PPF calls applications for Media Safety Fellowship program

Sun, 19 Feb 2023, 8:38 PM

ISLAMABAD, Feb 19 (APP): The Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) called applications for Media Safety Fellowships program to promote freedom of expression and support media professionals in producing stories on media safety and impunity in Pakistan.

Selected fellows would work under the supervision of a senior journalist who will act as the Project Editor, said a press release issued here Sunday.

During the fellowship program, each fellow would have to produce six stories for publication or broadcast in national media organizations.

The participants would also be awarded an honorarium of up to Rs 60, 000.

The deadline for submission of applications is February 26.

Islamabad United to overcome mistakes, says Shadab Khan

NNPS Desk

Sun, 19 Feb 2023, 8:36 PM

Islamabad United to overcome mistakes, says Shadab Khan

MULTAN, Feb 19 (APP): Captain of Islamabad United Shadab Khan said that the team would overcome mistakes in the next matches to bring improvement in performance.

During a media talk after the match at Multan Cricket Stadium on Sunday, Shadab Khan said that a captain has a major role in the victory of the team.

He said that as a captain he never accepts defeat till the last ball of the match. Shadab added that win and defeat are part of the match but working hard to overcome mistakes could change the results.

He said that the team always entered the ground with a positive mind and gave their best. He said that comprehensive planning was made by keeping in view the situation of ground and opposition.

The spinner of the National Cricket team maintained that the pitch of Multan was good as compared to the pitch of Karachi. He lauded the crowd of Multan for making the event successful.

Caretaker CM reviews healthcare facilities

Abdul Hanan

Sun, 19 Feb 2023, 8:20 PM

Caretaker CM reviews healthcare facilities

LAHORE, Feb 19 (APP):Caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi presided over a meeting at the CM Office and discussed the programme to provide quality health facilities to people of the province.

While directing the authorities concerned to bring further improvement in the healthcare facilities, he underscored that patients should be provided quality treatment facilities in the government hospitals as getting quality and free treatment is the right of every needy patient.

Mohsin Naqvi said that matters pertaining to treatment and provision of other essential facilities should be improved at the earliest in the government hospitals.

He emphasised that the Punjab government would continue to strive for bringing further improvement in the healthcare system.

The facilities being provided in the government hospitals of Punjab were also reviewed during the meeting. The participants put forth their recommendations to improve treatment facilities and services in the government hospitals.

Provincial Minister for Specialized Health Care & Medical Education (SHC&ME) Doctor Javed Akram, Chairman P&D, Secretary SHC&ME, Secretary Finance, CEO Punjab Health Initiative Management Company(PHIMC) and officials concerned attended the meeting.

KP Caretaker CM Azam Khan convenes security assessment meeting on Tuesday

NNPS Desk

Sun, 19 Feb 2023, 7:53 PM

PESHAWAR, Feb 19 (APP): Caretaker Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Azam Khan has convened an important meeting on coming Tuesday for an assessment of the security situation across the province in the context of upcoming general elections.

The relevant authorities will give a detailed briefing to the interim chief minister on the overall security situation of the province, said an official handout issued here on Sunday.

It is pertinent to mention that Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Haji Ghulam Ali, earlier, had sent a letter to the caretaker chief minister back seeking a security assessment for holding general elections in the province.

In order to look into the matter and reply to the governor, accordingly, the interim CM has convened a meeting on Tuesday wherein he would be briefed about the security situation.

Art show by child artists concludes

NNPS Desk

Sun, 19 Feb 2023, 7:42 PM

ISLAMABAD, Feb 19 (APP): An art exhibition by more than 140 children concluded here on Sunday at Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) exploring diverse ideas by young minds.

The show was organized by Discovering New Artists (DNA) in collaboration with PNCA.

This was the 9th Art for Change – International Child Art Exhibition for the 140+ children artists who have been
selected as the best artist among the 6,500+ art submissions from private, public, and under-resourced schools from 15 different countries across the globe.

Art for Change International Child Art Exhibition was a collection of paintings on canvas with compassion and care for a noble cause.

These art pieces were the most recent works of the junior artists depicting the theme “Colors of Nature, Girls
Education, and Innovate the Future.” The team Discovering New Artists has tried its best to make ‘Art for International Child Art Competition and Exhibition’ a refreshing and fruitful experience for both the volunteers and the
children, said the organizers.

The two-day exhibition and award ceremony was the travelling show that will also be exhibited in Lahore and Karachi.

The show was jointly organized by Discovering New Artists (DNA), PNCA, Alliance Francaise Karachi and Goethe
Institute, and TNS Beaconhouse DHA while the 9th Art for Change was supported by the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust (QCT).

The travelling exhibitions were open to the public and the artworks were available for sale, adding this year’s sale proceeds will be donated to the recent flood victims.

Work on gas projects ‘closed by PTI’ resumed: Amir Muqam

NNPS Desk

Sun, 19 Feb 2023, 7:36 PM

SWAT, Feb 19 (APP): Adviser to the Prime Minister Engr Amir Muqam, here on Sunday, said that work on the gas projects approved by Pakistan Muslim League’s (Nawaz) government till 2018 had been resumed here after it was shut down by the PTI government.

Engr Amir Muqam was addressing various public gatherings at Tuligram, Aseer, Alabad, Gulibag, Alamgunj, Khwazakhela, Bandai and Gaskor in Swat.

While congratulating the people of Swat for the resumption of work on the gas projects approved by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s government till 2018, he accused the PTI government for “destroying the country’s economy, loot and plunders” in the last four years in centre and 10 years in KP.

He said that three mega projects of Malakand division, including Chakdara-Kalam Expressway, Chakdara-Dir-Chitral Expressway and Besham Expressway were also closed by the PTI government which he said was a great injustice to people. He alleged that gas projects approved by Nawaz’s government were brought to a grinding halt by the former PTI government.

Engr Amir Muqam said that Pakistan Muslim League (N) under the leadership of its supremo Nawaz Sharif would take the country out of all challenges. “The country’s existing problems are due to the incompetence government of Imran Khan,” he added. On this occasion, people raised full-throated slogans in favour of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Nawaz Sharif, and Engr Amir Muqam.

PPP KP chapter finalizes strategy for political activities

NNPS Desk

Sun, 19 Feb 2023, 7:34 PM

PESHAWAR, Feb 19 (APP): Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter has finalized a strategy regarding political activities in future and decided that the provincial cabinet would be taken on board on all important matters of the Party.

In this connection, a meeting of the PPP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet was held here Sunday with acting provincial president and Minister of State, Mohammad Ali Shah Bacha in the chair. Besides, Secretary Information, Amjad Khan Afridi, Syed Ayub Shah, Senator Robina Khalid, Saleem Khan, Malik Saeed Khan, Malik Tehmash Khan, Gohar Inqilabi, Shoaib Alam, Farzand Ali Khan, Yawar Naseer, Dr Zulfikar and Liaquat Shabab, other office bearers also attended the meeting.

The meeting discussed in detail the prevailing national and provincial level situation and took important decisions in that context.

The meeting was also given a detailed briefing regarding launching a mass public contact campaign and evolved strategy in that regard.

Addressing the meeting, Mohammad Ali Shah Bacha said that the champions of court arrests (Jail Baharo Tehreek) are seeking pre-arrest bails, saying the PTI chief has bandaged his leg since last four months and is hiding in his Zaman Park residence.

He said that Imran Khan during his rule, registered fake cases against his political opponents and imprisoned them for a long time. He said that those who are making hue and cry over the agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) themselves had reached an agreement with it.

On this occasion, Senator Robina Khalid accused the PTI chief Imran Khan of spreading anarchy in the country and called for an investigation against him in the Billion Tree Tsunami, Malam Jabba and recruitment scams of his era. She further demanded the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and other agencies to initiate investigation against the PTI leadership.

PUC celebrating 33 years of foundation with 10-day activism

NNPS Desk

Sun, 19 Feb 2023, 7:17 PM

Read in Urdu

ISLAMABAD, Feb 19 (APP): Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) Chairman Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi on Sunday said the council was celebrating its 33 years of foundation with 10-day activism from February 18 to 28 across the country.

Ashrafi, who is also Special Representative of the Prime Minister on Interfaith Harmony and Middle East in an exclusive talk with APP, said the PUC, established in 1990, had organized a number of religious programmes including conventions and seminars and Paigham-e-Islam Conference would also be held in March in this connection.

He said the council was member of various national and international organizations and playing a vibrant role for inter-sect and inter-faith harmony on the globe.

He said it had set some targets to achieve in the year 2023 and 2024, and the system of Khilafat-e-Rashida was on its main agenda.

He said it would continue its efforts to establish the system of Khilafat-e-Rashida in the country as it was based on justice and equality.

He said these days, there was so much talk of holding elections at every nook and cranny of the country adding that the elections must be held as per law of the land.

Ashrafi further informed that the PUC had decided not to contest elections until and unless the misuse of huge money was strictly prohibited in it adding that it would extend its support to their like-minded people who would fight the elections in their respective constituencies across the country.

Citing example of Nankana Sahib’s disappointing incident, he said there should be an effective mechanism to deal with increasing polarization and extremism in the society. Nobody would be allowed to use Mehrab-o-Mimber for death and destruction in the country anyway, he added.

He went to say that if someone was accused of desecration of the Holy Quran or blasphemy of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) would be punished by the court of law, also adding that nobody would be given free hand to be complainant, judge and executioner.

He proposed that we had to mend our ways as such inhuman incidents were bringing bad names to Pakistan, Muslims and Islam across the world.