ISLAMABAD, Mar 29 (APP): President Mamnoon Hussain on Tuesday said maternal and child healthcare is the foundation of development of a society and called upon the SAARC countries for collective efforts to address the important social issue. Addressing at the inauguration of regional conference on mother and child healthcare, the President said the SAARC states could work together towards a better and prosperous South Asia by setting aside their differences and working unitedly. The conference ‘Lessons from South Asia’ organized by Ministry of National Health Science and Regulations was attended by health experts from SAARC countries including Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, Afghanistan and Bhutan.

ISLAMABAD, Mar 29 (APP): Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Tuesday phoned Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and extended his condolences on the loss of lives in the Lahore bomb blast. The Canadian Prime Minister condemned such inhuman terrorist acts and said that Canada stood with the people and government of Pakistan in this difficult moment.

ISLAMABAD, Mar 29 (APP): President Mamnoon Hussain on Tuesday said that due to the government’s prudent fiscal policies and measures, the country’s economy was continuously improving. He said the growing strength of Pakistan’s economy had also been recognized by various international financial institutions. The President expressed these views while talking to Minister for Finance Senator Ishaq Dar, who called on him here at the Aiwan e Sadr. The President also referred to the ongoing projects under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and said after completion the CPEC would prove as a game changer not only for Pakistan but for the whole region also.

ISLAMABAD, March 29 (APP): Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had said that the D Chowk will be cleared of protestors in broad daylight in the presence of media on Wednesday if they do not disperse voluntarily. Talking to media late Tuesday night, he said additional security forces were deployed at D Chowk as legal notices had been served on the leaders of protestors. Announcements were also made through loud speakers asking the protestors to leave the place immediately, he added. The Interior Minister said the personnel of law enforcement forces would be unarmed while carrying out the operation. He said the government had exercised maximum restraint and avoided use of force. However, now the time had come to establish the state writ.

ISLAMABAD, March 29 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday held a consultative  meeting with senior political leadership to review the overall situation in the country. The meeting was attended by Interior Minister Ch. Nisar, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervaiz Rashid, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Railways Minister Khwaja Saad Rafiq, Minister for States and Frontier General Abdul Qadir Baloch, Senator Mushahidullah, and PM’s advisors Dr Asif Kirmani and Irfan Siddiqi.

ISLAMABAD, March 29 (APP): Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa Tuesday said the capture of a serving Indian Navy officer working as agent of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) was a big success and proof of Indian involvement in sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan, especially in Balochistan and Karachi. Kulbhushan Yadav was a serving Indian naval officer and his primary mission was to carry out terrorism in Karachi and Balochistan, he said  while addressing a joint press conference along with Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Pervaiz Rashid. Bajwa said the detained Indian spy had himself confessed that there was RAW’s involvement in Balochistan, which was nothing short of state sponsored terrorism by India. “We have irrefutable evidence to prove that Yadav is serving Indian naval officer.”

LAHORE, March 28 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif visited Jinnah Hospital Monday morning to inquire after the health of Sunday’s blast injured. Prime Minister, accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ahmad, went to the beds of several patients, including children. He directed the hospital administration to provide best possible health treatment and facilities to all the injured.