ISLAMABAD, Dec 25 (APP): The weekly inflation for the week ended on December 23 for the combined income group witnessed decrease of 0.07 percent as compared to the previous week.
Cold, dry weather forecast in most parts of country
ISLAMABAD, Dec 25 (APP): Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) Friday forecast cold and dry weather in most parts of the country during next 24 hours.
Quaid’s 139th birth anniversary celebrated
KARACHI, Dec 25 (APP): The 139th birth anniversary of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was celebrated with enthusiasm on Friday.
Modi gets a warm welcome as he stops over at Lahore
LAHORE, Dec 25 (APP): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday was accorded a warm welcome as he made a brief surprise stopover here to meet his Pakistani counterpart.
Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif received his Indian counterpart at the Allama Iqbal International Airport. The two leaders embraced and warmly shook hands.
Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar were also present at the airport to receive the guest. A young girl presented a bouquet to the Indian leader.
The two leaders later boarded a helicopter to the Prime Minister’s residence at Jati Umra.
It was the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Pakistan in a decade. A strict security cordon was thrown around the Lahore airport and the airspace closed for commercial flights.
Personnel of elite police were deployed around the airport. It was a closed holiday in Pakistan as the nation was celebrating the 139th birth anniversary of the Founder of the Nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
The Foreign Office spokesman said: “The Indian Prime Minister will make a stopover in Lahore to meet Prime Minister of Pakistan, on his way back from Kabul.”
Modi was in Afghanistan earlier in the day, where he met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and inaugurated the new Parliament building.
Modi, earlier in a tweet, said he was “looking forward to meeting PM Nawaz Sharif in Lahore today afternoon, where I will drop by on my way back to Delhi.”
The thaw in ties came after months of tension and clashes along the Line of Control in which dozens of Pakistani citizens had been martyred by unprovoked firing by the Indian army.
According to diplomatic sources India was under intense international pressure following Pakistan’s strong stance at the United Nations and submission of three dossiers comprising proofs of Indian involvement in subversive activities in Karachi and Balochistan.
The brief huddle between the two leaders on the sidelines of the Climate Summit at Paris led to the announcement of resumption of dialogue between the two countries, that would discuss all issues, including the lingering Kashmir dispute.
President visits Quaid’s Mazar
KARACHI, Dec 25 (APP): President Mamnoon Hussain Friday visited the Mazar (mausoleum) of the Founder of the Nation Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah marking his 139th birth anniversary.
PMA cadets mount guards duty at Quaid-i-mazar
KARACHI, Dec 25 (APP): A smartly turned out contingent of Gentlemen Cadets from the Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul, mounted ceremonial guard at Quaid’s Mausoleum on Friday.
The change of guard ceremony was a part of celebrations to mark the Father of the Nation’s birthday, said an ISPR statement.
Major General Nadeem Raza, Commandant Pakistan Military Academy, reviewed the parade and presented salute, laid a wreath at the Mazar and offered Fateha.
The Pakistan Military Academy has the singular honour of being the only military institution designated as “Quaid-e-Azam’s Own” by the Quaid as its Colonel-in-Chief.
A large number of senior armed forces officers and guests witnessed the parade.
The guard mounting ceremony by PMA Cadets is a regular feature to pay homage to the Father of the Nation.
Later, representatives of the three services laid wreaths and offered Fateha.
ECP recalls notification of holding LG elections in Sindh on Jan 14
ISLAMABAD, Dec 25 (APP): The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has recalled its notification for holding Local Government Elections (LGE) on January 14 on indirect seats of District Councils, Municipal Corporations and Metropolitan Corporation of Sindh.
Lok Virsa celebrates Quaid’s Day, Christmas
ISLAMABAD, Dec 25 (APP): The National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage, Lok Virsa, here Friday celebrated the 139th birth anniversary of founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah with great fervor and festivity and also organized special activities to mark Christmas Day.
Maintaining its previous tradition, Lok Virsa, Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage arranged the Cake Cutting Ceremony and Youth Painting Contest on the theme of “Quaid, the Great Leader” at Pakistan Monument Museum, adjacent to Pakistan Monument at Shakarparian.
Twenty five youth (students) of different schools and colleges of Islamabad/Rawalpindi participated in the contest and created beautiful paintings of the founder of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah depicting various stages of his life and struggle for freedom.
Special programs marking Christmas Day held at the Pakistan National Museum of Ethnology (Heritage Museum) were congregation of Christian community, Christmas cake cutting ceremony, erection of Christmas tree, distribution of sweets and gifts by Santa Claus, live folk musical performances and cultural diversity shows.
The Christmas activities were arranged by Lok Virsa in collaboration with Temple of Lord Church, New Shakrial.
Executive Director, Lok Virsa and eminent folklorist, research scholar and social activist Dr. Fouzia Saeed on the occassion hlighlighted the importance of celebrating Quaid-i-Azam Day and Christmas through a cultural perspective.
She paid rich tributes to the founder of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah for his untiring efforts and contribution in creating a separate homeland for the Muslims of sub-continent.
She also congratulated Christian community on their auspicious occasion.
She said “Christmas is a time for celebration and rejoicing. It is also a time to reflect on the message of Jesus Christ, the eternal message of love, peace and forgiveness”. Highlighting the role of Lok Virsa, Dr. Fouzia Saeed added “Lok Virsa is a national institution dealing with Pakistan’s rich cultural heritage.
It lives in the hearts of the masses, who are the real bearers of our magnificent cultural heritage. We always plan and present such programs and activities that create love, peace, harmony and solidarity in all classes of society including minorities. The today’s event is a step forward in this direction”.
The special performances rendered by Christian youth were a milli naghma “Hum sab aik hain”, Christmas welcome song and a cultural diversity show “Rhythm of Unity”.
A large number of people from all walks of life including Christian community attended the ceremony and enjoyed the thrilling performances and presentations rendered by the artists and musicians.
The two museums working under the administrative control of Lok Virsa, i.e. Heritage Museum and Pakistan Monument Museum also remained open throughout the day from 10 am to 7 pm and entertained the visitors.
In order to ensure maximum participation of the masses, fifty percent rebate on entry ticket of Heritage Museum for Pakistani nationals was also granted by Lok Virsa.
Quaid week celebrated at PNCA
ISLAMABAD, Dec 25 (APP): Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA)
here Friday screened the movie Jinnah featuring on the life of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad
Ali Jinnah as part of Quaid week being celebrated in connection with 139th birth
anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam.
The film features the life of Quaid e Azam and other freedom movement
leaders and the historical moments of making of Pakistan.
The ongoing Quaid week is an attempt to pay rich tributes to the father
of the nation Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah for his valuable contribution towards
creation of Pakistan.
Our younger generation needs to work hard by following the footsteps of
Quaid. Our youth has a great potential, they can make Pakistan prosperous by adopting
teachings of Quaid in letter and spirit, said Director General, PNCA, Muhammad Naeem
while talking to APP.
The PNCA has also displayed an exhibition “Raushni ka Safar” featuring
portraits and historical pictures of Quaid e Azam.”It will go a long way in creating
awareness among the masses about the achievements of our founder and his struggle in
making the country”, DG PNCA said.
The exhibition comprises photographs showing Quaid’s life, his family
members and various stages of Pakistan Movement. Many photographs feature
Quaid-i-Azam holding official meetings and attending functions after creation of Pakistan.
Photographs of the historical moment of Quaid addressing the first constituent Assembly on 14 August 1947 are also on display.
A large number of people from different walks of life including school
children, youth and personalities relating to art, culture and media attended the event.
COAS visits Afghanistan on Sunday
ISLAMABAD, Dec 25 (APP): Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif would visit Afghanistan on Sunday, a tweet by Director General Inter Service Public Relations Lt. General Asim Saleem Bajwa said here on Friday.