Two environmental samples tested positive for poliovirus

Fri, 2 Jun 2023, 9:46 PM

ISLAMABAD, Jun 02 (APP): The Pakistan Polio Laboratory, National Institute of Health (NIH) has confirmed that two environmental samples collected from the Peshawar district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province have tested positive for wild poliovirus.

According to the lab, the wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) has been found in sewage samples collected from Naray Khuwar and Larama collection sites on May 9 and 16 May 16, respectively.

It added the isolated viruses are genetically linked to the virus cluster circulating in the neighbouring Nangarhar province of Afghanistan. Federal Minister for National Health Services Abdul Qadir Patel has said that the two endemic countries, Pakistan and Afghanistan are united in their fight against polio and both countries will not rest until they eradicate it.

“The Pakistan Polio Programme is maintaining a robust surveillance system, which is evident from the prompt detection of the virus in sewage samples recently,” he said. “We will continue to hunt and eliminate the virus wherever we find it to protect our children from a disability-causing disease.”

The minister added that poliovirus on any side of the border is a threat to children everywhere, and parents must continue to ensure that their children under five receive the life-saving polio drops in all campaigns.

Dr Shahzad Baig, the Coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication, said Pakistan has collected environmental samples from 114 sites in 80 districts every month to test for WPV1.

He added that the presence of the virus in the environment is a cause for concern, but not unexpected since last month was the high-travel season of Eid.

“The Polio Programme has mounted swift responses to all virus detection in the past and will continue to do so in the future to prevent poliovirus from finding a home in under-immunized children,” he said.

The NEOC coordinator added that the Pakistan Polio Programme is working in close coordination and collaboration with the Afghanistan Polio Programme and the provincial EOC to ensure high-quality vaccination at all border crossings and to identify and plug any remaining immunization gaps.

Pakistan has reported only one polio case and nine positive environmental samples so far this year, while three human cases and 23 positive environmental samples have been reported in Afghanistan.

Pirzada rejects Western media reports about HR abuses against May 9 miscreants

NNPS Desk

Fri, 2 Jun 2023, 9:42 PM

ISLAMABAD, Jun 2 (APP): Federal Minister for Human Rights Riaz Hussain Pirzada on Friday took exception to the Western media reports about human rights violations with regard to the arrests of miscreants involved in the May 9 mayhem .

The minister, in a statement, said that like every civilized country in the world, action against the May 9 culprits was a legal requirement and also a matter of national security for Pakistan.

He said that on May 9, the “PTI [Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf] goons attacked national and private properties, sensitive military installations and state symbols; set ambulances on fire after unloading patients, and burnt schools, hospitals and memorials of the martyrs”.

“For the desecration of the monuments and burning of the Jinnah House, and Radio Pakistan and its rare historical heritage, these goons are under investigation and will be punished according to the law of land,” he stated.

The minister said such a crime was unpardonable not only in Pakistan but across the globe, citing the elements involved in
the attacks on Capitol Hill in the United States and the London riots were punished which was not termed human rights violations by the Western media.

He said without knowing the position of Pakistan and the relevant ministry, the news, articles, and analysis appearing in the Western media under an organized campaign were “unprofessional, one-sided, contrary to the facts, and biased”.

“We reserve the right for legal action,” he asserted.

Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar chairs a meeting with a delegation of All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran headed by Mohammad Naeem Mir at FBR (Hqrs)

Zia Ur Rehman

Fri, 2 Jun 2023, 9:22 PM

UN experts warn of ‘toxic tidal wave’ as plastic pollutes environment

NNPS Desk

Fri, 2 Jun 2023, 9:13 PM

UNITED NATIONS, Jun 02 (APP):The world must beat the “toxic tidal wave” of plastic pollution that threatens human rights, UN experts said Friday, and called for putting rights at the centre of the international treaty on plastic pollution currently under negotiation.

The appeal comes ahead of the World Environment Day on June 5.

“Plastic production has increased exponentially over recent decades and today the world is generating 400 million tonnes of plastic waste yearly,” said David R. Boyd, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment, and Marcos Orellana, Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights.

“We are in the middle of an overwhelming toxic tidal wave as plastic pollutes our environment and negatively impacts human rights in a myriad of ways over its life cycle.”

The experts outlined how all stages of the “plastics cycle” are harmful to people’s rights to a healthy environment, life, health, food, water and an adequate standard of living.

Plastic production releases hazardous substances and almost exclusively relies on fossil fuels, and plastic itself contains toxic chemicals which put humans and nature at risk. Furthermore, 85 per cent of single use plastics end up in landfills or dumped in the environment.

Meanwhile, incineration, recycling and other “false and misleading solutions” only aggravated the threat, they added, noting that “plastic, microplastic and the hazardous substances they contain can be found in the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe.”

The statement also addressed how marginalized communities are most affected by exposure to plastic-related pollution and waste.

“We are particularly concerned about groups suffering from environmental injustices due to heightened exposure to plastic pollution, many of them living in ‘sacrifice zones’”, they said, referring to locations near facilities such as open-pit mines, petroleum refineries, steel plants and coal-fired power stations.

Plastic pollution had also made an “alarming” contribution to climate change, which was often overlooked, according to the experts. “For instance, plastic particles found in oceans limit the ability of marine ecosystems to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere,” they said.

As Special Rapporteurs, Boyd and Orellana receive their mandates from the UN Human Rights Council.

They noted that over the past two years, the Council and the UN General Assembly had adopted landmark resolutions recognizing the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, which should prompt and guide initiatives to address plastic pollution.

They also welcomed progress towards an internationally binding treaty to turn the tide on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) projects that the amount of plastic waste entering aquatic ecosystems could reach some 23 to 37 million tonnes per year by 2040.

Negotiations continued this week in Paris, following on from an initial session held last year in Uruguay.

Speaking during the opening on Monday, UNEP chief Inger Andersen bluntly stated that “we cannot recycle our way out of this mess”, adding that “only elimination, reduction, a full life-cycle approach, transparency and a just transition can bring success.”

Ministry reviews Hajj operations, pledges improved services for pilgrims

Raiq Qureshi

Fri, 2 Jun 2023, 9:07 PM

ISLAMABAD, Jun 2 (APP):An important meeting was convened at the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, focusing on the evaluation of Hajj operations and addressing the challenges faced by pilgrims the other day.

Chaired by Federal Secretary Aftab Akbar Durrani, the meeting saw the participation of key officials including the Director General Hajj, Director Makkah, Director Madinah, Director MCO, Director of Moavineen, and Director Monitoring.

Despite being conducted remotely via Zoom, the meeting proved instrumental in fostering collaboration and devising strategies to enhance the Hajj experience for all.

Under scrutiny of Minister Senator Talha Mahmood, the performance of various departments involved in Hajj operations was meticulously reviewed.

Valuable insights were shared by the minister, who had gathered information from multiple sources.

To address the raised concerns, Senator Talha penned a comprehensive letter to the Director General Hajj, emphasizing the need for immediate action.

During the meeting, a thorough discussion took place, delving into the intricacies of the issues at hand.

The officers assigned to relevant fields were probed regarding their responsibilities.

Notably, the directors stationed in Saudi Arabia presented detailed briefings on the performance of their respective departments, shedding light on their ongoing efforts to assist and serve the pilgrims.

In a bid to provide better services and rectify any deficiencies, Secretary Aftab Akbar Durrani issued instructions to all officials present.

He emphasized the importance of fostering stronger mutual relations and leaving no stone unturned in resolving the challenges faced by pilgrims.

Furthermore, Secretary Durrani directed that Moavineen-e-Hujjaj, or ministry staff members displayd disinterest in their duties should be immediately repatriated to their home country, ensuring that only dedicated individuals remain involved in the Hajj operations.

Responding to a request made by the Director Madinah, it was decided to deploy additional experienced Moavineen from Makkah to Madinah.

This move aims to leverage the expertise of seasoned personnel and enhance the quality of services provided.

Assurances were given by the Director General Hajj and other directors that no effort would be spared in assisting and serving the pilgrims.

They reiterated their commitment to use all available resources, ensuring a seamless experience for the pilgrims.

The officials vowed to address grievances promptly and diligently, leaving no room for dissatisfaction among the pilgrims.

With this renewed focus on improving Hajj operations and prioritizing the needs of the pilgrims, the ministry aims to provide an enhanced and gratifying experience for all those embarking on this sacred journey.

Chinese diplomat conferred with civil award for strengthening Sino-Pak friendship

NNPS Desk

Fri, 2 Jun 2023, 8:59 PM

BEIJING, June 2 (APP):President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), Ambassador Lin Songtian on Friday received Sitara-e-Pakistan for his ardent advocacy of Pak-China friendship, especially in the realm of people-to-people exchanges and cultural cooperation.

Pakistan Ambassador to China, Moin-ul-Haque on behalf of the President of Pakistan conferred one of the highest civil awards of Pakistan upon Ambassador Lin in a special investiture ceremony held at the Embassy of Pakistan, Beijing.

Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Haque paid a rich tribute to Lin Songtian for his endeavors to strengthen China-Pakistan friendship and his role in arranging high-level events, especially, the grand Reception at Diaoyutai State Guest House on 21 May 2021 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China-Pakistan, which was attended by Vice President Wang Qishan.

In the same year, under the guidance of Ambassador Lin, a total of 21 new sister city and province MOUs were signed along with a sister cities and province forum jointly organized by the Embassy and CPAFFC.

Ambassador Haque also appreciated the role and efforts of Lin Songtian to galvanize Chinese public and institutional support to assist Pakistan in times of natural calamities and environmental disasters, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic and last year’s floods.

Later, Ambassador Haque tweeted: Delighted to confer, on behalf of PresOfPakistan, ‘Sitara-e-Pakistan’ upon Mr. Lin Songtian, the President of CPAFFC for his ardent advocacy of a Pak-China friendship, especially, in the realm of people-to-people exchanges and cultural cooperation.

In his remarks, Lin Songtian expressed his gratitude to the government and the people of Pakistan for the conferment of a civil award.

He underlined that as All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership and Iron Brothers, CPAFFC will continue to deepen China’s ties with Pakistan and promote people-to-people and cultural cooperation.

Ambassador Lin is a seasoned diplomat who has served with distinction in several important positions as the Vice Foreign Minister and Chinas Ambassador to Liberia, Malawi, and South Africa.

President Lin is an ardent advocate of China-Pakistan friendship, especially, in the realm of people-to-people exchanges and cultural cooperation.

The event was attended by the senior officials of CPAFFC, representatives of media organizations, and officers of the Pakistan Embassy.

Pak-Sino collaboration in PV sector sustainable development goals

NNPS Desk

Fri, 2 Jun 2023, 8:58 PM

Pak-Sino collaboration in PV sector sustainable development goals

BEIJING, June. 2 (APP):China’s leading solar solutions provider LONGi officially released the sixth annual corporate sustainability report for 2022 in Beijing, providing an elaborate summary of its practices and achievements in the field of environment, society and governance (ESG) in the past year.

Pakistan, as an indispensable international market for LONGi, is poised to show more competitiveness in the global PV market. “Since 2020, LONGi Solar has successfully exported more than 1GW of solar panels to the Pakistani market, as a momentous milestone,” Ali Majid, General Manager, Pakistan, LONGi Solar, said in an interview.

As Pakistan is one of the most vulnerable countries to the adverse impact of increasingly severe climate change, sustainable development has become a pressing issue in the country.

Photovoltaic power generation, as the best choice to solve Pakistan’s power shortage and optimize its energy structure to a great extent based on fossil fuels, while saving foreign exchange required for energy imports, has vast potential for future development, CEN reported on Friday.

From 2012 to 2022, LONGi produced a total of 290GW of photovoltaic products, with the cumulative output of clean electricity exceeded 1,148,287 GWh.

According to the International Energy Agency’s global power grid average emission factor, it is equivalent to avoiding 536 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. As for Pakistani market, both distributed and centralized PV products have market segment demand, distributed PV systems, such as rooftop solar installations on residential, commercial, and industrial buildings, have been gaining popularity in Pakistan.

Net metering policies and incentives have been introduced to promote distributed generation and allow consumers to offset their electricity bills by exporting excess power back to the grid, Majid mentioned.

“At the same time, our government has been focusing on the development of large-scale centralized PV projects, including solar parks and utility-scale solar installations,” he added, “these centralized PV systems contribute to the overall renewable energy capacity of the country and help diversify the energy mix.”

Currently, both local and international players are competing to capture a share of Pakistan, a burgeoning PV market. In 2022, China’s photovoltaic module exports to Pakistan reached approximately USD 870 million, with a total installed capacity of 3.2GW, a year-on-year increase of 54 percent and 37 percent, respectively, according to the statistics of China Photovoltaic Industry Association (CPIA).

On the other hand, for Pakistan itself, in order to maximize the development of sustainable industries such as photovoltaics, it is imperative to solve problems such as the foreign exchange gap. A large foreign exchange gap can put pressure on the country’s ability to finance its imports, including PV products, and may necessitate measures such as foreign exchange controls, import restrictions, or adjustments to import tariffs, Majid told the reporter.

“Currency fluctuations, for example, can affect the pricing of imported PV products. Thus, a stable economic environment, the basis for ensuring the smooth development of such a sustainable industry, needs the joint efforts of the government, industry and enterprises ourselves,” Majid noted that if Pakistan hopes to truly carve out a niche in the global photovoltaic market with unique competitiveness, the resultant force of the three are indispensable.

Energy is one of the areas where CPEC has invested the most, progressed the fastest, and achieved the most remarkable results. “The global photovoltaic industry is developing in full swing. China-Pakistan cooperation in related industries can make due contributions to the global response to climate change,” Majid concluded.
APP/asg

Another group of Pakistani pilgrims welcomed in Makkah with traditional Arabic culture

NNPS Desk

Fri, 2 Jun 2023, 8:53 PM

Another group of Pakistani pilgrims welcomed in Makkah with traditional Arabic culture

MAKKAH MUKARMA, Jun 02 (APP): Durat ul Mashair hotel in Makkah extended a warm welcome to yet another group of over 330 Pakistani pilgrims, who were greeted with the captivating display of traditional Arabic culture accompanied by the mesmerising beats of the daff.

Director Hajj Faheem Khan Afridi, along with Director Moavineen e Hujjaj Sajjad Yildrim and other esteemed officials, orchestrated a memorable reception, immersing the pilgrims in the vibrant ambience of Arabic culture through an enchanting display of Arabic culture.

To honor the arrival of the pilgrims in the sacred city of Makkah Mukarma, they were presented with welcoming gifts, which included delightful treats such as sweets, refreshing juices, and other thoughtful items. The gesture aimed to express hospitality and provide a warm reception to the pilgrims as they embarked on their spiritual journey in the revered city.

Govt approves Rs 1,100 bln development budget for next fiscal year: Ahsan Iqbal

NNPS Desk

Fri, 2 Jun 2023, 8:48 PM

Census: PBS advised for post-enumeration survey to validate collected data

Read in Urdu

ISLAMABAD, Jun 2 (APP):Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Friday said the government had approved Rs 1,100 billion development budget for the upcoming fiscal year aimed at achieving the required goals of economic growth.

Addressing a news conference here, he said out of the total budget, Rs 950 billion would be utilized under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP 2023-24) and Rs 150 billion under the public-private partnership to execute different development schemes.

Initially, he said, the Finance Ministry had proposed Rs 700 billion for the PSDP 2023-24 which were extremely insufficient. “So we made a written request to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to increase the amount of development budget to achieve the economic growth, and the PM has approved Rs 1,100 billion development budget.”

In 2018, the minister said, he had presented a development budget of Rs 1,000 billion, and when the incumbent government came into power last year its size came down to Rs 550 billion. “Now after a period of five years there will be a development budget of Rs 1,100 billion, which reflects our priority for the national development.”

Today, he said, the country was facing economic difficulties all because of the failed policies of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, which during its last year allowed $ 84 billion import of luxury items and obliged friends for showing artificial growth, but the trade deficit mounted to $ 50 billion.

“It was the turning point that pushed the country into the severe economic crisis that has eaten away all the foreign exchange reserves,” he added.

The minister said when the current government took over last year, all the PTI leaders were saying that the country would default in two to six months and there would be a Sri Lanka-like situation.

“But we by the grace of Allah Almighty steer the country out of the crisis despite massive destruction caused by the last year’s floods and the delayed programme of the IMF (International Monetary Fund) by managing imports and taking corrective measures,” he said.

As a result of it, he said, Pakistan was gradually moving towards economic stabilization and foreign investors were coming to invest in diverse fields.

Sharing details of the targets set for the next fiscal year by the Annual Plan Coordination Committee (APCC), Ahsan Iqbal said 3.5 per cent growth targets had been fixed each for the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the agriculture sector, manufacturing 4.3 per cent and services sector 3.6 per cent.

As per the next year’s Annual Development Plan, he said, the inflation rate would be brought down from 29.2 per cent to 21 per cent; the national savings to be increased from 12.5 per cent to 13.4 per cent, exports to be taken over $ 30 billion as compared to the current year’s projected $ 28 billion, $ 58.7 billion import projected for the next year and the trade deficit that currently stood at 1.1 per cent, to be brought down to -1.7 due to revival of the economy.

“We are making efforts with great prudence to completely steer the national economy out of the crisis,” he said while stressing the need for expediting the process of economic revival.

He said the national development revolved around the framework of five Es (Exports, E-Pakistan, Equity, Energy and Environment), which needed vigorous pursuance to pull the country out of the financial crisis and turn around to a stable platform.

The minister said the government was making efforts to complete the ongoing projects which were at advanced or middle of the stages on priority so that the burden of throw-forward development schemes could be curtailed.

Korean delegation calls on Secretary BOI

NNPS Desk

Fri, 2 Jun 2023, 8:37 PM

Korean delegation calls on Secretary BOI

ISLAMABAD, Jun 02 (APP):A South Korean delegation, headed by Secretary Ministry of Environment Korea I-jae Jang Friday called on Secretary, Board of Investment (BOI) Asad Rehman Gilani and discussed ways to enhance Korean investment in Pakistan.

Talking to the delegation, Secretary BOI emphasized the importance of boosting foreign investment to overcome Pakistan’s current economic challenges, said a press release.

He said that there is a need to attract more foreign direct investment from Korea for which the BOI would facilitate the Korean side for producing an investment-friendly environment.

Asad Rehman Gilani said, “We value the friendship of Korean people and government. We welcome their participation in Pakistan’s economy,” adding that it was the duty of BOI to mitigate the sufferings of investors, especially foreign investors.

Appreciating the continued support by the BOI, the Korean Secretary Environment vowed to work in close collaboration with the Pakistani side to resolve Korean investors’ issues on a priority basis.

He said that the Korean companies were not only investing in Pakistan but also contributing in the Pakistan’s economy.

Director General BOI (Investment Promotion) Nadeem Basheer was also present on the occasion

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Associated Press Of Pakistan

Two environmental samples tested positive for poliovirus

Pirzada rejects Western media reports about HR abuses against May 9 miscreants

Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar chairs a meeting with a delegation of All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran headed by Mohammad Naeem Mir at FBR (Hqrs)

UN experts warn of ‘toxic tidal wave’ as plastic pollutes environment

Ministry reviews Hajj operations, pledges improved services for pilgrims

Chinese diplomat conferred with civil award for strengthening Sino-Pak friendship

Pak-Sino collaboration in PV sector sustainable development goals

Another group of Pakistani pilgrims welcomed in Makkah with traditional Arabic culture

Govt approves Rs 1,100 bln development budget for next fiscal year: Ahsan Iqbal

Korean delegation calls on Secretary BOI

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