Monday, July 13, 2026
Home Blog Page 2780

Fruits of CPEC would soon reach the common people of Pakistan. Ambassador Nong Rong

By
admin
-

By: Amjad Aziz Malik

Recently, His Excellency Nong Rong, Ambassador of China to Pakistan visited Peshawar. This was his first visit to Peshawar since his appointment as Chinese Ambassador. During the visit, he met Chief Minister Mehmood Khan, officials of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Board of Investment and the Economic Zones Management Committee regarding the Rashkai Economic Zone,s briefing , inaugurated a project to rebuild schools in Bara, met Governor Shah Farman, attended the Pak-China Friendship Association function, visited China Window, met with media representatives and visited the Historical Museum in Peshawar. This one-day visit can be termed as very important because in the coming days the importance of Peshawar and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which used to be less important due to the distance from the sea, has now increased due to the Rashakai Special Economic Zone and trade to Afghanistan and Central Asian. The establishment of industrial estates in many other districts of the province will undoubtedly contribute to the economic development of the region and the well-being of the people. In this context, Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong briefed by the Javed Iqbal Khattak, Chief Executive Officer, KP Economic Zones Management Committee, that all resources were being utilized to provide facilities to investors. ۔ On the occasion, Provincial Additional Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir also briefed the Chinese Ambassador about the facilities provided by the provincial government to the industrialists. Nong Rong expressed satisfaction over the steps taken by the provincial government but suggested that free facility should be provided to the industrialists to bring the raw material from the port to the factory. He was assured by the provincial government that the matter would be looked into. After the encouraging meeting, Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong along with Asim Saleem Bajwa called on Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mehmood Khan. After the one-on-one meeting, the Secretary, Provincial Planning Department briefed them on a plan for the reconstruction of schools in Bara which had been targeted by terrorists.

In the first phase of the project, 50 schools destroyed due to terrorism in Bara Tehsil of Khyber District will be rebuilt, including 24 Boys ‘Schools and 26 Girls’ Schools. The total estimated cost of the project is Rs. 2323 million out of which Rs. 868 million will be provided by the Government of Pakistan while 10.29 million will be provided by the Chinese Government. The project will be completed by January 2023. Welcoming the Chinese Ambassador to Peshawar, Chief Minister Mehmood Khan said that the friendship between Pakistan and China is time tested and the CPEC project is a living example .He added that he was grateful to the Chinese government for its assistance in rebuilding the damaged schools in the tribal districts and appreciated the Chinese government’s cooperation. Chinese Ambassador to Nong Rong said that the friendship between Pakistan and China is deeper than the sea and higher than the Himalayas and the Chinese government is keen to further strengthen the friendly relations with Pakistan. He added that Pakistan-China bilateral relations and areas of mutual interest. Cooperation is ideal. The Chinese Ambassador further said that the Chinese government is also keen to work in the areas of poverty alleviation and economic development in Pakistan.

After the meeting, Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan and Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong formally inaugurated the project to rebuild the destroyed schools in the merged districts. An agreement was also signed between the Department of Education and the relevant Chinese authorities on the implementation of the school reconstruction project. In a meeting between Governor Shah Farman and Chinese Ambassador, Shah Farman welcomed the guest on his arrival in Peshawar and assured him of all possible cooperation in further strengthening Pak-China friendship. Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa briefed the Chinese Ambassador about the potential of five sectors in the province, namely olive, honey, fresh and dried fruits, saffron and precious stones. There are great opportunities for economic development through the development of these sectors Create vast employment opportunities

The Chinese Ambassador expressed interest in working in these areas and said that work would be started in the above five areas on the basis of an excellent relationship system and a comprehensive strategy would be formulated at the governmental and business level for these areas. The Chinese Ambassador said that the Chinese Embassy would extend all possible policy support to the Chinese companies for working in these fields and would draw the attention of the Chinese companies to take advantage of the vital potential of Pakistani olives and precious stones. He said that the people of the two countries have fraternal and friendly relations and the people of the two countries are committed to work together for economic and social development. The meeting was very pleasant and everyone was very happy with the warm welcome extended to the Chinese diplomats. Given

The Chinese Ambassador also visited China Window, a Chinese cultural and information center in Peshawar. Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong visited various sectors of China Window and appreciated the efforts of the management. He was also shown a special documentary film of China Window in which he took keen interest, he cut the cake in celebration of the completion of seventy years of Pak-China diplomatic relations. On this occasion the Chinese Ambassador formally inaugurated China Window’s website. He also signed on the Pak-China Friendship Wall and recorded his impressions in the guest book. He was informed on the occasion that more than 26,000 people have visited the center since its inception. The Chinese Ambassador appreciated the services of the organizers and announced to continue all possible cooperation for China Window.

A meeting was also arranged with the Chinese Ambassador and representatives of print and electronic media and a large number of media persons attended the briefing. Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong said that he had received a great deal of encouragement during his visit to Peshawar. I am very happy that the Chinese Cultural and Information Center China Window in Peshawar is playing an important role in introducing Chinese culture in the Province. We acknowledge its services and hope that Chinese embassy will continue to support China Window .Ambassador hoped that the window will continue to play a role in bringing the people of the two countries and people of different schools of thought closer together. He said that we are grateful to China Window for hosting a special function at China Window on the occasion of the completion of 70 years of Pak-China diplomatic relations. Expressing his sentiments regarding the visit to China Window, he said that China Window Center It is a great pleasure to visit. China Window is an excellent example of mutual cooperation at the level of cultural, economic and CPEC. Replying to a question on C-Pack, Chinese Ambassador Nang Rong said that the pace of work on CPEC  was not slowing down but the fruits of this great project would soon reach the common people of Pakistan. Are done He said that the history of Pak-China friendship.Over a period of seven decades, the top leadership of both the countries believe in mutual development. Pakistan and China are brothers, living together in every difficult time. He said that China has also ensured mutual cooperation with Pakistan in the case of corona virus, especially in the field of vaccine and will defeat covid 19 with collective efforts. He said China is cooperating in Orange Line, Gawadar Port and other development projects. He said that CPEC projects are progressing. New projects are also under consideration. There are many projects related to CPEC. There will be a lot of good news for the people. He further said that attention would be paid to alleviate the plight of Pakistani students studying in China. Nong Rong said that corona vaccination was going on in a better way in China which would improve the travel situation of students and business community. He said that the process of arrival in China has started. He said that as conditions improve, students from both the countries will be able to come more easily. The Chinese Ambassador said that he had several meetings with Prime Minister Imran Khan and the Army Chief which would yield encouraging results. He said that this was his first visit to Peshawar where he met the Governor and Chief Minister. The meetings have been very fruitful and he is confident that CPEC will also benefit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and he is happy that the provincial government has assured him of all possible cooperation. Media plays an important role in Pak-China friendship. CPEC is getting full attention. In this regard, he expressed confidence in expecting positive reporting from media as well.

Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong also attended the function organized by Pak-China Friendship Association. Provincial Local Government Minister Akbar Ayub welcomed the ambassador. He said that there is no example of everlasting friendship like Pak-China which is always found in the world. Addressing the function, Akbar Ayub Khan welcomed Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong on his first visit to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and expressed the hope that Nong Rong during his diplomatic stay in Pakistan would enhance the friendly and bilateral relations between the two countries. We will further deepen and expand, especially the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. Nong Rong likened Pak-China friendship to an evergreen and fruitful tree, saying that “climate change” does not affect the friendly relations between China and Pakistan., Syed Ali Nawaz Gilani introduced the Friendship Association and said that the journey of friendship which started with the establishment of Pak-China Students Friendship Association in 1970 continues today which has crossed many milestones of success. ۔

In the last leg of his one-day visit, Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong and other officials of the Chinese Embassy visited the History Museum in Peshawar. Director Archeology Abdul Samad received the distinguished guest. The Chinese Ambassador was informed that the history of the museum is very old and as the center of Gandhara, this museum is famous all over the world. The Chinese Ambassador expressed confidence that this historic museum of Peshawar is the future. will also be the center of attention for Chinese tourists.

Pakistan’s first-ever Research Centre of Intercropping officially approved

By
admin
-

ISLAMABAD,  April 25 : Establishment of Pakistan National Research Centre of Intercropping (NRCI) at the Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB) was officially approved, according to a report published by China Economic Net (CEN) on Sunday.

This will be the first-ever national research centre regarding intercropping technologies in Pakistan.

“Before this, there was no national research centre dedicated to intercropping in Pakistan. The centre firstly will be affiliated with the key laboratory of China’s Ministry of Agriculture undertaken by Sichuan Agricultural University (SAU), which is well-known throughout the world for intercropping research especially in maize and soybean.

Pakistan wants to increase its soybean production desperately,” Muhammad Ali Raza, post-doc from Sichuan Agricultural University told CEN.

It’s learned that 25 acres of land has been allocated to the centre. “Chinese scientists are well experienced in intercropping technology.

We will provide the land for research and technology transfer to the Chinese professors and scientists, especially those who are working on intercropping technologies.

In the near future, we will invite Chinese professors and scientists to our university and will arrange workspace for them,” said Prof. Athar Mehboob, Vice Chancellor of the Islamia University of Bahawalpur.

“The Islamia University of Bahawalpur is looking forward to the intercropping technology transfer from China such as technologies of maize-soybean, cotton-soybean, cotton-peanut in particular,” Athar Mehboob added.

Moreover, on April 21, a meeting regarding the selection of the 25 scholars for PhD studies at Sichuan Agricultural University was held at the Vice Chancellor’s office.

Athar Mehboob chaired the selection committee, and Prof. Muhammad Iqbal, Dean Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Dr. Abid Shahzad, Director International Linkages IUB, and Dr. Muhammad Ali Raza, Representative from Sichuan Agricultural University were among the members of the selection committee.

25 PhD scholarships from Sichuan Agricultural University were processed through the Directorate of International Linkages, IUB.

Armenia PM resigns to enable snap polls

By
admin
-

 Yerevan, April 25 (DNA) : Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan resigned on Sunday while retaining interim duties, formalising a parliamentary vote to be held June 20 in an effort to defuse a protracted political crisis.

Pashinyan has faced calls to stand down since signing in November a Russian-brokered peace agreement with Azerbaijan that ended a war between the two arch-foes for control of the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

“I am resigning from my post as prime minister today” to hold the snap vote on June 20, he said in an announcement broadcast on his Facebook page.

 After Pashinyan announced his resignation, all members of his cabinet handed in their own resignations, as required by Armenian law.

Pashinyan said he would continue to fulfill his duties as head of the interim government.

Armenia’s humiliating defeat at the hands of Azerbaijan’s technologically superior army spurred mass protests in the impoverished ex-Soviet republic on the borders of Turkey and Iran.

The tiny Caucasus nation’s military, equipped with ageing Soviet-era hardware, struggled to hold ground it had controlled for three decades when clashes broke out against Azerbaijan’s better-equipped army in Nagorno-Karabakh in September.

After six weeks of fighting that claimed around 6,000 lives, the peace accord forced Armenia to cede swathes of territory to Azerbaijan.

 Pashinyan has insisted he handled the war correctly, saying he had no choice but to agree or see his country’s forces suffer even bigger losses and that snap polls were the best way to end the post-war political stalemate.

The 45-year-old former newspaper editor came to power spearheading peaceful protests in 2018 and initially brought a wave of optimism to Armenia.

NAVTTC to Hold Conference for Establishing 75 High-Tech Skill Centers across Pakistan

By
admin
-

Islamabad : National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) is striving hard to uplift the quality of TVET sector institutes of Pakistan and in this context NAVTTC is establishing 75 High-Tech skill centers across Pakistan to equip the Pakistani youth with latest technical skills. These skill centers will comprise state of the art technological facilities for imparting skill training to the youth. The state of the art facilities include smart labs, facilitation centers, job placement centers, business incubation centers and training of 2000 teachers which will provide youth high-tech environment as well as the employment and entrepreneurship counselling.

National Vocational and Technical Training Commission will host today online National Conference on establishing 75 High-Tech skill centers across Pakistan.The one day event is expected to obtain valuable suggestions from all TVET stakeholders and public sector institutions for establishing 75 High-Tech skill centers. The proposed skill centers will be equipped with the state of the art technological facilities for imparting training to Pakistani youth with the propose to enhance employment opportunities of Pakistani youth at home and abroad.

President urges people to stay home, wear mask & wash hands

By
admin
-

Islamabad : President Dr Arif Alvi while expressing concern over spike in COVID-19 cases in the country has urged the people to stick to voluntary discipline and observe all standard operating procedures.

In a tweet, he said indicators are alarming.

The President said this Ummah was built on discipline, then reached out with faith and in these trying times voluntary discipline, not imposed by state, is being demanded by me.

Dr Arif Alvi said stay home, wear mask and wash hands.

If desperate to go out keep distance.

Fed set to hold the line as US economy recovers

By
admin
-

WASHINGTON : The Federal Reserve finally has what it wants and predicted: signs of a US economic recovery that could undo some of the damage done by the Covid-19 pandemic.

But when the central bank’s policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) opens its two-day meeting on Tuesday, analysts do not expect officials to raise rates or otherwise signal any backing away from the easy money policies rolled out to aid the US bounceback, despite some fears of rising inflation.

“No one is expecting any major policy changes in terms of rates or the Fed’s asset purchases,” Andrew Hunter, senior US economist at Capital Economics.

In fact, Fed officials have clearly stated that they will not be spooked by temporary price increases into reacting too quickly and pumping the brakes on stimulus measures.

The government in recent weeks has reported the first signs that Covid-19 vaccines are bringing laid-off workers back to work and ending the suffering of businesses hard-hit by closures meant to stop the contagion.

Labor Department data showed unemployment claims hit the lowest point since the pandemic began, while the economy regained 916,000 jobs in March, pushing the unemployment rate down slightly.

Retail sales surged in March to a level 27.7 percent higher than the pre-pandemic rate a year earlier, while the Institute for Supply Management’s services index hit an all-time high last month and new home sales hit a 15-year high.

Yet even with signs hiring has picked up, more than 17 million people remain out of work and Fed Chair Jerome Powell has warned the economy will not achieve “maximum employment” this year.

“I expect that the Fed will stay resolutely patient in spite of the inflexion in the US data towards stronger growth and more rapid employment gains,” Evercore ISI Vice-Chairman Krishna Guha said.

The Fed moved quickly as the Covid-19 pandemic began in the United States in March of last year, slashing its benchmark lending rate to zero and stepping up asset purchases to inject liquidity into the economy.

The steps, together with trillions of dollars in stimulus spending approved by Congress, have been credited with keeping the world’s largest economy from a worse downturn.

Indian coronavirus variant detected in Switzerland

By
admin
-

GENEVA: Switzerland’s public health authority said Saturday a first case of the COVID-19 variant contributing to the exploding outbreak in India has been detected in Switzerland.

“The first case of the Indian variant of COVID-19 has been discovered in Switzerland,” Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) said in a tweet.

The virus variant was found in “a passenger who was transiting through an airport,” it said.

Spokesman Daniel Dauwalder told  in an email that the positive sample was collected in March in the northern canton of Solothurn, and that the transit passenger “had arrived from a European country”.

The news comes after Belgian authorities on Thursday said a group of 20 Indian nursing students who arrived from Paris had tested positive for the variant in the country.

India’s healthcare system is meanwhile buckling under a new wave of infections blamed in part on the new “double mutant” variant, known as B.1.617.

On Saturday, India reported a record daily number of cases and deaths from COVID-19, while the government is struggling to provide enough oxygen to overwhelmed hospitals.

A total of almost 190,000 people have died of coronavirus in India according to official figures.

Countries have been on high alert for the variant, with several suspending flights from India.

The BAG said it was discussing whether to add India to its red list of high-risk countries.

People arriving from countries placed on Switzerland’s red list are required to quarantine for 10 days.

But Dauwalder pointed out that India already figured on a separate list held by the State Secretariat for Migration, which meant that for now, in most cases only Swiss citizens and residents were permitted to enter Switzerland after a stay in India.

Pakistan registers 118 more COVID deaths, 5,611 new cases

By
admin
-

ISLAMABAD : A day after Pakistan reported the highest number of COVID-related deaths, the pandemic has claimed 118 more lives in the country during the last 24 hours.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) data, 118 people died of Covid-19 in a single day, pushing the national tally to 17,117.

As many as 5,611 new infections surfaced when 55,611 samples were tested. The country’s overall positivity ratio of new cases jumped to 10.17%, according to the NCOC.

The national tally of confirmed cases climbed to 795,627 with the addition of 5,611 cases.

Yesterday, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Senator Shibli Faraz had said that demand and supply for oxygen in the country were satisfactory as the government prepares for a backup plan to ensure its smooth supply in case of worsening COVID-19 situation.

TURKEY REJECTS U.S. RECOGNITION OF SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

By
admin
-

ANKARA – Turkey entirely rejects U.S. President Joe Biden‘s recognition of the 1915 events during the Ottoman Empire period as “genocide”, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said, minutes after Biden’s declaration.

“We have nothing to learn from anybody on our own past. Political opportunism is the greatest betrayal to peace and justice,” Çavuşoğlu said on Twitter. “We entirely reject this statement based solely on populism.”

ASEAN LEADERS DEMAND MYANMAR COUP LEADERS END KILLINGS

By
admin
-

JAKARTA – Southeast Asian leaders demanded an immediate end to killings and the release of political detainees in Myanmar in an emergency summit with its top general and coup leader Saturday in the Indonesian capital, Indonesia’s president said.

The leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations also told Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing during the two-hour talks in Jakarta that a dialogue between contending parties in Myanmar should immediately start, with the help of ASEAN envoys, Indonesian President Joko Widodo said.

“The situation in Myanmar is unacceptable and should not continue. Violence must be stopped, democracy, stability and peace in Myanmar must be returned immediately,” Widodo said during the meeting. “The interests of the people of Myanmar must always be the priority.”

Daily shootings by police and soldiers since the Feb. 1 coup have killed more than 700 mostly peaceful protesters and bystanders, according to several independent tallies.

The messages conveyed to Min Aung Hlaing were unusually blunt and could be seen as a breach of the conservative 10-nation bloc’s bedrock principle forbidding member states from interfering in each other’s domestic affairs. But Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said that policy should not lead to inaction if a domestic situation “jeopardizes the peace, security, and stability of ASEAN and the wider region” and there is international clamor for resolute action.

“There is a tremendous expectation on the part of the international community on how ASEAN is addressing the Myanmar issue. The pressure is increasing,” Muhyiddin said, and added that the current ASEAN chairman, Brunei Prime Minister Hassanal Bolkiah, and the regional bloc’s secretary general should be allowed access to Myanmar to meet contending parties, encourage dialogue and come up with “an honest and unbiased observation.”

Such a political dialogue “can only take place with the prompt and unconditional release of political detainees,” the Malaysian premier said.

A formal statement issued by ASEAN through Brunei after the summit outlined the demands made by the heads of state in more subtle terms. It asked for the “immediate cessation of violence in Myanmar” and urged all parties to “exercise utmost restraint,” but omitted the demand voiced by Widodo and other leaders for the immediate release of political detainees. It said ASEAN would provide humanitarian aid to Myanmar.

It was not immediately clear if and how Min Aung Hlaing responded to the blunt messages.

It was the first time he traveled out of Myanmar since the coup, which was followed by the arrests of Aung San Suu Kyi and many other political leaders.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi expressed hopes on the eve of the summit that “we can reach an agreement on the next steps that can help the people of Myanmar get out of this delicate situation.”

ASEAN’s diversity, including the divergent ties of many of its members to either China or the United States, along with a bedrock policy of non-interference in each other’s domestic affairs and deciding by consensus, has hobbled the bloc’s ability to rapidly deal with crises.

Amid Western pressure, however, the regional group has struggled to take a more forceful position on issues but has kept to its non-confrontational approach.

Critics have said ASEAN’s decision to meet the coup leader was unacceptable and amounted to legitimizing the overthrow and the deadly crackdown that followed. ASEAN states agreed to meet Min Aung Hlaing but did not treat or address him as Myanmar’s head of state in the summit, a Southeast Asian diplomat told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity for lack of authority to discuss the issue publicly.

The London-based rights watchdog Amnesty International urged Indonesia and other ASEAN states ahead of the summit to investigate Min Aung Hlaing over “credible allegations of responsibility for crimes against humanity in Myanmar.” As a state party to a U.N. convention against torture, Indonesia has a legal obligation to prosecute or extradite a suspected perpetrator on its territory, it said.

Indonesian police dispersed dozens of protesters opposing the coup and the junta leader’s visit. More than 4,300 police fanned out across the Indonesian capital to secure the meetings, held under strict safeguards amid the pandemic.

The leaders of Thailand and the Philippines skipped the summit to deal with coronavirus outbreaks back home. Laos also canceled at the last minute. The face-to-face summit is the first by ASEAN leaders in more than a year.

Aside from Myanmar, the regional bloc is made up of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

1...2,7792,7802,781...4,107Page 2,780 of 4,107

Stay Connected

64FansLike
60FollowersFollow

Latest Reviews

Exchange Rates

USD - United States Dollar
EUR
1.14
GBP
1.34
AUD
0.70
CAD
0.71

EDITOR PICKS

POPULAR POSTS

POPULAR CATEGORY

© Centreline Magazine