Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif departs for UAE on his one day visit to offer condolences on the demise of Sheikh Saeed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan
‘Youm-e-Ashura emphasizes timeless beacon of guidance in sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA)’
ISLAMABAD, Jul 28 (APP): Senate Chairman Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani and Deputy Chairman Mirza Muhammad Afridi said Youm-e-Ashura reminds the great sacrifice made by Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), in the battle of Karbala to uphold the values of faith and sanctity.
In a message on the eve of 10th Muharram-ul-Harram, they said the profound sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) provides guidance in every aspect of life and by embracing the principles laid down by Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), the society can effectively address the prevailing issues.
The chairman and deputy chairman emphasized that the event of Karbala teaches the essence of selflessness, patience, and perseverance, for which no sacrifice is too great. It is the same path chosen by Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) to stand firm for the cause of truth, they added.
They said, “Today is a day of reflection on the profound thoughts and actions of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and the unwavering commitment of Imam Hussain (RA), his family and companions, who immortalized this day in the annals of Islamic history by attaining martyrdom in Karbala. Imam Hussain (RA) possessed the highest virtues, such as the fear of Allah Almighty, generosity, abstinence and courage and through his martyrdom, he set a shining example for all those on the path of righteousness throughout history.”
The chairman and deputy chairman further expressed that the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) is a timeless beacon of guidance for all those who strive to walk the path of righteousness. It leaves no doubt that his great sacrifice serves as an eternal source of guidance in all spheres of life, they maintained.
They prayed for Allah’s blessings upon Pakistan, wishing for peace, progress and prosperity, and urged everyone to embrace the real message of Youm-e-Ashura, which is rooted in the spirit of sacrifice.
Gwadar airport best example of Pak-China cooperation: Senator Sana Jamali
BEIJING, Jul 28 (APP): Gwadar airport’s construction in a short span of time is the best example of cooperation between Pakistan and China under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), said Senator Sana Jamali.
Talking to Urdu Service of China Media Group (CMG) during her visit to China, she particularly highlighted the rapid progress of Gwadar development project.
She said that the construction of Gwadar airport was the best example of success in a short time and wished to start direct flights from Beijing to Gwadar soon.
About the Balochistan’s progress, she said that the largest province of Pakistan was experiencing a significant development under the CPEC, a pilot project of the BRI launched by the Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Senator Sana Jamali, who is also a member of Senate Committee on Power Affairs, National Health Services Regulation and Coordination Committee, appreciated the bilateral relations between Pakistan and China.
She expressed the confidence that both Pakistan and China would achieve a lot of benefits from the Belt and Road Initiative launched by China a decade ago.
Senator Sana Jamali also expressed gratitude for China’s support on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative and appreciated the commendable progress in the Gwadar project.
Stressing a need for Chinese language learning programs, she said that the Chinese learning centers were being introduced in Pakistani universities to further promote bilateral cooperation and understanding.
She informed that more special economic zones would be set up in the province and also highlighted that there was a wide scope for cooperation in the agricultural sector in Balochistan.
Senator Sana Jamali termed China’s modernization as an ideal model of peaceful development and said that Pakistan and other developing countries can learn a lot from it.
She highly appreciated China’s peaceful development and its positive impact on regional peace and stability.
Stressing cooperation in tourism sector, she said that there was lot of potential in the field of tourism and youth exchange between the two countries.
“The cooperation in these fields will help the people of both countries to know and understand each other better,” she added
Senator Sana Jamali said that China-Pakistan relations were strong and inclusive and added, both countries will continue to work together for mutually beneficial development and progress.
China approves Pakistani cherry orchards for export
BEIJING, Jul 28 (APP): General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) has approved sixty more orchards from Gilgit-Baltistan to export cherry to China, said Commercial Counsellor Ghulam Qadir at the Pakistani Embassy in Beijing on Friday.
Ghulam Qadir said that the approval of the Pakistani cherry orchards by Chinese customs holds significant potential for the agricultural sector in Gilgit Baltistan, where cherry cultivation is a prominent industry.
“The endorsement by Chinese customs signifies that the cherries from Pakistan meet the required standards and regulations for export to China. This not only opens up new avenues for trade but also showcases the quality and taste of Pakistani cherries to a wider international market”, he added.
Arman Shah, CEO of Hashwan Group and Arman Shah Farm, which is the largest farm approved by Chinese Customs told China Economic Net (CEN) that the collaboration between China and Pakistan in promoting agricultural exports, particularly cherries from Gilgit Baltistan, highlights the mutual benefits derived from such partnerships. It not only boosts economic growth but also strengthens bilateral ties.
He further told that GB cherries have already been exported to other countries with the major market being the Middle East, adding that this year the price of export was between Rs. 700-1000 per kg.
“Gilgit Baltistan produces more than 4,000 tons of quality cherries in every season and my 7.5-arce farm produces around 15-20Â tons. I also have cold storage facility which helps me export even after the season”, he mentioned.
“The approval of Pakistani cherry orchards by Chinese customs signifies a step towards enhanced trade relations and serves as a testament to the quality of produce originating from Gilgit Baltistan”, he mentioned.
It is to be noted 15 cold storage and packing facilities are also approved by Chinese customs that can export cherries to China.
Pakistan calls for Israel to be held accountable for its ‘crimes’ in occupied Palestine
UNITED NATIONS, Jul 28 (APP): Pakistan has urged the UN Security Council to “fully and forcefully” implement its resolutions on the Middle East conflict that give the right of self-determination to the Palestinian people.
Speaking in the 15-member Council, Ambassador Munir Akram also strongly condemned the recent large-scale Israeli military operations in Jenin in occupied Palestinian West Bank, and called for holding Israel accountable for its “grave human rights violations and crimes in occupied Palestine.”
“Unfortunately,” the Pakistani envoy said, “the killing of children, women and men continues in occupied Palestine with complete impunity.”
He added, “The rule of law can be upheld only if it is applied universally and consistently, without exceptions or double standards.”
Ambassador Akram regretted that the Security Council has not been able to exercise its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security in occupied Palestine.
“Given the erga-omnes character of the right of self-determination,” the Pakistani envoy said it is also incumbent on all States to ensure that any impediment to the exercise of the right to self-determination by the Palestinian people is immediately terminated.
He said that on 5 July, three Special Rapporteurs of the United Nations Human Rights Council stated that Israeli attacks against the Jenin refugee camp may constitute a war crime and had no justification under international law.
The impunity that Israel has enjoyed for its acts of violence over decades only fuels and intensifies the recurring cycle of violence.
The Special Rapporteurs also called for Israel to be held accountable under international law.
The Pakistani envoy said the continuing expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories and the expulsion and evictions of Palestinians from their properties are illegal and grave violations of Council resolutions and international law, including humanitarian law.
“The international community cannot accept the fait accompli Israel is seeking to impose with the design to perpetuate its forcible occupation and destroy Palestinian nationhood,” Ambassador Akram said.
“There will be no durable peace in the Holy land until the creation of an independent, viable and contiguous State of Palestine, established on the basis of pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.”
Opening the debate on the situation in the troubled region, Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for Middle East, Asia and the Pacific in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, said that from 27 June through 24 July in the occupied West Bank, 25 Palestinians, including 5 children, were killed, and 249 Palestinians were injured by Israeli security forces. According to Israel, 2 Israeli security forces personnel were killed while another 39 Israelis were injured by Palestinians.
This deterioration is taking place alongside ongoing unilateral steps that undermine a two-State solution, the absence of a peace process and the continuing economic challenges facing Palestinians and the Palestinian Authority, he stressed.
On 3 and 4 July in the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, Israeli security forces carried out an operation marked by multiple drone strikes and over 1,000 ground troops. Twelve Palestinians, including four children, were killed and over 140 injured — the most in a single operation in the West Bank since the United Nations began tracking casualties in 2005. Palestinian Islamic Jihad al-Quds Brigades claimed 8 of the 12 fatalities as members, including children.
Israeli settler violence continues, albeit not at the scale witnessed in June, he pointed out, reminding Israel of its responsibility to abide by international humanitarian law when carrying out security measures.
The funding gap faced by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is of grave concern, Khiari went on to say, urging the international community to contribute the $200 million the Agency
urgently needs to maintain services from September onwards.
Ambassador Riyad Mansour, the Permanent Observer for the State of Palestine, said that there are more than 700,000 Israeli settlers in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.
“So, let us start by calling things by their name, he urged, stating that the Israeli occupation is a settler-colonial occupation and that the only way the international community can end it is to address its settler-colonial nature.
We need an action plan, with the necessary resources and the will to implement it, he stressed. The International Criminal Court investigations must start yielding results by providing justice for victims and deterring perpetrators. The International Court of Justice advisory opinion will give the United Nations and all States guidance on their legal obligations.
PGF-2023 adopts resolution to implement STAR governance system
ISLAMABAD, Jul 28 (APP): The two-day Pakistan Governance Forum 2023 (PGF), organized by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, has adopted a resolution calling for the immediate implementation of the Stable, Transparent, Agile, and Responsible (STAR) governance system in the country.
The resolution was adopted at the conclusion of the PGF-2023 held in Islamabad, aiming to develop a roadmap for a stable, transparent, agile, and responsible governance system in the country, a need release said.
The forum saw participation from hundreds of prominent figures from across diverse sectors, political leaders, experts, and representatives from civil society, who highlighted crucial aspects of governance.
The forum committed to upholding a governance framework that embodies the principles of STAR.
This commitment underscores the resolve to promote peace, enhance transparency, and ensure public accountability while focusing on improved service delivery, embracing innovation and technology, and adapting to emerging challenges.
According to the resolution, stability entails the continuity of inclusive, consultative, and evidence-based policies fostered through collaborative working relations between all organs of the state including the Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary; the Federal, Provincial, and Local tiers of government; as well as the political leadership, bureaucracy, and military.
Effective measures should be taken to promote harmony and teamwork among state institutions within the constitutional framework, the resolution said.
Ensuring stability necessitates incorporating the views and aspirations of all segments of society, especially under-represented groups such as youth, women, and diverse religious and ethnic communities.
It said this inclusivity must be institutionalized within all tiers of government through affirmative action and adopting an all-of-government approach, as emphasized by the resolution in highlighting the key feature of stable governance.
Furthermore, the resolution stressed the need for establishing peace within the country and the region, ensuring law and order, and upholding the rule of law to create a conducive environment for good governance.
It called for resolving conflicts along political, ethnic, religious, and other lines through peaceful means, unequivocally rejecting violence.
Regarding transparency in governance, the resolution underscored the importance of enhancing transparency to eradicate corruption and strengthen public accountability at all tiers of government.
Utilizing advancements in technology, particularly in prudent and responsible spending of public money, offers unprecedented opportunities to increase transparency in all government functions.
The resolution stressed the importance of making data accessible to the public through digital formats and ensuring the enactment and enforcement of “right to information” laws.
The principle of agility, as per the resolution, necessitates placing effective and efficient service delivery at the core of the
government’s function.
This involves making incremental but consistent improvements to public service delivery through refining administrative structures and processes and transitioning from an output to an outcomes-oriented approach.
The resolution further emphasized the need for structural and forward-looking reforms in public sector management, particularly civil service reforms.
It said that overhauling public servants’ recruitment, induction, training, administrative structures, performance management, compensation, and retirement benefits is vital in this regard.
Additionally, it said politically, administratively and financially empowered local governments must be established in all federating units to ensure efficient service delivery and grassroots inclusion.
Furthermore, the resolution highlighted that the needs, interests, and aspirations of Pakistani citizens must be the primary focus, prioritized over the narrow or short-term political interests of individual stakeholders.
It called for efforts to forge consensus on a minimalist set of core national interests in the domains of the economy, foreign policy, and security through meaningful and inclusive deliberations among all stakeholders.
The resolution said that political stability must also be maintained by adhering to the rules of political competition and upholding the Constitution.
Wahab Riaz visits DG Khan to review security arrangements
DG KHAN, Jul 28 (APP): Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab Wahab Riaz said that it was the responsibility of all of us to work for a peaceful environment in the country.
He was chairing a meeting to review security arrangements in Dera Ghazi Khan here Friday.
He stated that joint efforts were of vital importance for the betterment of the country.
He informed that he was visiting DG Khan following instructions from Caretaker CM Punjab Mohsin Naqvi to review security arrangements. Teamwork can help face challenges amicably, Wahab added.
Commissioner DG Khan Dr Nasir Mahmood Bashir briefed the meeting participants about the overall security plan. The meeting participants expressed satisfaction with the arrangements.
PM leaves for UAE on short visit: Marriyum
ISLAMABAD, Jul 28 (APP): Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Friday said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had left for a short visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
“He will meet UAE President His Highness Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to condole demise of his brother Sheikh Saeed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on behalf of Pakistan’s government and its people,” the minister said in a tweet.
She also prayed to the Almighty to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss.
PM departs for UAE to condole death of President Sheikh Mohamed’s brother
ISLAMABAD, July 28 (APP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday departed here for a one-day visit to the United Arab Emirates to condole over the death of Sheikh Saeed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the brother of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.
During the visit, the prime minister would convey condolences to the president of the brotherly country of UAE, on behalf of the entire nation.
Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi are also accompanying the prime minister.
OIC’s extraordinary CFM moot on July 31 to discuss Quran’s repeated desecration
ISLAMABAD, July 28 (APP): The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will hold an extraordinary virtual session for the Council of Foreign Ministers of Member States (CFM) on July 31 to discuss the repeated incidents of desecration and burning of copies of the Holy Quran in Sweden and Denmark.
This session has been convened at the request of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Chair of the 14th Islamic Summit, and the Republic of Iraq.
This urgent meeting of ministers has been called in response to the final statement issued by the OIC Executive Committee after an extraordinary meeting held at the OIC General Secretariat in Jeddah on July 02, this year.
The statement addressed the burning of a copy of the Holy Quran in Sweden and called for high-level emergency meetings as needed.
The meeting is being held considering the OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha’s consultations with the member states regarding the implementation of the final statement issued by the Executive Committee.
Further measures are also being considered in response to the repeated provocative actions that represent deliberate religious hatred and intolerance.