ISLAMABAD, June 20 (DNA): Pakistan, China’s staff of CPEC projects have joined hands to vigorously implement SOPs to curb COVID-19, says a report published by Gwadar Pro on Saturday.As per China Gezhouba Group Co (CGGC), the construction of SK project has now reached a critical point.

With over 2,700 Pakistani employees and 650 Chinese employees joining hands to curb the pandemic, no confirmed case of the novel coronavirus was detected in the project so far.In order to prevent and control the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire SK project site was divided into more than 400 working areas. Each working area was equipped with a safety coordinator like Akhbab Sharif and some other personnel from Pakistan and China.They were in charge of the daily epidemic prevention work in his/her own working area.

“We are going through a difficult time here,” Akhbab Sharif said, “it is my duty to ensure the safety of every employee in the working area. I should do my part to prevent the epidemic.”

“Safety first,” noted Akhbab Sharif. Facing the combined pressure of the epidemic prevention work and the critical juncture of project progressing, Akhbab Sharif, along with his colleges, checked the construction site every single day to ensure the safety of workers.With an infrared temperature gun in his hand, Akhbab Sharif carried out epidemic prevention activities, conducted disinfection measures, and recorded everybody’s temperature and health data every day.At the same time, he did his best to remind on-site operators to wash hands frequently, keep a safe distance, keep their dormitories clean all the time and open the window often.

Sponsored by CGGC, a Chinese construction and engineering company, SK Hydropower Project is a run-of-the-river project being established alongside the Kunhar River in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is also one of Pakistan’s largest private sector power development projects and is being constructed as part of CPEC’s “Early Harvest” projects.

The construction of this project will greatly help Pakistan to overcome the economic downturn caused by COVID-19. It creates job opportunities, improves the living standard of local residents and increases the tax revenue of Pakistan, the report added.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Accountability Shahzad Akbar has said that the government accepts the Supreme Court’s judgment in Justice Faez Isa reference case.

Addressing a media briefing in Islamabad on Friday, he said, “We respect the judiciary.”

He highlighted that under Article 209, there are three ways a reference could be filed against a judge.The first is the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) takes notice by itself against a judge. Secondly, the government files a reference to the SJC and thirdly any person approaches the council for action.

He added the role of executive is to send the reference. Akbar maintained the government believes that the SJC is the only body that could deal with matters related to judges. “The government is satisfied with top court’s ruling in the case,” he mentioned.

The SAPM said, “After the verdict was announced by SC, an environment was created to make it look like either it is someone’s win or defeat.”

“The judgment is not anyone’s win or defeat. It is a sensitive issue,” he remarked.

Earlier, the Supreme Court quashed the presidential reference filed against Justice Qazi Faez Isa’s for non-disclosure of family members’ properties in his wealth statement.

The short verdict was announced by Justice Umar Ata Bandial, leading the 10-judge full court bench hearing the case.

The judges unanimously declared the proceedings of the Supreme Judicial Council and its show-cause notice as abate. Seven judges on the bench have, however, referred the matter to the Federal Board of Revenue asking it to initiate tax proceedings against Justice Isa’s wife and two children.

ISLAMABAD, JUNE 19 (DNA)  – Responding to the media query, the Spokesperson said that Special Representative for Afghanistan, Ambassador (R) Muhammad Sadiq visited Doha, Qatar on 16-17 June 2020. During the visit, he met Taliban leaders including Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar to discuss peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan.

The Special Representative underlined that Pakistan will continue to play its role as facilitator for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. In this context, he referred to the highly productive visit of the Chief of Army Staff to Kabul recently, which had imparted a new impetus to Pakistan’s efforts.

The Special Representative appreciated Taliban’s commitment to implement the U.S.-Taliban peace agreement. He also noted that the release of prisoners as per the U.S.-Taliban peace agreement would be a stepping stone towards immediate start of Intra-Afghan Negotiations.

Pakistan hopes that all concerned parties will make sincere efforts for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. Pakistan, on its part, remains fully committed to support the Afghan Peace Process.

ISLAMABAD, JUN 19 (DNA) – The countrywide tally of coronavirus cases has jumped to 165,062 after 4,944 new infections were detected in Pakistan over the past 24 hours while 136 more people succumbed to the deadly disease

According to data released by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), 61,678 cases have been detected in Punjab so far, 62,269 in Sindh, 20,182 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 8,998 in Balochistan, 9,941 in Islamabad, 769 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and 1,225 in Gilgit Baltistan.

With 136 more Covid-19 related fatalities recorded over the past 24 hours, the number of people dying from the disease in the country has soared to 3,229. A total of 4,944 new cases were detected when 28,042 tests were conducted during this period.

The number of people defeating the deadly virus has reached 61,383. So far, 1,011,106 tests have been conducted across the country. The number of coronavirus infection cases across the world has surpassed over eight point five million while the pandemic has so far claimed more than 455,000 lives.

The United States tops with over two point two million cases and more than 120,000 deaths. Brazil with over 983,000 cases and more than 47,000 deaths is the second badly hit by the virus. Over four point five million patients have so far recovered from the disease across the world. =DNA

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LAHORE, JUN 19 (DNA) – Opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif has said that India’s temporary membership of the United Nations Security Council is a matter of shame and disgrace for the UN.

He said that the PTI government has strangled Pakistani and Kashmiri aspirations by supporting India’s nomination.

According to details, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Mian Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned India’s election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

He said that India’s entry into the Security Council has sent a negative message about the UN and the international community to the oppressed and law-abiding people around the world.

The opposition leader said that the India’s success despite violations of human rights, UN Charter and international law was regrettable.

Mian Shehbaz Sharif criticized the role of the Pakistan government saying that the lack of alternative nomination efforts against India is tantamount to surrendering on the diplomatic front

He said that had PM Imran Khan and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi put as much effort in protesting against the Modi government as they did against the opposition, India’s path could have been blocked. =DNA

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Islamabad: June 19, 2020 Capital Development Authority has taken stern action on reports of recent emergence of encroachments in Sector G-7 and has suspended the services of its two officers. Services of Mr. Badar Muneer, Assistant Director and Mr. Usman Lashari, Inspector who were responsible for keeping check on encroachments in the area were put under suspension on account of their failure to perform their primary duties.

Human Resource Directorate of CDA has issued a letter to this effect. Taking further notice on the reports of emergence of encroachments in Sector G-7, Capital Development Authority has asked Director Enforcement to explain his position in this regard.

As part of the action on the same report of emergence of encroachments in SECTOR G-7, Enforcement Directorate of Capital Development Authority conducted operation in G-7/4 Gol market, Class III shopping centre and removed encroachments from there. Similarly Anti-encroachment operation was conducted by Enforcement Directorate in G-7/2 and raised illegally constructed structures there.