DNA

Islamabad, SEPT 20 – An interactive session on Disaster Risk Reduction encompassing basic definitions, concepts and protocols for graduate engineers was held here under the auspices of Institution of Engineers, Islamabad Centre.

It was aimed at apprising the young engineers about their role and responsibilities for better disaster-risk management and promoting community’s capacity to manage the risk through indigenous resources.

The event was arranged by the Center as part of their continuing professional development program (CPD) for the young engineers.

Brig (r) Engr Fiaz Hussain Shah, Ex- DG National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was the resource person who highlighted the preventive measures that could be taken to reduce or minimize the disaster’s hazards.

Engr. Ahmed Shamim, convener of CPD conducted the session and around sixty engineers attended the session. Also present on the occasion were chairman IEP-RIC, Engr. Hafiz M. Ehsan ul Haq Qazi, Secretary IEP-RIC Gp. Capt. ® Engr. Najamuddin and chairman building committee IEP Prof. Dr. Sharif Bhatti.

The Chairman IEP-RIC announced that the Center will enhance the capacity-building activities of the young engineers, by holding short-courses and workshops in collaboration with the local Universities.

He emphasized that the country needed certified experts in the engineering field for nation-building. The young engineers, he added should focus on improving their skill and expertise in the specific fields.

Brig (r) Engr Fiaz Hussain Shah who enjoys rich experience in various disciplines of disaster-management was of the view that disasters, both natural and geo-physical could be prevented with better strategy and planning. In this connection, he referred to various studies and experiences of some foreign countries that have successfully prevented the disasters and to overcome the damages.

He called for adopting pro-active approach for disaster-prevention and reducing the impact of the hazards. Damages caused by disasters like floods could be reduced by strong resilience at national and public-level, he added.

Some of  the participants while discussing  the topic underlined the need of necessary preparedness in order to give effective response to various kinds of disaster. They said the community should be mobilized through awareness campaign to develop capacity-building for facing the disasters’ hazards.

DNA

Islamabad: SEPT 20 – FPCCI’s Businessmen Panel on Sunday stressed the importance of strong industry-academia linkages for commercialisation of innovative business ideas of students in order to improve economic growth of the country.

Secretary General (Federal) of the Businessmen Panel Ch. Ahmad Jawad said that in recent times industries have been increasingly relying on technology based solutions to solve various problems. He said that universities being the hub of research and development activities should play an enhanced role in suggesting innovative solutions to problems faced by industries and the society at large.

He emphasised that universities should focus on applied research to accelerate industrial development. He said that over 60 per cent of the population of Pakistan comprises of youth adding that universities should focus on fostering entrepreneurship in students to make them job creators instead of job seekers.

Jawad said that research departments of universities are conducting good research in various fields, but due to lack of coordination, local industry is not benefiting from such efforts. In this regard HEC should draw a mechanism for the collaboration, as universities can help in improving the productivity, efficiency and competitiveness of industry through strong academia-industry linkages.

He also said that Pakistan’s national interest demands reduction in heavy dependence on foreign countries and aid agencies in order to develop a viable self-sustaining economy.

“weak governance, lack of commitment, corruption, external and internal threats has led to Pakistan being heavily reliant on foreign assistance”.

We have to recognise the paradoxes that we face. We are proud to be a nuclear-armed country, and justifiably so, but on the other hand we are so dependent on others to keep our economy afloat. This is a huge contradiction,” said Jawad.

The BMP secretary general also expressed surprise over the instability of Pakstani rupee despite an improving current account position, seeking the central bank’s intervention for stability.

“We have to draw a new strategy for effective stabilisation, rely on our existing resources, reduce the cost of expenditures, strengthen agriculture and revise the strategy of free float of the dollar,” he said.

LAHORE : Punjab Information Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan has said that participation of Begum Safdar in the APC shows no-confidence over her uncle Shehbaz Sharif.

“Shehbaz Sharif deceiving his elder brother and niece from many years”, Fayyazul Hassan Chohan said in his statement issued here from Lahore, today.

The only concern of the PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif is to get rid-off the cases being faced by him and his son Hamza, the minister said, and added that he is not interested in return of Nawaz Sharif or departure of Maryam Nawaz to London. The minister said demand to shut the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) by opposition is just like demanding National Reconcilation Ordinance (NRO).

Fayyazul Hassan Chohan said that All Pakistan Lootmaar Association has gathered to save their corruption money.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is hosting the all parties conference (APC) in Islamabad today which would be addressed by co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif.

The all parties conference (APC) would be attended by opposition parties for consulting over initiation of political movement against the incumbent government led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Islamabad : Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Sarwar has said that the nation is supporting the rhetoric of the incumbent government and opponents will face failure.

Chaudhry Sarwar expressed his thoughts while meeting with Sindh Governor Imran Ismail where they discussed the current political scenario and matters related to government affairs. Ismail thanked Sarwar over relief package to the affected citizens in flood-hit areas of Sindh.

During the meeting, Sarwar said that all parties conference will be continued till 2023 but the incumbent government led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will complete its five-year term. He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has always turned impossible into possible.

The Punjab governor said that the present government is working for the development of weak segments of the society and nobody could criticise the honesty of the premier Imran Khan. The country has successfully built up a global and diplomatic reputation, added Sarwar.

Sindh Governor Imran Ismail said that PM Imran Khan gave a vision of a prosper and stabilise Pakistan and those spreading hopelessness and chaos will get nothing other than disappointment. He said that the policies of the federal government were meeting successes to coup with different challenges.

ISLAMABAD : Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari will host the all parties conference (APC) in Islamabad today which will be addressed by co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif.

The all parties conference (APC) will be attended by opposition parties for consulting over initiation of political movement against the incumbent government led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and PML-N’s Maryam Nawaz will also deliver important speech in the event. Moreover, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) supremo Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP)’s Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) chief Aftab Sherpao will also address the conference.It emerged that the major opposition parties, PPP and PML-N, have agreed to give tough time to the PTI-led government, whereas, the participants of the APC will also consult over the constitutional status of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), elections and Kashmir policy, as well as upcoming polls in Senate and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

The opposition parties will also discuss the behaviour of the Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser in the APC besides holding consultations over the matters related to lawmaking and issues related to Financial Action Task Force (FATF) legislations. It is expected that the conference will be continued to 4 to 5 hours. PPP will also host luncheon for the participants of the conference.

Sources added that the opposition leaders will highlight the alleged delay in the completion of various projects of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

A 13-member delegation including Maryam Nawaz of PML-N headed by Shehbaz Sharif and four-member delegation of JU-F led by its supremo Maulana Fazlur Rehman, whereas, three leaders of each opposition party will attend the conference.

The host political party completed all arrangements for the APC being organised in a local hotel. Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Nayyar Bukhari, Yousaf Raza Gillani, Sherry Rehman, Farhatullah Babar, Rukhsana Bangash and others have also arrived in the hotel.