GILGIT, May 02 (APP):A high-level meeting presided over by Commissioner Gilgit, Usman Ahmed here Wednesday
finalized arrangements for Pakistan’s first Tour D Khunjrab cycling race
starting from Gilgit on May 11 and will culminate at Khunjrab on May 13, 2018.
The representatives of all the concerned departments attended the meeting and discussed
ways and means to make the event interesting and successful.
The Commissioner directed foolproof security arrangements for the event and overcoming
all shortcomings well ahead of the schedule program.
He directed repair of road from Gilgit to Khunjrab Top and has reviewed arrangements pertaining
to provision of health services to cyclists during emergency.
The Commissioner said the event
would help promote adventure tourism besides cycling sports in the country
especially in Gilgit Baltistan.
He expressed satisfaction over the arrangements
and directed close coordination among all the departments to make the event
highly success.
The event will help promote soft
image of the country besides highlighting the scenic beauty of Giligt Baltistan
that attracts domestic and foreign tourists from across the country viz a viz
abroad.
Arrangements for Khunjrab Tour D cycling race finalized
USAID,COTHM sign MoU
LAHORE, May 02 (APP):United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the College of Tourism and Hotel Management (COTHM) to support training and education in the hospitality sector to the youth in the Southern Punjab.
The MoU was signed by USAID/Pakistan Mission Director, Jerry Bisson and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ahmed Shafiq. Provincial Director USAID Punjab, Lea Swansea was also present.
The MoU is in continuation of the USAID project Punjab Youth Workforce Development (PYWD). It invests in youth by providing technical and vocational education and employment opportunities to around 10,000 youth between the ages of 16 and 29 out of which 35 per cent are female from the south Punjab districts of Multan, Lodhran, Bahawalpur, and Muzaffargarh.
The three-year program PYWD complements Punjab government’s policy to provide skill development opportunities to the Pakistani youth.
Speaking at, USAID/Pakistan Mission Director, Jerry Bisson stated that, “Pakistan’s youth is the future of the country and I believe that investing in them will build their capacity to develop and grow as the leaders of tomorrow.”
The MOU was signed during a roundtable on business partnerships by the USAID which served as a platform for professionals in the technical and vocational training sector, including representatives from Fatima Memorial Hospital (FMH), Punjab Vocational Training Council (PVTC), and Lahore Restaurants Association (LRA), to share their expertise and knowledge on youth skills development in market-driven trades.
A tripartite agreement was also signed between FMH, PVTC and PYWD project with the objectives of upgrading PVTC’s clinical assistant course and of engaging in youth skills development for the provision of quality healthcare services.
Kenyan Foreign Minister meet with Foreign Secretary
ISLAMABAD, May 2 (APP):Foreign Minister of Kenya Dr. Monica Juma met Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here on Tuesday and both discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern during the meeting..
They also deliberated on measures to enhance and diversify bilateral trade as well as promoting people to people contacts, said a statement issued here.
Foreign Minister Monica Juma emphasized that the two countries should work on mutually beneficial areas of cooperation like agriculture, pharmaceuticals, youth development and defence cooperation.
She underscored the need for a broad framework cooperation agreement for further developing bilateral ties. Foreign Minister also briefed the Foreign Secretary on the security situation prevalent in the East African region.
Foreign Secretary briefed the Kenyan Foreign Minister on relations with regional neighbours as well as on the grave human rights situation in the Indian Occupied Kashmir.
Foreign Minister is visiting Pakistan as the Special Envoy of the President of Kenya. Earlier she called on the Prime Minister and extended an invitation to him from the President of Kenya to visit Kenya.
Pakistan’s first Super Kabaddi League begins today
ISLAMABAD, May 2 (APP):Pakistan’s Super Kabaddi League began on Wednesday (today) in Lahore,and will conclude on 10th of this month, under the aegis of Pakistan Kabaddi Federation (PKF).
Secretary General Pakistan Kabaddi Federation (PKF) Sarwar Rana said , the event will be
featuring 10 city-based teams: Peshawar Haiders, Faisalabad Sherdils, Gujrat Warriors, Gwadar Bahadars, Karachi Zorawars, Multan Sikandars, Sahiwal Bulls, Islamabad All-Stars, Lahore Thunders and Kashmir Janbaazs.
Sarwar said the foreign players in the league are from Iran, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Kenya and Iraq.Sarwar justified the low foreign participation in the league by saying that they wanted to give more chances to local talent, Private news channel reported.
The 10 teams will play matches on single league basis and the top two teams at the end of the league matches will play the final.
Terrorist attacks in Afghanistan out of realization : US Defense Secretary
WASHINGTON, May 2 (APP):US Defense Secretary James Mattis said here on Monday, rise in terrorist attacks in Afghanistan were anticipated as terrorists were turning to bombs amid realization that they could not win by ballots.
Speaking to reporters here at the Pentagon, the Secretary said that the international forces in Afghanistan were doing their best to prevent these attacks and have been successful at blocking many of these attacks on innocent people. The Secretary was speaking to media along with the visiting Defense Minister of Macedonia Shekerinska.
“But unfortunately, once in a while, they get through, because any terrorist organization that realizes it can’t win by ballots and turns to bombs — this is simply what they do: They murder innocent people,” he added.
The Secretary said that these attacks were anticipated and forces knew that there would be tough fighting going forward. “The murder of journalists and other innocent people is a great testimony to what it is we stand for; more importantly, what we stand against.”
“We’ll stand by the Afghan people. We’ll stand by the Afghan government. And the NATO mission will continue, as we drive them to a political settlement,” he added.
Speaking to reporters separately at a briefing a day earlier, Secretary Mattis said that Taliban delayed announcing their spring offensive until very recently as they were taken aback clearly by the new US strategy for the region and the fact that the US forces were going to stay.
“There have been strikes against their financial networks, and then President Ghani came out and said we’re willing to talk, to negotiate and put them on their back foot. I think they’re now trying to recover in the interim.”
He said that it was anticipated that the terrorists would do their best to try to bring bombs right into Kabul. Several dozen people were killed in recent attacks in Kabul, including nine journalists this week. Two back-to-back suicide bombings were coordinated to target reporters who had gathered to report the first attack.
Secretary Mattis said that terrorists wanted these attacks to be reported as they needed international media to broadcast these kinds of attacks which, he added was setting them on their backfoot diplomatically and militarily.
He said, some of the attacks targeted voting registration centers as Taliban realized the danger of the people being allowed to vote.
Pakistan-US require continued engagement to remove misperceptions : Ambassador Chaudhry
WASHINGTON, May 2 (APP):Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Aizaz Chaudhry has said that Pakistan and the United States need continued engagement with a view to remove misgivings, saying both countries have benefitted from collaboration in achieving shared goals.
Ambassador Chaudhry made these remarks while delivering a talk at the University of Chicago about Pakistan-US Relations. The event was hosted by International House and the Committee of Southern Asian Studies at the University of Chicago.
Ms. Denise M. Jorgens, PhD Director of the International House of the University welcomed the Ambassador and Mr. James H. Nye, Bibliographer for Southern Asia, moderated the event.
Ambassador Chaudhry said that though there were some misperceptions on both sides but disengagement has never been a solution of issues in history. He stressed the need for more and more dialogue between the two countries with a view to remove misgivings.
Apprising the audience about history of Pakistan-US relations, he said that Pakistan and the United States have enjoyed an exceptional relationship for the last seven decades.
While talking about current state of relations between the two countries, the Ambassador said the relations with the US were very important for Pakistan and this realization was prevalent across all segments of Pakistani polity.
He added that in our regular interactions, Pakistan had been impressing upon its American interlocutors that both countries need to work together to resolve all issues. “This required continued engagement at all levels. The two sides could work together to achieve the shared objective of peace and stability in Afghanistan.”
Ambassador Chaudhry’s talk was followed by lot of questions from audience about current state of relations between Pakistan and United States.
Established in 1890, the University of Chicago (also known as UChicago) is a private research university with 15,365 students. It’s currently ranked 10th in the world according to the QS World University Rankings, making it the fifth highest-ranked university in the US. Ambassador Sahibzada Yaqoob Ali Khan also spoke at the University in the 1970s.
UN expert slams killing of Afghan journalists
UNITED NATIONS, May 2 (APP):A United Nations human rights expert has strongly condemned the killing of nine journalists in Afghanistan who were among the victims of Monday’s terrorist attack in the country’s capital.
The condemnation came just in advance of World Press Freedom Day, annually observed on 3 May.
“Monday’s attack, like all such attacks on journalists, is an attack on Afghanistan’s free press and the public’s right to know,” the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, David Kaye, who called on the Government to bring the perpetrators to justice.
According to media reports, after an initial suicide attack, another suicide bomber targeted journalists who had arrived on the scene, to cover the event. The terrorist group ISIL/Da’esh claimed responsibility for the bombings that reportedly killed at least 41 people and injured 45 others, including women, children and emergency responders, as well as media workers.
“These attacks serve to remind those who glibly demonize the press that journalists serve a crucial function in societies: the illumination of all matters of public interest,” Kaye said. “The legacy of those killed is their reminder that serving the public’s right to know, can be dangerous and deserves all of our respect and support.”
On Monday, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and his Special Representative for Afghanistan, Tadamichi Yamamoto, condemned the attacks.
In a Press Statement on Tuesday, the Security Council condemned the bombings as “heinous and cowardly terrorist attacks.”
“The members of the Security Council expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government of Afghanistan” and they wished a speedy and full recovery to the injured, added the statement.
CM Shehbaz opens medicines supply warehouse
LAHORE, May 02 (APP):Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday inaugurated modern medicines supply warehouse here at Gurumangat Road, Gulberg.
Speaking on the occasion, he said it was a matter of pleasure to witness the modern system of storing medicines and establishing digital system for this purpose was a commendable step of the Punjab government.
He said, “This system is playing an important role regarding the timely supply of medicines in a safer manner.”
Provincial ministers Salman Rafique and Imran Nazir, chief secretary, secretaries health and other concerned authorities were also present on the occasion.
The chief minister also inaugurated the modern SBL-III Lab on Birdwood Road. He visited various sections of modern lab and expressed joy over the establishment of latest lab.
He said setting up of this kind of lab was need of the hour. He said tests of HIV, hepatitis and other dangerous diseases would be conducted in this lab. He said setting up of BSL-III lab was another milestone of Punjab government. He termed it an important step towards serving the ailing humanity.
The chief minister also visited different units of the Health department and inaugurated monitoring and surveillance center of primary & secondary healthcare department and provincial TB reference BSL-III Lab. He said every possible resource was being utilized for betterment of healthcare services.
Shehbaz Sharif also inspected the expansion project of drug testing lab and directed to further accelerate the speed of work on this project.
Later, the chief minister while talking to media persons said Punjab government had introduced the modern system of store, supply and distribution of medicines and this system had been made operational completely.
He said soon international certification of these labs would be done. He said by setting up these labs, government had abolished the old system of testing the medicines as these drug laboratories were of international standards.
In response to a question, the chief minister said PTI had destroyed KPK and trying to sell new dreams to the nation.
He said the nation would not be deceived by the tall claims and lies of Imran Khan as the PTI’s poor performance was in front of them. He said it was his request to his rivals to realize facts.
He said people were going to decide about the future leadership through the power of their votes in 2018. “There should be a leadership in the country which can save the country from internal and external challenges, and save it from unemployment and poverty as well,” he added.
To another question, he said Chaudhry Nisar was his friend as well as a senior party leader.
Replying to a question about energy projects, he said Rs.150 billion had been saved in four gas-based energy projects set up in Punjab.
On the other side, no tender of Nandipur project was given and mega corruption was done in it, he said and added that the NAB should take notice of it. “I request the apex court to take notice of it as the persons involved in this mega corruption are moving freely,” he said.
“Musharraf started Kachhi Canal Project without tendering and planning. The cost of this project has increased from Rs. 20 billion to Rs. 90 billion. These are mega corruption cases which have weakened the country like termite,” he added.
Replying to a question about Asif Zardari, he said his corruption cases worth billions of rupees were with the NAB. “In addition to it, Rs 6 billion are deposited in Swiss banks. Many labs and hospitals would have been built through this money, if it had not been looted. I would request NAB and Supreme Court to take notice of it and bring back this looted money,” he added.
Watermelon sale surging due to high temperatures, affordable prices
ISLAMABAD, May 2 (APP):Watermelon, a summer-specialty, is witnessing a surge in sale this year due to rising temperatures and lower prices compared to last year.
The nutritious fruit with sweet watery pink flesh and a lot of black seeds is in high production this year, which is the major reason for its lower prices in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Yasir Khan, a fruit seller at G-7 Market told APP on Wednesday that there was a greater supply this year due to handsome subsidy package given to farmers by the the government. The watermelon was sold at Rs 40 per kg last year, but it was now selling from Rs 25 to Rs 30 per kg.
“The fruit, equally popular among all age groups, is being sold in the local markets for the last 15 days and it will remain high in demand for a couple of months till Monsoon sets in, which diminishes its original taste,” he said.
“A truck load of watermelons is available in the market from Rs 200,000 to Rs 250,000, and it takes only about a week to get sold,” Yasir said. He was of the view that watermelon sale would further rise during the holy month of Ramzan.
Dr Qasim Raza, a general physician, sharing watermelon’s nutrition values said it reduced high blood pressure in the overweight people and minimized the risk of heart attacks.
“More people could be saved from sunstroke if they take the water-rich fruit like watermelon, which helps in maintaining required water level in the body, besides several other benefits” he said. It also aide in reducing body weight, he added.
Dr Qasim, however, warned patients with high sugar levels to take this delicious fruit in consultation with their physicians. He especially recommended use of watermelon for those who had to work in the sun for a longer period of time to avoid heat stroke and dehydration.
Imran Shehzad, a customer purchasing watermelon in Pir Wadhai Fruit Market, said the fruit was a blessing for the poor. Saleem Khan a security guard at a public school said due to meager salary it was not possible for him to buy other expensive fruits but watermelon, ‘a family feast’ was still in his approach to beat the heat.
Pak Navy ship ALAMGIR provides logistic assistance to Portuguese sailing yacht
ISLAMABAD, May 02 (APP):Pakistan Navy Ship ALAMGIR (Oliver Hazard Perry Class Frigate) while on counter piracy mission under Task Force-151 provided logistic assistance to sailing yacht BENYLEO 2, which was in dire need of fuel in area about 180 NM North East of Somalia.
Sailing yacht BENYLEO 2 is owned by Joao Armindo Furtado of Azores Island Portugal, who is currently on round the world sailing trip with his wife Joana Amen and two children aged eight and five. It
is the first family from Azores Island to embark on round the world sailing expedition, said a statement issued here by directorate of public relations of Pakistan Navy on Wednesday.
BENYLEO-2 left Port of Galle, Sri Lanka for Eritrea with necessary logistics. However due to unexpected adverse weather, the expedition exhausted its entire stock of fuel. The out of fuel yacht
was transiting with slow speed through piracy risk area. The logistic supplies onboard yacht were also short.
PNS ALAMGIR not only provided fuel but also provided edibles to the family. The Portuguese family was very thankful to Pakistan and Pakistan Navy for providing timely and generous assistance, which
enabled them to sail safely in piracy affected area.
Pakistan Navy ships actively participate in Task Force-150 and Task Force 151 which are mandated to conduct Maritime Security Operations and Anti-Piracy respectively. Assistance to BENYLEO-2 is another manifestation of Pakistan Navy’s strong history of providing humanitarian assistance at high seas and is in line with finest traditions of Pakistan Navy.