SIALKOT, Feb 25 (APP)::Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Sunday inaugurated the newly-constructed 17.88 KM-long
main Sialkot-Kingra Road at Oora Chowk near here.
On this occasion, he said that the government had spent Rs651 million on the project for providing better
means of communication to the people living in far-off villages along the Sialkot Working Boundary.
MPAs Ch Tariq Akhtar Subhani, Ch Muhammad Ikram, Rana Liaquat Ali and Sialkot Mayor Ch Tauheed Akhtar were
also present.
Khawaja Asif inaugurates Sialkot-Kingra Road
UN chief welcomes Security Council resolution on Syria ceasefire
UNITED NATIONS, Feb 25 (APP):UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has welcomed the adoption of a Security Council resolution demanding a
30-day truce in Syria ‘without delay’ to allow aid access and medical evacuations.
“The Secretary-General welcomes the Security Council’s adoption of a resolution demanding a cessation of hostilities
throughout Syria for at least 30 days,” Stephane Dujarric, Guterres’ spokesman, said in a statement issued at UN
Headquarters in New York on Saturday.
“The Secretary-General stresses his expectation that the resolution will be immediately implemented and sustained,
particularly to ensure the immediate, safe, unimpeded and sustained delivery of humanitarian aid and services, the
evacuation of the critically sick and wounded and the alleviation of the suffering of the Syrian people.”
“The secretary-general reminds all parties of their absolute obligation under international humanitarian and human
rights law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure at all times. Similarly, efforts to combat terrorism do not
supersede these obligations,” the statement said.
Resolution 2401 was adopted unanimously by the Security Council on Saturday after two weeks of tough negotiations
against the backdrop of escalating violence in the country, particularly in Eastern Ghouta, the last major rebel enclave
near Damascus.
The resolution was adopted on by 15 votes to none, after several delays and a flurry of last-minute
negotiations.
“It would be naive to think that internal Syrian questions can be solved by a resolution,” Russia’s Ambassador to
the UN Vassily Nebenzia told the 15-member Council.
He added that Russia had “supported the intentions” behind the document, but stresses that a ceasefire was not
possible – ithout agreement from warring parties.
He further went on to criticize the ‘ccupational ambitions’ of the US-led coalition, and added that foreign-backed
militants were responsible for the humanitarian crisis that the resolution was aimed at addressing.
He also accused that the West was conducting a ‘propaganda campaign’ against government forces in Eastern
Ghouta, where intense fighting has take place over the last week.
Eastern Ghouta near Damascus has witnessed renewed violence in the past few days, where rebels have mounted
repeated mortar attacks on the Syrian capital in the face of an imminent rout. Western powers, however, blame the
Syrian government and Russia for the crisis.
Meanwhile, US envoy to the UN Nikky Haley censured Moscow for ‘obstructing the voting’ on the resolution, which
was submitted on Tuesday.
Two weeks ago, Sweden and Kuwait, two non-permanent members of the UN Security Council, proposed a month-long
ceasefire measure in Syria to allow deliveries of humanitarian aid and medical evacuations.
Russia proposed amendments to the draft resolution to include guarantees that the anti-Syria militants would honour
the ceasefire.
“The Syrian people should not have to die waiting for Russia to organize instructions from Moscow or discuss it with
the Syrians,” Haley, the US envoy, said.
She added that US was “deeply skeptical that the Assad regime will comply” and pointed out that “credibility of the UN
Security Council is at stake.”
After the ceasefire was voted for, Syria’s Ambassador to the UN Bashar Ja’afari stressed that his country does
not need showboating sessions or the establishment of UN committees, but it only needs the current resolutions to
be abide by.
He added that the people in Damascus are deeply suffering due to the actions of the terrorists positioned in the
Eastern Ghouta.
“The appeals of eight million Syrians do not reach the General Secretariat or the mailboxes of Britain’s and
Franc’s representatives, but the appeals of terrorists do reach them,” he added.
He went on to note that the Astana agreement had stipulated that armed groups operating in Syria break any
ties to Daesh and al-Nusra, and also granted the Syrian government the right to retaliate to any attack.
Russia, Iran, and Turkey have been organizing the Astana talks since January 2017. Together, the three
countries have been acting as guarantor states for the peace process.
Russia and Iran are Syrian government allies. Turkey is an ally of the Syrian opposition. The collective efforts of
the three countries, including the brokering of agreements that have significantly reduced fighting in Syria, have
made an impact on the ground in the Arab country.
“We practice a sovereign right of self-defense and we will continue to fight terrorism wherever it is found on Syrian
soil,” he said, stressing that the Syrian government reserves the full right to retaliate against armed terrorist groups
if they attack innocent civilians.
Ja’afari also called on the US, UK, and France to stop holding meetings and making strategic plans aimed at dividing
the country and trying to forcefully change Syria’s government.
Hydroponics unit in MNSUA inaugurated
MULTAN, Feb 25 (APP)::Federal Minister for Water Resources, Syed Javed Ali Shah on Sunday inaugurated first hydroponic unit, established at Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture (MNSUA).
The federal minister inspected hydroponic unit, which is the
process of growing plants in sand, gravel, or liquid, with added
nutrients but without soil during the seminar on the importance
of food security and pulses.
Renowned international scientists namely Director Pre Breeding
Dr Jacob Lage, Research Scientist Dr Nick Bird, Global Wheat
Breeding Lead Dr Chris Tapsell, Prof Dr Richard from Australia,
Prof Dr Khuda-E-Bargi (Uzbekistan), Director Pulses Research Institute
Faisalabad Muhammad Rafique, Chairman Plant Breeding and Genetics
Prof Dr Zulifqar Ali, Dean Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof Leader
Pulses National Agriculture Research Centre Islamabad Dr Shahid
Riaz and others delivered lectures on the importance of food.
Vice Chancellor Dr Asif Ali said the main objective of holding
the seminar was to highlight the importance of food security in
future. He stated that the scientists were working to promote health.
He observed that the seminar related to Pulses would also help
create awareness among the citizens. Pulses are very important crops
of the country which were vital for a balanced health, he added.
PML-N to win next general elections on basis of performance: Mushahid
ISLAMABAD, Feb 25 (APP):Minister for Environment Senator Mushahid Ullah Khan said, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) will not let the journey of progress of the country stop and will win next general elections on the basis of performance.
Talking to a private news channel, he said the PML-N government has given special package to Karachi.
He said after winning the upcoming general election, the progress and prosperity of Sindh will be priority of the
PML-N government.
The PML-N government following the policies and vision of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had resolved energy crisis besides, flushing out the menace of terrorism from the country, he added.
Minister said the government had made efforts to revive the economy and put it on path of speedy progress.
“We are not afraid of any conspiracy. We have come with the power of the people and Allah willing the same power will again return the PML-N to power on July 15, 2018,” he added.
500,000 laptops to be distributed by 2020 says Leila
ISLAMABAD, Feb 25 (APP):The Chairperson of Prime Minister Youth Programme Leila Khan on Sunday revealed that 500,000 laptops would be distributed among talented and deserving students by 2020 alongwith broadband internet devices across the country to improve their learning through technology.
The federal government’s initiative taken in 2014, under Prime Minister’s Scheme for Provision of laptops, was aimed at encouraging and supporting deserving students to digitalize the mode of studies in public sector universities, she said.
The scheme’s primary objective was to assist students from middle and lower middle class to use latest qualitative tools
for their research studies.
Research and Public Relation Officer, Abdul Shakir informed that scheme was targeted to facilitate 100,000 students per year for which an amount of Rs. 5.1 billion and Rs. 21.3 billion was earmarked for FY 2013-14 and FY 2014-2018 respectively.
He said that a single laptop costs Rs. 44,000, so the government would be investing billions of rupees to secure the future of the young generation of the country.
Shakir said, some 200,000 more laptops would be distributed in next two years, taking the total figure to 500, 000 adding that 300,000 laptops had been distributed till date.
Regional Coordinator at Higher Education Commission (HEC), Qaim Ali Shah, highlighting the salient feature of the scheme said it prioritized MS and Ph.D students as their studies involve research work.
The scheme, which earlier covered all provinces, was extended through HEC to Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and FATA on the direction of Senate Standing Committee in 2014. Recently Diploma Associate Engineers were also included in the scheme by the government, Qaim said.
Ishtiaq Khattk , a student of M. Phil, called the facility an educational boon for students going through their research in
qualitative higher education.
The wireless broadband device being provided along with laptop was also useful as 20GB in Rs500 was sufficient for a student as compared to other internet packages being offered in the market.
Women are more prone to cardiovascular ailment
ISLAMABAD, Feb 25 (APP):Assistant Professor of Cardiology at Pakistan Institution of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Dr Syed Nasir Ali Sunday said that women are more prone to heart diseases due to presence of protected hormones against cardiac diseases.
Doctors ,due to increased number of heart patients, urge civil societies and media to play its due role and sensitize people to adopt healthy dietary habits and ensure daily exercise.
In an Interview with APP he urged the public to adopt the habit of pre-screening for cardiovascular disease to avoid the stents due to which citizens have to bear the heavy expenses.
The use of fast food, cold drinks, smoking, working in smoking environment and double jobs were major reason of cardiac and hypertension diseases, he added.
Responding to a question he said stents were needed to be deployed only when there persists 75 percent hindrance in the flow of blood to heart.
He also identified remedies through drug treatment and chemical therapy where stents can be avoided in some certain cases.
He negated that the doctors are installing stents unnecessarily to the patients for financial gains. “It is not a blind procedure as patient is being provided with recordings after surgery and it can be counter checked from other doctors,” he clarified.
On rumors about fake stents, he said, major beneficiaries of this negative campaign were quacks enticing patients toward drug treatment.
“Because without this procedure the patients have to take medicines for a long period of life” he added.
The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) was live to the issue and banning substandard/unregistered stents sold in the market, he added.
He said a single stent costs Rs 100,000-1, 50,000 to entitled patients while private hospitals had their own packages.
“Patients must go through appropriate post surgery treatment including proper care and strictly following doctors’ prescriptions to avoid procedural flaws.
Pb Govt for planting 130 mln trees on 99,077 acres of land
LAHORE, Feb 25 (APP):South Punjab Forest Company (SPFC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tahir
Rasheed on Sunday said company with the help of private sector will plant
130 million trees over an area of 99,077 acres of forest land, in five districts
of the south Punjab.
Talking to APP CEO Tahir Rasheed said that, commercial forestry through
a proper management system could play a key role in controlling environment
pollution in addition to reorganizing wood industry and saving foreign exchange.
He said that with completion of the project, around Rs 240 billion would be
added to economy and government would earn Rs 20 billion. The project would
also help to reduce logging pressure on natural forests of the country, he
added.
In this connection the SPFC had accomplished feasibilities
of different plans, adding the work on tree plantation would be launched
by April this year.
Rasheed said the Punjab government had taken a landmark
step to reduce deforestation in south Punjab and providing
sustainable wood to wood-based industry.
He said that according to the vision of Chief Minister
Punjab Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, forests department had been
strengthened and was formulating comprehensive recommendations
for making tree plantation across the province.
He said that Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Muzaffargarh,
Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan would be brought under forest
cover, through the project.
The company was mandated to seek private investment on
produce sharing basis with minimum 15 per cent of SPFC’s share
for afforestation and range management under Public Private
Partnership (PPP)’s Build Operate Transfer (BOT) mode for a
period of 15 years, he said.
Tahir Rasheed, while appreciating the Green Pakistan
Programme (GPP), said that it was a successful initiative
which would help improving forest cover of Pakistan, leading
to conservation of wildlife.
“This programme will help to adapt and mitigate impact
of climate change in Pakistan, as the country was highly
vulnerable to the phenomenon”, he added.
Sohail Khan condemns Indian film producers council
LAHORE, Feb 24 (APP):Prominent Film Producer Sohail Khan has condemned the Indian Producers Council for imposing a ban
on Pakistani film artistes and singers.
Talking to APP here on Saturday, he said earlier, extremist Hindu organizations were opposing the performance of Pakistani
artistes in Indian films, but now the Indian Producers Council made a prejudice decision which exposed their enmity despite
their claims of liberalism.
He said that council had also asked the producers to delete songs by Pakistani singers from their films which
would result in loss of their own film producers.
Sohail Khan said that members of Pakistan film industry and general public always paid a great respect to the visiting
artists and expressed their love with them.
But people related to Indian film industry were taking taking hateful actions against Pakistani artists.
Artists are custodians of culture and heritage: Marriyum
ISLAMABAD, Feb 24 (APP):The artists are custodians of culture and heritage and have key role in projecting positive image of the country at the global level, Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb said while addressing the inaugural ceremony of National Artists Convention here at the Pakistan National Council of Arts Saturday.
She said that a heinous game was enacted to change our bright traditions and values through dogmatism and our multi-dimensional culture was badly vitiated. She said that the burgeoning terrorism also tarnished Pakistan’s image at the global level.
The minister observed that the sacrifices rendered by the security forces, police and law enforcing agencies and the steps taken in line with the vision of the former prime minister, peace had been restored in the country leading to welcome revival of the film industry as well as the restoration of sports activities. She said that the artists were neglected by the previous governments and as a consequence they were deprived of their rights. She said that the convening of the artist convention was also a sequel to the vision of former prime minister, who had great love attachment with arts and culture.
Marriyum said that the purpose of convening the convention was to benefit from the valuable opinions and proposals of the artists with a view to empower the artist community as desired by the former prime minister.
She revealed that Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbassi would announce the first ever culture and film policy of the country on the concluding day of the convention encompassing steps for the welfare of the individuals attached with arts, promotion of culture and measures to rediscover the lost stature of the film industry. The policy had been formulated in consultation with the provincial governments, she added.
She said that the artists were the custodian of the positive image of the society like the armed forces, law enforcing agencies and police, who were protectors of our geographical boundaries, internal security and law and order respectively.
The minister said that after the 18th Amendment the subject had been devolved to the provinces but this policy document would guide the provincial governments in regards to steps for promotion of culture and films. She said that her generation had grown up by watching PTV which had played a significant role in the promotion of the Urdu language, adding that future all the ceremonies and functions should be conducted in Urdu.
She said that there was a well entrenched culture of intolerance in the society and people were not ready to listen to the opinions of others and instead of positive opinions there was greater stress on highlighting negative viewpoints. She said that the media would also have to give a serious thought to refraining from sensationalism for better ratings. She observed that it was imperative to make collective efforts for betterment of the country at all levels.
Marriyum said that media had an important role as a watch-dog and it had acquitted itself well in that regard. It was projecting the real face of Pakistan, however, a lot many things needed to be improved, she added. Anything that sent out negative impression about Pakistan should not be put on the air waves, she said.
The minister said that under the new policy investments would be made in the film industry. She said that a Finance Fund was being established to encourage production of such films, which could highlight the culture of the country. She said that the government would establish film academies, infrastructure and studios, which were almost non-existent in the country. In the new policy those things had been taken care of to benefit from the artistic ingenuity of the artists.
She said that under the new policy rebates would be given in the tax and duties for the import of film related equipment. Similarly concessions would be offered on the construction of cinemas and financial assistance would be extended to the artists so that they could live honourably after the end of their careers. She said that the present government would ensure the implementation of the policy within its tenure.
Marriyum asked to artists to apprise the young generation about their experiences.
The minister said that the CPEC caravan, which travelled from Xian to Gawadar, was purported to bring into spotlight the cultures of the two countries. She said that the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a flagship project of OBOR, which would benefit the people of the entire region, besides China and Pakistan. She said that the CPEC would bring the two countries closer than ever before, besides promoting and highlighting their cultures.
Referring to her recent visit to China, she said that the people of China had watched Pakistani films of sixties and seventies but they were not aware about Pakistan of today. She said that how could films be produced without film producing equipment and how could they be screened without the availability of cinemas.
She said that Pakistan would participate in the film festival at Beining and Shangai and the Pakistan films would be shown in the cinemas of China. During her visit, she had signed a memorandum of understanding in that regard.
Agreements had also been signed with China for the revival of the film industry under which the two countries would exchange films and hold exhibitions, she said. She thanked the government of China and Chinese artists in that respect.
Marriyum said that the CPEC would also act as a catalyst for exchange of cultures of the two countries.
The minister said that the proposals and recommendations given in the convention would be accommodated in the new policy and those artists, who were unable to attend the convention, could send their proposals in writing, adding that it would help in the revival and promotion of the film industry.
Artists urge govt to announce national cultural policy
ISLAMABAD, Feb 24 (APP):Renown artists from across the country Saturday urged the government to urgently announce the national cultural policy reflecting the tangible ways to promote the provincial arts and cultures.
Artists, singers and film producers, including Qavi Khan, Tina Sani, Jahan Ara, Mustafa Qureshi, Syed Noor, Naeem Tahir, Shahzad Rafique, Rubina Ashraf, Haseena Moeen, Indu Mitha and others deliberated on the state of different arts in the country and the possible way forward for their promotion on the first day of the National Artists Convention here at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA). The convention was inaugurated by Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb.
They said they were in living and working in miserable conditions and there was no mechanism to sustainably support their professional engagement.
The artists also suggested to set up academies and centres of excellence in different parts of the country. They also urged the government to take on board artists to combat the extremism and terrorism while implementing the National Action Plan.
PNCA Director General Syed Jamal Shah said arts were the source of expression that linked individuals with their surroundings. Human beings seemingly liked to be part of the society and wished to be recognised for their creativity and expression, he added.
“We need to rethink if art is the necessity then we need to develop strategic pathways to engage different segments of society in it,” he added.
Jamal Shah said the five thematic discussion groups would come up with the recommendations that would be presented to the prime minister for induction into the government’s development programme.