Artists performing in stage drama “Ghungroo” during Sindh Theatre Festival 2023 at ZA Bhutto Open Air Theater
An ice seller is shoveling ice from a car in the Durogha market in the sweltering heat
PM underlines need to invest in country’s young talent
ISLAMABAD, June 19 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Monday stressed that they have to make huge investments on the country’s youth because those nations had always excelled whose youth got skills and requisite degrees in different fields.
Addressing a ceremony of Prime Minister’s National Innovation Awards, the prime minister expressed his pleasure over the strides made by the country’s youth in different fields by utilizing their talents and skills.
The country’s future was in the safe hands and they had to make investments on the youth’s talent as they direly deserved it, he added.
The prime minister said that it was a matter of satisfaction as these young people strived during their educational careers and showed their innovative skills in IT sector, biodiesel, traffic lights, motorbike etc.
Under Prime Minister’s National Youth Award Programme, a total of Rs 160 million were distributed among the 100 talented youths who had achieved innovative business projects.
The prime minister said that Pakistan was facing financial challenges, but he was confident that they would steer the country out of these issues.
Such situations arose in the lives of nations, he said, stressing that the Pakistani nation has to make the determination and chart its way forward and once they had decided, then nothing could hamper it.
The prime minister also expressed his gratitude to China for supporting Pakistan during the economic constraints by extending $1 billion loan facility.
During the last 75 years, he opined that foreign debts proved a hefty burden upon Pakistan whereas those nations had progressed that utilized the foreign loans and returned it on the basis of their talent, honesty and skills.
“We have to get rid of these debts as they could not thrive on the foreign debts,” he said, adding the country was gifted with precious resources.
The prime minister, without naming the previous government, said that he would not go into details about the man-made crises in the past.
He said the challenges were faced by the nations and stressed that they should make a promise to change fate of Pakistan without seeking foreign debts.
Referring to 1971, he said they lost one part of Quaid’s Pakistan but never learnt lessons from the past.
The prime minister said the leg-pulling and game of allegations must be ceased and they all have to agree upon unified national agenda as being practiced by different countries.
“The whole nation has to decide upon one national agenda with salient contours for foreign and economic policies,” he reiterated.
The prime minister also regretted that words of certain personalities in the previous government had annoyed China.
Despite all this, China stood by Pakistan in difficult time, he said and lauded the role of other brotherly and friendly countries of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar. China had made a $30 billion investment in flagship China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Terming the achievements of young innovators as ‘outstanding’, the prime minister lauded the contributions of their teachers and parents, adding, the entire nation felt pride over them.
Referring to awarding amount, the prime minister said that one million rupees to each winner was not sufficient considering the current inflation, as it was less when compared with the past.
In the past, he said as Khadim-e-Punjab, he introduced Punjab Skills Development company initiative which was first launched in the southern Punjab.
He said that millions of rupees were spent not on brick and mortar type of structures, but training was imparted to the talented youth.
They gave away Rs10,000 per student and companies trained them, he added.
Further elaborating his point of view, the prime minister said that governments always played a catalyst role to spur activities for industries and agriculture.
Whereas thousands of laptops were given to the high achievers in Punjab province on pure merit. Similarly, these were also distributed in Gilgit and Baltistan and Kashmir, he added.
The prime minister said during the Covid pandemic, these laptops helped the students to continue their educational activities besides, providing them with self-employment opportunities.
He said during the tenure of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif laptops were also distributed by the federal government.
He said it was his desire to provide laptops to every child of the country.
On the occasion, the prime minister called the ambassador of Azerbaijan on stage and appreciated Azerbaijan leadership for an agreement to supply LNG to Pakistan.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Youth Affairs Shaza Fatima Khawaja, in her speech, said meetings of the youth with top business ideas would also be arranged with the investors to implement their ideas.
She said Rs 100 billion business loans were dispersed in the last decade while over one million free laptops have been distributed among talented students that proved life-changing for them.
On average, she said Rs 7 billion per year business loans were distributed in last 10 years while Rs 30 billion in business loans were distributed among the youth in last one year.
Governor expresses sorrow over Greece boat incident
QUETTA, Jun 19 (APP): Balochistan Governor Malik Abdul Wali Khan Kakar Monday expressed his heartfelt sorrow and grief over the demise of several Pakistanis in a boat sinking incident in Greece.
In his condolence statement, he said that the people of Balochistan equally shared the grief and stood with the bereaved families in this time of grief.
He prayed that to Allah Almighty to rest the departed souls in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved families to bear the loss.
Commander Iranian Navy calls on Air Chief, lauds PAF professionalism
ISLAMABAD, Jun 19 (APP): Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, Commander of Islamic Republic of Iran Navy called on Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) here on Monday and lauded the professionalism of PAF personnel.
The meeting was focused on areas of mutual interest and regional developments, a PAF news release said.
During the meeting, the Chief of the Air Staff highlighted that the advancement in space, electronic warfare, cyber and niche technologies coupled with artificial intelligence had profoundly affected the traditional environment of national security.
He briefed the visiting dignitary about various ongoing projects being carried out by Pakistan Air Force with special focus on modernization and development of indigenous capabilities.
The Air Chief also emphasized that Pakistan and Iran enjoyed longstanding religious, cultural and historical bonds which were manifested through strong ties between both the countries.
Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, Commander of Islamic Republic of Iran Navy commended the exceptional progress made by Pakistan Air Force on its path to modernization.
He also appreciated Pakistan’s continuous efforts for regional stability and pledged to play his role for further improvement in military-to-military ties especially in the domains of operations, training and aviation industry.
The meeting between Chief of the Air Staff and Commander of Islamic Republic of Iran Navy is a testament of the deep-rooted friendship and unwavering commitment between the two nations to work towards a peaceful and stable region.
NA offers Fateha for victims of rains, thunderstorm in KP
ISLAMABAD, Jun 19 (APP):The National Assembly on Monday offered Fateha for the victims who lost their lives in rains and thunderstorm in southern districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
Moulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali led the Fateha on the request of Deputy Speaker Zahid Akram Durrani.
The NA also offered prayers for early recovery of the injured.
Heat wave like conditions expected from June 20-24: PMD
ISLAMABAD, Jun 19 (APP): Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Monday said heat wave like conditions would persist in most parts of the country from June 20-24 due to the high pressure in the upper atmosphere.
Temperatures are likely to increase gradually in most parts of the country during the period due to presence of high pressure in the upper atmosphere the day.
Day temperatures are likely to remain 04-06 degree celsius above normal in upper and central Punjab, Islamabad, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir and 02-04 degree celsius above normal in Sindh, South Punjab and parts of Balochistan.
Occasional dust, thunderstorm with rain at isolated places (in pockets) is expected in the plains of the country and hilly areas during the period.
About possible impacts, the met office said that power and water demand will increase in the coming days due to rise in temperature.
The farmers are advised to manage the watering of crop accordingly while the general public is advised to avoid unnecessary exposure to direct sunlight.
The citizens are also advised to ensure judicious use of water in all aspects of life.
MNAs appreciate budgetary measures, seek motorways for Balochistan
ISLAMABAD, Jun 19 (APP):Members of the National Assembly on Monday appreciated the government for proposing significant relief measures for the common man and allocating unprecedented development funds in the Federal Budget 2023-24.
Participating in the budget debate in the Lower House of the Parliament, they sought development projects especially the missing facilities of motorways for the Balochistan province to end the sense of deprivation of its people.
Pakistan Tehree-e-Insaf’s Ms Asiya Azeem, while strongly condemning the May 9 riots, demanded that no leniency should be given to the culprits involved in the heinous act. She also expressed deep grief over the boat accident in which scores of Pakistanis lost their lives.
She said Pakistan had been borrowing massively for the last 75 years as the national economy remained dependent on foreign loans. “We cannot achieve economic stability till date,” she added.
She said inward foreign remittances also witnessed sharp decrease last year.
Asiya Azeem said a meager amount of Rs 5 billion was earmarked for women in the budget, who were 51 percent of the country’s population.
She suggested that a separate ministry for women should be set up and lauded the government for announcing tax exemption for businesswomen.
The PTI MNA also appreciated the government for enhancing salaries and pensions of the employees, however, urged for taking steps to control inflation which had surged to 38 percent.
Minister of State for Power Division Muhammad Hashmi Notezai, while expressing grief over the boat tragedy, said the people had to resort to illegal ways to reach the European countries for better job opportunities and due to increasing unemployment tendency in the country.
He said Balochistan was blessed with many natural resources, but the local people were not getting any benefits from them. Their livelihood largely depended on agriculture and border trade as there was no industry in the province, he added.
The minister urged the government to ease border trade, besides paying special attention to the creation of job opportunities in the province. The missing persons issue should be addressed on urgent basis, he added.
Notezai claimed that no major project was announced for Balochistan in the budget. Liquefied Natural Gas plants should be installed in areas where no gas facility was available, he added.
He said no fund was earmarked for village electrification, construction of dams and health facility for Balochistan.
He demanded that 100 per cent releases should be ensured for all ongoing and new projects for their completion at earliest. The victims of last year’s flash flood had not been compensated, and the government should take steps to redress their problems, he added.
/More/raz-muk-zah-mag
Commander of Iranian Navy calls on CNS Admiral Amjad Khan Niazi
ISLAMABAD, Jun 19 (APP):Commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy Rear Admiral Shahram Irani on Monday visited Naval Headquarters Islamabad and called on Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi.
Upon arrival at Naval Headquarters, Commander of the Iranian Navy was received by the Naval Chief and was presented a Guard of Honour, a Pakistan Navy news release said.
After the wreath-laying at Shuhada monument, the visiting dignitary was introduced to Principal Staff Officers at Naval Headquarters.
Later, Commander of the Iranian Navy called on Chief of the Naval Staff at his office. During the meeting, matters of mutual interest including bilateral and regional collaborations and maritime security in the region were discussed.
The Naval Chief highlighted Pakistan Navy’s initiatives to ensure maritime security and peace through Regional Maritime Security Patrols.
The visiting Admiral appreciated and acknowledged the Pakistan Navy’s efforts and commitments in support of collaborative maritime security.
Later on, the Commander of the Iranian Navy was briefed on Pakistan Navy’s operational capabilities.
It is expected that the visit of Commander of the Iranian Navy will further enhance bilateral collaboration between the two navies.