Kristin Hawkins assumes charge as new US consul general Lahore

Fri, 25 Aug 2023, 2:52 PM

LAHORE, Aug 25 (APP):The newly-appointed United States (US) Consul General to Lahore Kristin K. Hawkins assumed charge of her duties at the US consulate, here on Friday.

Ms. Hawkins succeeded William K. Makaneole in the role. A career member of the US foreign service, she is the 34th consul general in Lahore consulate. Most recently, she served as the coordinator for economic and development assistance at the US embassy in Islamabad. During her stint, she oversaw efforts relating to planning and implementing US civilian assistance programmes in Pakistan.

Hawkins has also served a prior stint (2015-2017) at the US embassy’s public diplomacy section and managed academic and professional exchange programmes besides coordinating media engagements.

Vastly experienced, Hawkins has served the US State Department in various capacities including the senior Georgia desk officer at the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs in Washington. She has also served in Ukraine, Russia and Jamaica.

Hailing from Virginia, she holds a bachelor’s degree in foreign affairs and economics from Virginia University. She speaks Russian language with flair and has studied Ukraine and French languages.

“I look forward to meet and work with people in Punjab to strengthen the longstanding partnership between the US and Pakistan,” Hawkins said in her message on assuming the charge.

She further expressed the resolve to jointly advance the shared interests by strengthening economic ties, addressing shared climate environmental challenges through the US-Pakistan Green Alliance framework and expanding people-to-people contacts.

IRC, UNICEF jointly roll out Child Protection Unit in Rajanpur

NNPS Desk

Fri, 25 Aug 2023, 2:46 PM

ISLAMABAD, Aug 25 (APP): The International Rescue Committee (IRC) and the United Nations International Fund for Children (UNICEF) in a joint effort in collaboration with the Government of Punjab on Friday inaugurated the Child Protection Unit (CPU) in Rajanpur.

This initiative, a collaborative endeavor led by UNICEF, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), the Child Protection Welfare Bureau (CPWB), and the Government of Punjab, marked a crucial step towards ensuring the safety and well-being of children in Punjab, said a news release issued here.

Under the auspices of the International Rescue Committee’s project, “Strengthening Response Services to Child Protection Cases by Setting Up Case Management and Case Referral System,” the Child Protection Unit has been established with the aim of providing an effective and coordinated response to cases of child rights violations, abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

This district-based setup, modeled after Child Protection Units (CPUs), operates within the framework of the Child Protection Welfare Bureau and the Department of Social Welfare, with subsidiary sub-desks in key departments including Education, Health, Police, Judiciary, and Rescue1122. The initiative fosters a seamless coordination mechanism through an Inter-Agency Coordination protocol, connecting various departments to ensure a comprehensive response to child rights violations.

Zahida Manzoor from UNICEF, in her welcome speech, expressed the significance of the collaborative effort in strengthening the child protection system.

The keynote speech by Director General Child Protection Welfare Bureau, Aftab Ahmad shed light on the collective commitment to safeguarding children’s rights.

The event concluded with closing remarks from Shabnam Baloch, Country Director of the International Rescue Committee, reaffirming the organization’s dedication to this noble cause.

This initiative is bolstered by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between IRC, CPWB, and the Social Welfare Department at the provincial level, ensuring a trickle-down effect of cooperation and collaboration at the district level. The coordinated efforts between these key stakeholders will play a pivotal role in upholding the rights and protection of children in the region.

As this CPU commences its operations, it heralds a new era of safeguarding children’s rights and creating an environment where they can thrive without fear.

The collaboration between UNICEF, IRC, CPWB, and the Government of Punjab sets a remarkable precedent for effective child protection measures that will undoubtedly serve as a beacon of hope for children and families across the region.

Hira Mani, Junaid Khan to grace screens in upcoming serial

Sadia Saeed

Fri, 25 Aug 2023, 2:33 PM

‘Mein’ tops charts as most-watched drama

Sadia Saeed

Fri, 25 Aug 2023, 2:32 PM

United Nations organizes second of 12 dialogues on sustainable development in Multan

Raiq Qureshi

Fri, 25 Aug 2023, 2:31 PM

ISLAMABAD, Aug 25 (APP):The United Nations in Pakistan along with the district administration of Multan organized a dialogue with local leaders on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Around 100 local leaders, men and women among the district administration of Multan and United Nations Resident Coordinator participated in the event, according to a press release.

The discussions focused on four topics chosen by the participants ahead of the event: the cost of gender-based violence; food insecurity; access to basic social services with a focus on water, sanitation and hygiene; and youth employment.

In total, more than 1,000 local leaders living in 12 major cities across six provinces and territories will discuss the development challenges they face, and how they impede economic and social progress in their districts.

The dialogues would be held in the different languages spoken across Pakistan in the coming weeks.

“These dialogues would help United Nations agencies better understand which development issues local leaders see as their priorities outside of the federal and provincial capitals,” said Julien Harneis, UN Resident Coordinator in Pakistan.

The 12 dialogues would engage local leaders around development issues such as access to basic social services; gender equality and women’s empowerment; climate change; sustainable, inclusive economic growth and decent work; and governance. All are key to Pakistan’s progress towards the achievement of the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The dialogues will help inform discussions ahead of the global SDG Summit which the UN is organizing to accelerate progress towards the SDGs, halfway of the 2030 deadline.

Crackdown:Rs200,000 fine impose on smoke-emitting public transport

Raiq Qureshi

Fri, 25 Aug 2023, 2:29 PM

SIALKOT, Aug 25 (APP):Secretary Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Muzaffar Hayat conducted crackdown against smoke-emitting public transport on the instructions of Secretary Transport Punjab and Deputy Commissioner Sialkot.

The secretary along with environment protection department inspected smoke of buses, wagons and loaders at the lorry station with devices and imposed Rs 200,000 fine on smoke-emitting vehicles.

Secretary RTA Muzaffar Hayat said that vehicles causing environmental pollution will not be allowed on the road.

He said that the drivers and owners should get their vehicles’ engines serviced, avoid overloading and use quality diesel, oil and change the engine oil and filter at regular intervals which will not only prevent these vehicles from emitting smoke but will also save fuel consumption.

Multiple injuries in Karachi’s sewerage line explosion

Raiq Qureshi

Fri, 25 Aug 2023, 2:26 PM

ISLAMABAD, Aug 25 (APP):Multiple persons were critically injured when a gas explosion was caused due to the gases in a sewerage line near Lasbela Karachi on Friday afternoon.

According to initial reports, Rescue 1122 officials said the explosion occurred in a sewerage line at Lasbela in the wake of gas accumulation.

Several shops situated on the sewerage line also collapsed due to the intensity of the blast, private news channels reported.

The injured have been shifted to a hospital where they are being provided medical aid, rescue officials added.

DPO Sialkot holds open court

Raiq Qureshi

Fri, 25 Aug 2023, 2:22 PM

SIALKOT, Aug 25 (APP):District Police Officer (DPO) Sialkot Muhammad Hasan Iqbal held an open court at Saddar Circle police station.

All SHOs of the circle, investigation officers of relevant cases, plaintiffs of serious cases, and a large number of local residents participated in the open court.

DPO Muhammad Hasan Iqbal issued orders on the spot to the officers concerned to redress the complaints of the plaintiffs and citizens on merit.

He said that departmental action orders were issued against officers who were negligent in performing their duties.

DPO said that according to the vision of Inspector General Police Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar, the series of open courts would continue to improve the public service delivery system and ensure the delivery of justice to the citizens in a dignified manner.

Sialkot’s leather industry; major contributor in Pakistan’s exports:DC

Raiq Qureshi

Fri, 25 Aug 2023, 2:17 PM

SIALKOT, Aug 25 (APP):Deputy Commissioner Adnan Mehmood Awan has said that Sialkot’s leather industry has a major contribution in Pakistan’s exports.

An annual foreign exchange earner of one billion dollars, the leather industries in Pakistan had the potential for immense growth due to the abundant availability of raw materials and skilled manpower.

For this, it was necessary to promote the leather industry in accordance with international environmental laws and standards.

Punjab Environment Protection Department provided Rs 300 million for the purchase of 400 acres of land in Sialkot Tannery Zone (STZ), Punjab Small Industry Corporation provided Rs 500 million for grid station, natural gas, while Ministry of Commerce Pakistan provided soft loan of Rs 1.17 billion for civil works and infrastructure.

So far, an amount of Rs 2 billion had been spent by the government for the establishment of tannery zone, the aim of which was to shift more than 280 tanneries causing pollution in Sialkot city.

He expressed these views while addressing a meeting organized to review the Sialkot tannery zone project and the shifting of tanneries working in Sialkot to the tannery zone here on Friday.

Project Manager STZ Muhammad Atif, Deputy Director (DD) Environment Protection Waseem Cheema and Inspector Environment Shahid Ali Dogar were also present.

Project Manager Mohammad Atif while giving a briefing about the construction work on Sialkot Tannery Zone Project said that boundary wall of the project, main gate, site office, stores, flood protection embankment, increasing and cleaning the capacity of Dogri Naullah II and work of plotting internal electrification of the zone had been completed 100%,while work was on progress on the construction of the road,21 megawatt grid station, poles for high tension and low tension transmission,civil work of grid station control room and transmission yard.

Project Manager STZ said that the most important part of the project was the establishment of a common effluent treatment plant for the chemically contaminated water coming out of the tannery, on which civil work was in progress.

Air chief calls on prime minister

Ishtiaq Rao

Fri, 25 Aug 2023, 2:12 PM

ISLAMABAD, Aug 25 (APP): Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Sidhu on Friday called on Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar here.

The air chief congratulated the prime minister on assuming the office and expressed good wishes for him.

The air chief also briefed prime minister about the professional matters pertaining to the Pakistan Air Force.

1...13,34813,34913,350...31,140 Page 13,349 of 31,140

Associated Press Of Pakistan

Kristin Hawkins assumes charge as new US consul general Lahore

IRC, UNICEF jointly roll out Child Protection Unit in Rajanpur

Hira Mani, Junaid Khan to grace screens in upcoming serial

‘Mein’ tops charts as most-watched drama

United Nations organizes second of 12 dialogues on sustainable development in Multan

Crackdown:Rs200,000 fine impose on smoke-emitting public transport

Multiple injuries in Karachi’s sewerage line explosion

DPO Sialkot holds open court

Sialkot’s leather industry; major contributor in Pakistan’s exports:DC

Air chief calls on prime minister

ABOUT US

FOLLOW US