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Chinese Hi-Tech, Pakistani cultural elements integrated into OLMT: CEN

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BEIJING, Nov. 2 (DNA): Viewed from above, the Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) is winding through Lahore city like a shinning ribbon. “ The color of the Orange Line was inspired by the national flower of Pakistan, frangipani, which is lively, vibrant and gives people a warm feeling.

This was stated by Yuan Jun, President of NORINCO International in an interview to the Report of China Economic Net (CEN) Zhao Xiaopeng.

He added, “apart from the appearance, the design of the No. 13 station also absorbs the merits of Pakistan’s famous Mosques. The Orange Line’s whole design was a result of the cooperation between the Chinese and Pakistani companies.

Bearing in mind that Lahore is a historical city honored with rich culture, we take the style of local architectures, religions, and customs into consideration, hoping that the design could meet the requirements for functional use as well as improve the urban landscape.”

As an early harvest project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the Orange Line was constructed by China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. and China North Industries Corporation and was operated by Guangzhou Metro Group, NORINCO International and Daewoo Pakistan Express Bus Service.

The Orange Line is the first metro line in Pakistan. It covers a total of 27 km distance and has 26 stations including 24 elevated stops and two underground stations.

The opening of Orange Line, now a new landmark of the city, has enabled Pakistan to have the most advanced urban rail transit operating system in South Asia.

“As the constructor of the program, we have adopted the most advanced technologies for the Orange Line. For example, the Communication Based Train Control System (CBTC) , which is the most superior of its kinds by far, can transmit data via wireless network and monitor the location of the train in real-time, ensuring the security and efficiency of operation,” Yuan told the reporter.

“Furthermore, to adapt to the high temperature and the capacity for power supply in Lahore, designers of the project have enhanced overall equipment in the electricity system and equipped emergency shutoff system to improve the endurance and security of the facilities as well as the ability to deal with emergent situations,” Yuan introduced.

Confronted with the challenges posed by the COVID-19 epidemic, the teams of China and Pakistan have collaborated with each other and successfully overcome several difficulties such as tight schedule for construction, the pressure of containing the virus spread, and shortage of workers in a short period of time.

Yuan said, “It’s difficult to employ a large number of local employees offline during the epidemic, so we adjusted our strategy in time and interviewed thousands of applicants by video to ensure the supply of personnel.

Besides, we produced hundreds of video training courseware and hired more than a dozen trainers that can speak Chinese, English and Urdu to help prepare our new employees for their work.

At the most critical stage of the project, we chartered a group of skilled Chinese drivers to Pakistan to ensure the operation and maintenance of the Orange Line. ”

The commercial operation of the Orange Line not only boosted the confidence of the local people in carrying out epidemic prevention and control and restoring economy, but also strengthened the determination of China and Pakistan to promote the construction of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor with high quality.

The Orange Line has injected impetus to the artery of Lahore city, bringing convenient, fast and green transportation system to 12 million people.

Statistics show that commuting time from the first station to the last station of Orange Line has been shortened from 2.5 hours to 45 minutes.

According to the local government’s calculation, the Orange Line project can save travel time in the first year of operation, creating direct income worth about Rs 9.29 billion rupees and saving driving cost by Rs 5.62 billion rupees every year.

During the construction of the “Orange Line” project, a total of 7,000 jobs were created for the Pakistani people, and 2,000 jobs will be created during the operation and maintenance.

Furthermore, a large number of professional and technical personnel will be trained for Pakistan by this project.

Referring to the NORINCO’s future plan in Pakistan, Yuan hinted, “ we are willing to undertake more projects under the CPEC umbrella and make contributions to the urbanization and industrialization of Pakistan.”

Pakistani youth learnt a lot in world panda youth reporters camp: CEN

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DNA

BEIJING, Nov 2 –  World Panda Youth Reporters Camp was held in Chengdu last week, participated by twenty outstanding youth from six countries.

Among them two Pakistani youth, Zaid Ahmed and Aftab Ali also took part in this event, China Economic Net (CEN) reported on Monday.

After this activity, 2 Pakistani students hope to have the opportunity to shoulder the responsibility of protecting traditional Chinese culture.

Meanwhile, they also have learnt a lot at the camp. Zaid said, “in order to exercise my communication ability, increase my understanding of Chinese society, I took part in the camp.

By this activity, I broadened my horizons to make friends from all over the world, intuitively felt the social and economic development speed of China. It has very important significance for my personal development and career planning in the future.”

“CPEC has a great influence on the youth of both countries. CPEC has brought many opportunities for young people like me.”

These opportunities range in various aspects. The Chinese government treats us really well. The hospitality of Chinese people is worth mentioning as well,” said Ali

Zaid Ahmed said that “Through CPEC, the two countries are engaged in all-round and multi-field cooperation. Youth are the future of our countries, and their exchanges and learning, understanding and tolerance, will bring long-term cooperation and common prosperity to our two countries, ” he added.

UNODC to teach special investigative techniques to 25 female law enforcement officers

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ISLAMABAD, NOV 2 (DNA) – The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), under the framework of the Global Action to Prevent and Address Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants in Asia and the Middle East (GLO.ACT – Asia and the Middle East), is organizing from 2 to 6 November 2020 a special training for 25 female law enforcement officers on investigative techniques related to Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and the Smuggling of Migrants (SOM) at the Ramada Hotel Islamabad, Pakistan.

GLO.ACT-Asia and the Middle East is a four year joint initiative by the European Union (EU) and UNODC implemented in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in four countries in the region of Asia and Middle East, including Pakistan. The project reaffirms that combating human trafficking and migrant smuggling is of the highest importance for the EU and the United Nations as a whole.

Welcoming the participants, Jeremy Milsom, Representative, UNODC Pakistan said “As a woman who is raising a family while pursuing a career you face the challenge of doing two full-time jobs at once. Yet your positions as law enforcement officers place additional burdens on you at work and at home, requiring you to intervene, console, and protect other families while also maintaining peace within your community. We deeply admire the dedication, skills and enthusiasm you bring to both these tasks.”

DNA 2-5

Wajid Zia, Director General FIA, in his opening remarks, while thanking UNODC and EU said“ The presence of all these women law enforcement officers here is evidence of a strong partnership and a shared recognition in the indisputable correlation between women’s empowerment and global peace.” He further added that “during the past few years, our joint efforts have resulted in several accomplishments. These include the development of Pakistan’s National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling (2015-2020), the enactment of TIP and SOM Laws in June 2018. These efforts show our strong commitment to address problems related to human trafficking and migrant smuggling.”

Highlighting the importance of women’s role in policing, Androulla Kaminara, Ambassador of the European Union to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan said, “There are many benefits when women are better represented in law enforcement. In gender-based forms of violence, such as trafficking in persons, the security needs of men and women differ.  Women bring skills that strengthen and improve the police force – and are less likely to resort to force. Women police officers are able to connect with communities on a different level- and their presence can help improve internal team dynamics. I hope to see more women represented in law enforcement to make justice more accessible to a broader spectrum of society”

17 female officers from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and 8 female police officers of the Punjab police will participate in the training. Upon conclusion of the training the participants will understand the differences and connections between TIP and SOM, and will have gained a demonstrable understanding of both, international and national legal frameworks, concerning those crimes. Participants will also understand how human trafficking and migrant smuggling intersect with other crimes, and how other articles of law can be relevant in such cases.  GLO.ACT seeks to address the heavily gendered nature of TIP and SOM through such specialized training and is hopeful that middle and senior managers will be encouraged to ensure that the training participants will be given access to the full range of police duties.

The training is being in strict adherence to  the government COVID-19 guidelines and is made possible with the financial support of the European Union.

NAB has ‘no objection’ to Shehbaz’s jail trial

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LAHORE : The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has no objection to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif’s jail trial, the bureau informed an accountability court on Monday.

Submitting a report in response to the court’s directives, the corruption watchdog said it has no objection if the court wants to conduct the trial of the PML-N leader inside jail in the money laundering reference. “Holding jail trial is a discretionary power of court,” the NAB said.

The bureau said it will implement whatever judgement this court passes in this regard.

Accountability Court Administrative Judge Jawad al Hassan had last week issued a four-page written order stating that the best solution to complete trial swiftly is a jail trial. It said the people faced difficulties in the courtroom when Shehbaz and Hamza appear.

Hearing the case today, the accountability court set November 11 for indictment of PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, his son Hamza Shehbaz and other members of his family. Shehbaz Sharif and his son were brought to the court in an armoured personnel carrier (APC) as it resumed hearing.

PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz reached the court to meet her uncle and cousin.

AED to PKR and other currency rates in Pakistan on November 2

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KARACHI : The buying rate of UAE Dirham was Rs43 while it was sold at Rs43.5 at the opening of trading in Pakistan’s currency market on Monday, November 2.

The following are the rates of the US Dollar, Saudi Riyal, UK Pound, UAE Dirham, and other foreign currencies in the open market today.

The information has been obtained from the Forex Association of Pakistan.

CurrencyBuyingSelling
Australian Dollar111114
Canadian Dollar118.5120.5
Chinese Yuan23.7523.9
Euro186188.5
Japanese Yen1.551.58
Saudi Riyal41.742.3
UAE Dirham4343.5
UK Pound Sterling206210
US Dollar159.5160.2

Minister slammed over Taliban attack remarks

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ISLAMABAD: The opposition Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Awami National Party (ANP) on Sunday reacted strongly to the recent remarks of Minister for Interior retired Brigadier Ijaz Shah in which he had allegedly warned the opposition of attacks by the Taliban.

While the PPP sought an apology from the interior minister over his remarks, the ANP called for his “immediate resignation”.

In a statement, Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, the spokesman for PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, termed the minister’s statement a violation of the National Action Plan (NAP) against terrorism and asked the latter to apologise to the entire nation and the workers of political parties who were killed by terrorists during the war against terrorism.

Speaking at a ceremony at his hometown Nankana Sahib, the interior minister had said the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan had in reaction to the ANP’s policies on terrorism attacked the party leadership and killed many of its leaders, including Bashir Bilour and the son of Mian Iftikhar.

PPP demands apology, ANP the resignation of Ijaz Shah

“Today, I pray for the safety of those following the N-League’s narrative and wish for them to get divine’s guidance,” Brig Shah had stated in his speech which went viral on social media.

Senator Khokhar was of the view that threatening the opposition with possible attacks by the Taliban was not only against NAP, but it could also create difficulties for the country at the international level.

“These kinds of irresponsible statements by the federal ministers have already caused a difficult situation for Pakistan in Financial Action Task Force (FATF),” he said, adding that the ministers through such statements were in fact “validating” the allegations being levelled against Pakistan by the world.

Mr Khokhar said it was proved that former prime minister Benazir Bhutto had correctly named Ijaz Shah as “one of her killers”.

“Due to this dual policy and actions, the world does not recognise the sacrifices offered by thousands of our army troops and citizens,” he said, adding that Ijaz Shah should ask for pardon from the entire nation and the martyrs of the PPP, ANP and other political parties.

“Why the people who issue certificates of treason are silent over this statement of Ijaz Shah?” he asked.

Mr Khokhar said the nation was now aware of the reality of the allegation of treason and would soon hold Ijaz Shah and his “selected patron” accountable.

The ANP demanded resignation of the interior minister and formation of a truth commission over such an “irresponsible statement”.

Through its official social media account on Twitter, the ANP quoted the party’s provincial chief Aimal Wali Khan as stating at a public meeting in Buner Nawagai that the ANP not only called for formation of a truth commission over sacrifices of the Pakhtuns but also demanded resignation of the interior minister within 10 days. He said the ANP had always opposed the “good and bad Taliban” distinction.

Earlier, ANP president Asfandyar Wali Khan had also termed the interior minister’s statement ‘irresponsible’ and ‘foolish’ and declared that the diatribe had hurt the sentiments of ANP leaders and workers, who had rendered sacrifices for restoration of peace in the country.

In a tweet, the ANP chief said the state would have to give an explanation over the minister’s statement. “Was the ANP fighting the war against terrorists for the protection of the state or against the state? Where was the minister when the fight against terrorism was going on?” he asked.

The ANP chief said the party felt proud of Bashir Bilour, Rashid Hussain and hundreds of other workers who sacrificed their lives during the fight against terrorism. He said the Taliban and other terrorist organisations targeted the ANP leaders and workers for their stance against terrorism and militancy.

South Africa security delegation reaches Islamabad

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ISLAMABAD  : South Africa security delegation has arrived in Pakistan on Monday to inspect the arrangements with a view to playing in the country in early 2021.

The security team that reached Islamabad is led by South Africa’s Cricket Operations Manager Mookesh Gajjar and includes Stephen Craig Cook, Rory Steyn and Mohamed Zunaid Wadee.

The delegation will watch Pakistan’s third and final one-day international (ODI) against Zimbabwe on Tuesday at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Maryam meets Shehbaz, Hamza, says Sharif family united

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LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Monday reached an accountability court to meet her uncle Shehbaz Sharif and cousin Hamza Shehbaz Sharif.

During the meeting country’s political situation came under discussion. Maryam also inquired about the health of Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza.

Informally talking to media outside the accountability court in Lahore, Maryam Nawaz said that Pakistan Muslim Leauge-Nawaz (PML-N) will win elections in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Refuting differences between the family, Maryam said that the Sharif family is united and will remain. People have been talking about differences in the family for the last 30 years, but the family stands firmly united, she added.

Upon the arrival of Maryam at the accountability court Lahore, police and the party workers exchanged words when the PML-N workers were barred from entering the court along with Maryam.

GB CEC dismisses criticism over PM Imran Khan’s address to public gathering

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Gilgit : Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz Khan on Monday dismissed criticism over PM Imran Khan attending a public gathering in the northern region ahead of elections.

He said the premier participated at the independence day celebrations. “It was not a political gathering,” he asserted, stressing that action would be taken against violation of election rules.

PM Imran Khan has come under scrutiny for addressing a rally on Sunday where he announced provisional-provincial status for GB. The prime minister was accompanied by Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Ali Amin Gandapur.

He declined to announce any development package for the region owing to the Election Commission’s restriction due to the upcoming elections. However, he assured the people that his government was resolved to uplift the backward areas, including GB, Balochistan, western districts of Punjab and interior Sindh, and their people.

Criticism 

PPP Parliamentary Leader in the Senate Sherry Rehman on Sunday lamented the prime minister and federal ministers violate code of conduct by running political campaigns and urged the CEC to take notice.

“The prime minister and a federal minister is running the campaign of their party illegally in Gilgit-Baltistan which is clear violation of the code of conduct of the elections and a pre-polling rigging,” she said while commenting on the prime minister address’ in GB on Sunday.

Sherry Rehman said the federal ministers were addressing the corner meetings and announcing development projects in the campaign, which was not allowed after the announcement of election schedule.

The PPP leader said the prime minister reached GB after a federal minister and federal resources were being used in the election.

PPP lodges complaint with CEC

Meanwhile, the PPP wrote a letter of complaint to the CEC GB on alleged violation of code of conduct by Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and GB Ali Amin Gandapur for campaigning in the elections for the PTI.

“The speeches of Gandapur are being telecast by several channels in which he is shown making electoral promises to the electorate,” said In-charge PPP Election Cell Taj Haider in a letter to the CEC.

Taj Haider stated in a letter that the Returning Officer of GBA 16 Diamer-II Chilas through a circular dated 27-10-2020 while taking notice of the news of forthcoming visit of federal minister for Kashmir Affairs and GB had restrained him from “participating in election campaign in any manner whatsoever”.

He stated that in blatant violation of the code of conduct and also in open defiance of the circular, the caretaker government of GB issued an office order on the October 29 nominating government officials in 10 districts to assist the visiting minister during his visit from October 28 to November 16.

He said the PPP also would draw the attention to the fact that the dates of the minister’s visit coincide with the duration of election campaign.

In the meanwhile, Spokesman to the former President, Asif Ali Zardari has said that Imran Khan’s political speech in GB is against election rules and asked that why the Election commission of Pakistan does not take notice of this violation.

The spokesman said that the federal ministers are also influencing the elections in GB. He demanded of the ECP to fulfil its responsibility and take action against Imran Khan.

1,123 fresh Covid cases, 12 more deaths reported in Pakistan

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ISLAMABAD : As many as 1,123 fresh cases of the coronavirus emerged across the country during the last 24 hours, pushing the national tally of cases to 335,093.

According to the latest details disclosed by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 12 more people died due to the highly contagious disease, taking the death toll to 6,835.

There are a total of 13,242 active cases of the coronavirus as 315,016 patients have recuperated.

Thus far, Sindh has reported 146,331 cases, Punjab 104,554 cases, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 39,649, Balochistan 15,954, Islamabad 20,089, Gilgit Baltistan 4,279 and Azad Jammu and Kashmir 4,237.

707 of the patients under treatment in hospitals across the country are said to be in critical condition.

On October 31, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs and Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf leader Ali Haider Zaidi and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) key leader Senator Dr Musadik Malik had announced to have tested positive for the coronavirus.

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