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FM, his Danish counterpart discuss bilateral economic ties 

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NEW YORK Sep 21 (APP): Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod of Denmark on Wednesday discussed the economic relations between Denmark and Pakistan that had continued to grow over the last decade.  

Both ministers during a meeting on the sidelines of 77th session of the UN General Assembly, looked forward to continued close cooperation for further strengthening of bilateral relations. 

The foreign minister said that Pakistan valued Denmark as an important bilateral partner as well as a key member of the EU.

 

FM, his Danish counterpart discuss bilateral economic ties 

He expressed Pakistan’s resolve to further solidifying political relations, deepening economic bonds and cementing educational cooperation. 

 The foreign minister noted the strong desire on part of the Danish side to engage Pakistan economically particularly in the renewable energy sector, and the Danish companies to enter the Pakistani renewable energy market. 

 In the regional context, the foreign minister stressed that the international community must not forget Afghanistan and should come together to address the dire humanitarian situation faced by the country. Pakistan continued to provide humanitarian assistance for the people of Afghanistan. 

 The foreign minister also drew attention to the serious human rights violations in IIOJK. 

 He also appreciated Denmark’s relief assistance in wake of the recent floods in Pakistan. 

MoS Hina Khar underscores huge potential of Pak-US ties 

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NEW YORK Sep 21 (APP): Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar on Wednesday underscored that there was enormous potential for deepening and widening the Pakistan-US bilateral ties, particularly in the areas of trade and investment and in reinforcing people-to-people relations- based on mutual trust and mutual respect. 

Victoria Nuland, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs of the United States Department of State held a meeting with the minister of state on the sidelines of the UNGA. 

 The minister thanked the U.S. Government for the solidarity it expressed with the flood victims by assistance of US $ 55 million and underscored that the recent visits of the US Congressional delegations and the members of Administration to Pakistan were a manifestation of the empathy that the United States had for the flood victims and the people of Pakistan.  

She apprised the Under Secretary on the devastation caused by the ravaging floods which directly affected 33 million people with punitive losses to Pakistan. 

 The minister of state stressed that even though Pakistan was responsible for less than 1% of global emissions it was bearing the brunt of climate crisis. She also highlighted the relief efforts of the Government and emphasized that reconstruction and rehabilitation would require long-term commitments on part of the international community. 

 She highlighted the deteriorating situation of the human rights in India and, in particular, how it was affecting the plight of the Kashmiris in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and emphasized the centrality of the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute for the regional peace and stability. 

The Under Secretary offered condolences over the loss of precious lives in Pakistan due to the super floods. She maintained that the U.S. would support Pakistan in the reconstruction and rehabilitation process.  

She also reaffirmed that the US would widen its engagement with Pakistan in various areas including climate change, health, energy, and trade and investment. 

 Hina Khar also discussed the regional situation and emphasized the need for peace, development, and stability in Afghanistan and beyond. 

Govt. to subsidize Panadol, Paracetamol for public affordability: PM

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NEW YORK, Sep 21 (APP):  Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said that the government would provide subsidy to the producers of Panadol and Paracetamol to make them affordable to people.

The prime minister was chairing a Zoom meeting of the authorities concerned to review the pace of various flood relief and rehabilitation activities in the flood-hit areas across Pakistan.

Expressing his views, the prime minister apprised that today, he held meetings with the president of World Bank and managing director International Monetary Fund and comprehensively discussed the flood situation in Pakistan. They expressed their grief over the losses and assured to extend all possible help and support Pakistan, he added.

The prime minister said that he had cautioned that millions of vulnerable children were deprived of essential food items and could fall ill with diseases like diarrhea.

Due to widespread devastation caused by floods, the people in Pakistan could not face the challenge alone with their limited resources, he said and urged the world community, international organizations like WB and IMF and other friendly countries to support them and provide the flood victims the much needed relief.

The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Advisor to Prime Minister Ahad Cheema and other senior officers concerned.

The prime minister is currently in New York to attend the high-level general debate of the 77th Session of UN General Assembly (UNGA77), scheduled from 20 to 26 September.

The prime minister reviewed the distribution of food items, tents and medicines in the affected areas.

He ordered the authorities concerned to make use of all available resources to distribute essential food items, especially baby food in the affected areas on emergency basis.

The prime minister also took stock of the restoration of roads, rails, bridges and other infrastructure damaged in the devastating floods, and ordered the relevant federal and provincial departments to accelerate their efforts in order to make them operational as early as possible.

The prime minister also congratulated Ahsan Iqbal for his acquittal in a NAB case by Islamabad High Court.

Terming it good news, the prime minister regretted that the previous government was involved in the witch-hunting of its opponents and tried to implicate them in false cases through awkward manner.

AJK President seeks from expatriates to redouble efforts in highlighting Kashmiris’ plight

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MIRPUR (AJK): Sep 21 (APP): Azad Jammu and Kashmir President Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry has emphasized upon Kashmiri expatriates to redouble their efforts to highlight Kashmir cause and expose atrocities committed by the Indian forces in Indian illegally occupied Jammu & Kashmir.

The AJK President expressed these views while addressing a reception hosted in his honour by a local Kashmir community leader in New Jersey (US) late Tuesday, according to the AJK President office, releasing statement on Wednesday.

The reception ceremony was also addressed by Kashmiri diaspora members including Sardar Imtiaz, Chaudhry Rashid, Mohammad Akhlaq, Dr. Ilyas, Mirzarshed and others.

Highlighting the terrible situation in the Indian Occupied Kashmir, the President said: “People in Kashmir are struggling for the liberation of their homeland from Indian unlawful occupation.”

Under the given circumstances, he said, there was a dire need that US to play its role in influencing government of India to shun violence over oppressed Kashmiris and implement the UNSC resolutions that guarantee the right of self-determination to the Kashmiri people.

The AJK president said that on 24 September Kashmiri diaspora community would gather at capitol hill to lodge a strong protest against the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to draw the world’s attention towards the ongoing Indian brutalities in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir.

He said that Kashmiris settled in all across the United States should participate in this demonstration to send a clear message to India that it cannot suppress the Kashmiri people and their passion for freedom by the use of force.

Delegation of European Parliament calls on Law Minister

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ISLAMABAD, Sep 21 (APP): A Delegation of European Parliament and EU Ambassador on Wednesday called on Federal Minister for Law and Justice Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar at Ministry of Law.

The minister welcomed the delegation and discussed matters of mutual interest in the meeting.

The delegation expressed concerns and grief over the floods in Pakistan, and emphasized the need to take effective measures for controlling the effects of climate change.

The meeting also discussed issues related to legislation in detail.
The minister said Pakistan’s law did not allow enforced disappearance and torture.

Enforced disappearance was a scourge and the cabinet sub-committee set up in this regard would soon submit its recommendations, he added.

He said: “Our performance in legislation making is good, the problem is implementation of the law.

Merely enacting legislation was not enough, real results could be achieved by implementing the law.”

He informed the delegation that the introduction of anti-rape law had reduced the number of rape cases to a great extent.

Public-private partnership key to improve standard of education: PM AJK

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MIRPUR [AJK]: Sep 21 (APP): Prime Minister Azad Jammu Kashmir Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan said on Wednesday that public-private partnership was key to improve the quality and standard of education in AJK.

He expressed these views while addressing the annual prize distribution ceremony at a local private sector school.

The ministers, including Abdul Majid Khan and Chaudhry Mohammad Rasheed were among the guests.

While addressing the function, Tanveer Ilyas said preparation of a confident new generation was one of the primary duties of the educational institutions.

He said the developed nations across the globe excelled in every field of life because of paying immense attention to education sector.

PM AJK said that state-owned educational institutions were also performing on their own, however, for their further improvement, it was imperative to create a mechanism of public-private partnership.

Expressing his pleasure to see the confidence of the school children, the PM said, “It is our shared responsibility to provide proper guidance and counseling to our children who happen to be the future architects.

He said that education played an important role in the progress and prosperity of developed countries.

While announcing 7 lakh rupees for the school, the PM also announced a cash prize of 2500 for the children who performed in the event.

MD IMF assures PM of support to help ease pain of Pakistani flood-affected people

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NEW YORK, Sep 21 (APP): Managing Director International Monetary Fund (IMF) Ms Karistalina Georgieva on Wednesday called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif here on the sidelines of 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Ms Karistalina Georgieva, later in a tweet, described her meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as “very constructive”, adding, she expressed deep sympathy for the devastation caused by floods in Pakistan.

Ms Karistalina Georgieva further said that the IMF will continue to support Pakistan under the current program to help ease the pain of the Pakistani people.

Kissan leaders commit to call off protest in Islamabad

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ISLAMABAD, Sep 21 (APP):Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah on Wednesday held negotiations with the Kissan Ittehad and ensured to arrange their meeting with the Prime Minister for addressing their issues.

According to the Interior Ministry spokesperson, the negotiations between representatives of Kissan Ittehad and Rana Sana Ullah took place at Minister’s Official Residence.

The negotiations were successful and the leaders committed to call off their protest on the condition that their meeting with Prime Minister will be arranged on his return.

Rana Sana Ullah thanked the leaders of Kissan Ittehad for honouring the commitment and calling off today’s protest. Meeting of Kissan Ittehad will now be held with the Prime Minister on September 28.