ISLAMABAD: August 17
Assumed the Charge as Caretaker Federal Minister for Information & Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi,
ISLAMABAD: August 17
Assumed the Charge as Caretaker Federal Minister for Information & Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi
ISLAMABAD: August 17 –
PM allocates portfolios to federal ministers, advisers, special assistants
ISLAMABAD, Aug 17 (APP):Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar Thursday allocated portfolios to the newly-appointed federal ministers, advisers and special assistants.
Federal minister Senator Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti was given the portfolio of Interior, Narcotics Control, Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development; Jalil Abbas Jilani Foreign Affairs; Shamshad Akhtar Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Privatization; Lt. General (Retd) Anwar Ali Hyder Defence and Defence Production; Murtaza Solangi Information and Broadcasting; Sami Saeed Planning, Development and Special Initiatives; Shahid Ashraf Tarar Communications, Maritime Affairs and Railways; Ahmad Irfan Aslam Law and Justice, Climate Change, Water Resources; Muhammad Ali Power and Petroleum; Gohar Ejaz Commerce, Industries and Production; Umar Saif Information Technology, Telecommunication and Science and Technology; Nadeem Jan National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination; Khalil George Human Rights; Aneeq Ahmed Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony; Jamal Shah National Heritage and Culture; and Madad Ali Sindhi Federal Education and Professional Training, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
The prime minister also appointed Air Marshal (R) Farhat Hussain as Adviser for Aviation, Ahad Khan Cheema Adviser for Establishment and Dr Waqar Masood Khan as Adviser for Finance. The advisers will have status of the federal minister.
PM Kakar also appointed his five Special Assistants with the status of Minister of State. Syeda Arifa Zehra was appointed as Special Assistant for Federal Education and Professional Training, Vice Admiral (R) Iftikhar Ahmad Rao as Special Assistant for Maritime Affairs, Wasih Shah as Special Assistant for Tourism, Mishal Hussain Malik as Special Assistant for Human Rights and Women Empowerment, and Muhammad Jawad Sohrab Malik as Special Assistant for Overseas Pakistanis.
10 dead, 1143 injured in 1107 accidents in Punjab
LAHORE, Aug 17 (APP):At least ten people were killed and 1,143 injured in 1,107 accidents in Punjab during the last 24 hours.
According to Rescue 1122, 602 drivers, 50 underage drivers, 137 pedestrians, and 414 passengers
were among the victims of road traffic crashes.
The statistics showed that 287 accidents were reported in Lahore which affected 298 people placing
the provincial capital at top of the list followed by 78 in Faisalabad with 74 victims and at third Multan
with 72 accidents RTCs and 68 victims.
According to data, 1006 motorcycles , 72 rickshaws, 110 cars, 16 vans, seven buses, 26 trucks
and 98 other vehicles, and slow-moving carts were involved in the accidents.
Commissioner Mardan directs DCs Mardan, Swabi to implement dengue action plan
MARDAN, Aug 17 (APP): Commissioner Mardan Division Yousaf Rahim Thursday directed the district administration of Mardan and Swabi to ensure strict implementation of the dengue action plan of the provincial government to prevent dengue fever.
Addressing the monthly performance review/revenue meeting at his office, he urged the administrative and revenue officers to set monthly targets for achieving government revenue and to make effective strategies to achieve these targets.
Additional Commissioner Mardan Naeem Akhtar, Deputy Commissioner Mardan Captain (retd) Abdul Rehman, Deputy Commissioner Swabi Gohar Khan, Additional Deputy Commissioners, Assistant Commissioners and AACs of Mardan and Swabi participated in the meeting.
Deputy Commissioner Mardan and Swabi gave a detailed briefing to the meeting about the various government targets in both the districts, the data of the achievement of the government revenue, the implementation of the tasks referred by the provincial government and the performance of the administrative officers.
Commissioner Mardan Division Yousaf Rahim directed the administrative officers to keep a close watch on the prices of essential commodities and take full action against the elements responsible for the artificial price hike.
He directed the Deputy Commissioners to ensure the implementation of the action plan regarding dengue fever in both districts and to monitor the implementation of the SOPs formulated in this regard so that the disease does not become an epidemic.
He also emphasized on an effective awareness campaign about dengue. Commissioner Mardan Division also issued necessary instructions for timely payment of financial compensation to the heirs and injured persons of those who died in various accidents during the monsoon rains.
The meeting was briefed about the activities going on from the platform of Reading Club and it was told that on the occasion of Independence Day, speech contests were conducted amongst students of schools in Mardan and Swabi and cash prizes were given to the position holders while more activities have been planned from the Reading Club platform after the opening of schools and colleges next month.
Commissioner Mardan appreciated the performance of the Reading Club so far and directed that the Reading Club can play an important role in bringing the youth back to book reading and to the libraries. He directed that in this regard, the services of scholars and writers should be utilized in both the districts.
Poster and video making competition held in Mehran University
HYDERABAD, Aug 17 (APP):Mehran University of Engineering and Technology Jamshoro in collaboration with National Accountability Bureau (NAB) organized a poster and video making competition on Thursday under the theme of “Milkar Corruption Roken”.
The university’s spokesperson stated that in the competition of creating the best video, a student of the Electrical Engineering Department Muhammad Shafiq emerged as the winner, while in the poster-making competition, Nadeem Ali Mirani from the Chemical Engineering department secured first and Abdullah from the Software Engineering department got second position.
The top three students were awarded cash prizes of three thousand, two thousand and one thousand rupees respectively. Deputy Director of the student’s advisor office, Mehran university Dr. Shoaib Sheikh also distributed Shields among the victorious students.
WHO delegation meets PFA DG
LAHORE, Aug 17 (APP):A delegation of the World Health Organisation (WHO) called on Director General Raja Jahangir Anwar to discuss the medical screening project and reorganise the testing system for food-borne diseases.
During the meeting, the DG PFA said that the authority was working on reducing medical screening fees for small-scale businesses and providing free facilities for roadside street vendors. He also highlighted the plan to reorganise the testing system for food-borne diseases with the help of WHO, as well as the implementation of food worker screenings to prevent the spread of such diseases.
Furthermore, he said that the help of other departments and institutions including WHO will be taken to reduce the burden on food workers. He added that around half a million basic food workers including roadside street vendors across Punjab.
The director general further stated that efforts are being made to reduce the burden of medical screening fees for small food workers. He said that if hepatitis is detected during the medical screening, food workers will be referred for free treatment.
FGRF showcases welfare, rehab achievements in 2022 Flood Response at PEDRR-23
ISLAMABAD, Aug 17 (APP):The Faizan Global Relief Fund (FGRF), a welfare initiative of the Dawat-i-Islami Foundation has showcased its achievements in welfare, rehabilitation and relief efforts during the monster Monsoon Floods 2022 at the Pakistan Expo on Disaster Risk Reduction-2023 (PEDRR-23).
The PEDRR-23, a three-day first ever expo on Disaster Risk Reduction that convened experts, and partners from international and national organisations working in the field of disaster management and relief for a brainstorming session to learn from shared experiences and lessons learnt in different natural calamities.
Nouman Attari from FGRF told APP that the fund had organised the largest relief effort of the country with the participation of over 500,000 workers who took part in the FGRF activities in all the provinces of Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) affected due to unprecedented floods in 2022.
The fund, he said had also provided more than 5,000 meals per day distribution for food distribution at the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) tent city for flood-displaced people.
However, the food distribution was ensured in the areas of Baajara, Sehwan, Mirpur, Talhar and Nawabshah whereas it was also extended to the areas of Jacobabad, Nasirabad and Sohbatpur.
The fund had provided relief to more than 2,500 individuals in Jacobabad and over 2,000 people in Nasirabad and Sohbatpur, he added.
He said that the fund also provided treatment to 70,000 plus livestock animals that got affected during epidemics spread after the floods.
Moreover, more than 120,000 people were provided with shelter, over 100,000 water bottles were distributed in flood-affected areas, over 33,000 patients treated in its medical camps, and over 4,000 plus tonnes of ration was provided to the impacted population.
Attari informed that during the shocking earthquake of Turkiye, Dawat-i-Islami was the first Pakistan non-governmental organization that approached the quake-hit region and provided rescue and relief services.
He added that the fund also ensured provision of ration, cooked food, medicines, and funeral services in the disaster-hit areas where ever it got the opportunity to serve.
Commenting on its different initiatives besides disaster relief and rescue, he said the fund had established rehabilitation center for specially-abled children to improve their mental health.
The rehab centers were established initially in Faisalabad, Karachi and Lahore, whereas an orphanage was being established in Karachi under the name of Madni Homes.
The fund had also provided 57,000 blood bags in donation for thalassemia patients.
Under a special initiative, proper classes of religious and informal education with a dedicated curriculum were designed for deaf and mute children including a special institution for blind children.
To a query, he replied that the fund started working wholeheartedly during the Covid-19 pandemic which led to its creation as Faizan Global Relief Fund.
Furthermore, a Skills Enhancement Programme (SEP) was also rolled out by the fund that imparts IT skill, computer courses, and languages mainly Chinese, Arabic, Bangla, English and French.
Photo exhibition on 26th anniversary of Nusrat Fateh Ali
FAISALABAD, Aug 17 (APP):The Punjab Council of Arts Faisalabad division organised a photo exhibition in connection with the 26th anniversary of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, a world-renowned Qawwal and Pakistan’s icon, here on Thursday.
Pictures made by famous painters were exhibited at Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan art gallery, which was inaugurated by the well-known Qawwal Rizwan Moazzam.
Apart from this, a wreath was laid at the shrine of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan by the management of the arts council.
Director Arts Council Zahid Iqbal said that Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was the recognition of district Faisalabad and he will always be remembered through his music. He will always live in the hearts of the people of Faisalabad, he added.
Muslim-Christian leaders demand swift justice for perpetrators of Jaranwala incident
LAHORE, August 17 (APP): Prominent Muslim-Christian leaders Thursday united in demanding swift justice for the perpetrators behind the tragic incident in Jaranwala, which involved the desecration of places of worship.
A delegation of Muslim scholars, led by Pakistan Ulema Council Chairman Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, visited Saint Anthony Catholic Church here and extended an olive branch to the Christian leaders and people, seeking forgiveness for the disrespectful act that has deeply disturbed the entire nation.
Addressing a presser, the Muslim-Christian leaders, including Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, Archbishop Sebastian Shah, Pastor Emmanuel Khokhar, Pastor Saleem, Maulana Nauman Hashir, Maulana Muhammad Shafi Qasmi, Maulana Asadullah Farooq, Maulana Zubair Abid, Maulana Muhammad Ashfaq Pitafi, Maulana Tahir Aqeel Awan, Maulana Muhammad Aslam Siddiqui, Qari Abdul Hakeem Athar, Maulana Muhammad Aslam Qadri, Mufti Naseem Islam, Maulana Qari Mubashir Rahimi and others said the incident had not only strained interfaith relations but also cast a dark shadow over the country’s reputation.
They said a nationwide day of mourning would be observed on August 18 to express collective condemnation and solidarity, urging the government to provide compensation for the losses, besides reconstruction of the damaged worship places.
The Muslim religious leaders said the heinous act in Jaranwala was unequivocally condemned in Friday sermons in mosques across the country.
They said a diverse group of religious leaders and scholars, representing all schools of thought, would visit Jaranwala to offer support and express solidarity with the affected people.
The religious leaders unequivocally stated that the perpetrators behind the attack on Christian places of worship had not only harmed the local community members but also brought disrepute to the religion of Islam and Pakistan.
They urged the Punjab government to expedite its investigations into the incident. After a thorough probe, those found responsible for burning churches and desecrating the holy books must be brought to justice under a fair and expeditious trial, they added.
The leaders underscored the need for a more robust justice system to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in future.
While expressing trust in the Punjab government’s investigative committee, they urged that accurate and complete information about the incident be shared with the public within the next 24 to 48 hours.
Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi also expressed his deep sorrow and condemnation for the disrespect shown to the Holy Quran in the Jaranwala area.
He stressed that such actions only created unrest and division within the Muslim-Christian communities.
Ashrafi, who is also the President of International Interfaith Harmony Council, emphasized the importance of upholding the law and bringing the culprits to justice.
He pointed out that those who engaged in such despicable acts should be held accountable for their actions once found guilty.
He said the attack on Christian places of worship and the desecration of religious symbols, including the cross, had been widely condemned.
He underscored that Islam promoted peace and safety and that it was the responsibility of the majority to protect the rights and safety of minorities in the country.
He urged the local scholars, Christian leaders, and authorities, to collaborate and bring about a positive change in the society.
The leaders concluded that an appropriate punishment for those who disrespected the Holy Quran and attacked places of worship should serve as an example for others, reinforcing the importance of interfaith harmony and respect for sacred sites.