ISLAMABAD, Sep 19 (DNA): Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Lt. Gen (retd) Asim Saleem Bajwa said that the Orange Line Train project would be launched soon as all teething issues of the project had been removed.

Asim who is also Chairman CPEC Authority said on twitter that the fare for the commuters had been decided and trial runs were underway.

Further, he said operations and Management award for the project was given and hiring was also in progress. DNA

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ISLAMABAD, SEPT 19 (DNA) – The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has passed an order deciding a matter of the alleged deceptive advertising claims by M/s Hi-Tech for its products under the brand name “Zic.”

Chevron Pakistan Lubricants (Pvt) Limited complained to the CCP that certain marketing and advertising claims made by M/s Hi-Tech Lubricants Limited and M/s. Hi-Tech Blending (Pvt) Limited for their lubricant products under the brand name, Zic, were deceptive and in violation of Section 10 of the Competition Act, 2010. Chevron also alleged that the choice of words such as, “behtreen” in Hi-Tech’s marketing claims had created unsubstantiated impression of comparison between Zic and the competing products.

The CCP’s enquiry found certain claims of Hi-Tech carrying the Urdu words, “behtar” and “behtreen” without any reasonable basis and in prima facie violation of Section 10 of the Competition Act. On the enquiry’s recommendations, a show cause notice was issued to Hi-Tech and hearings were held in the matter.

Taking into consideration and analysing the arguments from both sides and in light of the Commission’s previous judgments and the case law from other jurisdictions i.e. America, Australia, and India, the bench held that the above-mentioned claims made by Hi-Tech for promoting its products fell under the category of puffery. ‘Puffery’ is term used to describe wildly exaggerated or vague claims about a product or service that the consumer (in the context) is unlikely to take seriously. Puffery claims are generally allowed and does not warrant enforcement action by the competition agencies, provided that they are not materially misleading.

Moreover, the bench accepted the respondents’ arguments that the Urdu word “behtreen” also carrying other meanings such as “alaa”, “umdah” or “mumtaz” indicates that the term “behtreen” is general and vague, and not absolute as was alleged by the complainant. Furthermore, the term “behtreen” is not the correct translation of the word “best” in English, which is an absolute term. Nonetheless, the Bench held that only the claims, which are objective, quantifiable and capable of substantiation in terms of characteristics of the products advertised would be actionable under Section 10 of the Act.

Based upon aforesaid reason and in view of the net general impression caused by the claims, the Bench set aside the enquiry report and disposed of show cause notices against the respondents.=DNA

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DNA

ISLAMABAD, SEPT 19 – Pakistan calls for a transparent judicial inquiry, under international scrutiny, into the extra-judicial killing of three innocent Kashmiris in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) on 18 July 2020.

The Indian occupation forces had martyred 25-year old Imtiyaz Ahmed, 20-year old Mohammad Ibrar, and 16-year old Abrar Ahmed in so-called “cordon and search” operation in Shopian on 18 July 2020. The young Kashmiri boys had come from Rajouri to work in apple orchard as labourers.

To cover up the “cold blooded” murder of these innocent Kashmiris, the Indian occupation army had claimed that the three were “unidentified terrorists.” To further hide their crime, instead of handing over the human remains to the families of the victims, the occupation forces had buried them in a graveyard marked for “foreign terrorists.”

Two months after the killing, the Indian occupation Army itself has admitted that the three innocent Kashmiri labourers were killed extra-judicially — a hallmark of Indian occupation forces’ state-terrorism in IIOJK. In a statement issued on 18 September, the Indian Army has accepted that the powers vested under the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) were exceeded.

As the world community is aware, since its illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019 in IIOJK, India has taken its brutalization of innocent Kashmiris to a new level. More than 300, mostly young, Kashmiris have been extra-judicially killed by the Indian occupation forces in fake “encounters” and staged “cordon-and-search” operations in IIOJK during the past one year.

Pakistan has been consistently sensitizing the world community, including the United Nations and the international human rights organizations, about India’s serious crimes against the Kashmiri people. The Indian Army’s statement of 18 September is an acknowledgement that Indian occupation forces are guilty of war crimes in IIOJK.

The BJP leadership must realize that they are directly responsible for crimes against the Kashmiri people. No illegal and inhuman Acts such as Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and Public Safety Act (PSA) can provide impunity against the crimes that are being perpetrated in IIOJK.

India should be well-aware that use of brutal force, including extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture in custody, use of pellet guns, burning and destruction of Kashmiris’ houses to inflict collective punishment, cannot break the will of Kashmiri people in their just struggle for the inalienable right to self-determination.

The international community must take immediate cognizance of the 18 July 2020 episode in IIOJK as well as other acts indicative of the RSS-BJP regime’s genocidal tendencies and hold it accountable for continuing crimes against the Kashmiri people.

DNA

RAWALPINDI – Security forces conducted IBO  on confirmation of presence of terrorists in Central Makran range in Awaran Distt, Balochistan.

4 terrorists killed in exchange of fire. Terrorists hideout including logistic base destroyed while large  cache of arms, ammunition and communication equipment recovered. multiple hideouts and administrative camps of terrorists have been destroyed. DNA

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DNA

Islamabad, Sep 19 – Rashakai Special Economic Zone (RSEZ), is considered a land of opportunity that would not only bring employment opportunities for common people but also will change the destiny of the region, said Mr. Hassan Daud Butt, CEO, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Board of Investment & Trade (KP-BOIT).

Talking to China Economic Net Hassan Daud said that Rashakai SEZ would be developed under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor located at Nowshera- Mardan Road, around 57km away from Peshawar airport in the country’s northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province.

He said that anything that is produced within this SEZ can easily be exported to Afghanistan and through road connectivity from Gwadar, it can easily be exported to the rest of the world. Therefore, this is a great milestone that has been achieved by both governments.

A signing ceremony of the development agreement of the Rashakai SEZ was held on 14 September 2020 in Islamabad and Mr. Hassan Daud Butt signed the treaty from the Pakistani side.

“I think Rashakai special economic zone will contribute immensely towards the geo and socio-economic conditions of not just only in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but entire Pakistan.

It will create around 200,000 job opportunities and will bring different industries that can-do import substitution and bring new technologies” he told CEN in an exclusive interview.

Daud mentioned this project is within the umbrella of CPEC and Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). This is the first special economic zone that is being developed in a public-private partnership. if this experiment proves to be fruitful, I think many similar special economic zones will follow.

The other important aspect is the location of the special economic zone that is near to Peshawar and also not too far from the Pak-Afghan Torkham border, he added.

Regarding the question about what kind of incentive Chinese investors would get, Daud told, there are many incentives under the framework of CPEC Special Economic Zone Act 2013; that stipulates industry that is set up in any special economic zones under CPEC would get tax relief for 10 years on import duty and also on income tax for a similar period.

He said that for the developer there is an exemption on import of development equipment for one time so that they can develop the special economic zone on modern lines.

Besides this, the government offers special security for foreign investors. Lastly, the human resource of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is not just cheap but is also extremely efficient.

Daud specified that they had a discussion with Chinese and other potential investors that showed interest in consumer products, light engineering products, textile, food processing and even mobile phones which can be not just used to Pakistan but also exported to China and other part of the world.

Butt said that Rashakai Special Economic Zone will be developed in three phases, in the first phase, the infrastructure and road network will be developed, and also the industries can start the development after the bidding process.

The first phase would be completed in less than two years. The second phase, which will largely be about expansion and looking at modern trends and inviting new technologies. The last phase will again be about the expansion of this SEZ. Initially, Rashakai SEZ would cover about 1,000 Acre land and will be increased to 4000 Acre after the completion of all phases.

After the merger of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) With Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province more and more youngsters are now getting a higher education and employed in not just from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but in entire Pakistan.

The people from FATA will naturally become the employment pool for this special economic zone because they are extremely hardworking, extremely talented, and they have the historic knack of economic and trade activities, he added.

Daud mentioned that many Chinese investors have shown interest to invest in this special economic zone because they are aware of the importance of the location and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) as a place which is called a land of growing opportunity for local and particularly foreign investors.

DNA

BEIJING, Sept. 19  – The Chinese-made COVID-19 inactivated vaccines may be available on the market by the end of 2020, according to China National Biotec Group(CNBG), a subsidiary of China National Pharmaceutical Group Corporation, Gwadar Pro reported on Saturday.
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Yang Xiaoming, President of CNBG said at 2020 Zhongguancun Forum that novel coronavirus inactivated vaccines developed by the company have covered more than 40,000 people in clinical trials so far.

An additional 350, 000 people are receiving the vaccines for emergency use. Both of the vaccines’ safety and efficacy are sound. It is hoped that the vaccines will be on the market before the end of 2020.

Yang also said that the inactivated COVID-19 vaccines of CNBG can be effective to multiple novel Coronavirus strains around the world based on the cross-neutralization test.

In terms of the production of the inactivated COVID-19 vaccines, CNBG has set up its production workshops in just two months.

The workshops’ actual capacity can reach 300 million doses of inactivated COVID-19 vaccines a year. CNBG is also expanding its capacity, trying to make 600 to 800 million doses annually.

Vaccination is regarded as the most important way to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. China has been leading the world in the research and development of COVID-19 vaccines.

By early August three vaccines under research in China had entered phase three clinical trials, accounting for half of the world’s total, according to the World Health Organization.

China has stated that it will make its COVID-19 vaccine a global public good when available, contributing to vaccine accessibility and affordability in developing countries.

CNBG is a comprehensive biopharmaceutical enterprise focusing on human vaccines, blood products, medical aesthetics and animal healthcare.

CNBG’s parent company China National Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd.(Sinopharm), is a large healthcare group.

Sinopharm has a full chain in the industry covering R&D, manufacturing, logistics and distribution, retail chains, healthcare, engineering services, exhibitions and conferences, international business and financial services.

ISLAMABAD, Sep 19 (DNA): COMSTECH has announced five annual scholarships for the Turkish graduate and post-graduate scholars in the field of chemical and biological sciences at the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, through The World Academy of Science (TWAS)/ COMSTECH fellowship programs.

These students will be placed in various sections of ICCBS based on their fields of interest for 6-12 months.

ICCBS will cover their bench fee, accommodation and research expenses, Coordinator General COMSTECH and Director ICCBS, Professor Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary stated this while speaking during a meeting with Consul General, Turkish Consulate General in Karachi, Mr. Tolga Uçak.

In the meeting held at ICCBS, Karachi, the discussion a held on establishment of Pak-Turk Mirror Research Centers in the Field of Halal and Textile Product Development, said a message received here.

Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary briefed the Consul General about the various projects and activities going on at the ICCBS as well as COMSTECH. It was indeed a very useful and pleasant meeting with lots of excellent ideas exchanged.

The Consul General of Turkey welcomed the proposals of collaboration and ensured the full support in both initiatives. He agreed to coordinate with Turkish universities and research institutions in this regard.

A detailed discussion on the status of various clinical trials on COVID-19 drugs and vaccines was also held.