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Mashariq announces arrival of Over 300,000 pilgrims in Makkah from 18 Countries

By
Ali Ali
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0
ISLAMABAD, Jun 09 (APP):Motawifs Pilgrims for South-East Asia Countries Company (Mashariq) has welcomed over 300,000 pilgrims from 18 countries to Makkah to perform Hajj.
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Mashariq Board Member and CEO Waleed Mohammed Rasheedy emphasized the company’s commitment to providing maximum comfort and facilitation during pilgrims’ stays.
This, he said, comes in line with the Kingdom’s directives to care for pilgrims, Umrah performers, and visitors, ensuring the provision of top-notch services and facilities for them to perform their rituals in a spiritual atmosphere.

Pak football team to face Tajikistan in June 11

By
Ali Ali
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ISLAMABAD, Jun 09 (APP):The Pakistan football team is set to play its final away match of the FIFA World Cup Qualifier Round 2 against Tajikistan on June 11 in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. However, the team’s travel schedule has faced significant disruptions due to unforeseen circumstances.
A private airline flight, initially scheduled to transport the team, was canceled following a bird strike incident, causing two delays before the eventual cancellation, said a press release.
As a result, the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has reached out to Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) for a chartered flight.
Currently, 8 out of the 35-member squad have arrived in Tajikistan. The PFF is trying its best to facilitate the travel of the remaining squad members to ensure they reach Tajikistan in time for the crucial match.
The PFF remains committed to overcoming these challenges and is exploring all possible avenues to ensure the smooth travel of the players.

Sale of sacrificial animals begins

By
NNPS Desk
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RAWALPINDI, Jun 09 (APP): The sacrificial animals have started arriving in Rawalpindi division from far-flung areas of the country for sale ahead of Eidul Azha.
The animals can be seen in Raja Bazaar, Bara Market, Fowara Chowk, Dengi Khoi, Waris Khan, Naz Cinema, College Road, Benazir Bhutto road, Bakra Mandi, Lal Kurti, Dheri Hassanabad, Saddar Bazaar and other areas.
At the moment, animal prices are quite high and beyond the reach of the common man, though, these prices are expected to fall closer to the annual religious festival.
Meanwhile, the City District Government Rawalpindi has imposed a ban on the entry of sacrificial animals into the city.
As per the ban, the sale and purchase of sacrificial animals have been restricted on the occasion of Eid ul Azha.
The decision to ban the sale and purchase of sacrificial animals had been taken to maintain cleanliness and avoid pollution in the city.
Rawalpindi District Administration has set up 11 temporary cattle markets in connection with Eid-ul-Adha in different tehsils of the district for sale and purchase of the sacrificial animals.
Rawalpindi Cantonment Board has arranged all facilities in the biggest cattle market of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad set up at Bhatta Chowk near Koh Noor Mill.
The market was set up on modern lines where, besides water, veterinary doctors would be available to check the health of the animals.
The RCB has also formed teams to check illegal cattle markets in the cantonment areas, RCB spokesman said, adding that no vendor would be allowed to bring sacrificial animals to residential areas.

Balochistan students dream big to study in Oxford

By
NNPS Desk
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By Abdul Shakoor Khan

QUETTA, Jun 9 (APP): Seeing the pictures of world famous personalities’ on a wall of Lady Margaret Hall, the University of Oxford, United Kingdom, Sadullah Akhtar, a Quetta-born Pakistani journalist was swayed by excitement as it felt to him like day dreaming.
Hailing from a low-income family, the Chevening Scholarship winner had never imagined to travel to such an honored institution in the London city – an ambition frequently voiced by Pakistan’s middle class citizens.
“I am very excited to be here in London and more importantly, visiting Oxford University as a journalist was my dream that came true,” Sadullah told APP. “What inspired me the most, were the pictures of Oxford University alumni that were hanging on the wall of LMH.”
Starting from low level in journalism, Sadullah is now a journalist turned student at University of Westminster – a reward for his hard work to earn name in journalism to a level where he was offered this scholarship. “I am overwhelmed with excitement to be studying for one year at Westminster and visiting Oxford. My hard work finally paid me back.”
Earlier, the ordinary students from Balochistan could have rarely thought of joining such world known institutions but things are now changing and a leap forward fulfilling this dream is inking an agreement with Oxford University by Chief Minister of Balochistan Mir Sarfaraz Bugti.
Giving a new hope to many aspiring students of Balochistan, this Memorandum of Understanding would provide opportunities to Balochistan students to receive scholarships from Oxford University through the Benazir Scholarship Program being executed in collaboration with Oxford Pakistan Program (OPP).
Recalling the past, Mir Sarfaraz Bugti commemorated profound legacy of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, whose tenure at this historical institution symbolizes a bridge between past and future leadership.
“No one can deny importance of education for a true democratic society and this MoU reflects our commitment to education and nurturing educated generation in Balochistan,” Bugti remarked. “This project is hoped to mitigate educational inequalities by improving regional educational standards in collaboration with world known universities.”
One who gets enrolled in Oxford must know that he will be following the footsteps of some of the most renowned Oxford qualified political figures in Pakistan, who had even served the country as our Prime Ministers and Presidents.
Imran Zarkoon Khan, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Balochistan is also an alumnus of Oxford, who initiated this project with dedication to explore educational opportunities for Balochistan’s youth.
“The scholarship, supported by OPP and its benefactors, is a tribute to visionary leadership of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and continues under the guidance of her son, Bilawal Bhutto,” Zarkoon remarked. “It is not only a financial aid but a fundamental commitment to educational transformation and empowerment of Balochistan youth.”
Benazir Scholarship Program and OPP is an initiative of its kind to help increase Pakistani students representation at a leading university and its credit goes to all contributors who struggled for better opportunities to Balochistan students.
Since its establishment three years ago, OPP has become the single largest Pakistan-focused academic platform outside Pakistan. To address the under-representation of Pakistani and British Pakistani students at Oxford; and to raise the academic profile of Pakistan and Pakistan-related areas of interest amongst Oxford’s faculty are the two major objective of OPP.
OPP Core Committee member, Dr Talha J. Pirzada has informed that this year 11 outstanding scholars spanning a wide range of disciplines have been enrolled in Oxford.
Notably, Jabir Ali, a resident of a small village of Kundal Khokhran in Jhang district of Punjab, is one of the eleven luckiest Oxford Alumni of 2024.
“Alhamdulillah, I have got a scholarship at University of Oxford, for my Ph.D. It was my dream to study at such a university. But, it was a bumpy ride. I was rejected by many universities but finally I got through,” said jabir Ali, son of a modest farmer in Kundal Khokhran.
Another Oxford Alumni 2024, Minha, is fully aware of how the Oxford brand may assist in fulfilling one’s future ambitions.
“The ability to accept the offer at this juncture determines the parameters of your future successes. Such opportunities pave way for your excellence in different arena of life,” Minha stated.
Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and a distinguished alumna of Lady Margaret Hall, also reaffirmed her support for girls education, highlighting her personal involvement and commitment to quality education for female students.
Her role is reflected in establishing two scholarships that assist Pakistani female students in pursuing their academic goals at the University of Oxford..
The launch of Benazir Scholarship Program by Chief Minister Bugti-led Balochistan government is a ray of hope for securing much more opportunities for students across province and forge ahead with a commitment to make the country democratically strong and financially viable.
There is no doubt that Pakistan has unmatched talent to serve the nation and it was direly needed to fully materialize this talent for progress and wellbeing of our country.

APP/ask/maz (APP Feature Service)

New reservoirs imperative to avert looming water crisis

By
NNPS Desk
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By Raziq Ali Shah

ISLAMABAD, Jun 9 (APP): With country’s population crossing over 220 million figures, mounting pressure on water resources dropped down Pakistan’s per capita water availability to 908 cubic meters ringing alarm bells for policy makers, also posing serious challenges of food security.
Non-construction of new mega water reservoirs after Tarbela and Mangla, changing weather pattern as well as natural hazards had seriously impacted our economy, agricultural produce, livelihood, lifestyle and social fabric.
As per the data of Population Census Organization Pakistan per capita water availability of 5,260 cubic meters in 1951 had dropped down to 2129 cubic meter in 1981, 1611 cubic meters in 1991 and then 908 cubic meters in 2016.
Besides, non-availability of required water reservoirs, the population that rose to 220 million in 2022 from 34 million in 1951, could be another mattering factor in drop of per capita water availability with years from 1991 to 2016 witnessing massive population growth from 111 million to 197 million respectively.
Lack of water reservoirs also resulted in severe floods and droughts inflicting losses of billions of dollars on poor people as experts urged to devise a concrete plan to roll out a water pricing regime to address the water scarcity issue.
“Every year we waste around 29 million acre-feet (MAF) water due to absence of storage facilities as no mega project was built after commissioning of Tarbela and Mangla dams in 1970s,” stated former WAPDA Chairman Shams ul Mulk. “If wasting one MAF cost us Rs six billion, then one can easily understand what could be magnitude of our loss in terms of water wastage.”
Shams ul Mulk has cautioned that unchecked population growth, lack of water conservation and storage facilities would be bringing about much harder days ahead.
Former Chairman Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources, (PCRWR) and Water expert Dr Muhammad Aslam Tahir also regretted non-construction of mega dams. “China, India, Japan and Iran constructed so many dams but unfortunately we could not build more mega dams like Tarbela and Mangla even after lapses of decades.”
He pleaded that shrinking river water resources and massive pumping out of groundwater was another challenge that needed long term planning and implementation of proper policies. “If groundwater depletion continues at current rate, we shall face widespread water scarcity in future. Therefore, efficient water management should be at the heart of our policies in developing agricultural and industrial sector projects.”
As the situation aggravated with every passing year and respective government strived hard to cope with looming water scarcity challenge, the desired results are yet to be achieved.
“We need timely steps to ensure water management in agriculture, domestic and industrial sectors through an awareness campaign, adoption of technology and imposing restrictions,” suggested Dr. Muhammad Ashraf, former Chairman PCRWR.
He advocated to control our population and water wastage by using the latest technologies and said, “if our population continues to grow at the same pace and water resource remains constant, we would be touching absolute water scarcity level by 2025.”
Dr. Ashraf said, widespread urban sprawl and erasing water shed areas was also resulting in diminishing rains and urban flooding. “Therefore, we direly need strict water conservation strategies and charge consumers as per water usage. “
“For me, water is gold. Everything has an alternate except water and we shall have to conserve it today for our better tomorrow,” he remarked. “At this moment 60% of our population lacks access to quality drinking water with the country fearing 30% further water downfall by 2030.”
Dr Ashraf recommended agricultural zoning for irrigation, improve on-farm water usage efficiency, governance and legislation, site-specific solutions and mainstreaming of youth.
According to Pakistan Water Gateway, a non-governmental water-research portal, groundwater levels in the country were also dropping by a meter per annum. “If groundwater depletion continues at this rate, the country would surely head towards widespread water poverty in next few years.”
Water Gateway recommended planning for water resource management through broader coordination and cross-sector policies and projects.
While the experts are drawing attention of the state organizations towards is fast approaching challenge, the Spokesman of Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) mentions to implementing the largest development portfolio comprising eight mega projects in water and hydropower sectors.
“These projects would revolutionize economic landscape of the country with much needed water and economical hydel power,” he said and mentioned to under-construction projects including Diamer Basha Dam, Mohmand Dam, Dasu Hydropower Project, Tarbela 5th Extension, Kurram Tangi Dam Stage 1, Nai Gaj Dam, Kachhi Canal Extension and Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme (K-IV).
Scheduled for completion in a phased manner from 2024 to 2029, the WAPDA statistics reveal that these projects will double its hydel generation from 9,500 MW to 19,500 MW with an addition of around 10,000 MW clean, green and low-cost hydel electricity to National Grid.
These projects will also add 9.7 Million Acre Feet (MAF) to gross water storage, sufficient to irrigate another 3.9 million acre land and provide 950 million gallons per day for drinking purpose to Karachi and Peshawar besides generating around 35,000 job opportunities.

APP/raz/maz (APP Feature Service)

GPO set up new  counter for Sunday

By
Habib Hanif
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0
SARGODHA, Jun 09 (APP):The General Post Office Sargodha has set up a new counter for services on Sunday.
A spokesman said the counter would remain open on Sunday and people could avail services, including EMS, UMS, daily post, money orders.
The spokesman said private companies were receiving double charges from customers, adding that people should relay on general post office instead of any private company.

ANF recovers over 391 kg drugs; arrests 18 accused

By
Ali Ali
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0
ANF - drugs
RAWALPINDI, Jun 09 (APP):Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) while conducting seven operations across the country managed to recover over 391 kg drugs and arrested 18 accused, said an ANF Headquarters spokesman.
He informed that 195.6 kg hashish was recovered from the possession of four suspects rounded up in two operations near Lakpas Toll Plaza Mustang.
In an operation, 57.6 kg opium and 70.8 kg hashish were recovered from five suspects including a woman arrested in two operations at Sangjani Toll Plaza Islamabad.
34 kg hashish was recovered from the possession of four drug smugglers netted in Hyderabad while 18 kg hashish was recovered from two suspects held in G-15 Islamabad.
15.6 kg hashish was recovered from three accused arrested from Haripur.
Cases under the Anti-Narcotics Act have been registered against the arrested accused while further investigations are under process.

Admin finalizing arrangements at public transport terminals to facilitate passengers

By
Ali Ali
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0
RAWALPINDI, Jun 09 (APP):The district administration is finalizing the best possible arrangements at the terminals of public transport to facilitate passengers across Rawalpindi division.
According to a district administration spokesman, Commissioner Rawalpindi Division, Engineer Aamir Khattak, had directed the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of the division that all arrangements should be finalized at the terminals as soon as possible.
The Commissioner had also directed the DCs to finalize arrangements to conduct raids, he informed.
The DCs were instructed to ensure that the arrangements are finalized, particularly at bus stands and terminals, rest areas, and petrol pumps.
The cleanliness of toilets and prayer areas should be ensured, as the commissioner directed, and clean drinking water should also be provided to the passengers.
Tuck shops would not be allowed to sell any substandard or expired food items, the spokesman said, and informed that, on the orders of the Commissioner, the authorities would ensure implementation of the notified fares on public transport, the fitness of the vehicles, action against overloading, etc.
The fares would be displayed at prominent places on the vehicles, he said.
Strict action in accordance with the law would be taken against illegal LPG cylinders in public and commercial vehicles, he warned.
Engineer Aamir Khattak had directed the traffic police and Secretary Regional Transport Authority to check fitness certificates of public transport and also monitor speeding and overloading, he informed.

Livestock Deptt takes solid steps to control spread of diseases on Eid ul Adha

By
NNPS Desk
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0

RAWALPINDI, Jun 09 (APP): The Livestock Department on the directives of the Commissioner Rawalpindi Division, Engineer Aamir Khattak is taking solid steps to control spread of diseases.
The Commissioner had issued instructions for necessary measures to prevent the spread of diseases in view of the movement of animals on Eid-ul-Adha, the district administration spokesman informed.
He said that all possible steps would be taken to control Congo virus and other diseases.
Banners of free veterinary facilities were also being displayed at selected sale points, he said.
Mobile veterinary dispensaries of the Livestock Department were being deployed to ensure the supply of free medicines.
On the instructions of Engineer Aamir Khattak, the loudspeakers would be used to spread animal welfare awareness messages.
Livestock department was ensuring supply of anti-tick spray, antibiotic and other necessary drugs, he informed.
Solid steps were taken to ensure establishment of inter-provincial check posts, he said adding, inter-district check posts were also set up to complete the task of spraying animals to prevent them from Congo Virus and segregate sick animals.
He informed that special attention would also be given to the slaughterhouses and butcher shops.
On the directives of the Commissioner, the authorities would ensure attendance of the livestock staff and availability of required medicines and no cattle market would be set up near densely populated areas to ensure safety of human health, he added.

Govt urged to regulate prices of sacrificial animals

By
NNPS Desk
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0

By Fakhar-e-Alam

PESHAWAR, Jun 9 (APP): Cleaning his perspiration with a white handkerchief in local cattle market in a hot sunny day, Qasier Khan (63), a former employee of Wapda was seen engaged in hectic arguments with cattle traders one after another hoping to buy a small sacrificial animal at reasonable price to commemorate the supreme sacrifices of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) and Hazrat Ismail (AS).
Bargaining with local and inter-provincial cattle traders at Peshawar’s largest Lala Qala cattle market flooded with sacrificial animals Khan was seen using his argument skills besides making determined efforts to convince the cattle dealers after they declined his Rs75,000 offer for a Kohistani sheep.
“This morning, I came from Wapda Town with a hope to buy a goat or a sheep at a reasonable price ahead of Eidul Azha but its prices were sky high this year compared to last year, and I was now thinking of participating in ‘collective qurbani” with my neighbors.
The senior citizen was cleaning perspiration from his face and hands with his long white handkerchief on his head to avoid heatstroke. Qaiser said that he spent almost an entire day to buy a suitable sacrificial animal on reasonable prices at Peshawar and Nowshera cattle markets but in vain.
“Now, I will wait for an eve of Eidul Azha with the hope that prices of animals, especially small ones would become down and be able to purchase his choice animal to fulfill religious obligations,” he said.
Besides skyrocketing prices, he said poor sanitation and waste management besides unavailability of shelter shades and cold water have exposed hundreds of thousands of buyers and dealers to heatstroke in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Qasier Khan and other buyers demanded the KP government to regulate prices of sacrificial animals and ensure presence of price magistrates and livestock officials in cattle markets.
Like Qasier, many government officials and pensioners were being seen at cattle markets set up at Lala Kala, Ring Road, Hazar Khwani, Hayatabad and Charsadda Road in Peshawar, Amangarh, Akora Khattak, Risalpur and Pabbi Nowshera district where sacrificial animals have started pouring in Punjab and Sindh provinces on arrival of Eidul Azha.
A market survey conducted by APP revealed that these days the visitors, especially employees of public sector departments and private organizations besides general public and cattle dealers, were more in number than buyers as most of them came to the markets to have an idea about the prices and return empty handed.
However, the traders are expecting an increase in sale when Eidul  Azha approaches nearer and reiterated that all their stock would be sold out as per their price demand.
“Since last Sunday, I have sold only 24 goats out of available 220 and two oxens out of 50 with me. The buyers, mostly the government employees, come to cattle markets in the evening to take an idea about the prices and then most of them return empty handed due to scorching heat and high prices,” said Ibrahim Shah, an inter provincial cattle trader of Nowshera district while talking to APP.
Brought 40 trucks having each five buffaloes and oxen from Sahiwal Punjab to Nowshera and Peshawar, he said that only 25 animals were sold so far signifying high inflation and skyrocketing prices of animals this year,” he said, adding increase of transportation and fodder charges have increased prices of sacrificial animals manifolds.
Ibrahim said the dealers suffer great economic losses in case of death of an animal due to heatstroke or lumpy skin disease and demanded shelters and cold water besides fodder in cattle markets of Khyber Pakthunkhwa.
In the wake of scorching heat, he said that small and large enterprises specialising in the sale of sacrificial animals and related services, have entered the digital market space as customers opt to minimise the risk of heatstroke by purchasing sacrificial animals online. He said online businesses have adversely affected sale and purchase of animals in cattle markets in KP.
Apart from domestic traders of KP and Punjab, inter-provincial businessmen of Sindh and Blochistan have also brought their stock to Peshawar from where sacrificial animals were being transported to the seven merged tribal districts for high profits.
Sohail Sardar, an inter provincial cattle dealer said that he had transported 25 trucks of cattle from Jacababad and my brother was sending five more trucks to Peshawar that would reach till Friday night.
“I refused an offer of Rs 200,000 for my ox ‘ Qalandar’ last Sunday,” he said and added that any offer less than Rs. 350,000 would not be accepted.
The prices of large sacrificial animals including oxen, buffaloes, camels and cows were relatively reasonable compared to small animals such as goats and sheep in local markets. The prices of small animals including goat and sheep are very high because of recent torrential rains and flooding in April this year in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Dr Aftab Ahmad, Director Livestock and Dairy Development KP said that hundreds of thousands of cattle are being sacrificed in KP on Eidul Azha. He said KP has no viable choice but to import cattle from Punjab to ensure availability of sacrificial animals at reasonable rates to the people, adding that around 70 percent cattle are being brought from Punjab for Eidul Azha.
According to estimates shared by Pakistani tanners, over six million animals, including goats, sheep, cows and camels, worth about Rs531 billion had been sacrificed during the three-day Eid Al-Adha festival last year.
The approximately 6.1 million slaughtered animals include 2.6 million cows, 3 million goats, 350,000 sheep, 150,000 buffalos and 87,000 camels in Pakistan on Eid Al-Adha, as per preliminary data compiled by the Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA) on the basis of hides received by tanneries last year.
Dr Aftab Ahmad said that several checkpoints were established with the assistance of the provincial government at various places on highways connecting KP with merged areas to control the menace of cattle smuggling.
Zahid Shinwari, former President Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) claimed that transportation of sacrificial animals to Afghanistan is major reason behind the hike of sacrificial animals’ prices in KP that needed to be regulated.
He underscored the need for a tripartite-export agreement between Pakistan, India and Afghanistan to help meet people’s requirements of beef, milk and sacrificial animals.
In case of illness of any animal, he urged people to isolate it and inform Livestock officials forthwith for its treatment.  Dr Aftab said the DVM doctors were assigned task to visit cattle markets and ensure that animals with symptoms of lumpy skin disease may be isolated and treated on the spot.

APP/fam/taj (APP Feature Service)

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