Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif visiting the exhibition held at the inauguration of National Aerospace Science and Technology Park
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif along with Services Chiefs and Federal Ministers at the inaugural ceremony of National Aerospace Science and Technology Park
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif along with Services Chiefs and Federal Ministers inaugurating National Aerospace Science and Technology Park
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif visiting the exhibition held at the inauguration of National Aerospace Science and Technology Park
India turns IIOJK into military cantonment: CM GB
GILGIT, Aug 04 (APP): Chief Minister Gilgit Baltistan Haji Gulbar Khan on Friday said that India has turned Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) into a military cantonment for the last many years and innocent Muslims have been confined to their homes.
In his message on Youm-e-Istehsal said the nefarious attempt to end the special status of Kashmir on August 5, 2019, has been rejected by the international community, including Pakistan.
He said that the insidious face of India has been exposed worldwide due to Indian atrocities on the poor and oppressed people of IIOJK.
CM GB said by terminating the special status of IIOJK, India has violated the United Nations resolutions, adding that “Pakistan became independent on August 14, 1947, but it is yet to be completed until Kashmir gets independence and joins Pakistan.
Chief Minister Haji Gulber said “Conspiracies of anti-national elements must be foiled. India is usurping the rights of IIOJK.
He said the day is not far when the oppressed people of IIOJK will get rid of Indian oppression and exploitation.
the CM said the people of Gilgit-Baltistan have always stood by the oppressed Kashmiri brothers in the freedom struggle and will not hesitate to make any kind of sacrifice until freedom.
He said “It is clear from the historical relationship of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan with their Kashmiri nation that they will not hesitate to make any kind of sacrifice for the oppressed brothers and sisters of Kashmir.
Pakistan to continue moral, political, diplomatic support to Kashmiris: PM
ISLAMABAD, Aug 4 (APP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan will continue to lend its unstinted moral, political and diplomatic support to the rightful and just cause of the freedom struggle of the Kashmiri people.
In a message on the Youm-e-Istehsal to be observed on August 5, 2023, he said, “It is Pakistan’s abiding commitment and promise to our Kashmiri brothers and sisters that we will echo their voices, at every forum until the world takes action and urges India to end its egregious human rights violations and forcible occupation of IIOJK, undo all unilateral and illegal measures it has taken since 5 August 2019, and take necessary steps to carry out a fair and impartial plebiscite in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions.”
“It has been four years since India unilaterally and illegally revoked the special status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK) on 5 August 2019. Since then, India has resorted to use of brutal force and violence to suppress the Kashmiri people. It has also undertaken a series of measures clearly aimed at altering the internationally recognized disputed status of IIOJK. In particular, India has tried to bring about demographic changes to undermine the right to self-determination of the Kashmiris.”
“The recent steps by India indicate its nefarious designs to disenfranchise the Muslim majority population of Kashmir. To this end, it has carried out a selective delimitation of electoral constituencies, issued fake domiciles to millions of non-Kashmiris, and added hundreds of thousands of temporary residents to alter the existing voter rolls. These are part of a well thought-out strategy to change Kashmir’s demography and political landscape. Pakistan outrightly rejects all such unilateral and illegal steps,” he added.
The prime minister said, “The barbaric and brutal occupation of IIOJK by India not only violates international law, but also makes a mockery of the globally accepted norms of fundamental rights and freedoms. The international community can no longer remain silent while India continues to perpetrate its oppression in Kashmir.”
“Despite more than seven decades of Indian occupation, including four painful years of continuous military siege and media blackout, India has failed to silence the voices of the brave Kashmiri people, whose just freedom struggle has further intensified. Three successive generations of innocent Kashmiris have sacrificed their lives and liberties, but courageously continued to defy the increasing coercion of the Indian occupation forces. Pakistan salutes these brave Kashmiri men and women and assures them of its continued resolute support in their cause for freedom from Indian subjugation,” he added.
India’s failure to honour its commitments to the Kashmiri people and to the international community as well as to the United Nations, brought into question its standing as a responsible member state, he said adding India’s refusal to grant the Kashmiris their inalienable right to self-determination had serious implications for South Asia and beyond.
“The people of South Asia desire peace and stability and this can only become possible through meaningful and purpose-oriented dialogue between India and Pakistan that includes discussion on all outstanding issues, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute,” he concluded.
Kashmiris on both sides of LoC will observe Youm-e-Istehsal tomorrow
ISLAMABAD, Aug 4 (APP): Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC), in Pakistan and all over the world will observe Youm-e-Istehsal, tomorrow, August 5, to register their protest against Narendra Modi-led Hindutva Indian government’s illegal action taken on that day in 2019.
President Dr Arif Alvi has resolved that Pakistan would continue to be the voice of its Kashmiri brothers and sisters, who had been making invaluable sacrifices and would extend all possible support for the fullest realization of their legitimate rights.
“We have no doubt that durable peace and stability in South Asia can only be achieved through a peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people,” the president said in his message on Youm-e-Istehsal annually observed on August 5.
He said that India unleashed its illegal and unilateral actions on August 5, 2019, in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) with the aim of disempowering, disenfranchising, and dispossessing the Kashmiri people in their own land.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan will continue to lend its unstinted moral, political and diplomatic support to the rightful and just cause of the freedom struggle of the Kashmiri people.
In a message on the Youm-e-Istehsal to be observed on August 5, 2023, he said, “It is Pakistan’s abiding commitment and promise to our Kashmiri brothers and sisters that we will echo their voices, at every forum until the world takes action and urges India to end its egregious human rights violations and forcible occupation of IIOJK, undo all unilateral and illegal measures it has taken since 5 August 2019 and take necessary steps to carry out a fair and impartial plebiscite in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions.”
Advisor to Prime Minister on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Qamar Zaman Kaira briefed the prime minister about the planned activities for Yaum-e-Istehsal-e-Kashmir to be observed on August 5, including seminars and awareness drives, particularly the ceremonies scheduled to be held at Pakistan’s diplomatic missions across the world.
Ahead of ‘Youm-e-Istehsal’ on August 5, Foreign Secretary Dr Asad Majeed Friday here briefed the Islamabad-based diplomatic missions on the latest developments in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
According to Foreign Office, he highlighted the legal, security and human rights dimensions of the situation in IIOJK.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Javed Abbasi on Friday informed the National Assembly that Pakistan has always forcefully raised the plight of the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) at all world forums.
Replying to a question during Question Hour, he said all the political parties of the country have a united stance on the Kashmir dispute.
China on Friday reiterated its clear and consistent position on the Kashmir issue ahead of “Yaum-e-Istehsal-e-Kashmir”, and called for proper and peaceful resolution of the longstanding issue under the United Nations (UN) Charter, UN Security Council’s resolutions and bilateral agreements.
“China’s position on the Kashmir issue is consistent and clear. This issue is a dispute left over from history between India and Pakistan and should be resolved in accordance with the UN Charter, relevant UN Security Council’s resolutions and bilateral agreements in a properly and peaceful manner,” a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said ahead of the fourth anniversary of India’s unilateral and illegal act in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir.
People of Khanewal would express solidarity with their Kashmiri brethren on Saturday, Aug 5, by joining different programmes including seminars and rallies as part of the observance of Youm-e-Istehsal-e-Kashmir.
People from different walks of life including traders, journalists, writers, teachers, students, religious leaders and social workers would attend the main ceremony at district headquarters, Zila Council Hall. DPO Rana Omar Farooq and ADCR Azooba Azeem would join the ceremony as special guests.
Grain prices rise after Russian pullout of Black Sea deal: UN agency
UNITED NATIONS, Aug 04 (APP): Global food prices ticked up last month after Russia pulled out of a deal to allow the safe passage of ships carrying grain from Ukrainian ports, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), a Rome-based UN agency.
The UN agency issued on Friday its latest Food Price Index (FPI), which tracks the monthly international prices of cereals, vegetable oil, dairy, meat and sugar.
The Index averaged 123.9 points in July, up 1.3 per cent from June, driven by an increase in vegetable oil and rice prices.
FAO’s Vegetable Oil Price Index registered a 12.1 per cent jump in July after seven months of consecutive declines.
Sunflower oil prices rebounded by 15 per cent due to uncertainties sparked by Russia’s decision to pull out of the Black Sea Initiative on grain and fertilizer exports.
The UN-brokered deal, together with a parallel accord between the UN and Russia, provided a lifeline for hundreds of millions worldwide facing hunger and spiraling food costs, including in countries such as Afghanistan and Ethiopia.
The Cereal Price Index declined by 0.5 per cent in June. This was largely the result of two factors: a nearly five per cent drop in coarse grain quotations due to increased seasonal supplies of maize from Argentina and Brazil, and potentially higher-than-anticipated production in the United States.
However, wheat prices rose for the first time in nine months due to uncertainty over exports from Ukraine and continued dry conditions in North America.
Meanwhile, rice prices increased by 2.8 per cent in July and by almost 20 per cent over the past year after India prohibited exports. FAO warned that the move “raises substantial food security concerns for a large swathe of the world population, especially those that are most poor and who dedicate a larger share of their incomes to purchase food”.
The Sugar Price Index declined by nearly four per cent, the result of good progress in Brazil’s sugarcane harvest, improved rains across most growing areas in India, and subdued demand from Indonesia and China, the world’s top importers.
There was also a 0.4 per cent slide in the Dairy Price Index, which is more than 20 per cent below the July 2022 value. Similarly, meat prices dropped 0.3 per cent since June.
Seminar held in Brussels to mark “Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir”
ISLAMABAD, Aug 4 (APP):The embassy of Pakistan Brussels organized a seminar on the eve of Youm-e-Istehsal (Day of exploitation) Kashmir to express its firm support to the people of the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
The seminar which was held in hybrid format was aimed at highlighting the human rights violations by the Indian government in the IIOJK especially in the wake of August 5, 2019 actions to modify the status contrary to the international commitments.
Former Member of the European Parliament Phil Bennion, Chairman Kashmir Institute of International Relations Altaf Hussain Wani, Former President Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry Dr. Mubeen Shah and Chairman EU Kashmir Council Ali Raza Syed expressed their views focusing on the gross violations by the Indian forces of the right to liberty, health, education, expression, assembly and freedom of religion.
While highlighting the grave human rights situation in the IIOJK, the panellists called upon India to cease atrocities against innocent Kashmiris who were suffering under its illegal occupation for over past seven decades. They termed Indian actions since 05 August 2019, illegal and in violation of the international law, and demanded their unconditional revocation.
In her remarks, the Ambassador of Pakistan to the EU, Belgium and Luxembourg, Amna Baloch apprised the audience about the unabated atrocities being committed by the Indian security forces, especially after illegally revoking the special status of the IIOJ&K on 5th August 2019. She underscored that over 900,000 Indian occupation forces turned IIOJK into the world’s largest open prison and the most militarized zone in the world, which necessitates intervention from the international community especially UN and the European Union.
The ambassador reiterated Pakistan’s political, diplomatic and moral support for the Kashmiri people’s just cause of self-determination according to the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council.
The event was attended by representatives of media, scholars, Pakistani and Kashmiri diaspora.
Cao Shudong calls on Dar
ISLAMABAD, Aug 4 (APP): Cao Shudong, Vice President, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) called on Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Friday.
SAPM on Finance Tariq Bajwa, PAEC team, CNNC team and senior officials from Finance Division attended the meeting, said a press release issued here.
The meeting discussed China-Pakistan Cooperation in the field of nuclear energy projects including and construction of a Chasma Nuclear Power Plant (C-5) of 1200 MW capacity in Mianwali district with Chinese credit.
Dar appreciated the Chinese leadership for extending support to Pakistan in different fields of development and growth.
The finance minister extended full GoP support to CNNC in the timely construction and completion of the nuclear power plant, which shows the bondage and deep-rooted friendship between Pakistan and China.