ISLAMABAD, Apr 10 (APP):International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation head, Reto Stocker Tuesday said Pakistan had under gone serious natural disasters, catastrophes and faced conflict, resulting into large scale loss of human
life, disability and destruction.
Talking to APP, ICRC delegation head, Reto Stocker
said the country after the earthquake of 2005 faced a devastating situation
while ICRC reached the remotest places of northern areas with rapid logistic
support and expertise. He said the Red Cross had up to nine helicopters and
other means to reach any disaster hit region.
Reto said Muzaffarabad Physical Rehabilitation Center
(MPRC) is one of the best ICRC contributions to help the people of Azad Jammu
& Kashmir (AJK) who suffered amputations, spinal cord injuries and other
disabilities during the earthquake disaster.
He said that besides people from AJK, people are reaching MPRC from Punjab and other regions to get free artificial
limbs and other physical rehabilitation support. He said it was the quality and
credible services that make people from far-flung areas make the difficult
decision to travel hundreds of kilometres to get optimal medical care.
Physical rehabilitation centers like MPRC, he said,
should be established at divisional level to provide swift and easy access to
the patients with limb amputations or other physical deformities.
To a question, he said ICRC supported twenty-two physical
rehabilitation centers in collaboration with their partner organizations
including Indus Hospital, Chal Foundation, Pakistan Institute of Prosthetics
and Orthotics Sciences (PIPOS) and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
The ICRC also works very closely with Pakistan Red Crescent Society in many areas. He admired the philanthropic and
humanitarian passion of the people of Pakistan who facilitate the ailing masses
with all resources.
He told that under its project “Healthcare in Danger”, the ICRC and its
partners run public awareness campaigns in 2016 &
2017 on the respect of ambulances and their right of way. In 2016, the campaign
was conducted only in Karachi and resulted in 16% improvement in the behaviours
of motorists in Karachi towards ambulances. This was learnt through an
observational study conducted pre and post campaign. The campaign in 2017 with
the slogan ‘Give way to ambulance – Give way to life’ was conducted nationwide
and results on the impact of 2017 campaign would be shared soon, he added. He
emphasized that there is a need to continue this behaviour change campaign on
respect of ambulances and ICRC invites public and private organizations to
invest on this important theme.
Replying to a question, he said the ICRC sponsored Conflict
Law Centre has published policy briefs and conducted debates on complex legal
issues related to international humanitarian law where young lawyers and legal
experts have been given a platform to bring out unique and innovative ideas to
resolve pressing issues. For years now, he said, the ICRC has been engaging
with the universities of Pakistan for promoting teaching and research in
humanitarian laws and related issues.
Reto Stocker showed concern over the escalating
climatic changes in the region that would cause serious water shortage issues.
He said special initiatives should be taken to protect the environment and
water resources to avoid major crisis.

ISLAMABAD, Apr 10 (APP):Pakistan and Turkey share a bond of friendship which has its roots in cultural, religious and social commonalities and relations between the two have witnessed unprecedented warmth during the recent years bringing people of both the countries close to each other.
These views were expressed by Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani in a meeting with Turkish Ambassador Ihsan Mustafa Yrudakul here at the Parliament House on Tuesday.
Chairman Senate said that Turkey has become an attractive tourist destination for Pakistanis and there was a dire need to enhance mutual collaboration in different sectors including trade and investment.
He said that Pakistan offers a conducive environment for investment and Turkish investors must invest in Pakistan and explore new avenues of cooperation for mutual benefit.
He said that Turkey is an important country and Pakistan has always placed its historical relations with Turkey at high esteem. He said that both have supported each other point of view at international fora, however, there is need to further boost parliamentary linkages to build better regional rapport and make joint efforts for regional peace and stability.
The Chairman emphasized Pakistan wants peace in the region as war is not a solution to our issues. “Lasting peace and security can make Asia prosper” Sanjrani observed. He said that there is huge potential for cooperation between the two countries.
He appreciated Turkish government support on the issue of Kashmir. He expressed his well wishes to the government, parliament and people of Turkey.
The Turkish Envoy greeted Chairman Senate for assuming the Charge of office. He agreed with the views of Chairman Senate and underscored the need for more enhanced cooperation between the two sides.

ISLAMABAD, Apr 10 (APP):The UAE has maintained its ranking as the world’s largest donor of official development aid, relative to its gross national income, for the fifth consecutive year.
Gulf News reported that according to a report by the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the UAE gave Dh19.3 billion worth of development assistance last year, making up of 1.31 per cent of its national income.
Development assistance provided by the UAE grew by 18.1 per cent compared to 2016, and over 54 per cent of the aid was administered in the form of grants.
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, welcomed the news.
“For the fifth consecutive year, the UAE is the largest donor of humanitarian aid in the world, relative to its national income, where our assistance reached more than 147 countries. The UAE’s generosity is for the entire humanity…This is the nation which was founded by the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan,” he tweeted.
Sweden came second, contributing 1.01 per cent of its gross national income, followed by Luxembourg at 1 per cent, Norway at 0.99 per cent, while Denmark came fifth with 0.72 per cent and the UK came sixth at 0.7 per cent.

PESHAWAR, Apr 10 (APP):Deputy Speaker National Assembly Murtaza Javed Abbassi on Tuesday said claims of PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari to form Government in Punjab after 2018 general election was like
someone living in fool paradise.
“Mr. Zardari is living in the dream world and his party cannot
form government in Punjab on basis of hallow slogans as the masses knew his
past Govt. performance,” he told media here.
Murtaza Abbassi claimed PPP will obtain low votes in 2018
general election than 2013 polls in Punjab and defeat of his party was a clear
writing on the wall.
He also criticized agitation politics of PTI Chief and said
Imran Khan was following politics of Asif Ali Zardari, and the recent Senate
election had cleared all things before masses.
Abbasi claimed about 18 MPA of PTI betrayed their party
during Senate elections, which was also admitted by Imran Khan and asked PTI
leadership to take action against them if he was interested in politics of
principles.
Murtaza said unity of political parties was required for
timely holding of the general election.
The Deputy Speaker said PML-N has served masses with best of
abilities and started mega development projects that had put the country on
right track of development and prosperity.

ISLAMABAD, Apr 10 (APP):National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Tuesday announced a panel of chairpersons to conduct the proceedings of 55th session in the absence of Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
Members of the National Assembly Zahid Hamid, Chaudhary Muhammad Ashraf, Syed Naveed Qamar, Dr Ghazi Ghulab Jamal, Shafqat Mehmood and Asia Nasir would conduct the proceedings of the Lower House of the Parliament.