WASHINGTON, March 25 (APP):Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry urged the need of increasing people-to-people ties between Pakistan and the United States that could offset negative variation in ties at the government level.
He cited the example of cooperation between Faisalabad Agricultural University and experts from California University that led to “revolutionary performance” of Pakistan’s agriculture sector in late 50s and 60s.
He made these remarks while addressing the inaugural oath-taking ceremony of the newly-formed Pakistani American Press Association (PAPA) at a restaurant in Virginia.
The ambassador said the government-to-government ties had their ups and downs. Only the people-to-people relations counted, since those were mutually beneficial, rewarding and long lasting.
He said the cause of durable uplift in bilateral ties comes only with willing cooperation and investment in time, skills and capabilities. He said Pakistanis were talented people, who had extraordinary and enviable spirit to excel.
Ambassador Chaudhry said Pakistani Americans could help bridge the gap in Pakistan-US ties, and help strengthen and make vibrant the bilateral relations. He had high hopes in Pakistani Americans, who were highly talented and committed to good of their motherland as well as their new adopted homeland.
The ambassador, on the occasion, announced that a day-long “Convention of Community and Youth” would be organized in Washington DC on April 14 to “ivite ideas”and “onnecting the dots”. Those invited include politicians, officials, scholars, high achievers, experts from various fields and the first and the second generation Pakistani-Americans.
Moreover, he said in variety of fields valuable work was underway, while it was not in common knowledge. Hence, it was vital to bring the experts and men of wisdom and knowledge on a single platform, so as to help connect the dots.
The other speakers included State of Virginia’s Secretary Education Atif Qarni, Dr. Akbar S. Ahmad; Dr. Frank Islam, Republican Party Strategist Sajid Tarar.
Only people-to-people ties help bridge gap in Pak-US bilateral ties: Aizaz Chaudhry
Belt and Road International Music Festival starts in Shenzhen, China
SHENZHEN, March 25 (APP):A six-week long Belt and Road International Music Festival has kicked off at Shenzhen Concert Hall with stunning performances to promote the cultural exchanges and communications between China and other civilizations, and push the cultural developments and cooperation on the countries along the Belt and Road.
The festival, co-hosted by the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government and the Chinese Musicians Associations will provide an international stage for the outstanding national and international artists in a bid to enhance the emotional resonances of the human beings and to spread the consciousness of the human community.
Han Wang Xi, Director of the Shenzhen Municipal Government told APP here on Sunday that 16 excellent troupes and 700 world-renowned musicians from 40 countries and regions are participating and perform during the festival.
“World Connection and Global Communication” is the subject of the festival, which will present Shenzhen audience a global cultural feast, including 18 high-standard concerts and performing sessions, such as music, dance, seminar, and master classes, he added.
Hang Wang said although this music festival is new and it is only its second year but it has become famous within the country and abroad in no time.
He informed that Shenzhen, located in Guangdong province is an international city and ideal place for the tourists and the local people love music, art, and culture.
Director General, Musicians Association, Ye Xiaogang said the festival has drawn great attraction among the people and the opening day witnessed a very warm response.
He expressed the confidence that people of this city, as well as tourists, will pay more attention and make this mega event a success by participating in a very large number.
The opening concert was conducted by Guoyang Zhang and Daye Lin, which included the performances from both the national and international artists, such as the Chinese American violinist Cho-Liang Lin, the Argentina Bandoneon Walter Rios, the French talented trumpeter Lucienne Renaudin Vary, the New York Metropolitan Opera House’s baritone Yunpeng Wang, and the famous Chinese national music vocalist Lei Jia.
The festival consists of multi-culture programs, such as “The Legend”- Concert of Mikhail Pletnev and Russian National Symphony Orchestra, who mesmerized the audience with their masterly art and presentation.
The concert of traditional Chinese music, Concert of Iranian Traditional Music and the concert of Wu Man, the Silk Road Musicians, and Huayin Shadow puppet will perform during the festival.
The music festival will also host a series of extensive and related activities, such as the music seminar and master classes in order to create a good cultural environment for the cooperation and development among the countries along the Belt and Road.
The world well-known Chinese American choreographer Shen Wei’s new composition “Xing Yi Sheng” will be premiered in the closing concert to be held on April 29.
Stadiums to be improved for revival of int’l cricket in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, March 25 (APP):Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board and Pakistan Super League (PSL), Najam Sethi has said that the big stadiums’ conditions would be improved in order to revive international cricket in the country.
Talking to PTV, he said the budget was being prepared for improving Peshawar and Rawalpindi stadiums’ condition. Efforts were being made for full functioning of Lahore and Karachi stadiums so that domestic and international cricket could be held in a congenial environment, he added.
To a question about organizing PSL final in Karachi, he said the Sindh government, Rangers and other law enforcement agencies had ensured the provision of foolproof security in that regard.
He said the credit goes to the entire nation for successfully holding of PSL matches in the country.
Sethi said West Indies team would come to Pakistan for playing series, adding that the people of ‘city of lights’ (Karachi), would witness the revival of international cricket.
Expressing dismay over the misreporting of some media organizations, he urged them to play constructive role so that international matches could be organized in Pakistan with a full success.
To another question, he said all necessary measures would be taken to make stadiums of Peshawar, Quetta, Sindh and other cities functional.
Sethi while expressing optimism said the cricket lovers could also watch and enjoy domestic cricket on television channels as well.
Political parties should play role for country’s progress: Saad
LAHORE, March 25 (APP):Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique Sunday urged the political parties to play their role for the progress and prosperity of the country.
Addressing a gathering on the death anniversary of PML-N worker Sheikh Amjad Aziz here, he said the democratic system should continue and the people should elect their representatives in the election.
He said political parties had shortcomings and their workers should be allowed to mend them. the politicians should realise gravity of the situation and the practice of name-calling should be abandoned, he added.
The minister said recently a new party was launched in Balochistan which would eliminate in two to three years.
He said he was made owner of a residential society and when he was summoned by an honourable judge, he submitted every thing in an affidavit.
He said he had received a letter from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for appearance before it March 28.
He said the NAB law was a black law, which was made to silence political workers and both the Pakistan Peoples Party and the PML-N should have taken steps to remove it. Accountability was always made by the masses in elections, he added.
The PML-N introduced the CPEC and India was not happy with it, he said, adding the PML-N had successfully overcome the crisis of energy.
He said the popularity of the PML-N had increased due to developments works in the country.
Earlier, he paid tributes to late Sheikh Amjad Aziz for his services for the party and democracy.
Int’l jury announces 26 finalists of national art competition
ISLAMABAD, March 25 (APP):An international jury Sunday announced 26 finalists of a nationwide art competition on UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) here at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA).
Organized by the Embassy of Switzerland in collaboration with partners, the competition titled ‘We the Peoples, We the Arts’ invited students to produce art works in four categories, including sculpture, painting and miniature painting and print making, on themes related to 17 SDGs of the United Nations. Fine arts students aged 18 and above, enrolled in accredited Pakistani colleges and universities were eligible to participate.
Over 140 students from all over Pakistan sent their artwork in February. Gender equality, women’s empowerment, child rights, education, poverty and environment were recurrent themes of the artworks.
The first round of jury, comprising Ambassador of Austria to Pakistan Brigitta Blaha, Director of Kunst Halle Sankt Gallen Switzerland Giovanni Carmine, Head of Fine Arts Department, National College of Arts Lahore Quddus Mirza and Head of Cooperation, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Islamabad, Stefanie Burri, took place at the PNCA from March 15-24. In the first phase, judges pre-selected 26 finalists, who will be invited to Islamabad to participate in the award ceremony on May 10, where they will be awarded 200 US dollars each.
The second round of jury will take place a day before the award ceremony, in which one winner from each category will be selected, who will be awarded 500 US dollars each.
Artworks from all the 26 finalists will feature in a high-quality catalogue and will be exhibited in major cities across Pakistan.
The finalists names in print making included Dua Rabbay, Karachi, Rameesha Azeem, Lahore, Ruqaia Abdul Aziz, Karachi, Shahid Malik, Lahore and Zainab Abdul Hussain, Karachi.
In miniature painting, the finalists included Gulsoom Musa, Karachi, Mahnoor Khawaja, Lahore, Nadia Batool, Rawalpindi, Rameesha Sarmad, Lahore, Zainab Amir, Lahore and Zunaira Farooq, Lahore.
Finalists in Sculpture included Ahsan Khurshid, Peshawar, Faheem Abdullah, Quetta, Mahoor Khan, Karachi, Syed Rameez, Karachi, Tahmina Anwar, Karachi and Warda Batool, Karachi.
Finalistst in painting included Haya Esbhani, Karachi, Muhammad Ibrahim, Peshawar, Murk Mangi, Lahore, Najeeb Ullah, Quetta, Rida Mehmood, Lahore, Tooba Ashraf, Lahore, Zoha Zafar, Lahore and Zunaira Malik, Rawalpindi.
‘We the Peoples, We the Arts’ is an art competition that aims to involve young artists in promoting the SDGs. The Swiss embassy first launched the competition in 2016 in collaboration with the UN Information Centre and several other partners.
The first edition involved students of five leading art schools across Pakistan, who produced sculptures, paintings and miniature paintings, highlighting the theme of Zero Hunger; the second of 17 SDGs. Building on the success of this initiative, partners decided to launch its second edition and expand participation and thematic areas of the competition to include all the 17 SDGs.
The SDGs are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. By 2030, with these new Goals that universally apply to all, countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.
The SDGs address the most pressing global challenges of our time, calling upon collaborative partnerships across and between countries to balance the three dimensions of sustainable development,economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social inclusion.
Photo show unveils world of wild insects
ISLAMABAD, March 25 (APP):An exhibition of photographs by Nadia Abbasi unveiled the world of wild insects on Sunday at a local art gallery.
The photographic exhibition was inaugurated by renowned Photographer Azhar Hafeez as guest of honour.
The exhibition beautifully highlighted the diverse aspects of life of wild insects. Visitors greatly appreciated the work.
Muhammad Sajjad, owner of Nuqta Studio, while talking to media highly appreciated the efforts of the photographic talent of Nadia Abbasi.
Syeda Nadia Raza, a social activist and artist, also appreciated the quality of work produced and said photographs were reflecting a powerful image of world of wild insects and also showed the beauty of world.
Malik Saqib Mahmood, a visitor, also lauded the work of Nadia and termed the exhibition as unique and striking.
Headquarters win team event of NTC All Pak inter region badminton
LAHORE, Mar 25 (APP):Headquarters region won the team event
title of the NTC All Pakistan inter regional badminton championship
with an easy 2-0 win over Central region in the final here on Sunday
at the Punjab University gymnasium hall.
The winners struck all round performance to beat the opponents
in both the double matches.
Director General Finance, NTC, Nauman Khalid inaugurated the
event at the colourful ceremony. Also present was Divisional Engineer,
NTC Lahore, Ayaz Noor.
In the first match of the team event final, Muhammad Ali and
Hasan short work of Kamran and Safdar 21-16,21-18. In the second match
Nauman Khalid and Hamidullah outplayed Mureed Abbas and Zahid Jabbar
in a three setter match, 21-18,17-21,21-10.
Following are the results of the matches,
Team event (semi finals), headquarters beat North region 2-0, In the
first match, Hamidullah and Safdar beat Sohail and Taimoor 21-6,21-10
and in the second tie Hasan and Zafar beat Shahid and Aamir 21-10,21-8.
(2nd second final), In the first match central region beat South Region 2-0. In the first match, Kamran and Safdar beat Imtiaz and Mateen 21-18,21-19,in the second match Mureed and Zahid beat Rasheed and
Abidi 21-17,21-9.
Finals in the senior veterans doubles and junior veterans doubles
were also decided
Following are the results,
In the senior veterans doubles final Nauman Khalid and Hamidullah
beat Fasih ur Rehman.
In the junior veterans doubles junior final Nauman Khalid and Hamidullah outshone Fasih ur Rehman and Saeed .
The tournament will continue March 27 and a number of other events will also be played.
KP medal winners to get cash rewards of Rs. 3.5 million next week: DG Sports
PESHAWAR, Mar 25 (APP):The medals winners of Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa in the recently concluded 4th Inter-Provincial Games
would be awarded a cash prize of Rs. 3.5 million next week, Director General
Sports KP Junaid Khan said in his addressing during the shield distribution
ceremony organized by KP Olympic Association here at Lala Rafique Sports Arena.
Juanid Khan said that the gold medal winners in the Games
in individual category would be awarded Rs. 30,000, silver medalist would get
Rs. 20,000 and the bronze medalist would award Rs. 15000 respectively. Likewise
in Team Games, each of the gold medalists would be awarded Rs. 10,000, Rs. 7000
for the silver medalist and Rs. 5000 for the bronze medalist.
He said all the cash incentives would be given to the
medalist winners in a week time. “It is a very good performance of the province
among the team like Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan,
FATA and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
As all know that Punjab clinched the Governor Champion
trophy of the 4th Inter-Provincial Games with 139 medals by securing
3235 points and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa grabbed the Chief Minister runners-up trophy
with 122 medals while Sindh got Brig. Rodham’s 3rd position trophy.
Punjab with 65 gold medal, 44 silver and 30 bronze medals
secured a total of 139 medals, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 37 gold
medals, 46 silver and 37 bronze medals scored 2532 points and 122 medals while
Sindh with 17 gold, 16 silver and 40 bronze medals secured 1557 points by
taking third position.
Balochistan given a very stunning performance, specially
in the martial arts games, secured 24 gold medal, 34 silver medals and 34
bronze medal with a total of 92 medals and recorded 1370 points finished fourth
on the table. FATA got fifth position with 6 gold, 8 silver, 25 bronze medals
with 29 total medal, Islamabad got sixth position with 5 gold, 9 silver and 26
bronze with total 40 medals. AJK remained at 7th with 2 silver
medals, 9 bronze medals. GB remained at 8th with 2 gold medals, 1
silver medal and 7 bronze medals respectively. The fair play President POA
trophy awarded to FATA.
Junaid Khan made it clear that the double medal winners
and individual and team event would also be given double cash prizes with the
same patron.
Junaid Khan also thanked the media men, members of the
organizing committee, Director Operation Syed Saqlain Shah, Organizing
Secretary Zulfiqar Butt, and former Sports Minister Syed Aqil Shah, who is the
President of the Organizing Committee, Secretary Sports Muhammad Tariq Khan and
Chief Secretary Azam Khan for extending all out support for a successful Games.
He appreciated KP Taekwondo Association for winning seven
gold medal and nine silver and three bronze medals by taking first position,
followed by KP Bodybuilding Association for winning nine gold medals, KP Tennis
Association who players won four gold medals.
Yousaf got three gold medals in singles, doubles and Team
event. Komal in squash won two gold medals in singles and team event and Laiba
Ijaz took gold medal in Team event. Boxing and Gymnastic remained at sixth on
medal table.
He also thanked President Pakistan Olympic Association
Lt. Gen Arif Hassan (Retd) for sending his greetings to the Govt of Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa for holding successful Games. In a letter of appreciation Arif
Hassan termed holding the Games proves organizational prowess and understanding
of Directorate General Sports KP in the fields of sports. “Needless to say that
everything was perfect and the contingents have gone back very happy and these
Games will be remembered by all who participated in them. The Games will also
be remembered for the tradition of care and hospitality displayed once again by
the people of KP,” Arif Hassan added.
Pakistan Day parade reflects discipline, professional capabilities of Armed Forces: President
ISLAMABAD, Mar 25 (APP):President Mamnoon Hussain Sunday congratulated the Armed Forces for successfully arranging the
marvelous Pakistan Day parade which reflected their exemplary discipline, defense capabilities and
professional preparedness.
He was addressing the prize distribution ceremony and Bara Khana, hosted for the officers and
personnel of Pakistan Armed Forces who participated in the Pakistan Day parade, said a
press release.
The President said the nation felt pride over its Armed Forces. The passionate display of performance
by the officers and soldiers of the Armed Forces on the Pakistan Day strengthened the spirit in nation
and revived the confidence that the Armed Forces of Pakistan were fully capable of defending the
country with their professional capabilities.
He noted that participation of Turkey, Jordan and United Arab Emirates contingents in Pakistan Day
parade had enhanced the moments of joys.“It proved that our friends are standing with us in all
circumstances,” he added.
The President observed that holding of joint parade also added to country’s esteem and image
abroad.
He stressed upon display of such faith, unity and discipline in all sectors of life so that the country
could progress and the highest targets for the progress and prosperity could be achieved with the
strong unity of all segments of society.
The President also lauded the bold role of Armed Forces and others for defeating terrorism.
“The sacrifices you rendered for restoration of peace and the protection of people would be
written in golden words,” he added.
The President said the Armed Forces of Pakistan, from the creation of the motherland, had
despite scant resources and numbers, always defeated its enemies. All this was possible
due to sincerity and highest degree of patriotism.
He noted that with display of such discipline and sacrifices, a strong and democratic Pakistan
would overcome all its issues and would become indomitable.
Chairman OIC FPCC for expending interactions among private, informal sectors
PESHAWAR, Mar 25 (APP):The Chairman Council of OIC
Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Haji Naseem ur rehman
has said that OIC needs to expand its vision with interactions among private
and informal sectors being important.
Pakistan and Afghanistan are brotherly nations and they
are also largest trading partners. He said that Pak-Afghan adopt a global
approach and should focus on a wide range of activities like poverty
alleviation, improvement of the health sector, trade and commerce in the
region.
He said this while talking with President Afghan
Federation of Commerce and Industry Salahuddin Syed called him at Mardan on
Sunday. Former President Mardan Chamber of commerce and Industry Haji
Masood-ur-Rehman and Bacha Khan were also present.
Rehman stressed the need for enhancing bilateral economic
ties and trade relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is imperative
that Pak-Afghan being the biggest economies must solve their bilateral issues
through dialogues, he added.
He said, Islamic countries are taking steps to boost
investment in Pakistan and Afghanistan, which will help in eliminating problems
facing both the countries.
Both nations need to improve trade facilitation through
streamlined payments settlement and improved insurance mechanisms, the use of
bonded carriers, visa issuance, trade financing, tax collection, and
documentation, he said.
Economic cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan and improved trade and transit
facilities would help connect South Asia with Central Asia, he concluded.