ISLAMABAD, Feb 26 (APP):Renowned mountaineer Samina Baig was appointed the National Goodwill Ambassador for Pakistan by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Monday.
The first Pakistani woman to have climbed Mount Everest, Ms Baig will lead efforts to build national awareness and partnerships around the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to climate change, environmental protection and women’s empowerment.
The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Pakistan, Neil Buhne said “Pakistan is amongst the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change.
Preparing for its effects, and instituting environmental protections, will safeguard economic development for future generations. Moreover, half of Pakistan’s population, its women, are under-represented in education, the workforce and in decision-making. Empowering women to play their full role in society is not only an ethical imperative, it is essential for sustainable development.”
“UNDP’s National Goodwill Ambassadors are leaders in their societies, and role models for us all. As the National Goodwill Ambassador for Pakistan, Ms Baig will use her profile to shine a light on the issues that shape Pakistan’s future, and build the partnerships required to address them,” said UNDP Pakistan Country Director Ignacio Artaza.
Born in Gilgit-Baltistan, at the age of 22 Samina Baig became the first Pakistani woman to climb Mount Everest. By the time she turned 23, she had climbed the highest mountain on each of the world’s seven continents. Awarded the Pride of Performance by the Government of Pakistan, today she presides over the Pakistan Youth Outreach Foundation to encourage youth, especially women, to participate in outdoor activities.
As a mountaineer she bears witness to the critical importance of preserving Pakistan’s fragile ecosystems and preparing for the effects of climate change.
Samina Baig said, “I am greatly honoured to be part of UNDP. From the remotest village of Pakistan and reaching the summit of the world’s tallest mountain, Mt. Everest and beyond the borders, Scaling Peak in Antarctica and the seven highest peaks of the seven continents, in some of the most harsh conditions, my entire climbing purpose was to empower women through these adventures and encourage gender equality.
With my brother, I have experienced significant impact of global warming and climate change on our mother earth. I am honoured to be the national goodwill Ambassador of UNDP to spread the voice to take serious step to counter global warming and raise voice to empower young girls to climb the highest level within their field of profession.”
UNDP’s National Goodwill Ambassadors are inspirational women and men who serve as spokespersons to uphold the United Nations Charter and the Sustainable Development Goals.
The signing ceremony was attended by the Ambassador of Austria, Her Excellency Dr Brigitta Blaha, United Nations Resident Coordinator Neil Buhne and UNDP Pakistan Country Director Ignacio Artaza.
Mountaineer Samina Baig is UNDP’s National Goodwill Ambassador for Pakistan
No plan to sell Roosevelt Hotel in New York: NA body told
ISLAMABAD, Feb 26 (APP):The Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs on Monday was apprised that Aviation Division had no plan to sell the Rossevelt Hotel in New York (USA).
The Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs met with Dr. Shezra Mansab Ali Khan Kharal in the Chair and discussed the proposed agenda.
Briefing the NA panel, the Acting Chairman, Pakistan International Airline (PIA) said the Roosevelt Hotel generated total $ 96.450 million during 2016 its profit remained at $ 1.540 million.
He further informed that experts / professionals have given proposal to give Roosevelt Hotel on lease for the period of 30 to 40 years to earn more profit.
The Committee showed annoyance over the proposal and strongly recommended that Roosevelt Hotel should not be given on lease at any cost.
The Committee also decided to invite CEO, PIA to brief the Committee about the suspension / cancellation of flights / routes to New York, USA.
Secretary, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs briefed the Committee regarding the comprehensive report/implementation status of the previous recommendations of the Committee.
He informed that Ministry had made compliance on the directions of the Committee and also sent letters to the concerned department for implementation on the direction of the Committee.
The Committee considered “The Elections (Amendment) Act, 2017” moved by Ms. Naeema Kishwer Khan, MNA. After detailed deliberation on the Bill the Committee directed Ministry to provide more details in the next meeting.
Secretary, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs also briefed the Committee about the status of encashment of PIA tickets to the Parliamentarian. After discussion Committee directed that Rs3 lac (without any deduction) should be given to the parliamentarians instead of vouchers and also recommended that number of tickets should be increased from 20 to 30.
Joint Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Works briefed the Committee on the budget and maintenance of government rest houses.
He informed that at present Ministry of Housing and Works / Pak. PWD was not maintaining any rest house.
He also provided detail of Lodges, Hostel and Family Suites working under the Ministry of Housing and Works.
The Committee directed Ministry of Housing and Works to provide detail of officers residing in Lodges, Hostel and Family Suites in Islamabad in the next meeting.
MNAs Malik Ihtebar Khan, Dr. Nisar Ahmad Jatt, Mian Tariq Mehmood, Ch. Salman Haneef Khan, Ms. Arifa Khalid Parvez, Dr. Shazia Sobia, Ms. Nafeesa Inayatullah Khan Khattak and Ms. Naeema Kishwer Khan attended the meeting. The meeting was also attended by senior officers of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Law & Justice, Housing and Works, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and Pakistan International Airline (PIA).
Public welfare projects to be completed from indigenous resources: CM
LAHORE, Feb 26 (APP):Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad
Shehbaz Sharif has said the United Nations Children’s Fund
(UNICEF) should provide Pakistan technical assistance instead of
any financial aid.
He said this while talking to a high-level delegation of
UNICEF which met him here on Monday.
Shehbaz Sharif said that public welfare projects would be
completed from indigenous resources by the Punjab government.
He appreciated the cooperation rendered by the UNICEF for
mother and child health schemes, basic education and other
sectors.
Due to the efforts of Punjab government, a new culture of
public service delivery has been introduced in the government
hospitals and due to it people prefer public sector hospitals
for their treatment now.
He said that ambulance programme was going on
successfully for transfer of patients from villages to the
hospitals. Meanwhile, provision of higher education has been
ensured for bright but deserving students through PEEF and
government also provided 40,000 tablets to the schools for
bringing improvements in their standard of education.
The meeting was told that UNICEF is providing training to
the staff of more than four thousand union councils in the
province and 34 water filtration plants were being established
initially for the provision of clean drinking water.
NA body approves mega projects for FATA
ISLAMABAD, Feb 26 (APP):A meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) met here on Monday under the Chairmanship of MNA Muhammad Jamal ud Din, to discuss the proposed six major schemes of FATA for PSDP 2018-19 in detail.
After detailed deliberations, the committee approved the said projects in addition to some other projects including clean drinking water schemes in South Waziristan Agency (estimated cost Rs. 500 million), 200 km track in hilly areas of Mahsood areas of South Waziristan Agency and construction of 15 km black top road from Chalwashtai to Mantoi, South Waziristan Agency (estimated cost Rs. 150 Million).
The committee also approved construction of 60 km black top road from Jandola to Gambila Bridge, Lakki Marwat, construction of 15 km black top road from main Karikot road to Kalotai, Tehsil Bermal (estimated cost Rs 150 million) and construction of 20 km black top road from main Angoor Ada road to khangai, Tehsil Bermal (estimated cost Rs 200 Million).
The committee recommended that these projects may be included in the PSDP for Financial Year 2018-19.
The committee also discussed the problems being faced by the Malakand Levy regarding their salaries, pension, and accommodation and training center. The committee recommended to the Ministry of SAFRON to look into the matter and bring salaries and allowances of the Malakand Levy at par with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police.
The committee also discussed the Minerals Policy of FATA in detail. The committee recommended to the FATA Secretariat to compensate the families of the deceased workers who died during working in the mines and also take measures to extend the Labour Act and Social Security Act to FATA.
The meeting was also attended by Muhammad Nazir Khan, Dr Asma Mamdot, Sheikh Fayyaz-ud-Din, Aftab Shaban Mirani, Ms. Surraiya Jatoi, Shahjahan Baloch, Qaiser Jamal, Nasir Khan, Muhammad Kamal Malik, Bilal Rehman and Bismillah Khan MNAs.
Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) and Officers/Officials of the Ministry and its attached departments also attended the meeting.
Romina Alam for using climate smart agri-technologies
ISLAMABAD, Feb 26 (APP):Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change Romina Khursheed Alam on Monday stressed the need
for introducing climate smart agriculture technologies in order to produce staple food crops for tackling
the increasing domestic demand, besides protecting natural environment to overcome climate change
challenges.
Addressing a a two-day 4th Climate Change Adaptation, Policy and Science Conference (CCAPS),
she said that climate change was a global phenomena and has gained a special attention in policy
formulation agenda across the glob.
The event is being hosted by Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARDC) in collaboration with
International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and LEAD Pakistan, aiming
building a platform for climate change adaptation and resilience, research in the region and
create synergies with actions currently conducted or proposed by the other stakeholders.
Despite the fact that the Pakistan’s share in green house emission was at the loser level,
where as it was among top seven countries in terms of climate vulnerability and facing serious
challenges of depleting ground water table.
Romina Khursheed said food security of the country was directly linked with availability of
water, adding per capita water was recorded at 800 cubic meter, which was lower as
compared the international standard.
She stressed the need for investing in rural economies for infrastructure developing creating
awareness about climate change and food security for sustainable mountain development and
mitigating the climate impacts.
She said government had prepared a climate change policy by taking all the stakeholders on
board, besides establishing a climate change authority for the adaptation of climate change
action plan for the protection of natural climate.
She hoped that the outcomes of the conference will help to devise an holistic approach to
protect the mountains and glaciers, which were the major sources for water for irrigation
to produce food.
She said the government was also taking steps to reach over 6 million people by investing
about US$ 1.6 million to overcome malnutrition under Prime Minister Programme in rural
areas of the country.
Addressing the conference High Commissioner of Canada said the climate change was
the central policy of his government and it was assisting all the developing countries
for achieving the Paris Climate Conference agenda and provided about US$ 300 million.
He said his government was supporting and advocating the bilateral and multilateral
climate change approaches and provided over US$ 2.76 million to achieve the goals
of climate change.
Speaking on the occasion Chairman of PARC Dr Yousuf Zafar said the conference
would facilitate to exchange knowledge and ideas on science, policy and good practices
related to climate change adaptation in Hindu-Kush, Himalayan (HKH) Region, especially
in across Indus-Ganges-Brahmaputra River Basins.
He informed that renowned international researchers, policy makers and thought
leaders from USA, Canada, Netherlands, India, Bangladesh and Nepal are attending
the conference as it was being sponsored by the Government of Canada and United
kingdom and it was 4th in series.
He said Pakistan was the most vulnerable in terms of climate change and had faced
severe circumstances including droughts, flash floods and weather shifting, which
had damaged the growth of agricultural national economy.
Despite that the share of Pakistan was below to nominal in green house gas emission,
but it had taken serious steps to fulfill its commitments made in Paris Convention to
mitigate the climate change issues and challenges.
The government had established an resource center in PARC, where as a mountain
center in Gilgit, besides establishing 12 center in different ecologies and developed
an glacier inventory to intimate other stakeholders, he added.
He said the country was focusing on climate smart agriculture practices in order to
protect the natural environment as well as for tackling with the growing domestic
demands of the staple food and livestock.
Speaking on the occasion Director General ICIMOD Dr David Molden said the consortium
of eight countries and several universities was working to prevent the mountains and
glaciers by involving the local community on board.
He said climate change was a serious challenge for mountains and glaciers and the
conference would help to prepare a policy to prevent these as well as mountain water
and make the people more resilient about climate change.
IHC declares suspension of mobile service illegal
ISLAMABAD, Feb 26 (APP):The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday declared that the government or any authority
not vested with the power and jurisdiction to suspend mobile cellular services on the ground
of national security except as provided under Section 54(3).
Justice Athir Minnallah announced its reserved judgment in identical petitions, challenging
the suspension of mobile phone services across the country on the pretext of security.
Multiple petitions had been submitted against the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority
(PTA) and the case was decided last year in September by Justice Ather Minallah, but the
judgement was reserved to be announced later on.
Justice Minallah read out the verdict in open court and declared that, “the actions, orders
and directives issued by the Federal Government or the Authority, as the case may be, which
are inconsistent with the provisions of Section 54(3) are declared as illegal, ultra vires and
without lawful authority and jurisdiction.”
The petitioners took the stance that suspension of mobile phone and internet services was
violation of their fundamental rights as guaranteed by the Constitution.
They pleaded the suspension was in violation of the Pakistan Telecommunication Act 1996
which did not empower the the government or authority to suspend services unless a state of
emergency has been declared by the President of Pakistan.
It may added that Section 54(3) of the Pakistan Telecommunications Act 1996 states that
“Upon proclamation of emergency by the President, the Federal Government may suspend or
modify all or any order or licences, made or issued under this Act or cause suspension of
operation, functions or services of any licensee for such time as it may deem necessary”.
PM chairs 35th meeting of CCI
ISLAMABAD, Feb 26 (APP):Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Monday chaired the 35th meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) here at the PM Office.
The meeting attended by the chief ministers of four provinces discussed the 11-point agenda including related to China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and inter-religious harmony.
SC adjourns hearing of contempt case against Talal Ch. till March 6
ISLAMABAD, Feb 26 (APP):The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned hearing of a contempt of a contempt of court case against
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry till March 6 after he submitted a plea that his counsel was
on holidays till March 5.
A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan heard the case.
During the course of proceedings, Talal Chaudhry appeared before the bench and informed that his
counsel was on court leave till March 5.
Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan asked Talal Chaudhry whether he had submitted his reply in the case to which
Talal replied that he had submitted his response.
Talal Chaudhry pleaded the court to adjourn hearing of the case as his counsel was unable to appear
before court till March 5.
The court accepted his plea and adjourned the case.
Eighty five percent of Syrian refugee children in Jordan live in poverty: UNICEF
UNITED NATIONS, Feb 25 (APP):Eighty five percent of Syrian refugee children in Jordan live in poverty, 38 percent are not in school and almost half of those under the age of five don’t have access to proper health care, according a new report issued by the UN agency for children.
The findings by UNICEF, which were based on interviews by hundreds of families among Jordan’s 660,000 registered Syrian refugees, showed that refugee children are facing a more challenging time in meeting their minimum basic needs, Robert Jenkins, the agency’ Jordan representative, said.
According to official figures, the overall number of registered and unregistered Syrian refugees in the Arab Kingdom stands at about 1.3 million.
Around 5.5 million Syrians have fled the foreign-backed militancy in their homeland since 2011, most of whom living in neighboring countries where they desperately struggle to survive.
The UN children agency in Jordan said it lacks some $145.7 million for child programmes in 2018, and urged donor countries to step up their contributions at a time of growing needs.
The kingdom sealed its border with Syria in June 2016, after a deadly cross-border attack by the Daesh terrorists, leaving tens of thousands of Syrians stranded in a remote desert area. The closure ended the UN’s regular aid shipments from Jordan to displaced Syrians struggling for survival in a remote stretch of the desert.
However, Jordan agreed last month to a request by the UN to deliver humanitarian aid to thousands of displaced Syrians stranded in dire conditions in the vicinity of the border crossing with Syria.
CPEC is a project for shared destination of regional development, prosperity: Marriyum
ISLAMABAD, Feb 25 (APP):Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb while addressing the opening ceremony of the CPEC Cultural Caravan Festival at PNCA here Sunday, said that the CPEC was a project for shared destination of regional development and prosperity, which was supported by people of both the countries.
She said that relations between Pakistan and China were rooted in mutual respect and love and the friendship between the two countries had become an indelible and important part of Pakistan’s history. She said that the CPEC was also a corridor of cultural harmony between China and Pakistan and people-to-people contacts.
The minister said that for the successful implementation of the development project it was also imperative to know and understand each other’s culture. She said that Pakistan had signed cultural accords with China, which would enhance cooperation between the two countries in the domain of films, theater, press, publications and related fields besides promotion of cultures.
She said that during the democratic regimes, culture was duly promoted. The artists, she added, had a sterling role in projecting Pakistan’s identity as a moderate and peaceful country. The artists and democracy had deep links with each other, she said, adding that during the democratic era the creative abilities of the artists and journalists gained strength.
Marriyum said that the CPEC Cultural Caravan would help in presenting Pakistan as a peaceful and emerging country before the comity of nations.
The minister congratulated the artists for their brilliant performance, the PNCA management for making it a success and those, who wrote research papers on cultures of both the countries. She said that those endeavours would further reinforce the bonds of friendship between the two countries. She said that the government to government contacts were always there but the cultural initiatives would lead to effective contacts between the people of the two countries.
She said that like their ancestors they were also determined to take that friendship to new heights. She said that the friendship and bonds between the two peoples were decades old and they had remained on the upward curve throughout.
She said that the CPEC was a key ingredient of the OBOR vision. Former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif associated himself with that vision and launched the CPEC for the progress and prosperity of the posterity in 2013. Those, who translated that vision into reality, deserved unqualified accolades, she added.
The minister acknowledged that the former and present ambassadors of China in Pakistan had also played a significant role in that regard. She expressed the hope that the CPEC would be successfully completed within its stipulated time and it would usher in an era of prosperity not only for China and Pakistan but also for the entire region.
She said that the journey of the CPEC Cultural Caravan from China to Gawadar had been properly documented and the CPEC would also help in cultural exchanges between the two countries.
Marriyum said that the success of development plans was linked to the participation of the people. She said that Pakistan was grateful to Chinese government and President Xi Jin Ping, who personally came to Pakistan to inaugurate the CPEC.
The minister informed the audience that Pakistan would participate in the film festival in Beijing and Shanghai for the first time and Pakistani movies would be screened in the Chinese cinemas.
Marriyum said that culture was screen tourism that helped in creating awareness and understanding of language, history and culture of the concerned countries. She observed that the Chinese cuisine was very popular in Pakistan.
She said that the cultural caravan commenced from China in November last and travelled up to Gawadar through the CPEC route and also made a documentary on history, culture and national heritage of the two countries, which was exhibited today. She said that the governments of both the countries and those, who managed that event, deserved congratulations. She said that the paintings made by the artists presented glimpses of progressing and peaceful Pakistan.
The minister observed that the artist community had a pivotal role in ending the culture of intolerance from the society. She revealed that Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi would announce cultural and film policy on Monday, which would strengthen the film and broadcasting industry. She said that the government had an unswerving commitment to revive and promote the film industry.
She said that apart from cultural agreements an accord was also signed between Chinese Scholarship Council and Higher Education Commission of Pakistan for exchange of scholarships.
The Chinese and Pakistani artists also enthralled the audience during the inaugural ceremony of the Cultural Caravan. The minister also visited the stalls set up in regards to the Cultural Caravan.