ISLAMABAD (DNA) – Foreign Office on Monday summoned a senior Indian diplomat and conveyed Pakistan s rejection of India s baseless and fallacious contention regarding the Supreme Court of Pakistan s verdict in a matter pertaining to Gilgit-Baltistan.

According to a statement issued on Monday, Foreign Office Spokesperson said that it was clearly conveyed that the Indian claim over the occupied state of Jammu and Kashmir as an “integral part” had no legal basis whatsoever.

“The entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is a  disputed  territory and is recognized as such by the international community.

The dispute, which is the longest outstanding item on the agenda of the UNSC (United Nations Security Council), stemmed from India s forcible and illegal occupation of the State of Jammu and Kashmir in 1947 in complete violation of international law and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

“No subsequent illegal and unilateral Indian actions could or have altered the status of Jammu and Kashmir as a disputed territory,” the FO said.

According to the Foreign Office, it was underscored that the only resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute was faithful implementation of the relevant UNSC resolutions that recognize the Kashmiris  inalienable right to self-determination through the democratic method of free and impartial plebiscite under the UN auspices.

Pending the resolution of the dispute, any unilateral Indian actions in IOJ&K were illegal, the statement said, and added in that regard, it was reiterated the Indian unilateral actions of August 5, 2019 and subsequent attempts to alter the demographic structure of Jammu and Kashmir, in violation of the 4th Geneva Convention, were illegal and in clear violation of the UNSC resolutions.

It was also emphasized that the baseless Indian contention about Gilgit-Baltistan could neither cover up the atrocities being perpetrated by the Indian occupation forces against innocent, unarmed Kashmiris in IOK (Indian Occupied Kashmir), nor could they succeed in diverting the attention of the international community from the Indian state terrorism and aggravating human rights situation in IOK, the statement added.

The Foreign Office said the Government of India was called upon to immediately reverse all of its illegal actions in the IOK, including ending illegal occupation of the territory, and let the people of Jammu and Kashmir exercise their right to self-determination as enshrined in the UNSC resolutions.

Reiterating Pakistan s condemnation of the continuing grave human rights violations by Indian occupation forces in the IOK, the statement said India was called upon to lift restrictions and communication blackout, release illegally detained Kashmiri youth and incarcerated Kashmiri leadership, and withdraw draconian laws such as Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and Public safety Act (PSA) in IOK.

LAHORE (DNA) – Pakistan has reported 14 more fatalities from novel coronavirus as the death toll in the country has reached 476, Dunya News reported on Monday.

The nationwide tally of COVID-19 patients jumped to 20,884 while 698 cases were reported in 24 hours.

PROVINCE-WISE DETAILS

According to the latest figures by the National Command and Operation Center, Punjab remains the worst-hit province by the pandemic followed by Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

Till now 7,646 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Punjab, 7,882 in Sindh, 3,288 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 1,218 in Balochistan, 415 in Islamabad, 364 in Gilgit-Baltistan and 71 in Azad Kashmir.

RECOVERIES

Number of patients recovered from Coronavirus is 5,635 now.

All resources being utilized to stem coronavirus spread: PM Imran

Adviser to the PM on Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan called on Prime Minister Imran Khan and discussed measures taken by the government to provide relief to those who were affected by COVID-19 in the country.

Prime Minister Imran Khan said that the federal government is utilising all resources to stem the spread of the coronavirus in the country.

PM Imran said that the biggest challenge for the government was to provide immediate relief to the masses who were hard hit by the countrywide lockdown.

ISLAMABAD (DNA) – Prime Minister Imran Khan has on Monday said the coronavirus lockdown will be further relaxed in the coming days as standard operating procedures (SOPs) based on precautionary measures have been prepared for all sectors.

While addressing a parliamentary party meeting, the premier stressed that the federal government is taking steps to provide relief to all classes because it is the need of the hour to serve the nation by keeping aside political differences.

“It is the best time for all the public representatives to serve people. Benefits of reduction in petroleum prices must be provided to all, therefore, assembly members should keep a check on rates with the help of administration.

“The members should work together with the authorities to ensure implementation over the official guidelines and mobilize the youth to counter the pandemic.

“Assembly members should form teams in their respective constituencies to help the needy and ensure that SOPs are followed in all mosques.

“I am aware that everybody is working in individual capacity, but we have to perform like a team under current circumstances. We shall successfully overcome COVID-19 through unity and discipline.” 

Australia batsman Usman Khawaja believes he is still among the country’s top six batsmen and can force his way back into the squad after being dropped a few days ago from the list of contracted players.

The top order batsman was omitted from Australia’s annual list of 20 elite, contracted players in 2020, announced on Thursday, after falling out of favour with selectors midway through last year’s Ashes.

“Without sounding arrogant, I still feel like I’m one of the top six batsmen in the country,” the 33-year-old lefthander told Fox Sports on Sunday.

“If you’re performing, you’re performing; it’s not like I’m 37 or 38 and coming into right at the end of my career,” said the batsman who played the last of his 44 tests against England in Leeds last August.

There are whispers about Khawaja’s vulnerability against spin bowling but the Islamabad-born player said he second only to Steve Smith played when it came to negotiating the slow bowlers.

“My playing against spin has been right up there as some of the best in the county. Bar maybe Steve Smith, who is an absolute genius,” he said.

BEIJING, May 4 (DNA): “COVID-19 pandemic has caused a major, dramatic disruption in the global economy and Pakistan will also face severe consequences of an economic slowdown.

With this abrupt change in the economic environment, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor ( CPEC ) is even more crucial for Pakistan’s development than it was prior to the advent of COVID-19 early this year,” CEO of Karachi Education Initiative ( KEI ) Muneer Kamal said while talking to China Economic Net.
Muneer who is also former Chairman of Karachi Stock Exchange further said,

“Given a gloomy global economic environment in the foreseeable future, it would be difficult for Pakistan to attract foreign direct investment to develop its economic infrastructure.

In this very challenging environment, It is fortunate that large CPEC projects have and will continue to be implemented. The continuation of CPEC will counter some of the negative global investment environment”, Kamal said.
“The relationship with China has been and will remain unique and special for Pakistan. The importance of CPEC is magnified if we see regional dynamics and their impact on Pakistan’s economy”, Kamal added.
He explained that Pakistan’s trade and investment opportunities are limited with its immediate neighbors except for China. The current environment does not allow a healthy economic interaction with India, and sanctions imposed on Iran limit Pakistan’s trade with the Iranian market.

Continued instability in Afghanistan also leaves few good economic opportunities though recent developments are encouraging for better trade in the future. Fortunately for Pakistan, its key neighbour China is poised to become the largest economy in the world in a few decades.
“CPEC is a manifestation of almost six decades of extremely close relationship between China and Pakistan and China’s stunning economic growth. Since CPEC is a flagship project of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), its success will be beneficial for both countries”, he added.
Responding to a question, Kamal said that one of the first signs of negative impact of COVID-19 was on Pakistan’s external account. Exports and remittances have already shown signs of weakness.

With a total debt of $110 billion (according to State Bank of Pakistan), $ 38 billion debt service ( interest and principal ) is required in the next three years. To meet these maturing obligations will be very challenging especially when Pakistan’s foreign currency sources are already under a lot of pressure.

It is with this background that Prime Minister Imran Khan in April this year made a plea to the developed world, particularly G-20, for a debt relief package for countries like Pakistan.

China fully supported this Debt Service Suspension Initiative for affected countries, and proposed to carry out specific work through bilateral consultations at the request of relevant borrowers.

So far the G-20 has responded positively to provide debt relief to Pakistan and other countries. China’s support has been greatly appreciated by Pakistan and the two sides will disscuss for a possible debt relief on bilateral basis.

Apart from the bilateral negotiations on the debt deferment or rescheduling, Pakistan and China should keep a sharp focus on how to expedite CPEC projects and ensure these projects will be completed on time, he added.

Islamabad, May 4, DNA A video conference of health ministers of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Pakistan was held on Monday with the aim to strengthen joint cooperation and exchange experiences to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic.

A statement issued by Pakistan’s Health Ministry spokesperson said that Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr. Zafar Mirza and Iranian Minister of Health, Treatment and Medical Education Saeed Namaki during a virtual meeting discussed the prevailing situation due to the corona outbreak and bilateral relations.

The statement said: “The Ministers of Health of Iran and Pakistan in the video conference shared the steps and measures taken by each other’s governments to manage the outbreak of corona.”

It said the purpose of today’s meeting was to exchange experiences between the two neighboring countries to overcome the crisis in Corona.

Dr Mirza during the meeting praised the effective measures taken by the Iranian government against the Coronavirus.

He said that Pakistan has established National Command and Operations Center to overcome the challenge of Covid-19 adding that the center monitors the situation on daily basis.

He informed the Iranian minister that the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan monitors the situation himself.  He told Minister Saeed Namaki that the first coronavirus case was reported in Pakistan on February 26.

During the meeting Iran’s health minister Saeed Namaki highlighted the close and fraternal relations between the two countries.

He said that Iran as a national policy promoted social distancing and is ready to share its experience with friendly and neighboring Pakistan.

Dr Mirza added that Pakistan has conducted more than 213,000 tests so far, and in the past 24 hours, nearly 10,000 corona tests have been performed in different parts of the country, trying to bring the screening level to 20,000 a day.

According to National Command and Operation Center the number of Covid-19 patients in Pakistan has soared to 20, 186 with 5,590 recoveries and 462 deaths.