Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in a group photo with Hamza Khan, winner of the World Junior Squash Championship alongwith his parents in the Prime Minister’s House
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif presenting cash prize of Rs. 10 million to Hamza Khan who recently won the World Junior Squash Championship
A-Web delegation visits ECP to foster collaboration
ISLAMABAD, Aug 03 (APP): A two-member delegation from the Association of World Election Bodies (A-Web) visited the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to learn about its operations and invited the Commission to attend the General Assembly meeting of the Association, which is scheduled to be held next year in Colombia.
According to a press release, various Wings of the ECP provided detailed briefings to the delegation, consisting of senior officers. The briefings encompassed the ECP’s role, functions, the conduct of elections, local government elections, IT innovations, reinforced election monitoring, gender mainstreaming initiatives, and overall readiness for future elections.
The World Body delegation expressed a strong interest in the working of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and urged the ECP to actively participate in the upcoming Colombia meeting as a member of the Association of World Bodies. At the end of the meeting, shields of honour were exchanged as a gesture of mutual respect and appreciation.
Chinese delegation visits Margalla Station, reviews Green Line Train development
ISLAMABAD, Aug 03 (APP):A delegation from the China Media Group visited Margalla Railway Station Islamabad to see the development of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects, especially the Green Line Train, as part of the 10 years of celebrations of CPEC.
The visit was organized on Thursday to highlight the advanced Chinese technology and expertise used in the railway sector, emphasising the beneficial impact of China-Pakistan cooperation.
The Chinese delegation consisting of newsmen and representatives of manufacturing companies conversed with the passengers about the facilities in the Green Line Train, during their brief travel from Islamabad to Rawalpindi.
The passengers appreciated the facilities provided in the train, saying it had made long distance travelling particularly between Islamabad and Karachi hassle-free and easy.
Speaking on the occasion, a Pakistan Railways official said,”The train comprises two air-conditioned (AC) coaches, one each business class and parlour, two AC standard and two economy class.
Most of the people travelling between Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi preferred the Green Line Train due to its better standard, he added.
He also said that the train’s schedule of departure/arrival was strictly being maintained. The Railways Minister had directed the officials concerned to reduce its travel time to less than 23 hours which would further improve the confidence of passengers in the Pakistan Railways, he added.
The official said it had been decided to provide the best travelling facilities in the Green Line Train, including high-quality food and affordable fare. A separate LCD would be installed on each seat of the AC Parlor coach so that the passengers could enjoy favourite videos while using headphones, he added.
He further said that the train during its journey from Islamabad to Karachi and vice versa stopped only at major stations, including Lahore, Khanewal, Hyderabad and Bahawalpur. It had the capacity to run at 160 kilometer per hour, however, “it runs at 90 km per hour from Rawalpindi to Lahore and from Lahore onward at 140 km per hours”.
Nine more coaches were added to train in Lahore, the official added.
On arrival at the Margalla Railway Station, Divisional Superintendent Inam Ullah and other officials accorded a warm welcome to the delegation and presented them a souvenir. He gave them a detailed briefing about the Green Line Train and also informed about the future plans of Pakistan Railways under CPEC.
Ms. Waqar un Nisa, Divisional Transportation officer, Pakisan Railways, Rawalpindi Division, Sohail Javed, Divisional Engineer, Muneeba Mumtaz, Assistant Transportation Officer, Abdullah Assistant Mechanical Engineer were also present during the visit.
Global action a must to save other faultless, vulnerable countries from climate disasters: PM
ISLAMABAD, Aug 3 (APP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday called for timely decisions and actions, warning that climate disasters could also hit other countries like Pakistan with even no contribution to the emissions.
The prime minister, addressing a seminar on climate change, urged the international community to stand for the future and work hard as the calamities like flash floods in Pakistan could hit any other country too.
He said Pakistan was among ten countries facing the impacts of climate change despite having no fault.
“We need to stand for our future. We need to work hard. Let us accept the challenge, work out a plan, and not waste time to save generations,” the prime minister remarked.
He said it had been a year since the most devastating floods in history put one-third of Pakistan under water and caused large-scale destruction of infrastructure including millions of acres of standing crops and houses.
He said it was the worst flood he had seen in his entire life as Sindh looked like River Indus flowing all around.
He said despite the government had spent billions of rupees, the challenge was not yet over.
He thanked the friendly countries and donors for timely rescue and questioned what would be the consequences if the country was hit again bu a similar disaster.
The prime minister asked what was the fault of the countries like Pakistan which had been facing the crisis of “unknown consequence.”
He urged the international community to ponder over the situation and suggest solutions as the countries like Pakistan could not afford the debt burden.
He said Pakistan was still dealing with IMF program with a huge gap between its exports and imports.
“If we have such a terrible natural accident, we need extra money to deal with the situation. This needs the answer. Come forward with the solid recommendation for implementation in letter and spirit,” he remarked.
On the very issue, the prime minister wrote on a social media platform that the floods had inflicted an overall loss of $30 billion on Pakistan’s economy.
He said Pakistan used the unprecedented floods to warn the world of impending disasters induced by climate change.
We called for prompt global action and a show of solidarity to help the countries most vulnerable to climate change impacts, he added.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said under the 4RF framework, Pakistan had been working on recovery, rehabilitation and rebuilding of the flood-affected regions.
He said the federal cabinet recently approved a landmark National Adaptation Plan 2023, which would ensure that country’s policies, infrastructure, and communities were fully equipped to tackle the challenges.
“Together with our partners and friends, we will ensure the success of the climate journey,” he commented.
PM’s Health Insurance Scheme for journalists, artists historic step of Shehbaz Sharif: Marriyum
ISLAMABAD, Aug 3 (APP): Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said that the health insurance scheme for journalists and artists was a historic decision of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
While addressing the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and State Life Insurance Corporation for the health insurance of journalists and artists here Thursday, she said that the prime minister took a historic decision for the health insurance of journalists and artists, which was starting from today, for the first time in the history of Pakistan.
She said that Rs 1 billion had been allocated for each category of journalists and artists from all over Pakistan in the current fiscal year. She said that the prime minister had issued directives that the money allocated in the budget for journalists and artists should not be limited to announcements only but practical steps should be taken on this project.
The minister said that the registration for health insurance was started two weeks ago for journalists and media workers and one week ago for artists.
She said that the foundation of the health insurance card scheme was laid during the Nawaz Sharif tenure as prime minister. She said that keeping in mind the experience of State Life Insurance Corporation, the Ministry of Information was going to issue health insurance cards for journalists and artists community.
The minister said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will issue health insurance cards on August 7 to both journalists and artists. Marriyum said that in a short period of 15 months, the government had done important legislation for the welfare of journalists, linking their minimum wages with government business. She said that health facilities would be provided to journalists in the form of health insurance cards.
The federal minister said that various surgeries including renal surgery, heart surgery and cardiac surgery including indoor and outdoor medical facilities were covered under the health insurance scheme while ambulance service would also be provided under this card.
She said that many value additions have also been done by State Life Insurance in the scheme. Marriyum Aurangzeb said that along with health insurance scheme, the welfare of journalists and artists had also been arranged by the incumbent government.
She said that in a short period of 15 months, Rs 120 million have been recovered and paid to newspaper employees in the form of salaries, while health insurance including job security of media workers has been started.
The federal minister said that in the last four years, the country was facing serious economic crisis and important projects were delayed. She said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif not only rescued these projects but also restored them and ensured their completion.
The minister thanked the entire team of the Ministry of Information for making the health insurance scheme for journalists and artists a success.
Minister for Law and Justice Nazir Tarar, Prime Minister’s Coordinator for Economy and Energy Bilal Azhar Kayani, Secretary Information Sohail Ali Khan, Principal Information Officer Mubashar Hassan and Chairman State Life Insurance Corporation Shoaib Javed participated in the ceremony.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif addresses the launching ceremony of Prime Minister’s Digital Youth Hub
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif addresses the launching ceremony of Prime Minister’s Digital Youth Hub
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in a group photograph with Members of Pakistan Youth Assembly at the launching ceremony of Prime Minister’s Digital Youth Hub
President of Pakistan Youth Parliament and Pakistan Youth Council presenting traditional Khyber Pakhtunkhwa turban to Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at the launching ceremony of Prime Minister’s Digital Youth Hub
