Nine injured in national highway accident

Fri, 18 Aug 2023, 10:02 PM

HYDERABAD, Aug 18 (APP): Nine persons were injured in an accident between a passenger van and trailer truck on the National Highway here on Friday.

The Hatri police informed that the van was transporting passengers from Karachi to Naushehro Feroze district, which

struck the heavy transport vehicle from behind.

The police said all the injured passengers were shifted to Liaquat University Hospital. Five of them belong to Naushehro Feroze, two to Nawabshah and one each to Hyderabad and Jamshoro districts.

The police told that the injured complained that the van’s driver was driving recklessly during which one of its tires burst and he lost control of the vehicle which hit the truck from behind.

The police said the driver was among the injured persons.

The incident’s FIR has not been lodged so far.

Caretaker Health Minister receives briefing on national programmes

NNPS Desk

Fri, 18 Aug 2023, 10:00 PM

ISLAMABAD, Aug 18 (APP): Caretaker Federal Minister for Health Dr Nadeem Jan on Friday took charge of office and received a briefing on various national health programmes.

On reaching the ministry, Federal Health Secretary Iftikhar Ali Shallwani and other officials welcomed the minister.

Dr. Nadeem Jan held an introductory meeting with Ministry of Health’s officials and heads of various departments.

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 ministry officials to work with full dedication to come up to expectations of the people.

“We will endeavour to lay the foundation of revolutionary welfare projects of public interest in the health sector.”

The meeting was attended besides Secretary Health Iftikhar Ali Shallwani, by Additional Secretary Kamran Rehman, Director General Health and other senior officials.

Caretaker Health Minister visits Polio Emergency Centre

NNPS Desk

Fri, 18 Aug 2023, 9:58 PM

ISLAMABAD, Aug 18 (APP): Caretaker Federal Health Minister, Dr Nadeem Jan on Friday visited the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) and assured that the government will continue its efforts to eliminate polio from Pakistan.

Speaking at the NEOC, Dr Jan affirmed that polio eradication will feature prominently among his priorities during his tenure.

He said,“This visit holds great significance for me. I will ensure that every conceivable measure is undertaken to elevate Pakistan to the ranks of polio-free countries. Treat me as a worker of the programme and I will do anything that needs to be done to interrupt transmission by the global deadline.”

Federal Secretary of Health, Iftikhar Shallwani, said, “The Health Ministry has been actively involved in the Polio Programme in the past few months and we will ensure that the focus on polio remains unwavering. We are very lucky to have a seasoned public health specialist as a leader with in-depth knowledge and experience of polio eradication efforts.”

Dr Jan met the entire team at the NEOC, visited the Polio Control Room and discussed the current priorities for the Polio Programme.

Dr Shahzad Baig, the Coordinator at the NEOC, said, “The presence of the Minister of Health at NEOC shows immense significance for our programme. Your direct involvement and oversight underscores your commitment. We are very grateful for your visit and support.”

Dr Jan is a recipient of the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz and Sitara-i-Imtiaz and has worked with the UN, USAID, World Bank, EU, DFID and international non-government organisations for the past two decades.

He has managed complex emergencies in challenging environments like Somalia, South Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Kenya, Afghanistan, and the districts part of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

Dr Jan also played a key role in the development and implementation of the Lady Health Workers Programme and has closely worked with the Pakistan Polio Programme in the past.

Pakistan has reported two polio cases this year. Both children belong to Bannu, one of the seven endemic districts in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

May-9 vandalsim: ATC extends judicial remand of 29 PTI workers

Asim Usman

Fri, 18 Aug 2023, 9:57 PM

LAHORE, Aug 18 (APP):An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday extended the judicial remand of 29 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers, involved in a May-9 vandalism case, for one day and ordered police to produce them on August 19.

Earlier, the police submitted a report before ATC Judge Ijaz Ahmad Buttar and submitted that the identification process had been completed and the accused were identified. The court was further apprised that the accused were not produced due to law and order situation.

At this, the court extended judicial remand of the accused for one day and ordered police to produce them on August 19.

Sarwar Road police had registered a case against the PTI workers on charges of setting police vehicles on fire near Rahat Bakery in Cantt area, during May-9 riots. Abdul Rehman, Amjad Khan, Muhammad Zahid, Ibrar Ahmad, Muhammad Qasim, Mehmood Arshad, Azeem Ali, Manan Ahmad, Muhammad Adnan, Muhammad Tufail and others were nominated as accused.

Sensitization program on remittances for workers going abroad launched

Asim Usman

Fri, 18 Aug 2023, 9:52 PM

KARACHI, Aug 18 (APP):The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BE&OE) jointly launched on Friday the Pre-Departure Briefing Program to sensitize workers going abroad about the process of sending remittances to home and relevant schemes by the government and banks.

The program will be organized in all Protectorate of Emigrants (PE) Offices across Pakistan to educate intending overseas workers about formal channels for sending remittances, assist them in opening bank accounts, especially joint accounts, highlight the risks involved in using informal channels and update outgoing workers about government’s programs and schemes as well as banks’ products related to home remittances.

Executive Director SBP Akhtar Javed and Director General, BE&OE Akram Ali Khowaja launched the program in a ceremony that was attended by the senior officials of SBP, PRI, BE&OE and representatives of the large remittance mobilizing banks, said a statement issued here.

The Pre-Departure Briefing Program, developed by Pakistan Remittance Initiative (PRI) in collaboration with Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BE&OE) and banks, is considered the key initiative for domestic outreach for educating outgoing workers to use formal channels for sending home remittances.

As the outgoing workers are required to register with PE Offices across Pakistan; therefore, the program presents an excellent opportunity, on ongoing basis, to educate outgoing workers for using formal channels for sending remittances back home and opening their own and their beneficiary’s bank accounts, it claimed.

Akhtar Javed highlighted the significance of home remittances for Pakistan’s economy and elaborated that the remittances provide stability to the country’s economy by boosting foreign exchange reserves and supporting the balance of payments.

Shedding light on the importance of the Pre-Departure Briefing Program, he hoped that it will play a crucial role in raising awareness among intending overseas workers about formal channels besides informing them about the risks involved in the informal channels.

Head PRI Zulfiqar Khokhar provided details of the program, the activities to be undertaken and roles and responsibilities of banks, SBP/PRI and BOE&OE. While Director General Akram Ali Khowaja appreciated the State Bank of Pakistan, PRI and banks for initiating the program for the overseas workers and assured that BE&OE will fully cooperate and provide platform to banks to successfully achieve the desired objectives of the program.

Bid to smuggle four leopard skins foiled, four poachers arrested

Asim Usman

Fri, 18 Aug 2023, 9:50 PM

PESHAWAR, Aug 18 (APP):The Wildlife Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has foiled a bid to smuggle four skins of rare snow leopard and arrested four poachers on Hazara Expressway on Friday.

“The seizure and arrest came in the wake of prior information about smuggling of skins to Islamabad from Hazara,” informs Sardar Nawaz SDFO Wildlife Department Abbotabad.

On receiving information, checking was started on Hazara Havelian road during which the four smugglers were arrested along with preserved skins of snow leopards.

The recovered skins included one large and three small, apparently of a mother and three of her cubs, adds Sardar Nawaz.

Initial investigation revealed that the smugglers were bringing these skins from Ghizer district of Gilgit Baltistan for taking it to Islamabad, SDFO told media men.

The seized skins were purchased by smugglers at a price of Rs 3 million and had to sell it in Islamabad at a much more expensive price.

The Wildlife Department while taking action under Wildlife Act 2015, fined each of the smugglers Rs one hundred thousand each.

It merits mention here that the snow leopard is a very rare and reclusive wild specie which has a limited population in a few countries including in mountainous ranges of Pakistan.