Today, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev is expected to visit the capital city’s Sergeli district and the Zangiata district of Tashkent region to familiarize with the work undertaken on the ground to improve the living conditions of the population, deliver amenities for and boost the wellbeing of the people.

The head of our state is anticipated to review recently erected apartment blocks, new industrial enterprises, educational and medical institutions, and also meet with locals and activists.

PARIS, MAY 28 (DNA) – The French and European alpinists, trekkers, skiers, and adventure sports enthusiasts are choosing Pakistan as their preferred destination.

This was stated by Ambassador of Pakistan to France Mr. Moin ul Haque while talking to Ms. Berenice Rocfort and Ms. Emilie Brouze, the two French writers and journalists who co-authored the book “Winter in Himalaya-an ultimate challenge”, during a virtual meeting held in Paris yesterday.

The Ambassador congratulated the two lady journalists for choosing the unique subject and recounting nail-biting experiences of the six daring and experienced mountaineers of the world in the Himalayas and Karakorum ranges. This included the experience of French alpinist Elisabeth Revol about her attempt to climb Nanga Parbat, in which she lost her Polish colleague Tomasz Mackiewicz. She was herself saved in a daring rescue operation conducted by Pakistani Army helicopters assisted by polish climbers Denis Urubko and Adam Bielecki.

The Ambassador said that government of Pakistan was focusing on promoting tourism in Pakistan as a national priority. Security has improved, visa policy for tourists have been liberalized and tourist infrastructure is being upgraded. He said that Pakistan would welcome French collaboration in developing mountain tourism in Pakistan.

While noting the tourism potential of Pakistan, Ms. Rocfort and Ms. Brouze stated that Pakistan offers attractive and competitive opportunities for international mountaineers, in addition to its unspoiled and virgin landscapes.

The legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan guarantees equal rights for women in their participation in political, social and economic activities of the country. Uzbekistan has built a system to defend women’s rights doing business and provide necessary consultancy and support.

The government of Uzbekistan places great emphasis on supporting women’s entrepreneurship. Particularly, within poverty reduction program actions are being taken to develop family entrepreneurship, employment, support for women’s and youth initiatives. 100 billion soums are allocated in 2020 from Anti-Crisis Fund under the Ministry of Finance to address poverty in the country.

A number of projects in the area of small business and entrepreneurship totaling 700 million dollars are planned implement along with the United Nations, World Bank Group and other international organizations.

COVID-19 had its impact on 196 thousand businesses that had to cut the production process, causing unemployment. At times of pandemic 141 thousand 800 hundred jobless people received employment with the help of Employment Assistance Fund and Public Works Fund. The two issued 43 billion 225 million soums salary payment. Systematic approach to supporting local women’s entrepreneurship is an important factor in achieving significant results in the area. In 2019 only, more than 170 thousand women received jobs.

More than 172 thousand got loans amounting 4,9 trillion soums from commercial banks and Public Fund for Support to Women and Families. 21,500 women were trained in short-term professional courses within «The Five Main Initiatives».

Thanks to such opportunities, the number of women who started their business during the year increased by almost 45 thousand; they organized thousands of new jobs. In 2020, despite the coronavirus pandemic, 2 thousand 744 women set up 4 thousand 167 workplaces. This year, commercial banks allocated 586 billion 126 million soums loans to 426 women. In the regions, 1,448 women were provided with employment through handcrafting on the basis of the «Mentor-Pupil» system, 301 women – by engaging in home-based work. Despite this, there are still many issues that need to be addressed.

Among them are raising the level of awareness of women about the opportunities available in the country in terms of starting a business, high interest rates on loans, increasing women’s knowledge in the field of entrepreneurship, and eliminating some of the barriers to establishing small businesses.

MUZAFFARABAD, May 28, (DNA) : The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan has said that the Indian rulers are habitual of attempting to coerce the weak and kneeling before the powerful.

“The inattention of the international community toward the massacre of defenseless and peaceful Kashmiri people for the last 72 years, and threats to impose war on Pakistan, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan had emboldened the Indian fanatic rulers to challenge China and Nepal, but China gave a measured response,” he underlined.

In interview with different private TV channels and media outlets, the AJK president held the Indian fanatic rulers responsible of igniting tension. He expressed hope that the tension will help the world to realize the importance of peaceful and diplomatic solution of the disputes including the Kashmir issue.

“Unarmed clashes between Chinese and Indian soldiers in Ladakh and Naku La at the Sikkim-Tibet border will redefine the strategic landscape and international diplomacy for Kashmir, if the tensions grow further.

Sardar Masood Khan asserted that the Indian extremist rulers are constantly taking actions, particularly in occupied Kashmir, Line of Control and are hurling threats on Pakistan which may culminate in a war.

While commenting on the nuclear capability, Pakistan had acquired on May 28, 1998, the AJK president said that the nuclear capability had made Pakistan’s defense invincible. However, we are trying to use the nuclear capability as deterrence instead of sword, but the shrewd and unreliable Indian rulers can do anything including false flag operation, limited war or hybrid war.

About China-India tension in Ladakh, he said that China does not believe in war, but India is constantly engaged to push the region towards a war.

While declaring China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a flagship project of both the countries, the AJK president said that every attempt to sabotage this project would be foiled.

He said that the people of Pakistan as well as Jammu and Kashmir do not believe in war and destruction, but if India did not stop the brutalities of its forces in occupied Kashmir, the peace of South Asia cannot be guaranteed.

Welcoming the statement of the UN Secretary General António Guterres about the anti-Muslim bigotry during the situation of coronavirus pandemic, AJK President said that the United Nations should also raise its voice against the massacre and ethnic cleansing of Muslims in occupied Kashmir.

“More than 100 youth have been killed and thousands of other youth arrested in occupied Kashmir during the last few months,” he said adding that the youth detained in the Indian prisons were being subjected to the worst torture.

Ridiculing allegation of the Indian Government that spy pigeons were being sent to occupied Kashmir, Sardar Masood Khan said that the Indian Army is afraid of even the innocent birds because they know that they are a foreign army in an alien land, and thus they are not secure here.

“Modi and his cohorts now imprison pigeons. Soon they would be capturing balloons. Even after deploying bulk of their troops in the foreign territory of Kashmir, they feel afraid and insecure. Next, they could start arresting the air coming from AJK and Pakistan,” Khan concluded.