ISLAMABAD, OCT 05 (DNA) – Federal Minister for Narcotics Control Azam Khan Swati while giving lecture to the under training Officers of Anti-Narcotics Force at ANF Academy said  that drug free country is our top priority and we are bringing strict laws against drugs smugglers and sellers, which will bring prosecution more stricter.

“ANF has a huge responsibility on its shoulders because the network of drug smugglers is spread all over the world. We have to break and dismantle their network in Pakistan and make the country drug free.” he said.

During lecture on law, Azam Khan Swati said that the job of investigating officers are very sensitive and difficult as they have to fight against drug smugglers and drug dealers in the field and in court. Your slightest negligence can get the enemy of humanity out of your hands.

The federal minister said that strict laws have been made against drug dealers and smugglers and the new laws will be passed by the parliament soon. The punishment in the new laws is very strict and clear.

Azam Khan Swati said that ANF Academy will be equipped with modern equipment and will make it the best academy in Pakistan. = DNA

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ISLAMABAD, OCT 05 (DNA) – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday reserved a verdict on a petition seeking ban on airing of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s speeches.

An IHC bench reserved the verdict on the maintainability of the writ petition after an initial hearing, which is likely to be pronounced o Monday. The petitioner cited the PML-N supreme leader, opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) chairman and others as respondents.

He stated in his petition that Nawaz levelled false allegations against state institutions to defame them. “The speeches made by Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif cannot in any way be termed as fair criticism or within the parameters of the fundamental right of freedom of speech. The fundamental right of speech guaranteed by the Constitution is not an absolute right but is subject to reasonable restrictions,” the petitioner contended.

He demanded that the government ban the broadcast of any such speech or statement of Nawaz. = DNA

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ISLAMABAD, OCT 05 (DNA) – Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed to formulate a comprehensive roadmap in consultations with the provinces to address the issue of stunting.

He was chairing the first meeting of Pakistan National Nutrition Coordination Council in Islamabad on Monday.

The Prime Minister asked the Special Assistant on National Health Services and Special Assistant on Poverty Alleviation to prepare roadmap based on time lines which will be presented with the Council of Common Interests.

Imran Khan said the federal government will continue to play its role to address the issue of stunted growth. The meeting was informed that planning was done in the past ten years to meet the nutrition requirements of women and children but it was never effectively implemented.

The result is that today about forty percent of children are the victims of stunted growth. In Sindh, this percentage is fifty percent. = DNA

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DNA

Rawalpindi, OCT 5 – A special music awards show held at Punjab Council of the Arts with the collaboration of SR International. Abdullah Gul, Farah Azeem Shah, and Director Punjab Arts Council Waqar Ahmed were the guests of honor.

More than 20 artists received awards for their exceptional performance in the field of drama, film, music and fine arts. Special musical show was also presented by the new singers. While addressing at the ceremony Abdullah Gul said that the awards were the source of inspiration for the artist, which helped them to improve their work.

Director Waqar Ahmad said that the council always strived to promote art. Artist is our precious assets, who bear the midnight oil to present entertainment in our lives.

Waqar Ahmad was also presented with special award for his efforts to promote art and culture. A number of actors, musician, journalist and people from different walks of life showed up for the music award show.

DNA

Diamer/Zhob , OCT 5 –  The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations under the project “Reversing Deforestation and Forest Degradation in High Conservation Value Chilogoza Pine Forests in Pakistan” inaugurated Chilgoza processing units in Diamer district of Gilgit Baltistan and in Zhob, Balochistan.

The project is funded by the Global Environment Facility and implemented under the oversight of the Ministry of Climate Change. Furthermore, the project is additionally contributing 23 million trees to the Ten Billion Trees Programme of MoCC.

The project has involved the local community within the conservation and protection of forests while adding value chain development. Since the key issue faced by the local community is the lack of access to Chilgoza processing unit, FAO through the project, installed a processing unit at Chilas, Diamer and Zhob, Balochistan, covering Chilgoza cleaning, grading, roasting, packing and labelling. This initiative will allow the local community to sell a finished product at a higher price and also will increase the shelf life of roasted pine nuts up to six months. From the conservation perspective, the specialized tools and the training to the communities, has improved forest regeneration. Moreover, training for women on packing and labelling, kitchen gardening, and literacy are paradigms of the initiatives that have been identified by the communities.

FAO and the Forest Department representatives of both districts jointly inaugurated the processing units.  On this occasion, the community members, local traders, forest department officials attended the event. For this first year, representatives from the communities, Forest Department staff will be trained for independent running of the processing unit starting from next season in 2021.

Speaking on the occasion, Country Representative of FAO, Mina Dowlatchahi highlighted the significance of such unit to ensure more benefits arising from natural resources management. She stated that for the first time in Diamer and Zhob districts, the local people will be able to process their harvest in one place from grading to packaging and labelling, and hence obtain a higher price on the market compared to selling cones or unroasted nuts. It is hoped that these economic benefits would increase the efforts and engagement of the communities in Chilgoza forest conservation, she said.

Deputy Commissioner Sherani, Balochistan, Muhammad Ramzan Palal said that forests are the integral part of nature. Efforts are underway not only to prevent deforestation in Sherani district, but also environment-friendly trees are being planted alternatively. He called for the promotion of agro forestry to protect pine-nuts and olive forests in the district.

District Forest Officer Diamer, Gilgit Baltistan, Zakir Hussain stated that the processing unit will help the local communities to get a better price at the market. He also added that it is another step towards our natural resource management goal. He also stressed on collective efforts of communities, government and development partners to raise awareness about the conservation of natural resources. 

The project contributes to the restoration, protection and sustainable management of Chilgoza pine forests to provide global environmental benefits as well as enhanced resilience and livelihoods to local stakeholders. The project focuses on the improved and sustainable management of Chilgoza forests while strengthening the National and Provincial Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) Policies and Legal Framework.