ISLAMABAD, Dec 12 (APP): The caretaker federal Interior Minister Sarfaraz Bugti strongly condemned the terrorist attack on the police station in Dera Ismail Khan on Tuesday.
In his message, the minister expressed deep sorrow and regret over the martyrdom of the soldiers in the terrorist attack and prayed for the high status of martyrs.
The minister said that the government stands with the families of the martyrs at the time of grief.
He vowed that the terrorists can never succeed in their nefarious aims and the entire nation stands with the security forces in the war against terrorism.
Martyrs are our real heroes, their great sacrifices will not go in vain, said the minister adding that the whole world recognizes the eternal sacrifices of the security forces in the war against terrorism.
Interior Minister condemns terrorist attack on Police Station in D.I.Khan
66 drug peddlers held, recovered 26 kg narcotics in November
Pakistan joins Marrakesh Treaty to facilitate access of visually impaired persons to published work
ISLAMABAD, Dec 12 (APP): Pakistan on Tuesday became a signatory to the Marrakesh Treaty aimed at providing access to published work for visually impaired persons.
President Dr Arif Alvi inked the instrument of accession to the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) administered Marrakesh Treaty, at a special ceremony held here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.
The Marrakesh Treaty aims to help the visually impaired or otherwise print-disabled people have access to books and literary works in accessible formats.
Signed in Morocco on June 27, 2013, and joined by a large number of countries in the world, the Treaty enables the reproduction of published materials into accessible formats, such as braille, large print, and audio editions.
By acceding to the Treaty, Pakistan has become able to provide its estimated 10 million visually impaired persons easy access to published work. The facility otherwise has been restricted due to the Copyright Ordinance of 1962 which does not provide necessary provisions for compulsory printing and reproduction of braille and audio versions.
President Alvi termed the accession to the Marrakesh Treaty a “great moment of pride” and said Pakistan had embarked upon a new pathway to empower its visually impaired people.
He said the Marrakesh Treaty would act as an equalizer of opportunity to provide visually challenged persons equitable access.
“The Treaty will create an environment of learning and equal opportunity for educating the neglected class of the society,” he said.
He said it was the responsibility of the State to accommodate its differently-abled citizens by providing them equal opportunities in all fields of life, particularly education and employment.
The president said access to published work would open new vistas of opportunities for visually impaired persons and dispel the impression that disability should be a hurdle in personal empowerment.
The positive flow-on effects, he said, include improved access to education and employment, and also better well-being of the visually impaired persons.
President Alvi stressed the need to shun the taboo about persons with disabilities and ensure their inclusion in the mainstream life system.
“Accommodating such people does not tantamount to any favour, but it is their due right which the society owes to them,” he said.
Pakistan, he said, made “tremendous success” in recent times by stepping up efforts to shun taboos about the differently-abled persons.
He mentioned that the country was adhering to the guidelines of the World Health Organization regarding identifying the needs of differently-abled persons and providing them with opportunities for health, education, and jobs.
The president recalled that Pakistan’s visually impaired diplomat Saima Saleem made the entire nation proud by giving a speech at the platform of the United Nations.
He expressed confidence that with the introduction of artificial intelligence-based technology in assistive gadgets and smart devices, the future was bright for visually impaired persons to live an improved life.
The president lauded the efforts of his wife Samina Alvi for leading the cause of differently-abled people and the Ministry of Human Rights for undertaking the initiative of accession to the Marrakesh Treaty for visually impaired persons.
Chairman Intellectual Property Organization of Pakistan Ambassador Farukh Amil said the Marrakesh Treaty was an important step forward on the global stage underlining the government’s commitment to empower the visually impaired persons.
He said the Treaty would create lasting effects for visually challenged people and place the country amongst the caring nations of the world.
Secretary Commerce Muhammad Sualeh Ahmad Faruqi said education was a fundamental right under the UN Charter and the Constitution of Pakistan, adding that the Marrakesh Treaty would provide an enabling environment for the visually impaired community to fulfill their desire for education and thus bring themselves into the mainstream.
Shahana Shahid, a representative of the visually impaired persons acknowledged the efforts of the government in overcoming the concerns and difficulties of her community.
She said the signing of the Treaty would prove a crucial step in a long journey of acceptance and socio-economic inclusion of those at the periphery.
Closure of Sukkur barrage canals announces
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First Ijarah Sukuk Auction at PSX results in resounding success
ISLAMABAD, Dec 12 (APP):The first primary market auction of the government of Pakistan one-year Ijarah Sukuk at Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) has resulted in a resounding success, the exchange said in a statement received here Tuesday.
This is for the first time in Pakistan’s history that an auction of a Government Debt Security (GDS) took place through the state-of- the-art, fully automated and efficient system of the exchange with settlement and custodial services being provided by the other members of the capital market ecosystem, namely the NCCPL and CDC, it said.
“It is a remarkable addition to the product suite offered by PSX,” the statement added.
The auction which took place on December 8, 2023, via the Exchange, heralds a new beginning for raising the GDS.
Against the target of the Rs 30 billion Sukuk, bids accepted amounted to Rs 36.068 billion whereas the total bids received amounted to Rs 481.307 billion.
As many as 172 investors participated in the bidding process with 132 being the successful number of bidders, resulting in a diversified investor base for the government. The subscription amount totaled Rs30.191 billion with a cut off rental rate being 19.5199% and a price of Rs 83.7055.
Speaking about the auction, the (Caretaker) Federal Minister for Finance, Revenue & Economic Affairs, Dr. Shamshad
Akhtar said it was a remarkable achievement which was in the back burner for a long time.
“We have now succeeded in implementing the Government Debt Securities issue through the Stock Exchange with the first primary market auction of this GoP Ijarah Sukuk held on December 8, 2023,” she said.
She said, this would substantially benefit the government by diversifying the investor base, as well as providing new investment opportunities to investors.
The Chairman SECP, Akif Saeed said that government securities were an important tool for the development of the capital market and that the launch of GDS at PSX was just the beginning. He urged PSX, brokers, insurance companies, and asset managers to concentrate their efforts on marketing in order to attract new investors to the capital market.
Speaking about the auction MD & CEO PSX, Farrukh H. Khan termed it a landmark achievement, saying the numbers have unveiled the tremendously successful primary market auction which has resulted in generating interest from a large number of investors totaling 172.
The government realized a competitive cut off rental rate of 19.5199 percent and the Sukuk was oversubscribed by 16 times.
Lok Mela continues with traditional momentum
Fight against terrorism to continue till its complete eradication: PM
ISLAMABAD, Dec 12 (APP): Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Tuesday vowed to continue the fight against terrorism till its complete elimination from the country’s soil.
“We will fight back till the menace of terrorism is eliminated from our motherland,” he posted on the social media platform, X.
The prime minister paid tribute to the valiant security forces for their successful operations in the Darazanda, Daraban, and Kolachi areas of district Dera Ismail Khan in which 27 terrorists were killed.
“The soldiers’ dedication, sacrifice, and valor in the face of terror is unparalleled and a beacon of hope for our nation,” he said.
He expressed his deepest sympathies with the families of the martyrs.
PM Kakar said the government was steadfast in eliminating terrorism and extremism from the country.
He said such acts could not deter the resolve of the security forces to fight terrorism.
The prime minister directed the best medical treatment to the injured in the terrorist attack.
SAPM Malik urges CWAs to boost overseas employment opportunities for Pakistanis
ANF seizes over 320 kg drugs in three operations
RAWALPINDI, Dec 12 (APP): Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) while conducting three operations across the country managed to recover 320 kg of drugs and arrested three accused, said an ANF Headquarters spokesman here on Tuesday.
He informed that in an operation conducted in Gali Jalal Khak of the Qila Abdullah area and recovered over 271 kg of hashish hidden in a house was recovered.
48 kg hashish was recovered from a vehicle intercepted near Motorway Toll Plaza Charsadda while two accused were arrested during the operation.
1.2 kg hashish was recovered from a vehicle near Chungi No. 26, Islamabad and an accused was arrested.
Cases under the Anti-Narcotics Act were registered against the arrested accused while further investigations are under process.