Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif meeting Turkish earthquake victims in Adiaman and offering condolences
PBM inks MoU with NUML to support deserving students
ISLAMABAD, Feb 17 (APP): Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM) inks Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) here on Friday to keep the deserving students on their educational track.
PBM Managing Director Amir Fida Paracha signed the MoU with NUML Director General Brig Syed Nadir Ali, said a press release.
The MoU describes PBM’s further support to the deserving students at NUML as PBM will support 250 post-graduate and undergraduate deserving students yearly for their education.
Addressing the ceremony, Amir Fida Paracha expressed his enthusiasm to support the deserving and promising students of the country enabling them to complete their education.
He said that PBM is leading the country towards a social welfare state with its eminent pro-poor services. He further highlighted the PBM’s proactive contribution towards poverty reduction in the country.
Brig Syed Nadir expressed his gratitude to the PBM chief for extending support to the deserving students anticipating their bright and successful life ahead, as a result of the social commitment between both organizations.
Navy promotes two commodores to rank of Rear Admiral
ISLAMABAD, Feb 17 (APP): Pakistan Navy on Friday promoted two Commodores to the rank of Rear Admiral with immediate effect.
Rear Admiral Khyber Zaman is a graduate of Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth, UK and was commissioned in Operations Branch of Pakistan Navy in 1994, a Pakistan Navy news release said.
He is a graduate of PAF Air War College, National Defence University, Islamabad and International College of Defence Studies China. The Flag Officer is a recipient of Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Military).
Rear Admiral Shafquat Hussain Akhtar was commissioned in Operations Branch of Pakistan Navy in 1994.
The Flag Officer is a graduate of Pakistan Navy War College, Naval War College, Turkiye, National Defence University, Islamabad and International College of Defence Studies China. The Admiral is a recipient of Sitara-i-lmtiaz (Military).
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia enjoying unique, durable relations: Dr Asseri
ISLAMABAD, Feb 17 (APP): Former ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Pakistan and Rasanah Board Member, Dr Ali Awadh Asseri, on Friday termed Pak-Saudi relations as “unique, progressive and durable”.
Delivering a lecture at Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI), he said Pakistani people are dear and near to Saudi Arabia, and the relationship spans economic, political, cultural and strategic affairs.
He underscored the strides that both countries have made in geopolitical coordination, and mentioned the special understanding that they enjoy at the regional and international levels.
Dr Ali Asseri talked at length about the economic ties, saying that Riyadh had been forthcoming in assisting Pakistan in bailing it out whenever it was in dire straits, and made a mention of loan facilities as well as oil on deferred payment facilities.
The former ambassador highlighted how Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman’s Vision 2030 is changing Saudi Arabia and the region, and what positive impact it had on the social milieu of the Kingdom, as it transforms towards an open society.
He expressed hope that Pakistan can play a greater role in regional security, and observed that Kashmir and Palestine, as well as Islamophobia, are issues that cement them in commonality.
Dr Asseri, known as a friend of Pakistan, talked about the two million-plus Pakistani diaspora in Saudi Arabia and remarked that skilled and educated strata have more avenues to flourish in Kingdom.
He said investment and trade are two fora that need to be tapped and called upon the chambers of commerce and industries to come up with proper homework to harness more productive cooperation.
Commercial Operation date for 330 MW granted to ThalNova project
ISLAMABAD, Feb 17 (APP): A 330 MW ThalNova Thar coal based power project located at Thar Block-II on Friday achieved Commercial Operation Date (COD).
Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) announced achievement of COD of yet another Thar coal based power project, said a press release.
This is the second project commissioned during current month and this significant development is another achievement in Private Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB’s) endeavors to provide cheap and indigenous electricity to the national grid.
Sponsored by a joint venture comprising HUBCO, Thal Limited, Novatex Limited, China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), and Descon with $ 497.7 million investment, ThalNova Power is a mine-mouth lignite-fired power plant at Thar Coal Block II Sindh and is a part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The plant will be fueled by coal extracted from Thar Block II by the Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company and will utilize 1.9 million tons of coal to generate 2.24 billion units of electricity per annum with anticipated annual savings of Rs. 55 billion.
Successful commissioning of this Project is another demonstration of PPIB’s effective facilitation towards promoting Thar coal for power generation. With this latest addition, total production of electricity from five Thar coal based power generation plants has reached to mammoth 3,300 which indicates growing interest of investors.
Prior to ThalNova, PPIB has already facilitated commissioning of four Thar coal based project having gross capacity of 2,970 MW, namely 660 MW Engro, 660 MW Lucky, 330 MW Hubco and 1320 MW Shanghai Thar power projects, all of which are at Top of NPCCs merit order list.
Commissioning of this Project will result in huge annual savings of foreign exchange outflow and reduce dependence on imported fuels while cumulative estimated reduction in fuel bill from 3,300 MW will be Rs. 550 billion.
Hence basket price of electricity shall also be reduced significantly. Additionally, the ThalNova Project will play pivotal role for bringing prosperity to local & regional communities and improving living of local Thari people by generating employment & business opportunities.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif meeting Turkish earthquake victims in Adiaman and offering condolences
Police register case against person domesticating leopard
ISLAMABAD, Feb 17 (APP): Islamabad police have registered a case against the person keeping the leopard at the house who injured several persons in a housing society.
According to the police spokesman, a case of the incident has been registered at Sihala police station against the unknown accused under section 324/289 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
The leopard was domesticated by an unknown person and the accused endangered the lives of citizens by keeping dangerous animals.
“The search for the accused is going on and legal action will be taken after arresting him soon,” he added.
It is pertinent to mention here that a wild leopard entered the house at DHA Phase-II. The people of the neighborhood informed the relief organization and wildlife about his existence in the area.
Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) and Capital Development Authority (CDA) took more than five hours to capture a leopard that injured several persons and panicked residents.
As per initial reports, three people got hurt, including two staff members of IWMB, during the entire episode which resulted in the capture of the wild cat.
Female entrepreneurs receive green loan of Rs 0.5 mln each
GILGIT, Feb 17 (APP): Gilgit Baltistan (GB) Chief Secretary Muhiudeen Wani here on Friday said that the first set of loans of five lakh rupees each was distributed among five female entrepreneurs.
Chief Secretary said this in an official statement to the media. He said the ‘Plastic Free GB’ campaign has been complemented with green loans of Rs 5 lakhs, Rs 10 lakhs, and Rs 15 lakhs to wholesalers of eco-friendly biodegradable and cloth bags.
He added, “Creating alternative businesses is a need of the hour.”
The CS informed, “Today the first set of loans of five lakh each is distributed among five female entrepreneurs who are excited to manufacture cloth bags immediately.”
“We are getting these social entrepreneurs connected with their prospective buyers and clients in GB,” CS GB said.
He informed, “In the next few days, the loans of one million and 1.5 million loans will be distributed among all qualified entrepreneurs.”
He said, “We have followed a transparent process of selection for these green loans, and special preference will be given to female entrepreneurs.”
PM says Turkiye earthquake a wake-up call; world should come up to rescue quake-hit people
ADIYAMAN, Feb 17 (APP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said the earthquake in Turkiye was a wake-up call to the international community which should come up to the rescue of the quake-hit nation.
The prime minister, in an interview with the Turkish TRT television channel, during his visit to the quake-ravaged areas, said the international community including the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the United Nations should support the Turkish people.
“This is my message to world including the OIC and the United Nations. This is not politics. Today is question of survival,” he remarked.
He said the earthquake had killed thousands of the people besides causing colossal losses of property.
The prime minister was confident to say that no doubt Turkiye would do all possible for rehabilitation of the quake-hit people but no amount of resources could bring the loved ones back.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said he was there to convey condolence over the destruction caused by the earthquake as Pakistan and Turkiye were “two souls and one heart.”
Earlier, in an interaction with the media, the prime minister, that considering the needs of the quake-ravaged Turkish people, Pakistan would now focus on the provision of winterised and fireproof tents to Turkiye.
He said Pakistan had been supplying blankets, food stuff and other relief goods. However, after his discussion with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, his government had changed the strategy to focus on the supply of winter tents.
He said after his return to Pakistan, he would hold a meeting with the tent manufacturers of Pakistan and devise a plan to ensure speedy manufacturing of tents to provide a temporary shelter to the Turkish brethren.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said he had assigned the task to Chairman of National Disaster Management Authority and assured that the tents would be dispatched by land, air as well as sea routes.
He said the people of Pakistan and Turkiye enjoyed historical relationship marking Islamic brotherhood and recalled the unprecedented Turkish support to Pakistan after it was hit by an earthquake.
He said being a Muslim brotherly nation, Pakistan was obliged to support its Turkish brothers and sisters and expressed the hope that both Pakistan and Turkiye would jointly cope with the pervading challenge