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PIA AIRLIFTS 12 MILLION DOSES OF SINOVAC VACCINES

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Staff Report

BEIJING, AUG 29: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) special flights have airlifted fresh batch of 12 million doses of anti-Covid-19 vaccines from Beijing Capital International Airport to Islamabad.

“PIA special flights PK-6852, PK-6853, PK-6854 and PK-6856 transported 12 million doses of Sinovac vaccine procured from China for vaccination of people under government’s ongoing prevention and control drive against Covid-19 pandemic,”ť Qadir Bux Sangi, PIA Country Manager for China told APP here on Sunday.

He said that under able leadership of its Chief Executive Officer, Arshad Malik, the national flag carrier had so far airlifted 57 million doses of anti-Covid-19 vaccine through 47 special flights.

“Till now, PIA has brought around 17 million doses of Sinopharm and 40 million doses of Sinovac and CanSino vaccines from China to Pakistan,”ť he added.

It is worth mentioning that the government under its mass vaccination drive has set a target to vaccinate 75 million population by end of 2021.

So far, over 32 million vaccines have been administered with a maximum of 1.07 million doses in a day on August 02.

Chinese vaccines namely Sinopharm, Sinovac and CanSino besides other vaccines are being used in the mass vaccination drive.

The health authorities launched the nationwide vaccination drive with around a million doses of Sinopharm vaccine donated by China, starting with older people and frontline healthcare workers, in March this year.

The drive began with a focus on the oldest people in the community, generally over the age of 80 but now the vaccine is being administered to the people aged over 18 years.

Islamabad received the first COVID-19 vaccine consignment after a military aircraft transported it from Beijing on February 01, this year.

Afghan Paralympians ‘extremely emotional’ after Tokyo arrival

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KABUL, AUG 29: Afghanistan’s two athletes made an “extremely emotional” arrival at the Tokyo Paralympic Village, Games chiefs said Sunday, after a top-secret flight from Paris following their evacuation from Kabul.

“Both athletes are here in Tokyo to fulfil their dreams, sending out a very strong message of hope to many others around the world,” said International Paralympic Committee spokesman Craig Spence.

Khudadadi and Rasouli were welcomed to the athletes’ village on Saturday night by IPC chief Andrew Parsons and IPC Athletes’ Council chairperson Chelsey Gotell, as well as the Afghan team’s chef de mission Arian Sadiqi.

“As you can imagine, the meeting was extremely emotional,” said Spence.

“There were lots of tears from everyone in the room. It really was a remarkable meeting.”

The pair spent a week in Paris at a French sports ministry training centre following their evacuation from Kabul.

Sprinter Rasouli was scheduled to compete in the men’s T47 100m but arrived too late for Saturday’s heats.

Instead, he will enter the T47 long jump final on Tuesday, while Khudadadi will compete in the women’s taekwondo K44 -49kg category On Thursday.

“Every day we’ve checked in on primarily their mental health, because as you can imagine, the situation they’ve gone through in the last few days is a serious one,” he said.

Their arrival comes after Afghanistan’s swift fall to the Taliban earlier this month left them among the tens of thousands trapped and unable to leave the country.

At Tuesday’s opening ceremony, the Afghan flag featured in a symbolic fashion, carried by a volunteer.

Spence said the two athletes would not speak to reporters while they were at the Games.

He said organisers wanted to avoid “a selfie-fest” with other athletes taking pictures in the village, but stressed that the pair would be allowed to mingle.

“We’re not saying ‘you shouldn’t just stay in your apartments and not go out’,” he said.

“We’re saying, once you’ve gone through your three-day quarantine, you need to fulfil this experience of being at the athletes’ village’.”

In Afghanistan, the Taliban have promised a softer brand of rule compared with their first stint in power from 1996 to 2001.

But many Afghans fear a repeat of their brutal interpretation of Islamic law.

Shehbaz in tears over ‘fragile’ Karachi

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KARACHI, Aug 29 (DNA): Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President and Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday wished that he wanted to see a reformed Karachi before his death.

Shehbaz said this while addressing a meeting with officials, workers and elders of NA-249 in Karachi along with PML-N Sindh chapter leader Muhammad Zubair.

“I feel the pain while seeing no education and medical facilities in a sprawling city that itself is a money machine for the rest of the country,” the PML-N president said.

In an emotional speech in which Shehbaz Sharif paused for several times in a bid to control his emotions.

“Karachi is an economic and diplomatic hub where immigrants, Sindhis, Punjabis, Tanolis, Balochs, Bengalis and Pashtuns from other nations and regions live. Pakistan will not be prosperous without the prosperity of this city,” he said.

He vowed to change the fate of the port city under the leadership of Mian Nawaz Sharif if people give chance in the next elections.

Shehbaz Sharif comparing the revenue generated by the city and facilities in it commented, “Karachi pays billions of rupees annually in the national exchequer and the irony is a gallon of water is not available.”

He said that Karachi is the city of the Father of the Nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah but the city is given a step-motherly treatment. On the occasion, Shehbaz Sharif participated in two different functions and also listened to the problems of party officials and workers.

Shehbaz said, “We should try to solve the problems of Karachi along with all the other parties and people belonging to the different walks of life. Nawaz Sharif forcefully asked me to contest elections from Karachi and from NA-249 constituency. This is the gateway of Pakistan and this is our port. Karachi is the economic centre. I believe that the fate of this city will change.”

Shehbaz in tears over ‘fragile’ Karachi

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KARACHI, Aug 29 (DNA): Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President and Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday wished that he wanted to see a reformed Karachi before his death.

Shehbaz said this while addressing a meeting with officials, workers and elders of NA-249 in Karachi along with PML-N Sindh chapter leader Muhammad Zubair.

“I feel the pain while seeing no education and medical facilities in a sprawling city that itself is a money machine for the rest of the country,” the PML-N president said.

In an emotional speech in which Shehbaz Sharif paused for several times in a bid to control his emotions.

“Karachi is an economic and diplomatic hub where immigrants, Sindhis, Punjabis, Tanolis, Balochs, Bengalis and Pashtuns from other nations and regions live. Pakistan will not be prosperous without the prosperity of this city,” he said.

He vowed to change the fate of the port city under the leadership of Mian Nawaz Sharif if people give chance in the next elections.

Shehbaz Sharif comparing the revenue generated by the city and facilities in it commented, “Karachi pays billions of rupees annually in the national exchequer and the irony is a gallon of water is not available.”

He said that Karachi is the city of the Father of the Nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah but the city is given a step-motherly treatment. On the occasion, Shehbaz Sharif participated in two different functions and also listened to the problems of party officials and workers.

Shehbaz said, “We should try to solve the problems of Karachi along with all the other parties and people belonging to the different walks of life. Nawaz Sharif forcefully asked me to contest elections from Karachi and from NA-249 constituency. This is the gateway of Pakistan and this is our port. Karachi is the economic centre. I believe that the fate of this city will change.” DNA

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Pakistan so far issues 1,500 on-arrival visa to Afghans, foreigners

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 29 (DNA): The process of evacuation of foreigners, Afghans and diplomats from Afghanistan is underway and on-arrival visas are being issued to foreigners coming to Pakistan from Afghanistan.

 It is learned that around 1,500 passengers from Afghanistan have been issued on-arrival visas by Pakistani authorities so far.

 “On-arrival visas have been issued to 80 travellers from Afghanistan Sunday,” the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) officials said. It is clarified that foreigners were issued visas to stay in Pakistan for a period of one month.

Pakistan has stepped up efforts to Afghan evacuation process and for this provinces administration took control of hotels and hostels in Islamabad.

Moeed demands newspaper to retract story

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AGENCIES

ISLAMABAD, The Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) on Sunday in a statement demanded ‘The Times’ a clarification and retraction from it’s misleading and frivolous interpretation of NSA Dr Moeed Yusuf’s interview with journalist Christina Lamb.

The NSA in a media release issued here said it was compelled to state that a story titled “Work with the Taliban or Repeat the Horror of the 1990s, West Told,” authored by Christina Lamb was published in The Times on August 28, 2021 which wrongly interpreted the interview of NSA Dr Moeed Yusuf.

The story’s sub-title reads, “Risk a second 9/11 if you don’t recognize Afghanistan’s new leaders, Pakistan’s national security adviser warns”. This connotation was fabricated and total wrongly attributed to the National Security Adviser (NSA).

 “It is a gross mischaracterization of the conversation that took place between Ms. Lamb and the NSA,” it added.

Ms. Lamb interviewed the NSA on record in his office in Islamabad on Friday, 27 August 2021. At no point did he state that the West should “immediately recognize” the Taliban, as the article states. Nor was there any “warning” of a second 9/11 linked to formal “recognition” of the Taliban.

This is a highly inflammatory mischaracterization of his remarks, one that smacks of unprofessional journalism.

It can cause great harm to Pakistan’s true position and interests that are, in reality, aligned with the international community, with whom Pakistan continues to work as a partner in Afghanistan.

To reiterate, absolutely no threat was either intended or made, nor does the NSA subscribe to such inflammatory rhetoric. The NSA clearly stated that the world had acknowledged that abandoning Afghanistan and Pakistan in the 1990s was a mistake and presented his view that lessons from the past must be learned. He elaborated that abandonment of Afghanistan will create a security vacuum, and that this can again be filled by international terrorist groups who threaten Pakistan and the West alike. Even the relevant direct quote of the NSA in the article itself confirms this.

The Office of NSA categorically rejects the very obvious and deliberately sensational drift of the article’s title and sub-title and misrepresentation on the issue of “recognition”, which lead readers to a very different conclusion than what was said. They amount to twisting both the words and spirit of the NSA’s remarks.

A formal demand that the story be immediately retracted and this clarification published has been sent to the newspaper by the Pakistan High Commission in the United Kingdom.

 “We have also noted that the author of the article recorded the interview and is welcome to release the entire recording for the readers of the newspaper to hear for themselves the NSA’s full remarks,” the NSD statement demanded.

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Pakistan earns US $2123 mln from IT services during FY 2020-21

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 29 (DNA): Pakistan earned US $2123.035 million by providing different information technology (IT) services in various countries during the fiscal year 2020-21.

 This shows growth of 47.44 percent when compared to US $1439.970 million earned through provision of services during the corresponding period of fiscal year 2019-20, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported.

During the period under review, the computer services grew by 50.32 percent as it surged from US $1108.690 million last fiscal year to US $1666.615 million during July-June (2020-21).

Among the computer services, the exports of software consultancy services witnessed increase of 35.50 percent, from US $408.974 million to US $554.180 million while the export and import of computer software related services also rose by 30.88 percent, from US $318.937 million to US $417.415 million.

The exports of hardware consultancy services decreased by 71.84 percent from, US $1.957 million to US $0.551 million whereas the exports of repair and maintenance services also decline by 56.19 percent from $1.511 million to $0.662 million.

In addition, the exports of other computer services rose by 83.88 percent from US$ 377.311 million to US $ 693.807 million. Meanwhile, the export of information services during the period under review increased by 56.47 percent by going up from US $ 2.550 million to US $3.990 million.

Among the information services, the exports of news agency services increased by 69.41 percent, from US $ 1.360 million to US $ 2.304 million whereas the exports of other information services also increased by 41.68 percent, from US $ 1.190 million to US $ 1.686 million.

The export of telecommunication services also witnessed an increase of 37.63 percent as these went up from US $328.730 million to 452.430 million during the fiscal year under review, the data revealed.

Among the telecommunication services, the export of call centre services increased by 22.10 percent during the period as its exports increased from US $ 125.964 million to US $153.806 million whereas the export of other telecommunication services also increased

by 47.28 percent, from US $202.766 million to US $298.624 million during the period under review, the PBS data revealed.

AFGHANISTAN: POST-TALIBAN CHALLENGES FOR THE REGION

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Munir Ahmed

Taliban’s brisk takeover of Afghanistan has shocked in particular the geopolitical security experts across the world. Many questions are being asked to the US about their huge spending there in the last two decades. What went wrong with the capacity and vigor of the Afghanistan army that was built with the taxpayers’ money?

Key facts are very alarming that since 9/11, US squandered $6.4 trillion on ‘war on terror’ including $2.2 trillion in Afghanistan. It is almost $100 billion on 300,000-strong Afghan Army and Air Force which roughly means spending $100 billion every month on the Afghan War for the last 20 years. US had 25,000 military casualties in Afghanistan including 2448 deaths, about 250,000 Afghans lost their lives. According to the UN Security Council report of July 26, 2021, there are 12,000 foreign terrorists in Afghanistan, with the largest contingent of 6500 from Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan. World’s largest US embassy in Kabul sprawling 15-acre compound and having 4000 staff including 1400 Americans along with NATO and other allies could not build a modern and contemporary Afghanistan with the funds spent there.  

Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed speaking to a webinar organized by the Devcom-Pakistan has termed the current situation in Afghanistan as “monumental failure” of the US policy in Afghanistan. The US incompetence to plan, organize and implement even the airlift of its remaining staff from Kabul just because of the abrupt withdrawal of the remaining 2500 US troops through a self-imposed deadline, and then reversing that decision by bringing about 5200 US troops for securing the disorganized exodus of Americans and their staffers. It has propped up a narrow-based corrupt self-serving Kabul Elite which had no roots in the Afghan masses and whose leader fled at the first sign of trouble.

The situation in Afghanistan has become worrisome for the neighbouring countries too as the Taliban’s videos coming up show the same brutal behaviour with the natives despite many positive announcements. Perhaps they did not reach their own armed men roaming around the streets across all parts of Afghanistan. The savage and brutal spillover is expected to the neighbouring countries. Pakistan would be the main and easy target to fuel up the similar situation once again. In Islamabad, the Lal Masjid administration has already hoisted the Taliban’s flag while the District Management has failed to take any action. Pakistan’s interior ministry knows exactly how many mosques were captured by the students of the Lal Masjid, and taking any action against their headquarters in the centre of the city will flare up the situation in different parts of the federal capital. Tribal belts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan are ever active fault lines of extremism and terrorism though much significant has been done to eradicate the banned outfits.

Lt. General Retd Muhammad Asad Durrani has advised the state institutions and government to take into confidence the Taliban’s like minds in Pakistan before we see the spillover from Afghanistan’s present situation.

In the given circumstances, the neighbouring countries core interest in Afghanistan shall be to strengthen unity among themselves and among different factions in Afghanistan. It is vital for the stability, territorial integrity and independence of Afghanistan. Pakistan, Iran, China, Russia and Turkey shall put every effort in to facilitate the formation of a rationally inclusive and broad based government in Afghanistan through political consensus. They shall also ensure that Afghan territory should not be used for cross-border terrorism against Pakistan, or to harm the strategic and economic interests of other countries as was the case in the recent past. It is a good sign that Taliban are behaving more mature this time and talking to the neighbouring countries in their language. They have a more rational approach towards their own people from different segments of the society with exception to some brutal incidents.

Taliban’s brisk takeover of the country without any strong resistance from the Afghan army shall not be taken as their wide acceptance in Afghanistan. Taliban’s smooth sailing through all the parts could have been a planned conspiracy of some external forces to create chaos in the region against China’s aggressive economic moves. However, we shall believe that only infrastructural and economic development in Afghanistan would lead to peace and prosperity in the region. All the neighbouring countries should support the government in Afghanistan that is acceptable to the natives and different political factions. It is possible only if the countries in the region forge a regional policy with China, Russia, Iran and Turkey at the core, plus Central Asian neighbors of Afghanistan including Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Call a conference of these countries inviting the USA too for a comprehensive plan for peace and stability in the region.

The writer is a freelance journalist and broadcaster, Director Devcom-Pakistan, an Islamabad-based policy advocacy and outreach think tank. He can be reached at [email protected] and tweets @EmmayeSyed

NCOC EXTENDS COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS TO 27 CITIES

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The SOPs underscored that there would be a complete ban on indoor wedding ceremonies whereas outdoor wedding ceremonies with 300 guests would be permissible which would be until 10:00 p.

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD, AUG 29: The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Sunday extended COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) to 27 cities across the country with higher disease prevalence and healthcare occupancy due to rising number of infections.

The NCOC made the decision to continue implementation of COVID-19 SOPs in view of current pandemic situation and increasing pressure on Covid dedicated healthcare facilities.

Earlier these SOPs were implemented in 13 cities of the country having high positivity ratio and disease spread.

The 27 cities to ensure strict enforcement of COVID-19 restrictions and SOPs included Islamabad, 11cities of Punjab (Khanewal, Mianwali, Sargodha, Khushab, Bahawalpur, Multan, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Rahim Yar Khan).

It also included Hyderabad and Karachi in Sindh, Muzaffarabad and Mirpur in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit and Skardu in Gilgit-Baltistan, whereas the cities from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were Peshawar, Swat, Haripur, Mansehra, Lower Dir, Swabi, Abbottabad, Swat, and Chitral Lower.

The COVID-19 SOPs to be enforced noted that all commercial activities (except essential services) to be closed at 8 p.m. Moreover, all markets would be closed two days a week whereas the determination of off days would be at the discretion of the provinces.

The restrictions on indoor dining in restaurants would be maintained while outdoor dining to be allowed at 10:00 pm. However, the takeaway service would remain open 24 hours a day.

The SOPs underscored that there would be a complete ban on indoor wedding ceremonies whereas outdoor wedding ceremonies with 300 guests would be permissible which would be until 10:00 p.m.

Furthermore, devotee visits to the shrine would continue to be banned alongwith restrictions to cinemas to be maintained.  The ban on contact sports like karate, boxing, martial arts, rugby, water polo, kabaddi and wrestling would continue to be banned. “Only vaccinated people will be able to go to the indoor gym,” it added.

In order to contain disease spread, normal office hours for public and private offices would continue with 50 percent strength in their premises.  The restrictions also included that  public transport would operate on 50 percent while rail service will continue with 70 percent passengers capacity.

Amusement parks and swimming pools would remain closed whereas public to be allowed to enter public parks with COVID-19 protocols, it said.

The education sector was allowed to operate with COVID-19 SOPs as the Forum decided that educational institutions across the country would be opened three days a week with 50% strength and on staggered basis.  The Forum would review its implemented SOPs on September 13.

Azadi Cup Tenpin Bowling C’ship finals on Monday

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 29 :Karachi Lions and Warriors have entered in the team event final of the Azadi Cup Tenpin Bowling Championship being played at Leisure City Bowling Club, Jinnah Park, Rawalpindi.

The finals of nine different categories competitions would be played on Monday including Master singles, Team, Amateur, Deaf, Under 12, women, Inter College, Inter Universities and Media event.

The concluding ceremony would be held at 6 pm in which trophies, medals, certificates and cash awards will be distributed to the winning players.

In the men’s team event; Karachi Lions and Warriors would play the final as both have 10 points each, while Hunter has got 3rd position with 8 points.

As many as 15 players have moved into next round of the Master Singles including

Saleem Baig, Unaib, Afzal Akhtar, Sajjad Shah, Daniyal Shah, Ali Suria, Ahmer Saldera, Ijaz ur Rehman, Zubair, Fazil Maniya, Umair, Zafar Iqbal, Salman Zaman, Rana Shahzad and Hussain Chattha.

Th Championship was being played under the auspices of Pakistan Tenpin Bowling Federation in collaboration with Leisure City Bowling Club Jinnah Park Rawalpindi.

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