ISLAMABAD, Dec 14 (APP): Funeral prayer of renowned Islamic
preacher Junaid Jamshed Wednesday held at Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Nur Khan Base.
The funeral prayer was attended by Chief of Air Staff PAF Chief
Marshal Sohail Aman, senior civil and military officials, senior journalists and people from all walks of life, a PAF press release issued here said.
The family members of late Junaid Jamshed were also present on this
occasion. After the funeral prayer, a PAF C-130 carried his coffin to Karachi.
Junaid Jamshed was a proud son of late Air Commodore (Retd)
Jamshed Akbar Khan who was the PAF war veteran. He was alumni
of Fazaia College and a member of the PAF family. All his life, he maintained strong association and relationship with the PAF.
He sang his first song for the PAF in early stages of his singing
career and he also sang his last song for the PAF in 2015 during the
Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Pak-India war of 1965.
After virtual transition towards preaching of Islam, he gave
many motivational and religious lectures at various the PAF bases.

ISLAMABAD, Dec 14 (APP): Minister of State for Information,
Broadcasting and National Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb Wednesday
said complete automation and computerization of the Audit Bureau
of Circulation (ABC) was the need of hour to ensure transparency
and promote fair circulation audit.
Chairing a high level meeting here, she said online working and submission of documents would not only discourage forgery but would
also help in making the system more transparent and visible.
The minister asked the officers to do what was right and make their sincere efforts to add value to the working of their respective
departments.
She said the computerized system would enhance staff efficiency and assist in collecting information, maintaining huge records and storage
of data. That obviously was one of the ways of solving the problem of increased volume of activity as well as to provide authentic and accurate information, she added.
Marriyum Aurangzeb also emphasized the need to digitalize ABC
archives with the view to preserve the storage of complete data.
She said transparency and fairness had been the top most priority
of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government as not even a single case of any wrongdoing was surfaced in last three and a half years.
The minister said once the online system was in place, it would not only play a vital role in strengthening the values and norms of transparency, fairness and openness but would also prove benevolent for
the media and media professionals.
She said the democratic government believed in freedom of expression
and the Ministry of Information would continue its efforts for the betterment of media industry and work with them for the achievement of free and responsible media.
The meeting was attended by senior officials of Information Ministry.

ISLAMABAD, Dec 14 (APP): Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) Member of National Assembly (MNA) Talal Chaudhry Wednesday said Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) made rumpus in the parliament which caused adjournment of proceedings.
Talking in a private news channel programme, he said
adjournment motion could not be discussed as per rule of business.
He said it was a positive omen, the PTI had realised the importance of the parliament but its members were still lacking of due respect of this supreme forum of the state.
He said the PTI had failed to deliver anything to the people of Khyber
Pakhtukhawa, due to the reason, they had fed up its politics of
agitation and zero performance since last three years.
Talal said the PTI had been facing continued defeat in all kinds of
elections across the country including Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Cantonment, bye and local bodies etc.
He said the result of those elections reposed full confidence of general
public in the PML-N government adding that it was the most favourite and popular party amongst the people.
He said the PTI had boycotted the parliament on every important
occasion like Kashmir issue and Turkish president address.
Talal said the PTI was the master of taking U-turn but now it
had been taking roundabout.
To a question, he said the PML-N would also make government in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa after victory in general elections 2018.

ISLAMABAD, Dec 14 (APP): Syed Ibne Abbas, Pakistan High
Commissioner to the UK said that our success lies in following the
noble life of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).
“Islam and terrorism cannot go side by side as terrorists have
nothing to do with Islam,” he said while speaking at Jashn-e-Eid
Milad-un-Nabi event organized by Maulana Qazi Abdul Aziz Chishti at
Jamia Islamia Ghousia Trust, Luton, a message received here on
Wednesday from London said.
The high commissioner felicitated all the Muslims on Eid
Milad-un-Nabi and said the Prophet (PBUH) is the benefactor of
entire human kind.
He also appreciated the role of the ulema in guiding the people and
bringing harmony in the society.
While commending the contribution of the Pakistani community
in various walks of British national life, the high commissioner
said much remains to be done.
He also pointed out various challenges faced by the British
Pakistanis and called for some course correction to address those
issues.
Reiterating that terrorism has nothing to do with Islam, he
emphasized on the need to present true Islam to the world through
our deeds and actions.
The high commissioner lauded the presence of the
representatives of the British government and other faith
communities at the event.
He thanked the UK government for looking after the Pakistani
community across the country so well.
The high commissioner commended Allama Qazi Abdul Aziz Chishti for
organizing such a wonderful event every year to celebrate the Milad-un-Nabi.
He reassured the community that Pakistan is in safe hands and any
conspiracy or propaganda would not succeed in hampering our march towards progress.
He also reiterated Pakistan’s commitment for political, moral
and diplomatic support to the Kashmiris.
The high commissioner said no pressure would deter Pakistan from its
principled stand on Kashmir.
However, he expressed that Pakistan is a peace loving
country and wants to resolve all disputes through peaceful means.
Lord Nazir Ahmed and Lord Qurban Hussain also addressed the
gathering briefly and emphasized on upholding the teachings of the
Prophet (PBUH).
They particularly called upon the community to working for
peaceful neighbourhood and guiding the youth to become law abiding
citizens of this country.
In his brief address, Allama Qazi Abdul Aziz Chishti shed
light on various aspects of the noble life of Prophet of Islam
Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH).
Around 3,000 members of the Pakistani community attended the
event.

ISLAMABAD, Dec 14 (APP): National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq Wednesday said the Panama Papers case was sub-judice in the apex court and the matter could not be discussed in the parliament.
Responding to a point of order raised by Leader of Opposition in
the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, the Speaker said
permission could not be granted for moving a privilege motion in that regard.
“The matter is sub-judice and under the rules permission can’t be granted for a privilege motion,” the Speaker clarified.
Earlier speaking on his point of order, Khursheed Shah sought
permission of the Speaker to allow a privilege motion regarding the
Panama Papers.

ISLAMABAD, Dec 14 (APP): Minister for Commerce Engr Khurram Dastgir Khan Wednesday informed the National Assembly that owing to prudent policies of the government, Pakistan’s exports had increased by 6.01 per cent in November 2016 against those in the corresponding month of last year.
During Question Hour, the minister said concrete steps were being
taken to enhance Pakistan’s export basket and Rs 20 billion would be
spent on development of the export sector.
He said uninterrupted power supply was being ensured to the
industrial sector for increase of exports, with reduction in
electricity tariff by Rs 3 per unit.
The minister said the capacity of Lahore Expo Centre had been
doubled while ground-breaking of Peshawar Expo Centre and three land
ports at Torkham, Wagha and Chaman was expected during the current fiscal year.
He said the National Tariff Commission Act has been revamped to
counter import surge through unfair trade and strengthen trade
defence mechanism.
He said EXIM Bank was being established to facilitate export
credit while consistent effort was being made for additional market
access for Pakistani products in world markets.
To a question, he said the GSP Plus status had helped Pakistani products’ access to the European Union countries at zero tariff. Total exports to the European Union in the current fiscal year were over
$5,226 million.
Khurram Dastgir said the government had taken various steps to strengthen textile and other sectors.
Sales tax of five export-oriented sectors namely textile, leather, sports goods, surgical goods and carpets, she said, had been made part
of zero rated tax regime from July this year.
Technology upgradation fund scheme for the textile sector was also available, he said, adding that the facility of duty free import of
textile machinery was continuing.
Khurram Dastgir said mark-up rates on export refinance facility
had been brought down to 3 per cent. The long-term finance facility
as continuing at 5 per cent.
To another question, Khurram Dastgir said trade policy could not
be country specific and it was based on the principles of
non-discrimination for all World Trade Organization (WTO) members.
He said the second phase of China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement
was being negotiated and efforts were being made to dove-tail trade
and investment activities envisaged under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
The government, he said, was supporting establishment of food
processing units in less developed areas of the country.
Regarding the appointment of commercial officers in the country’s
missions abroad, the minister said Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had appointed the batch of commercial officers of 2016 on merit that would help further promote the Pakistani trade.

ISLAMABAD, Dec 14 (APP): The National Assembly was informed Wednesday that during last three years Rs 25.603 billion was spent on the employees at Pakistani missions in different countries.
Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz told the House during Question Hour that out of the stated amount Rs 8.584 billion was spent on employees at foreign missions in 2013-14 in terms of employees related expenses, rent for residential buildings and
education subsidy.
During 2014-15, the Advisor said the amount spent in these categories
at the foreign missions was Rs 8.244 billion and the expenditures
incurred on employees at missions abroad during 2015-16 stood at
Rs 8.775 billion.
Answering a supplementary question, Sartaj Aziz said the government
was pursuing a comprehensive policy of border management at Pakistani border with Afghanistan. “This exercise would curtail cross-border movement as well as smuggling of narcotics.”
Answering a query about his visit to India and treatment meted out
to the Pakistani delegation, he said it was important for Pakistan to participate in the Heart of Asia Conference as it was meant for peace and progress in Afghanistan.
He dispelled the impression that any humiliating attitude was meted
out to him or the delegation except a press conference where the media people were not allowed due to security reasons. “I was given proper protocol and no indecent incident occurred.”
Sartaj Aziz said Pakistan’s overture to participate in the
conference was appreciated by other participating countries as
Pakistan tried its best that its bilateral relations with India do
not impact the proceedings of a multi-lateral conference.
He said Pakistan always desired peace in Afghanistan and progress
of Afghan people, therefore, it could not leave that event unattended.

SUKKUR, Dec 14 (APP)– Four persons were injured as a result of bomb blast on Rohri Highway on Wednesday.
According to Spokesperson of Motarway and Highway Police Sukkur ,
Sarfaraz Ahmed and local people, four persons were injured in the explosion.
The bomb was planted in a bicycle which exploded with remote control
device.
The security forces and rescue teams have rushed to the blast site. The
Rangers and police started search operation in the area.