ICLAPA honors ex-DG APP’s dedication to children with cleft lips

Sat, 17 Jun 2023, 11:10 PM

ISLAMABAD, Jun 17 (APP):ICLAPA honored the services of Muhammad Aftab (late), the ex-president of the Islamabad Cleft Lip and Palate Association (ICLAPA) and former director general of the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), for his work with children with cleft lips.

A reception was organized by ICLAPA, attended by numerous doctors, surgeons, donors, and individuals from various backgrounds, all of whom paid tribute to the esteemed journalist and praised his efforts in transforming the lives of thousands of children.

ICLAPA, established in 2000 by Muhammad Aftab and Dr Akhtar Rehman to alleviate the sufferings of children born with cleft lip and cleft palate to ensure that they lead a normal and healthy life to become active members of the society.

Although both founding members have passed away, a dedicated team of volunteers, including Dr Azhar Sheikh, Dr Ayesha Aslam, Dr Zahida Ahmad, Dr Maida Hanif, Prof Farhat Rehman, Tehmina Hassan, and Muhammad Akhtar Rehman continues to serve children with cleft lips and palates.

During the event, Prof Farhat, a senior member of ICLAPA’s board of trustees, spoke about M Aftab’s pivotal role in the association. She highlighted his guidance, support, and extensive network, emphasizing his significant contributions of time, resources, and skills to the cause.

She said the association, originally founded as the Pakistan Cleft Lip and Palate Association (PCLAPA) in 2000, transformed into ICLAPA in 2014. “M Aftab organized an event at his house where foreign diplomats learned about their work. Following the event, Japan presented a $100 check to support ICLAPA’s dedicated service to children with birth defects.”

“When my husband, Dr. Akhtar Rehman, passed away, it was M. Aftab who encouraged me and the team to persevere. ICLAPA and the children we have treated so far will never forget him,” expressed Prof Farhat emotionally.

M Aftab’s daughter, Qandi, and granddaughter, Maria Asif, shed light on his family life during their speeches. Maria, overwhelmed with emotions, left the podium without completing her speech, creating a poignant and captivating moment for all the participants

Dr Ayesha Aslam shared that cleft lip surgeries for children are currently being performed free-of-cost at Fauji Foundation Hospital. She added, “Last year, we treated approximately 50 children.”

Dr Azhar Sheikh expressed gratitude to Chinese doctors who have been instrumental in fulfilling ICLAPA’s mission. They have made multiple visits to Pakistan, treating hundreds of children. He mentioned that the Chinese doctors, even after the pandemic, recently contacted him on their own accord, expressing their interest in returning to Pakistan to continue treating children.

The event concluded with special prayers for the eternal peace and high rank of M. Aftab.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chairs a review meeting on Renewable Energy and Solarisation

Zia Ur Rehman

Sat, 17 Jun 2023, 11:09 PM

Accountability must be held without discrimination: Irfan Qadir

Abdul Hanan

Sat, 17 Jun 2023, 11:08 PM

50023 — SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRIME MINISTER ON ACCOUNTABILITY, IRFAN QADIR ADDRESSING A PRESS CONFERENCE AT LAHORE ON JUNE 17, 2023.

LAHORE, Jun 17 (APP):Advisor to the Prime Minister on Accountability Irfan Qadir has said that accountability should be held without any discrimination and no one is exempted from accountability.

He expressed these views while addressing a press conference at the Governor’s House, here on Saturday.

He said the government and parliament were standing with the judiciary and there was no ambiguity in the Constitution regarding accountability. He added that no one was above the Constitution and law, and everyone would be held accountable.

He said until all the institutions were brought under accountability with uniformity, supremacy of law could not be established in the country, adding that if any institution did not support, then it would be shared with the nation. He said their effort was aimed at ensuring that the rule of legal system remains stable in the country until the end of the current government’s tenure.

“We have seen for some time that the Supreme Court has become very active for supremacy of the law and the constitution,” he said. He appealed that judges should not get involved in political affairs of the country, but should take steps to ensure justice to people.

Irfan Qadir said there was a system of self-accountability in judiciary, adding that no one was free for corruption and the case of alleged corruption of a judge of the Islamabad High Court had come to the light, and the alleged audio leaks in this regard had also surfaced.

He said that politicians and bureaucrats should also be held accountable. He said if a person commits malfeasance, he would have to face the consequences.

Irfan Qadir said the government had set up a commission in which the most senior judge had been included, but the judiciary had disabled the commission. The right to appeal was given to those involved in serious crimes, but the former prime ministers were sent packing without giving them the right to appeal, he said.

The advisor said there was an intra-court appeal in the High Court at that time and no one had said that it was against the Constitution. He said the law should apply to all.

In response to a question, he said that in the case against Nawaz Sharif, there could be no disqualification for life. A law has been passed by the Senate, and only five years of disqualification could be imposed under that law. When the case would be reopened, it would be known whether things went wrong, he said and added that Nawaz Sharif was disqualified for not taking salary from his son.

To another question, he said the coalition government did not have two-thirds majority, and the new parliament would make legislation on crucial issues.

In response to another question, Irfan Qadir said new laws had been made to strengthen the judicial institutions.

About trial in military courts, Irfan Qadir said if someone wanted to challenge the military courts, there was no hurdle for him. However, those who attack or vandalize the military installations, whether they are soldiers or civilians, their cases would be tried in military courts, he concluded.

PM’s talent hunt scheme provides an opportunity to the youth: Murtaza Abbassi

Abdul Hanan

Sat, 17 Jun 2023, 11:02 PM

ABBOTTABAD, Jun 17 (APP): Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Javed Abbassi Saturday said that Prime Minister’s Talent Hunt Youth programe would provide an opportunity to the players to represent Pakistan in the foreign countries.

He expressed these views while addressing the football trials at the Police ground in Abbottabad.

He said that under PM’s talent hunt scheme, there is no need for any sort of recommendations, this scheme is providing opportunities to every talented male and female youth, he underlined the need for personal development of youth which would lead to the country to the prosperity in the world.

Murtaza Javed Abbassi invited all stakeholders especially his political rivals to come and join hands for the development of Abbottabad which is the central city of the region and said let’s make this city an example in tourism and other fields and I am ready to provide my services in this regard.

While talking about the restriction on the general public in the playing grounds of Abbottabad city including College ground, Kung Football stadium and Police ground police lines, the minister said that he would discuss this issue with chief minister KP to open the grounds for youth in the evening.

CM winds up budget discussion

Abdul Hanan

Sat, 17 Jun 2023, 10:57 PM

KARACHI, Jun 17 (APP):Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Saturday said that during the last five years, the Sindh government collected Rs5 trillion (from fed govt and provincial resources), of them Rs2.6 trillion were spent on salaries, retirement benefits, and pension of the government employees.

“We have spent Rs442 billion in the non-development expenditures of local government, Rs909 billion on education, including Rs48.9 billion on grants universities.”

He said this while winding up a debate on the budget 2023-24 here on the floor of the provincial assembly of Sindh.

The Chief Minister said that it was his 11th speech to wind up annual budgets. He said that so far, he had made 18 speeches, including five as opposition member. “My association with the Sindh assembly was since 1972 when he had
sat in the gallery,” he recalled and went on saying that his father, former chief minister of Sindh Syed Abdullah Shah had the honor to preside over the then session in which Ghulam Rasool Kehar was elected as assembly speaker.

Murad Shah said that in the past opposition members were not allowed to speak in the assembly. “Even the then speaker had banned my entry in the assembly,” he recalled and then said it was the PPP government, which had established a new tradition of giving maximum time to the opposition member to speak in the houses since 2008.

Though he could not attend the session, but he had the record of each and every speech, including Nand Kumar, Khwaja Izhar Mohammad Hussain and others.

In 2008, our leader Shaheed Mohterma Benazir Bhutto was killed, and people had come out to cast vote in favor of PPP. ‘We did better than 2008 in 2013 and better than 2013 in 2018.’

He alleged that former PM Imran Khan not gave a single scheme in the province. He used to speak reluctantly with him during the meetings. “We served the city and out of 25 have won 13 UCs in local bodies election,” he said.

1970 there were only 7 seats, of them 2 PPP had won and two Jamaat and one independent PPP had bagged 200754 votes while Jamat had taken 168,000 votes. The city which belonged to Shaheed Bhutto. “ye shahre karachi Bhutto (this city of Karachi belongs to Bhutto),’ he said.

He said that MQM-P had shown lack of maturity for a few years. He urged MQM-P not to blame PPP for its weaknesses.

The Chief Minister said that they had seen the first disaster was Imran Khan as prime minister.

The other one was COVID-19 and then they had seen the unprecedented rains. When PM Shahbaz Sharif visited Sindh, he saw rainwater accumulated all over Sindh, he asked and said the provincial government would not be able to grow wheat. Our government made all-out efforts and grew record wheat crop, he said.

He said that 8 per cent relief to the people was given by the provincial government. The affected people were given cash through the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP).

Murad Shah gave a complement to Education Minister Syed Sardar Shah for delivering an impressive speech.

He further said that his government started making projects just after receiving devastating floods. “We talked to the world bank, the Asian Bank and other donor agencies and managed to get funds to rehabilitate the devastated people.

The federal government had been talking to reach a deal with IMF for a loan of $1.2 billion but we managed $.23 billion facility. The world Bank Regional Director and the Country director visited Sindh last week and they appreciated the provincial government for doing an excellent job for rehabilitation of the flood affected people.

Syed Murad Ali Shah said that our development outlay had been pitched at Rs700 billion.

He said that during the last five-year the Sindh government had received Rs3.8 trillion from the federal government and the provincial government’s revenues were Rs1.2 trillion. In this way, during the last five year, the Sindh government had spent Rs5 trillion.

Development: During last five years, the Sindh government had utilized Rs840 billion on development.

He disclosed that 1061 schemes have been launched in the Karachi.

K-IV project was started in 2002, Mr. Shah said and added that in 2007 the problems started. The K-IV was a 260 MGD project launched for Rs29.5 billion. The pre-feasibility was made in 2002 and its cost was Rs42 billion. The essential components were not included.

The CM said that the KWSB had made the K-IV scheme and its alignment was approved by the then mayor.

Murad Ali Shah said that he has arranged Rs100 billion for the K-IV augmentation.
He said that he raised the issues of census and therefore the population of the province increased.

Govt revives development journey, halted by PTI: Fazl

Abdul Hanan

Sat, 17 Jun 2023, 10:54 PM

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Jun 17 (APP):Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Saturday said the government has revived the development journey in the country which was halted during PTI government.

He stated this while addressing a public gathering after inaugurating PESCO’s 132-KV Grid Station in Abdulkhel area which was also attended by Federal Minister for Communication Maulana Asad Mahmood, Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) Chief Arif Khan Sadozai, Project Director Sardar Aslam Khan Gandapur, JUI-F local leadership and other officers of PESCO were also present.

The Abdulkhel grid station was completed with a cost of Rs 95 million which would have four feeders and 40-km long transmission lines.

This grid station, benefiting a huge population, would help reducing the load on Bandkorai grid station besides removing the backwardness of the area. Besides, the electricity related issues including the low voltage would also be resolved through this new grid station. The foundation stone of this project was laid down by Jamiat Ulema Islam Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman in 2018.

Fazl said he was feeling happy to see that this backward area has been put on the path of development once again.

He said the journey of progress, which was halted during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, has been started again.

During the PTI tenure, backwardness was increased, country’s economy was ruined and all the mega development projects including China Pakistan Economic Corridor were stopped.

Besides, the electricity producing projects which were initiated in 2016-17 were also halted, he said. The PDM Chief said now the development in the country has been revived.

He said an interchange has been built to connect Kattikhel and Rehmanikhel areas on Dera-Hakla Motorway. The next interchange would be constructed at Paniala, he vowed.

Similarly, a road has been approved to be constructed from Abdulkhel Interchange to Kloorkot via Dhakki and Laali areas, he said and added that it would ensure an easy approach to Punjab for the people of this area who used to go to other province for laboring purpose.

This road was approved at the time of approval of CPEC and a bridge was supposed to be built over the Indus River. The previous government had constructed that bridge but no road on either side was built, he said and added that now the roads on both sides of the bridge would be constructed.

The CPEC which was passing through Daraban would connect Daraban area with Indus Highway via Musazai, Chodhwan, Kirri Shamozai and Ramak.

In the same way, three districts including Lakki Marwat, Bannu and Karak would also be connected with CPEC.
The Bannu road would be connected with Chashma road from three different points including Khundal, Dhakki and Mufti Mahmood Chowk on Dera Bypass.

Similarly, Yarik to Tank road, Pezu to Tank road and Yarik to Paharpur via Bandkorai road would also be constructed soon.
Fazl said a widespread road network was being laid down in the region which would help increasing trade and business activities. He was of the view that the better road infrastructure was first step towards development.

The current government of PDM, during its one-year tenure, has started multi-projects in Dera Ismail Khan Region, he said.

Fazl said that he had a clear stance from the very first day that the anti-Pakistan people who were hindrance in the way of national development should be separated from the government as they were following any foreign agenda rather the agenda of Pakistan, adding, his stance has been proven true with the passage of time.

“Today, Imran Khan’s politics is over and we will also form the next government with the support of masses,” Fazl added. He said this evil would not be allowed to be imposed on this country again.

At the end, the symbolic keys of two bucket cranes worth Rs 15 million each were also handed over the Dera Ismail Khan and Tank Circles of PESCO.

Superintendent Engineer of Dera Circle Nadir kundi and Superintendent Engineer of Tank Circle Hayat Barki received the symbolic keys.

UN chief calls for equal land rights for women to stop land degradation

NNPS Desk

Sat, 17 Jun 2023, 10:40 PM

UNITED NATIONS, Jun 17 (APP): UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for equal land rights for women on the occasion of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, saying such a move would help stop land degradation.

“I urge all governments to eliminate legal barriers to women owning land and to involve them in policy-making, support women and girls to play their part in protecting our most precious resource,” he said in a video message for the Day, which falls on June 17.

“We depend on land for our survival, yet we treat it like dirt,” the UN chief added, emphasizing the need for action.

Women make up nearly half of the world’s agricultural workforce, yet discriminatory practices related to land tenure, credit access, equal pay, and decision-making often impede their active participation in sustaining land health.

Today, less than one in five landholders worldwide are women, according to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

“Unsustainable farming is eroding soil 100 times faster than the natural process can restore them, and up to 40 per cent of our planet’s land is now degraded, imperiling food production, threatening biodiversity, and compounding the climate crisis,” the UN chief said.

“This hits women and girls the hardest,” he said. “They suffer disproportionately from the lack of food, water scarcity, and forced migration that result from our mistreatment of land, yet they have the least control.”

Calling for support for women and girls to play their part in protecting “our most precious resource”, he said, “together let’s stop land degradation by 2030”.

Ahead of international day, UNCCD launched the #HerLand campaign to raise awareness about women making a difference now and the challenges ahead.

When given equal access, women and girls can increase agricultural productivity, restore land, and build resilience to drought, according to UNCCD.

At the outset of a high-level event at UN Headquarters in New York to mark the Day, Inna Modja, Malian singer and UNCCD Goodwill Ambassador, performed the world premiere of the song, Her Land, to mark the day.

“As a woman, artist, and climate and social justice activist, I believe it’s vital to empower women?and youth and promote gender equality in the fight against desertification and land degradation,” she said. “Together, we can create a brighter, sustainable future.”

High-level speakers, women leaders, renowned scientists, land activists, and youth representatives agreed that much has been done but more efforts are needed to level the land ownership playing field.

Tarja Halonen, former President of Finland and UNCCD Land Ambassador, said action is needed now.

“Solving gender inequalities is not just the right thing to do,” she said. “If we ensure that women are fully able to use their abilities, knowledge, talents, and leadership potential our societies are simply better off.”

“When women farmers have access to own land, they grow more and so do their nations,” said UN General Assembly President Csaba Korosi. “Strengthening women’s land and property rights increases food security and reduces malnourishment.”

These positive shifts have a ripple effect, he said.

“What we are lacking are the policy decisions and measures that recognize their role in managing land,” he said. “We should do our best to remove barriers to women’s participation in decision-making.”

UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw said this Desertification and Drought Day aims at mobilizing the international community in that direction.

“Of all the gender inequalities we experience in the world, the imbalance in women’s access to fertile land remains arguably the most shocking,” he said. “In every corner of the world, filling this particular gender gap remains an unfinished business.”

APP/ift

PM condoles demise of PMLN leader Munawar Raza

Munir Hussain

Sat, 17 Jun 2023, 9:54 PM

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chairs a meeting on availability and pricing of essential food items — APP File Photo

ISLAMABAD, Jun 17 (APP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Saturday expressed grief and sorrow on the demise of leader of Pakistan Muslim League(N) from Karachi Syed Munawar Raza.
In a message of condolence in a tweet, he said he was saddened to hear about the passing away of Syed Munawar Raza who was a friend, a sincere companion and leader of PML(N).
He prayed for the absolution of the departed soul and for grant of patience to the bereaved family.