DNA

ISLAMABAD, FEB 27  – Today, the entire Pakistani nation remembers with great pride Pakistan’s befitting response to India’s irresponsible military misadventure two years ago.

On 26 February 2019, India violated Pakistani airspace and conducted air strike inside Pakistan in complete violation of the United Nations Charter and international law. The valiant Pakistan Armed Forces swiftly responded and displayed exemplary professionalism.

On 27 February 2019, Pakistan Air Force shot down two Indian fighter jets and captured an Indian pilot. The whole world witnessed that Pakistan, once again, not only resolutely safeguarded its territorial sovereignty, but also acted with tremendous restraint and responsibility. The captured Indian pilot was returned as a gesture of peace.

The Government, Armed Forces and people of Pakistan stand united against any threat or misadventure and will always act with iron resolve to protect and preserve the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan.

As this day is commemorated, we once again make clear to the world community that Pakistan remains committed to peaceful coexistence and resolution of the long outstanding Jammu & Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

DNA

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 27  – China-Pakistan all-weather friendship gained greater strength and the steadfast strategic mutual trust as well as witnessing indepth cooperative partnership in the present pandemic during its first year.

It was also a clear manifestation of “a friend in need is a friend in deed”, says a report published by China Economic Net (CEN) on Saturday.

The report says, the true value of a relationship between individuals or countries can be judged during difficult times such as natural calamities and disease outbreaks.

As a gesture of friendship, Pakistan’s President Dr. Arif Alvi visited Beijing in March 2020 and expressed Islamabad’s abiding support and solidarity with China in its fight against the coronavirus.

Soon the coronavirus cases started appearing in different parts of the World. Pakistan reported its first two cases of COVID-19 on February 26, 2020.

For a struggling economy like Pakistan’s, it was impossible to fight COVID-19 without relief assistance from friendly countries.

At a time when every country of the world was focused on protecting its citizens from the virus, China sent a special plane carrying a team of medical professionals and relief assistance to Pakistan on March 28.

In addition to the Government of China, Alibaba Foundation and Jack Ma Foundation also donated test kits and facemasks to Pakistan. China also handed over ventilators to treat critical patients in hospitals.

A team of eight medical experts from China remained in Pakistan for two weeks and assisted Pakistani doctors and health experts in battling the coronavirus.

Chinese assistance was not only limited to the medical field, as the People’s Republic of China also provided grant assistance of $ 15 million to Pakistan to fight COVID-19.

As the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths grew in Pakistan, China also increased its assistance to the country.

In late 2020, different pharmaceutical companies developed coronavirus vaccines and mass vaccination programs started in the world.

At this critical time, China announced 500,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine for Pakistan.

During the past one year, Pakistan has around 576, 000 recorded infections with over 12,700 deaths linked to COVID-19.

Pandemics like corona will come and dissipate. However, this period has further strengthened China-Pakistan friendship. As a Chinese proverb goes, “friends show their love in times of troubles, not in happiness”, the report added.

ISLAMABAD, FEB 27 (DNA) – “We want to live in peace but if our sovereignty is challenged, our response would always be Swift and Resolute as it was on 27 February, 2019” said the Air Chief while addressing a ceremony held at Air Headquarters, Islamabad to commemorate the second anniversary of PAF’s resounding victory in “Operation Swift Retort”.

Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force was the chief guest at the occasion.

Addressing the audience, the Air Chief further said, “PAF maintained its Operational Readiness to deter aggression, despite the challenges of COVID-19 Pandemic.

He further said, “Pakistan is confronted with varied challenges including a Hybrid War, which demands our enhanced commitment and vigilance. PAF endeavours to augment its capability in all spectrums of operations while pursuing modernization through indigenous efforts.”

Former Air Chiefs and a large number of PAF officials witnessed the ceremony. Earlier, a smartly turned out contingent of Pakistan Air Force presented the Guard of Honour. Another important event of the ceremony was a spectacular fly past by two formations of PAF fighter aircraft including F-16, JF-17, F-7 and Mirage.

The ceremony was rounded off with soulful performance by the young students of Fazaia School and College.=DNA

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LAHORE, FEB 26 (DNA) – Prime Minister Imran Khan said Friday Pakistan and Qatar have signed a new LNG import agreement for ten years that would help the country save $3billion.

Addressing a ceremony after performing the groundbreaking of Central Business District in Lahore, Prime Minister Khan said it took the government three years to negotiate this agreement which will help save three hundred million dollars annually.

Qatar will provide Pakistan three million ton Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) for 10 years as the two countries entered into an agreement. Prime Minister Khan witnessed the signing of the agreement that took place here at the PM House in Islamabad. Federal Minister for Energy Omar Ayub Khan and Qatar’s Energy Minister Saad Sherida al-Kaabi inked the agreement.

Qatar’s Minister al-Kaabi termed as “historic” the agreement with Pakistan and expressed confidence that it would open up new vistas of development. He said Qatar would also promote bilateral cooperation in other areas of mutual interest. Special Assistant to PM on Petroleum Nadeem Babar said the agreement would prove helpful in fulfilling Pakistan’s energy needs.

Regarding establishing Central Business District in Lahore, the Prime Minister said this project will serve as a business hub that will help in wealth generation. PM Khan was confident that this project will help generate six thousand billion rupees. He said in the first phase the project will generate 1300 billion rupees and the federal government will get two hundred and fifty billion rupees in taxes.

The Prime Minister stressed that wealth generation projects are important to strengthen the economy enabling it to return the loans. He regretted that the economy was mismanaged in the previous two governments. The premier said the government inherited a difficult economic situation.

He, however, expressed satisfaction that the current account surplus remained surplus during the first six months of the current fiscal year. “Our textile exports are also witnessing increase and new industries are being set up in the country.” Referring to the Naya Pakistan Housing Project, the Prime Minister said this will provide affordable houses to the salaried class and the labourers.

He said that it was time to stop Lahore from expanding horizontally, recalling that when he was a child, the city ended at Zaman Park. “The first phase (of the Central Business District) project, the federal government will earn Rs250bn from taxes,” he said. The prime minister said when the Walton airport is de-notified as per the project’s plan, tall buildings can be constructed in Gulberg and Ferozepur road.

“These areas can then become the economic hub for Lahore,” said the prime minister, lamenting that Lahore’s horizontal expansion had caused a mirage of problems of the city. “The entire city’s sewerage is going in River Ravi,” he said. “This sewerage is going down the river. A lot of people drink water from the rivers,” he said, adding that even the water table of Lahore was declining.” = DNA

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