Imran Khan will be the first Prime Minister to attend from Pakistan, it will be an excellent opportunity for the Japanese people to understand Pakistan: Matsuda
Mahnoor Ansar
ISLAMABAD: The Embassy of Japan has welcomed the online participation of Prime Minister Imran Khan in the 26th International Conference on “The Future of Asia”, to be held in Tokyo, Japan on May 20 and 21! It is considered one of the most important global conferences in Asia.
“The Future of Asia” is an international gathering where political, economic, and academic leaders from the Asia-Pacific region offer their opinions frankly and freely on regional issues and the role of Asia in the world, which has been held by one of Japan’s top newspapers, Nikkei, every year since 1995. The theme of this year is “Shaping the post-COVID era: Asia’s role in the global recovery.” The coronavirus outbreak is changing the shape of Asia.
Ambassador MATSUDA Kuninori has announced that Imran Khan will be a part of this global event held in Japan, becoming the first Prime Minister to attend from Pakistan, and believes that this will be an excellent opportunity for the Japanese people to understand Pakistan and to realize the important role of Pakistan in the international community.
FAISALABAD, APR 21 (DNA) – “Rehmatul-Lil Alameen Scholarship” is a positive and productive initiative to facilitate the children belonging to the low income groups to get education and play their role in national uplift, said, Engineer Ihtisham Javed President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI).
In a statement issued today, he said that Rehmatul-Lil Alameen Scholarship will enable the younger generation to come out of the scourge of illiteracy and get respectable jobs after completing their education.
“Education will also change their mindset and help them to play their instrumental roles in the social and economic uplift of the country”, he added.
Discussing the merits and demerits of the traditional education, president FCCI said that through existing traditional education, we are only producing a force of unproductive youth who are only aspirants of government jobs. “On the other hand the government cannot accommodate them in the public sector due to limited financial resources”, he said and urged upon the government to revisit the modalities of this welfare scheme of Rs. 27.93 Billion to make it really productive and result oriented.
“No doubt traditional education is also an integral part of our system but we must focus on equipping our youth with technical skills, which will further accelerate the growth of the country”, he added.
Engineer Ihtisham Javed said that we must encourage highly talented students getting at least 80% marks to continue their studies in their own field of choice. But in order to avoid massive dropout after primary, middle and metric levels, we must promote technical education, so that, this lot could get jobs in private sector or start their own businesses after getting technical education through Rehmatul-Lil Alameen Scholarship scheme.
He said that the government must introduce a special clause declaring technical education mandatory at least for 50% applicants of the Rehmatul-Lil Alameen Scholarship. “It will not only produce skilled workers for the industrial sector but also ensure their immediate employment”, he opined and added that the prudent use of Rehmatul-Lil Alameen Scholarship program could change the destiny of the country in addition to controlling the skyrocketing unemployment.
ISLAMABAD, APR 21 (DNA) – Ex vice president Islamabad chamber of commerce Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari has said that earth day is being celebrated all over the world today to awaken a sense of love for the earth, water, mountains, forests, greenery and desserts are maintaining its true spirit is the name of love for the earth.
In a statement on the occasion of world earth Day he said that World Earth day is being celebrated to show love for the land all over the world including Pakistan.
Earth is our common home and the purpose of celebrating this day is to raise awareness globally that a better ecosystem is essential for life and stability on earth. Environmental pollution and reckless use of land resources have created numerous problems around the world.
The purpose of celebrating world earth day to spread awareness about the damage caused to the earth by environmental pollution and to create awareness among the people about their friendship with the environment. He said that environmental pollution and Climate change is emerging as a major challenge.
He said that Factors affecting the natural environment must be overcome for a better quality of life, world health day. This day demands that steps be taken in the right direction to secure the planet at the international level.=DNA
KARACHI, APR 21 – Chairman of National Business Group of FPCCI, President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum and All Karachi Industrial Alliance, and former provincial minister Mian Zahid on Wednesday said foreign investors are finding new investment destinations therefore Pakistan should try to lure them.
Foreign investors are losing interest in Vietnam, Bangladesh, India and China due to increased wages and some other problems and they are exploring new venues, he said.
Mian Zahid said that Pakistan can get foreign investment if political stability is ensured, investment policies are improved and consistency in the policies is guaranteed.
Talking to the business community, the veteran business leader said that exports, imports, remittances and the exchange rate is satisfactory but foreign direct investment (FDI) is falling.
FDI has been reduced by 35 percent from July to March while FDI in March was 40 percent short of the FDI in the corresponding month, he said, adding that political instability will further dent the FDI.
He said that many companies have closed their business in Pakistan while the companies that invested billions in the LNG project are tired of the negative tactics of the state-run companies.
The business leader said that Pakistan has faced energy scarcity and security issues for a long time which have been resolved but the FDI is not picking up which means that foreign investors are still not inclined to prefer Pakistan over other countries.
Similarly, many packages were announced for foreign investors but to no avail and the country remained on 108th position in FDI.
Many countries have attracted foreign investment equalling three percent of their GDP but it has never reached one percent of the GDP in Pakistan which may go down further.
ISLAMABAD – Actor Adnan Siddiqui has revealed that although the syringe made him a little nervous, he ended up getting the first jab of the coronavirus vaccine.
“It’s a huge relief,” he wrote. “No matter how young or old you are, this is one thing [injection] that petrifies you.”
Adnan posted a video on Instagram showing himself being vaccinated at the Arts Council in Karachi. He received the Sinopharm shot.
“I have been asked multiple questions before and after my vaccination,” Adnan said. The actor’s family and friends are concerned about the efficacy and safety of the vaccine, he said, adding that reports of vaccine problems had made him dubious too.
“Then I consulted my friend Dr Junaid Ali Shah,” he said. “He assured me that my fears were unfounded and gave a go-ahead. I am feeling perfectly fine.”
He has urged people not to pay heed to false reports and take his own vaccination as proof of its safety if they are skeptical about inoculation.
Actors such as Sameena Peerzada and Bushra Ansari have received their doses as well. Reema Khan received her second shot in the US in February.
ANKARA – The foreign ministers of Turkey, Poland, and Romania will hold a trilateral meeting on Thursday in the capital Bucharest, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
“Trilateral Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Poland and Romania, which has been held regularly every year since 2016, will take place this year in Bucharest on 22-23 April 2021,” the ministry said in a statement.
The top diplomats will discuss concrete cooperation areas as well as the possibilities of further deepening the partnership between the countries and they will also consult on their expectations from the upcoming NATO summit, it added.
This year, Ukraine and Georgia foreign ministers will also participate in one of the panels of the event.
While visiting Azerbaijan for the International Conference on“New Vision for South Caucasus: Post Conflict Development and Cooperation” I had the opportunity to visit the liberated territories of Azerbaijan. On 12th April 2021, at the invitation of the Azerbaijan government, I visited Aghdam city. I witnessed the repercussions of the war on the region by thebrutal actions of the Armenian forces.
The Nagorno-Karabakh Region: Historical Perspective
The conflict between Azerbaijan and its neighbour Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions continued before its independence from the Soviet Republic in 1991. The territory was disputed even before the creation of the Soviet Union. The brutal Armenian militaryillegaly occupied the Azerbaijani territory. With several disputes and border skirmishes, Azerbaijan had left no stone unturned to liberate its occupied territory from Armenia. Internationally, the Nagorno- Karabakh and its seven adjacent regions were recognized as a part of Azerbaijan. However, Armeniaillegallyoccupiedthe territory.
The Second Karabakh War: A Turning Point
Azerbaijan and Armenia had indulged in clashes over the past three decades. The events of September 2021 changed the whole landscape of the conflict. As the conflict started in the region, Azerbaijan was able to liberate its towns and nearly 300 settlements from the Armenian occupation. The fighting continued for six weeks and Moscow brokered ceasefire deal that Azerbaijan and Armeniasigned.The aftermath of the ceasefire, Azerbaijan came along with a robust agenda of rebuilding the liberated lands.
Post-war Effects
The Armenian forces had been destroying cities and districts of Azerbaijan since their occupation. There was the destruction of buildings, infrastructures,plundering of natural resources. The religious, historical, and cultural sites were also vandalized. There are more than 2,600 cultural and historical sites and monuments in liberated regions of Azerbaijan in the preliminary estimate. Out of those, 706 of the monuments are included in the State registry. With 11 of those monuments holding world significance, including six architectural and five archaeology items. There are also 240 monuments of national significance, 455 monuments of local importance including, 23 botanical gardens, parks, and monumental statues.Unfortunately, a large number of these sites, monuments, cultural properties, and objects have been vandalized, taken, or demolished by the Armenian forces.
There were also over 40 thousand art objects conserved and collected in 22 museums. 4.6 million books amassed in 927 libraries, 808 clubs, 85 musical schools, two concert halls, eight parks of culture and leisure, four theatres, and art galleries. The brutal Armenian forces destroyed 150 thousand houses, 7000 public buildings that included 855 kindergartens, 693 schools, and 695 medical facilities. They did not spare houses of worship with, 65 out of the total 67 mosques having been razed to the ground and the two others severely damaged.
The flora and fauna-enriched region has been known for their minerals and thermal waters. The district of Istisu of Kalbajar is known to have curing mineral waters that are perceived to be richer than any place in the world. Moreover, the district of Zanglin had been known for its lush and green forests before the Armenian occupation. It was home to the Basitchay State Natural Reserve and the forests of the Kalbajar district that covered 24000 hectares. These all areas have been cut down significantly under the Armenian occupation.
This is the material cost of the occupation and war. It does not include the human cost of the region’s people. Since the early 1990s,the occupied region has been littered with mines and unexploded ammunition. It has been referred to as a “ carpet of land mines” by both military experts of Azerbaijan and Armenia. The worse affected areas are near Tartar, Aghdam, and the districts of Fuzuli and Cabrayil.
Experts from the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action have estimated that it could take up to 10 years to demine the territory. After all these atrocities, Armenia has refused to provide any map of the land mines. It is a massive task to clear mines and ammunition from the battlefields in and around the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Many civilians and military personnel have been killed or injured due to these mines.Thousands of civilianswere displaced from their homes over the years due to illegal occupation.
The Journey to Aghdam city
Explaining the atrocities and damage caused in statistics is nothing compared to seeing in person the actual loss and devastation caused by decades-long conflict. The district of Aghdam is situated in the Northern-Eastern foothills of the Karabakh Mountain Chain.It was occupied since 23 July 1993, till its liberation on 20 November 2020. It was one of the largest districts by population among the occupied districts of Azerbaijan.
On my visit to the city of Aghdam, I witness the devastation caused by the war. Roads were destroyed, tank trenches dug out and driving around the area was difficult.The land was razed to the ground, and mines scattered all around. We were taken to the Tomb of the Khans of Karabakh, which were abandoned and destroyed. At a closer look, we also saw the desecration of gravesites all over the city and around the tomb. The downtown area of the city was also destroyed, with not a single standing buildingaround.
It was hard to imagine that the area was once the cultural hub of the city.As we drove around the city, we saw every part of the city was vandalized or destroyed by the Armenian troops. There were abandoned army posts, trenches dug out by Armenian forces, showing remnants of war. We also visited the areas where land mines had been planted, again restating the atrocities of Armenian forces. Journalists were right in calling this place the ‘Hiroshima of the 21st Century ‘or the ‘Hiroshima of the Caucusas’ because the devastation cannot be denied.
The Aftermath of the War: Prospects and Policies
There is hope and high moral among Azerbaijan’s people that they will rebuild and return to their homes as the conflict is finally over. They have a high spirit to reconstruct and reconcilethe area. Azerbaijan is very proud of its secular stance among its population and hopes to continue this with the local Armenian population. Recently,a multi-faith congregation was hosted in the Aghdam city’s mosque with religious leaders of Muslims, Jewish and Christian populations of the nation. This joint prayer exemplified the religious tolerance, coexistence, and inter-religious dialogue and harmony among the people of all faiths in the country. The government has always been keen on promoting multi-religious coexistence to show tolerance, diversity, and moderation. Even with a Muslim majority population, Azerbaijan has worked hard to peacefully coexistwith its minority population. The Christian and Jewish populations have also played their part in the restoration of the nation’s territorial integrity. They will work towards reconciliation among the populations in the liberated territories. It might be a difficult path, but with determination and faith, there is hope that the Armenian and Azerbaijani populations that once lived side by side in the Nagorno-Karabakh region can once again find ways for peaceful coexistence.
I must commend the visionary leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, who, with a firm resolve guided his country into an exceptional path of prosperity. His tenacity under such a complex situation helped himliberate the occupied territories and restore the original borders of Azerbaijan. It was a pleasure to meet him in person and commend his visionarypolicies towards this tremendous victory and plans to restore and rehabilitate the liberated territories. He was gracious to personally thank Pakistan for its support of Azerbaijan over the years and during the war. He reiterated Pakistan’s supportive stance for Azerbaijan.
It was an honor to visit Azerbaijan and witness the steps towards peace, stability and building nation’s resilience.Many of us take peace and freedom for granted, butwitnessing theactual situation in theKarabakh region shed light on the fact that peace is a luxury, we must all be grateful. Now, the prospects for peace and a bright future in the Nagorno-Karabakh region are high. Azerbaijan plays a vital geostrategic role in the Caucasus region, and its victory is a clear sign of itssignificant role in the region’sstrategic future.
The writer is the Executive Director, Center for Global & Strategic Studies (CGSS), Islamabad
Rawalpindi , April 21 : The incidence of eye cancer is increasing in Pakistan calling for early detection, diagnosis and proper treatment, a leading hospital said Wednesday.
Almost 30 percent of the eye cancer patients are children which is a growing threat that needs an urgent and full response, said Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital.
Annually almost 2200 people are diagnosed with eye cancer and the number is growing therefore the trust has established a Cancer Eye Clinic to provide assistance to the needy, said Dr Professor Tayyab Afghani, Consultant and HOD of Orbit and Oculoplastic Department, Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital.
He said that timely detection can save sight as the problem gets complicated by the passage of time that may cause vision loss, loss of the eye or may prove fatal.
Eye problems should not be taken lightly and a doctor must be consulted without delay as the number of people with eye cancer is on the rise but patients are brought to hospitals only in the final stages of the disease, he added.
Dr Afghani said that most of the children facing eye cancer belong to poor families living in remote areas and the facilities that can cure them are not near to them.
He said that there are five specialists in the trust to provide assistance to the people suffering from eye cancer however, the programme must be expanded to provide relief to the maximum number of patients.
Some tumours are incurable, while others may severely disfigure eyes requiring complex surgical procedures, he said, adding that many eye injuries due to accidents require plastic surgery but the eye problems due to cancer need more time and effort.
We were treating 200 patients per annum but after the establishment of a dedicated clinic, the number of surgeries will jump to 600 per year, he informed.
Tunisian Ambassador handed over a letter from Kais Saied, President of Tunisia, addressed to the Prime Minister, in response to Prime Minister’s letter A.M.Bhatti
ISLAMABAD , APRIL 21 : Borhene El Kamel, Tunisian Ambassador to Pakistan has met with the Prime Minister Imran Khan. Matters relating to bilateral relations and international issues were discussed.
Prime Minister Imran Khan conveyed that Pakistan greatly valued its relationship with Tunisia, which is anchored in common faith, history and culture.
It may be recalled that Prime Minister Imran Khan had addressed letters to the leaders of the Muslim Ummah highlighting the scourge of Islamophobia and the need for Muslim world to take it up in unison with the rest of the world.
During the meeting, the Tunisian Ambassador handed over a letter from Kais Saied, President of Tunisia, addressed to the Prime Minister, in response to Prime Minister’s letter.
The Prime Minister’s letter sent to all the Muslim leaders had highlighted the need for urgent efforts to confront campaigns targeting Muslims and that Muslim Ummah should further strengthen channels of dialogue and coexistence between different religions.
KARACHI , APRIL 21 : The Pakistan Cricket Board and the International Cricket Council (ICC) have yet to receive written assurances from the Indian cricket board BCCI regarding issuance of visas for the Pakistan Cricket team to participate in the ICC World T20 in October this year.
According to a reports , BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has informed the Apex Council about the government’s decision on issuing visas to the Pakistan players. “The visa issue of Pakistan cricket team has been sorted. However, whether the fans can travel across the border to watch matches is still not clear,” an Apex Council member told Press Trust of India on conditions of anonymity.
According to sources, the PCB is pondering over sending a security delegation to India in September to assess the security arrangements for Pakistan team there.
The official added that the matter will be decided in due course of time. “However we had promised ICC that it will be sorted,” the official said.
It is also learnt that all participanting teams of the ICC World T20 will travel in chartered fights due to the Covid 19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, the recent rapid rise of cases in India has put some doubts on the ICC mega event as per schedule and some reports say that the UAE could be chosen as an alternate venue.
