DNA

Islamabad, Sep 17: The 22nd SCO summit held in Samarkand has been a landmark event for Pakistan and other member States, according to an article published by Gwadar Pro on Saturday.

The article contributed by Yasir Habib Khan, President of Institute of International Relations and Media Research (IIRMR) stated, at a time when the world is at the crossroad of keeping the international community divided for vested interests, Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)’s 22nd summit unleashes a strong voice for unity, harmony, co-existence, mutual respect and multilateralism.  
It seems to be a positive answer to the global challenges plagued by protectionism, unilateral rules of human rights, misconceived sanctions, hegemonic ambitions, economic crunches, food security, climatic hazards and many more.  

SCO’s aura and oneness message instill a sense that whenever a void is left by international powers and institutions letting the world plunge into a tailspin of economic downturn and conflicts due to their lop-sided visions, China comes up to take the role of a global leader offering a common path of prosperity and progress.  

International eyeballs has been zooming in SCO’s 22nd summit and its development as it accounts for 41 percent of the world’s population and 24 percent of the global GDP, which keeps attracting more countries to fathom SCO’s pivot role in interpreting and showcasing new forms of international relations, new forms of international organizations, and depicting new forms of human civilization. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s attendance in the 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has given a clear signal that the Chinese leadership stands by world and especially those members of the international community that desperately need support and partnership to stay afloat on geopolitical, geo-economic and geo-strategic landscapes. Xi’s presence at the SCO summit has also served as a new booster for China’s cooperation with Central Asian and South Asian countries and push forward BRI. 

Since the global dynamics have been posing threats to people  already battered by inflation and energy crisis in the backdrop of frivolous sanctions by the US and the West, SCO has a new role guiding the world to work in synergy and forge ahead.  Western countries led by the US are now threatening the global industrial security, including energy and food, in the form of economic sanctions. Therefore, economic security has also become a focus of SCO.   

SCO members have ramped up economic and trade cooperation. As one of the latest deliveries of SCO economic cooperation, China Development Bank (CDB) completed 63 cooperation projects under the framework of the SCO Interbank Consortium, giving loans totaling $14.6 billion to member banks and partner banks by August, covering production capacity cooperation, infrastructure, green and low-carbon development, and agriculture.  

SCO members have also witnessed robust development in recent years. In 2021, the combined GDP of SCO members reached about $23.3 trillion, accounting for nearly 24 percent of the global GDP, which is over 13 times larger than that of the time of its establishment in 2001. 

In 2021, China’s trade with other SCO members reached $343.1 billion, up 40 percent year-on-year. In general, SCO members’ total foreign trade totaled $6.6 trillion as of 2021, an increase of 100 times from 20 years earlier. 

Given the complexity of international and regional situations, SCO’s presence on the world stage is an important pillar to underpin multilateralism and win-win cooperation, and lay down foundation for a new, democratic, just and rational political and economic international order.   

Analysts say that SCO has acquired broader significance for the sound development of international relations and cooperation, especially at a time when globalization has been under attack recently from US-led unilateralism and hegemonism, and mutually beneficial trade rules are being eroded for political purposes. 

They believed that the use of RMB and other currencies of the countries under the SCO framework in trade settlement will greatly support regional energy and food security since Russia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan – all SCO member states – are major world energy suppliers. Russia and other SCO countries are also major food suppliers.  

RMB ranked the fifth as a reserve currency in the first quarter of 2022, accounting for 2.88 percent in the Currency Composition of Official Foreign Exchange Reserves, according to the latest data from the IMF. 

Quetta: At least one person was killed and more than 13 were injured in a blast in Quetta’s Poodgali Chowk on Friday, a health department official confirmed.

According to Balochistan Health Department media coordinator Dr Wasim Baig, the injured were moved to Civil Hospital’s Trauma Centre in the city. He said the deceased was identified as Muhammad Murad.

The nature of the blast could not be determined as yet.

Says IMF, WB reports testify govt failed to prevent economy going into tailspin

DNA

ISLAMABAD:  Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan lashed out at the imported government for plunging the country into myriad problems and said the government, brought in through regime change conspiracy, has wreaked havoc with the economy.

PTI Chairman in a statement on Friday that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank reports testified that the imported government failed to prevent the economy going into tailspin despite inheriting a stabilized economy moving on an upward trajectory.

He said that this was reflected in the Economic Survey which identified the PTI government’s economic performance as the best in the past 70 years in terms of growth rate (6%), industry, agriculture, employment, construction, exports, remittances and tax collection – at an all-time high.

“What we left behind and how the imported government, brought in through regime change conspiracy, has wreaked havoc with the economy,” he added.

 “Now Pakistan faces unprecedented inflation hitting everyone, unemployment, food insecurity and rupee in freefall,” Imran Khan said and added the imported government is completely directionless.

The PTI Chairman stated: “The only achievement of this cabal of crooks has been to get another NRO for the billions they looted from Pakistan. The question the whole nation is asking is: Who is responsible for this conspiracy against Pakistan?”

From Our Correspondent 

PESHAWAR, /DNA/ – Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan has said that Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan is the only leader to emerge who has univocally spoken against various blasphemous publications having controversial contents on Islam and has also highlighted the mentality of islamophobia which is festering among various nations that has played havoc with the social fabric of many cultures. 

While criticizing the imported Federal government led by PML-N, Mahmood Khan stated that using of state apparatus for spreading propaganda against a national hero and leader is extremely unfortunate adding that Imran Khan’s efforts against islamophobia have been recognized by the entire Muslim Ummah. The stance presented by Chairman Imran Khan during his speech in the United Nations was actually the voice coming from the hearts of every Muslim in the world. Imran Khan made it clear that no nation can afford to torment Muslims anymore. The Chief Minister clarified that PML-N led Federal Government, in its futile attempt to mislead the masses, is acting in desperation and has put to the wind all social, religious, moral and political norms. They are a party representative of slaves and cannot lead an independent and sovereign nation, he added. 

In a statement issued from the Chief Minister’s secretariat, Mahmood Khan clarified that working for development of Islam is our moral duty and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf led provincial government has taken a number of practical steps in this regard. Solarization of 7370 Mosques, provision of monthly honorarium to prayer leaders, increase in the honorarium of Ulama delivering sermons in Jamia Masjid and introduction of Quranic teachings by translation of the Holy Book in schools are proof enough that the present government is dedicated towards serving our ideology. Additionally, upgradation and renovation of Madaris as well as establishment of Model Madaris in District Buner, Abbottabad and Dir have also been reflected in the current provincial ADP. 

Mahmood Khan added that people should be aware of the lies and propaganda launched by the current imported Federal setup and look into the past of this corrupt conglomerate. The Chief Minister said that people will not follow these fugitives adding that they are merely using the ideology of Pakistan and Islam as a propaganda tool to mislead common citizens. This act in their part is highly condemnable as it is not only tarnishing our national identity but is also a farce attempt to mislead masses. “This corrupt Conglomerate is hiding behind Islam to hide the looted wealth of Pakistan. People have not forgotten the PML-N attack on our Supreme Court during the 90s” Mahmood Khan. The Chief Minister concluded that Imran Khan is the only political figure in Pakistan who presented the state of Medina as an ideal and have taken sincere steps for its realization. The entire nation stands behind Imran Khan and will not step back from any sacrifice for securing its sovereignty.

RAWALPINDI, /DNA/ – RCCI President Ch. Nadeem A. Rauf had a meeting with Saima Younus, Additional Commissioner , Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) along with Senior Vice President Asim Malik, President Elect Saqib Rafiq, President Markazi Anjuman Tajran Rawalpindi and Punjab Malik Shahid Ghafoor Pracha, Executive Members Mr. Bilal Maqbool and Mr. Hassan Mustafa were also present in the meeting.

Key Points:
The discussion was held regarding notices about 5% Tax imposed on the services sector by PRA (embroidery/purling services).

                PESHAWAR, Sep 16 (APP):The day-long international conference on “Women’s Mental Health Care,” organized by department of Psychology Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University (SBBWU) Peshawar concluded.

The event was collaborated by Southern Methodist University, USA and sponsored by USEFP, wherein speakers from across the globe presented their papers and posters personally and through online participation.

The conference covered, depression, anxiety and suicide, mensuration and menopause issue, Infertility, parental loss and post natal depression, pregnancy, miscarriages and mental health, women and health psychology, psychotic disorders, autism, child abuse and therapeutic interventions.

A total 71 papers were presented in the conference and Ms. Wagma poster on “An Analysis of Gender Differences in Care Giver Burden and Quality of Life of Physically Challenged and Mentally Ill Individuals” was declared winner the first while Aleena Khalid’s poster on “Post Traumatic Stress on Disorder Symptoms in Parents of Children with Congenital Heart Disease” secured second position.

The Chief Guest of event was Chairman Higher Education Commission Pakistan, Prof Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, while Vice Chancellor, SBBC Prof Dr Safia Ahmad, the Project Director SBBWU, Dr Ume Kalsoom and representative from the USEFP, Shahram Niazi were also present on the occasion.

The chief guest emphasized on the fact that this initiative has brought experts in the field of Psychology together and they will not only be sharing their major findings with the audience but will also provide a solid foundation for further research in this field.  

VC SBBWU emphasized on the importance and need of the topic “Women Mental Health Care”. She said the varsity has been working earnestly for the development of the women of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for more than a decade.

The keynote speakers of the conference were Prof Dr Muhammad Jahanzeb Khan, Vice Chancellor FATA University, Prof Dr Anila Kamal, Vice Chancellor, Rawalpindi Women University, Dr Saima Sandhu from USA, Dr Rubina Hanif, Director at National Institute of Psychology, Centre of Excellence, Quaid-i-Azam University, Dr. George Holden, SMU Coordinator of the project and Prof Dr Alicia E Meuret, Director of the Anxiety and Depression Research Center (ARC) at SMU both addressed the attendees of the conference virtually.