ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (APP):The United States of America (USA) remained the top export destinations of the Pakistani products during the first four months of current financial year (2021-22), followed by United Kingdom (UK) and China.
Total exports to the USA during July-October (2021-22) were recorded at US $2096.859 million against the exports of US $1461.197 million during July-October (2020-21), showing growth of 43.50 percent, according to State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
This was followed by UK, wherein Pakistan exported goods worth US $806.571 million against the exports of US $602.393 million last year, showing increase of 33.89 percent.
China was the at third top export destination, where Pakistan exported products worth US $ 763.572 million during the months under review against the exports of US $ 462.268 million, showing growth of 65.17 percent, SBP data revealed.
Among other countries, Pakistani exports to UAE stood at US $540.112 million against US $448.929 million during last year, showing increase of 20.31 percent while the exports to Germany were recorded at US $536.194 million against US $493.739 million last year, the data revealed.
During July-October (2021-22), the exports to Holland were recorded at US $437.312 million against US $316.348 million whereas the exports to Italy stood at US $327.871 million against US $230.179 million.
Pakistan’s exports to Spain were recorded at $316.495 million against the exports of US $220.219 million while the exports to Afghanistan were recorded at US $158.721 million against US $ 296.563 million last year.
The exports to Bangladesh stood at US $242.511 million against US $169.777 million.
Similarly, the exports to France during the months under review were recorded at US $163.961 million against US $137.575 million while the exports to Belgium stood at US $227.925 million against US $171.012 million.
Pakistan’s exports to Saudi Arabia were recorded at US $127.401 million during the current year compared to US $142.579 million last year whereas the exports to Canada stood at US $125.404 million against US $89.979, to Malaysia US $115.592 million against US $56.605 million.
Overall Pakistan’s exports to all other countries witnessed an increase of 32.31 percent during the months under review, from US $ 7.322 billion to US $ 9.681 billion, the SBP data revealed.
USA, UK, China remain top three destinations of Pakistani exports
SNGPL detects 87,197 gas theft cases in 2020-21
ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (APP):Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) has detected around 87,197 cases of gas theft on its network during the last fiscal year, under a comprehensive Unaccounted for Gas (UFG) reduction plan given by the government.
“There are 86,959 gas theft cases of consumers and 238 are of non-consumers,” according to an official document available with APP.
The company also registered 377 FIRs (First Information Reports) against the gas pilferers. The UFG losses of SNGPL and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) stood at 8.83 per cent and 15.85 percent respectively during the fiscal year 2020-21.
“Volumetric loss of SNGPL remained at 34,021 million cubic feet (mmcf) of gas and SSGC 67,476 mmcf of gas, mainly because of gas leakages, measurement errors and theft,” according to an official report available with APP. In 2019-20, the SNGPL and SSGC had prevented a volumetric loss of around 9,938 MMCF gas against the UFG reduction target of 14,806 MMCF gas.
The UFG is a phenomenon of gas loss that occurred due to various technical factors when gas flowed from fields to end consumers.
It is calculated as the difference between metered gas volume injected into the transmission and distribution network (Point of Dispatch/Delivery) and the metered gas delivered to the end consumers (Consumer Meter Station) during a financial year.
In line with the government policy to reduce line loss, the report said the gas companies were taking all possible measures to bring down the UFG ratio gradually in the coming years.
Under the strategy, an inspection of all industrial, commercial and domestic consumers was being carried out regularly to prevent gas theft by taking prompt action against unauthorized connections and illegal networks.
The UFG, being one of the most critical elements in the gas sector, played a critical role in reducing the profitability of the gas transmission and distribution companies.
Youth’s needs to be mainstreamed in climate process: Amin
ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (APP):Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam on Tuesday said the future of youth was at stake due to increasing global environmental degradation and they should be mainstreamed in the major climate process.
Addressing the Post-COP-26 Glasgow discussion held here organized by the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS), the SAPM shed light on the achievements made by the country at the global climate change moot and its international agreements aimed at addressing climate change and biodiversity conservation.
Amin said the country’s delegation at the 26th Conference of Parties (COP-26) was headed by him that also set up an attractive pavilion at the platform.
“Our pavilion has been the busiest one at the COP-26 that attracted many international stakeholders to attend our sideline meetings,” he added.
The SAPM mentioned that the delegation organized 25 sideline events with one of the most senior panelists on board during the discussion and also held 50 bilateral meetings where the delegation under his leadership met heads of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Bank (WB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), ministers of various countries and others.
He underscored that the Country Statement delivered by him at COP-26 was well-received by the world. “We highlighted in the Statement that being less than one percent emitter of greenhouse gases (GHGs), Pakistan is facing massive impacts of climate change and has become fed up of international talks rather demands the world make practical actions,” he added.
Amin noted that the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Plantation and Recharge Pakistan initiatives were put forward in the country statement.
He informed that the country signed various agreements particularly with the UAE on environmental collaboration, MOU with ADB to figure out Coal Power Plants’ phase-out, agreements with the German and British governments, and also with the US on methane emissions reduction pledge.
Apart from all these, he said Pakistan won two acknowledgments of Climate Champions by UNEP and Nature Champion by UK government along with various other countries for reviving green cover and ecosystems at a promising pace.
Moreover, he said Pakistan was made a member of eight important committees that would drive the negotiations at the next COP-27, it was also reelected as Vice President of the Conference.
“Pakistan is also given the honor to chair the Asia Pacific and G-77 plus China group meeting in the next year which is very important for us,” he added. Speaking on the occasion, Italian Ambassador Andreas Ferrarese said there was a need to be aware of public opinion for better climate action in a more proactive manner.
He said the climate change was affecting everyday life and was a common problem not of the government alone that demanded a holistic response.
One of the achievements of COP-26 was that the youth was included in the climate debate and negotiations which were propitious.
President, Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) Ambassador Nadeem Riaz told APP that COP-26 was considered to be an international platform to derive convincing decisions and understandings to be made by the biggest polluters in the world.
However, the outcomes were not that satisfactory where the developing countries like Pakistan facing the maximum brunt of global warming and environmental degradation needed the support of the developed countries to mitigate climate change and enhance its resilience.
Digital survey reveals 824,210 acres state land in Punjab, KP, Balochistan encroached : Farrukh
ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (APP):Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib on Tuesday said digital survey of around 81,209 square kilometers land had so far been carried out that revealed encroachment of some 824,210 acres of state land worth Rs 3 trillion in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
“Around 88 per cent work on [digitalization of] total land [record] in Punjab, KP and Balochistan has been completed. Out of total surveyed land, 824,210 acres of state land has been encroached whose worth is around Rs 3,000 billion as per a conservative estimate,” the minister said while addressing a news conference here.
Flanked by Special Assistant to the Prime Minster on Capital Development Authority, Ali Nawaz Awan, Farrukh said out of the total encroached land, around 675,615 acres were meant to grow forests, but occupied illegally by illegal occupants allegedly in connivance with certain people of previous governments.
He said it was unfortunate that the forest land worth over 1,800 billion was encroached in Pakistan while the entire world was stressing over growing trees to tackle the looming threat of climate changes.
Prime Minister Imran Khan was the first leader in the country’s history who was keen to ensure massive afforestation, he said referring to recent speech of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the United Nations General Assembly where he praised PM Imran Khan, asking the world leaders to follow his steps in neutralizing the climate changes threat.
Divulging details, he said 8,256 acres land of Railway worth around Rs 307 billion, 816 acres land of Civil Aviation Authority having value of around Rs 98 billion, National Highways land valuing approximately Rs 52 billion and land of Evacuee Trust worth Rs 117 billion had been encroached across the three provinces.
The minister also shared details of private land encroached by the illegal occupants in the major cities saying its record was compiled after completing the digitalization.
He said around 7,000 kanals land was encroached in Karachi having worth of around Rs 650 billion, whereas 10,500 kanals of land valuing Rs 1,500 billion was illegally occupied in Lahore and total encroachments worth Rs 500 billion came to the fore in Islamabad.
Total value of state and private lands encroached by the encroachers was of around Rs 5,500 billion, Farrukh noted.
He said this became possible with the help of cadastral mapping which provided exact information about recent and past status of a land through Georeferencing feature of Google.
The promise made by Prime Minister Imran Khan for crucial land reforms had almost been fulfilled as the cadastral mapping of the state land was in final stages, he said adding it was for the first time in the history of Pakistan that land record was being digitalized across the country through cadastral mapping.
Provincial governments from Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan had extended full cooperation for digitalization of land record, but the Sindh government remained committed to its tradition of creating hurdles in all those good initiatives taken by the centre.
He said the Sindh government was not cooperating deliberately in that regard which proved that the provincial authorities was somehow involved in providing support to the land grabbers.
The minister said since the record had been obtained through cadastral mapping, the relevant departments had started taking actions against the encroachments.
Responding to a query, he said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had the history of feeding lies to the public and attacking the state institutions including judiciary.
He said the PML-N had resorted to almost every trick to prove their innocence, but failed to justify purchase of flats in London by the Sharif family through ill-gotten money.
No match of PM’s public-centric priorities with PML-N leadership’s preferences: Gill
ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (APP):Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill Tuesday said there was no match of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s public–centric and welfare-oriented priorities with the preferences of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Safdar.
“On the one hand, Imran Khan is inaugurating another world university in the country, while on the other hand Maryam Safdar and Captain Safdar are threatening to bring video and audio of peoples’ private lives in the market,” he said in a tweet.
He said there was a significant difference between the priorities of PM Imran and Maryam Safdar.
The SAPM said they [PML-N leadership] were busy in carrying out all kinds of ‘sabotage activities] just to protect their ill-gotten money and assets.
He said it was unfortunate that they were leaking everything in support of the fake audio/video statement, except presenting receipts of their build-up assets in the country and abroad.
He said it was unfortunate that the PML-N leadership was not giving answer to justify their properties in London, but kept telling lies on each and every issue.
Fiscal deficit narrows to 0.8pc in Q1: Economic Outlook
ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (APP):The fiscal deficit narrowed to 0.8 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) during the first quarter of the fiscal year 2021-22, according to monthly Economic Update and Outlook for November released by the finance ministry here.
Last year, the deficit during the period was recorded at 1.1 percent of GDP, it says adding the revenue growth outpaced the growth in expenditures.
In absolute terms, the fiscal deficit has been reduced to Rs 438.5 billion in Q1 FY2022 against Rs 484.3 billion in the comparable period of last year.
The primary balance remained in surplus and stood at Rs 184.2 billion (0.3 percent of GDP) in Q1 FY2022 against the surplus of Rs 257.7 billion (0.6 percent of GDP) last year
“The fiscal performance remained strong during the first quarter of the current fiscal year on the back of healthy growth in tax revenues, careful expenditure management and higher provincial surplus,” the report says.
During the period under review, total revenues posted an impressive growth that outpaced the rise in expenditures.
Total revenues grew by 22.3 percent, primarily driven by 36.6 percent growth in tax collection from both federal and provincial levels.
On the other hand, total expenditures increased by 14.5 percent with 8.6 percent growth in current expenditures and 23.0 percent rise in development expenditures and net lending.
Within the development, expenditures under PSDP grew by 63.2 percent to Rs 262.1 billion during Q1 FY2022 against Rs 160.5 billion in the same period of last year.
Similarly, the cumulative surplus of all the four provinces was higher than the previous year as it recorded at Rs 276.9 billion in Q1 FY2022 against Rs 44.4 billion last year.
It says, the board was highly committed to further improve the tax collection through documentation and maximum taxpayer’s facilitation.
Meanwhile, the government was proficiently dealing with COVID-19 challenges through timely effective measures while it had speed up the vaccine process so that the economic activity remains on track without any disruption.
While increasing expenditure on priority areas, the government is adhering to a strict spending management strategy.
On the one hand, the government has increased the spending on growth-oriented projects, while on the other; it is focusing on bolstering the social safety net through various Ehsaas poverty alleviation programmes.
The current fiscal performance reaffirms the government’s commitment to strike a balance between fiscal deficits due to COVID 19 and boosting the growth of the economy, keeping the primary balance at a sustainable level, and protecting social spending.
The government’s efforts to maintain fiscal discipline through an effective revenue mobilization strategy and better expenditure management will continue to aid in further reducing the budget deficit during the current fiscal year, the report adds.
The report says Pakistan was on a high growth path while at the same time, it is confronted with persistent inflationary pressure.
The level and degree of persistence of inflation was the consequence of depreciation that followed the previous balance of payments crises, reinforced by the acceleration of worldwide inflation and the exceptional surge in international commodity prices.
These events put a lot of stress on the external accounts, more specifically on the balance in trade of the goods and services and from there on the current account balance, it adds.
Government aims to alleviate this stress as much as possible by implementing structural measures as well as by demand policy management, according to the report.
In terms of demand management, fiscal consolidation, while protecting the vulnerable sections of the population from the surge in food and energy prices, is the main objective of fiscal policy.
At the same time, SBP is redirecting monetary policy from an accommodative to a more neutral stance, it adds
Pakistan calls for ‘fully equipped’ global accord to fight pandemics
GENEVA, Nov 30 (APP):Amid a global alert over the new Omicron variant, Pakistan has called for a fully equipped and adequately resourced global health security framework that responds effectively to future pandemics.
Speaking during a special three-day meeting of the World Health Organization’s governing body on Monday, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations Offices in Geneva, Khalil Hashmi said that the enjoyment of the highest attainable standards of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being.
The World Health Assembly meeting was convened to decide on the issue of a so-called “pandemic treaty”.
The coronavirus pandemic, he said, had exposed the fragilities of and gaps in the existing global health security architecture: its governance and legal framework as well as how challenges of resource and capacity constraints have impeded enforcement.
“This special session is therefore significant in charting a path, hopefully, towards a robust, resilient, equitable and effective international response to prevent, prepare for and respond to future pandemics,” the Pakistani envoy said.
Pakistan, Ambassador Hashmi said shared WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus’ concerns that the lack of sharing of COVID-19 related medical countermeasures has hindered the collective ability to prevent infections and save lives.
In this regard, he urged countries opposing a waiver of intellectual property protections at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to revisit their positions and align their support for a future instrument.
“The gap between the two approaches must be bridged, to save lives now and in the future,” the Pakistani envoy said.
He outlined some of the essential elements that should be incorporated into a future instrument or a framework.
The instrument must:
— have ave an organic co-relation between its principles, objectives, tools and means of implementation;
— prioritize the principle of equity and public interest over other considerations in times of global health emergency.
— strike a prudent balance between rights and obligations of states, considering the varied level of development, responsibilities and capacities.
— incorporate sustainable and adequate financing mechanism and assess the compatibility the existing governance and financing model of the WHO with future instrument.
“Let us re-affirm our commitment to a fully equipped and adequately resourced global health security architecture that responds effectively to future pandemics and contributes to the achievement of the goal of universal health coverage by the end of this decade,” Ambassador Hashmi added.
Artist suffering from cerebral palsy presents portraits to PM
ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (APP): Umer Jaral, a talented artist suffering from cerebral palsy presented Prime Minister Imran Khan his self-painted portraits on Tuesday.
The wheelchair-bound artist, 34, despite his neurological disorders that affect the movement of muscles, made the paintings out of his fondness for Imran Khan.
PM Khan: “umer jaral is a symbol of inspiration”
PM Khan lauded the artwork of Umer Jaral and termed him a symbol of motivation and inspiration for others.
Suffering from cerebral palsy at birth, Umer Jaral has been making paintings since the age of 12.
The disease, according to the brother of Jaral, has the probability of making the patient bed-ridden in the next few years.
Country close to achieving $20 bln Textile export target: Fawad
ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (APP):Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain on Tuesday said that the country was close to achieving the textile export target of $20 billion and food inflation was on constant declining trend sans receiving any media coverage.
In a tweet, he said the prices of sugar, onion and tomato were on constant declining trend but such good news had failed to draw media’s attention due to their bizarre logic of – “people were not interested in such news”.
The minister said the country had achieved over 9 million tons of bumper crop rice during current season owing to policy interventions and incentivising local farming communities. The record rice production of this year has endowed the country to earn 4.75 billion dollars from its exports.
The series of good news continue to pour in as Pakistan has also won cricket test match against Bangladesh after victory in T-20 series against Bangladesh.Pakistan’s victorious return to world cricket was a great achievement, he added.
Little work done on human tragedy resulted from Fall of Dhaka: Fawad
ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (APP):Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain after watching Fizza Ali’s ‘Khel Khel Mein’ premiere has said that limited work was done on human tragedy resulted from the Fall of Dhaka.
In a tweet, he recommended ‘Khel Khel Mein’ as a must watch movie for all.
He congratulated the movie’s entire team for managing a tough topic during the play.
Gwadar Port focuses on development, people’s livelihood: Wang Wenbin
BEIJING, Nov 30 (APP):The Gwadar Port, a leading project of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), focuses on development and people’s livelihood while all projects which have been completed there have played important role in creating education opportunities, improving employment skills and responding to Covid-19 for the benefit of local people, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said.
“The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a landmark and pilot program under the Belt and Road Initiative. Since its inception in 2013, CPEC has achieved fruitful and remarkable results,” Wang Wenbin said during his regular briefing in response to a question asked by APP.
He said that the Gwadar Port, a leading project of CPEC, focuses on development and people’s livelihood.
“China-Pakistan Gwadar Faqeer Middle School, the vocational training institute in Gwadar, and China-Pakistan Fraternity Emergency Care Center in Gwadar, which have been completed, have played important roles in and made China’s contributions to creating education opportunities, improving employment skills and responding to COVID-19 for the benefit of the local people,” he added.
The spokesperson said that China was ready to work with Pakistan to jointly advance high-quality development of CPEC, build and operate all CPEC projects including the Gwadar Port well, play a more positive part in improving people’s livelihood in both countries, and build an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era.
Responding to yet another question, he stressed that CPEC had long been focusing on people’s livelihood and well-being and benefiting the local people, thus warmly welcomed by the local people.
“China is ready to work with Pakistan to advance the high-quality development of CPEC so as to deliver more benefits to the local people,” he added.
In a recent interview, Chairman of China Overseas Port Holding Company (COPHC), Zhang Baozhong said that Gwadar, an important component of the multi-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would become the logistic hub in the region within five years.
He informed that in spite of the negative pandemic impact to business development, more than 100,000 metric tonnes of Afghan cargo have been handled at the port.
Economy on track to achieve set growth target for FY22: Economic Outlook
ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (APP):The country’s economy is on track to achieve the growth target set by the government for the fiscal year 2021-22, according to monthly Economic Update and Outlook for November released by the finance ministry here Monday.
“The economy of Pakistan is on track to achieve the growth target for FY2022,” it says, adding that the 2nd estimates of the cotton crop along with the latest performance of high frequency variables were encouraging and set an optimistic baseline scenario.
However, the report notes that there were some risks to the economy associated with rising international commodity prices, widening of the current account deficit and subsequent pressure on Pakistani rupee.
Likewise, the cotton production of 9.4 million bales against last year production of 7.1 million bales show an increase of 32.8 percent. The Federal Committee on Agriculture (FCA) set the Rabi Crop 2021-22 target of wheat production at 28.9 million tonnes.
On manufacturing side, the largescale manufacturing (LSM) posted a growth of 5.15 percent in the first quarter of FY2022 against the growth of 4.53 percent same period last year. During the period, 12 out of 15 subsectors of LSM have witnessed positive growth.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation during July-October 2021-22 was recorded at 8.74 percent against 8.87 percent during the same period last year. Inflation had started declining after surging to 11.1 percent in April, mainly driven by a drop in the prices of agricultural products.
The fiscal deficit has been reduced to 0.8 percent of GDP (Rs 438.5 billion) in Quarter 1 (Q1) FY2022 against 1.1 percent of GDP (Rs 484.3 billion) in the comparable period of last year. The primary balance remained in surplus and stood at Rs 184.2 billion (0.3 percent of GDP) in Q1 FY2022 against the surplus of Rs 257.7 billion (0.6 percent of GDP) last year
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) tax revenues increased significantly during July-October FY2022, exceeding its target by 14.7 percent for the period. In absolute terms, FBR collected Rs 235.9 billion higher revenues than the target fixed for Jul-Oct FY2022.
The provisional net collection grew by 36.8 percent to reach Rs 1,842.9 billion during July-October FY2022 against Rs 1,347.5 billion in the same period of last year. Domestic tax collection grew by 35.9 percent to Rs 1,551.1 billion in Jul-Oct FY2022 against Rs 1,141.1 billion in the corresponding period of last year.
Within domestic taxes, the direct tax increased by 31.9 percent, sales tax by 41.4 percent and FED by 19.6 percent. While customs duty grew by 41.4 percent.
On monetary side, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) raised policy rate by 150 basis points to 8.75 percent on 19th November 2021 owing to associated risks related to inflation and Balance of Payment (BoP) while the outlook for growth has continued to improve.
The report says Pakistan was on a high growth path while at the same time, it is confronted with persistent inflationary pressure.
The level and degree of persistence of inflation was the consequence of depreciation that followed the previous balance of payments crises, reinforced by the acceleration of worldwide inflation and the exceptional surge in international commodity prices.
These events put a lot of stress on the external accounts, more specifically on the balance in trade of the goods and services and from there on the current account balance, it adds.
Government aims to alleviate this stress as much as possible by implementing structural measures as well as by demand policy management, according to the report.
In terms of demand management, fiscal consolidation, while protecting the vulnerable sections of the population from the surge in food and energy prices, is the main objective of fiscal policy.
At the same time, SBP is redirecting monetary policy from an accommodative to a more neutral stance, it adds.
Pakistan urges boosting funding for UN body’s peacebuilding efforts in conflict-affected countries
UNITED NATIONS, Nov 30 (APP):Lauding the UN Peacebuilding Commission’s role of supporting peace efforts in conflict-affected countries, Pakistan Monday called for enlarging funding for the 31-member body’s peacebuilding activities aimed at economic and financial stabilization of those nations.
“Pakistan, as a troop-contributing country for six decades, has observed first-hand how the UN peacebuilding can act as a catalyst to mitigate violence and restore peace and stability in conflict-affected countries,” Ambassador Munir Akram told the Commission’s annual session on financing for peacebuilding.
Pakistani troops, he said, have often mobilized their own resources to complement peacekeeping efforts with peacebuilding initiatives, calling the benefits of such endeavors “profound and far-reaching.”
In his remarks, Ambassador Akram stressed the need for sustaining the existing funding streams to the Commission, while referring to the programmatic funding earmarked for peacebuilding activities in several peacekeeping missions. “This vital funding stream must not disappear,” the Pakistani envoy said.
“It should, in fact, be enlarged through the Security Council’s legislation of the appropriate mandates and the resources for appropriate mandates which should cover this peacebuilding aspect as well.”
Ambassador Akram said that specific needs and priorities of the selected countries should ideally be identified by the governments of the countries concerned in order to mobilize additional resources for peacebuilding.
“These needs should then be transformed into specific projects and the financial support then mobilized for such projects from bilateral and multilateral sources, including the Peacebuilding Fund.”
Pakistan, he said, supports the expansion of the Peacebuilding Fund through all possible means — larger contributions from existing donors; contributions from new donor countries, especially countries which have a national security interest in stabilizing a particular country coming out of conflict; and contributions from institutions, especially the international financial institutions (IFIs)/Multilateral Development Banks in particular.
“Peacebuilding and humanitarian support to distressed populations should not be nullified by sanctions and asset freezes which contradict or undermine the objectives of peacebuilding and security stabilizations or humanitarian assistance,” the Pakistani envoy stressed.
Omicron shows need for global accord on pandemics: WHO chief
UNITED NATIONS, Nov 29 (APP):The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for a new international accord on tackling pandemics, following the emergence of the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
During a special session of the World Health Assembly In Geneva on Monday, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the new variant “underlines just how perilous and precarious our situation is.”
The Assembly meeting was convened to decide on the issue of a so-called “pandemic treaty”.
Tedros said the world has not responded accordingly to COVID-19, and vaccine inequity, among other challenges, has facilitated the appearance of new highly mutated variants such as Omicron.
“Omicron demonstrates just why the world needs a new accord on pandemics: our current system disincentivizes countries from alerting others to threats that will inevitably land on their shores”, WHO Director General said.
Tedros underscored that South Africa – where Omicron was first identified just days ago – should be thanked for detecting, sequencing and reporting the new variant, and not penalized, referring to the current travel bans many countries are imposing on the African nation and its neighbours.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also expressed his deep concern on Monday for the isolation now being felt by southern African countries due to the new restrictions imposed on travel from the region, by dozens of nations across the world.
“The people of Africa cannot be blamed for the immorally low level of vaccinations available in Africa – and they should not be penalized for identifying and sharing crucial science and health information with the world”, he said in a strongly-worded statement.
“I appeal to all governments to consider repeated testing for travellers, together with other appropriate and truly effective measures”, he added.
The UN health agency has asked governments to take science-based decisions regarding the travel bans. Guterres said it was important to take all appropriate measures to allow for travel and “economic engagement”.
The likelihood of the potential further spread of Omicron at the global level has been defined as “very high” by WHO.
Dr Tedros, the WHO chief, reminded that although scientists still don’t know for certain if the variant is associated with more risk of transmission and severe disease, or if it has any impact on the effectiveness of vaccines, the world shouldn’t need another ‘wake up call’.
“Omicron’s very emergence is another reminder that although many of us might think we are done with COVID-19, it is not done with us. We are living through a cycle of panic and neglect. Hard-won gains could vanish in an instant. Our most immediate task, therefore, is to end this pandemic”, he said.
The WHO chief added that our ability to end the current pandemic is a ‘test for our collective ability to prevent and respond effectively to future pandemics’.
“The same principles apply: Courageous and compassionate leadership; Fidelity to science; Generosity in sharing the fruits of research; And an unshakeable commitment to equity and solidarity.
“If we cannot apply those principles now to tame COVID-19, how can we hope to prevent history repeating?”, he asked delegates from more than 190 countries.
More than 80% of the world’s vaccines have gone to G-20 countries while low-income countries, most of them in Africa, have received just 0.6% of all vaccines, Dr. Tedros emphasized.
He reiterated the message he has been sending the world for over a year: vaccine equity is not charity, but it is in every country’s best interests.
“No country can vaccinate its way out of the pandemic alone. The longer vaccine inequity persists, the more opportunity this virus has to spread and evolve in ways we cannot predict nor prevent. We are all in this together”, he explained.
Human rights experts joined Tedros on his call on Monday, urging States to act decisively to ensure that all people have equal and universal access to COVID-19 vaccines, particularly those in low-income countries who have largely been left out of the global response.
More than 27 UN Special Rapporteurs and Independent Experts sent a joint statement as a response to the announcement of the indefinite postponement of the World Trade Organization 12th Ministerial Conference, in which a temporary waiver of intellectual property rights to facilitate vaccine patents was set to be discussed.
“The postponement… should not be a reason to delay progress already made: on the contrary, it confirms the urgent need to take collective action to address vaccine inequality…”, they said, adding that the priority should be to ensure that all people everywhere can enjoy the benefits of scientific progress.
On 14 October, the experts sent 44 letters to the WTO, G-7 and G-20 States, the European Union and pharmaceutical companies urging equal and universal vaccine access. So far, only six responses have been received.
“Comprehensive. Coordinated. Effective. Three words that history will not use to describe the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic”, Dr Tedros highlighted, advocating for a new common and binding global approach to pandemics.
He said that the task was urgent but also required patience as a convention, agreement or another international instrument, will not solve every problem.
“But, it will provide the overarching framework to foster greater international cooperation and provide a platform for strengthening global health security”, he added.
The special World Health Assembly session runs until Wednesday, and by the end of the three-day virtual meeting, countries will decide if there is political will to design a new international framework to respond to future pandemics.
Israeli actions against Palestinians eroding two-state solution – UN chief warns
UNITED NATIONS, Nov 29 (APP):UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Monday warned that Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights and illegal settlement activity was putting the prospect of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at risk.
“Persistent violations of the rights of Palestinians along with the expansion of settlements risk eroding the prospect of a two-State solution,” he said in a message to marking International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
Despite being ‘encouraged’ by recent engagements between senior Israeli and Palestinian officials, the UN chief said that “containing the situation is not sufficient”.
Guterres reiterated that the overall goal of two states living side-by-side in peace and security remains.
This includes fulfilling the “legitimate national aspirations of both peoples, with borders based on the 1967 lines and Jerusalem as the capital of both States”.
The Secretary-General called on the parties to avoid measures that would undermine the chances for a peaceful resolution of the conflict.?
He urged the parties to engage constructively “to end the closure” of the Gaza strip, and improve the living conditions of all Palestinians who continue to live under occupation.
Guterres’ message came ahead of a special meeting held in New York on Monday to discuss the unresolved question of Palestine and the Palestinian people’s inalienable rights.?
The occasion will be an opportunity for the international community to focus its attention on the fact that their rights as defined by the General Assembly Committee (CEIRPP) in 1975, have yet to be attained. These are namely, the right to self-determination, national independence and sovereignty and the right to return to their homes and property from which they have been displaced.
Alongside the event, a permanent exhibition has been mounted at UN Headquarters in New York, on “The Question of Palestine and the United Nations”.
Speaking at the meeting in New York, General Assembly President, Abdulla Shahid, said that the Day should be marked with a “sense of humility”.
Reminding that peace in the Middle East has remained at the forefront of the global agenda since the UN’s founding, he said that “it is disappointing that despite the priority accorded this issue, the amount of energy expended, the multiple UN resolutions adopted, and the decades of negotiations, dialogues, and engagements, so little has been accomplished”.
Shahid added that Palestinians in the Gaza enclave, “are trapped inside a cycle of unemployment, limited economic opportunity and poverty – a dynamic that has been severely exacerbated by COVID-19”.
Commending the ongoing work by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Shahid urged the global community to guarantee “sufficient and reliable financing to ensure that Palestinian refugees receive adequate assistance”.
Farrukh blasts PML-N for adopting unclear policy on official ads
ISLAMABAD, Nov 29 (APP):Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib on Monday criticized the last government of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) for adopting unclear policy on official ads.
Maryam Nawaz had been controlling some media houses in the past, he said while talking to a private television channel.
The PML-N had awarded special benefits to media persons for personal gains, he added.
Maryam Nawaz did not like showing facts by media houses against the last government of PML-N, he stated.
Maryam Nawaz was trying to threaten journalists pointing out flaws of previous regime of PML-N, he added.
He said that Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI), government was following merit in distribution of official ads to electronic and print media.
Replying to a question about fake video taps drama, he said the PML-N had badly exposed due to audio and video clips.
People of Katcha area onboard on the boat with their motorcycles are crossing Indus River during morning time near Aqil Village
Pakistan offers to host OIC foreign ministers’ moot on Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD, Nov 29 (APP): Pakistan on Monday offered to host the extraordinary session of the Council of Foreign Minister of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) convened by Saudi Arabia, the OIC Summit chair, to discuss the latest situation in Afghanistan.
“Pakistan fully endorses this initiative. We also offered to host this meeting in Islamabad on the 17th of December 2021. We are confident that the OIC member states will endorse this offer,” Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said in a video message.
He said Afghanistan was the founding member of the OIC and as part of the Islamic Ummah, “we are bound by fraternal bonds of amity and brotherhood with the people of Afghanistan. Today, our Afghan brothers and sisters need us more than ever before,” he commented.
He said Afghanistan currently faced a serious humanitarian situation as millions of Afghans including women and children confronted with an uncertain future due to a shortage of food, medicine, and other essential living supplies.
The advent of winter has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, he added.
The foreign minister urged the OIC to step up to alleviate the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people, provide immediate and sustained support to them, and continue to remain engaged with them for the wellbeing and prosperity of Afghanistan.
He said the first Extraordinary Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers was held in Islamabad, in January 1980, on the situation in Afghanistan.
“Next month we will once again gather in Islamabad to reaffirm our abiding solidarity with and support to the Afghan people. I am confident that the meeting would consider concrete steps to help address the humanitarian and economic challenges facing Afghanistan,” he hoped.
The foreign minister said that he looked forward to welcoming the OIC foreign minister for the session in Islamabad.
A Health Department personnel giving vaccine to a citizen after new Omicron Corona variant at COVID-19 Vaccination Center Jinnah Bagh
A gypsy man busy in making a shanty with dry straw for his family on outskirt area of the city
