HYDERABAD: September 20 –
A beautiful view clouds hovering over the sky in the city.
HYDERABAD: September 20 –
A poultry worker arranges eggs in trays after collecting them at the farm.
FAISALABAD: September 20 –
An artisan is busy in preparing a traditional oven “Tandoor” at his workplace.
FAISALABAD: September 20 –
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar addressing the SDG Summit Leaders Dialogue 6 on the topic “Mobilizing finance and investments and the means of implementation for SDG achievement” in UN Headquarters.
NEW YORK: September 20 –
NEW YORK: September 20 –
NEW YORK: September 20 – C
Federal Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi addressing during screening of documentary on the life and achievements of Iftikhar Arif Titled “Barhwaan Khilari” at Information Services Academy.
ISLAMABAD: September 20 –
APP15-200923
ISLAMABAD: September 20 – Federal Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi in a group photogragh with participants during screening of documentary on the life and achievements of Iftikhar Arif Titled “Barhwaan Khilari” at Information Services Academy
Federal Minister for Interior Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti addressing the opening session of the 2023 Conference of Global Public Security Cooperation Forum.
LIANYUNGANG: September 20 –
Pakistan facing big threat of TTP, ISIS-K from Afghan soil: FM Jilani
NEW YORK, Sep 20 (APP): Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani on Wednesday said that Pakistan was facing the biggest concern at present with an enhanced threat from the terrorist organizations, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) and ISIS-K (Islamic State – Khorasan Province).
The foreign minister expressed concern over the outfits’ ability to use the Afghan soil to launch attacks on Pakistan.
He was speaking on Pakistan’s foreign policy and its quest for peace, stability, and shared prosperity at an event of Asia Society, held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session in New York.
Jilani said Pakistan remained closely engaged with the interim government of Afghanistan on the issue.
Highlighting Pakistan’s commitment to fighting and defeating the terrorists, he stressed that terrorist outfits trying to gain a foothold in Afghanistan should be treated as a threat to the neighbourhood and the entire international community.
After Afghanistan itself, Jilani said, Pakistan had the greatest stake in Afghanistan, i.e., peace within and with its regional and international partners.
“This objective lies at the heart of our efforts to directly engage with the Afghan interim government as well as cooperate with the international community on Afghanistan,” he said.
The foreign minister mentioned that Pakistan had been hosting millions of Afghan refugees for decades and would continue to work with the Afghan authorities and the international community for their return to their homeland.
He pointed out that Pakistan shared the international community’s concerns over the human rights situation in Afghanistan, especially issues related to women’s rights, girls’ education, and women’s employment.
He mentioned that de-linking aid from political considerations was the key to avert humanitarian crises in Afghanistan.
Jilani said Pakistan was committed to playing its part in the comity of nations to address the pressing challenges of the time and realize its vision for peace, stability, justice, equity, and shared prosperity.
“We are committed to moving our economy to macroeconomic stability and sustainable growth, and are undertaking ambitious reforms to realize our vision,” he said.
Pakistan’s priorities, he said, were to attract investment, improve the ease of doing business, and streamline the regulatory regime.
As regards Pakistan’s relations with the United States, he termed the same one of the most consequential of bilateral relationships. ” From our independence onwards, Pakistan partnered with the US in promoting regional and global peace, stability, and prosperity.”
He said two important transformations had taken place in Pakistan-US ties. Firstly security and defence cooperation remained an important pillar, while equal emphasis was being laid by both sides to strengthen cooperation in non-security areas like trade and investment, climate change, energy, health, agriculture, IT (information technology) and tech sector.
Secondly, “the relationship now stands de-hyphenated from all other bilateral ties, and both sides are focused on tapping the inherent potential of standalone bilateral relations”, he added.
“These two transformations together provide us the ideal launching pad to enter a new era in our bilateral relationship,” he said.
The foreign minister said the Pakistani-American community had been tirelessly complementing the country’s efforts to strengthen Pakistan-US ties.
He said Pakistan desired peaceful and cooperative neighborly ties with India. Unfortunately, he said, Pakistan positive outreach and peace overtures, including his predecessor’s visit to India for the SCO meeting, were met with negativity.
“India’s illegal actions in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and abhorrent human rights violations of innocent Kashmiris at the hands of Indian security forces have further deteriorated relations,” he added.
In such a complex environment, he said, objectives of regional peace and stability called for peaceful constructive dialogue on all outstanding issues, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
“India’s belligerence and anti-Pakistan rhetoric for domestic electorate are taking us farther away from these objectives,” he added.
The foreign minister said Pakistan’s relations with China were historical and anchored in strong trade and economic ties.
He said China was Pakistan’s largest trading partner and a major investor, especially in infrastructure and energy sectors, and its flagship China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
However, he stressed that Pakistan’s relations with China were not a zero-sum game and not at the expense of its relations with any other country, least of all with the US with which it had robust ties.
“We believe we can have close and cooperative relations with both the US and China,” he said. “Having acted as a bridge between the two countries in the past, we remain convinced that stable and cooperative relationship between the US and China is instrumental for global growth, development, and security.”
On the Ukraine crisis, he said Pakistan would continue to play a constructive role to help end the war and mitigate the suffering of the Ukrainian people.
“We hope that peace would prevail to allow people of both Russia and Ukraine to enjoy its dividends,” he said, urging early resumption of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
On international cooperation for global peace and prosperity, he said Pakistan had always been a strong advocate for multilateralism, believing that through dialogue and diplomacy, “we can resolve conflicts, alleviate poverty, and achieve sustainable development”.
“Pakistan also considers arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation efforts as vital tools to promote the goals of peace and security at the global and regional levels,” he said.
The foreign minister termed climate change another pressing global challenge and said as last year’s devastating floods bear testament, Pakistan was on the receiving end of the worst impacts of climate change despite being one of the lowest contributors to global warming.
“We are doing our part to combat it by investing, with the help of our friends like the US, in reconstruction, tapping renewable energy, reforestation, and sustainable agriculture practices,” he said.
HEC appoints Dr Nasir as Chairman NACTE
ISLAMABAD, Sep 20 (APP): Vice Chancellor, Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), Prof. Dr. Nasir Mahmood has been appointed as Chairperson of National Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (NACTE) for a term of four years (effective from the date of joining the office) by the Chairman, Higher Education Commission (HEC).
It is pertinent to mention here that Prof. Dr. Nasir Mahmood has more than 25 years of working experience on various positions in the field of education.
According to a notification, he has completed more than 60 research projects and published 57 research papers in national and international journals.
Dr. Nasir Mahmood served as the Dean of the Faculty of Education in Allama Iqbal Open University for a long time. Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training appointed Dr. Nasir as the Acting Vice Chancellor of AIOU on the tenure completion of Prof Dr. Zia Ul-Qayyum.
Since then, he has been rendering his services for Allama Iqbal Open University as Vice Chancellor in a very professional and proactive manner.
Solangi terms poet Iftikhar Arif shining star on literary horizon
ISLAMABAD, Sep 20 (APP): Caretaker Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi while paying tributes to the academic and literary services of renowned poet Iftikhar Arif on Wednesday said that the towering figure was a shining star on the literary horizon who has made an immense contribution in the field of literature.
He expressed these views while addressing the launching ceremony of the documentary film on the life and achievements of the renowned poet named “Barhawan Khiladi” here at the Information Service Academy.
Murtaza Solangi said that Iftikhar Arif’s name would be at the top of the list of the leading figures of media if the knowledge and literature of Pakistan was prepared.
The minister said that Iftikhar Arif started his career with Radio Pakistan and later played a key role in the creation of PTV’s famous programs.
He said that Iftikhar Arif was like a shadowy tree on the horizon of a literary scene.
The participants of the event were also shown the documentary film “Barhawan Khiladi” on the life of Iftikhar Arif.
It should be noted that the documentary “Barhawan Khiladi” was produced by prominent short film-maker Ayesha Akram, in which various aspects of Iftikhar Arif’s life were highlighted, while the views of prominent academics and literary personalities of the country were also included in this film.
The film was launched in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Information Service Academy (ISA) and PTV Films.
Executive Director General ISA Dr Tariq Mehmood said that Iftikhar Arif was one of the leading literary figures of Pakistan and it was an honour to launch the documentary on his life and achievements.
Famous Urdu poet and writer Kishwar Naheed, former MD PTV Akhtar Waqar Azeem and former director PTV Khawaja Najmul Hassan also attended the launching ceremony of the documentary.
Federal Secretary for Information Zahoor Ahmed, Principal Information Officer and Managing Director APP Muhammad Asim Khichi and senior officers of the Ministry were also present on the occasion.
Indian links to Canada target killing shows its ‘extrajudicial network’ has gone global: FO Spox
ISLAMABAD, Sep 20 (APP): The Foreign Office on Wednesday said the news of Indian involvement in an extrajudicial killing in Canada had shown that the country’s “network of extra-territorial killings had now gone global”.
“India’s assassination of a Canadian national on Canadian soil is a clear violation of international law and the UN principle of state sovereignty,” the FO spokesperson said at a weekly press briefing.
Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch was responding to a question on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s statement that he had “credible evidence” linking the Indian state to Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s murder must be based on “some facts.”
Nijjar, 45, was shot dead in his vehicle by two masked gunmen in the busy car park of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in British Columbia, a Canadian province.
The spokesperson said the incident was a “reckless and irresponsible act” that called into question India’s reliability as a credible international partner and its claims for enhanced global responsibilities.
About India’s previous record, she said for decades, the Indian intelligence agency RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) had been actively involved in abductions and assassinations in South Asia.
Pakistan, she said, remained a target of a series of targeted killings and espionage by RAW.
She recalled that in December 2022, Pakistan released a comprehensive dossier providing concrete and irrefutable evidence of India’s involvement in the Lahore attack of June 2021. The attack was planned and executed by Indian intelligence.
In 2016, she said, a high-ranking Indian military officer Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav confessed his involvement in directing, financing, and executing terror and sabotage in Pakistan.
On India’s accusation linking Pakistan with the Anantnag encounter, she said Pakistan had been stating time and again that India had the “habit of implicating Pakistan in anything that happens under its watch, especially in IIOJK (Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir)”.
Asked about engagement with India at levels of the foreign ministries and Director General Military Operations (DGMOs), she said the main channel of communication between Pakistan and India, i.e., at the level of diplomatic missions had reduced its strength to charge d’affaires.
She mentioned that if functional, the DGMO level also existed between the two countries.
To a question about the recent letter of Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar to the leader of the interim government of Afghanistan, she confirmed that the “routine” correspondence was made in response to Afghanistan’s congratulatory letter to the caretaker PM on assuming his office.
“These are diplomatic norms. Our PM’s letter was in that context – a positive message of friendship between Pakistan and Afghanistan,” she said.
Baloch said diplomacy means talking to the counterpart whenever there are difficult issues. “For us, it is important that we continue to engage with Afghanistan to discuss all issues that are concerned to Pakistan,” she said.
Regarding the address of Turkiye’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the UN General Assembly session, where he supported the Kashmir cause and proposed talks between Pakistan and India, she termed Turkiye as Pakistan’s “old friend and brother”.
“Turkiye always has had a principle stance on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute (J&K) and they are equally pained with the plight of Kashmiri people,” she said.
Baloch said Pakistan is ready to hold talks with India on all disputes, especially the core dispute of J&K.
“With regard to third-party mediation, Pakistan has always said that we would welcome it on the J&K issue on the basis of the UN Security Council resolutions and in accordance with the principles of international law,” she said.
Pakistan, she said, would continue to raise India’s state-sponsorship of terrorism in Pakistan and its suppression of the people of IIOJK.
She said human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) continue unabated.
During the first eight months of this year, the Indian occupation forces in IIOJK killed 68 Kashmiris, including women and children with 13 custodial killings. Also, 2,900 persons including political activists, businesspeople, women, and youth were arbitrarily arrested.
Asked about Pakistan’s position on the escalation in Nagorno Karabakh issue, Baloch said Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, considering Karabakh its sovereign territory.
On the PM’s visit to New York to participate in the UNGA, she said a small delegation accompanied him including the foreign minister, foreign secretary, and some senior officials.
In his upcoming address on September 22, she said the prime minister would outline Pakistan’s perspective on a range of regional and global issues, including the longstanding unresolved Jammu and Kashmir dispute on the UN Agenda.
“He will also share the measures taken by Pakistan to consolidate economic recovery and efforts to mobilize domestic and external investments,” she said.
To a question on the meetings of the U.S. ambassador to senior officials of the Election Commission and police and also his visit to Gwadar, she said the foreign ambassadors in Pakistan are “at liberty to meet the government officials and public figures just as our ambassadors do” in their countries of postings.
On ties with Russia following a recent news report of Intercept, she said both countries had a very robust dialogue and a number of visits and exchanges had taken place.
“We continue to discuss matters of mutual interest and we believe that Russia understands that Pakistan has taken a neutral stance on the dispute between Russia and Ukraine,” she said.