Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chairs a meeting regarding solar and wind power projects
Govt permits FIA to arrest ex-finance minister Shaukat Tarin: Rana Sanaullah
KARACHI, Feb 12 (APP): Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Sunday said the government had allowed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to arrest the former finance minister Shaukat Tarin for a wrong deed, which could cause loss to the country.
He said an inquiry was completed against Shaukat Tarin and the permission to arrest him was granted at the request of FIA so that no one could dare to repeat the act in the future. He accused PTI chief Imran Khan of instigating Shaukat Tarin.
Rana Sanaullah was addressing a press conference after chairing a meeting on ‘Security of Foreigners’, attended among others by the Sindh Chief Secretary Dr Mohammed Sohail Rajput and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sindh Dr Ghulam Nabi Memon at Sindh Chief Secretary’s office.
He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had chaired a meeting two days ago on the security of those working on the projects for the country’s development.
Interior Minister said the country would be on the path to development and prosperity after the completion of the projects.
While condemning a recent statement of the PTI chief, he said the country would be stronger and more stable. Imran Khan reached Islamabad on May 25 with armed men to control the capital but the people rejected him and did not accompany him to the capital, he added.
Sanaullah said this man (Imran Khan) was a political terrorist, and that Pakistan would be kept safe from both terrorists and the “political terrorist”.
Condemning the Peshawar Police Lines blast, he said that no doubt a new spate of terrorism had emerged.
Replying to a question on talks with proscribed terrorist outfits, he said that there was no sign of talks with them in view of the unsuccessful talks in the past.
Answering a question on elections, he said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was ready for the elections whether they were held in April or October, but it’s the responsibility of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold them in 90 days as per the orders of the high court.
He elaborated that the challenges of re-emerging terrorism and the economy should be reviewed before any decision.
The minister, replying to a question regarding allegations of theft against each other by PML-N and PPP in the past, said that now they had come to know that the real thief was Imran Khan. He said that Farha Gogi looted Punjab and transferred Rs 12 billon to a foreign country.
In response to a question on the arrest of former interior minister Sheikh Rasheed, he said Sheikh was apprehended as he could not prove his allegations against a big political party leader.
Replying to another question on increasing street crimes in Karachi, he said the IGP Sindh and Additional IGP Karachi had chalked out a plan to control it.
National Women’s Day: NA speaker pays tribute to women
ISLAMABAD, Feb 12 (APP): National Assembly (NA) Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said National Women’s Day holds great significance in the annals of history owing to the undeterred struggle of Pakistani women for democracy in the face of dictatorship.
He, in a message on the occasion of National Woman’s Day, paid rich tribute to women and remarked that they were a metaphor for unparalleled bravery, great talent and indomitable courage.
The speaker further said, “Madar-e-Millat Fatima Jinnah, Madar-e-Jamhooriat Nusrat Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto are role models for the world as they stood strong and expressed great commitment in the testing and difficult times.”
He also emphasized that the 1973 Constitution of Pakistan guarantees equality, representation, protection and opportunities for the development of women.
The parliament would continue to make all-out efforts to ensure full implementation of these constitutional rights, he maintained.
Ashrafi for action against real culprits behind Nankana Sahib incident
ISLAMABAD, Feb 12 (APP): Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Interfaith Harmony and Middle East Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi on Sunday said the government should conduct a thorough probe into the disappointing incident of lynching a person in Warburton Nankana Sahib and take stern action against the real culprits behind the scene.
He, in a video message expressing his personal views over burgeoning issues of lawlessness and citing the example of Sialkot and Khanewal, said the lack of adequate knowledge of Shariah was causing such nuisances in society.
Ashrafi who is also the chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council said the accused of the Holy Quran desecration was a Muslim and he must have awarded punishment in the light of the Constitution instead of killing him ultra vires.
He urged the judiciary to make this an exemplary case and penalized the people allegedly involved in this heinous crime within a period of one month at the same place.
Quoting the verse from the Holy Quran, he said the murder of a human was a murder of the entire humanity, adding that we must condemn such barbaric incidents in the strongest terms.
He expressed the hope that the government would reach out to the original masterminds behind this whole tragedy.
Ashrafi urged the people not to take the law in one’s hands and let the law take its own course.
Rana Sanaullah vows to ensure security of Pakistani, foreign nationals
QUETTA, Feb 12 (APP): Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has directed to take all possible measures to ensure the safety of Pakistani and foreign nationals in the country.
He expressed these views while chairing a high-level meeting in Gwadar on Sunday regarding anti-terrorism measures and security of foreign nationals in the country.
“There should be no negligence in the implementation of the foolproof security plan,” he added
Secretary Interior Yousaf Naseem Khokhar, Chief Secretary Balochistan, Abdul Aziz Aqili, IG Balochistan Police Abdul Khaliq Shaikh and officials of the law enforcement agencies attended the meeting.
The minister said foolproof security will be provided to Chinese nationals working on various projects in Pakistan and any negligence in this regard will not be tolerated.
Rana Sanaullah said one percent amount of all projects of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has been reserved for security arrangements.
He said that vacancies in the security agencies should be filled on a priority basis and local people should be given priority in the recruitment process.
Earlier, the minister was given a detailed briefing regarding the security arrangements.
Thar Coal brings revolution in power sector by contributing 1,320 MW electricity to national grid: official
HYDERABAD, Feb 12 (APP): The Thar Coal Project is an important milestone in the energy self-sufficiency of Pakistan as it contributes 1320 Megawatt eco-friendly electricity to the national grid, an official informed a group of journalists from Hyderabad on their study tour of Thar Coal Block-II, arranged by Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC).
Apart from power generation, he added, this project — executed by Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company with the cooperation of Sindh Government — is providing employment, education, health and other facilities to the people of the backward area of district Tharparkar while the agriculture sector is being developed with the treated saline water drained out from the coal mine of block-II.
SECMC officials and engineers gave a detailed presentation to the media persons about the coal mining process, crushing of the coal extracted from the mine, and then transporting it to the power plant for electricity generation.
The Thar Coal project is a game changer project for Pakistan’s energy self-reliance which not only will meet the country’s electricity needs but also enable it to export electricity to other countries.
Deputy Manager SECMC Sagar Kothari informed journalists that the Sindh government has started working on the Thar Coal Power Generation Project in block two under Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company since 2013 and now 1320 MW of power is being added to the national grid from this project.
Apart from this, he said, coal is being supplied from Thar Coal Block 2 not only to the Thar Coal power plant but also to the Lucky Coal Power Plant located in Port Qasim, Karachi. Thar Coal is playing an important role to meet the energy requirements of the country and the project not only is benefiting the economy but also significantly improving the lifestyle of the local population.
On the occasion, Kothari told APP that currently 25,000 tonnes of coal is being extracted from the coal mine per day, from which 1320 MW of electricity is being generated.
Engineer Sayed Mudassar informed that 25,000 tons of coal were also supplied daily from block two to Lucky’s power plant, Port Qasim. The Coal production of the Thar Coal Project has been increased from 3.8 million tons to 7.6 million tons per annum which will increase socio-economic opportunities besides ensuring self-reliance on energy.
Deputy Manager Media Junaid Ansari rejected the impression based on rumours spread by so-called “intellectuals” that poisonous water and gases were coming out of the coal mine and coal-based power plants, and said such rumours were false and incorrect and are spread to defame this national project.
The SECMC also established a village named “New Senhri Dars” at an alternate location for the residents of a village already existing at the site of the coal mine of Thar Coal Block II. As many as 172 houses, a mosque, a temple, separate community centres for Muslims and Non-Muslims and a school were built by the SECMC and a water filtration plant was also installed for the provision of clean drinking water to the villagers, he said, adding that each house owner will also be paid 100,000 per annum for 30 years.
The engineers, technical staff, women dumper drivers and other employees were seen busy in the power generation process while the Thar Million Tree project also changed the ecosystem of the Thar desert area where in the past no one had imagined such environmental change.
The drainage, mostly saline-alkali water, is pumped out from the second and third aquifers, usually 120 meters and 280 meters below the surface, and then transmitted to the Gorano reservoir through a pipeline. The creation of Gorano Reservoir also led to the formation of a unique saltwater wetland, which has attracted migratory birds and becomes a habitat for several bird species, enhancing the biodiversity of the area. In addition, thousands of fish roe have been released into Gorano Reservoir and varieties of fish can be found in it.
Junaid Ansari said the people were prone to the narrative that coal mining and coal-fired power plants can cause serious pollution to the environment but the latest integrated mine-power projects represented by the Thar project have already proven to be clean and green through the application of advanced technologies.
The purpose of the Thar Million Tree project is to mitigate drought effects and enhance food security using saline water and realize the people of desert areas that the water pumped out from the coal mine is not polluted or poisonous, a SECMC spokesman said.
The NED University graduate and a young engineer, Nimra, also briefed the media team about the first ever Bio-Saline Agriculture Project and Thar Million Tree project in which plantation was carried out at the site of projects with collaboration and expertise of Karachi University, Xinjiang University and Pakistan Agriculture Research Council.
A number of different trees, fodder, fruits and vegetables have been planted and sown in the arid area which was shown to the media persons.
She said that the Thar Million Tree project was started in 2017 and it was expanding day by day. The annual carbon dioxide reduction from the plants is about 600 tons per year, she said, adding that things had changed a lot now as, with six years of devotion to tree planting in the desert, the landscape in the area has been transformed significantly.
Seven types of desert plants, such as Rhodes Grass, Aloe vera and Pennicim had been planted year by year, starting from one tree to a patch of plants to the sea of green, Nimra added.
Villagers are very glad to see a ‘greenland’ in the desert and have been using the leaves of these trees as fodder for their animals and now they need not to leave their homes for feeding their animals.
Apart from efforts of reforestation in Thar, the SECMC team had built a reservoir to gather drainage from the mine pit, which would otherwise be wasted in most mining projects.
The visiting journalists also planted saplings inside the Thar Million Tree project site.
During the visit to the coal crushing plant, Junaid Ansari informed that 25 local women dumper drivers were transporting crushed coal of Thar Coal Block-II to the power generation plants set up by Engro Powergen Thar Limited (EPTL) which generates 1,320-megawatt of electricity from Thar Coal.
In Thar Coal Block-I, Shanghai Electric, a Chinese company, has also started work to generate coal-based power from which 1,320 Megawatt electricity would be produced by the end of 2023.
He said the saline sea water drained out from coal mines through pipes is being treated to be used for irrigation purposes and Thar Million Tree Project was proof that plants, fruits, and other agricultural crops have been cultivated that have turned the environment greener.
He said Thar Coal was part of the game changer project, China-Pakistan Economic Cooperation (CPEC), which will usher in the development and prosperity of Pakistan and other countries of the region.
Nation enduring consequences of PTI’s incompetence: Maryam
ISLAMABAD, Feb 12 (APP): Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz on Sunday said the nation was enduring the consequences of the incompetence of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s ineligible government led by Imran Khan.
Talking to newspersons, she thanked the media for extending exemplary support in the most difficult period.
She said Imran Khan’s wrong policies were responsible for the current economic woes of people, adding that “people know who was responsible for the current problems, inflation and economic crisis.” She claimed that Imran Khan was still being “facilitated”.
PTI did nothing for the people and the country, during their four years of rule as all their attention was on holding meetings of the spokespersons.
She said the government was doing its utmost to drive the country out of the crisis as the Shehbaz government can’t turn a blind eye to inflation. She said she can’t deny that there was no inflation, and because of the IMF, we cannot give any relief to the people.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s focus was to ensure good governance, getting the country and the nation out of the quagmire of problems.
She said PML-N believes in performance as the foundation, identity and real strength of the party was the delivery of services.
Highlighting the main reason for a weakened position on social media, she said PML-N was a party working in the practical field. Moreover, she added, PML-N’s social media was being handled on a voluntary basis, and now the volunteers were being organised at the primary level. “Our volunteers were so efficient that ‘Papa Johns’ had to launch a crackdown against PML-N.”
She said the PTI government had recruited keyboard warriors with hundred of rupees at government expense.
PML-N was developing its own IT wing and Senator Dr Afnanullah was working on it, she added.
About, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, she said he was contacted on the last day as well, and he was not angry.
He (Shahid Khaqan) has been working with Nawaz Sharif for the last thirty years, and “if Shahid Khaqan encourages me, it will be a great thing,” she added.
Meanwhile, chairing an organisational meeting of the PML-N Women Wing, she said she informed Nawaz Sharif about the rousing welcome she received upon returning home from London. “The response exceeded my expectations.”
Maryam said she was deeply impressed by the sentiments of party workers in Bahawalpur, Multan and Abbottabad. The spirit of the organizational convention in Islamabad was exemplary and spectacular, youth, women and elders were present in large numbers, she added.
The entire programme of the organizational convention was organised by Muhammad Nawaz Sharif himself. The meeting discussed the organisational affairs of the women’s department in detail. Fateha for the departed soul of Begum Najma Hameed was also offered.
Paying glowing tribute to Begum Najma Hameed, Maryam said the deceased was the precious asset of the party. Najma managed the party’s women wing very well and she was the mother of workers.
Maryam said women wrote a new history of courage in the difficult times of Pakistan, democracy and party, and played a vital role in the country’s politics right from Mather-e-Millat Fatima Jinnah to Begum Kalsoom Nawaz Sharif.
Appreciating the sincerity of women workers, she said the PML-N’s women wing endured the fascism of PTI in the last four years with exemplary courage, sacrifice and bravery.
The PML-N chief organiser vowed to make the party’s organisational structure more effective by implementing suggestions and recommendations of women workers.
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan chairing a meeting on ‘Security of Foreigners’ at the office of Chief Secretary
Promotion of human rights impossible without giving equal rights to women: Bilawal
LAHORE, Feb 12 (APP): Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that it is impossible to promote human rights without giving equal rights to women.
According to a statement issued by Bilawal House Media Cell here on Sunday, the Chairman PPP, in his message on National Woman’s Day, extended greetings to the entire nation, including all the mothers, sisters and daughters of Pakistan and said that this day is a symbol of Pakistani women’s struggle for democracy and resistance to dictatorship.
Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that Pakistani women were a metaphor of unparalleled bravery, great talent and indomitable courage, adding that the Madar-e-Millat Ms Fatima Jinnah, Madar-e-Jamhooriat Begum Nusrat Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto were role models for the world.
“It is a matter of pride for me that Pakistan People’s Party is the only party in the country which has been led by two women,” he said.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the Constitution of 1973 guarantees equality, representation, protection and equal opportunities for development of women in Pakistan.
The Chairman PPP assured the Pakistani women that his party fully supports their every struggle to end all forms of discrimination and exploitation.