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Irving carries the load as Nets cool off Celtics

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New York, March 12 : Kyrie Irving scored 40 points as the red-hot Brooklyn Nets picked up where they left off before the All-Star break by beating the Boston Celtics 121-109 on Thursday in New York.

With Kevin Durant sitting out his 10th straight game with an injury and James Harden struggling early with turnovers, Irving seized control of the game in the second quarter in front of a pandemic-limited crowd of 1,300 at Barclays Center arena.

The former Celtic Irving has made a point this season of raising his level of play against Boston. Irving, who was born in Melbourne, Australia, also exploded for 37 points against his former teammates on Christmas Day.

The Nets kicked off the second half of the season by scoring at least 120 points for the 23rd time this season. It was also the second straight time.

They also scored 120 points in their final game before the break.

Harden flirted with a triple double, finishing with 22 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Landry Shamat scored 18 points and had nine three pointers for the Nets, who made a total of 19 threes.

It was the 24th time the Nets have made at least 15 threes in a game.

Harden made all nine of his shots from the free-throw line, but finished with seven turnovers.

Jayson Tatum scored 31 points, guard Marcus Smith delivered 19 and Germany’s Daniel Theis finished with 17 points and eight rebounds for Boston, who had their four-game winning streak stopped.

Boston jumped out to an early lead as Harden turned the ball over several times. With Harden on the bench, Irving elevated his game, scoring 18 points in the first half as the Nets led by three, 58-55, at halftime.

It was Tatum’s turn to get hot in the third quarter as Boston regained the lead. But the Nets recovered in the fourth and led 95-90 with 9:33 left.

Irving made a clutch three pointer with two minutes remaining to make it 116-109 and then seconds later sank two free throws to put the game out of reach.

Elsewhere, All-Star Game MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists to power the Milwaukee Bucks to a 134-101 rout of the New York Knicks in Milwaukee.

Antetokounmpo made eight of 12 shots from the field and went seven of seven from the free-throw line.

Allegiance to State: 48 newly-elected Senators take oath

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ISLAMABAD, Mar 12  : As many as 48 newly elected senators here on Friday took oath of allegiance to Pakistan in Upper House of the Parliament for a term of six years.

Secretary Senate Mohammad Qasim Samad Khan welcomed all existing and newly-elected members and handed over the chair to Senator Sayed Muzfar Hussain Shah, who had been nominated as Presiding Officer for special sitting of the House by President Dr Arif Alvi.

Presiding Officer Sayed Muzafar Hussain Shah administered the oath to the newly-elected members, who reached the country’s top constitutional forum for national service after getting votes from members of the national and provincial assemblies.

The newly elected members, who took oath and signed the roll, include  Kamil Ali Agha of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), Afnan Ullah Khan of  Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N),  Aon Abbas of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Ejaz Ahmad Chaudhry (PTI), Sajid Mir (PML-N) and Irfan-ul-Haq Siddiqui (PML-N), Azam Nazeer Tara (PML-N) and Syed Ali Zafar (PTI), Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur (PTI), Saadia Abbasi PML-N,  Mohsin Aziz (PTI), Liaquat Khan Tarakai, (PTI), Syed Shibli Faraz (PTI), Hidayatullah Khan (ANP), Faisal Saleem Rehman, (PTI), Atta-ur-Rehman (JUIP) and Zeeshan Khan Zada (PTI), Dost Muhammad Khan (PTI), Muhammad Hamayun Mohmand (PTI) , Sania Nishtar (PTI), Falak Naz (PTI), Gurdeep Singh, Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani (PPPP) , Fawzia Arshad (PTI), Sheher Bano Sherry Rehman (PPPP), Syed Faisal Ali Sabzwari (MQM-P), Saleem Mandviwala (PPPP), Taj Haider (PPPP), Muhammad Fesal Vawda (PTI), Shahadat Awan (PPPP), Jam Mahtab Hussain (PPPP), Farooq Hamid Naek (PPPP), Saifullah Abro (PTI), Palwasha Mohammed Zai Khan (PPPP), Khalida Ateeb,  Muhammad Abdul Qadir, Muhammad Qasim (BNP), Molana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri (JUIP), Prince Ahmed Umer Ahmedzai (BAP), Umer Farooq (ANP), Manzoor Ahmed (BAP),  Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti (BAP),  Kamran Murtaza (JUIP), Saeed Ahmed Hashmi (BAP), Samina Mumtaz (BAP), Naseema Ehsan (Independent), and  Danesh Kumar (BAP).

CCTSS Pak-China literary Corridor to bring the two peoples closer

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BEIJING, Mar.12 : Chinese Culture Translation & Studies Support (CCTSS) has paved the way for Pakistan- China literary Corridor to bring the two peoples closer by launching “Sino-Pakistan Translation Workshop”.

As per China Economic Net (CEN) on Friday, CCTV launched year-long activities to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between all-weather allies.

Xu Baofeng, Executive Vice President of Belt and Road Academy of Beijing Language and Culture University said that on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of establishing formal diplomatic relations between the People’s Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, CCTSS Sino-Pakistani Translation Workshop aims to further enhance the cultural exchange between two countries.

This will also help to promote mutual translation and publishing of cultural works and deepen the understanding of our two peoples.

“We are making efforts to make it easier for foreign readers to appreciate classic works from a different culture and have a better understanding of the essence of two civilizations”, Xu mentioned.

He further said that Chinese are always proud to say that China and Pakistan are iron brothers.

Usually, the relations are described as higher than mountains, deeper than oceans, sweeter than honey, and stronger than steel. However, our understanding about each other is far from enough.

“We seldom know that the Ancient Silk route was passing through parts of Pakistan, and Chinese traders travelled to Europe through Pakistan.

Around two thousand years ago, famous Chinese Monk Xuan Zang, made several trips to areas, which are part of Pakistan now”, he told China Economic Net.

He further said that Cultural works translation and publishing would be an efficient way for us to know better about each other and deepen our understanding to bring our relations to new heights, adding literature and history will be our first consideration.

Meanwhile, we are planning to train young translators by writing textbooks and creating language training lessons targeting foreign learners.

“Human history is recorded through literature, whether it be an oral tradition or the legends written down. If the world needs one method to unite together, literature is the tie to connect the world.

It’s time to further strengthen the understanding of our two peoples. In addition to the classic works to help people know more about each other’s culture and history, we want to stress modern literature, the one mirroring the reality of people’s lives,” he said.

Talking to the audience Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan, Sinologist (ex-Diplomat), said Pakistani students in China should be equipped with in-depth China-knowledge and professional education; they can play a significant role after returning to Pakistan strengthen the existing cordial relations between the two nations.

On this occasion, speakers told that the workshop organiser, Chinese Culture Translation & Studies Support (CCTSS), is a sinologist and translator’s talent bank.

The platform has already gathered several talents of different languages, including Urdu.

They further said that the want to discover and invite more of them to work together for mutual translation and appreciation.

A signing ceremony was also held to translate and publish Urdu versions of books such as “China’s Rise in the Asia Market Construction” and “Spring and Autumn on the Sea”.

Japan says PM Suga plans to meet Biden in US next month

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Tokyo, March 12 : Japan said Friday Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will meet President Joe Biden in the United States next month, becoming the first foreign leader to hold face-to-face talks with him.

“If various circumstances allow, Prime Minister Suga will visit the US as early as the first half of April,” top government spokesman Katsunobu Kato told reporters at a daily briefing.

“With this visit, Prime Minister Suga is expected to be the first foreign leader to hold a face-to-face meeting with President Biden,” he added.

The possibility of Suga’s visit had already been reported in Japanese and US media, but without official confirmation.

Japanese officials have made clear that Suga would be keen to meet Biden in person as soon as possible, to reinforce a key alliance, particularly at a time of rising concern about China.

Kato said the summit would involve discussion about an open and free Indo-Pacific region, coronavirus measures, and climate change.

The final schedule for the trip is still being worked out, he added.

Suga and the other members of the delegation that will travel to Washington will all be vaccinated beforehand, Kato said.

Japan’s vaccination programme is rolling out cautiously, with just one vaccine so far approved, with around 180,000 healthcare workers having so far received a first dose.

Biden and Suga will speak later Friday as part of a virtual leaders summit of members of the Quad, which groups the US, Japan, Australia and Japan.

SCO Secretariat celebrated International Women’s Day

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BEIJING (DNA) -As part of the activities coinciding with the 20thanniversary of the SCO, the SCO Secretariat hosted a reception to mark International Women’s Day (March 8) on March 5.

The head of SCO diplomatic missions, Special Representative of the PRC Government for Eurasia, Mr. Li Hui, Deputy Chairman and Secretary of the Secretariat of the All-China Women’s Federation, Ms Xia Ze, and other distinguished guests from members of the SCO Women’s Club and the Chinese sideattended the celebrations.

Congratulating women on the International Women’s Day, the SCO Secretary General, Mr. Vladimir Norov noted that women of the SCO family, with their high spiritual and intellectual potential, selfless care, and generosity,has made an invaluable contribution in maintaining peace in the states.

“Women have tremendous merits in preserving the rich national and cultural values of our peoples formed over the centuries, and transmitting the highest universal qualities such as tolerance, humanity and humanism from generation to generation,” said Norov.

In his words, the beautiful half of men with their diligence, skills, and responsibility regardless of their field of activity or profession, has made a huge, incomparable contribution to the prosperity and well-being of countries and peoples, and are the driving force of social progress in the SCO region.

The Secretary General also highlighted the sacrifice, courage and heroism exhibited bythe women during the pandemic. He identified equality and full participation of women in political and socio-economic tasks as a prerequisite for the sustainable development of SCO countries.

Today, the SCO Member States pay special attention to issues of gender equality and womenempowerment, he stated.

In the Moscow Declaration of the SCO Summit the Member States stressed that they consider it important to hold regular forums, congresses, and meetings of women within the SCO frameworks.

Integration of gender equality issues into the SCO agenda may serve as an effective platform for consolidation of women’s potential in the member states to achieve sustainable development goals, promote regional cooperation and strengthen the “Shanghai spirit”.

Norov thanking all women for their understanding and generosity, wisdom and resourcefulness, patience, and kindness, expressed his sincere admiration and pride in their talents and successes, inimitable femininity and genuine charm, energy, and hard work.

Mr. Li Hui, Special Representative of the Government of the People’s Republic of China for Eurasia Affairs, also delivered a congratulatory speech at the event. He said the Chinese government has always attached great importance to the protection of women’s rights and interests, integrating China’s course of development and progress with the course of promoting equal development of men and women, encouraging, and supporting women in the historic process of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

The SCO continues to grow and develop, and cooperation in various fields is gradually taking a deep and practical path, which is inseparable from the strong support of women of SCO countries and the solid development of cooperation among women in the SCO, he pointed out.

The evening continued with a cultural program followed by a fashion show of the world-famous Chinese designer Lan Yu’s own collections “LAN YU” were presented.

Masters of opera art, headed by one of the best three tenors of the world, Mrs. Chang Sysy,also made a performance before the participants of the festival.

‘Valheim’ rides Viking gaming mania to 5 million sales

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Brussels, March 12  : If you’ve felt a recent urge to unleash your inner Viking, you’re not alone: millions of people have been riding the waves, swigging mead and slaying the enemy in a craze for the video game “Valheim”.

Designed by a tiny Swedish games studio, “Valheim” has proved an unexpected smash-hit, selling five million copies since its early-access release last month on the online gaming platform Steam.

At one point, more than half a million people were playing online simultaneously.

“We didn’t expect this kind of success at all,” said Henrik Tornqvist, co-founder of Iron Gate, the company behind it.

“We are overwhelmed, humbled, and under a lot of pressure.”

The five-strong team that developed the survival game have not yet been able to meet up to celebrate due to the pandemic, Tornqvist said.

“Valheim” players can learn to hunt, make armour, build Viking longhouses and eventually slay terrifying monsters as they explore the vast and fantastical world.

“It’s quite a refreshing game and a really great one, whether you’re talking about the light, the backdrop or the music,” said 25-year-old player Pierre Galissant, who has already spent 60 hours roaming its plains, forests and swamps with three comrades.

Tornqvist suspects the ability to team up with friends is part of the game’s appeal.

“Our game being co-op focused is part of our success for sure,” he said. “And also the Viking theme.”

“Valheim”, which is still in development, is just the latest hit video game set in the vital and violent world of medieval Scandinavian warriors.

Norse mythology has inspired game designers for decades, from late-90s series Baldur’s Gate to strategy games like Age of Empires II.

But Jean-Christophe Piot, a writer and host of a podcast about mythology, said there had been “a real revival” around the seafaring Vikings, who raided, traded, and settled around Europe between the 9th and 11th centuries.

Norse influences are hardly new in pop culture, he pointed out — Marvel Comics introduced Thor, god of Thunder, as a character in 1962.

“But they’ve appeared in video games on an unprecedented scale in recent years,” he said.

Iron Gate consciously chose this setting for “Valheim” because of the existing Norse craze, Tornqvist said, citing the 2013 TV series “Vikings” as a contributing factor.

The latest instalment of the wildly popular game franchise “Assassin’s Creed”, released in November, plays out in several different historical periods — but it too takes players on a Viking adventure.

“Fans had been demanding it for ages,” said Thierry Noel, a historian who worked with French studio Ubisoft on the development of “Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla”.

Far from sticking to stereotypes of bloodthirsty barbarians in horned helmets, Ubisoft wanted to avoid cliches and introduce a degree of historical rigour, said Noel.

“The idea was to try to identify grey zones — parts of history where you can slip in without affecting the historical version of events as we know it,” he said.

“In the case of the Vikings, it was relatively easy. We don’t know that much about this period, they left few traces,” he explained.

“That leaves a bit of space for creativity and imagination.”

It’s a bet that paid off: “Valhalla”, set in 9th-century England, is the franchise’s biggest hit yet.

Sony also jumped on the Norse bandwagon in 2018 for the latest part of its “God of War” saga, which previously focused on the Greek gods.

After selling more than 10 million copies in a year, the eagerly awaited follow-up “Ragnarok” — the Norse apocalypse — is due later this year.

“I think ‘Valheim’, absolutely, to some degree lives on the success of those other games,” said Tornqvist, who also cites “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” and “Skyrim” as sources of inspiration.

For some, the Viking game’s constantly-evolving universe also offers an antidote to the pandemic at a time when very few of us are travelling.

There are five different zones to explore and the developers say there will be nine by the official release date, which is yet to be announced.

“There’s an escapism to it, which works well at the moment,” said Galissant, adding that the game had allowed him to go on some very pleasant “walks” in the Scandinavian forest.

Noel agreed. “We want adventures, wide open spaces, discovery,” he said. “We are living in a time where we want to be Vikings.”

Fairy tales and postage stamps of SCO member states are published

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DNA

BEIJING: As part of the activities to mark the 20thanniversary of the Shanghai Organization,The SCO Center for Public Diplomacy in Tashkent, published the collections “Eighty-Eight Tales of the Eight Nations” and “Countless Proverbs of the Eight Nations”.

These include the most ancient sayings and wisdoms of the legends of Indian, Kazakh, Chinese, Kyrgyz, Pakistani, Russian, Tajik, and Uzbek. The collections were prepared under the guidance of Zuhriddin Isomutdinov, Candidate of Philological Sciences.

A souvenir album “Postage Stamps of SCO Countries” showing national symbols, historical and cultural heritage of the SCO Member States was also published.

The Director of the SCO Center for Public Diplomacy in Tashkent, Mr. Kabuljon Sobirov emphasized that the publications are designed to familiarize the citizens of Uzbekistan and foreign countries about the spiritual heritage of great thinkers and outstanding personalities of SCO nationsas well as to disseminate knowledge about their historical role and invaluable contribution to the development of world civilization and history of human development.

Isomidiyinov Z. notes that the collection of “Eighty-Eight Tales of the Eight Nations” contains 11 tales of the peoples of each Member State.

Tales of the peoples of the SCO Member States, like all the peoples of the world, are based on the ideas of the inevitability of victory of good over evil and the triumph of nobility over baseness and praise the ideals of honest and faithful people who, despite all difficulties and hardships, achieved their noble goals.

The book states that the fairy tale is the oldest form of human thought and the largest folklore genre. At the same time, every nation has dozens of other genres of valuable verbal art. In this regard, publishers, through the artistic translation of the finest literary works, which is a kind of “golden bridge” to bring peoples and cultures together with the intension to continue their work in this direction in the name of strengthening the “Shanghai spirit.

In the collection “Countless Proverbs of the Eight Nations” is noted that in a globalized world, the key to peaceful coexistence of different nations, ethnicities and religions is the development of intercultural dialogue through the universal values embedded in proverbs and sayings. It is impossible to put proverbs and sayings of one nation in one book. This book is an attempt to collect a bouquet of wisdom from half of humanity.

The editorial board of the Center is currently preparing a collection of “Eighty Great Thinkers of Eight Nations”, which is expected to be presented to the public in late March 2021.

The SCO Center for Public Diplomacy in Uzbekistan was established in 2018 to promote cultural and humanitarian cooperation within the organization. The center is an effective tool of public diplomacy and makes a significant contribution to the rapprochement and strengthening of the peoples of the SCO countries.

In the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan №4735 of January 17, 2019 to support the activities of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization People’s Diplomacy Center in Uzbekistan was tasked to publish a “Collection of Tales of SCO Countries”, “Collection of Proverbs of SCO Countries” and publication of the book “The Great Thinkers and Scientists of SCO Countries”.

Uzbekistan-Pakistan Momentous Relations

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Dr. Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan

It seems that ancient “Silk Route” between the Republic of Uzbekistan and Pakistan is in its “resurrection”. Civilizational “linkages” are remerging. Historical connections are “reinvented”. Political understandings are getting momentum. Economic preferences are reshaping. Investment prospects are widening. Now Tashkent and Islamabad are getting closer and closer and fairies of true friendship, brotherhood and mutual respect are flying high on the connecting mountains.

Commercial diplomacy is now at its peak and bilateral relations between the Republic of Uzbekistan and Pakistan are strengthening day by day. Moreover, changing “end game” in the region has encouraged all the regional countries especially, Uzbekistan and Pakistan to immediately consolidate their relations in diverse fields of economy, trade & commerce, FDIs, JVCs, energy and agriculture to pursue peaceful means to achieve desired goals of peace, harmony, stability, prosperity, connectivity and above all sustainable economic development.

Economic reunion promotes spirits of connectivity and beneficial propositions between the two countries. Now trade & commerce activities, signing of meaningful commercial MOUs, prospects of Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), protocols of trans-regional railways connectivity, easy and smooth access to hot waters (seaports), joint ventures in textiles, pharmaceutical, agriculture, automobile, energy and infrastructure development have given new imputes to Uzbekistan-Pakistan bilateral relations.

Uzbekistan’s “Reconnect” with South Asia is heavily dependent on Pakistan which offers the shortest routes. It has various seaports to connect Uzbekistan not only with South Asia but also with Middle East Region.

Most recently, the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Dr. Abdulaziz Kamilov paid personal visit to Pakistan and met Prime Minister Imran. While meeting with Prime Minister of Pakistan Uzbek foreign Minister Kamilov conveyed cordial greetings of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and reiterated Uzbekistan’s commitment to expand bilateral cooperation with Pakistan in diverse fields.

On his part, Prime Minister Imran Khan fondly recalled his interactions with President Mirziyoyev in Beijing and Bishkek and reiterated his invitation to the Uzbek President to visit Pakistan at the earliest convenience.

Pakistan Prime Minister Khan highly projected the importance of historic and civilizational links between the two countries. He highly valued its close fraternal ties with Uzbekistan and wished to deepen bilateral cooperation in all areas.

By emphasizing importance of economic development and enhanced bilateral trade he termed regional connectivity as the cornerstones of economic growth and development. He underlined Pakistan’s resolve to forge closer ties with Central Asia, covering trade, investments, energy, and people-to-people exchanges.

Moreover, the Prime Minister appreciated the proposed Trans-Afghan railway project between Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. He showed Pakistan’s commitment to support all efforts for the earliest realization of this important connectivity project.
While showcasing the strategic geographic importance of Pakistan which offers the shortest route the Prime Minister offered the international seas to all Central Asian Republics through Karachi and Gwadar ports and could be the gateway to landlocked Central Asia. He reaffirmed the resolve to facilitate Uzbekistan’s access to Pakistani sea-ports.
Interestingly, the government of Uzbekistan has discarded its intentions to connect Asia through Iranian soil which is indeed a good omen for further strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries and moreover, Uzbekistan is one of the important countries of One Belt & One Road Initiative (BRI) and CPEC is the flagship project. Thus commercial convenience and convergence is there to further strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries.
During the meeting with prime minister Foreign Minister Dr. Kamilov also handed over a letter from President Mirziyoyev addressed to Prime Minister Imran Khan, inviting him to participate in a Central Asia-South Asia Connectivity Conference in Tashkent in July 2021. The Prime Minister thanked for the invitation and mentioned that he was looking forward to visiting Uzbekistan.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed his government steadfast support to the Afghan peace process, stressing the imperative of negotiated political solution. The Prime Minister expressed the hope that the Afghan sides will seize this historic opportunity to work together constructively and secure an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive negotiated political settlement.
Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi also held delegation level talks with the Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan, Dr. Abdulaziz Kamilov which were very effective, productive and positive in its multilayered orientations. Views were exchanged on enhancement of economic cooperation, mutual support in international fora, regional connectivity and tourism promotion.
Foreign Minister Kamilov extended an invitation to Foreign Minister Qureshi to participate in the Central Asia- South Asia Connectivity Conference to be held in Tashkent in July 2021.
During the meeting, both sides expressed their firm resolve to boost high-level interactions to give impetus to the existing positive momentum in bilateral relations. It was agreed to maximally utilize the existing institutional mechanisms by regularly convening sessions of Bilateral Political Consultations (BPCS) and Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC).
Both sides expressed satisfaction at the progress achieved in advancing rail connectivity between the two countries and agreed on early completion of Trans-Afghan railway project.
Foreign Minister Qureshi emphasized the importance of direct air connectivity to further trade and tourism. He also stressed facilitation of visas for businessmen and tourists. Here it is worth mentioning that Uzbekistan government is already working upon it. According to reliable resources, PIA is going to start its direct flights to Tashkent which will hopefully play an important role in regional connectivity, speed and scope of bilateral relations in the days to come.
Foreign Minister Qureshi underlined the need to further strengthen the existing parliamentary cooperation between the two countries through exchange of visits. He welcomed the proposed “Re-connect Silk Route Conference” scheduled for July 2021. The event would help showcase Pakistani exports and products in Central Asia.
He also underscored the importance of closer agricultural cooperation between the two countries particularly in cotton seed sector. Uzbekistan is blessed with natural colored cotton which may be utilized by initiating a joint venture in public-private partnership between the two sides.
Foreign Minister Qureshi expressed satisfaction at the level of cooperation between the two countries in the multilateral organizations such as the UN, OIC, ECO and SCO.
The Foreign Minister highlighted Pakistan’s positive role for the facilitation of Intra-Afghan Negotiations. The Foreign Minister reiterated Pakistan’s support to Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace and reconciliation process culminating in an inclusive and broad-based political solution. Establishment of lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan would contribute to progress on various connectivity initiatives leading to regional prosperity.
Most recently, during various spells of bilateral meetings Pakistan and Uzbekistan agreed to enhance trade relations, bilateral transit trade agreement, Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), banking and visa issues, and aviation and customs cooperation. Unfortunately, National Bank of Pakistan has recently closed its banking operations in Tashkent due to which potential investors and businessmen are now facing acute problems. It is suggested that banking operations in all the central Asian countries especially, Tashkent may be reopened immediately.

Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood and Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister Sardor Umurzakov had various meaningful meetings to further strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. In order to further deepen the trade ties, both sides also agreed to hold a business conference in Tashkent in July this year.

Pakistan offered cooperation to different stakeholders including customs, maritime affairs, railways and aviation sectors. Uzbekistan and Pakistan held the first meeting of the joint working group on trade and economic issues, as well as a railway project to link the two countries.

In this context, APTAM and Governor Punjab Ch. Muhammad Sarwar visited Uzbekistan and projected real potential of Pakistan and the CPEC for further strengthening of bilateral relations. The delegation of the two countries discussed implementation of the previously reached agreements, as well as the prospects for expanding the Uzbek-Pakistani partnership in the field of investment, trade, industrial cooperation, transport and education. Consequently, various meaningful MOUs have so far been signed between Pakistani private companies and Uzbekistan.

A special attention has now been paying to the practical aspects of the implementation of the project for the construction of the Mazar-i-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway.

Proposed railway link through Afghanistan will have a strategic importance for further strengthening bilateral economic ties and ensuring sustainable development of the Central Asian region.

Uzbekistan’s national rail company has built and operates a railway line to Mazar-i-Sharif town in Afghanistan, and the project aims to link it to Pakistan opening the country’s sea ports for the Central Asian region.

Economic potential of Uzbekistan is rich. It is the Central Asia’s largest market, comprising almost a half of the population of the region. It is also the geographic pivot and lynchpin of Central Asia, bordering all of the other Central Asian states as well as Afghanistan, and with transit connections in all directions.

Uzbekistan’s President Mirziyoyev’s constant structural reforms has revolutionized Uzbekistan and its role in reconnecting the Central Asia with South Asia has now been further consolidated. Rich in hydrocarbons and mineral resources and possessing a relatively well-educated and low-cost labor force, Uzbekistan has become a leading, economy. Uzbekistan has the great potential to serve as a manufacturing, transport, and technical hub for Central Asia, South Caucasus and the South East Asia.

On its part Pakistan has also certain befitting propositions to connect with Central Asian Region (CAR). Central Asia today is world’s most significant and beneficial region both in geo-strategic and geo-economic terms.

Uzbekistan is centrally located in the heart of Eurasian continent, historically as well as in the modern contemporary world has projected and developed itself as an ideal hub to promote regional trade and communication links. So, tide is slowly but surely changing and a vast ocean of possibilities are there to dive into. Central Asia, with a market of more than 70 million people, offers an array of economic opportunities, resources and trade routes.

Uzbekistan has made a rapid breakthrough in the development and successful implementation of a whole range of industry-specific growth, export-oriented policies, investment & business friendly structural reforms, corruption free governance and society, independent judiciary, transparency  and development programs, which have actually revolutionized its economic prospects and business outlook. It has outperformed all the regional economies in terms of GDP, GNP, job generation, foreign currency management, tourism, service sector and above all development of human capital.

Geo-economically, Central Asia is defined as to be “sitting at the crossroads of East and West in which Uzbekistan remains the most populous republic in Central Asia and is geographically central states in Central Asia as well.

Uzbekistan has now emerged as central player in the regional development. It is a neighboring country to Afghanistan and accounts for etensive natural resources including cotton, gold, uranium and natural gas.

Among all the Central Asian Republics it remains the most stable state with well developed capital and social infrastructure. It remains the world’s second largest cotton exporter and fifth largest producer. It also has gas reserves. It also has several operational oil fields.

Pakistan is a gateway to landlocked Central Asia and has invited all Central Asian Republics (CARs) to benefit from the shortest route to international seas. Pakistan desires to forge closer ties with Uzbekistan and other CARs in areas of trade, investment, energy, and people-to-people exchanges.

Being prominent regional expert of Uzbekistan I suggest that reciprocal formation of “Uzbek-Pak Trade Houses” may be a right step in right direction. Joint ventures in textiles, garment industry, automobile, agriculture, pharm-industry, medical education, science & technology, tourism, housing, energy and last but not least, automobile may a befitting proposition for both the countries. Formation of joint “Uzbek-Pak Tourism Company” would increase tourism industries in the days to come. Joint “Uzbek-Pak Investment Company” would play a vital role in achieving the desired goals of economic prosperity between the two sides. Joint “Agricultural Company” would be a launching pad for rampant agro-economy, innovation, advanced machinery and hybrid seeds etc. between the two sides.

Biden lays out next phase of COVID fight, urges vigilance in national televised speech

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WASHINGTON : President Joe Biden said on Thursday he would direct U.S. states to make all adults eligible for the coronavirus vaccine by May 1 and urged Americans in a televised address to stay vigilant against the virus, hours after he signed a $1.9 trillion stimulus bill into law.

In a forceful but somber speech from the White House on the first anniversary of the pandemic lockdown, Biden said he was working to speed COVID-19 vaccinations to create a greater sense of normalcy in the country by the July 4 Independence Day holiday.
That date is a new goal for the president, who has warned Americans that further pain and death were still to come from the virus that has killed more than 530,000 people in the United States, the most of any country. Coronavirus-related lockdowns and restrictions have cost millions of jobs.

In a recounting of the grim toll the pandemic has taken on the nation, Biden said: “Photos and videos from 2019 feel like they were taken in another era. The last vacation. The last birthday with friends. The last holiday with extended family.

“While it was different for everyone, we all lost something,” he said, noting that the virus was met with “denials for days, then weeks, then months, that led to more deaths, more infections, more stress, more loneliness.”

But as the financial stimulus from the newly enacted relief bill reaches a growing number of vaccinated people, Biden offered cautious optimism to a country that, like the rest of the world, is tired of pandemic restrictions and economic pain.

Biden said he was ordering U.S. states, territories and tribes to make all adults eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine by May 1. The White House has said it would have enough vaccine supply to vaccinate the population by the end of May. About 10% of Americans have so far been fully vaccinated.

The president also said more U.S. troops would help in the vaccination effort, adding that families and friends should be able to gather again in small groups by July 4, a holiday that many Americans celebrate with outdoor parties, hot dogs and fireworks.

The White House is also seeking to expand the pool of people able to administer shots to include dentists, optometrists, paramedics, veterinarians and medical students.

Biden campaigned last year on a promise that he would tackle the pandemic more effectively than Republican President Donald Trump, and he has sought to encourage and model behavior, such as mask-wearing, that Trump eschewed.

He encouraged Americans to keep up mitigation efforts – wearing masks, keeping socially distant and practicing good hygiene – to stop the spread of the virus as the pace of vaccinations increases. A number of states have been loosening restrictions.

“We faced and overcame one of the toughest and darkest periods in this nation’s history, the darkest we’ve ever known,” Biden said, adding: “I promise you will come out stronger.”

‘FIGHTING CHANCE’

Earlier in the day Biden, signed the American Rescue Plan law, designed to be a financial bridge to hard-hit Americans and a boost to the economy, with Vice President Kamala Harris at his side in the Oval Office. The package is a major political victory for the Democratic president less than two months into his administration.

Biden and top members of his administration will embark on a victory lap in coming weeks to laud and explain the legislation, which got final approval from the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday.

“This historic legislation is about rebuilding the backbone of this country and giving people in this nation – working people and middle-class folks, the people who built the country – a fighting chance,” Biden said before the signing.

The package provides $400 billion for $1,400 direct payments to most Americans, $350 billion in aid to state and local governments, an expansion of the child tax credit and increased funding for COVID-19 vaccine distribution. The bill passed without a single vote from Republicans, who complained the price tag was too steep.

Biden will discuss the benefits of the pandemic relief bill during trips to Pennsylvania next Tuesday and Atlanta on March 19.

The lockdown from the virus began under Trump, who played down the crisis in its early stages while repeatedly predicting the virus would soon disappear even as his administration pushed to speed up vaccine development.

The former president and his wife, Melania Trump, did not appear in a public service announcement released on Thursday encouraging COVID-19 vaccinations and featuring all of the other living former U.S. presidents and their spouses.

2,701 new cases, 54 COVID-19 deaths reported in 24 hours

By
admin
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ISLAMABAD : Pakistan has recorded 54 more coronavirus-related deaths in the past 24 hours, taking the overall death toll to 13,430.

According to the latest statistics of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), the COVID-19 has claimed 54 more lives and 2,701 fresh infections were reported during the said period.The total count of active cases is 18,703 and the positivity rate increases up to 6.56 per cent.

In the past 24 hours, as many as 1,573 patients have recovered from the virus in a day and 1,709 patients are still in critical condition.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), with the fresh inclusion of the infections in the country the national tally of cases now currently stands at 600,198.

A total of 41,133 tests were conducted across the country during this period. Overall 568,065 people have recovered from the deadly disease so far while 9,402,639 samples have been tested thus far.

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