Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova and Speaker of the Senate of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Mohammad Sadiq Sanjrani had a telephone conversation, press service of the Milli Majlis told.
The latest situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and military provocations committed by Armenia on the frontline were discussed during the telephone conversation.
By Vladmir Norov
The world day of tourism (World Tourism Day) was established by the General Assembly of World Tourism Organization, UNWTO (The World Tourism Organization, UNWTO) in 1979 in the city of Torremolinos, Spain.It is celebrated every year on September 27. This date was chosen because the Charter of the World Tourism Organization was adopted on this day in 1970.
The purpose of the holiday is to promote tourism, to highlight its contribution to the economy of the international community, and to develop ties between the people of the different countries. It is intended to draw the attention of the international community to the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, and economic value.
Itis aa holiday of everyone who has ever felt like a traveler, having got out of the everyday bustle. And, of course, it is a holiday of those who are directly engaged in the sphere of travel business – the staff of travel agencies, museum employees, heads and personnel of hotel complexes, and of all those who professionally provide a comfortable and safe stay of tourists.
Over the past half-century, tourism has become one of the fastest-growing and most important sectors of the economy in the world. And for some countries, tourism is even the main source of revenue for the state budget. The tourism sector accounts for 10% of Global GDP and has demonstrated resilience and growth in recent years. The technological advancements related to the tourism sector supplemented by the decrease in transportation fare have led to an increase in the number of international travelers.
Like any activity, tourism has a strong impact on the economies, societies, and the environment in the developing countries, especially in the host countries. Besides the socio-economic impact of the tourism sector and if managed sustainably, could be a factor in the preservation of the environment, cultural recognition, and enhancing understating among peoples.
World Tourism Day has been celebrated in most of the countries of the world for more than thirty years. Traditionally, this day hosts gatherings of tourists, festivities, and festivals dedicated to tourism.
ThemeWorld Tourism Day
Each year, World Tourism Day is celebrated to a theme proclaimed by the World Tourism Organization, to universal peace and understanding, “Tourism and quality of life”, “Best in travel: good guests and good hosts”, “Tourism is a life force for world peace”, “Free movement of tourists creates a new world”, “Communication, Information and Education: defining directions of tourism development”, “Development of tourism and environmental protection: towards long-term harmony”, “Tourism is a factor of tolerance and peace”, “Technology and nature: two difficult challenges for tourism at the dawn of the twenty-first century”, “Ecotourism is the key to sustainable development, Travel and Transport: from the imagination of Jules Verne to the reality of the 21st Century”, “Tourism and water resources: protecting our common future”, Tourism and Water Resources: protecting our common future”, “One billion tourists – one billion opportunities”, Tourism for all – promoting the universal availability of tourism”, “Sustainable Tourism is a tool for development, Tourism and its transformation in the digital space, and others”.
In recognition of the importance of international tourism in promoting better understanding among peoples, leading to greater awareness of the rich heritage of different civilizations and for a better understanding of the values of different cultures and thereby contributing to the consolidation of peace in the world, the UN Member States, at a meeting of the General Assembly in 2016, decided to declare 2017 as International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.
World Tourism Day 2020 theme: Tourism and Rural Development
This theme of the celebration is chosen by members of the international community because itplays an extremely important role in providing employment opportunities outside major cities andin preserving cultural and natural heritage.
The development of tourism can help strengthen rural communities. It is estimated that 68 percent of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050, while 80 percent of those currently living in extreme poverty live outside cities and towns.
The situation is particularly difficult for young people as young people belonging to rural communities are three times more likely to be unemployed than older people.
World Tourism Day is celebrated by the UNWTO Member States in all regions of the world. It is held against the backdrop of rural communities struggling with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. These communities tend to be less prepared to deal with the short and long-term effects of a crisis. This is due to several factors, including an aging population, lower income levels, and the continuing digital divide.
The state of the tourism industry in the face of the pandemic andthe recovery of tourism
Unfortunately, the beginning of 2020 was marked by an outbreak of coronavirus infection that affected virtually every country in the world. The challenge for the international community is to rebuild the tourism sector on a safe, equitable, and environmentally friendlybasis. It should be underlined that the tourism sector is one of the sectors most affected by COVID-19.
According to UNWTO, between 100 and 120 million jobs in the tourism sector are at risk. The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) forecasts losses of 1.5% to 2.8% of world GDP. The impact of falling demand for international travel can lead to a loss of 850 million to 1.1 billion US dollars to international tourists. Losses of revenue range from $910 billion to $1.2 trillion. The current crisis in international tourism has been the worst since 1950 when the first statistical estimates appeared.
No country has escaped the consequences of the pandemic. Travel restrictions and a sudden drop in consumer demand have led to an unprecedented decline in international tourism indicators, which in turn has had a devastating impact on the economy as a whole and led to a massive loss of jobs.
Women, youth, and workers in the informal economy are most at risk of losing their jobs in the tourism sector as a result of the pandemic. This problem is most acute in regions whose income depends primarily on the state of the tourism sector.
The crisis in tourism also threatens programs aimed at protecting wildlife and world cultural heritage. Lower revenues from tourism have resulted in reduced funding for biodiversity conservation.
The restoration of the tourist industry after the pandemic will be possible only after the abolition of quarantine and other restrictions on freedom of movement and economic activity, while taking the strictest security measures, ensuring the health of the population.
The Global Recommendations for Tourism Renewal, prepared by UNWTO on May 28, 2020, set out priorities for tourism restoration, detailed actions of all responsible structures and bodies, including border management, air carriers engaged in the provision of hotel services of the private sector, tour operators and travel agencies, structures and organizations in the field of mass events, the organization of safe tourism. Importantly, these recommendations were developed jointly with the collective experience of UNWTO member states, as well as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the World Bank, and other authoritative organizations and structures.
The driver of the economic recovery of the post-pandemic and its subsequent growth can and should be the tourism industry. In this regard, it may be noted that the SCO Member States are implementing various programs to support the economy as a whole and its most affected industries, such as tourism, transportation of all kinds, hotel business, etc.
The pandemic has created great difficulties and challenges for all countries. At the same time, it is clear that new opportunities are emerging. The example of China shows how successfully it is possible to develop the tourism industry by using modern technology by providing “contactless” services such as virtual tours, “cloud exhibitions” and others. It is important that with the help of innovations, it is possible to improve the tourism environment and increase the overall development level of tourism facilities in our countries.
SCO cooperation in tourism
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was established in 2001 by six founding states – the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan, the Republic of Uzbekistan.
After the entry of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Republic of India in 2017, the SCO has turned into the largest organization of regional cooperation with the largest geographical coverage and population. It occupies over 60% of the Eurasian continent and 42% of the population of the Earth. It is home to about 800 million people between the ages of 18 and 25 – or about half of all young people of humanity. Since the entry of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Republic of India in 2017, the SCO has become the largest organization of regional cooperation with the largest geographical reach and population. It occupies more than 60% of the Eurasian continent and 42% of the world’s population.
The SCO Member States have increasingly political and economic opportunities, high authority, and influence in world affairs. The rich historical and cultural heritage and enormous humanitarian potential of the SCO Member States and peoples make it natural and necessary for them to strive for deepening cooperation and understanding among civilizations and intensifying interpersonal contacts and exchanges in education, culture, and tourism; contribute to strengthening mutual trust between the countries and achieving mutually beneficial results, subsequently, which will allow joint efforts to deepen and expand cultural and humanitarian cooperation throughout the SCO region.
The member states of SCO are guided by the provisions of the SCO Charter of June 7, 2002, in which one of the key priorities of the multifaceted cooperation between the countries is cultural and humanitarian cooperation. The main goals and objectives of the SCO in this important area are to strengthen mutual trust, friendship, and good neighborliness among the member states, to encourage effective cooperation in cultural, educational, and other areas of common interest. Article 3 (Areas of cooperation) of the Charter states: “The main areas of cooperation within the SCO are the expansion of cooperation in the fields of science and technology, education, healthcare, culture, sports, and tourism”.
On May 22, 2020, the heads of tourism administrations of the SCO Member States approved the Plan of Joint Actions for Cooperation in tourism for the period 2021-2022 to give a new impetus to cooperation and interaction between our countries.
The SCO is well-positioned to become one of the world’s economic centers, which will lead to positive changes in the development of tourism. In 2019,the total GDP of the SCO Member States amounted to 22.5 percent of the world total ($18.4 trillion) and may reach 35-40% of the world totalby 2030.
According to expert estimates, by 2030, China and India will take the leading places among the ten leading economies in the world. According to the international bank “Standard Chartered”, by 2030 the GDP of the top 10 economies of the world will be 190 trillion dollars. Of this amount, 60% will come from China, India, and Russia.
The SCO Secretariat is establishing relations with UNWTO based on the Memorandum of Understanding in the following important areas of cooperation, including assistance to the SCO Member States in improving the economic well-being of local communities, including ensuring safe and easy travel protection of consumer rights, risk and crisis management, as well as emergency response stimulation of public-private partnerships, with special emphasis on initiatives contributing to the attraction of investment.
The potential for tourism development between the SCO countries is very significant. The number of UNESCO’s tangible and intangible World Heritage sites includes 143 sites from SCO member states.
To promote the country tourism brand of the SCO member states, to use tourism resources, various cooperation projects, and programs, cultural and creative products, to get acquainted with the diverse culture and interesting tourist features of the SCO member states, the project “Eight Wonders of the SCO” initiated by the SCO Secretariat has been launched and successfully implemented since June 2019, which is aimed at demonstrating the cultural diversity and tourism potential of the SCO. The project “Eight Wonders of SCO” is supported by the SCO member states. It is aimed at creating a single tourist space and is implemented to implement the relevant decisions of the 2018 Qingdao Summit of the SCO.
A series of thematic presentations on tourism topics was launched with the participation of representatives of diplomatic and trade missions, ministries and departments of SCO Member States in the field of tourism, travel companies, tour operators, as well as other specialized mechanisms of the Organization.
Each SCO Member State chose one of the sights or a set of objects that it considered possible to designate as a national “miracle”. For example, India chose the famous “Statue of Unity”, Kazakhstan – “Archaeological Complex Tamgaly”, China – “Ruins of the Imperial Palace Damin”, Kyrgyzstan – “Lake Issyk-Kul”, Pakistan – “Heritage of the Great Moguls in Lahore”, Russia – “Golden Ring”, Tajikistan – “Navruz Palace” and Uzbekistan – architectural ensemble “Poi Kalyan”.
The project “Eight Wonders of SCO” has become a milestone in the history of SCO, a demonstration of the active practical activities of the organization aimed at strengthening socio-economic ties between member states, observer states, dialogue partners, and all stakeholders. In this regard, it may be noted that the International Trade Building and the Eight Wonders of the SCO Project Pavilion have already been built on the territory of the Demonstration Zone of Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation in Qingdao as a contribution by the Chinese side to the common cause.
Presentation of the project “Eight Wonders of SCO” is planned in all SCO countries as well as located along the “One belt and one way”. Before the coronavirus pandemic, active work on its implementation was carried out, and presentations were successfully held in St. Petersburg, Helsinki, Dushanbe. Special attention was paid to the presentations in China – they took place in Beijing and Xi’an. The presentations will also be held in other Chinese cities.
Even though the pandemic has made its corrections, there is a hope that travelers from the countries of the SCO’s big family will be the most active tourists, which will allow reviving strong cultural and humanitarian ties and contacts between countries and nations.
The SCO Secretariat is actively and productively cooperating with the World Federation of Tourist Cities (WFTG).
It should be noted that the WFTG was established on September 15, 2012, at the initiative of Beijing and is an international non-governmental tourist organization formed in conjunction with tourist cities and tourism-related institutions around the world. The WTTCG is one of the largest global tourism associations along with UNWTO, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), and the Asia Pacific Tourism Association (APTA).
It is worth mentioning that the WFTG has its headquarters and secretariat in Beijing. The official languages of the WFTG are Chinese and English. The Federation has 218 members, including 145 member cities, 73 tourism organizations, and companies operating in the tourism sector. It may be noted here that 43 out of 145 cities of the WFTG member states are located on the territory of the SCO member states. Currently, four cities of Central Asian countries – Almaty, Dushanbe, Nur-Sultan, and Samarkand are accepted into the ranks of this Federation.
The activities of the WFTG must be aimed at providing its members with services covering the entire tourism industry chain, as well as to spread the experience of development of tourist cities, promotion of tourist products and resources, development of the tourism industry.
On September 5, 2020, the World Conference on Cooperation and Tourism Development was held in Beijing on the theme “Reviving World Tourism for Prosperity” as part of The China International Fair For Trade in Services (CIFTIS 2020), at which the SCO Secretariat participated.
In conclusion, the celebration of World Tourism Day is an opportunity for the international community to re-think the future of the tourism sector, including in terms of achieving sustainable development goals. Tourism can ultimately help countries cope with the consequences of the pandemic by building solidarity and trust, essential elements of global cooperation so badly needed nowadays.
ISLAMABAD: The capital recorded its highest rise in Covid-19 cases this month with 74 more patients reported on Sunday. The number is more than twice the total number of cases reported in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province the same day.
Five doctors at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) have also contracted the disease since outpatient departments reopened on Aug 20. The hospital has postponed the opening of private wards.
Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat has attributed the increase in cases partly to an increase in testing. There were 4,500 Covid-19 tests carried out on Saturday, Sept 26, and the random sampling of people entering Islamabad from the provinces has also been carried out.
He said cases have also increased because of the opening of schools and commercial centres and the resumption of other social activities.
However, he said it was incorrect to attribute the rise in cases to Muharram.
According to data from the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS), there were 74 Covid-19 cases reported in Islamabad on Sunday. Prior to this, the highest number of cases reported this month was 46 on Sept 18.
In July, Islamabad reported more than 700 new cases in one day. Mr Shafqaat said that although it appears as if there has been a sharp increase in new Covid-19 cases, the test-positivity ratio remains below 1pc.
“The fact is that we conducted 4,500 tests on Saturday, which was a record for the whole country in terms of population. As random sampling of people entering in the city has been started, out of 75 cases as many as 30 were reported amongst people who were entering in the capital from Punjab, KP and other parts of the country,” he said.
“We hope that the number of cases will be controlled in the coming days, as all possible steps are being taken and rigorous testing is being done,” he added.
Five doctors test positive at Pims
Pims Joint Executive Director Dr Minhajus Siraj told Dawn that five doctors have been diagnosed with Covid-19 since outpatient departments opened on Aug 20. He said there are also nine more patients admitted to the hospital.
Dr Siraj said the decision to open private wards on Sept 25 was postponed because of the increase in Covid-19 cases.
“We have 30 beds in the private ward and 38 beds in the intensive care unit which will be used for Covid-19 patients if the number of cases increases,” he said.
Dr Siraj said that primary schools will open on Sept 30, and since the coronavirus has an incubation period of around 10 to 11 days, the situation will become clearer by Oct 15.
“Although a second wave has been trigged in a number of countries, in Pakistan we will be in a position to say whether or not a second wave has been trigged after Oct 15. People should continue wearing masks and taking precautionary measures,” he said.
Rawalpindi reports one death, 10 more cases
A Covid-19 patient died on Sunday while 10 more people tested positive for the disease and 16 recovered.
A 65-year-old from Gujar Khan was brought to Fauji Foundation Hospital with difficulty breathing Saturday night and died on Sunday.
At least 6,972 people have been diagnosed with Covid-19 in Rawalpindi district in the last six months. Of them, 287 people have died and 6,540 have recovered.
There are presently 427 people who have been waiting for their Covid-19 test results for two weeks. The suspected patients are being monitored by health authorities and most of the people who have been asked to isolate themselves at home do not have symptoms.
There are a few serious patients who are in hospital, as two wards in the Holy Family Hospital and Benazir Bhutto Hospital are accommodating suspected Covid-19 patients.
Currently, 12 Covid-19 patients are admitted to the Rawalpindi Institute of Urology, of which half are from outside the district. Another 133 patients have chosen to isolate in their homes; most of them got tested for the disease at private laboratories. Health authority officials have been checking on patients at home in selected areas.
Local administrations have also claimed that 452 people are in quarantine, but no houses or streets have been sealed in the last two months.
According to data from the Rawalpindi division, 8,385 people have tested positive for Covid-19 since March including 6,972 in Rawalpindi, 627 in Attock, 490 in Jhelum and 251 in Chakwal.
So far, 7,869 people have recovered from the disease in all four districts – 6,540 in Rawalpindi, 600 in Attock, 478 in Jhelum and 251 in Chakwal. There have been 356 deaths, of which 287 occurred in Rawalpindi, 39 in Chakwal, 20 in Attock and nine in Jhelum.
Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood told Dawn that the number of Covid-19 cases in the division is not increasing as only 10 more people have been diagnosed, all of whom are from Rawalpindi.
He said the provincial government has asked that attention be given to the care of confirmed patients. All 12 of the patients admitted to hospital in Rawalpindi are stable, he added.
He said there are 14 confirmed Covid-19 patients admitted to hospitals in the four districts while 147 patients are isolated in their homes with no symptoms.
He added that the government has asked for an awareness campaign to be launched in public areas so that people take precautions to limit the spread of Covid-19.
MUHAMMAD TAHIR
DNA
ISLAMABAD, SEPT 28 – The President of Pakistan Arif Alvi said to make Faisalabad the industrial, commercial and business hub of South Asia The city will have state-of-the-art facilities of international standard. In which awards were distributed among the 24 leading personalities who have excelled in various fields of industry and trade. He told despite corona, the national economy is improving.
He appreciated the policy of smart lockdown for promotion of exports and increase in industrial production He said that the entire nation had taken the SOP very seriously to deal with this global crisis.
On which he deserves congratulations. Not only exports and national production will not be affected but also the problem of unemployment due to the industrial downturn will be overcome. He said that with the grace of God Almighty and the efforts of the government, Karuna has been overcome to a great extent.
Now, traders and industrialists have a key role to play in getting the economy back on track
And he said he sees Faisalabad as a key industrial, commercial and business hub for the region in the next few years. Are And in this regard, the government is not only redefining its policies
In addition, the necessary funds are being allocated for the provision of international standard infrastructure And after M3 Industrial Estate in Faisalabad, construction of Allama Iqbal Industrial City has started under C-Pack. There will also be joint ventures based on modern technology
And through them where large-scale modern export goods will be produced and people will find new employment opportunities. There, the local SME industry will also be encouraged to adopt new technologies Our industrialists will have to introduce their own world-class brands,” he said
So that not only more foreign exchange can be earned through “Made in Pakistan” all over the world
In fact, the peaceful identity of Pakistan could be highlighted And that is gratifying At the moment, many of our companies are already developing international brands
Are However, now our manufacturers have to introduce their brands to the global markets He also appreciated the role of Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Rana Muhammad Sikandar Azam Khan in presenting the issues of Faisalabad in a very effective manner. He said the government fully agrees with their demands And the necessary instructions and funds for their solution will be issued soon He also promised to build a modern and international standard link road to connect the east and west motorways of Faisalabad city. He said that instructions are being issued to the concerned departments in this regard Earlier, Punjab Minister for Industry and Commerce Mian Aslam Iqbal said in his brief address
He said that they are developing industrial status of international standard for the comprehensive industrial development of Faisalabad Under C-Pack, a state-of-the-art export processing zone will also be set up in Faisalabad And the initial construction work on it will start soon
He said that the only and state-of-the-art IT university of the province would also be built in M3 industrial estate. In addition to solving the technical problems facing existing industries, they are also encouraged to adopt modern technology. Rana Muhammad Sikandar Azam Khan, President, Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that Faisalabad was contributing a valuable 20% to the country’s overall national economy. But it is not getting its fair share for development purposes
He said that a state-of-the-art expo center of international standard should be constructed in Faisalabad for holding industrial exhibitions. And that a High Court bench should be set up to provide cheap justice to 20 million people of Faisalabad division at their doorstep. Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry should be represented in the Board of Directors of various departments of the Federal Government. Apart from building a new airport in the city, financial resources should also be provided for the comprehensive development of the city.
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DNA
NEW YORK, SEPT 28 – The Foreign Minister participated in the annual Ministerial meeting of the “Uniting for Consensus (UfC)”,hosted by the Italian Foreign Minister in a virtual format today. Addressing the participants live, the Foreign Minister laid out a five-point proposal for advancing the UfC’s shared priorities for reforming the UN Security Council. He reaffirmed that Pakistan will continue to promote a comprehensive reform of the Security Council in order to make it a more democratic, representative, accountable, transparent and efficient body.
The Foreign Minister rejected attempts by some countries to exploit the UN reform process for advancing their narrow national ambitions, including their self-arrogated claims to permanent seats on the Security Council. He stressed that, in accordance with the decisions of the UN General Assembly, “we must continue the effort to promote a solution which enjoys the ‘widest possible political acceptance’ of all member states.” The Foreign Minister also stated that the UfC’s position “is simple, logical and straightforward. It is the only practical solution to the reform of the Council.”
The UfC group meets annually at the level of Foreign Ministers on the sidelines of UN General Assembly sessions. The UfC member countries share a common and principled stance on the vital and strategic issue of UN Security Council reform.They once again expressed their shared perspectives and reaffirmed the common position at the meeting today.
A Joint Statement was released to the Press on behalf of UfC at the conclusion of the meeting. The full text is reproduced below:
Text begins
Ministers of the Countries belonging to the “Uniting for Consensus” Group held a virtual meeting today to assess the state of the UN Security Council reform process.
While profoundly impacted by the tragic Covid-19 pandemic that allowed only two meetings to take place, the last Intergovernmental Negotiations on the reform of the Security Council confirmed the commitment of the membership to the reform process. At the same time it showed the persistence of diverging views on key aspects of reform, such as the veto and the categories of membership.
Strongly committed to reaching a consensual solution to this longstanding issue, UfC Ministers reaffirmed that the IGN remains the sole legitimate setting for discussion on Security Council reform, in full transparency and with the participation of all UN Member States.
In this sense, UfC Ministers reiterated the need and the urgency for the UN membership to agree on a reform model capable of making the future, expanded Security Council more democratic, accountable, representative, transparent and effective: a reformed Security Council whose increased legitimacy to the membership and to the public would nurture trust in the United Nations and strengthen multilateralism.
UfC Ministers therefore called upon all Member States to continue to engage constructively in seeking a fair and equitable compromise solution that meets the collective interest of all 193 Members of the UN, garnering the widest possible political support from the membership.
Consistent with their approach, the UfC Ministers agreed to continue working to support the aspirations of African countries for a more equitable representation of their Continent in a reformed Security Council, as well as the aspirations of other developing Regions, of small States and SIDS.
UfC Ministers confirmed their opposition to enlarging the Security Council to new permanent members: an effective and democratic Security Council cannot be reformed by the addition of new members with exclusive national rights and unequal privileges.
Encouraged by the growing understanding of their approach, the UfC Ministers reaffirmed their full commitment to engage in good faith in constructive discussions with all the Member States in order to achieve an effective UN reform to the benefit to the whole UN membership.
DNA
MUZAFFARABAD, Sept 28: Former Chairman Parliamentary Kashmir Committee on Kashmir and the chief of Jamiat Ulema Islam Maulana Fazlur Rehman called on AJK President Sardar Masood Khan here on Monday.
The whole spectrum of Kashmir issue, including Indian Army’s brutalities in occupied territory, systematic ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri people, mass demographic change in Muslim majority disputed state, India’s unlawful actions prejudicial to the UN resolutions and international laws figured during the meeting.
Sardar Masood appealed to Maulana Fazlur Rehman to approach the leadership of Jamiyat Ulemae Islam Hind and other religious leaders in India to seek their help for the prevention of bloodshed and cessation of heinous crimes against humanity in occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The AJK President said that besides the carnage of defenceless and innocent civilians in occupied Kashmir, India’s rulers are implementing their evil agenda to change demography of the state, carrying out ethnic cleansing and deprivation of the people of Kashmir from their livelihood and ruining their economy.
India, he said, was fast implementing its plan to weaken the Kashmiri Muslims economically by awarding contracts of construction works to non-state Indian Hindu citizens. “What is happening at present will not remain restricted to occupied Jammu and Kashmir, but 200 million Muslims and other minorities of India will also suffer.
He asserted that the creation of a Zionist state in Palestine and settling of Jews from across the globe on the Palestinian territory under Balfour Declaration had taken 30 long years, but India’s fascist government is poised to settle non-state Hindus subjects in occupied Kashmir within two years to change the demography of the region.
Domicile certificates of Kashmir have been issued to more than 1.8 non-Kashmiri Hindus during the last three months, and if the exercise continued for next two years, settlement of more than six million non-state Indian people will altogether change the demography of occupied Kashmir, he warned.
The AJK president said that we need unanimous support of all national political parties of Pakistan to foil the Indian designs. He particularly appealed to Maulana Fazlur Rehman to use his influence among the Indian Muslims particularly religious parties to secure an end to massacre of innocent people of Kashmir.
Expressing concern over the situation of occupied Kashmir, Maulana Fazlur Reham assured the AJK president that he and his party will raise their voice on the national and international forums to seek an end to inhuman brutalities against the Muslims in occupied Kashmir and to prevent the change of demography of the territory.
He said that steps which may hurt Pakistan’s principled and national stand on Kashmir, must not be taken on all sensitive issues including Gilgit-Baltistan. The JUI-F AJK Chief Maulana Saeed Yousuf, Maulana Imtiaz Abbasi, Mufti Mohammad Ibrahim and other local leaders of the JUI-F were also present during the meeting.
Meanwhile President Sardar Masood Khan, in a statement strongly condemned India’s hostile and unprovoked fire across the Line of Control (LOC) which has killed one of Pak Army soldiers. Describing India’s provocative act as cowardly and unacceptable, AJK President paid tributes to the fallen soldier and convey his deepest condolences to the family of the martyr.
He said India is escalating tension at the Line of Control with the aim to divert the world attention from the deteriorating human rights situation in Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Masood Khan also paid rich tributes to Pakistan Army officers and soldiers for sacrificing their lives in defending the motherland and protecting life and property of the people of Azad Kashmir.
WASHINGTON, – The United States has imposed restrictions on exports to China’s biggest chip maker SMIC after concluding there is an “unacceptable risk” equipment supplied to it could be used for military purposes.
Suppliers of certain equipment to SMIC will now have to apply for individual export licenses, according to a letter from the Commerce Department dated Friday.
The latest move marks a shift in U.S. policy from earlier this year, when applicants seeking “military end user” licenses to sell to SMIC were told by the Commerce Department that the licenses weren’t necessary, according to three people familiar with the matter.
SMIC said it had not received any official notice of the restrictions and said it has no ties with the Chinese military.
“SMIC reiterates that it manufactures semiconductors and provides services solely for civilian and commercial end-users and end-uses,” SMIC said.
“The Company has no relationship with the Chinese military and does not manufacture for any military end-users or end-uses.”
SMIC is the latest leading Chinese technology company to face U.S. trade restrictions related to national security issues or U.S. foreign policy efforts. Telecoms giant Huawei had its access to high-end chips curtailed by its addition to a Commerce Department blacklist known as the entity list.
“There’s been a lot of coverage on the Trump administration’s actions regarding TikTok, but the more significant action – from a global economic standpoint and that will have considerable ripple effects through global supply chains – are the increasing restrictions on SMIC and other Chinese national champions like Huawei,” said Nicholas Klein, a Washington lawyer who specializes in international trade. He said these actions are more likely to draw a retaliatory response from Beijing.
“SMIC reiterates that it manufactures semiconductors and provides services solely for civilian and commercial end-users and end-uses,” SMIC said.
“The Company has no relationship with the Chinese military and does not manufacture for any military end-users or end-uses.”
SMIC is the latest leading Chinese technology company to face U.S. trade restrictions related to national security issues or U.S. foreign policy efforts. Telecoms giant Huawei had its access to high-end chips curtailed by its addition to a Commerce Department blacklist known as the entity list.
“There’s been a lot of coverage on the Trump administration’s actions regarding TikTok, but the more significant action – from a global economic standpoint and that will have considerable ripple effects through global supply chains – are the increasing restrictions on SMIC and other Chinese national champions like Huawei,” said Nicholas Klein, a Washington lawyer who specializes in international trade. He said these actions are more likely to draw a retaliatory response from Beijing.
It is unclear which suppliers received the letter, but typically once the Commerce Department comes to the conclusion that there is a risk of military use or diversion, it sends that information to the companies.
The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security declined on Saturday to comment specifically on SMIC, but said it was “constantly monitoring and assessing any potential threats to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests”.
The administration has increasingly trained its focus on Chinese companies that bolster Beijing’s military.
Last month, the United States blacklisted 24 Chinese companies and targeted people it said were part of construction and military actions in the South China Sea, its first such sanctions against Beijing over the disputed strategic waterway.
DNA
ISLAMABAD, SEPT 28 – Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi held a meeting with Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman, High Council for National Reconciliation of Afghanistan, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, today.
Welcoming Dr. Abdullah Abdullah and his delegation to Pakistan, the Foreign Minister expressed the hope that his visit will open a new chapter in bilateral relations. The Foreign Minister said that Dr. Abdullah Abdullah’s visit will greatly help to strengthen relations with Afghanistan and forge a common understanding on the Afghan peace process. The Foreign Minister also extended best wishes to Dr. Abdullah Abdullah in steering the peace negotiations to a successful outcome.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s steadfast support to the peace process, Foreign Minister Qureshi emphasized that Pakistan had always maintained there is no military solution to the Afghan conflict and encouraged all parties to reach a political solution through an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process. Welcoming the inaugural ceremony of Intra-Afghan Negotiations, held in Doha on 12 September, the Foreign Minister noted that it was now up to the Afghan leadership to seize this historic opportunity to bring an end to the decades long conflict and secure an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement.
The Foreign Minister underscored Pakistan’s support for a peaceful, stable, united, sovereign and prosperous Afghanistan. He stressed that mistakes of the past should not be repeated; nor past history should dictate the future course of action. Foreign Minister Qureshi further underlined that there was a need to guard against the detrimental role of ‘spoilers’, both within and outside Afghanistan, who do not wish to see return of peace in the region.
Foreign Minister Qureshi underlined the high importance Pakistan attached to its brotherly relations with Afghanistan. He stated that recently, at the request of the Afghanistan government, Pakistan opened five border crossing-points for facilitating transit trade, bilateral trade and pedestrian movement. The Foreign Minister also highlighted the USD 1 billion development and capacity-building assistance that Pakistan has extended to support reconstruction and economic development in Afghanistan.
Emphasizing importance of bilateral economic relations, the Foreign Minister noted that negotiations for Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and revision of Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) will commence soon to optimally utilize our capacities for mutually beneficial trade and transit.
The Foreign Minister stressed that return of Afghan refugees to their homeland with dignity and honour should be part of the peace and reconciliation process.
Highlighting that terrorism was a common threat, Foreign Minister emphasized the need for close cooperation through bilateral institutional mechanisms including relevant working groups of APAPPS for effective border management.
Dr. Abdullah Abdullah is on his first visit to Pakistan as Chairman, High Council for National Reconciliation of Afghanistan.
