RAWALPINDI, OCT 21 (DNA) – Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Qamar Javed Bajwa visited  forward areas at Chamb Sector along LOC .

COAS was briefed on latest operational situation including Indian CFVs deliberately  targeting local residents living near LOC.

Interacting with officers and men, COAS appreciated them for continued vigil and remarkable operational preparedness.

COAS emphasised upon troops to extend all out support to  local population affected by unprovoked Indian ceasefire violations.

Remain steadfast,  discharge your duties with utmost sincerity and devotion, COAS remarked.

Commander Rawalpindi Corps, Lieutenant General Azhar Abbas received COAS at the LOC. DNA

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ISLAMABAD, OCT 21 (DNA) – The import of mobile phones into the country has witnessed an increase of 83.17 percent during the first quarter (Q1) of financial year (2020-21) as compared to the corresponding period of last year.

Pakistan imported mobile phones worth US $492.894 million during July-September (2020-21) as compared to the imports of US $269.087 million during July-September (2019-20), showing growth of 83.17 percent, according to the latest data issued by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

Meanwhile, on year-on year basis, the import of mobile phones witnessed grew of 76.69 percent in September 2020, as compared to the imports of the same month of last year.

The mobile imports during September 2020 were recorded at US $186.531 million against the imports of US $105.568 million in September 2019.

On month-on-month basis, the imports of mobile phones also rose by 17.79 percent during September 2020, as compared to the imports of US $158.364 million during August 2020, according to the data.

It is pertinent to mention here that the overall merchandize trade deficit increased by 2.02 percent during the first quarter of current fiscal year (2020-21) as compared to the deficit of the corresponding period of last year.

The deficit during July-September (2020-21) was recorded at $5.804 billion as compared to the deficit of $5.689 billion, showing increase 2.02 percent.

During the period under review, the country’s exports registered negative growth of 0.94 percent, by going down from $5.510 billion last year to $5.458 billion during the current year.

On the other hand, the imports decreased by 0.56 percent, from $11.199 billion last year to $11.262 billion during the current year. = DNA

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LAHORE, OCT 21 (DNA) – Pakistan has reported 19 deaths in last 24 hours by novel coronavirus as the number of positive cases has surged to 324,744.

The nationwide tally of fatalities has jumped to 6,692. According to the latest figures by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) 660 persons have been tested positive for COVID-19 in 24 hours.

Sindh remains the worst-hit province by the pandemic in terms of cases followed by Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Islamabad.

Till now 142,348 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Sindh, 101,936 in Punjab, 38,779 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 18,309 in Islamabad, 15,717 in Balochistan, 3,564 in Azad Kashmir and 4,091 in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Furthermore 2,587 individuals have lost their lives to the epidemic in Sindh, 2,319 in Punjab, 1,265 in KP, 148 in Balochistan, 199 in Islamabad, 90 in GB and 84 in Azad Kashmir.

Pakistan has so far conducted 4,148,739 coronavirus tests and 26,670 in last 24 hours. 308,674 coronavirus patients have recovered in the country whereas 559 patients are in critical condition. = DNA

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DNA

ISLAMABAD, OCT 21  – The only durable solution for peace in Afghanistan is that the US should withdraw its troops and a non-aligned, independent and sovereign government should be formed by Afghans in light of their beliefs and traditions without any interference; otherwise the country would slither into another civil war, warned veteran Afghan politician and Hizb-e-Islami’s supreme leader Eng. Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.He was addressing a large number of foreign policy analysts, practitioners and journalists at his exclusive talk organized by Institute of Policy Studies, Islamabad, at the conclusion of his three-day official visit to Pakistan on the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here on Wednesday.

The forum was chaired by Executive President IPS Khalid Rahman and moderated by Ambassador (r) Syed Abrar Hussain. Pakistan’s special envoy for Afghanistan Ambassador (r) Muhammad Sadiq was also present on the occasion.Hekmatyar said Afghans invested about $20 billion in other countries including Turkey and the Gulf states during the war. He suggested that Pakistan should facilitate Afghan investors and businessmen thus enabling them to bring their investment to Pakistan. The facilities he termed essential in this regard include permission to open bank accounts, buy property on the basis of Afghan passports and long-term visas like those provided by certain European countries.

The Afghan leader, who met the top-level leadership during his three-day visit to Pakistan, said he had held talks with Pakistani officials in this regard and was hopeful that it would be implemented soon.Hekmatyar, who has twice served as Afghan prime minister in the 1990s, said it was the requirement of justice that those who have sacrificed for Afghanistan for so many years should have the right to govern the country now.Afghan groups should have the opportunity to enter into negotiations with each other at a neutral venue. The discussion agenda would be withdrawal of the US from Afghanistan and an independent sovereign government.

The other national issues such as constitution and type of government should be left for later after peace is restored. These are national issues and no external forces have the right to decide about these matters, he said.He said the US has been defeated in Afghanistan without achieving any goals and considers the corrupt and incompetent Kabul government the main reason for its failure. It will be a mistake if the US now adopts another policy other than leaving Afghanistan, he added.Hekmatyar said unfortunately some countries think a gap will be created once the US leaves Afghanistan which they will be able to fill.

He hoped the Americans will not repeat the deadly mistake of the Soviets who established their puppet government in Kabul before leaving Afghanistan.He warned rival countries against transferring their hostilities to Afghan soil. Afghanistan should not be used by the US against Russia, by India against Pakistan, and by Iran against Saudi Arabia, etc, he added.He said India and Iran are also supporting Ashraf Ghani’s government, which is surprising as it is weak. The continuation of war in Afghanistan is not in anyone’s favor, including India.

The reason behind India’s support of the current Afghan government could be Kashmir, he said, adding that India must not transfer their Kashmir war to Afghanistan.Hekmatyar said his group supports the US-Taliban agreement although they have their own observations and reservations about the process and also want to be part of the negotiations. However, it contains the vital point that the US will leave Afghanistan, though its timeframe could have been reduced. He said the majority of political parties are not supporting the Afghan government’s stand on the peace process.

The current government in Kabul is not ready to enter into negotiations with all political parties.Hekmatyar said negotiations will start between Hizb-e-Islami and Taliban with the aim to make the peace durable and lasting. Peace is not achievable without bringing every stakeholder on board.He said Pakistan helped the US in Afghanistan but the Americans still preferred India over Pakistan. This is because superpowers have their own designs and they do things as per their own interests.Hekmatyar said his visit to Pakistan comes at a time when the Afghan peace negotiation process is at a critical stage. His impression was that Pakistan is keen for an Afghan-owned peace process in Afghanistan. He said the Pakistani officials have assured that all mutual problems will be solved gradually through mutual understanding.

He was realistic that the peace process would not have been possible without the support of Pakistan.Earlier Khalid Rahman, in his introductory speech, said that Gulbuddin was one the first leaders to offer resistance to the Soviets in the 1980s. He played a very important role in Afghanistan ranging from the battlefield to politics. He stressed that those who wish to see peace in Afghanistan must come together, terming it a healthy sign that Pakistan and Afghan leaders are beginning to engage in productive talks.

The initial polar public perception has now been transformed into unipolar perception in favor of smart lockdowns. He further remarked that countries with similar socio-economic infrastructure have not fared well, in addition to countries where federal structures have been devolved: SAPM on Health

DNA

ISLAMABAD, OCTOBER 21, 2020: There is already a slight but definitive rise in COVID-19 cases, but the second wave, the so-called “winter pandemic”, can be avoided with the right efforts and precautions. The threat of COVID is ever-present, and with respiratory diseases traditionally gaining momentum in the winter, caution is ever more necessary.

These remarks were made by Dr. Faisal Sultan, the Special Advisor to the Prime Minister

(SAPM) on Health while speaking at the research launch of the report “Pakistan’s Fight against

COVID-19” by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) in Islamabad.

He added that the initial polar public perception has now been transformed into unipolar

perception in favor of smart lockdowns. He further remarked that countries with similar socio-

economic infrastructure have not fared well, in addition to countries where federal structures

have been devolved.

Regarding the vaccine, he said that if and when available, Pakistan will prioritize subsets of the

population first, such as those at high risk and frontline workers. We have to carefully allocate

resources for vaccination as Pakistan does not have the sufficient resources to invest in all the

global vaccination efforts. The advantage Pakistan has is that our polio vaccination teams can

quickly and efficiently inoculate the population, though unlike polio, it will not be a

simultaneous, mass effort.

The CRSS report states that Pakistan has, against all forecasts and odds, bent the COVID-19

curve in its favor. Broadly speaking, the creation of a central mechanism for all coordination,

collation, decision-making and implementation in the form of the NCOC, piggybacking on the

polio surveillance network, and dramatically ramping up healthcare infrastructure resulted in

Pakistan’s strong response to the pandemic.

Despite the demonstrable success of the curbing mechanisms, this is no time to celebrate or

drop our collective guard, said the SAPM. The threat of the COVID-19 pandemic is very real and

ever-present. Continued caution and stringent adherence to COVID-19 SOPs are crucial to

ensure the current situation stays under control. Without vigilance from every member of the

general public, and continued pressure from the government, this disease could spread easily

and wreak havoc.

Karachi (DNA) Mian Anjum Nisar, President Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry said that Pakistan’s narrative should be supported by all segments to build image of Pakistan as moderate and investment friendly destination.

During the meeting with Dr. Moeed Yusuf Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Security and focal person for Economic Outreach program President FPCCI discussed various avenues of economic prosperity and also highlighted some issues confronted by trade and industry of Pakistan. For Economic Outreach Program he offered full cooperation of FPCCI and informed that being the national apex institute of the private sector in Pakistan, FPCCI has its vast outreach at national and international levels and was strongly connected with all leading economic and trade blocs. FPCCI advisory and thematic committees could be instrumental to achieving vision of the Prime Minister for Economic Outreach.

Mian Anjum Nisar while presenting suggestion for Economic Outreach Program also highlighted some issues that are affecting industrial growth and economic development of the country. He said that our competitors, due to better level playing field have attracted huge investment and have penetrated in the world leading export markets.

While we are still advocating to remove basic hurdles such as expensive and interrupted energy supply. Tariffs and duties on basic raw materials for exports-oriented industry. Insufficient production of agricultural products which are input material of industry such as cotton etc. inadequate infrastructure to support cross borders trade particularly availability at ports.

Responding to the participants of the meeting Dr. Moeed Yusuf Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Security and focal person for Economic Outreach program said that the Prime Minister has given this task to develop Pakistan’s narrative and this task will better coordinate with each and every ministry to harmonize our stance. The National Security Division has created an economic outreach roadmap for economic diplomacy, which will now be processed through the ministries and the assessment of economic potential of ministries. He further said that a mapping exercise of ministries and government organisations has been initiated by this division. This mapping exercise will identify Pakistan’s comparative advantage in priority countries.  He presented the model that will develop Pakistan’s narrative. He told that the Economic Outreach program will engage vast representation of stakeholder while National Security will serve as focal point. He further informed that to expand Pakistan trade in goods and trade in services his team has identified various areas of improvement.

While concluding Mian Anjum Nisar President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry said that we have seen different industrial policies by different regimes but now industrial policy should be formulate that assures protection of the existing industries and does not produce negative growth. He demands thermal efficiency of electricity plants that should not consume more fuel for producing electricity. He also demanded charter of economy and national image building policies.

ISLAMABAD, OCT 21 (DNA) – Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry hailed the cooperation and support of the members of National Assembly for passing the Rent Restrictions (Amendment) Bill 2020 to address the very longstanding burning issue of the traders of federal capital.

He also expressed thanks to the PTI government for paying attention to this serious issue of local traders and getting the rent control act passed from the National Assembly. He said this while talking to Ajmal Baloch, President, All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran and Khalid Chaudhry Secretary Traders Action Committee who met him in ICCI and congratulated him on passage of rent control act. Abdul Rehman Khan Vice President ICCI, M. Ejaz Abbasi and Baser Daud former Presidents, Khalid Chaudhry, Akhtar Abbasi and Zulqarnain Abbasi were also present at the occasion.

Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan also lauded the cooperation of Asad Umar Federal Minister for Planning & Development, Raja Khurram Shehzad Nawaz MNA, Ali Nawaz Awan SAPM on CDA Affairs and Dr. Babar Awan Advisor to PM on Parliamentary Affairs for the passage of rent control act from the National Assembly. He said this positive development showed that the current government was focused on addressing the key issues of the business community and facilitating them in promoting business activities.

Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan said that the Rent Restrictions (Amendment) Bill 2020 passed by the NA envisaged formation of a Mediation Council consisting of President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry or his nominee as Convener, and a representative of tenant and landlord each as members to play role for out of court settlement of rent disputes and hoped that the Mediation Council would be very helpful in settling rent disputes amicably.

However, he said that the government was charging 5 percent fee of the total annual rent amount for registration of lease agreements due to which many tenants and landlords were not inclined towards registration.

Therefore, he stressed that the government should reduce registration fees to 1 or 2 percent that would encourage registration of lease agreements and help the Mediation Council to play a more effective role in settlement of out of court rent disputes. He said that this landmark legislation would help in addressing the concerns of traders and enable them to promote trade activities with peace of mind.

Ajmal Baloch, President, All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tijaran and Khalid Chaudhry Secretary Traders Action Commission said that Asad Umar, Ali Nawaz Awan and Raja Khurram Shehzad Nawaz played important role in the preparation and presentation of amended bill of rent control act in the national assembly for which they deserved great appreciation.

They also thanked Ch. Nadeem ud Din Coordinator PTI Traders Wing for his cooperation in this legislation.

Ejaz Abbasi, former President ICCI said that for the last 40 years, traders of the federal capital were demanding promulgation of a balanced rent control act in Islamabad and said that the current government has done a great favour to them by meeting their demand.

He hoped that the Senate of Pakistan would also pass this bill soon to enact it into law.=DNA

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