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11 criminals arrested

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SARGODHA, May 02 (APP):Sargodha police,after launching a massive crackdown against criminals,on Thursday arrested 11 criminals across the district.
Police said that the teams raided at various localities and held– Inam, Wasim, Rashid, Imran, Kamran, Suleman, Tahir, Kaleem, Wajahat, Nouman and Khaleel, besides recovering 2.6 kg hashish,1.3 kg heroin, 345 liters liquor,12 pistols, 4 guns, 235 bullets, 333 empty bottles and valuables worth in millions of rupees from them.
Further investigation was underway.

PM condoles over demise of UAE’s Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohamed

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ISLAMABAD, May 02 (APP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday expressed sadness over the death of Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohamed Al Nahyan, the Representative of the Ruler of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Al Ain.

“Deeply saddened at the demise of His Highness Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohamed Al Nahyan. Our thoughts and prayers are with the leadership and people of the UAE in this hour of grief,” the prime minister wrote on his X timeline.

He said that the late Sheikh Tahnoun would be long remembered for his contribution to building stronger ties between Pakistan and the UAE.

He prayed to Allah Almighty to grant eternal peace for the departed soul.

Born in 1942, the late Sheikh Tahnoun was one of the few people who, from an early age, had accompanied Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father and builder of the UAE.

The UAE government has announced a seven-day mourning on the death of Sheikh Tahnoun.

Pakistan calls for re-consideration of Palestine’s vetoed proposal for UN membership

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UN

UNITED NATIONS, May 02 (APP): Pakistan has called on the United Nations General Assembly to push the Security Council to reconsider and recommend Palestine’s application for full membership of the UN to rectify the historic injustice against the Palestinian people.

“The admission of the State of Palestine as a full member of the United Nations would constitute a concrete political step towards the two-state solution and towards rectifying the historic injustice against the Palestinian people,” Ambassador Munir Akram said in a meeting sparked by a United States’ veto, which blocked an Algerian resolution on 18 April that would have granted Palestine U.N.’s membership.

The meeting was necessitated by “the veto initiative” — the informal name for a resolution adopted by the Assembly in April 2022, titled “Standing mandate for a General Assembly debate when a veto is cast in the Security Council.”

According to the measure, which was put forth following the repeated wielding of the veto at the Council, blocking action on other situations, the General Assembly has a standing mandate to convene within 10 working days of a veto being cast in the Council.

Palestine is a ‘Permanent Observer State” at the UN, meaning that it can participate in all UN proceedings, except for voting on draft resolutions and decisions in its main organs and bodies.

In his remarks, the Pakistani envoy said, “The veto cast against Palestine’s admission erodes the credibility of the assurances that have been held out of support for the two-state solution.

“The diplomacy now underway for peace in Palestine, in Israel and the region would gain considerable momentum if the veto was lifted and Palestine’s admission to the United Nations recommended by the Security Council.”

Ambassador Akram appealed to the United Nations and the international community at large to enforce an immediate ceasefire in Gaza; guarantee unrestricted access to humanitarian aid; prevent further escalation of the conflict; provide international protection for the Palestinians; revive the peace process and hold Israel responsible for its war crimes and crimes against humanity.

“Now,” he said, “the extremist Israeli leadership is threatening an assault on Rafah which, as the UN Secretary-General has stated, ‘would be an unbearable escalation’, would have a devastating impact on the Palestinians in Gaza, with serious repressions on the occupied West .”

Ambassador Akram highlighted the plight of the Palestinian people over the past seven decades, including the denial of self-determination, expulsion from their homeland, and enduring a prolonged and brutal foreign occupation.

The Pakistani envoy condemned Israel for its recent war crimes in Gaza, which had resulted in the deaths of over 35,000 Palestinian civilians, indiscriminate bombing, and the blockade of humanitarian aid, which the International Court of Justice has deemed as “plausible genocide.”

Ambassador Akram also hit back at the Israeli representative for making wild accusations against Islamic countries.

“Let me tell the Israeli representative that the outlawed Israeli regime cannot divert attention from its crimes by leveling calumny against the Islamic countries, ” he said, adding, “Pakistan, unlike Israel, acts in accordance with international law.”

Multan’s NA-148 by-election, set for May 19

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ISLAMABAD, May 2 (APP):The by-election for the National Assembly constituency NA 148 in Multan, on vacated by Senate Chairman Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, will be held on May 19.
Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has already designated district returning officers (DRO), returning officers (RO), and assistant returning officers to supervise the electoral process, said an official of ECP on Thursday.
He said that these officials hold pivotal responsibilities in guaranteeing the fairness and transparency of the by-election, spanning from candidate nominations to result declarations.
The NA-148 constituency in Multan holds considerable importance, and the impending by-election is poised to draw interest from multiple political parties competing for success. During the February 8 general election, Gilani secured victory in the NA-148 constituency with 67,326 votes, surpassing his opponent, independent candidate Taimur Altaf Malik, who garnered 67,033 votes.

Murad chairs SDT board meeting to appoint MD from market

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Murad Ali Shah
KARACHI, May 02 (APP):Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah presided over the 5th Governing Body meeting of the Sindh Digital Technology Board, which decided to appoint a managing director of the board through the head search process from the market.
The meeting was attended by the Principal Secretary to CM Agha Wasif, Secretary IT Asif Ikram, Secretary Finance Fayaz Jatoi, Board members Jaham Ara, and (through a video link) Junaid Qureshi, Asif Peer, and Osama Nasir.
After discussion, the CM decided that the board should have a managing director, who must be appointed from the market through a head search.
He directed Secretary of IT Asif Ikarm to complete the appointment process within six weeks.
Shah directed the IT secretary to establish the office of the IT board in the market, such as at Shahrah-e-Faisal, so that they could perform in market competition.
The meeting decided that the IT board would be registered as a company. The Secretary of IT was directed to develop a plan to make the provincial government departments paperless.
“There must be an E-file system in all the departments so that a paperless digital filing system could be evolved,” he said, and he directed him to submit the proposals.

NAVTTC certified FF Steel’s Labour Force through RPL process

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NAVTTC
PESHAWAR, May 02 (APP):FF Steel, in partnership with the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC), celebrated World Labour Day by appreciating and acknowledging the hard work and commitment of its labour force in both the Lahore and Peshawar plants.
This collaborative endeavour signifies a groundbreaking initiative in the industry’s commitment to nurturing and valuing its workforce, said a press release issued here on Thursday.
Amidst an atmosphere of celebration and gratitude, NAVTTC conducted a comprehensive assessment of the labourers’ skill sets through the process of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). This approach acknowledged and validated the expertise that the FF Steel labour force brings to the table.
 The ceremony was graced with the presence of Ms. Asfa Maqbool DG NAVTTC Punjab at the Lahore Plant where 167 certificates were awarded and Director General NAVTTC Dr. Fida Bazai along with Irfan Aman, Director General (DG) NAVTTC KP awarded 73 certificates at the Peshawar plant to those who demonstrated exceptional proficiency as pipe fitter, industrial electrician, crane operator, welder, turner machinist, machinist fitter, furnace operator and machinist rolling mill, marking a significant milestone in their professional journey.
The ceremony at both plants combined hosted more than 1000 workforce of FF Steel to celebrate the essence of Labour Day.
The collaboration between FF Steel and NAVTTC marks a milestone in industry practices, as it indicates the first-ever RPL program of this magnitude between the industry and NAVTTC. FF Steel’s support for this initiative underscores its commitment to fostering a culture of continuous learning and development within its workforce.
FF Steel operates a fully automated plant managed by engineers who hold PEC certification. Additionally, its labour force has now achieved certification from NAVTTC, resulting in approximately 90% of the workforce being certified. FF Steel stands as a beacon of excellence, poised to lead the industry towards greater performance and productivity.

Prime Minister Youth Talent Handball League begins

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League
PESHAWAR, May 02 (APP):Prime Minister Youth Program Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Handball Provincial League got underway under the aegis of Directorate of Sports University of Peshawar at University Campus ground on Thursday.
Secretary Local Government, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Dawood Khan was the chief guest on this occasion who formally inaugurated the League in which five teams from as many Regions including Bannu, Mardan, Hazara, Swat and Peshawar are taking part.
Registrar University of Peshawar Dr. Yurid Ahsan Zia, Director General Sports and President KP Handball Association Bahre Karam, Director Distance Education Dr. Noorzada, Ehsanullah from England, Gul Jee and Deputy Director of Youth Arshad Hussain were also present.
The League will continue till May 5, in which two provincial teams will be selected for the national League. The National League will be played in Peshawar University in the same month. In the opening match, Mardan defeated Swat by 22 goals against 14. Secretary Muhammad Dawood Khan said that the organization of the league is welcome, which will give opportunities to the youth to express their abilities.
He said there is no dearth of talent but such talent should be given proper competition at the grassroots level besides events should be organized at the provincial and national levels. He said that such competitions should be held among educational institutions that will bring out world-class players. He said that the main purpose of educational institutions is character development of students.

PFA disposes of 1320 adulterated milk

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adulterated milk
MUZAFFARGARH, May 02 (APP):Punjab Food Authority disposed of about 1320 liters of adulterated milk after holding a picket at the main highway, official spokesman said.
The food safety team checked over 45 vehicles carrying milk during the blockade in which a mixing of undesired ingredients was unearthed.
Overall Rs. 15,000 was fined to owners of the milk vehicles.
DG PFA, Asim Javed said the traces of water and chemicals besides a shortage of essential fats were discovered in the milk while checking through the lacto machine.
He said the entire liquid was disposed of on the spot. He vowed that nobody would be allowed to play with the lives of commoners.
He said milk is essential need for the living being but some nefarious elements are out and least cared about the health of the people.
He termed the adulterators the criminals of society.
He appealed masses to cooperate with PFA’s members to deter the movement of adulteration mafia found in their surroundings.

Railways earn Rs 66 bln in nine months

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Railways
ISLAMABAD, May 2 (APP):Pakistan Railways has achieved an unprecedented earning of Rs 66 billion in the first nine months of the current financial year 2023-24, despite facing a financial crisis due to floods in the monsoon season.
“The department is expecting to generate revenues up to Rs 80 billion by the end of this financial year through the consistent efforts and hard work of the Railway workers,” official sources in the Ministry told APP.
They said that during the first nine months of the last financial year (2022-23), the department earned around Rs 39 billion, a historic increase in revenue during the same period of the current financial year (2023-24).
According to the data, they said that out of the revenue of Rs 66 billion, revenue was derived from passenger and freight trains while other sectors of the department also contributed to the total revenue.
At present, they said that Pakistan Railways is operating around 96 passenger trains, up from the previous year when 86 trains were running. Similarly, during the previous year, on average it operated 3.75 freight trains while the number reached seven freight trains this year.
The sources said the department emphasized that the issue of delay in payment of salaries to employees has now been resolved and things will be more streamlined, once work on the Mainline-I (ML-I) project kicks off.
To a question, they said that Pakistan Railways has beefed up precautionary measures to reduce passenger train accidents and only six minor accidents with no causality took place on the entire railway network in the country during the last three months.
The drastic decrease in accidents has been witnessed due to the efforts being undertaken to reduce trespassing at unmanned level crossings and unauthorized locations, they added.
“Our staff is continuously monitoring the railway tracks across the country and conducting thorough inspection of the trains as the safety of the passengers is the top priority of the department,” the sources said.

President for strict action against criminals in Sindh

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KARACHI, May 01 (APP):President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday urged Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to take strict actions against the criminals in Karachi, dacoits in Kacha area and the drug traffickers in close collaboration with the federal government and other provinces to ensure law and order situation in the province.
He expressed these views  while chairing a meeting here on security, and law and order situation in Sindh Province.
The representatives of the law enforcement agencies briefed the president about the crimes in Karachi, the Kacha area, and the overall security situation of the province.
The president called for devising a system for effective monitoring of the city’s all entrances and exits. Emphasizing the need to complete the Karachi
Safe City Project on an urgent basis, he said Police should ensure effective tracking of stolen property and take appropriate legal action in this regard.
He said all kinds of support should be provided to ensure the security of Chinese citizens. Besides, the president also stressed the need to continue the ongoing operation in the Kacha area with full force. He also directed the establishment of more Police check posts to improve the security situation of the Kacha area.
President Zardari also asked to ensure the provision of the necessary equipment to the Sindh Police with the support of the federal government. The president, emphasizing the need to expedite work on the development projects in various areas of Sindh province said, development projects on both sides of the River Sindh should be launched.
He instructed to take support from the local leaders and the community members to solve the issues of tribal and Kacha areas. He said a system should be evolved for effective communication between Sindh, Punjab, and Balochistan to prevent crimes in the country.
The president, expressing concern over the spread of drugs in educational institutions, said Karachi must be made a drug-free city.
A special law can be made for conducting compulsory tests of students and establishing rehabilitation centers, he said adding that the Sindh government should create awareness about drugs among the parents. He said proposals for necessary amendments in federal anti-narcotics laws could be made to provide jurisdiction to the police in drug cases.
Further, he said effective measures to prevent the spread of drugs in educational institutes were inevitable adding that the Police must take strict action against the drug mafia.
Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, briefing the president about the overall security situation in Karachi and the rest of the province, said that after strict actions taken by the provincial government against street crimes in Karachi, and operations against dacoits in the Kacha area, the law and order situation had significantly improved.
He informed that the number of crimes had significantly reduced during the current year as compared to the previous year.
The president was told that crimes in Karachi were less than those recorded in the big cities across the world.
The Sindh CM pointed out that the law and order situation across the province was being reviewed regularly.
He said the Sindh government was ensuring the provision of necessary equipment to enhance the capacity of the Police.
Sindh Police, he said had taken important steps to control street crime besides the law enforcement agencies were also conducting operations in the Kacha areas.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Minister for Science and Technology Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui participated in the meeting. While provincial ministers Sharjeel Memon, Nasir Shah and Ziaul Hasan Linjar also attended the meeting.