Pakistan Army vs Balochistan women’s Netball team in action during 22nd National Netball Championship 2023 at Liaquat Gymnasium Pakistan Sports Board
PPAF bringing real change in less privileged people’s lives; says Italian envoy
ISLAMABAD, Feb 12 (APP): Ambassador of Italy to Pakistan Andreas Ferrarese said that Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) was bringing a real change in the lives of less privileged people which was the main objective of the Italian government for lending the support to the government and the people of Pakistan.
He expressed these views while addressing an event titled ‘Celebrating the Impact of Community Driven Development’, organized by the Programme for Poverty Reduction (PPR) of PPAF here at a local hotel the other day.
The Italian envoy said that Italy wanted to enhance cooperation and ties with Pakistan in diverse areas including economic development.
The members of diplomatic fraternity, government, academia, civil society organizations and the representatives of the communities that were benefited by various initiatives under PPR made their presence on the occasion.
According to the participants, the PPAF in collaboration with the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), had played a remarkable role to usher in a new era of socio-economic development and the uplift of the communities in remote areas of the country.
The PPAF under the PPR, proved to be one of the most successful development cooperation examples for bringing a visible change in the lives of people from 14 remote and less developed districts of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, they added.
Sharing their stories, the representatives from the beneficiary communities informed about the multi-sectoral transformation, initiatives to strengthen indigenous culture, empowering youth, and creating value chains in fisheries, dates, and olive cultivation. Besides, developing community structures and providing quality health and education facilities to the local communities led them to achieve integrated transformation, they expressed.
Director AICS Pakistan Emanuela Benini was of the view that the collaboration under PPR had provided target communities better access to income-generating opportunities and improved civic amenities.
She said, the AICS aspires to lay the foundation for a strong developmental network in Pakistan and the development initiatives taken under PPR were the key reflection of our commitment toward this objective.
PPAF Chief Operating Officer Nadir Gul Barech while thanking the Italian government, said that the people of Italy and AICS were trusting the Pakistan government and PPAF for providing valuable support to uplift the communities living in the remote and most underserved areas of Pakistan.
He said with the generous support of Italian government, the PPAF successfully implemented the PPR in target districts of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as one of the major integrated local development initiatives.
The PPR was implemented as an integrated programme focusing on the socio-economic development of communities at grass roots level through the development of small infrastructure, provision of health and education services, skill development trainings and sustainable livelihoods opportunities for the target communities, he added.
Ahsan lauds NDMA for swift relief, stresses mobile medical teams for quake-hit countries
ISLAMABAD, Feb 12 (APP): Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Dr Ahsan Iqbal on Sunday appreciated the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) for swift relief assistance and laid stress to arrange mobile medical teams along with essential medicines for quake-hit countries.
Dr. Ahsan Iqbal chaired the meeting through video link whereas Chairman NDMA, Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik and Turkish Ambassador Mehmet Pacaci joined the session, a news release said.
The NDMA held a special National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC) session to review humanitarian assistance package for quake-hit Turkiye and Syria.
The session was attended by Ambassador of Pakistan in Turkiye Dr. Yousaf Junaid, Ambassador of Pakistan in Syria DG NLC, Air Marshal (R) Shahid Akhter and representatives of Ministry of Health Services, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Pakistan Navy and PDMAs.
The minister said that a fundraising campaign was also launched in educational institutions across the country to collect funds for victims of the earthquakes. The drive was launched in schools, colleges, and universities in response to the prime minister’s call.
The Chairman NDMA briefed that the authority has arranged and dispatched 162 tonnes and 9 tonnes of relief goods to Turkiye and Syria respectively whereas relief consignment of 447 tonnes collectively has been sent off through NLC trucks to both countries.
This consignment contains large family-sized winterized tents and blankets as per current need of quake affectees. Additionally, deputed Pakistan Army USAR team and Rescue 1122 team have undertaken several rescue operations in Turkiye.
The Chairman NDMA informed that consignment of 195 tons consisting double-ply tents and procurement of 1600 tons’ of food bags are under process which will be dispatched through NLC trucks & Pak Navy ships to both countries in coming days.
He highlighted that NDMA is also coordinating additional rescue and medical teams for Syria and Turkiye. He said that NDMA has notified 13 collection points for donations across the country for quake-affectees.
Turkish Ambassador thanked the people and government of Pakistan for spearheading relief efforts with the highest priority. The Ambassador also expressed the request of the Turkish side to send additional humanitarian aid in form of insulated tents, solar batteries and generators.
The DG NLC gave briefing on road logistic arrangements for relief supplies to Syria and Turkiye. DG PDMA Punjab informed that PDMA has collected 7986 blankets and 221 food bags through public mobilization which will be handed over to NDMA.
During the meeting, Ambassador of Pakistan in Turkiye Dr. Yousaf Junaid and Ambassador of Pakistan in Syria Air Marshal (R) Shahid Akhter briefed the meeting about current situation and ongoing rescue operations in their respective countries.
Kashmir organization to protest against settlements in IIOJK
MUZAFFARABAD, Feb 12 (APP): Chairman Pasban-e-Hurriyat Jammu Kashmir, a refugee organization Uzair Ahmad Ghazali has announced to organize a protest rally in Muzaffarabad on 15th of February against the confiscation and demolition of citizens’ properties in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) by the Indian armed forces.
In a statement issued here on Sunday, he said that United Nations Security Council member states and the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) should immediately stop all unconstitutional, undemocratic and inhumane actions of the Indian government in the IIOJK.
He stated that the protest would be organized on the call of the All Party Hurriyat Conference, adding that the people of Muzaffarabad would gather at Burhan Wani Chowk to organize a sit-in against the imperialist measures of Indian government in the IIOJK.
Vice Chairman Usman Ali Hashim said that India had adopted Israeli behavior by taking the lands of Kashmiri people in the name of anti-encroachments.
“Narendra Modi gang uses heavy machinery as a weapon to demolish private properties and other structures, he said and added that Bharatiya Janata Party was evicting Kashmiri citizens from their lands through their forces, and under these circumstances, the role of the government of Azad Kashmir, political parties, religious parties and civil society, especially the youth had become very important.
He informed that the protest would be start at 9 am to draw the international community’s attention to Modi’s worst kinf of war crimes and appealed to the masses to join the protest and express solidarity with their brethren in IIOJK.
President Peace and education foundation Azhar Hussain giving certificate to participant during the Media Voices of Peace on “Four-Day Capacity Building Workshop for Media Influencers” organized by Peace and Education Foundation (PEF)
A Group photograph with President Peace and education foundation Azhar Hussain with the media persons during the Media Voices of Peace on “Four-Day Capacity Building Workshop for Media Influencers” organized by Peace and Education Foundation (PEF)
PAF vs HEC men’s Netball team in action during 22nd National Netball Championship 2023 at Liaquat Gymnasium Pakistan Sports Board
Labourers loading bundle of husk from wheat to deliver in the market
Labourer making bundle of husk from wheat to deliver in the market
Labourer women crushing bricks into pieces for construction use
