Home Blog Page 13437

Time for world to translate solidarity for flood survivors into concrete actions: PM

0

NEW YORK, Sep 23 (APP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said that as the world leaders continued to show massive sympathy for the flood-stricken people of Pakistan, it was the time for the world to translate their solidarity into concrete actions.

The prime minister, who is currently on a US visit to attend the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, referred to his interaction with the world leaders on the sidelines.

“As I continued my interaction with world leaders on day 3 of UNGA Session, there has been a massive outpouring of sympathy & solidarity with Pakistan on flood disaster. Time has come for world to translate this solidarity into concrete action to help Pakistan overcome this crisis,” the prime minister wrote on Twitter.

The prime minister, who is about to address the UNGA session today, has been urging the world for debt relief to Pakistan to enable the country overcome the challenging situation caused by the climate change-induced floods.

NUST, Cranfield University ink multi-pronged MoU

0

ISLAMABAD, Sep 23 (APP):National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Pakistan has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the prestigious Cranfield University (CU), United Kingdom to enhance bilateral cooperation.

The MoU signing ceremony was held at Cranfield, United Kingdom, said a message received here.

The MoU envisions strong bilateral cooperation that would pave the way for a myriad of collaborative activities in several academic and research domains.

Rector NUST Engr Javed Mahmood Bukhari, himself a graduate of Cranfield University, led the NUST delegation to CU for signing of the agreement that would have far-reaching positive dividends for both sides.

Other members of the NUST delegation included Pro-Rector RIC Dr Rizwan Riaz and Dir Coordination Mr Imran Malik. Chief Executive and Vice-Chancellor of CU Professor Karen Holford FREng CBE, accompanied by Pro-Vice-Chancellors Professor Simon Pollard and Professor Dame Helen Atkinson and senior executives from CU, warmly received the delegates.

Rector NUST condoled with the hosts on passing of the Queen, and thanked them for their hospitality.

Both the chairs pinned high hopes on the success and fruitfulness of the budding cooperation.

CU specialises in postgraduate studies and research and boasts very strong industrial partnerships and world-class expertise.

NUST holds a high pedestal among universities of Pakistan with a regular inflow of brightest students from across the country.

The cooperation will go a long way in providing opportunities to NUST students to benefit from CU’s expertise and facilities, while CU will gain access to a large pool of motivated and capable researchers of NUST.

Under this multi-pronged partnership, CU and NUST will collaborate in multiple thematic areas through different initiatives.

These joint ventures will initially focus on as diverse fields as Manufacturing, Aerospace, Materials, Energy, Sustainability, Rail and Automotive Engineering.

The partnership will also cover joint research and publications, student exchanges, faculty mobility, capacity building, etc.

Offering 145 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across seven disciplines, NUST’s partnership with CU will further reinforce the academic strengths of NUST in producing graduates fully poised to take on current and impending challenges in the technologically advanced world, thereby aligning with CU’s mission to create leaders in technology and management.

Two more Saudi airlifts of relief goods arrive in Pakistan

0

ISLAMABAD, Sep 23 (APP): The government of Saudi Arabia through its aid agency, King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) have sent two more special planes loaded with the relief goods.

Both of the special planes carrying 60 tons of relief goods including tents, food packages, blankets, dates and non-food items kits reached Karachi for the flood victims, said a statement on Friday.

The relief goods was received by the KSrelief Director Pakistan and handed over to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) representative in the metropolitan city.

The relief goods would be distributed among the affected people according to the needs of each region of the country in collaboration with the NDMA.

It is pertinent to mention here that this series of the arrival of relief cargo planes would continue till September 27, this month.

PM appeals to rich nations for ‘substantial’ debt relief as Pakistan floods losses exceed $30 billion

0

NEW YORK, Sep 23 (APP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday made an urgent appeal for a “substantial” debt relief from rich nations as catastrophic floods exacerbated by climate change displaced millions of people in the country. 

In an interview with Bloomberg Television in New York, he said Pakistan had high debt obligations in the next two months. 

PM Sharif said his government had just signed an agreement with the International Monetary Fund with “very tough conditionalities” that include taxes on petroleum and electricity. 

The floods have submerged a third of the country and killed more than 1,500 people. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called on the international community to help Pakistan financially as damages caused by the floods exceed $30 billion. 

“We have spoken to European leaders and other leaders to help us in the Paris Club to get us moratorium,” Sharif said, referring to the group of rich creditor nations. 

“Unless we get substantial relief how can the world expect from us to stand on our own feet? It is simply impossible,” he added.

He noted a “yawning gap” between what Pakistan was asking for and what was available, warning that the nation was facing the imminent threat of epidemics and other dangers. 

“God forbid this happens, all hell will break,” Sharif said.

In August, Pakistan secured a $1.1 billion loan from the IMF to avert default as political turmoil and the deadly flooding threatened the country’s economy. 

The IMF also increased the nation’s bailout package to $6.5 billion. 

Sharif said he had spoken to the IMF and World Bank about immediate debt relief and would begin talks with China after the Paris Club. 

He mentioned that the disaster in Pakistan, already reeling from depleted currency reserves and the highest inflation in decades, had affected 33 million people.

The prime minister urged the international community to help out Pakistan considering its damages due to climate-induced disaster, with 1,500 deaths including 400 children.

He pointed out that Pakistan fell victim to the climate change despite its less than one percent contribution to carbon emissions.

“Today it is Pakistan [suffering] and tomorrow it could be any other country that could be hit by the climate change,” he said.

Asked about talks with Russia, he said Pakistan was in touch with the energy-rich nation regarding discussions over gas supplies as well as wheat imports after expected production losses due to the floods. 

“Things will not come back to normal,” Sharif said, stressing the need for assistance by other countries to help Pakistan rebuild its infrastructure as floods inundated one-third of the land.

“I need to put our economy back on trail. I need to put our millions of people back in the rooms, busy again with the ordinary life in agriculture, in industry and getting jobs back,” he said. 

“Time is running, and we’re racing against time,” he added. “Please help us avoiding this disaster.”

Sharif urged his countrymen back home to rise above their political differences and join hands in extending assistance to the flood-hit people.

“This is the real spirit of service to help our brothers and sisters in need by burying our differences,” he said, mentioning that the floods wreaked havoc with the livelihood of the people.

About prospects of improvement in relations with India, he said Pakistan believed that only peace could guarantee the sustainable prosperity in the South Asian region.

Peace, he said, could help the countries divert their resources towards the development of their people.

The prime minister, however, linked the improvement of ties with India with negotiations regarding the resolution of the Kashmir dispute in aspirations of its people.

PM raised voice on global warming, climate change at international level: Marriyum

0

UNITED NATIONS, Sep 23 (APP): Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb has said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had raised his voice at international level regarding global warming and climate change, which was a common problem of the entire world.

Talking to the media persons on the occasion her visit the photo exhibition organized by the Ministry of Information at the United Nations Secretariat lobby, she said currently Pakistan was facing health disaster due to floods and there was a dire need for medicines.

She said winter was approaching and flood victims were in dire need of blankets, warm clothes and sheets etc.

Those who wanted to help flood victims, they could help through NDMA and civil society, she said.

Many women in the flood-affected areas were expecting babies and there was a dire need for baby milk, baby food and other related items, she added.

The Prime Minister had issued instructions regarding the distribution of tents in Sindh and Balochistan, she said adding tents were being distributed keeping in view the needs of the victims.

The minister said that NDMA had been sharing its data with the general public on a daily basis and they were informed about what was required at which place.

She said all out efforts were being made to provide relief to flood victims.

Marriyum said that the Prime Minister yesterday had presided over a review meeting regarding the flood victims, in which it was found that there was a shortage of panadol and paracetamol tablets.

The consumption of panadol and paracetamol had increased due to flood-related diseases and dengue, the minister said.

She said that demand for these drugs was high,their production was less than increased demand whereas the cost of production was also high.

The Prime Minister had clearly instructed that the prices of these medicines would not be increased, she maintained

The PM had directed the Ministry of Finance to subsidize these medicines, she added.

The minister said process of screening NGOs which were closed had
been started by the Ministry of Interior so that they could start work in flood affected areas.

At present, NGOs and civil society were doing very good work in the flood-affected areas, which had been appreciated not only by the Prime Minister, but at the public level as well, she added.

The minister said there was a role of civil society all over the world, when this role was included in the efforts of the government, any disaster could be faced.

The current focus of the government was on rehabilitation of the flood-affected areas, she added.

Court suspends Ishaq Dar’s arrest warrants till Oct 7

0

ISLAMABAD, Sep 23 (APP):An Accountability Court on Friday suspended the permanent arrest warrants of former finance minister Ishaq Dar till October 7, in a reference pertaining to holding of assets beyond known sources of income.

The court, however, said that it would cancel the arrest warrants permanently if the former finance minister appeared before it.

AC-Judge Muhammad Bashir heard the case filed by Ishaq Dar through his counsel Qazi Misbah Advocate.

The lawyer prayed the court to suspend the permanent arrest warrants of former finance minister, adding that his client would directly approach this court as he gets back to the home country.

He said Ishaq Dar wanted to surrender before this court on his return.
The court inquired about the presence of NAB Prosecutor Afzal Qureshi at this the duty prosecutor said that he (Afzal) had gone to perform Umrah.

It may be mentioned here that the court had issued permanent arrest warrant against Ishaq Dar in May this year.

PM to address 77th UNGA session today

0

ISLAMABAD, Sep 23 (APP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to address the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly today. 

The prime minister will deliberate on the stance of Pakistan on various international and regional matters, besides highlighting the challenges faced by the country in the wake of devastating flash floods. 

Later, the pime minister will hold a bilateral meeting with his Dutch counterpart, Mark Rutte.

Malala Yousafzai, Co-Founder Malala Fund, will also call on the prime minister.

PM Sharif will also attend a Zoom meeting with US Congressswoman  Sheila Jackson Lee. 

In the evening, the Prime Minister will depart for London after concluding his five-day official visit to New York. 

 

 

PM, Japanese counterpart discuss bilateral ties

0

NEW YORK, Sep 23 (APP):Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Thursday here held a meeting with his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida and discussed matters of mutual interest.
According to the Prime Minister Office, the meeting was held on the sidelines of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

OIC expresses full support to Kashmiris’ right to self determination

0

NEW YORK, Sep 23 (APP):Member states of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Thursday renewed unwavering solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir and expressed full support for their inalienable right to self- determination in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and the OIC, and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari chaired the Annual Coordination Meeting (ACM) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Foreign Ministers at the United Nations Headquarters here on the sidelines of the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly.
OIC member states commended Pakistan for its active and forceful advocacy of all matters of interest to the Islamic Ummah and its prominent role within the OIC. The meeting also expressed full solidarity and sympathy with the government and people of Pakistan affected by the recent climate-induced devastating floods.
In his address, the Foreign Minister emphasized that Pakistan, as a founding member of the OIC, attached utmost importance to the Organization as the sole and most prominent voice of the Muslim Ummah. He reviewed the wide range of issues confronting the Muslim Ummah, including rising Islamophobia, the situation in Palestine, Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir, Afghanistan, COVID-19 pandemic, the food, fuel and finance crises and the existential threat posed by climate change. The Foreign Minister expressed special appreciation for the OIC’s consistent and historic support for the Kashmir cause.
OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha, and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in capacity as chair of the OIC Summit also addressed the meeting.

During the coordination meeting, the OIC Member states exchanged views on a range of issues on the agenda of the 77th UNGA session. They also reviewed follow-up action on the resolutions and decisions of the OIC.
The meeting reaffirmed the centrality of the question of Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Sharif for the Muslim Ummah, reaffirming its principled and continued all- level support to the Palestinian people to regain their inalienable legitimate national rights, including their right to self-determination, and the independence of the State of Palestine along the 1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
The meeting also reaffirmed the importance of sustained engagement of the international community with Afghanistan, especially in supporting the humanitarian and development needs of the Afghan people.

Keeping in view the global challenges and noting that a vast majority of international conflicts and disputes involve OIC member states, the Foreign Minister underlined the importance of establishing an effective peace and security architecture within the OIC in accordance with the authority conferred by Article 10 (e) of the Charter. He encouraged his counterparts to share their perspective on strengthening and fully activating the OIC Peace and Security architecture to enable the OIC to contribute to and promote durable solutions to the problems faced by the Muslim world.
The meeting welcomed the adoption of the landmark UN General Assembly resolution proclaiming 15 March as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia and agreed to urge, as a follow-up of the resolution, the UN Secretary-General to formulate an action plan, in coordination with the OIC countries, to halt and reverse Islamophobia.

The ministers also exchanged views on a series of global shocks: the Covid-19 pandemic, rising commodity prices, climate change and a contracting world economy compounded by the ongoing conflict in Europe. The Ministers expressed concern that these shocks have decelerated progress towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the developing world and, as a result intensified inequality within and among States, including in the Islamic countries.
The ministers underscored the need for the OIC to work towards evolving collective and concerted responses to the political, economic, climate and other challenges confronting the world today.

PM attends exhibit of heartrending photos of flood havoc

0

NEW YORK, Sep 22 (APP):Heart-wrenching photographs of the flood havoc in Pakistan were on display at an exhibition which was opened in the UN building’s main lobby Thursday, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif saying that he would convey the victims’ distressed voices to the world when he addresses the UN General Assembly on Friday.

Twenty-five photographs tell the grim story of the deadly floods that have inundated one-third of Pakistan, inflicting huge damage to human lives, infrastructure, livestock and crops.

“I will convey the sufferings and feelings of our people when I address the UNGA on Friday,” the prime minister told reporters at the exhibition where he was received by Melissa Fleming, the UN under Secretary-General for Global communications.

The exhibition, titled “Floods in Pakistan – A Climate Change”, was organized by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in conjunction with the Pakistan Mission to the UN. Also being screened were documentaries produced by the ministry as well as the U.N.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb, who was present, also briefed the reporters as well as distinguished visitors to the exhibition on the extent of the flood damage.

In his remarks, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the estimated loss to the Pakistan’s economy was estimated at $30 billion, adding it could be more.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, he said, had become “our voice.”

“I met him today and thanked him for raising the voice of the suffering humanity at the international stage,” he said.

The prime minister said that the secretary-general told him that he will soon hold a donors’ conference, either in New York or somewhere in Europe, to raise funds for the flood victims.

APP/ift