ISLAMABAD, Nov 24 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz
Sharif on Thursday urged international community, particularly
the United Kingdom to take notice of the gravity of situation in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IoK).
India should be called on to respect human rights of the people of Kashmir and implement the UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir, he stressed.
The Prime Minister was talking to Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of UK, Boris Johnson, who called on him here at the PM House.
Warmly welcoming the Secretary on his first visit to Pakistan, the Prime Minister expressed his confidence that under its new leadership, Britain would emerge stronger and continue playing an important role in the world affairs.
Recalling his cordial meeting with Prime Minister Theresa May on the margins of the UN General Assembly session in New York in September 2016, Nawaz Sharif said that he was looking forward to welcome the British Prime Minister in Islamabad next year, according to a press release issued by the PM’s Media Office.
Pakistan considers the UK a close friend and a trusted partner, he said, adding, “our bilateral relations are founded on shared history, cultural linkages and strong people to people contacts.”.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan and the UK had strong
economic and trade ties, adding, “we are confident that our existing relations with the UK would be further enhanced to the mutual benefit of both countries, especially in the field of trade and investment.”
Pakistan greatly appreciates the work undertaken by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) that has created tremendous goodwill for the UK in Pakistan, he added.
Highlighting Pakistan’s contributions in the global fight against terrorism, the Prime Minister said that Pakistan had been the worst victim of terrorism.
“We have lost over 60,000 lives and suffered huge economic losses in our fight against terrorism; we are fighting this war as an imperative not as an option,” he added.
The Prime Minister said, the successfully ongoing military operation ‘Zarb e Azb’ was in its final phase and the National Action Plan (NAP) had been launched to deal with the threat of violent extremism and radicalization.
“We are committed to take strongest possible action against all terrorists and extremists without any exception,” he emphasized.
The Prime Minister said that building close, cooperative relations with neighbouring countries, remained a key priority of their foreign policy.
“Pakistan supports an Afghan led, Afghan owned and an inclusive peace process in Afghanistan; we will continue to support all initiatives in this direction,” he added.
The Prime Minister said, “We are deeply concerned at the recent developments in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir and the gross human rights violations by Indian security forces.”
“Pakistan wants a serious, sustained and result oriented dialogue with India on all issues of mutual concern; the unresolved Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains the main threat to security in the region,” he added.
Referring to the recent ceasefire violations by Indian security forces along the LoC, the Prime Minister said that India had deliberately escalated tensions at the LoC in order to try to divert the attention of the international community from the grave situation in the Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir, where the Indian occupation forces had unleashed a reign of terror committing brutalities against innocent and defenseless people.
Appreciating the leadership role of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif the British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs said that “Britain will continue to be the champion of Pakistan in its region;
Pakistan’s endeavors for regional peace, stability and prosperity are indeed exemplary.”
The CPEC is a landmark and fantastic dream being translated into reality, the Secretary commended.
Britain appreciates Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’s efforts for achieving macroeconomic stability; will support Pakistan in GSP Plus scheme, the British Secretary stated.
Mr Boris Johnson congratulated the Prime Minister on the passage of honour killing bill and termed it as remarkable achievement of the present government.
Lauding the visionary role of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, the Secretary said, “Britain appreciates and endorses the vision of the Prime Minister for reaching out to neighbouring countries for the sake of regional peace and collective betterment.”
The United Kingdom endorses and supports Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif for stability, peace and development in the region, the Secretary stated.
The Secretary congratulated the Prime Minister on improvement in security situation across Pakistan and said that UK is ready to support Pakistan in security collaboration.
Britain is ready to boost bilateral trade between the two countries; the business environment in Pakistan is ideal in the backdrop of the stage set by the Prime Minister by turning around the economy, Mr Boris said.
The Secretary assured the Prime Minister that he would be convincing the British investors for significantly expanding their investments and businesses in the diverse sectors of Pakistan’s economy.
The British Foreign Secretary said that his first visit to Pakistan was an eye opener for him. Pakistan is indeed a wonderful country having great and dynamic people, and offering fantastic opportunities to the international investors, he added.
PM urges int’l community, UK to call on India to respect human rights of Kashmiris
UK calls for an end to ongoing violence in Kashmir, LoC; urges Pakistan, India to exercise restraint
ISLAMABAD, Nov 24 (APP): The United Kingdom Thursday called for an end to the recent violence in Jammu and Kashmir and urged both Pakistan and India to exercise restraint.
“Of course, we are concerned about the recent incidents on both sides of Line of Control in Kashmir and we call for end to violence,” British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said at a joint press conference with Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz here at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
When asked about the gross human rights violations being perpetrated by the occupational forces in the Indian held Kashmir, the British Foreign Secretary said, “We encourage both sides to maintain a positive dialogue.”
Johnson said it was not for the UK to “prescribe a solution or mediate”.
“The long standing position of the UK is India and Pakistan to find a lasting solution to the situation in kashmir, taking into account of the Kashmiri people,” he said.
“Look at this area, look at this incredible human potential of Pakistan and its neighbours, and then imagine what a future could be like if this was sorted out,” Boris Johnson said.
He said on both sides, there was a great economic, commercial potential with scope for penetration of goods services and capital.
“What an incredible boom zoom this would be. That’s the
objective … the mutual syncretism of economies,” Johnson
added.
Sartaj Aziz said the two sides shared concern over the increased tension along the LoC and it was stressed for the need of dialogue and negotiations for the resolution of problem, “otherwise the issue could become more serious”.
He said the meeting with British Foreign Secretary focused on promoting trade, increasing investment and cultural cooperation, adding Pakistan and UK had been cooperating under the framework of Enhanced Strategic Dialogue since 2011.
He mentioned that during the ministerial review meeting held this May, the two sides agreed on three new roadmaps on investment, cultural education and security.
“Today, we agreed to intensify our efforts to a meaningful mutually beneficial progress especially focusing on trade and investment under this framework,” he said.
He appreciated UK’s assistance and support to Pakistan in key areas, particularly in education and health sectors.
He expressed confidence that under the leadership of British prime minister Theresa May, the Pak-UK bilateral relations would be enhanced for the benefit of the peoples of two countries.
Sartaj said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had extended invitation to Theresa May to visit Pakistan in 2017.
Boris Johnson said “wonderful and long meeting” with Sartaj Aziz discussed security, trade and intellectual and cultural cooperation.
He emphasized on enhancing trade and commercial activities between Pakistan and the UK, adding that the two countries could have done a much better than the 2.5 billion pounds of their bilateral trade.
“We have agreed to launch a programme of business engagement focusing not just on the Enhanced Strategic Dialogue but also on the opportunity of the celebration of Pakistan’s 70th anniversary next year,” he said.
Johnson said the UK would like to take the economic relation with Pakistan to a new level.
He termed the Pak-UK relations of having “vital, historic and great importance”.
He said it was privilege to visit Pakistan for first time, “a country having close, deep and indivisible links with my country”.
He mentioned that two percent of the population of the UK and some of his own immediate family members could trace their origin with Pakistan.
PHF announces Junior hockey team
LAHORE, Nov 24 (APP): Pakistan Hockey Federation on Thursday announced the 18-member Junior Team to take part in the Junior world hockey being played from December 8 in Lucknow, India.
“With the approval of President PHF, Brig retd Khalid Sajjad Khokhar,
the National Selection Committee has announced the team”, said a spokesman of PHF here.
He said the team has been picked from the best available talent after
watching their performance in the camp which continued for three weeks.
Following is the 18-member squad, (Goalkeepers) Ali Raza & Muneeb-ur-Rehman (Full backs) Muhammad Atif Mushtaq, Hassan Anwar & Mubashar Ali.
(Halves) Ahmad Shakeel Butt (Capt), Abu Bakar Mahmood, Faizan, Muhammad Junaid Kamal & Tazeem-ul-Hassan.
(Forwards) Shan Irshad, Muhammad Azfar Yaqoob, Muhammad Dilber (V.
Capt), Muhammad Atiq, Muhammad Bilal Qadir, Mohsin Sabir, Rana Suhail Riaz & Sami Ullah.
Eight stand byes are, Hafiz Mohammad Ali Umair (GK), Zahid Ullah (FB),
Muhammad Usman (HB), Muhammad Adnan (HB), Muhammad Rizwan (FWD), Muhammad Naveed (FWD), Fahad Ullah (FWD) & Mohammad Umar Hamdi (FWD).
Team officials are, Khalid Mukhtar Farani Manager, Tahir Zaman Chief Coach, Muhammad Irfan Assistant Coach, Zeeshan Ashraf Assistant Coach, Ghazanfar Ali, Nutritionist, Zahid Ali, -Video Analyst, Muhammad Adnan, Physiotherapist.
TDAP focuses 15 Intl. exhibitions to enhance trade with African continent
ISLAMABAD, Nov 24 (APP): Trade Development Authority of
Pakistan (TDAP) has focussed 15 international exhibitions for
participation to enhance trade relations in African continent during
current financial year.
The government, in order to enhance trade with African
countries including Zimbabwe has been focusing on promotional
activities to increase the volume of bilateral trade.
Sources at Commerce Division on Thursday said TDAP has already
been participating in Zimbabwe International Trade Fair since 2015.
The focussed 15 international exhibitions for participation to
enhance trade relations in African continent include 24th Edition
of Inter-build Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa, Pro Beauty South
Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa, August-2016, Medic East Africa
Exhibition & Congress, Nairobi, Kenya, International Exhibition of
Textile Equipment, Tunis, Tunisia and Lagos International Trade
Fair, Lagos, Nigeria.
The other are 19th AfricaCom, Cap Town, South Africa, Medical
Expo, Casablanca, Morocco, March-2017, Morocco Home, Casablanca,
Morocco, April-2017, Food Africa, Cairo, Egypt, May-2017, 20th Auto
Expo, Nairobi, Kenya, May-2017, Automechanika, Johannesburg, South
Africa, May-2017, Africa Health Expo, Johannesburg, South Africa,
June-2017, SAITEX-2017 and Africa Big 7, Johannesburg, South Africa,
June-2017, Dar-es-Salaam International Trade Fair, Dar-es-Salaam,
Tanzania, June-2017 and 34th Luanda International Trade Fair,
Luanda, Angola, July-2017.
Bangladesh should accept, protect Rohingya refugees: HRW
NEW YORK, Nov 24 (APP): Human Rights Watch (HRW), a prominent international watchdog group, has called on the Bangladeshi government to accept and protect the Rohingya Muslim refugees fleeing persecution in neighbouring Myanmar.
The New York-based rights group made the plea on Wednesday after Bangladesh threatened to send the Rohingya refugees who have arrived in its territory back to Myanmar, where the Myanmarese government and extremist Buddhists have been harassing them.
A day earlier, Bangladeshi police had detained some 70 Rohingya Muslims, including several children.
Reports say an estimated 500 Rohingya Muslims arrived in Bangladesh over the past week, bringing the overall number of the Rohingyas who have fled to the country to more than 2,000 despite heavy security on both sides.
HRW has several times released high-resolution satellite imagery showing how Rohingya villages in Myanmar have been burned down. Extremist Buddhists have reportedly been attacking the ethnic Muslims in Myanmar, and the government, too, has imposed a siege on and been carrying out a crackdown in the state of Rakhine, where the Muslims are concentrated.
There are reports of rapes and murders by the government forces and the Buddhists in Rakhine. Some of the refugees who have crossed into Bangladesh have said their villages were burned down and their relatives killed by Myanmar’s army.
Bangladeshi border guards have stopped nearly a thousand Rohingya Muslims on the border in recent days.
Rohingya community members say anyone sent back to Myanmar could face death at the hands of the authorities.
Rakhine, home to around 1.1 million members of the minority Rohingya Muslim community, has been the scene of communal violence since 2012. The Rohingyas are largely confined to camps in dire situations.
The Rohingya community, which the government brands as “illegal
immigrants” from Bangladesh, has been suffering widely-reported systematic aggression for years on end. The violence has been interpreted as an attempt to force them out of the country’s demographic configuration.
PM to attend Conference on Sustainable Transport in Ashgabat on Nov 25-26
ISLAMABAD, Nov 24 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif will visit Turkmenistan’s capital Ashgabat on November 25-27 to lead the country’s delegation at the first-ever Global Conference on Sustainable Transport.
The Prime Minsiter is undertaking the visit at the invitation of the President of Turkmenistan, who is co-hosting the Conference along with United Nations’ Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.
The Conference, likely to be attended by around 1,500 participants including heads of state and government, ministers, civil society leaders and the UN officials, will discuss promotion and role of sustainable transport towards achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
“Pakistan is keen to improve connectivity with Central Asian States by establishing transport and communication links. These will be conducive to tapping the potential of trade, economic interaction, people-to-people contacts and tourism,” a statement by Foreign Affairs Ministry said Thursday.
The statement added that Pakistan and China had launched China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to provide seamless connectivity to Gwadar and Karachi ports.
During the visit, the Prime Minister will also hold a bilateral meeting with the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
“The meeting of Prime Minister will provide a valuable opportunity to review the decisions taken during two visits of the Prime Minister to Turkmenistan in 2015 and the Turkmen President’s visit to Pakistan in March 2016, as well as exchange views on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest,” the statement mentioned.
Pakistan regards Japan close ally, reliable economic partner: Marriyum
ISLAMABAD, Nov 24 (APP): Pakistan regards Japan as a close friend and a reliable economic partner, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage stated during a meeting with Japanese Ambassador to Pakistan, Takashi Kurai who called on her here Thursday.
She said that Pakistan looks forward to greater level of cooperation between the two countries particularly in the fields of media, trade, investment, infrastructure, energy and capacity building of institutions.
She said that ministerial level visits with Japan have been satisfactory and these exchanges could help in building the momentum to further enhance bilateral relations for mutual benefit of the people of both countries.
“We welcome companies like Yamaha from Japan to invest in Pakistan that will enhance the capacity of our industrial sector to produce value added goods,” she said.
During a meeting between Marriyum Aurangzeb and Takashi Kurai,
cooperation in the field of media, information and broadcasting came under discussion.
Both, the minister of state and ambassador emphasized the need
to learn from each other’s experiences and best practices particularly in the field of media and replicate them in their respective domains.
Marriyum Aurangzeb said that Government believed in freedom of
expression and introduced RTI Bill in Parliament to ensure people’s access to information which is indeed an imperative for any democratic society.
She said that the Government is committed to facilitate the growth of independent media in Pakistan and would utilize all its resources for their training, professional development and capacity building.
Protection and welfare of journalists is our top priority and a bill for their safety and security would be presented in the Parliament soon, she added.
Minister of State also shared with the Japanese Ambassador that the Government is now actively working on a proposal of institutionalized training programs for media persons to enhance their professional skills and development. The ambassador welcomed the idea and said that Government of Japan would be ready to extend any cooperation in that regard.
NBP Exchange Rates
KARACHI, Nov 24 (APP): Treasury Management Division of National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) on Thursday issued the following exchange rates:
Selling Buying Buying
TT & OD TT Clean OD/T.CHQ
U.S.A. 104.60 104.40 104.19
U.K. 130.05 129.80 129.53
EURO 110.16 109.95 109.73
CANADA 77.40 77.25 77.05
SWITZERLAND 102.70 102.50 102.23
AUSTRALIA 77.10 76.95 76.75
SWEDEN 11.25 11.23 11.20
JAPAN 0.9270 0.9252 0.9228
NORWAY 12.12 12.09 12.06
SINGAPORE 72.86 72.72 72.53
DENMARK 14.81 14.78 14.74
SAUDI ARABIA 27.89 27.83 27.76
HONG KONG 13.49 13.46 13.42
CHINA 15.12 15.09 15.05
KUWAIT 343.10 342.44 341.54
MALAYSIA 23.43 23.39 23.33
NEWZEALAND 73.01 72.87 72.68
QATAR 28.73 28.67 28.60
U.A.E. 28.48 28.42 28.35
KR WON 0.0884 0.0882 0.0880
THAILAND 2.928 2.923 2.915
CONVERSION FOR FC DEPOSITS, DBC/FCBC, SPECIAL USD BOND
US DOLLAR POUND STERLING EUR JAPANESE YEN
104.8450 129.7352 111.2300 0.94
COAS visits FATA, Peshawar as part of his farewell
ISLAMABAD, Nov 24 (APP): As part of his farewell, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif visited FATA and Peshawar on Thursday.
At WANA he addressed officers and soldiers from Army and Frontier Corps.
He commended them for successfully unhinging terrorists from their sanctuaries in FATA and destroying their infrastructure.
“Alhamdolillah, with support of the nation, we have completed the cycle of counter terrorism operations in such unique and comprehensive way. Our stabilisation operations and resettlement phase are helping us consolidate our gains.”
Later COAS visited Khyber Agency and held a jirga in Bara. He thanked the tribals for rendering full support to Army in cleansing their areas of terrorists, and praised them for their audacity and steadfastness.
He said, “We have fought this menace of terrorism together over the years and it has woven us eternally in an unbreakable bond.”
COAS also laid the foundation stone of Shahid Afridi Cricket stadium at Bara, to be built by Army Engineers.
The stadium has been named after renowned cricketer to honour him for his services for Pakistan and is being built as part of sports infrastructure to explore talent and harness youth from FATA.
Tribal elders paid their gratitude to Gen Raheel Sharif for Army’s extra efforts in ensuring dignified return and quality reconstruction in entire FATA.
On arrival at Wana, Lt Gen Hidayatur Rehman received COAS and
accompanied him through his tour in FATA.
Pakistan to never abandon Kashmiri brethren: PM
ISLAMABAD, Nov 24 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif,
Thursday terming Kashmir an unfinished agenda of sub-continent’s
partition said that Pakistan would never abandon Kashmiris in their
freedom struggle.
“The world in general and India in particular should know that Pakistani nation would never abandon their Kashmiri brethren and would continue to support them in their just and UN-mandated freedom struggle, the Prime Minister said while chairing a meeting on the incident of firing at passenger bus by Indian security forces near Neelum valley.
The Prime Minister said that Pakistan had exercised maximum restraint despite the continuing ceasefire violations by Indian security forces along Line of Control (LoC).
He urged upon the international community to take note of deliberate targeting of civilians and said the intentional targeting of innocent civilians particularly children and women, ambulances and civilian transport could not be tolerated.
The Prime Minister emphasized that international community needed to play its active role in diffusing deteriorating security situation along the LoC.
The Prime Minister was briefed by Advisor to PM on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, DG ISI Lt.Gen. Rizwan Akhtar, Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi and National Security Advisor Lt.Gen. (retd) Nasser Khan Janjua on the prevailing situation along LoC particularly after the unprovoked ceasefire violations on November 23 by the Indian occupation forces in Dhudnial sector.
The meeting reiterated its condemnation of the bus massacre and re-affirmed its political, diplomatic and moral support to the people of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in their just and legitimate struggle for their right to self-determination in accordance with the UNSC resolutions.
The meeting paid rich tributes to the jawans of the country’s armed forces who laid down their lives yesterday while defending their motherland.
The meeting deplored the belligerent targeting of the ambulance which was rescuing the victims of the bus attack, as a blatant violation of International Humanitarian Law.
The meeting agreed that India was deliberately trying to divert the attention of the international community from the grave human rights violations, massacres and atrocities being committed by the Indian security forces against the innocent and defenceless Kashmiris in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry and other senior government officials also attended the meeting.