ISLAMABAD, Feb 4 (APP):Minister of State for Information and Telecommunications Anusha Rehman Sunday said the government has started the implementation phase of a large scale National Digital Skills (Digi Skills) Training Programme, introduced to equip the youth with modern skills to earn a decent living.
Talking to PTV, she said the basic idea behind this Programme was to train one million people across the country over a period of around two years.
She said that before 2013, the IT sector was totally ignored but the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) government had started work in this sector on emergency basis and achieved fruitful results in the shape of first 3G,4G spectrum auction during early 10 months of the government.
She said that the Programme was aimed at equipping the youth, freelancers, students, professionals, etc. with knowledge, skills, tools & techniques necessary to seize opportunities available internationally in online job market places and also locally. The other aim was to make a workforce that is motivated by fourth industrial revolution in future.
She said due to limited employment opportunities, it was essential for upcoming workforce to have necessary knowledge and abilities to grab such opportunities. This has been envisaged to be achieved through this national level programme to train target audiences in freelancing and other specialized skills, she added.
The minister of state said the Ministry was in process of developing a portal through Ignite that can not only teach about the latest technical advancements but also act as a market place.
The need for developing coding skills, from a young age, is the need of the hour since programming is the future, she said and added that for a better future, “We need to start teaching programming at the age of 4.”
“It is our responsibility to provide our kids with all the happiness that they deserve and it is only possible if we equip them with the skills they need for a successful future,” she said.
She said, “We will train women with the required technological skills to enable them to earn from home.”
Regarding the Digi Skills platform, the Minister said, “It is right time to develop new skills in new technologies and with this programme we are going to train one million people across the country.”
Anusha Rehman said programmes like these are need of the hour in a country with such a huge population.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 4 (APP):As the nation is set to observe Kashmir Solidarity Day on Monday (February 5), the President House
would host the main ceremony of the Day to be attended by the leadership from all political parties of
Pakistan and Azad Kashmir and representatives from Occupied Kashmir.
President Mamnoon Hussain would address the ceremony that would be a reflection of the national
unity to express solidarity with the Kashmiri brethren.
Among those who would attend the event include Minister for Foreign Affairs Khawaja Muhammad
Asif, Defence Minister Khurram Dastgir, Kashmir Affairs Minister Barjees Tahir, President AJK Sardar
Masood Khan, Chairman Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Pakistan
Peoples Party’s Senator Rehman Malik and Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf’s Shafqat Mehmood.
Besides the leadership of the Hurriyat Conference, prominent political and social figures as well
as the intellectuals would address the ceremony that would be covered live by national media.
The event would highlight the freedom struggle of Kashmiri people, Indian atrocities against
innocent Kashmiri people besides the efforts to politically carry forward the struggle.
Different documentaries encompassing the decades-old Kashmir struggle would also
be shown.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 4 (APP):Minister of State for Power Abid Sher Ali Sunday said that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N had always respected the mandate of people and put the country on path of economic development.
Talking to a private news channel, the minister said that PML)N) was getting popular in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and expressed the hope that it would form government in the province after general elections of 2018.
He blamed Imran Khan for misuse of the resources of the provincial government and also criticized Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for promoting alleged horsetrading.
Meanwhile, Minister for Climate Change Mushahidullah Khan said that the Sunday’s rally in Peshawar would set an example in the country’s political history. The political rivals would have no other option to run away from next election because they knew that people were supporting PML-N, he added.

KHANEWAL, Feb 4 (APP): Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique said on Sunday that they would not compromise on the respect and sanctity of parliament.
Talking to the media at Khanewal railways station, he said that
they also give due respect to other institutions. He said there was
a dire need to maintain national unity and everyone should avoid
negative or politics of hatred.
Despite politics of sit-in and lock down, the PML-N government
would continue to deliver relief, adding that it ended electricity
crisis, restored railways and made motorways and highways.
Khawaja Saad said the incumbent government also strengthened
the country’s economy. Saad claimed that PML-N would win general
elections on the basis of its performance. The masses would reject Opposition and those who hatched conspiracies against the country, he added.
The politics of slogans and signals would not flourish, he added.
On this occasion, the federal minister instructed for cleanliness
of the railways station and also issued certain instructions for improvement in security.

RAWALPINDI, Feb 04 (APP):Pakistan can be self-sufficient in edible oil production if the Olive Valley set up
by Punjab government in Potohar region is promoted on scientific lines, said the
Ambassadors of various countries including Tunisia, Morroco, Kenya, Sudan, Nigeria
and Mauritius during their visit to Barani Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) Chakwal.
The ambassadors were informed during a briefing about steps being taken to promote
olive plantation in the country, particularly in Potohar region.
The ambassadors of Tunisia and Morocco showed great interest expressed their willingness
to work jointly in collaboration with BARI in Olive sector.
The delegates also visited various technology sites and appreciated efforts of the Agri Department
for transforming Potohar into Olive valley.
They also took keen interest to know how the water harvesting and water saving technologies being adopted in the region.
The ambassadors appreciated the involvement of females and youth in various projects being carried out in the rain-fed areas.
They were informed that the Punjab agriculture department has chalked out a five-year plan for making
Potohar Region an Olive Valley. Under the project, the government would provide two million free olive plants
to the selected farmers in Chakwal, Jhelum and other districts.
Special steps under the directives of Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif were being taken for
the promotion of olive crop in the province by the agriculture department.
A large number of growers were showing their keen interest in cultivation of olive crop and were contacting
the agriculture department for obtaining olive plants and technical assistance regarding cultivation of
the crop, the delegation was informed.
In Punjab, several areas including Jhelum and Chakwal were the potential areas for olive cultivation.
According to agriculture experts, the prevailing environment, temperature, soil types, average rainfall
and other related growth factors in these areas were exactly according to the olive cultivation
requirements.
The marginal lands could be utilised for olive cultivation without replacing other crops which would
also help in reducing the import bill of the country.
The department was also conducting awareness and training programmes to facilitate the people by creating
awareness on olive cultivation techniques and producing value added products. Olive tree plantations
has been completed across 3,166 acres in Potohar region to reduce dependence on edible oil imports
and bring marginally agricultural land under cultivation.
The eventual plan is to bring 15,000 acres of land under cultivation by planting more than two million
olive saplings. The Punjab government, in collaboration with international development
partners and donor agencies, had initiated a five-year ‘olive valley project’ to enhance olive oil production.
In order to facilitate and incentivise olive growers, an extra virgin olive extraction plant has been installed
to produce high quality olive oil. The plant has the capacity to process 500 kg oil per hour.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 4 (APP):Senator Raja Muhammad Zafar-ul-Haq on Sunday said that the world could not sleep in peace without resolving the Kashmir
issue.
In an exclusive interview with PTV news , he said Kashmir was Pakistan’s jugular vein and the country was incomplete without it.
Sacrifices rendered by the Kashmiri people would not go waste and Kashmir would become part of Pakistan, he added.
He urged India to honour the resolutions of the United Nations by giving the people of Kashmir the right to self-determination.
Pakistan wants peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues with India, including Jammu and Kashmir dispute, adding, for this consistent, uninterrupted and result-oriented dialogue between the two countries was the key.
While condemning the killings of Kashmiris executed by Indian forces, he said the international community should help resolve the long-standing dispute for enduring peace in the region.
Besides the government, the opposition political parties were also as responsible to highlight and work for the Kashmir cause, he added.
Kashmir had never been part of India and nor it would be, he said and added “it is open violation of international laws by the India to occupy Kashmir.”
He also suggested that whenever dialogue would be initiated between Pakistan and India about Kashmir, the Kashmiri leaders must be the part of it as this issue could not be resolved without their presence.
Raja Zafarul Haq said, “India itself has promised the world community that Kashmiris would be given the right to choose their political future through exercising right to self determination.
Backtracking from this promise would be betrayal of the promise done to the entire world community.
“No matter what India says, the resolution of Kashmir can be only achieved through a free and fair right to self determination,” he concluded.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 4 (APP):Minister for Power Awais Ahmed Leghari has said technology based system would be introduced to bring improvements in efficiency of power producing and distribution companies.
The government had been paying focus to power generation and remained successful, however, focus now shifted to the distribution companies to improve performance, he said.
Talking to a private news channel, he said the government had exposed over billing by power distributing companies of four to eight billion rupees in last two months. The government was about to start accountability process in distribution companies and non-performing companies would be shown the door, he said.
The minister said those consumers who were already paying bills regularly, unfortunately had to pay for electricity loss through taxes.
He said special attention was being paid to customer services sector and pending electricity meters would be released soon.
To a question, Awais Leghari said power supply could not be increased in areas where power theft rate was high.