ISLAMABAD, Mar 12 (APP):Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is hopeful that the national team would excel in the Commonwealth Games scheduled to be held in Australia from April 5 after the appointment of coach Roelant Oltmans.
Talking to APP, a PHF official said Oltmans had joined the team and his first assignment would be the commonwealth games. “We are hopeful that the team will produce good results under his stint as he has got much experience,” he said.
It would be Oltmans’ second stint with Pakistan hockey after he coached the team in 2003-2004 till the Athens Olympics, in which Pakistan finished fifth.
Oltmans was initially appointed High-Performance Director by Hockey India in 2013 but took over as head coach after the ouster of another Dutchman, Paul Van, in controversial circumstances in 2015. Oltmans’ tenure as India head coach ended last September.
Team will do well under Oltmans: PHF
Saleem Mandviwali takes oath
ISLAMABAD, Mar 12 (APP):Newly elected Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani on Monday administrated
oath to the new elected Deputy Chairman Senate Saleem Mandviwala.
He got 54 votes while PML-N’s supported candidate Muhammad Usman
Kakar got 44 votes.
Sadiq Sanjrani takes oath as Chairman of Senate
ISLAMABAD, Mar 12 (APP):Presiding Officer Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Nasir administrated the oath to the new elected Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani on Monday.
Sadiq Sanjrani got 57 votes while PML-N’s Raja Zafar-ul-Haq got 46 votes.
PM’s son not part of unfortunate incident in Senate: Marriyum
ISLAMABAD, Mar 13 (APP):Marriyum Aurangzeb, Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage Monday said that son of prime minister Shahid Khakan Abbasi was not part of unfortunate incident in the Senate.
In a statement, the minister said that like others, Prime Minister’s son Abdullah along with his family and friends was present in Senate gallery to witness the election process for Chairman and deputy chairman.
She said that the prime minister had regretted the unfortunate incident. Irrespective of the fact who was at fault, the prime minister showing magnanimity apologized to the Member of National Assembly over the incident.
Punjab govt to provide best facilities for PSL matches: sports minister
LAHORE, Mar 12 (APP):Punjab Minister for Sports Jahangir
Khanzada said on Monday that the Punjab government would provide
top-level security and make the best administrative arrangements
on the occasion of upcoming two Pakistan Super League (PSL)
knock-out stage matches at Gaddafi Stadium.
This was stated by the minister while chairing a high-level
meeting here at National Hockey Stadium on Monday.
Mayor Lahore Col (retd) Mubashar Javed, DC Lahore Sumair Ahmed Syed, Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Lahore Rai Ijaz and top officials from WASA, LDA, health and food attended the meeting.
The meeting discussed all the matters thoroughly so that PSL’s two high-profile matches could be organised smoothly.
Addressing the meeting, Jahangir Khanzada said it’s great honour for Lahore to host several international stars during the two important matches of PSL. “We will make these matches even more memorable through our top level security and administrative arrangements,” he added.
The minister said the Punjab government would establish a make-shift hospital at National Hockey Stadium besides operating mobile hospitals during the PSL matches. “Several ambulances, rescue bikers will also be in action to tackle any emergency on this occasion. Moreover, Wapda authorities have also been asked to provide uninterrupted power supply during PSL matches,” he elaborated.
“All the departments including WASA, LDA and transport have been advised to take all necessary measures to provide best facilities to guest teams and cricket enthusiasts as well.”
The minister asked the officials concerned to make best arrangements to make the atmosphere and surroundings clean and tidy. “It’s great opportunity for us to show the world that Pakistanis are a disciplined nation and Pakistan is a clean country.”
Regarding traffic plan, the Punjab minister for sports said: “A shuttle service will be operated for cricket fans on different routes.
“Sufficient parking arrangements will also be in place to provide vehicle owners enough space to park their vehicles and bikes near the stadium. The parking places will also be provided sufficient lights to avoid any untoward incident,” he explained.
“During the flood-light matches, surroundings of stadium and adjacent roads would be beautified and illuminated to enhance the image of Lahore.”
Mayor Lahore Col (retd) Mubashar Javed and DC Lahore Sumair Ahmed Syed also informed the meeting about their respective plans for the smooth completion of cricket matches at Gaddafi Stadium.
Punjab training camps for inter provincial games in full swing
LAHORE, Mar 12 (APP):Sports Board Punjab (SBP) training camps for the build up of its contingent are in full swing here at different venues.
On the instructions Secretary Sports Punjab Muhammad Aamir Jan, organized Punjab’s boxing, tennis and basketball training camps are in progress for the preparation of upcoming 4th Inter-Provincial Games scheduled to be held at Peshawar.
The boxing camp is setup at Nishtar Park Sports Complex Gymnasium Hall boxing ring, tennis camp at Bagh-e-Jinnah and basketball at gymnasium hall under the supervision of qualified coaches.
Meanwhile, Director Sports Javed Rasheed Chohan visited various training camps today (Monday) and assessed the training methods minutely. He expressed his hope that Punjab players will get huge success at Inter-Provincial Games.
He urged the Punjab contingent players to show passion and hard work because no one can gain success without these two ingredients. “Sports Board Punjab is providing best facilities during the training camps. Expert coaches have been engaged to impart quality training to camp probables. Now it’s players’ turn to show reasonable performances in their respective games during the mega event,” he added.
National Open Polo Championship: three matches to be played
LAHORE, Mar 12 (APP):Three more matches will be played in the Diamond Paints National Open Polo Championship for Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup 2018 on Tuesday (tomorrow) here at the Lahore Polo Club (LPC) grounds.
Diamond Paints will take on Army in the first encounter of the day at 1pm. Diamond Paints team comprises Mir Huzaifa Ahmed, Mumtaz Abbas Niazi, Eulogio Celestino and Macos Araya while Army team consists of Brig Zulfiqar Ali Baig, Major Omer Minhas, Mighuel Luis Duggan and Ignasio Negri.
The second match of the day will be contested between Barry’s and Rijas Aces/PAF at 2pm. Barry’s team includes Nafees Barry, Bilal Haye, Ramiro Zavaleta and Juan Maria Guinazu (Tito) while Rijas Aces/PAF team has Faisal Shahzad/Irfan Sheikh, Salman Cheema, Juan Cruz Araya and Deigo Araya.
Newage/BBJ Pipes will vie against Master Paints/Rizvi’s in the third and last encounter of the day at 3:30pm. Newage/BBJ Pipes team consists of Adnan Jalil Azam, Ahmed Zubair Butt, Ahmed Ali Tiwana and Salvador Ulloa while Master Paints/Rizvi’s team has Farooq Amin Sufi, Saqib Khan Khakwani, Hamza Mawaz Khan and Juaz Cruz Losada.
Barry’s team is on the top of the table as they played four matches, won three, lost one and earned six points with better goal average while at number two is Diamond Paints played three matches and won all to earn six points. With two wins and one loss, Army team is at number three while Master Paints/Rizvi’s is at number four as they played three played three matches, won two and lost one, at number five is Newage/BBJ Pipes, which played four matches, won two and lost two while Master Paints Black is at number six by losing all their four matches and the last team on points table is Rijas Aces/PAF, which played three matches and lost all.
Sanjrani, Mandviwala win Senate elections
ISLAMABAD, Mar 12 (APP):Sadiq Sanjrani and Saleem Mandviwala were elected as Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Senate on Monday.
In the House of 104, 53 votes were required to win the contest. However, 103 members cast their votes as one of the elected Senator, Ishaq Dar could not take oath due to his stay in London.
The Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf supported Sanjrani got 57 votes while Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Raja Zafar-ul-Haq took 46 votes. No vote was rejected.
Meanwhile Mandviwala, a united opposition candidate, was declared successful for the post of Deputy Chairman Senate by securing 54 out of 98 votes. Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani announced the winner. PML-N supported candidate Muhammad Usman Khan Kakar secured 44 votes. No vote was rejected.
After the elections all the Senators congratulated the chairman and deputy chairman.
PM expresses satisfaction over fee reimbursement scheme’s success
ISLAMABAD, Mar 12 (APP):Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Monday expressed his satisfaction over the success of Prime Minister’s Fee Reimbursement Scheme and praised the enthusiasm of the young scholars.
He urged the students to contribute maximum for the socio-economic development of the country through their hard work and dedication.
He was talking to the beneficiaries of Prime Minister’s Fee Reimbursement Scheme, who called on him along with Chairperson of Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Leila Khan here at the Prime Minister’s Office for a feedback session on the scheme, said a press release.
Leila Khan briefed the prime minister that so far 149,695 students had got their fees paid by the government under the scheme, which included 6,631 PhD, 37,663 MS/MPhil, and 105,401 Masters programmes students.
The beneficiaries hail from less developed areas of the country, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), southern Punjab and rural Sindh, and are studying in the reputed public sector universities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, including Quaid-e-Azam University, Fatima Jinnah Women University, National University of Science and Technology, International Islamic University, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, and National Defence.
Under the Prime Minister’s Fee Reimbursement scheme, all PhD. MS/MPhil and Masters’ students from 114 less developed districts of the country are getting their fees paid by the federal government through the Higher Education Commission.
It was encouraging to note that majority of the beneficiaries believed that it was not possible for them to continue higher studies without the government’s support under the scheme.
Pakistan greatly values its ties with Saudi Arabia: PM
ISLAMABAD, Mar 12 (APP):Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Monday said Pakistan greatly values its ties with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which draw its strength from religious affinities, historic bonds and mutual respect.
Talking to Imam-e-Ka’aba Al-Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Muhammad bin Talib here at PM Office, the Prime Minister said the people of Pakistan had great respect for him and consider his visit as a matter of honour.
The Prime Minister said the visit of Imam-e-Ka’aba would further strengthen the existing close and brotherly ties between the people of the two countries.
The Imam-e-Ka’aba thanked the Prime Minister and the government for a warm welcome and observed that the entire Muslim world considered Pakistan as its strength and takes pride in its accomplishments.
Discussing regional situation and the challenges faced by the Muslim Ummah, Imam-e-Ka’aba appreciated the efforts of Pakistan for promoting peace in the region.
He appreciated the efforts and the steps taken by the government towards overcoming the menace of terrorism and expressed his best wishes for the government and the people of Pakistan.
The Prime Minister conveyed warm wishes, on his own behalf and on behalf of the people of Pakistan, for Khadim Al-Haramain Al-Sharifain His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince His Royal Highness Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Saudi government and the brotherly people of Saudi Arabia.
The Imam-e-Ka’aba was accompanied by Ambassador of Saudi Arabia Nawaf Saeed Al-Maliky and other Saudi dignitaries. Minister for Communications Hafiz Abdul Kareem, Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousuf, Senator Professor Sajid Mir and senior officials were also present during the meeting.