ISLAMABAD – The United Arab Emirates has temporarily suspended the issuance of visit visas to a dozen countries, including Pakistan until further notice, Foreign Office Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri confirmed on Wednesday.

The decision by the UAE authorities is “believed to be related to the second wave of Covid-19”, Chaudhri said in a statement.

“We are seeking official confirmation from the concerned UAE authorities in this regard,” he said.

In a statement, Chaudhri clarified that the suspension will not apply to visas that have already been issued.

In June, when cases in Pakistan were on the rise, UAE airline Emirates had announced temporary suspension of passenger services from Pakistan till July 3. The decision came after around 30 Pakistanis who arrived in Hong Kong onboard an Emirates flight tested positive for the virus. The airline resumed its flights in July.

In August, Kuwait’s aviation banned commercial flights to 31 countries, including Pakistan, regarded as ‘high risk’ due to the spread of the coronavirus

The number of infections has been rising in Pakistan since late last month and authorities have declared that the country was witnessing the second wave of Covid-19.

For the past six days, Pakistan has recorded more than 2,000 daily cases of the novel coronavirus and officials have warned that the positivity rate of the disease has increased, especially in major cities including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Hyderabad etc.

On Monday, Prime Minister Imran Khan had urged the people to “act as a nation” in order to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The premier announced new restrictions on public events, including the suspension of his party’s political rallies, and stressed the implementation of mask-wearing and social distancing to control the spread of the virus.

“This is the time to take precautions. If we do, we can slow down the virus. Just like earlier we were saved due to following precautions, that time has come again,” he said, noting that Covid-19 cases in Pakistan had increased by four times in the past two weeks.

ISLAMABAD, NOV 18 (DNA) – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) Vice President, Shixin Chen reaffirmed ADB’s support for Pakistan’s development efforts and coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic response during a series of virtual meetings with senior Pakistan government officials.

According to an ADB press statement, in a series of meetings from 27 October to 17 November, Chen met with Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and ADB Governor Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, Pakistan’s Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives Asad Umar, Federal Minister for Energy Omar Ayub, Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan Reza Baqir, and Special Assistant of Pakistan’s Prime Minister and Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Protection Sania Nishtar, among other senior officials and development partners.

“ADB and Pakistan have a long-standing development partnership having worked together to confront various challenges and emergencies,” said Chen.

“Our swift and robust response to Pakistan in combating the COVID-19 pandemic has further strengthened this partnership. We will continue to work closely with the government, development partners, and the private sector to assist Pakistan, including through our forthcoming five-year country partnership strategy. This will support the post-COVID-19 economic recovery, help to resume and strengthen reform programs, and implement the country’s development agenda, he added.”

Chen discussed ADB’s project portfolio performance, support for COVID-19 response, and development priorities with Shaikh, Bakhtiar, and Umar.

They underscored the importance of measures being taken by the government to improve the readiness of processing and implementation of development projects and highlighted the value of ADB’s support for policy reforms and regional cooperation, the statement added.

Chen discussed energy sector reforms with Mr. Ayub, while Ms. Nishtar highlighted ADB’s swift assistance through the flagship Ehsaas program. Chen also discussed central bank’s stabilization measures, ADB’s ongoing financial sector programs, and strategies to stimulate economic recovery with Baqir.

Chen also held consultations with key development partners including World Bank Country Director for Pakistan, Resident Representative of the International Monetary Fund, Head of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in Pakistan, Mission Director to Pakistan of USAID Pakistan, and representatives of the US Embassy to Pakistan.

As part of the series of meetings, Chen also participated in a micro, small, and medium-sized enterprise-themed roundtable and engaged with the regulator, bankers, and entrepreneurs to discuss strengthening business and job opportunities for rapid post-COVID-19 recovery.

ADB has provided significant support to Pakistan’s COVID-19 response. This includes a $500 million loan approved in June to help the government deliver social protection programs to the poor and vulnerable, expand health sector capabilities, and deliver a pro-poor fiscal stimulus to boost growth and create jobs.

In May, ADB approved a $300 million emergency assistance loan to strengthen Pakistan’s public health response to the pandemic and help meet the basic needs of vulnerable and poor segments of society. = DNA

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ISLAMABAD, NOV 18 (DNA) – Pakistan committed to resolve challenges of Muslim Ummah with unity of Islamic countries. Bilateral coordination needed to be expedite among Muslim countries to educate Muslim youths against the menace of extremism, terrorism and sectarian violence.

Muslim Ummah needs to be get united against the elements and Organizations responsible for making anarchy and wreckage in Muslim world, said Hafiz Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, Special Representative to Prime Minister on Religious Harmony, Chairman Pakistan Ulema Council.

In a released statement here on Wednesday, Hafiz Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, Chairman Pakistan Ulema Council said that Pakistan aims stable and strengthened relations with all Muslim countries and Pakistan’s relations with Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Amman are very exemplary.

Hafiz Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi also felicitated Shah Salman bin Abdul Aziz, Khadim-e-Harmaun Al-Sharifain on  completion of six years of his succession.

During the period of Shah Salman bin Abdul Aziz, brotherly relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia witnessed stability and harmony.

People of Pakistan prayed for Shah Salman bin Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Ameer Muhammad bin Salman to serve the Muslim Ummah.

Earlier, on National Day of Amman, Hafiz Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, Special Representative to Prime Minister on Religious Harmony said that Kingdom of Amman and Pakistan are knotted in relations of Muslim brotherhood and affection and this relationship is getting stronger and stronger with each passing day.

Pakistan wants to see all brother Islamic countries stable and strengthened and Pakistan cooperating with all Muslim countries to eliminate the menace of extremism, terrorism and sectarian violence.

It is also responsibility of each and every Muslim state to assume an united and cohesive stance against elements and Organizations involved in making chaos and havoc in affairs of Muslim Ummah.

Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi also felicitated leadership of Amman and people of Amman on National Day of Amman.

Hafiz Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi also stated that Prime Minister Imran khan and Foreign Office are playing very effective role with coordination of all Muslim countries to keep restraint blasphemy and publication of sacriligeous caricatures.

Letter of Prime Minister Imran khan to the heads of all countries is message to the world to ensure legislation against Blasphemy and Islamic Phobia.=DNA

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DNA

BEIJING, Nov 18  – Pakistani students attended the World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference (WICV) and the China International New Energy and Intelligent Connected Vehicles Exhibition (IEEVChina) that were held here, Gwadar Pro reported on Wednesday.

Pakistani students of North China Electric Power University (NECPU) visited the exhibition and learnt about advanced techniques such as automatic driving technique and 5G.

Muhammad Nasir, one of the Pakistani students, believed that 5G and intelligent connected vehicles are able to change Pakistan, even the world. He said, “Baidu Autmatic Self Drive Car is totally according to new energy intelligent connected vehicles.

Baidu company said that this car will soon be on the roads in China. I think these advanced techniques will make our life easy and save time.”

Students summarized that new energy vehicles and intelligent connected automobile industry are still in its infancy in Pakistan.

“However, our nation badly needs to thrive in this industry, both in terms of sustainability and traffic problems. In this field, the cooperation between Pakistan and China enjoys a rosy prospect under CPEC frame.”

China has been leading the world in this field, and will further boost the development of intelligent connected automobile industry in the future.

“China will take intelligent connected vehicles as an important strategic direction for the transformation and upgrading of the automobile industry.

Deepening international communication and cooperation is one of the most necessary respects we need,” Xiao Yaqing, the Minister of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China, said at the opening ceremony of WICV.

BEIJING, November 18 /DNA/ – As long as the Pakistani products are practical and cost-effective, we can help them find a market in China,” said Huang Yuanli President of Yiwu Import Chamber of Commerce.

She was talking with Gwadar Pro during the just concluded four-day China Yiwu Import Commodities Fair, held at the Yiwu International Expo Center in Zhejiang Province.

Since its establishment, Yiwu Imported Commodities Fair has become one of the best trade platforms for foreign goods to enter the Chinese market.

Huang whose booth has been very eye-catching in the fair said “Every time we participate in it and we try our best to be the most spectacular booth so that we can attract more high-quality buyers to come, negotiate and purchase.” Huang Yuanli said.

“There are a lot of long-settled Pakistanis and Afghans in Yiwu. They buy petty commodities suitable for exporting to their own countries. Now they also choose their characteristic local products and export to China.”

Huang Yuanli said that Yiwu Import Chamber of Commerce also welcomes all potential foreign products.”For companies who want to cooperate with us in the future, brand is a necessity.

” We can provide them some professional advice about building a brand in China according to the products’ characteristics. As long as the product has high-cost performance and good quality, there is a big market for it in China, ” she said.

“COVID-19 has a great impact on import and export. Under the unfavorable environment, enterprises from all countries should hold gather and use their respective advantages to help each other and develop,” Jin Bowen, president of Import Source Enterprise Alliance said in an interview.

“Most of the enterprise within our alliance have their brand. Some have their factories. Others are the exclusive agent of some brands. They all have a firsthand source of goods and have control over the products.”

In the future, we will follow the Belt and Road route to expand our alliance. Pakistan is also one of our potential partners. We hope they can recommend the best or unique local products to join our alliance.

With information sharing and exchanging, we can promote the products together and open the Chinese market,” he added.

As the best wholesale platform in China, Yiwu can also be a platform for Pakistani products to be exposed to more international buyers.” Around one or two years ago, we planned to open one Pakistan pavilion for Pakistani products.” said Mir Faisal Yaqoob, chairman of Pakistan-China chamber of commerce.

“Yiwu government has already given us one place for Pakistan pavilion, and we are still working on it.”

“There are so many manufacturers and exporters from Pakistan in Yiwu. With the pavilion, they can display their samples. Hope they will get the orders from China and then they export more to China,” he said.