ISLAMABAD, Mar 19 (APP):Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi Monday called on Commander Kuwait Naval Forces Brigadier General Khaled Abdullah and Commander Coast Guard Kuwait Cdr Sheikh Mubarak Ali Yousuf Al-Sabah during his official visit.
During the meeting with Commander Kuwait Naval Forces, Brigadier General Khaled Abdullah, Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi discussed matters of mutual interest and bilateral naval collaboration, says a press release here.
Both the dignitaries also discussed avenues to enhance bilateral cooperation between both the navies in the field of training, provision of technical manpower and expertise.
Commander Kuwait Naval Forces acknowledged the role played by Pakistan Navy in providing training and trained Human Resources to Kuwait Navy.
He emphasized the significance of close and strong bilateral naval association in diverse realms between Pakistan Navy and Kuwait Navy.
Brigadier General Khaled Abdullah also lauded the role and commitment of Pakistan Navy for initiating sustained and credible efforts to maintain regional maritime peace and stability.
The Naval Chief also met Ghulam Dastgir, Ambassador of Pakistan to Kuwait and Ex. Pakistani servicemen.
The visit would greatly augment the bilateral cooperation between both the countries in general and Navies in particular.
Chief of Naval Staff calls on Commander Kuwait Naval Forces
FJWU, Indonesian Embassy organizes “Batik Workshop”
ISLAMABAD, Mar 19 (APP):A two-day ‘Batik’ Workshop commenced at the Department of Fine Arts, Fatima Jinnah Women University
(FJWU), organized by FJWU in collaboration with Indonesian Embassy.
Counselor of Indonesian Embassy Deny Tri Basuki was the chief gueests in opening ceremony of
two-day event. While Dr. Uzaira Rafique, Dean of Science and Technology and Dr. Suriyya Choudary
department incharge of Fine Arts was guest of honors on the occasion, said a press release.
In the opening ceremony, a documentary related to “Indonesia” and also “Batik documentary” was
also screened.
The workshop was aimed at introducing about Batik technique.
On behalf of Vice Chancellor FJWU Dr. Samina Amin Qadir, Dr. Uzaira Rafique welcomed Deny
Tri Basuki and said Fatima Jinnah women university, is the first Pakistani women university and
it was an honour that Indonesian Embassy gave an opportunity to work with them.
Deny Tri Basuki informed about “ Batik workshop” and thanked Vice Chancellor FJWU Dr.
Samina Amin Qadir for giving Indonesian Embassy a chance for this wonderful workshop.
At the end of opening ceremony Dr. Uzaira Rafique and Dr. Suriyya Choudary presented
Souvenirs to Deny Tri Basuki.
Misbah ruled out of action from reminder of PSL
LAHORE, Mar 19 (APP):Skipper of Islamabad United, former Pakistan cricket captain, Misbah ul Haq’s dream to play his career’s last match of the Pakistan Super League in homeground has been shattered as he has been ruled out of action for four weeks due to a hair-line fracture in his wrist.
“It is unfortunate for Islamabad United that Misbah will not be available for the grand finale of the event for which it has already qualified,” said sources in Islamabad United while talking to APP here on Monday. South African JP Duminy led the side in the first play-offs
against Karachi Kings on Saturday at Sharjah.
A ball from Tymal Mills struck on Misbah’s hand during Islamabad’s league match against Karachi Kings on March 16 which caused a hairline fracture.
The 43-year old batsman failed to demonstrate form and fitness during the third edition of the PSL as he missed the first two matches of the event due to a hamstring injury. Out of eight matches, he played four and his maximum score was 22 in these ties. Medium pacer Roman Raees who replaced Misbah as captain in the initial two matches of the PSL could not last long and was declared unfit for the rest of the tournament after injuring his knee.
Misbah who piled up massive runs in UAE while leading Pakistan team in recent years has announced to retire from T20 league cricket after the third edition of PSL and in the given circumstances he has played his chapter of the PSL. He also holds the unique distinction of scoring fastest test century against Australia in Abu Dhabi.
“He has advised four weeks rest due to nature of the fracture and we will miss him in our most crucial match the final of the PSL,” sources added.
Pakistani Zaireen unable to attend Urs in Ajmer due to visa non-issuance by India : FO
ISLAMABAD, Mar 19 (APP):Pakistan on Monday expressed deep disappointment over the non-issuance of
visas by India for the visit of the 503 Pakistani Zaireen to participate in the Urs
of Hazrat Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti (RA) at Ajmer Sharif in the end of March.
The visit was to take place under the 1974 Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to
Religious Shrines and is a regular annual feature but Pakistani Zaireen have
been deprived of the opportunity to participate in the Urs, which is of special
significance, said a statement issued here by Foreign Office.
Earlier, in January Pakistani Zaireen could not participate in the Urs of Hazrat
Khawaja Nizamuddin Aulia (RA) in Delhi due to the non-issuance of visas by
India.
During 2017, despite Pakistan’s offer to send a special train, Indian delays
had resulted in Sikh Yatrees (pilgrims) from India, being unable to participate
in the Martyrdom Anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev and the death anniversary
of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Similarly, in February the Government of Pakistan had made all the arrangements
for the visit of 173 Katas Raj pilgrims, who were forced to withdraw their applications
from the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi due to non-issuance of necessary
clearance by the Ministry of External Affairs of India.
Besides being violative of the bilateral Protocol of 1974 and the basic human right
to religious freedom, such measures also undermine the efforts, aimed at improving
the environment, increasing people-to-people contacts and normalizing relations
between the two countries, it said.
“It is again ironic that this was done on the occasion of Urs of Hazrat Khawaja Moinuddin
Chishti (RA) who has for centuries been the symbol of bringing communities closer to each
other”, it added.
Xi, Putin exchange congratulations on election win in phone talk
IBEIJING, March 19 (Xinhua/APP)::Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin exchanged congratulations on their respective election victory in a telephone conversation on Monday and pledged to further deepen bilateral ties, Xinhua reported.
PCJCCI identifies potential sectors for Pak-China joint ventures
LAHORE, Mar 19 (APP):Pak-China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI) has identified seven high potential sectors for joint ventures and investment between Pakistan and China, which include handicrafts, textile, leather, gemstone, sportswear, surgical instruments, technology based agriculture along with reclamation and salinity control.
PCJCCI Office-bearers presented a research paper to Ms Teng Shaung, Deputy Minister China, counsel for the Promotion of International Trade Jinan, during a meeting here at Expo Centre, according to joint chamber’s spokesperson on Monday.
Ms Teng Shaung was heading an 81-member delegation to participate in the Auto Show, which got the entire auto engineering sector assembled under one roof. All government high-ups, local and international buyers and manufacturers along with machinery manufacturers, raw material providers, and service providers were present at the event. She also distributed a questionnaire backed by the primary research to have direct feedback from the stakeholders of auto market on this occasion.
Ms Teng Shaung was satisfied and hopeful for the joint business ventures in different sectors of automotives. She thanked PCJCCI President SM Naveed and other office-bearers for serving as a bridge between business communities of Pakistan and China to explore and expand the opportunities in the commercial and industrial sector.
During her trip, Ms Teng Shaung also visited many places including different trade bodies, expo centers and wholesale markets, and shared her primary research with local stakeholders. The idea behind the primary research was to gauge true potential and make SWOT analysis for disseminating prospective investors from China in the related sectors. She highly applauded the research conducted by PCJCCI in this regard and assured to disseminate the valuable findings of this research among Chinese investors.
ICCI seeks PBS support to hold an event for promoting sports, business activities
ISLAMABAD, Mar 19 (APP):Business community of federal capital is planning to organize a joint event with Pakistan Sports Board, which could give boost to sports and business activities in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
In this regard a delegation of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry led by its President Sheikh Amir Waheed called on Director General, Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Amir Ali Ahmed and discussed with him the possibilities of holding a joint event.
Addressing the delegation DG PSB Amir Ali Ahmed said that his Board would fully cooperate with ICCI in promoting sports activities in the region. He said business community should come forward and patronize sports activities as promoting sports would also lead to better promotion of trade and industrial activities. He said ICCI and PSB could achieve mutually beneficial outcomes by developing close cooperation in areas of interest.
Briefing the business community about the role of PSB, he said that Pakistan Sports Board being the supreme body of sports monitored the activities/affairs of National Sports Federations affiliated to it and ensured proper utilization of annual and special grants given by the Board.
He said the annual grants were released to the National Federations to meet their day to day expenses whereas special grants were meant for participation and holding of international sports events.
He said presently 40 National Sports Federations were affiliated with the Board and each Federation was responsible for promotion and development of its respective game/sports.
He assured that PSB would provide all possible support and cooperate to ICCI in utilizing its sports facilities for playing various sports by the business community.
Speaking at the occasion, Sheikh Amir Waheed, President ICCI said that sports industry was playing important role in the economic development of many countries and government should strengthen this industry in the country that would lead to better growth of economy as well.
He said PSB has quality sports facilities while ICCI had constituted a Sports Committee to promote sports activities among business community. He said PSB should cooperate with ICCI Sports Committee in organizing various sports events in its facilities.
He urged PSB for considering to organizing a big event that could help in promoting sports and business activities.
News about Army Chief, CM Punjab meeting baseless: DG ISPR
RAWALPINDI, March 19 (APP):Director General of Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor on
Monday said that no meeting had taken place between Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Qamar
Javed Bajwa and Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shehbaz Sharif.
“News about meeting of Army Chief with CM Punjab twice during last 72 hours being reported by
a media house is baseless and highly irresponsible. No such meeting has taken place,” DG
ISPR said in a tweet.
PML-N doing politics of principles: Tariq
ISLAMABAD, March 19 (APP):Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry Monday said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was doing politics of principles that was why people were giving decisions in its favour in the elections.
Talking to a private news channel, he said the people were well aware of politics of the opposition political parties and they were best judge to examine performance of the parties.
Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan was not a serious politician and had lot of contradictions in his statements and actions besides, having dual standards in the politics.
He said Imran Khan was habitual of taking U-Turns on his statements.
To a question, the minister said the PML-N had announced support of Raza Rabbani for the chairmanship of the Senate due to his services for the upper house and his work for increasing its
dignity.
He said PML-N was astonished that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had given priority to
Sadiq Sanjrani against a seasoned politician Raza Rabbani. PML-N never believed in politics of
personal interests and people were also aware about policies of the parties, he added.
Int’l conference focusing on Afghanistan Crisis held
ISLAMABAD, March 19 (APP):One-day international conference on “Afghanistan Crisis: What Lies Ahead?” was held here at a local hotel under the aegis of think tank Pakistan House.
The conference mainly focused on understanding various factors of instability in Afghanistan and how Pak-Afghan alliance can better serve economic, security and peace in the region.
The conference also aimed to identify the possible measures that how Afghanistan could address Pakistan’s concerns about India’s negative presence on its soil and how Pakistan could help
countering economic and security challenges that are relevant for the regional stability. An effort was made to develop a solution based approach, in order to assess future policy options.
Lt Gen (Retd) Asif Yasin Malik, former Defence Secretary, in his opening remarks said that Afghanistan was more important to Pakistan.
He argued that an unstable Afghanistan could be a threat for Pakistan and instability in
Afghanistan could also be a threat to China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He recommended
that border control should be strengthened in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Both countries should take
extra steps for bilateral trade.
Dr Abdul Baqi Amin, Director General, Centre for Strategic and Regional Studies (CSRS) said
that the people and government of Pakistan had helped Afghanistan in the most difficult conditions
during the battle of the Soviet Union, with more than five million Afghan refugees in their homeland,
and so far, about two million Afghan refugees were still living in Pakistan.
He stressed that serious efforts needed to be made to build trust between the two countries. The civil society organizations should play a constructive role in resolving tensions between the two countries, he added.
Jean-Francois Cautain Ambassador Delegation to the European Union to Pakistan on the
occasion suggested that safety of population in both countries was important. He underlined the need
to focus on economy and security to solve the Afghan crisis.
Rana Athar Javed, Director General Pakistan House argued that the reconciliation and negotiation would become the only way forward as the loss of lives and property in Afghanistan had marred the aspirations of emerging Afghan youth. The US and its allies need to provide comprehensive support system, and they should allow a regional stability approach involving China, Russia, and Iran. On principles, Pakistan does not object on India’s role in helping Afghanistan’s development sector, but Afghanistan must address Pakistan’s genuine concerns about India’s support to foreign militants, especially Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), he added.
He said Pak-Afghan alliance in eliminating network of foreign militants on Afghan soil was vital. He concluded that the issue of border management should be resolved through implementing mutually
agreed immigration regulations.
Maj. (Retd) Robert Gallimore, Defence Analyst in speech said that the situation in 2018 was very different from the past as India was pouring money into Kabul and into plethora of proxy actors across Afghanistan, using Afghan soil to destabilize Pakistan. What Kabul and Islamabad must do is to learn
how to manage the borders effectively so that the border mismanagement does not affect
the wider security of the region, he said.
Pir Sayed Ishaq Gailani, Founder and Chairman of the National Solidarity Movement of
Afghanistan, said that India had used Afghanistan against Pakistan and certain elements in Afghan Government were supporting that.
Former Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee, General (Retd) Ehsan-ul-Haq concluded
the event by suggesting that no two countries could be compared in their identical ties with any other country. First the US and the Taliban had never had a fundamental problem as they always said that
they were struggling against foreign occupation and they must end linkages with outer extremist
networks and foreign forces, and should accept Afghan Constitution.
He said the US must put its conditions on the table for withdrawal from Afghanistan. The dialogue must be robust and back channeled between US and Taliban. The ceasefire must come unilaterally
from US and the Afghan government, he added.