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Wednesday, 19 June 2013

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US applauds Pakistan’s genuine support for Afghan peace process -

WASHINGTON, June 18 (APP): The United States on Tuesday praised Pakistan’s “genuine and constructive” support for the Afghan peace process, as Washington welcomed the opening of the Afghan Taliban office in Qatar as an “important first step in the long and complex” process of reconciliation to end the conflict in Afghanistan. Commenting on the Taliban announcement of opening their office in Doha a development which coincides with transfer of security responsibility to Afghan forces across their landlocked country - a senior U.S. administration official said it represents an “important first step towards reconciliation .”

Upcoming CPC campaign a “thorough cleanup” of undesirable practices -

BEIJING, June 18 (APP): Xi Jinping, leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said Tuesday that the CPC’s upcoming year-long campaign will be a “thorough cleanup” of undesirable work styles such as formalism, bureaucratism, hedonism and extravagance. “The main task of the campaign focuses on building work styles,” Xi, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, said at a high-profile tele-conference held to deploy the campaign, said Xinhua news.

Pakistan seeks talks to address issue of damage-dealing drone strikes -

UNITED NATIONS, June 18 (APP): Pakistan has called for steps to protect children in situations of armed conflict, while stressing the need for negotiations to address the issue of damaging effects unleashed by drone strikes. Pakistan believes that the use of armed drones violates sovereignty, causes civilian casualties, and puts communities at risk of reprisal attacks, Ambassador Masood Khan told the UN Security Council on Monday. "Drone strikes radicalize disaffected communities and increase the number of terrorists. Urgent and intense negotiations are needed to address the issue of armed drones," the Pakistani envoy said in a debate on Children in Armed Conflict.

George Mason University welcomes Pakistani NUST team -

FAIRFAX (Virginia), June 18 (APP): George Mason University on Monday welcomed a group of Pakistan faculty from National University of Sciences and Technology at the start of a three-week course that aims at sharing best practices in teaching and research.Dr. Peter N. Stearns, Provost and University Professor, Dr. Mark R. Ginsberg, Dean College of Education and Human Development, Prof. Anne Schiller,Vice President for Global Strategies, Siddique Sheikh, Member GMU Board of Visitors (director), Dr. Eirini Gouleta, Associate Professor International Education, and Dr Hmood Ur Rehman, Head, Department of Electrical Engineering, NUST, and leader of the Pakistani team, addressed the inaugural reception. Ambassador-at-Large Riffat Mahmood and Mrs. Shaista Riffat Mahmood also attended the event.As part of the continuing partnership, a George Mason University delegation would visit the NUST in a few months and attend a convention as well.

China rejects spy claims against Snowden -

BEIJING, June 18 (APP): A Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman described as “sheer nonsense” claims that a former U.S. intelligence contractor who is hiding in Hong Kong was an agent of China.Spokeaperson Hua Chunying made the comment at a daily press briefing Monday after former U.S. vice president Dick Cheney expressed suspicion Sunday that Edward Snowden chose Hong Kong because he was an agent of China.“This is sheer nonsense,” Xinhua news quoted Hua.The 29-year-old former CIA-employee fled Hong Kong on May 20 after exposingtwo classified U.S. National Security Agency surveillance programs, one collecting U.S. phone records and the other mining Internet data.In Hong Kong, he provided The Guardian with top-secret documents that has led to a series of revelations about the extent of U.S. surveillance, to which several nations, including U.S. allies, have demanded explanations.

Sport News

Match officials for Champions Trophy semis announced

KARACHI, June 18 (APP): The International Cricket Council (ICC) Tuesday announced the match officials for the semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy. England will take on South Africa in the first semi-final on Wednesday at The Oval.The on-field umpires appointed will be Kumar Dharmasena and Rod Tucker, with Bruce Oxenford and Steve Davis third and fourth umpires, respectively.
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Pakistan hockey training camp commences

KARACHI, June 18 (APP): Training camp of Pakistan probables in preparations for Hockey World League began here at Hockey Club of Pakistan (HCP) Stadium on Tuesday.Former Pakistan captain and Olympic half back Waseem Ahmed did not report for training as he was getting treatement after an accident, Manager/Chief coach Akhtar Rasool told APP during team’s afternoon training session.
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CNS Open set new mark with Rs 5.1 mln prize money

KARACHI, June 18 (APP): The 18th edition of Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Golf Championship will be staged at Karachi Golf Club from June 27 to 30, Pakistan Golf Federation (PGF) announced on Tuesday.“CNS will surpass Pakistan Open Golf prize money of Rs five million by one lakh”, Vice President of PGF Taimur Hassan Amin told APP.This is richest-ever prize money ever offered in a domestic golf event”, he added.

Latest News

Balochistan Assembly budget session summoned - More time required for repatriation of Afghan Refugees: UNHCR - Australia fully acknowledge role, sacrifices of Pakistan Armed Force... - PIA, Pakistan Railways, Steel Mills would make profitable entities: ... - Government to enhance defence production export capacity: Tanveer - Imran Khan takes oath as MNA

USAID chief assures complete assistance for flood hit areas’ rehabilitation

ISLAMABAD, Aug 25 (APP): The Administrator U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Dr. Rajiv Shah Wednesday said America would extend full help and assistance in reconstruction, rehabilitation and revival of normal life in the flood affected areas of Pakistan through long term partnership.Dr. Rajiv Shah, who especially came here to witness the damage caused by floods and discuss the future cooperation between Pakistan and United States while talking to APP said, “US is willing to reprogramme its support and financial assistance to deal critical situation in the wake of devastated floods in Pakistan.”

He said US was the first country to respond to provide help and assistance to Pakistan following the worst floods in Pakistan and sharing 50 percent expenditures to provide flood to 1.8 million people affected in these floods.
He said more than 6,000 people have been evacuated by the US helicopters engaged in the rescue operation in different areas besides providing food to the marooned people.
Dr. Shah is the most senior U.S. official to travel to Pakistan since the floods began last month and it is his third trip to Pakistan in five months.
He visited different affected areas in Swat while he will also visit some other parts of the country to review the needs and requirements of the people affected due to flood.
Dr. Shah, also held meetings with representatives from National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and other leadership from the United Nations and other disaster response organizations.
He said USAID is coordinating extensively with other U.S. agencies to expand pre-existing programs in flood-affected areas, and to mobilize significant U.S. civilian resources to help rescue victims of the disaster and deliver needed supplies.
Dr. Shah, said these efforts underscore the U.S. commitment to strengthen its partnership with the Pakistani people and government for long-term reconstruction of the country.
He especially mentioned the immediate and generous response of United States to Pakistan’s call for assistance following the tragic and devastating floods that began July 29.
He said, the United States has been providing approximately $150 million to support relief efforts in Pakistan, including funding for the operations of the NDMA, the United Nation’s emergency relief plan, and the many local and international organizations responding to this disaster.
Referring to immediate need for drinking water, shelter and medicines, he said, US has been doing its best to provide all these facilities to maximum number of affected people.
He said six plants to provide clean drinking water to the affected people have been installed while eight are coming in next few days while more such plants would be installed in other affected areas.
Replying to a question, Dr. Shah, who is expert in agriculture said, so far according to initial estimates, 4.3 million acres of land directly affected due to the flood water and 23 percent crops have been damaged. He said America would extend full help and assistance, using all the sources, to enable the farmers to stand own their feet and make them able to ready for next wheat crop.
He said Pakistan’s agriculture sector has the resilience and expressed the hope that with assistance from United States and other countries, the farmers would be able to produce the crops more than the past.
Dr. Shah said better and improved seeds would be provided to the farmers with introducing better water management system, the USAID would work together with Pakistan government to revive and improve Pakistan’s agriculture produce when the flood water would receded.
Regarding availability of funds, he said, the USAID had the funds under KLB while more funds could be allocated as there has been public campaign by the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to generate funds from the American people.
Dr. Shah assured that the United States would extend full help in making Pakistan to produce its own food through introduction of improved way of agriculture system.

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