The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday expressed its inability to conduct general elections as per the schedule if the final results of the seventh census are not provided to the body by March 31, 2023.

In a letter to the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives secretary, ECP Special Secretary Zafar Iqbal Hussain wrote: “It would be difficult for the ECP to undertake the exercise of fresh delimitation of constituencies as per Article 51(5) of the Constitution, complete other electoral activities mentioned above and conduct of General Election-2023 in time as per Constitutional mandate in case official results are not provided on or before March 31, 2023.”

He maintained that a meeting between the chief election commissioner and chief statistician was held on December 8, wherein the latter informed the former that the Council of Common Interests approved the timelines for the conduct of the seventh Population and Housing Census “digitally” in its 49th session.

As per the initial plan, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) had to provide the provisional results of the census by December 31, 2022, to the ECP, read the letter.

“In the meeting, PBS took the stance that initially PBS engaged NRTC for provision of software, hardware and allied services, however, NRTC pulled out and showed an inability to provide the services resultantly four months delay occurred,” said the special secretary.

Afterwards, NADRA was engaged for the above services. Further, the transition of government and the economic situation of the country caused further delays, read the letter.

The commission was informed that as per revised timelines the PBS would be able to provide provisional census results to ECP by April 30, 2023.

During the meeting, the PBS has been informed that the ECP time and again took the matter with the ministry of planning and other concerned authorities with the request that the final results of the census be published by December 31 to enable the commission to complete key electoral activities for the conduct of the general election.

Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal had also last month ruled out the possibility of general elections in Pakistan before August 2023.

“Also, in March or April, the results of the new census will be released. The Sindh government and the [people of the] province have a clear stance: next elections will be held on the basis of the new census.”

In case the new census is out by March or April, then the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will take at least four to five months for delimitation and the country will ultimately move towards polls in August.

“This is an administrative and natural timetable that might not change,” the minister said as he strongly opposed holding country-wide elections.

ISLAMABAD, DEC 16 (DNA) — The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is formulating a comprehensive plan for the disposal of wastes using the latest technology to ensure cleanliness, and to protect the environment.

Talking to a state media, an official of the CDA said the wastes were being temporarily and regularly disposed off in deep ravines and ditches. CDA had already acquired Sector I-12 on the area earmarked by Planning Wing, he added.

“The civic agency has initiated process for survey and study on existing waste management system and it is in the process of implementation. He further said that steps were being taken to formulate a mechanism for disposal off such wastes as per international standards of sanitation to provide healthy environment to the residents.

 “Solid Waste Management Operations in Islamabad are conducted by following the SOPs for waste management”, he added. The Sanitation Department of the CDA has also urged the general public to dispose of garbage in designated places by packing them in relevant bags. =DNA

KARACHI, DEC 16 (DNA) — Pakistan Council on Foreign Relations (PCFR)- Karachi based registered think tank- hosted a Dinner in honor of Brahim Romani Ambassador of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria to Pakistan at Karachi.

H.E. Brahim Romani visited PCFR on his first visit to Karachi after assuming the office of the Ambassador of Algeria to Pakistan. Mr. Ahsan Mukhtar Zubairi Secretary General of PCFR presented souvenir to the honorable ambassador.

Ambassador Shahid M Amin (Retd.) Chairman Pakistan Council on Foreign Relations (PCFR) greeted the worthy guests in his welcome address. Ambassador Amin highlighted that Algeria and Pakistan has been enjoying excellent relations for many decades as Pakistan played an important role in Algeria’s independence. Ambassador Amin emphasized on the need of promotion of trade activities between the two brotherly countries and making visa process more simplified for business community.

While addressing the gathering H.E. Mr. Brahim Romani appreciated the role of PCFR which serves as a bridge between the diplomatic corps and business community of Pakistan. Ambassador Romani highlighted that Pakistan and Algeria have been engaged in mutually beneficial political and diplomatic ties but there is lot of potential of economic relations which needs to be tapped.

While commenting on the efforts for promotion of economic relations between the two brotherly countries he said that Algerian mission appreciate the business related trips to Algeria and has quick visa process for members of commerce chambers of Pakistan. Ambassador Romani assured the audience that he will do everything possible to facilitate the trading relations between the two countries.

The event was attended by members of diplomatic corps based in Karachi, government officials, serving and former judges, business community, academics, and the elite of the city. =DNA

ANKARA: A commemorative ceremony was held today at Keçiören, Ankara to pay homage to the school children and staff martyred in the brutal terrorist attack on Army Public School (APS) Peshawar in 2014.

Ambassador of Pakistan Dr. Yousaf Junaid, Keçiören Municipality Mayor Turgut Altinok, diplomats from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, other embassies, officials from Keçiören Municipality and Pakistan Embassy attended the event.
Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Junaid stated that eight years ago, on the tragic day of 16 December 2014, a brazen and violent terrorist attack on APS Peshawar martyred 144 children. He noted, that day Pakistan suffered an atrocity that we do not wish upon our worst enemies. Since that day our resolve to fight terrorism has grown stronger and our armed forces have conducted successful operations against terrorism.

The ambassador also mentioned about the dossier on state terrorism against Pakistan, released by its government yesterday. The dossier highlights involvement of India in a deadly terrorist attack that took place on 21 June 2021 in a peaceful neighborhood of Johar Town in Lahore. Pakistan, with the support of its friends, will prevail over terrorists and their sponsors, ambassador underscored.

Referring to the highly condemnable terrorist attack that took place in Istanbul last month, ambassador reiterated Pakistan’s support for Turkiye in its fight against terrorism. He expressed heartfelt gratitude to Turkish brethren for solidarity and keeping the memory of martyred children alive by planting a tree in each martyr’s name.

Reaffirming strong solidarity of Turkiye with Pakistan, Mayor of Keçiören Turgut Altinok, condemned the terrorist attack and said nothing can justify such a brutal and inhuman act. He stated that the people of Turkiye would continue to stand by their Pakistani brothers in all aspects of life particularly in fight against terrorism.

Later, the Ambassador along with Mayor Kecioren and other dignitaries laid wreath at the memorial of the APS martyrs.  Trees were planted in the memory of martyred children.

Karachi, Dec 16: /DNA/ – Senator Mushahid Hussain has said that the rise of Hinduvta and extremist ideology of India’s Prime Minister Modi is dividing not only India but the whole region on communal lines, which is a dangerous trend.

He was the chief guest at the concluding session titled ‘Seeking Global Peace’ of an international conference organized by the Pakistan Institute of International Affairs (PIIA) at a local hotel here from December 14-15.

“There is a major transformation in the global balance of power and in this transformative world Pakistan has a very key role to play due to its strategic space,” said Chairman, Senate Defence Committee, Co-Chairman, International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP).

He added that now Pakistan is heading towards non-ideological post Afghanistan foreign policy after 42 years which is a good sign and more realistic.  

“But unfortunately India has an ideological foreign policy based on Muslim bashing and Pakistan bashing, for they have to win the next election,” said Mushahid.   

The first session of the second day was on Pakistan’s Foreign Policy. Russia’s Prof. Vyacheslav Ya Belokrenitsky said that restoration of direct air links between Pakistan and Russia, established in 1963 ad cut off in 1079, could give a necessary boost to friendly productive interaction.

Dr Moonis Ahmer from the University of Karachi while speaking on Post-Independence Compulsions and Pakistan’s Foreign Policy said that “crisis management mechanism in foreign policy is the need of the hour whether it pertains to Afghanistan, India, United States, Russian federation, Iran, Afghanistan and so forth”.

Ambassador Zamir Akram, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said “In the post-Cold War world, increasing geopolitical confrontation between the major powers has accentuated the divergence between Pakistan and the US while Sino-Pakistan convergence has increased. Such convergence is critical not only for Pakistan’s security but its economic development as well”.

The second session of the day was about Pakistan’s Security Challenges. Dr Ashfaque Hasan Khan from NUST said that neo-liberal economic policies have severely jeopardized democracy in developing countries, including Pakistan, and have damaged democracies in countries which have implemented IMF supported structural adjustment programmes.

Imtiaz Gul, Executive Director, Centre for Research and Security Studies, Islamabad spoke on ‘Countering the Threat of Terrorism’ and stated that the emergence of a new Baloch coalition called Baloch Nationalist Army and its close nexus with the TTP further underline the proxy nature of the security challenges that Pakistan is facing today.

A parallel session on Kashmir was the highlight of the second day. Altaf Hussain Wani, Chairman, Kashmir Institute of International Affairs, Islamabad delivered a lecture on Formulae for Resolving the Kashmir Issue in which he stated that empirical evidence shows that India has never been serous about resolving the dispute.

“After backtracking from international commitments on Kashmir, New Dehli invoked bilateral agreements to minimize the international community’s role and the scope of third-party intervention on Kashmir. It has since been India’s consistent position that issues, if any, between India and Pakistan should be resolved bilaterally,” said Wani.

Dr Maria Saifuddin Effendi from NDU spoke about Structured Violence in Indian Occupied Kashmir in the Last Ten Years and stated that in the last ten years India’s policies to suppress and violate human rights are an indication of the systematic genocide against the Muslims of Kashmir.

The third session of the second day was about Troubled Relationships. Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani, former Foreign Secretary of Pakistan, spoke about ‘Are India and Pakistan Destined to Remain in Perpetual Hostility?’ and stated that although issues between Pakistan and India are complex and longstanding, progress is possible provided there is political will and commitment at the highest level.

The fourth session of the day was about Pakistan’s Economy and Connectivity. Dr Kaiser Bengali, Adviser to the Chief Minister of Sindh for Planning & Development delivered a lecture on Gwadar, CPEC and National Development.

He stated that given the absence of surface or underground water sources, desalinating water from the sea appears to be the only option which is exorbitantly costly and, if charged at full cost, likely to render economic activity unfeasible.

A roundtable on Seeking Global Peace was also held and the participants included Dr Jehan Perera from Sri Lanka, Dr Saba Gul Khattak from World Bank, Dr Farhan Hanif Siddiqi from Quaid-i-Azam University, and Dr Irina N. Serenko from Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow

In the end, Chairperson PIIA Dr Masuma Hasan in her Farewell Remarks thanked all the participants for making the conference a great success.  

From Qazi Shoaib Khan

ATTOCK, DEC-16: /DNA/ – The higher authorities kept mum over the mushrooming growth of encroachments on the state land within the jurisdiction of the municipality of Attock, Hazro as well as along the inter-provincial route of Punjab-KPK near Hassanabdal, Hattian,  green belt Kamra Cantt, Gondal Mondi up to Attock Khurd causing huge financial loss to the national exchequer ignoring directives of the Government to retrieve occupied land from the clutches of the influential “Bhatta Mafia”.

During a detailed survey, it has been revealed that the commercial plazas, filling stations, restaurants, shops, private buildings worth of rupees millions illegally constructed by the land grabbers in flagrant violation of the Punjab Development of Cities Act, 1976, Punjab Building and Zoning Regulations 2007 even without getting any formal NOC from the Ministry of Defense, NHA, District Administration, NH&MW Police, Cantonment Boards, Provincial Highways Department, Public Health Department and Police.

Earlier, in a massive operation of the Tehsil Municipal Administration of Hazro jointly carried out by the Punjab Highways department, public health engineering department, district administration and police demolished the scores of fences, sheds and other encroachments including sunshades, grills, walls and extended portions of shops with heavy machinery while meat stalls, cabins and pushcarts on footpaths were also confiscated which were causing traffic gridlocks besides nuisance for the general public on major roads near Hattian chowk, Jehanian chowk, Tarbela Chowk, Fawara Chowk, Toll Tax Plaza, Dua Chowk, Stadium Chowk and Gondal Mandi Chowk. The anti-encroachment team also removed cement slabs from rain drains placed by owners of meat shops.

The unbridled encroachers are also razing illegal shopping plazas along the inter linked road of Gondal Hazro with the blessing of Revenue Department, Tehsil Municipal Administration, Punjab Highways department through their front men involved in the real state business. 

The state land of Gondal Mandi  being a trade hub having population of more than 10 thousands is also a focal inter-linked point with more than 84 villages of Tehsils Hazro and Attock is situated along the inter provincial bordering route of KPK-Punjab contributing more than Rs.200 millions per annum to the budget. 

Unfortunately,  the state land within the prescribed limits of National Highways Authority is being frequently grabbed  by the”  Qabza Mafia” for unlawful and authorized construction of  plazas, filling stations,  car washing service decks, restaurants, tea stalls,  shops, car parkings,  adjacent with the Grave yard,  Rural Health Centre, Cattle lock up, Govt Boys School, Police Chowki, Service road, up to Nallah Chail Bridge with the connivance of their abettors .

The flow of traffic usually remains blocked specially during the weekly cattle market on every Monday  whereas the  mobile squad of local police and motor police on duty seems helpless due to mushrooming growth of encroachments. Even, the Bus Bays and foot paths of both sides are occupied by the illegal parking of public transports causing public nuisance besides fatal accidents of the senior citizens, women, children and general public at large.

On the other hands,  life threats of Dengue virus are also hovering on the drainage system near foot path of  Bus Bay  chocked by the encroachers leading towards Nallah Chail resulting the redundant raining water spread over the link roads of the main National Highways.

The complaints of encroachments in this area reached at the alarming situation within a few months under the shelter of the  influential racket while the issues were also reported to all the relevant authorities through written, media, and other forums but nothing could be heard till to date with the obvious reasons.

The socio-political and general public of the area demanded of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Chief Minister of the Punjab and other helm of affairs of the country with the humble request to kindly look  into the consideration besides taking strict action against the delinquents posing life threats to common people as and financial loss to the national exchequer since long in particular.

The socio-political circles of the areas told this scribe that an active campaign against the illegal occupants was launched by the district management of Attock to take over  the state lands from the possession  of the influential land grabbers throughout  the district in line with the other parts of the country in pursuance of orders 2018 of the Hon’able Supreme Court of Pakistan.  However, the drive was held in abeyance due to some political pressure being genuine issues of public importance. 

Meanwhile, the Director National Highways Authority Maintenance Division Rawalpindi Mr. Inam ur Rehman and Assistant Director Raja Obaid while giving their version on these multiple complaints told that the entire case was forwarded to the District Administration Attock for demarcation of the state land before taking further legal action, accordingly.

DNA

BEIJING, Dec 16: China-Pakistan relationship has proven to be time-tested and unbreakable, and has grown stronger with each passing year. In recent years, bilateral cooperation between China and Pakistan has increased many-fold in all fields, especially in the areas of science, technology, economy and education.

This was stated by Prof. Akram Muhammad Shaikh, Director General of Pakistan Scientific and Technological Information Centre (PASTIC), at the online launch of a book on China-Pakistan friendship, according to a report published by Gwadar Pro on Friday.

Titled ‘In Quest of Knowledge’, the book is a compilation of the stories of 20 Pakistani scholars during their student days in China.

Speaking at the launch, the professor also highlighted that around 274 Chinese universities offer scholarships to international students each year, as reported by the China Scholarship Council. 

Currently, almost 28,000 Pakistani students are enrolled in several Chinese universities, benefiting from the world-class arts, intellectual and academic facilities. 

The rise in the number of students from Pakistan is mainly due to a series of policies introduced by the Chinese government.

The event was organised by the Pakistan Study Center at Beijing Technology and Business University (BTBU), in collaboration with the ECO Science Foundation. 

Chairing the session, BTBU Executive Director Dr Di Yuna, who is also the co-editor of the book, briefed that Pakistani students in China are important emissaries of Sino-Pak friendship and play an important role in Sino-Pak cooperation.

“To enhance mutual understanding between the youth of China and Pakistan, we have jointly published this book together with the National Nanoscience Center of Chinese Academy of Sciences (NCNST) and  PASTIC. 

We will also present the books to relevant institutions to enhance mutual understanding,” added Di.

Dr. Kamran Amin, Postdoc of the China Academy of Sciences (CAS), who is the initiator, mentioned that college for some of the students profiled in this book was a time of intense learning, personal growth and self-discovery, where they faced and overcame challenges and forged lasting connections and friendships. 

He explained, “through their reflections, we get a glimpse into their experiences, their hopes, their dreams and their plans for the future. Their tenacity, ambition and dedication to learning inspire us. It is hoped that the book will serve as a source of information to inspire and guide more Pakistani students who want to study in China.”

In a foreword to the book, H.E. Moin ul Haque, Pakistani Ambassador to China, wrote that the Pakistani alumni of Chinese universities are serving at important positions in reputed multinational companies in China and worldwide. 

A significant number of such students are also engaged in many Chinese companies working on CPEC/BRI projects in Pakistan and thus serving as the true ambassadors of Pakistan-China friendship.

The Ambassador is hopeful that ‘In Quest of Knowledge’ would become an inspiration for many more similar endeavours and become a source of guidance for young Pakistanis who wish to embark on the journey of knowledge and wisdom in China.