ISLAMABAD, Apr 23 (APP):Senator, PML-N Lt Gen (Retd) Abdul Qayyum Khan has said India must accept the reality
that it will not succeed to continue its illegal hold on Kashmir for long and the Kashmiris
will get rid of its bondage soon.
He said “The voices of Kashmiri people for their freedom cannot be suppressed by the gunfire
of Indian security forces.”
He termed Kashmir ‘an integral part of Pakistan’s identity’ and said ‘our hearts beat in sync
with Kashmiri brethren and we rejoice in their happiness and gloom’.
Talking in a Radio programme, he said Pakistan is committed to extending all moral, political
and diplomatic support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their historic struggle for their right
to self-determination.
The Senator said Pakistan is putting maximum efforts in global peace process. It is a great
step by United Nations to honour seven Pakistanis with medals, who lost their lives during
peacekeeping operations.
These awards depict true picture of Pakistan’s role in maintaining world peace and countering
terrorism across the world, he added.
On the other hand, India involves in sabotaging regional peace through subversive activities.
India resorts to unprovoked firing at LoC to divert world attention from grave human rights
abuses in Occupied Kashmir, he said.
India urged to accept realities about Kashmir dispute
Swiss Ambassador inaugurates 800 KV hydro power house at Yarkhun Valley
CHITRAL, April 23 (APP)::The Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) has completed an 800 KV micro hydro power house at Yarkhun Valley with a cost of Rs 194 million of 10 million of community share and 19 million by
AKRSP.
The power house was completed with the financial support of
SDC (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation), a Switzerland based donor
agency.
Ambassador of Switzerland Mr. Thomas Kolly was chief guest
on the occasion who inaugurated the newly completed power house by cutting the
ribbon on Sunday.
On this occasion his wife,Deputy country head of SDC Mr. Deniel Angeloguseppe, Miss Sana Omar
senior programme officer of SDC, Muzafarud Din General Manager of AKRSP,
AkhtarIqbal Chief Executive officer of Aga Khan Foundation, Sherzad Ali Haider
of AKDN, Eng Sardar Ayub Regional Programme Manager AKRSP were also present.
Swiss Ambassador and SDC team also inspected the newly
established power house and were briefed regarding the function of the power
house. Sales officer Najma briefed the delegation that this is the first
ever modern power house running with prepaid digital meter in which the consumer load balance and electricity at the rate of rupees 4 per unit was available.
Local people also presented traditional Chitrali and Hunza
Caps as a gift to their guests.
Addressing on the occasion chief guest Mr. Thomas Kolly
highly hailed local people for their hardworking, hospitality and love for
peace and for being disciplined. He said this is the first stair of their
development and this power house will bring positive changes in their socio
economics condition and daily life. Local artists also presented folk music to
the guests.
Talking to APP, Thomas Kolly said after visiting of
Yarkhun valley he consider himself Ambassador of Chitral too instead of
Switzerland because he is very much impressed by these people.
Conveying his message to world tourists he invites them to
must come here and enjoy this peaceful environment.
A large number of people including women folk participated
in the opening ceremony of power house and expressed jubilation and happiness on
this occasion.
Mayor vows to initiate mega development projects for Capital
ISLAMABAD, Apr 23 (APP):Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz on Monday vowed to initiate new mega development projects in
the Federal Capital soon after release of funds by the Government.
He said that for the first time in the history of federal capital, local body system was
introduced and responsibility of gigantic task of development of city was handed over to
the elected representatives of local government.
He said it was a great challenge for the elected representatives to transform the
Federal Capital into a model city due to limited financial resources. But now the Federal
Government had approved funds for MCI, principally to launch development projects in city,
he added.
He said that the local government (LG) required support from all segment of the society
in order to combat these challenges.
The Mayor said Islamabad was considered as second most beautiful capital of the world
due to its green character and natural landscape, adding the local government had decided to
involve all stakeholders for further improving its overall environment and maintaining its green
character and features.
He invited citizens to come forward with innovative ideas so that Islamabad could be made
the most beautiful city of the world.
Anser Aziz also invited national and multinational companies to come forward and take part in
beautification of city under their corporate social responsibilities (CSR).
He said that MCI had already initiated beautification of different parks, play-grounds, roundabouts
and green belts with the help private sector.
National Iqbal Conference to start on Tuesday
ISLAMABAD, Apr 23 (APP):A two-day National Iqbal Conference will be kicked off on April 24 (Tuesday) at Lahore with around 100 national and international scholars deliberating upon different aspects of Allama Muhammad Iqbal’s personality, revolutionary ideas and his extra-ordinary poetic contribution.
President Mamnoon Hussain along with Advisor to Prime Minister on National History and Literary Heritage (NH&LH), Irfan Siddiqui will inaugurate the conference.
President Mamnoon Hussain will also inaugurate the newly published “Deluxe Edition” of Kuliyat-i-Iqbal and its online application, on the inaugural day of the conference, to ensure readers access
to the poetry and message of Iqbal without any hazard.
The conference is being arranged by Iqbal Academy Pakistan, Lahore. Experts and scholars will read their articles discussing the theme of the conference “Insaniyut Ko Darpesh Challenges aur
Fiqr-i-Iqbal”.
A grand book fair carrying books on Allama Iqbal published from across the country will also be a part of the conference. These books will be available for the readers on discounted rates.
The conference will comprise over 12 thought provoking sessions on Iqbal which will be presided over by prominent literary personalities.
It is pertinent to mention here that Iqbal conference was held in the year 2003 last time. Now, after a long time, the academy has revived its tradition of holding this conference.
Talking to APP on Monday, Advisor to Prime
Minister, Irfan Siddiqui said such conference on Iqbal’s personality and vision
is being arranged after a long period of 15 years which is a positive tradition
in view of present situation.
Irfan Siddiqui revealed that this conference
will be distinctive as national and international scholars will read their
articles on different challenges being faced by humanity and their solutions in
light of Iqbal’s teachings and philosophy.
He said the best articles to be presented in
the conference will be published in a form of book to educate youth about the
philosophical thoughts and vision of Iqbal.
Irfan Siddiqui said disseminating Iqbal’s
message among youth is our national responsibility and “we all must initiate
efforts to rekindle the spirit of achieving a better future among youth in
light of Iqbal’s message, ending desperateness”.
World Book and Copyright Day marked
ISLAMABAD, Apr 23 (APP):Like other parts of the globe,World Book and Copyright Day was marked in Pakistan on Monday.
The day is annually observed on April 23 to mark the anniversary of the birth or death of a range of well-known writers, including Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Maurice Druon, Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, Haldor Kiljan Laxness, Manuel Mejía Vallejo, Vladimir Nabokov, Josep Pla and William Shakespeare. For this reason, UNESCO’s General Conference chose this date to pay tribute to books, the authors who wrote them, and the copyright laws that protect them.
People of all ages appreciated books and their authors on World Book and Copyright Day. A range of activities promoted reading and the cultural aspects of books held all over the world.
Many of these emphasized international cooperation or friendships between countries.
Events included relay readings of books and plays; the distribution of bookmarks; the announcement of the winners of literary competitions; and actions to promote the understanding of laws on copyright and the protection of authors’ intellectual property.
World Book and Copyright Day an occasion to pay a worldwide tribute to books and authors and to encourage people to discover the pleasure of reading. It is hoped that this will lead to the renewed respect for those who have made irreplaceable contributions to social and cultural progress.
Pakistan strongly condemns suicide attacks at Voter Registration Centres in Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD, Apr 22 (APP):Pakistan Sunday strongly condemns heinous and reprehensible suicide attacks in which many innocent civilians were killed and many others injured at voter registration centres in Kabul and Baghlan provinces in Afghanistan.
According to foreign office statement, “We are grieved at the loss of precious innocent lives in this brutal act of terrorism.”
We expressed heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured, it added.
Pakistan is confident that such attacks would not deter the resolve of the Afghan people to determine their own future through the exercise of their right to vote.
Pakistan reiterates its unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and expresses solidarity with the government and people of Afghanistan in this hour of grief and sorrow.
South Asian Hopes event: Pak win silver, three bronze medals
MULTAN, Apr 22 (APP)::Pakistani Table Tennis team won one silver and three bronze medals in various team events of South
Asian Junior and Cadet Table Tennis Championship held in
Maldives.
President Pakistan Table tennis federation Khawaja Hassan Wadood said that Pakistan Junior Boys team event won a bronze medal, in Cadet boys team event won bronze, in Hopes Boys single event won
a silver medal and in Junior Boys double won a bronze medal.
It is pertinent to mention here that seven table tennis players including Ubaid Shah, Faizan Zahoor, Saad Nadeem, Shah Khan, Umam- Khawaja, Sohaib and Umar along with three officials manager Shahid
Balouch, coach Khalid Mahmood and PTTF president Khawaja Hassan
Wadood were representing the country in the Hopes event.
PML-N govt to present people-friendly budget on April 27: minister
FAISALABAD, Apr 22 (APP): State Minister for Finance Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan on Sunday said the PML-N government
would present its fifth budget on April 27 which will not only be people-friendly but will also provide the maximum relief to the masses.
Addressing a reception hosted by Markazi Ulema Council (MUC) at Ghulam Muhammad Abad here, he said the PML-N government
had completed record development projects during its tenure
which had improved the living standard of people by providing all basic amenities at their doorsteps.
He said when the PML-N came to power, the country was facing
various crises, however, the government had overcome all
these crises and put the country on road to progress and prosperity.
The PML-N government had also increased development fund
up to three folds besides doubling the ratio of tax collection, he said and vowed to continue struggle for the masses’ service and welfare in future if people voted and supported the PML-N in the next general elections.
Speaking on the occasion, Sahibzada Zahid Mehmood Qasmi,
MUC Chairman, announced to support Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan during the general elections 2018 from NA-108.
He said the MUC had also decided to organise seminars to create awareness among people about sanctity of vote and motivate them to cost their vote in favour of only those candidates who will protect Islamic laws.
Vice Chairman MUC Pir Jee Khalid Mehmood Qasmi, Secretary
Information MUC Hafiz Muhammad Tayyab Qasmi, Divisional President MUC Qari Ismatullah Muavia, General Secretary Maulana Abid Farooqi, Mufti Hifzur Rehman Benoori, Maulana Rabnawaz, Maulana Yousuf Farooqi, Maulana Muhammad Amjad, Hafiz Maqbool Ahmad and others were also present.
Ajoka Theater two-day theater performance concludes at PNCA
ISLAMABAD, Apr 22 (APP):Ajoka Theater two-day theater performance concluded here at at Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) with famous play “Charing Cross,”.
The performance was organized by Ajoka Theater in collaboration with the German Embassy and Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA).
During two-day performance two-plays “Chaak Chakkar” and “Charing Cross” were presented by Ajoka Theater at PNCA auditorium.
The audience highly praised the performance of the Ajoka Theatre artists including Naeem Abass, Sohail Tariq, Hina Tariq, Usman Raaj, Qaiser Khan, Nabeel Butt, Luke Kelvin, Bilal Mughal, Fahad Ali, Shagufta Saleem, Muniba, Tazeem John, Ali Haider, Fahad Ali, Rohaib Christopher, Tazeem, Asad, Shahzad, Ali, Kamran and Thomas.
The play Charing Cross progressed in a chronological order and included important political events in Pakistan’s history, starting from independence and taking the audience through the journey of the past 70 years, in approximately two hours.
The stage was set with the white pavilion at the center, and all the action happening around it.
Dance and poetry were used throughout the play, stimulating the audience to think. With so much information to convey, the actors were very strategically used as metaphors to represent different types of people and ideas within the society.
Charing Cross,” the story of the play was centered around the area in Lahore known by the same name. Once functioning as the central point of the city, Charing Cross is recognized for its historical significance as a venue for protests and rallies; it was a common point for different people to gather and express their sentiments.
During two-day performance Ajoka also presented its play “Chaak Chakkar”. Chaak Chakkar is an Urdu adaptation of Brecht’s celebrated play, “The Caucasian Chalk Circle”. Originally premiered in 1948, the play is a great example of Brecht’s “Epic Theatre”.
It is a parable about a maid servant of the rich ruler who takes care of the royal baby, abandoned by his mother while running away after being overthrown.
The story was based on a Chinese legend and placed in the Soviet Union around the end of the World War II.
Brecht uses the legend to present the question of social ownership and the greed and selfishness of the capitalist society.
In Shahid Nadeem’s Urdu adaptation, the story is placed in the period of political upheavals during the fall of the Mughal Empire in India. The central character is Rano, the maid, who rescues Subedar Akharzai’s baby boy and looks after him despite her poverty and the adverse security situation, even sacrificing the love of her fiancé.
LCCI chief for result-oriented budget to end economic miseries
LAHORE, Apr 22 (APP):Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Malik Tahir Javaid on Sunday emphasized the need for a result-oriented federal budget aimed at addressing the miseries of trade, industry and economy.
The LCCI president told APP here that federal budget was the most important document of any country as it set economic directions for the entire year. “It is important that budget for financial year 2018-19 should have doable suggestions of business community in its fold,” he added.
Pakistan was energy and water starved country and needed to make substantial investment for development of power sector infrastructure that was capable of meeting the growing needs of the economy, therefore, the government should ensure substantial amount of public investment first into generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure to bridge demand and supply gap, he suggested.
To a question, Malik Tahir said that to tackle circular debt on sustainable basis – ultimately Pakistan would have to ensure that the electricity power sector was efficient and competitive and this would require consistent structural and institutional reforms. In particular, removing subsidies and adherence to full cost recovery would have to be ensured, while tariffs should fully reflect normal profits. The sector’s huge debt overhang also needed to be eliminated on sustainable basis.
In view of substantial and untapped potential of alternative sources of energy, he proposed that five per cent of the allocated funds should be dedicated to development of bio-fuels, bio-mass and other renewable sources of energy. The technology was already available to produce energy by various resources such as Jatropha that was already being used to produce bio-diesel in a number of countries including India, Brazil, Philippines, etc.
He said that these plants could easily be grown on poor quality, waste or arid land which was abundantly available in various parts of the country such as Cholistan. He further stated that biomass including wood, dung, agriculture residues which was available at a very low cost in Pakistan could also be used for energy purposes.
Stating the importance of Kalabagh Dam, he observed, the project would give one million acre feet of water thus ensuring fiscal benefit of US $ 2 billions annually to the economy, and called for allocating funds for this vital project in the upcoming budget.
He also called for making tax collection mechanism more economically neutral, taxpayer-friendly, equitable, facilitative and supportive to generate healthy business activities. “Taxation is of course important source of revenue collection but tax policies must be based on the best international practices and universally accepted canons of taxation,” he opined. Moreover, he added, the taxes should be collected quarterly instead of every month and for that matter, all para-tariffs must be merged into the main tariffs. Similarly, there should be electronic communication between taxpayers and tax departments.
To a query about CPEC, he said that China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects would stimulate local economy by increasing the demand of locally manufactured goods and such increase in demand would not only allow full utilization of existing manufacturing capacity but also encourage manufacturers to enhance their capacity.
The Lahore Chamber’s President urged the government to take steps to control smuggling at the borders and Frontier Corps deployed there should be equipped with state-of-the-art technology and made them more vigilant enabling them to play their role more effectively in controlling the smuggling.
He suggested that duties on smuggle-pron goods should be reduced as it had been practiced successfully in many other countries.
He mentioned that Pakistan needed a long-term integrated export strategy for which the Federal Commerce Minister had taken encouraging steps recently to enhance the country’s exports. He said that removal of business climate challenges could help considerably in this regard.