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President emphasizes on expanding bilateral cooperation with Kazakhstan

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ISLAMABAD, NOV 10 (DNA) – President Dr. Arif Alvi has emphasized on expanding bilateral cooperation with Kazakhstan in areas of mutual interest, including political, trade, cultural and defence fields.

He said this while talking to Ambassador-designate of Pakistan to Kazakhstan Sajjad Ahmed Seehar, who called on him in Islamabad Tuesday.

The President said that regional integration and connectivity were the key drivers of economic development and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), in this regard, offered tremendous opportunities to countries of the region. He stated that Kazakhstan could also benefit from CPEC as it played vital role in promoting regional connectivity.

He asked the Ambassador to make endeavors to promote parliamentary and cultural exchanges between the two countries. The President congratulated the Ambassador on his appointment as Ambassador to Kazakhstan and expressed the hope that he would play active role in further promoting economic and political relations between Pakistan and Kazakhstan. = DNA

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Malaysian HC lauds RCCI efforts in promoting trade activities

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RAWALPINDI, NOV 10 (DNA) – The Malaysian High Commissioner Ikram Bin Muhammad Ibrahim paid a visit to the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) on Tuesday.

RCCI President Mohammad Nasir Mirza, Senior Vice President Osman Ashraf, Vice President Shahraiz A  Malik, members of the executive committee and officials from the High-Commission and members of the RCCI were also present on the occasion.

Addressing the business community, the High Commissioner lauded RCCI efforts in promoting trade activities in the region.  High Commissioner Ikram Bin Muhammad Ibrahim also appreciated RCCI for its recent tree plantation drive and assured full support from the embassy in this regard.

He said, there is a need to intensify efforts for improving two-way trade between Pakistan and Malaysia that would bring far better results for their economies.

Both countries have good potential to enhance cooperation in many fields including auto-mobile, construction, pharmaceutical, halal food, tourism, telecommunication and renewable energy. Malaysia’s famous auto brand Proton will make its pre launch in December 2020 in Karachi, he added.

We should encourage frequent exchange of trade delegations to explore all untapped areas of potential cooperation and added that Malaysia has relaxed its visa policy amid Covid-19.

He assured full cooperation and assistance for RCCI upcoming events including Rawal International Expo 2021 and other events.

He informed that Pakistan and Malaysia were the first two Islamic countries that had signed the FTA a long time ago, but the bilateral trade was still confined to few products. He said there was an urgent need to focus on diversification of trade for improving trade figures.

In his welcome address, President RCCI Mohammad Nasir Mirza said that Pak-Malaysia are enjoying cordial relations and stressed that both countries should focus on new products to improve two-way trade. He also emphasized on further cementing the trade ties and exploring new sectors. He also shared an update on RCCI ongoing activities and future programs. He informed that RCCI is going to organize Gwadar Business Conference focusing on Central Asian Republics (CARs), Build 2020 Construction Trade Fair and Rawal Expo in near future.

Mohammad Nasir Mirza said that exchange of trade delegations is direly needed to boost the bilateral trade ties and volume. However, as Corona hit economies all over the world we should not stop here and increase virtual platforms for improved networking and Ecommerce to support businesses.

He said many Pakistani products including rice, wheat, mangoes, halal food, seafood, meat products, cutlery and sports goods, spices, handicrafts, light engineering goods, hospital and surgical equipment, pharmaceuticals and gems and jewelry could find a good market in Malaysia. Later the High Commissioner planted a sapling in the chamber premises to mark RCCI Tree Plantation Drive 2020. Ends PRO RCCI.=DNA

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CDA begins restoration of roads in sectors I-10, I-11

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DNA

ISLAMABAD: Upon the special directions of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) the developmental work in the industrials areas of the city.The work on restoration of roads and infrastructure in the neglected sectors, I-10 and I-11, have been started.

Bidding has been opened for the two ways north road of both the sectors.The biddings were invited through proper advertisement in Newspapers before starting the developmental work. Different companies and firms have given their technical and financial bids.

The period of 6 months has been allocated for the completion of the said road.The developmental work has been delayed in these sectors like all the other sectors in past. Upon the special interest of Chairman CDA, Aamir Ali Ahmad the developmental work in I-10 and I-11 has been started.

PM proposes 6-point strategy to counter COVID-19

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Prime Minister speaks at SCO forum;  terms exchange of knowledge among SCO countries significant to reduce the risks of virus 

Shujaat Hamza

ISLAMABAD, NOV 10 (DNA) – Prime Minister Imran Khan, at the platform of Shanghai Cooperation Organization, on Tuesday proposed a six-point strategy to galvanize joint efforts including setting up a knowledge bank to counter second wave of COVID-19, policies to mitigate pandemic’s economic impact and declaring vaccine a source of global good.

Addressing at the 20th Heads of State (SCO-CHS) meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council held through video conference, the Prime Minister termed exchange of knowledge among SCO countries significant to reduce the risks of virus, which he said continued to rage the world with 15 million affected and 2 million dead.

The heads of State and government from China, Russia, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan addressed the SCO meeting. The 20th Heads of State (SCO-CHS) meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council was held through video conference.

Imran Khan suggested the SCO states to formulate short, medium and long term policies along with a framework in consultation with World Health Organization to reduce the adverse effects of pandemic.

He stressed that COVID-19 vaccine must be seen as a “global good” for the betterment of mankind rather than restricting it to a certain nations. On other proposals, the Prime Minister called for a multi-year strategy on educational institutes, partnership on scholarships for youth in scientific fields, and also on public health and global economy.

Imran Khan lauded China’s effective handling of coronavirus and assistance rendered to countries including Pakistan. He said China and Pakistan were also collaborating in vaccine development, which was in phase three after human trials.

He mentioned that Pakistan’s policy of smart lockdown protected from the worst fallouts of pandemic, saving people both from virus and hunger. He recalled his earlier proposal on debt relief for developing countries and welcomed the measures by G-20 countries to help create fiscal space to deal with aftereffects of pandemic.

Under SCO’s vision of regional connectivity and integration, he said, Pakistan and China were pursuing the Economic Corridor under Belt and Road Initiative.

He stressed upon equality and sovereignty of states, non-oppression, sanctity of borders and recognizing people’s right for self-determination and also strongly supported role of United Nations in securing peace and global development.

Imran Khan said peaceful solution to outstanding disputes was important to avert crisis in regional peace.

As a shared responsibility, he said, Pakistan supported an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned solution that realized into the Doha peace deal. He warned of the role of “spoilers ,within and outside” who did not wish peace and stability to return to Afghanistan.

Imran Khan strongly supported China’s global data security initiative. He said as Pakistan fought terrorism as frontline state, it was against resurgence of extremist ideologies, racism, neo-Nazim and Islamophobia in the region and world over.

The Prime Minister also spoke on issues including climate change, widening inequality among nations, poverty, disease, hunger and illicit money flow to offshore accounts.

Pakistan, he said, had launched an ecosystem restoration initiative to plant 10 billion trees in next three years. He said Pakistan firmly opposed illicit financial flows to impoverished nations restricting their development.

Russian President Putin as chair of the meeting said the SCO countries reached out to developing states in providing assistance to each other during the coronavirus pandemic. Sixty joint events of SCO were held by the chair Russia to share experiences on the spread of virus.

Putin called upon the SCO countries to stay united against the challenges of terrorism and fierce regional conflicts as the organization believed in facilitating political dialogue. He expressed Russia’s readiness to facilitate in developing a safe and drug-free Afghanistan.

Putin also stressed business cooperation, digital economy and energy security among SCO states. Chinese President Xi Jinping in his address said trending towards peace and mutual development was need of the current situation as ‘multilateralism would win over unilateralism’.

Xi Jinping said SCO required to carry forward Shanghai Spirit and deepen cooperation for benefit of mankind. On cooperation to fight COVID-19, Xi emphasized on global health security to counter the ‘virus without borders’ and called for refraining from politicizing the situation.

He proposed hotline contacts among SCO countries to contain the situation in battle against coronavirus. He said as joined COVAX, China would actively consider the need of SCO countries and stressed stability and security as the foremost pre-condition.

The Chinese president stressed non-interference in domestic affairs of SCO states, curbing drug proliferation, non-glorification of terrorists and need for practical solution to Afghan peace. He mentioned that China had launched global initiative on data security and welcomed participation of all countries for cyber security. = DNA

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Japan donates Jasmine trees to Japanese Park

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ISLAMABAD, NOV 10 (DNA) – The Embassy of Japan, in line with the PM Imran Khan’s initiative, ’Clean-Green Pakistan’, donated 20 Jasmine trees to Japanese Park in Islamabad on 10 November.

Matsuda Kuninori, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, along with the State Minister for Climate Change, Honorable Ms. Zartaj Gul planted Jasmine trees at the Park during a tree plantation ceremony. Mr. Naveed Tareen Khan, Director General Environment, Capital Development Authority, was also present.

While speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador said that “Many local residents enjoy visiting this park, this became a symbol of friendship between Japan and Pakistan’. The park opened in 1985 after the then Japanese Prime Minister NAKASONE visited Pakistan and donated playground equipment for the children of Pakistan as a gift from the children of Japan. In 2015 again, Japan refurbished the equipment as the equipment became old.

When bamboo trees at the park had fallen due to the heavy monsoon rain this summer, Ambassador had special interest to rehabilitate the garden by donating new trees to the Park.

In order to make the park clean and beautiful, ’tree planting at the Japanese Park is a small contribution by the Embassy towards a Clean-Green Pakistan initiative of PM Khan”, said the Ambassador.

He also mentioned that the Embassy had planted trees at its compound last November, aiming to contribute to a clean and green Pakistan.

On this occasion, the Minister and the Ambassador exchanged views on the importance of technical cooperation on the issue of climate change, especially referring to the area of next-generation solar cells, carbon recycling and electric vehicles.=DNA

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Experts call for govt steps for women empowerment

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TDAP has organized more than 50 women specific local exhibitions, sent many women entrepreneurs on international exhibitions and delegations, sponsored many solo women exhibitions internationally: CRSS seminar

Khayam Abbasi/DNA

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has a women population of around 49% and just less than 10% of entrepreneurs are women in the country. Government of Pakistan is making all out efforts to pass legislations for the betterment of women folk, yet no specific, sustainable and beneficial facilitation is being carried out to help women earn their own living, to bring them at par with men, to start and run their own businesses and to help them export their products.

Fault also lies with the women as they have not been going in the right direction. Moreover, no coordinated research has been carried out to find the reasons and circumstances till now for resolving the issue. The result of this apathy is that 70% of women businesses die down the very first year, as they cannot survive due to lack of support.

The remarks were made by Ms. Roubina Toufiq Shah, former Director General, Ministry of Commerce (MoC) while presenting her keynote during a public-private dialogue on Gender Focused Economic Reforms (GFER), organized by Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Islamabad.

Commenting on TDAP, she stated that over the years, TDAP has organized more than 50 women specific local exhibitions, sent many women entrepreneurs on international exhibitions and delegations, sponsored many solo women exhibitions internationally and also held multiple seminars and conferences with women participations. Though, these can be termed as practices not a defined policy. This is the very reason that efforts towards gender empowerment in economic domain are not sustainable and fade away eventually.

She opined that TDAP policy document needs to revive the specific clauses for gender inclusion. TDAP should allocate 25% budget quota for women exporters to ensure their participation in TDAP sponsored trade delegations and exhibitions. It should also allocate budget for capacity building programs each year for women start-ups and exporters in all major cities of Pakistan. Women entrepreneurs require handholding, guidance, facilitation, and acceptance from men. Together we can bring the change and ensure gender inclusiveness; working in isolation won’t work.

In her concluding remarks, she suggested to develop a database of women entrepreneurs and identify the areas they are mostly concentrated, deliberate and solve the issues of their concern based on global best practices. The relevant ministries and departments should respond by policy changes required. It is also important to provide guidance to women chambers on improving their members’ knowledge, vision, access to resources etc. and advise women entrepreneurs to join relevant trade associations to stay in touch with latest trends and opportunities; this will enable them to come into the mainstream of businesses and learn from male counterparts.

Mr. Shahzad Ahmad Khan, Director General, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) noted that Strategic Trade Policy Framework (STPF) 2020-25 will be an ever more gender inclusive trade policy and which makes it incumbent for the TDAP to align its policies accordingly. TDAP has an exclusive 10% quota for the participation of women entrepreneurs in the international trade exhibitions, however, the pandemic has put these activities to a halt and until resumption, women should resort to online conduits for communication with the international markets through webinars. TDAP is utilizing an array of digital media tools for awareness and outreach especially during the COVID-19 times and has around 100 webinars on its website related to different products and markets.

As part of its capacity building efforts for the growth and development of women entrepreneurs, TDAP successfully ran the National Exporter Training Programme across the country. As a matter most important policy change, we will assign a dedicated human resource for women entrepreneurs, who will also be open to private sector’s recommendations for gender inclusion.

Gilgit Baltistan, interestingly, is a female dominated region in terms of trade and TDAP has started a project where it will be handholding 80% of women entrepreneurs and use Hunza as a brand name for exports.

Ms. Aisha Humaira Moriani, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce noted that in preparation for the international market outreach, women must also capitalize on the potential of domestic commerce and also tap into domestic market, especially in the COVID environment. The sub-committee of national e-commerce council on women economic empowerment augurs well for their inclusion (which has also been WNBA’s recommendation).

Ms. Masooma Sibtain, Former Vice President, FPCCI noted that TDAP focuses on providing subsidies to women businesses in international exhibition. However, no written policy for development of women owned export businesses exists. Without anything in black and white, we can not move forward in cultivating gender inclusion.

Mr. Mustafa Malik, Team Leader, CRSS, noted that the public-private dialogue spaces are critical to transform the women empowerment priorities into implementation. He shared the priority intervention areas identified in the women national business agenda (WNBA) – a policy proposal on gender focused economic reforms presented from the platform of FPCCI – along with the progress.

Perception Inversion: India’s Paranoia with Pakistan Navy’s Expanding Footprint

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Sohail Khan

Terming India’s gaze towards Pakistan as ‘perpetuated grandiosity’, in article titled ‘Shattered Myth’ (Pakistan Today, 29 Mar 19), I observed that India unyielding disparages Pakistan’s name while shying away from accepting or even acknowledging its own failures. Overshadowing and belittling Pakistan’s peaceful moves, ceaselessly, remains the top Indian politico-military agenda.

No wonder Indian politicians and military men conveniently anchor their strategy on anti-Pakistan rhetoric, which they believe is the best form of personal and professional survival and growth. Indian military and politicians cumulatively attempt to distort Pakistan’s positive image to hide behind obvious diplomatic and military setbacks, through convolution of fact and fiction; this is what I call the ‘perception inversion’, though it’s been a long-held cornerstone of Indian strategic community. Of late, Pakistan Navy becomes the latest target of such Indian paranoia.

In anarticle published in the online news portal Daijiworld, on 3 Nov 20, MrSumit Kumar Singh, conspicuously leans on the traditional ‘perception inversion’ while being economical with truth. He slanderously accuses Pakistan Navy of pursuing a “hollow and almost complacent” strategy while referring to PNS Zulfiquar’sparticipation in the Turkish MaviBalina exercise. Throughout his piece, Mr Singh refers to a nameless ‘intelligence officer’ and builds his arguments in an analytical vacuum devoid of a rationally or academically acceptable substance.  While repeatedly arguing that what PN Ships Moawin and Aslat had done during the Africa Cruise, in 2019, was a “dishonorable use of the armed forces”, Mr Singh blatantly fails to reflect what Ken Booth posits the diplomatic role of the navies.

Pakistan Navy routinely operates with other navies in the region through bi- and multilateral maritime exercises. It has been leading the two Combined Task Forces, instituted under the US initiative of Combined Maritime Forces, since 2004. Pakistan Navy has been steadily enhancing its operational outreach since the mid-90s and now its ships are seen at various seas and ports of call, outmaneuvering India’s strategic maritime wit. This has not been taken by the Indian strategic community with ease, and the apparent frustration in Mr Singh’s calumniouspiece is the reflection of a typical tunneled Indian mindset that principally draws its strength from hate and malice.

Pakistan’s current Naval Chief, Admiral Niazi, while being commander of the naval fleet, clarified to the gathering of Exercise Aman, last year that Pakistan Navy believed in enhancing maritime peace and stability through consistent, proactive and forward looking engagement. The Admiral even suggested Pakistan Navy’s willingness to work with other navies through the construct, what Robert Kaplan refers to as, ‘plug and play’ mechanism. He argued for a ‘win-win’ approach steering clear of bilateral bickering in order to have safer seas for uninterrupted flow and growth of maritime commerce signifying Geoffrey Till’s assertion of maritime security to be ‘quintessentially cooperative’.

Mr Singh switches back and forth in his claims and assertions to link one thing with other, which are diametrically unrelated. Beginning with ‘naval deployments’, he steps down to Kargil War then brings in the FATF Grey List and then alleges Pakistan to rely on Chinese loans for its defence spending. Such a train of incoherent arguments suggests the deep rooted obsession with Pakistan, which turns even a logical debate into an emotional diatribe leaving a reader in an inconclusive situation. Mr Singh substantially relies on ‘perception inversion’ as he failingly links Pakistan with terror forgetting Kalbhushan Yadav, the Indian terrorist on a death roll here in Pakistan. One needs to read Elias Davidsson’s opus ‘the Betrayal of India’ (2017) to truly understand the tyranny of justice in India in matters of terrorism. The Babri Masjid’s highly biased Hindu-leaning decision and rampant growth of Hindutva-centric culture in Indian general populace are the signs clear enough to tell who’s going where; something which RanaAyub and Arundhati Roy have been expounding in their writings for a long time.

Detection of Indian submarines on two occasions, as these were attempting to sneak into Pakistan’s coastal waters, and shooting down of two Indian jets leading to ‘tea is fantastic’ episode dispels the notion of Indian military being competent and responsible. Post-Pulwama, Indian vessels remained holed up in Oman, to avoid being followed or harassed, as Pakistan Navy ships patrolled the North Arabian Sea. Series of Indian submarine accidents and Indian navy’s inability to deploy its carriers ‘at the right time, at the right place’, are what I term the ‘desperation stimuli’, which often result in publishing of such notes as the one in Daijiworld.

As to what this Daijiworld piece suggests, Pakistan Navy has longtime deep military relations with the Gulf countries since 1960-70s in specific areas of professional training, military education and maritime exercises. Pakistan Navy’s 27 Oct 20’s successful live weapons firing establishes its professional credence and gives an ambiguous message to its friends and allies for keeping the long term partnerships, in professional military cooperation, alive and growing.Pakistan Navy’s long term plans include induction of numerous frigates, corvettes, submarines and jet maritime surveillance aircraft. As of last two years, Pakistan ships visited as far as Gulf of Finland to West Africa coast thereby negating the groundless claim of Daijiworld’s article of “limited capabilities”. Indian strategic community needs to unshackle itself from the delirium of superiority complex and argue for modulation of efforts to make the seas surrounding South Asia as safer, reliable and free for economic and scientific activities.

PM Khan says Pakistan, China jointly working to produce coronavirus vaccine

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ISLAMABAD : Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan while calling for collective efforts to curb the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on Tuesday said that Pakistan and China are jointly working to produce coronavirus vaccine.

Addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council of Heads of State (SCO-CHS) meeting via video link, PM Imran Khan maintained that nearly 50 million people have lost their lives after the breakout of the deadly virus across the world.

The economies of the world suffered a huge-blow after the lockdown, PM Imran Khan said and underlined the need for joint efforts to curb the pandemic.
PM also urged the forum to ensure the delivery of coronavirus vaccine across the world at a reasonable rate.

On Afghan conflict, he said that Pakistan has always welcomed the political solution of the Afghan conflict and added that it mediated to bring the US and the Taliban on the table for the talks.

PM Imran Khan stressed upon the SCO-CHS to keep a close eye on the elements who are trying to disturb peace talks in Afghanistan.

On religious freedom, he asked the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council of Heads of State (SCO-CHS) to differentiate between the freedom of speech and religious freedom.

Highlighting Islamabad’s sacrifices in the war against terror, the premier said, Pakistan suffered huge human and financial loss and always condemned terrorism in every form.

“Some countries are raising allegations for their political mileage by using the name of religion”, PM Khan said while addressing the SCO forum via video link from Islamabad.

The SCO-CHS is the highest forum of SCO. It adopts documents and decisions that provide policy guidelines for determining priorities and major areas of activities of the Organization.

Besides Pakistan, SCO’s current membership comprises China, Russia, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

COVID-19 second wave: Banquet owners reject indoor wedding ban

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KARACHI : Karachi Banquet Hall Association has rejected the government’s decision to close marriage halls from November 20 after surge in COVID-19 cases.

The government has banned indoor marriage ceremonies from November 20 till January 31 amid a sharp increase of coronavirus cases, however, marriage ceremonies can take place at open places following the SOPs.

Memon said that masks and sanitizers are arranged at the main entrances of wedding halls, all SOPs are also enforced, yet the government has decided to close the wedding halls. There is no justification for the closure.

Replying to a question, he said that we [the association] is ready for more stricter SOPs to contain the coronavirus spread, but the government should reconsider its decision.

He said around 1.2 million workers are associated with the marriage halls in Karachi only and winning bread and butter for their families adding that workforce from allied industries like flowers, rent a car, beauty parlours, photographers and others is separate.

It may be noted that the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) on Friday introduced new instructions amid the second wave of Covid-19.

Serena hotels’ initiative satrang gallery to promote artists

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DNA

ISLAMABAD, NOV 10 – Satrang Gallery and Serene Arts is an initiative of Serena Hotels which is dedicated to supporting and promoting the artists and artisans of Pakistan.

Asma Rashid Khan, Founder Director Satrang Gallery said, ‘Satrang Gallery is delighted to exhibit “Silver Lining” by Rahim Baloch. Rahim’s exceptionally detailed vivid blue miniature paintings reveal layers of intricate workmanship reflecting the multiple layers of meaning visible in his work. The artist uses specific natural motifs, repeated symbols and colours to portray contrasting human emotions of love and solitude, as well as bitter histories and intertwined narratives’. “ Focusing on the human state of being, and man’s mind. Rahim’s artwork expresses sociopolitical messages for change, within his delicate, detailed artwork”, she added.

Artist Rahim Baloch said, “I use the colours, activities and wonders of nature to express human ideas of love, longing and desire intermixed with solitude, loneliness and nostalgia. My work revolves around being involved and lost in stance; A state of mind where words are worth nothing anymore. The point where this condition rejuvenates one’s self. It merely separates one from all the painful factors without escaping from the reality. A journey which starts from the vacuum and ends at filling about blankness”.

Explaining his artistic work he added, “my entire work shows this transformation in which I create something which itself is a vacuum and it converts this nothingness into something meaningful and concrete. For instance, if we look at something with concentration we start noticing different images and patterns in it. The design merges into a filling, making an attempt to give a meaningful image to the void in which it exists. It is very similar to when we look at clouds and see different forms and shapes in them. In a similar manner, I see all those things which cause the emptiness and vacuum in my life. From that point onwards, this practice pacifies me and becomes a source of calm and solace. With the realization that I can no longer refute my feelings and emotions, I give them form, shape and a face in my work”. Rahim Baloch is a visual artist, graduated from the National College of Arts, Lahore with a B.FA focusing in the miniature department. He graduated with a Distinction and with the best miniature award. Baloch is from Baluchistan and his work is a reflection of his experiences having grown up there.

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