ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (APP): The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday announced that the bowling action of Pakistan’s Mohammad Hafeez has been found to be legal, and he can now resume bowling in international cricket.
On November 17, Hafeez underwent a reassessment of his bowling
action at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane where it was revealed that the amount of elbow extension for all his off spin deliveries was within the 15 degree level of tolerance permitted under the ICC regulations for the review of bowlers reported with suspected illegal bowling actions, an ICC press release issued here said.
The umpires are still at liberty to report Hafeez if they believe he is displaying a suspect action and not reproducing the legal action from the reassessment.
To assist the umpires, they will be provided with images and video
footage of the bowler’s remodeled legal bowling action.
Hafeez was originally suspended from bowling in November 2014,
but he was reassessed and permitted to resume bowling in April 2015.
He was reported during the Galle Test against Sri Lanka (June 17 21,
2015) and was subsequently suspended for 12 months in July 2015 after an independent assessment revealed he had employed an illegal bowling action for the second time in 24 months.
If he is reported again, he will be required to undertake further analysis of his bowling action at an ICC accredited testing centre.
ICC allows Hafeez to resume bowling
Pak blind cricket named for World blind cricket cup
LAHORE, Nov 30 (APP): Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC), here on
Wednesday named its team to take part in second World T20 cricket cup being played from January 29 in different cities of India.
Muhammad Jamil will lead the side and Anees Javed is his deputy, said a
spokesman of PBCC.
The other members of the team are, Muhammad Ayaz, Sajid Nawaz, Amir Ashfaq, Riasat Khan, Muhammad Idrees Saleem, Zafar Iqbal, Abdul Manan. Ayub Khan, Babar Munir, Nisar Ali, Haroon, Mutih ullah, Muhammad Ikram, Mohsin Khan, Israr Hussain, Muhammad
Ejaz, Muhammad Rasheed and Sanullah.
The team management include Haib ullah, (manager), Abdul Razzaq (coach), Tahir Mahmood Butt, (trainer) and Ghulam Mohammad Khan, (coordinator).
A selection committee comprising Abdul Razzaq, Yousaf Haroon and Tahir Mahmood picked up the team keeping in view the past and present performance of the players.
The spokesman said Pakistan blind team’s participation in the Cup has
been conditioned with the permission of the Pakistan Government.
He said the inaugural ceremony of the event will be held on January
29 at New Delhi. Pak team will play its opening match against England on January 31 in Delhi.
CPEC’s economic potential attracting regional countries: PM
ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif,
Wednesday said that China Pakistan Economic Corridor was Pakistan’s
strategic economic initiative that has attracted the world in general and regional countries in particular.
“CPEC has changed the negative security narrative into an exceedingly positive economic narrative for Pakistan,” he said while chairing a meeting to review progress on CPEC at PM House.
He said the successful implementation of the projects under the mbrella of CPEC was a manifestation of the strong and time tested friendship between China and Pakistan and said its success has been substantiated by massive foreign investment in Pakistan.
He said there was a compelling reason for international investors to investment in Pakistan because of the success story of CPEC initiatives.
The meeting reviewed at length the benchmarks set for numerous energy, transport infrastructure and industrial projects. They also discussed the deliverables with particular focus on development of
Gwadar Port along with socio economic uplift projects in the area.
Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif said that Pakistan’s economy
was in shambles in 2013 when the present government came into power.
He said it was China that supported and helped Pakistan in the economic revival at such crucial juncture for which the government and people of Pakistan were indebted to the Chinese leadership and people of China.
“The visionary Chinese leadership supported us in translating
the idea of CPEC into reality,” the Prime Minister said.
Recalling his first official landmark visit to China in July 2013, the Prime Minister said that the visit marked a new phase in the development of the bilateral relationship by putting economic cooperation and connectivity squarely at the centre of the bilateral agenda.
The meeting was briefed that energy projects under the CPEC including Coal, Hydel, Wind, Solar as well as transmission lines were on track.
The participants of the meeting were briefed on the status of each and every energy project under CPEC in terms of timelines, transparency and cost effectiveness.
He said besides the infrastructure projects including Road, Rail, Aviation, Data Connectivity was also being executed simultaneously on fast track basis.
The meeting was informed that Early Harvest projects under the
CPEC would be completed by 2017 18.
The meeting also deliberated at the multiple passages of CPEC across the length and breadth of the country.
The Prime Minister reiterated that no region or territory must be left behind in reaping the benefits of CPEC.
The meeting took significant overview of the Gwadar Projects
including Gwadar East Bay Expressway; New Gwadar International Airport; Necessary facilities of fresh water treatment, supply and distribution; Technical and Vocational Institute; Pak China Friendship Hospital; Development of Free Zone and Gwadar Smart Port City Master Plan.
It was emphasized that local population must be given priority while giving incentives for industries. The participants of the meeting were apprised of the recent developments and progress to boost industrial cooperation between China and Pakistan.
The meeting was also briefed on the steps already in place for safety and security of Chinese workers working on CPEC Projects.
Long Term Plan, energy cooperation, transport infrastructure and industrial cooperation in the long term was also reviewed during the meeting.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said “our endeavours have started yielding substantive results; our continuing efforts in the completion of CPEC projects will InshaAllah transform the socio economic landscape of Pakistan where no one will be left behind in getting the benefits, the Prime Minister said.
He said that China has proven to be real friend of the people, State and the government of Pakistan. The energy projects under CPEC have provided an impetus to the energy roadmap of the country by initiating various energy projects’, the Prime Minister said.
Upcoming Pakistan Film Festival in New York generating excitement among fans
NEW YORK, Nov 30 (APP): Tickets for the first-ever Pakistan Film Festival are going fast as excited fans make their bookings for the movies to be screened later this week.
The Dec 3-4 festival is being organized by the Pakistan Mission to the United Nations at Asia Society, New York.
“The festival is part of the continuing effort by the Pakistan Mission’s engagement to promote cultural diplomacy and to project the country’s soft power,” Ambassador Maleeha Lodi said.
It will kick off with a red carpet reception on Dec 2 at the United Nations where ambassadors and permanent representatives accredited to the
UN have been invited, as well as members of the Pakistani diaspora, media and film buffs.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson will be the chief at the reception to which the President of the UN General Assembly Peter
Thomson has also been invited.
A number of celebrities from the film industry will also attend the festival as well as directors and producers of some of the movies being featured. These include Fahad Mustafa, Hamza Ali Abbasi, Mahira Khan,
Mawra Hocane, Nabeel Qureshi, Saba Qamar, Wajahat Rauf, Yasir Hussain, Sheheryar Munawar, Asim Raza, Tooba Siddiqui, Adeel Hussain, Sanam Saeed, Humaima Malik, Jerjees Seja (JJ), Producer, Afia Serena Nathaniel and Mehreen Jabbar.
The films to be screened include two brand new ones, which will
premiere in New York, Dobara Pher Say and Lahore Say Agay. Others will include Actor in law, Pakistan’s Oscar nomination, Mahe Meer, Oscar
award winner Sharmeen Obaid’s animated film, 3 Bahadur, Dukhtar, Dance Kahani and Ho Mann Jahan.
Officials said there are no seat left for Ms. Jabbar’s film ‘Dobara
Pher Say’.
Talking about the festival, Ambassador Lodhi said, “Young film makers
in Pakistan are producing an incredibly diverse and entertaining array of movies which are contributing to the cultural renaissance underway in the country which is also reflected in the profusion of creative voices found today in Pakistan’s art, music, literature and the media.”
Since assuming charge as Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to UN, Ambassador Lodhi has undertaken several cultural projects and organized a series of events to promote Pakistan’s soft image and highlight its modern and vibrant culture but also its ancient civilizational roots.
The Pakistan Mission, under her leadership, organized a “Sufi Night”
at the UN General Assembly hall to mark Pakistan Day earlier this year featuring Rahat Fateh Ali Khan.
She also organized an Exhibition of Contemporary Art from Pakistan
at the UN, which showcased some of the best works of art to demonstrate how Pakistan is becoming a powerhouse of creativity. She was also instrumental in bringing the Lahore Literary Festival to the Asia Society in New York.
“We are bringing some of Pakistan’s movies to New York so that
diplomats from 193 countries at the UN also have an opportunity to see what the country’s entertainment industry is producing,” Ambassador Lodhi added.
Pakistan is a candidate for a seat on the Human Rights Council and
its reception at the UN is also aimed at promoting its candidature.
All areas of country to be connected with six, four lanes motorways: PM
ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif
Wednesday said all the areas of the country would be connected with
six and four lanes motorways depending on the load of traffic.
Chairing a meeting to review progress on major road networks across the country at PM House, the Prime Minister said this initiative was a significant step towards regional and international connectivity.
He said the completion of road connectivity projects across the country would contribute around one to 1.5 percent increase in the GDP.
The meeting was informed that for the first time in history of the country, an investment of Rs 1000 billion has been made by the present government for construction of state of the art road networks.
The participants were informed about strict adherence to various mechanisms in place for ensuring standards, timely completion and quality as well as
utmost transparency in execution of the major road projects.
The prime minister observed that during the current financial year, Rs 334 billion had been allocated for construction of major roads network compared to a mere Rs 65 billion annual allocation made during the previous governments.
“This huge allocation speaks volumes of our focus and initiatives for connectivity of remote and neglected areas with the central and major cities of the country, the prime minister stated.
Prime Minister Sharif said these initiatives would generate huge economic activities and employment opportunities on one hand and shrink the development gap between the less developed and developed areas.
Besides, he added it would further consolidate the feeling of togetherness and bonds of unity among the residents of all the provinces and regions of the country.
Shahid Ashraf Tarar, Chairman NHA briefed the meeting about the status of work on major road projects being executed simultaneously across the length and breadth of the country.
He said currently, the projects under execution across the country include Gojra Shorkot Motorway, Shorkot Khanewal Motorway, Lahore Abdulhakim Motorway, Multan Sukkur Motorway and Lahore Sialkot Motorway in Punjab; Hakla D.I,Khan Expressway, Hazara Motorway, Lowari Tunnel, Havelian Thakot Motorway, Takhtbhai Flyover
and Torkham Jalalabad Additional Carriageway in KPK;
Karachi Hyderabad Motorway, Lyari Expressway in Sindh; Zhob Mughalkot (CPEC Western Corridor), Hoshab Khuzdar (Western Corridor), Qilla Saifullah Waigum Rud (N 70) and Khuzdar ShadadKot in Balochistan while Link Roads for New Islamabad International Airport (NIIA) in the Federal Capital.
Court cases cannot be won on assumptions: Marriyum
ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (APP): Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb Wednesday said court cases could not be won on the basis of assumptions, but evidence was required for the purpose.
Talking to media persons here, she said the honourable judges had made the observation that the legal team of Pakistan Tehreek i Insaf (PTI) was depending on newspaper clippings and asked them to present the counter evidence they had been talking about for the last nine months.
The minister said Imran Khan’s new counsel was trying to contest the case on the basis of the prime minister’s speeches and the evidence presented by the prime minister and his children in the court.
Whenever the court asked them to present the evidence which they had been claiming to possess for nine months, they said they would present it soon, she added.
Imran’s case, she said, had not become stronger with the change of counsel.
She questioned as why the PTI leaders did not present the pages of the so called evidence in the court which displayed in talk shows daily.
She said the prime minister and his family had faced accountability in the past as well and every time they emerged victorious.
Marriyum Aurangzeb said no hurdle would be tolerated in the way of developmental works launched during the last three years. China Pakistan Economic Corridor, energy projects, health and educational reforms initiated by the prime minister would be completed by 2018, she added.
She said Pakistan needed Nawaz Sharif as he was elected the prime minister by the people and he would not resign on the PTI’s demand. The prime minister would go to the people’s court in 2018 and get their mandate again, he added.
Why did PTI chairman Imran Khan not hold meetings for the
development of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, she asked. It was astonishing that he was holding meetings to impede the work on CPEC, he added.
She said the question arose that on whose agenda Imran was
acting upon to block the country’s development.
To a question, the minister said when counter arguments were made by the PTI lawyers, the PML N legal team told the court that they owned all the evidences provided by the prime minister and his family and their record was available, and the other party should present the counter evidence, if any, they possessed.
Govt believes in freedom of expression, legislation being done for media safety, security: Marriyum
ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (APP): Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb Wednesday
said the government believed in freedom of expression and it was taking practical steps for the safety and security of journalists and necessary legislation was being made for the purpose.
Speaking in “Meet the Press” programme here at the National Press Club, the minister said in the past no attention was given to the capacity building of media professionals and her ministry would make arrangements for their professional training.
She said on the prime minister’s directives, a draft bill for the security and safety of the journalists had been prepared and its copies would be soon sent to all the stakeholders, including press clubs and media organizations.
Amendments proposed by the media persons, she said, would be incorporated in the bill to make it a comprehensive law. Setting up
of Journalists Endowment Fund would be part of the bill, she added.
Marriyum Aurangzeb said today media played a very important role
in the formation of national narrative.
To a question, she said electronic media outlets should activate their internal editorial committees so that self accountability system could become operative.
About the Right to Information Bill, she said it would be presented in the National Assembly soon.
The minister said the chairman of Implementation Tribunal for Newspaper Employees would be appointed shortly.
Pakistan, she said, was passing through a critical juncture and due to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor and its road network, its regional importance had increased. “We as Pakistanis should keep the national interests supreme,” she added.
Some unverified and concocted news, she said, defamed the country in the world.
Earlier former President of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists Afzal Butt and National Press Club Presiden Shakeel Anjum, in their addresses, highlighted the problems and issues being faced by the media persons.
Pakistan in well position to tap trade potential of Afghanistan, CARs: Dar
ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (APP): Minister for Finance Muhammad Ishaq Dar Wednesday said Pakistan was now well positioned to further tap the trade potential of Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics (CARs).
“There is a huge trade potential in Afghanistan and five Central Asian states, namely Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, with combined gross domestic product (GDP) of $ 445 billion and population of 66 million, offer a sizeable market for Pakistani goods, services and investment,” Dar said while speaking at the launching ceremony of Pakistan-Afghanistan-Central Asian Republic States Trade Summit (PACTS) here Tuesday night.
The ceremony was organized by Rawalpindi Chambers of Commerce
and Industries (RCCI).
The Finance Minister appreciated the efforts of RCCI for organizing the summit saying that it would help enhance trade opportunities for Pakistan with Central Asian states and Afghanistan.
He said a Joint Business Council, comprising of leading businessmen from both the countries, had also been established to increase business to business interaction.
He said Pak-Afghan bilateral trade had increased from $1.11
billion in 2005-06 to $ 1.84 billion in 2015-16.
Exports from Pakistan to Afghanistan, he added, had increased from $1.06 billion to $ 1.43 billion during the period and there was a big potential to enhance the trade.
The minister also said Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Coordination Authority (APTTCA) had been established to monitor effective implementation of the Pak-Afghan Transit Trade Agreement 2010 and so far, six APTTCA meetings had been held.
He said the government’s economic policies, under leadership of the Prime Minister, had resulted in macroeconomic stability within two and half years, contrary to international predictions of five years.
He said now the target was higher, sustainable, and inclusive
growth.
The minister said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) raised GDP growth forecast for Pakistan for FY 2017 from 4.7 per cent to 5 per cent, and projected GDP growth of 5.5 per cent in FY 2021.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) raised GDP forecast for Pakistan for 2017 from 4.8 per cent to 5.2 per cent, he siad, adding the Harvard University study had projected 5.07 per cent annual GDP growth of the country till 2024.
World Bank projected 5 per cent GDP growth for Pakistan in FY 2017 and 5.4 per cent in FY 2018, he added.
He said it was the firm resolve of the government to achieve a higher and more sustainable growth.
The minister also said that the initiatives like CAREC and CPEC, and Pakistan’s commitment to join in the Ashgabat Agreement and Lapis Lazuli Corridor would further support the CARs trade plans.
He said that the government was desirous of peace and stability in Afghanistan and was making serious efforts to help the Afghan government in that regard.
“Our region is very rich in economic, human and natural resources and the connectivity of this region will usher in new vistas of prosperity.
CPEC is a game changer and we would like other neighboring countries to take advantage of this project”.
The minister assured the RCCI that the government would seriously consider their charter of demands presented by the RCCI president.
PTI afraid of PML N success in next elections: Marriyum
ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (APP): Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb Wednesday said Pakistan Tehreek i Insaf (PTI) was afraid of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz’s (PML N) success in next elections due to its performance.
Speaking at a press conference here, she said the government led by Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif made considerable progress in the fields of energy, education and health, and in the fight against terrorism.
PTI chief Imran Khan, she said, could not stop Pakistan’s journey
of development by telling lies as positive reports from international
organizations were appearing about health and education sectors,
China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the fight against terrorism.
The minister said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was fulfilling the promises he had made with the people.
She said Imran Khan in his press talk had once again tried to mislead the nation about the Panama Papers through distorted facts.
She said the PTI chief was not repeating the allegations he used
to level earlier. Now his legal team was depending on the newspaper clippings.
She said the PTI leaders should present the counter evidence they had been talking about for the last nine months, in the court.
But they had failed to produce counter evidence about the documents submitted by the children of Prime Minister.
During the proceedings of Panama Papers case, the court observed that PTI’s evidence was based on the newspaper cuttings, which was not a proof, she added.
The minister said that people knew the reality of Panama Papers and that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had no connection with them.
Marriyum Aurangzeb said any television channel could legally challenge the notices issued to it by Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority at an appropriate forum.
The television channels, she said, should activate the notified editorial committees to stop airing of programmes not in line with the law.
The minister said the bill of right to appeal had nothing to do with the Panama Papers.
The bill of right to appeal a Supreme Court decision in suo moto cases would protect fundamental legal rights of Pakistanis, she added.
PML N member of the National Assembly Daniyal Aziz said Imran Khan was repeatedly raising hue and cry and levelling allegations against the Sharif family and talked about lockdown of capital and assault on house of party leaders, 35 punctures and other baseless accusations about rigging in elections.
He said it was wrong to say that there was contradiction in the statements of Nawaz Sharif. The PTI’s stance in the Supreme Court was based on lies, he added.
The PTI lawyers, he said, were now only making arguments on the
basis of statements of Prime Minister’s children submitted in the court.
Daniyal said Imran Khan had retracted from his original stance
on the Panama Papers. He tried to establish connection between the Prime Minister and the Panama Papers but failed in his effort, he added.
He said the lawyers of Prime Minister’s children would respond to the points raised by the PTI lawyer in next hearings of the Supreme Court, he added.
He said PTI leader Mehmoodur Rashid made a wrong statement in
2012 about the properties of Sharif family and never took the matter to a court of law.
Talks with India is Pakistan’s strength, not weakness: Abdul Basit
ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (APP): High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit on Wednesday said that Pakistan was ready to hold unconditional dialogue with India, however made it clear that “holding talks would be Pakistan’s
strength, not weakness”.
“After fought wars [with India], we want resolution of issues through dialogue. If we re ready for dialogue, it is our strength, not weakness,” the High
Commissioner said in an interview with BBC Urdu’s Facebook Live.
Abdul Basit said that Pakistan in last many decades had worked out several frameworks to hold talks with India on all issues.
“The basic thing is that dialogue should be a comprehensive one, including all issues,” he said.
On Indian External Minister Sushma Swaraj’s statement that dialogue and terrorism cannot go side by side, the High Commissioner said that Pakistan could also put up similar conditions such as situation in Jammu and Kashmir and withdrawal of troops from Siachen.
However, he said problems could only be resolved at the dialogue table.
Basit said due to confrontation, both Pakistan and India were not making progress.
“Negotiations are the need of South Asia and the entire world…We waited for it earlier and would continue to do so,” he said.
To a question on Hafiz Muhammad Saeed and Maulana Azhar, the High Commissioner said the cases were in the courts, adding that Pakistan was ready to take action if provided any proof against them.