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WHO Country Head calls on Balochistan CM

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QUETTA, Nov 19 (APP):Country Head of World Health Organization in Pakistan Dr Palitha Gunarathna Mahipala called on Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo here on Saturday.

Chief Secretary Abdul Aziz Uqaili and Health Secretary Hafiz Tahir were also present on the occasion.

Dr Palitha said that the WHO acknowledged the services of the Balochistan government for providing assistance and health facilities to the flood victims in the affected areas of the province, adding that the efforts were commendable.

He said that the chief minister played an active role in the flood-affected areas and provided immediate relief to the victims.

The WHO would continue to provide full support to control epidemics in flood-affected areas and meet the health and nutritional needs of mothers and children, he said.

In the meeting, they agreed to increase the cooperation of the World Health Organization in the provision of health facilities in Balochistan.

Dr Palitha also assured of extending cooperation to control polio-measles and other childhood diseases under EPI on behalf of the WHO.

He said that more vaccination centres would be set up, CT Scan Ambulance and Motorcycles for Health Workers would be provided to the Health Department.

Bizenjo thanked the WHO for providing valuable support. He also praised for the services of the WHO Country Head for Balochistan.

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ms Marriyum Aurangzeb addressing a press conference

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Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ms Marriyum Aurangzeb addressing a press conference
APP45-181122 ISLAMABAD: November 18 – Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ms Marriyum Aurangzeb addressing a press conference. APP/ABB
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ms Marriyum Aurangzeb addressing a press conference
APP45-181122 ISLAMABAD:

UN calls for more funds to maintain lifesaving response for Pakistan’s flood-hit people

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UNITED NATIONS, Nov 18 (APP):The United Nations is calling for additional funding to meet the urgent needs of the flood-affected people in Pakistan, UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Aziz Haq said Friday, noting that the organization’s $816 million humanitarian appeal is only 21 percent funded.

“More than three months since the devastating floods began, the catastrophe is far from over,” he told reporters at the regular noon briefing at UN Headquarters in New York.

“We are calling for additional funding to maintain the lifesaving response,” Farhan Haq said in an update on the country’s flood situation.

The climate-induced floods have affected 33 million people and caused destruction across the economy — the agricultural, health and education sectors, with more than five million people remaining displaced.

The spokesperson said that food and livelihoods assistance had reached 4.1 million people, while 1.5 million people received emergency shelter kits, blankets, bedding and kitchen sets.

“Our partners have provided health assistance to 1.5 million people, while more than 1.7 million people have received clean water,” he said.

Access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene remain challenging, with the flooding and standing water having led to a rise in water and vector-borne diseases, the spokesperson said. Millions of people face increased food insecurity as families are returning home to destroyed houses, ruined crops, and dead livestock.

“As winter begins to set in, with snow already affecting some areas, people affected by the floods are even more vulnerable and many need adequate shelter, food and winterization support,” Farhan Haq added.

CM Bizenjo urges federal government to ensure implementation of job quota for Balochistan

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CM congratulates Pakistani cricket team for becoming top ODI team in world

QUETTA, Nov 18 (APP): Chief Minister Balochistan Abdul Quddus Bizenjo on Friday said that the federal government should ensure the implementation of job quota for Balochistan.

He expressed these views while distributing reinstatement orders among over 300 employees of the Communication and Works (C&W) department at the CM Secretariat.

“The present government has also approved appointments on more than 800 posts in the services and general administration department (S&GAD) to provide jobs to the unemployed youth of the province,” he said.

Regarding the government’s initiatives, the CM said that the government had increased the money allocated for the endowment fund to provide financial support to needy and deserving patients in Balochistan.

The provincial government has decided to launch Balochistan Health Cards facility at the cost of Rs 5.914 billion, which the CM said, would provide health insurance facilities amounting to Rs 1 million to every family.

According to the programme, the Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) will be considered the health card for the permanent residents of the province.

About the multi-billion dollars gold and copper project of Reko Diq, CM Bizenjo reiterated that a historic deal was signed with the company after thorough consultations with politicians, lawmakers both from the opposition and treasury benches and other stakeholders.

He said the agreement and settlement regarding the Reko Diq project would protect the resources of the province and interests of the local people.

Reko Diq project would bring an end to the prevailing sense of deprivation and backwardness of Balochistan, he said.

The job of the leadership was to make decisions and he had played his role in ensuring a prosperous future for the people, he said.

Quddus Bizenjo said that practical steps were adopted to address the grievances of people living on borders with Iran and Afghanistan. He said various projects were also launched to support the people living in the bordering areas.

Keeping the self-respect of the people in priority, unnecessary check posts had also been eliminated in the province, the CM added.

The work done in one year was unprecedented in the history of the province, he said, adding that the first priority of the government was to provide employment to the people along with the provision of basic facilities.

Marriyum condoles demise of Mufti Rafi Usmani

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 18 (APP): Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Friday expressed grief and sorrow over the demise of renowned religious scholar Mufti Rafi Usmani of Jamia Darul Uloom, Karachi.

In a condolence message, she termed the death of Mufti Rafi Usmani an irreparable loss and said his services in the fields of religion would always be remembered.

The minister prayed to Allah Almighty to grant peace to the departed soul and strength for the bereaved family to bear the loss with fortitude.

President, PM grieved over Mufti Rafi Usmani’s death

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 18 (APP): President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday expressed grief over the death of renowned religious scholar Mufti Rafi Usmani of Jamia Darul Uloom Karachi.

Paying tribute to the religious and literary services of the late religious scholar, the president said he had rendered valuable services in the fields of theology, Hadith and Tafsir.

His services in the fields of religion, education and particularly the promotion of religious education would be remembered forever, he added.

The prime minister also said that the services of the late Rafi Usmani for religion would be kept alive forever.

They also prayed to Allah Almighty for peace of the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family to bear the loss with fortitude.

Racism, discrimination against children rife in countries worldwide: UNICEF

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UNITED NATIONS, Nov 18 (APP):Racism and discrimination against children based on their ethnicity, language and religion, are rife in countries across the world, the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, said in a new report ahead of World Children’s Day on Sunday.

The report looks at the impact of discrimination on children and shows the extent to which racism and discrimination affect their education, health, access to a registered birth, and to a fair and equal justice system.

It highlights widespread disparities among minority and ethnic groups.

“Systemic racism and discrimination put children at risk of deprivation and exclusion that can last a lifetime,” UNICEF Executive Director, Catherine Russell, said in a statement.

“This hurts us all. Protecting the rights of every child – whoever they are, wherever they come from – is the surest way to build a more peaceful, prosperous, and just world for everyone.”

The report shows that children from marginalized ethnic, language and religious groups, from 22 low and middle-income countries which were analyzed, lag far behind their peers in reading skills.

On average, students aged seven to 14 from the most advantaged group are more than twice as likely to have foundational reading skills than those from the least advantaged group.

An analysis of data on the level of children registered at birth – a prerequisite for access to basic rights – found significant disparities among children of different religious and ethnic groups.

For example, in Laos, 59 per cent of children under five in the minority Mon-Khmer ethnic group, have their births registered, compared to 80 per cent among the Lao-Tai ethnic group.

Discrimination and exclusion deepen intergenerational deprivation and poverty, and result in poorer health, nutrition and learning outcomes for children, a higher likelihood of incarceration, higher rates of pregnancy among adolescent girls, and lower employment rates and earnings in adulthood.

Girls from an indigenous community read outdoors at Ban Pho Primary School in Bac Han District in remote Lao Cai Province, Viet Nam.

While COVID-19 exposed deep injustices and discrimination across the world, and the impacts of climate change and conflict continue to reveal inequities in many countries, the report highlights how discrimination and exclusion have long persisted for millions of children from ethnic and minority groups, including access to immunization, water and sanitation services, and a fair justice system.

“On World Children’s Day and every day, every child has the right to be included, to be protected and to have an equal chance to reach their full potential,” said Catherine Russell. “All of us have the power to fight discrimination against children – in our countries, our communities, our schools, our homes, and our own hearts. We need to use that power.”

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ms Marriyum Aurangzeb addressing a press conference.

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Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ms Marriyum Aurangzeb addressing a press conference.
APP44-181122 ISLAMABAD: November 18 – Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ms Marriyum Aurangzeb addressing a press conference. APP/ABB
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ms Marriyum Aurangzeb addressing a press conference.
APP44-181122 ISLAMABAD:

BRT Yellow Line project being expanded: Sharjeel Inam

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KARACHI, Nov 18 (APP): Sindh government is revising the BRT Yellow Line project to expand its outreach to more areas so that a larger number of commuters could benefit from the modern and better transport facilities.

This decision was shared by Sindh Minister of Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon to World Bank Transport Specialist Bilal Paracha, who called on him on Friday.

Two feeder services of BRT Yellow Line- from FTC to Baloch Colony and FTC to Metropole- were incorporated in the new plan so that more citizens of Karachi could be able to utilise the modern public transport, the minister said, adding that two multistorey bus depots were proposed in the new plan instead of six depots due to non-availability of required land on the BRT route.

Sharjeel Memon said that the Sindh government was determined to start work on the BRT Yellow Line project at the earliest and instructions were issued for starting the process for procurement of buses for the project.

The concerned department was coordinating with project consultants on Plan One and Plan Two to revise PC-I of the project that would be presented for further consultation in the upcoming meeting with the World Bank, he informed.

Sharjeel said that the Sindh government, focusing on providing a modern public transport system to Karachi had started the People’s Bus Service, Orange line, and Electric Bus Service, while work on BRT Red Line was in full swing.

With the completion of BRT’s Red Line and Yellow Line, he hoped modern transport facilities would be available to a large population of the metropolis.

Prime minister condoles over deaths by Gaza building fire

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 18 (APP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday expressed grief over the death of 21 people including eight children in a fire engulfing a residential building in Gaza.

“We, in Pakistan, are grieved at the loss of 21 precious lives including that of eight children in a fire tragedy in a residential building in Gaza,” the prime minister wrote on Twitter.

According to the media reports, at least 21 people were been killed by a fire in a residential building in a densely populated refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared mourning for one day, during which flags flew at half-mast at all official institutions.

“We send our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family & the people of the State of Palestine,” the prime minister added.

In response to the prime minister’s tweet, Palestinian Ambassador Ahmed Ameen said, “Thanks dear excellency PM H.E Shahbaz Sharif and Pakistani people.”