ISLAMABAD, Aug 27 (APP): Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) and Research Institute for Indian Ocean Economics (RIIO) signed a bilateral MoU in Kunming, China to create a multilateral cooperative network of think tanks of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

The initiative was launched during the 8th RIIO international conference on ‘Common Development of China and Indian Ocean Region’ held with the theme of ‘Challenges and Prospects of Blue Economy Cooperation in the Indian Ocean: from the Perspective of Security and Development’, which was hosted by RIIO-YUFE, said a press release on Sunday.

Apart from IPS, the event was attended by top officials of the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (SIS), India, Center for Economic and Social Development (CESD), Myanmar, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Bangladesh, and Pathfinder Foundation, Sri Lanka.

The participating institutions have also signed a letter of intent to become part of the network after necessary formalities.

This network will work for the policy analysis and review of Indian Ocean’s strategic issues, undertaking joint activities, promoting common development between China and Indian Ocean region through research and discussion, and publishing research papers, articles, books, white papers, and reports as an outcome, all in a bid to strengthen various areas of cooperation such as investment environment in Indian Ocean economies, the foreign policy and economic relations of Indian Ocean economies, and any other such issues having bilateral or multilateral implications for each country.

Speaking on the occasion, Chairman IPS Khalid Rahman stated that the economies, livelihoods and cultural identities of the states and people around IOR are vitally linked to it.

For continuous, coordinated and proactive growth of the blue economies, greater focus on maritime specific policies, research and education, knowledge and information sharing, establishing mechanisms and networks, integrated planning on regional scales as well as within the countries, and robust governance involving industry, community and other stakeholders including the governments themselves, is required.

He stressed that developing a healthy competitive environment is inevitable to take benefit of the new opportunities appearing not only in the established sectors but in the emerging sectors as well.

ISLAMABAD, Aug 27 (APP): Caretaker Federal Minister for Health Dr. Nadeem Jan on Sunday visited the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and the Federal General Hospital Chak Shahzad to examine facilities being provided to the patients.

During visit, he examined various departments of PIMS and Federal General Hospital including emergency section and received response from the admitted patients about the standard of medical services being delivered to them.

On the occasion, the minister said, “We will make efforts to meet the challenges in the health sector. We have to work round-the-clock for the welfare of the people of this country.”

“Health sector is our first priority and improving the health sector is my mission,” Dr. Nadeem Jan added.

He assured that he would try his level best to resolve the problems of the people in a short period of time on priority basis

He expressed his resolve to serve the country and the nation. Public welfare projects would have to be completed on fast track, Dr. Nadeem Jan said.

“We will ensure effective measures to protect people from diseases and epidemics,” he said.

He asked the hospital staff to work with full dedication to come up to expectations of the people.

Dr. Nadeem said, “We will endeavor to lay the foundation of revolutionary welfare projects of public interest in the health sector.”

QUETTA, Aug 27 (APP): Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar here on Sunday assured that issues of Kalat and other areas of Balochistan would be resolved.

He was talking to a delegation of notables of Kalat area.

He said Pishin and Mastoong were his eyes and Quetta was his heart and he would serve the people of Balochistan wholeheartedly.

He pledged construction of a highway from Karachi to Chaman, adding he had ordered construction of highways which were important for the province.

A road tunnel would be built for Dera Ghazi Khan to ensure supply of fruits and vegetables from Balochistan to Punjab, he told.

He said work on Kachhi canal would be speed up as it was not only a significant project for Balochistan but also for Pakistan.