ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has stated that his government’s vision is to transform Pakistan into a truly democratic welfare state, on the model of Riyasat-e-Madina.

“Today, let us renew our commitment to make Pakistan a humane, progressive and prosperous state akin to Riyasat-e-Madina based on rule of law, meritocracy, egalitarianism and compassion,” he said in his message on the occasion of Pakistan Day (March 23).

The prime minister said that 23rd March, 1940 was a momentous occasion when the Muslims of the Sub-Continent decided to establish a separate homeland to free themselves from the shackles of oppression and slavery of the Hindutva mindset.

“Today, we pay tribute to the Father of the Nation and all the leaders of the Independence Movement who united Muslims of British India and struggled for creation of a free and independent Muslim State. The struggle culminated in the emergence of Pakistan on the map of the world on 14th August, 1947,” he added.

The prime minister said that while commemorating the day, they needed to adhere to the principles of Unity, Faith and Discipline given by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah

“Our great nation has successfully overcome challenges of immense magnitude in past through unity and resilience. Today, we need to remain strong to face the pandemic that has engulfed the entire World. InshaAllah, we will succeed in these testing times,” he maintained.

The prime minister also expressed solidarity with the innocent people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) who have been subjected to the worst form of state oppression by Indian security forces.

“We salute their courage and will continue to support them morally, politically and diplomatically for realization of their right to self-determination under relevant UNSC Resolutions,” he added.

“May Almighty Allah grant us strength to remain steadfast during all testing times. Pakistan- Paindabad,” the Prime Minister concluded.

Islamabad,23 March 2021 : 23rd March is an important landmark in the history of our nation. On this day, we commemorate the valiant struggle of our forefathers for a separate homeland that began with the historic Pakistan Resolution of 1940, and culminated in the attainment of freedom seven years later.

Pakistan Resolution truly reflects our deep national and historical aspirations and desires. On this Day, we pay rich tribute to the Father of the Nation and all leaders, elders, martyrs and heroes who rendered great sacrifices for the realization of our dream.

This Day provides us an opportunity every year to renew our commitment to making our country a true welfare, progressive and prosperous state.

On this Day, I wish to reiterate that Pakistani leadership’s vision of ‘Naya Pakistan’ is focused around economic security – for the well-being and welfare of our people.

While fully resolved to protect our vital national security interests, our emphasis is shifting from geo-strategic to geo-economics. Rather than partaking in geo-political competition and rivalries, Pakistan is advocating co-existence and win-win cooperation. Pakistan is committed to pursue policies that promote peace and stability, development partnerships, and connectivity.

Today, we also express solidarity and support to our Kashmiri brothers and sisters in their just struggle for the right to self-determination as enshrined in the relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions. 

While the Covid-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges to the world, it has also offered new opportunities for international solidarity and cooperation.

Pakistan continues to underscore the need for greater global collaboration to decisively defeat this menace.

Nations have to go through difficult times, but only with unity they sail through. We, Pakistanis, have exhibited tremendous responsibility in fighting the pandemic. As the virus continues to threaten lives, we cannot afford to overlook the importance of preventive measures.

May Allah keep Pakistan and all of mankind safe.

Pakistan Paindabad!

Karachi, MAR 22 /DNA/ – The Digital Edition of the 12 th Karachi Literary Festival will be held from Friday 26 th March to Sunday 28 th March. At this Festival, three Literary Awards will be presented: two prizes for books written in Urdu and one for books written in English, published during 2019 and 2021. The competition was sponsored by Getz Pharma.

The two categories for the Urdu Prize were Poetry and Prose. In all, 107 entries were received, 65 for

Prose works and 42 for Poetry. The following three books of Poetry have been shortlisted by an

independent jury; Bey Musafat Safar: Shayri Majmua by Dr Peerzada Qasim, Armughan e Pak:

Jiddojahad-e-Azadi ki Manzoom Daastan by Dr Aslam Ansari, and Main Istayron Main Jee Raha

Hoon by Salman Sarwat.

Four books were shortlisted in the Urdu prose category. They are Matan Kuch Gumshuda: Urdu Short

Stories by Samee Ahuja, Shair, Shairiaat aur Fiction: Shams ur Rehman ki Tanqeed ka Mutala by

Safdar Rasheed, Paray Shumaray by Shaheen Abbas and Fikr-o-Intiqad by Aslam Ansari.

For the English fiction prize, 4 books have been shortlisted which are The Fix by Omar Shahid

Hamid, The Miraculous True History of Nomi Ali by Uzma Aslam Khan, The Selected Works of

Abdullah the Cossack by H M Naqvi, and The Smile Snatchers by Raza Rabbani.

The jury comprised notable literary figures of Pakistan: Muneeza Shamsie, Ghazi Salahuddin, Nadya

Chishty-Mujahid, Prof. Tanzim-ul-Firdous, Dr Nasir Abbas Nayyar, Hameed Shahid, Moinuddin

Aqeel, Asghar Nadeem Syed, and Dr Ambareen Haseeb Amber. The work of the nominees was

judged on originality, creativity, literary genre, and the position a writer takes in his or her work. The

winners will be announced at the opening of the Karachi Literature

ISLAMABAD, MAR 22 (DNA) – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations marked World Water and Forest day in a joint event held with IUCN and Arid Agriculture University.

The event was attended by experts from NGOs, INGOs, academia and Ministry of Climate Change. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Climate Change, Mr. Malik Amin Aslam speaking at the event highlighted the government’s efforts in forest restoration in the country.

 He stated that the government has started ten-billion trees tsunami project in twelve ecological zones of the country, which is targeting over a million hectare of forest restoration.  He said that the initiatives are people centered projects, which has created half a million green jobs.

The restoration of forests go hand in hand with the development and wellbeing of the people living in those areas. This vision of Pakistan of planting ten billion trees is not just about timber, it’s about the people who live in these areas and befitting from these initiatives in various ways, he added.

A recent example is Mangroves in the south of Pakistan, which has increased by 300%, under this project, which is employing rural women folk along the coastlines, are getting jobs as protectors of these mangroves. He further stated that forest in Pakistan is not only necessary but they are essential for the wellbeing of the locals living there.

Speaking at the event, FAO Representative a.i Pakistan, Rebekah Bell stated that forest play important role in the environment; preventing climate change and improving local livelihoods. However, in many countries including Pakistan, the forest resource and related ecosystem are under a serious threat of degradation.

The situation demands a business as usual approach is no longer an option for managing forests and related resources in the current climate change context. The paradigm shift requires the identification, scaling up best practices and knowledge sharing by all partners.

Pakistan is the fifth most climate-impacted country in the world and this is negatively affecting the livelihoods of the communities especially those living in the mountain areas of the country and who rely on forest ecosystems for their livelihoods. 

The density of the majority of Pakistan’s forest is under 70% and requires efforts from all to bring these forests back to their potential by applying global best practices of Natural Resource Management, she said.

She further stated that FAO Pakistan is implementing number of projects, which contribute significantly to the government of Pakistan’s efforts for forest restoration. The Chilgoza GEF funded project jointly implemented by FAO and the Ministry of Climate Change seeks to reverse forest degradation and deforestation in high conservation Chilgoza pine forest.

The project have engaged the local communities in the provinces to improve forest protection, conservation and find new value addition outcomes of the forest products. An innovative approach of using the GIS based monitoring for the forestry resources through FAO collect earth tool is a significant step in introduction of advances tools and systems in forest management.

For a successful natural resource management, integrated participatory approach is required to achieve sustainable results, she said. = DNA

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