ICCI, NUST discuss collaboration to improve competitiveness of industry

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Sat, 20 Jan 2024, 4:25 PM

KARACHI, Jan 20 (APP): The Caretaker Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Aneeq Ahmed has placed a great emphasis on establishing harmony based society, which is based on patience, love and brotherhood.

While addressing an ‘Interfaith Harmony Conference’ organized by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony at St.Patrick’s Cathedral here on Saturday, he said that the people should give up strictness in their behaviours and come forward with the message of brotherhood for a liveable society.

The Caretaker Minister alluding to the minorities said, ‘We will work jointly.’ He said we all agreed to make the society a better place to live in. He further said that no religion taught killings and bloodshed but they taught love and peace.

He said that the law had great importance and it played a significant role in society. Aneeq said, ‘We have faith in all heavenly holy books and the Holy Quran is the custodian of all these books.’

He said that non-muslim brothers had rendered great services and beautified the metropolis. Vehemently condemning the Jaranwala incident, the Minister said that the incident should not have taken place. He said that the Ulema opened the doors of the mosques to their Christian brothers soon after the incident of Jaranwala to protect them.

He said, on the other hand, that 150 christians were killed in Manipur of India and the whole of India did not come on the same page to criticise the Manipur incident but the entire Pakistan stood with the Christian community on Jaranwala incident and condemned it.

He said, ‘We (Muslims) and you (minorities) are united. On the occasion, appreciated the idea of conducting workshops and exchange programmes on interfaith harmony. He said that many programmes on interfaith harmony were in the pipeline.

Earlier, Minority leaders including Cardinal Joseph Coutts, Bishop Fredrick John, Sardar Ramesh Singh, Tushna Patel, Mufti Nazir Ahmed, Professor Manoj Chohan and others lauded the efforts of the minister for interfaith harmony and urged him for reformation of the National Commission on Minorities. They also stressed the need for bridging gap to overcome problems faced by minorities.

Bilawal strongly condemns firing at PPP corner meeting, attack on its election office

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Sat, 20 Jan 2024, 4:19 PM

KARACHI, Jan 20 (APP): Chairman of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Saturday strongly condemned an attack on the PPP election office in Lahore and the firing at the Party’s corner meeting in Karachi.
He said that targeting the election office of PP 162 candidate Manzar Abbas Khokhar with a petrol bomb in Lahore was an open terrorism.
The PPP Chairman, in a Bilawal House communique, said that Lahore Police was not registering FIR of the attack on the election office of the provincial candidate of his constituency NA-127 in Satookatla. He said that the shots were fired at the corner meeting of jiyala candidate Agha Rafiullah in Malir.

Bilawal also expressed his best wishes for the recovery of two jiyalas and two supporters, who were injured in the firing at the corner meeting of NA-230 candidate Agha Rafiullah.

Targeting the election campaign of Pakistan Peoples Party candidates in Lahore and Karachi was worrying, he said adding that the political opponents had resorted to new tactics on being disappointed by the expected victory of the Pakistan People’s Party.

He further said that PPP was not afraid of these tactics and the people would vote to PPP on February 8.

PRC-KP launches cash distribution of 67.2m among flood survivors families

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Sat, 20 Jan 2024, 4:14 PM

PESHAWAR, Jan 20 (APP): Pakistan Red Crescent Society Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Saturday launched a campaign of cash distribution under the recovery for the flood survivors families in Dera Ismail Khan district.

In the first phase, 2,100 families are provided Rs 32 thousand cash per family in two installments of 16000 rupees to ensure transparency, cash is being provided to registered families after entering into an agreement with a private bank with the support of IFRC.

In this regard, Pakistan Red Crescent Society Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chairman Habib Malik Orakzai has said that the flood 2022 has left stories of destruction behind. “We are grateful to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, with their support, we have been able to provide assistance to Dera Ismail Khan district flood affected vulnerable families, which was severely affected by the floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”

He further said that for the distribution of money in a transparent manner, the affected areas were selected with the help of the district administration, where our officials and volunteers went door to door and completed the registration process. after verifying the lists from the provincial and national headquarters, the said money is being delivered to these families through a private bank online cash providing service.

According to Officials, the Pakistan Red Crescent Khyber Pakhtunkhwa headquarters, There is no restriction on the use of money, which can be utilised by the beneficiaries for any need.

It is said that in the second phase of the recovery program, those flood-affected families, who lost their jobs due to natural calamities will be provided buffaloes and motorcycle loaders that meet specific criteria. A transparent procedure will be established for this. The rehabilitation program will also include the improvement of health facilities.

Gold rates increase by Rs. 300 per tola

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Sat, 20 Jan 2024, 4:08 PM

ISLAMABAD, Jan 20 (APP): The per tola price of 24 karat gold increased by Rs. 300 and was sold at Rs. 215,300 on Saturday compared to its sale at Rs. 215,000 on last trading day.

The price of 10 grams of 24 karat gold also increased by Rs. 257 to Rs.184,585 from Rs.184,328 whereas the prices of 10 gram 22 karat gold went up to Rs.169,203 from Rs. 168,976, the All Sindh Sarafa Jewellers Association reported.

The price of per tola and ten gram Silver remained stagnant at Rs. 2,600 and Rs. 2,2229.08 respectively.

The price of gold in the international market increased by $5 to $2,050 from $.2,045, the Association reported.

Tourism secretary visits Soon Valley

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Sat, 20 Jan 2024, 4:06 PM

SARGODHA, Jan 20 (APP): Punjab Tourism Secretary Raja Jahangir along with Sargodha Commissioner Muhammad Ajmal Bhatti Saturday visited tourist spots of the Soon Valley in Khushab, including Khabeki Lake, Uchhali Lake and Kanhati Garden. They reviewed facilities being provided at the spots.

Deputy Commissioner Khushab Zeeshan Shabbir Rana and other officers were also accompanied them.

The commissioner presented several suggestions to the secretary for the promotion of tourism in the Soon Valley. Both officers also inspected the under-construction roads from Jaba Road and Noshera to Pail and directed the contractor to complete it within the stipulated time. Commissioner Muhammad Ajmal Bhatti said that no compromise would be made on the quality of construction and repair of roads.

Assistant Commissioner Noshera Irfan Martin also briefed the secretary and commissioner about problems being faced by people of the Soon Valley and other matters.

Wind chill weather still in effect in Bahawalpur

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Sat, 20 Jan 2024, 4:04 PM

BAHAWALPUR, Jan 20 (APP):Wind chill weather remained continuous in Bahawalpur on Saturday, forcing people to stay indoors.

Bahawalpur and adjoining areas have been experiencing very cold weather for the last few days. On Saturday, the minimum temperature was recorded at five to six degrees Celsius with very cold weather. The chilling weather has forced people to stay indoors.

Traffic was very thin on the roads, and shops in a few areas were closed. However, people who had to visit their workplaces were seen on the roads. The local Met Office has forecast that the region might continue receiving more cold with mist in the weather.

Cold, dry weather predicted for Sindh

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Sat, 20 Jan 2024, 4:02 PM

KARACHI, Jan 20 (APP):The Pakistan Meteorological Department on Saturday predicted cold and dry weather for most parts of the Sindh province during the next 24 hours.

However, fog and smog were predicted in Jacobabad, Hyderabad, Mohenjodaro, Sukkur, Larkana, Dadu, Ghotki, Khairpur, Kashmore and Padidan.

Mainly, cold and dry weather is likely to prevail in the province.

Commissioner directs to ensure implementation of ECP’s Code of Conduct

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Sat, 20 Jan 2024, 4:00 PM

KARACHI, Jan 20 (APP):The Commissioner Karachi Muhammad Saleem Rajput has directed all District Returning officers to strictly ensure the implementation of the Election Commission of Pakistan’s code of conduct in letter and spirit.

He said this while presiding over a meeting with senior officers of the Election Commission of Pakistan at the Cabinet Committee Room, Sindh Secretariat late Friday night. The meeting reviewed arrangements made for holding general elections in the Karachi Division in February 2024.

The meeting was attended by Joint Provincial Election Commissioner (Admn) Ali Asghar Siyal, joint Provincial Election Commissioner (Election) Nazar Abass, Regional Election Commissioner Abdul Rehman Arain, concerned DROs and ROs the Karachi Division.

The Commissioner asked all DROs and ROs to hold meetings with participating candidates at their offices and make sure that ECP’s Code of Conduct is implemented. The meeting also took notice of complaints of Code of Conduct violations, especially the use of public places and roads for the display of panaflex banners and pamphlets of the candidates belonging to different political parties.

All contesting candidates were asked not to use city roads and other public places for election campaigns as sticking banners and pamphlets over public places is a violation of the Code of Conduct for which structured action would be initiated against the violators.

The District Returning officers and Returning officers briefed the meeting about arrangements made for holding the peaceful, free and fair election on February 08, 2024.

Addressing the meeting, the Commissioner said all efforts would be made to hold impartial, free and fair elections in the division and in this respect, the Election Commission of Pakistan’s directives would be strictly followed. The Commissioner asked the city administration to remove panaflex banners of election candidates from public places and roads.

The DROs and ROs informed the meeting that all arrangements were finalized for holding general elections while sensitive polling stations have been identified where CCTV cameras would be installed to avoid any untoward incidents.

Nine outlaws including three political candidates booked

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Sat, 20 Jan 2024, 3:57 PM