ISLAMABAD, Jun 17 (APP): A total of twelve Pakistanis were identified among the survivors of the capsized boat off the coast of Greece, but so far the number and identity of Pakistani nationals among the deceased was not yet verified.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, in a press statement on Saturday, said that the Pakistan Mission in Greece under the leadership of Ambassador Aamar Aftab remained in contact with the local authorities for identification and recovery of Pakistani nationals among the deceased and providing relief to the survivors.
“Our Mission also remains in contact with the Greek authorities in the identification process of the 78 recovered bodies. This identification process will take place through DNA-matching with close family members (parents and children only),” the spokesperson further said.
Families of likely passengers on board the ill-fated boat were requested to contact Pak Mission in Greece on the 24/7 helpline numbers for verification purposes.
They were also requested to share DNA reports from authenticated laboratories and the identity documents of the passenger at ‘info@pakistanembassy.gr’
The UN Human Rights officials said that up to 500 people were still missing from a migrant boat that sank off Greece.
A large number of women and children were among those missing in the “horrific tragedy” that left 78 people dead.
The fishing boat was carrying up to 750 people that went down 50 nautical miles off Pylos in southern Greece, according to international media.
12 Pakistanis among survivors of Greece boat disaster: FO
Kashmiris, rights bodies to stage protest against Modi’s US visit next week
WASHINGTON, Jun 17 (APP): A prominent Kashmiri advocacy group Thursday announced that Kashmiris and their supporters will stage a protest rally near the White House on June 22 when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets US President Joe Biden in Washington, amid India’s escalating atrocities in occupied Kashmir.
The Secretary-General of the World Kashmir Awareness Forum (WKAF), Ghulam Nabi Fai, told APP that he was getting immense response from the community members as well as expressions of support from several other organizations in the effort to highlight India’s brutal suppression of Kashmiri people.
He said that people from all over the United States and Canada were expected to come to Washington to join the demonstration that will serve as a reminder that the U.N.-pledged right of self-determination to the people of Kashmir has still not been implemented and that they continue to suffer under Indian occupation.
“I am confident that Kashmiris and their supporters will be there in full force,” Fai said.
He also said that WKAF has also hired three digital trucks that will flash messages like “Fascist Modi does not belong to White House” as they pass by key buildings and landmarks in this capital city. Other digital messages include,” Trade with India not fine when human rights are on decline”; “Indian democracy: Dead in Kashmir’; “Kashmir at the brink of Genocide” and “Modi guilty of crimes against humanity in Kashmir.”
Meanwhile, according to reports, U.S Human Rights groups are planning to hold similar protests against Modi’s US visit over the “deteriorating human rights situation.”
The Indian American Muslim Council, Peace Action, Veterans for Peace and Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition are also set to gather near the White House on June 22.
The report said the groups have also added flyers that read “Modi Not Welcome” and “Save India from Hindu Supremacy.” The groups have also planned an event in New York featuring a show titled “Howdy Democracy”, referring to 2019’s “Howdy Modi!” rally in Texas featuring Modi and then-U.S. President Donald Trump.
This comes as two human rights groups decided to organize a screening of the controversial BBC documentary, ‘India: The Modi Question’. As per reports, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have invited policymakers, journalists and analysts next week to a screening in Washington the BBC documentary, whose screening was banned in India.
Advocacy groups have also raised concerns over alleged human rights abuses under Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
They point to a 2019 citizenship law that the U.N. human rights office described as “fundamentally discriminatory” by excluding Muslim migrants; anti-conversion legislation that challenged the constitutionally protected right to freedom of belief; and the revoking of Muslim-majority Kashmir’s special status in 2019.
There has also been demolition of properties owned by Muslims in the name of removing illegal construction; and a ban on wearing the hijab in classrooms in Karnataka when BJP was in power in that state.
The Indian government dismisses the criticism, saying its policies are aimed at the welfare of all communities and that it enforces the law equally. Modi remains India’s most popular leader and is widely expected to remain in office after next year’s elections.
The administration of then-President George W. Bush denied Modi a visa in 2005 under a 1998 U.S. law barring entry to foreigners who have committed “particularly severe violations of religious freedom.” In 2002, when Modi had just become Gujarat’s chief minister, at least 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in sectarian riots.
Advocacy groups have also raised concerns over human rights abuses under Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
They point to a 2019 citizenship law that the U.N. human rights office described as “fundamentally discriminatory” by excluding Muslim migrants; anti-conversion legislation that challenged the constitutionally protected right to freedom of belief; and the revoking of Muslim-majority Kashmir’s special status in 2019.
There has also been demolition of properties owned by Muslims in the name of removing illegal construction; and a ban on wearing the hijab in classrooms in Karnataka when BJP was in power in that state.
The administration of then-President George W. Bush denied Modi a visa in 2005 under a 1998 U.S. law barring entry to foreigners who have committed “particularly severe violations of religious freedom.” In 2002, when Modi had just become Gujarat’s chief minister, at least 2,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in communal riots.
President approves appointment of Rector of Hyderabad Institute for Technology
ISLAMABAD, Jun 17 (APP): President Dr Arif Alvi has accorded his approval to the appointment of Saeeduddin Shaikh as Rector Hyderabad Institute for Technology and Management Sciences.
The appointment was granted under section 13 of Hyderabad Institute for Technology and Management Sciences Act, President Secretariat Press Wing said in a press release on Saturday.
The president approved the appointment after holding interviews of three candidates recommended for the post of rector by the search committee.
China’s Hangzhou fully prepared to host 19th Asian Games
BEIJING, June 17 (APP): China’s Hangzhou is fully prepared to host the 19th Asian Games as construction of all venues and facilities was completed in April.
The two-week sporting event which was postponed last year because of Covid-19, will be held from Sept 23 to Oct. 8 this year.
All the venues for the games have passed their acceptance inspection. Also, over 30 test events and rehearsals of the events have been completed, a group of international media was briefed during a press tour organized by Xinhua.
The member of media visited Hangzhou E-sports Center, LGD Club, Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center, Tennis Center and Swimming Center.
Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province and one of the seven ancient capitals of China will host the Asian Games with a focus on green and sustainable principles supported by high-tech, according to organizers.
Green energy sources, such as solar and wind power, have been widely implemented in all the Games venues. Furthermore, online services, digital products, and state-of-the-art facilities have been put in place, eagerly anticipating the arrival of participants from across Asia in approximately 100 days.
Hangzhou metro line 19, adorned with the emblem and slogan of the 19th Asian Games, connects the city’s railway stations and international airport, providing significant convenience for residents since its launch last year.
The venues for the games are spread across six zones in the cities of Hangzhou, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Jinhua, Shaoxing, and Huzhou. More than 8 million people have already visited the competition and training venues.
“The venues have become popular destinations for the public to engage in sports activities. A series of rehearsal activities have been conducted to further enhance the operations, catering, medical, and transportation services. Currently, all the venues are fully prepared for the Games”, a senior official said.
Currently, Hangzhou has completed a 516-kilometre rail transit and a 480-kilometre expressway network, ensuring smooth transportation during the Games and establishing a solid foundation for the long-term integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta.
To mark the 100-day countdown to the Hangzhou Asian Games, the Asiad flame was lit in the archaeological ruins of Liangzhu ancient city in Zhejiang and the medal designs was released.
All 45 national and regional Olympic Committees in Asia have registered for the Hangzhou Asiad, demonstrating immense enthusiasm for the event.
More than 900 Chinese athletes will be pursuing their dreams at the Hangzhou Asiad.
Hangzhou will become the third city in China to host Asia’s premier sports event, after Beijing in 1990 and Guangzhou, capital of South China’s Guangdong Province, in 2010.
BRI provides tangible benefits to Pakistan through CPEC: Pak Envoy
BEIJING, June 17 (APP): Pakistan Ambassador to China Moin ul Haque said that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) are providing tangible benefits to Pakistan through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is the flagship project of the BRI.
Addressing as a key speaker at the 13th China Overseas Investment Fair, the Ambassador mentioned that BRI holds great significance for Belt and Road Initiative’s partner countries. This year, Pakistan is also celebrating 10th anniversary of CPEC, China Economic Net (CEN) reported.
“Over the past decade, 888 km of the road network has been laid, and over 8000 additional MWs of energy have been added to Pakistan’s national grid with the commissioning of 13 new energy projects. A new 878-KM transmission line has been built to evacuate 4000MW electricity. An 820 km long cross-border optical fibre cable has been laid, and over 200,000 new jobs have been created. Various estimates have pointed out to an increase in 1-2% of the GDP of Pakistan”, he added.
Ambassador Moin ul Haque said that BRI has been successful in bringing down the walls of suspicions and doubts among the members of the international community and instead connected them with bridges of trade, commerce and cultural cooperation on the principles of win-win cooperation and mutual benefit. It thus transcends the artificial divides of race, religion and nationality and rallies the international community around shared dreams and common ideals.
“China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was envisaged as a comprehensive and long-term project with key objectives to upgrade transport and communication infrastructure, enhance connectivity, ensure energy security, promote industrialization, modernize agriculture and thus contribute to national socio-economic development agenda”.
He further stated that CPEC has transformed Pakistan’s economic landscape providing a solid foundation for future growth and development. Various statistics are evidence of the concrete, substantive and tangible benefits of CPEC for Pakistan.
“CPEC has now entered its vital phase of facilitating the industrialization process in Pakistan. The Special Economic Zones under CPEC have the potential to be a game-changer not only for Pakistan but for the entire region. With attractive incentives, these SEZs will be the mainstay of FDI in Pakistan. Gwadar Port with its infrastructure upgrade and strategic location augments these SEZs, adding to Pakistan’s stature as an attractive investment destination”, the ambassador added.
Pakistani industrial ecology to provide endless opportunities: SCO Expo
BEIJING, June 17 (APP): “Today’s Pakistan is in line with “good timing, geographical convenience and great human relations” from the traditional Chinese perspective”, noted Wang Jianxun, Senior Advisor of Pakistan National Science and Technology Park.
Addressing as a key speaker at the SCO International Investment and Trade Expo co-hosted by China Study Center, National University of Science and Technology, Pakistan (NUST) held in Qingdao, a scenic coastal city in Shandong Province, Wang emphasized the environment of “blue ocean” in Pakistan, with the theme of Opportunities and Challenges of Pakistan’s Industrial Ecological Chain under the New World Situation.
When technological productivity lacks sufficient capacity to meet national demand, the trade deficit has been increasingly emerging. Pakistan’s current trade deficit has soared to a record high of USD 48.66 billion from USD 30.96 billion a year ago, driven by a sharper-than-expected 57 percent jump in imports. Not only that, Pakistan’s trade deficit widened 32 percent year-on-year to USD 4.84 billion in June as imports grew almost twice as fast as exports.
Such an astonishing demand for imports means that Pakistan’s domestic industrial structure needs to be optimized urgently, as well as scientific and technological productivity needs to be greatly improved. Just like the two sides of a coin, today’s status quo also means unlimited opportunities for global companies.
“So far, initial diversified cooperation in various industries in Pakistan has begun to emerge. The special economic zone represented by the National Science and Technology Park (NSTP) has created a spiral development model of “industry + academic + government + public society”.
Regarding e-commerce, in NSTP, we will form a two-way interactive simulcast video sales platform in cooperation with China’s Ningbo live broadcast e-commerce base, vigorously promoting Pakistani specialties; The NUST has formed an effective cooperation mechanism with many top universities in China, such as Tsinghua University, Harbin Institute of Technology, China University of Geosciences, Southwest Petroleum University, etc.
In addition, due to Pakistan’s vigorous opening of NFT and other related digital currency technologies, as well as AI and IoT tools, there is also huge room for digital improvement, as a global hot spot,” Wang told China Economic Net.
Leapfrog of science and technology is inseparable from the support of the talent pool, as Pakistan’s population under the age of 23 accounts for 76 percent of the country’s total population, it enjoys prominent advantages in labor resources. At present, China’s domestic labor cost is three times that of Pakistan’s. In industries such as biopharmaceuticals, IT, forging and textiles, Pakistan could be described as rich in talent.
Back to Pakistan itself, this country is also blessed with unique conditions which should not be ignored by anyone. As a traffic springboard linking the trinity of Asia, Europe and Africa, it has trade routes leading to a total of 68 countries around the world.
The reporter learned that Pakistan has implemented preferential tariff reduction and exemption policies for 188 Chinese projects, which is a major benefit for companies in various fields that are involved in the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
“Last year, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif signed the China-Pakistan Joint Statement with Chinese leaders during his visit to China. Health corridors, industrial corridors, digital corridors and green corridors have been developing step by step,” Wang introduced, “enterprises in key fields such as China Mobile, Huawei, Cogniser, Hikvision, and Loongson Technology have laid a solid foundation for the establishment of an all-weather industrial ecological chain between China and Pakistan.”
APP/asg
Presidency of two holy mosques distributes more than 10,000 umbrellas
MAKKAH, Jun 17 (APP): The General Presidency of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque affairs has distributed more than 10,000 umbrellas and 2,000 prayer mats to visitors of the Grand Mosque on late Friday.
According to Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the initiative aims to provide the best services to the visitors of the grand mosque and ensure warm hospitality for the Hajj pilgrims at the grand mosque.
It is to mention here the General Presidency of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque aims to facilitate the worshipers to perform religious worship and the rites in a secure and pure environment.
Politics of PML-N is public welfare based: Amir Muqam
ISLAMABAD, Jun 17 (APP): Adviser to Prime Minister for National Heritage and Culture Division Engineer Amir Muqam on Saturday said that the politics of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is purely based on public welfare and the development of the country.
The PML-N was utilizing every penny of public money in an honest and transparent manner for the welfare of the people and the provision of basic facilities to them, he said while speaking to a Private news channel.
He lauded PDM-led government under the leadership of Shahbaz Sharif for their remarkable achievement in steering the country away from the brink of default despite inheriting severe economic hurdles.
He said with regard to this year’s 2023-24 budget, the government has paid special attention to the provision of quality education, and vocational training to the youth, boosting the IT sector and improving the agriculture sector.
“We are also working on the policy to maintain balanced relations with all other countries”, he added.
Replying to a question, he said every patriotic Pakistani condemned the violent acts of 9 May and urged to take strict actions against the culprits involved in organized attacks on state institutions and military Installations.
Attacking the military Installations is a serious crime across the globe and it must not be forgiven, he added.
“Our courts need to understand the gravity of the situation and punishment must be given to the culprits involved in the 9 May incidents according to law and constitution, he demanded.
The stakeholders must ensure that such violent acts cannot happen again in future, he added.
Mushaal urges US President, Congressmen to press Modi to release Yasin
ISLAMABAD, Jun 16 (APP): Chairperson of Peace and Culture Organisation Mushaal Hussein Mullick expressed serious concerns over Hurriyat leader Yasin Malik’s deteriorating health conditions and urged US President Joe Biden and Congressmen to press Indian Premier Narendra Modi to release Yasin during their forthcoming visit to the US.
Mushaal, the wife of incarcerated Yasin Malik, said on Friday that notorious Modi, who was known as a butcher, unleashed a reign of terror in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) to muzzle the dissenting voices.
The chairperson stated that the US administration should take Modi to task for his inhuman policies and the rising tide of human rights violations during his fascist regime, making life hell for the minority communities in India and Kashmiri Muslims.
She said that Modi’s regime was the biggest sinner of humanity and could cross all limits of barbarity and state terrorism. But the brave Kashmiri people would not ever bow down to them, she added.
The Hurriyat leader went on to say that the people of Kashmir would fight for their birthright to right to self-determination until turned the dream into a reality.
She said that speaking the truth bluntly was the only crime of Yasin Malik due to which the Indian authorities were hell-bent to silence him by implicating him in false, fabricated, and politically-motivated cases.
The chairperson urged that Kashmiris, Pakistanis, and human rights organizations hold protest demonstrations to highlight the ongoing war crimes in IIOJK and the plight of innocent Kashmiri detainees during Modi’s visit to the US to expose his real and dirty face before the world.
Mushaal demanded urgent intervention by world leaders and UN bodies to secure the release of Yasin Malik and other Kashmiri detainees from unlawful Indian imprisonment.
Over 74,500 Pakistani pilgrims arrive in Saudi Arabia to perform hajj
MAKKAH MUKARMA, Jun 16 (APP):A total of 70,567 Pakistani intending pilgrims participating in the government scheme have arrived in Saudi Arabia to prepare for and perform the Hajj pilgrimage.
Spokesman Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Muhammad Umer Butt told APP that the flight operation carrying intending pilgrims is scheduled to conclude on June 21, with the final flight arriving in Saudi Arabia to transport them.
Regarding the Haram Guides deployed at the exit points of Masjid al-Haram, the spokesperson mentioned that they efficiently guided 81,000 pilgrims to their respective destinations after Friday prayers.
In response to a question, he said that a total of six intending pilgrims participating in the government scheme have unfortunately passed away due to various reasons thus far.
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