ISLAMABAD, July 8 (APP): Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Friday appreciated Pakistan Army and civil armed forces for ensuring effective security on the occasion of Eid ul Fitr in a highly professional way.

The minister in a statement said that personnel of security forces on Eid-ul-Fitr performed their duties and ensured security of the people across the country.

“The personnel of security forces have sacrificed their Eid and
remained away from their families and homes so that nation can celebrate the Eid in peaceful and secure environment,” he added.

The minister also hailed police, rangers and traffic cops for making special security and traffic arrangements in the federal capital.

ISLAMABAD, July 8 (APP): Pakistan’s High Commissioner to UK, Syed Ibne Abbas hosted Eid-ul-Fitr Open House at his official residence, “Pakistan House” in London, to celebrate the auspicious occasion with Pakistani community in UK.

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, in his special message for this occasion, appreciated the High Commissioner’s initiative to reach out and connect with the
community.

More than 1000 guests from all walks of society attended the Open House and were served with traditional Pakistani cuisine, a message received here from London on Friday said.

The guests included Lords, MPs, Mayors, Ambassadors/High
Commissioners, Councillors, community leaders, prominent business persons, members of the Pakistani and British society, representatives of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), and Department for International Development
(DFID), officials of the High Commission as well as their families and media representatives.

Some visiting Senators, MNAs, and MPAs from Pakistan and Shahryar Khan, Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board were also in attendance on the occasion.

Besides, Vice Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Asad Lodhi, who was on an official visit to the UK, also attended the Open House.

The High Commissioner and his wife spent the day with the community members representing all ages and interests. The attendees termed the event a great opportunity to socialize and meet and greet each other on this happy occasion.

They said: “We are celebrating the Eid-ul-Fitr second time here at the Pakistan House; all this festivity reflects the beauty of our culture, traditions, apparel and cuisine.

With families and friends all together at one place gives us a feeling as if we are celebrating Eid in Pakistan. It also gives us a sense of belonging to the High Commission.”

The guests enjoyed the traditional Pakistani food, whereas the live musical performance by Tanya Wells, Amir Hussain Qawwal and Raja Kashif added to the festivities.

Special arrangements were made to entertain the children, including Bouncy Castle and Candy Corner where they had fun time during the day out.

The Open House was attended by guests from outside London as well and provided a good opportunity for the High Commission officials and the community to celebrate Eid together.

Presence of the members of the Pakistani as well as the British society in a large number at the Pakistan House made the day memorable.

MULTAN, July 08 (APP): Punjab Governor Malik Rafiq Rajwana has said that public-private partnership system has been suggested, as reforms in the health and education sectors was need of the hour.

Speaking at the residence of former MNA Sheikh Rasheed here, the Governor said that doctors should perform their duties at government hospitals efficiently and deligently to provide good health services to the patients.

He said that Punjab government was going to run big hospitals and educational institutions with the help of public-private partnership to improve standard of medical treatment and education.

He said that the government would provide more budget to health institutions, and free medical treatment facilities would be offered to the poor people.

He said that it was a need of the hour to adopt corporate culture and strengthen human resource sector for providing quality education and health facilities to people.

The Governor said that Multan Metro Bus project was being completed on  a fast pace, and after its completion, the people would be able to enjoy safe journey in air-conditioned buses.

He disclosed that the Multan Institute of Kidney Diseases and Children Complex Hospital would be inaugurated soon.

CHITRAL, July 8 (APP): The Government has expedited relief operations and activities in flood hit Chitral district besides accelerating pace on work for restoration of damaged communication infrastructure including water supply schemes to provide quick support to the affected people.

Prime Minister’s Focal Person for relief activities in Chitral, Engr Amir Muqam and Chairman National Disasters Management Authority (NDMA) Major General Asghar Nawaz visited flood hit areas including Urson village here Friday and inspected relief activities/operations besides distributing food items among the affected people.

They were briefed by Deputy Commissioner Chitral about ongoing relief activities and pace of work on the damaged infrastructure in the affected areas. They also met with flood affectees and assured full support to them. Muqam directed the DC to further speed up relief activities in the flood hit areas.

According to PDMA KP, 1200 tents, 6000 quilts have been provided to district administration Chitral at the onset of monsoon season 2016. As many as 500 tents, 100 kitchen sets, 400 plastic mats, 1000 hampers and 1200 blankets have been dispatched for the affected areas from PDMA warehouse.

The DC Chitral was authorized to utilize the relief funds to the tune of Rs.15 million for relief activities.

The General Manager, Utility Corporation Pakistan has been requested to ensure the provision of food items to District Administration, Chitral in the wake of Urson valley flood incident.

Pakistan Red Crescent Society has distributed relief goods including plastic buckets, water filters and other necessary items among the flood affectees. Cooked foods (rice) and thousands of bottles of drinking water and other items were also distributed.

The affected people have been provided food items and compensation  cheques besides free treatment facilities to the injured at District Headquarters Hospital, Chitral.

District Health Officer Chitral along with Paramedical staff had
visited the affected area and provided medical treatment and medicines to the affected population.

In addition to distribution of food and other necessary items among the affectees, the Civil and Works Department had restored the roads for light traffic and routine activities was moving towards normalcy in the affected areas due to effective measures of the government.

The Irrigation and PHE departments are engaged in assessing the damages to irrigation channels and water supply schemes respectively whereas Irrigation Department has been given the task to dismantle the artificial damming at Chitral river.

ISLAMABAD, July 8 (APP): National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has established National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) for effective monitoring and coordination of the ongoing relief operation in flood hit areas of Chitral.

According to NDMA spokesman, the NEOC could be contacted through Universal Access Number (UAN): 051 111-157-157; 051-9205037 for support and assistance. District administration and army troops were busy in relief and rescue operation. Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was managing the situation in disaster hit areas of Chitral.

According to latest figures released by NDMA, a total of 16 persons were perished, 13 missing and four received injuries due to flood in Chitral. As many as 55 houses were affected including 20 fully destroyed and 35 partially damaged.

Meanwhile, Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PMDA), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has sent ten trucks loaded with relief goods for rain and flood affected people of Drosh area of Chitral district.

PDMA KP spokesman told that the relief goods include 300 tents, 1,000 blankets, 300 plastic mats and 1,000 baskets of food items.