KARACHI, July 8 (APP): Eminent social worker Abdul Sattar Edhi passed away in Karachi on Friday night.
His son, Faisal Edhi, made the announcement and said that Edhi’s ‘Namaz-i-Janaza’ would be held on Saturday after Zuhr prayers at the Memon Masjid here.
He will be laid to rest at the Edhi Village.
LAHORE, July 8 (APP): Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday visited District Headquarters Hospital Sahiwal without any protocol and inquired after the patients besides children and youth in different wards who were injured due to collapse of a swing besides issuing necessary instructions for their treatment.
Shehbaz Sharif inquired from the injured children about the details of the incident. He expressed his indignation to the Medical Superintendent of the hospital and duty doctors for not wearing the overall and said that it was identity of doctors. He also reviewed cleanliness arrangements in the hospital and directed the administration to improve the situation. The patients informed the Chief Minister that medicines were available to them, however one patient complained that he had purchased medicine from the market.
The Chief Minister took strict notice for the fact and directed the hospital administration that free medicines should be provided to the patients at any cost.
Talking to the children who were injured in the incident and their attendants, Shehbaz Sharif said that the persons responsible would not escape punishment. He also distributed flowers among the injured children and youth and prayed for their recovery.
He took notice of the fact that there was no neuro surgeon in the hospital and directed that immediate steps should be taken for the posting of a neuro surgeon.
The Chief Minister expressed his displeasure that air-conditioners were not functioning in some wards. He said that if air-conditioner in the MS room was functioning why some were not operating in the wards.
Later, the Chief Minister presided over a meeting in the hospital in which the inquiry committee headed by Secretary Local Government presented initial report about the incident. It was told that the swing was not installed with the permission of administration.
The Chief Minister expressed his indignation and said that it showed negligence on the part of administration that the swing was operating without its permission. He said that
administration should have come into action at the time when swing was being installed.
He said that DCO and subordinate staff had shown negligence due to which this incident took place and a number of children were injured.
The Chief Minister directed MD NESPAK to visit the site with his expert engineers and present a report. Shehbaz Sharif also announced financial assistance of Rs 100,000 each for those who were injured.
The Chief Minister strongly reprimanded Sahiwal administration over the setting up of the swing on Eid without permission and described it as criminal negligence.
Shehbaz Sharif ordered immediate posting of DCO Sahiwal as OSD as well as suspension of Medical Superintendent District Headquarters Hospital and DDO Human Resource.
Shehbaz Sharif also ordered action against the owner of the swing and front man and said that their names should also be given in the FIR.
Talking to media, the Chief Minister said, “By the grace of Allah Almighty, no life has been lost but he has taken notice of injuries to the children.”
Provincial Minister for Zakat and Ushr Malik Nadeem Kamran, Commissioner Sahiwal Division Babar Hayat Tarar and other district officers were also present on the occasion.
ISLAMABAD, July 8 (APP): Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage, Senator Pervaiz Rashid Friday said the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan was creating chaos instead of helping the flood-affected people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
The minister, in a statement, said “People of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are making calls to rescue them from flood and Imran Khan is creating chaos instead of helping them.”
He said neither there were sufficient medical equipment nor medicines in the hospitals of KP, adding that people had voted Imran Khan to serve them, not to get service from them.
Pervaiz Rashid said Imran Khan had no time except enjoyment in the Bani Gala. “People are in search for the government in the province,” he said.
Without having any authority, the minister said, Imran Khan was using the official helicopter of KP like a rickshaw. “Official helicopter is at the service of great monarch Imran Khan,” he said.
Instead of protecting the flood-affected people, Pervaiz Rashid said the PTI chairman was creating anarchy in Punjab through the ATMs – Automated Teller Machines.’
The lamps of development could not be turned of with the ‘ATMs,’ he added.
The minister said people standing in right and left of Imran Khan were bank defaulters and tax-evaders.
He said Imran Khan never fulfilled the promises he made till-todate, adding that every department in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa every was presenting look of ancient relics.
ISLAMABAD, July 8 (APP): The twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi and their adjoining areas received thundershower on Friday night, turning the weather pleasant after the residents faced hot and humid weather conditions throughout the day with around maximum temperature of 39øC.
People were seemed joyous as they celebrated the Eid in much comfortable weather conditions as compared to the past in the sizzling month of June.
The shower had welcomed the Eidul Fitr in morning of the first day (Wednesday) and also bade farewell to it in evening of the third day.
On third day of Eid, a large number of people thronged popular recreational spots to enjoy the happy occasion of Eidul Fitr.
Rawal Lake View Park, Fatima Jinnah Park, Shakarparian, Daman-e-Koh, Rawal Dam and Pir Sohawa in the capital and Nawaz Sharif Park, Ayub Park, Safari Park, Race Course and Jinnah Park in Rawalpindi were packed with people enjoying the Eid festivities.
“It’s really very exciting to enjoy Eid at the aesthetically developed recreational spot,” said Zaheer Ahmed, who came to Rawal Lake View Park along with his family.
“We had a lot of fun and we also cooked meal here,” said Muhammad Qasim, who was at Pir Sohawa with his friends to enjoy the scenic beauty there.
There was very little transport on the road and taxi drivers were charging exorbitantly, yet many people managed to reach the recreational spots to enjoy the Eid.
“It is nice to visit picnic spots on Eid days as they have more attraction for the visitors as compared to normal days,” said Naeem Khan, a student enjoying Eid festivity at Nawaz Sharif Park.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has also predicted rain and dust-thunderstorm with isolated heavy-falls accompanied by windstorm at scattered places in the twin cities besides Gujranwala, Lahore, Sargodha, Kohat, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan divisions, Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Kashmir for Saturday morning.
ISLAMABAD, Jul 8 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif will return to the country on Saturday evening, said Maryam Nawaz, daughter of the Prime Minister, in her tweet on Friday.
“Prime Minister will Insha’ Allah be arriving tomorrow evening. Allah has been Kind,” Maryam Nawaz tweeted.
Maryam Nawaz also thanked the people for their “kind prayers and wishes”.
It may be mentioned here that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had underwent a successful cardiac-surgery in London on May 31 and since then was recovering fast in London.
KARACHI, July 8 (APP): Eminent social worker Abdul Sattar Edhi has been shifted to ventilator as his condition deteriorated.
This was stated by the son of Sattar Edhi, Faisal Edhi, here on Friday.
His mother, Begum Bilquees Edhi, was also present on the occasion.
Faisal also appealed to the people to pray for his father’s early recovery.
He said that condition of Sattar Edhi had deteriorated in the afternoon during dialysis and he was facing difficulty in breathing and for this, he was shifted to ventilator.
Faisal said that the eminent social worker would remain on the ventilator till his condition improves.
He said that Sattar Edhi is suffering from the kidneys ailment for the past three years and since his dialysis is being performed.
Faisal said that Sattar Edhi is being treated at the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) and that the family is satisfied with the treatment there.
ISLAMABAD, July 8 (APP): A C-130 aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), especially painted to highlight sacrifices of Pakistani people and the Armed Forces in Operation Zarb-e-Azb and Pakistan’s role in eradicating the menace of terrorism from the world, has arrived UK.
According to a news release of PAF here on Friday, the PAF aircraft landed at the Royal Air Force Base, Fairford (UK) to participate in the five-day Royal International Air Tattoo Show-16.
The PAF contingent comprising air and ground crew is participating in various competitions and events organized as part of the Royal Air Show.
Back in July 2006, PAF’s C-130 aircraft had participated in this prestigious event winning three major trophies of the competition.
Reputed to be the biggest military air show in the world, Royal Air Show features modern military and classic aircraft from more than 50 countries across the globe.
The Air Show will be focusing on the future developments in the field of air power under the main theme “The Next Generation: Inspiring Innovation”.
Various Air Forces, aircraft operators, aerospace and technology companies as well as organizations are also participating in this mega show.
LAHORE, July 8 (APP): Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif visited Children Hospital on Eid day without any protocol and distributed ‘Eidee’ and Eid gifts among children under treatment in the hospital.
He also inquired after the patients and issued necessary instructions to doctors regarding their treatment, says a handout issued here on Friday.
He prayed for the early recovery of the ailing children and went to different wards and offered Eid greetings to the children and their attendants.
Talking to the Chief Minister, attendants of the children said that their patients were being looked after properly in the hospital.
They also expressed their satisfaction over medical facilities being provided to the patients. The Chief Minister while giving instructions to the hospital administration directed that sanitary staff should wear uniforms.
He said that it was the responsibility of hospital administration to pay attention to basic requirements and soap or hand wash should be available in toilets.
The Chief Minister appreciated the spirit of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff who were serving the ailing humanity even on Eid holidays.
Talking to media on this occasion, the Chief Minister felicitated the nation on Eid-ul-Fitr. He said that sharing of Eid joys with humanity in distress was the real spirit of Eid.
He said, “Those who have been given resources by Allah Almighty should be kind to less-privileged segments and share their joys with them.”
He expressed satisfaction over the healthcare facilities in the
hospital and added that Children Hospital was the best hospital of the country and children suffering from various diseases were brought here from all over the country.
However, he said, there was still room for improvement in the hospital.
He promised to the hospital administration that the standard of Children Hospital would be further raised.
The Chief Minister further said, “Eid-ul-Fitr also gives the message of unity and in view of internal and external challenges, it is a collective responsibility to serve the country with a passion for its progress and development.”
He said that collective efforts and wisdom was the only way for survival. He said that Eid day demanded that all segments of the society should pledge to serve the country with honesty, hard work and commitment.
He said that the nation could not afford wastage of time and all segments of the society should strive for national development and prosperity.
Shehbaz Sharif said, “The real spirit of Eid is to forge unity and share the joys and not to divide the nation.”
He said that no one should try to divide the nation whether it was government, opposition, any politician or any group.
The Chief Minister said that he had contacted Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and his health was satisfactory.
Advisor on Health Khawaja Salman Rafiq, Secretary Health Najam Ahmad Shah and DCO Lahore were also present on the occasion.
ISLAMABAD, Jul 8 (APP): Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Qamar Zaman Chaudhry has said that the bureau was committed to perform national duty with absolute objectivity, professionalism, unimpeachable integrity, without any leanings for a corruption-free Pakistan.
In a statement issued here on Friday, he said that corruption was not only a vice in its own right but it also triggers a chain reaction and leads to injustice, mistrust and suspicion.
The chairman said corruption generates a sense of insecurity which makes people go astray because they start losing faith in the ability and capability of the government and society to ensure their fundamental rights.
“This is a vicious circle of anxiety, insecurity, hopelessness and desperation. In corrupt societies, everyone “condemns” bribery, but everyone gives and takes bribes, because not only nothing is getting done without that, but also because nothing is being done about it,” Qamar said.
He said that good governance ensures getting maximum benefits for the minimum cost in terms of efficiency, productivity and quality of life. But all efforts towards development and good governance are rendered meaningless if the malaise of corruption is not checked timely.
He said that NAB’s awareness campaign aims to educate the masses regarding various dimensions of corruption including its causes, social and economic ramifications.
Under this campaign, NAB is endeavoring at transforming the
societal attitude from indifference to zero-tolerance for corruption, building an anti-corruption coalition and putting various aspects and dimensions of the menace of corruption to the limelight by raising awareness.
Stakeholders are made aware about the issue of corruption, by highlighting its causes and detrimental, if not destructive, impact on society.
Keeping this in view, he said, NAB has taken a lead in establishing a path way for effectively combating corruption in the system.
The chairman said, under Awareness regime more than 20,000 Character Building Societies (CBS) had been established in Universities and Colleges all over the country for sensitizing the future leaders of our country against corruption.
In order to implement the anti-corruption drive, NAB, under its awareness campaign is making significant efforts to reach out to the masses through the print and electronic media by holding various activities such as; issuance of Postal Stamp of NAB; printing of logo “Say No to Corruption” on driving license, electricity, Sui Gas, Telephone Bills and Pakistan Railways Tickets, Daily Newspapers; flashing message on ATMs screens of banks all over the country.
Qamar said TV channels and cinema are also being utilized for anti-corruption message.
Various seminars and walks in educational institutions arranged for creating awareness amongst youth.
He said that in the Anti-Corruption efforts, revention regime is another important way forward to combat corruption and misuse of authority at an early stage before it happens.
“We have constituted Prevention Committees under the purview of section 33C of NAO, both at Federal level and Provincial levels in order to study the current laws and regulations and to suggest rules and regulations to curb the menace of corruption in government institutions,” he maintained.
Recommendations of Prevention Committees i.e. Hajj Affairs, Tax evasion, Revenue Administration and Public Health, Irrigation and Food Departments and sub-committees on Health have been finalized and sent
across for implementation.
He said that it is encouraging for NAB that for the first time Anti-Corruption has been made a part of development agenda in Pakistan in the context of Governance.
The Planning Commission of Pakistan has included a chapter devoted to issues of corruption in the 11th five year plan and NAB intend to work closely with Planning Commission to achieve the goals.
The Chairman NAB said, “I take this opportunity to call upon every single member of society to make an effort by setting our personal, professional and official conduct above any type of influence and prejudice.”
He called upon intelligentsia, the academia and media to sensitize the people about the ill effects of corruption in the society and let’s demonstrate zero tolerance towards corruption; let us say a firm, rather a thumping, ‘Say No’ to Corruption.
Qamar said that NAB is committed to eradicate corruption from the country across the board by adopting Zero Tolerance Policy against Corruption.
He said that NAB’s Anti-corruption campaign is carried widely for awareness and prevention of corruption besides enforcement across the board during 2015 which proved very successful in sensitizing people at large about the ill effects of corruption. Due to this reason, NAB has decided that NAB’s Awareness and Prevention campaign will continue in the year 2016.
He expressed the hope that joint efforts of all stakeholders can collaborate to check corruption and corrupt practices before happening with the help of all civil society, media and people at large.
He said recent report of Transparency International rated Pakistan in Corruption Perception Index (CPI) from 126 to 117 which is a great achievement for Pakistan due to NAB’s efforts. Similarly, PILDAT report also supports the position stated above as 42% people trusted NAB against other related government departments.
He said that NAB had chalked out a comprehensive National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) for eradication of corruption and corrupt practices throughout the country.
The chairman said NAB works according to National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 1999, which empowers it to act against those who are involved in the corruption and
corrupt practices.
National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has recovered approximately Rs. 276 billion since its inception and deposited in national exchequer which is also a record
achievement.
He said that the hard work being put in by all ranks of NAB staff in an atmosphere of renewed energy and dynamism, where fight against corruption is being taken as a national duty. Increase in the number of complaints also reflects enhanced public trusted in the NAB.
ISLAMABAD, July 8 (APP): Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Major General Asghar Nawaz personally monitored the relief and rehabilitation work in flash flood hit areas of Chitral.
The chairman with Director General Provincial Disaster Management Authority Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and civil administration visited Ursoon village Chitral to personally oversee ground situation and supervise ongoing relief operation.
During the visit, he analyzed actual ground situation after the flash floods which washed away a mosque and some civilian population in Chitral.
Asghar Nawaz also met with the affected people, offered condolence and distributed food among the people.
He also met with the officers of local administration and Provincial agencies. The Chairman also assessed the needs of the local people and affirmed that all logistics support is being provided by PDMA for urgent relief and early rehabilitation of the affectees.
He also directed his team to send 30 tons of wheat for the Chitral flood affected people who have lost their wheat stocks during floods.
Chairman offered condolence with the bereaved families and also distributed food hampers/relief among them.
He also urged the need to create awareness among the people to sensitize the dangers during the monsoon season.
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