DNA

ISLAMABAD, MAY 31 – Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mehmood has said that technical education is necessary along with formal education for securing jobs. Internship has become a mandatory part of formal education for awards of degrees in developed Nations, he said.

The Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training was addressing the Certificate Awarding Ceremony to the passed out young girls and boys under Prime Minister’s Kamyab Jawan Program (KJP). COVID-19 has completely changed the dynamics of education at large. We need to adjust ourselves in the new environment in post pandemic scenario. The Minister apprised that shortly educational institutions will be opened with SOPs implementation. Federal Minister,Shafqat Mehmood stated the objectives of the Kamyab Jawan Program. He said that it will prove milestone towards prosperous Pakistan.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Youth Affairs Usman Dar, who was guest of honor at the occasion, said that PM’s Kamyab Jawan Program is skilling youth through successful execution of Rs 10 Billion skill development programs. Our focus in on high end skills which open up a world market for our youth. Top technical Institutions and Universities are being engaged for skilling their students, he said. Mr. Dar appreciated Ms. Salma Aziz for sharing her success story with the audience. He said that young entrepreneurs need to get inspiration from the young lady.

M. Akjram Farid, Head Employer’s Federation of Pakistan (EFP) Islamabad and Chairman Skill Development Council Islamabad represented both institutions at the Certificate awarding ceremony. He apprised that Industry is the largest single employer of skilled workforce and stressed the need to align Kamyab Jawan Program with the needs and wants of Industry. The Head of EFP Islamabad Chapter threw light on continued achievements of NAVTTC in skilling youth of the country.

M. Akram Farid, who is Chairman Skill Development Council Islamabad as well, said that NAVTTC and Skill Development Councils are playing pivotal role in honing skills to young boys and girls. He apprised that hundreds of thousands of skilled people are serving in industry both within country and abroad. Overseas Pakistanis are earning foreign exchange for the country which is the backbone of our economy.

The Chairman Skill Development Council, who is an Industrialist and a known businessman, said that Industry is willing to play its role and accommodate participants to impart practical trainings in the Industrial Labs that will allow them to work in the real production environment.

At the end of the ceremony, successful participants of the Kamyab Jawan Program were awarded certificates. The passed out participants of the Kamyab Jawan Program shared their success stories.

The chairman NAVTTC Syed Javed Hassan has said that his institution being the apex regulator body striving hard for unanimous education mechanism especially in technical education so that skilled workers in abroad may get reasonable jobs.

ISLAMABAD: Senior journalist Mr Rahimullah Yusufzai underscored the negativity generated by leaders of Afghanistan and Pakistan and urged senior leadership of both countries to agree on a what he called “a ceasefire of blame-game.” He was speaking at a webinar titled ‘Prospects of Security and Stability in Afghanistan’ organized by the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) here on Monday.

Referring to the recent negative statements by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Afghan National Security Adviser HamdullahMohib, which were strongly rebutted by the Government of Pakistan, Mr Yusufzai said that such statements did not serve any purpose for Afghanistan. He further highlighted that non-withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan would amount to a violation of their agreement with the US for the Taliban. He shared that the Taliban had ceased their attacks on foreign troops since their agreement with the US government last year but had intensified their attacks on Afghan security forces and civilians. He further stated that Doha would remain the preferred venue of talks for the Taliban even if they attend the Istanbul talks.

Speaking on the occasion, Member of the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement Dr Sima Samar called for greater understanding between Afghanistan and Pakistan on the future of Afghanistan. She highlighted the commonalities between the two countries to emphasize the need for greater cooperation. “If a neighbour’s house is on fire, the flames will reach you,” she said. Elaborating further, she said that terrorism and drug trafficking were not the problems of Afghanistan alone but could seriously affect other neighbouring countries as well. She also called for not shying away from acknowledging the problems between the two governments. “Denial would not help,” she said. She urged the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan to honestly come together to find a solution to the common problems and stop the blame-game. She emphasized the need for a human rights-based approach to countering extremist groups. 

Senior Lecturer at the National Intelligence Academy of Romania Lt Gen (Retd) Florian Coldea shared the contributions of Romanian troops to the NATO mission in Afghanistan. He said that all NATO allies needed to continue supporting the peace process in Afghanistan. He also emphasized the need for the neighbours of Afghanistan to support the Kabul government.

Managing Director of the Afghan Human Rights and Democracy Organization Mr Jawad Zawulistaniemphasized the importance of dialogue between Pakistani and Afghan researchers and activists. He blamed a lack of accountability through participatory and democratic governancefor the past failures in Afghanistan. He urged leadership and vision in Afghanistan and Pakistan for ensuring stability and security in Afghanistan. “Common threats need to be addressed with a common vision,” he said.

Earlier, President IRS Ambassador Nadeem Riyaz expressed his hope for security and stability in Afghanistan and stated that Pakistan was always ready to support Afghanistan in securing a peaceful future.

DNA

Islamabad, MAY 31 – The Trans-Afghan Railway Line Project, agreed between Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan earlier this year, would transform the geo-economic dynamics of the entire Central Asian region.

The project would be the first step in linking the Central Asian transport network with Pakistani seaports of Gwadar, Karachi, and Bin Qasim, the Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani said while talking to the Speaker of the legislative Assembly of Oily Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, H.E Nurdinjan Ismailov, who called on him here at Parliament House, Today.

During the meeting, wide-ranging talks were held. The two dignitaries exchanged views on bilateral, regional, and international issues. They also reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations with a particular focus on political, trade, security and defense, educational, and cultural domains.

While talking to the speaker of the Oily majlis, the Chairman Senate underlined that Pakistan and Uzbekistan had long cherished cordial bilateral relations in promoting all-round cooperation in different areas including trade, commerce, and culture. Referring to historic, cultural, and commercial ties, Sanjrani remarked that Pakistan and Uzbekistan were natural partners in promoting regional prosperity and stability.

“Pakistan highly values its fraternal relationship with Uzbekistan. Both the countries have strong historical, religious and cultural linkage”, stated Sadiq Sanjrani.

The Chairman senate welcomed the Uzbek parliamentary delegation to attend the second General Conference of the Parliamentary Assembly of Economic Cooperation Organisation (PAECO), hosted by the National Assembly of Pakistan, to be held from 1st June-4th June in Islamabad.

Sadiq Sanjrani underlined the importance of enhancing political and diplomatic linkages and taking steps to deepen mutual collaboration in the fields of education, culture, trade, economy, defense, and tourism. “Uzbekistan is an important country in Central Asia. Further enhancement of economic cooperation would provide an opportunity for the people and investors of the two countries to come closer”, he further added.

While exchanging views on the CoronaVirus situation, the Chairman said that effective strategies and security measures need to be taken to contain the epidemic at the earliest, so life roll back to normality. The two also discussed the overall security situation in the region, important global and regional matters of mutual interest, and agreed to continue supporting each other at all international and regional forums, including the UN, OIC, SCO, and ECO.

Both the dignitaries condemned in the strongest terms the recent barbarism being caused by the Israeli occupation forces, adding that Israeli atrocities against the Palestinians are a gross violation of human rights and International law. “The cooperation on the Kashmir issue is a reflection of close ties between the two countries. I am grateful for Uzbekistan’s full support on the Kashmir dispute”, he underscored.

Muhammad Sadiq Sanjarani further added that the issues of Palestine and Kashmir and the recent barbaric actions of Israeli forces are a wake-up call for humanity. Not only  Muslims but the whole world needs to jointly raise their voice on human rights violations, oppression, and barbarism in Palestine and Kashmir, he stressed. If the parliaments of all the countries adopt a common strategy, these disputes can be resolved.  It is time to initiate measures to resolve these conflicts so that peace can prevail in the world, Sanjrani pointed out.

Highlighting the importance of Gwadar, the Chairman Senate observed that Gwadar would prove to be a game-changer not only for Pakistan but also for many countries of the world.  It would be the shortest way to connect the Middle East, Central Asia, Europe, and Africa, which will boost investment and trade in the region.

The Uzbek speaker of Oily Majlis endorsed the views of  Sadiq Sanjrani and added that the Uzbek parliament, the Uzbek people, and the government was committed to strengthening cordial relations with Pakistan. Both the dignitaries stressed promoting public and parliamentary ties between the two countries. He also urged the need for diversification of trade and commercial relations. The two sides reiterated their determination to maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges and enhance the upward trajectory of bilateral relations.

The Visiting dignitary also recorded his remarks in the “Visitor’s Book”.

North Korea said Monday the U.S. allowing South Korea to build more powerful missiles was an example of the U.S.’s hostile policy against the North, warning that it could lead to an “acute and instable situation” on the Korean Peninsula.

It’s North Korea’s first response to the May 21 summit between the leaders of the United States and South Korea, during which the U.S. ended decades-long restrictions that capped South Korea’s missile development and allowed its ally to develop weapons with unlimited ranges.

The accusation of U.S. policy being hostile to North Korea matters because it said it won’t return to talks and would enlarge its nuclear arsenal as long as U.S. hostility persists. But the latest statement was still attributed to an individual commentator, not a government body, suggesting North Korea may still want to leave room for potential diplomacy with the Biden administration.

“The termination step is a stark reminder of the U.S. hostile policy toward (North Korea) and its shameful double-dealing,” Kim Myong Chol, an international affairs critic, said, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. “It is engrossed in confrontation despite its lip-service to dialogue.”

“The U.S. is mistaken, however. It is a serious blunder for it to pressurize (North Korea) by creating asymmetric imbalance in and around the Korean Peninsula as this may lead to the acute and instable situation on the Korean Peninsula now technically at war,” he said.

The United States had previously barred South Korea from developing a missile with a range of longer than 800 kilometers (500 miles) out of concerns about a regional arms race. The range is enough for a South Korean weapon to strike all of North Korea but is short of hitting potential key targets in other neighbors like China and Japan.

Some South Korean observers hailed the end of the restrictions as restoring military sovereignty, but others suspected the U.S. intent was to boost its ally’s military capability amid a rivalry with China.

The commentator Kim accused Washington of trying to spark an arms race, thwart North Korean development and deploy intermediate-range missiles targeting countries near North Korea.

The South Korean government said it “prudently watches” North Korea‘s reaction, but Unification Ministry spokeswoman Lee Jong-joo wouldn’t comment otherwise, since the remarks were attributed to an individual, not an official statement from the North Korean government.

The North Korean statement comes as the Biden administration shapes a new approach on North Korea amid long-dormant talks over the North’s nuclear program. During their summit, Biden and South Korean President Moon Jae-in said a new U.S. policy review on North Korea “takes a calibrated and practical approach that is open to and will explore diplomacy” with the North.

U.S. officials have suggested Biden would adopt a middle ground policy between his predecessors — Donald Trump‘s direct dealings with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Barack Obama‘s “strategic patience.” Some experts say Biden won’t likely provide North Korea with major sanctions relief unless it takes concrete denuclearization steps first.

The North Korean statement criticized the Biden administration‘s review indirectly, saying the new policy was viewed by other countries “as just trickery.”

The European Union also agreed to ease the criteria for nations to get approval for entry—when nations are approved, all travelers from the country can enter Europe, including tourists, not just those who are exempted (such as EU residents) as long as they submit to whatever entry requirements European countries have in place

News Desk

BRUSSELS: European Union leaders have agreed to allow fully vaccinated travelers to enter the 27-nation bloc—a move that will end the more than year-long, pandemic-era travel ban. Vaccinated travelers will soon be able to bypass the more than year-long ban on travel to Europe. European Union ambassadors agreed on measures to allow fully vaccinated visitors to enter the 27-nation bloc.

The European Council “will now recommend that member states ease some of the current restrictions” for those who have been vaccinated, EU Commission spokesman Christian Wigand told.

He didn’t give a precise date for when the borders will reopen, but European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, have indicated that June, if not sooner, is the goal.

The majority of travelers from the United States and most non-European countries have been banned from entering much of Europe since March 17, 2020, when European Union leaders imposed strict travel restrictions to limit the spread of COVID-19. Those restrictions were ultimately extended until July 1, 2020, when the European Union began welcoming back travelers from a short list of approved countries. The latest version of the list includes seven nations: Australia, Israel, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand.

The United States was never on the list. Conversely, the United States still has a ban in place on travel from the European Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, and Ireland, with the exception of U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

The European Union also agreed to ease the criteria for nations to get approval for entry—when nations are approved, all travelers from the country can enter Europe, including tourists, not just those who are exempted (such as EU residents) as long as they submit to whatever entry requirements European countries have in place.

“The council should also soon expand the list of non-EU countries with a good epidemiological situation from where travel is permitted,” said Wigand.

EU is expected to unveil the new list this week or early next week. Based on data from the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC), the U.K. and a number of other countries would meet the new criteria, but the United States would not—although vaccinated Americans would still be allowed into Europe.

The relaxation of restrictions on travel into Europe was proposed earlier this month by the European Commission, which said entry should be granted to all those fully vaccinated with EU-authorized shots, which are Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson.

Wigand said ambassadors also agreed on an “emergency brake” system designed to stop dangerous virus variants from entering the EU. If infections spike in a non-EU country, new travel limits will be enacted. The developments come as Italy opened to U.S. leisure travelers on COVID-tested flights on May 16 and as France recently said it will open to Americans by June 9. Additionally, a handful of European countries have already started opening up to international travelers who are either vaccinated or present negative COVID-19 test results, including Greece and Iceland.