ISLAMABAD, Apr 23 (APP):Punjab Club defeated All Lucky Stars by 5 wickets in the Islamabad Cricket Association Championship 2018 here on Monday at Punjab Ground with experienced Raja Kashif Khan hitting a century.
Raja Kashif (102), who blasted 9 fours and 3 sixes in his brilliant 102 runs innings, helped Punjab Club landing home with a 5-wicket win in the 46.3 overs. Young Syed Muzammil Shah hit 69 and Sarmad Bhatti remained unbeaten for his 44.
Participating by all the affiliated clubs with Islamabad Cricket Association (ICA), the championship will first be played in each zone to determined 4 zonal champions before Super-8 (2 top teams from each Zone) is kicked off for the super champion of the tournament.
In the West Zone, Punjab Club outclassed All Lucky Stars by chasing down 262 runs target.
Scores: All Lucky Stars 262 for 6 in 50 overs (Osama Ayub 71 not out, Mohammad Ilyas 63, Asif Mehmood 39, Akhtar Mehmood 31 – Haris Ahmed 2 for 33, Sarmad Bhatti 1 for 24 and Abdul Wasay Qureshi 1 for 45). Punjab Club 264 for 5 in 45.3 overs (Raja M Kashif Khan 102, Syed Muzammil Shah 69, Sarmad Bhatti 44 not out, Abdul Wasay Qreshi 23 not out – Gul Hameed 2 for 21, Khair Ullah, Muhammad Nadeem and Muhammad Ilyas shared one wicket each).
In a one-sided game in the Central Zone here at Diamond Ground, Warriors Club beat Imran Memorial by 7 wickets with young and up coming Sarim Ashfaq hitting up classic 109 with 15 fours. Abdul Rehman scored 91 with 7 fours and 2 sixes.
Scores: Imran Memorial 244 in 36.3 overs ) Sajid Mehmood 80, Ahmed Bajwa 42, Faisal Masroor 34 – Ashfaq Ali 3 for 39, Kamran Khan 3 for 49, Jawad 2 for 49, Sikandar and Sajid shared one wicket each). Warriors Club 248 in 39 overs (Sarim Ashfaq 109, Abdul Rehman 91, Abdullah 24 not out – Ali Muhammad, Waleed Iqbal and Adeel ur Rehman shared one wicket each).
In the other match in Central Zone at Marghzar Ground, Young Capital defeated King’s Gymkhana by 5 wickets with Azam Khan hitting up 63 runs and Momin Khan claimed 3 wickets.
Scores: King’s Gymkhana Club 209 in 44.3 overs (Adnan Shafiq 53, Touseef Gardezi 34, M Saad 29 – Momin Khan 3 for 38, Azam Khan 2 for 25, Abid Khan 2 for 27, Amir Khan 2 for 45). Young Capital 210 for 5 in 36.2 overs (Azam Khan 63, Asad Shah 33 not out, Javed Akhtar 28 – Touseef Razzad, Youseef Gardezi, M Amir, Ajmal and M Saad shared one wicket each).
Punjab Club victorious in Islamabad Cricket Association C’ship
Khawaja Asif holds meeting with President Xi at Great Hall
BEIJING, April 23 (APP): Foreign Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif along with foreign ministers of other Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member countries met with Chinese President, Xi Jinping here at the Great Hall on Monday.
Welcoming the SCO foreign ministers, President Xi said that the SCO sets a new pilot
model for mutual respect, as well as a just, fair, win-win relationship, since its founding, 17 years ago.
President Xi Jinping underlined the close friendship between China and Pakistan and appreciated Pakistan’s role as a new member of the SCO.
The foreign minister conveyed the warm sentiments of friendship and brotherhood from the people of Pakistan to the people of China.
Khawaja Asif highlighted that Pakistan and China were all-weather strategic cooperative partners whose bonds of mutual trust and respect were eternal.
Appreciating the common vision of a peaceful and prosperous neighbourhood, the foreign minister underscored the importance of President Xi Jinping’s vision of the Belt and Road Initiative
which have received wide international support.
He highlighted that together, Pakistan and China have proven the viability of the Belt and
Road Initiative through its flagship project, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj of India, Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov of Kazakhstan, Foreign Minister Erlan Abdyldayev of
Kyrgyzstan, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov of Russia, Foreign Minister Sirodjidin Aslov of Tajikistan, Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov of Uzbekistan, Secretary-General of the SCO Rashid Alimov and Director of the Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure Yevgeniy Sysoyev were present.
The foreign minister is currently on a two-day visit to attend the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) meeting. The meeting will finalize the preparations for the forthcoming SCO Heads of State Council in Qingdao.
The SCO is an important forum for global and regional peace and security and promoting mutually beneficial cooperation between member states. Pakistan joined the organization in June 2017.
Khurram Dastgir meets Chinese President Xi Jinping
BEIJING, April 23 (APP): Defence Minister, Engr Khurram Dastgir Khan along with defence ministers of other Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) called on Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall here
on Monday.
The defence ministers of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and ambassador of India were present during the joint meeting.
Khurram Dastgir is on a two-day official visit to China to attend a meeting of the defence ministers meeting of the SCO member countries scheduled to be held on Tuesday.
The SCO, an inter-governmental organization, founded in China’s Shanghai on June 15, 2001,
now includes China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and India as full members.
Pakistan and India were admitted as full members of the organisation at the summit in Astana last year.
China, Pakistan defence cooperation pillar of all-weather strategic partnership: We Fenghe
BEIJING, April 23 (APP)::Chinese Defence Minister, Wei Fenghe said on Monday that China and Pakistan defence and military cooperation was the pillar of the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.
He made these remarks while talking to visiting Defence Minister, Engr Khurram Dastgir Khan
in a meeting held here.
The Chinese defence minister acknowledged the unprecedented sacrifices made by the armed forces and people of Pakistan during the ongoing fight against the menace of terrorism.
Wei Fenghe said that China supported Pakistan’s stance over longstanding Kashmir issue,
which was pending unresolved for the last 70 years.
He said that all-weather partnership and the defence military cooperation between the two countries helped maintain a strategic balance in the region.
Khurram Dastgir discussed way and means to further strengthen defence cooperation between the two countries.
He also briefed the Chinese defence minister about the latest situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir and massive human rights violations by Indian troops against the innocent Kashmiris.
Meanwhile, Khurram Dastgir met Defence Minister of Belarus, Andrei Ravkov on the
sidelines of SCO defence ministers meeting here.
Both the ministers discussed bilateral defence and military cooperation during the meeting.
They agreed to further broaden and deepen the defence cooperation and said, this cooperation should be visible in the bilateral relations of the two countries.
Khurram Dastgir is visiting China on a two-day official visit to attend a meeting of the defence ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
The SCO, an inter-governmental organization, founded in Shanghai, China on June 15, 2001,
now includes China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and India as
full members.
Pakistan and India were admitted as full members of the organisation at the summit in Astana
last year.
Ex-New York mayor pledges $4.5 million to help UN fight climate change following Trump’s pullout from Paris accord
UNITED NATIONS, Apr 23 (APP)::The UN Special Envoy for Climate Action, Michael Bloomberg, has announced a contribution of $4.5 million to the Organizations Climate Change Secretariat, the UNFCCC.
The billionaire philanthropist and former Mayor of New York City, pledged last June to make up the Secretariats funding shortfall, caused by US President Donald Trumps announced withdrawal from the historic 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change.
The contribution will go towards general operations, including assisting countries to meet targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions in line with the accord, agreed by 193 States in the French capital.
In late March, the United States Congress announced that it was cutting funding for this year to the UNFCCC by $4.5 million; from $7.5 million, down to $3 million, according to a media release from Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Bloomberg made the announcement of his contribution on the CBS television programme, Face the Nation, saying that America made a commitment and as an American, if the governments not going to do it, we all have a responsibility.
UN Secretary-General Antnio Guterres said via Twitter that he was very grateful to Michael Bloomberg, not only for his generous support to the United Nations, but also for his global leadership on climate action.
The UNFCCC said that with many contributions from signatories to the agreement still outstanding and a decline in voluntary contributions the funding was arriving at a critical time.
It strengthens UN Climate Changes capacity to support developing countries and allowed more strategic outreach to promote climate action among stakeholders including cities, regions, business and civil society, the Secretariat statement said.
The UNFCCCs Executive Secretary, Patricia Espinosa, said that when countries adopted the historic Paris Agreement to limit global temperature rise, they also recognized that achieving that goal would take broad-based global climate action in all sectors, public and private.
I welcome this generous contribution from Bloomberg Philanthropies as an important, practical recognition of our need to work together and to step up our response to climate change, she added.
Bloomberg added that despite the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and funding cuts, he was confident that the US would meet its commitment by 2025 to reduce greenhouse gases by an agreed amount, and if we do it, hopefully other countries will do it as well.
CPEC will make Pakistan hub of development: Ahsan Iqbal
KARACHI, Apr 23 (APP):Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal Monday said that Pakistan will become hub of development with the help of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
This he said while addressing the inaugural session of two-day CPEC summit, being hosted by Dawn Media Group in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning and Development at Bagh-i-Jinnah here.
He said the present era is of development and growth, with the speed of an electron.
Talking about the Belt and Road initiative, he termed it a huge development opportunity for the country. “We made regional connectivity a key component of our Vision 2025 project,” he said, terming the CPEC biggest flagship project of the One Belt One Road initiative.
He said China extended its hand towards Pakistan when no one wanted to invest even 10 dollars.
Addressing reservations about the CPEC, Ahsan Iqbal said “There are lobbies that are not happy with the CPEC.”
“This event proves that Karachi is changing,” he said, adding that when the PML-N came into power in 2013, the city was known for target killings and extortion.
Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing, speaking on the occasion, said China has made every effort to develop and grow its economy for the past 40 years.
“China wants to see its relationship with Pakistan serve as example for its relations with other countries,” he said, adding “We look at CPEC as a significant project. I’m proud that after five years of implementation, it [CPEC] has contributed to Pakistan’s development.”
“CPEC is not just about economic growth; we want to develop a community, he concluded.”
Sindh and Punjab Chief Ministers Murad Ali Shah and Shahbaz Sharif also spoke on the occasion.
Pakistan for developing trade relations with African countries
ISLAMABAD, Apr 23 (APP):Additional Secretary Commerce (Trade Diplomacy), Javed Akbar Bhatti said that Pakistan is keenly interested in developing bilateral and trade relations with African countries including Cotton-4 (C4) countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali).
Welcoming the delegation of Ambassadors of C-4 countries led by H.E Eloi, LAOUROU, PR/Ambassador Permanent, Mission of Benin here on Monday, Javed Akbar Bhatti said that more interaction of such nature will result in strengthening relations and in exploration of new avenues of cooperation, said a press release issued here.
He said, “Cotton plays an important role in Pakistan’s economy as we produce 12 to 14 million bales annually and in 2016-17 we witnessed a growth of 7.59 per cent in cotton production.”
He said, “Pakistan is one of the few countries that have the complete value chain from cotton production to fashion garments.”.
Bhatti said that Pakistan recognizes the role of C-4 in raising the profile of cotton in the World Trade Organization, especially the impact of trade distorting policies of the developed countries on the poor farmers of the developing and the least developed countries. “This technical assistance to C-4 countries fits well within Pakistan’s strategy in reaching out to African countries furthermore the resources allocated in this regard will deepen our engagements with African region”, he added.
Bhatti informed the delegation that Ministry of Commerce has launched “Look Africa Initiative”
to strengthen bilateral trade and investment relations with the African region and current interaction on cotton related activities provides an excellent opportunity to learn from each other and expand cooperation beyond cotton production.
He said, “I hope your visit to state of the art research facilities in Faisalabad, Multan and
Lahore will provide an excellent opportunity to enhance cooperation in cotton research with Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad and Benin.
Eloi, Laourou said that we need Pakistan assistance for value addition in cotton. Besides cotton we are looking for Technical assistance of Pakistan in agriculture, energy and renewable
energy.” “We are more concerned about the betterment in the yield and better seeds of cotton and
we want to take advantage of the Pakistani expertise”, he added.
Bhatti assured full support and technical assistance to the C-4 countries and said that the cooperation between Pakistan and C-4 countries should exceed in other areas as well.
NA body directs devising strategy to boost agriculture sector in GB
ISLAMABAD, Apr 23 (APP):The National Assembly Standing Committee on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Monday directed the ministry to make special projects in consultation with the government of Gilgit Baltistan for development of agriculture sector in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) of next year.
The 39th meeting of National Assemblly Standing Committee on Kashmir Affairs & Gilgit-Baltistan held here under the Chairmanship of Malik Ibrar Ahmed, MNA.
The Secretary Agriculture (GB) also briefed the Committee in detail about the Agriculture economy, food production, fruit wastage, potential of Fruit crops and vegetable particularly potato in Gilgit Baltistan.
He further informed the Committee economic transformative initiatives by the present government and also highlighted the challenges and difficulties in implementing the proposals due to lack of budget in this sector.
According to the agenda, the Commissioner (Rehabilitation) and Secretary Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan gave a reply regarding the questions raised by the Committee in its last meeting but the Chairman and the Members were not satisfied.
Later on, the Chairman directed the Secretary of the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs & Gilgit Baltistan to look into the matter personally and solve the problems of the genuine allottees without further delay and report back to the Committee.
DG (TATA) also informed the Committee about the specification of the required scanners and progress of establishing a wholesale market near LoC.
The Committee appreciated his work and directed to complete these projects in order to promote trade between the two countries.
The meeting was attended by Members of the Committee namely including Ch. Abid Raza,Malik Abdul Ghaffar Dogar, Sardar Mumtaz Khan, Dr. Shazia Sobia, Mrs. Shamas-un-Nissa, Mr. Junaid Akbar, Syed Waseem Hussain, MNAs and Senior Officers of the Ministry of KA&GB, Government and Gilgit Baltistan Government.
PHF calls 41 Jr players for physical conditioning camp
LAHORE, Apr 23 (APP):Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) on Monday announced the names of forty-one junior players for attending a physical conditioning training camp from April 16 at Islamabad.
“The main emphasis during the camp will be on enhancing physical conditioning of junior players for their selection in the teams for abroad tour in near future for which negotiations are going on,” said a spokesman for the PHF here.
Diffrent players will attend the camp, Waqar Younis, Lahore, Rizwan Ali, Faisalabad, Rehan Butt, Gojra, Moin Shakeel, Lahore, Adeel Latif, Lahore, Junaid Manzoor, Bahawalpur, Shahzaib Khan, Wah Cantt,
Ghazanfar Ali, Lahore, Afraz Hakeem, Peshawar, Umair Sattar, Faisalabad.
Naveed Alam, Lahore, Adil Rao, Gojra, Amjad Ali, Bannu, Awais Arshad Lahore, Rana Waheed, Sargodha, Ahmed Nadeem, Lahore, Mohammad Ilyas, Faisalabad, Waqar Ali, Gojra, Zakirullah, Bannu, Mohammad Ibrahim, Bannu, Waqas Ahmed, Gojra, Salman Shaukat, Gojra, Junaid Rasool, Gojra, Mohibullah, Bannu, Ali Raza, Gojra, Awais Rehman, Peshawar, Murtaza Yaqoob, Lahore, Zulqarnain, Pir Mahal, Hammad Anjum, Sahiwal, Abuzar, Faisalabad, Umar Bilal, Bahawalpur, Roman Khan, Bannu, Akmal Hussain, Sheikhupura and Zain Ejaz.
1st Punjab CM National Women Squash Championship from April 26
LAHORE, Apr 23 (APP):The inaugural edition of the Punjab Chief Minister National Women Squash Championship will go into action here from April 26 at PSA Complex.
“Players from all-over the country will exhibit their talent and technique during the five-day premier activity, which aims at further promoting squash among womenfolk,” said Shiraz Saleem, secretary, Punjab Squash Association, on Monday.
He said that during the five-day contests, U19 and senior women events will be held. “We are confident to discover new women squash talent during this event,” he added.
The qualifying rounds will be played on April 26 and the main round will start on April 27.
“The event offers a total cash prize of Rs150,000 which will encourage young women squash players to take up squash as a sport,” said a PSA official.