DI KHAN, Aug 10 (APP): Federal Minister for Kasmir and Gilgit Baltistan Affairs, Sardar Ali Amin Gandapur has said that 10 billion trees afforestration project of the PTI Government was vital to combat effects of climate change, global warming and desertification.

He expressed these views after planting a sapling at Dhap Chayak in connection with tiger force plantation day in DI Khan Forest Division. Commissioner DI Khan Division, Yahya Akhunzada, DC Muhammad Umair, Additional DC Noor Alam Mahsud, DFO Nouman Wazir and volunteers of Razakar Force attended.

The Federal Minister in his address said that billion trees project was very important to control temperature and mitigate the effects of climate change.

He said 10 billion plants would be planted under the Prime Minister Green Pakistan programme across the country by 2023 and tiger force trees plantations was a part of this landmark program to make Pakistan lush green.

He said plantation of trees was an easiest way to counter climate change challenges and urged masses to take part in the monsoon afforestration with full enthusiasm.

He said people cooperation was necessary to protect forests in their respective areas.

The Federal Minister said flood protection project has been approved for Kacha area near Dhap Chayak and initially work on it would soon be started.

He said 26 kilometers long roads for people of Kacha area would be constructed.

Later, the Minister planted a sapling near Qureshi Mor to formally inagurate rural-urban plantations campaign in DI Khan Division.

The Commissioner said 1,50,000 saplings were being planted in DIKhan forest division during monsoon, adding fruits and plants were also being sown at cantonment and others parts of the city.

The tiger force had planted more than 72,000 plants on the afforestration day observed on Sunday.

PESHAWAR, Aug 10 (APP): Commanding Southern Air Command (CSAC), Air Vice- Marshal, Syed Fawad Masood Haatmi called on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor, Shah Farman at Governor House here on Monday.

Both sides discussed professional matters of Pakistan Air Force (PAF).

Speaking on the occasion, KP Governor praised the role of PAF in protecting boundaries of country and said that whole nation proud of the professionalism and capabilities of PAF.

ISLAMABAD, Aug 10 (APP): Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz on Monday paid tributes to Dr Ruth Pfau who devoted her life to fighting leprosy in Pakistan.

In a tweet, he said that her services for the humanity, society and Pakistan would be written in golden words.

He said that Dr Ruth Pfau served those patients who were rejected by the entire society.

ISLAMABAD, Aug 10 (APP): Minister for Communications Murad Saeed Monday said the Federal Government believed in the constitutional freedom of expression and termed the campaign of Sindh Government against television channels and an anchor inappropriate.

Speaking in the National Assembly, he said a widespread campaign was run on the social media by the supporters of Sindh Government when two television channels and an anchor raised the issues of health in Sindh and lack of cleanliness in Karachi.

Legislator Sheheryar Afridi said both the opposition and the government benches should give respect to each other and no member should be targeted with personal attacks and below the belt remarks.

He urged the senior parliamentarians in the House to take the lead and devise a code of conduct for the members to preserve the dignity of the Parliament.

ISLAMABAD, Aug 10 (APP): Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar Monday said Prime Minister Imran Khan’s policy of smart lockdown against coronavirus pandemic had remained successful.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, from day one, adopted the strategy under prime minister’s leadership with the objective to save lives of people from both coronavirus outbreak and hunger, he said talking to a private news channel.

The minister said the threat of coronavirus was still there and if standard operating procedures were not followed then virus could start spreading again.

He urged the people to adopt precautionary measures such as wearing masks, avoiding hand shakes and washing hands frequently.

He said the whole world including Pakistan was confronting economic crunch due to the coronavirus.

Replying to a question, he said the PTI government was committed from day one to hold accountability across the board against the looters and plunderers, adding nobody could escape from accountability process.

ISLAMABAD, Aug 10 (APP): The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Monday said some 539 persons have been tested positive for COVID-19 and 15 patients lost their lives across the country due to the deadly virus in the last 24 hours.

According to the latest NCOC data, a total of 284,660 COVID patients have so far been reported in the country, including 2,141 in Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK), 11,906 in Balochistan, 2,334 in Gilgit-Baltistan, 15,261 in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), 34,692 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 94 477 in Punjab and 123,849 in Sindh.

Out of total 6,097 deaths reported in the country due to COVID, some 2,272 patients have lost their lives in Sindh, including 20 on Aug 9, 2,170 in Punjab, including only one on Aug 9, 1,213 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including one on Aug 9, 171 in ICT, including one on Aug 9,138 in in Balochistan, including one on Aug 9, and 57 in Gilgit-Baltistan, including two on Aug 9, while no patient died in the AJK in last 24 hours. Total COVID related deaths in the AJK were 58.

As many as 2,147,584 COVID tests have so far been conducted in the country. Some 735 hospitals have been providing medical facilities to the corona patients. While 1,357 patients have been admitted in across the country hospitals.

The active cases of COVID were 17,799, while 20,495 tests were conducted on August 9 including 8,288 in Sindh, 7,711 in Punjab, 1,659 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,2,140 in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), 402 in Balochistan,80 in Gilgit-Baltistan and 215 COVID tests had been conducted in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Sunday (Aug 9).

Some 260,764 patients have so far recovered across country from the deadly pandemic.

No patient has been on vent in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, (AJK), Gilgit-Baltistan GB and Balochistan, while 149 ventilators are occupied elsewhere in Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD, Aug 10 (APP): National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser and Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri on Monday expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of lives in a terrorist attack in Chaman.

They also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
In their messages of condolence, they prayed to the Almighty to rest the departed souls in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved families.

They said terrorists wanted to disturb peace of the country but the nation with its unity will foil their evil designs.

KARACHI, Aug 10 (APP): Sindh chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that coronavirus claimed 10 more lives lifting the death toll to 2282 while infected 278 others lifting the tally to 124127.

This was stated by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah in a statement issued here from CM House on Monday.

He said that 10 more patients lost their lives while struggling against the virus lifting the death toll to 2282 that constituted 1.8 percent death rate.

He added that 278 more patients were detected when 8397 samples were detected which constituted 3 percent detection rate.

The CM Sindh said that so far 834,655 tests have been conducted all over Sindh which detected 124,127 cases, of them 115984 or 93 percent patients have recovered, including 243 overnight.

The CM Sindh said that currently 5861 patients are under treatment, of them 5463 in home isolation, six at isolation centers and 392 at different hospitals.

He added that the condition of 251 patients was stated to be critical, of them 45 have been shifted to ventilators.

According to Syed Murad Ali Shah out of 278 new cases, 93 have been detected from Karachi, including 27 from central, 22 Korangi, 20 East, 13 central, six West and five Malir.

Syed Murad Ali Shah said that Kambar has 18 new cases, Sukkur 13, Hyderabad, Dadu and Khairpur 12 each, Shikarpur 11, Sanghar nine, Shaheed benazirabad and Thatta eight each, Sujawal, Ghotki, Matiari and Naushehroferoze seven each, Jacobabad, Jamshoro, Tando Mohammad Khan and Umerkot four each, Badin three, Tando Allahyar two and Larkana one.

The chief minister said that he has allowed all social and business activities to start operation again but “we have to ensure social distancing, wearing masks while going out, washing hands frequently and avoiding handshaking so that COVID-19 can be contained further.

ISLAMABAD, Aug 10 (APP): National Tourism Coordination Board (NTCB) Chairman Sayed Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari Monday said the reopening of tourism sector became possible due to effective policies of Prime Minister Imran Khan during the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

In a tweet, he said Pakistan was one of the few countries that made fastest recovery during the COVID-19, leading to revival of multiple businesses.

“Pakistan’s tourism reopens! We are among the few countries with the fastest rebounds impacting 1000s of businesses,” he tweeted with a hash tag of ‘PakistanOpensTourism’.

He said opening of tourism relied upon the public’s behaviour, urging them to follow the COVID SOPs (standard operating procedures).

“Opening tourism came because of our leader’s effective policies,” but keeping it open depends on all of us. Follow SOPs & stay safe!,” Zulfikar Bukhari, who also holds the portfolio of Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, added to his tweet.

ISLAMABAD, Aug 10 (APP): Federal Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mehmood on Monday said almost all parties conferences (APCs) in the country had never been successful against any government for having no public support.

Whenever the people joined the opposition, it succeeded to topple a government as was witnessed during the movements against the regimes of Field Marshall Ayub Khan and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, he said while talking to a private news channel.

The minister said today the opposition parties lacked popular public support as they had no reason for agitation against the government. Otherwise, they would have left no stone unturned to take advantage, he added.

He challenged the opposition’s popularity and expressed the confidence that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) would get even more seats if election was conducted today.

To a question, Shafqat Mehmood said the government’s successful policies against COVID-19 and its concrete steps to bring economic stability in the country were appreciated at all levels.

To another question, the minister said PPP leader Asif Zardari had tactfully been escaping from conviction despite facing the corruption cases since 1990.

ISLAMABAD, Aug 10 (APP): State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan Monday told the National Assembly that no increase was made in the licence fee of Pakistan Television (PTV) and the decision was still pending before the government.

Responding to a calling attention notice of MNA Shazia Marri about increase of Rs 65 in PTV licence fee, he said last time the licence fee was raised 10 years back during the government of Pakistan Peoples Party.

He said the fee was payable by those who had a television set and were using more than 100 units of electricity.
He said the previous governments could have abolished the fee but they chose not to.

Similar fees were charged by other countries in Europe like United Kingdom and France and elsewhere, he added.
The minister said PTV and Radio Pakistan were strategic assets and airing content on issues related to national interest including Kashmir.

He said PTV had liabilities of Rs 18-19 billion and had 4000 employees and 4000 pensioners.

PTV had a loss of Rs 2.5 billion every year in the past but last year the channel earned a profit of Rs 329 million.

He said opposition was getting equal time on PTV but only Prime Minister can make a direct address to the nation on the channel.

ISLAMABAD, Aug 10 (APP): The COVID-19 caseload in Pakistan had reached 284,660 with 539 new cases reported during last 24 hours, an official of National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Coronavirus said on Monday.

Sharing the data, he said total 6,097 deaths had been reported from the disease with 15 during last 24 hours. He said 260,764 patients had been recovered while 776 were in critical condition.

He added that total 2,147,584 tests had been conducted while in last 24 hours 20,495 tests were conducted. He said 123,849 cases were reported from Sindh, 94,477 from Punjab, 34,692 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 15,261 from Islamabad, 2,334 from Gilgit Baltistan, 11,906 from Balochistan and 2,141 from Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

He said so far 5,836 active cases were reported from Sindh, 6,034 from Punjab, 1,849 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 2,121 from Islamabad, 363 from Gilgit Baltistan, 1,396 from Balochistan and 200 from Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
He said 2,272 deaths had been reported from Sindh, 2,170 from Punjab, 1,231 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 171 from Islamabad, 57 from Gilgit Baltistan, 138 from Balochistan and 58 deaths were reported from AJK.

He said as many as 115,741 patients had recovered in Sindh, 86,273 in Punjab, 31,612 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 12,969 in Islamabad, 1,914 in Gilgit Baltistan, 10,372 in Balochistan and 1,883 in AJK.

ISLAMABAD, Aug 10 (APP): The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs Monday recommended the National Assembly to pass “The Anti-Money Laundering (Second Amendment) Bill, 2020.”

The meeting of the committee was chaired by Faiz Ullah, according to press statement issued by the National Assembly Secretariat here.

The meeting was attended by MNAs, Sadaqat Ali Khan, Aamir Mehmood Kiani, Amjid Ali Khan, Raza Nasrullah, Makhdoom Syed Sami-ul-Hassan Gillani, Jamil Ahmed Khan, Faheem Khan, Aftab Hussain Saddique, Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Chaudhary Khalid Javed, Ali Perviz, Dr Aisha Ghaus Pasha, Ms. Nafisa Shah, Syed Naveed Qamar and Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar.

The meeting was also attended by the senior officers from Ministry of Finance and Revenue, Law and Justice and Financial Monitoring Unit, the statement added.

QUETTA, Aug 10 (APP): World Health Organization on Monday agreed to assist Balochsistan government in its flood relieve activities and improving provincial healthcare structure.

“ World Health Organization would launch a flood assessment program besides reviewing Balochistan’s healthcare structure to assisting the Balochistan government in its flood relieve activities and improving in the provincial healthcare structure,” said Dr. Palitha Gunarathana Mahipala, WHO representatives to Pakistan during a meeting with health officials held at Civil Secretariat here.

Parliamentary Secretary Health Balochsitan, Dr Rubaba Buledi, Secretary Health Dostain Jamaldini were prominent among those who attended the meeting.

Matters pertaining to the flood in Balochistan and health projects underway in collaboration with WHO were discussed during the meeting.

Dr Rubaba Buledi, Parliamentary Secretary Balochistan briefed the visiting delegate about the steps taken by the provincial government in connection with the recent flash floods and improving the healthcare structure.

“ People have been rescued in the flood affected areas while rescue work is underway in the district worst affected,” she said fearing that large number of people may be affected by the epidemic as water of flash floods falls down.

She maintained that the provincial government would be in a dire need of WHO’s help in case of epidemic in disaster-hit areas of Balochsitan.

Palitha Gunarathana Mahipala, WHO representatives on the occasion lauded the efforts of the provincial government in rescuing the catastrophe-hit areas people. “

“ World Health Organization would launch a flood assessment program besides reviewing Balochistan’s healthcare structure to generously assist the Balochistan government in flood relieve activities and improving the provincial healthcare structure.

“Dr Rubaba Buledi’s has been playing unprecedented role with her best coordination in NCOC activities besides supporting the world health Organizations on different international forums.

ISLAMABAD, Aug 10 (APP):State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan Monday said the Prime Minister Imran Khan had formed the government after 22 year political struggle and he had not used any short cut to come into power.

Speaking in the National Assembly, he said Imran Khan started his political journey from one seat in National Assembly and refused to bow down before any one and fought for rights of the people, speedy justice and elimination of corruption.

He alleged that some political leaders had chosen short cuts to come into power and they had no political struggle as Imran Khan had.

He said that Pakistan’s political parties had proven that they can work for the national interest with unity.

He said that the government expected positive role from the opposition.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Maulana Asad Mehmood said that it was unfortunate that his party had not been consulted on the legislation related to national interest.

He said that his party had always played key role in legislation related to national interest.

He said, “Our forefathers played key role in the passage of 1977 constitution, and we are ready to play our positive role in the country’s politics, ” he added.

He said it was the right of his party members to move amendments in the legislation while the government could reject and accept them.

PESHAWAR, Aug 10 (APP): Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan has given go ahead for hiring of consultancy to conduct commercial and financial feasibility for the construction of an expressway from Chakdara to Rabaat (Lower Dir).

The proposed Expressway will connect Chakdara to Rabaat via Ramla and Ouch villages through a five kilometer long tunnel. The Chief Minister gave the approval for feasibility study of the project while chairing a meeting regarding the proposed project held here Monday.

The 26-kilometer long Expressway will be constructed with an estimated cost of Rs.10.5 billions. Initially it will be constructed from Chakdara Interchange of Swat Motorway to Rabaat, and will further be extended in the next phases.

The meeting was attended by Special Assistants to CM Kamran Bangash and Shafiullah, Members National Assembly from Dir Muhammad Bashir Khan, Sahibzada Sibghatullah, and Mehboob Shah, Members Provincial Assembly, Humayun Khan, Muhammad Azam Khan and Liaqat Ali, Additional Chief Secretary, Shakil Qadir, Secretary Communication and Works Ejaz Hussain Ansari, Principal Secretary to CM, Shahab Ali Shah, Special Secretary Muhammad Khaliq, Managing Director, Pakhtunkhwa Highways Authority and other relevant authorities.

The meeting was given detailed briefing on three various options of routes for the construction of the proposed Expressway, and the forum agreed to the shortest route i.e. Chakdara to Rabaat via Ramla and Ouch.

It is worth mentioning here that Prime Minister Imran Khan during a call on meeting with the parliamentarians from Dir in February 2020 had issued directives to start home work on the project.

In the light of the directives of Prime Minister, Communication and Works Department and Pakhtunkhwa Highways Authority started spade work on the project and came up with three possible options.

The meeting was informed that PC-II for the feasibility of the project had already been prepared and submitted to the concerned forum.

The meeting was told that financial and commercial feasibility of the project would be completed in three months period, and the proposed Expressway will be an alternate to the existing N-45 from Chakdara to Rabaat. It will have a five kilometer long tunnel which will reduce a travel distance of 23 kilometer approximately.

Talking on the occasion, the Chief Minister termed the proposed Expressway as an important project to boost tourism and commercial activities in the region and said that on completion, the project will provide better and quality communication facilities to the people of Lower Dir, Upper Dir, Bajaur and Chitral.

He made it clear that the Expressway would be a project of the Provincial government apart from the proposed Chakdara-Chitral road under CPEC project.

He said that the proposed Chakdara-Chitral road project is intact and no funds of the project have been diverted to any other project.

He reiterated his resolve to develop all the districts and areas of the province equally and said that no injustice with regard to developmental projects would be done to any district.

He rebutted the allegations of opposition with regard to diversion of funds of Chakdara-Chitral road project to any other project and said that some political elements, through baseless propaganda, are trying to mislead the public for their political point scoring.

ISLAMABAD, Aug 10 (APP): Minister for Science and Technology Chaudhry Fawad Hussain Monday said former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had made foreign assets and properties through black money.

Talking to a private news channel, he said Nawaz Sharif had always preferred to live abroad to enjoy luxurious life.

He alleged that Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz had done corruption and money laundering of billions of dollars.

Fawad said the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was an independent institution which was carrying out accountability process against looters and plunderers without any political influence.

He said the accountability of corrupt elements was one of the priorities of the present government, adding that after recovery of the looted money from corrupt elements, it would be utilized for the welfare and development of the country and masses.

LAHORE, Aug 10 (APP): Governor Punjab Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar on Monday said the government had been endeavouring to eliminate political interference from institutions.

Speaking during a Tree Plantation ceremony at the National Motorways and Highways (NHMP) Training College, Sheikhupura, he said the nation was proud of transparency and merit in the NHMP, adding that there was nothing in life that could not be achieved with hard work.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Motorway Police Syed Kaleem Imam along with other high officials of motorway police were present.

He also announced to install a Water Filtration Plant in Police Training College by the Sarwar Foundation.

Governor Punjab Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar said strong institutions led to strong countries, adding that ever since the PTI government had assumed power, it had been trying to eliminate political interference from institutions besides taking practical steps for strengthening institutions.

The Governor Punjab said political interference destroyed institutions and then institutions did not work on merit and transparency.

He said Pakistan was on the road to economic development, adding that global organisations were also validating Pakistan’s economic development today due to CPEC.

Sarwar said, “Pakistan belongs to all of us and all of us must work for its progress and prosperity.”

He said some people in Pakistan said that coronavirus was nothing but a conspiracy. Because of the misinformation, the government had to face a lot of problems but Prime Minister Imran Khan’s strategic smart lockdown policy had effectively contained coronavirus in Pakistan. “We should continue to follow the government SOPs until we completely get rid of this deadly virus.”

Governor Punjab Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar said, “Pakistanis are proud of Rescue 1122 and Motorway Police because they are not only corruption free but these departments are working on the principles of merit and transparency.” He said a progressive Pakistan was the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan, adding that the Prime Minister had always done what others thought was impossible to do.

He said the Moodys had maintained Pakistan’s ranking as stable which was a sound evidence of successful economic policies of the incumbent government.

“I appreciate and congratulate Usman Dar and his team for the successful tree plantation campaign as tree plantation is vital for the survival of our future generations,” he said.

IG Motorway Police Syed Kaleem Imam said over 25,000 lives were lost due to road accidents every year in Pakistan, adding that Motorway Police always tried to ensure safety of those who traveled through motorways.

He said, “Motorway police are completely corruption free and we are ensuring merit and transparency on every level.”

Earlier, Governor Punjab Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar launched a plantation campaign by planting a sapling in NHMP Training College.

ISLAMABAD, Aug 10 (APP): Adviser to Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan Monday informed the National Assembly that for the first time transgender community had been included in Ehsaas Emergency Cash programme.

Responding to a calling attention notice regarding violent attacks on transgender community across the country, he said, transgender had been made part of Ehsaas programme which was big development and Prime Minister Imran Khan had also constituted task force working for them and special quota had also been allocated for them.

Parliamentary Secretary for Human Rights Lal Chan said that only three cases of violence against transgender in federal capital had been registered during last three years.

He said that cases had been registered against the accused and were pending in the courts of law. He said that the government had also made a law; Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill 2018.

Transgender will have the right to vote in all national, provincial and local government elections and they will not be discriminated against in their pursuit of a public office.

The government will establish a safe house for transgender and provide them medical and educational facilities and psychological counselling.

He said that the total population of the transgender was about 10400 in the country.

The government was also establishing protection centers which would be operational by the end of current year, he added.