DNA
RAWALPINDI: Dr. Christian Turner, British High Commissioner Chief Executive Murree Brewery Company Isphanyar Bhandara briefed the visiting guests about working of the factory. The British envoy was later taken to various parts of the factory.
The chief executive presented the guests with souvenir
Islamabad : 17 Dec 2020 : The 6th round of Foreign Secretary level Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC) between Pakistan and Sri Lanka was held virtually on 16 December 2020. Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood led the Pakistan side; the Sri Lankan delegation was headed by Foreign Secretary Admiral (Prof.) Jayanath Colombage.
During the BPC, the two sides discussed the whole gamut of bilateral relations, including cooperation in the political, economic, defence, trade and investment, culture and education fields as well as people-to-people exchanges. Ever since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1948, Pakistan and Sri Lankahave enjoyed cordial relations based on trust, mutual respect and close cooperation.
Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood underscored the exceptional quality of bilateral political relations and rapport at the leadership level. He underlined that the bilateral trade and economic ties must also be made commensurate with excellent political relations.There was convergence on both sides for strengthening existing mechanisms of cooperation and exploring new avenues of bilateral collaboration.
Exchange of views also covered the impact of COVID-19 at the national and global level and the measures to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on the lives and livelihoods of the people. The Foreign Secretary briefed the Sri Lankan counterpart about Prime Minister Imran Khan’s ‘Global Initiative on Debt Relief’ for the developing countries.
The Foreign Secretary shared Pakistan’s perspective on the situation in IIOJK, progress of CPEC, and Pakistan’s positive contribution to the Afghan peace process. He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to SAARC and expressed the hope that the process of regional cooperation would be allowed to move forward.
DNA
ISLAMABAD: Dr. Christian Turner, British High Commissioner called on General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), today.
Matters of mutual interest and overall regional security situation were discussed during the meeting. The visiting dignitary appreciated Pakistan Army’s role in Afghan peace process and maintaining peace and stability in the region.
ISLAMABAD : A high level delegation of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) called on Prime Minister Imran Khan and discussed issues of mutual interest.
The MQM delegation was comprised of Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Ameen ul Haq and Haider Abbas Rizvi, according to sources.Federal Ministers Asad Umar, Ali Zaidi and Governor of Sindh Imran Ismail also attended the meeting.
The session of the coalition partners discussed overall political situation of Sindh, Karachi package and other concerned matters, sources said.
The MQM delegation also presented the party’s reservations to the prime minister in the meeting, according to sources.
The delegation leaders raised issues of missing party workers, return of the party offices and delay in development works during the meeting, sources added.
The delegation asked the prime minister to play his role for the constitutional right of an independent politics and return of the party offices to MQM.
They also urged the prime minister to take notice of the disappeared party workers and false FIRs against the party.
According to sources, Prime Minister Imran Khan assured coalition partners that their all reservations will be addressed and the party will also be kept in the loop in consultations over Karachi projects.
The prime minister also said that the interior minister will look into the issues of missing party workers and FIRs adding that the ministry will act over the matter according to the constitution and the law, sources at the Prime Minister’s Office said.
Rwanda : The ongoing trial Paul Rusesabagina – whose story during the 1994 genocide inspired the Hollywood film Hotel Rwanda – is based on key facts, Rwanda’s Justice Minister Johnston Busingye has said.
The minister has also dismissed claims that Mr Rusesabagina was kidnapped and repatriated to Rwanda, stating that he willingly boarded a flight to Rwanda and disembarked willingly.
Mr Rusesabagina, a prominent critic of the Rwandan president, faces nine charges including terrorism.
US Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney called for his release in a letter to President Paul Kagame.
The Rwandan minister said the suspect had been given regular access to medical care by professionals, dismissing concerns about Mr Rusesabagina’s pre-existing hypertension and cardiovascular conditions.
The justice minister said officials from the Belgian and US embassies had been allowed to visit the suspect and that he has access to legal counsel.
ISLAMABAD, Dec 17, 2020 : A virtual ceremony was held today to celebrate the winners of the European Union Delegation Pakistan’s facemask competition.
The competition, which was launched on International Youth Day, received an overwhelming response from university students across the country. Contestants were required to design protective facemasks to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
The European Union is a major partner of Pakistan in its efforts to limit the spread of the Covid19 epidemic and to address its impact.
Ambassador of the European Union to Pakistan, H.E. Androulla Kaminara, said,
“It was amazing to see the response to the competition and the creativity on display was truly inspiring. Over the past months, facemasks have become part of the ‘new normal’ and are vital in stopping the spread of COVID-19. The newly designed masks represent the EU’s solidarity with the people of Pakistan and the EU’s continued support in addressing the impact of the pandemic.
Pakistan is a young nation bursting with potential, which is why youth are at the heart of the EU’s work in Pakistan. The EU is committed to support ways to create opportunities for young women and men to realise their potential and build a society that works for all.”
In order to limit the ecological footprint and waste, the masks will be washable and reusable.
The best design proposals were selected through a public vote – and a jury comprising members of the EU Delegation.
Winners
First position
Mr Muhammad Talal (National College of Arts, Rawalpindi)
Second positon
Mr Umar Farooq (University of Engineering and Technology, Faisalabad)
Third position
Mr. Usman Saeed (Baluchistan University of Information and Management Sciences (BUITEMS), Quetta)
Ms. Sania Khalil – (National College of Arts, Lahore)
Islamabad, Dec 17, 2020 : Dr. Reza Baqir, Governor State Bank of Pakistan called on Honourable Mr.Justice Javed Iqbal, Chairman National Accountability Bureau at NAB headquarters here on Thursday.
Dr Reza Baqir lauded NAB’s efforts of elimination of corruption fromthe country.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Justice Javed Iqbal Chairman NAB said that eradication of corruptionand recovery of looted money is the top most priority of NAB as Faith of NAB is corruption free Pakistan. NAB performance has been appreciated by reputed national and international institutions.
Islamabad, Dec 17 (DNA) : Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) is focusing on capacity building and developing academic and administrative capabilities of both the teaching faculty and administrative officers, said Prof. Dr. Zia Ul-Qayyum, Vice Chancellor, AIOU here today.
While presiding over a high level meeting of the university academia and administrative staff at the main campus he said that university is fully prepared to register the 1st batch of academia and officers in various universities of America and Europe after completion of a competitive selection process under the banner of Faculty Development Program.
The program aims at providing unique opportunities for MS, PhD and Post Doctorate in American and European universities.According to the Vice Chancellor, AIOU, the fundamental requirement for a university’s progress and development is to have highly qualified teachers and well trained administrative officers.
He, further, said that through this faculty development program, university is making huge investment to impart quality education to the masses and youth of the country by enhancing knowledge, skills and capabilities of the teachers as well as administration.
He, further, added that besides getting enrolled in MS, PhD and Post Doctorate programs, the university aims at providing practical training in the use of latest technology in education in the best institutions of the developed countries.
It is pertinent to mention here that no initiative was taken for the training of both academia and administration, however, Prof Dr Zia Ul-Qayyum after assuming the charge of his office exclusively focused at faculty development and initiated this exclusive program which has been approved by all the statutory bodies.
Directorate of Public Relation
Islamabad Dec 17 (DNA) : Faheem Ahmed Abbasi, Additional Inspector General, Azad Kashmir visited the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry and exchanged views with Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan President on capitalizing the potential investment opportunities in AJK. Muhammad EjazAbbasi former President ICCI, Muhammad Shakar Executive Member ICCI and others were also present at the occasion.
Faheem Ahmed Abbasi said that Azad Kashmir offered attractive investment possibilities in many areas including hydropower, tourism, mining, furniture and handicrafts that should be exploited by the local and overseas Pakistanis to achieve lucrative outcomes. He said that AJK has the lowest crime rate due to which it was one of the most secure places for investment and tourism. Therefore, more awareness was needed to be created among the businessmen and investors of Pakistan that AJK offered tremendous investment prospects at natural scenic locations, which were still untapped and explored. He said that the government was offering good incentives and concessions to the investors through its industrial policy for promoting investment in AJK. He said that the investment by Pakistani businessmen and investors in AJK would not only enable them to achieve profitable results, it would also put the region on the path of rapid progress and prosperity. Therefore, ICCI should play a role in bringing investors to AJK to explore potential opportunities of JVs and investment.
Speaking at the occasion, Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that AJK possessed huge potential, especially for tourism and hydropower generation and emphasized that the AJK government should focus on better development of basic infrastructure that was the basic requirement for tourism promotion in the region. He urged that the AJK government should devise more conducive policies for infrastructure development through a public private partnership model. He said that AJK offered some ideal tourism locations while a well-developed network of roads & quality hotels would attract a huge amount of tourists. He was of the view that if world class infrastructure was developed in AJK, people would love to spend summer vacations in this part instead of going to the UK, Switzerland and other countries. It would also help the economy to grow better and uplift the living standard of people.
Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan said that AJK has also good potential to promote construction, IT & telecom, manufacturing and services industries for which good incentives, more conducive environment and improved infrastructure were needed. He assured that ICCI would play a role to highlight business and investment potential of AJK to attract more investment to it so that the country could achieve sustainable economic growth and create more jobs for the people.
Islamabad : Egyptian Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Tarek Dahroug on Thursday called on Federal Minister of Maritime Affairs Syed Ali Haider Zaidi.
The Egyptian Ambassador expressed keen interest in Pakistan’s coastal development as well as expanding trade ties between the two countries.
Minister of Maritime Affairs Syed Ali Haider Zaidi briefed Dr Tarek Dahroug regarding the current Government-to-Government model in the maritime sector. Also, the Egyptian Ambassador apprised the Federal Maritime Affairs Minister about the latest developments regarding the Suez Canal and invited the Minister to Cairo for further discussion. The Envoy also appreciated the efforts of Minister Zaidi for developing the maritime sector and the blue economy in Pakistan along with focusing on export growth and facilitation.
