ISLAMABAD, May 6 (APP):Minister of State for Maritime Affairs, Senator Hasil Khan Bizejo Sunday condemned the attack on Federal Minister for interior Ashan Iqal.
He was of the view that the incident had raised a question mark on the security situation in the country and there was a dire need to make foolproof security arrangements for the upcoming general elections.
He prayed for early recovery of Ahsan Iqbal.
Hasil Bizenjo condemns firing on Ahsan Iqbal
Foreign Secretary Janjua highlighted HR voilations in IOK during OIC special session
ISLAMABAD, May 6 (APP):Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua drew attention of international community to the severe humanitarian consequences for the people of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IoK) resulting from the unabated and systematic human rights violations by the Indian occupation forces.
While addressing the OIC Special Session on the “Humanitarian Challenges of the OIC Countries Including those relative to the Rohingyas” at the 45th OIC CFM, Tehmina condemned the brutal killings of innocent Kashmiris as well as use of pellet guns resulting in the complete loss of eye sight of many Kashmiris, said a foreign office statement issued here.
She referred to the situation in IoK as dire, seeking urgent attention of the international community and especially the OIC for responding to the humanitarian needs of the Kashmiri people in IoK.
Foreign Secretary highlighted the human rights violations against Rohingya Muslims and reiterated Pakistan’s support to ease the miseries and humanitarian challenges being faced by these innocent people. She also applauded the OIC and Bangladesh for extending support and hospitality to Rohingyas.
Foreign Secretary called for OIC’s consistent support to Palestinian refugees. She stated that it was Muslim Ummah’s collective responsibility to address the financial challenges being faced by United Nations Relief and Works Agencies for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
While emphasizing Pakistan’s continued commitment to look after Afghan refugees, Foreign Secretary invited attention of the OIC countries to support Pakistan’s efforts including ensuring repatriation of these refugees to their homeland.
Jhagra for increased efforts to eliminate polio
ISLAMABAD, May 6 (APP):Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Eng. Iqbal Zafar Jaghra Sunday underlined the need for making extra efforts for completely wiping out the crippling disease of polio from the country.
Addressing the concluding session of a conference here, he said the disease had been overcome to great extent in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and more coordinated efforts were required to make the country polio-free.
The conference titled “Empowerment and Integrity” was organized by the Rotary, a social service organization working to bring social change by extending maximum health facilities, clean drinking water and promoting education.
He appreciated the role of the organization and other stakeholders in polio eradication in different parts of the country, asking them to be more vigilant with accelerated endeavors to defeat the crippling disease.
He hoped that Pakistan would be polio-free soon as the PML-N led government had made concerted efforts in collaboration with social welfare organizations to rid the nation from such diseases.
“The Rotary has been working since decades and it needs no introduction as my father was also associated with this organization that’s why I know it well,” he said and suggested to change its name, having more attraction.
He cited the example that an organization had changed its name from Red Cross to Red Crescent, and carrying out remarkable welfare activities.
District Governor of Rotary International Faiza Qamar said the conference would play a vital role in connecting and building relationship among Rotarians for the cause of serving the suffering humanity.
“This conference provides us an opportunity to share our mission, vision and values to ensure peace and happiness in the World,” she added.
She stressed that organization could bring the true social change by increasing its membership and enhancing communication among members.
Rotary’s District Governor-Elect Muhammad Mushtaq Chaudhry briefed about 118 years old organization and its working, which has more than 300 clubs and 5,000 members across the country.
He said the organization operated in two major domains as one spanned over Sindh and Balochistan having 160 clubs and 3500 members, while second covered remaining parts of the country with 140 clubs and more than 1500 members.
Later, the organization management pinned a badge on Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra and made him its honourary member.
Javed Ali Shah condemns attack on Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal
ISLAMABAD, May 6 (APP):Minister for Water Resources, Syed Javed Ali Shah Sunday strongly condemned the terrorist attack on Federal Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal in Narowal.
In his condolence message, the minister said that such Cowardly acts could not deter their courage.
He prayed for the early recovery of the Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal.
Saud Majeed condemns attack on Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal
ISLAMABAD, May 6 (APP):Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz Leader, Senator Ch. Saud Majeed Sunday condemned the attack on Federal Minister for Interior Ashan Iqal.
In his message, he expressed his grief and concerns over the attack and sympathized with Ahsan Iqbal’s family and also prayed for his early recovery.
Lok Virsa organizes screening of documentaries on Kalaash, Music in Chitral
ISLAMABAD, May 6 (APP):National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) Mandwa Film Club organized a screening of documentaries on Kalaash and music in Chitral here at its media center.
“We will promote bilateral cooperation between local cultural organization and Lok Virsa Islamabad in research activities to preserve the traditional heritage, music and culture of Gilgit Baltistan” said an official of Lok Virsa.
He said that Lok Virsa produced these documentaries on life, culture and folklore of Kalaash people.
He said that Lok Virsa would provide a vital platform to ethnic communities to organize themselves, with a space for artists and artisans, to become a part of Lok Virsa’s larger family as Lok Visa has played a remarkable role in preservation and flourishing the rich culture of the country.
A large number of audiences attended the documentaries screening.
PC Cricket Club wins match
MULTAN, May 6 (APP)::The PC Cricket Club won a match of 4th Malik Siddique Super League Cricket Tournament by defeating the
Crescent Club by seven wickets.
The Crescent Club scored 279 runs for loss of nine wickets as Muhammad Sharif remained highest scorer with 101 runs.
Junaid Iqbal from PC Club took six wickets.
The PC Club chased and achieved the target for loss of three wickets in 32.5 overs.
Sheron from the PC Club scored 123 runs not-out and Muhammad Shoaib scored 66 runs.
Junaid Iqbal from the PC Club was declared the Man of the Match.
A match between MCC Multan and Multan Youngsters would be played on Monday.
Irfan Siddique’s book “Jo Bichhar Gaey” launched
MULTAN, May 6 (APP): Advisor to prime minister Irfan Siddique’s book titled “Jo bichhar gaey” was launched in a ceremony, at Multan Tea House on Sunday.
The book is a combination of various published columns of Irfan Siddique about different personalities, hailing from different walks of life including politicians, literary figures and others.
Punjab Governor Malik Muhammad Rafique Rajwana chaired the ceremony, which was also attended by noted literary figures Iftikhar Arif, Khalid Masood Khan, Tanvir A Shiekh, Raziuddin Razi, Shakir
Hussain Shakir, senator Rana Mehmoodul Hassan and a good number of other citizens.
Addressing the ceremony, Irfan Siddique informed that his different columns were compiled in the book to recall memories of those who were no longer with us. Siddique added, he himself was saddened to read the book as many of the friends who were no more.
Irfan Siddique stated that there should be no hatred in politics as everyone had political ideology which must be respected.
Siddique also informed that he had requested Punjab Governor Rafique Rajwana for suitable places for setting up of offices of Academy of Letters, however, some buildings of Academy of Letters were in progress in Gilgit, Muzaffarabad, Dadu, FATA, Peshawar and Quetta and funds of Rs 500 million had been released for this purpose.
Siddique hoped that new offices would surely help promote literature and facilitate the literary figures.
Punjab Governor Malik Muhammad Rafique Rajwana also spoke and said that every positive aspect of politics must be promoted despite political differences.
“It has become common phenomenon in our political culture to support the party’s every move whether it
was good or bad,” he said.
The book would surely help remembering the lost people, he said and added the columns of Irfan Siddique
would also remain alive due to the book.
The Governor also suggested putting the book in liberaries of educational institutions and promised to support Academy of Letters for the promotion of literature.
On this occasion, various literary figures Iftikhar Arif, Qamar Raza Shehzad, Khalid Masood Khan, Raziuddin Razi and others also spoke.
Drink plenty of water for mind and body health
By Seema Mir
ISLAMABAD, May 6 (APP):You may not drink plenty of water but there are plenty of reasons to drink it.
Health experts recommend eight-8 ounce glasses that is equal to about two litres .
Moreover, according to health experts drinking recommended amount of water is of utmost importance for staying healthy.
It is said that body is composed of about 60% water which is required for carrying out bodily functions like digestion, absorption circulation creation of saliva,transportation of nutrients and maintenance of body temperature.
Medical practitioner, Dr. Farah Pasha while talking to this scribe on importance of taking adequate amount of water said that fluid losses occured continuously from skin in the form of sweat,breathing ,urine and stool and the amount of water lost must be replaced daily for staying healthy, otherwise all these activities would lead to dehydration.
Dehydration, she said, “has its own consequences from mild to severe ones.”
Another medical practitioner Dr. Asma said, “dehydration impairs both mood and concentration and increases the frequency of headaches.”
She further said dehydration was detrimental to working memory and “it increases feelings of anxiety and fatigue.”
She said ” even mild dehydration can impair mood ,memory and brain performances.”
While drinking water, Dr. Farah said, one should think of nutrients lost as all of those were essential daily for good health.
“Water helps energize muscles;when the cells don’t have adequate fluid they don’t work well and as a result of which performance suffers.
She said,” water improves the digestive process;water works much like oil does in a machine without water digestive process tends to slow down and gets sluggish.
” A big glass of water about half an hour before every meal facilitates the digestion process,” she advised.
She further said drinking less amount of water resulted in reduced motivation,increased fatigue and making physical activity impaired ,mentally and physically which are directly or indirectly symptoms of dehydration.
As hydration has a major effect on energy levels and brain function studies show that even mild dehydration could impair many aspects of brain function.
Health experts say hydration and dehydration also have their effects on children.Hydration activates brain of an individual (child or an adult) more accurately hydration helps a child’s brain to carry on its normal functions alertness ,concentration and focus.
The experts elaborated that children were not much informed about the merits and demerits of drinking required amount of water,but had the necessary impulse for water.
so, the experts floated the advice for mothers to take care of the requirement of children regarding water.
Water intake can be fulfilled through fruits and vegetables like water melon ,cucumber etc.but the best and easiest source is water itself the health experts advised.
Besides, Dr. Asma said, taking extra amount of water helped body after sickness ,injury or surgery and consequently healing process was improved.
Drinking lots of water also boosts immune system by flushing out pathogens like viruses and toxins out of the body,she said.
“Consuming enough water stops formation of kidney and gall stones,”she added.
She, however cautioned, that kidney patients suffering from extreme conditions should consume water according to the advice of doctor.
As, she warned,excessive and inadequate intake of water were associated with health problems
New Islamabad airport leaving lasting impression on passengers
By Muhammad Shafique Raja
ISLAMABAD, May 6 (APP):The avant-garde facilities within a uniquely rich botanical environment at the new Islamabad International Airport (IIA) are leaving lasting impression on passengers, particularly those who were accustomed to take off or land at the old Benazir Bhutto International Airport.
At a time when airports around the world are providing easy, fast and hassle-free passenger navigation, this advanced airport driven by the objectives of operational efficiency and passenger well-being has started to bring an unprecedented level of passenger satisfaction right from the outset.
Many believe that with the ultramodern facilities and state-of-the-art technologies, the airport is comparable to any top-class international airport and set to join the world best airfields.
“This airport is absolutely stunning. It’s so scenic. We are travelling to London. It’s really exciting. People are very welcoming and the facilities are remarkable,” a Pakistan-origin British lady said while offering her and her family’s passports to the official of an airline at check-in before boarding the plane.
“This airport is a landmark achievement. It is a sign of progress in Pakistan. One gets great satisfaction after watching this airport. I’ve widely traveled around the world and whenever, I would see a top-class airport, I wished to have such in Pakistan. Finally, we have this beautiful airport. To be very honest we are really happy,” her husband Brigadier (R) Muhammad Yousaf remarked.
“We are really satisfied. The information booth is fully staffed, security guards (Airport Security Force personnel) are active at their positions, cleaners are busy scrubbing the beautiful floor and there is a large choice of products at the shops here. This airport is fully in service,” Nauman Khan said who was leaving for Bahrain.
“Really happy to see this airport. It’s marvelous. I am enjoying the remarkable facilities here,” Abdul Chughtai said, who was departing for Canada.
“I live in a big city in Canada. I keep on travelling frequently in different cities and have seen many airports. I tell you this airport is comparable to any other airport of the world,” he opined.
However, Chughtai underlined the need to have proper signs along the road to direct the people towards the airport.
“It seems good just like the world’s best airports. The arrangements are excellent and the staff is as cooperative as anywhere else in the world,” Arshad Mehmood said, who was leaving for Abu Dhabi.
“I have been living in the UAE for several years. The facilities here are comparable to the one we find in Abu Dhabi or any other airport. I congratulate all Pakistanis for having such an airport,” he added.
“Everything about this airport seems amazing. Not only it wins you over but it creates a lasting impression on you, prompting you to spend some more time here before you leave,” another Abu Dhabi-bound passenger remarked.
Equipped with cutting-edge technologies and ultramodern facilities for passengers to meet the 21st century challenges, the IIA is also the largest airport of Pakistan. It is capable to serve nine million passengers and 50,000 metric tons cargo every year, while its modular designs enable the expansion to serve up to 25 million passengers every year by 2025.
The airport project was conceived initially in 1984, for which acquisition of land in Fateh Jang started in the same year to cater to the problem of increased passengers’ load and space constraints at the old airport.
“By the grace of Allah Almighty, the state-of-the-art IIA has become fully operational. The flights are departing and arriving as per schedule,” Director General of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Usaid-ur-Rehman told APP.
He expressed the hope that the IIA will give boost to aviation industry in the country. He said keeping in view the modern technologies and facilities, the IIA is undoubtedly matching the world’s best airports.
“We have installed top of the line and latest system at the airport. Its passenger facilitation, baggage handling and traffic management matches international standards,” he added.
Deputy Director General of CAA, Amir Mehboob said the airport operations control centre focuses on end-to-end processes of operations and bringing together three major operational areas for departing and arriving passengers, baggage and aircraft. “I am sure it has all the potential to be among top 10 airports of the world,” he said.
Constructed at a cost of over 100 million rupees, the airport is connected to twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad via Kashmir Highway and Motorway via Thallian interchange. A four-lane highway has also been constructed by National Highway Authority to cater to cargo traffic.
Spanning over 4,238 acres of land, the airport consists of four-level passenger terminal building, two runways, taxiways, apron, parking bays for wide-body aircraft. It has an advanced cargo terminal, air traffic control complex, fuel farm as well as a fire crash and rescue facility.
Being the first greenfield airport of the country, a significant portion of land has been earmarked for the commercial purposes such as duty-free shops, five star hotel, convention centre, branded coffee shops, business centre, food courts, multifunctional shopping mall, theme park, cinemas, golf course and recreational facilities.
Equipped to handle all types of aircraft, including those of the new generation, it took around 11 years to build the airport after its groundbreaking in April 2007. It has an Integrated Building Management System, which has been designed to keep track and control various systems in Passenger Terminal Building.
The airport is equipped with fire alarm, sprinkler, total gas flooding, smoke ventilation, fire house cabinets and fire telephone systems. The baggage handling system installed at the airport is very advanced with standard two and three screening machines, having the capacity to handle 5,500 bags per hour at departure and 6,000 bags per hour at arrival lounge.
As is often said the world’s top-airports reflect the quality of life their cities offer, so is the case with the IIA. The colourful flora, the water ponds and beautiful mountains are part of spectacular and breathtaking sight, which can be viewed from the Super View Corridor.
Moving through the airport complex also provides the passengers’ with glimpses of natural landscapes and highlands.
Undoubtedly, the IIA is a sign of development and progress in the country. But the airport management will have to keep this airport the same way. It would also have to ensure that quality and prompt services are provided to the passengers to bring it among the top ten airports of the world.