KARACHI, Dec 22 (APP): In connection with the birth anniversary of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, a special exhibition would be organized at the National Museum of Pakistan, Karachi.
An announcement here on Thursday said that the exhibition would be inaugurated on December 23.
The exhibit would include relics, photographs depicting social and political life and also personal effects of the Father of the Nation.
The relics would include passport belonging to Quaid-i-Azam, a sword presented by Muslim League Aligarh to the Quaid on February 6, 1938.
Special exhibition on Quaid-i-Birthday at National Museum, Karachi
Nisar awarded cash, certificates to FIA, ICT Police officers
ISLAMABAD, Dec 22 (APP): Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan Thursday awarded cash rewards and commendation certificates to five officers of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and six officers of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) police.
According to a press release issued here, he acknowledged the outstanding performance of the FIA and the ICT Police officers and officials during 2016.
Dr. Usman Anwar, Director FIA Lahore and Capt ® Ilyas SP Investigation ICT Police were declared ‘Best Officers’ for the year 2016.
The FIA awardees included Director FIA Lahore Dr. Usman Anwar, Inspector FIA Sindh Zone Abdul Rauf, SI FIA Balochistan Rasheed Mehmood, SI FIA Punjab Zone Mohsin Butt and Wajid Ali, FC Immigration BIAK FIA KPK Zone.
Officers and officials of ICT Police included SP Capt ® Ilyas, SI Abdul Razzaq, ASI Tauseef Ahmed, ASI Saleem Raza, ASI Muhammad Ashraf and Constable Yasir Mehmood.
The best officers were awarded cash reward of rupees three hundred thousand while other best performaning officers were rewarded with rupees one hundred thousand along with commendation certificates.
Talking to officers, interior minister commended their performance and observed that the award was a token of recognition for their services to the people.
He observed that the awards should further motivate them and should also inspire their colleagues to improve their performance and earn similar recognition.
Earlier, chairing a high level meeting interior minister directed ICT Police and law enforcing agencies to ensure greater coordination and improvement in combing operations that were being carried out to apprehend hardcore criminals.
He directed that every arrest should follow proper prosecution in the courts of law to bring the criminals to justice.
Taking note of continued traffic congestion on various main roads and arteries of the federal capital, he gave 24 hours to Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) to come up with a comprehensive strategy to overcome the issue of traffic log jam in the capital especially during office and school timings.
The minister directed the ITP to launch public awareness campaign to observe traffic rules and improve traffic flow.
The FIA briefed over the progress into country-wide campaign against Proclaimed Offenders (POs). Over 500 POs wanted in various cases had
been arrested so far while efforts were afoot to apprehend the remaining ones.
Passports of the 1139 peole had been blacklisted while 872 CNICs of POs had been blocked.
The FIA, the ICT Police, NADRA and other concerned agencies were working closely to ensure updation of complete data of POs for ensuring their early arrest.
Director FIA informed that the campaign against human traffickers and illegal travel agents had resulted into significant successes and during the year 2016, not even a single person was deportee from abroad on forged documents.
The minister appreciated the FIA for their continued efforts against human smugglers and illegal travel agent mafia.
He observed that illegal agent mafias not only exploited innocent and needy people but also caused bad name for the country.
He directed the FIA to continue its campaign with same zeal and spirit.
The ICT Police also gave a detailed presentation and comparative
analysis of law and order situation in the federal capital as compared to the previous years.
The minister observed that though there was significant reduction in the crime rate however much more needed to make the capital almost crime free.
After completion of CPEC, Pakistan to emerge as most important country in region: President
ISLAMABAD, Dec 22 (APP): President Mamnoon Hussain Thursday said Pakistan’s future was very bright and with the completion of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), it would emerge as most important country in the region.
He was talking to Minister for Energy and Industry State of Qatar Dr. Muhammad Bin Saleh Al-Sada who along with a delegation called on him here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.
Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Ambassador of Qatar to Pakistan Saqer bin Mubarik Al-Mansouri and high officials were also present on the occasion.
The president said several central Asian and other states had evinced keen interest in establishing connectivity with CPEC in view of the tremendous opportunities that this landmark project would create in the future.
CPEC would not only benefit Pakistan and China but the entire region including Middle East, he added.
The president praised the government and its economic team for turning around the country’s economy and expressed his optimism that most of the development targets would be achieved by 2018 after a long period of neglect by the previous governments.
He said the people of Pakistan hold Qataris very close to their heart and the two countries enjoy cordial relations.
He also expressed his satisfaction that both countries support each other on international fora.
The president offered to provide skilled and semi-skilled manpower to Qatar for preparation of FIFA World Cup 2022.
He said import of the LNG from Qatar would benefit Pakistan significantly and help overcome its energy deficit.
While appreciating the frequent interaction at the highest level between the two countries, the president emphasized upon regular exchange of delegations in the fields of trade and culture to bring the people of two countries even closer.
Dr. Muhammad Bin Saleh Al-Sada said Pakistan was an important country and Qatar wished to further enhance bilateral trade which should commensurate with the excellent relations at the political level.
He stated that the government and people of Qatar had deep rooted respect for Pakistan and his government was keen to further expand this partnership in energy, services and other sectors.
He praised the contribution of Pakistani expatriates in Qatar and acknowledged that they were serving Qatar wholeheartedly like their own country.
The president asked the visiting dignitary to convey his best wishes to the leadership and people of Qatar and hoped that the Emir of Qatar would visit Pakistan at his earliest convenience.
Ahsan for collective efforts to make CPEC successful
ISLAMABAD, Dec 22 (APP): Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal Thursday stressed the need for collective efforts to make the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project successful.
He was chairing the first-ever consultative meeting to discuss a strategy for participating in the upcoming Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC), scheduled to be held on December in China.
Highlighting the importance of fighting against all the conspiracies against the project, he said the CPEC was a national project and not that of a government or province.
The meeting was attended by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Iqbal
Zafar Jhagra and Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak, Gilgit Biltistan Chief Minister Hafiz Hafeez-ur-Rehman and representatives of other provinces.
Ahsan Iqbal said the CPEC project would change the fate of the country. It would open up new opportunities for progress so there was a need that it was supported by all irrespective of political differences, he added.
Talking to media persons after the meeting, Ahsan Iqbal said
the agenda for upcoming JCC and the proposals given by provinces were discussed in the meeting.
On the occasion, the KP Governor said the CPEC was the project of national importance as it would help development of the whole country and bring about progress in FATA areas.
The KP Chief Minister said the proposals for including various projects in the CPEC were presented in the meeting.
The GB Chief Minister Hafiz Hafeez-ur-Rehman said the whole nation was united to make the important project successful and appreciated the government initiatives to begin a consultative process on the issue.
Lt. Gen. Nazir Ahmed Butt assume command of 11 Corps: Security sources
PESHAWAR, Dec 22 (APP): Corps Commander Peshawar Lt. General Hidayatur Rehman handed over 11 Corps Command to newly posted Lt. General Nazir Ahmed Butt at a special ceremony held here at Corps Headquarters on Thursday, security sources told APP.
The outgoing Lt. General Hidayatur Rehman would assume his new responsibilities as Inspector General Training and Evaluation at GHQ.
General Hidayatur Rehman commanded the 11 Corps for two years and two months and very intelligently and efficiently oversees the Zarbe-e-Azb operation in the tribal regions close to Afghan border which yielded extremely positive results in maintaining peace and writ of the government in Fata.
Lt. General Nazir Ahmed Butt, who is from 67th PMA Long Course, prior to his new assignment, was President National Defence University Islamabad. General Butt had also commanded a division in South Waziristan as Major General.
Shehbaz Sharif felicitates newly elected mayors, chairmen
LAHORE, Dec 22 (APP): Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday congratulated the newly-elected PML-N Mayors, Deputy Mayors, Chairmen and Vice Chairmen in the final phase of local bodies elections.
In a message, he said PML-N had achieved excellent victory in all phases of local bodies elections, adding success of PML-N in all phases of local bodies elections was expression of confidence by the people in party leadership.
Shehbaz Sharif said politics of service, honesty and transparency had succeeded in local bodies elections and people had rejected those indulging in allegations, lies and negative politics in every phase of local bodies elections.
Punjab Chief Minister said those indulging in negative politics should learn a lesson from their continuous failures, adding nefarious designs of the elements creating hurdles in national development programme were foiled and they would not succeed in future as well.
He said local bodies were an affective system of solving problems of citizens at local level and process of local bodies elections had completed and now this system would help resolve problems of the people at lower level.
Shehbaz Sharif said development process would speedily move forward with the establishment of local bodies, adding that elected local bodies representatives should serve the people and pay attention to resolving their problems.
The Chief Minister said local bodies representatives should utilize all their energies for resolving problems of the citizens and come up to the expectations of the people.
Khurram for establishing Pak-Uzbek JBC to increase coop
ISLAMABAD, Dec 22 (APP): Minister for Commerce, Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan Thursday stressed the need for establishing Pakistan-Uzbekistan Joint Business Council (JBC) to increase cooperation between the private sectors of the two countries.
Chairing a meeting with high level Uzbek delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister of Republic of Uzbekistan, Ulugbek Rozukulov, he urged the need for exploring investment opportunities in agricultural, pharmaceutical, textile and sports good.
Khurram Dastgir welcomed the delegation and said the visit would be helpful in promoting trade and economic relations between the two countries.
He informed the delegation that there existed tremendous trade potential between the two countries and the bilateral trade between Pakistan and Uzbekistan was not reflective of the true potential.
The trade volume between the two countries at present was at the level of US$ 3.92 million in 2015-16 which had increased from US$ 2.98 million in 2014-15.
Pakistan’s exports to Uzbekistan had witnessed marginal increase from US$ 1.347 million in 2014-15 to US$ 2.07 million in 2015-16 while imports from Uzbekistan had also slightly increased from US$ 1.56 million to US$ 1.843 million during the same period.
The major export commodities included energy products, cotton, gold, minerals, fertilizers, ferrous and nonferrous metals, textiles, foodstuffs, machinery and automobiles while the major import commodities included machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, ferrous and nonferrous metals.
The minister was of the view that there were certain issues that hamper expansion of bilateral trade like lack of direct cargo links, safe and direct land routes, marketing strategies, knowledge of Pakistani products, visa facilitation and costlier transportation by air.
“Barriers and challenges are there but we have to work together to remove the barriers and facilitate the trade,” the minister added.
The minister extended invitation to both public and private sectors of Uzbekistan to organize single country exhibition in Karachi or Lahore which were commercial hubs of Pakistan.
He proposed that Pakistan and Uzbekistan may explore opportunities for Joint Ventures (JVs) in Textile.
“There is also need to revive the forum of Joint Commission and the next session may be held at the earliest”, he said.
The minister informed that Memorandum of Understanding between Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and the Uzbek Ministry of Economic Affair and Investment had already been signed which aims at promoting and developing trade links between the two countries.
“In this regard, a Central Asia Trade Caravan/Roadshow including single country exhibition is planned to be held in 1st quarter of 2017”, he added.
The Deputy Prime Minister Rozukulov Ulugbek appreciated the efforts and steps taken by the ministry of commerce and the government of Pakistan for promotion of bilateral trade between the two countries and assured full support from Uzbekistan side.
Rozukulov Ulugbek informed the minister that Special Economic Zones had been created in Uzbekistan with zero tariffs and Pakistani investors could get benefitted from it.
Finance ministry releases Rs 250 mln for conservation of Houbara Bustard, migratory birds
ISLAMABAD, Dec 22 (APP): Finance ministry Thursday released a supplementary grant Rs 250 million for Houbara Bustard and Migratory Birds Endowment Fund created for the conservation of the natural habitat in the country.
According to a PM House statement issued here, the grant has been issued on the prime minister’s directive who had also approved the establishment of the fund in the recent past.
Under the rules, the Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Climate Change would be coordinating with the provinces to operationalize the fund.
Pakistan-Turkmenistan bowlers exchange programme to start soon
ISLAMABAD, Dec 22 (APP): Pakistan Tenpin Bowling Federation (PTBF)
and its counterpart in Turkmenistan are working on a plan to initiate a tenpin bowlers exchange bowling.
“We are in talks with the tenpin federation of Turkmenistan for a bowlers’ exchange programme. Hopefully, the programme will start in a few months,” PTBF Secretary Ejaz-ur-Rehman told APP on Thursday.
He said under the programme 12 bowlers from Pakistan would attend a training session in Turkmenistan. Afterwards, the same number of Turkmenistan bowlers would visit Pakistan to attend training sessions
here, he said.
“The programme will help enhance professional skills of bowlers from the country,” Ejaz added.
He said Pakistan’s tenpin team would also take part in the Asian Tenpin Bowling Test Games in Ashgabat, next year. “Tenpin is becoming popular in Pakistan and is played with great interest in various cities now.
“There is no dearth of talent in Pakistan and our tenpin players have proved their abilities and skills on frequent basis internationally, apart from holding contests on regular basis at home ground throughout the year,” he added.
Speakers call for following Quaid’s teachings to revive tolerant Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, Dec 22 (APP): Speakers at a seminar here Thursday called for following the teachings of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah to transform Pakistan into a tolerant state.
They said the Quaid’s 14 Points and his speech in the Constituent Assembly on August 11, 1947 were milestones for policy makers.
Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Aasia Nasir said the Quaid
was a champion of minorities rights as he had clearly underlined that
all in Pakistan would enjoy equal rights irrespective of their cast and creed.
The Quaid, she said, had stated that Pakistan would be a plurist state and not a theocratic state. But it was unfortunate that the nation had forgotten his teachings, she regretted, adding that it was necessary to revive the tolerant Pakistan of the past.
MNA Shehryar Afridi said the Quaid was the one of the greatest statesmen the world had witnessed. He was a man of high credibility that even the people of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Balochistan, who did not understand a single word spoken by him, had full faith in him and supported him.
PIPS Executive Director Barrister Zafrullah said the Quaid was a great and very active parliamentarian. The Quaid spoke of personal liberties, women empowerment and media freedom even during the British rule, he added.