Home Blog Page 9958

Eyes of entire world focused on PM’s upcoming visit to China: Tarar

0
Eyes of entire world focused on PM's
ISLAMABAD, May 8 (APP):Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said on Thursday that eyes of the whole world were focused on the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to China.
During a meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong, the two leaders discussed Pakistan-China relations, China Pakistan Economic Corridor, government initiatives to revive Pakistan’s economy and other important issues.
During the discussion regarding Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s upcoming visit to China, the minister said that besides the ongoing projects under CPEC, new projects and investment in CPEC will also be discussed.
“The relations between Pakistan and China are based on friendship, trust and mutual respect,” he said adding the relationship between the two countries has taken the form of a comprehensive strategic partnership.
  The CPEC was an important cooperation project between the two countries and China was Pakistan’s largest trading partner.
“Thanks to CPEC, the access of Chinese products to the markets of Pakistan and Pakistani products to China has increased”,  he remarked.
Tarar said that China’s cooperation in the completion of several major projects in Pakistan under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project was enviable.
The federal minister of information also informed the Chinese ambassador about the government’s economic initiatives and the visits of high-level delegations from Saudi Arabia and Iran.
“Economic indicators are becoming positive after  the present  government came to power,” he said and added that international journals were also predicting improvement in Pakistani economy.
The Chinese ambassador appreciated the government’s economic initiatives and expressed the hope that the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would continue on the road to progress and prosperity.
The minister also informed the Chinese Ambassador about the government’s measures to protect Chinese citizens in Pakistan.
In the meeting, it was also agreed to promote cooperation between the two countries in the fields of information and culture.
During the  visit of the Prime Minister to China, the news exchange agreement between China’s news agency “Xinhua” and Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) will also be signed, he said.
  During the meeting both sides also agreed to promote cultural and educational exchanges between the two countries.
At the end of the meeting, both the leaders  expressed their determination to continue cooperation with each other in multiple sectors.

Exchange rates for currency notes

0
KARACHI, May 09 (APP):CURRENCY          SELLING BUYING
USD            280.98274.82
GBP            351.14 343.43
EUR            302.00  295.92
JPY            1.80641.7667
SAR              74.92               73.27
AED              76.50   75.33
LIBOR
LIBOR FOR CALCULATING INTEREST ON SPECIAL USD BONDS
LIBOR 1M 5.43435
LIBOR 3M 5.58483
LIBOR 6M 5.71564
US DOLLAR Indicative FBP Rates
CURRENCY SIGHT/
15 DAYS1M2M 3M4M 5M 6M
USD275.10272.65267.59263.50259.01254.55250.63
EUR 295.84293.39288.37284.35279.91275.51271.66
GBP 343.80340.77334.51 329.48 323.97 318.47  313.65

Interior Minister condemns terrorist incident in Gawdar

0
Mohsin Naqvi
ISLAMABAD, May 09 (APP):Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi strongly condemned the terrorist incident in Gwardar on Thursday.
Minister Naqvi expressed deep sorrow and grief over the killing of 7 people in the heinous incident.
He expressed his heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and said that government equally shares the grief of the bereaved families and standing with the grieving families in the hour of sorrow.
Beasts who play with the lives of innocent people do not deserve to be called human beings, said the minister in his message.
“We are committed to the complete elimination of the scourge of terrorism” Mohsin Naqvi said.

Foreign exchange rates

0
Exchange rates
KARACHI, May 09 (APP):The Exchange Rates Committee of Financial Markets Association of Pakistan issued the following Exchange rates bulletin, here on Thursday.
CONVERSION RATES FOR May 09, 2024 FOR FOREIGN CURRENCY FOR FORWARD COVER FOR DEPOSITS (EXCLUDING FE 25 DEPOSITS)
SBP SETTLEMENT VALUE DATE May 13, 2024
     USD      278.0000
     GBP      346.6382
     EUR      298.4608
     JPY        1.7894

No soft-pedaling of May 9 incidents; no absolution for orchestrators: PM

0
pm shehbaz

ISLAMABAD, May 09 (APP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday reiterated that there could absolutely be no soft-pedaling of what happened on May 9 and no absolution for those who orchestrated, supported, and assisted the attempt to damage the foundations of the nation.

On the first anniversary of the May 9 incidents, the prime minister took to X saying, “One year ago today, not only were symbols of our national pride and honor attacked, but the sanctity of our sacred homeland was also assaulted.”

“Let not the shadows of lies, hide the light of truth… Love of our country demands nothing less,” he remarked.

In another post, the prime minister had said that May 9 was a day that separated two distinct mindsets – one that sacrificed for the country and the other that betrayed the nation for personal gains.

“One year has passed, but the nation has not forgotten its betrayers and will never forget them, he added.

Israeli forces bringing war to the occupied West Bank, warns UN rights office

0
OHCHR

UNITED NATIONS, May 08 (APP): Amid raging war in Gaza, Israeli atrocities against Palestinians in the Occupied West Bank have increased substantially, a senior official with the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said on Wednesday.

“The Israeli defence force (IDF) is acting as if there is an armed conflict in the West Bank,” Ajith Sunghay, head of the OHCHR Office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, told UN News, a media website.

He said the situation there was already very dire even before hostilities erupted in Gaza on Oct 7.

Last year was the deadliest ever for Palestinians in the West Bank since the UN began keeping records in 2005, and there was also a spike in violations including settler violence, excessive use of force by the IDF, demolitions and evictions.

Demolitions were reported on Tuesday in the northern village of Furush Beit Dajan, the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, said on social media.

Sunghay said that while global attention has been focused on Gaza, the intensity and frequency of violations increased in the West Bank.

“If we talk about the number of people killed or injured, either because of these massive incursions by the IDF into the West Bank – particularly in Tulkarem, Jenin, Nablus; sometimes into Jericho and other parts as well – that spiked up,” he said.

The number of people detained has also “spiked up massively”, reaching close to 9,000, he added.

He noted that “whatever happens in Gaza has a massive impact on the West Bank,” and vice versa, “because they’re the same people”.

“We now see huge fear among the population of the West Bank, as well, on a regular basis worried about incursions, worried about raids, worried about arrest and detention, worried about settler violence and, of course, with massive significant movement restrictions, that impacts their day-to-day life.”

9th May to be remembered as a dark day in Pakistan’s history: President Zardari

0
ISLAMABAD, May 8 (APP):President Asif Ali Zardari has said that 9th May 2023, will always be remembered as a dark day in Pakistan’s history when a politically instigated mob ran amok across the country, damaging public property and military installations.
Condemning the violence, he said that the unfortunate incidents severely tarnished the country’s image, which only served the interests of Pakistan’s enemies.
The president, in his message, termed the mob attacks an attempt to challenge the writ of the state, undermine the rule of law and weaken the institutions.
He said that peaceful demonstrations and constructive criticism were the essence of democracy, emphasizing that Pakistan’s Constitution enshrined the fundamental rights of assembly and expression.
Nonetheless, he stressed the vital importance of exercising “these rights with utmost responsibility, adhering strictly to the bounds of constitutional and legal provisions”.
He affirmed that any attempt to misuse “these rights to incite violence will never be tolerated. We have never seen such vandalism in responsible democracies, with violent mobs wreaking havoc on state properties for political gains.”
The president expressed pride in Pakistan’s Armed Forces and its institutions, which had been a vanguard in defending the nation against various threats.
He emphasised that those responsible for the May 9 violence should be held accountable according to the law.
President Zardari observed that Pakistan faced numerous challenges, and such irresponsible acts by political forces not only hindered the progress achieved as a nation but further exacerbated socio-economic challenges.
“The current political situation demands that all political parties work towards promoting tolerance, democratic values, and political dialogue, and provide a clear direction to the nation.”
The president urged political parties, the Parliament, the media, and civil society to strengthen democracy by upholding the rule of law, and fostering a culture of tolerance, political dialogue and inclusivity.
He also condemned the malicious social media campaign against state institutions, saying that a mechanism should be evolved to check and counter such disinformation campaigns.
The president highlighted the need to harness the potential of youth for the country’s benefit, rather than instigating them against state institutions. He also called for collective efforts to build a better future for generations to come and putting an end to political polarization and hatred.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Qatar to visit Pakistan on Thursday (May 9)

0

ISLAMABAD, May 8 (APP): Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Qatar, Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi will visit Pakistan on Thursday, May 9, as a special envoy of the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the State of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrehman bin Jassim Al Thani.

In Islamabad, the Minister of State will call on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and on Deputy Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, a Foreign Office statement said.

Pakistan and Qatar have longstanding and multifaceted bilateral relations characterized by high-level exchanges and visits.

Using politics as cover to harm national institutions not acceptable: GB CM

0

GIlGIT, May 08 (APP): Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan on Wednesday said that using politics as a cover to harm national institutions, spread chaos, and promote hatred in the country was not acceptable.

The GB chief minister, in a statement in connection with the 9th May 2023 tragic incidents, said,” A year has passed since the darkest day when some miscreants, under the guise of politics, spread hate and violence, attacking national institutions, defence installations, and memorials.

He said every person had the right to do politics and to vote, but using politics as a cover to harm national institutions, spread chaos, and promote hatred was never acceptable.

Strongly condemning the tragic incidents of May 9, he called for strict action against the miscreants.

On that day, he said, an attempt was made to create a rift between the army and the people and politics was used as a cover for violence.

“I hope that our nation and young generation will reject this hybrid warfare and have faith in their national institutions, moving forward with positive thinking, while avoiding hate, discrimination, and violence in the name of politics,” the GB CM concluded.

PM draws line between national heroes and traitors on May 9

0
PM shehbaz

ISLAMABAD, May 8 (APP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that May 9 was a day that separated two distinct mindsets – one that sacrificed for the country and the other that betrayed the nation for personal gains.

One year has passed, but the nation has not forgotten its betrayers and will never forget them, he wrote on his X timeline.

The prime minister maintained that “on one hand, we have the great sons of the soil, their families, and the patriotic people who have shed their blood for the country, on the other hand, we have those who are consumed by the fire of hatred and have no regard for the national interests, institutions, constitution, or laws”.

“We promise to the country, the great martyrs, their heirs, and the nation that May 9 will never be forgotten”, he said adding “we must move forward, overcome the challenges, and create a bright future for our future generations”.

He said this day served as a reminder of the sacrifices made by our heroes and the treachery of those who betrayed the nation.

“Let us honor the memories of our martyrs and continue our journey towards progress and prosperity.”