ISLAMABAD, Feb 25 (APP):Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed Tuesday said the entire Pakistani nation was standing with the Chinese people, who were passing through the difficult time after the breakout of lethal Coronavirus.

He expressed these view during a meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing, who called on him here, a press release said.

The minister sympathized with the envoy over the loss of precious lives due to the virus.

Secretary Pakistan Railways Habibur Rehman Gilani was also present in the meeting.

During the meeting, the two sides also discussed ongoing projects between Pakistan-China and agreed to accelerate their pace.

Sheikh Rashid said after the approval from the Ministry of Planning in March, the work on Peshawar-Karachi Main-Line-One (ML-1) project would be started during the current year.

He thanked the Chinese ambassador for taking keen interest in the ML-1 project and expressed the hope that steps would be taken to restore the Karachi Circular e Railway (KCR) project.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan also expressed the desire for restoration of the ML-1 and KCR projects. “We will take steps with the assistance China in that regard.”

Sheikh Rashid said the ML-1 would be completed within a period of five-year at a cost of about $ 9 billion.

He said the ML-1 project was very important for Pakistan Railways and strengthening the national economy. “Chinese partnership will change the destiny of Pakistan Railways,” he said.

Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing said rapid development of road and rail infrastructure was inevitable for economic development of Pakistan.“We will fully cooperate with Pakistan” he added.

He said Pakistan and China always stood with each other in difficult times.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 25 (APP):Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on Tuesday said effective screening mechanism has been put in place to check spread of coronavirus in the country.

Addressing a press conference, Dr Firdous said due to result-oriented and efficient strategy, the country had not even a single patient of coronavirus as the government made extensive arrangements to diagnose the disease across the country.

She said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has further directed to make preventive measures to protect Pakistanis from coronavirus.

She said that PM Imran Khan also commended the sacrifices of Pakistani students studying in China and their role in support of efforts of Chinese government against coronavirus.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 25 (APP):The parents of infant pilgrims will have to pay Rs 32,657 and Rs 31,882 respectively for their accompanying children under hajj scheme.

The intending pilgrims planning to perform the sacred religious ceremony this year from the country’s Southern and Northern regions will have to pay Rs 31,882 and Rs 32,657 respectively for their accompanying infants under the government hajj scheme.

According to official sources in Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, the parents travelling from Southern Region would have to pay Rs 31,882 as Hajj dues for each accompanying infant. While the parents of infants travelling from North Region will have to pay Rs 32,657 as Hajj dues for each accompanying infant.

The children born after September 5, 2018 have been treated as infants while other children and adults are required to pay normal Hajj dues, the sources added.

The breakup of total airfare charges included Rs 12,702 for Southern Region and Rs 13,477 for Northern Region, the parents of an infant will have to pay Rs 500 on account of Hujjaj Mohafiz Fund and Rs 1,000 will be charged as vaccination charges and lastly Zamzam charges for both Northern and Southern region will be Rs 460 for both Southern and Northern region pilgrims.

Visa fee had been fixed at Rs 12,600 for infant pilgrims from both regions.Accidental insurance (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) will be Rs 4,620 for the both regions’ pilgrims.

The parents of infants had paid Rs 11,190 and Rs 10,190 respectively in 2018 for Southern and Northern regions respectively.

The same charges were Rs 11,910 and Rs 12,910 for Southern and Northern regions respectively.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 25 (APP):Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan Tuesday said the cabinet had directed enactment of a single comprehensive bill for safety, protection and security of journalists and media professionals.

Dr Firdous, in a tweet, said the Ministry of Law would present the bill, drafted in consultation with all the stakeholders and after fulfilling all legal requirements, to the cabinet, which would be implemented after approval from the parliament.

She said the Federal Cabinet on Tuesday also received briefing on the Human Rights Division’s Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Bill 2020. It was also informed about another bill, which was prepared by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for Journalist’s Safety, Security, Protection and Welfare.

The cabinet decided to merge the two separate bills and directed the Law Ministry to prepare a comprehensive bill for its approval.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 25 (APP):Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said on Tuesday that United States President Donald Trump’s acknowledgment of Pakistan’s positive role in war against terrorism buried Indian narrative.

In a series of tweets, she said that Trump’s statement was open admission of Pakistan’s efforts for peace in the world. She said that this acknowledgment was also proof of Pakistan’s successful foreign policy.

She urged Indian Prime Minister Modi to under the power of the message of friendship, rather than fanning the fire of hatred and bias in the region and India itself.

She said that use of brute force by Indian government against the protest demonstrations against Citizen Amendment Act in the presence of US president in India has exposed real face of India.

She said that the entire world has seen that Modi as an extremist was spreading hatred and creating war hysteria whereas Pakistan’s image has improved under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan. Stating that Kashmir dispute was an internationally recognized issue, she expressed the hope that Trump would also discuss the issue with Indian leadership.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 25 (APP):Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed Tuesday said Chinese collaboration in developing Main Line one (ML-I) project would change railroad map in Pakistan.

He expressed these views in meeting with Chinese Ambassador, Yao Jing here.

The minister discussed the ongoing railway projects with the ambassador where both the sides agreed to speed up work on the projects.

Sheikh Rashid said after approval from the Ministry of Planning in March, the Peshawar-Karachi ML-I project would be initiated during this fiscal year.

He said, “I extend my gratitude to the Chinese Ambassador for his keen interest in the ML-I project. It is hoped that steps will be expedited to restore the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR).”

The Supreme Court of Pakistan, he said also wanted that the restoration of the ML-1 project and KCR would be completed as soon as possible.

“The 1800 kilometers ML-I project will cost about $ 9 billion and will be completed in five years,” the railways minister said.

He said ML-I project was very important for Pakistan Railways and the country’s domestic economy.

Sheikh Rashid also expressed his heartfelt sentiments for those killed by the Corona virus in China.

He said, “The Pakistani government and peoples are standing with China in this difficult time.”

The ambassador said the rapid development of road and rail infrastructure was inevitable for the economic development of the country whereas China would fully cooperate with Pakistan Railways in that regard.

“Pakistan and China stand united in all situations,” the ambassador added.

KARACHI, Feb 25 (APP):Minister of State for SAFRON and Narcotics Control Shehryar Afridi on Tuesday said that all those countries which were contributing enormously in fight against drugs should be given due respect and cooperation by all the key stakeholders because integrated efforts were needed to combat the menace.

The Minister said this while speaking at the 4th Trans-Regional Operational meeting on Drugs organised by the Ministry of Narcotics Control in collaboration with European Union (EU) Action against Drugs at a hotel here.

Speaking about the Trans-regional Operational meeting, he said”The theme and importance of this meeting cannot be over-emphasized as it has brought together the drug law enforcement and strategic level officials from eight African countries as well as from various other international agencies.”

He said “A recent significant innovative measure is the launch of smart phone application named “Zindagi” aims to provide basic and first hand information to the families of the drug addicts and masses in general.”

He said that it has become more important to keep the public well informed in wake of rising trend of synthetic drugs such ice and myth. This information would prove valuable to the families in identification of symptoms which their loved ones may be exhibiting in case of drug use, he added.

He pointed out that even before the formal launch of the mobile app “Zindagi” we have received appreciation from regional and neighboring countries with the request to provide them proto type which may be modified and customized as per needs and requirements of their countries.

“Seriousness of the government in controlling the spread of drugs is reflected from the fact that the Prime Minister himself launched the mobile application “Zindagi” at a ceremony held recently,”he said.

Pakistan’s efforts to control the menace of drugs which were being carried out by the Ministry of Narcotics Control and ANF have been multi-dimensional, he added.

He said that the National Anti-Narcotics Policy has been formulated aimed at combating and uprooting threats posed by natural and synthetic drugs in more effective manner by ensuring stronger mechanism.

Shehryar Afridi highly appreciated the performance and contribution of the ANF in controlling and combating the menace of drugs.

He informed the participants of the meeting that now since the artificial intelligence has become order of the day, we have recently launched one of the biggest data regarding all crimes,specifically the drug users. We have collected data from 250 accredited websites, he added.

He said “Pakistan is committed and has all the abilities to combat menace of drugs while our team has learnt from achievements as now we want to share it with the entire globe.”

He said that the National drug abuse survey-2013 had indicated presence of over 6.5 million drug addicts; more over an alarming number of people who inject drugs estimated to be around 430,000 are further cause of concern.

He said that the drug abuse also gave rise to other health concerns such as spread of HIV and hepatitis.

He said that another study showed in 2016 that since 2005 the HIV injector drug users increase from 11 percent to 38.4 per cent which is very very alarming.

Similarly, out of 160,000 drug users in the country, nearly 44,000 were those who inject drugs, he added.

He said that the number of victims have definitely increased in the last five years and we were currently on the way conducting survey to measure the exact extend and gravity of the situation.

The Minister said that Pakistan has maintaining the poppyªfree status since 2001, now it has become more important to energize the efforts which were being made in the region by the national governments and our international counterparts.

The Ministry of Narcotics Control and Anti-Narcotics Force have undertaken several initiatives in addition to regular enforcement measures such as drug seizures and intelligence based and control delivery operations to control the drugs.

He said that 85 per cent of all sorts of drugs were being manufactured in Afghanistan and Pakistan was sharing 2611 kilometers borders with Afghanistan.

He said that we have made sacrifices and have never compromised but these achievements should have been acknowledged at the highest level.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 25 (APP):Minister for Human Rights Dr Shrieen Mazari met with Brazilian Minister for Women, Family and Human Rights Damares Alves on the sidelines of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva and highlighted the efforts of the present government to establish child protection centers and a national sex offender’s registry in Pakistan.

In a Tweet, she said they discussed the issue of child rights, including child pornography.
Dr Mazari informed to the Brazilian minister about the government’s efforts and progress on human rights issues through legislation, implementation of laws and awareness programmes.

The minister for human rights Dr Shireen M Mazari also met with European Union (EU ) special representative on human rights in Geneva.

She raised concerns over India‘s human rights abuses in Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK) against Muslims in India.

She also raised concerns over Islamophobia in the EU, the minister said.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 25 (APP):Foreign Secretary of Nepal, Ambassador Shanker Das Bairagi, called on Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Tuesday. Ambassador Shankar is leading the delegation for the 4th Round of Pakistan-Nepal Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC).

The Foreign Minister appreciated the holding of Bilateral Political Consultations, which gave both countries the opportunity to exchange views on important international and regional issues and consider the way forward to further enhance bilateral cooperation in diverse fields.

The foreign minister extended felicitations on 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, falling in 2020.

The two sides resolved to enhance high-level exchanges and strengthen bilateral economic cooperation and take it to level commensurate with the excellent political relationship.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi appreciated Nepal’s efforts in its capacity as the current chair of SAARC, to revitalize this important platform to strengthen regional cooperation for the betterment of the people in the region.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 25 (APP):Minister for Narcotics Control Shehryar Khan Afridi Tuesday urged trans-regional and global partners to enhance scope of regional and global cooperation to help save the world from the menace of drugs.

Addressing the participants of 4th Trans-regional Cooperation Meeting on drugs control, Afridi said Pakistan has been spearheading efforts for saving the world from the menace of narcotics, a press release said.

The minister said the world has yet to acknowledge the sacrifices made by the countries fighting drugs.

“This is need of the hour that sacrifices being made in combating drugs should be recognized by the UN and its allied agencies on the pattern of recognition being given to peacekeeping forces.

Moreover globally we rank in top tier for the seizures of drugs though with meager resources and low man power we have mastered this art with high intelligence and professional force of ANF,” he added.

Afridi said Pakistan has recently developed the smart phone application ‘Zindagi’ for drug demand reduction and raising awareness among society at large.

“Prime Minister Imran Khan inaugurated the application and we have been receiving appreciation for that from regional and world partners. Moreover we have indigenously developed a large database (Am’aan) of criminals wanted in drugs related crimes across the world. This would help Pakistan and its partners to track all the international drug peddlers,” he added.

He said Pakistan under new policy will further enhance international cooperation as we understand that drug related crimes were of international and trans-continental nature.

“The organized crime syndicates, blinded by their greed and lust are adopting innovative illegal means to maximize their earnings at the cost of innocent human lives”.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 25 (APP):Ambassador of Qatar Saqr bin Mubarak Al-Mansouri Tuesday called on Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi and invited him for the signing ceremony of the US-Taliban peace deal in Doha on February 29.

He handed over a special invitation from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar Sheikh Mohammad Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani in this regard, the Foreign Office press release said.

The ambassador said Qatar looked forward to receive foreign minister Qureshi at the signing ceremony.

The foreign minister appreciated the invitation and said he looked forward to the US-Taliban peace deal signing ceremony.

He expressed the hope that the signing would pave the way for the next step of intra-Afghan negotiations, and underlined the importance of the Afghan parties seizing this historic opportunity to work out a comprehensive and inclusive political settlement.

“The international community’s role will also be crucial for the establishment of sustainable peace in Afghanistan,” the press release quoted the foreign minister as saying.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 25 (APP):Minister for Planning,Development and Special Initiative Asad Umar Tuesday said that fulfilling the dream of Naya Pakistan was not possible without remodeling of Karachi.

“Inshallah New Karachi will be built and Naya Pakistan will also be built,” he said in a statement issued here.

As a member of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf (PTI) Central Executive Committee and member National Assembly, the minister said that under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, Karachi would be turned into a transformed and developed city.

He said a local government system was needed to bring improvements in the city, where people of Karachi would get equal authority and equal resources for development of their city.

He informed that a petition had already been filed in the Supreme Court of Pakistan for change in local governed system of the city.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 25 (APP):Minister for Human Rights, Dr. Shireen Mazari on Tuesday said that Human Rights Council must pay immediate attention to the protection and respect of the human rights of the people of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IoJK).

She said this while addressing at high-level segment of the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, said a message received here.

“ I congratulate you, Madam President and members of the Bureau, for assuming stewardship of the council. I must also commend High Commissioner Bachelet, and her office, for their global human rights advocacy.” she added.

The minister said that this Council was the custodian of universal human rights, adding It had made strides towards amplifying and responding to the aspirations of people across the world.

The council’s enduring strength lied in even-handed approaches, its transparency and impartiality, she added.

Shireen Mazari said that as a founding member, Pakistan would continue to positively contribute to all the processes and mechanisms of the council.

She pointed out that Pakistan, in September 2019, presented a plea and petition of the Kashmiri people to this council. Meanwhile, over six months had passed and 8 million Kashmiris, already in the clutches of decades-long Indian state oppression, remained caged in the world’s largest open prison , she added.

Drawing the attention of President of Human Rights Council, she said that Pakistan was not alone in highlighting the true face of India’s deliberate disregard of human dignity as well as its blatant breach of its international human rights obligations, adding US Congress, EU parliamentarians, UN Secretary General, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Human Rights organizations and the international media had highlighted these issue.

Amnesty International had rightly termed India as the “Internet shutdown capital of the world”, she added.

The minister said, ” I do not need to remind the council that all this represents clear breaches of multiple international human rights instruments that India is party to. Further, it exposes the real mindset of a regime that pretends to be a bastion of democracy, federalism and secularism, and aspires to be a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council”.

Unfortunately,Mazari added, India was attempting to buy political support and silence critics on its systematic human rights abuses in IoJK and of Muslims in India, through offers of lucrative arms and other business deals.

The minster said “What is happening in IoJK is not a “country specific situation” in this Council’s parlance. The atrocities and abuses are being inflicted upon the people of a disputed and occupied territory.

The issue of Jammu and Kashmir has been on UN Security Council agenda for over 70 years, marked as disputed territory in all maps of the UN. It is not and can never be an internal matter for India”.

She said last year, Pakistan opened -up the Kartarpur Corridor and constructed the world’s largest Gurdwara, allowing unimpeded access to the Sikh community from across the world, in Pakistan adding 18 denominations of Christian churches were present in the country, where devotees freely professed their religion.

Pakistan had a flourishing Christian Missionary school system, she pointed out.
Shireen Mazari said “We have pioneered a wide-ranging social protection programme (Ehsaas or Compassion) aimed at alleviating the plight of the marginalized, through financial empowerment of women, provision of shelter to the homeless and through removal of financial barriers to accessing health and education.”

If India had nothing to hide, it should allow unhindered access to the Commission of Inquiry and independent observers in IoJK, she added.

Pakistan stood ready to allow access on its side of the Line of Control, together with similar access to the Indian Occupied side, she said adding “We also urge the High Commissioner to continue with the reporting process on Jammu and Kashmir”.

She also said that the council and the wider international community must act and demand from India regarding Occupied Jammu and Kashmir to rescind all illegal actions of 5th August 2019.

She demanded to immediately desist India from changing the demographics of the occupied territory.

The minister also demanded to lift the lockdown and communications blackout and allow access to medicines, food and other essential items for the Kashmiri people in the occupied valley.

She also demanded to release all arbitrarily detained Kashmiri leaders, professionals and activists, including young boys who had been abducted by Indian security forces.

She also urge the council to pressurise India to repeal all draconian laws which allow its occupation forces to continue committing atrocities with impunity in IoJK.

Shrireen Mazari also demanded to prohibit the use of force by India, specifically the use of live ammunition and pellet guns against unarmed civilians and ensure drawdown of its over 800,000 troops that were currently holding the entire Kashmiri population under siege through brute force in the occupied valley.

“In line with our founder Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s vision of a humane and egalitarian state, we have enacted progressive laws to protect children, women, minorities, the transgender community,the differently-abled and other marginalized segments”, she added.

The minister said that Pakistan hoped that this Council would deliver on its promise and its principles.

RAWALPINDI, Feb 25 (APP):A European Union (EU) delegation led by Ambassador of EU Androulla Kaminara, Tuesday met Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa here.

During the meeting, matters of mutual interest , regional security including Afghan Reconciliation Process, situation at the Line of Control (LoC) and Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ& K) were discussed, an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release said.

Ambassadors of different countries including Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden , Deputy Head of Missions of France and Hungary, Charge of Affaires of Greece, Attaché (Political Affaires) of Austria and Senior Technical Advisor MOFA of Denmark were also part of delegation.

Visiting dignitaries appreciated Pakistan’s role for peace and stability in the region.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 25 (APP):Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Chaudhry Fawad Hussain Tuesday said British doctors were reluctant to declare Nawaz Sharif seriously ill.

In a tweet message, the federal minister questioned, “Why not Sharif’s medical reports sent from United Kingdom?”

He said apparently the only reason was that the tests conducted in the United Kingdom were different from the medical tests done in Pakistan and the British doctors were reluctant to declare Nawaz Sharif seriously ill.

“It means that the medical tests conducted by the Punjab government were questionable.

In these circumstances, the Punjab government should initiate an inquiry to investigate the matter of Department of Health, Laboratory and Doctors connivance with Sharif family.

The findings of the inquiry should be made public, the federal minister said.