ISLAMABAD, Feb 14 (APP):State Minister for Capital Administration and Development Division Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry Wednesday said
Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and its leadership had always respected national institutions and worked for
superemacy of the law.
Talking to a private news channel, he said former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had respected the
judiciary and he was presenting himself before the courts as regularly but he was criticising on its decision which was
a constitutional right of every citizen of the country.
He said opponants had registerd corruption cases against Nawaz Sharif but not a single case was proved in the courts
and he was disqualified on having an Iqama.
The minister said political parties should avoid to play a negative role in the politics and work for strengthening democratic system in the country.
He said people were supporting Nawaz Sharif’s narrative of development and victory of the PML-N candidate in
NA 154 was the ample proof in that regard.
Replying to a question, he said it was his personal opinion that Senate elections should be held as directly and it would
helpful for improving and strengthening system of the country.
PML-N always worked for superemacy of law: Tariq
Around 309 Calligraphers submit art works to participate in National Calligraphy Competition
ISLAMABAD, Feb 14 (APP):A total of 309 Calligraphers from across the country have submitted their art works to the
National History and Literary Heritage (NH&LH) Division for participation in the up-coming National Calligraphy Competition and Exhibition.
The jury members comprising over the expert calligraphers have started the scrutinizing process to identify the best calligraphic art works for the week -long National Calligraphy Competition and
Exhibition, to be held from February 23 to February 28.
Talking to APP on Wednesday, Advisor to Prime Minister on
NH&LH, Irfan Siddiqui said, “It is a matter of great satisfaction that Calligraphers from far flung areas of the country including FATA, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir have submitted their unique art pieces to the division for participating in the competition which reflect their enthusiasm and love for this ancient art”, he
said.
He said National Calligraphy Competition and Exhibition will help discover talented Calligraphers from the remote corners of the country and play vital role in the revival of this Islamic art.
The Calligraphy Competition and Exhibition will be dedicated to Abdul Majeed Parveen Raqam who was a legendary calligrapher and
rendered huge contribution in this field.
This initiative will serve as catalyst toward promotion of glorious Islamic art of Calligraphy in the country and motivate the young artists to get excellence in this ancient form of art, he said.
A total of 15 awards will be given in three categories to the winners of the competitions on the concluding day of the exhibition (Feb 28). These categories include Nastaleeq, Thuluth and Modern
style calligraphy.
The cash prizes worth Rs. 75,000, Rs. 50,000, Rs.
40,000, Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 15,000 will be given to the best five calligraphers of each category.
Young calligraphers, aged up to 35 years, from across the country including Azad Jammu Kashmir, FATA and Gilgit-Baltistan have
submitted their art works to the division.
The selection of best calligraphers will be made by the jury comprising over senior calligraphers in transparent manner. The
calligraphers participating in the competition will also conduct training workshops during the calligraphy exhibition.
This calligraphy Competition along with an exhibition of selected art pieces will be held from February 23 to February 28 at a local hotel.
The calligraphy exhibition will be open for the general public during the whole week.
Rs. 3b spent on schools up-gradation, daily wages teachers to be regularized on priority; Tariq Fazal
ISLAMABAD, Feb 14 (APP):The government has spent Rs. 3 billion rupees on up-gradation of schools in Islamabad and efforts are underway to regularize the
services of daily wages employees.
It was stated by Minister for Capital Administration and Development Division Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on Wednesday while responding to supplementary questions in Senate during Question our.
The minister said that Islamabad government schools would be made role model for others under Prime Minister Education Reform Program.
He said that three billion rupees have been invested on new buses, up-gradation of labs, drinking water facilities, furniture and other facilities.
He said that government is trying to regularize the services of daily wages employees. “ It is amongst our top priority to regularize their services as Leader of the House has also directed me for the same in the light of decisions made by courts in their favour,” he maintained.
The minister said that strict promotion policy is being adopted in government educational institutions which is directly linked to their performance.
To a question about fees of private schools, the minister said that there has been variation in fees of private schools at different levels. He said that decision has been reserved by Islamabad High Court regarding fee issue of private educational institutions and House would be taken into confidence while taking any further decision on the issue.
Tariq Fazal said that a policy is being formulated regarding the various issues of private schools which include not sending admissions of students for Board examinations who exhibit poor results in their internal examination.
Saira Peter releases her new album ‘Raqs-e-Rooh’
ISLAMABAD, Feb 14 (APP):The first Pakistani Sufi Opera Singer Saira Peter has released her new album “Raqs-e-Rooh”, comprising poetry of renowned Sufi saints of the country.
Talking to APP, Saira Peter said that she was singing Sufi spiritual poetry as a passion and proud to spread Sufi teachings across the world. She said that her new album is a gift for Sufi music lovers in Pakistan and world.
She expressed the hope that her fellow Pakistani would like her new Album “Raqs-e-Rooh”.
Saira Peter was inspired by Madam Noor Jahan. Saira Peter’s voice has a unique mystical quality.
She is well-versed in Eastern while her opera music is also rare. She has specialization in the musical version of Sindhi Sufi saint Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai’s poetry.
She said that Opera music was spiritual and that’s why it was going to help spread his message across the world and realize his dream.
Karachi-born singer lived in London for the last many years. She got training as an opera singer from Paul Knight, a student of English Composer and legend Western classical music Benjamin Britten.
64 percent women facilitated through PM’ IFLS
ISLAMABAD, Feb 14 (APP):Chairperson of Prime Minister Youth Programme (PMYP) Leila Khan on Wednesday revealed that 258,637 women were facilitated through Prime Minister Interest Free Loan Scheme(IFLS) aimed at making youth self-reliant and useful citizen of the country.
The PML- N government under the dynamic leadership of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had launched IFLS in 2013 with an aim to extend the financial assistance to more vulnerable and the poorest of the poor segment of society.
“Recovery rate of the scheme is 99 percent and Rs. 9,467 million has been disbursed among 4,000,000 youth with loans up to 50,000”, she added.
Leila informed APP that the micro-finance facility was aimed to increase workforce of industrial sector from current level of 2.5 million to 5 million adding that “loans are being disbursed to those districts on first priority which either do not have Micro-finance facilities or below the 12 percent as per the Micro-Finance Network Data (MFN).
Research and Public Relation Officer of PMYP Abdul Shakir said that Interest Free Loan with tenure of one year was being disbursed without any mark-up across all over country.
The scheme covered 2 districts of Islamabad ,12 of Punjab,10 of Sindh,10 of Balochistan,7 of KPK,2 of Gilgit-baltistan and each from FATA and AJK, Shakir informed.
“More than 60,000 people who were also BISP recipients were facilitated under this schme in order to provide them their own business so that they could earn their respectable livelihood”,he added.
Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) had been mandated by the government of Pakistan to mobilize, monitor and implement PM IFLS, he informed.
Farid Sabir General Manager of PPAF told that “there is strong cohesion between PM’s vision of PPAF to strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations to engage in government’s mandate for poverty alleviation”.
The scheme targetted those households who have the poverty score up to 40 on BISP poverty score card adding that IFLS criteria was simple as applicant should be a dignified citizen and belonging from less-developed area,he added.
PPAF engaged 26 partner organizations, established 291 centers and covered 44 districts and 437 Union Councils,he informed.
“The Prime Minister’s Interest Free Loan (PMIFL) Scheme is envisaged to provide interest free loans plus services to people at their doorsteps so that those who are unbanked and/or lacking access to financial services may have resources that can change their lives”,he added.
Salma Boota, a young optimistic lady,from Narowal told that she received a loan of Rs. 20,000 under Prime Minister’s Interest Free Loan Scheme and purchased raw material for starting a football stitching centre and adding that she also spent half of the loan amount to purchase a goat.
“I am currently being supported with my staff of four employees and manage to earn on an average Rs. 15,000 per month. The PMIFL loan has created a remarkable difference in my life,she remarked.
Punjab govt taking all possible steps to ensure protection of children: Rana Sanaullah
LAHORE, Feb 14 (APP):Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan on Wednesday said that “Search Alert System” formed for the protection of children would be linked with information technology.
He said this while addressing a meeting held regarding the protection of children at Civil Secretariat, here.
The Minister said that application of this system would be approved from Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) besides being built-in in mobiles. He further said that boundary mapping of all police stations in the province had been
completed in this regard.
The Law Minister said that effective mechanism would be made to check fake alerts and irresponsible use
of the application.
He further said Internet Crime Units would be established in all police stations on the pattern of cyber crime in FIA.
Three sub-committees presented their recommedations in the meeting.
The Minister said the Punjab government, in line with the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, was taking all possible steps to ensure the protection of children.
Rana Sanaullah said protection of children was collective responsibility. He said, “Via Search Alert System the alerts will go
upto RPO level through relevant police station,” adding the system could be opened through web as well.
He said that till now 600,000 copies of “Mehfooz Bachay-Mazboot Pakistan” had been distributed in the province. The copies
had been distributed in government and private schools, 70,000 mosques and other places, he added.
He said legislation would be carried out to regulate investigation reporting.
Share given to provinces under Green Pakistan Program
ISLAMABAD, Feb 14 (APP):Minister for Climate Change Mushahid Ullah Khan on Wednesday said that provinces have been given due share under Green Pakistan Program while implementation on the National Climate Change policy is responsibility of the provincial governments at present.
Responding to a question in the Senate, the minister said the National Climate Change Policy was approved by cabinet in 2012, which provides a framework for addressing the issues that Pakistan faces or will face in future due to changing climate.
He said that policy aims to ensure that climate change is mainstreamed in economically and socially vulnerable sectors of the economy and to steer Pakistan towards climate resilient development.
He said that policy document highlights the vulnerabilities of various sectors to climate change and appropriate measures to address the issues.
The policy covers the sectors of water resources, agriculture and live stock, forestry and biodiversity and other vulnerable ecosystems, he added.
US describes Asma Jehangir’s death great loss to World
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 (APP):US describes Asma Jehangir”s death great loss to World“ The US State Department on Tuesday paid rich tribute to renowned Pakistani human rights activist and lawyer, Asma Jahangir, saying she championed the rule of law, democracy and human rights around the world.
Asma Jahangir died on Sunday of heart attack at the age of 66. She won international awards and served as the United Nations rapporteur on human rights and extrajudicial killings.
“Her passing is a great loss to the world, and she will be missed as a champion in her country, its people, and millions more around the world,” said State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert, who expressed condolences from the US government at the start of the press briefing.
“We would like to say that we like to join the Government of Pakistan and others around the world in mourning the passing of a Pakistani human rights and democracy advocate “For years Ms. Jahangir courageously defended the rights of those who did not have a voice.
Paying tributes to Asma Jahangir, the spokesperson said that as a global icon in human rights, she founded and chaired the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. She served as the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association. Most recently, she served as UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, tirelessly fighting on behalf of the Iranian people as they demanded freedom, dignity, and human rights.
Asma Jahangir was also paid tributes by the US and Canadian media. In an obituary published in the New York Times, she was described as the “Fearless Pakistani Rights Activist”.
Jahangir, a human rights lawyer, had a reputation for speaking truth to power and defending the weak and the marginalized and women and minorities against injustice,” the paper wrote.
“Ms. Jahangir never minced words while defending democracy and human rights, ” the paper noted, and eulogized her for championing the rights of religious minorities and women.
“An active member of bar politics, she was the first female president of the Pakistan Supreme Court’s Bar Association. Till her death, she spoke out against corruption in the legal community and advocated judicial reform,” the paper said.
US national radio, NPR, also remembered the Pakistani lawyer for her fierce defense of human rights, especially women and minorities. The radio also broadcast extracts of her interview she gave to the radio in 2001.
A Canadian publication, Toronto Sun, also published a news about her death, saying that for 40 years, the lioness of Pakistan stood alone,†in her fight for human rights, democracy and against militancy.
606 mosques agree to implement uniform prayer, Azaan timings: Yousaf
ISLAMABAD, Feb 14 (APP):Minister for Religious affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf Wednesday said 606 out of total 615 mosques of the federal capital have agreed to implement uniform prayer and Azaan timings at their respective mosques.
Chairing a meeting of Nizam-e-Salat Committee, he said the consensus of all schools of thought Ulema on uniform prayer and Azaan timings in their respective mosques was a great achievement of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government.
The Nizam-e-Salat (Uniform prayer and Azaan system) would be expanded to 50 union councils of the federal capital. This system would be started in mosques of G-8, I-9 Markaz from the current week.
The meeting was attended by Ulema, representatives of trader associations, interior ministry, district management of ICT, Auqaf department, civil society and chairmen of various union councils of the federal capital.
First phase of Joint Pak-Saudi exercise Aff’aa Al Sahil concludes
ISLAMABAD, Feb 14 (APP):The first phase of Joint Special Operation Forces Maritime exercise Aff’aa Al Sahil being held at Karachi between Pakistan Navy (PN-SOF) and Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF-SOF) has concluded.
During the first phase, series of land and harbour exercises were scheduled; wherein, Maritime Special Operations were rehearsed prior exercises at sea in second phase, a press release issued here by directorate of public relations of Pakistan Navy.
Exercise Aff’aa Al Sahil is aimed on enhancing interoperability and sharpening the tactical proficiency in countering Maritime Human trafficking, Piracy and Terrorism. The exercise will help in developing synergy in operations against asymmetric and
conventional threats.
Exercise Aff’aa Al Sahil is a bilateral exercise being conducted annually between the two sides since 2011. Culmination of first phase will lead to Sea Phase; wherein sea based Maritime Special Operations will be conducted.
Beside Exercise Aff’aa Al Sahil at Karachi, Exercise Dera Al Sahil between Pak Marines and RSNF Marines is also under progress at Saudi Arabia.
This exercise is aimed to enhance professional skills and practices especially in the field of Coastal Defence like demonstration for Military Operations and Urban Terrain (MOUT), Joint Beach Landing through Landing Craft Utility (LCU) and training of snipers through camouflage and concealment techniques.