DNA

ISLAMABAD, SEPT 30 – Through the medium of a remote virtual event, Huawei Pakistan, working together with the Higher Education Commission, took part in the official closing ceremony for the Seeds for the Future program, 2020. The event was attended by Mr. Moin-ul-Haque, Pakistan Ambassador to China,Dr. Fateh Marri, Executive Director HEC,Mr. Ma Libing, Deputy CEO Huawei Pakistan and the 32 students who participated in the program.

This is the 6th year seeds for the future is happening in Pakistan,unlike previous years, when a whole batch of nominated students could travel to China for the study trip, this was the first time that the program was moved online due to the obvious restrictions of COVID-19. Out of a pool of 1173 applicants, 32 engineering students from 27 universities all across Pakistan were nominated by the Higher Education Commission.The aim of the program, which has been active in over 126 countries & regions since its inception in Thailand, has been to nurture upcoming STEM talent from around the world. As a global ICT market leader, Huawei has taken it upon itself to promote local ICT industries as part of development in their operational regions.

During the one week online learning program from 21st to 25th, Sep 2020,students from Kenya alongside students from Pakistan received technical training from Huawei and industry ICT experts, who shared their expertise on courses covering a wide range of topics like the Chinese language, strategic leadership, 5G, cloud computing, AIetc.

Students were required to finish a number of compulsory courses and get a minimum of 60 marks on the test at the end of the course. Out of the 32 students, 26 successfully passed the course and got the graduation certificate.The top two students, Muhammad Hamza from Barani Institute of Management & Sciences and Muhammad Shahzeb Khan from BUITEMS, Quetta secured a sponsored trip to China in 2021 with perfect scores. The top ten students also received other awards, like Huawei Free Buds, Huawei Pad or Huawei Nova 7i mobile phone.

Dr. Fateh Marri, Executive Director HEC, remarked that, “I congratulate the students who have secured distinctions in these courses, from over a thousand students, you are the few who have been selected to be a part of this program. I’m thankful to Huawei and their very strong collaboration with the Higher Education Commission and universities across Pakistan.” He elaborated further that HEC has been focusing to promote use of technology in teaching and research. Establishment of consortium of over 60 Universities from China and Pakistan for joint collaborations,establishment of over 20 ICT academies in universities and start of 100 smart class rooms being a few examples.

Continuing with this sentiment, Mr. Moin-ul-Haque, Pakistan Ambassador to China stated, “We are going through an era of digitalization with technologies like 5G, AI, Cloud Computing, and Big Data that are poised to bring profound transformation to our lives. I would like to thank Huawei for enabling the technology that brought all these students together on one platform to conduct these courses, despite difficult times.”

Student representative Ume-Hani Usman from NED University, Karachialso shared her experience about the program, “The program was highly beneficial for us, getting cutting-edge knowledge in the field of ICT. All the online courses were well-organized and designed in a way to deliver valuable knowledge of recent technologies along with personal development courses that widened our horizon of thinking and decision making in this era. “

Ma Libing, Deputy CEO Huawei Pakistan, also shared his remarks, stating, “We want to help the upcoming generations reach their fullest potential by becoming tomorrow’s technology leaders, innovators, and pioneers. This program is meant to further develop their inclusion in our global digital society.”

The Seeds for the Future program has been a successful addition to Huawei’s social-enterprise partnership goal in Pakistan since the first batch of Pakistani students traveled to China in 2015. So far 87 Pakistani students have been benefited from this program. DNA

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Center for Global & Strategic Studies (CGSS), Islamabad organized an Online International Conference on “Role of Human Rights Watch in Thwarting Indian Atrocities in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir

Saifullah/DNA

ISLAMABAD:  Center for Global & Strategic Studies (CGSS), Islamabad organized an Online International Conference on “Role of Human Rights Watch in Thwarting Indian Atrocities in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir”. The aim of the Conference was to stimulate the International Human Rights Organizations to accentuate the applicability of International Humanitarian Laws in Kashmir.

The Conference commenced with the opening remarks of Major General Syed Khalid Amir Jaffery, HI(M), (Retd), President CGSS who welcomed the participants of the session. He stated that the Kashmir conflict must be addressed by the International community.

Sardar Masood Khan, President of Azad Jammu and Kashmirstated that the threefold responsibility of the charter of UN is to promote and protect peace, promote and protect human rights, and economic development and the wellbeing of the nations of the world. When we talk about human right instruments the core right is the right to self-determination which was recognized in 1945. However, the right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir has been denied for the past 73 years despite the passage of a dozen of UNSC resolutions. Other instruments including the Universal declaration of human rights, the 2 covenants; the covenant on civil and political rights; and the academic, social and cultural rights also refer to the right of self-determination. Then there are conventions against torture, against disappearance, discrimination against women or racial discrimination and so on. All these instruments are being violated blatantly by the Indian forces in Jammu & Kashmir. In fact the Indian government has enforced laws like the Armed Forces Special Power Act or the Public Safety Act which give cover to all the crimes against humanity which are committed by the occupational forces against the unarmed civilians in Kashmir. He mentioned that ethnic genocides, culture invasion & other crimes against humanity are being committed by India that require immediate action.

Ms. Shireen Mazari, Federal Minister of Human Rights, Government of Pakistan stated there are different aspects to the Kashmir Dispute, first is the conflict resolution through United Nations Security Council resolution through a plebiscite which will be a just solution for the people of Kashmir. In the contemporary times, human rights violation has become central to various countries across the globe than why India has never been questioned for violating human rights in the Indian Occupied Kashmir which has been ongoing since 1948. India has also undermined the Simla agreement. The siege in IOK still continues, we must take this issue to the UN Forums more strongly. India is moving up the scale of the genocide. India has altered the administrative dynamics. In addition, the demographic changes is a proof that India aims to destroy Kashmiri identity and population by infiltrating Indian citizens to Jammu & Kashmir.

Lord Nazir Ahmed, Baron Ahmed, Member of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom stated that the case of Amnesty International to walk out of India and close its office is the biggest proof of Indian harassment and violation of human rights. India is not a democracy anymore. India does not have good relations with its neighbors. It is almost at war with China, Nepal and Bangladesh. Even Sri Lanka is not happy with India. The Government of Pakistan must organize a Regional Peace Conference and initiate massive campaigns to highlight to expose the fascist government of India. He further stated that we must have proper platforms like official websites, newspapers, journals and other platforms to tell the world about the ground realities of the Indian oppression in Kashmir.

Mr. Ahmer Bilal Soofi- Former Federal Law Minister stated that through this Conference various areas have been highlighted that required more clarification. He stated that various countries have separate legal divisions comprising of legal experts that advise their Governments on legal matters. Pakistan can connect to these legal divisions and provide them insights related to violation of human rights in Indian Occupied Kashmir. By developing this network, we can address this issue at international level.

Ms. Maria Iqbal Tarana, Human Right Activist and Former Chairperson Commission for Women, Azad Jammu & Kashmir stated that the Indian atrocities in Kashmir are not ending. We need to knock the doors of international human rights organizations. We need to lobby and campaign and make friends to highlight this issue in international arena. She further stated that stated that India is very openly violating human rights in Kashmir but are not being highlighted internationally.

The Conference was attended by 100participants and was also streamed live on Facebook. The Conference was moderated by Barrister Waqas Aziz Qureshi, Member Board of Experts, CGSS.

DNA

RAWALPINDI, SEPT 30 – General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) met with veterans of 1st PMA long course at GHQ. COAS acknowledged and appreciated the role and sacrifices of the senior officers as leaders.

Visiting officers shared their thoughts about prevailing security environment and challenges confronting Pakistan in general and Pakistan Armed Forces in particular.

QUETTA : The Supreme Court was informed on Wednesday that five dams have been completed in Balochistan, while four more under construction projects will be completed next year.

Secretary Public Health Engineering during hearing of Balochistan water shortage case at Quetta Registry told a bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed , that work has been underway on 100 projects of small dams in the province.

The shortage of water in Balochistan will come to an end with completion of all projects of dams, the PHE official said.Chief Justice urged that quality of work should not be compromised in construction of dams, ” Here a work that have a life time of 50 years, could not sustain even five years,” CJP remarked.

“We could not send every thing to NAB for inquiry,” the CJP said.

“The government conducting inquiry by inspection team of the chief minister,” Advocate General Balochistan informed the court.

Justice Gulzar Ahmed ordered for early start of the construction of Winder dam adding that the project should be completed within one year.

He also directed for completion of all dam projects in Balochistan within three years and warn action against responsible persons, if the projects won’t completed in time.

The bench also directed for submitting progress report after each three months on Winder dam project.

The court adjourned further hearing of the case for three months.

Winder Dam, an earth-core rock-fill dam will create gross storage of 36,484 acre-foot water to irrigate 10,000 acres of command area and its power house will generate 300 kW electricity. The project will be constructed at the estimated cost of Rs 15.230 billion.

The main objective of the project is to provide 50 cusecs assured irrigation water supply to irrigate 10,000 acres of agriculture land round the year.

Winder Dam site located across Winder River about 100 km from Karachi in Lasbela District of Balochistan.

DNA

LAHORE, Sept 30 – Governor Punjab Ch. Sarwar Wednesday greeted Veteran trade leader and chairman Founder Group Iftikhar Ali Malik for landslide victory in annual election of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Talking to Iftikhar Malik by telephone, Governor said  here today that PIAF Founder alliance candidates had a clean sweep on all seats which reflects its popularity in the business community.He said that Lahore after Karachi is second hub of economic activities and traders always played key role in national development and progress of the country.

He said that Lahore  chamber is the largest and the oldest in the country established in 1923 which produced eminent figures in Pakistan.He said that PTI government especially Prime Minister Imran always attached great importance to business community and had already issued directives to all federal and provincial departments to address the genuine grievances of the business community on top priority.

Muhammad Sarwar Ch said that “ he is all the time available to them and always not only extend cooperation but also take up their legitimate issues to concerned quarters for their redressal” he added.

Iftikhar Malik thanked Governor for his support and acknowledgment of democratically conducted fair free and transparent elections in chamber. He said it is indeed important to increase our exports and for that purpose we need to reduce our cost of doing business so that our products can remain competitive in the world markets.

He further said trade facilitation is the key to promote industries and we need to remove all the obstacles and create the culture of trade facilitation. “Our Country has tremendous potential as we have enormous talent. What we need is the consistency in the government policies and a clear roadmap to move forward,” he added.

Iftikhar Malik said Lahore Chamber always acts as a bridge between the government and the business community. It has always tried to ensure a business-friendly environment through sharing views with the government and by taking all the stakeholders onboard on all the economy related issues.