Laborer is cutting firewood into pieces at his workplace near Charsadda Road
Women farmers harvesting the rice crop in their fields near the bypass road in the outskirts of the city
Students participating in a painting competition in connection with independence day celebrations organized by the Punjab Council of Arts Multan division at the Arts Gallery
Deputy Commissioner Zaheer Anwar Jappa, Manager E-Service Center are planting saplings on the occasion of the ceremony organized in connection with the Independence Day
Two new Bt cotton varieties of CCRI Multan approved by Punjab Seed Council
MULTAN, Aug 11 (APP): Punjab Seed Council (PSC) on Friday approved two new Bt cotton varieties developed by agriculture scientists of Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI) Multan making the 45-Maunds plus potential production varieties accessible to farmers for general cultivation once the National Bio-Safety Committee (NBC) gives a go-ahead signal to the new entrants to the cotton seed family of Pakistan.
Cotton Commissioner Dr Zahid Mahmood, who earlier served as director of CCRI Multan, presented the case of two varieties before a big panel of scientists from across Punjab in the 57th PSC meeting chaired by the Punjab agriculture minister in Lahore, a press release issued by CCRI Multan said.
The Bt varieties including CIM-775 and Cyto-511 possess characteristics like good quality fibre, better production potential, and resistance against Cotton Leaf Curl Virus (CLCuV).
CCRI Multan has already sent a letter to National Bio-Safety Committee (NBC) for approval of the two varieties.
The agriculture scientists congratulated Dr Zahid on the development.
Dr Zahid said that the research institutes working under the umbrella of the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC) would continue to introduce new climate-smart and cost-effective varieties with the best quality traits.
He said that varieties from CCRI Multan’s Plant Breeding and Genetics and Cyto Genetics department scientists would continue to grab the attention of the farming community.
He said that Bt Cyto-511 was heat resistant with the potential of higher production in extremely hot weather conditions while Bt CIM-775 was a marvellous variety having resistance against the sucking pests.
Pakistan must take proactive approach to build it’s resilience, support vulnerable communities: Grannas
ISLAMABAD, Aug 11 (APP): Ambassador, of the Federal Republic of Germany Alfred Grannas on Friday said Pakistan must take a more proactive approach to build its resilience against climate change and support communities more vulnerable to environmental degradation and adverse global warming impacts. The youth are the leaders of tomorrow and it was necessary to begin the change for their future.
He expressed these views during his keynote address at an event in connection with the International Youth Day organised by the Pakistan-German Climate and Energy Partnership (PGCEP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC).
The event, titled ” Youth 4 Climate Action: Young Voices, Bold Solutions,” was held here to harness the energy and creativity of young individuals towards addressing the pressing challenges posed by climate change under the auspices of GIZ (German Development Agency). The conference was a colorful convening that included panel discussions on pertinent topics and a theatre play by Loksath highlighting gender inequalities during climate crisis was showcased before the participants.
Ambassador Alfred Grannas said the conference was intended to address important youth role in climate action. He congratulated the MoCC and GIZ team for organising the event and said that the German mission would achieve meaningful results through Pakistani youth engagement in climate action.
“Climate Change is a global phenomenon and it affects the entire world. This event will provide Pakistani youth to imagine new ideas for addressing climate change,” he said.
He added that Germany has been a reliable partner of Pakistan and had a 60-year-old partnership which was strengthened through the iconic Pakistan-German Climate and Energy Partnership (PGCEP). Through the Pakistan- German Climate and Energy Partnership both the friendly countries were working on just energy transition and mitigation of environmental degradation and global warming impacts.
He added that Germany through the partnership was also assisting Pakistan to meet its national determined contributions (NDCs) pledged under the Paris Agreement.
He mentioned that the devastating floods of 2022 inflicted unprecedented damage to various provinces of the country and it was yet not able to overcome the destruction as more monsoon rainfall started playing havoc in vulnerable areas.
“So far some $10 billion global funding has been extended to Pakistan and out of it $220 million alone has been given by Germany for flood disaster management. Around 500 million Euros project has been designed to address climate adaptation, mitigation and resilience of Pakistan,” he informed.
The German envoy told the participants that the first concrete approach on loss and damage fund at the COP-27 Sharm El-Sheikh was the result of a very good cooperation of MoCC and the German delegation led by Sherry Rehman the then Climate Change Minister of Pakistan and the German side represented by its Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development.
“We want to hear the voices of the youth that are neglected and it’s their voice that matters in the process of policymaking,” he said.
A short documentary on projects supported by the German government and implemented by GIZ was also displayed during the conference.
Under the umbrella of Pakistan-Germany Climate and Energy Partnership climate change adaptation, mitigation and resilience and just energy transition were focussed areas.
On the occasion, Additional Secretary MoCC Syed Mujtaba Hussain also delivered a keynote address. He said it was the convening of the future leaders of Pakistan and it was important to apprise the youth on a number of initiatives implemented by the MoCC during the climate journey of the country.
Hussain underlined that climate change was no longer a myth and it was here with full fury knocking everything out in its way. Pakistan had become the ground zero of climate change due to the frequent disasters and had faced 150 climate events in various forms and the recent monsoon 2022 monster floods and cyclone BIPARJOY caused 8% GDP loss to Pakistan and put it in recovery trap.
He added that for three consecutive years Pakistan underwent a continuous temperature rise and heatwaves in its south.
Floods 2022 impacted 33 mln our of which 8 mln displaced
He provided a detailed account of various initiatives including the National Adaptation Plan, National Clean Air Policy, National Hazardous Waste Management Policy, Single use plastics prohibition regulations, Living Indus Initiative, Recharge Pakistan, GLOF-II, REDD+, Pakistan Blue Carbon Ecosystems, Upscaling of Green Pakistan, and Snow Leopard protection project.
The Additional Secretary MoCC said the Snow Leopard conservation helped achieve a population increase of more than 200 snow leopards in GB, KP and AJK regions that were on the brink of extinction.
He suggested that actions needed to be taken on a collective basis as the government, private sector and civil society would have to forge strong collaborations to cope with climate change challenges.
“Youth have to take the process forward through their out-of-the-box thinking and innovative skills,” he added.
Cabinet members return to people with respect, dignity: CM Murad
KARACHI, Aug 11 (APP): Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah presiding over his farewell cabinet meeting at CM House said that he, his cabinet members, and all the MPAs of his party were going back to the people with dignity and respect because they stood by them at a difficult time and served them to the best of their abilities.
The meeting was attended by all the ministers, advisors, special assistants, coordinators, Chief Secretary Sohail Rajput, PSCM Fayaz Jatoi, Secretary Finance Hassan Naqvi, and others.
He said that at the start of his government tenure in 2018, the federal government [PTI] was not ready to cooperate and tried to destabilize the PPP government in Sindh. He further said that under the guidance of former President Asif Zardari and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, he kept serving our people steadfastly.
Murad Shah said that conspiracies from the federal government were still in progress when the fatal pandemic – COVId-19 hit hard. “It created a wave of fear and insecurity among the people,” he said and added that his government took concrete steps to face the situation and save the people.
He said that the province was still surviving the COVID losses when the floods of 2022 swept almost across the province. “I had almost lost hope to drain out such a deluge of the water but the cabinet members, party workers, and the leadership supported him and finally the water was disposed of, and wheat crops were sown,” he said.
Murad Shah said that they have harvested the bumper crop and achieved more than their requirement and now a record cotton crop is being reaped. “We all – the party leadership, ministers, advisors, special assistants, coordinators, MPAs, and party workers remained shoulder by shoulder with the flood-affected people,” he said and added that the houses destroyed by the floods were being reconstructed along with giving the title of the land to the affected people.
Mr Shah said we were going back to our people with respect, dignity, and a feeling of] satisfaction that we served the people.
The chief minister thanked his cabinet members, Chief Secretary Sohail Rajput and former chief secretary Syed Mumtaz Shah for their support and cooperation. He also thanked the secretaries, heads of provincial government institutions, staff of the CM House, and everyone who worked with him during his tenure.
The provincial cabinet members lauded the chief minister for his performance, his resolute stand to protect the rights of the people of Sindh, and his support to them when they were harassed by the NAB and other institutions at the hands of the federal government of PTI.
Every member of the cabinet paid rich tribute to the chief minister for his services.
The Cabinet decided to impose a ban on recruitment, except for the recruitment process being carried out by the Sindh Public Service Commission and necessary recruitment in the developed project launched with the assistance of donor agencies.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Chief minister posed for a group photo with his cabinet members.
PCB confirms team management for Afghanistan series and ACC Asia Cup
PESHAWAR, Aug 11 (APP): The Pakistan Cricket Board Thursday confirms the support staff of the Pakistan men’s team for the forthcoming three One-Day Internationals against Afghanistan in Sri Lanka from August 22-26 and ACC Asia Cup to be held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka from August 30 to September 17, 2023.
Pakistan men’s team will play the opening match of the ACC Asia Cup in Multan on August 30 against Nepal.
Player support personnel: Rehan-ul-Haq (team manager), Mickey Arthur (Director – Pakistan men’s team), Grant Bradburn (head coach), Andrew Puttick (batting coach), Morne Morkel (bowling coach), Aftab Khan (fielding coach), Abdul Rehman (assistant coach), Dr Sohail Saleem (team doctor), Drikus Saaiman (strength and conditioning coach), Cliffe Deacon (physiotherapist), Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi (media manager), Lt Col Usman Anwari (Retd) (security manager), Ammar Ahsan (digital content producer, only for Asia Cup), Maqbool Ahmad Babri (psychologist), Talha Ejaz (analyst) and Malang Ali (masseur).
Safe City conducts evaluation of 1600 private cameras in Islamabad
ISLAMABAD, Aug 11 (APP): The Technical Team of the Safe City Islamabad Command and Control Center conducted a survey of 1600 private security cameras installed in various areas of Islamabad.
Police said that the technical team surveyed 1600 private security cameras installed at Koral Chowk, Khanna Pul, Express Highway, Aabpara, Melody, Poly Clinic, G-9 Center, F-10 Center, I-10 Green Belt near Sabzi Mandi, I-16 Center, and G-13 Road in Islamabad.
The aim of the survey is to ensure access to Islamabad Police in urban as well as rural areas in order and enable effective handling and monitoring of incidents or events.
Moreover, private security camera owners were also requested to ensure the proper functioning of their cameras at all times and to provide timely CCTV footage to the police when required in order to assist in crime prevention and investigation.
Police have urged citizens to collaborate in eradicating criminal elements and provide strong support to the force.
Pakistan High Commissioner in London commends minorities’ role in nation-building
ISLAMABAD, Aug 11 (APP): The Pakistan High Commission in London Dr Mohammad Faisal commemorated ‘National Minorities Day’ on Thursday to honour the vital contributions of Pakistani minority communities in nation-building.
The event celebrated Pakistan’s diversity on Minorities Day, coinciding with August 11th annually, according to a press release received here on Friday.
Sir Anwar Parvaiz, Dr James Shera, Representatives of the Church of England, members of Pakistani minority communities in the UK and individuals from diverse backgrounds attended the event.
High Commissioner Dr Mohammad Faisal, in his address, highlighted the significant role played by minorities in shaping the nation.
He paid homage to historical figures from various faiths who have contributed to Pakistan’s development.
Drawing from Quaid-e-Azam’s historic speech, Dr Faisal emphasized a progressive Pakistan with equal rights for all citizens, regardless of caste or creed.
On this occasion, the High Commissioner also reflected on the symbolic importance of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, as a pathway to interfaith understanding and regional harmony.
In this regard, he highlighted government initiatives, including the Pakistan National Commission for Minorities, job quotas for minorities, and reserved legislative seats.
The speakers commended the pivotal role played by minorities in the inception of Pakistan, as well as its ongoing journey of progress and development.
They emphasized the profound importance of embracing diversity and promoting inclusiveness as a driving force behind the nation’s socio-economic progress.
Reflecting the vision of the Quaid-i-Azam, the speakers underscored the imperative of ensuring equal rights for all citizens as a cornerstone for national development.
Esther Das gave a roundup of the contributions of important personalities from minorities in Pakistan. The evening concluded with performances by British Pakistani minority singers, fostering unity and patriotism.
