ISLAMABAD, Mar 2 (APP):Minister for Interior Prof Ahsan Iqbal Friday directed that the process for acquiring a visa should be made easy and electronic visa and computerized tracking system should be introduced to facilitate people.
The minister was chairing a meeting of tour operators, businessmen and educationists here.
The participants discussed problems related to issuance of visas to businessmen, tourists and students.
This was the first meeting held since 2006 on the instructions of the Interior Minister.
Ahsan said a lot of opportunities for tourism were available in Pakistan, adding economic progress of a country depended on trade, tourism and education.
He said online visa system should be adopted to facilitate people.
He instructed that visa categories should be created for purposes of education, tourism, trade and for diplomats.

ISLAMABAD, Mar 2 (APP):The Foreign Office summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh to protest the continued unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian occupation forces along the Line of Control (LoC).
The Acting Director General (SA & SAARC) here on Friday summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner and condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations, said a FO statement.
Indian occupation forces along the Line of Control, using heavy mortars, on 1st March 2018 in Bhimber/Samahini Sectors, resulting in the shahadat of an innocent civilian (Mr. Zafar Iqbal s/o Noor Muhammad r/o Nihala village), while injuring his wife and child. Despite calls for restraint, India continues to indulge in ceasefire violations.
In 2018, the Indian forces have carried out more than 415 ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary, resulting in the shahadat of 20 innocent civilians and injuries to 71 others. This unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by India is continuing from 2017 when the Indian forces committed 1970 ceasefire violations.

The deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity, international human rights and humanitarian laws. The ceasefire violations by India are a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation.

The Acting Director General urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 Ceasefire arrangement; investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations; instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC and the Working Boundary. He urged that the Indian side should permit UNMOGIP to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions.

RAWALPINDI, Mar 2 (APP):Frontier Corps (FC) Balochistan conducted intelligence based operations (IBOs) on terrorists suspected hideouts in Karbala, Pishin area of Balochistan and averted a major terrorist activity.
According to an Inter-Services Public Relations statement issued here on Friday six suspected terrorists were apprehended.
Cache of arms and ammunition including 500 kilograms of explosive, suicide jackets, prepared improvised explosive devices (IEDs), sub-machine guns, mines and communication equipment were also recovered.
The IBOs were carried out as part of the ongoing operation Radd-ul-Fasaad.

ISLAMABAD, Mar 2 (APP):Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has finalized all arrangements to hold Senate election in a smooth and transparent manner here in the parliament house and all four provincial assemblies on March 3 (Saturday).
The polling will start from 9:00am and will continue till 4:00pm without any break. The polling stations have been established in buildings of Parliament House Islamabad and all provincial Assemblies.
For two seats of federal capital, five candidates will contest election while 20 candidates will contest election for 12 seats of Punjab, 33 candidates will contest for 12 seats of Sindh, 26 candidates will contest for 11 seats of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 23 candidates will contest election for 11 seats of Balochistan and 24 candidates will contest election for four seats of FATA.
The ECP has printed 1600 ballot papers for Punjab, 800 for Sindh, 600 for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 300 for Balochistan, 800 for federal capital and 50 ballot papers for FATA. These ballot papers have been handed over to the Returning Officers concerned.
The commission held meeting with its Returning Officers to hold the Senate election in a peaceful, transparent and an organized manner in the federal capital and all four provinces.
The commission also directed the Returning Officers to ensure implementing all direction of ECP regarding Senate election including complete restriction on carrying mobile phone in polling station, using single way to enter in the polling station without any discrimination and ensuring conduct of election in a peaceful and pleasant atmosphere.
Meanwhile, in its notification, the ECP has authorized the Returning Officers appointed for the conduct of Senate elections, 2018 to exercise the power of the Magistrate of the First Class under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898); with immediate effect and until the consolidation and announcement of official result.
The commission has also requested the Ministry of Interior for deployment of Rangers and Frontier Corps outside the premises of provincial assemblies of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Parliament House Islamabad for holding election in a peaceful manner and to avoid any untoward incident on the poll day.
It is pertinent to mention here that the provincial assemblies of Balochistan, Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkwa would elect 11 Senators each to fill the seats in the Upper House of the Parliament as half of the House would retire in March 2018.
Members National Assembly from Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) would elect four Senators – half of the total strength of eight from FATA in the Senate – National Assembly members as a whole would elect two Senators for Federal Capital while two minority members from Punjab and Sindh would be elected by respective provincial assemblies.
As many as 52 Senators would retire on March 11, 2018 after completing their six-year term in the Upper House of the Parliament and the provinces, FATA MNAs and National Assembly would elect Senators to fill in the vacant posts.
In each province, seven Senators will be elected on general seats, two technocrats/Ulema and two women. Two minorities Senators from Punjab and Sindh will also retire after completing their tenure.
For general seats, total number of provincial assemblies divided by seven determines the numbers of votes for victory of Senators while the election of two women, Ulema, technocrats and one minority will be elected through priority vote.
Senate of Pakistan gives equal representation to all federating units which is in line with the constitutional role attributed to the Upper House for promotion of national cohesion and harmony.
In total 104 senators, each of the four provincial assemblies electing 23 members from their respective provinces whereas four members are elected by the National Assembly from the Federal Capital and eight members are elected from the Federal Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
Senate is a permanent House which symbolizes a process of continuity in the national affairs. The term of its member is six years, however, one half of its members retire after every three years.

ISLAMABAD, Mar 2 (APP):Inauguration of work on dualization, rehabilitation and improvement of Rawalpindi-Kahuta road is going to be held on Saturday.
The project for dualization of 28 km long section is divided into two packages, a press release Friday said.
Under the first package, 16.5 km section will be built from Kaakpul interchange to Trikiyan, while the second package of 12 km will be from Trikiyan to Kahuta.
The project includes a 4-lane bridge over Sihala railway crossing, Sihala bypass and Kahuta bypass in addition to three bridges, one underpass and 50 box culverts. Lane width will be 3.65 m (each) with 0.6 m inner shoulder and 2.5 m outer shoulder. The design speed will be 100 km/hr in plain terrain and 80 km/hr in hilly terrain. The total cost of the project (including land cost) is around Rs. 12 billion.
The existing road is presently two lane that starts from GT road (N-5) interchange near Sowan and passes through Kahuta city further traversing to Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
It carries immense strategic value and is the shortest route for the traffic coming from Rawalakot, Kotli to Islamabad and vice versa.
The existing road is insufficient to accommodate the ever growing volume of traffic resulting in severe congestions especially at the Sihala railway crossing, where traffic remains choked and jammed for hours and local population is facing immense difficulty. Besides, the route carries heavy traffic due to oil cargo vehicles coming from GT road.
There is another impediment near Kahuta, where steep slope causes problems for heavy loaded vehicles. Widening of this road is the utmost requirement to accommodate the smooth flow of traffic and facilitate the road users of the area.
The project will ease existing difficulties along with a substantial decrease in transportation cost for heavy traffic. The agriculture products will reach the destinations in time and the troubled population of Sihala and other areas will get the much needed relief.

ISLAMABAD, Mar 2 (APP):Minister for Climate Change Senator Mushahidullah Khan Friday said celebration of “World Wildlife Day”, scheduled on March 3, would provide an opportunity to renew the commitment for conservation of nature and create awareness about importance of iconic species.

“There is dire need to enhance social acceptance for wildlife so that future generations may also be benefited with these important components of ecosystems,” he said in his message on the International Wildlife Day, which would also be observed in Pakistan like other parts of the world.

United Nations General Assembly on December 20, 2013 had decided to celebrate March 3 as the World Wildlife Day. It is the same day when, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was adopted in 1973.

The CITES is an intergovernmental treaty to ensure that international trade of wild fauna and flora is sustainable.

The minister said that the theme of World Wildlife Day-2018 is “Big cats: predators under threat.”

Big cats include; Snow leopard, Lion, Tiger, Common leopard, Jaguar, Puma and Cheetah, which being top predators, play key role in maintaining healthy ecosystem.

However, population of big cats is on decline due to varied threats including loss of habitat and prey, conflicts with people, poaching and illegal trade. Over the past century the big cats have been lost at an alarming rate.

Mushahidullah said two big cats; Snow leopard and Common leopard have been seen in mountainous areas of Pakistan recently.

Common leopard is found in mountain forests of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. It was also reported from the highlands of Baluchistan and Sindh. Snow leopard is found in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir in the northern mountainous systems; Hindu Kush, Pamirs, Karakorum, and Himalayas across.

Like other parts of the world, big cats are facing various threats in Pakistan including; habitat loss/degradation, decline in natural prey base, livestock depredation and retaliatory killing, lack of awareness, climate change and poaching for trade (skins and other parts).For conservation of big cats various actions had been taken by the present government.

Senator Mushahidullah Khan also said that Human-wildlife conflict; Snow leopard and Common leopard depredation on livestock and retaliatory killing is main threat to big cats in Pakistan.

The species are protected under wildlife laws and a system of protected areas has been established which provide safe habitat to these species besides various conservation activities. Community-based Trophy Hunting Programme of wild ungulates (Markhor, Urial, Ibex and Blue Sheep) is being successfully implemented in Pakistan.

The local communities get 80 percent shares of the revenue generation, which is used for conservation and socio-economic uplift, in return the communities protect wildlife with a sense of ownership.

ISLAMABAD, Mar 02 (APP):The Supreme Court Friday issued the 51-pages detailed judgement in the Election Amendment Act 2017 case.
The decision was authored by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar.
On Februar 21, the court had issued the order on several petitions challenging the law.
The judgment stated that an individual disqualified under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution could not serve as head of a political party.
“It is settled law that any act done or any action taken or purported to have been done or taken under or in pursuance of the repealed Act, shall in so far as it is not inconsistent with the provisions of new Act, be deemed to have been done or taken under the corresponding provisions of the new Act and unless a Legislature enacts a new law to be specifically retrospective, and that too with great particularity of language, the courts are not to assume retrospectivety,” the judgment read.