A vendor displaying different kind of dry fruits to attract the customers at his roadside setup
Volunteers distributing free food among the deserving people near General Bus Stand
A view of expansion work of Bori to Pero Bharo road
Indian extreme nationalism leading killing of thousands of innocent people: Chinese Scholar
BEIJING, Dec 5 (APP):Indian security forces not only slaughter thousands of Kashmiri people in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K), but also indiscriminately kill innocent people in the northeast and many other areas, constantly creating new “miracles” in human rights violations.
The main targets of massacres by Indian security forces are ethnic minorities, Muslims and all the other non-Hindus social groups. The massacre of the population is closely related to the extreme nationalism of the Indian authorities and the principle that domestic calming must precede resisting foreign aggressions implemented by the Indian authorities.
These views were expressed by Cheng Xizhong, Visiting Professor at Southwest University of Political Science and Law, Special Commentator of China Economic Net, former Defense Attach in South Asian countries in an article issued here on Sunday.
India has a population of 1.38 billion, of which about 20% are non-Hindus. If the Indian authorities continue to implement the religious extremism policy, 276 million people may be slaughtered.
In view of this, the international community should act immediately and take resolute measures to stop the Indian authorities from killing the innocent people.
Professor Cheng Xizhong has noted that according to a report by the Hindu on December 5, 13 civilians were killed by Indian security forces in Nagaland in Northeast India.
It is reported that the incident occurred on the evening of December 4. At that time, these civilians were going home from a coal mine. They were daily wage earners. Indian security forces mistook these civilians for militants and ambushed them.
Local angry people expressed that blood debts should be paid with blood. Such incidents occur so frequently, which is bound to lead to wider and stronger resistance movements.
A vendor displaying children waistcoats to attract the customers at his roadside setup
Security officials standing alert outside a polling station to avoid any untoward situation during by-elections of NA-133 Constituency
Kamyab Jawan Sports Drive to revive sports culture: Usman Dar
ISLAMABAD, Dec 5 (APP):Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Youth Affairs Muhammad Usman Dar on Sunday said Kamyab Jawan Sports Drive being launched from Monday would revive sports culture in Pakistan by providing access to thousands of youth to grounds.
“We will bring talent of Pakistan to the fore through talent hunt programme being launched under the sports drive,” said Usman Dar while addressing a news conference here.
Flanked by Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain and Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Dr Fahmida Mirza, Usman Dar said Prime Minister Imran Khan would officially inaugurate the sports drive here at Jinnah Stadium Sports Complex.
He urged the youth to visit official website of the Kamyab Jawan Programme after launch of the drive to get registered for different games.
Usman Dar said Prime Minister Imran Khan had given clear instructions to produce national heroes through this platform who would represent the country in different games at international level.
He said PM Imran Khan was keen to empower the country’s youth through gainful employment and meaningful engagement.
Under its first phase, around 12 different games for male and 10 for female would be arranged across 25 regions under the talent hunt programme. The age bracket for both would be 11-25 years.
In the Kamyab Jawan Sports Drive, games for male included football, cricket, hockey, badminton, boxing, handball, judo, squash, table tennis, volleyball, weightlifting and wrestling.
For young females, the games would be badminton, cricket, football, hockey, boxing, handball, judo, squash, table tennis, and volleyball.
After conclusion of the games, the selected pool of talent would then compete in a national league under the program.
The final pool of talent from league would be given a chance to get trained and developed in world class 12 sports academies and high-performance centers to be built in 12 universities under the program.
12 sports academies would be set up in various varsities including Bahauddin Zakariya University, Punjab, University of the Punjab, Lahore, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, University of Agriculture Faisalabad,
University of Karachi, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam, Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University Lyari, University of Peshawar, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Balochistan University and Karakoram International University,
Gilgit Baltistan for promoting hockey, weightlifting, wrestling, hand ball, football, judo, boxing, squash, volley ball, cricket, athletic games and skiing, respectively.
The Prime Minister’s Kamyab Jawan Programme was a flagship initiative of the present government under which six schemes have been launched including Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme, Skills for All, Youth Green Movement, Kamayab Marakiz and others.
An aerial view of Jinnah Sports Complex
A visitor aiming the target during Chrysanthemum, Marigoldm & Autumn Flowers Show, 2021 at Rose and Jasmine Garden arranged by Islamabad Horticultural Society and CDA
Visitors viewing displayed stuff during Chrysanthemum, Marigoldm & Autumn Flowers Show, 2021 at Rose and Jasmine Garden arranged by Islamabad Horticultural Society and CDA
Interior Minister pays tribute to Major Muhammad Akram Shaheed on martyrdom anniversary
ISLAMABAD, Dec 05 (APP):Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has paid tribute to Major Muhammad Akram Shaheed Nishan-e-Haider for his sacrifice for the country.
In his message on 50th martyrdom anniversary of Major Muhammad Akram Shaheed on Sunday, he said, Major Akram Shaheed presented the supreme sacrifice in the 1971 war with India while defending the motherland in the Zafarwal sector.
The Minister said great sacrifice of Major Muhammad Akram Shaheed for the country and nation would always be remembered.
Vehicles traveling on Lahore-Islamabad Motorway, must be M-Tagged from Dec 7
ISLAMABAD, Dec 05 (APP):To travel on Lahore-Islamabad Motorway, vehicles must be M.Tagged by December 7 as per the decision of Lahore High Court.
In a statement, Spokesman National Highway Authority (NHA), said that passengers traveling on Lahore-Islamabad Motorway were requested to apply M-Tag on their vehicles without any delay to avoid any inconvenience.
He said that motorists should visit the Motorway Customer Care Center with their vehicle’s for registration book or card and ID card to apply the M-Tag. They can also call 1313 for more information and guidance. M-Tag will help in safe and eco-friendly travel, he added.
Whole nation condemns the Sialkot incident: Dr Fehmida
ISLAMABAD, Dec 5 (APP):Federal Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) Dr Fehmida Mirza Sunday said the whole nation condemned the Sialkot incident in which a 49-year-old Sri Lankan factory manager Priyantha Kumara Diyawadanage was lynched by a mob over blasphemy allegations.
“Sialkot incident was a source of embarrassment for Pakistan. All political parties, the whole nation and the Overseas Pakistanis have also strongly condemned the tragic and sad incident. I have been getting messages from people who want to support the deceased’s family financially.”
“Islam teaches us a message of peace and we are peaceful people,” she said at a press conference in regard with the Kamyab Jawan Sports Drive here at the Pakistan Sports Complex.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Youth Affairs Usman Dar and Director General Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Col (R) Muhammad Asif Zaman were also present on the occasion.
Coming to sports, she said the year 2021-22 has been declared as the sports year. “It is the job of the federal government to promote sports and that is why successful youth sports program was being organized,” she said.
The minister said that players cannot flourish until we give them the sports infrastructure and facilities as per international standards and we would provide them.
“No federation can go out and say that we are representing Pakistan without the permission of the government therefore we are bringing in a National Sports Policy,” Dr Fehmida Mirza said and added that the sports facilities here at the Pakistan Sports Complex and in provinces were also being upgraded.
She said we have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the SAPM on Youth Affairs Usman Dar for the uplifting and encouragement of the youth in sports.
“The MoU is aimed for working with coordination (IPC & Youth Affairs) for the promotion and encouragement of youth in sports,” she said and added that through the Kamyab Jawan Sports Drive beginning here on December 6 the youth would come to the grounds and indulge themselves in healthy sports activities.
To a question, athletes Arshad Nadeem and Talha Talib, the minister said ministry and Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) would provide them all out support at all levels and were proud of them for displaying superb performance at the Tokyo Olympics.
Sports can lead our younger generation on right path: Fawad
ISLAMABAD, Dec 5 (APP):Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain Sunday said sports can lead our younger generation on right path through utilizing their potential in constructive and healthy way.
The minister was addressing a presser along with Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC), Dr. Fehmida Mirza and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Youth Affairs, Usman Dar.
The minister termed the decline of politics and democracy in our country as the reason of decline of sports and said that the Olympics performance of Pakistan was heavily criticized in the past while hockey and squash were almost eliminated.
About the Kamyab Jawan Sports Drive to be launched on Monday, the minister said that around 6000 athletes between the ages of 15-25 were participating in the sports games under this drive for which every division has been declared a region.
As many as 3300 boys while 2700 girls are participating in the games and the ratio of girls reflect they are equal partners in sports like politics, economy and other fields.
About the recent incident of mob lynching of the Sri Lankan Factory Manager, the minister said that the way Pakistani nation has shown its reaction over this incident reflect that they are united in their stance against such extremist and heinous act and wanted to cope with.
This was the second such incident after the attack on Army Public School on which the whole nation was grieved and ashamed, he said.
“The reaction of our nation shows that majority of the people among the 220 million populations are tolerant citizens except few thousands or lacs of such extremist people, which is the ray of hope for us to move forward”, he said.
He said that the Prime Minister, Imran Khan conveyed his grief and pain over this incident while talking to the Sri Lankan President and also issued a message after
the incident.
Fawad said that Pakistan is a progressive country with strong institutions and democratic values. “No country has witnessed restoration of democracy in the way as Pakistan after passing from long eras of dictatorship”.
He said that the way Ahsan Iqbal and Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar responded to the Maulana Fazl-ur-Rahman statement reflect that leadership exist in all the political parties who can realize the severity of the situation and wanted to cope with.
The minister said that the political process and democracy can only flourish in the country when law and order situation is improved.
Fawad said that the crowd involved in this incident was between the ages of 15-25 and emphasized on engaging youth in constructive and healthy activities like sports.
The minister congratulated SAPM, Usman Dar and Federal Minister for IPC, Dr, Fehmida Mirza for launch of this much needed sports drive.
Indian forces carry out bloodshed in Nagaland killing over a dozen civilians
ISLAMABAD, Dec 5 (APP): As the Narendra Modi government continues to vigorously pursuing Hindutva agenda by targeting non-Hindu communities, the Indian forces Saturday carried bloodshed in the Christian majority Nagaland state killing over a dozen civilians.
The incident took place in and around Oting village in Mon district, bordering Myanmar, during a counterinsurgency operation conducted by members of the Assam Rifles, a part of Indian security forces deployment in the state, according to a senior police official.
The army soldiers fired at a truck killing six coal miners who were returning from home.
Local sources said that volunteers from the village had gone searching for them as they had not returned for several hours and found their bodies in the van.
As villagers reacted by burning two army vehicles, the soldiers fired at them, killing nine more people, according to media reports.
Nagaland police officer Sandeep M Tamgadge told AFP that the situation in the district was “very tense right now”, with nine other civilians wounded in the second incident now being treated in local hospitals.
After killing the innocent people and witnessing harsh public reaction, the Indian authorities are trying to cover up the incident calling it as a result of mistaken identity.
Nyamtow Konyak, a local community leader, said those killed were coalminers returning home from work.
The army officer said the soldiers had laid an ambush for a week following intelligence that insurgents were planning to attack soldiers in the area, 250 miles (400km) east of Gauhati, the capital of Assam state.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also attacked the Centre over the killing of civilians in Mon district of Nagaland, saying the government must give a “real reply” as to what is the home ministry doing when “neither civilians nor security personnel are safe in our own land”.
PTI cited a local police official in Nagaland as saying the exact number of fatalities is yet to be ascertained as 11 people died on the spot and several others succumbed to their injuries in hospitals in the neighbouring state of Assam.
A statement issued by the headquarters of the army’s 3 Corps said several of its personnel have suffered severe injuries in the incident and one soldier succumbed to the injuries.
“Based on credible intelligence of likely movement of insurgents, a specific operation was planned to be conducted in the area of Tiru, Mon District, Nagaland. The incident and its aftermath are deeply regretted. The cause of the unfortunate loss of lives is being investigated at the highest level and appropriate action will be taken as per the course of law,” the statement said, according to PTI.
Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio condemned the incident and promised a high-level probe as he appealed to all sections of the society to maintain peace.
“The unfortunate incident leading to killing of civilians at Oting, Mon is highly condemnable. Condolences to the bereaved families & speedy recovery of those injured,” the chief minister tweeted.
Locals in Nagaland have frequently accused forces of wrongly targeting innocent locals in their counterinsurgency operations against rebel groups.
In recent years India has tried to persuade Myanmar to evict rebels from bases in the thick jungles of the region, which borders Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.
Nagaland MLA TR Zeliang condemned the incident and said “there is no excuse for such massacre”. He called for the formation of an enquiry commission headed by a retired judge.
Local organisations have demanded action against the guilty personnel and threatened to approach national and international human rights organisations. Members of the victims’ families refused to receive their bodies if justice is not delivered fast.
Reacting to the incident, the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) announced the withdrawal of six tribes it represents from the annual Hornbill Festival ongoing at Kisama near State capital Kohima.
The ENPO had a few months ago adopted a resolution against bloodshed in its area.
“How can we dance at the festival when our people are getting killed?” the ENPO said in a statement.
APP Digital Report by Ishtiaq Ahmed
Footballs exports witness record 17.22% increase
ISLAMABAD, Dec 5 (APP): Football exports during the first four months of fiscal year of 2021-22 grew up by 17.22 per cent as compared to the exports of the corresponding period of last year.
During the period from July-Oct 2021, Footballs worth US$ 50,148 exported as compared to exports worth US$ 42,780 during same period of last year.
According to the data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the exports of Sports Goods increased by 20.73 percent, worth of US$ 105,120 were exported as compared to the exports of US$ 87,070 of same period of last year.
Meanwhile, Gloves exports also increased by 6.00 per cent as the exports during current fiscal year recorded at worth US$ 24,552 as compared to the exports during the same period of last year which recorded US$ 23,163.
During the period under review, Others exports increased by 43.99 per cent, worth US$ 30,420 exported in current fiscal year as compared to the exports of valuing US$ 21,127 of same period of last year.
Asia Youth Forum on “˜Technology innovation and smart city” held in Guangzhou, China
BEIJING, Dec 5 (APP): The government officials, enterprise leaders and scholars from Asian countries gathered at Asia Youth Forum held in Guangzhou, China and discussed role of smart cities in changing future life and cooperation among the Asian countries in this field.
The speakers shed light into the topic “Technology innovation and smart city” at the Forum.
A smart city utilizes all of the technologies such as AI, block-chain and 5G to provide more efficient and easier services to people, said Kashif Sharif, Associate Professor of Beijing Institute of Technology.
He mentioned the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as an example, saying, “Guangdong cities, Hong Kong and Macao could be smart by using different technologies but they can be super smart if they link all these cities and their technologies together. If so, people can travel seamlessly while such things as virus tracking can also be done equally as seamlessly.”
In term of the data flow between countries, he said it is possible and very beneficial for all the neighboring countries. But,it has to be first standardized and legalized either by the industries themselves or by the governments before providing people with services.
Liu Zhicheng, General Manager of Guangzhou Metro Group, said Guangzhou Metro aims to be “smarter’. “Firstly, it means smart manufacturing which is safer, greener and more efficient. Secondly, it means smart travel for passengers through automatic operation, smart safety checks and quick payment. Last but not least, we keep optimizing production efficiency and cost control through cloud platform, IoT and big data technologies.”
Chng Ken Wei, Centre Director (China) at Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore, explained that Singapore has implemented a smart city plan, the iN2015 Masterplan, in 2015. “The plan has three simple goals, that is, to bring citizens a comfortable and happy life, to help enterprises achieve their full potential and to improve efficiency of governance.”
He highlighted that the development of smart city would also bring new social problems.
“For example, the development of robotics will reduce the demand for jobs such as taxi drivers, factory workers and cleaners while deepening the shortage of high-end talents. It requires lots of training and retaining which we have offered lots of investment and subsidies,” he said.
As for talent pool development, Muhammad Ammar, Vice Secretary General of Beijing Global Talent Exchange Association, said there have been more foreigners wanting to study in China and work here after graduation instead of going to the US, Canada and Germany.
“For instance, many Pakistani students came to study mechanical engineering, automobile engineering, software engineering. They enter the AI and automobile industries after graduation.”
He said that many cities have launched platforms to improve foreigner services. He was impressed by a foreign community center in Shenzhen as it provides amazing services to foreign professionals.
He hope there could be more platforms like this, and more relaxed and favorable policies for foreigners to stay and work in China.
Fawad grieved over loss of lives in school coaster accident at Dina
ISLAMABAD, Dec 5 (APP):Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Chaudhry Fawad Hussain on Sunday expressed deep grief and sorrow over loss of precious human lives in tragic accident of a Lahore private school trip coaster at Dina.
The incident with innocent children was really tragic, Chaudhry Fawad said in a statement.
The federal minister shared the grief of the families of teachers and students who lost their lives in the road mishap.
The minister prayed to Allah Almighty to rest the departed souls in eternal peace and give courage to the bereaved families to bear this loss with fortitude.
The minister also prayed for speedy recovery of the injured.
Great sacrifice of Major Akram Shaheed for defence of country will always be remembered: Fawad
ISLAMABAD, Dec 5 (APP): Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said on Sunday that great sacrifice of Major Muhammad Akram Shaheed for the defence of the motherland would always be remembered.
In a message, on the 50th Martyrdom anniversary of Major Akram Shaheed, Fawad said that the nation pays homage to Major Muhammad Akram Shaheed (Nishan-e- Haider), the brave son of Jhelum.
Fawad said that Major Muhammad Akram was martyred on December 5, 1971 while fighting against India in the East Pakistan.
During the 1971 war, he said Major Muhammad Akram fought the enemy with determination and courage inspite of all difficulties.
Major Muhammad Akram Shaheed was the epitome of patriotism, intellect and human courage, said Chaudhry Fawad.
ICT Police fail to arrest robbers as victims await recovery of millions
ISLAMABAD, Dec 5 (APP): The residents of the federal capital still await recovery of their millions of rupees as the Islamabad Police is dilly-dallying to arrest the robbers who looted them in multiple incidents on their way from banks.
Moving from pillar to post, the victims have been left just to hear the false hopes from the police officers.
On September 23, 2020, the robbers had looted Rs 800,000 from Ishtiaq Ahmed, a senior reporter of Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) outside his residence in sector I-8/1 after he drove from a bank in I-8 Markaz.
Despite the passage of over a year, the police claimed to have arrested only an accused who, too, died in the custody, which the victims believe had raised even more doubts.
“I had also registered a complaint at Pakistan Citizen Portal. My complaint was reopened thrice and again closed. But at the end, I got the same typical reply as efforts were underway to arrest the criminals,” Ishtiaq said.
In response to his complaint at the Portal, the I-9 police informed in January this year that arrest warrants of two accused had been obtained and efforts for their arrest were underway. Exactly 11 months after in November, he again got the same reply with no substantial progress.
In fact, they have learned how to dodge the senior authorities overseeing the Portal, which obviously hurt people’s trust in this great idea of Prime Minister Imran Khan to address public grievances, he said.
Muhammad Arshad, who was looted of Rs 1 million, after he arrived from an F-10 bank at his residence in G-9 on September 10, 2020, is also awaiting any action by the police.
“I also raised the issue during online Katchery of IG Police. Later they called me to the Police Lines and apprised me of their performance. But my only concern is the recovery of my money,” he told APP.
Nasreen, whom the robbers deprived of Rs1 million outside her residence in I-9 on February 8, 2021, is also losing hope of any positive development.
“We are getting no response. We approached DIG Police office but were not given time to meet him. Once they arrested a guy and called us for identification. Police were insisting us to confirm him despite our refusals as he was shorter than the one who looted us,” said her sister Tasnim who accompanied the applicant at the time of the incident.
All three above said victims were robbed on their return from Standard Chartered Bank – two from the I-8 branch and one from the F-10 branch.
Another victim Aatir Ijaz, whom the robbers looted Rs 1.5 million at gunpoint in I-8 Markaz on September 30, 2020, also expressed his utmost dissatisfaction over the police’s performance. What to talk of recovery, they never contacted me for any development or regarding any query, he added.