UNITED NATIONS, Feb 06 (DNA): A new U.N. report has acknowledged the action taken by Pakistani government against individuals engaged in terrorist activities, and goes on to say that terror group Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was responsible for over 100 “cross-border’ attacks within 3 months last year.

On its part, Pakistan has consistently highlighted the terrorism threat from TTP.

In its 27th report to the U.N. Security Council, the U.N. monitoring team that tracks Al Qaeda, Islamic State and other extremist groups points to the arrests in Pakistan of “individuals engaging in terrorism financing and the freezing of the assets of designated individuals and entities”.

Diplomats noted that the UN acknowledgment of Pakistan actions comes at a time when India continues to blame Pakistan for inaction against the designated groups.

Reporting on the activities of the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the UN report saw the “reunification of splinter groups (of TTP) that took place in Afghanistan”.

The report records that “five entities pledged alliance to TTP in July and August (2020), including the Shehryar Mehsud group, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, Hizb-ul-Ahrar, the Amjad Farooqi group and the Usman Saifullah group (formerly known as Lashkar-e- Jhangvi)”.

The report causations that the merger of TTP has enhanced the threat of terrorism to Pakistan and the region, as it has “increased the strength of TTP and resulted in a sharp increase in attacks”.

In this regard, the UN reported that “TTP was responsible for more than 100 cross-border attacks between July and October 2020”.

The report said that, based on estimates, the TTP’s fighting strength ranges between 2,500 and 6,000.

Last year, Pakistan handed over a dossier  to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on the Indian sponsorship of TTP and JuA. Both terrorist groups have been designated by the 1267 Sanctions Committee of the Security Council.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina: Pakistan Embassy in Buenos Aires marked the Kashmir Solidarity Day on 5th February 2021 with great fervour to highlight the sacrifices of Kashmiri people against the brutal and illegal occupation and annexation of Kashmir by Indian forces.

The Mission in Buenos Aires invited the Pakistani diaspora and local community living in Argentina for a limited gathering at the Mission to commemorate the day.

Due to COVID-19, large small-scale gatherings are prohibited, therefore, a limited number of people from the community attended a small but graceful program at the Embassy.

The acting Charge d’ Affairs highlighted the significance of Kashmir Solidarity Day to the participants.

It was informed that Kashmir Solidarity Day is being observed since 1990 as a day to register a protest and condemn the Indian occupation of Kashmir and express full moral and political support to the just cause of Kashmiri people for their right to self-determination.

The participants were also apprised about the Indian action of 5th August 2019 when it unilaterally scrapped Article 370 and annexed Kashmir in stark violation of United Nations Security resolutions and turning Kashmir into the largest prison on earth by curbing the free movement of eight million Kashmiris.

The Embassy during the day organized a virtual meeting on Zoom where the Pakistani community living in Argentina and the concurrent accredited Countries of Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Uruguay attended in a big number and expressed solidarity with the Kashmiri people in their struggle against a brutal regime which is hell-bent upon their extermination.

The community in these Countries appreciated the efforts of the Mission to highlight the cause of Kashmir in this part of the World.

The Pakistani community in Chile in close coordination with the Mission organized a limited procession despite strict lockdown in Chile due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

They displayed banners and placards depicting atrocities being carried out in Indian Illegally Occupied Kashmir.

The speakers at the event expressed support to the cause of Kashmiri people and urged the international community to intervene to stop the Indian human rights violations in IIOJK.

ISLAMABAD, FEB 6 (DNA) – Prime Minister Imran Khan had a telephone conversation with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

The two leaders reaffirmed the existing close fraternal relations between Pakistan and the UAE and reiterated the resolve to further solidify and strengthen the multifaceted bilateral relationship.

They also exchanged views on COVID-19 pandemic and regional and international issues of mutual interest.

The Prime Minister and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan agreed to continue working closely to enhance bilateral ties as well as cooperation in multilateral organizations.=DNA

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WhatsApp is arguably one of the most popular messaging apps in the world. It comes with tons of features, such as GIFs, stickers, animated stickers and doodles, that enable users to share their messages creatively. It also has a host of features that enable users to ensure that their data remains secure all the time.

So, here are the top security features that you need to start using now:

Two-Step Verification: Like other social media services, such as Facebook, Instagram and email services, WhatsApp too comes with a two-step verification feature that adds an additional layer of protection by requiring users to enter a six-digit PIN when resetting and verifying their WhatsApp accounts. This helps prevent users’ WhatsApp accounts being accessed in the event of your SIM card being stolen or their phone numbers being compromised.

Lock your WhatsApp with Touch ID or Face ID: WhatsApp also allows its users to add an extra layer of security to their accounts with Touch ID and Face ID for iPhone, and fingerprint lock for Android smartphones. Users can also decide whether they would like WhatsApp to automatically lock them out of the app as soon as you close the app, or after various durations of inactivity.

How to use: Open WhatsApp Settings. Tap Account > Privacy > Screen Lock > turn on Require Touch ID or Require Face ID > select the length of time WhatsApp can be on standby mode before Touch ID or Face ID is required.

Group Privacy Settings: WhatsApp comes with special Group Privacy settings that enable users to control who can add them to a WhatsApp group.

How to use: Go to Settings > tap Account > Privacy > Groups > select one of three options: “Everyone,” “My Contacts,” or “My Contacts Except”. “My Contacts” means only users you have in your address book can add you to groups and “My Contacts Except” provides additional control for who among your contacts can add you to a group.

Privacy Profile: WhatsApp also enables users to control what details they share with others in their personal profiles — whether that’s everyone, just their contacts, or nobody. At any time, users can restrict their Last Seen, Profile Photo, About and Status within WhatsApp’s privacy setting menu.

ISLAMABAD, FEB 06 (DNA) – Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies(IPDS), Islamabad, and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Center for Public Diplomacy in Uzbekistan signed an agreement of cooperation to promote and strengthen the civil society linkages through public diplomacy initiatives.

The MoU aimed to exchange and cooperate in scientific and social research, exchange of ideas, expertise in the areas of mutual interest. This also includes joint publications, research projects, and coordination in various public activities, joint program, and projects through the instruments of public diplomacy in the spheres of science, education, culture, sports, mass media and other for the development of exchange of experiences, knowledge, and ideas including training courses, roundtable discussions, seminars, and others.

This MoU is an important step towards collaboration while SCO is celebrating 20 years of its establishment. SCO is regional organisation with  eight permanent member states including China, Russia, Pakistan, India, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan.

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Center for Public Diplomacy established in Uzbekistan with the decree of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev is a non-profit organization to ensure the wide use of public diplomacy mechanisms in strengthening ties between the SCO member states.

In June 2017, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed an initiative to create a public diplomatic center in Tashkent at the meeting of the Council of Heads of State of SCO in Astana, Kazakhstan.

The center’s current priority is to develop bilateral and multilateral relations with public organizations of other SCO member states, including China’s SCO Committee on Good-Neighbourliness, Friendship, and Cooperation, with which the center signed a Memorandum of Cooperation in April 2019.

Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies in Islamabad, Pakistan-based research, advocacy, and public diplomacy Think and Do Tank focusing on the thematic areas of Diplomacy, Leadership, and Peace Studies. IPDS has established Pakistan-SCO Friendship Forum and SCO Studies Centre at the Institute to drive forward Pakistan’s stronger and meaningful presence at the important regional organization.

IPDS is focusing on exploring the possibilities of developing deep-rooted linkages within the SCO member countries and benefiting Pakistan and its citizens through “Connecting People and Providing Opportunities”.

The aim also is to raise awareness about the potential of SCO within Pakistan and jointly address the issues of the societies, covered by the SCO member states, through improved public engagement and diplomacy.

The MoU was signed by Ms. Farhat Asif, Founder President Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies, Islamabad, Pakistan, and Mr. Kabuljon Sabirov, Director SCO Center for Public Diplomacy in Uzbekistan. Mr. Asif Noor, Director, IPDS, and Secretary-General of Pakistan-SCO Friendship Forum, and Mr. Fakhriddin Otbosarov from the SCO Center for Public Diplomacy was also present on the occasion. = DNA

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BEIJING, Feb. 6 (DNA): The first business matchmaking event between Chinese and Pakistani enterprises in the Buffalo industry was held by the Pakistan-China Agriculture Cooperation Information Platform, that was established last month aiming to break information barriers between agricultural enterprises of the both sides and enhance pragmatic cooperation.

According to China Economic Net (CEN), gathering representatives from Chinese and Pakistani leading companies and institutes engaging in the Buffalo industry, the virtual meeting has discussed the feasibility of technological cooperation in developing Buffalo embryos to create high-yield type of Buffalo and the possibility of business cooperation in the production of Buffalo milk, powder, meat and other value-added products that could shore up Pakistan’s export.

“Can we import buffaloes from Pakistan?” That’s the first question asked by Lu Yangqing, Deputy Dean of College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University.

Pakistan’s Neeli-Ravi buffalo is one of the world’s famous river milk buffalo varieties, known as “black gold “.

A Chinese expert in diary Wang Dingmian once introduced in a report that the milk production of domestic dairy cow in China is relatively low, with an annual output of about 600 to 800 kg per cow, while the annual milk production of Pakistan’s Neeli-Ravi buffalo is about 1.5 tons per one.

As early as 1974, 50 Pakistani Neeli-Ravi buffaloes were introduced to China, but the milk production decreased with the passage of time and no more were imported since then. In this condition, Chinese companies expect to import more improved types of buffaloes from Pakistan.

However, according to the Pakistani government’s policy, “it’s not allowed to export live animals,” noted Dr. Khurshid Ahmad from Animal husbandry commissioner of Ministry of National Food Security and Research.

“If that’s not viable, we can develop buffaloes embryos,” Lu Yangqing suggested. “We have a lot of recipient buffaloes that are all swamp type buffaloes. So we can import embryos of indigenous types like Neeli Ravi or Hula Buffalo embryos into China and then transfer to our recipients.”

Responding the suggestion, Dr. Farooq Sandhu from Al Haiwan Semen Company, Sahiwal, said, “Pakistan’s buffalo industry is in urgent need to extend its industrial chain to realize added value growth, and we hope Chinese counterparts can support us in technologies and manufacturing.”

According to Dr. Farooq’s introduction, Al Haiwan Semen Company has six years of experiences in developing cow embryos, and with the technological assistance from the Chinese company, Al Haiwan Semen may be capable of conducting experiments in Buffalo embryos and breeding better types.

“We are keen to invest in Pakistan, setting up a lab to jointly develop Buffalo embryos or having join ventures with Pakistani counterparts to produce Buffalo milk and powder for export.

But we hope Pakistan can provide more favorable policies,” said Huang Jiadi, Chairman of Royal Group Co., Ltd., Chinese leading enterprise in the dairy industry and a pioneer in Buffalo milk production.

He added that there is already a mature business model in the camel milk and powder industry between enterprises from China and East-Asia that could lead the way forward.

“We will send a delegation to Pakistan in the following months to carry out investigations and seek for potential partners,” Huang hinted.

If the company decides to make a huge investment in Pakistan to support the whole supply chain of China’s buffalo milk business, it will undoubtedly bring enormous economic benefits to the country.

Dr. Sajjad Khan, Vice Chancellor of Cholistan University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences suggested research institutes and associations in the Buffalo industry should be considered if there were to be cooperation between Chinese and Pakistani enterprises.

All guests thanked the Information Platform for organizing the business matchmaking to bridge information gap between the enterprises of two countries.

Following the buffalo industry cooperation and matchmaking event, the platform will carry out a series of online discussion and exchange activities this year.

It will also explore deep into the agricultural subdivision fields such as seed industry, animal husbandry and fishery, dairy products and agricultural products processing, agricultural materials and agricultural machinery and cold chain storage, horticultural crops, etc.