ISLAMABAD April 20 (APP): Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh
Aftab Ahmad Wednesday said that salaries of Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) employees would be released soon.
Responding to a calling attention notice moved by Senator Saleem
Mandviwala in the Senate, the minister said “the issue of salaries has been discussed with Secretary Industries and Production and asked him to take immediate steps for resolving the issue as soon as possible.”
The minister said that the salaries were delayed due to pending
liabilities of sui gas.
Salaries of PSM employees to be released soon: Sheikh Aftab
Pakistan has taken 'robust' steps to fight illicit drugs: Nisar tells world community
UNITED NATIONS, Apr 20 (APP): Pakistan has put in place “robust and comprehensive” measures to counter the the scourge of narcotic drugs, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told the United Nations, while calling for better coordination and cooperation among member states to accomplish the task.
“Drug demand reduction, treatment and rehabilitation are high on our priority,” he said in a speech to the Special Session of the UN General Assembly on the world drug problem on Tuesday.
At the same time, Nisar Ali Khan voiced concern over emerging trends in some parts of the world to legalize use of illicit drugs — obviously referring to moves being made in a few countries to permit the use of marijuana.
UN adopts new framework for world drug problem to 'put people first'
UNITED NATIONS, Apr 19 (APP): The United Nations Tuesday adopted a new framework putting people at the centre of global policies on drug control, which the head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) says can help promote the urgent, united and concerted action we need.
“Putting people first means reaffirming the cornerstone principles of the global drug control system, and the emphasis on the health and welfare of humankind that is the founding purpose of the international drug conventions,” the Executive Director of UNODC, Yury Fedotov, told delegates at the opening of the UN General Assembly special session on the world drug problem (UNGASS).
The three-day session kicked off with the adoption by the 193-member body of the new framework on countering the world drug problem, drafted last month in Vienna by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), the UN’s top policy-making body on the issue.
PM returns home from London after check-up
ISLAMABAD, Apr 19 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz
Sharif arrived here Tuesday from London, where he had gone for
a checkup.
Upon arrival at the Nur Khan Airbase, the Prime Minister
was received by Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar, Special
Assistant to PM on Political Affairs Dr Asif Kirmani,
Special Assistant to PM on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi
and senior officials.
UN slams terrorist attack in Kabul
UNITED NATIONS, Apr 19 (APP): The United Nations Assistance
Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Tuesday condemned the Taliban attack
in Kabul that killed at least nine people and injured about 300 others.
According to the Mission, provisional information indicates that at least two of those killed and the vast majority of the injured were civilians, including seven children and seven women. The civilian casualty toll was expected to rise.
“This attack shows the devastation caused by the use of explosive devices in urban areas and once more demonstrates complete disregard for the lives of Afghan civilians,” Tadamichi Yamamoto, the Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan, said in a statement.
Just resolution of Kashmir, Palestine issues to help check terrorism, extremism: President
ISLAMABAD, Apr 19 (APP): President Mamnoon Hussain stressing the need for giving the right to self-determination to the peoples of Kashmir and Palestine on Tuesday said the just resolution of these issues could help check terrorism and extremism and ensure peace in the world.
“The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also highlighted the issues of Kashmir and Palestine in the Istanbul Summit hosted by Turkey from April 14 to 15,” the President, who represented Pakistan at the Summit, said while speaking in a PTV programme `Capital View’.
He hoped that if the OIC – a body of 56 Muslim nations – continues to raise these issues at the international level, it would definitely impact the world conscience.
Pakistani Americans regret politicization of offshore accounts issue
WASHINGTON, April 19 (APP): Pakistani Americans living in the metropolitan region of Washington and neighboring states have expressed their disappointment over attempts to politicize the issue of “Panama Papers”, saying the country is facing far more serious challenges and need unity to counter them.
Some noted lawyers in Washington, who closely follow events in Pakistan, have expressed their surprise over demands by some politicians to appoint the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to head the inquiry on reports of offshore accounts.
Hamid Malik, President, Pakistan Link USA said that the government has already offered to set up a commission which shows their sincerity and intention to bring all facts before the public.
PM condoles with Ashraf Ghani over Kabul terrorist attack
ISLAMABAD, Apr 19 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Tuesday conveyed his immense grief to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani over loss of precious lives in heinous terrorist attack in Kabul.
In a letter addressed to the Afghan President, the Prime Minister said
“On behalf of the people and the Government of Pakistan and my own behalf, I strongly condemn the brutal act and offer my heartfelt condolences to Your Excellency and the bereaved families.
Our prayers and sympathies are with the families who have lost their
loved ones and we wish for early recovery of the injured.”
Mauritius President visits Greenwich University
KARACHI, April 19 (APP): The President of the Republic of
Mauritius, Mrs. Ameenah Gurib Fakim, who is on an official visit to
Pakistan, visited the Greenwich University Campus here on Tuesday.
On the occasion she also interacted with the members of the
facuty as well as the students.
A number of delegation also called on the visiting Mauritius
President.
Pakistan seeks full Dialogue Partnership with ASEAN
ISLAMABAD, April 19 (APP): President Mamnoon Hussain Tuesday said Pakistan seeks Full Dialogue Partnership (FDP) with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as part of its efforts to establish a mutually beneficial relationship.
The President while exchanging views with envoys of ASEAN who called on him here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr said it would further promote Pakistan’s “Vision East Asia” policy which aimed at strengthening political, trade and economic ties with ASEAN member states.
The President said Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with ASEAN and enjoys friendly relations with all its member countries.