Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chairs a meeting to review progress regarding ongoing Mega Development Projects
Bilawal, UK foreign secy discuss bilateral ties, climate finance
ISLAMABAD, June 16 (APP): Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom, James Cleverly telephoned Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and discussed issues of mutual interest.
FM Bilawal in a tweet said he was pleased to receive the phone call from his British counterpart, with whom he discussed bilateral ties.
He mentioned that the conversation focused on the urgent need for mitigation measures to combat climate change and natural disasters.
The critical role of international financial institutions in climate financing and reconstruction in disaster-hit areas also came under discussion.
Defence minister apologizes to VCs for using inappropriate words
ISLAMABAD, Jun 16 (APP): Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Friday offered his sincere apologies to the Vice Chancellors for his use of an inappropriate word during a recent speech.
Responding to the news that a letter had been written to Speaker National Assembly by the Vice Chancellors, the minister acknowledged the inappropriateness of his word and requested that it be expunged from the record.
Speaking at the National Assembly here, the minister expressed his deep respect for teachers and educational institutions, highlighting his personal connections with those from whom he received education. However, he lamented the prevalence of corruption in the country, describing it as an accepted norm within society, unfortantely. He urged the educational institutions to play a role in teaching the avoidance of this pervasive evil.
Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif emphasized the esteemed status of educational institutions in the country.
While the main focus of his speech was against corruption in various sectors including the bureaucracy, government, judiciary and other departments, he said. The minister acknowledged that his choice of words had been inappropriate. He apologized if his remarks had hurt the sentiments of the Vice Chancellors.
In response, the National Assembly Speaker commended Minister Asif for his magnanimity in offering an apology. The Speaker highlighted the crucial role of Vice Chancellors in running educational institutions and ensuring a better future. The recent invitation extended to all Vice Chancellors for the Golden Jubilee celebrations demonstrated the government’s seriousness in recognizing the importance of teachers, the Speaker added.
The Speaker urged all lawmakers to exercise caution in their choice of words during their speeches on the floor of the National Assembly. He emphasized that respectful and considerate language was essential in maintaining a conducive and respectful parliamentary environment.
PDMA working in Sindh for rehabilitation of flood-affected people: Aisha
ISLAMABAD, Jun 16 (APP): Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Dr Aisha Ghaus Pasha on Friday said the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) was working in collaboration with all stakeholders for early rehabilitation of the flood-affected areas of Sindh.
Responding to concerns of PPPP Lawmaker Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah about financial assistance of the flood-affected people during the National Assembly debate on budget 2023-24, the minister said the federal government in collaboration with the Sindh government would further deliberate on the matters related to the relief and rehabilitation of the people affected by heavy floods and rains last year.
Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah urged the federal government to fulfill the commitment of Rs 100 billion financial assistance made to mitigate sufferings of the flood-affected people of the province.
Earlier participating in the budget debate, Romina Khurshid Alam of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) condemned the incidents of May 9 and stressed the need for strict action against those involved in the vandalism of military installations and memorials of martyrs.
She said martyrs and ghazis of the country were heroes of the nation and their services could never be forgotten, calling for giving due attention to the wellbeing of the ghazis especially those who suffered injuries and disabilities.
She said the incumbent government presented the budget amid severe financial constraints and tried to give maximum relief to the common man especially the federal government employees both serving and retired.
The PML-N MNA said the government was moving with a forward-looking approach and allocated sufficient funds to speed up development activities and meet the economic growth targets set for the upcoming fiscal year.
She also talked about the adverse effects of the climate-changing patterns that caused widespread destruction in the form of heavy floods and rains in 2022, highlighting the importance of taking required measures at national and international to tackle the confronted challenge.
The lawmaker voice to promote renewable energy in the country so that the needs of the consumers could be fulfilled efficiently and reduce the oil import bill.
She was of the view to introduce modern technologies and techniques in the agriculture sector to ensure food security, which was considered the backbone of the national economy.
Romina Khurshid asked for imparting skill-based and market-oriented education, enabling them to become useful citizens of the country.
She said there was a need to give attention to population control what the lawmaker called ‘one of the major confronted challenges,’ keeping in view the available resources.
Shahida Rehman of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) said her party emerged victorious, being the single largest party, in the election of Karachi Mayor.
She thanked the party allies including the PML-N and JUI-F for supporting the PPPP candidate in winning the Karachi mayor slot.
She said the PTI members had distanced themselves from their leadership after the incidents of May 9, and disagreed to vote in favour of the JI candidate.
Federal govt to give professional training, laptops to Balochistan’s youth: PM
ISLAMABAD, June 16 (APP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday terming talented youth a “real asset” to Balochistan said the federal government would work on strengthening their professional capacity.
He said the youth in Balochistan would be given professional training in diverse areas and laptops would be distributed among them.
He was talking to an eight-member delegation of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) from Balochistan led by Jafar Khan Mandokhel. The other delegates included Jamal Shah Kakar, Sardar Yaqoob Nasir, Agha Shah Zeb Durrani, Amir Afzal Mandokhel, Chaudhry Naeem, Naseer Achakzai, and Zaheer Khan.
PM Sharif said the progress of Pakistan was linked with the development of Balochistan.
The government, he said, was working on priority over the development projects in Balochistan under the umbrella of China Pakistan Economic Corridor.
The meeting discussed the current political situation in the country.
The delegation thanked the prime minister for allocating special funds for development projects in the budgetary proposals of fiscal year 2023-24.
US Senate confirms first Muslim woman federal judge
WASHINGTON, Jun 16 (APP): Nusrat Jahan Choudhury, a Bangladeshi-American lawyer, was confirmed Thursday by the U.S. Senate, making her the first Muslim woman on the federal bench.
Choudhury, 47, was confirmed in a 50-49 vote, with Senator Joe Manchin, the only Democrat to vote against her confirmation. She will serve the Eastern District of New York in Brooklyn.
She is the second Muslim to be confirmed to the federal bench after Zahid Quraishi, a Pakistani-American, in 2021.
Before being nominated to the bench by President Joe Biden in January 2022, Nusrat Jahan spent her entire legal career with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a nonprofit organization founded in 1920 “to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person” by the U.S. Constitution. She was most recently the legal director of the ACLU of Illinois.
She previously worked with the ACLU’s racial justice programme, filing lawsuits fighting racial discrimination around the country including against the federal government — charging the FBI “no-fly-list” violated due process — and against the New York Police Department over alleged discriminatory practices.
Senate Republicans and democrat Manchin shared concerns that some of Choudhury’s past remarks about police violence against Black people could show a bias.
“Previous statements call into question her ability to be unbiased towards the work of our brave law enforcement,” Manchin said in a statement on Wednesday.
Choudhury’s confirmation has been lauded by Muslim-American advocacy groups.
“Choudhury has a long history of commitment to the civil rights not only of Muslims but of all Americans,” he added.
NDMA announces first-ever Pakistan Expo on Disaster Risk Reduction 2023
ISLAMABAD, Jun 16 (APP): Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik on Friday inaugurated the launching of the first-ever Pakistan Expo on Disaster Risk Reduction (PEDRR-23) to be held from July 12-14.
The event was attended by government officials, representatives from international partners, humanitarian organizations, academia, media and members of private sector, a news release said.
The PEDRR-23 is part of NDMA’s efforts to raise awareness of disaster risk reduction and to build resilience to disasters in Pakistan. It will showcase the latest technologies and innovations in disaster risk reduction and will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to network and share best practices.
The expo would constitute academic conferences, seminars, exhibitions and various youth competitions to ensure maximum participation of the public, youth and institutions.
The Chairman NDMA outlined the impact of this initiative and expressed his gratitude to the participants for becoming partners in making NDMA a truly proactive organization. He underscored the importance of proactive planning, predictive modeling for vulnerable communities and global collaboration for cost-effective solutions for pre and post-disaster periods.
The event is open to all stakeholders related to Disaster Management including professionals, entrepreneurs, students, local and international NGOs and general public to contribute his experience on the subject. Attendees will benefit from the knowledge shared by esteemed panelists, gain inspiration from renowned speakers, and have the chance to build valuable connections within the industry.
However, further details on the planned expo are available on www.pedrr.pk
PM asks CDA chairman to ensure fast execution of development projects
ISLAMABAD, June 16 (APP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed the Chairman of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to pace up the work on development projects in the capital to facilitate the residents.
Chairing a review meeting on the ongoing mega development projects here on Friday, he said any delay in their execution would not be tolerated.
The PM emphasized ensuring quality work while implementing the development projects.
He also laid stress on the landscaping of the projects at par with international standards.
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, Adviser to PM Ahad Khan Cheema, Member of National Assembly (NA) Hanif Abbasi, the director general (DG) of Frontier Work Organization, the (DG) of National Logistic Cell, and senior officials attended the meeting.
The meeting was informed about the progress on development work being carried out by the CDA.
Free eye camp set up by Pak-Afghan forum performs 253 surgeries at Kabul hospital
KABUL, Afghanistan, June 16 (APP): A free eye camp set up by Pak Afghan Cooperation Forum (PACF) in collaboration with Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan has performed surgeries on 253 Afghan nationals in the capital Kabul.
The surgeries have been conducted during June 7-14 at the Noor Eye Hospital.
The surgeries include 12 cornea transplants, one tectonic graft surgery, 44 oculoplastic surgeries, 26 vitreoretinal and 170 cataract surgeries.
A total of 4,500 Afghans have been treated at the outpatient department of the hospital.
The Afghan government and people have greatly appreciated the PACF and ALkhidmat Foundation Pakistan for their work at the eye hospital.
Pakistan Post refutes news item about UPU
ISLAMABAD, Jun 16 (APP): Pakistan Post on Friday refuted a news item that appeared in a section of the press regarding Pakistan’s ranking in the Integrated Index of Postal Development (2IPD) report of the Universal Postal Union (UPU).
Pakistan Post in a statement said that it had erroneously been mentioned in the news item that Pakistan had achieved a rank of 155.
In reality, Pakistan has achieved a higher rank of 55th in the UPU ranking, the statement added.