ISLAMABAD
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar in a group photo with former and serving Inspector Generals of Police at the 7th AFIGP Conference
ISLAMABAD
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar addressing the 7th Annual Conference of Association of Former Inspector Generals of Police titled “Navigating the Complexities of State Responses in the Criminal Justice System”
ISLAMABAD
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar addressing the 7th Annual Conference of Association of Former Inspector Generals of Police titled “Navigating the Complexities of State Responses in the Criminal Justice System”
ISLAMABAD
AIOU encourages budding entrepreneurs with research-based projects exhibition
ISLAMABAD, Dec 9 (APP):In line with the vision of Vice Chancellor, Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), Prof Dr Nasir Mahmood, to foster innovative business ideas, the Department of Chemistry recently hosted an exhibition showcasing research-based projects and models/posters developed by BS Chemistry students.
The event, which saw participation from 71 students and 30 projects, aimed to provide academic support and encourage aspiring entrepreneurs,a public relations officer said on Sunday.
Dr Uzma Yunus, Chairperson of the Department of Chemistry, emphasized AIOU’s commitment to empowering the younger generation through entrepreneurship, enabling them to contribute to their families and the nation’s socio-economic development. She further highlighted that the exhibition forms part of the university’s ongoing Golden Jubilee celebrations.
Dr Yunus expressed her gratitude to Prof. Dr Irshad Ahmed Arshad, Dean of Faculty of Sciences, and Prof. Dr Nasir Mahmood, Vice Chancellor of AIOU, for their unwavering support in organizing the exhibition. As AIOU prepares to celebrate its Golden Jubilee in 2024, this event serves as a testament to its dedication to fostering creativity and innovation among its students.
Solangi vows to strengthen state media, equipping with the latest technology
QUETTA, Dec 09 (APP): Caretaker Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Solangi on Saturday vowed to strengthen the state media by equipping it with the latest technology and digital tools.
The caretaker government has an open media policy and the state media, under the clear instructions of the caretaker set up was free to report independently, he made these remarks during his visit to Associated Press of Pakistan Quetta Bureau.
Murtaza Solangi said that the caretaker government was well cognizant of its constitutional responsibilities to pave the way for the conduct of transparent, peaceful and free elections in the country. However, the issues falling under its constitutional purview could be taken up for the smooth running of the affairs of the country, he added.
Reiterating the government’s resolve for introducing durable reforms in state institutions, he said that efforts were afoot to revamp the public institutions.
In this connection, he said a concerted strategy has been devised to bring the state media including APP at par with international media organizations.
The minister reaffirmed the commitment of enhancing the capacity building of employees of the Information Ministry and its attached departments. With capacity building measures and refresher courses, the overall performance of the employees could be improved, he maintained.
On this occasion, Bureau Chief APP Nazar Muhammad Jamali gave a detailed briefing to the minister on the working of the premier news agency.
Commerce minister leaves for China along with high-profile trade delegation
ISLAMABAD, Dec 09 (APP): Caretaker Federal Minister for Commerce and Industry Dr. Gohar Ejaz on Saturday left for China with a high-profiled trade delegation as part of the ‘Vision Pakistan USD 100 billion’. This is the first visit by any Commerce Minister to the Chinese Silicon Valley and Suzhou City, said a press release issued here.
The visit is a follow-up to the visit of the Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar in October this year. The sectors covered in the delegation’s visit include Agricultural, Electric Vehicles, Marble, Cement, Fertiliser, Fruit and Vegetable, Home Appliances, Glass, Chemicals and Textiles.
This multi-segmental delegation representing the business sector of Pakistan will hold meetings with their counterparts in China for trade and investment and formation of joint ventures. On the sidelines of the Official visit, B2B meetings have been arranged for the members of the delegation.
In Beijing, the meetings are scheduled to be held with the officials of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, various product associations and China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export. He will also meet with the CEO of the COFCO Group, a state-owned food processing holding company and China’s largest food processor, manufacturer and trader and Asia’s leading agribusinesses group.
A delegation from the Weifang Steel Group will also call on the minister. The company specializes in agritech, food processing, fertilizers and edible oil.
The delegation will also visit Zhongguancun which is a major technology hub near Beijing and is also known as the China’s Silicon Valley.
The minister is set to meet the management of Chengdu Century Intending Investment Management (CENTINCO) which is a comprehensive industrial investment management corporation. CENTINCO has shown interest in development of an Export Processing Zone in Gwadar.
The federal minister will also attend a Business Networking Dinner which is likely to be attended by more than a hundred Chinese enterprises. This will be followed by his online participation in the Min-Ministerial of WTO on special invitation of the UAE Commerce Minister
In a first, the delegation will also visit Suzhou City, which is situated close to Shanghai in Jiangsu province, and is a leading commercial and industrial hub of East China. This visit is a first by any Commerce Minister of Pakistan and any delegation from Pakistan. Mr. Ejaz will be received by Government Officials.
This is a part of Ministry of Commerce’s strategy to engage at provincial level with major Chinese manufacturing hubs. Suzhou has a GDP of more than US$ 300 billion. The imports of the city are US$ 153 billion while exports are US$ 230 billion. It has several enterprises which are looking to relocate to other countries.
Apart from the meetings, the delegation would visit the Changshu Garments Town at Suzhou. Mr. Ejaz would also take part in the unveiling of the Changshu ‘One Belt and One Road’ Centre.
Speaking to media before leaving, Minister Ejaz highlighted the importance of private sector collaboration as the next step in strengthening the Pak-China relationship. “SMEs are the key to Pakistan’s prosperity and progress” said Dr. Ejaz.
The commerce minister will also brief the Chinese investors about the crucial role of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) in streamlining their investments. “Pakistan is focusing on sectors such as agriculture, mining, new energy, and IT under the framework of the SIFC” said Dr. Ejaz.
Municipal, agri & industrial waste open burning detrimental to air quality, public health
ISLAMABAD, Dec 09 (APP):The experts and speakers at X space (formerly Twitter) on Saturday said the open burning of municipal, agricultural, and industrial waste in Pakistan posed a severe threat to air quality and public health as hazardous emissions, including particulate matter, dioxins, and Volatile Organic Compounds, contribute to smog, leading to respiratory issues and cardiovascular problems.
Recognizing the urgency, the Institute of Urbanism (IoU) and the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE) jointly organized an X Space to highlight the impact of open waste burning on smog and its threats to health and the environment.
With 48.5 million tons of annual municipal waste, cities like Islamabad face challenges in sustainable waste management. Inefficient waste collection strategies result in waste accumulation and open burning, especially in areas lacking proper services.
The open burning of waste is a prevalent practice in numerous cities across Pakistan. However, there is a scarcity of documented data pinpointing the areas where this practice poses the most significant issues or the underlying reasons for burning municipal waste.
A recent survey conducted by IoU in Islamabad and Lahore revealed that a majority of respondents were uninformed about any existing laws against this practice, as well as the environmental or health hazards associated with it, said Ayesha Majid, Senior Program Coordinator at IoU, in her introductory remarks.
Waste burning, a major source of toxic gases and black carbon, occurs in diverse settings, posing health and safety risks. Often hidden and seasonal, it lacks clear regulations and enforcement. The Royal Academy of Engineering addresses this with 19 global projects, focusing on vulnerable groups and promoting improved waste management, citizen reporting, and regulatory enforcement. Dr Mansoor Ali, RAE’s Theme Lead, further stated that RAE’s programs aim at various levels, including national policies, city frameworks, and grassroots practices, recognizing the link between waste burning and livelihoods, especially for waste pickers.
Once known as the “city of gardens,” Lahore has transformed into a “gas chamber.” Over the past decade, the city has witnessed a worrisome 75% reduction in greenery, accompanied by a significant 10-degree rise in temperature. 60% of diseases in Lahore are linked to air pollution. The roots of Lahore Bachao Tehreek can be traced back to a case 16 years ago when a Motorway construction project proposed cutting 30,000 trees and converting 23,000 acres of green land into a road near the Lahore canal.
The Supreme Court’s historic judgment led to the introduction of the Canal Urban Heritage Path Act, which was passed through Parliament, recognizing the environment as a vital heritage and public trust for the first time. Imrana Tiwana, Environmental Activist, highlights how she started the Lahore Bachao Tehreek, a movement aimed at addressing the escalating issue of smog in Lahore.
Exposure to pollutants from open waste burning, especially during the smog season, poses serious health risks, including respiratory and cardiovascular issues, skin and eye irritation, increased cancer risk, and compromised immune systems. Vulnerabilities vary across demographics, with children, the elderly, and low-income communities facing higher risks. Urban areas witness frequent hospital admissions for respiratory diseases, while rural regions may face occupational exposure. In daily practice, doctors observe how toxic air exacerbates existing health conditions, leading to respiratory and cardiovascular complications across diverse demographic groups. This was added by Dr. Abdullah Najam, Postgraduate Resident Pulmonologist at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences while sharing the impact of open burning of waste and smog on public health.
A routine waste collection of 600 to 700 tons took place, with the disposal site being the I-12 sector from 2011 till the previous year. Notably, citizens lit fires in the winter for warmth, leading to serious air pollution threats. The need for public awareness to curb open burning of waste, pinpointing a higher incidence of cases in rural areas rather than urban regions of Islamabad. This issue, as highlighted by Sardar Khan Zimri, former Director General of the Sanitation Department and current Director General of Water Management at the Capital Development Authority, could be effectively addressed through targeted awareness campaigns, thereby making substantial strides in reducing the environmental and health risks associated with open burning in the region.
Karachi faces a daily challenge of 15,000 tons of municipal solid waste, leading to open burning issues in low-income areas. Karachi School of Business and Leadership’s (KSBL) ‘Mapping of Open Burning’ project aims to link these incidents with social vulnerabilities, using spatial mapping and key analytical tools. Simultaneously, impact-ful media coverage can draw attention to the correlation between open burning and smog, prompting communities to reconsider waste disposal practices and encouraging municipalities to implement cleaner alternatives, fostering positive change. This was stated by Shiza Aslam, Waste Management Specialist & Research Fellow at KSBL.
We cannot ignore the issue of open burning of Solid Waste since it results in the deterioration of the health of the public as well as degrades the environment. Mostly it happens due to a lack of knowledge and lack of understanding about the impacts of toxins produced due to burning. Farid Rais, Senior Anchorperson at Dunya News – who also moderated the Twitter space, highlighted this in his closing remarks. He also stated that there is a need to initiate massive awareness by engaging various stakeholders and through building partnerships with public and private institutions, media, academia, etc.
The Twitter Space served as a vital platform for raising awareness about the critical issue of open waste burning and its detrimental effects on air quality, public health, and the overall environment. The insights shared by an esteemed panel of speakers, representing diverse expertise, have shed light on the urgency of addressing this pressing concern in Pakistan. The statistics regarding municipal waste production and the challenges faced by cities, particularly Islamabad, underscore the need for immediate and sustainable waste management solutions
NAB working on three-pronged strategy to curb corruption: DG NAB
ISLAMABAD, Dec 9 (APP): Director General National Accountability Bureau ( NAB) Mirza Muhammad Irfan Baig Saturday said that his institution was working on a three-pronged strategy to curb corruption from the country.
Addressing an event organized by Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) to observe the International Anti-Corruption Day, he said that the strategy included creating better awareness among the people about the harmful effects of corruption, taking preventive measures against corruption and improving the NAB laws to ensure their strong enforcement.
The situation of corruption in Pakistan is not as bad as it is highlighted, he said adding that the majority of officers in Pakistan wanted to avoid corruption, while a few officers benefit from it. As a whole, Pakistani society is not corrupt, which is promising, said a press release issued here.
He said that NAB was reaching out to the students, teachers, members of the business community and civil society to sensitize them about corruption. Messages on anti-corruption were delivered in the sermons of last Friday prayers across the country, he added.
He said that necessary amendments were being made to the Cooperative Act to eliminate corruption in private housing societies. He resolved that NAB would continue to work with all stakeholders to eliminate corruption from the society.
Speaking on the occasion, Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President ICCI said corruption always keeps countries underdeveloped, so corruption has to be eradicated to make Pakistan a developed, prosperous and great country.
He urged the business community to always discourage speed money, adding that societies invested in corruption cannot attract investment, so to make Pakistan an attractive country for investment, corruption must be eradicated.
He said that together with NAB, the ICCI was ready to start a campaign against corruption from Islamabad, which could be extended to other parts of the country later on. He assured that ICCI would cooperate with NAB to end corruption from the society.
Director NAB Captain (R) Muhammad Faheem Qureshi said that it was easy to criticize NAB, but this agency had collected 600 to 800 billion rupees and deposited it in the national treasury. The NAB will continue its efforts to eradicate corruption from the society for which it needs the support of all stakeholders, he expressed.
Engineer Azharul Islam Zafar,Vice President ICCI said if the society boycotts corrupt people, it can be discouraged in the country. He said that more seminars and awareness programs should be organized to sensitize the society about the harmful consequences of corruption.
Zafar Bakhtawari, former President ICCI and Secretary General UBG Pakistan said that one of the reasons for the spread of corruption was that people do not hate corruption.
He said that the development and prosperity of Pakistan was related to the elimination of corruption, therefore the NAB should conduct awareness campaigns about corruption in collaboration with the important chambers of commerce of the country to eliminate it from the society and put Pakistan on the path of rapid development.
Syed Ahmed Shah inaugurates Shah Latif Children Festival
HYDERABAD, Dec 09 (APP): Caretaker Sindh Minister for Information, Minorities Affairs Syed Ahmed Shah and Caretaker Culture Minister Junaid Shah on Saturday jointly inaugurated two-day Shah Latif Children Festival at Sindh Museum.
They visited book stalls set by different publication institutes including Sindhi Language Authority, National Book Foundation and others,
The festival was started with the “vaai” of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai narrated by the students of Gul Ursani School.
Secretary Sindhi Language Authority Dr. Ahsan Danish in his welcome address, said that Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai was a great thinker and poet of all segment of society
Famous writer Dr. Manoj Kumar said that the purpose of organizing children festival was to present tableaus, painting, speech competition and introducing Shah Abdul Latif and his poetry and message among the children.
Addressing the event, provincial minister Ahmed Shah said that in the 17th Century, very great poets including Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, Shah Hussain, Bhule Shah and Khushal Khan Khatak were born, who were poets of the people and not represented the elite class.
He said that Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai had presented women as “Soormis” in his poetry like Marvi, Noori, Sasui, He said that thinkers like Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai were much needed in this critical time.
Provincial Culture Minister Syed Junaid Shah lauded the efforts of Sindhi Language Authority to organize a unique colorful event on the children festival. He said that we should not work on the poetry of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai and should introduce heritage sites to the children.
APP/nsm
PowerChina commences full scale construction of Mansehra 765/220KV substation
ISLAMABAD, Dec 09 (APP): The PowerChina Saturday has commenced the full-scale construction of the Mansehra 765/220KV substation, which will undertake power transmission between Dasu Hydropower Station and the Islamabad Power Grid.
According to the details, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Mansehra 765kV Substation, Pakistan’s first 765kV substation Engineering, Procurement And Construction (EPC)) project constructed by PowerChina, was held at the project site, signaling the commencement of full-scale construction.
The substation is situated in Mansehra city and will facilitate power transmission between Dasu Hydro Power Project (DHPP) and the federal capital, pioneering the use of 765/220kV voltage for the first time.
This voltage grade represents the highest capacity substation in Pakistan at present. With its completion, by transmitting clean energy, its substation will help alleviate local power shortages and promote economic development in Pakistan.
In January 2023, PowerChina Electric Power Construction Corporation and the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) of Pakistan inked the EPC contract for the 765 kV Mansehra Substation.
The PowerChina has also signed another contract with NTDC, for the project of 765/220kV Mansehra Substation Lot 1. The project will build a 157-km-long 765kV double-circuit AC transmission line between the Dasu Hydropower Station and the Mansehra Substation.
The DHPP is a run-of-river project on the Indus River, located 7 km upstream of Dasu Town in District Kohistan. The site is 74 km downstream of the proposed Diamer Bhasha Dam site and 350 km from Islamabad. Upon its completion, the DHPP will have a total installed capacity of 4320 MW with 12 generating units.
It is among the priority projects under the National Power Policy 2013 and Vision 2025 of the Government of Pakistan.