A lady preparing Curtin (Chik) at his roadside setup to earn for livelihood
Youngsters diving into canal to bathe in the rising heat and humid weather in the city
China-Pakistan Economy, Trade B2B Forum held in Shenzhen
BEIJING, Aug 3 (APP): The 10th Anniversary Ceremony for China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and China-Pakistan Economy and Trade B2B Forum was held in Shenzhen, China.
At the invitation of the Shenzhen Municipal Government and the China-Pakistan Trade, Investment and Technology Cooperation Center, guest including Rana Ihsaan Afzal Khan, Coordinator to Prime Minster of Pakistan on Commerce and Industry, Muhammad Asif Noor, Chief Executive Officer at Belt and Road Consultants Pvt Limited, Mr. Fu Chaoyang, Chairman of the Board of Directors of China Ocean Group Industry Co., Ltd, Ms. Zhu Yanyan, President of China-Pakistan United (Shenzhen) Economy and Trade Management Co., Ltd., Zang Mengsheng, General Manager of the Trade and Finance Department of Pakistan’s Habib Bank Limited (HBL) in China, attended the forum, China Economic Net (CEN) reported on Thursday.
At the forum, the Pakistani representative introduced in detail the more than 50 agreements signed by two governments since the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was launched in 2013, which determined the “1+4” cooperation layout centered on the CPEC, with Gwadar Port, energy, infrastructure and industrial cooperation as the four priorities.
In response to these statements, all guests and Pakistani representatives conducted in-depth exchanges on the composition of Pakistan’s national resources, economic situation, investment policy, financial system, security situation and other issues of common concern to both sides.
Subsequently, special guests from local enterprises conducted targeted project exchanges with the Pakistani delegation, whom conducted policy interpretation, market analysis, project evaluation and resource docking for Chinese enterprises.
As for conference outcome, Chinese representatives expressed hope to normalize this forum, and combine the industrial characteristics of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to cooperate with Special Economic Zone (SEZs) in Pakistan in an all-round way to go overseas as a whole in the form of industrial belts and clusters.
At the same time, invite outstanding Pakistani enterprises to visit China to establish a two-way cooperation mechanism, promoting the export of Pakistani specialty products and undertake the transfer of China’s industrial capacity. Accordingly, the Pakistani delegation expressed willingness to actively cooperate with Shenzhen, hoping to encourage outstanding enterprises from Pakistan, the Middle East and the Gulf region to develop in China through the establishment of Bay Area headquarters base in Shenzhen.
This forum is hosted by the China-Pakistan Trade, Investment and Technology Cooperation Center, as well as undertaken by China-Pakistan United (Shenzhen) Economy and Trade Management Co., Ltd, which, on site signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Pakistan Effendi Group to further promote the close cooperation between bilateral enterprises in the future.
Women’s participation in political process signifies gender equality: Law Minister
ISLAMABAD, Aug 03 (APP): Minister for Law and Justice Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar on Thursday said that women’s full and equal participation in political and electoral processes signifies gender equality in the country.
He was addressing the ‘National Dialogue on Women Inclusive Electoral Processes, said a press release issued here.
The minister said that when women participate in elections – as voters, candidates, electoral administrators, or party supporters, political processes are more inclusive and democracy is strengthened.
He further added that women’s full participation in political and electoral processes has been enumerated in international instruments such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), both of which have been ratified by Pakistan.
The minister said that under the Elections Act 2017, the ECP may declare the election void if the turnout of women voters is less than ten per cent of the total votes polled in a constituency. The commission may conduct public awareness programs and media campaigns regarding the importance of maximum voter enrollment and participation in elections especially by women, he said
Azam Nazeer Tarar said that there shall be seats in the National Assembly allocated to each Province, Islamabad Capital Territory, and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and seats reserved for women and non-Muslims, as specified in Article 51 of the Constitution.
The ECP will annually publish disaggregated data of registered men and women voters in each National Assembly and Provincial Assembly constituency highlighting the difference in number of registered men and women voters, he said.
The law minister said that the Presiding Officer may at any stage on the polling day during or after the polling, prepare and send a special report to the Returning Officer and to the commission if he has reason to believe that women voters have been restrained from exercising their right to vote based on any express or implied agreement.
A political party when making the selection of candidates for elective offices, including membership of the Parliament and Provincial Assemblies, shall ensure at least five per cent representation of women candidates, he concluded.
Govt determined to take Pakistan to forefront of digital world: Amin ul Haq
KARACHI, Aug 03 (APP): Federal Minister for Information Technology Syed Amin-ul-Haq on Thursday expressed his resolve and determination to take Pakistan to the forefront of the digital world with a futuristic vision.
The minister, while addressing the graduation ceremony of 8th and 9th Cohorts of National Incubation Centre Karachi (NICK) at NED University of Engineering and Technology, said that multifaceted efforts were required by all the stakeholders for materializing the Vision 2025.
The federal minister said that dedicated efforts by the Ministry resulted in the surge of Pakistan’s IT exports to $ 2.6 billion while we were fully determined to enhance the figure to $15 billion in the coming years.
Following the vision of Digital Pakistan, the IT Ministry has taken multiple steps for the promotion of the sector which resulted in the expansion of internet connectivity, broadband and cellular coverage in the country, he said adding that, nowadays, the number of mobile phone subscribers in the country had reached at 195 million against the earlier figure of 160 million in FY 2018-19.
Referring to smart phone manufacturing in Pakistan, Amin ul Haq said that 22 million smart phones had been manufactured in the country that had ensured the availability of smart phone at a lower price. “For the first time, smart phone was exported from the country as well”, he revealed.
The IT sector has attracted foreign direct investment of $ 7.1 billion while the sector has contributed as taxes of Rs.11.20 billion to national kitty, he added.
The minister said that the Ministry’s Universal Service Fund was working to improve broadband services for providing digital services to the population living in remote under serve areas of all the four provinces.
The National Incubation Centre Karachi (NICK) played a significant role in promoting entrepreneurship and the successful startups created a valuable number of employment opportunities, he stated.
Gaming and animation is a vast field of IT sector at global level but the field has been neglected in the past, he observed adding that Pakistan’s share in multi billion dollar market was negligible.
Two centres of excellence in Gaming and Animation will be established at Karachi and Lahore with an estimated cost of Rs.2.2 billion, the minister informed adding that one of them would be in the NED University.
Speaking at the occasion, Vice Chancellor of NED University Dr. Sarosh Hashmat Lodhi informed that NED University would soon launch NED Science and Technology Park.
CEO Ignite, Asim Shahryar Husain, stressed on the need of mobilizing domestic investment and suggested that NICK should conduct education workshops with investors and industrialists for the purpose.
PD NICK Faizan Laghari briefed that 11 cohorts had been inducted at the centre so far, 299 startups got incubated while 130 achieved graduation. NICK leads other incubation centers of the country in terms of startup facilitation, investment, job creation and revenue generation, he claimed.
The ceremony concluded with the distribution of graduation certificates to the successful entrepreneurs by the federal minister while different members of startups graduated in the 8th and 9th Cohorts of NICK shared their success stories with the audience as well.
Youngsters jumping into canals to bathe in the rising heat and humid weather in the provincial capital
Federal Minister for IT &Telecom Syed Amin-ul-Haq in a group photo after the Graduation Ceremony of 8th & 9th COHORTS at National Incubation Center NED University
Federal Minister for IT &Telecom Syed Amin-ul-Haq presents Certificate of Graduation during Graduation Ceremony of 8th & 9th COHORTS at National Incubation Center NED University
President for enhancing ties with UK, South Korea, Malawi
ISLAMABAD, Aug 3 (APP): President Dr Arif Alvi on Thursday said that Pakistan wanted to enhance its relations with the United Kingdom (UK), the Republic of Korea, and Malawi in the fields of trade, economy, and culture.
The president made these remarks while talking to the High Commissioner-designates of the United Kingdom and Malawi, and the Ambassador-designate of the Republic of Korea to Pakistan.
The envoys presented their diplomatic credentials to the president and separately called on him, at Aiwan-e-Sadr.
Talking to Jane Marriot, the UK’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, the president said that Pakistan attached utmost significance to its longstanding ties with the UK, which were grounded in historic connections and enduring people-to-people linkages.
He remarked that both countries needed to further expand and promote economic and trade relations for the mutual benefit of the two sides.
He also lauded the contributions of the Pakistani diaspora in the UK towards its socio-economic development.
President Alvi underscored the need for strengthening cultural ties and people-to-people contacts.
He highlighted that both governments were committed to establishing and maintaining a more robust and long-term relationship.
He also urged that the world needed to prevent and discourage the incidents of the Islamophobia in the world.
Speaking to Park Ki Jun, the ambassador of the Republic of Korea, the president said that Pakistan highly valued its multidimensional relationship with Korea, encompassing political, economic, scientific, cultural, and people-to-people linkages.
He mentioned that Pakistan and Korea had tremendous potential to increase bilateral trade to further strengthen economic relations.
He said that Pakistan was open for business and investment, and would welcome Korean investment in all sectors of its economy.
The president informed that Pakistan offered some of the most exotic mountaineering and religious Buddhist sites, and would welcome Korean tourists to visit and explore these sites.
Talking to Younos Abdul Karim, the high commissioner of Malawi to Pakistan, the president expressed Pakistan’s deep appreciation for its historical and brotherly ties with Malawi, which were marked by shared interests, values, and goals.
He stressed the need for expanding economic, political, and cultural relations between the two countries.
The president congratulated the envoys on their appointments and expressed the hope that they would play their role to further boost bilateral cooperation with Pakistan.
A passenger train on the way passing through Kotri Railway Bridge
