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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MUZAFFARABAD, FEB 26 (DNA) – Describing Baluchistan as a strategically important federating unit of the country, Azad Jammu Kashmir President Sardar Masood Khan has said that when Balochistan will achieve prosperity, the whole of Pakistan will be prosperous.

The President expressed these views during a meeting with a 14-member delegation of journalists led by Ilias Kamboh, President, Hub Press Club here at President House on Friday. He said after the completion of development projects under the China-Pakistan Corridor, a new era of progress and prosperity will usher in Balochistan and it will turn the economic fate of the Baloch people.

The people of Balochistan should have faith and confidence that the whole of Pakistan, including Azad Kashmir, wants to see them prosperous and developed and with the grace of Almighty Allah, the time is not far when investors from all over the world will come to Balochistan and create jobs, business and employment opportunities in the province.

Expressing his deep gratitude to the people, government and media of Balochistan for consistently expressing their solidarity with the oppressed people of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir, he said that the media should raise awareness about the opportunities that will arise for the development and the prosperity of the province in the coming time.

Baloch people are brave and hardworking and they are fortunate enough to have a long coastal belt where the traditional feudal system has been weakened. “Now is the time for them to forge unity and turn this region into a dreamland.” He said that like Balochistan, the people of Azad Kashmir also faced many problems but in the recent past we have taken a quantum leap and achieved the highest literacy rate in all of Pakistan.

At present, there are 5 public sector universities in AJK, hundreds of colleges and thousands of schools where millions of children are studying. “Our biggest challenge is the unprovoked firing by the Indian occupation troops on the Line of Control, which kills and injures innocent civilians every day and causes irreparable losses to their property,” AJK President said. = DNA

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RAWALPINDI, FEB 26 (DNA) – Railway lands across the country will be brought into use in collaboration with the private sector. The construction industry will develop very soon. If the country’s economy is further strengthened, employment opportunities will be created. The Chamber of Commerce will have the full support of the government. He said that exhibitions increase trade activities.

The Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce deserves compliments for organizing this expo. These views were expressed by Federal Minister for Railways Azam Khan Swati while talking to the media on the occasion of inauguration of the first Build 2021 Construction Trade Fair organized by Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI). He said that no president or prime minister of any country can be a chief executive who does not understand construction. Prime Minister Imran Khan holds a meeting every week regarding construction.

Chamber President Muhammad Nasir Mirza said that the purpose of the expo is to promote business activities. The expo will provide investors with a wealth of information on the housing and construction sectors, as well as information on various construction projects under one roof.

He said that more than 40 industries are connected with the construction sector. The Chamber has welcomed the construction package by the Prime Minister and the extension to the last date will further accelerate the construction sector and create more employment opportunities.

He said that similar incentives should be announced for other sectors as well. So that the economy grows rapidly and the country can be put on a prosperous track and unemployment will be eliminated. Chairman Expo Sardar Tanveer Sarwar said that the expo has given an opportunity to the builders to better advertise their projects and provide more information.

He said that entry for the exhibition is free and a musical evening is also being organized in the evening. Housing and construction companies have set up stalls in the three-day expo. The exhibition is being held at Ayub Park. Group Leader Sohail Altaf, Senior Vice President Usman Ashraf, Vice President Shahraiz A Malik, Chairman Expo Sardar Tanveer Sarwar former Presidents, members of the executive committee and stall owners were also present.=DNA

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