ISLAMABAD, OCT 07 (DNA) – Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Pakistan Stone Development Company, Federal Ministry of Industries and Production, Government of Pakistan (PASDEC) to collaborate in the areas of research, advocacy, training and capacity development.Under the MoU, both parties agreed to cooperate in raising awareness through advocacy campaigns on potential of marble and granite sector, capacity building initiatives, and joint research projects.Executive Director, SDPI, Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), PASDEC, Zahid Maqsood Sheikh on behalf of their respective organizations signed the MoU on Monday here at SDPI in Islamabad.
Fazal-ur-Rehman’s Azadi March challenged in IHC
ISLAMABAD (DNA) – Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman’s Azadi March has been challenged in the Islamabad High Court (IHC), on Monday.The petition has been filed by a citizen requesting the high court to stop Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman from staging a sit-in in the federal capital.The plaintiff has made Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, interior secretary, education secretary, Islamabad deputy commissioner and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) chairman as respondents.
Australia to fund research on medicinal cannabis as demand grows
MELBOURNE: Australia will provide A$3 million ($2.03 million) for research on the use of cannabis to help cancer patients, its health minister said on Sunday, as the demand for medicinal cannabis products grows rapidly. While legal in most of Australia, such products are allowed only to patients on the prescription of a doctor, and a license is required to grow and make medicinal cannabis.On Sunday, Health Minister Greg Hunt said access had been permitted to more than 11,000 patients, with most approvals this year.
DNA website ranks number 1 in private news agencies
ISLAMABAD, OCT 06 (DNA) – The Diplomatic News Agency (DNA) (www.dnanews.com.pk) has ranked NUMBER ONE in the current ranking of the private news agencies of Pakistan.The ranking is issued by Alexa.Com, the website that issues rankings of various organizations including the news agencies.The ranking is arranged on the basis of content of the said news agency, number of visits of readers, and global ranking. There are roughly 13 million online websites operating in Pakistan.According to the Alexa.com the DNA news agency ranks number one in the private news agencies of Pakistan.
Kenyan high commissioner chairs African group meeting
ISLAMABAD, OCT 6 (DNA): Ambassadors and High Commissioners of the African group held their meeting at the residence of the Kenya High Commissioner Julius Bitok who is dean of the African group.
The meeting discussed issues relating to the group and various upcoming events. The dean of the African group Julius Bitok High Commissioner of Kenya briefed the meeting about his plans.He also shared his vision with the members as to how to make this group more active.The Kenyan High Commissioner took over the office of the dean after transfer of the Tunisian ambassador Adel Elarbi.=DNA
Pak envoy in Morocco briefs Moroccan national assembly speaker on Kashmir
RABAT, OCT 5 (DNA) -Pak Ambassador to Morocco Hamid Asghar Khan called on SEM Habib El Malki, Speaker of the National Assembly of Kingdom of Morocco.During the meeting Indian crackdown in Kashmir was discussed. Ambassador Khan also extended invitation to Speaker El Malki to undertake an official visit to Pakistan which he accepted.Speaker El Malki is also the President of OIC countries Group at the international parliamentary union.=DNA
Govt rubbishes magazine report claiming Saudi Crown Prince ordered PM Khan’s plane to return
ISLAMABAD, OCT 06 (DNA) – A government spokesman has categorically dismissed as utter fabrication a report published in a weekly magazine that the special plane given by HRH Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman of brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to facilitate Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit was called back by him from Canada to New York.“It is totally false and absolutely carries no truth whatsoever,” the spokesman said, adding the report also carries baseless self created theory with respect to Prime Minister’s meetings with the leaders of Turkey and Malaysia in New York.
Raabta brings experts to explore regional stability for economic prosperity
ISLAMABAD, (DNA) – Serena Hotels hosted a panel discussio nunder its Public Diplomacy Initiative ‘Raabta’ on ‘Enterprising Peace – Regional Stability for Economic Prosperity’. The panel of experts, curated by Ms. Sidra Iqbal, a prominent broadcast journalist, featured Shabbar Zaidi, Chairman FBR, Dr. Prof. Khalida Ghous, Human Rights and International Relations Activist, Fahd Husain, Senior Journalist and Ambassador Ali Sarwar Naqvi, Executive Director of the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS).
Senate committee grills housing minister; FGEHF over sector G 14 delay
ISLAMABAD, OCT 05 (DNA) – Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA) Ordinance caused a verbal altercation Housing Minister Tariq Bashir Cheema and Senator Behra Mand Tangi in the Senate Standing Committee on Housing on Friday.Senator Tangi said if the ordinance has to be brought then what is the need of lawmaker? He questioned as to why the ordinance was brought despite approval of the bill by the committee.The meeting presided by Senator Mir Kabir Ahmed Shahi discussed the allotment matter of the Sector G-14’s sub sector. Senator Tangi said that people had submitted money for plots 10 to 15 years ago but they were still waiting for the possession of the plots.
Indonesia, Pakistan ties given new dimensions, says Ambassador Amri
Trade volume touches figure of 3.1 billion USD: Security dialogue to further strengthen bilateral relations
By Ansar Mahmood Bhatti
RAWALPINDI, OCT 5 (DNA) –Ambassador of Indonesia Iwan S Amri has said bilateral relations between the two countries have got new dimensions as both sides have decided to promote and strengthen cooperation in security field also adding recent visit of security personnel to Pakistan shall set new basis for this cooperation.
