The Sajikot Waterfall in Abbottabad is not being filling with stones, nor is a razor wire being installed near it to ward off tourists. On July 2, Abbottabad District Commissioner Muhammad Mughees had passed an order banning swimming and bathing in the Sajikot Waterfall and the Umbrella Beeri Waterfall after a number of incidents of drowning were reported in the area.

The notification read that the “swimming pool of Sajikot Waterfall should be filled with heavy stones and install razor wire around the waterfall to avoid visitors”.

The decision was, however, criticised on social media after which the DC announced that no changes will be made to the waterfall that will affect its nature.

The personal assistant of the Abbottabad DC told that the security of the area has been increased after the incident and visitors are not being allowed to go far off into the pool.

“We might cordon off the area for tourists but no changes will be brought for residents.”

He added that a meeting was under way on Saturday to discuss further action to be taken by the administration regarding the matter.

ISLAMABAD, JULY 04 (DNA): The first six months of the ongoing year saw a considerable decrease in overall crime in the Federal Capital due to effective policing measures, hard work of the personnel, their timely action against criminals and unique initiatives for improvement in performance.

Due to effective policy and timely action against criminals, the first

six months of the year saw a considerable decrease in overall crime in

the Federal Capital.

During the current year, the overall heinous crime has decreased by 24%.

The first six months’ crime reflects a major dip in the incidents of

dacoity and robbery/street crime which reduced by 52% and 30%

respectively.

Incidents of vehicle theft have declined by 6% whereas burglary has been

reduced by 41%. During this period, Islamabad Police also had a

crackdown against drugs and illegal weapons evident by an increase of

47% and 19% in the recovery of illegal weapons and narcotics

respectively.

In pursuance of directions of Mr. Aamir Zulfiqar Khan, the

Inspector General of Police, Islamabad, Operations Division has shown

considerable improvement in overall performance. Operations Division of

ICT Police made a strong crackdown against habitual offenders, criminal

gangs and drug peddlers resulting in decrease of crime.DNA

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DNA

ISLAMABAD, JULY 4 – Prime Minister Imran Khan today visited National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on the occasion of completion of 100 days of its establishment.Federal Ministers, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, high-ranking officials were present at the occasion.

Provinces were also represented via video link.Prime Minister was briefed in detail about the current situation and the pattern analysis of COVID-19 spread.

The PM was also apprised on how the Pak strategy of smart lockdown has yielded results in balancing life and livelihood, keeping our economy afloat, address the issues of poor and the working class while containing the disease. It was highlighted that as per IMF World Economic Outlook, amongst a group of 30 countries Pakistan has reversed the projected downturn from -0.4 to 1.1. 

From July 19 to May 20, Pakistan’s exports fared much better as compared to the exports from other countries of the region.Prime Minister Imran Khan lauded the efforts of NCOC team in putting up a robust response to the pandemic and ensuring coordinated actions throughout the country.

From daily monitoring of the situation to the capacity enhancement of health system and from establishing a credible database to better resource management and formulation of appropriate SOPs, the NCOC has led from the front in the fight against pandemic, observed the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister appreciated the resilience and adaptability of the nation to adjust to the new normal by following SOPs and face the challenge as one nation. The Prime Minister paid glowing tributes all the doctors and para-medical staff, emergency responders working as frontline workers in the battle against COVID-19.Noting a slowing down of disease progression, the PM directed to ensure strict implementation of  SOPs, undertaking all required administrative actions to implement the strategy of smart lockdown and continuing mass awareness campaign to curtail the spread and specially prevent any resurgence of disease during Eid-ul- Azha.The Prime Minister also acknowledged the role and services of health care workers, emergency responders and management team from all the provinces, AJK and GB.

DNA

LAHORE, JUL 4 – The Director General, Punjab Emergency Service Dr. Rizwan Naseer, SI has congratulated the District Emergency Officer Lahore & of Motorbike Ambulance Service (MAS) on managing over 200,000 emergencies in Lahore while maintaining an average response time of 4.5 minutes, which is an achievement even internationally.

Dr. Rizwan Naseer DG Rescue Punjab appreciated the staff of the Motorbike Ambulance Service for providing exemplary services to the helpless poor victims of 200000 accidents and emergencies. It has also been observed that response time has also improved significantly as the Motorbike Ambulance Service provides effective response during traffic jams and congested areas with narrow streets to traffic crashes & medical emergencies. The Director General further said the Motorbike First Responders have enhanced operational efficiency of Rescue 1122 and overcome urban challenges in emergency response by ensuring immediate first hand professional handling of emergency victims and provided a sense of safety amongst citizens of major cities of Punjab.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Motorbike Ambulance Service was launched on 10^th October, 2017 from divisional headquarters in Punjab including Lahore, Sahiwal, Multan, DG Khan, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sargodha and Rawalpindi with 900 Motorbike Ambulances & Emergency Medical Technicians.

The Founder Director General was informed that the MAS Lahore has responded to 200,000 emergencies including 130442 road traffic crashes, 47775 medical emergencies, 4282 emergencies of fall or slipping, 9984 occupational emergencies, 1688 emergencies of electric shock, burn, delivery and animal rescue etc, 46 cases of drowning, 3355 crime emergencies, 2397 fire cases, 69 incidents of building collapse and 32 cases of Furnace Blast/Cylinder Blast.

Dr. Rizwan Naseer said that Motorbike Ambulance Service is equipped with life-saving equipment such as Pulse Oximeter, Glucometer, Blood Pressure Monitor, Life Saving Medicines, Portable Oxygen Cylinders, Airway & Burn Kit, Cervical Collar, Trauma Kit, Splints, is responding to around 700 emergencies per day in Punjab. As a result of the training and equipment provided to the Motorbike staff they are able to manage 35% of the emergencies at the site of the incident thus reducing the burden on the hospitals. He said that Motorbike Ambulance Service has turned out to be a very cost effective emergency response model and significantly reduced the burden on the ambulance service in these 9 divisions.

DNA

Islamabad – Participants of the webinar on private education system in the covid-19 era urged the government to urgently response to the needful in the state of emergency by allocating funds for the relief to deserving parents, small and medium sized schools.

They said governments world over have given special packages to the students but our government is putting all the resources to defense budget, and ignoring health and education sectors.

The representatives of the private schools mentioned no relief is given to private schools of any tier except the bank loans at discounted rates after pledging the school assets. Only some of the top tier school could benefit from this scheme. What about the low-fee schools housed in rented houses in lower-middle class areas?

Development Communications Network (Devcom-Pakistan) and DTNTV jointly organized the webinar on ‘Private Schools: Challenges and Responsibilities” on Saturday. About 100 participants showed off including parents, teachers, school management and reps of the private schools’ association and civil society to make the webinar a big success.

Senator Sitara Ayaz and Deputy Mayor Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad Zeeshan Naqvi and Zafar Iqbal, Deputy Director of the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA) were among the guest speakers. Devcom-Pakistan and DTNTV Director Munir Ahmed conducted the webinar.

Speaking on the occasion, Senator Sitara Ayaz urged the regulatory authority to take stakeholders on board for consolidated recommendations for the government act upon in letter and spirit to provide relief to the students and parents, and also to the schools where necessary in the state of Covid-19 emergency. We all are going through a miserable phase where we need the government support besides shouldering each other. Despite hue and cry we see no plan of action so far.

Zeeshan Naqvi, Deputy Mayor MCI, said their organization is available for any possible support the private schools need to facilitate the students and parent at large. He urged the PEIRA to form a permanent forum including parent, civil society reps and other stakeholders for regular interaction to improve the private education in federal capital at least.

Devcom-Pakistan Director Munir Ahmed said the PEIRA is much weaker in communicating with those who approach the concerned officers. Citing his own experience, he said the PEIRA chairperson could not respond to an email and dozens of calls in four days. This is ironic that even the women leadership in the government sector is equally irresponsive to citizens contrary to the worldwide practices.

He said PEIRA needs to improve its communication of policies and implementation mechanisms that are quite poor. Unfortunately, positive impact of the policies and actions is hardly seen on ground where as parent are arrested in miseries in a wish to get quality education for their children. Congested premises, mediocre teachers, heavy fees, no play grounds and grooming and many money-minting tactics are the major issues need to be addressed sooner that later.

Zafar Iqbal briefed about the scope and mandate of the PEIRA and mentioned that a set of recommendations were prepared and submitted to the ministry of federal education. The recommendations include relief package for all types of schools, teachers and students. A national conference, he said, is expected on July 8 to review the emergency situation and post-covid-19 scenario for the private education system beside the public educational institutions.

Rabia Amin said many schools have no discount policy even anyone of three children of a single parent. Books, notebooks, and uniforms all are provided by the schools but at very high prices without any check by the regulatory authority.

Chief Patron of the Private Schools Association Dr Ifrahim Satti said private schools are catering 40 million students, and most of them are low-fee schools that are facing financial crunch. Without any relief package, more than 20 per cent schools would shutdown their doors that would create another problem while 50 million children are already out of school.

Among others who spoke on the occasion included Rehana Jahangir, Dr Waqar Maqsood, Mr Khttak , Dr Anas, Tariq Jawed, Najeeb, Farzin Khan, Hafsa Khan, and Sahar Pirzada.

DNA

Islamabad; 04 July: Shehryar Afridi, Chairman Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir, today called on Sardar Masood Khan, President Azad Jammu and Kashmir at Kashmir House. On the occasion, the President congratulated him on assuming his responsibility.

During the interaction, the two leaders discussed the latest situation in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, genesis of the Kashmir issue and its international dynamics.

President Masood Khan while apprising the Chairman of Indian Occupied Kashmir said that the situation in the territory is deteriorating rapidly. He said that extra judicial killings of Kashmiris are being carried out every day under the guise of cordon and search operations. “Killings, arbitrary arrests, maiming and sexual violence is rampant”, he said.

The President said that under the New Domicile Rules, the Indian government has opened the flood gates for Hindu settlers from all over India. Just recently, 25,000 non-State residents were issued domiciles. He added that these steps have deprived the local Kashmiris of their livelihood, right to acquisition of property and educational seats reserved exclusively for their children.

The AJK President said that we should synergize our strengths at the national level to garner support for the Kashmir cause at the international realm. He added that we should reach out to the global civil society, diaspora community, leading international parliaments and the academia. “Approach the International Parliamentary Union, the ASEAN parliaments, APPKG-UK and the European Parliament  through both formal and informal diplomatic channels”, he said. He added that Pakistan should take the lead on Kashmir and present the true narrative on Kashmir.

The Chairman assured that not only will we be engaging with international parliaments and their leaders but also major universities and academics will be approached both inside and outside the country.

The President said that effective communication is the key and we must highlight Indian atrocities taking place in IOJK at the global level. He added that media houses in Pakistan also have to be sensitized to help further raise the profile of the Kashmir issue.

Masood Khan while appreciating Shehryar Khan’s dynamic political presence said that he should engage the political base of his party and reach out to all the political parties of Pakistan to help mobilize support for ascertaining the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people.

Chairman Kashmir Committee assured the President that the committee will call upon all stakeholders to make it more inclusive. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolute and unyielding stand on the Kashmir cause and the right to self-determination of the Kashmiris.

The President said that the people of Kashmir will not capitulate to India’s intimidation and they will attain freedom from Indian occupation. He thanked Pakistan for its principled stance on Kashmir and for advocating their cause internationally.

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