DNA

BEIJING, Nov. 21  – Pakistan-China agriculture cooperation is vital and would enhance the economy of Pakistan, said Pakistani ambassador to China Moin ul Haque.

Addressing a webinar organized by China Economic Net, he said Pakistan is a leading country in the production of wheat, cotton, rice, sugar cane, lentils，mangoes and milk. Pakistan is the fourth-largest producer of milk and has a vibrant livestock sector, leading in meat and poultry production.

The ambassador said that agriculture contributes more than 80 percent to Pakistan’s GDP and provides more than 30 percent of the national labor force.

He further said the agricultural cooperation was extensively discussed in an important bilateral meeting held between two foreign ministers in Hainan in August, 2020.

“The production of quality seeds, the productivity of various crops strengthening an agro-based industry to bring in value addition, manufacturing pesticides, and setting up gold chain networks were discussed.

We also discussed the capacity building of our scientists and students, sharing and transfer of agricultural technology and establishment of research institutes,” he said.

Ambassador said that recently China has adopted its 14th five-year plan for 2021to2025 in which the field of modern agriculture has given high value.

“I believe that Pakistan can make optimum use of China’s past achievements and its future agricultural development schemes to address our weakness and consolidate our strength in the agriculture sector,” Moin said.

The ambassador expressed gratitude to the Chinese government and relevant institutions for giving Pakistan supports during the locust plague.

The Chinese government sent a delegation of experts, provided specialized drones to fight the locust swarm and helped to set up a set of pest and disease control center in Karachi.

China’s unprecedented success in combating poverty and bringing more than 800 million people out of poverty is indeed a miracle of recent times, helping communities to improve livelihood by developing their local agricultural products.

“I would like to convey my sincere gratitude to China Economic Net and leadership that is present here. Thank you for all your valuable support in strengthening economic and commercial relations between China and Pakistan, from sponsoring mangoes festival, organizing various conferences and seminars to recently hosting the Pakistani government Pavilion in Shanghai,” the ambassador stated.

“I hope that two embassies and two governments can work together to have some concrete results and achievements in the field of agriculture as next year we are going to celebrate the 70th years of diplomatic relation, a very important milestone in our relationship,” he added.

KABUL – At least eight people were killed on Saturday when a barrage of rockets struck densely populated parts of Kabul, marking the latest big attack in a wave of violence sweeping the Afghan capital.

The salvo slammed into various parts of central and north Kabul — including in and around the heavily fortified Green Zone that houses embassies and international firms — just before 9am (0430 GMT).

The Iranian embassy said on Twitter that its main building had been hit by rocket fragments after a missile landed on the premises. No one on the compound, located just outside the Green Zone, was wounded.

Interior ministry spokesman Tariq Arian blamed the Taliban, saying “terrorists” had fired a total of 23 rockets.

“Based on initial information, eight people were martyred, and 31 others were wounded,” Arian said, noting the final toll would change.

Kabul police spokesman Ferdaws Faramarz confirmed the same tolls and details.

The Taliban denied responsibility, saying they “do not blindly fire on public places”.

At least one rocket landed in an office inside the Green Zone, but did not explode.

Recent big attacks in Kabul, including two horrific assaults on educational institutions that killed nearly 50 people in recent weeks, follow a familiar pattern in the aftermath, with the Taliban denying any involvement while the Afghan government pins the blame on them or their proxies.

“The rocket attack in Kabul city has nothing to do with the mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said, using the insurgents’ name for Afghanistan.

The Taliban are under pressure not to attack urban areas, having pledged not to do so under the terms of a United States withdrawal deal signed in February.

Any acknowledgement of overt involvement in such incidents could in theory slow the American pull-out, though outgoing US President Donald Trump has made clear he wants US forces out regardless of the situation on the ground.

The Islamic State group claimed the two attacks on educational centres, but Kabul said the Taliban’s ultra-violent Haqqani network was responsible.

Pompeo heads to Doha

Taliban and Afghan government negotiators launched peace talks in Doha in September but progress has been slow and violence has raged across Afghanistan regardless.

Officials told on Friday however that a breakthrough was expected to be announced in the coming days, and the US State Department announced late Friday that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo would meet negotiators from the Taliban and the Afghan government in Doha.

Trump has repeatedly vowed to end “forever wars”, including in Afghanistan, America’s longest-ever conflict, which began with an invasion to dislodge the Taliban following the September 11, 2001 attacks.

President-elect Joe Biden, in a rare point of agreement with Trump, also advocates winding down the Afghanistan war although analysts believe he will not be as wedded to a quick timetable.

Earlier this week, the Pentagon said it would soon pull about 2,000 troops out of Afghanistan, speeding up the timeline established in a February agreement between Washington and the Taliban that envisions a full US withdrawal by mid-2021.

In the past six months, the Taliban has carried out 53 suicide attacks and 1,250 explosions that left 1,210 civilians dead and 2,500 wounded, interior ministry spokesman Tariq Arian said this week.

The interior ministry said two small “sticky bomb” explosions had been reported earlier Saturday morning, including one that hit a police car, killing one policeman and wounding three others.

DNA

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan categorically rejected the groundless allegations levelled by the Prime Minister of India against Pakistan. We view these as part of India’s desperate attempts to divert international attention from its state-terrorism in IIOJK and state-sponsorship of terrorism against Pakistan. It is evident that India has stepped up anti-Pakistan propaganda, following presentation of the Dossier by Pakistan providing irrefutable evidence of India’s state-sponsorship of terrorism.

The Dossier presented by Pakistan extensively documents India’s active planning, promoting, aiding, abetting, financing and execution of terrorist activities against Pakistan. Bland denials and regurgitation of old litany of charges by the Indian side will not change facts.

Raising the ‘bogey’ of so-called “cross-border terrorism” time and again does not lend any credibility to India’s false narrative. On the other hand, India’s history of conducting false flag operations in IIOJK and inside India to malign Pakistan is too well-known. We have consistently sensitized the international community about the possibility of India resorting yet again to a false flag operation, and we take this opportunity to forewarn the world again.

Use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy by India makes it guilty under international law, UN sanctions regime, and international counter-terrorism Conventions. It is the collective responsibility of the world community to hold India to account and take practical steps to proceed against the Indian nationals involved in patronage of terrorist entities.

Pakistan calls upon the UN counter-terrorism bodies to proceed on the basis of evidence provided by Pakistan and urge India to renounce use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy, dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism it has established to inflict terrorism on Pakistan, and stop the use of other countries’ soil for its terrorist activities directed against Pakistan.

KARACHI, NOV 20 (DNA) – The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has issued a notification for tax exemption on imports of 61 items used in the preparation of COVID-19 vaccines.

The federal cabinet had earlier given approval to exempt imports of 61 items used in the preparation of COVID-19 vaccine from taxes and duties on November 17.

Sources told that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) took three days to issue the notification in this regards. The tax exemption will ensure availability of necessary medical equipment to the hospitals besides expediting the preparation of the coronavirus vaccine and reducing its cost, sources said.

According to FBR officials, the importers will be given tax exemption till June 30 – 2021 to bring in the essential items related to the medication of novel coronavirus. Earlier in the day, a private channel reported the lack of interest of the revenue board in duty-free imports of 61 items of COVID-19 vaccine despite getting approval from the federal cabinet.

The commerce ministry had also issued a statutory notification (SRO) regarding the items. Sources told that the FBR’s lack of interest is delaying the duty-free imports of the essential items which would be used for timely commencement of coronavirus vaccine and reducing its cost.

In another development on Friday, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) approved a technical supplementary grant for the advance purchases of COVID-19 vaccines.

The Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination sought $150 million funds from the federal government for advance booking of COVID-19 vaccines, it was learnt earlier in the day. =DNA

===========================