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Masood Khan honoured with Dr. Martin Luther King Legacy Award for diplomacy, int’l service

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NNPS Desk
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WASHINGTON, Jan 16 (APP):Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Masood Khan, was honoured Sunday with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy Award for Diplomacy and International Service’ in recognition of his commitment, leadership and service.

The award, named after the leader of he American civil rights movement in mid-50s, was conferred on the Pakistani envoy at the 31st International Salute to the Life and Legacy of the late Dr. King, convened by Institute for the Advancement of Multicultural and Minority Medicine (IAMMM).

The ceremony, held ay Willard InterContinental Washington D.C., was attended by more than 150 guests, including US lawmakers, diplomats, entrepreneurs, community leaders and educationists from Washington and across the United States, according to a Pakistani embassy’s press release.

The coveted award is conferred annually as part of the commemorative celebrations in honour of the late Dr. King’s birthday, which is celebrated on January 15.

Ambassador Masood Khan was also nominated as the Honorary Chairman of Martin Luther King International Salute.

Other recipients of the Martin Luther King Legacy award this year were: Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland; John Wobensmith, Maryland’s Secretary of State, Richard Shadyac, President and CEO ofn ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and Shanel McGoy, Senior Director in Public Affairs, Corporate Citizenship Gilead Sciences, Inc.

Thanking IAMMM for the award, Ambassador Khan said he was honoured to be associated with the iconic figure of Dr. Martin Luther King and his mission.

“When you honour me, in fact, you are honouring Pakistan and its people,” he said.

He also thanked Madeline Lawson, President and CEO of MLK, Jr. International Salute, for her initiative to revive the great event after the coronavirus pandemic, to celebrate the life and work of Dr. King. “By associating the diplomatic corps with the Salute, you reach out to all nations and peoples of the world.”

Earlier in his opening address as Chairman, Ambassador Khan paid a glowing tribute to the great US leader who fought repression and depravity to uphold respect for diversity and human dignity.

“His legacy can be summed up in three words: freedom, equality, and justice, for all. It provides a template for combating, anywhere in the world, inequality and discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, gender, ethnicity and nationality.

“On this day, let’s not forget the people being consumed by the fury of unjust wars and illegal occupation,” he added.

Ambassador Khan said that the vision of Dr. King continued to inspire world leaders, lawmakers and human rights activists and defenders. Referring to 1969 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination ((CERD), he said that Dr. King’s strong advocacy for racial equality influenced legislation at the United Nations expanding the body of international law that promotes and protects universal rights of all. “His struggle spurred anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, and helped hasten the demise of colonialism,” he continued.

“Like other nations, Pakistan has also been inspired by Dr. King. Personally, for me and other diplomats he has been a lodestar for fulfilling our shared obligations to promote civil liberties and fundamental freedoms,” he said.

Referring to the saying of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H), made fifteen centuries ago, that a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white – except by piety and good deeds, Ambassador Masood Khan said that the saying was so compellingly echoed in Dr. King’s declaration in 1963 that all people should be judged not “by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

Masood Khan said that in line with the vision of the great US leader, “we should work together for eradication of poverty and climate justice worldwide’, he said.

“On this day, let’s not forget the poor populations that seek attention and help,” he emphasized.

Speaking on the occasion the Karachi-born U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen said that “we all have a responsibility to do our very best to stand up for human rights and justice.

“Not only when it’s politically convenient, but across the globe, applying those standards, not just to our foes but also to our friends,” he said.

Talking about environmental justice, he said that “those around the world who are most vulnerable are those who are the most harmed by climate change.

Referring to the recent floods in Pakistan, Senator Hollen said it was important that the United States and other countries that had been primarily responsible for the release of carbon emissions and climate change do their best to address the inequities and harm imposed on countries who contribute very low.

Ambassador Masood Khan thanked Senator Chris and said that Pakistan was striving to get recognition for climate justice, not just for Pakistan but for all vulnerable countries around the globe.

UN chief calls renewables energies ‘only credible way’ to avoid climate catastrophe

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NNPS Desk
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UNITED NATIONS, Jan 16 (APP): :UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a video message to the 13th Session of the Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), which is being held this weekend in Abu Dhabi, that renewable energies are “the only credible way” to avoid a climate catastrophe.

“Only renewables can safeguard our future, close the energy access gap, stabilize prices and ensure energy security,” the UN chief said, while outlining a five-point plan for a just transition.

“Together, let’s jumpstart a renewables revolution and create a brighter future for all.”

The world is still addicted to fossil fuels and the goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius is fast slipping out of reach, Guterres warned.

“Under current policies, we are headed for 2.8 degrees of global warming by the end of the century. The consequences will be devastating. Several parts of our planet will be uninhabitable. And for many, this is a death sentence,” he said.

Renewable energy sources currently account for about 30 per cent of global electricity.

Guterres said this must double to over 60 per cent by 2030, and 90 per cent by mid-century.

His Five-point Energy Plan first calls for removing intellectual property barriers so that key renewable technologies, including energy storage, are treated as global public goods.

Countries also must diversify and increase access to supply chains for raw materials and components for renewables technologies, without degrading the environment.

“This can help create millions of green jobs, especially for women and youth in the developing world,” said Mr. Guterres.

The Secretary-General urged decision makers to cut red tape, fast-track approvals for sustainable projects worldwide and modernize power grids.

His fourth point focused on energy subsidies. He stressed the need to shift from fossil fuels to clean and affordable energy, adding “we must support vulnerable groups affected by this transition.”

The final point highlighted how public and private investments in renewables should triple to at least $4 trillion dollars a year.

Noting that most investments in renewables are in developed countries, the Secretary-General urged countries to work together to reduce the capital cost for renewables and ensure that financing flows to those who need it most.

Multilateral development banks must also invest massively in renewable energy infrastructure, he added, while richer nations must work with credit agencies to scale up green investments in developing countries.

The President of the UN General Assembly, Csaba Korosi, underlined how success in climate protection depends on the transition to clean energy.

“But the energy transition we have foreseen was a peace time agenda,” he said in a pre-recorded message. “How will it work in times of major political confrontations when energy supplies are turned into a tool of conflict?”

Although setbacks might occur in the short term, along with a probable rise in the greenhouse gas emissions that drive global warming, Mr. Kőrösi pointed to the long-term benefits of green energy.

“If we look into the investment trends, the long-term impact of the conflict might be the opposite. From solar to wind, wave, and geothermal, renewable energy sources are available for every climate. Their use has a potential of strengthening energy sovereignty,” he said.

Weather and climate-related disasters – extreme floods, heat and drought affected millions of people and cost billions in 2022, as tell-tale signs and impacts of climate change intensified.

The General Assembly President outlined steps that must be taken for renewable energy to comprise 60 per cent of global power generation by 2030.

They include investing in scientific tools of measurement, creating a follow-up mechanism to assess progress, removing intellectual property barriers, and bolstering partnerships for sustainable energy initiatives.

Korosi stressed the urgency to act now.

“We are in a desperate race against time. We need bold transformative action to curtail climate change,” he said. “We have the knowledge. We have the means. We should only have the will.”

A youngster catching fish with the help of net in the canal

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Khuram Maryam
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A youngster catching fish with the help of net in the canal
APP42-150123 MULTAN

Children playing a cricket near railway track at old civil line

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Khuram Maryam
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Children playing a cricket near railway track at old civil line
APP38-150123 SARGODHA

A farmer use fertilizer in a vegetable field at Faisalabad road

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Khuram Maryam
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A farmer use fertilizer in a vegetable field at Faisalabad road
APP37-150123 CHIINIOT

SNGPL staffers busy in laying Sui gas pipeline at southern bypass

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Khuram Maryam
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SNGPL staffers busy in laying Sui gas pipeline at southern bypass
APP43-150123 MULTAN

Women selecting old books on a roadside stall at Provincial Capital

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Khuram Maryam
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Women selecting old books on a roadside stall at Provincial Capital
APP53-150123 LAHORE

Worker making traditional curtain (Chik) at their workplace

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Khuram Maryam
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Worker making traditional curtain (Chik) at their workplace
APP52-150123 LAHORE

Nearly 1 bln people served globally by healthcare facilities without reliable electricity

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NNPS Desk
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UNITED NATIONS, Jan 15 (APP): Close to 1 billion people in poor countries are served by healthcare facilities with unreliable electricity supply or with no electricity access at all, according to a new UN-backed report.

The study presents the latest data on electrification of healthcare facilities in low- and middle-income countries, and projects investments required to achieve adequate and reliable power.

It was published by the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Bank, the Internationa Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforAll).

In South Asia and sub-Saharan African countries, more than 1 in 10 health facilities lack any electricity access whatsoever, the report finds, while power is unreliable for a full half of facilities in sub-Saharan Africa

“Electricity access in healthcare facilities can make the difference between life and death,” Dr Maria Neira, WHO interim Assistant Director-General for Healthier Populations, said in a statement.

“Investing in reliable, clean and sustainable energy for health-care facilities is not only crucial to pandemic preparedness, it’s also much needed to achieve universal health coverage, as well as increasing climate resilience and adaptation.”

Access to electricity is critical for providing people with quality healthcare, from delivering babies to managing emergencies like heart attacks, or ensuring children receive lifesaving vaccines.

Electricity is required to power the most basic devices – lighting, communications equipment and refrigeration, for example, or those that measure vital signs like heartbeat and blood pressure. It is also crucial for both routine and emergency procedures.

Despite recent progress, approximately one billion people are served by healthcare facilities without reliable electricity supply, or none at all – a number that is nearly as large as the entire populations of the United States, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Germany combined.

There also stark disparities in access within countries themselves. Primary healthcare centres and rural facilities are considerably less likely to have electricity access than hospitals and facilities in urban areas, according to the report.

The report stressed that electrification of healthcare facilities “must be considered an utmost development priority”.

A World Bank needs analysis, included in the report, showed that almost two-thirds of healthcare facilities in low and middle-income countries require some form of urgent intervention, such as a new electricity connection or backup power supply.

Nearly $5 billion is urgently needed to bring them to a minimal standard of electrification.

The authors said decentralized sustainable energy solutions are available which would have a huge impact on health delivery, citing the example of solar photovoltaic systems which convert sunlight into electricity.

Such solutions are cost-effective, clean and rapidly deployable on-site, meaning there is no need to wait for the arrival of the central energy grid.

Healthcare systems and facilities are increasingly affected by the impacts of the climate emergency, the authors added.

Therefore, making them more resilient calls for building facilities and services that can meet the challenges of climate change while improving environmental sustainability.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has welcomed data from China on its COVID-19 surge, according to a statement issued following a conversation on Saturday between Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Minister Ma Xiaowei, Director of the country’s National Health Commission.

“WHO appreciates this meeting, as well as the public release of information on the overall situation,” the UN agency said.

Chinese officials have provided information to WHO, and in a press conference, on topics that include outpatient clinics, hospitalizations, patients requiring emergency treatment and critical care, and COVID-19 related hospital deaths.

WHO is analyzing the data, which covers the period from early December 2022 to 12 January 2023, recalling that it has been requesting China to share detailed information.

The current intense COVID-19 surge has been caused by known Omicron subvariants, according to the data. It is mainly affecting older people and those with underlying health conditions, similar to waves of infections experienced by other countries.

“The reported data indicate a decline in case numbers, hospitalizations, and those requiring critical care. WHO has requested a more detailed breakdown of data by province over time,” said the statement.

APP/ift

All set to launch 5-day national anti-polio drive in AJK

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NNPS Desk
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MIRPUR (AJK): Jan 15 (APP) :: Like rest of the country, all is set to launch the 05-day integrated nationwide anti-polio campaign in Azad Jammu and Kashmir from Monday – January 16 to January 20.

More than 7.10 lakh children of under 5 years of age would be administered the anti-polio vaccine during the campaign, the State Health authorities told APP here on Sunday.

Only in AJK’s metropolis – Muzaffarabad, over 120,000 children up to five years of age would be administered anti-polio vaccines during the drive.

At least 3859 mobile teams of para-medical staff have been constituted to visit door-to-door to administer the anti-polio vaccine and Vitamin A-drops across AJK – where 432 fixed centers have also been set up by the State Polio Eradication Committee of the AJK State Health Services Department with the coordination of the World Health Organization (WHO).

The total staff to be involved in the drive include mobile teams comprising over 5000 workers for visiting door-to-door to immunize the children of and under 5 years of age during the campaign throughout AJK.

The fixed centers have been set up at state-run hospitals, basic health units, rural health centers as well as various other spots to vaccinate the children.

A total of 156 transit points have also been set up for the drive under the supervision of the concerned area in charges, the sources said.

The state health department’s Polio Eradication wing had made adequate arrangements to execute the polio eradication campaign in a befitting manner, the sources asserted that a total of 844 area in charges will supervise the drive at union council’s level across AJK in 35 tehsils and besides a total of 245 Union Council throughout AJK State.

A control room has also been set up at the office of the Provincial Program Manager EPI in Muzaffarabad to monitor the drive beside it will receive any complaint by official phone No. 05822-920791.

In Mirpur, at least 72422 children under 5 years of age will be administered the anti-polio vaccine. District Health Officer (DHO) Dr. Fida Hussain told APP that in Mirpur district 400 mobile teams of paramedics in all 28 zones will visit door-to-door besides serving at the 41 fixed centers and the 14 transit points to administer anti-polio vaccines.

Dr. Fida urged the parents to fully cooperate with mobile teams of paramedics by getting their children vaccinated.

It may be added that the state health authorities claimed that there had been no case of polio disease to any child detected in any part of AJK over the last 23 years.

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