ANKARA, Dec 1 (AA/APP):Türkiye’s foreign minister on Wednesday inaugurated a Turkish honorary consulate general in the city of Lodz, central Poland.

                                “This is our fourth consulate general in Poland and we aim to open our fifth consulate in Gdansk in the near future,” Mevlut Cavusoglu told the opening ceremony, also attended by Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau.

                                He said regional countries Poland and Türkiye have been most affected by the conflict in Ukraine, and thanked Warsaw for hosting Ukrainian refugees since the war in February.

                                Cavusoglu hailed bilateral ties, saying the relations “are advancing and developing in every field, and we will further deepen our cooperation.”

                                For his part, Polish diplomat Rau emphasized the importance of the honorary consulate general and said his country also has four consulate generals in Türkiye.

                                He noted the “great affection” and outstanding ties between the two countries, and thanked Türkiye for its efforts in reaching the landmark grain deal, which resumed food exports from three Ukrainian ports.

                                Earlier, Cavusoglu attended the inauguration of the Union of International Democrats’ (UID) new chapter in Romania’s capital Bucharest.

                                Saying that the UID is now present in at least 32 countries, Cavusoglu said the group provides “very important contributions” to diplomacy in the countries it is active in.                                 Founded in 2004, the UID works to ensure political, administrative, and economic participation of European citizens with Turkish background/citizenship

ISLAMABAD: Russia refused to give Pakistan a 30-40% discount on Russian crude oil, saying that it could not offer anything right now as all volumes were committed, The News reported Thursday. 

The Pakistan delegation — comprising of State Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik, joint secretary and officials of the Pakistan Embassy in Moscow — asked for a discount during talks in Moscow.

The talks ended with no cogent conclusion but the Russian side promised to consider Pakistan’s demand and to share its mind later on through diplomatic channels.

However, sources said that Russia can offer crude at the rates it is providing to its large client countries, which are reliable and sound economies, at a suitable time. Right now all volumes are committed with big buyers, they said.

The Russian side asked Pakistan to first honour its commitment to the flagship project of the Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline to be laid down from Karachi to Lahore, Punjab. 

The Pakistan side during the talks mentioned its desire to change the model of the PSGP project. The Russian side said that the model of the project under GtG arrangement has already been finalised and only some clauses of the shareholding agreement were yet to be finalised.

Pakistan’s official delegation left for Moscow on November 29 on a three-day visit for talks with the Russian authorities to explore possibilities of import of crude oil at a discounted price, mode of payment and shipment cost. 

According to industrial ministry sources, Russian crude oil can be processed in Pakistan’s refineries, and in the past one private refinery had used Russian crude oil to deliver finished products.

England have posted a humongous 506 runs for the loss of four wickets on day one of the first Test against Pakistan at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Four England players scored centuries as Pakistan struggled to pick up wickets during the day.

Playing XIs

England: Ben Stokes (c), Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (wk), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Ollie Robinson, Jack Leach, James Anderson.

Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Imam Ul Haq, Azhar Ali, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Agha Salman, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Ali, Zahid, Mahmood

DNA

ISLAMABAD:  Islamabad Institute of Conflict Resolution (IICR) organized a policy conclave here in Islamabad, titled “CPEC’s Defining Moment: Prospect and Challenges”. The eminent speakers included Prof. Dr. Azhar Ahmad; Prof. Dr. Tahir Awan; Dr. George I. H. Cooke; Mr. ShahidRaza; Mr. Hassan Daud; and Mr. Javed Iqbal.

Dr. Azhar Ahmad moderated the session.Chinese Deputy Head of Mission Ms. Pang Chunxue was the chief guest of the policy conclave.

In his opening remarks Dr. AzharMahmood said that CPEC is an opportunity which was harnessed as a result of Pakistan’s geo strategic location. Due to the same reason, it has vital importance in China’s One Belt One Road Initiative because it is the enriched and shortest route of east west connectivity providing connectivity to not only region but civilization.

The First Speaker on the panel was Dr TahirAwan who focused political aspects of CPEC. There are challenges and we must deal with them said Dr. Awan. Pakistan needs to take some ideas from its Chinese friends and that is what CPC is focused on “Modernization”. Pakistan can also use and implement the idea in its own requirement, Pakistan needs modernization in order to carry on with the emerging world or else be obsolete.  Adding further he said that there is a need to link industry and institute in order to solve the challenges, Pakistan needs to institutionalize the challenges to CPEC.

Joining from Sri-Lanka,Dr Georgehighlighted that every country is unique in its outlook and none should be looked as a replication of the other rather unique relationship it has with the international community. Adding further that no country is isolated today due to its dependency on trade and China is effectively working on enhancing bilateral relations based on mutual trade. Asia has a major role in world due to huge population bulge it has. Dr. George further said that the coming century is Asian Century in which Asia would be economic centre of world and Beijing plays a significantrole as it borders south Asia which is extremely significant for its international relations.

The next speaker on the panel was Mr. Dawood Butt. Mr. Dawood said thatemerging world is talking about more politics than trade and in these times Pakistan should feel proud of CEPC rather being skeptical about it, we should introspect but not be skeptic about its productivity and benefit for Pakistan because China is leading in GDP and Pakistan is no 1 recipient of China FDI.  We need to remove bottlenecks for seamless functioning of CPEC. There is institutional consensus that CPEC is necessary to Pakistan. geography is important but history is equally important and Pakistan need to learn from Chinese history which is full of resilience.

Speaking next Mr. Shahid Raza said that threat and sanctions had not helped the world and will not in the future as well. After WW-I Germany was put under sanctions and it culminated into another world war. The problem is that we have learned from history that we never learn from history. War, threats has always resulted in destruction and decimation. Adding further he said that Pakistan’s biggest struggle is its internal political battles which halts national growth. CPEC will happen amid all the challenges it faces, it may take slightly longer but it will be accomplished said Mr. Raza. Furthermore, he said that China is inseparable part of south Asia. And Asian region despite land borders is the least connected region. We need to be connected and expand the horizons of BRI.

The last speaker on the panel was Mr. Javed Iqbal who highlighted the technological aspects of CPEC. Mr. Iqbal highlighted that the foremost need of modern world is nowhere to be seen in CPEC project. Digital infrastructure is the next frontier and Pakistani government has paid little heed to the digital and technological prospects of the project. Contrary to this China has been proactively modernizing its infrastructure through employing technology.

The session was concluded by Ms. Pang Chunxue, Deputy Head of Mission, Chinese Embassy. In her concluding remarks, she expressedher heartfelt gratitude to the guests and organizers, for their efforts and contributions to promoting China-Pakistan relations and cooperation. She also said that DuringPM Shahbaz Sharif’s meeting with President Xi, President Xi underscored that China will continue its fundamental policy of opening-up and provide new opportunities to Pakistan and the rest of the world through continuous development. She emphasized that China will further deepen synergy between its development strategies and those of Pakistan. The two sides will make full use of the Joint Cooperation Committee of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), advance CPEC with greater efficiency, and make CPEC an exemplar of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation said Ms. Pang. While highlighting the benefits of CPEC she said that the landmark project of the BRI, CPEC has achieved fruitful results, bringing in 25.4 billion USD in investment, helping to add 6040 MW of electricity, 886 km of core national transmission network and 510 km of highways. Under the promotion of CPEC, Pakistan’s energy shortage has been greatly addressed, transport infrastructure has been improved, and local people have gained a large number of employment opportunities. Lastly, she said that China will always put Pakistan as its priority for cooperation and work in joint hands to address various risks and challenges at the regional and international levels, deepen the China-Pakistan all weather strategic cooperative partnership, and build a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era!

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Thursday said that the involvement of TTP militants in terror activities inside Pakistan should be a matter of concern for the Afghan Taliban and it is dangerous for regional peace.

The federal minister was speaking to the media in the federal capital after attending a meeting to review the overall security situation in the country following a suicide attack in Quetta.

Rana Sanaullah said that the rise in terror activities is alarming but the situation is not out of control. He asked the provincial governments of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan to address it before the federal government takes the matter in its hands. 

“TTP is enjoying all sorts of facilities in Afghanistan,” the minister said, a day after the banned outfit claimed the Quetta attack in which a policeman, a woman, and two children were killed, while 26 people, including 23 cops and two children, were injured.

The interior minister said Pakistan has been extending every possible assistance for peace in Afghanistan.

“KP CM was not allowed to attend meetings chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif related to law and order,” the minister said and told the chief minister that certain things are above politics because the state is more important. 

He said the federal government is keeping a check on the security situation across the country and our security forces are fully capable of dealing with any challenge.

Turning to the domestic crisis, the PML-N leader said that “a group led by a crazy person is bent upon creating anarchy in the country”.

Rana Sanaullah said that they are making every effort to destabilise the country. 

“Economy can not strengthen when there’s political uncertainty in the country. When they [PTI] were in government their agenda was to eliminate Opposition and now they are trying to destabilise the country.”

He said that the PTI’s announcement to quit assemblies is part of the plan to trigger a crisis. “If you don’t want to be part of this corrupt system then you should opt-out of Senate, AJK, and Gilgit Baltistan assemblies as well.”

The minister said that elections will be held only on Punjab and KP assembly seats while the general election will be held on time.

“Announcement to dissolve assemblies in rallies is unconstitutional and undemocratic. We will try to stop the assemblies from being dissolved,” he added.

DNA

ISLAMABAD: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, H.E. Jemal Beker Abdula on Thursday said Ethiopia was keen to help the government of Pakistan in addressing the climate related issues which had caused great economic and human loss to the country in the form of floods in the recent past.

“We are ready to exchange knowledge, ideas and initiatives with the government of Pakistan by signing agreements on climate action,” he said during a meeting with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister and Minister of State. Romina Khurshid Alam here at the Prime Minister’s Office.

The ambassador briefed RominaKhurshid on the Green Legacy Initiative which was a brainchild of Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ali Ahmed.

He said the initiative had brought green revolution in the country through attitudinal, behaviour and cultural change. Under the Green Legacy Initiative, Ethiopia had planted some 25 billion seedlings in last four years to address climate issues out of which 500 million are avocadoes, mangoes and papaya, he added.  

H.E. Jemal Beker said the climate change was not a myth but a reality and Pakistan needed to build a resilient economy by addressing its climate related issues. “I have visited the flood affected areas in Sindh where I met with flood affected people and distributed relief items among them.”

“Sharing their pain in such trying times is very important for me,” he remarked.

The ambassador also requested Romina Khurshid, who is also Convener National Parliamentary Task Force on SDGs, to play a role in getting scholarships for the Ethiopian students in the prestigious universities of Pakistan.

To this end, the Convener National Parliamentary Task Force on SDGs assured the ambassador of her full support in joint climate actions and getting scholarships for Ethiopian students in the Pakistani varsities.

The ambassador also informed Romina Khurshid about the business opportunities for Pakistani businessmen in Ethiopia and invited her to be part of the Pakistani business delegation flying to Ethiopia by the start of next year.

Romina Khurshid said she would be organizing a conference for promoting connectivity between the African region and Pakistan. She invited H.E. Jemal Beker to the conference as well. Both officials agreed to promote the mutual and collective interests of the two brotherly countries. 

Islamabad: 1 December, 2022 Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has visited the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad today to condole the death of former Chinese President Jiang Zemin.

The Prime Minister met the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan H.E Nong Rong and expressed his deep grief on the death of the former Chinese President.

Late Jiang Zemin will always be remembered as a great leader: Prime Minister

He played a very important role in strengthening Pakistan-China relations: Prime Minister

Late President Jiang Zemin’s role in China’s development was pivotal: Prime Minister

The Prime Minister also penned his comments in the condolence book.

Prime Minister visits Chinese Embassy

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb says Pakistan has become the fifth-largest country in the world

Mahnoor Ansar

          ISLAMABAD, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Thursday suggested that provinces should set up separate ministries to control the growing population. 

In her speech at the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Population Council, she said the National Emergency Plan will be given soon to address the growing population issue.

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif had called a meeting of the National Task Force next week, she said adding that provinces had representation in the task force. “This year, the population of the world has reached 8 billion and that of Pakistan has reached 23 million,” said the minister.

Pakistan’s population, she said, had increased from 30 million to 230 million in 75 years, and by 2030, the population of Pakistan was expected to be 263 million and in 2050, it is expected to reach the figure of 338 million.

In terms of population, she said, Pakistan had become the fifth-largest country in the world. The minister said that population growth was as alarming as the destruction caused by climate change. She said Pakistan’s population was growing at a rate of 2 percent per year.

“When the population increases, problems like education, health, and public services also arise,” she maintained.

After the Eighteenth Amendment, issues like education, health, and public services were the responsibility of the provinces, Maryam Aurangzeb said. To deal with these problems, the issue of increasing population had to be dealt with, the information minister remarked.

She said there was a need to create a national narrative on these issues of national importance and all stakeholders should be involved in the formulation of the narrative.

There should be an open discussion on such issues at the government level, and everyone has to play a role in finding a solution to them, she said.

As a result of a natural calamity of a flood, the nation recently faced great destruction and people of all ages including children and women in Pakistan were severely affected by the devastating floods.

The minister said that goals were clearly defined in the declaration adopted by the National Conference held in the Parliament in the past and the declaration was also signed by the provinces.

“These goals and recommended measures need to be revived. We could achieve the desired goals with policy-making, legislation, and narrative formulation,” Marriyum Aurangzeb said.

In the past, the planning department has done a great job and played a key role in creating the public awareness of the issue, she said.

Minister of Information assured all possible support to the Population Council in creating awareness about digital media and creating a narrative regarding the growing population.

                ISLAMABAD, Nov 28 (DNA):The government has released a sum of Rs 27,220.10 million for various projects of the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) and Pakistan Electric Supply Company (PEPCO) under the Annual Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) during the first quarter of the current fiscal year 2022-23.

According to the data of the Planning Commission, the government had allocated Rs 42,983.26 million for various NTDC/PEPCO projects with Rs 20,773.43 million foreign aid component. A sum of Rs 24,374.66 million has been spent so far on various projects.

The government had specified a sum of Rs 7500 million for the Interconnection of Makran Network, Rs 2,000 million for 220 kV Swabi Substation (NTDC), Rs 1,500 million for 220/132kV GIS Substation Dhabiji (NTDC), Rs 1,200 million for 500 kV Allama Iqbal Industrial City, Rs 1000 million for 220kV Haripur Substation, Rs 750 million for ABC Cable for Peshawar, Bannu Circle (PESCO), Rs 600 million for construction of 132 kV Grid Station (Khan Mehterzai), Rs 395 million for electrification works at different villages of Chitral.

For the new scheme, an amount of Rs 2,500 million has been allocated for the electricity distribution efficiency improvement project, Rs 2,000 million for secondary Transmission Lines and Grid stations (HESCO), Rs 1500 million for 220 kV Quaid-e-Azam Apparel and Business Park, and Rs 500 million for construction of 2nd Circuit Stringing of 132 kV Transmission Line (Jiwani to Gwadar).

Similarly, a sum of Rs 14,085 million has been earmarked for the installation of 2,600 MW Coal Fired Power Project Jamshoro,  Rs 7,600 million for evacuation of power from Sukki Kinari, Rs 7,260 million for provision of 50KVA T/F & HT ‘Line for De’ Rs 3,360 million for evacuation of power from 2,160 MW Dasu HPP Stage-1, Rs 3,400 million for evacuation of power from Tarbela 5th extension, Rs 2,500 million for power distribution enhancement investment programme-II, Rs 2,000 million for up-gradation/extension of NTDC’s Telecommunication and SCADA System at NPCC, Rs 1,650 million for 500 KV Islamabad West and Rs 3,000 million for evacuation of power from 1,224 MW wind power plants at Jhimpir.

 with Pak on climate action: Envoy

DNA

ISLAMABAD: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, H.E. Jemal Beker Abdula on Thursday said Ethiopia was keen to help the government of Pakistan in addressing the climate related issues which had caused great economic and human loss to the country in the form of floods in the recent past.

“We are ready to exchange knowledge, ideas and initiatives with the government of Pakistan by signing agreements on climate action,” he said during a meeting with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister and Minister of State. Romina Khurshid Alam here at the Prime Minister’s Office.

The ambassador briefed RominaKhurshid on the Green Legacy Initiative which was a brainchild of Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ali Ahmed.

He said the initiative had brought green revolution in the country through attitudinal, behaviour and cultural change. Under the Green Legacy Initiative, Ethiopia had planted some 25 billion seedlings in last four years to address climate issues out of which 500 million are avocadoes, mangoes and papaya, he added.  

H.E. Jemal Beker said the climate change was not a myth but a reality and Pakistan needed to build a resilient economy by addressing its climate related issues. “I have visited the flood affected areas in Sindh where I met with flood affected people and distributed relief items among them.”

“Sharing their pain in such trying times is very important for me,” he remarked.

The ambassador also requested Romina Khurshid, who is also Convener National Parliamentary Task Force on SDGs, to play a role in getting scholarships for the Ethiopian students in the prestigious universities of Pakistan.

To this end, the Convener National Parliamentary Task Force on SDGs assured the ambassador of her full support in joint climate actions and getting scholarships for Ethiopian students in the Pakistani varsities.

The ambassador also informed Romina Khurshid about the business opportunities for Pakistani businessmen in Ethiopia and invited her to be part of the Pakistani business delegation flying to Ethiopia by the start of next year.

Romina Khurshid said she would be organizing a conference for promoting connectivity between the African region and Pakistan. She invited H.E. Jemal Beker to the conference as well. Both officials agreed to promote the mutual and collective interests of the two brotherly countries.