RAWALPINDI, Aug 07: A Pakistan Army soldier was martyred after
terrorists attacked a military check-post in North Waziristan on
Saturday, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The military’s media wing said terrorists opened fire on a check-post in
Ghariom area. The security personnel responded in a befitting manner, it
added.
During an exchange of fire, Sepoy Shahid, 29, who was a resident of
Bahawalnagar embraced martyrdom, the ISPR said, adding a clearance
operation was launched in the area following the attack.
It reiterated the Pakistan Army’s determination to eliminating the
menace of terrorism saying “sacrifices of our brave soldiers further
strengthen our resolve”.
On August 2, a Pakistan Army soldier had embraced martyrdom after
terrorists opened fire on a military post in North Waziristan’s Ghariom.
The martyred serviceman was identified as 37-year-old Naik Ghulam
Mustafa who was a resident of Muzaffarabad, the military’s media wing
said.
A search operation was launched in the area to eliminate terrorists, the
ISPR had said.
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Soldier martyred in North Waziristan military post attack
TOKYO OLYMPICS: AMBASSADOR MATSUDA GREETS ARSHAD NADEEM IN JAVELIN THROW
ISLAMABAD, AUG 7 /DNA/ – Ambassador MATSUDA Kuninori extends congratulations to Mr. Arshad Nadeem, Pakistan’s premier javelin thrower, for showing his great talent by winning 5th place in the final of men’s javelin throw competition in the Tokyo Olympics and conveys best wishes for his future endeavors. “Though, unfortunately, you could not win a place on the medal winning podium but, I believe, you have won many hearts back home for your brilliant performance in the world’s mega event. I congratulate you for having the honor of competing in the final round played for the medals. Keep up your efforts with fresh zeal and I am sure, the day is not far when you will be on victory stand”, said the Ambassador.
SANIA VISITS RECENTLY OPENED EHSAAS REGISTRATION DESKS IN LAHORE
LAHORE, AUG 7 /DNA/ – Senator Dr. Sania Nishtar, SAPM made a visit to Lahore to review the recently opened Ehsaas Registration Desks. Under the Ehsaas framework, the registration desks will open nationwide in the month of August. Families in need, whose survey has not been conducted for some reason can self-enroll themselves in Ehsaas programme through registration desks. To-date, the Ehsaas survey is 98.14 percent complete throughout the country. However, the survey is currently underway in Lahore. Dr. Sania also reviewed the pace of survey activities in Lahore.
To review the registration desk operations, Dr. Sania visited Comprehensive High School in Garhi Shahu area of Lahore. She also interacted with staff and women who were waiting for registration. Women had come to Ehsaas desks with CNICs in their hands for registration. Dr. Sania also oversaw details of a woman being enrolled at the desk.
“In August, we are opening Ehsaas Registration desks at Tehsil level in all districts. Part of Ehsaas strategy, Ehsaas registration desks are also an important instrument to keep the Ehsaas national socio-economic survey registry live”, said Dr. Sania while briefing media.
She also guided women at desks that Ehsaas registration is a fully computerised process and there is no fee associated to registration of households. Currently three registration desks are fully functional in Lahore. Four more Ehsaas desks will open next week in Lahore Cantt to facilitate self-registration.
Later, Dr. Sania met with children and their mothers to oversee new enrolments of children for the Ehsaas School Stipends. “Ehsaas education stipends are being scaled-up to secondary and higher secondary levels as well”, Dr. Sania stated.
While in Lahore, Dr. Sania also reviewed the ongoing Ehsaas survey activities. She visited a local household in Ghoray Shah, Tezab Ahata area of Lahore to oversee their survey enrolment under Ehsaas.
During the visit, Dr. Sania was also joined by Secretary Ismat Tahira and other senior officials of Ehsaas.
SERENA HOSTS MUSICAL GRAND FINALE OF SARANGI SEASON 5
DNA
ISLAMABAD – A star studded grand finale event was held on Friday evening at Serena Hotels to conclude the Season 5 of Serena Hotel’s Sarangi countrywide music talent hunt competition.
The event, held with full Covid-19 SOPs including social distancing and vaccination card checks, was attended by prominent members of the diplomatic corps, business community and Islamabad societygathered to listen to the musical performances and the announcement of winner.
The First Lady Samina Alvialongwith jury members Shehzad Roy and Sarmad Ghafoor as well as CEO Serena Hotels Aziz Boolani jointly announced the results. The judges declared the contest a tie between Ali Baloch from Islamabad and Ghayas Haider from Lahore.
A call for submissions had been given earlier this year through Serena Hotel’s social media platforms as a result of which 5 talented contestants, hailing from diverse backgrounds and different parts of the country, were shortlisted for the grand finale. The contestants also included Ayesha Afzal from Pakpattan, AddenSohail from Faisalabad and Fida Mughal from Neelum Valley, Kashmir.
This year’s Sarangi jury panel once againconsisted of renowned figures of music industry including singers Shezad Roy andZoe Viccajiand music producer Sarmad Ghafoor.
Sarangi is a Cultural Diplomacy initiative of Serena Hotelsand aims to promote the arts and culture of Pakistan. Since its inception in 2017, the Sarangi initiative has givena large pool of promising musical talent from around the country a platform to be discovered, polished and become the nation’s rising star.
Ayesha Rasheed from Lahore, who was the winner of Sarangi Season 4, also performed a powerful rendition of “LambiJudai” on the occasion.
Speaking to the press, Shehzad Roy said, “I am blown away by the talent that is to be found all over Pakistan. It was a tough challenge for us judges to select only five people from the 50 shortlisted submissions, but we tried to do justice.”
“With the dearth of a proper music industry and opportunities for younger people, projects like Sarangi gives young musicians a platform to work towards and be heard on a larger platform. The final prize which is a song recording and music video is so apt and something I would have truly valued when I first started pursuing music,” commented ZoeViccaji via a video message.
CEO Serena Hotels South and Central Asia, Mr. Aziz Boolani, speaking at the occasion, said: “Serena has promoted the arts and intercultural activities to inspire a culture of peace and hope. And we truly believe in giving recognition and platform to the emerging artists that need recognition. I am grateful to the judges and the guests for coming together to support this initiative and encourage the creative talent that Pakistan possesses.”
CDA’s Water Supply Department increased number of tube wells in Islamabad
ISLAMABAD /DNA/ – The Capital Development Authority Water Supply Department has further improved the water supply system in Islamabad with the increase the number of tube wells.
It is to be noted that CDA Water Supply Department has 170 tube wells in various sectors in their proper condition to supply water to the city of Islamabad, in which 5 new tube wells have been added and 9 tube wells have been repaired. It is expected that four to five more tube wells in different sectors will be added to the system next month.
In this regard, water is being supplied to the citizens of Islamabad under a comprehensive plan and strategy
In addition, on the special directions of the CDA administration, the concerned staff of the water supply department is performing their duties efficiently at different times so that the citizens do not face water difficulties.
In addition, the supply of water to the citizens in Sector I-8, I-9 and adjoining sub-sectors of Islamabad depends on tube wells for which the concerned staff of Water Supply Department is deployed round the clock in these sectors at different times.
Meanwhile, the demand for tankers in Islamabad has also come down significantly due to the operation of tube wells, in past to measures where the CDA used to receive more than 400 complaints a day, but now the system is improving, the number of complaints has been reduced to 150 per day. In addition, the number of tankers and staff has been reduced from 25 to 10 to ensure full water supply in the city and to address the grievances of the citizens. Who are on standby 24 hours a day
Staff of Water Supply Department is repairing old, dilapidated and damaged water supply lines in some sectors of Islamabad which are repairable and restoring water supply and also eliminating all small and big complaints of water leakage. Similarly, new and modern pipelines for water supply are being laid underground
In addition, the CDA administration has urged the citizens to refrain from reckless use of water so that more water can be used by the citizens as well as to prevent the citizens from getting deeply bored the CDA administration has done this to the citizens. In this regard, if a citizen receives a complaint of deep boring, the administration will also take strict legal action against that person.
The CDA administration is also launching a survey of all private and government houses and commercial buildings in Islamabad in connection with water supply issues so that water pressure and connections can be re-checked everywhere to find out where the water problem is. The relevant department has also formed special teams.
UNITED BUSINESS GROUP (UBG) TO WIN THE NEXT ELECTIONS: SM MUNIR
ISLAMABAD, AUG 7 /DNA/ – United Business Group Chairman Iftikhar Ali Malik and Patron in Chief SM Munir have said that Lahore is a stronghold of United Business Group and after the election of Ali Asghar Hassam as Chairman United Business Group, Lahore has become the center of United Business Group’s activities. They expressed these views at a meeting of the United Business Group held in Lahore yesterday, which was chaired by Mr. Iftikhar Ali Malik and Chief Guest was SM Munir.
Addressing the meeting, SM Munir said that United Business Group is a representative group of the business community of the entire country and we will participate in the upcoming elections to the best of our ability and ensure the success of UBG.
In his address, Iftikhar Ali Malik, Chairman, United Business Group, said that Lahore has been playing a key role in the political, cultural and social life of the country and now the Lahore Chapter has played an active role within the United Business Group. A new journey of success will begin.
Zubair Tufail, President, United Business Group, said that the business community across the country was facing various problems and the ruling group which came to power through fraud had not made any significant progress in solving the problems of the business community. And, God willing, the United Business Group will fully represent the business community after the election in the way they have served the business community for the past five years.
Zafar Bakhtawari, Secretary General, United Business Group, said in his address that the business community of the country is the biggest stakeholder of Pakistan and also the biggest beneficiary of Pakistan creation, And we expect that the policies of the country should be made with thier consultation. He further added that the business community should be taken into confidence and thier dignity and honour and should be the major principle of the state craft.
Dr. Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, Information Secretary, in his address on the occasion, said that the business leadership from Karachi to Khyber is united under the leadership of Mr. SM Munir and Iftikhar Ali Malik and we must win the next election through our unity and hard work.
UBG Sindh President Khalid Tawab in his address said that we have been kept away in the last elections by rigging and we are fighting for justice in every possible way and insha Allah truth and justice will prevail.
Mr. Tanveer Ahmed Sheikh, Senior Vice Chairman, United Business Group and former President, FPCCI, said in his address that nations should think for the future and not involved in the past, we should learn from our mistakes, God willing. Will come forward and work hard to serve the merchants.
Other leaders of United Business Group: Mr. Amir Ata Bajwa, Sohail Altaf, Dr. Noman Idrees Butt, Malik Sohail Hussain, Ali Hussam Asghar, Sheikh Muhammad Asif, Hanif Gohar, Amjad Chaudhry addressed the function and besides Zubair Ahmad Malik, Ahmed Chanay, Arif Yusuf Jiva, Mazhar A. Nasir, Noor Ahmad Khan, Mian Zafar Iqbal, Pervez Lala, Rehman Aziz Chan, Haji Irfan Yusuf, Jamil A. Naz, Miss Rizwana Shahid, Hamid Akhtar Chadha, Mian Zahid Javed, Qazi Akbar, Shehzad Saadat, Rehmatullah Javed, Waqar Ahmad Mian, Sohail Anjum Ansari, Waqas Akram Awan, Asad Mashhadi, Zahid Latif Khan, Younis Sheikh, Zahid Iqbal Chaudhry, and a large number of traders and industrialists from across the country participated.
Tokyo Olympics: Arshad Nadeem’s competes for Olympics medal at javelin event
TOKYO, AUG 7: Arshad Nadeem is participating in the final of the men’s javelin event at the Tokyo Olympics.
He is the country’s last hope to end a medal drought at the mega-event where Pakistan have failed to register any significant victory since 1992
Earlier, the Khanewal- born won his group on Wednesday after finishing the round with a throw of 85.16 metres which was the third-best in the event behind India’s Neeraj Chopra (86.65m) and Germany’s Johannes Vetter (85.64m).
Previously, he has won a bronze medal for Pakistan in the 2018 Asian Games which were organised in Indonesia with a throw of 80.75 metres
WOMAN KILLS MOTHER AFTER FIGHT OVER MARRIAGE PROPOSAL
MANDI BAHAUDDIN, AUG 7 /DNA/ – A woman has been accused of murdering her mother in Mandi Bahauddin after an argument over a proposal.
The incident took place at Jadu Kala in Phalia district. The suspect ran away after shooting her mother, the police said.
Raids are being carried out to arrest the accused.=DNA
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RAZAK DAWOOD REVIEWS PROGRESS OF ALLAMA IQBAL INDUSTRIAL CITY AT FIEDMC
LAHORE, AUG 7 /DNA/ – Razak Dawood Advisor to Prime Minister on Commerce Saturday visited Faisalabad Industrial Estate Development and Management Company (FIEDMC) office to review the progress of state of the art Allama Iqbal Industrial City,the first mega project of the Punjab, under China Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC).
Chairman FIEDMC Mian Kashif Ashfaq here today briefing the Advisor said this project is being executed on fast track basis on the explicit directive of prime minister Imran Khan .He said that the facility of gas,power,water and basic infrastructure, civic centre etc required for new industrial units have been provided.He said federal minister Mian Hammad Azhar Minister Industries Punjab Mian Muhammad Aslam Iqbal have also issued directives to concerned departments for early timely completion of mage project of national importance.
He further informed the Advisor that nearly 20 industrial units have started their production which covered one third of land of first phase of Allama Iqbal Industrial city while remaining will go into operation by the end of year.
He said PM during recent meeting further directed to minimise the time of allotment of industrial plots to foreign and local investors besides all investors must also be facilitated through one window operation.He said this project spread over a tract of 3300 acres of land is being completed on fast track which included furniture city, apparel park,modern business centre and the largest expo centre for displaying Pak made products to attract local and foreign buyers.
Mian Kashif Ashfaq said in line with the transparent policy of the Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar, industrial plots are being allotted to export based industries ,imports substitute industries and relocation of local industries. He said PM was optimistic about the future of the country and fully committed to providing best possible package of incentives to foreign and local investors to boost up industrial production to strengthen the national economy which promise better living conditions of poor strata of the society.
He said PM was kind enough to approve 500 mega watt grid station and 40 mmcf gas to meet the ever in demands of the industrial units.He said an amount of rupees 7.5 billions has so far been spent on the completion of first phase.
Razak Dawood expressed satisfaction over the pace of development and progress of this project achieved so far and highly appreciated the dedication ,devotion and leadership qualities of Mian Kashif Ashfaq demonstrated in the FIEDMC.
HIC ZIHAI: PAK-CHINA COMPLEMENTARY TO PROMOTE CAPACITY COOPERATION
by Mariam Raheem
ISLAMABAD – With Pak-China economic and trade relations upgrading continuously, capacity cooperation has become one of the important carriers of complementary advantages between both countries.
It is learned that trade volume between both countries has grown rapidly showing an increase from $4 billion in year 2004-2005 to around $20 billion in recent years. It is also worth mentioning that as per China Customs, Pakistan’s exports to China in first half of 2021 amounted to $1.73 billion, an huge growth of 84% as compared to 1H 2020 which shows great potential of China-Pakistan trade investment and Pakistan’s growing visibility and advantages in trade and logistics.
Mr. Wang Zihai, Executive Director, Pakistan China Center (PCC) who was appointed as Honorable Investment Counsellor (HIC) by Pakistani Board of Investment (BoI) recently, said in an interview with Gwadar Pro that the center is focusing on making this platform to gather capital, technology and talents, incubate high-tech industries and promote people-to-people exchanges. “In the next step, we will sort out Pakistan’s industrial categories and find the space for complementarity with China’s related industries, so as to encourage China’s capacity to complement Pakistan’s strengths.”
Talking about the challenges facing Pak-China trade and its prospect, Mr. Wang highlighted that although the volume of trade is growing every year, the total volume is still insufficient compared with the political situation that has been friendly for generations and the population of the two countries. “There is trade deficit between Pakistan and China, which will affect the balanced development of trade in the long run. But we are delighted to see that CPFTA Phase II has brought huge benefits and if we work on innovative trade model, the deficit can be bridged soon hopefully.”
Presently the new model and new business type emerge one after another. Cross-border e-commerce is in full swing and barter trade is also in preliminary exploration. China-Pakistan cooperation needs to keep up with the pace of the times. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor under construction provides immense physical space and corresponding market opportunities for the expansion of China-Pakistan trade. Mr. Wang stated that recently, together with relevant departments, PCC has launched a cross-border e-commerce development strategy workshop for Pakistani youth to learn new business type.
Mr. Wang has been in Pakistan for 16 years since 2005. During this period, he has been engaged in industry, service, investment retailing, and has also served as president of chambers of commerce and associations. He maintained that in order to promote industrial transformation, Pakistan is committed to building special economic zones, including speeding up the construction of nine special economic zones under CPEC. Chinese companies may consider setting up joint ventures with Pakistani enterprises in the manufacturing of tires, cars, trucks, textiles, etc.
