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Chinese investment in agri will determine path of prosperity for rural sector: PBF

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ISLAMABAD, NOV 15 (DNA) – Pakistan Businesses Forum (PBF) on Sunday welcomed the newly-appointed Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Nong Rong and hoped that he will boost mutual cooperation between the two friendly nations.

Pakistan and China have remained closely connected with through thick and thin and we have always stood with each other sharing joys and the newly-appointed Ambassador who is a trade and commerce expert who will take these ties to new heights, she said.

PBF Vice President, Ahmad Jawad hoped that Ambassador Nong Rong will not only boost bilateral trade and strategic relations but will also play a central role in improving work on developmental projects backed by China as he has all the required expertise and motivation and he has a great track record of achievements.

“There is a long history of interactions between people living in China and Pakistan. So after our two countries became independent, this history and cultural affinity brought them closer and closer to each other, he said, mentioning the two sides signed their first cultural cooperation agreement in 1965”

He assured that PBF will join hands with Ambassador Nong Rong to enhance the momentum of high-level exchanges between Pakistan and China in the area of promotion of Pakistani handicrafts, embroidery and traditional jewellery.

Jawad also emphasized that more and more from Pakistani delegations  may be sent to China to enhance better understanding of their culture and civilization.

Now the second phase of CPEC is very important to strengthen two countries bilateral trade. “we hope focused Chinese investment in the field of agriculture will determine the path of prosperity for the rural sector” he added and said “timely completion of CPEC II would be benefited for both countries at the time where 5th generations war fate at its glance”

Though Pakistan is the biggest supporter of Belt and Road Initiatives and host of one of the six planned corridors and learning from Chinese model we are at way to set up different SEZ’s in our country which will provide opportunities for investors from China and other countries.

Ahmad Jawad also lauded the personal efforts of Chinese President Xi Jinping who generously supported Pakistani in COVID-19 pandemic.=DNA

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Ethiopia’s Tigray region claims rocket strikes on Eritrea airport

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Addis Ababa, Nov 15 : The leader of the Tigray region of Ethiopia on Sunday claimed responsibility for rocket strikes on the airport in neighbouring Eritrea’s capital, a move that ratcheted up fears of a wider conflict in the Horn of Africa region.
Diplomats told Saturday night that multiple rockets had struck the capital, Asmara, landing near the airport, though communications restrictions in Tigray and Eritrea made the reports difficult to verify.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced November 4 he had ordered military operations in Tigray in a dramatic escalation of a long-running feud with the region’s ruling party, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
“Ethiopian forces are also using the airport of Asmara,” TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael told AFP Sunday, saying this made the airport a “legitimate target” for the strikes.
He added that his forces had also been fighting “16 divisions” of Eritrean forces in recent days “in several fronts”.
The TPLF has previously accused Abiy’s government of enlisting military support from Eritrea, something Ethiopia denies.
There was no immediate response from the Eritrean or Ethiopian governments on Sunday.
It was not clear how many rockets were fired on Saturday night, where in Tigray they were fired from, whether they hit their targets or what damage they inflicted.
The United States embassy in Asmara posted an advisory to its website Sunday about “a series of loud noises” at around 7:50 pm Saturday night.
“Unconfirmed reports indicate they may have been explosive devices believed to be in the vicinity of the Asmara International Airport. There are no indications the airport was struck,” the advisory said.
The TPLF dominated Ethiopian politics for nearly three decades and fought a brutal 1998-2000 border war with Eritrea that left tens of thousands dead.
Abiy came to power in 2018 and won the Nobel Peace Prize the following year in large part for his effort to initiate a rapprochement with Eritrea.

Fleeing refugees 

Hundreds of people are reported to have been killed so far in the conflict in Africa’s second most populous country, some in a gruesome massacre documented last week by Amnesty International.
Over 20,000 Ethiopians have fled as refugees into Sudan, a figure that continues to rise, Sudanese officials say.
Among them are Ethiopians returning to camps where they and their families sought refuge from devastating famine decades ago.
To cross the river at the two countries’ border, they climb into small boats crammed with other exhausted and terrified Ethiopians seeking safety.
“I am filled with immeasurable sadness, because when I left, 20 years ago, I never thought that I would come back as a miserable refugee,” said Gabriel, a 40-year-old farmer who arrived in eastern Sudan this week, asking to be identified by his first name because he feared for his safety.
Back in Ethiopia, the UN is pushing for full humanitarian access to Tigray, where Debretsion says hundreds of thousands have been displaced internally by fighting that has featured multiple rounds of government air strikes.

Conflicting narratives

Ever since Abiy took power in 2018 on the back of anti-government protests, the TPLF has complained of being sidelined and scapegoated for Ethiopia’s woes.
The feud grew more intense after Tigray went ahead with its own elections in September — defying a nationwide ban on all polls imposed because of the coronavirus pandemic — and tried to brand him an illegitimate ruler.
The immediate catalyst for the military operations in Tigray, Abiy has said, was a TPLF attack on federal military camps.
The TPLF has denied the attack ever occurred, though Abiy’s office has seized on a recent interview with Tigrayan media in which a senior TPLF official, Sekuture Getachew, said “it was imperative to take a thunder-like strike”.
“Had it not been for the mission maybe Abiy had a chance to command dictatorially for a short term,” Sekuture said in the interview, adding that the TPLF now controlled most of the firepower of the Ethiopian military’s Northern Command.
Other TPLF leaders have not commented on the interview.

No talks yet 

Ethiopian lawmakers have backed a plan to install a caretaker administration in Tigray, and officials have issued arrest warrants for Debretsion and other TPLF leaders.
Abiy’s government has said the TPLF needs to be disarmed before negotiations can begin, frustrating world leaders who are calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
Meanwhile there continue to be fears the conflict could draw in other regions of Ethiopia.
On Saturday the TPLF claimed responsibility for rocket attacks on two airports in Amhara region, which borders Tigray to the south.

FIR against Jahangir Tareen, Shehbaz Sharif in sugar crisis case

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ISLAMABAD, NOV 15 (DNA) – The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has registered two separate FIRs against industrialist and PTI member Jahangir Tareen and PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif in the sugar crisis case.

Other accused include Tareen’s son Ali Tareen, and Hamza and Suleman Shahbaz, the sons of Shehbaz Sharif.

They were booked on charges of cheating, criminal breach of trust, fraud and money laundering. The FIRs were registered at the FIA’s Anti-Corruption Circle Lahore.

An inquiry commission made stunning revelations in May about how sugar barons had cheated farmers, benefited from subsidies and created conditions so that the price of sugar would go up. The commission was formed by the PTI government and headed by FIA Director-General Wajid Zia.

Tareen was among those accused of benefitting the most. The report said that six major groups control 51% of the total sugar production and Tareen’s JDW Mill has the biggest share–20% of the total production. His mills made Rs200 billion in three years.

They were also found to be running double books. The mill was underreporting its revenue.

Tareen and his son left Pakistan for London soon after the report was made public. They returned recently, after seven months.

The PTI leader was disqualified from holding public office on January 30, 2018 but remained a senior member of the party.

The JDW Sugar Mills comprises three units, two of which are located in Rahim Yar Khan in south Punjab and one is located in Ghotki, Sindh. It accounts for 17% of the country’s total sugar product.

Suleman Sharif is in London and has not appeared before the FIA despite repeated summons. The Sharifs’ Al Rabia Sugar Mills were also accused of benefitting from the crisis.=DNA

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IBCC, IUCPSS to promote co-curricular activities at secondary level

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ISLAMABAD, NOV 15 (DNA) – Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC) and Inter University Consortium for Promotion of Social Sciences Pakistan (IUCPSS) signed  Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Through the signed MOU, both organizations agreed to cooperate and collaborate through  fostering mutual cooperation and collaboration,

Conducting joint awareness sessions, career counseling sessions, advocacy seminars, consultative workshops, conferences, competitions, Student Convention & Expo and other academic activities.

It was agreed to promote curricular and co-curricular activities. Speaking on the occasion, Secretary Inter Board Committee of Chairmen Dr Ghulam Ali Mallah said that students are future leaders, hence, as per mandate of the IBCC, a comprehensive  leadership training program would be launched for the position holders of all intermediate boards across Pakistan.

He said that in collaboration with IUCPSS and its member institutions and partners, effective engagement of students would be ensured through organizing national and regional co-curricular activities and competitions.He also underlined the importance of inculcating values of responsible citizenship and co-existence among the students.=DNA

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Pak secures over $200m business in single year since PRGMEA-IAF global summit

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DNA

ISLAMABAD – The Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association on Sunday said that the country has achieved to secure more than $200 million business in one year’s span since 35th IAF Fashion Convention held last year in Nov in Lahore by the PRGMEA, which is expected to grow further manifold.

This was stated by PRGMEA Central Chairman Sohail A. Sheikh while addressing a ceremony to mark the first anniversary of global summit held last year where he cut the cake along with Chief Coordinator Ijaz Khokhar and PRGMEA executive committee members.

Sohail A. Sheikh said that this activity was arranged to keep Pakistan’s contact live with over 250 foreign delegates of the International Apparel Federation (IAF), providing them platform to interact with local garment entrepreneurs and place maximum orders in this difficult time of post-pandemic economic crunch.

“PRGMEA-IAF interaction in the wake of 35th IAF mega global summit we have generated over $200 million business so far despite worldwide lockdown amidst corona pandemic while further trade negotiation are also underway between the international buyers and the apparel sector of Pakistan,” PRGMEA Central Chairman observed.

He also mentioned the recent greeting message of the PM Adviser on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood who had hailed the efforts of PRGMEA when the Germany’s fashion brand Hugo Boss placed its first order of sportswear to Pakistan. Giving credit of it to chief coordinator Ijaz Khokhar, the PM advisor also congratulated him to bring the IAF Convention to Pakistan.

Sohail A. Sheikh observed that the world class event highlighted the real and soft image of Pakistan, besides updating the foreign buyers about what Pakistan produced, and ensure interaction among Pakistani exporters and international textile chains.

The PRGMEA leader vowed to keep this liaison alive with the IAF delegates, with the ultimate target of prosperous Pakistan through jump in apparel exports.

Ijaz Khokhar, on this occasion, said that there were some other plans which were chalked out too as follow-up activities of the mega fashion convention but they were kept on hold due to the global pandemic slowdown.

The Regional President of IAF and PRGMEA Chief Coordinator said that Pakistan can capture large share in the global apparel market if the government exempt cotton yarn from all types of taxes and duties for encouraging local exports. He further added that apparel industry should be allowed to import fabric as the weaving industry was unable to fulfill the growing demand for fashion wear.

Ijaz Khokhar further said that currently, the garment sector has a limited product line due to non-availability of the latest fabric at the local level, adding that foreign buyers demanded new garment based on G3, G4, and technical fabric material and under the circumstance, there was a great need of product diversified to compete in the international market.

“At the moment the major challenge the industry is facing is of cotton shortage in the country, which may hurt the export and fulfill the shipment orders in hand. If the Pakistani industry fails to ship the goods in time Pakistan may lose the credibility of a reliable supplier. So to overcome this issue the government should abolish the 5 percent customs duty and 5 percent regularity duty on the import of yarn for at least 6 month until the arrival of new crop in the country.” He said that if this demand is accepted PRGMEA assures that in next quarter the business will grow and Pakistan will maintain the current percentage of the growth. “Even we are confident we will surpass the export target set by the government,” he added.

He proposed that Export Development Fund should be allocated for Research and Development in accordance with the concerned industrial sectors for bringing innovation and to improve the standard of products to cope with challenges of the global market, he said.

With a view to enhance exports, the government will have to revise its policies in order to facilitate the export sector, he said and added that without the due support of the government, exporters were unable to grab the share of the global apparel market.

He observed that despite certain odds, the business community engaged with the textile sector was making adequate efforts for increasing the export of the country.

Pakistan’s Rosewood handicrafts hailed by Chinese buyers at Yiwu Expo

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DNA

BEIJING, Nov 15 – Pakistan’s Rosewood handicrafts were well received by Chinese buyers during the recent
four-day China Yiwu Import Commodities Fair held in Zhejiang Province, says a report carried by Gwadar Pro on Sunday.

Since its establishment, Yiwu Imported Commodities Fair has become one of the best trade platforms for foreign goods to enter the Chinese market.

“This is not only my first time to Yiwu city and my first time to the Yiwu expo, but also my first participation of an expo this year,” said Usman Anjum, CEO of Sanaullah Handicraft Pakistan.

According to Usman, a lot of Pakistani people who do business in China went back to Pakistan due to the COVID-19. There are only 3 Pakistani exhibitors in this year’s Yiwu expo, which is much fewer compared with the normal years.

Usman has a store in Kunming, where the China-South Asia expo is held every year. This year that expo was canceled as well. Usman this time had to use buses to transport goods from Kunming to Yiwu. The products that he sold are mostly big wooden furniture.”The transport is quite expensive.

He hoped that the sale this time will be good. “In Usman’s expectation, the four day’s sale during the whole Yiwu expo should be 100,000 Yuan.

“Chinese customers love Pakistani wooden furniture. It’s handmade and made of Pakistani rosewood, and it’s much cheaper than Chinese ones.”

“This little box is 80 yuan, while the same size one in China made of Chinese rosewood is around 800 yuan.”Pointing a delicate wooden box, Usman said. “Hearing the price, many people’s first instinct is that it must be fake.”

According to Usman, the hardness and stability of Chinese rosewood and Pakistani rosewood are the same, while the color and the scent might be a bit different.

Usman stated that now more and more Chinese people know about Pakistani rosewood. “When we go to different cities, people ask where you come from.

We told them we are from Pakistan, the wood is also from Pakistan. Through participating in more and more exhibitions, we gradually gain trust from Chinese customers,”he added.

Karachi wedding hall owners reject new coronavirus SOPs

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Karachi’s wedding, banquet and lawn owners have rejected the new coronavirus standard operating procedures (SOPs) rolled out by the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC).

The Karachi Marriage Hall, Lawn, Banquet Owners Association held a press conference at the press club on Saturday to say that the new COVID-19 SOPs were economically marginalising them.

The association said thousands of employees and other businesses associated with weddings and marriages will also be effected due to more restrictions and bans.

The president of the association said that the new SOPs were against the Constitution, which allowed the freedom to earn lawful money to all citizens.

He explained that wedding hall owners and their thousands of employees had already faced a severe economic crisis when all the halls were closed between March 13 and September 15 during the lockdown period.

The association members lamented that when halls reopened after September 15, they did not get the anticipated business as most people prefer not to get married during Muharram and Safar, which took place after the halls were reopened.

The association said that there were an estimated 800 wedding halls in Karachi alone, adding that the livelihood of 50,000 people and their families were linked to these halls.

“Around 70 to 80% of our employees work on daily wages,” he said, adding that the earning of such employees depended on daily wedding events.

The association pointed out that there are roughly 13,000 wedding halls in the entire country, with which 650,000 labourers’ livelihoods are directly linked. Fifty per cent of the city’s industries, the association highlighted, were directly and the rest of the 50% were indirectly linked to wedding halls.

“With the closure of the wedding halls due the Covid-19 pandemic, millions of labourers will be directly or indirectly affected,” said the association’s president.

The government, which should be a role model, had itself failed to limit the number of people attending its political gatherings and implement the SOPs, stated the association said.

“We want to bring this into your knowledge that wedding halls is the only industry which didn’t get any relief from the government since the lockdown of March 13,” said Raees.

He said that even when wedding halls were allowed to open after September 15, they were sealed and fined in the city repeatedly in the name of SOPs violations.

He requested Prime Minister Imran Khan, the chief justice of Pakistan and army chief to look into the miseries of the wedding hall owners and their employees. “We demand SOPs be drafted for wedding ceremonies after taking us on board,” he said.

‘I should have finished it off well’ Wahab takes responsibility for conceding runs

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Karachi : Peshawar Zalmi’s skipper Wahab Riaz took the responsibility for conceding runs in the second last over which cost them second Eliminator spot.

Speaking to reporters after losing the first Eliminator to Lahore Qalandars by 5 wickets, Wahab said they made mistakes in the crucial match which led them down.

“I take responsibility, I should have finished it off well,” said Wahab who conceded 20 runs in second last over to hand a convincing win to Qalandars.

“I tried my best but unfortunately it wasn’t our day and in cricket not every time you win. We made mistakes and learned from it, in next season we will come up strongly and try to win another PSL title,” he added.

It must be noted here that Qalandars beat Zalmi in first Eliminator to qualify for second knock-out contest which is scheduled to play Today at 7:00 pm here at National Stadium.

Shan -e-Rehmat e Alam (PBUH) to be celebrated

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Ashfaq Mughal

Faisalabad: 15 November 2020: Under the arrangements of the district administration, Shan -e-Rehmat e Alam (PBUH) will be celebrated in a grand manner from November 16 to 22 in the district. Celebrations will start from the Shan e Mustafa (PBUH) rally from 16 November from District Council Chowk while during the week there will be Naat Competitions, scholars  conference, Milad ceremonies, Quiz and speeches, calligraphy competitions, special children’s Milad ceremonies.   Educational Institutions also arranged Khatam-ul-Quran, Durood-e-Salam, Women’s Mehfil Milad events would be the part of week. All government buildings will be decorated with  lights during Shaan Rehmat-ul-lilalameen Week. A meeting was held to review the arrangements for the successful and glorious events under the chairmanship of  Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Ali n which Additional Deputy Commissioner General Umar Maqbool, Assistant Commissioner City Syed Ayub Bukhari, Director Arts Council Sofia Bedar, Administrative Officer Riaz Hussain Anjum, Chief Corporation Officer Metropolitan Corporation Naeem Allah Waraich and other officers were present. The Deputy Commissioner said that all the concerned departments should fulfill their responsibilities to celebrate the events organized in connection with the glory of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). He said that glorifying the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is part of our faith. He said that the members of the Assembly and peace committee will also participate in all the ceremonies. He said that Anti Corona SOPs should follow in the events. He asked the Assistant Commissioners to celebrate Shaan Rehmat-ul-lilalameen (PBUH) Week in full spirit at the tehsil level so that the message is sent to the world that the Holy Prophet is not only Rehmat-ul-Muslimeen but Rehmat-ul-Alam.

Wheat quota of mills suspended

The Food Department has suspended a wheat quota of Lyallpur Flour Mills for 7 days and imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 for supplying flour mixed with excess moisture and insects in Suholat Bazaar. District Food Controller Ali Imran visited Sahulat Bazaar af 74 JB Thikriwala and checked the quality of flour sold in the presence of a representative of Flour Mills and found 16.1% moisture in the flour instead of the prescribed 13%. A show cause notice was issued to the Mills administration but no concrete reason could be given by the mills there fore action was taken.

Case against marriage halls

Assistant Commissioner City Syed Ayub Bukhari has registered a case against the management of four marriage halls for violating the Marriage Act and Anti-Corona SOPs. AC checked the marriage halls and violation found at Khayyam Marquee, Chiniot Palace, Koh-i-Noor Marquee and Castle Marquee of one-dish and punctuality, while participants did not even wear face masks, prompting action against managers under the Marriage Act and Disease Ordinance2020. meanwhile AC Jaranwala Zain ul Abidein also sealed two marriage hall Seven Seas and Heaven Marriage hall for violating SOPs.

Voting underway for general elections in Gilgit-Baltistan

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SKARDU : Voting underway for the general elections of Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly amid tight security.

The polling started at 8am and will continue until 5 pm without any break. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Muslim League (Q), Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) are among the parties contesting for the 23 constituencies of the GB assembly.A three-pronged contest between the PTI, People’s Party and PML-N is expected as the opinion polls suggesting PTI ahead in the contest.

The registered voters in the area are 745361 and 1160 polling stations have been set up across GB among which 418 has been declared very sensitive and 311 as sensitive.

Meanwhile, polling in constituency GBA-3 has been postponed due to the death of a candidate. The polling will now take place on November 22.

More than 15000 security personnel from GB, Punjab, KPK, Sind and Bolochistan are deployed at their respective polling stations across GB.

GB police chief Dr. Mujeebur Rehman has said that the military troops could also be deployed for assistance in the election if required, he added.

Election Commission Gilgit-Baltistan has prohibited to carry mobile phones and other such devices inside the polling stations and within the parameters of 100 meters.

The elections will be held in 23 constituencies in the region, each electing a member to the 3rd Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly. In the 33 members’ house, six seats are reserved for women and three for technocrats.

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