Media Minister visits SDAIA pavilion at Hajj Media Hub

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Tue, 11 Jun 2024, 1:23 PM

Makkah, Jun 11 (APP):Minister of Media, Salman bin Youssef Al-Dossary has inaugurated the first version of the “Hajj Media Hub ” initiative, which is held in Makkah June 10 to16 in a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Pilgrim Experience Program.

The hub is part of the initiatives of the Year of Media Transformation, which was announced by the minister of media three months ago at the third annual “Saudi Media Forum.”

The Hajj Media Hub aims to provide an integrated media environment to support media professionals in completing their coverage during the Hajj season 1445 AH.

More than 150 local, Arab, Islamic, and international media outlets, and more than 1,500 local and international media professionals are expected to benefit from the hub’s services.

The hub is distinguished by the establishment of 11 supportive media areas, an interactive media exhibition highlighting the services provided to pilgrims, a headquarters for news conferences, a media center with integrated services, various studios, vehicles for direct injection of media materials, and the Virtual Press Center (VPC), where a specialized team participates in presenting via an interactive screen, providing continuous updates and services around the clock throughout the forum’s working days.

The hub brings together all media agencies to support the work of all media figures and outlets and provide modern technologies to achieve more innovation in local and international media coverage during the Hajj season.

This comes in an environment full of interactive technologies and reflects the major transformation in the services provided to pilgrims. The hub also narrates the most prominent projects and achievements provided to serve the two holy mosques and their visitors and future projects in the holy sites.

Masood Khan urges Pakistani-American business leaders to invest in Pakistan to boost its economy

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NNPS Desk

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Tue, 11 Jun 2024, 1:22 PM

NEW YORK, Jun 11 (APP): Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Masood Khan, has urged leading Pakistani-American entrepreneurs, executives and business leaders to invest in their motherland to advance the goals of its economic development.

The ambassador also urged them to rise above their differences and focus on strengthening Pakistan economically.

“Vital interest of Pakistan should be protected at all costs,” he told ‘OPEN Global Retreat 2024’, a platform for the Pakistani diaspora to connect, collaborate, and explore opportunities to contribute to their homeland’s progress while strengthening ties between Pakistan and the United States.

The event was held in New York City from June 7 to 9.
“Do not believe in doom and gloom stories; have faith in your motherland. There is bright light ahead. Invest in Pakistan,” he said, urging the diaspora to reject cynics and embrace the country’s potential.

Speaking on the occasion, Abu Bakar, OPEN Global President and a business leader, briefed on OPEN’s progress under his presidency, and outlined its future programmes. OPEN’s New York President, Tariq Khan, and OPEN’s Chicago President, Amir Chalisa, are also spoke.

Founded in 1998 in Boston, OPEN Global has grown into a global movement, with 17 chapters across four continents spanning across major cities worldwide, including Boston, New York, Silicon Valley, Washington D.C., Houston, Dallas, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, London, and Toronto.

The ambassador paid tributes to OPEN’s leadership for fostering a vibrant community of professionals., saying, “OPEN has become a brand.”
“If OPEN has faith in Pakistan, everyone have faith in Pakistan, ” he added.
Emphasizing the pivotal role of Pakistani-Americans as a “connective tissue” between Pakistan and the United States, Masood Khan said, “If all other linkages fail, Pakistani-Americans will hold this relationship together.”

Pakistan-US relations, he said, had navigated through difficulties.
“Now is a good time and opportunity to build economic partnership,” the Pakistani envoy said, adding both countries had proved naysayers wrong who claimed there was no future for the bilateral relationship after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

He said priority sectors for investment were: IT, energy (green and renewable), agriculture (corporate farming), and the extractive industry, In that regard, the ambassador also outlined the government’s agenda of reforms, regulatory improvements, and efforts to enhance the ease of doing business.

Other speakers were: Dilawar Syed, Deputy Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), Sabir Sami, Global CEO of KFC, and Shakir Moin, President of MarkePng, Coca-Cola North America shared their insights.

Entrepreneurs like Jabran Niaz (CEO, Utopia Deals), Naveed Sherwani (Chairman, President & CEO, RapidSilicon), Tariq Farid (Founder & CEO, Edible), Najeeb Ghauri (Founder & CEO, NETSOL Technologies Inc.), Akif Tarique (Global Head of Insurance Practice, Visionet Systems Inc.), Tahir Javed (CEO & President, Riceland Healthcare), Hassan Ahmed (CEO, Co-Founder & Chairman, Sway AI), Farrukh Usman (Founder & CEO, Byonyks Medical Devices, Inc), and Umber Ahmed (Founder & CEO, Mah-Ze-Dahr Bakery) shared their success stories.

A number of speakers shared their experiences of conducting business ventures in Pakistan, saying they were optimistic about the country’s future prospects, with its human resources, technological advancements, energy sector, manufacturing capabilities, mineral wealth, and agricultural prowess, among other domains.

The speakers urged successful entrepreneurs to give back to their beloved motherland and fellow compatriots, emphasizing the importance of reinvesting in the nation’s growth and development.

IRSA releases 295,100 cusecs water

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Tue, 11 Jun 2024, 12:54 PM

ISLAMABAD, Jun 11 (APP):Indus River System Authority (IRSA) on Tuesday released 295,100 cusecs of water from various rim stations with inflow of 197,900 cusecs.

According to the data released by IRSA, the water level in the River Indus at Tarbela Dam was 1452.71 feet and was 54.71 feet higher than its dead level of 1,398 feet. Water inflow and outflow in the dam was recorded as 72,100 cusecs and 140,000 cusecs respectively.

The water level in River Jhelum at Mangla Dam was 1186.05 feet, which was 136.05 feet higher than its dead level of 1,050 feet. The inflow and outflow of water was recorded at 40,700 cusecs and 70,000 cusecs respectively.

The release of water at Kalabagh, Taunsa, Guddu, and Sukkur was recorded as 178,000, 150,800, 118,700, and 69,500 cusecs respectively. Similarly, from River Kabul, a total of 51,800 cusecs of water were released at Nowshera and 5,000 cusecs were released from River Chenab at Marala

Hospital waste management training held

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Tue, 11 Jun 2024, 12:37 PM

SARGODHA, Jun 11 (APP):The district health authority in collaboration with the PMA and the Private Hospital Association of Sargodha conducted the 16th training session regarding hospital waste here on Tuesday.

In the training, Chief Executive Officer Health Dr Muhammad Aslam Asad,Program Director District Health Development Center Sargodha,Dr Ayesha Wajid, Infection Control Department Sargodha Faisal Rasheed,School Health and Nutrition Supervisor Ijaz Ahmad Bhatti and Nurse Dr Faisal Masood Teaching Hospital Sargodha Effat Mumtaz participated.

More than 50 sets consisted of 650 employees of private hospitals; diagnostic centers have undergone the crucial training.

In the session, more than 30 doctors, nurses and class IV employees from various private healthcare facilities received comprehensive training.

World Bank approves additional $1 billion for Dasu Hydropower Project

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Tue, 11 Jun 2024, 12:35 PM

ISLAMABAD, Jun 11 (APP):In what can be termed a significant development for much-needed financing to generate clean, green, and economically affordable hydel electricity in Pakistan, the World Bank has approved additional financing to the tune of $ 1 billion for Dasu Hydropower Project, being constructed by WAPDA on River Indus.

This is the single largest financial facility provided by the World Bank for a project in Pakistan, said a press release issued on Tuesday.

This facility comprises concessional financing through the World Bank arms of IDA and IBRD.

Approval to this effect was accorded by the World Bank in its meeting. This additional financing by the World Bank reflects the trust the Bank reposes in WAPDA’s financial strength and professional expertise for the successful implementation of mega projects in the Water and Hydropower sectors.

It is important to note that the World Bank is already providing financial support of US$ 588 million and a partial credit guarantee of US$ 460 million for the construction of the Dasu Hydropower Project.

At present, WAPDA is constructing eight mega projects worth US$ 26 billion to add 9.7 million feet (MAF) to the water storage and double its hydel generation capacity from 9,500 to 20,000 megawatt (MW) during the next five years.

WAPDA has devised an innovative financial strategy for the construction of these projects with less reliance on the national exchequer by exploiting its own financial strength. Dasu is one of these under-construction projects.

The 4320 MW-Dasu Hydropower Project is being constructed on the River Indus, upstream of Dasu Town in the Upper Kohistan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. The Project is planned to be completed in two stages – each stage having a generation capacity of 2160 MW.

At present, WAPDA is constructing Stage-I of the Project. After the successful diversion of the River Indus last year, construction work is continuing simultaneously on key sites of the Project. Stage-I of the Dasu Hydropower Project will start electricity generation in 2026. It will contribute 12 billion units per annum to the National Grid.

Stage-II will also provide another 9 billion units to the system every year.

Partly cloudy weather forecast for city

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Tue, 11 Jun 2024, 12:19 PM

BAHAWALPUR, Jun 11 (APP):The local Met Office has forecast dry to partly cloudy weather for the city for the next 24 hours.

The highest temperature of 44 centigrade and the lowest temperature of 31 centigrade were recorded during the last 24 hours.

The dry to partly cloudy weather has also been forecast for the rest of the region.

ANF recovers 57 kg drugs in three operations

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Tue, 11 Jun 2024, 11:48 AM

RAWALPINDI, Jun 11 (APP): Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) while conducting three operations across the country managed to recover 57 kg drugs and arrested two accused, said an ANF Headquarters spokesman here on Tuesday.

He said that 6.2 kg ice was recovered from a parcel sent to Australia from the DHL office in Sialkot.

3 kg intoxicated tablets were recovered from a passenger going to Saudi Arabia at Lahore Airport.

48 kg hashish was recovered from an accused arrested on GT Road Peshawar.

Cases have been registered against the accused and further investigations are under process.

Pak team departs for Russia to feature in BRICS Games

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Tue, 11 Jun 2024, 11:37 AM

ISLAMABAD, Jun 11 (APP): A 7-member Pakistan athletics team has departed for Russia to participate in the Brics Games being held in Kazan from June 12 to 17.

According to Athletics Federation of Pakistan President, Brig (R) Wajahat Hussain, the team includes five athletes and two officials.

The athletes are Shajar Abbas (100m and 200m races), Gohar Shahbaz (100m race), Abdul Muheed (400m race), Sohail Amir (1500m and 5000m races), and Abdul Qadir Khan Marwat (javelin throw).

The team will be accompanied by Manager Imdadullah Memon and Coach Rana Sajjad Ahmed Khan.

Hussain expressed hope that the national team will perform outstandingly in the event.

This is a great opportunity for Pakistan’s athletes to showcase their talent and bring laurels to the country.

The BRICS Games is a prestigious international sporting event that brings together athletes from all over the world.

Currency rates of NBP

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Tue, 11 Jun 2024, 11:25 AM