LAHORE, Feb 19 (APP):Pak-China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI) on Monday arranged an exclusive New Year celebration ceremony for felicitating Chinese businessmen, entrepreneurs, and investors associated with the platform of Pak-China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The ceremony was presided over by PCJCCI President S.M. Naveed, while Senior Vice President Dr. Iqbal Qureshi, Executive Committee members including Irfan Mehboob and Rizwan Nisar also extended
their greetings to the Chinese guests, a press release said.
Addressing the ceremony, S.M. Naveed said that Chinese collaboration had played a great role in keeping the trustworthy relationship intact between two friendly nations.
He said that the decision of Pakistan to join hands with China for the remarkable projects such as CPEC,
One Belt-One road, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS for building economic and political linkages with neighbors and Asian countries had truly been commendable.
He added that this year PCJCCI had taken special initiatives to bring investment from China in the eight potential industrial sectors including furniture, handicrafts, textiles, fertilizer, cement, glasswork, energy and pharmaceuticals.
He said that these sectors were jointly identified by the high authorities of PCJCCI in order to bring positive results in all aspects.
While expressing his goodwill to the Chinese friends, Dr. Iqbal Qureshi said that he was confident that the strong bond of Pakistan and China would set a prolific example before the world.
He added that the joint efforts of Pakistan and China for prosperity of both nations had really set a good precedent.
S.M Naveed along with other officials paid a special tribute to the Chinese communities, who maintained friendship and lived in harmony with local people and made indispensable contributions to the economic and social development of Pakistan.
He hope that all Chinese in Pakistan would carry forward the fine Chinese culture, adding that their traditional virtues revealed the spirit of diligence, bravery, intelligence.
He said that Chinese would make more contributions to a better Pakistan by keeping in view friendly traits between the two friends.
The Chinese New Year celebration was followed by cake cutting and heartfelt blessings were delivered to the Chinese people from the members of PCJCCI.
PCJCCI celebrates Chinese New Year
Sports Minister discusses sustainable model to run sports facilities
LAHORE, Feb 19 (APP):Punjab Sports Minister, Jahangir Khanzada presided over an important meeting at National Hockey Stadium on Monday and discussed the formation of efficient and sustainable financial and administrative model to run the newly build sports facilities like gymnasiums, tennis courts, swimming pool, hockey stadiums and playfields in Punjab.
Besides Secretary Sports Punjab Muhammad Aamir Jan, the meeting was also attended by Director Admin Javed Rasheed Chohan, former national cricket captain Intikhab Alam, former President Lahore
City Cricket Association, Kh Nadeem Ahmed, Director Project Management Unit Akram Soban, Deputy Secretary Planning Tehmina Habib, Deputy Director Hafeez Bhatti, DSO Rauf Bajwa and other top officials.
Addressing the meeting, Minister said Punjab government has established top class sports facilities across the province in a short period of time under the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. “We want that our youth can take maximum benefit out of these sports facilities and for that purpose we are carving out such an appropriate system according to which these facilities will be operated in a professional manner”.
Jahangir Khanzada said that we are trying our best to formulate such a mechanism so that we can operate our valuable sports facilities according to international level.
In his address, Secretary Sports Punjab, Muhammad Aamir Jan said the newly-developed sports facilities are no less than a blessing for the talented youth of Punjab.
Aamir Jan said it’s our prime objective to function our newly-constructed gymnasiums, tennis courts, swimming pool, hockey stadiums and playfields in such a proficient fashion so that our athletes can win several laurels and titles at national and international by utilizing these sports facilities.
All Pakistan Inte-rvarsity Body-building Championship in UVAS
LAHORE, Feb 19 (APP):The University of Veterinary and
Animal Sciences (UVAS) Lahore in collaboration with Higher
Education Commission (HEC) Islamabad organised All Pakistan
Inter-university Body-building Championship 2018 in the
city campus.
The University of Central Punjab with 116 points won
1st position. The University of Veterinary & Animal Science
(UVAS) Lahore with 73 points while its students Zeeshan Mahmood,
Ahmad Rasool and Ammar Ahmad won 3 gold medals and clinched
2nd position. The University of Punjab with 73 points and one
gold medal got 3rd position.
Students from 18 universities from all over Pakistan
participated in the championship including Arid Agriculture
University Rawalpindi,University of Engineering & Technology
Lahore,Agriculture University Faisalabad, ICBS Lahore,
Government Collage University Lahore, Superior University
Lahore,University of Sindh Jamshoro, University of Education
Lahore, University of Central Punjab, University Management
and Technology Lahore,Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan,
University of Lahore,BUITEMS,Sindh Agriculture University
Tando Jam,University of Engineering & Technology Texila,
Punjab University Lahore, Garrison University Lahore and
University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore etc.
UVAS Pro-Vice Chancellor, Prof.Dr Masood Rabbani
chaired the concluding ceremony of the championship and
distributed trophies among the winners.
Chairman Sports Board (UVAS) Dr.Rana Muhammad Ayyub
and Director Sports UVAS Rana Amjad Iqbal were also
present on the occasion.
PSF finalizes players for Asian Team C’ship, Commonwealth Games
ISLAMABAD, Feb 19 (APP):Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) Monday finalized players to represent the country in the Asian Team Championship, taking place in South Korea from March 21 -25.
The players would also participate in the Commonwealth Games to be held from April 5 to 15 April in Australia, a spokesman of PSF said.
He said the players were selected after five-day trials. Top four players Farhan Zaman, Tayyab Aslam, Amaad Fareed and Muhammad Asim Khan would feature in Asian Team Championship.
As Maria Toor had shown her unavailability for South Korea due to an ankle injury, Pakistan women team would include Madina Zafar, Sadia Gul, Faiza Zafar and Riffat Khan. For Commonwealth Games Farhan Zaman, Tayyab Aslam, Maria Toor and Madina Zafar had been selected to represent the country, he added.
The spokesman said the federation had organized training camp in Islamabad to impart training to all the selected players to prepare them for better performance during these events. The camp would last till departure of teams to Korea and Australia, he added.
Azerbaijan’s finance minister calls on PM
ISLAMABAD, Feb 19 (APP):Finance Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Samir Sharifov Monday had a brief visit to Pakistan and delivered a special message from the Azeri president to the Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to seek support of Pakistan for hosting Expo 2025 and World Bank Conference 2021 by Azerbaijan, in Baku.
The prime minister assured consideration to the request for the support of hosting the above mentioned conferences.
The two sides exchanged views on possible cooperation in areas of mutual interest, especially in the energy and agricultural sectors and discussed various measures to enhance bilateral trade.
They also discussed the current situation in Indian occupied Kashmir and Nagorno-Karabakh and reiterated continued mutual support on those disputes.
Pak troops to impart training to Saudi Armed forces: Senate told
ISLAMABAD, Feb 19 (APP):Minister for Defence Khurram Dastagir on Monday assured the Senate that Pakistani troops were only being sent to Saudi Arabia to impart training to Saudi Armed Forces instead of entangling in Yemeni
conflict.
In a ministerial response to a point raised by Farhatullah Babar regarding Pakistani contingent being sent to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the minister said, “the apprehension that our troops entangle in Yemen conflict is totally incorrect.”
He said, currently 1,600 personnel of Pakistan Army were on deputation in Saudi Arabia and 1000 more personnel were being sent to Saudi Arabia purely for training purpose.
The minister said the Prime Minister has approved deputation of additional Pakistani troops to Saudi Arabia for training and advisory purposes.
He said that the assistance being rendered to Saudi Arabia was a continuation of the ongoing support and within the confines of joint Parliamentary resolution of April 2015.
He said that the planned training and advisory contingent has yet not been dispatched to Saudi Arabia. He said that the contingent would have strength of over 1000 troops of all ranks and would be dispatched shortly.
“Contingent deputed in Saudi Arabia will perform its training and advisory mission while remaining within the geographical boundaries of the Kingdom,” the minister said.
He said Pakistan had also trained Saudi Armed forces personnel in various training institutions of the country. Nearly 10,000 Saudi security personnel have got training from Pakistan so far, he said.
He said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia also hold joint defence exercises regularly. Officials and dignitaries of both the countries frequently exchanged visits, he said.
He said Pakistani forces have vast counter terrorism experience and rendered supreme sacrifices in war against terrorism.
The minister said training of Saudi forces were governed by 1982 bilateral protocol regarding the deputation of Pakistan’s Armed Forces’ personnel.
He said troops were being sent to Saudi Arabia under the bilateral protocol agreement of 1982.
He said Pakistan would remain impartial in Yemen conflict and would only impart training to
Saudi armed forces.
Regarding relations with Iran, Khurram said Pakistan attached great importance to its relation with Iran adding that former PM Mian Nawaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff, Minister for Defence Production, Advisor on National Security and other senior officials visited Iran.
Aibak Polo Cup to get under way
LAHORE, Feb 19 (APP):Aibak Polo Cup 2018 will get under way from tomorrow (Tuesday) here at the Lahore Polo Club (LPC) ground.
Speaking about the tournament, Lahore Polo Club President Irfan Ali Hyder said on Monday that as many as top seven teams are featuring in the 14-goal tournament, which are divided into two pools. Pool A consists of Master Paints Black, Newage/BBJ Pipes, Rijas Aces/PAF and Barry’s while Pool B has Army, Diamond Paints/Guard Rice and Rizvi’s/Master Paints in it.
The inaugural match of the tournament will be contested between Army and Diamond Paints/Guard Rice while the main and subsidiary finals will be played on February 25 (Sunday).
Highlighting the history of the tournament, Irfan Ali Hyder
said: “The Aibak Cup is dedicated to the memory of Qutubuddin Aibak, who became the Afghan Emperor Muhammed Ghauri’s most trusted general. In early 1200’s Emperor Ghauri appointed Qutubuddin Aibak as his ‘Naib us Sultanat’ in India at the grand darbar in Lahore. Upon Ghauri’s death in 1206, the kingdom’s Central Asian territories were captured by the Mongol warlord Genghis Khan, but Aibak retained the lower kingdom and became ruler of the territories which now cover the areas of modern day Afghanistan, Pakistan & Northern India.
He spent his time between Lahore & Delhi, where he also built the Qutub Minar, now a world heritage site. Sultan Qutubuddin Aibak died in Lahore in 1210 in an accident while playing polo. He was buried in Lahore near the Anarkali bazaar, he added.
“Thrilling and exciting polo will be witnessed during the week long event which have the participation of country’s top notch polo stars,”
said LPC Chief.
President for boosting trade ties with Azerbaijan to exploit potential
ISLAMABAD, Feb 19 (APP):President Mamnoon Hussain Monday said there existed immense potential for trade and economic cooperation between Pakistan and Azerbaijan and both the countries must put in their efforts to exploit it.
In a meeting with Finance Minister of Azerbaijan Samir Sharifov, who called on him along with a delegation at Aiwan-e-Sadr, the president emphasized the need for exchange of delegations of traders and industrialists besides pondering over the launch of joint projects.
During the meeting, the Azeri minister conveyed a special message of Azeri President Ilham Aliyev to President Mamnoon Hussain.
He said two countries had similarity of views on regional and international issues and also supported each other at international forums which reflected their close and brotherly ties.
The president said Pakistan respected the internationally recognized boundaries of Azerbaijan besides supporting the country on Nagorno-Karabakh issue.
He said Pakistan also lauded the Azeri stance on Kashmir issue.
On the occasion, the Azeri minister said Azerbaijan supported Pakistan on Kashmir issue and believed that the dispute must be resolved in accordance with the UN Security Council’s resolutions.
He said Azerbaijan also desired maximum economic cooperation with Pakistan.
President confers Nishan-e-Imtiaz on Malaysian Royal Navy’s chief
ISLAMABAD, Feb 19 (APP):President Mamnoon Hussain Monday confered Nishan-e-Imtiaz (military) on chief of Malaysian Royal Navy Tan Sri Ahmad Kamarul Zaman here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.
Addressing on the occasion, the president said Pakistan had eradicated the menace of terrorism from its soil and the terrorists were carrying out their activities from across the border.
He said the country’s border with Afghanistan would be fenced to check the infiltration of terrorists.
President Mamnoon said Pakistan and Malaysia were sincere friends who stood with each other in difficult times.
He lauded the role of Malaysia to support Pakistan’s attainment of full membership of ASEAN.
The ceremony was attended by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mehmood Abbasi and civil and military officials.
PM’s youth programme reflective of PML-N govt priorities
ISLAMABAD, Feb 19 (APP):Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Monday said the PM’s youth programme was reflective of priorities of PML-N government aimed at increasing their contributions towards overall socio-economic development of the country.
During a briefing given by Chairperson of Prime Minister (PM)’s Youth Programme Leila Khan here at the PM Office, he expressed satisfaction on overall progress of various components of the programme initiated in 2013 and said it would help the youth become productive asset of the society.
The chairperson briefed him on the achievements of various schemes. She termed it a successful initiative of the PML-N government for the socio-economic development of youth, as overall beneficiaries under its six schemes had crossed 1.1 million.
Leila Khan said under PM’s Youth Business Loan Scheme, so far 22,000 loans worth Rs22 billion had been disbursed among educated and skilled youth, for the promotion of entrepreneurship culture in the country.
Those young entrepreneurs were not only running their own businesses successfully but also providing employment to number of others, she said and added the 91% recovery rate of the scheme was the highest in SME sector financing and spoke of its success.
She said under the PM’s Interest Free Loan Scheme, so far more than 400,000 interest free loans worth Rs9.5 billion had been disbursed among poorest of the poor across the country.
She said 64% of the loans beneficiaries were female, while the overall recovery rate of the scheme was 99%. More than 64,000 BISP beneficiaries had also started their own business by taking interest free loans under the scheme.
Under PM’s Youth Skill Development Program, 100,000 unemployed youth had been trained in around 100 demand-driven vocational trades across the country, whereas 100,000 more youth would complete training by the end of 2018. Under PM’s Fee Re-Imbursement Scheme, fee of more than 227,000 university students from less developed areas had been paid so far, resulting in increase in university enrollment, she added.
She said under PM’s Youth Laptop Scheme, 300,000 laptops had been distributed among talented university students across the country, whereas 200,000 more “Made in Pakistan” laptops would be distributed by the end of 2018.
Under PM’s Youth Training Scheme, above 95,000 interns had so far been placed in more than 4,900 public and private sector organizations across the country, she maintained.