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Natural talent to be promoted: Mashhood

By
Asif Jalal
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0
LAHORE, Nov 30 (APP): Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Chairman Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan has said natural talent will be promoted.
He said this while addressing the closing ceremony of ‘Mixed Martial Arts National Championship-NFT 4’ here on Sunday.
He congratulated the organizers of the event. He said, “Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, Talent Hunt Youth Sports League aims to engage youth of Pakistan in healthy physical activities through sports.”
He further said that sports could play critical role in transforming the youth into a self-confident, organized and capable workforce that could bring positive social change and economic well-being in the country.
Later, the chairman distributed prizes among the winners of the championship.

PM commends CM Punjab for visible improvement in waste management

By
Asif Jalal
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0
ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Sunday, commended Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Maryam Nawaz for bringing rapid and visible improvements in solid waste management across Punjab.
In a post on X, he remarked, “Truly transformative! Rapid and visible improvements in solid waste management across Punjab.”
“My deep commendation to Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz and her team for their dedicated efforts in this regard,” he added.
According to news website Forbes, in just eight months, a waste crisis in Pakistan’s most populous province was turned into the world’s largest integrated waste management system. The initiative’s massive scale and impressive results offer important lessons in impact leadership.
Now millions of people in Punjab have clean streets and regular waste pickup for the first time in living memory. As a result of dependable waste collection services, there are fewer breeding grounds for disease, less contaminated water, and more civic pride.

Action against tax theft in Tobacco sector; another factory sealed

By
Asif Jalal
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0
ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (APP): Pakistan is facing the menace of illicit trade and unlawful manufacture of cigarettes, a problem estimated to be causing an annual revenue loss of nearly Rs 250 to 300 billion to the national exchequer.
Recognizing the gravity of this challenge and its far-reaching economic implications, the Prime Minister of Pakistan has issued clear directions to decisively curb the illicit cigarette trade and ensure strict enforcement of tax laws, said a release issued here on Sunday.
In compliance with these directions of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) formulated a comprehensive and multi-layered enforcement plan aimed at eliminating non-duty-paid cigarette production, strengthening monitoring mechanisms, and disrupting illegal supply chains.
This national effort received broad support from all stakeholders, most notably the Pakistan Army, which has extended full cooperation to reinforce enforcement operations. As part of the coordinated strategy, approximately 120 Pakistan Rangers personnel have been deployed at Green Leaf Threshing (GLT) units across the country to assist in monitoring and securing the premises against illicit manufacturing activities.
Simultaneously, FBR has also posted more than 200 dedicated monitors under Section 40B of the Sales Tax Act, 1990, and Section 45 of the Federal Excise Act, 2005, to oversee production, ensure lawful removal of goods, and verify tax compliance at manufacturing facilities.
Following the directions of the Prime Minister and in strict compliance with FBR’s enforcement plan, the Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation-IR Peshawar, after obtaining a warrant from the area Magistrate, conducted a successful raid on an undeclared godown in the area of Jabbar Police Station, District Mardan, KP on 03.11.2025.
During the search, a total of 200 cartons of non-duty paid/non-TTS cigarettes with brand names, Business Class, Red and Crown were recovered. The mentioned cigarettes are registered brands of M/S.Indus Tobacco Company (Pvt) Ltd.
Accordingly, the Directorate of I&I-IR Peshawar forwarded a Contravention Report on 21.11.2025 to the Regional Tax Office Peshawar.
Acting upon the contravention report, and after completing the codal formalities and necessary approvals, the manufacturing machinery of M/s Indus Tobacco Company was sealed under Rule 28A(6) of the Federal Excise Rules, 2005, by the officers of RTO Peshawar on 29.11.2025.
The operation was executed by DC(IR) Arsalan Ali under the supervision of the Chief Commissioner, RTO Peshawar. Further proceedings under sections 21, 22, 19(3), 19(10), and 27 of the Federal Excise Act, 2005 are underway.
During and after the search proceedings, the Officers and officials of I&I-IR Peshawar faced stiff resistance from armed personnel, including the Director/owner of the Company.
Despite immense pressure armed resistance, both I&I-IR and the Chief Commissioner-IR RTO Peshawar and his enforcement team successfully acted without succumbing to any influence, demonstrating FBR’s unwavering commitment to upholding the rule of law and protecting the national revenue.
Mr Bilal Khan, one of the directors of the company who also resisted the lawful proceedings with firearms, is related to the prominent political family of district Mardan, whose many members had remained members of the provincial assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Earlier, a similar action was taken against another prominent manufacturer, M/S.Souvenir Tobacco Company on 29.11.2025, which was found to be involved in manufacturing and removal of non-duty paid/non-TTS cigarettes. The machinery of the said company was also sealed.

Punjab, Sindh, KPK, Balochistan, AJK & Gilgit-Baltistan are like brothers: Bilawal

By
Asif Jalal
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0
KARACHI, Nov 30 (APP): Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Sunday reaffirmed his commitment to protecting the rights of the people, strengthening the federation, and ensuring national security.
He said that he would not support any action that weakens the federation or amounts to an assault on the rights of the provinces.
Addressing the largest digital public gathering in the country’s history on the occasion of the Party’s 58th Foundation Day. Through a video link from Bilawal House’s Media Cell, he addressed simultaneous events held in more than 100 cities across Pakistan. He said that Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan are like brothers to one another. “Together, we can confront Modi,” he added.
On this occasion, First Lady Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari was also present on stage alongside Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, while Senator Waqar Mehdi, General Secretary of PPP Sindh chapter, conducted and moderated this historic digital gathering.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed joy over the successful holding of the largest digital public meeting. “Today, we have created history,” he said. He added that Foundation Day events were being held in every district of the country, attended by the soldiers of Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and the brothers and sisters of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. He said: “At this moment, I am addressing you from here to Muzaffarabad in Azad Kashmir, I am addressing the people of Skardu in Gilgit-Baltistan and all other districts, I am addressing the brave people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, I am speaking to the valleys of Punjab and our comrades in South Punjab, I am speaking to my brothers in Balochistan and, at the same time, to the Jeyalas of Sindh.”
He said that the history of the PPP is deeply connected with the country’s past and future. Highlighting the historic contributions of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, he said that the Quaid-e-Awam gave the nation democracy, the unanimous Constitution of 1973, and a philosophy aimed at economically empowering the underprivileged.
Paying tribute to Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, he pointed out that after the judicial murder of the Quaid-e-Awam, she confronted two dictators and struggled for 30 years for the restoration of the Constitution and democracy, and for the protection of her people’s rights.
The Chairman said that after the martyrdom of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, the PPP carried her flag forward with honour. He said that President Asif Ali Zardari upheld the mission by restoring the Constitution of Quaid-e-Awam through the 18th Amendment, and by launching revolutionary initiatives such as the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) in line with the philosophy of “Roti, Kapra aur Makaan,” which has provided financial assistance to millions of impoverished women across the country. He added that during President Asif Ali Zardari’s first term, the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was given its rightful name, and Balochistan was granted its due through the Aghaz-e-Huqooq-e-Balochistan package. Furthermore, by devolving powers to the grassroots level and introducing a new NFC Award, all provinces were given their constitutional rights.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, while appreciating the role of the Pakistan Armed Forces in Pakistan’s victory in the recent Pakistan-India war, said that the armed forces brought honour to the nation across the world by shooting down seven Indian fighter jets. He also expressed satisfaction over the government of the time and its foreign policy in the backdrop of the war with India.
He warned that even now, enemies are actively engaged in conspiracies against Pakistan. He said that through acts of terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, the “enemy is attempting to destabilise Pakistan”. He added that on one hand, India is eyeing Pakistan’s borders with malicious intent, while on the other hand, tensions are rising in Pakistan’s bilateral relations with Afghanistan.
Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari emphasised that, given the challenges facing the country, the new wave of terrorism and the conspiracies of hostile nations must be confronted with unity. He said that politics must be conducted in a manner that prevents the enemy from exploiting our internal political differences. ‘We are the only political party that has consistently engaged in positive politics. We move forward by keeping politics within its democratic bounds, he added.
Speaking about the recent 27th Constitutional Amendment, the PPP Chairman said that his party has always believed in consensus when it comes to constitutional and legislative matters. He said that the establishment of a Constitutional Court was part of the Charter of Democracy (CoD), but it could not be implemented under the 18th Amendment. He said that through the 27th Amendment, the Constitutional Court has now been created, with equal representation given to all provinces, a major achievement of the PPP.
He further said that the judges of the Federal Constitutional Court now carry a heavy responsibility to uphold the public’s trust in the judiciary. Those political elements attempting to create controversy around this parliamentary action should understand that constitution-making is the prerogative of Parliament. It is not within the authority of any judge or the court to decide which amendment may or may not be made. “This is not their mandate, nor will we allow them such authority,” he said, and stressed that all institutions must work strictly within their constitutional domains.
Chairman of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that when the government approached his party for the approval of the 27th Constitutional Amendment, the proposal included not only the establishment of a Constitutional Court and amendments to Article 243, but also several other points.
These included the restoration of the magistracy system at the district level, taking back from the provinces the authority to prepare educational curricula and matters related to population control, and ending the constitutional protections that provinces enjoy in the NFC. He said that the PPP safeguarded the provinces’ constitutional protection with respect to the NFC, and that had this amendment been approved, Punjab would have suffered the most, followed by Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The Chairman of PPP said that the PPP will not support any amendment or step that weakens the federation. He continued that there are many fault lines in the country which the PPP addressed through political, administrative, and economic measures, thereby strengthening the federation. He said, “Through the NFC, we buried separatist politics.” He warned that those trying to tamper with the NFC or the 18th Amendment are “playing with fire.” He said, “We believe that if the provinces are strong, the federation will be strong.”
Addressing the government, he said that it is witnessing how the Indian Defence Minister is making aggressive statements about Sindh and how tensions are rising along the Afghan border. He said that the PPP is the party that dares to make every sacrifice for the defence of the country. He added that Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had said we are ready to make every sacrifice necessary to make Pakistan a nuclear power.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari stressed that to counter terrorism, the state must not only establish its writ but also adopt a “proactive soft power” approach. He said that, along with other necessary measures in this war, efforts must also be made “to win the hearts and minds of the people”.

PPP transferred power from the dictatorship to Common Peoples. CM Sindh

By
Asif Jalal
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0
LARKANA, Nov 30 (APP): The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Larkana district organized the 58th Foundation Day ceremony at the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Municipal Stadium, Larkana, on Sunday.
During the ceremony, the PPP leaders cut the Foundation Day cake. Addressing the gathering, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said that on this day in 1967, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto laid the foundation of the People’s Party while challenging the dictatorship.
Shaheed Bhutto guided the poor, peasants, students, journalists, and the oppressed classes. The public has been a follower of Shaheed Bhutto since the very first day. After the martyrdom of Shaheed Bhutto, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was also taken away from us.
Continuing the struggle of Shaheed Bhutto and Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, President Zardari protected us and moved the party forward. This is the reason why in all elections after 2008, the people of Larkana and Sindh have trusted the People’s Party and given it more seats than before.
He said that Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is our future, the voice of the country’s poor, and the guarantor for the youth and peasants, who is leading us. It is the achievement of the Chairman that the world’s largest project of building 2.1 million houses for flood victims is underway, something no one had even thought of. He said that today we must pledge that we will make the People’s Party even stronger and continue the struggle.
Just as Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto became Prime Minister in 1988, we will make Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari the Prime Minister.
He said that Foundation Day gatherings are being held in 133 districts of Pakistan; it doesn’t happen anywhere else in the world that the Party Chairman addresses such a large gathering.
MPA Jameel Ahmed Soomro, addressing the gathering, said that the Pakistan Peoples Party was founded to strive for the working class. The Pakistan Peoples Party has been in government for a total of 15 years so far and has struggled for 40 years. During this struggle, every 10 years, a Bhutto was martyred, which is why four Bhuttos were martyred over 40 years. For the restoration of the constitution and democracy, Pakistan Peoples Party workers were hanged, faced false cases, and went to jail, but they did not retreat from their manifesto. Even today, the struggle of the Pakistan Peoples Party is for the youth, the sanctity of the constitution, parliament, and public rights.
He said that in all of Asia, there is no other political party that has faced bomb attacks, whose leadership and workers have been killed – sometimes through judicial murder, sometimes killed while traveling – but we never bowed our heads before anyone and struggled against every dictator.
The Pakistan Peoples Party transferred power from Yahya Khan to the people, stood firm against General Zia, Musharraf, and terrorists. Those are not the rulers; the Pakistan Peoples Party, its leadership, and its workers are.

PPP’s workers mark foundation day at Dialdas club event

By
Asif Jalal
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0
HYDERABAD, Nov 30 (APP): The workers of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Hyderabad chapter celebrated the party’s 58th foundation day by taking out rallies and cutting a cake at a ceremony organized at Dialdas Club here on Sunday.
The Sindh Planning and Development Minister Jam Khan Shoro, Mayor Kashif Ali Shoro, Chief Minister’s Special Assistant Jabbar Khan and PPP Hyderabad Division’s president ex-senator Aajiz Dhamra, other local leaders cut the cake at the event.
The workers also listened to the speech of PPP’s Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, which was shown live. Earlier, the workers gathered at the club in rallies and turned the event into a public meeting.
The Shoro brothers led a rally which started from the Shoro House near Kotri barrage and ended at the club.

Islamabad All Set to Host National Youth Cricket Tournament from December 4

By
Asif Jalal
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0
ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (APP): The Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP) is launching the Talent Hunt National League 2025 in Islamabad on December 4, featuring 10 male teams and 10 female teams from all over the country.
The nationwide initiative was held to identify and promote young cricket talent aged 15–25, following 100 provincial matches played over 25 days to assess players on merit.
The programme aims to provide a structured pathway for youth to advance into professional cricket, giving them a platform to showcase their skills at the national level.
Trials were held across all provinces, attracting massive participation from young athletes in both urban and rural areas.
From this process, male and female squads were finalised from Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, KP, and GB/Federal/Kashmir. The top performers now advance to the national stage.
The National Tournament will feature two teams from each province, with all matches staged at a modern cricket facility in Islamabad designed for high-performance competition.
Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, Chairman PMYP, said the initiative delivers on the Prime Minister’s vision to empower youth through merit-based opportunities.
Rana highlighted that the programme provides a clear route from trials to national competition.
He added that the league represents a landmark moment for youth cricket in Pakistan, uniting emerging talent from across the country on one national platform.
With all preparations complete, Islamabad is ready to host the Youth Cricket Tournament, which promises to kick off with excitement and energy on December 4.

Provision of equal health facilities, key priority of govt: PM

By
Asif Jalal
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0
ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said the protection of health is a fundamental civil right and providing equal opportunities for prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care especially to vulnerable and marginalized groups, remained a priority of the government.
In a message on World AIDS Day, he said Pakistan joined the international community in reaffirming, with a strong voice, its resolve to eliminate major challenges such as AIDS to public health and to ensure protection from this disease for all.
In this context, he said the federal government, in collaboration with provincial governments, is committed to ensuring that initiatives at the local level yield meaningful results.
This year, the day was being observed under the theme “Overcoming Barriers and Changing the Attitude Towards AIDS.”
This theme highlighted the importance of confronting new challenges with renewed determination, he said, adding it reminded them that despite obstacles, diseases, difficulties and social inequalities, their commitment to protecting the health, dignity and respect of all citizens should remain unwavering.
The HIV epidemic, he said, while testing the effectiveness and performance of health systems worldwide, also reminded them to formulate comprehensive strategies to combat this disease and further strengthen their health systems.
The prime minister opined that transforming public response and attitudes toward this disease was extremely important.
In this regard, ensuring access to treatment, adopting modern medical facilities and promoting cooperation at the community level could help change societal attitudes towards HIV/AIDS, he added.
“While the government’s focus remains on strengthening the efficiency of the health system and ensuring its reach to all citizens, it is equally essential to listen to the voices of people affected by HIV,” PM Office Media Wing, in a press release quoted the prime minister as saying.
Eliminating stigma associated with this disease and ending discriminatory attitudes toward affected individuals was an urgent societal need, he stressed. The prime minister said through compassion, innovation in the health system and investment in its improvement, they could strengthen, diversify and enhance their collective response to HIV.
Despite advancements in the health sector, particularly in AIDS treatment, he said there remained immense room for improvement in public-level diagnosis, access to treatment and community awareness.
“We must collectively confront these challenges with empathy and seriousness,” he added.
He further emphasized that priority measures to eliminate AIDS included improving access to treatment for high-risk groups, ending gender-based discrimination, preventing parent-to-child transmission of HIV, ensuring safe blood supplies for patients and reducing its spread among people who used drugs.
The prime minister said through national and political commitment, inter-sectoral cooperation, and shared responsibility, Pakistan could overcome existing barriers and accelerate progress towards ending AIDS.
“On World AIDS Day, let us renew our pledge that no social, cultural, economic, or administrative barrier will obstruct our fight against this disease. Together, we will make our strategy to combat AIDS more effective, comprehensive, and impactful,” he added.
He stressed for unity with compassion and hope for an AIDS-free Pakistan so that every individual might enjoy a healthy, prosperous, and dignified life.

ICT admin arrests 51 vendors over violations across Sunday Bazaars

By
Asif Jalal
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0
ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (APP): The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration’s officers have visited multiple Sunday Bazaars and arrested 51 vendors in 24 hours for violating official price lists and market rules, as crowds gathered across Islamabad for weekly shopping.
In this regard, Additional Deputy Commissioner General Sahibzada Yusuf and all assistant commissioners visited different markets to review operations. Their inspections focused on price control, display of official rate lists, sanitation, parking management, and feedback from shoppers.
A total of 51 vendors were shifted to lockups for violating the official price list or failing to display it at their stalls. According to the administration, the objective was to make sure that residents receive goods at government-notified rates without any delay or obstruction.
During his visit to the H-9 Sunday Bazaar, ADCG Sahibzada Yusuf reviewed the overall environment of the market, including parking arrangements and cleanliness. He also interacted with shoppers to understand their concerns about availability and pricing.
In the G-10 Bazaar, officers arrested 10 vendors for not displaying the official rate list. The administration said that clear display of price lists is essential for smooth market operations and consumer protection.
At the Vegetable Market, 5 vendors were taken into custody, and encroachments were removed to restore space for shoppers and stallholders. Meanwhile, in the G-6 Bazaar, 3 vendors were arrested for violating the cashless transaction policy that the administration has introduced in selected markets.
Action was also taken against individuals involved in other violations. Four people were held for using plastic bags, while another person was detained for setting up encroachments.
In the I-10 Markaz, 2 vendors were shifted to the police station for breaching the price list rules. A similar inspection in Ghouri Town led to the arrest of 3 vendors for not putting up the approved price list.
Overall, the G-10 Bazaar saw the highest enforcement activity, with 14 people taken into custody for different violations. In Pakistan Town, 7 vendors were arrested for failing to display the rate list, while the assistant commissioner also detained 3 vendors during an inspection at the Model Bazaar in Tarlai.
Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Irfan Memon directed strict enforcement of the price list policy across the capital. He stated that there would be “zero tolerance” for violations and that action would be taken immediately and without discrimination.
The district administration added that inspections will continue across all Sunday Bazaars to maintain stable prices and safeguard consumer rights.

Chinese ambassador calls on DPM

By
Asif Jalal
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0
ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (APP): Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, called on Deputy Prime Minister / Foreign Minister (DPM/FM ), Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and discussed matters of mutual interest here on Sunday.
The DPM/FM expressed condolences over the tragic killing of three Chinese nationals in Tajikistan, near the Afghan border.
He also extended heartfelt sympathies for the loss of lives and all those affected by the recent devastating fires in the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. He reaffirmed that Pakistan stands in full solidarity with China in these difficult times.
Discussions also covered Pakistan–China bilateral cooperation across diverse areas, as well as recent regional and international developments.
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