Member National Assembly Naz Baloch called on the Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif
BIPARJOY poses no major risk to power infrastructure, measures ready for unimpeded power supply: Dastgir
ISLAMABAD, Jun 13 (APP): Federal Minister for Power, Khurram Dastgir on Tuesday stated that there was no major risk to power infrastructure in the Sindh province due to tropical Cyclone BIPARJOY and all relevant measures were in place to ensure unimpeded power supply.
In a joint media briefing, the Federal Minister for Power was flanked by Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Senator Sherry Rehman and Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik provided a detailed account of decisions taken in a high level meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on intensifying Tropical Cyclone BIPARJOY.
Khurram Dastgir said liquified natural gas (LNG) shipments were not coming to Pakistan due to the severe cyclone as shipment schedules had been changed.
“Our power infrastructure at 1000km away from the cyclone have been impacted. We have decided that the gas supply has been diverted to power stations to continue energy production. Expected impacts like strong winds can impact our wind turbines in Chimb as the wind gusts beyond 90km/h can have effects on its functioning,” he added.
He added that the other critical area to be impacted was transmission lines at the local level and also major transmission lines due to cyclonic winds.
Moreover, the increased power infrastructure was also vulnerable like in South Thar 2,000 MW of energy has been installed, he said.
“We are prepared to manage that power outage.
The Prime Minister and Water Resources Minister have allowed increasing power production from Tarbela,” he informed.
Khurram Dastgir said in order to make up for the power shortage 48-96 hours oil production would be introduced for power generation.
He added that the Power Division would ensure energy generation and no offset would be faced in it whereas no further add up to occur in the existing power outage.
The vulnerable power infrastructure area was lying mainly in Hyderabad Electric Power Supply Company which were on alert. “We have restored power infrastructure in the floods in record time and will ensure the same during the cyclone,” he vowed.
Senator Sherry Rehman said the media briefing purpose was to update on the meeting with the prime minister.
She said all preventive measures were taken and relocation to continue all night from coastal areas.
“We are not taking any risk and exposing anyone to this situation whereas no medical emergencies reported yet,” she added.
However, Thatta and Badin were mostly selected for relocation whereas basic amenities like drinking water would be ensured as per the Prime Minister’s direction whereas Power Minister would be sent to Sindh to manage power outages.
She added that cyclonic winds had started and 24/7 monitoring was underway and would continue till June 18th.
“Shipping schedules have already been impacted whereas small crafts and fishermen were not taking advisories seriously. The small craft fishermen will have to return from open sea for their safety,” the Minister said.
She reiterated that there was no need to panic as government has taken in time action and issued timely alerts to the relevant departments.
“Evacuations help in saving lives and we will do it forcibly as it has been done in Keti Bunder. However, Karachites must not panic and take individual precautionary measures,” she added.
NDMA and other departments would continuously ensure social media feed news update on cyclone situation, she said.
The Minister informed that the Petroleum Minister was also directed to ensure smooth fuel supplies to the vulnerable areas whereas the government would have to manage schools and traffic during the course of time.
“Almost 110 mm rainfall is predicted in Karachi whereas Thatta and Badin to have 330mm rain forecasted,” she noted.
She underlined that population evacuations had to be made whereas seaview areas population needed to be relocated but no mass evacuation was suggested for Karachi.
“BIPARJOY took curve from Balochistan towards Sindh whereas Winder, Lasbela and other districts have been directed to remain alert. However, we will ensure relocation after offset of BIPARJOY,” she added.
The Minister for Climate Change announced that the Sindh and federal governments would ensure compensation to the masses losing their homes due to the cyclone.
Chairman NDMA Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik briefed that after two coordination meetings the latest developments on tropical cyclone were shared with the media.
The current status of BIPARJOY was less than 400 km away from the country’s coastline and it’s direction was bending towards north and northeastward.
“Keti Bunder and Indian Gujarat to embrace it’s landfall whereas dusty gusts and strong winds in Sunawal and Thatta are causing disruption on mobility,” he said.
A National Emergency Committee has been created by the Prime Minister comprising of Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, NDMA and other partners.
“All are working together on one thing to protect the masses as much as possible. Moreover, the Military, Five Corps, PMSA etc., were cooperating under a joint information management system,” he said.
The NDMA Chairman informed that relocation to safer places was underway and further preventive measures like rescheduling of flight operations and protection of maritime assets would also be taken keeping in view the cyclone stage.
Sindh and other areas were on high alert whereas stock taking of equipment for early relief and rescue was done, he added.
“We will ensure no shortage of required equipment. We have briefed INGOs and volunteers on the situation. However, the relocation camps have been equiped with all required necessities,” he informed.
Pakistan Army, Rangers and ditrict administration were working together to ensure evacuations and relocation whereas Keti Bunder was completely vacated and District Sujawal’s 90% relocation was made, he informed.
He added that some 50,000 more people would be evacuated to Thatta and Badin whereas there would be the need of medical and ration provisions in the first quarter.
Moreover, he said Information was being updated after every two hours at all media mediums. International institution’s feedback would also be taken into account on the tropical cyclone situation.
The Chairman NDMA added that the cyclone’s intensity would shift with decline in airflows whereas speed and intensity dissipation would take place after the penetration of the cyclone into the system of coastal areas.
“We are predicting over a 60,000 individuals relocation in Sindh who may stay in relocation camps for two weeks,” he ended.
India threatened to shut down Twitter, raid employees: Ex-CEO
ISLAMABAD, JUn 13 (APP): Twitter’s co-founder and former CEO Jack Dorsey has said that the Indian government had threatened to shut down the platform and conduct raids at its employees’ homes in the country unless it accepted the requests for censorship.
Jack Dorsey, in an interview YouTube news show Breaking Points, said Twitter had received “many requests” from the Indian government to block accounts covering farmers’ protests and those critical of the government.
“It manifested in ways such as: ‘We will shut Twitter down in India’, which is a very large market for us; ‘we will raid the homes of your employees’, which they did; and this is India, a democratic country,” Dorsey said.
At the height of the farmers’ protest in the country in 2021, the Indian government had asked Twitter to take down nearly 1,200 accounts for alleged “Khalistan” links. Before that, it had asked the platform to take down more than 250 accounts.
During the protests, the Indian government sought an “emergency blocking” of the “provocative” Twitter hashtag “#ModiPlanningFarmerGenocide” and dozens of accounts.
Twitter initially complied but later restored most of the accounts, citing “insufficient justification” to continue the suspensions.
Later, the Indian police also visited a Twitter office as part of another inquiry linked to tagging of some ruling party posts as manipulated. At that time, Twitter had said that it was worried about staff safety.
Dorsey said many requests for the content takedown during the farmer protests were “around particular journalists that were critical of the government”.
Twitter’s new CEO Elon Musk also has a similar view of India’s social media regulations, having previously called them “strict”. In April this year, Musk had said that he would rather comply with the government’s blocking orders than risk sending Twitter employees to jail.
There has been a significant surge in legal demands being made by India — from various courts and the government — to remove content from Twitter between 2014 and 2020, an analysis of Twitter’s global transparency reports by The Indian Express had earlier shown.
In the first six months of 2021, Twitter was asked by various Indian courts and the government to block a little more than 4,900 tweets.
In July 2022, Twitter initiated legal action against some of the government missives ordering it to take down certain content posted on the microblogging site. Alleging disproportionate use of power by officials, the social media company moved the Karnataka High Court against the Ministry’s content-blocking orders issued under Section 69 (A) of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Since Modi took office in 2014, India has slid from 140th in World Press Freedom Index to 161 this year, out of 180 countries, its lowest ranking ever.
All Pakistan Anjuman e Tajran delegation meets Ishaq Dar
ISLAMABAD, Jun 13 (APP): A delegation of All Pakistan Anjuman e Tajran led by Mohammad Naeem Mir Tuesday called on Finance Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and extended felicitations on presenting a people and business-friendly Budget 2023-24.
The delegation thanked Ishaq Dar for incorporating traders’ suggestions in the Finance Bill for ease of doing business and removing their issues, said a press release.
Business leaders assured the minister of their community’s full cooperation with the government for the economic development, growth and prosperity of the country.
Minister inaugurates new block of Institute of Energy & Environmental Engineering
ISLAMABAD, Jun 13 (APP): Federal Minister for Planning, Prof Ahsan Iqbal Tuesday inaugurated the new building of the Institute of Energy and Environmental Engineering at Punjab University.
During his address to the youth, the Minister emphasized that Pakistan is currently at a critical crossroads, and the nation needs the dedication and seriousness of its youth and teachers, said a press release issued here.
The minister highlighted the success of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), attracting $29 billion in foreign investment and transforming Pakistan’s image as an investment destination. Several ambassadors from countries like the United States, Britain, Japan, Germany, and France showed interest in investing their countries’ companies in the special economic zones of CPEC.
He also discussed the power of social media and its influence on people’s minds. Minister Iqbal warned about the potential misuse of digital media and advised the youth to be cautious about its influence.
He mentioned the movie “The Great Hack” on Netflix, which explores the impact of social media on people’s behavior and its use for manipulation.
The minister expressed concern over the spread of hate and prejudice through social media platforms. He shared a personal incident where he survived an assassination attempt, highlighting the power of hatred that can manifest in the form of violence.
Regarding the economic situation, the minister discussed the challenges faced by the government due to the high expenditures and the need to borrow funds.
He emphasized the need for Pakistan to shift towards an export-led growth model and encourage entrepreneurship and exports among the youth.
Minister Iqbal also highlighted the importance of embracing the digital revolution and equipping students with the skills required for the changing job market, emphasizing the need for continuous learning.
In conclusion, Minister Ahsan Iqbal called for a change in mindset and lifestyle to overcome the economic challenges and ensure a prosperous future for Pakistan.
He urged the youth to embrace the opportunities presented by the digital revolution and strive for excellence in their education and professional endeavors.
Dr. Nasir Jamal, Caretaker Provincial Health Minister is visiting Allama Iqbal Teaching Hospital
An ailing buffalo is being transported to hospital on a horse cart near Kala mandi
Sanjrani congratulates Kurtumulus on his election as speaker of Grand National Assembly of Turkiye
ISLAMABAD, Jun 13 (APP): In a gesture of goodwill and diplomatic camaraderie, Senate Chairman Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani, on Tuesday extended his heartfelt congratulations to Numan Kurtumulus on his recent election as the speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye.
The Chairman’s letter of congratulations is a testament to the strong bilateral ties and shared democratic values between Pakistan and Turkiye.
In the letter, he expressed his deep admiration for Kurtumulus’ remarkable achievement and conveyed his utmost confidence in his leadership abilities.
Recognizing the significance of Kurtumulus’ appointment, Senate chairman commended him for his exemplary leadership and unwavering dedication, believing that it would undoubtedly contribute to the progress and prosperity of Turkiye.
Highlighting the importance of fostering inter-parliamentary linkages, he emphasized the crucial role of collaboration between the Parliaments of Pakistan and Turkiye in promoting democratic values and advancing legislative processes.
He stressed the need for mutual cooperation and exchange of ideas at various regional and international forums, including the Inter-parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA).
The Senate chairman expressed his eagerness to further enhance bilateral parliamentary ties and sought Kurtumulus’ support and guidance regarding the International Parliamentarians’ Congress (IPC). This transcontinental platform aims to address global and regional challenges through constructive dialogue and collaboration among parliamentarians.
In a display of unwavering support, he extended his resolute backing and cooperation to Kurtumulus during his tenure as speaker.
Sadiq Sanjrani highlighted the importance of visionary leadership, profound wisdom, and unwavering dedication in fulfilling the constitutional obligations of the Parliament.
He concluded his letter by reiterating his heartfelt congratulations to Kurtumulus and expressed his sincere wishes for him to lead with integrity, inspire positive change, and leave an indelible mark on Turkiye’s parliamentary history.
This warm gesture from Senate Chairman signifies the deep-rooted friendship and goodwill between the two nations, setting the stage for strengthened bilateral cooperation in the years to come.
Pak Navy evacuated 700 villagers in Shah Bandar, 64 fishermen rescued from sea
KARACHI, Jun 13 (APP): Pakistan Navy troops evacuated 700 personnel from various villages of Shah Bandar- a coastal town of district Sujjawal- while 64 fishermen have been rescued from sea.
PN Ships are patrolling and maintaining vigilance in open sea to render assistance to vessels in distress amid tropical cyclone Biparjoy, said a statement issued here on Tuesday.
Pakistan Navy has put all its available resources at high alert with requisite assets to provide assistance to the inhabitants of coastal areas of Sindh in case of any emergency amid the tropical cyclone.
A cyclone monitoring cell has been activated at Headquarters Commander Karachi for monitoring the developments and coordinating the responses, the spokesperson informed adding that PN Joint Maritime Information Coordination Center (JMICC) was relaying information at regular intervals to all stakeholders especially fishermen community so that they not to venture out to open sea in rough weather.
PN emergency response and medical teams have been deployed at Coastal areas of Balochistan and rural areas of Sindh including Hyderabad, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sukkur and Sanghar for swift Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief missions. Meanwhile PN hospitals at Karachi are on high alert to deal with any emergency.
Besides closely monitoring the developments, the spokesperson said, Pakistan Navy was maintaining continuous liaison with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), provincial government and local administration to provide emergency assistance as and when required.
Simultaneously holding of general elections in interest of country; Azam Nazeer
ISLAMABAD, Jun 13 (APP): Federal Minister for Law and Justice Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar on Tuesday said that holding of general elections at the same time was in the interest of the country.
The minister expressed these views while addressing the PILDAT Forum on ‘How Prepared is the ECP to hold Free and Fair General Election.’
Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar in his address offered the government’s perspective on the upcoming general election, outlining key elements of the Elections Act 2017.
He emphasized the role of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in setting the election date, underscoring its legal authority.
Acknowledging the financial constraints the ECP faced in the past year, Senator Tarar stated, “Our ECP is a strengthened institution.”
He said that these constraints were no longer the case. He assured the attendees that the government was committed to closing its tenure along with the National Assembly within the constitutional framework, as bound by law.
Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar lauded the ECP’s proactive approach to ensuring free and fair elections.
Special Secretary ECP, Zafar Iqbal, provided a comprehensive update on the progress made against the ECP’s third strategic plan (2019-2023). He said that the ECP had achieved 90% of implementation of its Strategic Plan and it was ready to hold free and fair general election in 2023.
He announced that the ECP was fully prepared to hold a free and fair general election, signaling its readiness to fulfill its vital role in the democratic process.
He underscores the ECP’s commitment to ensuring a credible electoral process and the tireless work it had undertaken towards this end.
Former Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Fawad Hasan Fawad highlighted that the ECP required support and cooperation of the entire democratic society, citizens and parties to discharge its constitutional responsibility of holding free, fair and credible elections.
He said that census data was an important component of the election process since it served as the foundation for constituency delimitation and representation.
The difficulties encountered by smaller provinces in accepting census findings point to the necessity for increased openness and engagement throughout the census process, he added.
He said that the ECP should work closely with the census office to guarantee that the data obtained was accurate and approved by all stakeholders. The results of the census were also critical in order to avoid interrupting the election calendar, he added.
President of PILDAT Ahmed Bilal Mehboob gave an overview of the Status of the Implementation of ECP’s 3rd Strategic Plan (2019-2023).
He emphasized the consistent effort by the ECP to strategize and improve their processes over the past 15 years.
He also highlighted the government’s role in facilitating the ECP’s work and how it impacts the electoral process. The ECP had exhibited a noteworthy dedication to strategic planning during the last 15 years, he added.
He said that the ECP’s commitment to refining its procedures and adjusting to changing conditions was shown by the development of a strategic plan every five years. Successful strategic plan execution requires collaboration with a diverse variety of stakeholders, including political parties, civil society, the media, and voters themselves, he added.
Senator Syed Ali Zafar of the PTI in his comments emphasized that the General Election must be held latest by October 2023 and that the ECP had a critical role in safeguarding the democratic process.
“It would be very surprising and shocking if a commission said we don’t want to hold elections,” he added, emphasizing the ECP’s constitutional obligation to hold elections.
Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, Federal Minister for Law and Justice, Zafar Iqbal, Special Secretary of the ECP, Fawad Hasan Fawad, Former Special Secretary to the Prime Minister, Senator Syed Ali Zafar, Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha, Senator Taj Haider, Senator Kamran Murtaza and Muhammad Abubakar addressed the seminar.