Urges nation to stand up to smash shackles of slavery

DNA
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said that it was a good thing that the conversation was leaked; however, he added that the US cypher should now also be made public so that the nation could see the magnitude of the conspiracy.
Speaking at the convention on the subject of economy, foreign policy, human rights and terrorism, Imran Khan said that Shehbaz Sharif’s government was behind the audio leak, adding that it was very good that they have done.
He demanded the government release to cypher to the public so that people can know the reality behind the cipher. “If the cypher is released, people would come to know that grand conspiracy that was hatched to oust him,” he added.
“I have not even played on it yet. Now we will play when they expose it,” he maintained, adding that it was against the Official Secrets Act, therefore he was thinking to take the matter to the court.
PTI Chairman said that there was an intellectual revolution in the state of Madina, adding that Allama Iqbal was awakening people through poetry.
Imran Khan made it clear that they have to break the shackles of slavery because society without freedom cannot fly, adding that unfortunately, Pakistan has not yet become a welfare state.
“I saw the principles of the welfare state in Britain then I decided that if Allah gives me the opportunity, I will follow the principles of the Madina state,” he added.
Imran Khan went on to say that health cards was a great blessing for poor families because they could not afford treatment charges. However, he said that look at the callousness of Maryam Nawaz, who advised Shahbaz Sharif to close the health cards because the project benefiting Imran Khan politically. He stated that Pakistan was economically well-developed country in 1960 but afterward, the country was plunged into serious economic crisis due to flawed policies of the corrupt rulers.
He said that the absconder who ruined the country economically was brought to back to fix the economy, adding that industries were shutting down and exports were on rapid decline.
PTI Chairman said that how the country would made progress when corrupt mafia was busy in looting the country’s wealth, adding that even things were not happened in Banana Republic. He said that During the Musharraf era, when Nawaz Sharif was arrested, he ran away with the NRO, adding that Nawaz Sharif and Zardari became billionaire and made the country indebted.
Imran Khan said that the morality of the country was being destroyed, Maulana Rumi said that ‘when the nation stops distinguishing between good and bad, it destroys’.
He said that they had very good relations with China, because of Corona, China was completely closed for two years. He said that these thieves played havoc with the country during the last five months.
Chairman PTI added that one lakh Kashmiris have been martyred, have you ever thought about them, unfortunately there is a slave mentality, they do not understand these things.
He said that the regime change has been decided in Pakistan, adding that it was surprising that the agencies have started considering them as enemies and the senior journalists were being treated like enemies.
“It is surprising that the agencies have stood with the thieves, as Shehbaz Gul was stripped naked and tortured,” he added.
Imran Khan said that the nation has to stand up for its rights to break the chain of salve to get the real independence.

Islamabad, SEP 28 /DNA/ – Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has arranged certification course “Heavy vehicle preventive driving course” for drivers of LPG Bowsers for safe transportation of LPG being highly inflammable which can cause ignition and fatal accidents. The training has been arranged in collaboration with National Logistic Cell (NLC) at Applied Technologies Institute, NLC Headquarter Corporate Office, Rawalpindi consisting 1-2 weeks training focusing on pressurized gases/dangerous petroleum products.

OGRA has recently issued licenses allowing transportation of LPG through road bowsers and advised all the LPG producers/Terminal Operators/LPG marketing companies to ensure that the bowsers/containers hired/owned for transportation of LPG are in compliance with the standards, specifications, safety codes (ASME Code, Section VIII(Div-I) of LPG Rules, 2001/NFPA-58 for safe handling.

In order to avoid accidents, all the LPG bowser drivers should undergo “Heavy vehicle defensive/preventive training course” within 6 months. All the nominal expenses of training course shall be negotiated by the company and NLC and first batch of successful candidates will be recognized by OGRA as trained drivers.

OGRA has sought cooperation of all stakeholders to ensure safety as first priority to make oil and gas sector risk free in terms of the losses of precious lives as well as other loss to industry and materials during operational activities.

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman on Wednesday said that it is a good thing that the audio of him with Azam Khan has surfaced and demanded that the cypher should be made public now.

The former prime minister criticized the coalition government and reiterated that after the regime change, the notorious looters prevailed in the country, who waived Rs1100 billion soon after coming to power. He questioned whether the enemy could do the injustice that they [the coalition government] had done in the last five months.

Talking about China, the PTI Chairman said that when he [Imran] was the Prime Minister, relations with China were at their peak. Imran said that due to the coronavirus outbreak, China was closed for two years to foreigners. He said his government had borne the cost of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The PTI Chairman came down heavily on Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) vice-president Maryam Nawaz, saying that she [Maryam] has no shame as she procures machinery from India for her son-in-law. Imran bashed Maryam over saying to quash the health card, saying that in reply, Shehbaz said that his government would close the health card.

Expressing his concern over Pakistan’s not being able to become a “welfare state”, the former premier said that he [Imran] had seen the principles of a “welfare state” in the UK, after which he had decided that if he got an opportunity to rule, he would put the country on track by following the principles of Riyasat-e-Madina. According to the PTI Chairman, without a health card, people may have become indebted and helpless as a result of diseases.

Talking about the year 1960, Imran stated that Pakistan was on the path to exemplary progress at the time, but that due to the baggage of bad decisions, the country was unable to achieve sound footing development. The PTI Chairman slammed the PML-N, claiming that during its [PML-N’s] last five-year tenure, the country’s exports did not boosted. Taking a dig at the newly elected finance minister, Ishaq Dar, the PTI Chairman said that the person [Dar] who was responsible for the economic woes has been elected again as the finance minister.

The PTI Chairman slammed PML-N and PPP leaders, claiming that Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari amassed wealth by leaving the people in debt. Taking a jibe at PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, Imran said that when he [Nawaz] was all set to be arrested during the Musharraf regime, he [Nawaz] ran away by taking an NRO. He said that this thing is out of his [Imran’s] mind, that is, whether the guardians of the country are not looking at what is going on in the country.

Talking further about the leaked audio, Imran claimed that he came to know through the PM’s office that his [Imran’s] and Azam Khan’s audio had been released, which is against the Official Secret Act. While again targeting Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Sikandar Sultan Raja, Imran said that no one could be as ‘cheap’ as the ECP CEC is. Claiming that he [Sikandar Sultan Raja] is a servant of the Sharif family, Imran said that the CEC has no shame to resign after the audio leaks.

ISLAMABAD, SEP 28: /DNA/ – The Higher Education Commission, Pakistan, in collaboration with Profound Vision Japan, formally launched FiTE [Foreign IT Engineers], a recruitment web portal — https://fite.jp, to bridge the ICT engineer gap between Pakistan and Japan. 

In this connection, a ceremony titled “Bridging the Gap in Japan for 800k ICT Engineers by 2030” was held at the HEC Secretariat on Wednesday. The ceremony, graced            by Chairman HEC Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed as chief guest, was attended by CEO Profound Vision Nobou Shiobara, Former Ambassador of Pakistan to Japan Mr. Imtiaz Ahmed, Director General Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) Kazu Yamaguchi and other dignitaries from Pakistani and Japanese business and commerce industry.   

Profound Vision Co., Ltd., a leading company in the placement of skilled IT resources from Pakistan to Japan, initiated FiTE three years ago, realising the need for importing ICT talent to meet the Japanese market requirements. According to Profound Vision, Japan needs around 800,000 IT engineers by 2030 to meet its market needs. FiTE is built with Pakistani technology specifically for the Japanese market. FiTE is the first bilingual system designed to bridge the ICT engineer gap between Pakistan and Japan.

In his remarks, Chairman HEC Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed briefed the audience about the launch and its importance for the Pakistani engineers. He said that 163 out of 244 Pakistani universities offer IT-related programmes, adding that 108 universities offer Engineering programmes. He maintained that over 40,000 Pakistani students are currently graduating in IT.

The Chairman observed that Japan and Pakistan have a long history of relations, as Japan is among the first few countries that recognised Pakistan in its early years of foundation. He appreciated Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for its role in strengthening the bilateral relations. He underlined that the web portal will link the Pakistani IT engineers with the Japanese employers. The IT engineers will not only serve Japan, but will also bring revenue to Pakistan, he noted. He said that Pakistan’s population comprises 65 percent of youth who have a great potential, adding that the youth will not only serve the country but will also offer their services to friendly countries. He stressed that Pakistan and Japan will learn from each other and will expand collaboration in various fields, including higher education.  

Mr. Shiobara apprised the audience of the background of the FiTE, saying that Japan’s low birthrate, aging population and the lack of young software engineers and IT programmers created a demand for IT manpower in Japan. He said that Profound Vision and HEC will sign an MoU in near future to explore different avenues of recruiting Pakistani ICT engineers.

Former Ambassador of Pakistan to Japan Mr. Imtiaz Ahmed, Director General JETRO Mr. Yamaguchi, and other notables also addressed the ceremony and highlighted the importance of launching the FiTE.

The audience observed a one-minute silence to express solidarity with the flood victims of Pakistan and to show condolence over the demise of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

ISLAMABAD, SEP 28: /DNA/ – Under the initiative of PIDEAS (PIDE IDEAS), Research for Social Transformation and Advancement (RASTA) program is producing documentary films based on the evidence-based research produced at the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) on pertaining public policy issues. In this regard, PIDE-RASTA has organized a documentary film screening event at the Islamabad Club. This was the first session in the documentary film series. 

Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiative Professor Ahsan Iqbal graced the event as the Chief Guest and acknowledged the role of PIDE in generating policy-informed debates on these critical yet neglected topics.

Professor Ahsan Iqbal also highlighted the significant role of the current government for youth by encouraging innovative ideas, providing opportunities, and creating an enabling environment for distinctive skills. The Youth Affairs Wing is playing an active and assertive role in materializing these objectives

The event was attended by relevant stakeholders, including academicians, policymakers, practitioners, development partners, civil society, and public and private sector representatives. “Research without debate is useless,” said Dr. Nadeem Ul Haque, Vice Chancellor, PIDE. “PIDEAS initiative will help us to generate and disseminate research-based ideas, inform policy debate, and suggest actionable solutions for change and growth in Pakistan,” he added further. 

The visual format has always remained one of the most engaging and key conversational tools for producing research, and in the wake of using this as an instrument for knowledge production and dissemination. Therefore, three films were screened at the event: Rethinking Urban Mobility in Pakistan based on PIDE research titled ‘Rethinking mobility (urban transport policy) in Pakistan‘; An Unending Wait for Car: Own Money based on PIDE research titled ‘The Issue of Own Money’; and No Country for the Youth based on PIDE research titled ‘Opportunity to Excel: Now and the Future. 

Mr. Muhammad Afnan Alam, Deputy Director General (Land & Estate), CDA led the debate on urban mobility in the context of Islamabad. The research-based film suggests that cities are the engine of growth because cities are where development and innovation happen. In addition, labor force, industries, and economic corridors exists in cities. For an effective transport and urban mobility policy, we need to highlight the areas of population, employment, densification, and intensification around our cities, followed by linking all these corridors with one another.

Mr. Razi-ur-Rahman, Group Director, Corporate Affairs of Atlas Group & CEO APL shared his views about the Car Own Money. The research-based film suggests to eliminate the own money premium, the booking culture needs to be demolished. No vehicle can be sold or booked that has not been manufactured and is not available at the dealership. Furthermore, the supply needs to be increased through increased production by local manufacturers/assemblers and allowing selective imports of vehicles.

Mr. Ahmad Iqbal, Former Mayor of District Norowal was the speaker on the youth documentary. The research-based film suggests that Pakistan currently has the largest percentage of young people ever recorded in its history; more than 50 percent of the population in Pakistan are youth. The documentary highlighted the issues of youth unemployment, lack of opportunities, housing provision, and soft skills in Pakistan.

Earlier, PIDE’s Pro Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Durre Nayab, in her welcoming remarks, said that through PIDEAS initiative, PIDE is stimulating content creators and filmmakers to articulate their artistic expressions and bringing research and policy closer to people.

According to the Press Release issued at the event, it was stated that the intent is to debate pressing public policy issues and facilitate engagements between different stakeholders to typify the issues of socio-economic significance, cross-fertilize ideas through knowledge sharing, and prescribe actionable ways forward.

Considering the overwhelming response from the audience and policy circles, we intend to continue such initiatives in the future, bringing policy closer to the people, and building the art-research-practice nexus in Pakistan, said Dr. Faheem Jehangir, Project Director of RASTA. 

These films will be available on PIDE’s social media platforms soon for broader dissemination. 

Rawalpindi, 28 Sep /DNA/ – 251st Corps Commanders’ Conference was held at GHQ. General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) presided.
Forum was briefed in detail on external and internal security situation with particular focus on flood situation and ongoing relief efforts being undertaken by Army Formations across the country.
Forum expressed solidarity with flood victims who are braving great difficulties and resolved to extend maximum assistance for their relief and rehabilitation.
COAS commended Formations for reaching out to people in distress and helping them to mitigate their sufferings. COAS praised Army Doctors / Paramedics for provision of emergency medical care to flood affectees particularly children & women including measures to check spread of diseases in flood hit areas.
COAS also appreciated Army Engineers / FWO for restoring accessibility of critical routes and communication infrastructure on emergency basis .
COAS directed Formations to focus on relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and help restore routine life in flood affected areas.
The forum undertook a comprehensive review of security environment with special focus on situation along the borders, internal security and other professional matters of the Army.
Forum resolved that resurgence of terrorism will not be tolerated. Formations must leave no stone unturned to take action against terrorists in coordination with all LEAs, COAS directed. Expressing satisfaction over operational preparedness of Formations, COAS directed all the Formations to maintain strict vigil to guard against any threat.

Demands thorough probe into the letter to bring truth into the open

ISLAMABAD: /DNA/ – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senior Central Vice President Fawad Chaudhry said that the audio leak, featuring conversation between the then prime minister Imran Khan and Azam Khan, re-verified the PTI’s talks and existence of the Cipher, demanding that they wanted thorough investigation into the matter so as to bring the truth to the fore.

Speaking to media here on Wednesday, he said that the audio leak reconfirmed what they had been saying long ago.

He said that the audio talks also confirmed that Pakistani ambassador was summoned to hand over the cipher.

Fawad Chaudhary stated that the cipher was kept secret from the Prime Minister Imran Khan, adding that it was threatened in the cipher that the relation with Pakistan would get strained if the government was not removed through no-confidence motion; therefore the reaction was natural.

Fawad Chaudhary went on to say that the PTI wrote letters to the President and Chief Justice of Pakistan but even then the cipher was not investigated.

He demanded that after the audio leak, now the apex court should investigate the Cipher, adding that PTI was a political party and not an NGO; hence all political events were part of its narrative.

Fawad Chaudhary reiterated that the Cipher was confirmed in both press releases of the National Security National Council.

Talking about cyber security, he said that if Aminul Haq had been the IT Minister for four years, then one can imagine the seriousness of the cyber security.

Fawad said that he pointed out the cyber security issue in cabinet meetings that any hacker can easily intrude.

He stated that everything would become crystal clear only after the investigation of the letter, adding that more Indian hackers than Pakistanis could be involved in it.

Fawad Chaudhry stated that spying on Imran Khan was of no advantage because what he talked in the house said in the public.

He stated that this audio was different from the rest of the audios because its announcement was made through an official coordinator; therefore, Chief Justice should take immediate notice and announce investigation into of the audio leak.