Peshawar : Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shah Farman says no compromise will be made on quality education in the province.
This he said while presiding over separate senate meetings of Khushal Khan Khattak University Karak and Agriculture University D.I.Khan in Peshawar.
The Governor approved the financial budget of the university. Shah Farman directed all the universities to present their budget for the fiscal year 2021-22 in relevant senate meetings for formal approval.
Prime Minister Imran Khan will visit Dasu Dam today (Friday) to review its construction work.
On the occasion, the Prime Minister will also talk to foreign engineers and workers engaged with the project.
The phase one of Dasu dam will be completed by 2025 which will add 2160 megawatts of electricity to the national grid. This capacity will increase to 4320 megawatts with the completion of its second phase by 2029.
Work on Dasu dam has been accelerated by the present government as per the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan to ensure better utilization of country’s water resources. Despite Covid-19, work on the project is continuing by adhering to the SOPs.
ISLAMABAD: The COVID-19 has claimed 39 more lives in Pakistan during the past 24 hours, lifting the overall death toll to 21,913.
According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) data, the country’s caseload climbed to 945,184 after 1,043 more people tested positive for the deadly virus during this period.
The positivity rate was recorded at 1.90 per cent.
The new infections emerged when 54,647 tests were conducted during the said period.
With 1,410 recoveries over the past 24 hours, the total number of recovered patients has reached 888,505, while the total number of tests to diagnose the pandemic is recorded at 14,026,336.
Punjab remains the worst-hit province as 344,641 cases have been reported so far since the pandemic outbreak. Sindh follows with 330,552 cases, according to the NCOC dashboard.
136,663 COVID-19 cases have been detected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 82,278 in Islamabad, 26,466 Balochistan, 19,868 Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and 5,759 cases have been recorded in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has made a bulk purchase deal of coronavirus vaccines with China, quoting sources.
Pakistan has made various agreements of buying over 27.5 million vaccine doses of China made vaccines, the sources at National Institute of Health (NIH) said.
The doses of Sinopharm, Sinovac and CanSino vaccines being purchased under the vaccine procurement agreements, according to sources.
“Under the procurement agreements raw material and prepared coronavirus vaccines being purchased from the Chinese companies,” sources said.
Pakistan has signed a deal of the procurement of 23 million doses of Sinopharm vaccine, according to sources. Sinopharm will provide vaccine consignments to Pakistan in phases till December this year.
DNA
RAWALPINDI: Terrorists attacked Army troops, employed at security duties near Turbat Airport using small arms. As a result of this cowardly act by the miscreants, a brave soldier, Naik Aqeel Abbas, resident of village Mehro Peelo, District Chakwal embraced shahadat.
A large scale area sanitization operation by FC Balochistan south to hunt the terrorists has been launched.
Such cowardly acts by inimical elements, backed by anti state forces cannot sabotage the hard earned peace and prosperity in Balochistan. Security forces are determined to neutralize their nefarious designs even at the cost of blood and lives.
LAHORE, Jun 17 :Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu has said that the Pakistan Air Force is a professional force, and it is capable of timely and forcefully responding to enemy’s nefarious design against the country.
Addressed the course members and faculty of 50th PN Staff Course at Pakistan Navy War College (PNWC) here on Thursday, he appreciated the quality academic stimulus and level of training imparted at Pakistan Navy War College.
The Chief of the Air Staff also commended Pakistan Navy’s valuable services to safeguard the maritime frontiers of the country.
About the prevailing security challenges and technological advancements, the Air Chief expressed his confidence in the combat potential of Pakistan armed forces. He emphasized that our armed forces were ever ready to defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the nation.
Earlier, on his arrival at the PNWC, Chief of the Air Staff was received by Commandant Pakistan Navy War College Rear Admiral Muhammad Zubair Shafique.
COLOMBO, June 17–:Sri Lankan authorities on Thursday said the highly transmissible B.1.617.2 variant found in India had been detected for the first time from the community in capital Colombo.
Director of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine of Sri Jayewardenepura University Dr. Chandima Jeewandara said this variant was detected in five samples obtained from the Dematagoda area in Colombo.
He said the variant was earlier detected on two occasions in Sri Lanka but from quarantine centers and not within the community.
Scientists say this Delta variant was spreading more quickly than the Alpha variant.
Sri Lanka is under a strict nationwide travel restriction which will be lifted on June 21 at 4:00 a.m. local time.
Within the past two months, over 100,000 new infections have been reported as Sri Lanka has detected the new Delta and Alpha variants of the COVID-19 from quarantine centers and several areas, health officials said.
BEIJING, June 17 : A young Pakistani stripling Nirdosh Kumar becoming safety supervisor has emerged as a CPEC role model.
He was recently awarded the “Outstanding Pakistani Employee” of CPEC, along with the other 17 individuals, says a report carried by China Economic Net (CEN) on Thursday.
Kumar is a safety supervisor at the power plant of Thar Energy Limited (TEL), a project under the framework of CPEC.
According to the report, every morning, after the routine meeting on safety, Kumar always follows his mentor to conduct regular inspection in each execution site, including tens of meters’ high steel structure factory and complicated crossing construction faces.
He is in charge of supervising the implementation of clients’ safety requirements and workers’ work standards. He alerts his fellow workers to personal safety.
His diligence, high responsibility and dedication to work soon made him stand out from all the 30 safety supervisors at the site. Both Chinese and Pakistani work staff give Kumar a thumbs-up when mentioning him.
“Kumar is a man of great industry and he can complete all the assigned tasks on time. Kumar would timely ask questions that he did not understand, which is very rare among the post-90s group,” said proudly Zeng Qicai, the Chinese safety manager at the site of TEL power plant.
At the beginning of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic suddenly rampaged the world. The situation was severe in Sindh where TEL power plant is based. The anti-epidemic task was unprecedentedly arduous at the site as there were short of manpower and materials.
Kumar stepped forward and said, “I will stay at the site.” As a key Pakistani worker of the anti-pandemic group, Kumar took part in making the epidemic prevention plan of the site.
Kumar also had to publicize knowledge and measures of epidemic prevention and control.
His daily work included taking workers’ temperature, disinfection, quarantining relevant people and delivering food for them.
This state had kept for eight months.
“These are what I should do. It’s my duty to ensure staff’s health and wellness,” said Kumar.
During more than two years, Kumar has not only grown with this project but also has deeper understanding of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
As he shared with Pakistani workers, energy is the engine to drive social-economic development. Local economic development will be improved gradually. So will people’s living.
“As a constructor of CPEC, a flagship project under BRI, I know that besides improving Pakistan’s energy supply, BRI has brought development opportunity for Pakistan,” Kumar said.
” I should thank the Chinese government for giving me positive affirmation. I wish to visit China and experience its development by myself,” said Nirdosh Kumar, after receiving the award.
The Chinese version of this article was first published in China Economic Herald.
Islamabad : Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed for early completion of electoral reforms.
Chairing a meeting on use of electronic voting machines in electoral process in Islamabad today (Thursday), he reiterated his commitment to ensure transparency in the electoral process using EVM.
The Prime Minister said government is also committed in fulfilling all constitutional requirements to ensuring transparency in the general elections in the country. He said use of EVM is the only option to prevent rigging and ensure transparency in the election process.
The Prime Minister was given a detailed briefing on the progress made so far about use of electronic voting machine and legislation regarding electoral reforms.
Madrid: Legendary captain Sergio Ramos is to leave Real Madrid after a glittering, trophy-laden career spanning 671 games and 16 seasons, the club announced Wednesday.
Real said there would be an “act of tribute and farewell” to the four-time Champions League winner on Thursday in the presence of club president Florentino Perez.
The announcement follows an injury-wracked 2020/21 campaign where the 35-year-old Ramos appeared in only 21 games in all competitions, his fewest in a 16-year career at Madrid. He has played just five times since the start of the year.
The veteran defender and national team captain was omitted from Spanish coach Luis Enrique’s Euro 2020 squad because of his lack of playing time.
Ramos joined Real Madrid from Sevilla in 2005, the sole Spaniard brought in during Perez’s first stint as president, the first Galacticos era that saw a major superstar signed every season.
A towering presence at the back, Ramos was also a prolific goalscorer, netting 101 times for Real including the 93rd-minute equaliser in the 2014 Champions League final against bitter rivals Atletico Madrid.
They went on to dominate their city rivals 4-1 after extra time, first of Real’s stunning run of four Champions League triumphs in five years.
He is one of the club’s most decorated players, having won five La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues and two Copas del Rey.
He won the World Cup with Spain in 2010, and the European Championship in both 2008 and 2012, but has often been a polarising figure outside Madrid.
Red card record
Ramos holds the record for the most red cards in La Liga history at 20, and was sent off 26 times in all competitions for Madrid.
A fierce competitor, he has come under fire for his harsh tackling including the infamous takedown of Mohamed Salah during the 2018 Champions League final that left the Liverpool star with a dislocated shoulder.
This season Ramos missed games after catching Covid-19 and also because of a series of injuries to his right thigh, left calf and left hamstring.
He was in Madrid’s squad for the final La Liga game against Villarreal but did not play.
According to Spanish media, Real and Ramos had not been able to reach an agreement on an extension of his contract, which will expire on June 30.
The club wanted to offer him a one-year deal with a 10 percent cut in salary in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, while Ramos wanted a two-season extension, according to reports.
The absence of record Spain appearance holder Ramos means there is not a single Madrid player in Enrique’s squad at Euro 2020.
Ramos has played 180 times for his country, scoring 23 times a tally that puts him eighth on Spain’s all-time goalscorers’ list.
He represented Spain at four World Cups and three European Championships and was a key member of the squads that lifted the 2010 World Cup and the 2008 and 2012 Euros.
Ramos will become a free agent after June 30 with a host of top European clubs, including Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, reported to be interested in signing the veteran.
By Mr. Khalid TaimurAkram, Executive Director, Center for Global & Strategic Studies (CGSS), Islamaba
In the contemporary era, countries depend upon pervasive socio-economic alignments to attain a significant position in the comity of nations in pursuit of collective goals. Therefore,various multilateral economic projects have been initiated or resurrected in the pursuance of this goal. In the year 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping inaugurated the grand Belt and Road initiative (BRI), following the footsteps of the Ancient Silk Route. The approach encapsulates the pillars of multiple national, sub-national, regional and local economies. Profound and ambitious in its reach and scope to ensure complementary advantages, it cansustain the developmental processes and outcomes. It links the entire Eurasian mega continent and its near and far periphery, i.e., South East, South and West, Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America. BRI is a unique initiative that provides a plethora of opportunities. It includes various major sectors like lands, maritime, infrastructure development, building of corridors, trade and financial investment, technological advancement, cultural exchange and cooperation in the health sector.Moreover, China has been incorporating countries via its major initiatives such as Dialogue among civilizations and building a community with shared future for mankind.
BRI has already been a successful project for global economic cooperation and development. It denotes the win-win approach for all the participant states. Inrecent days, the U.S. and other G-7 countries have decided to inaugurate an infrastructurefinancing mechanism for low to middle-income countries, designed to counter China’s BRI. In this aspect, the study highlights the issues associated with the relevancy of the later plan with the apparent limitations and critical evaluation. The article analyzes the hurdles and outcomes this initiative is likely to face in the backdrop of the multiplex civilizational patternsand building consensus among the wider nations. The study also provides a detailed comparative analysis of the exceptional Belt and Road Initiative project with G-7’s Build Back Better World (B3W) project.
A Shared Forward-looking Spirit by China’s Belt & Road Initiative:
A well-functioning, modern infrastructure is a central requirement for inclusive economic development and sustainable growth. However, the world has been facing a huge infrastructure gap which is widening. There have been relatively few attempts to track and monitor infrastructure investment across countries and sectors in this aspect. According to the Oxford Economics estimation, global infrastructure investment needs to be $94 trillion between 2016 and 2040. This is 19 percent higher than would be delivered under current trends and is an average of $3.7 trillion per year. Therefore, to meet this investment need, the world will need to increase the proportion of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It dedicates to infrastructure to 3.5 percent, compared to the 3.0 percent expected under recent trends.Furthermore, the Global Infrastructure Hub (GIH) estimates that the participating countries willneed US$94trillion by 2040.However, the recent trend shows that the actualinvestment will only be US$15 trillion by 2040. It is also pertinent to mention that this estimation was conducted through the data collected from 56 countries only. Unfortunately, it is against the spirit and slogan of SustainableDevelopment Goals (SDG) leaving no one behind.
In this context, it is highly significant to discuss and highlight the exceptional benefits associated with China’s BRI to bridge the infrastructure gap around the world. The greateralliance among the world’s countries is important for the expeditious socio-economic growth of all regions. Under the ambit of BRI, many states have adopted effective and prudent strategies to modernize and diversify their economies. The result-orientated policies by the visionary Chinese leadershipultimately prove to be a driving force for the amicable resolution of common global menaces and persistent challenges.
A Critical Evaluation of the G-7 led (B3W):
The west, especially the U.S.,has remained a prominent rival to Chinese-led initiatives. The irresistible rise of China has been tried to curtailed by the U.S. through negative propaganda and media campaigns. G-7 led infrastructure financial mechanism is in its preliminary stage, and the exact timeline has not been announced yet. The true motives and plans for the alternative BRI initiative for countries across the globehave been unveiled already.President Joe Biden has pledged that this plan will focus on joint projects and robust infrastructure mechanism to assist weak countries. Moreover, crucial initiatives of financial importance will be commenced in low-middle income countries. It has also been claimed that these efforts will set new benchmarks in areas like financial sustainability with the special emphasis on improving cooperation vis-a-vis laying foundation for a better world.
However,a mere analysis of its feasibility for delivering such a financial miracle to match the pace of China’s BRI looks like a far cry from reality. The agenda is likely to face many impediments and consensus-building issues. The project might be effective if it was really to assist and integrate nations across the globe. However, this is not the case as it is a clear manifestation ofthe anti-China campaign.Here lies an important question: how the world economic growthcan sustain by excluding the second largest economy and rising superpower, China? How can G-7 countries assist the third world nations without involving China? China has been the major facilitator and investor all across the globe to financiallyassist and facilitate the developing nations. Through China’s investment and projects of inclusive economic growth, the landscape of many countries, even the regions, have been changed. In this regard, one of theclear and exceptional examples is the African region. In Africa, China has been investing a lot, enabling many African countries to upgrade their living standards and economic structures. The west proposed project can never compete exceptional China’s Belt & Road initiative. TheU.S. is trying to pursue its vicious vested interestsvia coercive diplomatic actions and negative rhetoric.One should not forget the history of the west as it had colonized Asian-African countries and plundered resource. The marks of their tyrannies and inhuman activities are visible to present times.
Nevertheless, now the world is no longer unipolar but a multipolar. The orthodox and dysfunctional trends and patterns have been replaced by cooperation and regionalism. In this multiplex world order, countries are inclined towards integration and collaborations to solve bilateral disputes and find solutions tocommon threats. Undoubtedly, China has challenged the hegemonic structure and provided better sustainable alternatives. Therefore, the developing countries are complacent with the BRI and other Chinese-led and Chinese-owned programs. More than 138 countries have joined the Belt and Road initiative with the Chinese government, proving the durability and trust of these countries in Chinese initiatives. The targets of the G-7 plan fallshort by a fair margin by excluding China and encapsulating belligerent narratives like ‘rivalry and competition’. The integrated framework of BRI has priorities, including policy coordination, infrastructure connectivity, unimpeded trade-financial integration, cultural exchanges, research, and connecting people.Whilecomparatively analyzing BRI with the G-7 proposed B3W plan, it is pertinent to highlight the accomplishments under the integrated BRI framework. BRI projects have been successfully launched, constructed, and executed for almost one decade. The Chinese enterprises have invested about US$17 billion in non-financial direct investments in the countries associated with BRI projects.These billions of dollars are apart from the other modes of investments that have been authorized to facilitate infrastructure building plans under this initiative.
BRI is based on the centuries-old principles of their policy of Community with a Shared Future. Chinese President Xi Jinping has continuously emphasized the importance of creating a coherent and win-win economic environment for all the countries which are part of the BRI initiative under the auspices of this principle. All the BRI countries are likely to meet their socio-economic targets in due course of time.
Conclusion:
There are many prolonged challenges in the world. Thereby,there is a stark need for wider integration, not rivalries or fierce competition. The Belt and Road initiative has perfectly proved its strengths in the last decade through its true economic dividends. Therefore, it is needless to say that any other project may take a lot of time, resources, vigilant deliberations and management before it matches the pace and success story of the BRI miracle. In this aspect, any plan,especially to counter China’s rise, will not be acceptable by the world. The G-7 initiative of B3W can be impeccable but only with Chinese inclusion. Therefore, the west and G-7 countries need to stop projecting hostile rhetoric andpropaganda against China andrevisit their narrative in order to facilitate and integrate nations worldwide.
