CNS visits forward naval posts, inaugurates Hospital at Turbat

Thu, 2 Feb 2023, 5:53 PM

KARACHI, Feb 2 (APP):Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi on Thursday visited forward posts in coastal areas and inaugurated a 25-bed hospital at Turbat.

The state of the art hospital is aimed to provide quality medical facilities to local populace along with troops.

Upon arrival at Turbat, the Naval Chief was received by Commander Pakistan Fleet Vice Admiral Ovais Ahmed Bilgrami, a Pakistan Navy news release said.

The CNS was given detailed briefing on operational preparedness of units and deployed troops. He interacted with the troops and expressed full satisfaction on operational preparedness and combat readiness. He appreciated the high morale of troops in ensuring impregnable defence of the country in the prevailing challenging environment.

The Naval Chief also reiterated Pakistan Navy’s resolve to safeguard the maritime frontiers of the country besides ensuring socio-economic uplift of coastal community as foremost initiatives.

IHC reserves verdict on Gill’s petition in sedition case

NNPS Desk

Thu, 2 Feb 2023, 5:51 PM

ISLAMABAD, Feb 02 (APP):The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday reserved its judgment on a petition of Shehbaz Gill challenging the appointment of a special prosecutor to pursue sedition case against him.

Chief Justice Aamer Farooq reserved its judgment after the two sides concluded their arguments.

During the course of proceeding, the chief justice remarked that special prosecutors used to be appointed in several cases.

Deputy attorney general said that the appointment of special prosecutor in the case was lawful and prayed the court to dismiss the case.

Special Prosecutor Rizwan Abbasi’s lawyer Aleem Abbasi Advocate said that the appointment of public prosecutor was the authority of federal government, adding that permanent prosecutor could not defend the nominated accused in any case.

He said that the petitioner had not challenged the notification regarding the appointment of special prosecutor, adding that Rizwan Abbasi was not a private prosecutor instead he was public prosecutor.

He said that the appointment of Rizwan Abbasi as special prosecutor was made as per the rules of business. The petitioner had the right to hire a lawyer but he could not authorise to choose a prosecutor of his choice.

The lawyer said that the appointment of special prosecutor was different from the appointments of attorney general or other law officers.

On a query by the bench, he said that interior ministry had appointed the prosecutor on the request of chief commissioner ICT.

The advocate argued that the court decision which were mentioned by the petitioner had no connection with this case.

The petitioner’s counsel gave the references of judgments of other courts and claimed that the top court had banned the appointment of special prosecutors. He, however, said that there was no certain laws regarding the appointments of special prosecutors.

After listening arguments, the court reserved the judgment in the case.

FBR launches ‘App’ of currency declaration for international travelers

NNPS Desk

Thu, 2 Feb 2023, 5:49 PM

ISLAMABAD, Feb 2 (APP):The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Thursday launched a mobile application named Pass Track with regard to the currency declaration for international travelers.

“The mobile App “Pass Track” has been modified to facilitate passengers to declare currency while traveling to and from Pakistan even before coming to airport, Member Custom Mukarram Jah Ansari told media here after the launch of App.

He said the testing of the App has been completed and many new features have been incorporated so that passengers can easily fill in all the required information.

It may be recalled that the State Bank of Pakistan issued notification last month to revise the cash carrying limits for outbound passengers. Accordingly, the FBR has notified the revised cash carrying limits.
About the limits for passengers traveling abroad except Afghanistan, Mukarram Jah said according to the revised notification, the maximum limit per person per visit has been reduced to $5000 and the annual limit has also been set at $30,000.

Similarly for people below 18 years of age, the maximum cash limit for a person has been set at $2500 per visit while the annual limit has also been revised down to $15000.

For those traveling to Afghanistan, the maximum limit for carrying cash in foreign currency is $1000 per person per visit, while the maximum limit per year is $6000.

Ansari said any incoming passengers when in possession of foreign currency exceeding US$10,000 or equivalent is also required to file declaration. Moreover, Pakistani currency can be taken out with a maximum limit of Rs 10,000

Moreover, he said SBP has also made it mandatory for every person carrying foreign currency to file a declaration with Customs In order to make it convenient for international passengers, Pakistan Customs has obtained help from National Technology Board (NTTB) to develop a web-based mobile App to electronically file the declaration.

Giving details of the App’s features, he said it is available on App store and Play store for downloading. The Web version of the App is also available.

He said the App provides step by step guidance to the travelers making it easier for them to file declaration and any person can register on the App using his/her mobile number.

Passengers will provide personal data once, and on the next visit, the system will auto populate the form on logging in, he said adding that the App will show the previous declaration in the calendar year and available annual limit.

Barrister Sultan urges USA to play due role for resolving Kashmir issue

NNPS Desk

Thu, 2 Feb 2023, 5:45 PM

MIRPUR ( AJK): Feb 02 (APP):Azad Jammu and Kashmir President Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry has said that the USA should play its due role to help resolve the lingering Kashmir dispute peacefully in line with the UN security council resolutions.

He expressed these views in a detailed meeting with Senator Chris Van Hollen in Washington on Thursday, AJK President office said late Thursday.

Referring to the simmering situation in the held territory the president said that Modi government’s 5th August 2019 unilateral move has pushed the region into a quagmire of chaos and uncertainty.

Indian government’s illegal and undemocratic actions, he said, had pushed the region to the brink of war.

“Though Pakistan had made several attempts during the recent past to defuse tension in the region and bring India to the negotiation table but Modi government that is pursuing the policy of Hindutva has been reluctant to resume dialogue with Pakistan”, the president said adding that it was high time that the Biden administration should use its influence to resume dialogue between Pakistan and India.

Stressing the need for an inclusive dialogue, Barrister Chaudhry said that these negotiations should be tripartite in nature. He said that Kashmiris being a fundamental party to the dispute should be included in the talks process to find out a just and durable solution to the Kashmir dispute.

While seeking an early and amicable settlement of the lingering dispute, he said that the former American President Bill Clinton had also termed Kashmir as the most dangerous conflict in the world.

“The international community, especially the United States and the US Senate, should play their role in resolving the Kashmir issue and stopping the ongoing human rights violations in Occupied Kashmir”, he said.

Later, Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry, while speaking as a special guest at an event said that the dire situation in the Indian occupied Kashmir demands that Kashmiris and Pakistanis living in America should play their role to solve the Kashmir problem and stop Indian atrocities in Occupied Kashmir.

A special person moving on the way with support of a rickshaw at Tilak Incline Road

Zia Ur Rehman

Thu, 2 Feb 2023, 5:40 PM

<em>A special person moving on the way with support of a rickshaw at Tilak Incline Road</em> — APP19-020223 HYDERABAD:

Police officials removing tinted mirrors from a vehicle during crackdown against fancy number plates and fancy lights.

Zia Ur Rehman

Thu, 2 Feb 2023, 5:38 PM

<em>Police officials removing tinted mirrors from a vehicle during crackdown against fancy number plates and fancy lights.</em> — APP17-020223 HYDERABAD:

Senate Standing Committee briefed on Kashmir Solidarity Day preparations

NNPS Desk

Thu, 2 Feb 2023, 5:37 PM

ISLAMABAD, Feb 2 (APP):A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan was held here at the Parliament House on Thursday with Senator Prof. Sajid Mir in chair.

The Senate body deliberated on budgetary utilization of AJK and GB during the first six months of the current fiscal year 2022-2023, said a press release.

The officials informed the committee that the total budget of AJK and GB for 2022-23 is around Rs 1142.168 million which includes Rs 186.143 million for Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan, Rs 260 million for Refugees Management Cell, Rs 24.954 million for Directorate of Health Services (AK), Rs 4.432 million for J&K Refugees Rehabilitation Organization and Rs 666.639 million for Gilgit Baltistan Council Secretariat Islamabad.

They said the federal government has released Rs 459.571 million till December 2022 and total expenditure stood around Rs 455.264 million and a shortfall of Rs 151.636 million is expected under the head of Gilgit Baltistan Council, Islamabad.

Discussing the matter of Azad Kashmir properties located in the different parts of the country, the committee decided to form a Sub-Committee to probe the matter and it was decided that these properties should be handed over to Azad Kashmir government to get benefit from them.

The Committee was also briefed about the preparations with respect to Kashmir Solidarity Day on 5th February.

Secretary for Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Zahoor Ahmed, apprised the committee that the government has aimed to disseminate Pakistan message on Kashmir Solidarity Day worldwide and support from Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has also been sought in this regard.

Among other activities, the ministry has organized three days cultural festival with the collaboration of National Council of Arts to exhibit the culture and traditions of Azad Jammu Kashmir and a walk from Foreign Office to D Chowk will also be held to mark solidarity with the people of Azad Kashmir.

The Chairman Committee congratulated ministry on their efforts in highlighting the Kashmir cause and reiterated that no stone shall left unturned in self-determination struggle of Kashmiris.

The meeting was attended by Senator Shahadat Awan, Senator Shaheen Khalid Butt, Senator Kamran Michael, Advisor to Prime Minister on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Qamar Zaman Kaira, Additional Secretary for Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Zahoor Ahmed and other senior officers of concerned departments.