Arrests and tear gas as protests against Imran’s attempted assassination turn violent in Faizabad. Protesters burn tyres outside Governor House Lahore; PTI chief to address nation shortly; 1 killed, Imran among 14 injured in yesterday’s gun attack in Wazirabad.
HEC Women Team Clinches 2 Medals in Int’l Taekwondo Championship
DNA
Islamabad, Nov 4: Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman, Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan has congratulated the HEC Taekwondo women team on winning two medals, including a silver and a bronze medal, in the Combaxx 4th Asian Open Taekwondo Women Championship.
Over 500 male and female athletes from 23 countries are competing in 16 senior and five junior weight categories in the championship being organised by Pakistan Taekwondo Federation held at Liaquat Gymnasium, Pakistan Sports Complex.
A total of six players are representing HEC in the championship. Maliha Ali of Lahore Garrison University won silver medal in under 67 KG category and Alma Shfan Alizai of National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad clinched bronze medal in under 62 KG category. Mr. Ahmed Khan Haral, Director Sports, University of Sargodha represented HEC as Manager Taekwondo women team.
“Through organising such international events, sports ecosystem can be developed in the country along with enhancing avenues of sports tourism in the country,” the Chairman said.
Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed also thanked the Government for providing conducive environment for country’s youth to outperform in every walk of life. He said that the Government is continuously supporting HEC in executing youth centric projects under Prime Minister’s Youth Programme.
HEC plays a pivotal role in facilitating universities to promote sports along with academic activities. In this regard, HEC not only organizes intervarsity championships but also facilitate players’ participation in national and international championships.
DIG Safe City assures to improve vigilance in markets and industrial areas
Islamabad, NOV 4: /DNA/ – Rommel Akram, Deputy Inspector General Safe City Islamabad Police said that the vigilance for the business community would be further improved by connecting cameras installed in commercial areas and markets with the Safe City Project to ensure high vigilance and improved security in the city. He said this while addressing the business community during his visit to Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
Rommel Akram said that the installation of more cameras would increase the coverage of key locations and help improve law and order situation in the city. He said that the safe city project regulates the different domains of the security of the city by installing security cameras at different designated locations to ensure the 24/7 surveillance of the city. He said that there are many facial recognition security cameras installed at different hotspot points of the city. He said that an Eagle Squad has been established to ensure continuous patrolling in the city. He said that community policing would be encouraged to increase participation of the community for public safety initiatives. He said that Islamabad Police is promoting the traffic and safe city education in schools to raise the awareness about the traffic rules and safety of citizens. He further said that the Islamabad Police intends to promote the student policing to control the menace of drugs among the young generation and counter its handlers and suppliers in the city.
Speaking at the occasion, Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry appreciated the efforts of DIG Safe City for connecting the cameras with the safety city project as it would improve the security situation in business areas. He said that the police patrolling in markets and industrial areas should be increased to curb the incidents of thefts, mobile snatching and other crimes in business areas and the city. He said that the security situation in the Kahuta Industrial Area is not satisfactory due to which the women entrepreneurs are feeling insecure and stressed that the police patrolling in that industrial area should be increased. He assured that ICCI would fully cooperate with Islamabad Police to make the Capital a crime free city.
Faad Waheed Senior Vice President, Azhar ul Islam Zafar Vice President ICCI, Zafar Bakhtawari, Muhammad Ejaz Abbasi, Saif ur Rehman Khan, Ch. Javed Iqbal, Sheikh Muhammad Ejaz, Maqsood Tabish, Ch. Muhammad Ali, Akhtar Hussain, Dr. Muhammad Usman, Khalid Chaudhry, Shaukat Hayat and others also spoke at the occasion and highlighted various police related issues of their markets that needed the close attention of Islamabad Police for redress.
Imran Khan to address country at 4pm, as govt questions delay in registration of FIR
Imran Khan to address country at 4 pm, as govt questions delay in registration of FIR. Asad Umar says protests will begin after Friday prayers; Sanaullah says PTI maybe trying to register FIR as per their wishes
Report calls for China’s help on climate change for countries like Pakistan
DNA
ISLAMABAD, NOV 4: China’s solutions to climate change are more feasible for countries such as Pakistan. China’s status as a developing nation allows it to relate to the realities of other developing countries and formulate a more suitable and effective plan for tackling climate change.
This as stated in a report on climate change published by KASB Securities on a climate change seminar held in Karachi ahead of the upcoming COP27, according to Gwadar Pro on Friday.
The report says, given the disproportionately high cumulative greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from developed countries in history, “the developing countries should not face undue pressure from developed nations to take drastic steps in reducing GHG emissions”.
As of yesterday, the devastating floods in Pakistan has caused 1,739 deaths, 12,867 injured, and 33 million displaced, offering a most prominent example of the massive humanitarian costs the Global South is paying for the high carbon emissions of the North.
“The people of Pakistan are the victims of a grim calculus of climate injustice. Pakistan is responsible for less than 1 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet it is paying a supersized price for manmade climate change”, noted UN Secretary-general Guterres on the General Assembly.
From a historical perspective, the cumulative GHG emissions originating from the developed world have significantly outpaced developing countries. As per IEA, from 1971 to 2020, G7 accounted for 34.5% of the world’s total GHG emissions in the energy sector. The US alone takes up 20% of the world’s total, nearly 56x higher than Pakistan.
Total cumulative emissions from US nearly 56x those from Pakistan. Source: IEA
Worse still, the economic rebound after Covid-19 led to the highest-ever level of emissions from power plants and coal consumption, pushing the CO2 emission level to an all-time high.
Growth rate of energy and process CO2 emissions 2020-21 (Mt CO2). Source: UN
Since the developed nations have taken the advantage of “taking first steps on the development ladder”, the report appeals that these countries should take greater responsibility in tackling climate change.
“With 2022 already set to become one of 10 warmest years on record, there is a dire need of increased technical and financial support to combat climate change”, the report stressed.
According to the UN Adaption Gap Report, the estimated climate adaption cost was found to be 5-10 times higher than the present public adaption finance flows.
The world expects the US and EU to deliver on the $100 billion climate finance commitment to developing countries and take the lead in emissions reduction to ensure the right to development of developing countries.
In addition, fair and reasonable reduction in emission standards should be put in place. The US President Biden has set a 50-52% reduction target in carbon emissions by 2030 from levels witnessed in 2005. But as per Emission Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR), even a 50% reduction suggests the US’s per capita emissions in 2030 would be nearly 2.2x the current world average.
US per capital GHG emissions from energy outpaced Pakistan by 17x. Source: IEA “Climate Justice”, therefore, is what Pakistan is making case for at COP27 to be held in Egypt from 6 to 18 this month, expecting “no sidelining of these pressing matters”.
“If Pakistan emits less than 1% that causes the warming that triggers such shocks, why is assistance cast in a ‘disaster aid’ or ‘begging bowl’ basket? It should not. Right now, there is no real basket of accessible funds for climate resilient recovery, let alone disaster assistance.
Since both are triggered by climate impacts, the economic buffer for countries already in debt stress should be clearly appropriated and disbursed as climate funds that are easy to access”, Pakistani climate minister Sherry Rehman once said in an interview.
Pakistan has been pouring efforts to tackle the tremendous challenge together with the international community.
According to a recent report, a Green Corridor will be launched jointly with China to focus on agricultural environment, food security, and green development, which is part of the two brother countries’ collaboration towards a green future.
In the power sector, the largest carbon emitting source in Pakistan, ambitious steps have been taken. The Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) has unveils policy for 10,000 MW solar PV energy initiative, which, according to CEO AEDB, would require $6bn investment.
“Chinese companies and banks are best suited to finance these projects as they have already been working in Pakistan for various Power Projects”, he mentioned in an interview.
By 2030, Pakistan aims for an overwhelming share of renewables in its installed capacity
On the other side, China is encouraging the participation of Chinese companies in Pakistan’s endeavor for green, low carbon and environment-friendly development, as has been confirmed in the Joint Statement between China and Pakistan released yesterday during PM Shehbaz Sharif’s state visit to China.
The Joint Statement further says, “Appreciating Pakistan’s initiative to combat human-induced climate change and China’s initiative to promote green cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, the two sides agreed to step up cooperation in such areas as ecosystem restoration and water resource management”.
UAE strongly condemns attempted assassination of former PM Imran Khan
ISLAMABAD, NOV 4 /DNA/ – United Arab Emirates (UAE) has strongly condemned the attempted assassination of Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, expressing its solidarity and standing by friendly Pakistan and its people in the face of violence and terrorism.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation confirmed that the UAE expresses its strong condemnation of these criminal acts that aim to destabilize security and stability, and are inconsistent with humanitarian values and principles.
EU envoy shocked over Imran incident
DNA
ISLAMABAD: Ambassador Of European Union Riina Kionka has said political violence in any form, in any country undermines democracy and decency.
In her Twitter message she said she was shocked by the attack on Imran Khan Chairman PTI and his companions. Violence in any form is wrong and unacceptable, horrifying in a country with this sad history. We wish full recovery for all injured, her Tweet further read.
The Pakistan-Palestinian Forum visit Palestine embassy
The Pakistan-Palestinian
Forum visit Palestine embassy
DNA
ISLAMABAD/ The Chargé d’Affairs of the Embassy of the State of Palestine to Pakistan, Counselor/ Nader Khamis Al-Turk, and the Embassy staff received at the Embassy headquarters a delegation of leaders and cadres of the Pakistan-Palestinian Forum headed by Maulana Fatihullah Osmani, who organized a solidarity visit with our Palestinian people on the 105th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration The fateful, in the name of the Forum, presented a document of censure and condemnation for the issuance of the Balfour Declaration emphasizing the position of the founder of Pakistan, Qaid Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, that “the policy of the British government towards Palestine is based on injustice, oppression and cruelty, and that if the Palestinian issue is not resolved in a just manner, this will be the beginning of a point Turn to the British Empire, and if Britain decides to crush the public opinion of the Palestinian Arabs through force and coercion, we Muslims of the Indian subcontinent support the Arab position at this stage and stand by them in their just struggle . “And we are fully confident in the success of Arab Muslims in their struggle for their legitimate rights.”
The Pakistan-Palestinian Forum affirmed in its document that the hearts of the Pakistani people beat with the Palestinian brothers and that they are proud of their excellence in their affection for Palestine and its people, in purity like dew and strength like Iron steel. The stance of the Pakistani nation will remain same about the political, constitutional ans legal rights of the Palestinian nation and these values of pakistani people transfered to the palestinian people. The Palestinian people, emphasizing the integration of the two brotherly people, renewing the covenant of the founders of Pakistan to Palestine.
The Chargé d’Affairs provided a brief and simplified explanation of the history and development of the Palestinian cause since the Sykes-Picot Agreement until today, emphasizing the depth and strength of the Palestinian-Pakistani brotherly relations and the appreciation of the Palestinian people and their leadership, headed by His Excellency President Mahmoud Abbas, for the continuous support of the Pakistani people, president, government and political parties to the Palestinian cause internationally and regionally. Charge d’ Affairs emphasise on the necessity of cooperation between the Forum and the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Pakistan to educate the young Pakistani generations about the Palestinian cause to ensure their firm commitment to the principles of the founder of Pakistan, Leader Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, may God have mercy on him, in support of the Palestinian people’s rights to freedom and independence, which formed and still form the foundations and constitution of Pakistan’s official and popular support for the Palestinian cause, And work together to deepen and develop bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries. The Chargé d’Affairs presented a symbolic gift in the name of the embassy, which consisted of the Holy Quran and Palestinian folk embroidery, stressing that this embroidery, whose threads and colors overlap to form beautiful decorations that express the unity of the two brotherly Palestinian and Pakistani peoples, and the depth and strength of the historical and continuous relations between them so that God inherits the earth and what is on it.
Saudi Arabia to host next Arab summit
RIYADH, NOV 2: Saudi Arabia said Wednesday it will host the next Arab summit.”Based on the kingdom’s keenness to perpetuate the existing cooperation, we announce that our country will host the 32nd Arab summit,” Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan told the 31st Arab summit in Algeria.
“We welcome the leaders of the member states to their second country,” he added.
The two-day Arab summit in Algeria is set to close later Wednesday. It was the first summit to be held in three years since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. Tunisia was the last to host the summit in 2019.
UK turning against Brexit and Tories look doomed: top pollster
LONDON: A persistent majority of Britons think Brexit was a mistake, one of the UK’s leading pollsters said Wednesday, forecasting near-certain defeat for the Conservatives at the next election.
Professor John Curtice, president of the British Polling Council, said it was too soon to say that polls have shifted decisively in favour of overturning the 2016 vote to leave the European Union.
But he told reporters that the trend was clear since autumn 2021, when shortages of lorry drivers brought home to many the real-world costs of ending the EU’s free movement of labour as part of the split.
“At the moment, it looks as though the 2016 referendum is going to be as unsuccessful as the 1975 one was in proving to be a permanent settlement of this debate,” Curtice said in reference to a prior referendum.
“Probably Brexit is now less popular than it has been at any point since June 2016.”
In 2016, the UK voted by 52-48 percent in favour of leaving the EU. Now, an average of polls shows about 57 percent want to change that, while 43 percent think it was the right decision.
The margin has grown wider this year as Britons contend with a cost-of-living crisis, and demographics point to greater pro-EU support in future as younger voters enter the electoral rolls since 2016.
But the main opposition Labour party is unlikely to reopen debate about EU membership, or rejoining the common market, before the next election for fear of scaring voters, Curtice said.
The election is not due for another two years but as it stands, the Conservatives are in deep trouble after installing their third prime minister of the year.
Rishi Sunak has helped to arrest the slump since entering 10 Downing Street last month, Curtice noted, but overall the Tories have a mountain to climb against Labour’s average poll lead of 30 points.
“History suggests that it’s going to be extremely difficult,” the veteran pollster said.
“No government that has presided over a financial crisis has eventually survived at the ballot box,” Curtice added, after Sunak’s predecessor Liz Truss provoked a market panic with unfunded tax cuts.
“They have lost ground because the public in general have decided they cannot be trusted to run the country.”
