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Planning Minister reviews progress of ongoing petroleum, gas projects

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 06 (APP): Caretaker Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Muhammad Sami Saeed on Wednesday presided over a meeting to review progress on ongoing projects in the petroleum and gas sectors.

The Chief Petroleum Section gave a detailed briefing to the minister about the existing policies of petroleum and gas in the country and their implementation, a news release said.

The minister was informed that the Council of Common Interests (CCI) had approved the Petroleum Exploration and Production Policy-2012 to promote the petroleum and gas sectors, determining rules for efficiency, transparency, competitiveness, financial viability and environmental responsibility.

The meeting was also briefed on the ongoing projects of these sectors being executed under the Public Sector Development Programme 2023-24.

The meeting was told that various measures were being taken to increase gas production, utilizing all available options to ensure cheap and quality gas to consumers.

The meeting was also given a briefing on the Iran-Pakistan (IP), and Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline projects and their importance in the economic development of Pakistan.

Appreciating the performance of the concerned section, the minister urged to take vigorous steps to ensure the implementation of these projects so that affordable and timely supply of gas to consumers could be ensured.

President Dr. Arif Alvi addressing the Angels Investors Summit & Startup Showcase, at Aiwan-e-Sadr

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President Dr. Arif Alvi addressing the Angels Investors Summit & Startup Showcase, at Aiwan-e-Sadr
APP49-061223 ISLAMABAD: December 06 - President Dr. Arif Alvi addressing the Angels Investors Summit & Startup Showcase, at Aiwan-e-Sadr. APP/FHA
President Dr. Arif Alvi addressing the Angels Investors Summit & Startup Showcase, at Aiwan-e-Sadr
APP49-061223
ISLAMABAD: December 06 –

President Dr. Arif Alvi chairing a follow-up meeting on Masajid and Madaris, at Aiwan-e-Sadr

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President Dr. Arif Alvi chairing a follow-up meeting on Masajid and Madaris, at Aiwan-e-Sadr
APP48-061223 ISLAMABAD: December 06 - President Dr. Arif Alvi chairing a follow-up meeting on Masajid and Madaris, at Aiwan-e-Sadr. APP/FHA
President Dr. Arif Alvi chairing a follow-up meeting on Masajid and Madaris, at Aiwan-e-Sadr
APP48-061223
ISLAMABAD: December 06

KP Governor directs resolution of problems of IRNUM hospital’s entrance

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governor KP
PESHAWAR, Dec 06 (APP):Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor, Haji Ghulam Ali here Wednesday directed the authorities concerned to resolve problems related to the main entrance of the IRNUM cancer hospital.
He passed these directives while presiding over a high-level meeting about problems at the central entrance of IRNUM hospital, Peshawar.
The meeting exchanged views on parking problems and bringing ease in communication between patients, relatives, and other people at the main entrance of the hospital.
He directed the Director General Peshawar Development Authority, high-ups of the police, and Peshawar University to address these problems at the earliest. The Governor praised the long services of the hospital regarding the treatment of cancer patients.
The hospital is working under the aegis of the Pakistan Atomic Commission providing various kinds of healthcare services to oncology patients of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

LESCO detects 335 power pilferers in a day

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LAHORE, Dec 06 (APP):Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) has detected a total of 335 connections from where the customers were pilfering electricity in all its circles of five districts (Lahore, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Kasur and Okara) on the 88th day of grand anti-power theft campaign.
The LESCO spokesman told media here Wednesday that the company has also submitted FIR applications against 335 electricity thieves, out of which 157 FIRs have been registered in respective police stations, while 15 accused have been arrested. Grand anti-power theft operations against electricity thieves are being conducted on the directives of the Federal Power Division and the LESCO Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Engineer Shahid Haider is supervising these operations.
The LESCO chief vowed that the operations would continue without discrimination until the complete end of electricity theft. The electricity pilferers as well as the LESCO officers and employees who facilitate them are also being brought to justice.
On the 88th consecutive day of the anti-power theft campaign, the spokesman added, large commercial consumers were also found involved in electricity theft and all of them were also disconnected and charged with detection units. Among the seized connections 08 were commercial, 02 agricultural and 325 domestic, and all these connections were disconnected and charged with a total of 338,261 units as detection bill amounting to Rs 13.101 million.
Apprising the media about some major power pilferers, he explained that LESCO charged detection units worth Rs 200,000 to an electricity pilferer in Green Town Lahore; Rs 192,860 detection bill to another customer stealing electricity in Depaalpur Okara; Rs 150,000 detection bill to a power thief in Shadman area of Lahore; and Rs 219,769 detection bill to a power thief in Baghbanpura area.
During the 88 days of grand anti-theft campaign, the spokesman mentioned, the LESCO detected pilferage on 33,155 power connections and submitted 32,771 FIR applications against electricity thieves in the relevant police stations out of which 31,613 FIRs have been registered, while 15,606 accused have so far been arrested by the police. The LESCO has so far charged a total of 55,306,716 detection units worth Rs 2,169,896,397 to all the power pilferers.

SCO Council of National Coordinators meeting ends in Beijing

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BEIJING, Dec 6 (APP): A meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of National Coordinators was held at the SCO Secretariat in Beijing.

SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming spoke at the opening. The meeting included over 20 items on the agenda, according to SCO Secretariat here on Wednesday.

The parties discussed the progress on the key activities of the SCO, issues related to Kazakhstan chairing the meeting of the SCO Heads of State Council and the Council of Foreign Ministers, as well as draft documents concerning international cooperation, ways to improve the SCO’s performance and other issues.Â

A final Protocol of the Council of National Coordinators was signed following the meeting.

Dr Nadeem launches app for drugs’ registration

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 06 (APP): Caretaker Federal Minister for Health Dr. Nadeem Jan on Wednesday launched app for online registration and licensing of drugs.

The step was taken to revolutionize drug registration and licensing system in the country.

According to spokesperson of the Ministry of Health, pharmaceutical companies will be able to submit online applications for registration and license.

Earlier, applicants had to visit DRAP to apply for registration or licensing of drugs, he added.

He said that registration and licensing of new multinational companies is also digital under the new system.

He said that automated system will lead to increase in export and enhanced confidence of international organizations in Pakistan’s medicines.

The minister said the foundation of merit and transparency has been laid in DRAP.

Due to merit and transparency, the efficiency of institutions increases significantly. This initiative will increase public confidence in the regulator.

Dr. Nadeem Jan said, “We are vigorously pursuing the implementation of reform agenda in the Ministry of Health.”This initiative will promote transparency.

A complaint app was also launched by Dr. Nadeem Jan to ensure direct communication with the regulator.

Dr. Nadeem Jan said, “We are ensuring practical steps to transform DRAP on modern lines.”

He said that coordinated steps are being taken to bring DRAP at par with international standards.

Caretaker CM KP calls on Finance Minister

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 6 (APP): Caretaker Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Justice (Rtd) Syed Arshad Hussain Shah called on Caretaker Minister for Finance, Revenue, and Economic Affairs Dr Shamshad Akthar.

The matters of mutual interest came under discussion. Dr. Shamshad Akhter said that federal government is committed with its constitutional obligations and would assist KPK government in resolving financial issues, the Ministry of Finance posted on X on Wednesday.

China calls for legal instrument on arms control in outer space

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Wang Wenbin

BEIJING, Dec 6 (APP): China on Wednesday called upon the relevant countries to support and participate in negotiations for a legal instrument on arms control in outer space.

Certain countries have long refused to acknowledge the fundamental approach of negotiating a legal instrument on technical grounds and even questioned the basic consensus of preventing an arms race in outer space, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Wang Wenbin said during his regular briefing.

His remarks came after the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Monday adopted a draft resolution titled “No first placement of weapons in outer space,” introduced by China and Russia, by a recorded vote of 127 in favor.

Wang said, safeguarding security and peace in outer space and preventing an arms race is the long-term common aspiration of the international community.

The first UN special session devoted to disarmament in 1978 proposed to prevent an arms race in outer space through negotiation, he said.

For over four decades since then, the UNGA has adopted relevant resolutions with overwhelming support every year that call for negotiations of new international legal instruments and reflect the concerns of the international community on moves that could turn outer space into a weapon or battlefield, added Wang.

China, Russia and other countries have submitted to the UNGA the draft resolution on “No first placement of weapons in outer space” for many years in a row.

“The fact that the resolution was adopted every year with strong support speaks to the international community’s firm support for negotiations on an international legal instrument on arms control in outer space and for not placing weapons in outer space,” he added.

Wang Yi talks with Blinken over Taiwan, Israel-Palestine conflict

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Wang Yi

BEIJING, Dec 6 (APP): Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken over the phone at the latter’s invitation on Wednesday.

The current important task for both sides is to extend the positive effects of the San Francisco meeting, implement the consensus of the two countries’ leaders, consolidate the stabilization of China-US relations, and promote the development of China-US relations toward a healthy, stable, and sustainable direction, Wang said.

Blinken expressed gratitude to Wang for visiting the US Embassy in China to pay respects to the former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

Wang said that Kissinger always advocated that the two major countries, China and the US, should respect each other, evolve together, and fulfill their respective international responsibilities, Global Times reported.

Kissinger repeatedly emphasized that the US should fully understand the importance of the Taiwan question to China. The diplomatic legacy left by him is worthy of being promoted and developed by future generations, Wang said.

The successful meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden in San Francisco had established the future-oriented “San Francisco Vision,” which was of milestone significance, Wang said.

The current important task for both sides is to extend the positive effects of the San Francisco meeting, implement the consensus of the two countries’ leaders, consolidate the stabilization of China-US relations, and promote the development of China-US relations toward a healthy, stable, and sustainable direction.

This aligns with the common interests of both China and the US and is the responsibility of two major countries, the Chinese diplomat said.

Wang once again emphasized China’s stern position on the Taiwan question, demanding that the US must not interfere in China’s internal affairs or support or condone any “Taiwan independence” forces.

The two diplomats also exchanged views on the Israel-Palestine conflict and agreed to maintain communication regarding the situation in the Middle East.

Wang stated that the urgent priority was to achieve a ceasefire and end the conflict.

At the crossroads of war and peace, major countries should especially adhere to fairness and justice, uphold objectivity and impartiality, demonstrate calm rationality, and make all-out efforts to de-escalate the situation to prevent a larger-scale humanitarian disaster.

Any solution to the current Gaza crisis must not deviate from the “two-state solution,” and any arrangements concerning the future of Palestine must reflect the will of the Palestinian people, Wang said.

“China believes that the core solution lies in respecting Palestine’s right to statehood and self-determination, reflecting the principle of “Palestinians owning, leading, and governing Palestine,” he added.

China is willing to work with all parties to this end.

Blinken also shared details of his recent visit to the Middle East and the US perspective on the evolving situation, agreeing that the “two-state solution” should be implemented.