DNA

ISLAMABAD, Dec. 7 – POWERCHINA has said it has donated funds, repaired roads and agricultural infrastructure and helped local employees overcome the disaster following this year’s devastative floods and heavy monsoon rains.

Since mid-June, under the influence of the monsoon season, many provinces in Pakistan have been hit by unprecedentedly severe floods.

POWERCHINA said in a statement on Wednesday that it has also played a leading role in donating money to the flood-affected people in Pakistan, and received positive response and strong support from the Association.

Giving details of the aid and relief activities, it said the first batch of donations was raised on 26 August for the flood-affected Pakistani brothers to rebuild their homes. After the first timely donation, as the disaster continued to worsen, in response to the call of the Pakistani government, POWERCHINA made a further donation of USD 104,000 to the Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Fund on October 21.

POWERCHINA also participated in a second round of donations to the Chinese Embassy and APCEA. The Chinese staff, enthusiastically and spontaneously donated tents worth about 2 million rupees and officially handed over to the Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry and to a Balochistan-based party at the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan on December 1.

In the face of the sudden flooding, Diamer Basha Dam Project was also seriously affected by the flooding.

The project department responded quickly to the flooding, and after surveying the affected site, formulated a relief plan and sent a rescue team with excavators and other large machinery and equipment to participate in the rescue and relief work, helping local villagers to clean up the collapsed road sections, to remove the hazards off the road and backfill the irrigation canal foundation. After four days of reconstruction, the 8 km collapsed roads were cleared and the main road to the nearby villages was restored, thus helping the locals to get out of the trouble.

Affected by secondary disasters such as landslides and triggered by floods, many sections of the Karakorum Highway, the main road to and from the project construction site, were either eroded or actively closed, and the construction and logistical materials required for the project could not be delivered to the site for quite some time.

The project manager said, “The tougher it is, the more courageous we have to be.” Despite the extremely difficult times, the project is still actively assuming social responsibility, demonstrating the responsibility and commitment of a “great power”. “Our ability is limited, but we want to do our bit to help this country”. The project staff said.

In addition, POWERCHINA has taken an initiative to collect and understand the disaster situation of local employees and their families, and has helped near one thousand employees to return to their hometowns. For the hundreds of employees who could not return to their hometowns due to road blockage, POWERCHINA has provided free accommodation and food to relieve their worries.

ISLAMABAD: A first information report (FIR) was registered Tuesday against the gruesome murder of Arshad Sharif on the Supreme Court’s orders — almost over a month after he was killed in Kenya.

Three people — Waqar Ahmed, Khurram Ahmed, and Tariq Ahmed Wasi — have been nominated in the FIR registered at Islamabad’s Ramna Police Station on the complaint of Station House Officer (SHO) Rasheed Ahmed.

The development comes hours after the court ordered the government to register an FIR of the journalist’s murder and submit the report of the fact-finding committee as well.

Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial — heading a five-member bench including Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar — issued the directives earlier today during the hearing of the suo motu notice of the journalist’s killing.

“The journalist community in the country and the public at large are deeply distressed and concerned about the death of the senior journalist and are seeking the court’s scrutiny of the matter,” the apex court said as it announced the suo motu action. 

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and other political parties have constantly been asking the Supreme Court to look into Sharif’s death.

Prime Minister Shehbaz had also written to the CJP for the formation of a judicial commission to investigate Sharif’s killing. A demand was also made by the slain journalist’s mother. 

Sharif was killed on the night of October 23 in Kenya by the Kenyan GSU officers in mysterious circumstances as he was being driven to Nairobi.

The Kenyan police have claimed that the journalist was shot in a case of mistaken identity, however, the details that emerged later contradicted the claims.

The Pakistani government had formed a two-member team, including the Federal Investigative Agency (FIA) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) officials, to probe the murder.

The team travelled to Kenya and UAE to gather evidence and prepared a report, which has been submitted to the Interior Ministry.

KARACHI, Dec 06 (DNA): Consumers in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces are likely to face 16-hour gas outages this winter season, whereas, the SNGPL MD unveils a new schedule.

Gas outages are likely to intensify in Punjab and KP provinces.

The Managing Director of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) Ali J Hamdani said, “Only eight hours of gas will be supplied to domestic consumers in the span of 24 hours across Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).”

While speaking to the media in Lahore, Ali J Hamdani blamed Ukraine and Russia for the gas crisis saying, that the increase in RLNG price in the global market was the outcome of the Ukraine-Russia war, which affects the supply across Pakistan.

Not much RLNG could be bought this year, due to the expensive RLNG in the global market. Meanwhile, people are installing compressors and stealing gas worth billions.

MD SNGPL urged that gas prices should be increased as they are unable to purchase expensive gas and resell it at a low price.

“We are not cutting off the gas at industries but we are just putting a ban on new connections due to ongoing crisis,” Hamdani stated.

While talking to the media, MD Hamdani announced the daily schedule of the gas supply.

“Despite the crisis, domestic consumers will receive gas three times in 24 hours from 6 am to 9 am, 12 noon to 2 pm and 6 pm to 9 pm.” DNA

ISLAMABAD, DEC 6 /DNA/ – Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will pay official visits to Indonesia and Singapore from 7-9 December 2022.

In Bali, Indonesia, the Foreign Minister will hold a bilateral meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi. He will participate in two multilateral events: i) 15th Bali Democracy Forum; and ii) International Conference on Afghan Women’s Education. 

In the 15th Bali Democracy Forum, Foreign Minister will underscore Pakistan’s commitment to democratic values and the importance of democracy in responding to modern day challenges. At the International Conference on Afghan Women’s Education, he will highlight Pakistan’s efforts for lasting peace and development in Afghanistan, including the importance of equal access to education for all segments of society.

In Singapore, the Foreign Minister will hold a meeting with Foreign Minister H.E. Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan and call on President H.E. Ms. HalimahYacob. A wide spectrum of bilateral relations will be discussed during these meetings.

Foreign Minister’s visits to Indonesia and Singapore are a reflection of the high priority thatPakistan accords to its relations with ASEAN countries, and its commitment to further strengthen relations with Indonesia and Singapore in all areas of mutual interest.

ISLAMABAD, DEC 6 /DNA/ –  It is a matter of great satisfaction for me that Pakistan Navy is holding its fifth Maritime Security Workshop 2022 (MARSEW-5) at Pakistan Navy War College Lahore. The Workshop has become an annual signature event of Pakistan Navy since 2017. It is heartening to know that MARSEW has evoked growing interest and traction in the academic circles and at the institutional level. Such an initiative was needed to fill the gap in the maritime awareness at the national level which is in sync with the demands of fast changing global trends.

Understanding Oceans and allied issues are assuming centre stage in global geopolitics and economic security of nations in the 21st century. Pakistan cannot remain oblivious to the demands of Blue Economy or the developments taking place in the Indian Ocean and adjoining waters. The country’s economic future is inextricably linked to the sea which serves as mankind’s last reservoir for sustenance. Claims and counter claims over sea resources are spawning friction as never witnessed before. This is so despite oceans and seas are regarded as the common heritage of mankind.

The ongoing developments in the Indian Ocean have direct bearing on Pakistan’s maritime affairs. National Security Policy of Pakistan (2022-2026) charts a paradigm shift from geo-strategy to geo-economics thereby prioritizing economic and human security as dominant aspects in the overall scheme of national security. In this context, exploitation of Blue Economy for socio- economic prosperity enabled by secure maritime environment necessitates our focused attention.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal, related to oceans, requires all major stakeholders including Government agencies, policy makers, NGOs, scientists and researchers, over and above the local communities to step-up their efforts towards conservation and sustainable use of ocean-based resources to overcome development and sustenance challenges. This will untap the blue potential and provide an impetus to our national security pursuits. Creating awareness of our immense maritime potential and discerning its deep linkage to the national security is the key takeaway of MARSEW.

I wish all the MARSEW participants an insightful interaction and a pleasant stay with their host, Pakistan Navy War College, on behalf of Pakistan Navy.

RAWALPINDI, DEC 6 /DNA/ – Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir visited Tirah Valley, Khyber District today. COAS spent day with forward troops deployed along Pakistan – Afghanistan Border. He was brief by field commander about operational preparedness and border control measures in place as part of Western Borders Management Regime . 

While interacting with officers and men, COAS praised them for their high morale and operational readiness in the line of duty.  COAS said that State’s writ has been established due to innumerable sacrifices by tribal people and security forces. Our fight against terrorism will continue with the support of the nation till we achieve enduring peace and stability, COAS  reiterated .

COAS said that defence of the motherland will be ensured at all costs and there won’t be any space for peace’s spoilers. No one will be allowed to disrupt the hard earned gains of war against terror made thus far, COAS concluded .

Later, COAS visited Corps Headquarters Peshawar and laid floral wreath to pay homage to Shahuada. COAS was also briefed about operational, training and other matters of the formation including efforts to create secure environment for socio- economic development projects to uplift the newly merged districts.

Earlier, on arrival, COAS was received by Lieutenant General Hassan Azhar Hayat, Commander Peshawar Corps.