ISLAMABAD, JAN 24 /DNA/ – The European Union Delegation to Pakistan hosted a pre-departure reception ahead of a visit of Pakistan’s Parliamentarians to the Parliaments and Parliamentary Budget Offices (PBOs) of Austria and Ireland.

This high-level delegation, comprising 23 distinguished members, is led by the Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan. Representing Pakistan’s diverse political leadership, the delegation includes the Speakers of the Provincial Assemblies, members of parliament from various political parties, as well as senior parliamentary secretariat officials.

The visit is organised under a 15 million euros European Union-funded project named Support to Parliamentary Development in Pakistan (also known as Mustehkam Parlimaan). Implemented jointly by GIZ International Services and the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS), the project focuses on enhancing parliamentary oversight, fiscal responsibility and inclusive and effective legislative processes.

The reception, hosted by H.E. Dr. Riina Kionka, Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Pakistan, highlighted the EU’s commitment to strengthening Pakistan’s parliamentary democracy through this project. Addressing the gathering, the EU Ambassador remarked:

“The European Union has been a steadfast partner in strengthening Pakistan’s democratic institutions. This visit offers a valuable opportunity for Pakistani legislators to learn from the successful practices of Austria and Ireland in establishing PBOs. They play a critical role in independent budgetary analysis and effective parliamentary oversight. We remain committed to support the assemblies’ initiatives towards inclusive, transparent, and accountable governance in Pakistan.”

The visit is a pivotal step in advancing Pakistan’s legislative capacity, specifically in establishing an independent Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) to provide parliamentarians with professional, non-partisan, and in-depth analysis on the economy, budgetary and fiscal matters.

Hon. Mr. Yousaf Raza Gilani, Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan and Head of Delegation, stated:

“This visit reflects the enduring and close ties between Pakistan and the European Union, highlighting our shared commitment to fostering democratic governance and addressing common challenges. By learning from the successful Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) models implemented in Austria and Ireland, we aim to establish a framework in Pakistan that promotes transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility. This will empower our federal parliament and provincial assemblies with data-driven insights for more informed budgetary decisions. We extend our deepest appreciation to the parliaments of Ireland and Austria and their leadership for their invaluable cooperation and support. Their experiences will provide us with practical knowledge and best practices to guide the establishment of a PBO in Pakistan, strengthening our democratic institutions and enhancing responsible governance.”

The visit will focus on observing the operational models of the Austrian and Irish PBOs, both established in the last decade, to address critical challenges such as budget transparency and parliamentary independence. Austria’s PBO, established in 2012, enhances parliament’s role in budgetary discussions through independent expertise, while Ireland’s PBO, modelled on the Westminster system, provides a familiar framework for Pakistan’s legislators.

H.E. Mrs. Andrea Wicke, Ambassador of Austria to Pakistan, noted:

“The establishment of PBOs strengthens the accountability and transparency of governance. We are delighted to host Pakistan’s delegation and share Austria’s journey in creating an independent budget office.”

Mr. Declan Johnston, Deputy Ambassador of Ireland to Pakistan, emphasised:

“Well-informed and quality independent advice and analysis is crucial in facilitating any parliament to fulfil its mandate. Ireland’s Parliamentary Budget Office was established in 2017, and provides independent and impartial information, analysis and advice to our parliamentarians as they address the pivotal economic questions and issues of the day. We are very excited to have the opportunity to share our experiences with Pakistani parliamentarians, as they similarly seek to deliver high quality and effective economic legislation and policy for their constituents.”

The parliamentarians visit aligns with Mustehkam Parlimaan’s objectives of supporting the National Parliament and Provincial Assemblies in legislative capacity-building, oversight enhancement, and inclusive governance. It will also enable participants to develop an action plan for establishing a PBO in Pakistan, informed by best practices from Austria and Ireland.

ISLAMABAD, JAN 24 /DNA/ – Serena Hotels under the Public Diplomacy initiative sponsored the much-anticipated National Readers’ Conference (NRC) 2025.The event brought together a vibrant community of readers, writers, educators, and intellectuals to celebrate and promote the culture of reading in Pakistan.

The NRC 2025 served as a dynamic platform for discussions on the significance of literacy and education in shaping a progressive society. Esteemed speakers, including the Ambassador of Portugal (H.E. Mr. Frederico Silva), the First Secretary of the Embassy of Belgium (Mr. Gillez Hachez), the Director General of the Civil Services Academy Lahore (Mr. Farhan Aziz Khwaja), the national prize winners, author (Dr. Rakshanda Parveen) and (Dr. Sadiqullah Khan), Mr. Muneer Ahmad (CEO of DEVCOM). The panel consisted of veterans of their fields, including Ms. Sadaf Raza (Reiki Master), Faisal Malik (Edtech Expert), Ms. Sanobar Nazir (Writer and Activist), and Maya Sofia Hamidi (Principal of RUNG School of Music and Arts), addressed the audience on diverse topics related to literature, education, and the role of books in fostering critical thinking and creativity.

One of the highlights of the conference was the keynote speech delivered by Keynote Speakers, who inspired the audience with their insights on specific topics. The event also featured engaging panel discussions, book launches, and interactive sessions that provided participants with unique opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals and exchange ideas.

As part of the conference’s agenda, Read Pakistan hosted various competitions to encourage young readers and writers to showcase their talents. These included essay writing, poetry recitation, and storytelling competitions. Winners were honored with shields, souvenirs, and cash prizes generously provided through in-kind support from the Embassy of Portugal and Embassy of Belgium.

Speaking at the occasion, Syeda Fatima Hassan Gillani, CEO of Read Pakistan, expressed her gratitude to all attendees and supporters, stating, “The National Readers’ Conference is a testament to our collective commitment to fostering a reading culture in Pakistan. We are immensely thankful to our partners, sponsors, and distinguished guests for their invaluable contributions to making this event a success.”

The National Readers’ Conference 2025 concluded on a high note, leaving participants inspired to play their part in nurturing a love for books and knowledge in their communities. Read Pakistan remains committed to its mission of empowering society through the promotion of literacy and education. Serena Hotels is proud to support events that inspire intellectual engagement. This conference served as a dynamic platform for promoting literacy, dialogue, and creativity, and Serena Hotels remains committed to its role in supporting initiatives that contribute to the educational development of Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD, JAN 24 /DNA/ – Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA), Muhammad Ali Randhawa, visited the Serena Interchange and Jinnah Avenue Interchange projects, accompanied by Member Engineering.

The visit commenced at the Serena Interchange project, where the Chairman CDA inspected ongoing construction activities. The relevant officers briefed Chairman CDA on the progress, highlighting that finishing work on both underpasses of the Srinagar Highway is in full swing and will be completed within this month. Chairman CDA directed that the underpasses should be opened to traffic by the end of the month.

It was further briefed that beautification work around the Serena Interchange underpasses is progressing rapidly. He instructed that aesthetically pleasing lights be installed permanently to enhance the project’s visual appeal. Additionally, Chairman CDA emphasized the importance of expediting plantation and horticulture activities around the project area.

Later, Chairman CDA, along with Member Engineering, also visited the F-8 Jinnah Avenue Interchange project. During the briefing, officers briefed that the girder launching for the flyover has been completed. Similarly, five deck slabs of the bridge have been constructed, with the remaining three slabs nearing completion. Chairman CDA was also informed that construction of box girders will be finalized within the month, and asphalt work is scheduled to commence on Sunday.

Expressing satisfaction with the progress, Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa instructed the swift completion of road infrastructure and directed that the project be opened to traffic by mid-February. He also called for a detailed schedule to finalize the remaining work.

Chairman CDA emphasized the need to complete beautification and horticulture around the Jinnah Avenue Interchange promptly. He stressed maintaining the highest standards of construction and directed consultants and resident engineers to ensure timely completion without compromising quality.

Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa stated that the completion of both interchange projects would not only resolve the long-standing traffic issues of the city but also provide signal-free travel facilities to the residents of Islamabad.

ISLAMABAD, Jan 24 (APP/DNA):President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday conferred the Sitara-i-Imtiaz award on Asif Bashir in recognition of his outstanding services in the field of public services.

The award was conferred at a special investiture ceremony held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr and attended by parliamentarians.

As per the citation read out at the ceremony, Asif Bashir, who is currently posted as Deputy Commissioner in Peshawar, was selected by the federal ministry of religious affairs as a Moavin-i- Hajj (Hajj Assistant) for the previous year’s Hajj operation.

During the Hajj operation, the temperature soared to 51.8 degree due to which several pilgrims had to face extreme difficulties. During such situation, the Hajj Moavineen perform extraordinary and appreciable services which often remain unacknowledged.

The Moavineen basically are responsible for providing facilities to the Pakistani Hujjaj (pilgrims), however they also provide possible facilities to the pilgrims belonging to other countries as well.

Asif Bashir during Hajj days was serving as a Moavin in Mina where tents of the pilgrims belonging to different countries including India were present.

On 9th Zil Hajj, several Pakistani, Indian and British elderly Hujjaj got fainted due to extreme hot weather. Tragically, 1300 people also lost their lives on that day.

In the midst of the crisis, Asif Bashir and his five-member team rushed to the scene, providing first aid to the affected pilgrims, many of whom were Indian citizens. Despite the dire circumstances, Asif Bashir physically carried 26 pilgrims, including 17 Indians, on his shoulders to the hospital. Thanks to his swift actions, the lives of these individuals were saved.

He helped the Hujjaj without knowing that some relatives of the Indian Council General Jeddah were also included among those rescued by him.

In recognition of his heroic efforts, Indian minister for minorities affairs also wrote a letter of appreciation acknowledging the exceptional hospitality and responsibility shown by the Pakistani team.

ISLAMABAD, 24 Jan: /DNA/ – Pakistan Navy Ships TABUK and RAH NAWARD visited Port Sultan Qaboos, Muscat, Oman. Upon arrival at the port, Pakistan Navy ships were warmly received by Omani authorities.

During the visit, Mission Commander, along with the Commanding Officers, held meetings with naval leadership of Oman. He called on Director General Ops and Plans Royal Navy of Oman, Commander Maritime Security Centre and Commandant Said Bin Sultan Naval Base. During these interactions, matters of mutual interest, Navy-to-Navy engagements, and cooperation in maritime security were discussed. Ambassadors, diplomats and Military Attaches of various countries also visited the ships. Pakistan Navy Ships were opened for visitors, wherein large number of Pakistani community including students from Pakistan School, Muscat visited onboard PN ships.

Following the port call, PNS TABUK conducted a Passage Exercise with a Royal Oman Navy ship AL SHAMIKH. The exercise at sea aimed to enhance interoperability between the two navies and promote shared learning through coordinated activities.

Pakistan and Oman are maritime neighbours and frequent visits of dignitaries, port calls by ships, joint exercises and coordinated patrols are regular feature. The visit of PNS TABUK and RAH NAWARD will further strengthen bilateral relations between the two navies.

ISLAMABAD, JAN 24 /DNA/ – Vugar Mustafayev, Minister of Defence Industry of Republic of Azerbaijan called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, on 24 January, 2025. During the meeting, both sides expressed their shared commitment to strengthen and diversify relations between Pakistan and Azerbaijan.

The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction at the current trajectory of their bilateral cooperation, in all areas of mutual interest, particularly in trade, energy, investment and defense sectors.

Minister for Defence Industry of Azerbaijan thanked the Prime Minister for the warm hospitality extended by Pakistan to him and his delegation.
Minister Vugar Mustafayev is visiting Pakistan to Co-Chair the 8th Session of Joint Ministerial Commission between Pakistan and Azerbaijan, being held on 23-24 January 2025 in Islamabad.

ISLAMABAD, JAN 24 /DNA/ – The Pakistan Academy of Letters hosted the launch of the Urdu translation of Portuguese author José Luís Peixoto’s novel Nenhum Olhar (Blank Gaze), with the participation of Ambassador of Portugal Frederico Silva.

The acclaimed novel, now beautifully rendered in Urdu as Viran Nazar by the renowned Pakistani author Muhammad Atif Alam, is a testament to the power of literature to bridge cultures and foster mutual understanding between nations, bringing the literary treasures of Portugal closer to Urdu-speaking readers.

The translation has been done by the initiative of Pakistan Academy of Letters through their distinguished Chairperson, Ms. Najeeba Arif and the Director General, Mr. Sultan Nasir. It is a follow up of the 2024 interaction sessions held between the Embassy of Portugal, the author José Luís Peixoto and the Pakistan Academy of Letters in Islamabad.

This translation is adding to other literary works translated from Portuguese into Urdu, including literary masterpieces by Portuguese authors such as José Saramago and Fernando Pessoa.

José Luís Peixoto is one of Portugal’s most prominent contemporary writers, known for his evocative literary work and profound exploration of human emotions and relationships through novels, poetry, musical lyrics, and short stories. His debut novel, Nenhum Olhar (Blank Gaze), won the prestigious José Saramago Literary Prize in 2001, earning international acclaim. His works have been translated into more than 30 languages, captivating readers worldwide.

ISLAMABAD, JAN 24 /DNA/ – The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) and Riphah International University have announced a joint effort to organize a major conference aimed at strengthening the link between industry and academia. This conference will involve collaboration with other universities in the region, focusing on finding practical solutions to align academic research with the needs of the industry, particularly in developing market-driven and export-oriented products.

The decision to organize the conference was made during a meeting between  Hassan Mohammad Khan, Chancellor of Riphah International University, and Nasir Mansoor Qureshi, President of ICCI, at the Chamber House in Islamabad. The event seeks to address key challenges faced by the business community and to create a robust platform for youth involvement in economic and business activities.

Khan emphasized that Riphah University is committed to conducting high-quality research in close collaboration with the business community, especially the ICCI, to meet industry needs and have a positive social and economic impact on Pakistan. He highlighted that with 60% of Pakistan’s population being youth, there is immense potential to drive the country’s economic advancement by integrating them into business activities.

Nasir Mansoor Qureshi, President of ICCI, reaffirmed the Chamber’s dedication to fostering strong industry-university relationships. He explained that ICCI, in collaboration with universities, will gather research-based projects from graduates, select promising products, and present them to the business community for financial support and investment, helping bring these ideas to market. This initiative aims to resolve issues faced by businesses while contributing to job creation and economic growth.

Additionally, the ICCI leadership, including Senior Vice President Abdul Rehman Siddiqui and Vice President Nasir Mehmood Chaudhry, continues to focus on addressing the concerns of the trading community and is actively engaged with relevant authorities like the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and IESCO to find solutions that will ease the process of doing business in Islamabad.

The upcoming conference is expected to play a pivotal role in enhancing Pakistan’s economic landscape by fostering collaboration between academia and industry, driving innovation, and ultimately contributing to national prosperity.

Major General Syed Guftar Shah ( Retd)  and renowned businessman Chaudhry Nazakat Ali of Paris Limousie Service New York also held meetings with the ICCI President, discussing potential collaborative efforts to promote business growth. Their discussions highlighted the importance of cross-sector partnerships in driving economic development, underscoring their commitment to fostering stronger business connections and creating opportunities for mutual success.