KARACHI, Apr 05 (APP):Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Zaffar Mehmood Abbasi on Thursday assured of full cooperation and support to resolve the issues relating to journalists’ housing society at Hawksbay.
During a brief interaction with President Karachi Press Club (KPC) Ahmed Khan Malik and a group of other senior journalists here at the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, he said every legitimate demand or grievance of the KPC members regarding their housing society would be duly addressed.
‘I would fully support and do every thing legitimate for you people. Journalists are in my heart,’ he re-assured.
The journalists, led by KPC President, appreciated and thanked the Navy Chief for his positive gesture and support for the journalists community.
Naval Chief assures full support to journalists’ society
Eight theme activities at BFA to promote Hainan
BEIJING, Apr 5 (APP):Hainan province will organize eight theme activities centered on the keynotes of reform and opening up and including its achievements in the past 30 years during the 2018 Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference to be held at Boao town in Hainan from April 8 to 11.
According to Wang Sheng, Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of Hainan Province, four sub-forums will be held aiming to serve the overall diplomacy of the central government, the Belt and Road construction and Hainan’s external exchange.
They will include conversations among provincial governors and mayors in China-ASEAN countries about the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road island economy and Hainan’s development, roundtables of Chinese business leaders and a Chinese think tank.
Promotional activities such as the sub-forum of the Belt and Road & health industrial development as well as a key entrepreneurs’ business breakfast meeting will also be hosted, focusing on the planning of Hainan’s economy, society and major industrial development.
Moreover, Hainan will invite attendees to visit local medical industrial parks and beautiful villages to show its achievements in the previous 30 years since it became a special economic zone and new opportunities arising in this new era.
It will make full use of its superior resources and unique culture to promote dishes and articles supplied at the BFA to become gifts in foreign affairs among significant participants.
Chinese scientists develop world’s first colour-changing ‘heart chip’ for drug trial
BEIJING, Apr 5 (APP):Chinese scientists have developed the world’s first “heart chip” that can be used to test drug efficacy by displaying different colours after drugs are injected into the cardiomyocytes, Science and Technology Daily reported on Thursday.
The chip was developed by Professor Zhao Yuanjin’s team at the School of Biological Sciences & Medical Engineering at Southeast University. This research result was recently published in Science Robotics.
Inspired by the structural colour regulation mechanism of chameleons, Zhao’s team presents a conceptually different structural color material exhibiting an autonomic regulation capability by assembling engineered cardiomyocyte tissues on synthetic inverse opal hydrogel films.
This was observed to be occurring through a process of synchronous shifting within both the photonic band gap as well as structural colors of the synthetic regulation mechanism made by Zhao’s team.
“The self-developed structural color material is adopted in the chips, making changes of the cardiomyocytes more intuitive than chips developed by other countries that use ordinary flexible materials,” said Zhao.
Zhao disclosed that the cost for producing such a chip is only about 200 yuan ($31.8) after it enters mass production the team will continue to develop a complete chip structure for human organs.
SC directs govt to appoint PIMS ED within 15 days
ISLAMABAD, Apr 05 (APP):The Supreme Court Thursday directed the federation to approve the summary regarding appointment of the Executive Director (ED) of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Islamabad within 15 days.
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar passed the directive while hearing a suo moto notice of closing down of Bone Marrow Transplant Centre (BMTC) at PIMS.
During the course of proceedings, the ad-hoc Executive Director (ED), Dr Raja Amjad Mehmood, informed the court that a summary for the appointment of ED had been moved.
The chief justice observed that after the closure of BMTC, the PIMS would close down its cardiac center and asked whether there was any bigger emergency than the cardiac arrest . In response, Dr Amjad said the cardiac center was functional, however, he could not say anything about future.
The chief justice directed the PIMS administrator to keep the cardiac centre functional at all costs and gave the federal government 15 days more to appoint regular ED of the hospital.
The case was adjourned till April 20.
Political stability to pave way towards economic growth, development: Ahsan
ISLAMABAD, Apr 5 (APP):Minister for Interior Ahsan Iqbal Thursday said political stability would pave way for economic growth and development in the country.
Former Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was the most popular leader, who put the country on path of progress and uplift, he said talking to a private news channel.
The minister said some anti-state elements were trying to weaken the country economically. They were creating chaos and unrest in the country through protest demonstrations, he added.
Ahsan Iqbal said the country was facing many challenges but the present government tackled all the issues.
To a query, he said the Punjab government was looking into the matters of Khadim Hussain Rizvi and that he should present himself in the court.
He said Nawaz Sharif had struggled for independent judiciary in the country.
PM AJK for solidarity with Kashmiris on Friday
MIRPUR (AJK), Apr 05 (APP)::Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Raja Farooq Haider Khan has appealed to the nation to express full solidarity with the oppressed people of occupied Kashmir on the eve of the scheduled Kashmir Solidarity Day on Friday so that the ugly face of India could be exposed to the world.
He was talking to Minister for Works Choudhary Muhammad Aziz and Member AJK Legislative Assembly Choudhary Yasin Gulshan who called on him on Thursday and discussed the present situation of human rights violation in occupied Kashmir.
He said the prime minister of Pakistan’s visit to AJK had sent a strong message across the LoC.
The PM, AJK also called upon the international community to support the people of occupied Kashmir “who are being subjected to brutalities by Indian forces”.
PM meets college students from Kotli Sattian
ISLAMABAD, Apr 5 (APP):Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Thursday urged students to wholeheartedly devote their energies to their studies and equip themselves with latest knowledge and skills so that they were able to contribute towards
socio-economic development of the society.
The Prime Minister expressed these views during a meeting with students from Government College Kotli Sattian. He spent some time interacting with the students and answered their questions.
The interaction was part of the initiative to invite students from various public and private institutions across the country to Prime Minister’s office and brief them about the working of PM’s office and other important government organizations.
Salman appointed Asian Athletics Association director
LAHORE, Apr 05 (APP):Secretary Punjab Athletics Association and a foreign qualified athletics coach, Salman Iqbal Butt, has been appointed
Asian Athletics Association director, which is a great achievement of the Athletics Federation of Pakistan.
“His appointment has been made possible due to personal efforts and interest of President AFP Maj-Gen (R) Muhammad Akram Sahi. It is a matter of pride that Asian body has acknowledged the services of Salman Butt in the field of athletics,” said a spokesman for AFP here on Thursday.
He will be responsible for projects for trainers and coaches in Asia. This shows the confidence and good relations of all member federations of Asian Athletics Association with AFP.
Meanwhile, the newly appointed director Development Athletics Asia, Salman Iqbal, has thanked the AFP president and assured that he will
make his the best efforts to perform the entrusted responsibilities
up to his capabilities and to the entire satisfaction of AFP, AAA
and IAAF.
National action plane to be developed to end hunger, poverty: NA body told
ISLAMABAD, Apr 5 (APP):National Assembly Standing Committee on Food Security and Research here on Thursday was informed that federal cabinet had accorded the approval to the National Food Security Policy (NFSP)
and Ministry of National Food Security and Research was now initiating process for its implementation and preparation of an action plan accordingly.
The committee which met here under the Chairmanship of Malik Shakir Bashir Awan was further informed National Food Security Policy was developed with a specific objectives to alleviate poverty, eradicating hunger and malnutrition.
The other aims and the objectives of the policy was to promote sustainable food production systems and making agriculture more productive, profitable, climate resilient and competitive, said a press release.
Secretary, Ministry of National Food Security and Research brief the Committee about the implementation status of the previous recommendations of the committee and the committee deferred “The National Food Safety, Animal and Plant Health Regulatory Authority Bill, 2017” till its next meeting.
Federal Secretary Ministry of National Food Security and Research informed that food security was first and foremost element of national security and this required a robust policy framework.
He said that objective of the policy was to ensure a modern and efficient food production and distribution system that could best contribute towards food security and nutrition, in terms of availability, access, utilization and stability.
He added that policy would focus on the access of farmers to quality inputs like seed, fertilizer and agricultural machinery. He said that policy would also include plans to address emergencies and disaster management.
Members of National Assembly (MNAs) including Choudhary Iftikhar Nazir, Rao Muhammad Ajmal Khan, Ms. Shahnaz Saleem, Syed Iftikhar-ul-Hassan, Faqir Sher Muhammad Bilalani, Pir Muhammad Aslam Bodla and Dr. Fouzia Hameed attended the meeting.
The meeting was also attended by Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan, Minister for National Food Security and Research and other senior officers of the Ministry of National Food Security & Research.
Blood of Kashmiris, Palestinians not to go waste: Asif
ISLAMABAD, Apr 5 (APP):Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif Thursday said blood of people of Kashmir and Palestine would not go in waste as the determination of young generation of both the nations was unprecedented.
Talking to a private news channel, he said Pakistan would observe solidarity day on April 6 (Friday) to reiterate its support and love for Kashmiri people.
He said rallies would be organised in the country to observe the Kashmir solidarity day.
Khawaja Asif said Kashmiri people also had great affection and love with Pakistan and they had always demonstrated it.
The minorities living in India, had never been safe and particularly the Muslims were targeted during riots by the Hindus.
He viewed that the continued defeat of Indian ruling party in many by-elections had made its leadership desperate as they were are apprehending defeat in upcoming general elections and that was why they were using religion to get support of the people.
Commenting on the conviction of Indian actor Salman Khan for a blackbuck killing years ago, he said it was very unfortunate that the blood of an animal was precious than that of the human being in India as innocent people were being killed by its forces in occupied Kashmir.
Khawaja Asif said Muslim countries supported the Kashmiris’ cause and the government and the parliament’s Kashmir committee were making efforts to highlight the issue.
He said Indian violations at the Line of Control (LoC) had been increased, however, befitting response was being given by Pakistan.
The minister condemned a bomb attack in Kunduz, Afghanistan, in which innocent students were killed.
He urged the Muslim countries to set aside their differences and get united against the challenges being faced by the Ummah.