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.

ISLAMABAD, Nov 22 (APP): Nigerian Defence Minister Mansur Muhammad Dan Ali and Egyptian Minister for Military Production Gen (Retd.) Muhammad Saeed Al-Assar Tuesday held separate meetings with Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif at the Expo Centre Karachi, the venue of 9th international defence exhibition ‘IDEAS-2016.’

During a meeting with the Nigerian Defence Minister, who called on
him along with other military officials, Khawaja Asif said Pakistan
considered Nigeria a close, friendly and important country in the region, a press release issued here said.

He conveyed Pakistan’s desire to enhance relations in all fields of
bilateral interest, adding that it wanted to establish meaningful defence ties with Nigeria.

Khawaja Asif underlined the need “to fully activate the existing bilateral MoU signed in military and defence field to achieve the goal of meaningful cooperation.”

The both sides emphasized on the need to exchange military delegations between the two countries.

Khawaja Asif appreciated the participation of Nigerian Navy in AMAN exercises and offered training support for Nigerian navy in Pakistan.

He thanked the Nigerian counterpart for participating in the IDEAS 2016.

Meanwhile, Egyptian Minister for Military Production Gen (Retd) Muhammad Saeed Al-Assar Minister for Military Production Arab Republic of Egypt called on Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif at the Expo Center.

Terming Egypt important Muslim country in the region, Khawaja Asif stressed for further expanding existing bilateral ties in diverse fields.

He highlighted importance of frequent exchange of military delegations between the two countries, saying that it would help explore new avenues of mutual cooperation and collaboration.

He offered training for Egyptian armed forces personnel at various training institutions of Armed Forces of Pakistan.

Both the sides expressed the desire to exchange technical delegations
in order to explore the areas of joint production.

Khawaja Asif thanked the Egyptian delegates for their participation
in the IDEAS 2016.

KARACHI, Nov 22 (APP): Delegations from various countries called on Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah during the first day of 9th International Defence Exhibition and Seminars (IDEAS) at Expo centre Karachi on Tuesday.

A PN statement said that during the proceedings of the first day, various dignitaries from China, France, Jordan, Nigeria, Qatar, Thailand and Turkey called on Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah.

During the meetings matters of defence cooperation, training collaboration and maritime affairs were discussed.

Prominent amongst the visiting dignitaries were Chinese Deputy Chief of Armament Department, Rear Admiral WeiI Gang, Commander of French Forces in Indian Ocean, Rear Admiral Didier Piaton, Commander Royal Jordanian Naval Forces, Brigadier General Ibrahim Salman Al Naimat, Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Dan Ali Mansur Mohammed, Commander Qatari Emiri Naval Forces, Major General Mohammed Nasser Mubarak, Commander in Chief Thai Fleet, Admiral Sucheep Whoungmaitree and Commander Turkish Fleet, Admiral Veysel Kosele.

Chief of the Naval Staff assured the delegations that Pakistan is committed to enhance mutual collaboration in all the realms of maritime commons including joint development of platforms, equipment and sensors and exchange of quality training on reciprocal basis to the officers and men of the respective countries.

The visiting dignitaries highly appreciated PN’s role and focused commitment to maintain peace and security in the regional maritime domain.

ISLAMABAD, Nov 22 (APP): Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Member National Assembly Daniyal Aziz Tuesday said Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) had boycotted the Parliament sessions on national issues, including Kashmir.

PTI had boycotted the Parliament’s joint session on Kashmir issue, during sit-in at D-Chowk and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan address to the Parliament, he said speaking in a TV programme.

He said PTI leadership had delayed the Chinese President visit to Pakistan through its negative politics, adding PTI should play a positive role in country’s politics.

Daniyal Aziz alleged PTI chief Imran Khan and other leadership were habitual of using derogatory language in the presence of respectable women as well.

He said Imran Khan had not appeared in the case of foreign funding before the courts.