ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan says earnest efforts are continuing to further intensify the anti-polio campaign across the country despite the COVID-19 challenges to achieve a polio-free Pakistan.
In a telephonic conversation with co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Bill Gates, he reaffirmed that polio eradication remains a key national priority for the government.
Recalling that a special polio eradication campaign was launched in the country earlier this month, during which vaccine drops were administered to over 33 million children under five years of age, Imran Khan expressed his satisfaction over the substantive progress in cutting the transmission of the poliovirus in the country.
He hoped that polio will be eradicated soon with the support of all partners.
The Prime Minister appreciated the work of BMGF for the socio-economic uplift of the most disadvantaged people around the globe, especially for promoting universal access to health services and combating of infectious diseases.
He expressed gratitude, in particular, for BMGF’s partnership with Pakistan to rid the country of polio.
Bill Gates expressed his appreciation for the Prime Minister’s leadership for this national cause. He said while progress is encouraging, keeping up pressure will be the key to ending transmission for good.
The Prime Minister also highlighted Pakistan’s efforts to overcome the third wave of Coronavirus in the country.
Alluding to Pakistan’s potential in the Information Technology sector and the government’s business friendly IT policy, the Prime Minister encouraged Microsoft to further expand its footprint in Pakistan.
Ambassadors of Central Asian States, Austria, Jordan Republic of Korea attended the launching ceremony; author presents her book to the Kyrgyz ambassador
Ansar M Bhatti
ISLAMABAD: Marina Bakanov’s book The Kyrgyz launching ceremony took place at the Embassy of Kyrgyzstan. Ambassadors of Central Asian States, Austria, Jordan Republic of Korea attended the launching ceremony. The author presented her book to the Kyrgyz ambassador. This event was organized on the frame of the celebration of 30 years of independence August 31, 1991.
Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan while speaking on the occasion praised the work of the author and termed it highly productive and informative. He congratulated Marina with another achievement in her second career in the field of literature and science, first certainly being an excellent doctor.
The ambassador said, he was glad to note that the book was launched this year, when Kyrgyzstan was celebrating its 30th anniversary of Independence.’ Taking this opportunity let me share with you some thoughts about the historical path of my people on the way to independent state. Although history of Kyrgyz nation dates back as early as III century B.C., when the name Kyrgyz was first mentioned in Chinese chronicles, our people passed through a long and difficult way to fulfill its dream and form its own modern state only after dissolution of Soviet Union. On August 31, 1991, the Supreme Council of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan adopted a law on the “Declaration on State Independence of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan”, he added.
Ambassador Erik further said, he was glad to note that Kyrgyzstan enjoys excellent bilateral relations with Pakistan since establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992. During last 30 years our countries exchanged presidential visits twice, Kyrgyz Prime Ministers visited Pakistan twice, Pakistani Prime Ministers came to Kyrgyzstan four times, Speakers of the Kyrgyz parliament visited Pakistan twice and Ministers of Foreign Affairs of our countries exchanged visits.
In June 2019, the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan met his Kyrgyz counterpart on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in our capital Bishkek. During conversation, they reviewed bilateral relations and agreed to hold Joint Ministerial Commission and Bilateral Political Consultations, to comprehensively upgrade mutual cooperation in diverse fields and strengthen the land and air connectivity between the two countries, to enhance people-to-people contacts and boost tourism cooperation through friendly visa regimes. Prime Minister Imran Khan invited Kyrgyz President to visit Pakistan.
Cooperation in the field of education is developing actively. About 7,000 Pakistani students are studying in Kyrgyzstan mostly in medical universities. In February this year, Kyrgyz Minister of education and science A. Beishenaliev visited.
Talking about trade the ambassador said, the existing trade volume between Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan is not up to the actual potential that exists and both countries should work towards increasing it.
In order to promote trade and economic relations Intergovernmental Kyrgyz-Pakistani commission was established in 1994, which held its third meeting on 11-12 January 2017 in Islamabad. Now we are expecting the Pakistani delegation to come to my country for the next meeting of the commission.
There are several priority areas for economic cooperation between our countries, which may include electricity production and supply, mining industry, light and food industries, medicine and pharmaceuticals, IT technologies.
Kyrgyzstan is rich in water resources, which are used for electricity production by a number of hydropower stations. My country is a member of the project CASA-1000, which is aimed of brining surplus electricity from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan hydropower stations in summer times to Pakistan through the territory of Afghanistan.
Kyrgyzstan is interested in development of short transportation links through its territory between Central Asia and China and Pakistan with access to Gwadar and Karachi ports using railway and automobile roads, which are being constructed in the framework of CPEC.
Pakistani and Kyrgyz businessmen may open joint ventures on textile production as Kyrgyzstan is already a major supplier of textile goods to Russia and Kazakhstan and Pakistan is one of the world’s top textile producers.
Of course, agriculture and livestock are dynamic sectors, where both sides can explore opportunities of opening joint ventures on agricultural products processing to increase exports to Eurasian Economic Union, European Union or Arab world.
BIRMINGHAM: On the first leg of his visit to the West Midlands and South Wales, Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK, Moazzam Ahmad Khan visited the Pakistan Consulate General in Birmingham on 23 June 2021. Besides meeting the Consulate officials, he held interactions with faith leaders of Pakistani origin and eminent members of the Pakistani community, both virtually and in-person.
In his address to the faith leaders, the High Commissioner highlighted the need for promoting greater cohesion and understanding among various faiths and sects of Islam. He encouraged the leaders to utilize their sermons to foster love, amity, understanding and goodwill among and within various faith communities. He also emphasized the important role faith leaders could play in encouraging vaccination against COVID-19.
Lauding the contribution of the Pakistani community to the UK’s development, as well as progress and development of Pakistan, the High Commissioner stated that the Diaspora could play an important part in projecting Pakistan’s true and positive narrative. He also urged the community to play its role in further strengthening bonds of friendship between Pakistan and the UK.
The High Commissioner further apprised the audience of the initiatives taken under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan to facilitate Overseas Pakistanis, including Roshan Digital Accounts (RDA) as well as various other schemes for welfare and facilitation of Overseas Pakistanis.
MINSK: On the second day MILEX 2021 exhibition in Minsk, Minister of Defense Production Zobaida Jalal held a bilateral meeting with her Belarusian counterpart Mr. Dmitry Pantus, Minister of State Authority for Military Industry of the Republic of Belarus. During the meeting, matters of bilateral interest came under discussion. She appreciated the range of products displayed in the exhibition and expressed her gratitude for the warm hospitality. Earlier in the day, the Minister also visited several stalls in the exhibition hall and acquainted herself with different products on display.
ISLAMABAD: : Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt Mr. Tarek Mohamed Dahroug 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 Mr. Tarek Mohamed Dahroug commended the professionalism of PAF and acknowledged its rising indigenous capacity in aviation industry. The Air Chief said that Pakistan and Egypt had longstanding religious, cultural and historical bonds which were manifested through strong ties between Egyptian Air Force and Pakistan Air Force. The Air Chief also emphasized upon the significance of further deepening the relations between the two Air Forces.
Islamabad: Mr. MATSUDA Kuninori, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan on Thursday expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives in the bomb blast which occurred at Johar Town in Lahore on June 23rd, leaving numbers of people dead and injured. In his condolence message, the Ambassador conveyed his heartfelt grief and sympathies to the bereaved families and wished for a speedy recovery of the injured. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the government, the people of Pakistan, and the families of those who have lost their dear ones in the tragic incident. Please accept our deepest condolences, and we wish for a quick recovery of the injured”, said the Ambassador. The Ambassador prayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls and wished for the bereaving families to bear this irreparable loss with fortitude and equanimity.
BERLIN: General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Army staff (COAS) who is on official visit to Germany called on Mr. Heiko Maas, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany. His Excellency Mr. Markus Potzel, Special Representative for the Federal Government for Afghanistan and Pakistan was also present. During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, overall regional security situation including latest developments in Afghan Peace Process and bilateral cooperation in various fields were discussed. COAS said that Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with Germany and expressed desire for enhanced mutually beneficial bilateral relations. The German dignitaries also acknowledged Pakistan’s continuous efforts for peace and stability in the region and pledged to further enhance bilateral relations between both countries. Later on, COAS also visited Command & Staff College of Germany, where he addressed students and faculty members and shared his views on “Pakistan’s Regional and Internal Security Perspective”. During the address, COAS apprised the audience on external and internal security challenges faced by Pakistan and measures taken in the regard to mitigate the threats. COAS said that future of enduring peace and stability in world hinges on ability to resolve long pending issues within the region. This can only be complemented through meaningful international support to take on challenging regional issues. Focusing on COVID-19 pandemic, COAS said that Pakistan’s Government along with other state institutions is doing its best to counter the challenges faced by Pakistan. Earlier on arrival at Command & Staff College, COAS was received by Major General Oliver Kohl, Commandant Bundeswehr Command & Staff College Hamburg, Germany.
LAHORE : Governor Punjab Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar on Thursday has approved amendments in the Punjab Sugar Factories Act 1950.
The amendments have been made to provide relief to the growers as it was reported that sugar mills in the province were purchasing sugarcane from the growers on ‘off the book’ by violating the rules and regulations.
In the latest amendments, the government of Punjab mandated the sugar millers to carry out their transactions to sugarcane growers via banks in order to avoid complications that may lead to the exploitation of the farmers.
The mills in the province will start crushing the sugarcane on the fixed date and strict action will be taken against those mills, who fail to pay growers on time.
Earlier, some growers complained about ‘off the book’ purchases by the sugar millers or middlemen despite clear-cut directives by the provincial government for keeping the accounts of all the sale and purchases.
Governor Punjab Chaudhry Sarwar said that Sugar Mills have been made bound to pay the price of the sugarcane to the growers within 45 days via bank accounts.
“No injustice will be tolerated with the growers,” he said and added that PM Khan stands firmly united with the growers of the country.
Sarwar also lauded the role of farmers in boosting the country’s economy.
Islamabad : Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu says PAF is a professional force having capacity to timely respond to any nefarious design against the country.
He said this during his visit to National Defence University, Islamabad to address the course participants.
The Air Chief emphasized that our Armed Forces always remained poised to defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the nation.
Speaking on prevailing security challenges and technological advancements, the Air Chief expressed his confidence in the combat potential of Pakistan Armed Forces.
Later on, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu also interacted with the course participants.
