PESHAWAR, Dec 19 (APP): The security forces will establish four more border crossing points on the pattern of Torkhum in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) as part of the border management to regulate and document the movement of vehicles and people between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
According to security sources, the Torkhum crossing point was operationalized on July 1, 2016 despite strong pressure from the Afghan government. The border management policy would continue and made more stringent to regulate the flow of people across the border.
“We will not allow anyone to enter Pakistan from Afghanistan without valid travel documents,” the sources said.
Under the border management plan, terminal points would be set up in Khurlachi in Kurram Agency, Ghulam Khan in North Waziristan, Angor Adda in North Waziristan and Gursal in Mohmand Agency.
The security forces have conducted three big operations in FATA, namely Khyber-3, Operation Michni and Operation Brekhna.
Giving details of each operation, the security sources said 100 per cent area of Rajgal in Khyber Agency was under the control of security forces as the terrorists had been flushed from the valley. Presently, there existed no ‘No Go Area’ in the tribal areas, he added.
They said 49 terrorists were killed in Khyber Operation-3. Similarly, the forces conducted operation in Michni, which lies at the crossroad of settled areas and FATA, and cleared the area of the miscreants, who had taken shelter in villages close to Mohmand Agency.
As many as 37 check-posts of police, Levies and FC had been established to keep an eye on the movement of unwanted people. The KP police were manning the posts effectively.
The security sources said in the wake of rising terrorist incidents in Mohmand Agency, the Operation Brekhna was launched and it was still continuing successfully. It was expected to complete during next month.
The presence of large number of sympathizers and facilitators in the north of Mohmand Agency warranted an immediate operation there.
The terrorist outfits across the border were being supported by Jamatul Ahrar and TTS, the sources said.
The security forces have improved border control by fortifying existing border posts in the tribal areas, the sources said, adding that over 100 border posts were located in extremely difficult terrain.
The forces conducted 1942 intelligence based and combing operations
in the first half, and 2667 operations in the second half of the current year.
The security sources said 92 per cent voluntary repatriation of the temporary displaced people (TDP) had been completed in tribal areas following successful operations against the banned outfits whose leadership had fled to Afghanistan.
The security forces have completed over 500 projects in various sectors including education, health, communication, agriculture and clean drinking water before start of the TDP return programme. The owners have been paid Rs 400,000 for fully destroyed and Rs 160,000 for partially damaged houses.
The sources said over 100 mosques in different parts of the tribal areas had been renovated, besides the construction of Yunas Khan Sports Complex having capacity of over 5,000 spectators. Meanwhile, the construction of a similar type of Shahid Khan Afridi Sports Complex in Khyber Agency was underway.
Under the socio-economic development programme, the security forces had launched scores of projects in the communication sector, the sources said, adding todate 673 kilometer long road projects had been completed, including Mirali-Razmak Road, Kaur-Wana Road, Bannu-Ghulam Khan Road, Tank-Wana Road, Jandola-Makeen Road and Miran Shah-Razmak Road.
Similarly out of 31 health sector projects, the sources said, 22 had been completed as majority of the health facilities had been established in South Waziristan Agency (SWA) and North Waziristan Agency (NWA). Out of 185 school projects, 94 had been completed.
The forces had renovated and rehabilitated 67 markets in NWA and SWA at a cost of Rs 543 million, and planned to build 2,000 shops in Mir Ali and 2,150 shops in Miran Shah costing Rs 750 million, the sources added.
Security forces to establish four more border crossing points in tribal areas
PTI politicking of protest in parliament after roads: Musadik
ISLAMABAD, Dec 19 (APP): Spokesman to Prime Minister Dr Musadik Malik Monday said Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) was politicking of protest in the parliament after roads.
Talking in a television programme, he said the PTI wanted to creat chaos in the parliament despite constructive discussion on national issues.
He said the PTI leaders were using the same deogatory language in the parliament which they were using while standing on container during their protest demonstration at D-Chowk against their opponents.
He said the PTI wanted to linger on the issue Panama papers for point scoring and propagating false notions against the government.
Prime minister was the first one who took the initiative over the issue and wrote a letter to the Supreme Court to constitute a commission despite his name was not mentioned in it but the PTI did not accept it, he added.
He said PML-N government would accept the apex court’s decision on Panama papers.
To a query, he said Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had made hectic exercises to cope with the menace of terrorism across the country.
He banned almost 64 proscribed organisations operating in the country without discrimination and dismantled the network of terorists for peace and properity in the country.
He said some 1.4 million Afghan refugees had been registered and
80,000 refugees repatriated to Afghanistan and the credit went to the interior minister.
Atta memorial bridge tournament concludes
LAHORE, Dec 19 (APP): In the Sheikh Atta Memorial Bridge Tournament organized by the Pakistan Bridge Federation and sponsored by Kohat Cement, top of the line bridge players from Punjab participated over a two days competition that concluded here on Monday at the Lahore Gymkhna Bridge Tables.
The format was Swiss Team and was based on Swiss movement for six rounds and Danish Movement for last two rounds. The competing teams included some well known bridge contesting groups like Aces, IZZO, AJT, Saga, RH 4, Holdem, Yummy, Papa Jani, Potowar, Brighter and Pirzada.
The Aces team comprising Ahsan Qureshi, Ghias Malik, Arshad Aijaz, Usaid, Taqi Imam and Shauq Hussain dominated the run of play and except round three and round four when the playing tide went against them, they were at their playing best. Through an eight round score of 109.98 points they succeeded in emerging as the champions of Sheikh Atta Memorial Bridge Event.
The runners up team was IZZO Team comprising some seasoned and established bridge players like Izzat Khalil, Jehangir Ahmed, Junaid Saeed, Farrukh Liaqat and Farooq Alvi. They fought well and finished with a score of 108.76. AJT team was third with a score of 99.89 and Saga ended up fourth at a score of 80.45.
At the conclusion of the Event the prizes were awarded to the performers by Ibrahim Tanseer of Kohat Cement.
NTDC gives cash award to boxer Waseem
LAHORE, Dec 19 (APP): The Managing Director National Transmission and Despatch Company Ltd (NTDC) Dr. Fiaz A. Chaudhry has said that NTDC would provide all out support to its boxer Muhammad Waseem for winning more laurels for the country.
He was speaking at a cash awarding ceremony here on Monday in the honour of Pakistan‘s only professional WBC Silver flyweight Champion Muhammad Waseem who successfully defended his title and defeated Philippine‘s Boxer in South Korea last month.
Dr Fiaz said Waseem has won laurels not only for the NTDC but also for the country which is a great honour for the nation as well.
He gave away a cheque of Rs 600,000 to Waseem as cash a reward from NTDC. He assured the Boxer that a world class training centre will be established for training of boxing players who will represent NTDC at national and international level and financial support will be provided by NTDC and prospective sponsors.
Waseem alongwith his coach Mr. Tariq thanked NTDC Management for the honouring them. The Champion said that it was his dream to win a high profile boxing for Pakistan and feels pride for being the only Champion in the country to accomplish this task.
He said his upcoming fight in Las Vegas (USA) requires lot of hard work, tough training and financial resources. He informed that he has rejected offer made by South Korean authorities to give him the South Korean Nationality for the sake of his country.
Earlier GM GSC, Wajahat Saeed Rana gave a brief account of
Muhammad Waseem‘s achievement. He said that Muhammad Waseem is a grade 18 officer of NTDC who joined the company in 2004 and remained national champion till 2014 before the start of professional boxing. In his five professional fights he knocked down his opponents of South Korea, Indonesia and Philippine and became the WBC Silver Flyweight champion.
UN-backed $547 million appeal launched for humanitarian needs in Occupied Palestinian Territory
UNITED NATIONS, Dec 19 (APP): The United Nations and the State of
Palestine Monday jointly launched an appeal seeking $547 million in funding for 2017 to support the humanitarian needs in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
“International support is critical to continue providing relief to vulnerable Palestinians,” the UN Coordinator for Humanitarian Aid and Development Activities, Robert Piper, said in a joint statement with the Minister of Social Development of the State of Palestine, Ibrahim AlShaer, and issued by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
“But we are just trying to buy time. This humanitarian response must be coupled with bold political action to bring the world’s most protracted protection crisis to a close,” Piper added.
The plan seeks $547 million in donor funding to implement 243 projects
by 95 organizations, including 47 national and 35 international non-governmental organizations, and 13 UN agencies. Nearly 70 per cent of the requested funds target Gaza, where humanitarian needs are highest due to the blockade and recurrent hostilities, further exacerbated by the impact of internal Palestinian divisions.
According to humanitarian assessments, some 1.8 million people are in
high need of protection in the occupied Palestinian territory and 1.6 million people are moderately to severely food insecure. In Gaza, over 50,000 people remain displaced from the 2014 hostilities, while 8,000 people in the West Bank are at high risk of forcible transfer due to a coercive environment.
Throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, hundreds of thousands of people still have restricted access to essential services.
“This humanitarian funding appeal seeks to give a hand to the most
vulnerable, the worst affected amongst Palestinian households across the whole occupied territory,” Piper said.
Govt taking steps to transform Pakistan into real Islamic state as per Quaid’s vision: Marriyum
ISLAMABAD, Dec 19 (APP): Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb on Monday said the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was taking steps to transform Pakistan into a real Islamic welfare state as envisioned by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
Speaking here at the opening ceremony of week-long celebrations of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s 141st birth anniversary, the minister said the grand celebrations were being held to educate youth about the Quaid’s vision and Pakistan’s ideology.
She said the prime minister during a meeting almost a month ago had issued directives for celebrating the Quaid’s birth anniversary in a befitting manner and her ministry was playing a leading role.
The theme of celebrations was ‘Quaid ka Pakistan’ (Quaid’s Pakistan), she said adding that the activities, among others, would include a painting competition of Quaid’s image, speech and quiz contests on the Quaid’s life, puppet shows and tableaus by different groups of children, besides singing competitions of national anthem and songs.
Marriyum said the people could participate in a cake cutting competition on the occasion of the Quaid’s birth anniversary by uploading their pictures on twitter and facebook accounts and the winner would get a cash prize of Rs 100,000.
The people could also share pictures or memorial things related to the Quaid, she added.
The minister said the prime minister would also join the youth, political parties, business community and minorities in the Quaid’s birthday celebrations.
She said a cultural Mela (festival) had been opened for general public at Lok Virsa to mark the occasion and all the media houses had been invited to highlight the theme of the week-long celebrations.
Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal, Adviser to the Prime Minister’s on National History and Literary Heritage Division Irfan Siddiqui, Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Minister of State for Education, Training and Standards in Higher Education Balighur Rehman also attended the ceremony.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State Dr Tariq Fazal said alive nations always kept remembering their heroes. The Quaid week’s celebrations were very important and his ministry would fully participate in them, he added.
Islamabad Mayor and Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Ansar Aziz Chaudhry said the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation and CDA would play their due role in the Quaid week celebrations.
Engineer Balighur Rehman said today Pakistan was making economic turnaround at a rapid pace with reduction in power loadshedding.
Side by side the material progress, there was need to remain attached with the country’s ideology, he added.
He said the National Curriculum Council had been constituted to devise minimum national curriculum.
He said his ministry and the Higher Education Commission would actively participate in Quaid week’s celebrations.
Later the ministers and adviser inaugurated an exhibition of rare pictures of the Quaid-e-Azam at the PNCA Gallery.
Creating fuss in yet another back out from commitment
ISLAMABAD, Dec 19 (APP): National Assembly on Monday once again witnessed a short lived rumpus with an effort by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to play up the Panama papers issue and disrupt smooth proceedings of the lower house.
The party backed out, as usual, from its commitment made during a meeting at Speaker’s chamber that members from both the side of the isle shall speak on this issue. But, the situation turned to be foul as the PTI members started chanting slogans when a member from treasury benches Daniyal Aziz was given mike to speak.
They stood at their seats and started chanting slogans against the PML-N leadership on which Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq reminded them of their commitment made in presence of the members from PPPP, MQM and PML-N at Speaker’s chamber.
The Speaker reminded PTI Parliamentary Leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi about his commitment that members from treasury benches would also respond to speeches of Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed and Shah Mahmood Qureshi. “You have backed out from commitment. This is not fair,” the Speaker commented during the proceedings.
Then the Speaker also drew attention of Opposition leader Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah towards the decision who in response said, if it had already been decided, the House must be run according to the decision.
Seeing the situation, Shah Mahmood Qureshi acknowledged the words of the Speaker and said, the slogans by his party were not meant to disrupt the proceedings because it would do no good to the House. Qureshi kept silence earlier when his party members were creating fuss in the house but realized sooner and said, “I request my members to give treasury benches an opportunity to speak.”
Meanwhile, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique objected the slogans and some words asserted by PTI members and reminded them about similar words on which their party had demanded apology from him. “I had drawn back those words just to keep the house atmosphere smooth. But, if you will use objectionable language against our leaders, then you will compel us to respond in the same manner.”
What the House once again witnessed on Monday was vocal assertions by Dr Shereen Mazari who used to shout again and again despite the Speaker’s requests to behave and abide by the rules.
Daniyal Aziz’z speech was an eye opener for the House and irksome for
thePTI members who once again created fuss in the House and even did not show respect for Leader of the Opposition Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah denying him to speak when the Speaker had given him mike.
However, on insistence of the PPP members that if PTI would not let Khursheed Shah speak, they may also resist speeches of their leaders. On this the PTI lawmakers finally cooled down and started listening to Syed Khursheed Shah.
The House remained calm during opposition leader’s speech as the Speaker adjourned the House to meet again on Tuesday afternoon on conclusion of Khursheed Shah’s speech.
All political forces should evolve national agenda: governor
FAISALABAD, Dec 19 (APP): Punjab Governor Malik Rafique Rajwana here on Monday said that all political forces should evolve a national development agenda with special focus on education to ensure its implementation irrespective of any change of government.
He was addressing the 7th convocation of Government College University Faisalabad (GCUF) here on Monday.
He said that federal as well as Punjab governments were fully aware of importance of education and it was in this respect that on special directives of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif, maximum education related projects had been launched including Endowment Fund, Skill Development, free education for children of kiln workers.
The Punjab government has also taken a bold initiative to provide free education to students of Balochistan, he said and added that it will not only root out obscurantism from the province of Balochistan but also play a major role in bringing people of this backward province into national mainstream.
He said that despite financial constraints, the government is providing education to all at the highest level. He said that thousands of students had applied for admission to GCUF. Out of which, 7,000 were accommodated in this university.
He said that we are making arrangements to accommodate the leftover applicants so that they could also get education and play their role in national development.
He further said that every year thousands of students apply for admission to MBBS and majority of them failed to get admission to public as well as private sector. He said the government is actually considering setting up a Paramedical Institute for these leftover applicants. It will not only accommodate thousands of students but also help government to provide health facilities to the needy segments of society.
Continuing, the governor said that the process of development,
progress and prosperity is in full swing. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and related energy projects had been initiated which will accommodate our educated youth in these projects.
He termed educated youth an asset and said that the government
was also trying to involve them in national development and hoped that their participation will accelerate the pace of development in the country.
He announced that many universities were being established in southern Punjab.
The Punjab governor said that provision of basic amenities was a constitutional obligation of every government and the incumbent government is trying its best to fulfil this responsibility.
He said that the constitution bounds the government to provide education, health, potable water and justice to all segments of society.
He said that in far-flung areas of Muzaffargarh and Dera Ghazi Khan, the potable water is not available. The Punjab government has established ‘Saaf Pani Company’ to provide potable water to all and sundry.
He was appreciative of the progress made in the education sector in
Punjab and said that now our focus is to improve the quality of education so that our graduates could compete in the international markets.
He also expressed satisfaction over excellent performance of female
students and said that it is very encouraging that they are performing better than boys. He said that the government was also trying its best to provide them maximum facilities for their education.
He said that the GCUF was still in its infancy, but it is encouraging
that it is picking up and improvement in its ranking is very satisfactory.
He thanked the local philanthropists who donated Rs 120 million for the
construction of a mosque at the GCUF. Similarly, they should also donate generously for the education of students belonging to the poor strata of society.
Later, the governor also conferred degrees on the graduates in addition to awarding medals to the outstanding male and female students.
He also inaugurated a girls hostel at GCU Faisalabad.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Ali
said that the GCUF was making progress by leaps and bounds and it has attained the second position in the public sector universities of the country.
He said that GCUF had 47,263 on-campus students and we are striving hard to provide them quality education. He said that the GCUF had developed linkages with 32 industries to provide technical education to students.
He said that two academic blocks and two girls’ hostels have been
constructed in new campus GCUF with an estimated cost of Rs 800 million while the federal government has provided Rs 780 million to the GCUF for its research projects.
He said that the university administration had earmarked Rs 300 million
for pension fund and Rs 65 million for endowment fund to provide scholarships to the poor and talented students.
He said that entire electricity system of new campus GCUF had been
linked with solar system whereas advance technologies are being used
to run the affairs of the university in addition to providing online admission facility to students.
He said that 20,653 passing-out students including 9,079 students of
various courses, 2,887 graduates of BS (Honors), 1,786 students of BEd/MEd, 6,401 students of MA/MSc, 469 students of MPhil and 31 scholars of PhD have been declared eligible to get their degrees and certificates at the 7th convocation.
Kamran Michael directs to complete arrangements of Christmas Peace Train
ISLAMABAD, Dec 19 (APP): Minister of Human Rights Kamran Michael
Monday visited the Railway Locomotive Carriage Factory, on Monday and reviewed the arrangements of Christmas Peace train and directed the officials to complete the arrangements in time.
Besides, Managing Director Pakistan Railway; Muhammad Yousaf, DG Human Rights; Muhammad Arshad and other senior officials of Pakistan Railway and Human Rights Ministry accompanied the Minister.
Minister of Human Rights Kamran Michael inspected the different
sections of Christmas Peace train and a detailed briefing was given to Minister regarding the arrangements and schedule of Peace Train.
Kamran Michael directed the officials to complete the arrangement of
Peace Train without any delay and said that all out of efforts should be utilized in this regard.
While talking to the media persons on this occasion, he said “We are ambassador of peace to the world and we have combat the wave of militancy and terrorism successfully.”
He said that Christmas Peace train would be inaugurated on December 22, and this endeavor would spread the message of love, peace, harmony and help to eradicate religious intolerance.
Kamran Michael shed the light on the role and struggle of Christian community as an equal partner in the development and solidarity of the country.
He urged all people and Christian community in particular to continue their commitment for strengthening the country.
He said constitution of the country also guaranteed freedom and ensured protection of every citizen living in this country and “We also believe in love and humanity and will continue our effort in this regard”.
Pak-China economic ties witnessing strength with implementation of CPEC: PM
ISLAMABAD, Dec 19 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Monday said China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and its related projects symbolized the people-centric approach of the two countries.
According to a PM office media wing press release issued here, the project certainly transformed the friendly relations between the two countries into a strong economic partnership, the prime minister said talking to Zheng Xiaosong, Vice Minister of International Department of the Central Committee of Communist Party of China who called on him at the PM House.
The prime minister told Xiaosong that they raised a Special Security Division (SSD), comprising of 15000 military and civilian armed forces for ensuring safety of the Chinese brothers working on different projects under CPEC.
Welcoming the vice minister on his visit to Pakistan, the prime minister said Pakistan and China were close friends, neighbours and partners.
He underlined the benefits of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) which were visible in growing bilateral trade that crossed the figure of $18 billion this year.
The enormous potential of trade between China and Pakistan would further enhance the quantum of bilateral trade between the two countries, prime minister added.
He emphasized that Pakistan remained committed to fighting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, without any discrimination and the ongoing military operation against terrorists yielded very positive results.
The prime minister further said the war against terrorism and extremism would be taken to its logical end and the terrorists’ backbone had already been broken and network dismantled.
He hoped that the visit of Zheng Xiaosong would further strengthen the warm and friendly relations between the two countries.
“Mr. Prime Minister! You are a household name in China. China-Pakistan friendship has entered into a new phase during the present government in Pakistan,” the press release quoted Zheng Xiaosong as saying.
He said they were satisfied with the pace of implementation work on various projects under CPEC, especially in Punjab, the speedy work was exemplary.
The vice minister said alongside the rapidly improving relations between China and Pakistan, the ties between the Communist Party of China and Pakistan Muslim League (N) were also fast increasing.
He further said the delegation level exchanges between the two political parties were also welcoming, adding “We need to continue the high level exchanges between our two countries and political parties.”
Zheng Xiaosong said the role of Communist Party in the development of China was exemplary.
He said the number of present party members of Communist Party was 8.9 million and the party discipline was strictly followed.
“We will be looking forward to welcoming Pakistan Muslim League-N’s delegation in China next year. We will be happy if you include your talented daughter Maryam Nawaz in the visiting delegation,” he added.