An elder vendor selling traditional handmade fans while shuttling on Masoom Shah Road
A woman bagger asking for some mercy from vehicle drivers in Federal Capital
Iranian Embassy to celebrate “Day of Honoring Holy Quran” on July 7
ISLAMABAD, Jul 6 (APP): The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran here on Thursday declared the decision of government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to introduce and celebrate July 7th as the Day of Honoring the Holy Quran was a worthy, befitting and relevant initiative.
Desecrating the Holy Quran, the sacred book of the largest religious community in the world, or insulting any sacred symbol of divine religions, was a deplorable, ignorant, and biased act aimed at inciting public opinion and promoting misuse of freedom of expression, said a news release issued here.
It is crucial to acknowledge that desecrating the Holy Quran represents an affront to the holy books of all divine religions.
“We firmly believe that such biased actions, which seek to incite public opinion, generate instability, create violence and spreading hatred. Undoubtedly, the this biased way of inciting public opinion through insulting the holy symbols which are meant to destabilize the Muslim world and create human legal cases, should be countered and neutralized.
In our turn, we extend an invitation to all faithful people and free thinkers worldwide to join together in a unified effort to denounce this heinous act. Islamophobia, the insulting of sacred elements and symbols of the divine religions, and the desecration of holy books should be halted through political synergy, legal procedures and appropriate didactic instructions as these actions provide fertile ground for the spreading of hatred and violence, ideological clashes, destabilisation and the anguish of countless religious individuals worldwide.”
In order to rectify this situation, it is imperative to employ coordinated and unifying measures such as clarification, explanation, education, legal procedures and dialogue. These constructive approaches will pave the way for correcting the current state of affairs.
The embassy wholeheartedly supports this commendable initiative by the friendly and brotherly government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in designating July 7 as the day to Honor the Holy Quran.
Gypsy girls searching valuables while shuttling in Federal Capital
Two crows searching food from bag at roadside in Federal Capital
A motorcyclist purchasing flour bag from a roadside stall
A motorcyclist passing through rain water accumulated at Nishatabad after heavy rain in the city
NDMA convenes flood management conference with key stakeholders
ISLAMABAD, Jul 6 (APP): Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lt. General Inam Haider Malik on Thursday chaired the Flood Management Conference to address the potential threat of very high flows from eastern rivers and nullahs and discuss measures being taken to mitigate the impact of possible floods.
The conference was attended by key stakeholders including PDMA Punjab, PMD, FFC, PCIW, PID, IRSA, Wapda (Mangla Dam), Engineers Directorate, Pak Army and officials of Rescue 1122, said a news release.
The chairman NDMA emphasized the importance of being prepared and taking proactive measures to anticipate and manage any flooding situations.
He instructed the concerned authorities to conduct 3rd National Simulation Exercise on Monsoon-23 aiming to simulate realistic scenarios and enable Disaster Management (DM) responders to practice their roles and improve their readiness to deal with flood-related challenges effectively.
He said that simulation exercises would help identify gaps in the preparedness and equip the authority better to handle any crises.
NEOC provided an update of potential impacts including very high to exceptionally high flooding in River Chenab, high to very high flooding in nullahs of River Ravi and Chenab due to convergence of westerly wave, a strong incursion of monsoon currents causing heavy rainfalls as per PMD report.
It was informed that NEOC was continuously monitoring and sharing information with all stakeholders and public through international weather models-based projections along with input of PMD.
The PMD provided a comprehensive briefing on real-time data monitoring of eastern rivers, highlighting that 8-10th July would be a critical period for upper catchment areas of Rivers Sutlej, Ravi, Chenab, and partially Jhelum.
It was briefed that PMD was sharing 3-hourly updates on river/ nullah flows and reservoir levels to facilitate coordinated water management/ regulation.
PDMA Punjab and Rescue 1122 apprised the forum on identification of hotspots and deployment of their personnel.
The departments assured that all necessary arrangements had been made and that they were on high alert to respond to any emergency situations that might arise.
The chairman NDMA instructed FFC to maintain close coordination with Punjab Irrigation Department and PDMA Punjab for regulation of inflows for effective management of water resources during monsoon period.
PDMA Punjab is directed to launch an extensive awareness campaign, focusing on the possibility of flooding in low-lying areas.
Additionally, PDMA Punjab is asked to pre-place machinery and manpower to ensure swift response and effective management in the wake of a flood.
The chairman NDMA directed PCIW and Engineer Directorate to collect information on the eastern rivers and reservoirs and ensure timely sharing of this vital information with all concerned stakeholders to facilitate better planning and decision-making.
The public had been advised to stay informed and follow local authorities’ guidance during monsoon and rain emergencies, he added.
Vehicle drivers facing difficulties while passing through stagnant rain water accumulated at Nishatabad after heavy rain in the city
PM says Quran’s desecration an attempt to beget Muslim-Christian hostility; warns against recurrence
ISLAMABAD, July 6 (APP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said the desecration of Holy Quran was an attempt to create animosity between the Muslims and Christians and any recurrence of such condemnable act would in no way be tolerated.
The prime minister, in his address to the joint sitting of the parliament, urged the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to convene a special session to invite the Muslim world leaders, adopt a condemnatory resolution and also warn the Swedish government and such individuals against the recurrence of such condemnable act.
The prime minister urged the National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf to form a committee with a mandate to formulate recommendations for their onward dissemination to the world including international organisations so that such acts could be prevented.
He said as per their belief, Muslims revered all of the religions and revealed books including Bible as Holy Quran taught patience and harmony.
He said despite that, such deliberate Islamophobic acts were being carried out to pit Muslims against Christians.
He said that despite their belated condemnation, the Swedish government would have to clarify its position as to why they allowed such an act under the protection of their police on the day when the Muslims were celebrating Eid-ul-Azha.
The prime minister urged the parliamentarians to condemn the act of Swedish police and make it clear that the Muslims could even sacrifice their lives to protect the sanctity of the Quran.
He said the peaceful protests should not be construed as weakness and that no one should complain about the consequences if such condemnable actions were repeated.
He said as the country would observe the Sanctity of Holy Quran Day on Friday, the whole nation should stage rallies across the country to condemn the desecration of Quran and convey their sentiments to the world.
Calling for using all political and legal options to avert recurrence of such acts, the prime minister also
thanked the OIC for convening a special meeting in which they also adopted a condemnatory resolution and put forward suggestions.
He said Pakistan was not against the freedom of speech but no one had the right to desecrate any one’s belief or fan hatred in this garb.
Prime Minister Shehbaz urged the House to put forward suggestions which would be raised at the UN platform to tell the world that the billions of Muslims will not allow such hateful acts to be repeated.
“This is beyond tolerance. This is not the first time as earlier too, same thing happened in Sweden. This must be condemned in the strongest possible words,” he remarked.
The prime minister recalled and appreciated the former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for her support to the Muslims, after an Islamophobic attack against Muslims, which was a positive attempt to establish peace between Muslims and Christians.
He told the House that he was trying to contact with the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to request him for convening an urgent session to invite the Muslim leaders and adopt a condemnatory resolution. I will also ask him to warn such governments and individuals against redoing such acts aimed at fanning hatred, he added.
The prime minister thanked Pope Francis for condemning the act saying his dissociation of such Islamophobic action gave a positive image.
The prime minister said he would convey the parliamentary resolution to the Swedish government as the Foreign Office was also making its due efforts on the diplomatic fronts.