ISLAMABAD, Sep 26 (APP): Ambassador of Pakistan in Brussels Amna Baloch on Tuesday met with CEO of Brussels Enterprises Commerce and Industry (Beci) Olivier Willocx.
In the “productive meeting”, they discussed pathways to collaborate in areas of mutual interest.
The ambassador extended an invitation to Beci IT companies to participate in “Tech Spring Pakistan” scheduled to be held in Pakistan in February 2024.
LONDON, Sep 26 (APP): Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Tuesday cautioned the world to wake up as the spillover of Hindutva was spreading beyond its regional boundaries, potentially impacting Western nations such as North America, Canada, and Europe.
The prime minister talking to the newsmen, said the “disease” Hindutva was getting out of region.
He said the Hindutva mindset wanted the minorities to live as peripheral citizens, not as fully qualified.
The prime minister said such a fascist mindset was practiced in the form of killing hundreds from the minority communities, activating the cow vigilantes and promulgation of the laws targeting the minorities including Muslims, Christians, Jains and others.
He said Pakistan had always been facing Indian terrorism, particularly his own Balochistan province where hundreds were killed by the Indian-sponsored terror attacks.
Prime Minister Kakar said the West might not have been moved by the killings of Pakistani citizens by Indian-sponsored terrorism, they would have no other option but to join Pakistan’s voice after it threatened their own citizens
Apprising the media of his engagement in London, the prime minister said he met the British Foreign Secretary, business community, and students at Oxford Union besides interacting with international media.
The prime minister who also visited the Oxford Centre of Islamic Studies lauded the services of King Charles for his role in curtailing Islamophobia and bridging the gap between civilisations.
To a question about Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Quaid Nawaz Sharif’s return, the prime minister said the matter involved many legal aspects as he was in London on the basis of legal permission.
He told the media that the caretaker government would seek legal opinion from the law ministry but assured that his government would not give any impression of targeting any political leader.
He said the political leaders who could take part in the election should join the process while those facing some legal impediments should approach the relevant legal forums for the remedy.
The prime minister told the media that during his interaction with UK Foreign Secretary, he had raised the matter of importing Pakistan’s semi-skilled and unskilled workforce and assured that the positive results would come forth soon.
Regarding the May 9 riot, the prime minister said it was an orchestrated attempt to undo or compromise the military authority and the perpetrators should be punished as per law.
To a question, he said the Election Commission of Pakistan would fulfill its constitutional responsibility of holding the general elections and a final date would be announced soon.
He categorically denied of meeting any political leader in London and said he was there to pursue government matters.
Calling economic issues the biggest challenge for the caretaker government, the prime minister said the privatisation of some power Discos was on the card. The International Monetary Fund has not suggested the government to go for privatisation, rather it was essential to save the public money being injected into the loss-making state-owned enterprises.
He said the government wanted people to create wealth which would enable it to generate revenue through taxation.
The prime minister said his words about the elections were being misreported as he could not foretell as who would be taking part in the elections. He said if the law allowed Imran Khan to contest the elections, he should do so and if not, this would have nothing to do with his government.
However, this would not happen that a deputy commissioner would put someone behind bars to keep him out of the electoral process.
Asked about the issue of an injection that affected the vision of many people in Punjab, he said the injection had been removed from medical stores and assured that the criminals would be punished as the probe was in process.
ISLAMABAD, Sep 26 (APP): Minister for National Heritage and Culture Jamal Shah on Tuesday proposed several recommendations to enhance initiatives of Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and emphasized the role of culture in transforming individuals into productive contributors and agents of positive change.
During his speech at the 12th Conference of ICESCO in Doha, the minister commended the host country, Qatar, Culture Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Abdulrehman bin Jasim Al Thani and Dr. Salim M AlMalik, Director General of ICESCO, for organizing the significant conference.
According to a message received from Doha, he presented his recommendations to ICESCO, intending to address certain hidden gaps in their impressive list of initiatives. Minister Jamal Shah suggested organizing a cultural caravan comprising tradition bearers from all member states. This caravan would embark on a tour of member states, interacting with local counterparts in each country and creating transformative works of art and crafts.
The journey, he said, would culminate in the next cultural capital during the subsequent ICESCO conference, taking the form of a festival and celebration, empowering children in the process.
He said that a similar initiative should target the youth of all member countries. Leadership camps and talent hunt events would be planned to groom and empower young individuals as future leaders.
To infuse aesthetics among students of religious seminaries and combat religious intolerance and extremism, Jamal Shah proposed teaching calligraphy.
The minister recommended creating huge Islamic public monuments in all capital cities of member countries. These monuments would incorporate traditional and modern tools, including AI, virtual reality, as well as holograms and to serve as powerful sources to counter extreme views about art and culture.
Jamal Shah emphasized promoting the arts and crafts of Palestinian and Kashmiri artists as expressions of solidarity with these regions, which have experienced exploitation by the developed world.
He said that it is a relationship that turns you into a productive contributor and agent of change, interested in sharing and turning his or her surroundings into a more livable place for all.
He referenced the renowned Pashto poet Rehman Baba, who urged the planting of flowers to transform your land into a garden, advising against sowing thorns as they would eventually harm your own feet.
The minister praised Doha as a modern cultural capital that effectively blends tradition, heritage, modernity, and innovation in its cultural infrastructure and master plan.
He underscored the importance of culture in fostering intimate relationships with one’s surroundings, enabling creativity, critical thinking, and informed decision-making. He emphasized the role of culture in transforming individuals into productive contributors and agents of positive change.
In conclusion, the minister urged ICESCO to create special opportunities for tradition bearers, craftsmen, musicians, writers, and filmmakers to showcase their works with Islamic countries and the world, representing the aspirations of their people.
RAWALPINDI, Sep 26 (APP): Caretaker Minister for Communications & Railways Shahid Ashraf Tarar paid a visit to the Railway General Hospital (RGH) here on Tuesday and emphasized improving health facilities there.
During this visit, significant discussions and achievements were highlighted. Dr. Omer Awwab Khan, CEO of Teaching Hospitals, presented the details of the public-private partnership established between Riphah and Pakistan Railways. This partnership, widely recognized for its prestige, has been instrumental in advancing healthcare services.
Dr. Arbaz Waleed, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of PRH (Pakistan Railway Hospital), provided insights into the transformative journey of the hospital. He emphasized how IIMCT has played a pivotal role in elevating the hospital’s services. This transformation was achieved through strategic infrastructure enhancements and the incorporation of critical facilities such as Cardiology, Nephrology, Gastroenterology, Dialysis, ICU, HDU, and more.
Dr. Waleed also shared the hospital’s ambitious roadmap for infrastructure development with the minister. This roadmap outlines strategic plans and upcoming projects that will further elevate healthcare services in the region.
Minister for Railways expressed his deep appreciation for the enduring and productive partnership between Riphah and Pakistan Railways. He lauded the relentless efforts undertaken by the administration of Riphah Health Services and IIMCT, emphasizing the remarkable steps taken to enhance the Railway General Hospital in Rawalpindi.
Furthermore, Minister Shahid Ashraf Tarar proposed extending the administrative control of IIMCT to encompass other hospitals within the Pakistan Railway network. This proposal is rooted in the proven success of the existing model and aims to further improve healthcare accessibility and quality across the railway system.
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