umpires will be instructed to clean the ball before play recommences.
Non-neutral umpires: The requirement to appoint neutral match officials will be temporarily removed from the playing conditions for all international formats owing to the current logistical challenges with international travel.
The ICC will be able to appoint locally based match officials from the ICC Elite Panel of Match Officials and the ICC International Panel of Match Officials.
Additional DRS reviews: The CEC has also confirmed an additional unsuccessful DRS review for each team in each innings of a match, keeping in mind that there may be less experienced umpires on duty at times. This will increase the number of unsuccessful appeals per innings for each team to two for the white-ball formats.
The ICC Cricket Operations team will support Match Referees when processing Code of Conduct breaches and a neutral Elite Panel match referee will conduct any hearing remotely via video link.
Appointments (ODIs to start 1200, T20Is to commence 1530):
30 Oct – 1st ODI, Rawalpindi. Aleem Dar and Ahsan Raza (on-field umpires), Asif Yaqoob (third umpire), Rashid Riaz (fourth umpire); Javed Malik (match referee)
1 Nov – 2nd ODI, Rawalpindi. Aleem Dar and Asif Yaqoob (on-field umpires), Ahsan Raza (third umpire), Shozab Raza (fourth umpire); Javed Malik (match referee)
3 Nov – 3rd ODI, Rawalpindi. Aleem Dar and Rashid Riaz (on-field umpires), Ahsan Raza (third umpire), Asif Yaqoob (fourth umpire); Javed Malik (match referee)
7 Nov – 1st T20I, Lahore. Aleem Dar and Asif Yaqoob (on-field umpires), Rashid Riaz (third umpire), Shozab Raza (fourth umpire); Javed Malik (match referee)
8 Nov – 2nd T20I, Lahore. Ahsan Raza and Rashid Riaz (on-field umpire), Aleem Dar (third umpire), Shozab Raza (fourth umpire); Javed Malik (match referee)
10 Nov – 3rd T20I, Lahore. Aleem Dar and Ahsan Raza (on-field umpire), Asif Yaqoob (third umpire), Shozab Raza (fourth umpire); Javed Malik (match referee).
