DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Feb 12 (APP): Three persons were killed and five others injured in firing on a passenger van at Bhud area here on Monday.
According to police, some unidentified gunmen opened fire at the van within limits of Hattal police station while it was on way and carrying people to congratulate the newly elected candidate-Ahmed Karim Kundi on winning a provincial assembly election.
The police shifted the injured and bodies to a nearby hospital and started search operation.
ISLAMABAD, Feb 12 (APP):Pakistan earned $3,765.97 million by exporting various services during the first half of the current fiscal year (2023-24), Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported.
The export of services during the same period of last year was recorded at $3,870.32 million, showing a decline of 2.70 percent during the first six months of the current fiscal year.
The services’ imports into the country increased by 25.50 percent by going up from $4,140.42 million last year to $5,196.02 million during the first six months of current fiscal year.
Based on the figures, the services’ trade deficit widened by 429.45 percent during the period under review by going up from $ 270.10 million last year to $1,430.06 million this year.
Meanwhile, on year on year (YoY) basis, the services’ exports from the country decreased by 6.93 percent by going down from $781.09 million in December 2022 to $726.94 million during December 2023.
The imports went up by 20.14 percent by growing from $734.12 million to $881.93 million, according to PBS data.
On month on month (MoM) basis, the services exports increased by 15.20 percent in December 2023 when compared to exports of $631.03 million in November 2023.
The imports on MoM basis also increased by 2.90 percent during the month under review when compared to imports of $857.04 million in November 2023.
It is pertinent to mention here that the merchandize exports from the country witnessed an increase of 7.89 percent during the first seven months of the current fiscal year (2023-34) compared to the corresponding period of last year.
According to the latest PBS data, exports from the country increased up to $17.782 billion during July-January (2023-24) as against the exports of $16.481 billion in July-January (2022-23), showing a growth of 7.89 percent.
On the other hand, imports into the country declined by 14.11 percent to $30.949 billion this year against the imports of $36.034 billion last year.
Based on the figures, the trade deficit during the first seven months of the current fiscal year was recorded at $13.167 billion against the deficit of $19.553 billion last year, showing a sharp decline of 32.66 percent.
ISLAMABAD, Feb 12 (APP): The first phase of mandatory Hajj ritual training for prospective pilgrims of the Government Scheme commenced, with Caretaker Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Aneeq Ahmed joining the session in Hyderabad.
Aneeq Ahmed, speaking on the occasion, mentioned that Hajj training programs will be conducted nationwide, spanning from Karachi to Khyber.
He emphasized that Allah Almighty judges our intentions, and it is imperative to perform Hajj with utmost devotion. “Hajj is a form of supplication to Allah.” This year, the Pakistani government has expanded facilities for pilgrims compared to the previous year, resulting in a reduction of expenses by Rs 100,000 from the previous year.
He expressed that Hajj pilgrims serve as fortunate ambassadors of Pakistan, tasked with upholding the nation’s honor in Saudi Arabia and keeping Pakistan in their prayers.
Assembling such a significant number of pilgrims in a single location poses considerable challenges, thus the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Government of Pakistan are exerting maximum effort to guarantee a seamless experience for the pilgrims. They are providing comprehensive information regarding transportation, accommodation, and provisions for food and beverages.
It’s worth noting that more than 69,000 pilgrims under the government scheme will receive training in two stages across different districts of the country.
The second phase of training will commence after the conclusion of the holy month of Ramadan. Successful intending pilgrims will receive details of the training schedule through mobile messages and the Hajj app. Pilgrims will have the opportunity to attend training workshops at convenient local venues.
The training has prioritized instruction on Hajj rituals, as well as addressing discipline and administrative matters. The ministry has already finalized the training curriculum.
Hajj training will take place across seven Hajj camps located in different districts. The comprehensive new training program will encompass the ‘Pak Hajj’ mobile app, advice on Hajj preparations, comprehension of rituals, addressing Hajj challenges, and offering general instructions.
At the training centres, model tents resembling the style of Mina Valley have been erected. Pilgrims will be guided by Master Trainers through 3D videos and interactive question-and-answer sessions.
UNITED NATIONS, Feb 12 (APP): A senior Pakistani diplomat has told UNICEF’s Executive Board that Pakistan has made “significant progress” towards complete eradication of polio, despite challenges.
“We remain committed to the complete eradication of polio within the set timeline for its elimination by 2026,” Ambassador Munir Akram said during the Board’s special session on Polio eradication.
The Executive Board reviews UNICEF activities and approves its policies, country programmes and budgets. It comprises 36 members, representing the five regional groups of member states at the United Nations. Its work is coordinated by the Bureau, comprising the President and four Vice-Presidents, each officer representing one of the five regional groups.
In his remarks, the Pakistani envoy pointed out that the unprecedented 2022 floods in Pakistan had adversely affected its polio vaccination drives. Despite that, he added, due to the concerted efforts by the government and our global partners, only 6 cases of polio were detected last year
This year, Ambassador Akram said the Pakistani government has set a target to immunize 45 million children, and the caretaker Prime Minister, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, had already kick-started this campaign.
The Pakistani envoy said dedicated efforts will be made to achieve that target. To do so, he said, Pakistan will require technical and financial cooperation from all its relevant global partners, adding that $ 205 million was required for polio programmes in 2024, but noted there was a shortfall of $95 million.
Ambassador Akram urged all donors and partners to contribute generously to the polio eradication efforts and ensure that children were vaccinated.
“We have entered the final stages in the fight against polio,” he told delegates.
“Urgent and bold actions are needed to eradicate polio by 2026. After smallpox, polio can be the second disease to be eradicated.”
Opening the discussion., UNICEF’s Executive Director, Catherine Russel, declared that Polio eradication in the world was “finally within reach.”
” Today,” they said, “the wild poliovirus is confined to a few districts in Afghanistan and Pakistan”, marking the most significant progress against the disease since the inception of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988.
“We have come this far thanks to the heroic efforts of community health workers reaching children with vaccines … government leadership … and the invaluable support of partners like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Rotary International.”
ISLAMABAD, Feb 12 (APP): Pakistan and Iraq on Monday discussed ways and means to enhance bilateral cooperation in the field of agriculture, with a special focus on research and development.
The discussion came during a meeting between Pakistan’s Ambassador to Iraq Muhammad Zeeshan Ahmed and Iraq’s Minister for Agriculture Abbas Al Maliki, Pakistan’s Embassy in Iraq posted on X.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Ali Najafi son of Grand Ayatullah Bashir Hussain Najafi called on Ambassador Muhammad Zeeshan Ahmed.
During the meeting, they discussed issues pertaining to Pakistanis residing in Najaf and Karbala, as well as ways and means of facilitating Pakistani Zaireen.
ISLAMABAD, Feb 12 (APP): A total of 12 women having affiliations with four different political parties have been elected directly as Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) after defeating strong male candidates in their respective constituencies in general elections across the country.
“Among them, five women has contested polls as independent backed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), four belongs to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), two from Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and only one candidate contested election from Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM),” said an Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) data available with APP.
It said that out of the total, four women including Chief Organizer PML-N Maryam Nawaz, Aneeqa Mehdi Bhatti, Ayesha Nazir Jatt and Amber Majeed Niazi would sit in the National Assembly for the first time.
PTI backed candidate Shandana Gulzar from Peshawar, Aneeqa Mehdi Bhatti from Hafizabad, Ayesha Nazir Jatt from Vehari, Amber Majeed Niazi from Layyah and Zartaj Gul from Dera Ghazi Khan have won after a tough competition.
The women belonging to PML-N have reached the house by defeating the opposition candidates, Nosheen Iftikhar from Sialkot, Maryam Nawaz from Lahore, Shezra Mansab from Nankana Sahib and Tehmina Doulatana from Vehari.
In Sindh, three women have won after the contest, in which Shazia Marri and Dr Nafeesa Shah from PPP have won from Sanghar and Khairpur, while Aasia Ishaque of MQM has won from Karachi.
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