ISLAMABAD, May 26 (APP): The Project Director CPEC, Major General ® Zahir Shah has said that China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to provide Seven hundred thousands job opportunities in various sectors.

Talking to Radio Pakistan, he said that to secure the CPEC nine thousand army troops along with six thousand personnel of civil armed forces are working in special security
division.

ISLAMABAD, May 26 (APP): Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal said that China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would bring economic revolution in the entire region by enhancing connectivity.

“Besides providing a unique framework for the development in different sectors including energy, infrastructure, rail and road  links this project will help in promoting socio economic development and prosperity in the region”, he said.

Ahsan Iqbal expressed these views while addressing the “Beijing Forum Islamabad 2016” organized by the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) here on Thursday.

Talking about the major components of the CPEC, he said that a huge amount $ 35 billion have been allocated only for energy projects including Hydel and coal for boosting industrial sector in the country.

Giving breakup of energy projects to be completed under CPEC, he added that 5000 MW electricity would be produced through coal based projects mostly in Thar areas of the Sindh province.

The Minister said that electricity would be the biggest driver for industrial development leading to economic development in the country.

Cooperation between Pakistan and China through CPEC will provide an opportunity to enhance the regional and global trade for achieving economic stability of the country, he said.
“There is a need to learn from the development of China, and we should adopt its model of development especially in the field of science and technology,”he said.

On the occasion, President of the Global Think Tank Network at NUST, Amer Hashmi appreciated the role of the forum for organizing such seminars on various topics.

Speaking on the occasion Rector NUST, Lt. Gen ® Engineer Muhammad Asghar extended his vote of thanks to Chinese delegates, scholars, practitioners, organizers and participants of the event and hailed the success of the Beijing Forum of 2016.

ISLAMABAD, May 26 (APP): Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio Eradication Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq on Thursday urged the members of the Pakistan Girl Guides Association (PGGA) to join the efforts of national polio team to give a final push to poliovirus.

She said this while addressing the delegation of PGGA who
visited National Emergency Operations Centre on Thursday.

ISLAMABAD May 26 (APP): Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral
Muhammad Zakaullah on Thursday called on Chief of South African Navy, Vice Admiral M S Hlongwane.

Upon his arrival at South African Naval Headquarters, the
Admiral was received by Chief of South African Navy, a press release of Pakistan Navy here stated.

A ceremonial guard of honour was also presented to the Naval Chief of Pakistan, who is currently on an official visit to South Africa.

During the meeting, Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah dilated upon matters of mutual interest besides bilateral naval collaboration.

The Naval Chief also highlighted Pakistan’s commitment and
performance in fight against terrorism including participation in Coalition Maritime Campaign Plan (CMCP) and Counter Piracy Operations.

Chief of South African Navy appreciated the professional
competence displayed by Pakistan Navy during PN Commands of Combined Task Forces 150 & 151.

Later, Naval Chief also met Chief of the South African National Defence Force, General Solly Zacharia Shoke and Chief of the South African Air Force, Lt Gen Fabian Msimang.
During the meeting with Chief of the South African National
Defence Force matters of bilateral defence collaboration were discussed.

The Chief of the South African National Defence Force highly
appreciated role and contributions of Pakistan Navy in maintaining peace and stability in the region.

The visit of Pakistan’s Naval Chief would help enhance and
expand collaboration between the two countries in general and navies in particular.

ISLAMABAD, May 26 (APP): Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad
Chaudhry describing the May 21 drone attack in Balochistan as “violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty,” said Thursday it also badly affected the much needed Afghan peace process.

The drone strike was also contrary to the agreement
reached during the May 18 meeting of the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) that dialogue was the only viable option to achieve peace in Afghanistan, said Aizaz Chaudhry while speaking in a PTV talk show aired on Thursday night.

He said Pakistan was very much sincere in its desire and
efforts to bring peace in Afghanistan through dialogue and also wanted the continuity of QCG process that included Pakistan, Afghanistan, United States and China to achieve this objective.

The Foreign Secretary said Pakistan wanted cooperation
from Afghanistan for effective border control and management as well as intelligence sharing to check illegal cross border movement.

To a question about the belated confirmation of Mullah
Akhtar Mansoor’s killing by Pakistan, the Foreign Secretary
said Pakistan could only confirm after the collection of evidence and analyzing the ground realities.

Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said Pakistan has conveyed its
concern to the United States over the drone strike, as US Ambassador David Hale was called in by Special Assistant to PM on Foreign Affairs, Tariq Fatemi.

To another question, the Foreign Secretary said the
border between Pakistan and Iran was secure to a large extent and the two countries were cooperating with each other.

Both Mullah Akhtar Mansoor as well as Kulbhushan Jadev,
the Indian RAW officer, crossed the Iranian border through normal channels on fake identities, he added.

To a question, Aizaz Chaudhry said, the presence of
three million Afghan refugees in Pakistan for the last over 35 years, was no more a humanitarian issue but it had become a security issue for Pakistan.

In response to a query about Pak US ties, the Foreign
Secretary said the two countries have multi faceted and multi dimensional relations and Pakistan would continue to engage the United States on different issues of mutual interest.

He also mentioned Pakistan’s sacrifices and efforts in
the war against terrorism and said the whole world had a stake in our victory.

Aizaz Chaudhry dismissed the view about poor performance
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and said Pakistan’s growing relations with Saudi Arabia, China, Central Asian States as well as good neighbourly ties with Iran were due to the successful foreign policy.

To a question the Foreign Secretary said Pakistan was
ready to have dialogue with India on all issues whenever the latter desired, as dialogue was the only way to address issues between the civilized nations.

MULTAN, May 26 (APP): State Minister for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali Thursday said the government of Pakistan Muslim League (N) was taking solid measures for economic stability and progress of the country.

The government had taken practical steps to overcome energy crisis, adding that 10,000 megawatts would be added to the national grid by 2018 through coal and hydel projects, the Minister said.

ISLAMABAD, May 26 (APP): Ambassador of Pakistan to Brazil Burhanul Islam presented his credentials to the Acting President of Brazil, Michael Temer, at the Presidential Palace at an impressive ceremony.

The Foreign Minister of Brazil, Advisor to the President, and Secretary General of the Ministry of External Relations attended the ceremony, according to a message received here from Brasilia, the capital of Brazil.

On this occasion, the Ambassador conveyed the greetings of President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif to the President of Brazil on assuming the leadership of the country.

President Temer expressed similar sentiments of cordiality, friendship and cooperation for the leadership of Pakistan and its people.

He stated that Pakistan was an important country with which Brazil always maintained cordial relations and would like to strengthen cooperation in diverse fields by exploiting existing potential.

Ambassador Burhanul Islam highlighted that during his tenure of posting in Brazil he would seek to bring the two countries and peoples closer by strengthening cooperation in diverse fields with particular focus on enhancing trade and investment ties.

The two countries also needed to seek cooperation in a number of other areas, including culture, education, defence, agriculture and biotechnology where huge potential existed.