BAKU: Asad Qaisar Speaker National Assembly of Pakistan and Sahibah Gafarova Speaker Azerbaijan Assembly posing for a picture after signing the MoU between the assemblies of Pakistan and Azerbaijan.
Spoilers won’t be allowed to hurt peace
The Army Chief made these remarks in a meeting with 15 member Afghan media delegation
Special Correspondent
RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa has said that the peace in Afghanistan is Pakistan’s earnest desire because peace of the two countries is interlinked, adding that the spoilers will not be allowed to derail peace process.
According to Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release, a fifteen member Afghan media delegation visited GHQ and met General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Army Staff (COAS). Speaking at the occasion, Chief of Army Staff said media can act as a bridge to create conducive environment for promoting cultural / social and people to people engagement between the two countries. He further saif that it is the responsibility of media and people to identify and defeat the spoilers of peace.
Referring to Pakistan’s comprehensive border management regime, COAS said security of borders is in the best interest of the two countries. Alluding to the benefits of regional connectivity for the two countries, COAS highlighted the importance of restoration of peace in Afghanistan for sustainable development of the region.
Appreciating Pak Afghan Youth Forum’s initiative for organizing the journalists’ visit, COAS hoped for more frequent exchange of visits in future. Pak- Afghan youth is the hope for future peace and progress of the region, COAS concluded.
The Afghan journalists thanked COAS for the opportunity for candid interaction and appreciated Pakistan’s sincerity and efforts for Afghan people including hosting of refugees and facilitative role in Afghan Peace Process, the statement concluded.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Imran Khan had told a delegation of Afghan journalists that Pakistan has no favorites in Afghanistan and it would support any government that was chosen by the Afghans themselves.
“We do not have any favorites in Afghanistan. Our policy is that whoever the people of Afghanistan choose, Pakistan will have the best relationship with them,” the Prime Minister said in response to a question of an Afghan journalist, at the PM House late on Wednesday.
A delegation of Afghan journalists was in Pakistan to participate in the Pak-Afghan Media Conclave in Islamabad, and held a session with Prime Minister Imran Khan and asked him questions related to Pakistan’s stance on the current Afghan situation.
The Prime Minister told them that Pakistan is no longer pursuing its ‘90s policy of “strategic depth” in Afghanistan as his government strongly believes that “Afghanistan can never be controlled from outside”.
To a question on Taliban killing Afghans, Khan said: “What Taliban are doing or not doing has nothing to do with Pakistan. We are not responsible; neither are we spokespersons for Taliban.”
Bulgaria’s anti-elite ITN party will try to form government
Bulgaria‘s President Rumen Radev on Friday asked the new anti-establishment party, There Is Such a People (ITN), to form a government after it narrowly won a parliamentary election on July 11.
Led by talk show host Slavi Trifonov, the party’s nominee for prime minister, Plamen Nikolov, 44, will have seven days to garner support in a fragmented legislature, or return the mandate.
PM meets Saudi envoy
DNA
ISLAMABAD: The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Nawaf bin Saeed Ahmad Al-Malkiy, called on Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday.
The Saudi Ambassador presented a formal invitation to the Prime Minister, extended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, for participation in a Summit focusing on the “Middle East Green Initiative” to be hosted by the Kingdom in October 2021. The Prime Minister graciously accepted the invitation.
It may be recalled that the initiatives of the Saudi Crown Prince, announced earlier this year, align closely with the Prime Minister’s climate change initiatives – “Clean and Green Pakistan” and “10 Billion Tree Tsunami”.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are also collaborating closely to develop synergies in their climate-change related strategies.
The invitation extended to the Prime Minister is an acknowledgement of Pakistan’s leading role in combating climate change.
PM for ensuring implementation of steps aimed at automation of system
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed the authorities concerned to ensure implementation of the steps aimed at automation of the system.
Chairing a meeting on effective use of the Public Sector Development Program in Islamabad today (Friday), he said it is one of the foremost responsibilities of the government to make proper utilization of public taxes.
The Prime Minister said measures like E-tendering are of fundamental importance in eradicating corruption. He asked to improve the working procedures of ministries.
The meeting was informed that a comprehensive strategy has been prepared to monitor pace of development work and effective and efficient use of funds after a forty percent increase in the amount allocated for development projects during the current fiscal year.
It was also apprised that efforts have been made to ensure provision of funds for completion of ongoing projects. In this regard, seventy percent funds have been allocated for ongoing projects while thirty percent for new projects.
‘Media’s responsibility to identify spoilers of peace,’ Gen Bajwa tells Afghan journalists
RAWALPINDI, JUL 30: A delegation of Afghan journalists on Friday called on Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa at the General Headquarters (GHQ) for a “candid interaction”, the Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement.
Speaking to the delegation, the army chief emphasised that media could act as a bridge to create a conducive environment for promoting cultural, social and people-to-people engagement between the two countries.https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-7078513716629609&output=html&h=280&adk=752536879&adf=2192792291&pi=t.aa~a.2356292401~i.8~rp.4&w=696&fwrn=4&fwrnh=100&lmt=1627664591&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=2527759049&psa=1&ad_type=text_image&format=696×280&url=https%3A%2F%2Fislamabadpost.com.pk%2Fmedias-responsibility-to-identify-spoilers-of-peace-gen-bajwa-tells-afghan-journalists%2F&flash=0&fwr=0&pra=3&rh=174&rw=696&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&wgl=1&fa=27&uach=WyJXaW5kb3dzIiwiNi4xIiwieDg2IiwiIiwiOTIuMC40NTE1LjEwNyIsW10sbnVsbCxudWxsLG51bGxd&tt_state=W3siaXNzdWVyT3JpZ2luIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9hdHRlc3RhdGlvbi5hbmRyb2lkLmNvbSIsInN0YXRlIjo3fV0.&dt=1627664591099&bpp=7&bdt=1853&idt=-M&shv=r20210728&mjsv=m202107290101&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3D2cab8dd1d7a97507-2251d758ada700c6%3AT%3D1619371132%3ART%3D1619371132%3AS%3DALNI_MbCWjL6fpbAI7C_Q4Gb9OcZB0P5kA&prev_fmts=0x0&nras=2&correlator=1700328965147&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=626877274.1627664590&ga_sid=1627664590&ga_hid=2142064757&ga_fc=0&u_tz=300&u_his=50&u_java=0&u_h=768&u_w=1366&u_ah=728&u_aw=1366&u_cd=24&u_nplug=3&u_nmime=4&adx=141&ady=1220&biw=1349&bih=600&scr_x=0&scr_y=0&eid=20211866%2C21067496&oid=3&pvsid=1021733305664831&pem=180&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fislamabadpost.com.pk%2F&eae=0&fc=1408&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C1366%2C0%2C1366%2C728%2C1366%2C600&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&cms=2&fu=128&bc=31&ifi=2&uci=a!2&btvi=1&fsb=1&xpc=DOv2M1W3Gy&p=https%3A//islamabadpost.com.pk&dtd=49
“It is the responsibility of media and people to identify and defeat the spoilers of peace,” he was quoting as saying.
Gen Bajwa stressed that peace in Afghanistan was Pakistan’s earnest desire, saying the two countries’ peace was interlinked. “The spoilers will not be allowed to derail the peace process,” he added.
Referring to Pakistan’s border management regime, the army chief said the security of borders was in the best interest of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
He also highlighted the importance of restoration of peace in Afghanistan for sustainable regional development.
Appreciating the Pak-Afghan Youth Forum for arranging the visit of journalists, Gen Bajwa said he hoped for more frequent exchange of such visits in the future.
He termed the youth of Pakistan and Afghanistan the hope for future peace and progress in the region.
The delegation thanked the army chief for the “candid interaction” and appreciated Pakistan’s sincerity and efforts for people in Afghanistan including hosting refugees and playing a “facilitative role” in the Afghan peace process, according to the ISPR.
APNS thanks KP govt for acceding to APNS demand
KARACHI, JUL 30 /DNA/ – The APNS expressed its thanks to the Goverment of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa for acceding to APNS demand and withdrawing the notification of delisting some publications from the provincial media list.
Mr Sarmad Ali President and Ms Nazafreen Saigol Lakhani Secretary General of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society have stated that the Information Department of the provincial government had contemplated to delist 67 newspapers from the provincial media list on some technical or procedural grounds. The APNS approached Mr Arshad Khan Secretary Information and Mr Imdadullah Khan DG Public Relations to review the arbitrary decision as during the Covid pandemic the publications facing acute crisis and hardships cannot be exoected to comply with the procedural and codal requirements. The APNS har requested the KP Government to consult the APNS and review this decision.
The APNS office bearers thanked the Government of KP for conceding to the APNS request. In particular they appreciated Secretary Information and DG Public Relations of the KP government for their support and cooperation in resolving the issue in the interest of the print media in the province. They also appeciated Syed Haroon Shah, Chairman APNS KP committee, for his successful efforts in helping the newspaper industry in the province.
Absolutely disgusting: Ayeza Khan’s new drama leaves Meesha Shafi disappointed
Ayeza Khan’s new drama Laapata, in which she is playing a social media celebrity, has disappointed many people for its problematic portrayal of harassment. “Absolutely disgusting,” said singer Meesha Shafi, sharing a screenshot from Laapata’s first episode. “Pushing this sick narrative is highly irresponsible and problematic.”
Laapata premiered on Wednesday on HUM TV. Ayeza had been building hype around it by sharing recreations of iconic celebrity looks, including those of Malika-e-Tarannum Noor Jehan, Madhuri and Mahira Khan. But shortly after its first episode aired, many people expressed their disappointment over the way Ayeza’s character Geeti misuses her social media (TikTok) following for personal gains.
A scene shows Geeti going to a grocery store where she is asked to clear her previous bills. Instead, she takes out her phone and starts filming the shopkeeper, saying that he is harassing her. She is showing him the “power of social media”.Actor Adnan Malik remarked that he is not surprised since most of the dramas being made in Pakistan are “tone-deaf”.Some people believe such content reinstates stereotypes and creates a hostile atmosphere for women who choose to speak out against harassment, especially through social media.
AMBASSADOR OF JORDAN CALLS ON AIR CHIEF
ISLAMABAD, JUL 30 /DNA/ – Ambassador of Kingdom of Jordan Ibrahim Al Madani called on Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force in his office today. During the meeting, both the dignitaries discussed matters of professional and mutual interest.
Ambassador H.E. Ibrahim Al Madani commended the professionalism of PAF and acknowledged its rising indigenous capacity in aviation industry. The Air Chief said that Pakistan and Jordan had longstanding religious, cultural and historical bonds which were manifested through strong ties between Royal Jordanian Air Force and Pakistan Air Force. The Air Chief also emphasised upon the significance of further deepening the relations between the both Air Forces.
Murad Saeed to Unveil Independence Cup Trophy Today
AFZAL JAVED
ISLAMABAD, July 30: Under the umbrella of Rawalpindi-Islamabad Sports Journalists Association (RISJA), the first RISJA Inter-Media Independence Cup will gets under way from Sunday (Tomorrow) at the National Ground Islamabad.
Eight leading Media Group teams including Parliamentarian, Geo, Dunya, Samaa, Express, Bol, Hum, Dawn, ARY and hosts RISJA teams will compete in the event.
Federal Minister for Communication and Postal Services Murad Saeed will inaugurate the event Saturday evening at the National Ground.
Rs half a million will be awarded to the winner of the event while Rs quarter million will be given to the runners up. The are also cash prizes for the Bowler of the Tournament, Batsmen of the Tournament and Man of the Match for each match.
Ten teams have been divided into two Groups. The Trophy unveiling ceremony will also take place Saturday.
Zain Qureshi (MNA) will lead the Parliamentarian team. The star-studded Parliamentarian team will be included by all leading MNAs who were part of the team that won the international tournament held in England in 2018.
