Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Youth Affairs Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja adressing during the 10KM Ecothon 2023 organized by Prime Minister Youth Program in the collaboration with Embassy of United Arab Emirates at Globle Chowk Constitution Avenue
A large number of people participating in the 10KM Ecothon 2023 organized by Prime Minister Youth Program in the collaboration with Embassy of United Arab Emirates at Globle Chowk Constitution Avenue
Qamar, USTR holds dialogue on wide spectrum of trade, investment
ISLAMABAD, Feb 25 (APP): Federal Minister for Commerce Syed Naveed Qamar and United State of Trade Representative (USTR) have held a fulsome and comprehensive dialogue focusing on wide spectrum of trade and investment issues of mutual interest including agriculture, textiles, digital trade, enhancing market access, cooperation on good regulatory practices including intellectual property and labor rights, and women’s economic empowerment and entrepreneurship.
The federal minister led the Pakistani delegation comprising Secretary Commerce Muhammad Sualeh Farruqui, Secretary BOI Asad Rehman Gilani and senior officials of Ministries of Commerce and National Food Security to participate in the 9th Pakistan-US Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council Ministerial meeting, said a press release issued here Saturday
The US side was led by United State of Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Katherine Tai.
Key issues discussed by our side included enhancing exports of Pakistani mangoes and dates to the US, increased market access for our textiles, increasing US investments in Pakistan’s agriculture sector especially, in development of hybrid, climate resilient seeds and supporting Pakistan’s IT and tech industry.
The two sides agreed to have regular follow-up engagements during 2023 to ensure progress on all issues and achieving tangible results.
They also agreed to convene the next TIFA Council Ministerial meeting in Islamabad in early 2024.
Two Joint Statements, one on the TIFA Council Ministerial meeting itself and the other on US-Pakistan Efforts in Promoting Women’s Economic Empowerment were issued after yesterday’s meeting.
The last TIFA Council meeting was held in 2016. The convening of this meeting after seven years makes it an important milestone for robust bilateral engagement process this year, which has seen dialogues on a number of issues and still more dialogues are scheduled in coming weeks, including on energy and climate change.
The TIFA Council Ministerial meeting reflects mutual understanding and commitment on both sides to pursue a broad based agenda and making mutually beneficial trade and investment ties an important pillar of the bilateral relationship.
This is a momentous opening that will have positive impact on other dialogue process.
Dar directs CDA for fast-track, early execution of housing projects for overseas Pakistanis
ISLAMABAD, Feb 25 (APP): Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to ensure fast-track and early execution of housing projects for overseas Pakistanis by maintaining international standards and transparency through online system.
He gave these directions while chairing a meeting on development projects of the CDA, said a press release issued here.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Finance Tariq Bajwa, SAPM on Revenue Tariq Pasha, Secretary Finance, Member (Planning & Design) CDA, Member (Estate) CDA, DG (Land) CDA and senior officers from Finance Division attended the meeting.
The meeting reviewed the progress on the development projects carried out by the CDA, especially related to housing projects for overseas Pakistanis.
The meeting was apprised that CDA has initiated a number of short-term and medium-term housing projects for overseas Pakistanis.
It was informed that one of these housing projects is in the completion phase and has been launched for registration.
Finance Minister while emphasising the importance of overseas Pakistanis in the economic and financial development of the country, further directed the authorities to extend maximum facilities in these projects to attract overseas Pakistan’s investment in the country.
NA Speaker grieves over loss of lives in Rahim Yar Khan, Bhara Kahu accidents
ISLAMABAD, Feb 25 (APP): National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Deputy Speaker Zahid Akram Durrani expressed deep sorrow and grief over the loss of precious human lives in a tragic accident at Rahim Yar Khan Motorway and the death of workers due to the sudden collapse of the under-construction shuttering of Bhara Kahu Bypass bridge in Islamabad.
Raja Pervaiz Ashraf directed the concerned authorities to provide all possible medical facilities to the injured in both accidents.
The Speaker and Deputy Speaker also directed the concerned authorities to investigate the cause of the shuttering collapse to avoid such untoward incidents in the future.
They prayed for the departed soul of the deceased who lost their lives in both tragic accidents. They also prayed for solace and peace for bereaved families.
Chief Commissioner Noor-ul-Amin Mengal taking to media after visiting collapsed Under-construction Bhara Kahu bypass flyover
Under-construction Bhara Kahu bypass flyover collapsed early morning. In result two workers lost their lives
Ambassador of Türkiye to Pakistan Dr. Mehmet Paçaci visits donation camp for earthquake victims
ISLAMABAD, Feb 25 (APP): Ambassador of Türkiye to Pakistan Dr. Mehmet Paçaci visited the Centaurus Mall to see the donation camp set up for the earthquake victims.
The cap has been established in collaboration with the District administration, Centaurus Management and the students of the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Turkish Aerospace Industry, and Air University voluntarily.
Paçaci met with the CEO of Centaurus Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan along with the country Head in Pakistan Muhammad Sohail Sajid, said a news release.
The ambassador appreciated all the great value derived from this cause and selfless efforts for the people of Türkiye. He also thanked the philanthropists, and public and private institutions present.
Ambassador Dr Mehmet Paçaci said that Pakistan and Türkiye had never been like two countries but rather always behaved like one nation. He said that the hearts of the Pakistani people beat with the people of Türkiye and thanked the people of Pakistan for standing with Türkiye during these difficult times.
The severity of the situation is quite evident especially for the victims as time is passing there is a dire need for medicines, medical equipment, tents to avoid cold weather, beds, blankets and special needs items for people of all ages, especially women and children, mobile toilets, hygiene items, long life shelf food items, dry milk, tins of prepared food etc.
On this occasion, the Turkish ambassador said in a conversation with the media that Pakistan and the Pakistani nation did not leave their Turkish brothers and sisters alone in these difficult times.
He said, “People of Pakistan started the relief process immediately after the earthquake, the Pakistani government, the armed forces, and the civilian efforts of Pakistan are commendable.”
The entire Pakistani nation, including teams from PIA, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), universities and their students, and media are all standing by the side of Türkiye.
Sardar Yasir stated that the relations between the two countries have a golden history. Sardar Yasir said that Pakistan would always be remembered for the spirit and sacrifice of its people. “We have always stood as one nation during difficult times of floods, earthquakes and Covid-19,” he recalled.
Dr. Mehmet Paçaci said that the restoration and reconstruction work started in Türkiye after the earthquake, however, also apprsing that the situation was getting worst due to the cold weather and the problems of the victims were increasing.
Botched airstrike of 2019: Reminiscent of Modi’s failed whipped-up war hysteria, RSS policies
ISLAMABAD, Feb 25 (APP):Years after the Indian Air Force botched attempt to launch an attack on the territory inside Pakistan on February 26, 2019 that left behind the wreckage of two Indian Air Force aircraft, the humiliation at the hands of Pakistan Air Force still haunted the IAF, exposing Prime Minister Modi’s Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) hysteria driven war mongering policies before the world.
The airstrike inside Pakistan following a false flag operation at Pulwama on February 14, 2019, was responded with surprising retaliation by Pakistan Air Force bringing down two IAF aircraft, establishing the military and technological superiority of the Pakistan Air Force and shattered to pieces the myth of Indian military might.
On 14 February 2019, a young Kashmiri boy, resenting Indian oppression of the Kashmiri people, drove a vehicle packed with explosives into a convoy of 78 buses carrying Indian paramilitary police in Pulwama, killing 40 CRPF personnel.
Moments after the attack the Indian media and Modi’s government immediately blamed Pakistan before even the start of any investigation and created media hype.
According to defense analysts, India staged Pulwama incident by callously killing its own soldiers which was fanned by media hype.
The Indian Air Force launched an aerial strike near ‘Balakot’ on Feb 26, 2019, claiming to target a religious seminary that New-Delhi described as a “militant camp”. They also claimed killing more than 300 terrorists but without sharing any shred of evidence to corroborate the claims.
The well-rehearsed operation involving 20 Mirage 2,000 aircraft carrying spice 2000 and Crystal Maze missiles had the support of Air Borne Early Warning systems.
They failed to deliver their payload on the target despite practising on the simulator and pre-fed coordinates on the bombs.
Pulwama attack was completely orchestrated, the defense analysts said, questioning that contrary to the usual practice why there were no road inspecting parties to look for buried IEDs/ suspicious movement along the highway the convoy used.
“Why didn’t the authorities understand that a large convoy (78 buses) would be a tempting target? CRPF had asked the home ministry to allow it to fly the soldiers to Srinagar but why the request was inexplicably declined,” said the analyst.
They further posed the question as to how it was possible that the Indian home ministry took this decision (declining airlifting soldiers) on its own without referring it to PM Office.
On other hand, PM Modi wanted to achieve electoral gains which were then scheduled for April/ May 2019 as was evident from his Pakistan bashing fiery speeches during the election campaign.
A hyper-nationalist and religiously indoctrinated political party that spewed fascism and xenophobia would take some ‘punitive’ measures and use the incident as an electoral card since Indian general elections were to be held on that year, the analysts added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Feb 15, 2019, was quoted by the Financial Times as saying that those responsible for Pulwama terror attack would pay “a very heavy price” and security forces would be given a free hand to deal with them.
In a hard-hitting speech, he said the “blood of the people is boiling” and forces behind the act of terrorism will be definitely be punished. “Security forces have been given complete freedom, the blood of the people is boiling…Our neighbouring country, which has been isolated internationally, thinks such terror attacks can destabilise us, but their plans will not materialise,” Modi said in an attempt to create hype over the well-orchestrated plan against Pakistan.
Indian claims were rubbished by several international observers saying there were no casualties and the bombs had clearly missed the target as two trees were found to be snapped in half.
During the short aerial encounter that followed, PAF shot down two IAF aircraft and captured one of the pilots. The debris of the SU-30 fell in IOK and its pilot was killed, while the MiG-21 pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, whose aircraft fell on the Pakistan side was captured alive.
The success of the Pakistan Air Force in Operation Swift Retort against a far bigger adversary is now observed as a “Surprise Day” every year.
Chinese sports shoes company extends help to Pakistani flood-affectees
BEIJING, Feb. 25 (APP): To help Pakistan recover from the devastating floods, sports shoes worth RMB 1 million (PKR 38 million) were gifted by a Chinese company, said China Leather Industry Association (CLIA).
Pakistan’s 2022 monsoon season brought heavy rainfall, devastating floods and landslides that affected millions of people, accounting for about 15% of its population.
By mid-January 2023, months after the worstflooding, as many as 4 million children are still living near contaminated and stagnant flood waters, risking their survival and well-being. Displaced people have begun to return to their places of origin, but they are returning to challenging circumstances.
To help those in need, the CLIA launched an initiative named “Put on Chinese Shoes, Rebuild New Home” in January. Li Ning Group, one of the leading sports brand companies in China, took action in the first time to express its care for the affected people in Pakistan, China Economic Net (CEN) reported.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Moin ul Haque expressed his sincere thanks to CLIA and the group for their generous help to the flood-stricken groups in Pakistan. He said the donation made him felt once again the warmth of the Chinese people towards the Pakistani people.
Chen Zhanguang, Vice President of CLIA, told the reporter that the initiative was a good start. “We hope that more shoe manufacturers will participate in donating to the affected people in Pakistan and shoulder their responsibilities.”
Li Ning, founder of the Group, said in his speech that Pakistan is a friendly neighbour of China, and the two countries have a tradition of helping each other. “May the Pakistani people rebuild their homes as soon as possible,” he added.