KARACHI, Dec 20 (APP): The Exchange Rates Committee of Financial Markets Association of Pakistan issued the following Exchange rates bulletin, here on Wednesday.
CONVERSION RATES FOR DECEMBER 20, 2023 FOR FOREIGN CURRENCY FOR FORWARD COVER FOR DEPOSITS (EXCLUDING FE 25 DEPOSITS)
SBP SETTLEMENT VALUE DATE DECEMBER 22, 2023
USD 282.8063
GBP 358.1742
EUR 309.0224
JPY 1.9616
UNITED NATIONS, Dec 20 (APP): The UN General Assembly Tuesday stamped its approval on a Pakistan-sponsored resolution that upholds occupied peoples’ right to self-determination, with Ambassador Munir Akram calling it a “beacon of hope” for Kashmiris and Palestinians suffering under alien occupation.
Under the terms of the resolution, which was adopted by consensus, the 193-member Assembly reaffirmed the right to self-determination for peoples who are subjected to colonial, foreign and alien occupation.
The text was recommended last month by the General Assembly’s Third Committee, which deals with Social, humanitarian and cultural issues.
“At a time when the right of self-determination of the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine is being brutally suppressed, the unanimous adoption of Pakistan’s flagship resolution on self-determination offers a beacon of hope that they will secure their freedom from foreign occupation,” Ambassador Munir Akram told APP when asked for his comments.
Pakistan has been tabling this resolution since 1981 in an effort to focus the world’s attention on the peoples still struggling for their inalienable right to self-determination, including those in Indian Occupied Kashmir and Palestine.
Co-sponsored by 64 countries, the resolution calls on countries to immediately cease their foreign military intervention in and occupation of foreign countries and territories, as well as acts of repression, discrimination and maltreatment.
The resolution also declared the General Assembly’s firm opposition to acts of foreign military intervention, aggression and occupation, since these have resulted in the suppression of the right of peoples to self-determination and other human rights in certain parts of the world.
It called on those States responsible to cease immediately their military intervention in and occupation of foreign countries and territories, as well as all acts of repression, discrimination, exploitation and maltreatment.
The Assembly also deplored the plight of millions of refugees and displaced persons who have been uprooted as a result of these acts and reaffirms their right to return to their homes voluntarily in safety and honour.
It urges the Human Rights Council to give special attention to the violation of human rights, especially the right to self-determination, resulting from foreign military intervention, aggression or occupation.
The resolution also requests the Secretary-General to report to the next session of the General Assembly on this question.
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ISLAMABAD, Dec 19 (APP): The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Tuesday directed the removal of Adviser to the Prime Minister on Establishment Ahad Cheema from office to ensure holding of free and fair polls.
The ECP, after hearing a petition filed by Advocate Syed Azizuddin Kakakhel, issued the directives for the removal of allegedly ‘biased’ members from the Federal Cabinet.
“This move aims to guarantee free, fair, and transparent elections, scheduled for February 8,” the Commission noted.
Following a comprehensive hearing, the ECP determined that Ahad Cheema, who served in the preceding Federal Cabinet, must be promptly relieved of his current position.
The Commission, however, deferred its hearing regarding Federal Minister for Privatization Fawad Hasan Fawad, also named in the petition, till December 21.
The ECP, in its order, stated that the petition calling for Cheema’s removal was valid. “If he continues in his position, the adviser might have an impact on the upcoming general elections,” it noted and directed the Cabinet Division to issue a notification for Cheema’s removal.
“If these individuals are not removed or replaced from vital positions, it will compromise and misuse the fundamental principles of the Constitution and election laws, as highlighted in Kaka Khel’s petition due to their close associations with former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz President Shehbaz Sharif,” the ECP observed.
Advocate Syed Azizuddin Kaka Khel filed the petition against the two caretaker Federal Cabinet members on September 29.
ISLAMABAD, Dec 19 (APP): The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has vowed zero tolerance against the surrogate companies of the “betting houses”, urging the stakeholders to prevent their promotion through any kind of advertisements during live coverage of the sports events.
Referring to its earlier advisory on the issue, the ministry noted “unambiguous violation” of the same during the live broadcast of Pakistan Cricket team’s tour to Australia on multiple media outlets/channels, including the Pakistan Television, a news release said on Tuesday.
The Information Ministry, in its earlier advisory, had urged all the ministries, departments, and organizations not to engage in any kind of contract or cooperation with the surrogate companies illegally operating in Pakistan, especially on print, electronic, and social media.
The ministry reiterated its advisory strictly warning the media outlets “not to promote the surrogate companies of betting houses through any kind of advertisements”, besides immediately terminating all existing agreements with them.
The advisory, which had already been sent to the stakeholders, specifically mentioned a list of known surrogate companies “to address any unawareness, and to ensure strict and immediate compliance”.
The ministry also observed that the logos of at least two of the companies clearly mentioned in the earlier advisory were displayed uninterrupted throughout the live broadcast of the stated event that spanned multiple hours across multiple days.
The ministry urged the stakeholders to ensure immediate compliance of its instant advisory without fail, investigate reasons and responsible for the non-compliance of the earlier advisory, and submit a copy of the same within a week.
It noted that the national broadcaster PTV had already taken up the issue with the parent right holders to remove the digital placement on ground of all the surrogate betting companies. “If they fail to do so, the understanding/agreement between licensors and the licensee will be terminated.”
“In terms of Section-5 of the PEMRA Ordinance, 2002, as amended from time to time, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority is also advised to enforce the law of the land and the licensing conditions regarding prohibition of surrogate companies promoting betting in Pakistan,” the ministry said, adding “In case they fail to abide by the law, landing rights of such TV channels may be cancelled.”
It said that the Pakistan Cricket Board was also directed to implement the directions issued by the ministry earlier on September 25, 2023 and October 20, 2023.
The ministry also advised the Pakistan Telecom Authority to stop all such illegal surrogate betting, gambling, and casino companies in Pakistan which were operating through apps and websites.
“An active vigilant wing should be formed to monitor and promptly block any such content in the territory of Pakistan,” it added.
ISLAMABAD, Dec 19 (APP): Caretaker Minister for National Heritage and Culture Division, Jamal Shah on Tuesday eulogized the renowned Punjabi and Urdu literati, researcher late Ahmed Saleem and urged the quarters concerned to ensure preservation of his archives for the future generations as a national asset.
He was speaking as the chief guest at the memorial reference jointly organized by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) to pay tribute to the great intellectual and active member of the Progressive Literary Movement of the country. A special documentary by SDPI on the life of Late Ahmed Saleem was also presented.
Jamal Shah said Ahmed Saleem had a deep linkage with the society and had great quest for knowledge.
“Ahmed Saleem was among those people who aware and educated themselves to selflessly serve this soil. He was an aware, generous and a good communicator deft enough to engage and persuade the people,” he said.
The minister mentioned that it was always the dream of Ahmed Saleem to preserve his archives which should be done through a collective effort of all stakeholders and well wishers of the deceased.
He noted that Ahmed Saleem was a self-effacing person who never recited his poems before him. “We should take up the task to fulfill the dream of Ahmed Saleem and I would direct PAL to provide some space for a temporary set up to conserve the archives till a proper trust is being established for the protection of those books,” he said.
Ahmed Saleem, he said like Baba Bhullay Shah, Rehman Baba and Habib Jalib was a lucid and generous being who did not keep any biases and prejudice in their works.
Executive Director SDPI, Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri in his speech read out the poem of Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi as a tribute to Ahmed Saleem.
Dr Suleri mentioned that Ahmed Saleem never had discrimination in his life for anyone, however, his literary stature was evident from the fact that the Government of Pakistan at one hand conferred the Pride of Performance for Arts on him and the President of Bangladesh awarded him Presidential Award for supporting Begali language.
He thanked Senator Pervaiz Rashid for playing an important role in securing a special grant from Chief Minister Punjab’s Fund for the liver transplant of Ahmed Saleem at Shifa Hospital.
Dr Suleri shared his memories with the deceased and informed the participants that Ahmed Saleem became the introduction of the SDPI globally and regionally as the institute gained huge respect in Bangladesh, India, or within the country be it Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Sindh or Balochistan.
Ahmed Saleem, he said used to spend all his salary on buying books as it was all his universe.
“When SDPI was at the verge of crisis, over decade back, then Ahmed Saleem and Brig (R) Muhammad Yasin were the only two persons who surrendered their gratuity and arrears to save the institute and did not receive salary till the issue was resolved,” the SDPI Executive Director said.
He said that Ahmed Saleem had already set up a trust for his archives and books, whereas he had also given the names Dr Humera Ashfaq, Dr Shafqat Munir and his name for its trustees.
Dr Suleri noted that Ahmed Saleem once refused to sale his resource center’s books and archives to a foreign embassy against a heavy amount and termed his collections as asset of the nation and this soil.
Nuzhat Abbass, from United Kingdom via videolink expressed her sentiments and paid tribute to the late author and researcher. She shed light on his life and efforts for defending the rights of women and oppressed through his writings and artistic works.
Navsharan Singh from Chandigarh, India sharing her thoughts via videolink said Ahmed Saleem was the poet of humanity, equality, rights, women empowerment and a genuine right defender.
She said late Ahmed Saleem was loved both in Indian and Pakistani Punjab whereas writer, authors and poets were writing special blogs and columns for the deceased in the local and national Punjabi dailies. Singh added that his demise left a deep impact on the minds of all who remained associated to him.
She said he was the voice of the oppressed and his poetry painted the vagaries of the partition of the subcontinent and the 1971 fall of Dhaka.
Dr Pritam Singh from UK through online participation shared his sincere regards for the deceased. He said after his first interaction with Ahmed Saleem at Oxford, UK; he had found him a loving soul.
He mentioned that Ahmed Saleem had a painful narrative on the partition of India in 1947 and had associated his strong feelings to partition. Singh informed that Saleem was associated with Punjab Research Forum working on the East and
West Punjab and the Punjabi diaspora, adding, “He was committed to Punjabi language and society without any sentiments of exploitation, inequality and malice.
Rana Fawad, CEO Lahore Qalanders also shared his account of association with Ahmed Saleem during his theater life in Lahore. He mentioned that Ahmed Saleem convinced him to lay the foundation of the first ever street theater for the labourers. He said Ahmed Saleem always spent all his earning on buying books and lived a contented life.
Harris Khalique, Secretary General HRCP said the entire ideology of knowledge prevailing in the society was based on capitalism, where it was needed to develop complete understanding of all subjects of social sciences. “Ahmed Saleem considered the knowledge of all social sciences and humanities in totality that laid the foundation of strong basis of knowledge ideology free from any biases and discrimination,” he said.
He said the translations of different literary works by Ahmed Saleem was the task of the departments concerned but the latter did an extensive job. However, the digitization of his archives and works was important, along with linking his South Asia Research and Resource Center to universities and students.
Former Senator Farhat Ullah Babar of Pakistan Peoples Party commended Dr Suleri for acknowledging Ahmed Saleem’s efforts before and after his death and supporting him in receiving the Pride of Performance.
He termed Ahmed Saleem as a national asset as the wealth of his knowledge was not only belonging to his family members but also the entire nation. Senator Babar noted that Ahmed Saleem had the largest individual archives in the country and was a generous expert who always shared study and research material without any bias to all for free.
“PPP requested Ahmed Saleem to harmonize its party manifesto in 2008 which he did very well,” he said.
Senator Taj Haider, PPP said Ahmed Saleem always advocated the rights of the marginalized and never compromised on his principles through his writings.
He said Ahmed Saleem always compiled all the literature that was progressive in nature and banned by the dictators.
Senator Haider requested the Minister for Culture to provide the archives of Ahmed Saleem to establish a separate institute to preserve those invaluable books.
DG PAL, Sultan Muhammad Nasir extended his vote of thanks to all participants and SDPI for organizing the reference and extended his gratitude to SDPI for supporting PAL in the endeavour.
Ahmed Saleem’s life sheds light on his life journey as a global citizen and as a beacon in dark times, he added.
He assured that as per the directions of the Minister, SDPI Ahmed Saleem Resource Center and the family members of Ahmed Saleem, the PAL would be proud to take up the task of preserving the deceased’s archives.
Dr Humera Ashfaq, Zareena Salamat, Kulsum Zaib, Barrister Naseem Bajwa, UK, Dr Anwaar Ahmed, Akhtar Usman and Brig (R) Muhammad Yasin of SDPI also spoke their hearts out for Mr Ahmed Saleem in acknowledging his services to the nation and society.
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