ISLAMABAD, DEC 9 /DNA/ – The gatekeeping role of teachers – at different levels of education – to inoculate democracy against the threats from extremism, inculcate the democratic values of peace and harmony in youth as leaders of tomorrow, and develop their critical thinking skills as an inherent communal capacity against/ to refute extremist narratives, figured prominently in the discussions among Quetta-based faculty members. Representing different universities across Quetta, the faculty members converged at the Quetta Press Club for the Balochistan Chapter of Paving Pathways to Social Cohesion, an initiative by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS).

The Center screened four original short films during the workshop, one each on i) Equality, Diversity and Tolerance Perspectives, ii) Women Rights and Empowerment, iii) Challenges to Peacebuilding, and iv) Rule of Law and Accessible Justice.

In the discussions based on the short-films, the participating faculty members noted that the differences, a difference of understanding, & misunderstandings, if not resolved timely and respectfully, can lead to devastating outcomes. No democracy can be successful without the socio-political ideals like equality, humanity and equal opportunities for all members of the society regardless of their socio-political, ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds. The extension of acceptance and respect towards the minorities should not be determined by the choice of majority groups, instead, by the constitution and the milestones like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). We can be born to Muslims or to the believers of any other faith, that’s not our choice, but we do have a choice to deal with the people from different backgrounds respectfully.

“We are making doctors, engineers, and honing and producing other expertise in the society in an effort to respond to the market needs, but are we creating good human beings as something that our society needs?”, questioned participants. So many discriminatory attitudes living in the society are not merely because of religious differences, but happening in the cultural realm; the motivators are varied and diverse, and not necessarily religious. We are all exposed to and taught ethics, but still do not exercise ethical behavior during the course of our interactions in society. Equality is not only religious and constitutional responsibility but also our ethical obligation. Patience and acceptance are the virtues worthy of cultivation as no bigger strength and bravery than patience and acceptance. Our perceptions can be the biggest threat to us or our best opportunity, the choice is ours, what do we want to turn them into?

We must wisely choose our social media celebrities and influencers; followership of a negative influence and source of information can lead to devastating outcomes. Discussion on the challenges to women empowerment doesn’t mean the positive developments are being disregarded. It only calls for the need to respond to and address issues that still jeopardize their empowerment. Empowerment begins at home (the first academy of empowerment) where it should be taught to respect gender differences.

The indiscriminate nature of mob violence says a lot about the mentality and motivators of the unruly crowd of people exercising its use. Religious extremism is a state of mind more than the issue of religious differences. We must work at the grass root level to explain to our younger generation, our future, that everyone is equal human. What media shows us shapes our ideologies in good and bad ways, and critical thinking in the society is very important to prevent any negative influence. Rest of the onus is on opinion multiples to multiply good and nullify negative messages. Disrespect for other cultures & religions may be tolerated in the short run but it backfires badly in the long run; taking devastating toll on social fabric.

Quetta-based senior journalist Shahzada Zulfiqar and human rights lawyer and social activist Jalila Haider also joined the workshop to moderate a panel discussion with faculty members on the issues detrimental to social cohesion and role of faculty members to neutralize the threats of extremism through alternative positive narrative.

TOKYO, DEC 9 /DNA/ – Pakistan’s Ambassador to Japan Raza Bashir Tarar in a meeting with visiting delegation of Gujranwala Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Ambassador-designate, Raza Bashir Tarar emphasized the importance of finding indigenous solutions to energy, waste management & water treatment challenges faced by business communities in Pakistan.=DNA

President Dr Arif Alvi Wednesday hoped that newly-appointed Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir would help reduce the trust deficit among institutions, saying the military leadership is committed to steer clear of politics.

In an interview with a private news channel, President Alvi praised the army chief and his viewpoints. “The matter [appointment of army chief] has been settled nicely for the next three years,” he said, maintaining that the COAS appointment was done on merit.

Commenting on his meeting with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan ahead of the crucial military appointment, the president said that the former prime minister was informed about being consulted after the summary is received, therefore, he added that the consultations were held accordingly.

The president, however, said that he should avoid commenting on the army chief’s appointment as this is the right of parliament.

Gen Munir was handed over the command of the military by General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa in a ceremony held at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi on November 29.

‘Double-game’ 

Regarding Imran Khan’s remarks on former chief of army staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, President Alvi said: “Khan’s comments on ex-COAS Gen Bajwa’s double-game would be based on his own experience.”

Last week, for the first time since spending three-and-a-half years with ex-army chief Gen Bajwa, the PTI chief said: “Giving an extension to him [Gen Bajwa] was my biggest mistake.”

“I would trust whatever General Bajwa said. I would tell him that both of us are [thinking about] the country; our purpose is one — to save the country,” Khan had said.

The former prime minister added that he didn’t know how he was being lied to and betrayed.

‘Dar tried to make things better’

Shedding light on the ongoing debate between the PTI and the coalition government, the president said Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has the talent to reconcile things.

“During the PTI’s sit-in [back in 2014] Dar tried to make things better,” he said, revealing that during his meeting with the financial czar today he was apprised about the economic situation.

Earlier, sources told Geo News that Dar has sought President Alvi’s help in winning over the PTI for the implementation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme.

The sources also said that the finance minister requested the president for the PTI’s cooperation in bringing political stability to the country and the implementation of Pakistan’s agreement with the IMF.

Meanwhile, President Alvi reiterated Dar’s stance that Pakistan will not default. “I gave a proposal to Dar regarding energy conservation. Markets should be closed earlier in order to save three-four thousand megawatts of electricity.”

Dissolution of assemblies

The coalition government and the PTI should sit down and hold talks about the general elections, the president added.

Earlier today, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that Imran Khan has decided to dissolve Punjab and KP assemblies within the next few days.

Qureshi revealed that the PTI wants to form new governments in the two provinces before Ramadan.

As per reports, the incumbent government and the opposition have been holding talks regarding the date of general elections as the PTI has been constantly piling up pressure on the government to conduct snap polls.

Mahnoor Ansar

ISLAMABAD, 08December 2022 –The Government of Japan extended its support to the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme by providing more than US$ 3.87 million as a grant.  The grant will be used for the procurement of essential oral polio vaccine, which will reach more than 18.61 million under five years old children in Pakistan living in endemic and outbreak districts.

The notes of the grant were signed and exchanged between the Government of Japanand the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)and between Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and UNICEF.Minister Abdul Qadir Patel, the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination and other dignitaries were present during the signing event.

“Pakistan has come a long way in the last 30 years. From thousands of children paralyzed by poliovirus in the 1980s and 1990s, we have managed to reduce the number of cases and affected communities drastically,” said Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel.Referring to the commitment of the government to polio eradication, the Minister said, “TheProgramme has successfully restricted virus circulation to endemic districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; we are committed and optimistic about eradicating polio by 2023.” The Minister extended his sincere appreciationfor the support of the Government of Japan and partners for their unwavering commitment to Polio eradication.

The Government of Japan has been supporting the Polio Eradication Programme in Pakistan since 1996. The long-standing partnerships have helped to reach millions of children with life-saving vaccines over the years.The grant and loan contribution from the Government of Japan to date has amounted to more than US$ 238.66 million dollars to support the Polio Programme in Pakistan through UNICEF.

H.E. WADA Mitsuhiro, Ambassador of Japan commended the Government of Pakistan and UNICEF for their tireless efforts in emergency vaccination campaigns in southern KP and establishing transit points in North Waziristan to limit the spread of Wild Polio Virus. He also reiterated his continuous support for eradicating poliovirus, by saying that “I would like to renew my commitment to achieve the polio-free world. Japan will continuously support the Government of Pakistan and UNICEF in this regard. I sincerely hope that the national and sub-national campaigns of the next year will be safe and successful.”

“It is very appreciative that polio program has supported the flood relief efforts in the flood affected districts. Health camps have been opened to provide basic clinical services, treatment of water-borne, vector-borne diseases and immunization for children and women of reproductive age. The Government of Pakistan, UNICEF and Japan has a strong target to achieve polio-free in Pakistan by the end of 2023. I would appreciate the continuous and unwavering leadership and commitment of the Government of Pakistan and UNICEF, with the highest respect to the frontline workers,”saidKINOSHITA Yasumitsu, Chief Representative, JICA Pakistan Office.

While polio remains a challenge for Pakistan, the country is facing extraordinary challenges due to recent floods.

“Already these children and families have lost so much, it is imperative that we safeguard them from this deadly disease,” said Abdullah Fadil, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan, highlighting the situation of children and families living in endemic and outbreak districts following the devasting recent floods. “Through the unwavering support and generosity of the people and Government of Japan, more children can now be immunized to prevent the devastation of paralysis and even death. We are now closer to securing a polio-free future for all.”

The programme has made concerted efforts, including working with families at the household level by engaging parents and caregivers and consistently focusing on persistently missed and refusal families. Over 339,521 trained and dedicated polio front-line workers go door-to-door during every national campaign and inoculate vaccines to eligible children. Despite challenges, the PolioProgramme has successfully limited the transmission of poliovirus to the endemic region of southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), which is a substantial gain.  Following the new risk categorisation, the next 13 months are critical for the Programme to sustain the gain and eradicate polio from Pakistan.The timeline for stopping all poliovirus transmission in the current global polio eradication strategic plan is the end 2023.

As a partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, UNICEF has been working with the Government of Pakistan, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, WHO and other partners to make sure the national polio eradication and vaccination programmes reach every child in Pakistan.

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The week-long exhibition is showcasing the efforts of integrating the Merged Areas into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the region’s rich culture and potential as well as Germany’s support to its Pakistan counterparts in local governance, health and education.

To mark the development cooperation between Pakistan and Germany, GIZ Pakistan and the Embassy of Germany in Islamabad jointly launched a photo exhibition on the Merged Areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Islamabad. The exhibition is being held at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) from the 8th to 13th of December.

Some 150 representatives and officials of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Government and its line departments, the German Embassy, the European Union, donor agencies, Members of KP’s Provincial Assembly, implementing and development partners, academia as well as the media attended the inaugural ceremony of the photo exhibition.

Various photographers have contributed to this photo exhibition, most notably Mr. Abdul Majeed Goraya of Peshawar and Mr. Alamgir Khan of Mohmand in the Merged Areas. Their pictures show people following their trades, earning their livelihoods and striving to provide their children with a better future. The photographs also illustrate an emerging local governance system, community development initiatives, women standing up for their rights, and improvements in the education and health sectors.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, guest of honor, Mr. Shahram Khan Tarakai, Minister of Elementary & Secondary Education of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa expressed his gratitude to the German Government and the European Union for their support to the province in various fields of development. “The Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is highly valuing the partnership with GIZ Pakistan and the joint work in areas such as good governance, education and health. This has lead to major changes in the lives of the people in the Tribal Districts and has contributed to reduce the development lag. Our cooperation has also enhanced public trust in government institutions and has helped to improve public services.” Among the important achievements, he listed improved school curricula, the training of over 5,000 members of Parent’s Teacher Councils, capacity development for over 3,000 managers in the health and educations sectors, as well as training of several hundred officials of the Local Government Department.

In his opening remarks, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mr. Alfred Grannas, highlighted that “the photo exhibition and its catalogue not only offer vibrant insights into the regions’ history, its rich and diverse culture and traditions, but also into the lives of the of the people and their development needs.” He pointed out the long-standing and successful development cooperation between Germany and Pakistan over a period of 60 years during which countless development projects have been implemented. This cooperation has over the decades been continuously adapted to meet new challenges and changing social, economic and ecological conditions, he said. “The FATA Development Programme is also an example of joint European efforts in the field of development. Over the years the program with its budget of almost 40 million Euro was co-funded by the Government of France, the Government of Switzerland and currently by the European Union.”

In his address to the audience, Mr. Karim Kettani, Head of the Finance and Audit Section at the European Union Delegation to Pakistan, outlined that the European Union’s programme “Aid to Uprooted People”, which has been implemented by the GIZ’s FATA Development Programme since 2017, has supported the KP Education Department in improving education for internally displaced and host communities in the Merged Areas. “With the programme’s support, the Government of KP has allocated 2.544 billion rupees for school improvement through community-driven development”. He added that EU support to Pakistan amounts to around 172 million Euros to boost sustainable and inclusive growth, modernizing agriculture and improving inclusive access to resources.

Mr. Irfullah Wazir, Special Secretary of the KP Local Government, Elections and Rural Development Department said that following the merger of erstwhile FATA into KP Province, the Provincial Government has been striving to bring these areas at par with the Settled Districts. “It is challenging to inspire the trust of the 5.5 million people living in the Merged Areas in the recently introduced Local Governance System. I am thus extremely thankful for the extensive support of our international partners, including the German Government and the European Union, for their contributions in making local government’s more efficient. GIZ’s FATA Development Programme has supported us in improving sector governance in the fields of health and education and in training the newly elected councillors to assume their responsibilities in developing their constituencies.”

Dr Peer Gatter, Head of the GIZ-implemented FATA Development Programme, thanked the programme’s counterparts in KP’s government and in civil society for 13 years of trustful cooperation. “We have assisted the Provincial Government in the challenging task to make the Merged Areas’ integration into the Province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa a success. With development plans launched for all administrative divisions of the Merged Areas, with an education strategy being implemented and the infrastructure of over 5,000 schools having been improved, with girls’ education being fostered through Parent-Teacher Councils, and with quality standards in place in health centres across the Merged Areas, I believe that together we have achieved significant results”. The aim of the exhibition, Peer Gatter explained, is to allow the Pakistani public and the donor community insights into the tribal districts of Pakistan, a region that in the national and international press alike, is often reduced to violence and conflicts. “The lives of the people, their hopes and aspirations and their struggle to develop their communities, is often forgotten”.

Dr Riffat Sardar – Chairperson of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Commission on the Status of Women in her remarks expressed her appreciation to GIZ for its support in empowering women in the province of KP.

In her closing remarks, Ms. Stoyanka Stich, Deputy Country Director and Head of the Energy and Climate Change Division of GIZ Pakistan, confirmed GIZ’s commitment to further support local governance reforms in the country.