ISLAMABAD : The federal government has changed its visa policy for Afghan nationals after modifying the number of visits, entries and validity period.

The new policy was introduced to facilitate Afghan nationals for the issuance of visas at border crossing instead of visiting the Pakistan embassy in Kabul. The relevant authorities modified the number of visits, validity period and entries under the new visa policy.

The Pakistani embassy in Kabul and consulates will issue visit visas to Afghan nationals with multiple entries for one year. Moreover, they can also get business visas for a period of five years that will be extendable in Pakistan.

Under the new policy, Afghan students could acquire visas till the completion of their studies in Pakistan instead of renewing it every year, whereas, six-month visas will be issued to Afghan patients at Torkham border.
The visa policy of Pakistan for Afghan nationals had remained unchanged till September 2020 as the Foreign Office (FO) confirmed last year that Pakistani missions were issuing around 3,800 visas a day without charging any fees that were more than any other country.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had made the statement when reports had been circulated for the introduction of a new visa policy for Afghan nationals last year and abolishment of on-arrival visa facility owing to security concerns.

A report had quoted Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director Immigration Ismatullah Junejo as saying that the Afghan nationals used to be issued a 30-day visa at entry points in Pakistan. But now, they will have to apply for a visa at Pakistani diplomatic missions in Afghanistan.

Once issued a visa, the Afghan nationals would be required to provide details, including the time and place of their stay, in ‘Form C’ which they would fill upon entry into Pakistan.

The Form would then be forwarded to security agencies for verification. After the details are verified, the Afghan visa-holders would be issued residence and travel permits.

ISLAMABAD : PML-N has decided to dismiss five members of the party for violating the party’s rules and meeting Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar without permission.

The decision which was approved by senior party leadership was announced by PML-N general-secretary Ahsan Iqbal.

The members to have been removed are Punjab Assembly lawmakers Ashraf Ansari, Jaleel Sharaqpuri, Faisal Niazi, Nishat Daha and Moulvi Ghayasuddin.

The inquiry against the aforementioned members came into effect with the approval of PMl-N Punjab president Rana Sanaullah.

Besides this, a few PML-N parliamentarians were issued show-cause notices for having been absent during the crucial voting that took place in a joint session of the parliament for Financial Action Task Force (FATF) related legislation.

Despite the opposition’s concerns regarding a few clauses, the bills were passed by the assembly with a majority of votes by government representatives.

Those asked to explain their absence that day include Raheela Magsi, Kulsoom Parveen, Dilawar Khan and Shamim Afridi.

ISLAMABAD : The Foreign Office has said that Pakistan supports Azerbaijan’s position on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue which is in line with the several unanimously adopted UN Security Council Resolutions.

“Pakistan stands with the brotherly nation of Azerbaijan and supports its right of self-defense,” the Foreign Office Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said in the opening remarks of his weekly media briefing in Islamabad on Thursday.

The Spokesperson also expressed Pakistan’s deep concern over the deteriorating security situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said that the intensive shelling by the Armenian forces on civilian populations of Azerbaijani villages is reprehensible and most unfortunate.

The fresh escalation of tension between Azerbaijan and Armenia resulting in fierce fighting has caused 23 more fatalities.

Since September 27, dozens have been killed and hundreds wounded in the fighting between Azerbaijan and Armenian forces in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but it is illegally occupied and governed by ethnic Armenians.

Islamabad, October 1: Islamabad Citizens Committee (ICC) has evolved a sector-wise consolidated plan to address the civic problems of the federal capital.

The plan will soon be presented to the Mayor of Islamabad for necessary action. This was announced here by the President of ICC, Syed M.Siddiq Hasan at a meeting of Committee’s Executive Council.

The plan underlined some serious problems, being faced by the residents that needed urgent attention of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), ICT administration and the Mayor, IMC.

The ICC that was established in 1977 by late Syed M.Shakir Hasan, father of its incumbent President striving hard to improve and upgrade the living status of the citizen of federal Capital in line with the CDA’s Master Plan.

Syed M.Siddiq Hasan who was re-elected as President ICC for the next two-year term by the Executive Committee, said that shortage of water, deteriorating sanitation system and growing encroachment have badly affected the life of the citizens of Islamabad.

The ICC, he said has always been cooperating with the local authorities for improving civic conditions. It has also been extending a helping hand to the ICT police for improving the security condition in the city.

About the proposed plan, he said it carried a number suggestions for improving general Cleanliness, sewerage works, cleaning of streets, roads, construction of foot paths and maintenance of parks, etc.

There are some other problems, like defective street and traffic lights and traffic hazards like, enforcement of one way traffic in and around all the major markets of Islamabad.

Through the proposed plan, the attention of the authorities is also being drawn towards the problems relating to schools and hospitals, self-constructed speed breakers, proper maintenance of parks and play-grounds, he added.

The President, ICC appreciated the follow- up action taken by the Mayor, IMC after its meeting with him last month. Immediate action was observed on his part with regard to the maintenance of roads, street light and cutting of grace in H-8 grave yard etc.

The ICC plans to meet the Mayor, IMC on a regular intervals to address the problems on regular basis, he added.

LAHORE : Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has inaugurated Punjab Rozgar Scheme which is said to be the largest employment programme.

While addressing the inauguration ceremony, CM Usman Buzdar said that the government sets the priority to provide easy loans worth over Rs30 billion to youth under the scheme which is being launched with the support of the Bank of Punjab and Punjab Small Industries Corporation (PSIC).

He said that the initiative was taken to transform skills of youth into investment by the provincial government.

Under the Punjab Rozgar Scheme, citizens will be provided easy loans worth more than Rs30 billion for new and running businesses besides assisting the small and medium enterprises to recover from coronavirus crisis.
Transgender persons can also avail the easy loans facility, whereas, the government finalises a plan for providing loans on a low mark-up to women.

Punjab CM Usman Buzdar had earlier announced on September 8 to launch the employment programme this programme for providing soft loans programme worth Rs30 billion for new and running businesses. He had said that the provincial government is providing financial relief to the affected businesses amid COVID-19 crisis.

He had also announced that the provincial government will review plans for further reducing the mark-up. CM Buzdar said that the young generation will not only groom their skills but also be provided employment.

LAHORE : Punjab Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid has said that the government took concrete steps to defeat the Covid-19.

Talking to newsmen in Lahore, she said that the World Health Organization (WHO) is appreciating Pakistan’s steps taken to control the pandemic.

She said that we increased medical facilities in the Health sector therefore infection rate in Punjab is low as compared to other provinces.Yasmin Rashid said that the health department is constantly monitoring the Covid-19 situation after reopening of all educational institutions in the province.

The minister said that the government has established nineteen BSL-3 labs across the province for testing of coronavirus patients while 32000 recruitments have also been made in the Health Department in a transparent way.

It was reported on September 29 that as many as 145 students had been tested positive for the coronavirus at public and private schools in Punjab, according to the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department.

A spokesperson for the department had said 70,750 students were tested for Covid-19 at educational institutions after they reopened on September 15, out of whom 145 turned out to be positive.

ISLAMABAD, Oct 1 : National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) has planned to hold Annual  Folk Festival “Lok Mela” from 6th to 15th November.

According to an official announcement , Lok Virsa annual mega event is scheduled from November 6th to 15th November at Lok Virsa Complex, Garden Avenue, Shakarparian, Islamabad.

The inaugural ceremony of the 10-day event will be held on November 6 which is expected to be graced by Federal Minister for Education, Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood.

The main features will include provincial cultural pavilions from all provinces, GB, AJK including an international pavilion, artisans at work, folk songs and dance performances, exotic craft bazaar, cultural nights, folkloric performances, food courts, and many other activities.

As per tradition, the festival will formally open with a chadarposhi/ dastarbandi ceremony, which is a way of proclaiming Lok Virsa’s commitment to the high stature that craftspeople and folk artists have in the cultural mainstream.

This year, one established master crafts woman and one male folk artist/ musician will be honoured with chaddarposhi and dastarbandi by the chief guest.

Culture departments of all provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and diplomatic community have been invited to set up pavilions presenting their indigenous folk culture, artisans, folk artists and traditional cuisine as link nodes of the festival‘s foundation grid.

Special attractions featuring folk singers, folk entertainers and other entertaining shows will be organized throughout the festival period duration.

Display of traditional folk dances from all over Pakistan will be held in the open air theater at intervals.

Folk entertainers and rural musicians are invited from all over the country to participate in the festival.

An exotic craft bazaar with score of tastefully decorated pavilions offering a variety of knick-knacks souvenirs, antiques, craft items, gems & jewelry, and cultural materials will also be set up erected.

Each province, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu &  Kashmir will hold its cultural night during Lok Mela in which eminent folk artists and folk performers hailing from the respective province/ region will perform live in a concert.

Traditional mouth-watering Pakistani cuisines will be arranged at the venue of the festival.

The festival will culminate with a colorful award ceremony which is scheduled to take place on the last day November 15 in which cash awards will be distributed among the most talented and deserving artisans on the recommendations.