ISLAMABAD, MAR 30 (DNA) – An online meeting was held between the Management of Regional Integration Center, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Nukus State Pedagogical Institute Named After Ajiniyaz, Uzbekistan and Center for Global & Strategic Studies (CGSS), Islamabad.
During the meeting students of the Nukus State Pedagogical Institute were introduced to the University of the Punjab, Lahore. Dr. Fozia Hadi Ali, Director, Regional Integration Center, University of the Punjab, Lahore explained the departments, degree programs and the criteria of admission to the students who wish to secure an admission in the University of the Punjab, Lahore.
The students were enthusiastic to continue their studies in Pakistan and inquired regarding their programs and areas of interests.
All institutions agreed that Student Exchange programs between University of the Punjab, Lahore and the Nukus State Pedagogical Institute Named After Ajiniyaz, Uzbekistan will help in strengthening the academic linkages between both countries.
ISLAMABAD, MAR 30 (DNA) – Matsuda Kuninori, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, appreciated the start of the Nationwide Immunisation Campaign for a polio-free Pakistan, which started yesterday and will continue until April 2. Ambassador MATSUDA hopes that the campaign will be implemented successfully and it will lead to a polio-free Pakistan in the near future.
He paid tribute to the polio workers and hopes that the polio workers will be safe from COVID-19 amid the growing third wave in Pakistan.
Japan has been supporting Pakistan in its effort to eradicate polio from Pakistan with a cumulative amount of $229 million since 1996.
Ambassador MATSUDA said, “Japan has been cooperating with Pakistan in collaboration with international organizations to eradicate polio from Pakistan as one of the most important areas of Japanese cooperation and will continue helping Pakistan in the future.”
Turkmenistan on Sunday held its first elections to a newly created senate but there were no opposition candidates.
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Mar 30:Turkmenistan’s autocratic president Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov received a seat in the secretive country’s new upper house, state media reported Tuesday, in the latest move hinting at a succession strategy.
Turkmenistan on Sunday held its first elections to a newly created senate but there were no opposition candidates.
The president was elected to a seat along with 47 other candidates, said the Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper.
The candidates were elected by local councils and the newspaper did not say which council had elected 63-year-old Berdymukhamedov. An official cited in a separate publication said the head of state had received 100 percent of the vote.
Full control of the senate is important to the Berdymukhamedov family because the head of the upper house will be second-in-line to the presidency following constitutional changes passed last year.
Berdymukhamedov’s 39-year-old son Serdar has received a series of promotions viewed as grooming him for the top job.
The president’s candidacy for the upper house had not been previously announced, but the number of candidates cited as running by state media changed from 111 to 112 on the eve of the vote.
The president must now pick a further eight members for the upper house and select a member to chair the house in order to complete its formation.
Speculation over an early succession in the isolated country comes as it weathers an economic storm resulting from the long-term downturn in prices for its natural gas exports and the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
Turkmenistan is one of the few countries not to record a single case of the coronavirus infection, although foreign media have reported deaths from the disease.
Serdar Berdymukhamedov in February gained three new positions, becoming a deputy premier, a member of the powerful security council and the auditor general.
The younger Berdymukhamedov has in the past filled a senior diplomatic post and worked as a lawmaker.
If he were to be elevated as leader in the near future, it would herald a first hereditary succession in Central Asia, a former Soviet region where politics are often dominated by powerful families.
Berdymukhamedov senior served as a personal dentist and then health minister to Turkmenistan’s first post-independence ruler, Saparmurat Niyazov, before taking on the top job after Niyazov died.
ISLAMABAD: President Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine sent his best wishes for a speedy recovery from Covid-19 to President of Pakistan.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the President and all those affected by coronavirus around the country.
TRNC to get international recognition beyond expectations; EU has last chance to correct its past mistakes; relations with Pakistan are excellent; our Islamabad office gets same treatment we get in Ankara; TRNC shall be opened for international tourists from mid April; status quo in Verosha area to be eliminated
Exclusive
Ansar M Bhatti
LEFKOSA: Foreign Minister of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu has said that there is no common ground. There cannot be a common ground so long as we’re treated unequally as we have been all these years,” he said in an exclusive interview to Daily Islamabad POST, CENTRELINE magazine and DNA News Agency.
He further said, after decades of negotiations based on the idea of reunifying the island through the creation of a federal state, the approach should be abandoned in favor of a two-state solution, a position in line with the stance of the new president of the TRNC, Ersin Tatar. Tatar was elected in October by supporting a two-state solution, a policy backed by motherland Turkey.
Further dilating upon 5+1 meeting the minister said this meeting is not an open-ended negotiation process. Ertuğruloğlu also rejected calls by Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades in January for the EU to play a role in the discussions, which in the past have also involved Turkey, Greece and former colonial power Britain. We do not accept the European Union representative presence in the meeting with an observer status. The Greek side is member of the EU and they pursue their own interests in various mechanisms within the union, therefore the EU cannot be impartial. The meeting title is 5+1 and 1 means the United Nations so EU has nothing to do with this meeting. He said the EU committed a grave mistake by admitting the Greek side to the European Union as member. Now it is time for the EU to correct its mistake. In fact by admitting Greek side as a member, the EU blatantly violated the Copenhagen criteria of membership.
“We will attend the meeting in good faith and if the other party responds in the same way, there will be a forward-looking opportunity”, the minister added. Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu further said the UN parameters, which have been on the agenda for years on Cyprus have not yielded results so far and it has emerged that an agreement cannot be reached with these parameters. To insist on the available parameters such as federal model will end on deadlock. Turkish Cypriot side’s views of a solution model are based on the cooperation of two sovereign states with equal rights living side by side. After the collapse of talks in Crans Montana due to the Greek Cypriot’s willful intransigence, the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres also stated that new views and options on the Cyprus issue could come to the table.
If it is necessary to give more time for both sides and stakeholders to help find some common ground, then we can surely give this initiative another chance but one thing is for sure that this process should not be open-ended. There has to be an understanding within next few months. If there is no agreement, then TRNC will go for international recognition. We are sure there are many countries in this world who do not accept Greek side stand point on the issue.
However, I would make it clear here that once these negotiations fail, then we will sit with our motherland Turkey to devise future course of action. We have all along been in constant touch with motherland Turkey therefore in this scenario ostensibly Turkey will be kept in the loop.
To a question about Pakistan-TRNC relations Minister Tehsin said, they had unique relations with Pakistan and people of Pakistan. We always keep Pakistan in high esteem. Our office in Islamabad gets the same treatment we get in Ankara. TRNC though a small state, yet it fully supports Pakistan on the issue of Kashmir. “We wish Pakistan all the best and we will for sure work together even in the coming days”.
When it comes to Muslim countries in general, there are some Muslim countries who shall not be allowed by other countries to support us. Being a Muslim country does not mean that they would support TRNC. As I said, Muslim countries, under pressure from other countries, may show reluctance to recognize us. But I am sure, once we embark on recognition campaign, we will get recognition from countries beyond expectations. These countries include both Muslim and non-Muslims.
When asked how optimists he was about the outcome and positive approach from the Greek side, the Foreign Minister categorically stated why they should come up with an open mind and positive approach. The world is spoiling them and treating them as if they were the Republic of Cyprus, while this is not the case. Since, the world is supporting them therefore why they should feel it necessary to attend these talks with a positive mind. Having said this, we know very well where do we stand and where the Greek side stands.
To a question the minister told, the government of TRNC has taken a decision to undertake steps on the fenced area of Maras starting with a scientific inventory survey. Steps taken are in line with the international law, first and foremost protecting and respecting the rights of possession of former inhabitants of this town as also called for the relevant United National Security Council resolutions. The unacceptable status quo on the island, which is also valid for the fenced area of Maras, have continued for all these decades due to political considerations and propaganda, instigated by the Greek Cypriot leadership, to the detriment of the said area and more importantly at the expense of its former inhabitants. It should be noted that the TRNC govt decision of asking the initiative of progressive opening of Maras in October 2020 was welcomed by the former Greek Cypriot inhabitants of the fenced area of Maras and they have publicly stated that this decision will provide for them to go back to their properties.
To yet another question about exploration of resources in the area, the Foreign Minister said, the Greek Cypriots have unilaterally licensed international oil companies to conduct hydrocarbon activities and they have passed a legislative bill to establish a so-called national investment fund to manage unilaterally the future capital income from hydrocarbon reserves. Moreover they have signed bilateral agreements with many countries regarding the delimitation of its unilaterally declared so called exclusive economic zone. As a result of Greek Cypriot side’s increasing unilateral actions, the Turkish Cypriot side has been obliged to take steps to protect its own rights and interests regarding the hydrocarbon resources around the island.
To a question about COVID situation in TRNC, the Foreign Minister said everyone is suffering and so is the TRNC. But daily cases in our country are less and number of deaths is very low, but then you know we are a small country. Our government is conscious about spread of virus and we are thankful to motherland Turkey for providing us the vaccines. As regards tourist activities we plan to open up country for international visitors and tourists in the mid of April 2021 but with double vaccination.
ISLAMABAD, Mar 30 : Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination Dr. Faisal Sultan Tuesday said that the COVID-19 case positivity ratio has become doubled in the past few days reaching 12.31% in the federal capital.
Dr Faisal said that the overall case positivity ratio in the country was 8.83% while 10.43% in Punjab, 8.55% in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 2.98% in Sindh, 2.15% in Balochistan, 8.98% in AJK and 2.33% in Gilgit Baltistan.
He said that Covid cases are jumping up for the past two weeks and urged the citizens to strictly follow COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) to prevent the disease in the wake of a sudden increase in the number of infections in the country.
“We regularly monitor positivity ratio at national, provincial and city level and when it increases it incurs burden on healthcare capacity. Pressure is mounting in the federal capital, Peshawar, Karachi and major urban centers of Punjab.”
He said that keeping in view the disease risk certain restrictions were imposed focusing on high-risk sectors with mass gathering, however, he said that an overall poor administrative compliance of guidelines and actions was seen and requested all provincial administrations to seriously take note of this.
He said that there are certain variants of the virus originating from African States where travel restrictions are being imposed to contain disease spread.
He said that senior citizens walk-in registration was introduced for above 70 year age citizens and now they can visit for vaccination from all listed vaccination centers.
He said that this time is not of any complacency rather strict compliance of SOPs. “COVID-19 is a deadly virus but we can control it just as we controlled it by following the SoPs during the first wave.”
Dr Faisal said that the government is seeking full cooperation of the citizens in adhering to the SoPs. “We can save precious lives including those of our near and dear ones by taking preventive measures.”
He asked the citizens to wear a mask, maintain social distance, wash hands with soap frequently and avoid crowded places.
He urged the healthcare workers and those eligible to get vaccinated to protect themselves as well as their loved ones.
He said that better services are being ensured at COVID-19 vaccination centers to facilitate the senior citizens. He said that keeping in view the interest of senior citizens for COVID vaccination, the staff and number of centers are being increased.
ISLAMABAD , MARCH 30 : The Cabinet Division has on Tuesday issued notifications of the appointments of Hammad Azhar as Finance Minister and Tabish Gohar as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Power and Petroleum.
This is the third time that the PM Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has changed its Finance Minister and underwent major cabinet reshuffle in less than three years.
Hammad Azhar has replaced Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and Tabish Gohar has succeeded Nadeem Babar. The Cabinet Division has also issued notifications of Hafeez Shaikh and Nadeem Babar’s removal. Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh had assumed charge after Asad Umar was removed as Finance Minister.
Sources familiar with the matter informed that the decisions were made by PM Imran Khan on Monday in an important meeting which was attended by Information Minister Shibli Faraz, Moeed Yousuf, Zulfi Bukhari, Malik Amin Aslam and other leaders.
Furthermore, Shibli Faraz and Fawad Chaudhry are likely to be given the portfolios of Petroleum and Information respectively. There were also consultations on dividing the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting into two, with separate Ministers of State for both Information and Broadcasting.
JOHANNESBURG, MARCH 30 : Pakistan head coach Misbahul Haq said on Monday he believed the venues for two white-ball series in South Africa would suit his team, as they stepped up preparations after arriving in the country.
Misbah, speaking for the first time since Pakistan arrived in South Africa, said he looked forward to three one-day internationals and four Twenty20 internationals, which will be shared between the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg and SuperSport Park in Centurion in order to adhere to Covid-19 protocols.
The series starts with a one-day international in Centurion on Friday.
Pak vs SA: Pakistan’s white-ball squad departs for South Africa
“If I look back, when we used to come here and play, these two wickets, Centurion and Wanderers, we always enjoyed these pitches,” said Misbah, who captained Pakistan on a 2012/13 tour of South Africa.
“The bounce and pace is very true and as a batsman you enjoy that,” he said. “You get full value for your shots. Some of the players in this team have already played here and performed very well.
“Those previous performances and experiences definitely help you. Pakistan always have the luxury of good fast bowlers and I think that is the reason why we do well here.”
South Africa played a Test series and a T20 series in Pakistan recently and Misbah said the reciprocal series was important in times made difficult because of the Covid-19 pandemic when the calendar had been impacted by the crisis.
“It is our duty as different nations to keep going, keep helping each other and keep this game alive.”
Pak vs Zim: PCB releases schedule of T20, Test series
New South African white-ball captain Temba Bavuma confirmed earlier that South Africa would only be able to use their Indian Premier League players for the first two one-day internationals.
Bavuma said he respected the relationship between the South African and Indian boards that enabled star players to fulfil their IPL contracts.
Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, David Miller and Anrich Nortje will miss the third one-day international and all four Twenty20 internationals because of their IPL commitments.
“For the first two games we have got all our best players so it is important to get positive results in those first two games,” said Bavuma.
“But that is not to say we are conceding the third game. We believe we have the replacements with guys coming in to fill those boots.”
Bavuma said that the tour provided an opportunity for players to stake a claim for two World T20 tournaments in the next two years as well as the 2023 Cricket World Cup.
“We´ve got 22 players, which is a big squad,” he said. “The message to the players is that 90 percent of the World Cup squads will come from this group. It is important that the guys understand there is an opportunity and also that they know where they stand.”
ISLAMABAD, Mar 30 : Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Dushanbe on Tuesday and discussed matters of bilateral interest including Afghan peace process.
Foreign Minister Qureshi, in the meeting that took place on the sidelines of Ninth Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process Conference in the Tajik capital, expressed Pakistan’s desire for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.
Qureshi said Pakistan considered peace in Afghanistan vital for sustainable stability in the region.
He expressed concern over the rising incidents of violence in Afghanistan and said that Pakistan’s position remained the same that the Afghan problem could not be solved through military option.
The Foreign Minister said Pakistan supported a political solution to the Afghan problem through comprehensive dialogue, adding that positive developments as a result of intra-Afghan talks could help bring Afghan peace process to a logical conclusion.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani wished Prime Minister Imran Khan a speedy recovery from COVID-19.
Qureshi had arrived in Dushanbe on Monday where he will represent Pakistan at the Conference and highlight the country’s role in Afghan peace and the future strategy to contribute to sustainable stability of the country.
He is due to hold meetings with his counterparts including Turkey, Iran, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.
Colombo, March 30 : All-rounder Thisara Perera has become the first Sri Lankan cricketer to hit six sixes off one over during a domestic match in Colombo.
The 31-year-old, playing for the Sri Lanka army team, cleared the ropes a total of eight times in his whirlwind unbeaten 52 off 13 balls against the Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club at the weekend.
Perera is the second player to achieve the feat in 2021 and coincidentally was on the field when it happened earlier this month as Kieron Pollard hit six sixes off Sri Lanka’s Akila Dananjaya in a Twenty20 international in Antigua.
Perera scored only one that day but now joins an exclusive club of nine batsmen to score 36 off an over in professional cricket alongside Garfield Sobers, Ravi Shastri, Herschelle Gibbs, Yuvraj Singh, Ross Whiteley, Hazratullah Zazai, Leo Carter and Pollard.
Perera has played six Tests, 166 one-day internationals and 84 Twenty20 internationals for Sri Lanka, but his power-hitting display on this occasion was in vain because the match was abandoned due to rain.
