ISLAMABAD, Jul 13 (APP): President Dr Arif Alvi Thursday called for prevention and early diagnosis of diseases like breast cancer and water-borne ailments to give people a chance to live longer healthy lives.
Speaking virtually at an awareness programme arranged by Siemens Healthineers, he underlined the need for improvements in the health and education sectors of Pakistan.
Despite the limited resources a developing country like Pakistan should give priority to health and education of the people, he stressed.
He said preventive measures and widespread awareness were vital to prepare people against the onslaught of life-threatening diseases.
He said Pakistan had an experience of effectively and successfully tackling Covid 19 as compared to the neighboring country where the death rate was higher.
Spreading of awareness among people was critical to keep Covid under control, he said adding people followed the advice of the government to wear masks, keep their distance and take preventive measures to help the country eventually overcome the challenge.
The President urged people to ensure cleanliness to stop the spread of communicable diseases.
Religious scholars could play an important role by teaching the significance of hygiene during their sermons in mosques, he continued.
He appreciated the efforts of Begum Samina Alvi in raising awareness about the threats posed by breast cancer to the health of women.
While citing reasons for late diagnosis of breast cancer among women in Pakistan, he said women were hesitant to share information about any unusual signs which was the cause of delay in screening for breast cancer.
He said those who go for early screening their chance of survival from breast cancer was 99 percent and women should undergo screening when they feel a lump in their chests.
He pointed to the brain drain in Pakistan saying a large percentage of women who get higher education either prefer to stay at home or leave for better opportunities abroad which resulted in lack of availability of professionals in different fields.
The President said educational institutions should ensure to provide a harassment-free atmosphere to women.
He said it was alarming that 10 percent population in Pakistan was suffering from hepatitis, adding due to the contribution of Bill and Malinda Gates Foundation, Pakistan had almost eliminated polio however, few cases were reported along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
He mentioned that rapid progress in artificial intelligence and other technology tools was making early diagnosis possible for a number of diseases.
He also underscored the need for improved infrastructure for the treatment of mental ailments, adding Pakistan had a low number of psychiatrists and psychologists and there should be more focus on providing treatment to people through online services.
Earlier Begum Samina Alvi gave away recognition awards among health practitioners contributing to the health sector.
A number of cancer survivors including prominent actor Nadia Jamil also shared their struggle with the deadly disease and their eventual recovery.
The representatives of Siemens highlighted their efforts for ensuring better diagnostic facilities for patients.
President calls for prevention, early diagnosis of life-threatening diseases
Govt mulling Hajj through road, ferry service: Talha Mehmood
ISLAMABAD, Jul 13 (APP): Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony Senator Muhammad Talha Mehmood on Thursday said Hajj through ferry service and by road was under the government’s consideration in order to provide maximum relief to the Pakistani pilgrims.
He said it was first time that the Religious Ministry had returned an amount of Rs 4.5 billion to the Hajj pilgrims this year and was in the process to return over Rs 2 billion more.
The minister was addressing the convention of All Pakistan Newspapers Employees Confederation (APNEC).
The participants of the convention viewed that the Hajj 2023 was a transparent and scandal-free Hajj in the country’s history.
The minister assured that the services in the next Hajj programme would be better and efforts would be made to minimize the expenses..
“I performed Hajj as a common man and keenly observed the problems faced by the pilgrims, and I will try to resolve the same with the blessings of the Almighty,” he added.
Journalists and media workers should also be included in the Hajj quota system like other organizations, he said, assuring that he would take tangible actions in that regard.
“Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman truly loves Pakistan. I found him very emotional about Pakistan,” the minister added.
He congratulated the newly elected APNEC Chairman Muhammad Siddique Sanghar, Secretary General Dara Zafar and all other members.
President of Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors Khushnood Ali Khan, on the occasion, said the minister had set a remarkable example by performing Hajj as a common man without any protocol.
A delegation of Abu Dhabi Ports UAE led by Consul General Bakheet Ateeq Al Remeithi call on Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori at Governor House
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah meets with Iranian Consul General Mr. Hassan Nourian here at CM House
Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen leader, Allama Hassan Zafar Naqvi addresses Press conference at Karachi Press Club
Attorney General of Pakistan Mr. Anwar Mansoor Usman Awan call on Speaker National Assembly Raja Pervez Asharf
Kashmiris observe 92nd Kashmir Martyrs Day
MIRPUR (AJK), Jul 13 (APP): Kashmiris living on both sides of the Line of Control, besides the rest of the world, observed the 92nd Kashmir Martyrs Day on Thursday with the renewal of the pledge to continue the grand mission of the Kashmiri martyrs through continuing the freedom struggle, with full vigour, for the achievement of the birthright of self-determination.
They paid glorious tributes to the martyrs of Jammu & Kashmir including 22 valiant sons of the soil for laying down the supreme sacrifices.
About 92 years ago on this day (July 13) in 1931 in front of Central Jail Srinagar raised mutiny by laying the foundation stone of the movement for the liberation of the motherland from the despotic Dogra Maharajah’s rule.
Special prayer meetings and symposiums were the hallmark of the Kashmir Martyrs Day across AJK as well as at various places in the strife-torn Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and the rest of the world to observe the day.
It was on this day in 1931 when the Dogra troops shot dead 23 Kashmiris in front of the Central Jail Srinagar. A large number of people had gathered outside the jail protesting against the trial of a young man – Abdul Qadeer for treason inside the prison located in the high-security zone.
In AJK, it was a state holiday to facilitate the people to participate in the events of the day from all over the liberated territory.
This year too, the Kashmir Martyrs Day was flanked by a sign of new hope, that if India agrees to the ground realities without any reservations and learns a lesson from the historical facts that she (New Delhi) cannot rule Kashmiris at gunpoint, may help bring lasting peace and prosperity in the region through the early peaceful settlement of the Kashmir issue in line with the aspirations of the people of entire internationally-acknowledged Jammu & Kashmir state.
In IIOJK State, a complete shutter down strike was observed against the forced and illegal Indian occupation of bulk part of the Jammu Kashmir State.
People visited the graveyards of the Shuhada in Srinagar and other places and offered Fateha – besides holding special prayer meetings for the upholding of the status of the martyrs in heaven.
Special Kashmir Martyrs Day meetings were held at almost all the district and tehsil headquarters including Mirpur, Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Bagh, Rawalakot, Sudhanoti, Neelam Valley, Haveili, Hattiyan and Bhimbher and all other small and major towns and cities under the spirit of various social, political and religious Kashmiri outfits besides the civil society belonging to all spheres of life including the business community, lawyers and the media groups in various parts of the state.
Speakers on the sideline of a special prayer meeting to mark the Kashmir Martyrs Day held in Mirpur strongly condemned the continual reign of state terrorism and violence unleashed by the Indian occupational forces in Srinagar and the rest of the bleeding-occupied valley since last six years where hundreds of innocent Kashmiris including the young Commander of Hisb ul Mujahideen Burhan Muzaffar Wani were martyred since July 8 in 2016 for raising voice for the liberation of the motherland from Indian clutches.
Speakers paid glorious tributes shaheed Burhan and other Kashmiri martyrs for laying down the supreme sacrifices of their lives for the noble cause of freedom from the forcible Indian bondages.
Another Kashmir Martyrs Day ceremony was hosted by the management of the local Urdu Daily “Shaheen” to pay rich tributes to the martyrs of Jammu and Kashmir for giving supreme sacrifices of their precious lives.
Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Syed Amin Ul Haque and Federal Minister for Science and Technology Agha Hassan Baloch witnessing contract signing of High Speed Mobile Broadband Projects for Balochistan
Federal Insurance Ombudsman (FIO) Dr. Muhammad Khawar Jameel is presenting the Annual Report 2022 of FIO to Minister for Law and Justice Senator Azam Nazir Tarar
NA body seeks early completion of damaged houses’ survey in South Waziristan
ISLAMABAD, Jul 13 (APP): The National Assembly Standing Committee on States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) on Thursday directed the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Tribal District South Waziristan to complete the remaining surveys of damaged houses within two weeks.
The Committee that met here with Muhammad Jamal-ul-Din in the chair expressed grave concerns when informed that the survey of around 4000 damaged houses was still not completed due to the Law & Order situation on the ground in some areas of South Waziristan.
The NA body urged ADC to forward all the survey forms to Rehabilitation & Reconstruction Unit (RRU) secretariat, Peshawar without any further delay as the matter was in process for the last 6-7 years and submit the report to the Committee accordingly.
The ADC while briefing the committee regarding Special Integrated Area Development Package for Tribal District South Waziristan apprised that the Project Management Unit (PMU) is not fully functional due to the ban on appointment of Grade-17 and above employees by the Election Commission of Pakistan.
The committee directed ADC to process the case and sent it to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) requesting for NOC for the appointment of Grade-17 and above employees as soon as possible in order to make functional the Project Management Unit and to deliver the development projects in time.
The committee was also briefed on the progress regarding the alleged illegal absorption of 77 Levies Force/ Khasadar in KP Police in detail by the Special Secretary, Home & Tribal Affairs Department, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Meanwhile, the committee also discussed the issue of regularization of Governors Model Schools Staff and the release of their salaries which have been stopped for the last six months.
The committee directed the Secretary of Elementary & Secondary Education to move summery immediately for seeking grant-in-Aid in order to make payment to the staff of the above-mentioned schools.
The meeting was attended by MNAs Ibadullah Khan, Chaudry Muhammad Ashraf, Nasiba Channa, Afreen Khan and senior officials of the Ministry and its attached departments.