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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DNA

Islamabad; 04 July: Sardar Masood Khan, President Azad Jammu and Kashmir, has urged British Parliamentarians and the British civil society to have a dialogue with 10 Downing Street, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Dominic Raab and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) over the deteriorating situation in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. He said that that the UK government should avoid diplomatic escapism and not term the Kashmir dispute as a bilateral issue.

He said that concrete steps should be taken to help stop the egregious human rights violations, killings, torture, rape and incarcerations taking place under the twin lockdown imposed in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The President made these remarks while addressing a webinar titled “Twin Lockdown in Kashmir and Global Response”, organized by Tehreek-e-Kashmir-UK. The event was attended by academics and leading Members of Parliament belonging to the Conservative, Labour, SNP and Lib-Dem.

Labour MP Liam Byrne said that the UK has to drop the pretence that this disputed issue must be resolved bilaterally. There should be impartial third-party mediation for the resolution of the issue in accordance with the UN SC resolutions on Kashmir. He added that there is a risk of war if the situation escalates amongst the two neighbours. He also condemned the growing sectarian polarization in India and termed it as a degradation of the secular character of India.

MP Nadia Whittome (Labour) demanded the withdrawal of troops and an end to human rights violations in IOJK. She also said that Articles 35-A and 370 should be immediately restored. MP Stella Creasy from the Labour Party vowed to raise the issue of Kashmir with parliamentarians from all parties.

MP James Daly, Chairman Conservative Friends of Kashmir, Vice-Chair of All-Party Parliamentary Group in Kashmir committed to standing for the inalienable right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people.

MP Jim McMahon (Labour) said that despite the fact that almost one year has come to pass since the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights had released its second report on Kashmir on July 8, 2019, no progress has taken place and instead the situation has deteriorated even more.

The AJK President in his address said that the situation n IOJK is fast deteriorating and there is a humanitarian and human rights crisis. Referring to the recent Sopore shooting incident where the 65-year-old Bashir Ahmed Khan was martyred by CRPF personnel and images of his 3-year-old grandson wailing atop his bloody lifeless body as a harrowing reminder of the atrocities taking place in IOJK.

The President said that a twin lockdown, firstly in the shape of a siege imposed in August last year and now, adding to it, a Covid-19 pandemic lockdown has made the lives of Kashmiris a living hell.

“In April this year, they [India] went a step further and introduced the New Domicile Rules. Under these rules, India has done away with the Kashmiris’ exclusive right to livelihood, acquisition of property, employment and educational scholarships. The President likened India’s actions taken to reoccupy the territory and further bifurcating as an act of imperialism and settler colonialism.

Transformation of the demography, he maintained, accounts for grave human rights violations under the Geneva Convention, ICC statute and UN Security Council resolutions. He added that in a matter of days, 25,000 Hindus from all over India have been given domiciles of IOJK; and in the same manner, in which Muslim Indians have become second class citizens, Kashmiris have to run from pillar to post just to prove that they are State subjects.

“If we don’t stop this now, IOJK won’t be a recognizable entity like it is today. 2 million Hindus will be brought in over the coming years. Help us stop this land grab” he said.

Speaking on the religious divide and discrimination against Muslims all over India and IOJK that has been witnessed under the BJP-RSS regime, the President said that these actions are akin to the steps taken by Hitler’s Nazi party in the last century.

The AJK President said that currently, the whole territory of IOJK is under an occupational lockdown. Hundreds of Kashmiris have been killed in the past 11 months and thousands of young Kashmiris are in jails. The head of the Jammu and Kashmir police has acknowledged that 22 “militants have been killed in the past two months. “India is carrying out genocide, ethnic cleansing and committing war crimes in IOJK”, he said.

President Masood Khan said that the resolution of Kashmir dispute is essential for regional peace. The recent standoff between China and India posed a very real risk of a nuclear war between the 3 nuclear nations – Pakistan, India and China. “That would be nothing less than a nuclear Armageddon”, he said.

The President said that a few months back the international media along with leading parliamentarians had spoken up in support of Kashmiri but now the world’s attention has been diverted due to Covid-19. He added that even though we still have a groundswell of support from parliamentarians from all over the world; governments around the globe are still woefully silent due to their strategic and economic interests with India.

Masood Khan said that anodyne statements made by the UN Secretary General do not impact India. India continues its rampage in IOJK and it is imperative for the UNSC to take cognizance of the situation in Kashmir as it is an active item on their calendar.

The AJK President urged his audience to initiate debates on Kashmir in the British Parliament. He said that as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, UK should also raise the issue on the floor of the Council. He cautioned the participants that India, now a non-permanent member of the UN SC, might avail this opportunity to take one of three damaging steps: firstly, to delete the agenda of Kashmir from the UN SC calendar; secondly, stop any debates on Kashmir; or thirdly, cut fundings or undermine the mandate of the UN Military Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP).

“Appeasement of this fascist BJP-RSS Hindu-supremacist regime in India is not an option. Last century, we witnessed the consequences when the Nazi Party was appeased. We cannot let this happen again”, maintained the President.

He asserted that a Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement should be initiated against India and any further trade agreements be made conditional to the halt of human rights violations taking place in IOJK. “Assess all possible arms sale to India from the UK. Stop it, as these weapons are not being used for self-defence but instead they are being used to kill and maim armless Kashmiris”, he said.

President Masood informed that Pakistan and the people of Kashmir are ready for dialogue with India but unfortunately, the latter has no intention to engage in meaningful talks on the resolution of the Kashmir issue. He said that we welcome impartial third party mediation by leading capitals, statesmen or the United Nations. India, he said, keeps scuttling talks on the pretext of terrorism and cross-border infiltration sponsored by Pakistan.

“There is no terrorism in IOJK and the freedom movement is purely indigenous. There are no cross-border infiltrations from Pakistan or AJK”, established the AJK President.

Masood Khan said that we must connect with the Indian civil society. Many enlightened Indians oppose this fascist Hindu-extremist policy of Modi, he said. He also proposed the establishment of a Kashmir Humanitarian Fund and urged British charities to approach the Indian government asking for permission to enter IOJK. “Even this very benign request will be rejected by India but don’t take their ‘no’ for an answer”, he said.

The President thanked the chair of the session, Mr. Fahim Kiani, for organizing this seminal conference. He also expressed his gratitude to Ms. Uzma Rasool, moderator of the session, who had tabled a Kashmir resolution at the Labour Party Convention.

The event was attended by Chairman Conservative Friends of Kashmir & Vice Chair APPG on Kashmir James Daly MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Transport Jim McMahon OBE MP, Liam Byrne MP, Former Member of European Parliament Phil Bennion, Brenden O’Hara MP, Nadia Whittome MP, Alex Norris MP, Christian Wakeford MP, Stella Creasy MP, Rachel Maskell MP, Danish Writer Jane Teller, Senior Kashmiri Hurriyat Leader and Chairman Jammu Kashmir Salvation Movement Altaf Ahmed Bhat and Chairman Kashmir Institute of International Relations Altaf Ahmed Wani

DNA

ISLAMABAD (July 4, 2020):-Islamabad Kabaddi Association (IKA) on Saturday elected its new office bearers for the term of next four years, as Mohammad Kamran Adil, Rao Mohammad Faisal and Haji Mohammad Sharif were unanimously elected as Chairman, President and General Secretary of IKA.

House met at a local hotel that was also attended Secretary, Pakistan Kabaddi Federation (PKF) Rana Mohammad Sarwar while Mohammad Rizwan was present in the meeting as representative of Pakistan Olympic Association (POA). On this occasion, Rao Faisal thanked the House to him elect unopposed President and assured the house that all possible steps would be taken for the promotion of Kabaddi in the federal capital.

Names of office bearers:

Mohammad Kamran Adil (Chairman), Rao Mohammad Faisal (President), Haji Mohammad Shareef (Secretary), Farhat Abbas Kazmi (Vice President), Chaudhary Mohammad Sultan (Treasurer), Arslan Bablo and Mohammad Shahid Iqbal (Members of Executive Committee).