KHANEWAL, May 14 (APP)::Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated the 92km long dual road worth Rs 22 billions here on Monday.
The ground breaking of the road was performed in May 2017 and it was completed within a year.
CM Shehbaz Sharif while addressing a public gathering congratulated the people for completion of the mega project.
Shehbaz Sharif said the government of the PML-N ensured record development in the province especially in South Punjab.
He informed that various health schemes had also been inaugurated at the district headquarters hospital. Hepatitis clinic had been established at the hospital to facilitate patients.
The chief minister said CT Scan had also been installed in the city and patient would not visit private hospital or Multan.
Earlier, patients had to spend Rs 5000 for CT Scan and now the facility would be free for patients.
CT Scan machine would continue to serve round-the-clock, he added.
The chief minister also promised to set up medical college in Khanewal if the PML-N came to power in 2018 elections.
Shehbaz Sharif said scholarship worth Rs 17 billions were given to the poor students under Education Endowment scheme.
The Punjab government also provided interest-free loans to the youth worth Rs 40 billion with an objective to enable them to start their business, he said and added steps were also taken to promote the agriculture sector.
Cheap fertilizers were given to farmer besides interest-free loans, Shehbaz Sharif said and urged the people to vote for the PML-N in the next election and it would continue journey of progress.
On this occasion, Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Abdur Rehman Kanju, MNA Chaudhry Iftikhar Nazeer and other parliamentarians were also present.
Shehbaz Sharif inaugurates 92km Khanewal-Lodhran dual road
PFC to display furniture items in Mexican Intel Furniture Fair
ISLAMABAD, May 14 (APP):Pakistan Furniture Council (PFC) will display Pakistani handmade traditional furniture products in Mexican International Furniture Fair going to be held from May 23.
This was decided at a board of directors meeting held under the chair of PFC Chief Executive Mian Kashif Ashfaq on Monday,” says a press release issued here today.
He said there is no doubt that Pakistan must explore trade and investment opportunities in North American countries including Mexico, Argentina and Brazil.
He said all PFC directors discussed in details about the possibility of enhancing furniture trade in Latin America and we are all agreed that there is a great scope for Pakistani handmade furniture in Mexico.
“We are talking about a huge market – 120 million people.
The average age of youth in this region is around 25 or 26, so in a few years those people will make the biggest furniture purchases ever,” he observed.
He further said Pakistan will have to face tough competition in furniture markets if our furniture exporters want to hit Mexican markets. He said the biggest challenge is present in form of China over there as China’s furniture products are cheaper than us but we can compete with China in traditional furniture being produced in sub-continent.
Mian Kashif said Mexico and Pakistan have good prospects for improving trade and exports and businessmen of both countries should be encouraged to take more initiatives for tapping all untapped areas of mutual cooperation especially in furniture sector. He said Mexican entrepreneurs are interested to know about Pakistan’s business procedures for setting up new businesses and potential areas of investment in Pakistan including in the area of furniture.
He said that Pak-Mexico bilateral trade of about $200 million per annum does not reflect true potential and both countries have great potential to improve trade and broaden cooperation in multiple areas.
He said our trade is quite narrow as Pakistan exports to Mexico some traditional goods such as textiles, garments, rice, surgical equipment, sports equipment and clothing while Mexico exports to Pakistan iron and steel products, wood pulp, capital goods and agricultural products. Both countries should make efforts to diversify bilateral trade by focusing on non-traditional items especially furniture products.
He highlighted Pakistan’s interest in several initiatives including a bilateral investment treaty and free trade agreement (FTA).He said strong trade relations would provide enhanced regional access to both countries as Pakistan is a gateway for Central Asia and Mexico could provide Pakistan better access to North American countries.
He said He said many countries have shown interest in Pakistani Furniture; they like our hand-carved designs on furniture with classic and fine finishing and similar designs could be replicated in the North American furniture markets.
Vietnam,Pakistan to sign free trade agreement soon: Envoy
SIALKOT,May 14 (APP)-:The Ambassador of Vietnam to Pakistan Pham Hong Kim on Monday said that Vietnam and Pakistan were actively considering signing ‘Free Trade Agreement’ to boost bilateral trade between the two countries.
Addressing the members of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) ,he added that the two sides will soon start negotiations for signing the Free Trade Agreement.
The Ambassador said that exchange of trade delegations could play an instrumental role in boosting the bilateral trade between Vietnam and Pakistan.
He was confident that both sides would welcome business and investment delegations and urged business Community of Sialkot to concentrate on exploring potential business opportunities of Vietnam markets.
In his address of welcome the SCCI President Zahid Latif Malik said that in order to promote B2B linkages Vietnam Embassy in Pakistan may facilitate signing of MoU (Memorandum of Understanding between prominent Vietnam based chambers of Commerce and Industry and Sialkot Chamber for accelerating trade and commerce activities.
He said the total trade volume between the two countries is around
US 610 (M) in dollars with the balance of trade in favour of Vietnam.
SCCI President underscored the need of collaborating efforts by SCCI and Embassy of Vietnam,adding,”We can enhance trade by facilitating frequent interaction of private sectors and promoting B2B linkages”.
PML-N to continue fight against all those working against country’s interest: Nawaz
BUNER, May 14 (APP):Pakistan Muslim League-N supreme leader and former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Monday evening said his party would continue fight against all those elements who were working against the country’s interest.
Addressing a mammoth public gathering here, Nawaz Sharif said he made the country’s defence impregnable in 1998, gave the gift of CPEC and eliminated terrorism.
“I demand a national commission in which he and all those leveling allegations against him should appear and those found guilty should be publicly hanged after the commission’s verdict,” he said.
“Pakistan is our country and I love it as much as any other patriotic Pakistani does and will not hesitate to give advices for its progress and development, besides prosperity of the masses,” he said.
Nawaz Sharif said he was ousted from the prime minister’s office for not taking salary from his son and later was deprived of the office of PML-N President, and regretted that no elected prime minister had completed his tenure during the last 70 years.
Nawaz Sharif also demanded formation of a commission to probe money laundering allegations of $ 4.9b against him so that everything could be clear before the nation. He said the NAB chairman should prove the allegations or apologize to the nation and tender his resignation.
He said the PML-N government had fulfilled all of its pledges made with the people in 2013 general election and would again come into power with the massive support of people this year. The year 2018 was the year of PML-N, which would extend the motorway to Buner district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) after coming into power, he added.
He said dignified jobs would be given to youth and houses would be constructed for poor people after coming into power, adding the PML-N would bring revolution in the country.
He said Buner would be brought at par with Lahore and Karachi in terms of development and sense of deprivation of people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would end.
He asked Imran Khan what his government had done for the people of KP in terms of their employment, jobs creation and eradication of load-shedding.
Nawaz said those who raised slogans to generate 50,000 megawatt electricity had failed to produce even a single megawatt during the last five years in KP.
He said Pakistan had changed in last five years but KP had not and the same dilapidated roads were being seen in Buner, Mardan and Peshawar even today. The PML-N government had restored peace in Karachi but the Sindh government did nothing for it.
The PML-N leader said people from Karachi to Khyber were gathering under the banner of PML-N as it was the only party that could steer the country out of the existing problems and put it on road to progress and development.
He said no compromise would be made on the sanctity of vote and mandate of people should be respected.
The gathering was also addressed by PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz Sharif and PML-N Khyber Pakhtunkhwa President Engr Amir Muqam.
Pak Navy establishes Recruitment & Selection Centre at Muzaffarabad
ISLAMABAD, May 14 (APP):The inauguration ceremony of the establishment of Pakistan Navy Recruitment and Selection Centre in Muzaffarabad, AJ&K was held on Monday.
Vice Admrial Abdul Aleem, Chief of Staff (Personnel) was the chief guest on the
occasion, said a news release issued here by doctorate of public relations of
Pakistan Navy.
Upon arrival, the chief guest was received by Assistant Chief of Naval Staff
(Organization and Methods).
While addressing on the occasion, he highlighted that the recruitment centre would
not only provide round the year recruitment facilities at the doorstep to the
youth hailing from AJ&K and adjacent areas but would also promote national
integration and regional harmony within Pakistan Navy.
He expressed the satisfaction on the establishment of the centre at Muzaffarabad
and hoped that it would go a long way in attracting and motivating the people
of this region of the country.
He highlighted that a need for establishment of Recruitment and Selection Centre at
Muzaffarabad, AJ&K was strongly being felt since long as a large number of
candidates, aspirant to join Pakistan Navy were applying through Rawalpindi
Recruitment Centre.
He expected that the recruitment team would work even more diligently in motivating the youth of the area to join Pakistan Navy and increase the participation of adjacent divisions yet further.
After the address, the chief guest formally inaugurated the centre by unveiling the
plaque.
He also appreciated the efforts of Recruitment Directorate for establishment of centre in the shortest timeframe and congratulated the populace of AJ&K, who would be facilitated through the centre.
A large number of dignitaries from civil and military organizations and local notables attended the ceremony.
Later, Vice Admrial Abdul Aleem called on Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider Khan at PM House Muzaffarabad.
During the meeting, matters of mutual interest including human rights violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir were dilated upon.
While showing solidarity, Chief of Staff (Personnel) reiterated the resolve that entire Pakistani nation and Pakistan Navy stood with Kashmiri brothers.
The AJK Prime Minister praised and acknowledged the resolve, commitment and support of Armed Forces for the cause of Kashmiris.
Pak Navy’s station commander visits Emergency Services
LAHORE, May 14 (APP):Pakistan Navy’s Station Commander Lahore Commodore SM Shahzad, SI (M), visited Emergency Services Headquarters on Monday and met Director General Punjab Emergency Services Dr Rizwan Naseer, SI.
During the meeting, both officials discussed issues of mutual interest and decided that divers of Rescue Service would undergo training of Pakistan Navy in Karachi in the days to come.
SM Shahzad assured Dr Rizwan Naseer of full support from Pakistan Navy regarding technical expertise and flood management skills for Disaster Response Force of Rescue1122 in future, said a press release.
Dr Rizwan told the visiting commander that the training institute was unique in SAARC Region and had become a national centre of excellence. It has provided free of cost training to cadets of other provinces including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Balochistan and Sindh.
SM Shahzad visited different training stalls including Deepwell Rescue, Flood Management Training Lake, Smoke Room, Fire Tower, Fire Fit Challenge, Swimming Pool, Collapsed Structure Search & Rescue, etc.
The meeting was attended by Registrar Academy Dr Farhan Khalid, Deputy Director (Training) Dr Muhammad Azam, Adjutant Academy Dr Ali Imam Syed and other officers.
Capital witnesses mammoth crowd of autos, increasing population, traffic
By Ali Jabber
ISLAMABAD, May 14 (APP):After its inception, the federal capital with every day down the road, started receiving inhabitants from different parts of country till the recent years when it faced the biggest transition of its fate. The capital that was once a jungle turned into a strategically planned and designed dwelling of its inhabitants that brought a mammoth crowd of automobiles with ever increasing population and traffic.
In the beginning, there were very limited number of vehicles on the wide long roads and avenues of the capital but with every passing decade its expansion made a huge impact on the environment and traffic of the twin cities. The number of automobiles increased to multiple times and today the number is beyond imagination, surprisingly not reckoned by any authority.
Uncontrolled traffic is a problem but untrained drivers pose serious threat to the security of the citizens. It is never too late to think and rectify mistakes committed collectively in general and individually in particular. An Islamabad Traffic Police Official told APP that it was quite disappointing to know that a chunk of drivers on the capital’s avenues were unable to discriminate between line and lane including working, business and student class.
He said that most of the traffic incidents had been witnessed on the roads during lane-switching by fast moving cars, bike riders and mostly they were unable to adjust their lanes accordingly. “Why is it necessary to know about line and lane…. We just have to drive a car or ride a motorbike,” he amusingly quoted a driver making argument after being fined for over speeding and careless driving. He said the traffic police conducted teaching lectures in all schools, colleges and universities although it helped a lot to educate the youth regarding traffic rules and important traffic signs yet it appeared all in vain. He said, “it is beyond imagination to observe a recklessly driven car hitting a motorbike or a person crossing the road which happens every now and then.”
He believed that traffic police alone could not be held responsible to control deteriorating traffic situation in the capital, “they are contributing on their part, rather the society should also play its role as they constitute the road traffic and their efforts could bring positive results, he added.
Najma Shan, a school teacher said the traffic in the capital was so rash that it created many problems for women drivers. “People have forgotten patience and respect for others and do not follow right of way, even nobody bothers to give way to an ambulance carrying a serious patient to hospital”. She said and added that it was high time for everybody to train ourselves and there was no harm to learn about traffic rules and best driving techniques so that smooth traffic and safe journey must be ensured.
The next most troublesome thing is completely choked roads and junctions in the peak hours of the twin cities. Astonishingly the situation is deteriorating as both the cities are proliferating with business centers and educational institutes. It seems that city administration and the institutes have nothing to do with the traffic mess putting the smooth traffic flow in jeopardy.
Mohammad Naqash a university student who travels by his car to reach university said, “the drivers particularly youngsters like me should drive responsibly to reach their destinations, adding many young boys riding motorbikes haphazardly over take fast moving cars and switch lanes that can be fatal
Arsala Karim, a motorbike rider said female students and entrepreneurs need to drive to move around in the city. She lamented the poor behavior of irritating car drivers and bike riders who did not not follow their lanes properly and randomly shift into other lanes that caused road accidents. She also said that women drivers should be encouraged by the society. She believed that an experienced mentor and a responsible driver could teach unprofessional drivers about safe and smooth driving without getting into any accident. “Traffic laws in our country need implementation while the government, traffic police and city administration should stand united and take firm steps to ensure people abide by the traffic laws, she added.
Booming telecom:digital era overwhelms old mode of communication
By Aleena Ilyas
ISLAMABAD, May 14 (APP): Landline phone, an old friend had proved to be the most effective and standard method of communication between people for decades around the world.
People and companies adopted this technology to communicate and interact with each other on a daily basis providing them a much faster and correct form of communication than the mail or the telegraph.
Pakistan Telecommunication Corporation (PTC) enjoyed a monopoly in landline domain and remained the only player in the market.
Unfortunately, getting landline connection in the past was not an easy task and applicants had to wait for years. The usage of landline phone has been decreasing for the last many years and reached 2.45 million in 2016-17 amid very low tele-density.
With passage of time, digital era began as hardware, software and the Internet took over and was seemed to be driving future of communication.
Mobile phones have become constant companions for most people in the world and landline phones are rapidly losing relevance.
About 18 years back, majority of households in Pakistan used to have an operational landline phone – now it is just every second household as mobile penetration (number of mobiles per person) has witnessed a reasonable increase over last ten years, reaching more than a 72 per cent in Pakistan.
Individual consumers as well as businesses have turned to this new method of communication as a way to adapt to globalized world, in which waiting until reaching home or the office to deliver a message is no longer an option.
Moreover, mobile phone service providers have been converting their users to wireless over last few years so they might not be concerned about the drop-off in landlines, but the landscape is undoubtedly changing. For instance, phone companies are starting to face competition, creating value and lure in customers with their Internet-based communication offerings.
Even as landline subscribers decline, the transitioning phone companies still have to invest millions of dollars a year to maintain old networks while the newest competitors who only provide the latest technologies (e.g. VoIP) can focus on providing just what the consumer wants.
“Evolution on telecommunication offering is important because consumer behavior is changing very quickly. Some years ago people used to call their friends and family, today they use online chats and video conference apps like Face time,Skype and many more to reach their loved ones,” Khurram Shehzad, a senior Manager at a mobile phone company told APP.
He said, “this trend is also making phone companies’ unlimited minutes offers irrelevant because what really matters today is data.”
Even for business purposes, landlines no longer represent the best way to get in touch with somebody given the increasing amount of mobility that jobs require
(work from home, travel, etc). That was why a growing number of start-ups were skipping the landline altogether, and why a growing number of bigger businesses were going mobile-only, Khurram maintained.
Mobile phone had become a need of everyone to stay connected, said a mobile phone user Salman Agha.
“And if we talk about smartphone it could be a source of income, information and awareness as well,”he added.
Smartpones were overpowering previously used landline phones in the country because of their innovative features and were expected to grow further in days to come.
Pakistan has seen a reasonable surge in mobile broadband penetration over the past five years with market penetration increasing from below 1 per cent in 2012 to 24 per cent in 2017.
Statistics issued by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) have showed that number of mobile phone users reached 149 million by March 2018 and broadband subscriber reached 56 million.
Since launch of 3G services, the five cellular mobile operators (CMOs) in the country added millions of broadband subscribers, which jumped from 3.8 million on June 30, 2014 to 56 million at end of March 2018.
Jazz’s total count for 3G users stood at 14.98 million by March 2018 while Jazz 4G user numbers stood to 3.15 million by March 2018.
Zong 3G subscribers reached 9.18 million by March 2018 while number of 4G users reached 6.37 by March 2018. The number of 3G users of Telenor reached at 10.92 by March 2018 while number of 4G users reached 2.45 million by March 2018 and Ufone 3G users stood at 6.16 million.
Death toll rises to 65 in storms across India
NEW DELHI, May 14 (Xinhua/APP):Death toll has risen to 65 across India after dust storms, thunderstorms and rain accompanied by gusty winds hit many states, officials said Monday. Over 70 people were injured in these storms.
The affected states include Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and the national capital New Delhi.
The storms hit the states Sunday evening wreaking havoc by uprooting trees, electricity poles and transformers.
According to Sanjay Kumar, relief commissioner in Uttar Pradesh, 39 people were killed and 53 others injured in the storm in Uttar Pradesh.
Apart from Uttar Pradesh, India’s state-run broadcaster All India Radio (AIR) said 12 deaths were reported in West Bengal, nine in Andhra Pradesh, three in Telangana and two in Delhi.
Indian Meteorological department officials said squall and dust storm with a wind speed of up to 109 kmph hit capital city and its outskirts.
The storms caused disruption in flight, rail and metro operations in the capital city, affecting commuters.
Reports pouring in from Uttar Pradesh said nearly 100 houses were gutted in a fire which broke out due to lightning in Sambhal.
Several areas in the affected states faced power outages as electricity lines were snapped.
India’s Meteorological department officials said thunderstorms are expected across north-west India over the next 48 to 72 hours, as several weather phenomena, including western disturbances, converge.
“Data breaches cannot be ignored”, IT experts
ISLAMABAD, May 14 (APP):Information Technology (IT) experts on Monday said country’s vulnerability of personal data compromise was a matter of grave concern for public safety which cannot be ignored.
They stressed for the collective efforts by all stake holders to ensure foolproof protection to the data as the country was swiftly adopting e-trading where imperative submission of personal information was making people prone to exploitation in the hands of cyber crooks.
Talking to APP, an IT expert from Ripha International University requesting not to be named said online services like ride-hailing and online shopping like ventures have made inroad in the country after 2012. But the country was never prepared to security breaches that have recently occurred forcing the concerned quarters to come up with solid measures on war footing to ensure complete data protection, he added.
He said a user’s role in this regard was of utmost importance while using internet and he/she must be sensitized not to disclose any of personal information on social sites which may become a source of trouble for them after reaching in the hands of certain mafia.
He suggested users to adopt strong and unique passwords while using different applications which would at least provide some protection to their data.
He said companies be enforced for installation of extra data base systems and firewalls for protecting a customers’ data, which they do not ensure to save their money. European Union’s (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) law that reduced the ratio of cyber-attack there, must be introduced in Pakistan and relevant authorities must fulfill their responsibility in this regard.
Ayyaz Ali, an IT expert at a software house said “cyber-crooks always remain alive and vigilant to exploit any opportunity as and when arises and the information you thought is secure could be exposed” .
“Secure communication channels, user IDs and passwords, right to opinion for activists are no longer secure,” he warned.
The spokesperson of Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, Saghir Anwar Watto said that Pakistan being a developing country took a daring step while introducing legislation against the cyber-crime.
He said it was on incumbent government’s credit that it has introduced Pakistan Electronic Crime Act, 2016 against cyber offences and made operational the cyber-crime wing in Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
Minister Information Technology and telecommunication(MOIT) Anusha Rahman recently directed the officials of its Ministry to ensure provision of all the fundamental rights for an online user that were available to a common offline man, he informed.
A Supreme Court Lawyer and member of Pakistan Bar Council Maqsood Buttar said that the cyber-crime bill, or the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, would be applicable to deal with online crimes or fight with terrorism in the unregulated cyberspace.
Maqsood said the authorities concerned have failed to bring a data protection law, or a privacy law to ensure lawful protection of online data and the laws introduced were not capable to meet emerging challenges.
He said there are also no set guidelines for white hacking. “These ethical hackers look at securities, loopholes in websites. “Initial few sections of cyber-crime law talks about unauthorised access and interception of data and white hacking potentially comes under that and will be criminalised. We need an entire environment that caters to our protection and unfortunately, we do not have that” ,Maqsood added.
He , however, urged the authorities concerned to introduce a watchdog in the country that should keep a check specifically on data breach as data plays a vital role in people’s lives.
It is pertinent to mention that recent episode of 14 million clients’ data breach from the systems of the Dubai-based Careem created a sense of insecurity among online services’ users across the globe.