ISLAMABAD, Feb 13 (APP):Minister for Defence Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan Tuesday said that Pakistan would pay India in its own coin in
case of any Indian misadventure.
“Any Indian aggression, strategic miscalculation, or misadventure regardless of its scale, mode, or location will
not go unpunished and shall be met with an equal and proportionate response. We
will defend robustly every inch of Pakistan’s soil,” the minister said in a
statement.
He said that instead of the knee-jerk reaction of blaming Pakistan without substantiation, India must answer for
state-sponsored espionage against Pakistan.
He said living evidence in person of Kulbushan Yadev was in front of the world.
He said India had failed to deliver justice to the 42 Pakistanis, who were murdered in the Samjhota Express
terrorism eleven years ago.
“India is destabilizing regional peace in word and deed; through irresponsible statements on nuclear deterrent and through its
bloody, five-fold escalation in 2017 of attacks on unarmed civilians on the line-of-control and working boundary,” he said.
He said Armed Forces of Pakistan were alive to all possibilities, and prepared fully to defend country’s territorial
integrity.
“Backed fully by the Pakistani people, our forces are vigilant on land, sea, and air.
“An aggressive Pakistan centric doctrine and arrayed forces under a belligerent regime leading to possible strategic
miscalculation by India will seriously impact the strategic stability in South Asia,” he added.
Pakistan to pay India in its own coin in case of any misadventure: Dastgir
Sartaj stresses early conclusion of FTA with Turkey
ISLAMABAD, Feb 13 (APP):Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Sartaj Aziz Tuesday stressed the need for early conclusion of Free Trade Agreement between Pakistan and Turkey to help boosting bilateral trade.
Talking to newly appointed Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Mustafa Yurdakul, Sartaj Aziz said with the revival of Pakistan’s economy, the opportunities for expanding trade and investment relations were also increasing.
“Pakistan and Turkey enjoy exemplary bilateral relations which have become stronger in recent years due to the efforts of leadership of both sides” Sartaj Aziz said.
He said several Turkish companies had already invested in many projects in Pakistan while there were new opportunities in many fields especially in the field of solar energy.
Mustafa Yurdakul said it was the matter of singular honour for him to be appointed as ambassador to such an important and friendly country.
He expressed the hope to enhance the economic and trade relations to further strengthen the ties.
Pakistan rejects baseless Indian allegations
ISLAMABAD, Feb 13 (APP):Responding to a question regarding the recent comments of the Defence Minister of India, the Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal while rejecting the Indian baseless allegations, said the now familiar Indian tendency of apportioning blame to Pakistan, without a shred of evidence, is regrettable.
The Indian allegations are premature and inopportune, especially as India itself admits that the operation still continued and investigations had just started, when those comments were made, a statement said.
“We have repeatedly seen India arrogating to itself the role of judge, jury and executioner. The reflex assignment of blame and smear campaigns, based on unfounded allegations, carry no credibility.”
More deplorable is the threatening tone of the Indian comments that achieves nothing, but further vitiates the already tense environment marked by unprecedented ceasefire violations by India on the Line of Control and the Working Boundary.
Pakistan is fully committed and capable of defending itself against any act of aggression. “We expect the international community to take cognizance of the belligerent and repeated Indian statements against Pakistan, which are not only against international law but also threatens regional peace and stability.”
BOI chairman, Turkish delegation discuss bilateral trade, investment opportunities
ISLAMABAD, Feb 13 (APP):A Turkish delegation led by Chairman Turkey-Pakistan Business Council Atilla D. Yerlikaya Tuesday met Chairman Board of Investment (BOI) Naeem Y. Zamindar and discussed matters of mutual interest for both the nations.
The delegation discussed the possibilities of enhancing the cooperation in the areas of bilateral trade, investment and business development relations between the two countries.
Naeem Y. Zamindar, mentioned that the government was encouraging the investors to invest in Pakistan especially in the nine Special Economic Zones (SEZs) identified in China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Pakistan was open for all companies around the world to set up industries in these zones to transfer technology and start manufacturing in Pakistan.
For Pakistan, the development in trade and industry was the main gain from CPEC as a driving force for economic growth and taking the fruits of CPEC to the lesser developed regions of Pakistan.
Industrial cooperation is the component of CPEC in which the sustainability of whole CPEC project is dependent. The role of private sector is very crucial and important in this phase of CPEC.
To upscale the investment and spur industrialization through creating new industry clusters, SEZ law has been formalized to meet the global challenges of competitiveness, he added.
SEZ framework facilitates creation of industrial clusters with liberal incentives, infrastructure and investor facilitation services to enhance productivity and reduce cost of doing business.
The Chairman BOI, further added that Pakistan offers exemption from custom duties and taxes for all plants and machinery imported into Pakistan as well as an income tax holiday for 10 years for the SEZs.
He invited the Turkish investors to invest in all sectors of Pakistan specifically in agriculture machinery pharmaceutical, mining, and to further boost the investment and trade relations between the two brotherly countries.
Pakistan due to its strategic location, cheap labour and cheap raw material outclasses other countries. He further added that Pakistan needed a shift from resource-based and low technology exports to the adoption and development of medium and high technology productions, and technological sophistication. Almost 80 per cent of Pakistan’s exports are resource-based items, he added.
The delegation briefed the Chairman BOI that the Turkish Foreign Economic Relations Board extends cooperation to other countries through Business Councils working in 127 countries and that they would like to introduce the business community of Turkey to Pakistan and vice versa.
The current investment by Turkish companies such as $500 million by Coca-Cola ÇECEK since 2010, $300 million by Arcelik (Dawlance) were highlighted during the meeting.
During the meeting, Yerlikaya highlighted the importance of Free Trade Agreement between Turkey and Pakistan, which is expected to have a high impact on trade flows as well as bilateral investments.
Yerlikaya mentioned that a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement covering commodity and services trade as well as investments will definitely deepen bilateral economic cooperation. Mutually agreed exceptions for certain industries can be identified within the scope of a comprehensive agreement.
He further added that he strongly believed that both business communities have to contribute to these negotiations in order to define the right scope to reduce bilateral trade and investment barriers.
Having significant investments in Pakistan, senior Turkish business representatives from Anadolu Group, Zorlu Holding, Arcelik, Albayrak along with other representatives from Health, Construction and Services Industries, accompanying Yerlikaya, shared the profiles of their companies with the Chairman BOI and informed that they were planning to enhance their investment keeping in view the growth potential in the country.
Turkish-Pakistan Business Council operates under the umbrella of Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEIK), which is a private sector institution aiming to pave the way for the development of Turkey’s economic, commercial, industrial and financial relations with foreign countries and international business communities.
Radio can unite, empower communities: UN chief
UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 13 (APP):Radio retains its power to entertain, educate, inform and inspire, despite dramatic advances in communications, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, marking World Radio Day.
Radio is a powerful, low-cost communication tool that reaches the widest global audience while also connecting people to grassroots sports within communities. “It can unite and empower communities and give voice to the marginalized,” the Secretary-General said.
The UN chief pointed out that radio is specifically suited to reach remote communities and vulnerable people, including the illiterate, disabled and poor. It also offers a platform to participate in the public debate “irrespective of people’s educational level” and has a strong and specific role in emergency communication and disaster relief.
“This year,” Guterres added, “with the Winter Olympics now under way, we also recognize the many ways in which sports broadcasting brings people together around excitement and achievement.”
“On World Radio Day, let us celebrate both radio and sports as ways of helping people achieve their full potential,” he concluded.
In looking forward to a year of momentous sporting events that can unite the hearts and minds of people everywhere, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said the theme of the 2018 edition of the day “Radio and Sports” was an opportunity for radio stations worldwide to showcase the beauty of sports in all of its diversity.
In her message, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay called radio “a powerful means to transmit the enthusiasm of sport events.”
“It is also a means to convey the values of fair play, teamwork and equality in sport,” she continued, emphasizing that radio can help combat racist and xenophobic stereotypes that are expressed both on and off the field.
Radio also allows a broad range of traditional sports to be covered, far beyond the elite teams, providing an opportunity to nurture diversity, as a force for dialogue and tolerance.
“The fight for gender equality is central to this effort,” Ms Azoulay stressed.
According to the UNESCO-supported Global Media Monitoring Project report, a mere four per-cent of sports media content is dedicated to women’s sport and only 12 per cent of sports news is presented by women.
“UNESCO is working to improve the coverage of women’s sports, to combat gender discrimination on the airwaves and to promote equal opportunities in sports media,” she stated, adding,” The task is immense.”
On World Radio Day, Ms Azoulay urged everyone to mobilize in making radio an increasingly independent and pluralistic media.
“Let us join forces to celebrate the potential of sports radio in furthering development and peace,” she said.
Discipline, merit and transparency are key to good governance: President
ISLAMABAD, Feb 13 (APP):President Mamnoon Hussain Tuesday said strict implementation of discipline, merit and transparency and were the key to good governance and urged the civil servants to strictly adhere to the principle.
He was talking to Chairman FPSC Naveed Akram Cheema who called on him at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, and presented him Annual Report of the FPSC.
The President said the working of Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) has made it a reliable organization in the country. He said it was heartening to note that both male and female children from backward areas were joining the civil services.
He said the trend needs to be encouraged and equal opportunities be provided to the people from all regions by elevating the standards of education. The President said young professionals from different fields were also becoming part of the civil services and hoped it would further improve the standards of administration in the country.
He was also appreciative of the launch of simple, speedy and inexpensive online registration system for the aspiring candidates. He hoped that FPSC would achieve its desired objectives under the leadership of its Chairman, Naveed Akram Cheema.
Peaceful Afghanistan in favour of Pakistan, entire region: Ayaz Sadiq
ISLAMABAD, Feb 13 (APP):Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said Tuesday that Afghanistan was our neighboring country and a peaceful Afghanistan was in the favour of Pakistan and the entire region.
He said that Pakistan would like to have good relations with the United States as well as with all its neighbors based on mutual respect and equality.
He said this while talking to Ambassador of Germany Martin Kobler and the participants of the 2018 Course for Senior Officials of the Federal Academy of Security Policy of Germany in the meetings separately in Parliament House on Tuesday, said a press release here.
He said that Pakistan and Germany enjoyed cordial and cooperative relations which needed to be further strengthened through substantive and long term parliamentary and economic cooperation.
He emphasized the need for a regular interaction between political leadership, parliamentarians and people of both the countries that would take the existing relations to the new heights.
Underlining the need for exploring possibilities, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq added that Pakistan was potential country for investment with emphasis on trade and development for enhancing cooperation between the two countries. This will strengthen impetus of bilateral economic relations among the two countries, he added.
Exchanging views on global and regional issues, he remarked that Pakistan had a keen interest in promoting regional stability and was making consistent efforts for regional peace and economic stability. The speaker asserted that Germany remained one of the vocal and staunch supporters of Pakistan and political engagement on both sides of the country would bring the nations closer and pave ways for inter-parliamentary diplomacy and cooperation.
While answering the question regarding stability in Afghanistan, the Speaker said that Pakistan wanted to strengthen relations with Afghanistan and work together for peace and prosperity in the region. “Pakistan and Afghanistan are victims of terrorism and both suffered a lot from the menace of extremism. Joint strategy and closer cooperation to address the root causes of terrorism should be needed between two neighbours” SardarAyazSadiqsaid.
He also briefed about the visit of the high powered Pakistani parliamentary delegation to Afghanistan and shared the detail of the meetings with Afghan leadership.
The Speaker also informed the objectives of the First Speakers Conference held in December 2017 where Speakers from Russia, Turkey, Iran, China and Afghanistan attended the moot and discussed the ways how to tackle the menace of terrorism in the region as well connect with each other for prosperity and development.
Regarding Pak-US relation, the Speaker said that we would like to have good relations with the United States based on mutual respect and equality.
All the political parties in the Parliament are on the same page on the issues of Pak- US relation that our foreign policy would never be shaped under any foreign influence, he said.
While answering the question about Pak-India relation, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said that we want better bilateral relations with India without any compromise on the dignity and honour of Pakistan.
“Moving forward” with India is not possible by brushing Kashmir issue aside. Regional peace and inclusive development, not only for the sub-continent but for the entire region will remain a mere dream, if the international community keeps side stepping the Kashmir issue, the Speaker said.
Earlier the German Ambassador Martin Kobler acknowledged the sentiments of the Speaker and said that his government also attaches immense importance to its relations with Pakistan and wants to further cement them through cooperation in diverse fields. He agreed that frequent interaction between business communities and parliamentarians would be beneficial for both the nations. He said that Germany, as Europe’s largest economy, was keen to maintain intensive and friendly relations with Pakistan.
He further said that Germany would continue to support Pakistan at the regional as well as international level in its efforts towards achieving democratic and economic development.
Pakistan has successfully overcome several issues: President
ISLAMABAD, Feb 13 (APP):President Mamnoon Hussain on Tuesday said Pakistan had successfully overcome several complex issues including countering terrorism and stabilizing national economy.
The President said this while addressing the inauguration ceremony of first International Deans Conference of Engineering Institutions organized by Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC).
The President stated that during last few decades, the country had to face various problems including terrorism which caused a debilitating impact on the economy and increased unemployment.
He said the situation also affected the people associated with the profession of engineering and he underlined that now there was a change in circumstances.
He emphasized that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was not only beneficial for Pakistan and China but for the entire region.
He underscored that it was an age of connectivity and its latest manifestation had emerged in the shape of CPEC.
President Mamnoon expressed satisfaction that Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) was cognizant of the future requirements and they had also charted out a strategy in order to discharge these responsibilities.
He highlighted that many countries of the world including those of Central Asia had pinned many expectations with this project. Therefore, it is necessary that PEC and all other national institutions should recognize their responsibilities in this regard, he added.
He stated that PEC had also a huge responsibility in these matters apart from other relevant organizations and stressed that it was, therefore, imperative that international standards must be kept in consideration during the development of projects.
He emphasized on ensuring quality of international standards in carrying out the projects related to CPEC and hoped that such discussions would provide basis for the improvement of engineering education and professional standards in Pakistan.
He called upon the PEC to prepare viable proposals in this regard and expressed hope that these suggestions would be helpful in developing engineering service structure in the country.
The President expressed his pleasure on Pakistan’s becoming a signatory of Washington Accord last year and termed it of vital importance for the field of engineering.
He hoped that participation in this important international forum would strengthen engineering sector in Pakistan and would also help in further accelerating the pace of national development.
Chairman Higher Education Commission Prof Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad, Vice Chairman Pakistan Engineering Council, Secretary General Malaysian Society for Engineering and Technology Prof. Muhammad Noor, Engr. Dr. Jameel Ahmed and local and foreign experts were also present in the ceremony.
Federal Minister for Science and Technology Rana Tanveer Hussain also addressed at the event.
Pakistan to develop e-governance council for policy formulation
ISLAMABAD, Feb 13 (APP):National Security Advisor Lt General (retd) Nasser Khan Janjua Tuesday said that Pakistan needed to excel and develop an
e-governance council for policy formulation according to globally acceptable parameters.
The advisor expressed these views while addressing a closing ceremony “Cyber Secure Pakistan – Policy Framework” arranged by CGSS.
The aim of the seminar was to create awareness among the masses regarding the new emerging technologies in the cyber world and to devise a unified cyber security policy of the country as the mechanisms to regulate the cyber space had become an important feature of national security.
The seminar is an initiative to formulate a consolidated cyber security strategy.
He said that with growing digitalization of cyber space, new threats are emerging pertaining to defense and security.
The advisor said that the whole sphere had been endangered and it was need of the hour to get out of the consumer market and venture into new dimensions.
“Pakistan is engulfed in traditional threats and insecurities due to which the new emerging threats have been ignored hence, we have to do better more than ever before,” he added.
He further stated that most of the states are in the process to make a framework. While state remains principal political entity, the diffusion of technology has transcended into seen and unseen factors therefore, the country needed to protect information from being maliciously used against the state.
He said, “Excessive use of internet has put our security under the threat. Due to our increasing alliance on the internet, cyber security policy is becoming the need of the hour.”
He stressed the need to create awareness that cyber security was a matter of national security.
Lieutenant General Muhammad Zahir Ul Islam HI(M), (Retd) – Chairman CGSS in his opening remarks stated that the government must pass well-articulated legislation that provided a legal framework for law enforcement and intelligence agencies to operate under.
A transparent process, with input from the private sector, needs to be developed for accessing communications data when national security is at risk. Pakistan must develop a centralised command that serves as the central organisation responsible for the development of military capabilities in the cyber realm.
This cyber command should be tasked with modernising Pakistan’s cyber defences, both in the military and civilian domain. The government, military, and the private sector must come together to develop a framework for securing the country’s critical infrastructure from cyberattacks.
Secretary National Security Division Syed Iftikhar Hussain Babar in his opening address highlighted the significance of cyber security.
He stated that Pakistan needed to focus on the development of National Security Command Authority. The threat of Cyber Warfare was real and protecting data was as important as protecting ourselves, he added.
He said that the situation in Pakistan was not discouraging. The government and many private institutions had made tangible efforts in this regard. Pakistan must establish its foothold in cyber space and formulate its state policy, before the world further enhances its capabilities in this field.
Member Telecom, Ministry of Information Technology, Mudassar Hussain on the occasion said that the relevant departments had been working on the strategy for cyber security, but due to lack of collaboration between these institutions, we had failed to develop a consolidated cybersecurity policy.
“We must devise a strategy which the users have faith in and the user must be aware of the steps he can take to ensure its own security. We also need to work on a model for international collaboration. This is a collective initiative which is being delayed due to non-consensus of all the relevant departments.”
Khawaja Asif to visit Tunisia for further expanding economic relations
ISLAMABAD, Feb 13 (APP):Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif will attend the 9th Session of Pakistan-Tunisia Joint Commission in Tunis from February 14 to 15.
The foreign minister is visiting Tunisia on the invitation of his Tunisian counterpart Khemais Jhinaoui, to Co-chair the Joint Commission meeting with him to review bilateral political relations and discuss avenues to further expand the economic relations between both the countries, a statement Tuesday said.
During his stay in Tunis, the foreign minister will also have meetings with the Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi and Speaker of the Parliament Mohammad Ennaceur.
A number of bilateral agreements of cooperation in the fields of justice, banking, industrial and agriculture research, higher education and cooperation between small and medium enterprises are expected to be signed during the Joint Commission meeting.