ISLAMABAD, Dec 14 (APP): The panelists at conference on China-
Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Regional Integration’ on
Wednesday talked about different aspects of China-Pakistan Economic
Corridor (CPEC), development and their relationship with the
environment.
Expressing his views, the panelist Naseer Memon, Chief
Executive, Strengthening Participatory Organization, said that
development should not be at the cost of environment but at the same
time it also does not mean that we should not grow.
The proceedings of the second day of the three-day conference
included two panel discussions and parallel technical session on
different topics.
The conference is being organized by the Pakistan Institute of
Development Economics (PIDE), with the support of Ministry of
Planning, Development and Reform on “China-Pakistan Economic
Corridor and Regional Integration”.
The highlight of the day was A. R. Kemal Memorial Lecture by
Dr. Arshad Zaman, former Chief Economist, Government of Pakistan.
The premise of Dr. Zaman’s talk was, “we must all defend
Pakistan, better”, making a strategy of sovereign development that
combines defense, diplomacy and economic restructuring.
In his lecture, he talked about four major challenges facing
Pakistan that need to be responded.
These challenges are rebirth of nationalism in West, war of
narratives in the war for oil and Israel, emergence of Sino-Russian
relationship, in the form of Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), and
militant extremism in India.
He said, in order to form a sovereign development strategy
Pakistan needs to take a few important initiatives.
Dr. Zaman said that the US-India alliance is a game changer
and our defense plans should adjust accordingly.
Sino-Russian relations have made US anxious although at
present US remains preeminent but China is emerging fast as a global
leader.
Pakistan already has good relations with China but should also
work on improving relations with Iran, Russia, and Germany because
Iran is an important neighbor, Russia is reemerging, while Germany
is the oldest European power.
The first panel discussion of the day on “Mainstreaming
Environment in CPEC” was chaired by Syed Abu Akif, Secretary,
Ministry of Climate Change, while the discussion was moderated by
Mahmood Akhtar Cheema, Country Representative, IUCN, Pakistan.
He was of the view that development is not only about who will
benefit from it but it is also about who will bear the costs.
Shafqat Kakakhel, former Assistant Secretary General of the
UN, said that the CPEC is skewed towards energy projects and energy
projects, in turn, are skewed towards coal.
Therefore, both the governments should work together to lessen
the adverse impacts.
Ashiq Hussain, Advisor Ev-K2-CNR, said that the projects like
CPEC should not ignore the biodiversity aspects because biodiversity
promotes ecotourism, which is an important industry.
He stressed that biodiversity must be maintained as it is the
main raw material for ecotourism.
Expressing his views on the topic, Syed Mahmood Nasir,
Inspector General Forest, Ministry of Climate Change, Pakistan, said
that there should also be a biological corridor and there should
also be a road-cross strategy for animals.
He further said that fresh water conservation should also be
assured through parks, lakes and wetlands.
Taking the discussion further, Rehana Siddiqui, Head
Department of Environmental Economics, PIDE, said that environmental
regulations are more stringent in China but in Pakistan the
devolution of the Ministry of Climate Change is creating issues in
the implementation of these regulations.
Generating energy from coal is polluting the environment and
the best feasible option is the transfer of clean technology from
China.
She said there is also a need to tackle the issues of future
urbanization along CPEC.
Local community will lose their livelihood; therefore the
alternative sources of the livelihood should be sought, such as
ecotourism.
Earlier, in a technical session, a study on the nexus between
globalization and inequality argued that there is no clear cut
relationship between globalization and inequality in developing
countries.
However, effective and average tariff rates affect income
inequality negatively.
Another paper talked about the potential of international
trade. The presenters said that the researchers must take the
institutional structures into account.
According to another paper on the linkages of Pakistan’s
economy with the globe, the Pakistani investors are vulnerable to
external financial shocks due to financial integration, whereas
manufacturing and production is not affected by external factors.
Analysis in the paper on the impact of technical barriers on
trade between Pakistan showed that while China, India and Sri Lanka
have more non-tariff barriers (NTBs) than Pakistan, China and
India’s NTBs are more sophisticated.
Talking about the experience of industrialization in Pakistan,
a paper argued that although Pakistan has been promoting
industrialization since independence, the progress has been slow due
to poor governance and rent-seeking.
In a paper on freight transport networks, the presenter said
that freight sector inefficiencies in Pakistan prove to be very
costly.
It is important to integrate road and trade networks to reduce
cost and enhance efficiency.
Currently, 96 percent of the freight is transported through
road and only 4 percent of the freight is carried through the train
network.
According to a paper on FDI and economic growth, FDI is
significant contributor to overall growth in Pakistan but spillover
effects of FDI across sectors.
Panelists talk about CPEC development, its relationship with environment
No difference in PM’s NA speech, reply in court: Khawaja
ISLAMABAD, Dec 14 (APP): Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad
Rafique Wednesday said there was no difference between what the
Prime Minister had stated in his speech in the National Assembly
and what he had apprised the court through his lawyer.
Talking to newsmen outside the Parliament House, he said
the name of Prime Minister Muhammad Sharif name was not mentioned
in the Panama Papers. But, he presented himself before the court to
keep things transparent, he added.
He said the government was not creating any hurdle in the
investigation of Panama Papers and it even had no issue if the matter
was discussed in the Parliament too.
The opposition, he said, was not sincere to have serious
discussion on the issue. It was rather hyping over the matter
just for its political survival.
The minister advised the PTI leadership to better concentrate
on the welfare of people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where their party was
in government as they would get nothing for Panama Papers issue.
Khawaja Saad said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)
leadership had always given sacrifices for democracy and would
continue doing the same in future to strengthen the democratic
system.
He said for the continuity of the democratic process, the PML-N respected the people’s mandate given to the PTI even when its members had resigned from the National Assembly.
Though the PML-N was in a position to form its government in
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with the help of Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, but it
respected the mandate of PTI given to it by the KP people,
he recalled.
He said the Pakistan Peoples Party and the PTI had failed to
deliver in Sindh and KP where they were in power.
He alleged Naeem Bukhari, PTI chief Imran Khan’s lawyer in
the Panama Papers case, had supported General Musharraf and he
even opposed the lawyers’ movement for the independence of judiciary.
The minister regretted that by tearing up the copies of
agenda the PTI Members of the National Assembly tried to damage
the image of Parliament.
Instead of doing politics of abuses, the PTI should behave
like a mature political party otherwise it would vanish from the
political secene, he added.
He said the PML-N was ready for dialogue with opposition at
all forums.
Sara Mansoor, Sara Mahboob get easy wins in ATT tourney
ISLAMABAD, Dec 14 (APP): Sara Mansoor brushed aside Hania Naveed of Karachi in straight sets, whereas Sara Mahboob eliminated Mahnoor Suhail in straight sets in the first round of ladies singles event of Serena Hotels Asian tennis Tour Tournament (ATT) at Syed Dilawar Abbas PTF Tennis Complex on Wednesday.
Sara Mansoor beat Hania 6-2,6-1, while Sarah Mahboob defeated Mahnoor Sohail 6-0,6-0.
Following are the results:
Ladies Singles first round matches.
Sara Mansoor beat Hania Naveed 6-2,6-1; Meheq Khokhar beat Eshaal Khan 6-0,6-0; Shimza Tahir beat Esha Jawad 6-1,6-1; Sara Banoo beat Arooj 6-4,7-5; Mahin Aftab beat Rukhsana Abid 6-0,6-0; Bakhtawar Haider w/o Imsha Jawad; Sarah Mahboob beat Mahnoor Sohail 6-0,6-0. Shiza Sajid beat Yasha Atiq Khan 1-6,6-3,6-3 Boys Under 18 Singles Pre Quarterfinals round matches.
Muzammil Murtaza beat Hamza Bin Rehan 6-1,6-4; Saqib Umer beat Shakir Ullah 6-3,6-4; Asad ullah beat Waleed Anwar 6-0,6-4; Abdal Haider beat Asad Mehmood Khan 6-4,3-6,7-6(5); Yousaf Khan beat M. Abdullah 6-1,6-2; Barkat Ullah beat Huzaifa Abdul Rehman 7-5,6-2; Muhammad Shoaib beat Izhar Iftikhar 6-2,6-1; Aman Atiq beat Kashan Umer 6-0,6-1 Boys Under 14 Singles Pre Quarterfinals round matches:
M. Shoaib beat Shayan Shamraiz 4-1,4-1; Kashan Umer beat Hamza Roman 4-2,1-4,4-1; Nalain Abbas beat M. Huzaifa Khan 4-0,4-0; Hamid Israr beat Abdul Wahab Anwar 3-5,4-0,4-1; Ahmed Kamil beat Adnan Khan 4-0,5-3; Sami Zeb beat Ahmed Nael 4-0,4-1; M. Abdullah beat Syed M. Ahmed 4-0,4-0; Hamza Bin Rehan beat M. Talha Khan 4-0,4-0.
Boys/Girls Under 10 first round matches Zainab Ali Raja beat Zara Lawangin 4-2,4-0; M. Talha Khan beat Yahya Musa Luni 4-1,4-0; Shiza Sajid beat Aamer Masood 4-1,4-0; M. Huzaifa Khan beat Uzair Maqsood 4-0,4-0; M. Moiz Gul beat Sameer Maqsood 4-1,5-3; Ahmed Nael beat Fatima Ali Raja 4-0,4-1.
The qualifying rounds of men s singles Asian Tennis Tour event will
commence tomorrow as Ahmed Chohdri and Aman Atiq are given wildcards for main draw, and Kashanul Haq and Jibranul haq in qualifying draw.
Rotary Club hosts fundraiser with Sufi music evening
ISLAMABAD, Dec 14 (APP): The Rotary Club of Islamabad
(Metropolitan) hosted a fundraiser and dinner with “Divine Rhythm: An
Evening of Sufi Music” to celebrate the centennial of The Rotary
Foundation.
The event was organized to raise funds for Rotary’s polio
immunization programme.
Established in 1917, The Foundation is the $1 billion
charitable arm of Rotary International. To mark the centennial,
Rotary aims to raise $300 million by July 2017 for its campaign to
eradicate polio and for service in communities around the world.
The Fundraiser featured a mesmerizing performance by Imran Aziz
Mian, son of the legendary Qawwal Aziz Mian. The event drew a large
number of people from all walks of life.
Speaking on this occasion, Barrister Adil Jamal, President
Rotary Club of Islamabad (Metropolitan) said: “Together, we can
end polio from the world and save millions of children from this
crippling disease.”
He also thanked the audience for showing support for this
cause. The event’s main sponsors were Bank Alfalah, UIC Pakistan,
Elite Homes Nathiagali and Fortune Lakeview Residency. Rotary, which
espouses the motto “Rotary Serving Humanity,” remains committed to
making Pakistan and the world polio-free in the near future.
SBI Holds China-Pakistan Enterprises Cooperation Business Development and Networking Conference
KARACHI, Dec, 14. (APP): CPEC a part of China’s One Belt One Road
global initiative has provided a golden opportunity for Pakistan to
take off as a regional economic power.
Pakistan has been unable to grow as fast as its neighbors in
South Asia, on account of poor infrastructure which is straining under
demands of a large population growing at higher than world’s average,
said a statement on Wednesday.
Chinese lending via CPEC for infrastructure and energy projects
will bridge infrastructure development gaps in Pakistan.
The Industrial Phase of CPEC in Pakistan is now beginning and
Govt.of Sindh is actively working on the development of industrial
parks and Special Economic Zones in the province.
Research and Development International, Chinese Academy of Social
Sciences (CASS-RDI) had worked extensively on the development of the “One Belt and One Road” Initiative and Govt.of Sindh is supporting its efforts in bringing Chinese businesses to engage with Pakistani businesses to set up industries in the province.
Speakers at the event were, Senator Saleem Mandviwala, Naheed
Memon, Chairperson SBI, Government of Sindh, Dr. Baige Zhao, Chair of the Advisory Committee of CASS-RDI while Co-Chair, Pakistan China
Institute delivered the concluding address.
To further strengthen relations between the two countries, a
Memorandum of Understating to establish Pak- China Real Estate
Association (PCREA) was also signed.
ITF sticks to its decision of holding Davis Cup tie in Pakistan
LAHORE, Dec 14 (APP): The International Tennis Federation (ITF)
stuck to its earlier decision of holding the 1st round of Davis Cup
tie between Pakistan and Iran at Islamabad early next year.
“The ITF has informed the President of the Pakistan Tennis Federation
(PTF) that the ITF Board of Directors had upheld the decision of the
Davis Cup Committee to allow the 1st Round Tie, Pak Vs Iran, in Islamabad.
This was very welcome news, not only for the entire tennis fraternity
alone, but also for other sports bodies in the country, as it would send
out a positive signal for other international teams to also come to Pakistan, as witnessed recently in the case of Squash and Badminton”, Muhammad Khalid Rehmani, Secretary., PTF on Wednesday.
He said on December five, the Iran Tennis Federation exercised its right
and appealed the ITF to review the decision of the Davis Cup Committee.
“Hosting of home ties in Pakistan had been denied for the last twelve
years. However, the independent Security Consultants of the ITF had given their recommendations for approval to the Davis Cup Committee of the ITF”, said the PTF official.
Meanwhile President of the PTF, Salim Saifullah Khan, was delighted
on receiving a reconfirmation of the venue and praised the efforts of the government for improving the security situation and for supporting the cause to bring the event back to Pakistan.
He expressed his joy, saying that Pakistani players will get a chance to
play before home crowds after a long time, and our people will also get to see their heroes in action.
The Tie is to be held from February 3-5, next year in Islamabad. The
Pakistan Sports Board and the PTF will be working out the infrastructural and operational requirements for the event. Preparations are likely to begin in a couple of days to host the event in a befitting manner.
Pak netball team returns home after winning medal in Malaysia
LAHORE, Dec 14 (APP)- Pakistan men’s Netball team returned
home here on Wednesday after winning the silver medal in the
1st Asian Men’s Netball Championship held at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The officials of Pakistan Netball Federation and Punjab
netball association gave a warm welcome to the team at the
Allama Iqbal Airport.
Mudassar Arain, PNF said the medal earned by the team was the result of the collective efforts of players and the hard work of the coaches.
“It is a big achievement on part of the team to finish second in the competition”, he said adding “The result achieved by the team endorses the claims of the netball federation that the game of netball is at rise in Pakistan as solid efforts are being made for its further development”.
He expressed his special thanks to Dr.Mohammad Akhltar Nawaz
Ganjera, Director General, Pakistan Sports Board for arranging
the camp of the team and extending all out cooperation for
its preparation and participation in the Asian premier
netball activity.s
Pak players in QF in Nepal International badminton series
LAHORE, Dec 14 (APP):Pakistan’s top Badminton players
Rizwan Azam, Palwasha Bashir and Mahoor Shahzad breezed into
the quarterfinals of men singles and women singles after
winning their respective ties in Nepal International
Series Badminton Tournament in Katmandu on Wednesday.
Pak players truck fine performance underling their
talent with technique ,astutute planning and superior
physical fitness. Rizwan Azam & Kashif Sulhari moved into
the men doubles quarter finals and Palwasha Bashir & Saima
Waqas sailed into the women doubles quarterfinals, said
the information made available here.
Pakistan Badminton team comprising six players 3 male
and 3 female are participating in Nepal International
Series Badminton Tournament which will conclude on December 17.
The event is World Ranking Badminton Tournament of
Badminton World Federation and will help in establishing
Pakistani players ranking.
Rizwan Azam beat Duc Giung from Vietnam 21-17,21-17,
Palwasha Bashir beat Nafha Nasrullah from Maldives by 21-4,21-8,
Mahoor Shahzad beat Nangsal Tamang (number 4 seeded in the
tournament) from Nepal by 21-18,21-19.
Rizwan Azam will meet Abhisk Yelegar (India) in men
singles quarterfinal. Palwasha Bashir will play quarterfinal
against Aghaei Hajiagha (Iran) and Mahoor Shahzad will play
against Devi Yunita Indah Sari (Indonesia) in the quarterfinal
of women singles.
In the men doubles quarterfinal Rizwan Azam & Kashif
Sulhari (PAK) will play Dipesh Dhami & Ratnajit Tamang (Nepal)
and women doubles Palwasha Bashir & Saima Waqas (PAK) will
take on Anoushka Parikh & Harika Veludurthi (India) in
the quarterfinal slated for December 15.
Famous poet Jon Elia remembered on birth anniversary
ISLAMABAD, Dec 14 (APP): Wednesday was the birth anniversary
of renowned poet, biographer and scholar Jon Elia. He was born on
December 14, 1931 in Amroha, Uttar Pardesh.
Elia migrated to Pakistan in 1957 and settled in Karachi.
He wrote his first Urdu couplet when he was just 8.
His famous poetry collections include Shayed, Ya’ni, Gumaan,
Lekan, and Goya.
He had complete command over Arabic, Persian and Hebrew, and
was a highly skilled translator.
For his literary services, he got the Presidential Pride of
Performance Award.
He died on November 8, 2002, after a protracted illness.
Mr and Jr Mr Lahore bodybuilding contests
LAHORE, Dec 14 (APP): Mr and Junior Mr Lahore bodybuilding
contests will be held here on December 18.
“Top bodybuilders will display their healthy muscle and physique in the event”, said Farooq Iqbal, President, Pakistan Bodybuilding Federation while talking to APP on Wednesday.
He said musclemen belonging to Lahore division (Sheikhupura, Kasur and Nankana Sahib have already confirmed their participation and a keen competition is likely to be witnessed in both the categories.
Farooq said PBBF is taking keen interest in the further promotion of bodybuilding and it is laying special emphasis on holding such competitions across the country to attract youth to bodybuilding.