ISLAMABAD, Aug 11 (APP): National Minorities Day was observed in Pakistan on Tuesday with number of ceremonies paying a tribute to the minorities for country’s development.

The Constitution of Pakistan guarantees the rights of minorities and the white color in national flag represents them.

Opening of Kartarpur corridor was initiative of the government amongst many others to protect minority rights in Pakistan.

In contrast to this, the minorities especially Muslims were being marginalized in neighboring India.

Babri Mosque’s judgment and the passage of discriminatory citizenship act had proved that India was only for Hindus and there was no place for minorities.

In his message, President Dr Arif Alvi stressed upon the nation to maintain the spirit of tolerance, social equality and brotherhood in the society by shunning prejudices against all minorities.

He reaffirmed that all communities residing in the country will be treated and respected equally so that the country can further march on the path of progress and development.

The president said that this day had great significance in the history of Pakistan as the whole nation reaffirmed its commitment with the promise made by Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah on August 11, 1947 in the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan to safeguarding the rights of minorities.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz tweeted that the minority community was playing an important role in the development of the country.

Without the welfare of minorities, the dream of an Islamic welfare state on the pattern of State of Madina would remain unfulfilled, he remarked.

Chairman, Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir, Shehryar Khan Afridi said the way Pakistan had set a model of equal treatment to its minorities the world needed to learn from it.

Addressing at a seminar, he said the Indian government had unleashed a reign of terror against Indian minorities and Muslims specifically were being lynched under a vicious plan of genocide.

“It is the time that the developed world must intervene before it is too late. India under a genocide plan is killing its minorities and Muslims are a special target of Indian subjugation,” he added.

“If Muslims are target today, it was Sikh massacre in 1984. It is not only about Muslims. Minorities are being killed in India under a plan”, Afridi argued.

President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Masood Khan said Kashmiri society was very compassionate and there was full religious freedom for minorities in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

He said unlike Pakistan which was created in the name of Islam, India was created in the name of secularism. However, the BJP government had unleashed a reign of terror towards Indian Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and Dalits.

“The world community needs to take notice of the systematic cleansing of Kashmiris; there would be no Kashmiri to defend in next two or three years”.

Speaker National Assembly Asad Qasir in a message said it was a top priority of the government to ensure protection of minorities living in Pakistan.

He said India’s illegal annexation of Kashmir and the imposition of a draconian curfew across the valley had deprived the people of Kashmir from their basic identity.

He appreciated the role of minorities for their contribution in the development and security of the country.

Ramesh Kumar Vankwani MNA said that he had visited a Peach Temple in Azad Kashmir which reflected that how Pakistan has been preserving the rich cultural and religious heritage of minorities.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and Member National Assembly Jai Prakash Lohana said minorities in Pakistan were free and enjoying equal rights under the vision of PTI leadership.

Bishop Dr Azad Marshal, President National Council of Churches of Pakistan, said “We are included in flag of Pakistan and my brethren have died for Pakistan and we fought for Pakistan. We can set a new model of harmony, coexistence and prosperity of minorities in Pakistan.”

Governor Punjab Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar said “India has become a slaughterhouse of minorities and the world is a witness to the oppression and atrocities being meted out to the minorities in India today.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Mushtaq Ghani said minorities including Hindu, Christians, Sikh, Kilashi and Zoroastrians were enjoying full liberty in Pakistan and they exercise their religious obligations with complete freedom and without any fear.

KOHAT, Aug 11 (APP): State Minister and Chairman Kashmir Committee, Sheheryar Afridi Tuesday paid a visit to his constituency and held corner meetings and gatherings at Gumbat, Jerma, Khurmatu, Buraka and Burh areas.

He was accompanied by ex-Law Minister KPK Imtiaz Shahid Qureshi and workers of PTI.

The Minister announced construction of road for Burh, restoration of water supply scheme for Buraka and provision of Sui-gas supply to Shahpur and Buraka.

He further announced provision of an electricity transformer and dispensary for Buraka.

During the gathering he said that PTI led government was striving hard for provision of necessary facilities to people added that efforts would be made to uplift the living standards of the people.

He said Kohat is a beautiful place and needed proper planning for promoting its natural beauty.

KARACHI, Aug 11 (APP):Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that eight more patients of coronavirus lost their lives lifting the death toll to 2290 whereas 429 new cases were confirmed against 10050 tests during the last 24 hours.

According to a statement issued here Tuesday, The CM disclosed that eight more patients died overnight lifting the death toll to 2,290 that constituted 1.8 percent.

He added that 429 new cases emerged when 10050 tests were conducted that constituted four per cent current detection rate.
“So far 844,705 tests have been conducted which detected 15 percent result, or 124,556 cases, of them 117, 637 or 94 percent patients have recovered, including 1653 overnight,” the CM Sindh said.

Syed Murad Ali Shah said that currently 4,629 patients were under treatment, of them 4,239 in home isolation, seven at Isolation Centers and 383 in different hospitals.
He added that the condition of 248 patients was stated to be critical, including 38 who have been shifted to ventilators.
According to CM Sindh, out of 429 new cases, 200 have been detected from Karachi. They include 67 from South, 57 East, 33 Korangi, 17 Malir, 16 central and 10 West, he said.

Sanghar and Kashmore have 24 cases each, Jamshoro 18, Hyderabad 15, Umerkot 14, Ghotki 12, Khairpur 11, Shikarpur 10, Sujawal eight, Larkana and Tando Allahyar seven each, Mirpurkhas and Jacobabad six each, Shaheed Benazirabad five, Badin and Naushehroferoze four each, Kambar two, Tando Mohammad Khan and Thatta one each.

QUETTA, Aug 11 (APP): Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan on Tuesday directed the Environment Department to enact legislation to make it mandatory to obtain NOC in major construction projects in the private and public sectors.

The move is aimed at ensuring environmental protection.
He expressed these views while presiding a meeting of the Departmental Affairs of the Department of Environment and Environmental Protection.

Provincial Minister for Environment and Livestock Mitha Khan Kakar, Additional Chief Secretary Planning and Development Abdul Rehman Buzdar, Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary Zahid Saleem and Special Finance Secretary Lal Jan Jaffer also attended the meeting while Secretary Environment and Environmental Protection Abdul Saboor Kakar briefed the meeting on departmental matters and proposed reforms.

Chief Minister said rapid climate change posed a serious threat to the environment and the use of modern technology and reforms in the field of environment is needed to deal effectively with the environmental challenges.

He said there will be further growth and the department will emerge as a regulatory body, so there is ample scope for skilled posts in the department adding that revolutionary development in the construction sector is expected under the incentives given by the federal government.

He said the government of Balochistan is also pursuing development plans for coastal and other areas, a comprehensive policy needs to be formulated to regulate this development process and make it environmentally friendly.

The formation of the Sustainable Development Fund, the role of the Balochistan Environmental Protection Agency, and the service rules of the department were also reviewed and important decisions in this regard were approved in the meeting.

ISLAMABAD, Aug 11 (APP): Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) has announced that it will complete the admission process of all classes for the year 2020 in federal public educational institutions in three phases keeping in view COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a FDE notification, in phase one, admission process for Higher Secondary School Certificate Part-I, BS and Associate Degree Programme (ADP) has been started in ICT Colleges.

While, in second phase, admission process for class six to 10 shall be started and admission for primary classes shall be carried out in third phase as per admission policy issued earlier this year.

However, heads of institutions are reiterated to ensure all safety measures keeping in view the COVID-19 pandemic during the whole admission process.

As per details, the admission process for class six to 10th has also been started which will be completed by 25th August 2020.

The admissions for class prep to five may be started from 1th September 2020 and be completed by 11th September.

The date of admission test shall be uniform and in line with the admission policy.

FDE further stated that the details regarding admission procedure of prep class shall be issued later. All classes shall be commenced from 15th September.

Furthermore, all teaching staff are considered on duty with immediate effect and all Heads of Institution may call their respective teaching faculty for assistance during admission process for working of academic activities as per proposed date of opening of Institutions and for any other official cause.

This shall be entirely the prerogative of Head of Institution to call as many numbers of teaching faculty as needed, it added.

However, precautionary measures ensuring social distancing and maintaining health and hygiene should be adopted.

The Area Education Officers are therefore requested to ensure the above mentioned instructions in true letter and spirit and provide maximum facilitation to the general public about for admission process, the notification mentioned.

ISLAMABAD, Aug 11 (APP): Advisor to the Prime Minister on Accountability and Interior Barrister Mirza Shahzad Akbar on Tuesday regretted the use of innocent party workers (in attacking NAB office) for personal gains.

In a tweet message, he said the legal aspect of such childish use of party workers could be probed by judiciary as media footage clearly showed the attack at NAB office was planned.

PESHAWAR, Aug 11 (APP): Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan Tuesday said that Prime Minister Imran Khan would inaugurate Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on Thursday (August 13).

The chief minister while talking to senior journalists about the mega project said that BRT would provide state of the art travelling facility to people at affordable fare inside the provincial capital.

He said that PTI government was committed to provide best facilities to people in all key sectors.

The BRT project consists of a 27.5 km main track with 31 stations while the length of the feeder routes is 62km and has 146 stops.

The main track is connected to seven different areas of the city so that the people could travel from their areas in small buses to reach the main route.

Three mega commercial plazas would also be completed in next year, but the bus parking areas are ready.

ISLAMABAD, Aug 11 (APP): The Ministry of National Health Services on Tuesday issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on reopening of food establishments and restaurants in the country to adopt recommended practices to help mitigate the exposure to the COVID-19 virus.

According to an official of the ministry, the basic components of the guidelines are food safety, cleaning and sanitizing, social distancing, employee health monitoring and personal hygiene.
He said these guidelines provide practices that address specific health and safety concerns related to the spread of COVID-19, and to put protocols into practice for re-opening of food establishments.

He said the COVID-19 pandemic has struck the world due to rapid human-to-human transmission and preventive measures play an important role in limiting the spread of a disease and can help reducing the infection transmission and unnecessary burden on health care facilities.

As per guidelines, there are clear directions to prohibit sick employees in the workplace, ensuring and following strict hand-washing practices, maintaining social distancing , ensuring practices regarding surface cleaning and disinfecting and ensuring food safety manager is on site at all times during operating hours Similarly, all concerned have been asked to follow SOPs related with equipment and physical structure like making sure utilities are working (electrical, plumbing, and heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and fire suppression), flush water system and all plumbed food equipment for a minimum of five minutes, equipment should be properly washed, rinsed and sanitized and pipes drained, assess and discard food that is no longer safe (expired or spoiled foods), wash, rinse, and sanitize all food contact surfaces, use single-use items as much as possible, such as packets of ketchup or salt, thoroughly clean and repair all physical facilities including floors, walls, and ceilings and display of posters for preventive measures at prominent places.

As per SOPs, indoor dining can reopen with groups of 10 or less and maintaining at least three feet distance among one group and six feet between two groups or tables, indoor seating will be allowed at 50% capacity to maintain recommended social distancing guidelines and ensuring ventilation for indoor seating arrangement.

The ministry asked to prefer outdoor dining at tables spaced at least six feet apart from other people, tables must not block entrances, exits, pedestrian or handicapped access, parking spaces may be used for dining tables, but there must be a physical barrier or separation to protect customers from vehicle traffic and ensuring outdoor dining areas are maintained and free of trash and other debris.

For customer protection, the government has asked to ensure thermal scanning of customers, using menus that are disposable or sanitized between each use, cleaning and disinfecting touched surfaces hourly, maintaining social distance of six feet in any entryway, hallway, or waiting area, ensuring dining groups are seated at least six feet apart and remove or block extra seating, utilizing contactless payment systems, or provide hand-washing or hand gel for employees handling payment, maximizing pick-up or delivery services and encouraging the use of face mask when not eating.

Similarly, in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 through employee, health monitoring is critical besides steps including training of workers on symptoms of COVID-19 illness and on required hand hygiene, ensuring thermal scanning of employees, encouraging workers to stay home if they are sick, ensuring hand-washing sinks are stocked with soap and paper towels and hand sanitizers are available, ensuring use of face coverings by employees and staggering work schedules as much as possible to reduce employee contact.