ISLAMABAD, Nov 22 (APP): A Pakistani battleship opened its doors to Anadolu Agency Tuesday, with its senior officer expressing his pride at taking part in military exercises in Turkey.

For the exercises, Pakistan’s PNS Alamgir is anchored at Turkey’s naval base in the southwestern province of Mugla, with access to the Mediterranean.

Pakistani Coast Guard Adm. Waseem Akram told Anadolu Agency that they were extremely proud to take part in the Blue Whale – 2016 Invitation Exercises, which conclude on Novemebr 28, according to a report published by Turkish news agency Anadolu on its website.

Hosted by the Turkish Naval Forces, the nine-day exercises involve NATO, U.S., Bulgarian, Pakistani, and Romanian naval forces training in the eastern Mediterranean.

The aim of the exercises is supporting the operations of the joint forces and their mission readiness, coordinated anti-submarine warfare, and submarine and naval air operation training.

“We always see Turkey as our second home. Turkey is very important for the Pakistani people. I graduated from the Turkish Staff Academy. That’s why I love Turkey,” said Akram.

Akram also stressed the importance of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Pakistan last week for strengthening bilateral ties.

“I hope our close friendship will continue for many years. We always want Turkey be strong. Because if our friend is strong, we feel strong too,” said the admiral.

Cmdr. Imtiaz Ali, the Alamgir’s captain, also said that Pakistani participation in the exercise will boost bilateral relations.

“Turkish and Pakistani sailors are in constant contact with each other and enjoy close relations,” he said.

He added that the Pakistani and Turkish naval forces support each other in such areas as military exercises, training, consultancy, and ship-building.

Ali also thanked the Turkish people and officials for their warm hospitality.

Lt. Cmdr. Zia ur Rehman, the Alamgir’s C.O., praised Turkey, saying his “best years” were in Istanbul in 1997-2002, during his training at the Turkish Naval Academy.

“I have beautiful memories here. I still get together with my classmates,” Rehman said.

Launched in the U.S. state of Florida in 2010, the PNS Alamgir frigate, which is a part of Pakistan’s destroyer fleet, is visiting Turkey for the third time.

ISLAMABAD, Nov 22 (APP): Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications Anusha Rahman Tuesday said focus was being given on “broadband connectivity & provision” to materialize dream of Digital Pakistan by 2018.

“Our utmost priority is to connect the unconnected and that was why
remote areas were being facilitated,” she said this while chairing a Universal Service Fund (USF) Board meeting.

The meeting took an overview of existing and upcoming projects of USF pertaining to establishment of Telecenters and Establishment of Computer Labs in Women Empowerment Centers administered under Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM).

The minister directed USF to bolster monitoring and evaluation resources to ensure optimal use and sustainability of rolled out projects.

She directed the authorities to devise an internal evaluation and monitoring mechanism to ensure transparency & efficiency in the company.

It was directed that performance appraisal of all employees working in USF should be conducted on basis of tangible and measurable KPIs on quarterly basis and report should be submitted to Board.

Other board members including Secretary IT, Rizwan Bashir Khan, Member Telecom, Mudassar Hussain, Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Dr. Ismail Shah and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) USF, Faisal Sattar also attended the meeting.

ISLAMABAD Nov 22 (APP): Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz informed the Senate on Tuesday that a total 78 Ambassadors/High commissioners of Pakistan and 119 Pakistan Missions were posted in various countries.

Replying to a query during question hour, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz also informed that a total 241 officers of Foreign Services of Pakistan BPS-18 and above are working in Pakistan Missions abroad.

Replying to a supplementary question, he said, “There is no quota in initial appointment and the posting tenure is three years.”

Responding to a question regarding Pakistani prisoners in Saudi Arabia he said there were a total 1021 Pakistani prisoners in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Embassy officials visited jails in three regions as well as deportation centers where they issued emergency travel documents to 8421 Pakistan nationals in 2015 and 8525 Pakistan nationals in 2016 to facilitate their deportation to Pakistan, the Advisors told the Senate.

He also informed that Pakistani mission in Saudi Arabia provided legal aid to detained Pakistanis in various charges. However, the decision on their release or punishment has to be taken by the courts under the Saudi laws.

ISLAMABAD, Nov 22 (APP): Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Chairman Absar Alam Tuesday said the direct-to-home (DTH) service would prove to be a game changer in the cable and media industry of the country.

Talking to media persons after a meeting with Chang Jin, Director Asia Pacific Institute of Broadcasting Development (APIBD), here he said the DTH like China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a game changer.

The PEMRA Chairman said those who were vehemently opposing start of the local DTH, should express patriotism and stop showing illegal Indian DTH.

“Why don’t they go to court against illegal Indian DTH, their attitude is both unprofessional and against the national interests,” he added.

He dispelled the impression being given by the cable operators that the DTH would damage the cable industry. “In developed countries like the United States and Germany where DTH systems had been launched over 20 years ago, penetration of the DTH is only 30 per cent and 70 per cent viewers still depend on the cable system.”

Both the DTH and digital cable could and would coexist, he said adding there was a natural segmentation of the target households for both.

He said in 2017, PEMRA would focus on digitalization of analogue cable. As per law analogue system was to be abandoned in 2015 but it could not be done.

Absar Alam said in DTH, Pakistan lagged behind all the SAARC countries, including Afghanistan.

He said APIBC and PEMRA would soon start training programmes
for the media industry. He held a constructive meeting with Chang and
both the organizations would cooperate for the development of broadcast media in Pakistan, he added.

Chang said he had held constructive meetings with the officials of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and today he met the PEMRA Chairman. Workshops for trainers in digital media would start early next year.

Replying to a question about the Lahore High Court decision on a petition against the DTH, Absar Alam said PEMRA had not yet received the copy of the short order. A Supreme Court order, he added, was already in place in which Justice Saqib Nisar had given directives that the process for the DTH would not stop. Under the light of the apex court orders, bidding for the auction of three DTH licenses would go ahead as per schedule tomorrow (Wednesday), he added.

Dispelling the impression that the DTH bidding was being held to favour some parties, he said the entire process was open and transparent and under the scrutiny of the superior courts and the parliamentary committees.

He said PEMRA kept its promise made during the cable operators meeting with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, and they had no justification to go on strike.