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PM reviews Pakistan’s relief operation in Sri Lanka

By
Najam ul Hassan
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ISLAMABAD, Dec 2 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday chaired a review meeting on Pakistan’s relief operations in the areas of Sri Lanka affected by the devastating cyclone “Ditwah.”

During the meeting, the prime minister said that Pakistan stood with the government and people of Sri Lanka in this difficult time.

The prime minister, expressing sorrow over the loss of precious lives in Sri Lanka, directed the relevant institutions to provide full assistance regarding the relief operations in Sri Lanka.

After the search and rescue phase, Pakistan will also play an active role in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the affected areas, the prime minister said.

The meeting was briefed on Pakistan’s ongoing relief operations in the cyclone-hit areas of Sri Lanka.

According to the briefing, Pakistan’s Urban Search and Rescue team will depart for Sri Lanka tomorrow.

Additional relief supplies will also be sent tomorrow via a commercial cargo ship, the briefing added.

The meeting was informed that Pakistan Navy’s ship Saif, which was deployed in Sri Lanka, was actively engaged in relief activities for the flood-affected people.

It was also briefed that a helicopter onboard the Pakistan Navy ship had rescued a family that had been stranded for five days in Sri Lanka.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi, the NDMA Chairman, and other senior government officials.

Deputy speaker Sindh Assembly inaugurates historic church restoration project in Kotri

By
Kamran Muraad
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HYDERABAD, Dec 02 (APP):The Deputy Speaker of the Sindh Assembly Anthony Naveed on Tuesday inaugurated the restoration work of the historic church near Railway Line, Kotri. The ceremony was attended by senior officials, religious leaders, political representatives and a large number of local residents.
According to a handout, prominent participants included Director General Archaeology Abdul Fattah Shaikh, Bishop of Hyderabad Diocese Kaleem John, General Secretary PPP Jamshoro Dr Mohan Lal Kohistani, Pastor Shoaib, Bhagwan Das, Rabail Mallah, Kamal Khan Chhachhar and members of the Christian community.
In his address, Deputy Speaker Anthony Naveed highlighted Sindh’s tradition of interfaith harmony, tolerance and peaceful coexistence. He stated that the restoration of the church reflects the provincial government’s commitment to ensuring religious freedom and protecting minority rights. The Deputy Speaker emphasized that sustainable development was contingent upon equal opportunities for all citizens.
Anthony Naveed further stated that the Sindh Assembly remains committed to safeguarding the rights, dignity and security of minorities across the province. He added that the restoration project aims to preserve heritage and promote peace, harmony and social unity.
He said the Kotri Railway Line Church built in 1846, is one of the oldest places of worship in Sindh, and its restoration is expected to be completed within 150 days without compromising on quality standards.
Director General Archaeology Abdul Fattah Shaikh informed that over 3,200 heritage buildings had been registered across Sindh, with nearly 200 already restored. He added that the Kotri Church restoration will cost approximately Rs 30 million and will include modern facilities.
The Deputy Speaker reiterated the government’s commitment to promote interfaith harmony, stating that such initiatives strengthen peace, tolerance and unity in society.

2 cops injured in accident with car

By
Asif Jalal
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HYDERABAD, Dec 02 (APP): Two cops were seriously injured after their motorbike was struck by a car on Kohsar road in the limits of Airport police check post here on Tuesday evening.
According to the police, the constables Khalid Qureshi and Tariq were shifted to Liaquat University Hospital (LUH) while the car driver and his 2 associates were detained.
The police said that all the 3 young men appeared drunk. The injured cops were posted at Shaheed Aziz Bullo Police Training Center. The incident’s FIR was not registered till the filing of this report.

Building a secure, cost-effective digital payments ecosystem is a top priority: Governor SBP

By
Asif Jalal
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KARACHI, Dec 02 (APP): The Governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Jameel Ahmad, reaffirmed the central bank’s commitment to developing a robust and inclusive digital payments ecosystem for promoting innovation, competition, and consumer protection as Pakistan advances toward a secure, interoperable, and self-sustaining payments infrastructure.
The governor, while addressing the launch ceremony of the new co-branded card introduced by Faysal Bank Limited in collaboration with Mastercard and Pakistan’s national payment scheme, PayPak, said the Co-Badging initiative would further strengthen Pakistan’s Digital Payments Landscape.
The initiative will enable the consumers to make international and e-commerce payments seamlessly, while domestic transactions will be settled within Pakistan, thus enhancing efficiency and reducing reliance on external networks, the Governor noted in a statement issued here.
The co-badging is gaining momentum in Pakistan’s digital payments space as PayPak and UnionPay introduced a co-badged card last month, while this event marked a key milestone in the country’s journey toward a secure, efficient, and self-reliant digital payments landscape.
Jameel Ahmad described the newly launched co-branded card as a ‘win-win’ financial product that offers convenience to customers and strengthens the national payments infrastructure.
Highlighting the evolution of PayPak since its inception in 2016, the Governor recalled that it was designed to provide an affordable, secure, and localized payment solution for a growing digital economy. While PayPak currently commands over 25% of the 53 million debit cards in circulation, its usage share remains at 6%. He attributed this gap to challenges such as limited acceptance on e-commerce and international platforms, modest marketing efforts, and the perception of PayPak as a low-value card.
Governor Ahmad stressed the importance of addressing these constraints to establish PayPak as a sustainable and competitive scheme. He appreciated recent efforts, including marketing campaigns, co-badging arrangements, and integration with e-commerce gateways- steps that he believes will significantly strengthen PayPak’s value proposition.
He also urged 1Link to adopt a long-term strategy focused on investments in technology, fraud detection, cybersecurity, dispute resolution, and incentives for merchants and consumers. Such measures, he said, are essential to build trust and accelerate adoption of the national payment scheme.
The governor underscored the importance of a regulatory framework that promotes innovation, competition, and consumer protection and reiterated SBP’s resolve to ensure a level playing field for all stakeholders, including international payment schemes, as Pakistan advances toward a secure, interoperable, and self-sustaining payments infrastructure.
The co-badging initiative exemplifies the power of mutually beneficial partnerships in enhancing consumer choice, expanding digital access, and supporting the country’s digital transformation, he noted and expressed hope that more financial institutions will pursue similar collaborations to accelerate the growth of digital payments and contribute to a modern and financially inclusive Pakistan.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Alparslan Bayraktar, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Turkiye witness exchange of MoUs/agreements between Turkiye and Pakistan in the field of Petroleum

By
Khuram Maryam
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0
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Alparslan Bayraktar, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Turkiye witness exchange of MoUs/agreements between Turkiye and Pakistan in the field of Petroleum
APP53-021225
ISLAMABAD

Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Turkiye, Alparslan Bayraktar calls on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif

By
Khuram Maryam
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0
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Turkiye, Alparslan Bayraktar calls on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif
APP54-021225
ISLAMABAD

Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Turkiye, Alparslan Bayraktar calls on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif

By
Khuram Maryam
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0
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Turkiye, Alparslan Bayraktar calls on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif
APP56-021225
ISLAMABAD

MNA Salahuddin Junejo urges local representatives to submit basic services schemes

By
Kamran Muraad
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0
HYDERABAD, Dec 02 (APP): The social welfare committee on oil and gas in district Sanghar held a meeting under the chairmanship of committee chairman and MNA Salahuddin Junejo, attended by committee members, local administration officials and representatives of oil and gas companies.
According to a handout issued on Tuesday, the meeting reviewed in detail the ongoing social and development projects in the area, public welfare initiatives and community support programs.
Addressing the meeting, MNA Salahuddin Junejo said that all town and union council chairmen were members of the welfare committee and should submit schemes related to health, education, clean drinking water and other basic necessities from their respective areas. “We will take along all members in every initiative,” he added.
He directed officers of oil and gas companies to share employee data so that local residents can be provided with all essential facilities. The MNA further instructed PPL, UEP and OGDCL officials to ensure employment opportunities for eligible and educated local youth including for non-skilled posts.
Deputy Commissioner Sanghar Sarah Javed emphasized the need for all oil and gas companies to launch internship programs to train local youth and send them to Gulf countries, which she said would have a positive impact on the national exchequer.
Those present at the meeting included Chairman District Council Syed Riaz Hussain Shah Khurasani, Chairman Tando Adam Municipal Chacha Ghulam Murtaza Junejo, towns chairmen Rana Rashid, Rana Haji Anwar, Gul Muhammad Dahri, Bhawan Das as well as union council chairmen and officers from relevant departments.
Speaking to the media later, the chairman social welfare committee Salahuddin Junejo said that providing employment to youth was a top priority of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, President Asif Ali Zardari and other party leadership. He said that employee data was being collected to ensure implementation of Supreme Court directives including provision of gas within a 5-kilometre radius and creating job opportunities for local youth.

Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Turkiye, Alparslan Bayraktar calls on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif

By
Khuram Maryam
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0
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Turkiye, Alparslan Bayraktar calls on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif
APP55-021225
ISLAMABAD

Governor highlights need for modern, sustainable urban development

By
Kamran Muraad
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0
ISLAMABAD, Dec 02 (APP):Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi has said that sustainable and modern urban systems form the foundation of developed societies, emphasizing that well-planned, eco-friendly and organized cities accelerate economic growth, attract investment, create jobs.
He expressed these views on Tuesday while addressing an international conference as the chief guest at the National University of Modern Languages (NUML), Islamabad. The conference focused on “The importance of sustainable cities and their role in socio-economic development.”
Congratulating the organizers, researchers and students from Pakistan and abroad, the Governor said such academic forums open new avenues for research, policymaking and collaboration.
He added that the world is experiencing rapid economic and technological transformation, and meeting these challenges requires smart planning, financial discipline and a skilled youth equipped with modern expertise.
Governor Kundi said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is an emerging economy with promising investment opportunities in energy, industry, IT, tourism and education. He said the province holds vast potential for developing new, safe, environmentally friendly and economically vibrant cities that can contribute significantly to national growth.
He emphasized that KP’s climatic and geographical conditions make it ideal for such initiatives.
“We aim to put all cities, including Peshawar, on the path of sustainable development through digital governance, modern transport, renewable energy and improved urban facilities,” he said.
The Governor added that the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are progressive and deserve a societal system based on modern urban amenities. He expressed hope that the recommendations and research presented at the conference would play a meaningful role in shaping future socio-economic policies.
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