Australian Macaws having fun at a shop of local vendor at Chargano Chowk
Tourists enjoy jet ski ride at Sardaryab picnic point
UN Resident Coordinator to Pakistan, Julien Harneis calls on Speaker National Assembly Raja Pervez Ashraf at Parliament House
A delegation of Barrick Gold led by CEO Mark Bristow calls on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif
A delegation of Barrick Gold led by CEO Mark Bristow calls on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif
AJK PM felicitates students for securing first three positions in exams
MIRPUR (AJK), Aug 01 (APP): Azad Jammu Kashmir Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq on Tuesday extended his heartfelt felicitations to three meritorious girl students hailing from Bhimber, AJK, who secured the first three positions in the recently announced annual results by Azad Jammu Kashmir Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Mirpur for 10th-grade students.
Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq, in his congratulatory message, praised the top position holders’ hard work, dedication and outstanding performance in the annual examinations.
He also appreciated the parents’ valuable contribution, endless struggle and commitment to enable their children to achieve their goals.
Congratulating all the students who passed the matriculation examination, the AJK PM asked the successful students to make hard work their motto and devote their full time and energies to enhancing their education and skills in order to get their dreams materialized.
ECP kicks off in-service training for officers in Lahore
ISLAMABAD, Aug 01 (APP): The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) started its In-Service Training Program on Tuesday at the Civil Services Academy, Walton Campus, Lahore.
Running until August 11, 2023, the training aims to equip 27 newly appointed ECP officers with advanced skills and knowledge essential for the efficient execution of their duties.
Throughout the program, officers will undergo comprehensive training covering multiple facets of election management, electoral laws, voter registration procedures, and electoral technology. The emphasis on teamwork, communication, and leadership skills aims to boost their effectiveness in ensuring free, fair, and transparent electoral processes.
The Civil Services Academy’s renowned expertise and state-of-the-art facilities make it the perfect partner for this initiative. The ECP is steadfast in its commitment to enhancing its officers’ capabilities and fostering public trust in the electoral system, thereby strengthening the foundations of democracy in Pakistan.
Air chief hails World Junior Squash Champion, says nation proud of Hamza
ISLAMABAD, Aug 01 (APP): Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu has lauded the brilliant performance of young Squash sensation Hamza Khan saying the nation was proud of the WSF World Junior Squash champion.
Hamza, who returned to Pakistan on Tuesday following a remarkable triumph in World Junior Squash Championship in Melbourne, Australia, called on Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu during his visit here at Air Headquarters, said a press release.
Speaking on the occasion Chief of the Air Staff, who was also the President of the Pakistan Squash Federation, lauded the brilliant performance of the young Squash star.
“The nation is proud of Hamza Khan who brought laurels to the country by winning the World Championship after 36 years. Such players are an asset to the country and a beacon for other youngsters to emulate. We have introduced a systematic profiling process of young talent which would go a long way in professional grooming of our squash players through assessment of their physical and technical skills, as well as their mental and emotional attributes,” he said.
Air Chief also gave special instructions to the Director General Administration to provide all-out logistic and administrative support to the rising star in order to facilitate his training as per modern parameters to prepare for the upcoming World Squash Championship in the month of November 2023.
Air Chief wished Hamza Khan all the best for World Squash Championship and hoped that Hamza would be able to replicate his success in the upcoming tournament as well.
Chief of the Air Staff reiterated his resolve that the Pakistan Squash Federation under the patronage of Pakistan Air Force would continue to take revolutionary steps for the promotion of Squash in the country.
Air Chief Marshal commended the hard work put in by the coaching staff for providing international standard training and coaching facilities to the young players.
He also appreciated the efforts of the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) in making concerted efforts for bringing back the lost glory in the game of Squash and hoped that Pakistan, with the sheer hard work and sincere efforts of its players like Hamza Khan, would once again rule the world of Squash.
The Chief of the Air Staff also thanked and appreciated the Chief of Army Staff for taking a special interest in the uplift of sports in Pakistan.
Hamza expressed his gratitude towards the Chief of the Air Staff for his support in revitalizing the sport of Squash and making his dreams a reality.
During the meeting, Hamza also commended the innumerable initiatives undertaken by PSF for the promotion of the game, which included the development of state-of-the-art sports infrastructure, the provision of quality coaching and the establishment of prestigious squash academies.
He said these strategic initiatives patronized by Pakistan Air Force have played a pivotal role in reclaiming the sport’s prominence and achieving significant milestones at the international level.
President phones KP governor to condole deaths in Bajaur blast; reiterates resolve against terrorism
ISLAMABAD, Aug 01 (APP): President Dr Arif Alvi on Tuesday telephoned Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Haji Ghulam Ali and expressed condolence over deaths in recent suicide attack in Bajaur district.
The president conveyed his condolences to the KP governor and people of the province over the loss of precious lives.
Talking to the governor, the president said Islam did not allow such heinous acts as well as terrorist attacks.
He said the people of KP province had rendered immense sacrifices against terrorism.
He reiterated that the elimination of terrorism and extremism from the country was inevitable.
He said the terrorists were enemies of the country and nation and that they would never succeed in their evil designs.
President Alvi sympathised with the bereaved families of the deceased and prayed for the early recovery of those injured.
Diplomacy on track with extensive global engagements: FM
ISLAMABAD, Aug 1 (APP):Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday said that through extensive engagement with the international community, Pakistan achieved substantially on the diplomatic front during the past fifteen months.
Addressing a ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after launching ‘Digitised system under Foreign Minister’s Change Management Reforms’, the foreign minister said that through intensive engagements with the international community, they could now claim “diplomacy is back”.
It was also an appropriate response to those who were touting about Pakistan being isolated at the global level, he added.
The foreign minister said that due to consistent global engagements under his stewardship, and with the countries in the Middle East, the United States, China, and other members of the United Nations, they had increased Pakistan’s outreach and viewpoint on different issues, leading to success at the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) after the country was removed from the grey list and climate change issue.
He said during the floods last year and afterward, in the post-flood scenario, the international community came to support Pakistan in the relief and rehabilitation efforts.
The UN General Assembly members focused on Pakistan during the relief efforts and subsequently, they successfully arranged the Climate Resilient Pakistan summit in Geneva receiving ‘a substantive and qualitative response’.
Foreign Minister Bilawal, to a media query, reiterated that Pakistan was not keen to join the ‘blocs policy’ and would take decisions in the larger national interests.
Pakistan had stressed upon resolution of all world issues through dialogue and diplomacy, he added.
Responding to another question regarding terrorist organizations, he maintained that writ of the state would be established at all costs and the government would not take steps to appease the militant or terrorists outfits.
He said that he had suggested to the prime minister to convene an Apex Committee meeting to address the issue of terrorist and criminal incidents in the country.
He said that there was an increase in the terrorist incidents after the fall of Kabul. The latest arms and ammunition left behind by the foreign forces had fallen into the hands of terrorist outfits and criminal organizations, and even with the dacoits which posed a challenge to the government, he added.
The foreign minister, to a question, further said that they expected the Afghan interim government to take actions against the terrorist organizations and honour their commitment made with the international community not to allow their soil for terrorist activities against any country under the Doha Agreement.
He said Pakistan’s stance was clear and it had demanded the Afghan interim set up to curb terrorism, as cooperation against the menace of terrorism was in the interest of both countries. Afghanistan had no standing army, anti-terrorists force or border management force which caused the capacity issues to face terrorism, he opined.
“In the past, we had faced the threats and together will face them,” he added. Pakistan, he said, was ready to assist them as they had the capacity issues to deal with such threats.
The foreign minister, to another question, said that the Pakistan Peoples Party believed that decisions regarding the interim set-up and elections should be taken to strengthen the civilian institutions and the democratic system in the country.
They believed that all issues confronted by the country could be addressed through a democratic dispensation which would ensure the political and economic stability, he said, adding the general polls should be held on time so that the people could exercise their right.
About reforms introduced in his ministry, the foreign minister said that different initiatives under the key four components were launched which would improve functioning of the ministry by making it more agile, nimble and efficient to face the new emerging challenges.
He said a total of 51 initiatives were taken at different work streams among which 19 were completed, three were partially implemented while 29 were in on the track to completion.
The ceremony was also attended by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khan, diplomats, officials, and Pakistan’s ambassadors abroad through video link.
Later, the foreign minister also inaugurated solarization of the ministry.