LARKANA: August 09 – Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah talking to media persons after inspecting the flood situation in Johi FP Band. APP photo by Nadeem Akhtar
PM launches tree plantation drive
ISLAMABAD, Aug 09 (APP): Prime Minister Imran Khan Sunday launched country’s biggest tree plantation campaign targeting around 3.5 million trees in a day across the country on Tiger Force day.
The prime minister kick-started the campaign here at Korang Park where he planted a sapling. On the occasion, a large number of volunteers of Tiger force and citizens participated by planting various saplings.
The government has announced to observe August 9 as ‘Tiger Force Day’ across Pakistan when over a million volunteers along with government would plant trees as part of 10 billion Tree Tsunami initiative.
As per plan, around 2 million saplings would be planted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 1.19 million in Punjab, 300,000 in Sindh, 57,000 in AJK, 15,000 in Balochistan and 11,500 in Gilgit Baltistan.
Pakistan welcomes Afghan Loya Jirga’s advice for 400 prisoners’ release
ISLAMABAD, Aug 09 (APP): Pakistan on Sunday welcomed the Afghan Loya Jirga’s recommendation to release remaining 400 prisoners, hoping the step would pave way for early commencement of intra-Afghan negotiations. After three-day debates, Afghan Loya Jirga, an assembly of elders, chieftains and notables, Sunday recommended the Afghan government to release 400 Taliban prisoners.
The release of prisoners is part of the US-Taliban peace deal inked on February 29 in Doha to facilitate the intra-Afghan dialogue. The Afghan government has already released 4,600 inmates.
“We hope that with implementation of this step relating to the prisoners’ release, as envisaged in the US-Taliban Peace Agreement, the intra-Afghan negotiations will commence at the earliest,” Foreign Office Spokesperson said in a statement.
Pakistan has repeatedly emphasized that Afghan leaders must seize this historic opportunity and work together constructively through intra-Afghan negotiations to secure a comprehensive, broad-based and inclusive political settlement in Afghanistan.
The spokesperson urged the international community to reinforce its support for the success of intra-Afghan negotiations for sustained and durable peace and stability in Afghanistan.
“For its part, Pakistan has consistently supported an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process. Pakistan’s positive contribution to the process is internationally recognized,” he resolved.
Pakistan reaffirms its support for a peaceful, stable, united, democratic, sovereign and prosperous Afghanistan, at peace with itself and with its neighbours.
