ISLAMABAD: May 09 –
APP03-090524
ISLAMABAD: May 09 –
ISLAMABAD: May 09 – Farmers busy in harvesting wheat crop in their field at Chak Shahzad in Federal Capital.
Farmer busy in threshing wheat crop in his field at Gorla.
ISLAMABAD: May 09 –
ISLAMABAD: May 09 – Farmers busy in harvesting wheat crop in their field at Chak Shahzad in Federal Capital.
Tarar appeals judiciary for taking May 9 cases to logical conclusion
ISLAMABAD, May 9 (APP): Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Thursday requested the judiciary to take the May 9, 2024 cases to a logical end.
Addressing a press conference along with Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif here, he wondered what was the reason that the courts did not take these cases to their logical conclusion. He said that the evidence in the May 9 cases was clear and the identity of the attackers was known.
Even it was clear who entered inside various buildings and who stood outside and gave instructions, he noted.
Tarar said that Imran’s three sisters were involved in the May 9 attacks but none of them was booked.
Answering a question, he said that during Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf rule, instructions were issued to prison authorities to force incarcerated Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leaders to sit on the floor in the biting cold of December. Moreover, they were not provided chairs and pillows, he added.
He said that the then leaders of opposition parties and workers meted out such treatment whereas the PTI founder had a cycle for exercise, a walking gallery and desi chicken in meal.
Pakistan keen to transform Qatar ties into a robust economic partnership: PM
ISLAMABAD, May 9 (APP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that Pakistan was keen to transform its excellent ties with Qatar into a mutually beneficial robust economic partnership.
The prime minister, in a meeting with Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Qatar Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, who called on him here, stressed that the two countries should continue to work together to strengthen bilateral cooperation in all spheres of mutual interest, especially in trade and investment.
Highlighting the important role of Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), he said that Pakistan would like to see Qatar expand its investment portfolio in Pakistan in priority sectors. To this end, the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) would be able to ensure swift coordination, he assured.
Welcoming the Qatari dignitary and his delegation, the prime minister said that Pakistan greatly valued its historic, cordial and fraternal relationship with Qatar and both countries had always supported each other through thick and thin.
Prime Minister Shehbaz conveyed his warm wishes and greetings for the Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrehman bin Jassim Al Thani.
The Qatari minister of state thanked the prime minister for receiving him and conveyed a special message of the leadership of Qatar to him, emphasizing Qatar’s desire to strengthen the enduring bonds of brotherhood with Pakistan as well as its keen interest in investing in Pakistan.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs is on a one-day visit to Pakistan as a special envoy of the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the State of Qatar.
Toppling democracy, installing dictatorship, causing social unrest among core aims of May 9 attacks: PM
ISLAMABAD, May 9 (APP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday calling the May 9 incidents a revolt against the state and its institutions, said the real objective of the attacks was to topple democracy, bury the constitution, and bring dictatorship in the country besides undermining the national unity to cause social unrest.
The prime minister, chairing a special meeting of the federal cabinet held at the Parliament House, said May 9 was a black day in Pakistan’s history when the rioters attacked the defence institutions and the monuments of martyrs and Ghazis.
The evil plan of May 9 was not merely a conspiracy against Pakistan but also the state, Pakistan Army, and Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir. But thanks to Allah Almighty that design was thwarted. However, the nation wants to know as why despite a year, the culprits were not yet punished,” he remarked.
He said holding the cabinet meeting at the Parliament House aimed to give a message of unity and express solidarity with the nation’s martyrs and heroes.
The prime minister viewed that the May 9 attacks were carried out to undermine that time PDM government’s efforts to stabilise the economy, impede normalisation of strained ties with friendly countries, and cover up the foreign funding, Toshakhana, and 190 million pound corruption scams, and ensure the appointments on key posts without merit.
Exemplifying the riots in the UK and USA, the prime minister said no country could tolerate such heinous crimes against the state institutions.
He said except May 9, the politicians in the country’s history, despite facing tough circumstances, played role in pacifying the situation either through the slogan of “Pakistan Khappay” or tolerated the hardships without uttering a single word against Pakistan.
He said those behind the May 9 attacks had also hurled the allegations of “35 punctures” (a reference to the allegation of polls rigging) and made contradictory statements in cipher case, also undermining Pakistan’s ties with the United States which the incumbent government was trying to improve.
He said the nation had witnessed the May 9 riots and also those who orchestrated and executed the anti-state conspiracy with some people also confessing the same in videos.
He said even today, the anti-Pakistan propaganda was being carried out from abroad, and letters were written by some elements to destabilise the national economy.
He told the cabinet members that the government had already put the country’s economy on the course to stability and thanked the political parties for extending their support. He also expressed gratitude to the Chief Justice of Pakistan for assuring his support to expedite the disposal of tax-related cases involving Rs 2700 billion.
Apprising the members of his recent Saudi visit, he called it the “most productive and useful” visit of his life.
Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar said the Ma 9 incidents were tragic and emphasised that the nation always needed to find a correction course.
He lauded Prime Minister Shehbaz for taking immediate action and overseeing the probe into May 9 attacks.
The law minister presented before the cabinet a report of a committee formed by the caretaker government under the Interim Law Minister Ahmed Irfan on May 9 incident which clearly termed the PTI leadership responsible for the riots.
He said the PTI leadership called the no-confidence motion against its government a foreign conspiracy and the party leadership had also called for playing up the narrative.
The committee also suggested multiple actions like awareness among youth, creating national harmony and legislation on provincial and federal levels to ensure effective prosecution.
Minister for Privatisation Abdul Aleem Khan said the freedom of expression and protest were people’s right but there was always a line for the country. He said the rioters of the Capitol Hill were convicted as no one could be given a free hand in the name of freedom of expression.
In his remarks, Pakistan Peoples Party leader Syed Naveed Qamar said the May 9 incidents showed the perpetrators’ animosity against the state.
However, he called for moving ahead of the condemnations by exposing the real culprits and exonerating the innocent.
Pakistan Muslim League-Zia leader Aijazul Haq said that during his 35-year political career marking many ups and downs and agitations, no one ever fought against the country’s institutions.
“This was unfortunate and on the same day, I had called it a Black Day in the history. The perpetrators should be punished,” he said and called for uniting the whole nation on a minimum agenda for the betterment of Pakistan.
PHA to organize two-day ‘Commissioner Tent Pegging festival’ on May 11
RAWALPINDI, May 09 (APP):Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA), Rawalpindi would organize a two-day ‘Commissioner Tent Pegging festival’ at Gorakhpur Nursery on May 11.
According to Director General (DG) PHA, Ahmed Hasan Ranja, PHA would organize historic Tent Pegging competitions at Gorakhpur Nursery on May 11 and 12.
Tent pegging is a game where a person on a horse rides fast and uses a sword or a long stick to hit and pick up a wooden peg as a target.
Teams from all over the country would participate in the competitions to be held at PHA Gorakhpur Nursery.
The DG while presiding over a meeting at PHA headquarters Rawalpindi on Thursday said that all relevant arrangements were being finalized.
Ahmed Hasan Ranjha said that Tent pegging is a traditional sport that started from the 18th century and this sport presents ‘our rich rural culture’.
A large number of the players from all over the country would participate in these competitions.
These competitions are very famous in the villages and fairs of Punjab and in recent years this sport is being watched and appreciated in the cities as well.
Four robbers arrested
SIALKOT, May 09 (APP):The police arrested four robbers and recovered weapons here on Thursday.
According to a police spokesperson, Bomban-wala police station arrested
Muhammad Suleman, Kashif, Faryad Ali and Tayyab.
During interrogation, two motorcycles, Rs 80,000, three pistols and several rounds
were recovered from the accused.
The police said the accused were wanted in different cases of theft and robbery.
PUC stands with state, condemns 9th May events
ISLAMABAD, May 9 (APP): Chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) Hafiz Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi condemned the 9th May events and conveyed his solidarity with the state institutions.
“We stand in solidarity with our state, homeland, nation and army,” he said.
Talking to a private news channel on Thursday, he urged the leadership of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) to relinquish their stubbornness and obstinacy.
“It is not a weakness to admit one’s mistakes; rather, it proves strength and humility,” Ashrafi said.
He urged political leaders for unity and reconciliation to overcome differences and progress together as a nation.
Partly cloudy weather forecast for city
BAHAWALPUR, May 09 (APP):The local Met Office has forecast dry to partly cloudy weather for the city for the next 24 hours.
The highest temperature of 45 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.
FDE takes steps to reduce air pollution in Islamabad
ISLAMABAD, May 09 (APP):In a significant move to promote environmental sustainability and reduce air pollution, the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE), hosting the highest fleet of Transport, has issued a letter to all schools and colleges in the federal capital, directing them to ensure vehicular fitness and reduce the use of pressure horns in buses.
This initiative follows a meeting between the Director General of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Director General of the FDE, where the importance of reducing air pollution and promoting environmentally friendly practices in Islamabad was discussed.
The letter available with APP directs schools and colleges to take immediate action to ensure that all vehicles used for transportation are properly maintained and meet environmental standards. Additionally, the use of pressure horns in buses will be strictly prohibited.
This initiative aims to reduce air pollution, create a healthier environment for students, and promote sustainable practices in educational institutions. The FDE has also urged schools and colleges to promote environmental education and awareness among students, teachers, and staff.
“We are committed to providing a healthy and safe environment for our students, and this initiative is a step in the right direction,” said Mr. Tanwir Ahmed, Director General of the FDE. “We urge all schools and colleges to take this directive seriously and work towards reducing air pollution and promoting sustainability.”
The EPA has welcomed this initiative and has offered to provide technical assistance and support to schools and colleges to help them comply with environmental regulations.
Pakistan, China fully committed to move forward CPEC Phase-2: Ahsan Iqbal
BEIJING, May 9 (APP):Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Prof Ahsan Iqbal said on Thursday that Pakistan and China are fully committed to moving forward with the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the new government through its engagements with the Chinese leadership at senior level is trying to crystallize and define its parameters.
This is our first engagement after the election in Pakistan with Chinese leadership at the senior level. Through this engagement, we are trying to crystallize and define the parameters of CPEC on which the Chinese side has indicated its willingness to move forward. And Pakistan is also very committed to moving forward, he said in his interaction with Chinese media at the Pakistan Embassy, in Beijing during his three-day visit to China.
Prof Ahsan Iqbal said that during his meetings, both sides have discussed some high-priority and low-hanging projects which can be immediately started to give a jumpstart to the second phase of CPEC and broaden the cooperation from phase one to phase two.
He said that agriculture, industrial cooperation, and the transfer of technology are very important for us. We want to expand our cooperation to bring new technology into the agriculture sector to enhance the productivity of Pakistan’s agriculture sector.
Second, we intend to enhance industrial cooperation. Particularly, there is a strong case for relocation of Chinese industries to Pakistan, where labor costs in China have increased and Pakistan offers a very attractive environment for relocation to the SEZs that we are setting up. And that will also help us to move from agricultural economy to industrial economy, he added.
The minister said that one of the key and future goals for us is to take Pakistan from an agricultural economy to an industrial economy as fast as possible. And in this industrialization, we want to focus on exports and how to have export-led growth in Pakistan.
So, China will also help us not only with relocation, but we are also seeking technical assistance that Chinese expertise in terms of developing its own exports and special economic zones that know how we would like to benefit from. There will be more cooperation at the level of experts to help Pakistan develop its exports and special economic zones.
He said that the third area is technology because China has leadership and many new industrial revolution technologies, particularly artificial intelligence as well as IT sectors which are very important.
Pakistan’s IT sector is growing very fast and it could also contribute towards China’s digital programs. Likewise, China’s progress in artificial intelligence is very important because that is the new platform for future and digital economies.
He informed that Pakistan is also preparing its national action plan for the adoption of artificial intelligence, and we will also benefit greatly in this area from China.
Lastly, we also want to expand educational and technical exchange programs. Almost close to 27,000 students are studying in China. China has become a major destination for Pakistani students for higher education.
We would like this cooperation to further expand and also to have greater partnership or twinning arrangements between Pakistani universities and Chinese universities so that they can undertake joint research in Pakistan, he added.
Prof Ahsan Iqbal said that Pakistan also needs to have a greater understanding of Chinese markets. China imports almost 2.7 trillion dollars worth of goods from the world. Pakistan’s share is just a meager 3 billion dollars. I think we can easily expand Pakistan’s market share in China from $3 to $30 billion.
While stressing collaboration between Pakistani and Chinese businesses, he said that this is the important dimension that from government to government partnership that we saw in phase one and phase two, our priority is to move towards business-to-business cooperation as well as more private sector enterprise level cooperation between the two countries.
Responding to a question about the safety of Chinese nationals, he said that the security of the Chinese nationals and projects has been further enhanced. We have also tried to minimize their land travel from project sites. We are moving them by helicopters to give them added security. We have also now enhanced the security in terms of the support of paramilitary forces and the police, and also strengthened the SOPs and the protocols of security.
The minister said that the government is working closely with the Chinese enterprises so that they can educate their workers to follow the security protocols. A dedicated force of 12, 000 soldiers have been deployed to look after the projects where the Chinese are working. In addition, police and paramilitary forces also augment them.
We have a very high level of security apparatus, four layers of security, which we try to provide, to projects where Chinese workers are working. In the past, we have had great success from 2013 to 18 and during this period not a single incident took place.
But lately, because of the success of CPEC, enemies are now targeting it to stop the progress, but, we will together, China and Pakistan will defeat them. We will chase them and we will eliminate them. We will not let anybody play with Pakistan and China’s friendship, he added.
To a question about the development of special economic zones and incentives for investment, he said that Pakistan already has incentives in place for Chinese enterprises. When they come to special economic zones, they get tax breaks and tax holidays, and there are several incentives.
As far as the key areas are concerned, he said that the quick wins are in the agriculture sector. There is great demand for Pakistani agricultural products and meat in China. There are other products in textile that we can also now export to China. There is a copper export happening to China that can be upgraded.
He said that now government focus is on export-led growth and we are working very closely with Pakistani businesses to expand their production and have exportable surplus.
The government is encouraging all the chambers in Pakistan to have dedicated China cells for the education of the members to know what are the areas where they can export more to the Chinese market. And, similarly to have partnerships with Chinese chambers for them to know what are the business opportunities in Pakistan.
Prof Ahsan Iqbal said that a business school consortium has been set up in the last 10 years which will further be strengthened so that the business schools of the two countries can jointly undertake business studies to further research and educate the businesses on the cooperation prospects.
It has a great opportunity for Pakistani businesses to provide their services in China to companies because our cost is very low. Recently, Huawei has shifted its global support unit to Pakistan which employs almost 3000 Pakistani engineers. Similarly, there are great opportunities for Chinese companies to take advantage of the low cost of production in Pakistan.
The minister hoped that in this next phase, there’ll be greater business-to-business cooperation that will bring further stimulus to CPEC.
About the new energy vehicles and cooperation in the area of new quality productive forces such as digitalization and artificial intelligence, he said that China is a leader now in electric vehicles and Pakistan is seeking to transform its transportation sector with the help of China.
We also have set up goals to have a greater share in our transport for electric vehicles to reduce pollution in our cities, he added.
The minister said that he will be meeting some Chinese companies that are interested in setting up plants in Pakistan to manufacture EVs, automobiles, and buses. And particularly our interest is to have buses that will clear pollution from our cities, which are electric buses.
Terming it a priority item for the future, he said, we have a corridor of innovation among the five corridors. This is about technology and this is about digitization and artificial intelligence is reshaping the whole spectrum of development. So, Pakistan is also developing plans to adopt artificial intelligence in its education sector, health sector, and its economy.
We are looking forward to more collaboration with China to benefit from China’s experience because China is a leader in this area. And with the help of China, we will be able to upgrade Pakistan’s digital transformation program and make it faster.
The minister said that he is visiting China after the new government took oath of office and this is the first high-level visit to be followed by the visit of the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister and then hopefully very soon, the Prime Minister of Pakistan is also likely to visit China.
He said that Pakistan and China have enjoyed a unique relationship in diplomatic history this is a relationship that has always moved on an upward trajectory. This has never seen any autumn. There has always been spring in this relationship.
The garden of friendship between Pakistan and China in every season has blossomed with new colorful flowers of cooperation and understanding between the people of Pakistan and China and the two brotherly iron brother countries.
He said that in 2013, both Pakistan and China started a new initiative, according to the vision of President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative and Pakistan’s Vision 2025, there was a fusion of the two visions in the shape of China China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
In 2013, when we started this initiative, Pakistan was facing severe energy shortages of up to 16 hours per day. Pakistan’s economy and security situation had many challenges. We can never forget that at that time China reposed its trust and confidence in the economy of Pakistan in the people of Pakistan and started a 46 billion dollar project to help Pakistan overcome its difficulties.
Between 2013 and 18, within five years, we were able to harness over 25 billion dollars worth of projects, which helped Pakistan establish new power projects up to 8000-megawatt capacity, which helped us upgrade our logistics, construct new motorways, and highways to improve connectivity between Pakistan and China.
The Chinese support helped us develop Gwadar port into a modern port, a smart city port. It also set up and laid fiber optic cable as an information highway between China and Pakistan. It helped with several socioeconomic projects. Recently we have celebrated the decade of CPEC and we can take a lot of pride that in the decade of CPEC, the flagship project has helped Pakistan transform its energy sector, and infrastructure sectors and also created over 2 million jobs.
The CPEC has helped Pakistan acquire new technology, and new know-how, thousands of Pakistani engineers and workers were trained in these projects. And it has helped, to connect several parts of the country so that the fruits of development can be shared across various regions of Pakistan.
Pakistan has benefited from financing by China, which has been very attractive financing for Pakistan, and the whole disinformation that whether CPEC or BRI is any debt trap has nothing in reality. CPEC has benefited Pakistan’s economy immensely, he added.