ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has urged the international community to dissuade India from its disproportionate arms build-up which could lead to an arms race in South Asia.

Addressing weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, FO Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said the world is already a witness to the bellicose and irresponsible rhetoric by the BJP Government in pursuit of a revisionist agenda in the neighbourhood.

Reacting to the reports of recent acquisition of Rafale jets by Indian Air Force, the Spokesperson said India continues to amass military capabilities beyond its genuine security requirement.The Spokesperson said Pakistan has been consistently highlighting the risks of massive Indian arms buildup as well as their offensive security doctrine and force postures, which are adversely affecting strategic stability in South Asia.

She said this arms buildup is being aided and abetted through a policy of exemptions, waivers and supply of advanced equipment, technology and weapons for narrow commercial interests.

On Pakistan’s part, she said, we remain open to consideration of measures for crisis management, risk reduction, and strategic restraint.

While remaining opposed to any arms race in South Asia, she said Pakistan cannot remain oblivious to these developments and remains confident of its ability to thwart any ill-considered act of aggression.

The FO Spokesperson strongly condemned restrictions imposed by Indian authorities on Eid-ul-Azha prayers in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

She said imposition of restrictions on prayers on one of the most important days of the Islamic calendar represents complete disrespect by the Indian government for the sentiments of the Muslims of Illegally Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

She said it is also a flagrant violation of their fundamental freedom of religion.

She urged the international community, the United Nations, and human rights and humanitarian organizations to take notice of glaring denial of the religious rights and freedoms of the Kashmiri people in violation of international laws and conventions.

Commenting on ceasefire offer by Taliban in Afghanistan during Eid, Aisha Farooqui said that Pakistan welcomes all steps for promoting peace in the neighboring country according to Doha Agreement.

Replying a question about COVID-19, she said that cases in Pakistan are signific

KARACHI: In the run-up to the festival of Eid al-Adha, Karachi car-wash owner Sheikh Sagheer sees much of the traffic at his business switch from four wheels to four legs.

Locals bring him their cattle, sheep and goats for a thorough scrub down ahead of the animals´ sacrifice during the three-day religious holiday, which begins Friday in Pakistan.

Sagheer, 42, said the cow wash started when he was spotted cleaning his sacrificial animal ahead of Eid after opening his business a few years ago.

“The people who saw me washing the animal came to me with their own… that´s how this trend started.

Many of the animals come from a huge market on the outskirts of Karachi — reputed to be the largest Eid cattle bazaar in Asia — that is packed with goats, cows, bullocks, sheep and camels.

The creatures are often dirty, dusty and speckled with dung after being transported then packed together at the market.

Sagheer charges just 100 rupees (about 60 cents) for a wash — which includes a soak with a pressure hose, a lather with suds, a scrub and a rinse.

“The charge is 100 rupees, which is nothing,” said Mohammad Uzair, who brought in a large grey cow for a wash.

Across Pakistan, between eight and 10 million animals are sacrificed over Eid al-Adha, according to the Pakistan Tanners Association.

Sagheer says cleanliness is especially important because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“I make it a point to sanitise the animal with disinfectants,” he said.

KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Sindh chapter leader Haleem Adil Shaikh has thanked Prime Minister Imran Khan for taking notice of the Karachi’s situation after rain.

In his statement, Haleem Adil Shaikh that on the directives of PM Khan, Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lt General Muhammad Afzal is reaching Karachi to analyse the situation of the metropolis.

The PTI stalwart asked Sindh government that what the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) did to control over the situation of Karachi after rain.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Imran Khan had directed the National Disaster Management Authority chairperson to reach Karachi and start a “clean up” drive in the aftermath of the monsoon rains.
“I have asked the NDMA Chairman to go to Karachi immediately and start the clean up in the aftermath of the rain,” said the premier in a tweet.

Earlier on July 28, Prime Minister Imran Khan had asked the attorney general of Pakistan (AGP) to approach the Supreme Court of Pakistan for seeking its help in empowering local bodies system in a rain-battered Karachi.

DNA

Islamabad, July 30 : The whole line of Havelian-Thakot of the Karakoram Highway Phase II (KKH) under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has been opened to traffic, Gwadar Pro reported on Thursday.

The project is now stands completed with an opening ceremony of its Class II Highway section, Mansehra-Thakot.

Mahmood Khan, Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa said, “This mega road project  would prove to be the backbone of the country’s economy and provide employment opportunities to a large portion of the population.”

The 79-kilometer-long Class II Highway Mansehra-Thakot and the Havelian-Mansehra expressway section, launched in November 2019, form the 118 kilometers Havelian-Thakot.

Karakoram Highway, the only overland connection between China and Pakistan at present, was built with fund from China during 1966-1978.

The first phase of KKH’s renovation and expansion project had been completed in 2013. In 2014, the memorandum on the second phase of KKH was signed between Pakistan and China.

The KKH II has three sections, namely, Havelian-Thakot, Havelian-Islamabad and Thakot-Raikot.

According to the Havelian-Thakot project’s contractor, China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), besides this section, the Havelian-Islamabad section has also been completed so far. Only the Thakot-Raikot section is yet to be constructed, the report added.

Pakistan National Council of the Arts has chalked out different programs to be presented online to celebrate Independence Day. These programs include online painting competition and declamation contest among children.“Eid Kay Mehmaan” children are invited to send their speech on topic “Hum Zinda Qaum Hain” by 12th of August to PNCA. For painting competition, they have to send their works in any medium on “Hum Sab ka Pakistan”, Exhibition of photographs will bring different prominent personality of showbiz, performing arts and culture to homes of their fans. Where they can get to know more about them and have a chat with them, PNCA website launching, musical program Sur Sajan, short film contest, and Children film festival is also a part of Independence Day Celebrations. A special Eid show was recorded here at the PNCA auditorium. Popular folk singers Javed Niazi and Babar Niazi presented folk and national songs. Dancers of the National performing arts group added colors to the program by presenting regional and cultural dances. Renowned violinist Ustad Raees Ahmed presented tunes popular national songs. Renowned artist Laila Zuberi, Batin Farooqi participated in the program and compare Shamoon Hashmi was commencing the program. DG PNCA Dr. Fauzia Saeed while speaking on the importance of Independence Day program said that PNCA remained active during ongoing pandemic period to keep the artists and art lover connected through online programs with aim to provide entertainment to the homebound people and opportunity to the COVID19 affected artists from the remote areas. Independence Day programs are aimed to entertain and educate the youth about our cultural heroes and heritage of the country and to realize them their responsibilities to work for the uplift of the country.