BEIJING, Aug 28 (APP): Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Monday that inbound travellers no longer need to conduct pre-departure COVID-19 nucleic acid tests or antigen tests starting from August 30.
“Starting from August 30, 2023, inbound travellers will no longer be required to take a pre-entry nucleic acid or antigen test for COVID-19,” he said during his regular briefing.
KARACHI, Aug 28 (APP): President Dr Arif Alvi on Monday said that information technology and artificial intelligence opened paths to progress for differently-abled persons while inclusive education could sensitize the society about their importance and struggle.
The president expressed these views in a meeting with the delegation of Special Olympics Pakistan here at the Sindh Governor House. First Lady Begum Samina Alvi was also present on the occasion.
President Alvi said the future was not only bright only for the people with normal abilities, but had also become friendly and helpful for the differently-abled people due to the evolving society of artificial intelligence and information technology.
Access to knowledge and information had broadened to all with emerging technologies, particularly mobile phones with Internet facility, he added.
The president said that the spirit of inclusive education was that the children with disabilities could also receive education along with normal children, however, the need for special schools arose only in case of special abilities.
He said the “society becomes sensitized through inclusive education, so much so that the normal children realize the hard work and importance of the children with disabilities”.
The president advised the special athletes to exhibit the same spirit in earning their livelihood with which they play sports.
Begum Samina Arif Alvi, on the occasion, said that the children with disabilities were equally important to the society if they were given some necessary skills and special education.
Both the president and the first lady met the special athletes and congratulated them on their participation and winning of awards in the World Summer Games Berlin 2023.
Special Olympics Pakistan Chairperson Ronak Lakhani thanked the president and the first lady for encouraging the special athletes.
Total 176 countries had participated in the World Summer Games Berlin 2023. Pakistani special athletes participated in 11 sports events and won 83 medals, including 11 gold, 32 silver and 40 bronze.
ISLAMABAD, Aug 28 (APP): The Registrar Office of Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday ordered an inquiry into malfunctioning of the lift and sought a report within two days from the Director General of Pakistan Public Works Department (PWD).
The Registrar Office also issued directives to the PWD for the inspection of all lifts of the IHC building and decided to appoint lift operators as well.
The office, in its directive, said that the lift of the judges’ block got stuck at second floor of the building on August 25, at 12:00 p.m. The lift was carrying lawyers including Latif Khosa Advocate and some newsmen.
It said that the technical staff had failed to repair the lift despite several attempts. However, the officials of Capital Development Authority (CDA) later rescued the people after breaking the lift.
ISLAMABAD, Aug 28 (APP):Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar Monday here held a meeting with member of House of Lords of British Parliament Lord Aamer Sarfraz and discussed matters of mutual interest.
Reaffirming the importance Pakistan attached to its ties with the U.K., the Prime Minister discussed ways and means to further expand Pakistan-U.K. cooperation in areas of importance, particularly trade, investment, development and people-to-people contacts.
The Prime Minister lauded the accomplishments of British Pakistanis, several of whom now hold positions of eminence in the British political system. He expressed the hope that our diaspora would continue to play an active role in elevating Pakistan-U.K. ties to greater heights.
Lord Sarfraz congratulated the Prime Minister on his appointment to the august office.
MIRPUR ( AJK); Aug 28 (APP):: Azad Jammu Kashmir Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq, while reiterating his government’s commitment to ensure good governance and supremacy of law, said that good governance was key to the region’s socioeconomic development.
While talking to public delegations that called on him at Jammu Kashmir House in the federal metropolis on Monday the PM said that correcting the system and implementing reforms was the first and foremost priority of the present government.
He said that the public would benefit from the government initiatives only if service delivery in the state improves. He said that the government has reduced non-developmental expenses with a view to putting an increased emphasis on the health, education and development of the region.
After taking up the reins of the state, the PM said that the coalition government had tried to solve the problems of the people and provide them with all the basic amenities of life. He said that development across the state can be visible on the ground only when the projects allocated in the current financial year’s budget are completed.
“Our priorities are to raise the standard of living of the people by providing them with facilities at their doorstep and raising the voice for our oppressed Kashmiri brothers on the other side of the Line of Control”, the PM said.
PESHAWAR, Aug 28 (APP): Chairman Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI), Muhammad Zubair Motiwala has requested IG FC KP to intervene in the resolution of the slow processing of vehicles loaded with empty containers at the Torkherm border.
In a letter sent to IG FC and Secretary Commerce Ministry of Commerce, Muhammad Sulaeh Ahmad Faruqui, Chairman PAJCCI apprised that complaints were being received from our members pertinent to the stoppage and slow release of vehicles loaded with empty containers at the Torkham border.
This situation is further aggravated on a daily basis and due to the delays the number of stuck containers is also increasing, Motiwala added.
“This slowdown has been in process and if it further continues, then it would further badly affect the Afghan Transit Trade (ATT) and bilateral business ties significantly,” Chairman PAJCCI went on to say.
As per reports, currently, 2000+ Pakistani Trucks are held in Afghanistan. On the other hand, transportation rates are increasing, due to the shortage of vehicles in Pakistan.
The detention charges (120$ -140$) are another expense, which is also accumulated on a daily basis on every container, raising the costs enormously.
This has not only affected Pakistani businesses but also Afghan entities engaged in both transit and bilateral trade, he added.
Meanwhile, Director PAJCCI KP, Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi while supporting the viewpoint of Zubair Motiwala, has said that the business community is facing a lot of problems due to the slow process in the clearance of vehicles at the Torkhem border.
He said the relevant departments including Pakistan Customs, NLC, FC and others should take up this issue and chalk out a viable solution to this problem creating hurdles in the smooth running of business affairs.
Prolong clearance processing is not only causing delays in the transportation of vehicles but also inflicting a financial burden on the business community to pay extra rent to truck owners and detention charges to companies.
Zia said in a recent border meeting of stakeholders of transit trade from both Pakistan and Afghanistan, he also took up this issue with relevant quarters.
He also requested IG FC to intervene in the resolution of this matter at the earliest as it has been pending for a long and arrange a meeting with the business community on the platform of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
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