Tashkent, Uzbekistan , MAY 17 – Representatives of the Embassy of Uzbekistan in the USA conducted an online consultation with the vice president of the American non-governmental organization “Mercy Corps” Dina Esposito and employees of regional structures of this NGO.

During the meeting, prospects for the implementation of the five-year program of the US Department of Agriculture “Food for Peace” in the amount of US$21.5 million were discussed in Uzbekistan, Dunyo reported.

In 2019, the US Department of Agriculture included Uzbekistan in the list of priorities for the implementation of the McGovern and Dole program “Food for Education”. This program provides access to US agricultural products and healthy baby food programs. The program is named after former senators J. McGovern and B. Dole, who spoke in the US Congress for the adoption of the Farm Safety and Rural Investment Act of 2002, which provided for international assistance in this direction.

Mercy Corps was selected by the US Department of Agriculture as the main implementer of this project in Uzbekistan. A branch of the organization in our country was registered by the Ministry of Justice in March of this year.

According to the Embassy, over the next 5 years, Mercy Corps will contribute to providing balanced nutrition, improving infrastructure and human resources in preschool educational institutions of Karakalpakstan and Surkhandarya region.

According to the organization’s plans, a system of baby food enriched with vitamins and minerals will be provided in more than 400 preschool institutions of the country, an infrastructure with the necessary kitchen equipment and trained personnel will be created.

In cooperation with the Ministry of Preschool Education and khokimiyats, repair and construction work will be carried out, water supply and sanitation conditions will be improved, resource-saving technologies and biological water treatment systems will be introduced.

It is also planned to create in preschool institutions “reading corners” equipped with children’s furniture, with educational books in Uzbek and foreign languages. In rural areas, specialized libraries will be created for children aged 3 to 6 years.

Education and training of administrators, teachers and medical personnel of preschool institutions will become a separate area of activity of Mercy Corps.

According to the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Washington, the organization intends to begin recruiting personnel and conducting a preliminary assessment of the needs of the preschool education system of Uzbekistan as the situation with the coronavirus pandemic improves.

Deputy Prime Minister Sardor Umurzakov, in a videoconference, discussed with the President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Jin Liqun the state of implementation of joint projects, as well as prospects for cooperation to mitigate the effects and negative impact of the global crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic on the economy of Uzbekistan.

“During the talks, Jin Liqun announced the Bank’s firm intentions to accelerate the implementation of projects to support the healthcare system of Uzbekistan, increase the potential of the private sector and develop basic infrastructure in the regions,” the press service of the Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade said.

In particular, AIIB, together with the Asian Development Bank, developed a project concept to support the healthcare system and the sanitary-epidemiological service in Uzbekistan for a total of $200 million.

Also, in order to support the sustainability of business entities and preserve jobs in the context of the restrictions caused by the pandemic, the bank’s management plans to channel additional resources through the allocation of new credit lines to commercial banks of the republic.

The government of Uzbekistan appreciated the bank’s leadership for the approval by the AIIB investment committee last week of a special loan in the amount of $156 million within the framework of the first stage of a large-scale project to modernize the infrastructure in the Bukhara region (the total amount of the project is $1.3 billion).

It was also announced that the bank would quickly complete the procedure for preparing and approving the provision of long-term soft loans for previously agreed projects for the reconstruction of roads, drainage systems, water and heat supply to settlements in the Republic of Karakalpakstan and the Khorezm region, for a total of up to $500 million.

Tashkent, Uzbekistan ,  MAY 17   –– On 13 May, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sardor Umurzakov held talks via video conferencing with the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov.

During the meeting, the current state and prospects of bilateral cooperation in the trade, economic, investment, transport and logistics, and cultural and humanitarian fields were discussed.

In particular, it was noted that the it is necessary to hold in Tashkent in the second half of 2020 a regular meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural and Humanitarian Cooperation, which has established itself as an effective platform for jointly resolving issues of bilateral cooperation, as well as the first meeting of the Uzbek -Turkmenian Business Council.

The issues of creating border trade zones on the Uzbek-Turkmen border were considered, which could significantly increase the volume of trade, including through the supply of agricultural and household appliances, food products, construction materials, petrochemical products that are in demand on the markets of the two countries.

ISLAMABAD (DNA) -Around 50 participants from over 15 countries came together to deliberate on applying youth’s potential to help deal with current coronavirus pandemic and looming global threats and challenges to sustainability, such as climate change.

Youth from Azerbaijan; Botswana; Cameroon; China; Egypt; Ghana; Greece; Jordan; Kenya; Norway; Pakistan; Switzerland; Tanzania; Tunisia; Turkey; Uganda; United Kingdom; and Zimbabwe participated in s webinar titled “Role and Challenges of Youth in Global Crisis – COVID-19”, organized by the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS).

Moderated by a Kenyan youth leader, Ms. Nafula Wafula, Vice Chairperson for Policy and Advocacy at Commonwealth Youth Council, the event provided the international youth an effective platform to express their ideas and resolve to live up to the needs of current global challenges.The event was organized virtually to respect the social distancing necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In his opening remarks on the occasion, Dr. S. M. Junaid Zaidi, Executive Director COMSATS, offered COMSATS’ as an effective platform to youth to come together and apply their faculties to play their due role for resolution of global challenges, only one of which is the current pandemic. “With right approaches,” said Dr. Zaidi, “Corona crisis can be turned into an opportunity to further the growth towards sustainability. Youth can play an important role in finding innovative solutions to emerging global threats such as corona pandemic”.

The coordinator of this activity, Engr. Qaiser Nawab, Assistant Director (Programmes) at COMSATS, highlighted the role of youth in bringing necessary changein the society given they are provided necessary resources and opportunities. He urged global youth to come forward with different innovative ideas to serve humanity.

The event that also marked the National Youth Day of China took stock on the remarkable success that the country had in containing the spread of COVID-19 as a nation, as well as how the country’s youth played an exemplary role in creating awareness about disease prevention and control. A few Chinese students who volunteered for community service during the pandemic shared their experiences with the participants and emphasized on making joint global efforts to cater to the needs of the masses.

During other discussions, it was suggested that technological education should be incorporated in curricula from the very grass-root levelto build youth’s capacity in relevant spheres.  It was opined that earlyshift to digital tools and methods can help address the rising youth unemployment challenges. Youth’s involvement was deemed an important element along with civic education, democracy and local development in the building of societies.

Online education and learning during the pandemic was discussed as a big challenge for countries with IT resources constraints,such as Tanzania, that are facing serious issues in continuing the education in times of pandemic. Government-backed youth-led initiatives in Ghana relating to digital campaigning for raising awareness and reducing social stigmas associated with COVID-19 were also appreciated.

The participants also presented various solutions to cope with the ramifications of the corona pandemic. Online sharing of experiences, knowledge and best practices relating to mitigation strategies and coping mechanisms were also regarded important for generating integrated response to corona pandemic.

ISLAMABAD, MAY 16 (DNA)  –  Responding to media queries, the Spokesperson said we reject Indian Army Chief’s recent comments levelling allegations against Pakistan and hurling threats. These are part of India’s desperate attempts to divert the world’s attention from Indian state-terrorism and egregious violations of human rights in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K).

The indigenous Kashmiri resistance being faced by India is the direct consequence of India’s unabated oppression and brutalization of Kashmiris. India’s mischievous attempts to portray the legitimate Kashmiri struggle for self-determination as “terrorism” would not succeed.

India’s attempted diversions, misrepresentations and continued belligerence imperil peace and security in South Asia. It is important for the world community to take cognizance and urge India to act responsibly in the interest of regional peace and stability.DNA

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ATTOCK, MAY 16 (DNA) – Police conducted an Operation against Kite sellers. Police have arrested three kite sellers and confiscated 1400 kites from their possession in the jurisdiction of city police station on Saturday.

According to police spokesman, Attock Police while acting on a tip off raided and confiscated 1400 kites, strings rolls and material used for kite flying besides arrested Three kite sellers identified as Zaker Khan, Nasir Khan and Laiqat Khan.

District  Police Officer (DPO), Khalid  Hamdani has said strict action would be taken against kite flying and added that no one would be allowed to violate rule of law.

The spokesman said, district police on the special directive of District  Police Officer (DPO), Khalid Hamdani conducting raids and netting kite sellers and kite flying ban violators. DNA

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PESHAWAR, May 16 (DNA) – The government has announced opening of Pak-Afghan border at Torkhem and Chaman posts round the clock for six days per week, a notification issued by Ministry of Interior on Friday(yesterday).

The border was closed on March 27 last month as a precautionary measure taken to contain spread of COVID-19 virus. Later it was opened for three days a week in April.

According to notification, decision about opening of border was taken in the meeting of NCOC (National Command and Operation Center).

Both the borders will remain open 24/7 for six days except from Saturday which will be reserved for pedestrian move only as per procedure already in vogue.

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), as applicable for air passengers, will be implemented for pedestrians as well, adds the notification.

During six days when the border will be open, unlimited number of trucks will be allowed to cross per day while ensuring proper SOPs and guidelines for both Afghan Bilateral Trade and Afghan Transit Trade.

The decision has been hailed by business community terming at as a milestone in promotion of trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

In a press statement issued here on Saturday, President Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Anjum Nisar, Former President FPCCI and General Secretary of Businessmen Panel, Haji Ghulam Ali, Vice President FPCCI, Qaiser Khan Daudzai and Coordinator Regional Office Peshawar, Sartaj Ahmad Khan, said the decision will give impetus to commercial activity in the region.=DNA

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PARIS, MAY 16 (DNA) – The virtual meeting held in Paris yesterday was aimed at strengthening the link between the Embassy and community, take stock of the situation and problems being faced by the community in the ongoing coronavirus crisis in France, and seeking community’s views on further improving consular services for them.

The Ambassador of Pakistan to France  Mr. Moin ul Haque briefed the community members about services provided to them during the lockdown, including continuous availability of Embassy officials, ration distribution scheme for the needy, operation of special flight to take back home stranded Pakistanis, and catering to all emergent consular issues. While thanking the community for its contribution to ration distribution scheme, he urged them to donate generously to the Prime Minister’s Covid 19 Relief Fund.

He also urged the community to keep the Kashmir issue alive in these testing times and continue expressing their solidarity with their brothers and sisters in Indian Occupied Kashmir.

The community members expressed their satisfaction over the role of Embassy during the coronavirus lockdown and offered their services for Embassy’s various projects in promoting Pakistan’s national interest abroad.

In conclusion, the Ambassador stressed that Pakistani community should follow the guidelines of the French government to keep themselves safe from the coronavirus pandemic.=DNA

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