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NAB to file another reference against PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif

ISLAMABAD : The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) agreed to file references against PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, Ahsan Iqbal, former principal secretary to ex-pm Nawaz, Fawad Hasan Fawad, and others.

The development took place during the NAB Executive Board meeting pn Thursday during which the anti-graft body approved four investigations, the statement.

According to NAB, investigations have been approved against PML-N Punjab president Rana Sanaullah and PTI MPA Aleem Khan as well.

NAB said that references will also be filed against two other important personalities, former foreign secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry and ex-Intelligence Bureau chief, Aftab Sultan.

The anti-graft watchdog has alleged that Iqbal, the former planning minister, had increased the scope of the Narowal Sports City from Rs30 million to Rs3 billion.

Moreover, NAB has decided to file a corruption reference against Fawad Hasan and Iqbal.

During the meeting, it was also agreed to file a corruption reference against former Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairman Farkhund Iqbal, former DG Planning Ghulam Sarwar Sindhu, Mehboob Ali Khan, former director Waqar Ali Khan, former member planning and design Abdul Aziz Qureshi, former CEO NTS Haroon, former estate management officer Latif Abid, former project director clean drinking water for all Sikandar Javed, General Manager Nespak Jamil Bajwa and others.

Rs.6.2 billion released for Rawalpindi Ring Road

Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) appreciated the initiative of PTI government for starting the R3 project that was the dire need of the twin cities 

IBRAR KHAN/DNA

ISLAMABAD:  Tariq Mehmood Murtaza, Chairman Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) said that an amount of Rs.6.2 billion has been released for land acquisition of Rawalpindi Ring Road (R3) project and Prime Minister Imran Khan along with Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar would soon perform the ground-breaking of this project of vital importance.

 He said that 65.5 KMs long 6 lanes R3 would change the lifestyles and set new horizons of development in the twin cities. He said that the R3 will not only reduce the traffic congestion in the twin cities, it will also provide a clean, healthy and safe environment besides making significant contributions to national development.

 He said that business hubs, industrial zones, transport terminals, wholesale markets, logistic and education hubs, health city, dry port, recreational parks and residential estates would be constructed on both sides of the R3 that would uplift the economy of the region and provide plenty of jobs. He expressed these views while addressing the business community at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI).

Tariq Mehmood Murtaza said that the cost of the R3 project was estimated at Rs.50 billion and after the financial closure, its construction would be completed within 2-3 years. He said that the R3 project would be executed on the public-private partnership (PPP) model and stressed that the business community should actively participate in its construction to capitalize on its investment potential. Muhammad Abdullah Deputy Project Director, RDA gave a detailed presentation on R3 project to the business community.

In his welcome address, Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) appreciated the initiative of PTI government for starting the R3 project that was the dire need of the twin cities. He said that multiple specialty zones could be built on both sides of the R3 project and stressed that the sitting President of ICCI should be included in the RDA Board to get the input of the private sector and address its genuine concerns for the smooth execution of R3 project on PPP mode. He said that for each SEZ, 1000 to 1500-acre minimum land should be acquired to facilitate the investors. He further said that Sec-4 must be used to acquire land on an immediate basis for SEZs that are desperately needed for jobs creation, industrial promotion and economic revival. He said that the existing 3 industrial estates in Islamabad have saturated due to which investors of this region were compelled to move to other areas and stressed that RDA in collaboration with ICCI should build a new industrial estate at a location that should be easily accessible to the investors of the twin cities. He assured that ICCI would fully cooperate with RDA for timely execution of the R3 project.

Mian Akram Farid, Chairman, Founder Group said that the government should set up new industrial estate near Islamabad International Airport and the private sector should be provided the opportunity to invest in the industrial and commercial zones of the R3 project. He said that one window facility for investors in industrial zones should be provided as many local and overseas Pakistanis were keen to invest in SEZs of R3.

Fatma Azim Senior Vice President, Abdul Rehman Khan Vice President ICCI, Khalid Javed, Zubair A. Malik, Abdul Rauf, Khalid Iqbal Malik, Mian Shaukat Masud, M. Ejaz Abbasi, Naeem Siddiqui, Tahir Ayub and others also highlighted the concerns of business community of various sectors and stressed that RDA should address them for the smooth execution of R3 project.

Students are our leaders of tomorrow, says Qasim Suri

The Graduating Students of Fall 2018 &Spring 2019 were awarded degrees of BS, B.Ed., MA and MPhil 

SAIFULLAH/DNA

ISLAMABAD: The Graduating Students of Fall 2018 &Spring 2019 were awarded degrees of BS, B.Ed., MA and MPhil. Deputy Speaker National Assembly Qasim Khan Suri attended the session as a Chief Guest. The Convocation was declared open by VU Rector, Mr. Naeem Tariq. During his speech, he mentioned the achievements of Virtual University, its leading role in delivering information and communication technology-based education and highlighted the provision of quality education to the remotest areas of the country.

The Rector welcomed the guests, students and their parents for gracing the event with their presence. He said parents, as well as teachers, deserved to be congratulated on the great efforts. He asked students to always remain respectful to their parents and set targets and goals to achieve better results.

The Chief Guest of the Ceremony Mr. Qasim Khan Suri stated that students of today are leaders of tomorrow. He urged the students to transform the challenges into opportunities. He added that Federal Government is trying its best to facilitate the students of Baluchistan for higher education. He said very soon students of Baluchistan will get all those facilities which are available in Punjab and Islamabad.

He hoped that the knowledge being imparted to the students by VU would help them in their practical life. At the end of the Convocation Chief Guest Mr. Qasim Khan Suri along with Rector VU, Mr. Naeem Tariq distributed degrees among the passing students.

Bangladesh HC meets FS

DNA

ISLAMABAD: High Commissioner-designate of Bangladesh to Pakistan Ruhul Alam Siddique called on Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood in Islamabad today.

Underlining the historic and fraternal ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh, the Foreign Secretary underscored importance of close cooperative relations. He extended his best wishes to the High Commissioner-designate in the important mission.

Visit of Bosnian President to Pak postponed: FO

Indian leadership must not underestimate the resolve of Pakistani nation as well as the capacity, professionalism and the level of preparedness of our battle hardened Armed Forces 

Naveed Miraj/DNA

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office Spokesperson on Thursday said that the visit of the President of Bosnia has been postponed for now and new dates shall be announced soon.

This was stated by Foreign Office Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri while responding to a question during his weekly news briefing in Islamabad.

The Bosnian president was due to visit Pakistan on October 21, however due to some reasons the visit has been postponed. Bosnian newspaper had published a number of articles about illegal Pakistanis going to Bosnia and then sneaking into neighboring countries.

The spokesman added any misadventure by India in Gilgit-Baltistan or Azad Jammu and Kashmir will invite a full spectrum response by it.

The Spokesperson said the Indian leadership must not underestimate the resolve of Pakistani nation as well as the capacity, professionalism and the level of preparedness of our battle hardened Armed Forces.

He said the entire nation stands absolutely united against any ill designs by India.

Zahid Hafeez said our advice to India would be to peacefully resolve disputes with the neighbours, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, for lasting peace in South Asia.

Responding to another question, the Spokesperson said we have seen the malicious and fabricated news reports and propaganda campaign in some sections of the Indian mainstream and social media, planting baseless stories about Pakistan.

He said such attempts by the Indian media on the behest of the Pakistan-obsessed BJP-RSS regime are reflective of a particular, though familiar, mindset. Needless to say that Indian media continues to hit new lows.

The Spokesperson said India cannot wash away the truth about its own gross and systematic human rights violations in IIOJK and unabated anti-minorities policies and actions through peddling fake news and running its propaganda machinery overtime.

The Spokesperson said over 800 million people in India are considered as poors, making the largest poor population anywhere in the world. He said India needs to focus on socio-economic development of its people instead of blindly pursuing its dangerous strategic ambitions.

Pak, EU agree to boost cooperation

The EU Ambassador briefed the Chairman Senate about the development cooperation which is acting as a driving force behind the EU’s bilateral relations with Pakistan 

Asnar Bhatti

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani has termed cooperation between Pakistan and European Union (EU) as significant and emphasized the need to further broaden the scope mutual collaboration in different sectors.  Chairman Senate expressed these views during a meeting with EU Ambassador to Pakistan Ms. Androulla Kaminara here at the Parliament House on Thursday.

The EU Ambassador briefed the Chairman Senate about the development cooperation which is acting as a driving force behind the EU’s bilateral relations with Pakistan.

Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani said that Pakistan is keen to enhance mutual cooperation with European Union and strengthen institutional collaboration through enhanced linkages at parliamentary level.  “We place our bilateral relationship with EU Parliament at a high esteem”, Chairman Senate remarked.  Chairman Senate said that the pandemic has created huge problems. He also expressed his condolences on the loss of human lives due the pandemic.

EU Ambassador agreed with the views of the Chairman Senate and emphasized for more cooperation and institutional linkages.

Qureshi talks to Uzbek FM

inaugural round of bilateral political consultations between Pakistan and Uzbekistan will soon be held in Islamabad 

Shujat Hamza

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said Pakistan and Uzbekistan enjoy deep fraternal relations and leadership of both the countries is committed to further strengthen the bilateral relations.

He expressed these views during a telephonic conversation with Foreign Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov on Thursday.

The Foreign Minister said inaugural round of bilateral political consultations between Pakistan and Uzbekistan will soon be held in Islamabad.

He said Pakistan is committed to continue its reconciliatory efforts for establishment of peace in the region including Afghanistan.

Both the foreign ministers also agreed to increase the trade volume between the two countries.

ECP issues final electoral rolls, voters tally goes above 115 mln

ISLAMABAD : The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has released the voters’ figures of final electoral lists.

The country have overall 115,748,753 voters, according to the figures released by the ECP.

A spokesperson for the ECP says that the ratio of male and female voters in electoral rolls has been 55:45 percent respectively.Sindh have total 2,43,51,681 voters, while Karachi’s District Central has been the largest district of the province with regard to the number of the registered voters, the ECP statement said.

The District Central have 19,66, 945 voters, while District West have 16,46,187 voters and the District East have 15,07,445 voters, according to the ECP electoral rolls.

Moreover, Korangi District in Karachi have 13,67,106 and South District have 11,74,124 voters.

Punjab have maximum voters in Pakistan’s provinces, the number over overall voters in the province is 6,62,36,144 voters according to the final electoral rolls, the election commission said.

Federal Capital Islamabad have 825,833 voters, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have 1,95,33,964 voters and Balochistan have 48,01,131 number of voters, the ECP said.

Safdar’s arrest: Shahzad Akbar urges CM Sindh to name who pressurized police

ISLAMABAD : Advisor to PM on Accountability Shahbaz Akbar on Thursday said that India has started propaganda against Pakistan over the recent issue of Safdar Awan’s arrest.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad flanked by Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Shibli Faraz, he said that opposition hue and cry provided an opportunity to India to start anti-Pakistan propaganda.

Terming the arrest of Safdar Awan as per law, Mr Akbar maintained that he was arrested by the province’s police, which is sovereign after the 18th amendment.“Sindh police tweeted about the arrest and termed it as per law”, he added.

People are aware that who gives directions to the Sindh police, the advisor said and urged Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah to name the federal minister who pressurized the police.

Replying to a query, he said that provinces are sovereign after the 18th amendment and the Sindh province has to inquire about the matter.

Commenting on the opposition’s criticism on Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav case, Shahzad Akbar advised the opposition parties to read the judgement of International Court of Justice (ICJ) before making statements on the case.

Romanian armed forces day on October 25

Liberation of the entire national territory of Romania was achieved by the heroic fights of over 525,000 fully employed troops between August 23 and October 25, 1944. Nearly 58,000 of them were killed or injured. Losses incurred on the enemy stood at 89,934 troops, 76,275 of whom were taken prisoners: Ambassador Goia says in his message 

Staff Report/DNA

ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of Romania Nicolaie Goia has said Romania celebrates each year, on October 25th, the Day of the Romanian Army. October 25, 1944, the Romanian Army Day, signifies the date of complete liberation of north-western Transylvania from foreign ruling and administration.

He added, the liberation of the entire national territory of Romania was achieved by the heroic fights of over 525,000 fully employed troops between August 23 and October 25, 1944. Nearly 58,000 of them were killed or injured. Losses incurred on the enemy stood at 89,934 troops, 76,275 of whom were taken prisoners.

Ambassador Goia said today, Romanian Armed Forces are assigned to foreign missions, contributing alongside of the allied and partner countries to the common effort of keeping peace and stability worldwide. In compliance with the commitments deriving from the international treaties, agreements and memoranda whose signing party is, Romania had contingents of different sizes from all services – Army, Air and Naval Forces – available to multinational coalitions authorized to carry on peace support, humanitarian assistance, coalition, collective or individual operations in the framework UN, NATO, OSCE and EU-led Observing, Monitoring, Liaison and Training teams.

The years of contribution to foreign missions meant for the Romanian Armed Forces the maintenance, almost continuously, of a military force of variable sizes, integrated into UN, OSCE, NATO and EU missions carried out in Africa and Asia, in the theatres of operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and Western Balkans. Almost 40,000 Romanian troops took part in different operations and missions out of national borders, gathering a valuable professional experience extremely useful in the transformation, operationalization and interoperability enhancement process of the Romanian Armed Forces with their NATO and EU counterparts.

Romanian Armed forces wisely and skillfully planned their combat forces to fight the war on terror far away from the national borders, proving their capability and determination to fully carry out their missions. Romania remained consistent with its commitments to support the international community in the fight against terror.

The contribution of the Romanian troops to the to collective defence, peace keeping and restoration missions to enforce the stipulations of the UN Security Council Resolutions, of the international legislation and law reveals that the Romanian state complies consequently and in full faith with the commitments agreed with the allies and partners, according to the international legislation and treaties whose signing party is Romania.

While concluding his message the ambassador said by performance and professionalism, dedication and determination, the Romanian Armed Forces are a true ambassador for Romania’s image worldwide!

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