ISLAMABAD, Feb 3 (APP): President Mamnoon Hussain on Wednesday noted with appreciation the role of Institute of Business Administration in imparting quality education to its students. Talking to the Dean and Director Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Dr. Ishrat Hussain, who called on him here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, the President noted the institution for its part in teaching work ethics to its students by enriching their academic pursuits with entrepreneurial and experiential learning.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 2 (APP) : Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Tuesday said the development of Balochistan will remain a top priority of his government’s agenda in the years ahead.He was talking to Speaker Balochistan Assembly Ms. Rahila Hameed Durrani who called on him here at the PM House. The Prime Minister said Balochistan was close to his heart and peace and prosperity of the Province has been top priority of the present government.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 2 (APP): Chairperson Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Nuzhat Sadiq Tuesday called upon the United Nations (UN) to play its role by pressurizing India to settle the longstanding issue of Kashmir with Pakistan.She said it was India that had taken the issue to UN and subsequently accepted people of Kashmir’s right to self- determination.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 2 (APP): Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid Tuesday said the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) issue was being played up by PTI for political gains and it would not benefit the airline employees. “The protest is not in favour of PIA, rather it is part of the political game being played to destabilize the country, ruin national economy, halt the development process and keep the people in backwardness,” he said while addressing a press conference flanked by Chairman Privatization Commission Muhammad Zubair and MNA Daniyal Aziz. Pervaiz Rashid said that political elements were leading the PIA’s ongoing protest, while true representatives of PIA workers and pilots association had openly dissociated themselves from the agitation.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 2 (APP): Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) Syed Tariq Fatemi has said Pakistan attached great importance to Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and fully endorsed its aims, objectives and principles enshrined in its Charter. He said Pakistan believed that SCO, its orientation and its direction were in consonance with his country’s objectives of promoting peace, stability and development.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 2 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has expressed his heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of the country’s renowned literary figure Intizar Hussain. He sympathized with the bereaved family and prayed to the Almighty to rest the departed soul with eternal peace.Paying rich tributes to the legendary writer, the Prime Minister said that the invaluable contributions of the late writer would always be remembered.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 2 (APP): Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid on Tuesday expressed deep grief and sorrow over the sad demise of renowned novelist Intezar Hussain. “Today we are deprived of one of the living legends of Pakistan,” he said. The passing away of Intezar Hussain has left a void which will be difficult to fill, he added. His contributions in the field of literature are immense which won him many laurels and got appreciation and recognition,the minsiter said adding that Intezar would be remembered for times to come due to his fruitful thoughts and great ideals.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 2 (APP): Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Chaudhry Barjees Tahir here on Tuesday said that Pakistan would continue support for Kashmiris’ rightful struggle against the Indian occupation of Jammu and Kashmir. He was chairing a meeting to discuss and finalize preparations for Kashmir Solidarity Day of February 5.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 2 (APP): The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has planned to take over the control of Umra operations to ensure providing maximum facilities to faithful at reasonable packages, Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf said Tuesday. Talking to media, he said the Umra operation will look after by the ministry in future as a draft has already been sent to federal cabinet for approval.