ISLAMABAD, MAR 19 /DNA/ – U.S. Ambassador Donald Blome met today with the Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb to discuss further U.S. cooperation and support for Pakistan’s efforts to meet its reform targets, including improvement of the country’s tax administration and investment climate.  Ambassador Blome noted the U.S. government’s support for Pakistan’s work with the IMF to complete its current Stand-By Arrangement (SBA).

Ambassador Blome underscored his commitment to expanding further U.S.-Pakistan economic cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

ISLAMABAD, MAR 19: Like many South Asian countries Pakistan has been facing an alarming surge in pollution indicators with the country having one of the worst air quality in the world.

As per IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology company, Pakistan maintained the second worst air quality in the year 2023 with an average PM2.5 concentration of 73.7 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m³).

IQAir measures air quality levels based on the concentration of lung-damaging airborne particles known as PM2.5 which shouldn’t exceed 5μg/m³ Health Organisation (WHO).

As per the report, the PM2.5 levels in Islamabad rose to their highest ever levels recorded in the city’s seven-year history to 42.4μg/m³.

Meanwhile, Lahore, which was recorded as the world’s most polluted city in the world in March 2023, has also witnessed an increase of over 20μg/m³ in its PM2.5 levels which have reached 99.5µg/m3 with the city’s monthly average of PM2.5 level reaching 251µg/m3 in November last year leading to the courts directing the government to impose a “smog emergency” in the provincial capital.

“Every city in Pakistan included in the 2023 report measured concentrations above 30µg/m3, at least six times the recommended WHO annual PM2.5 guideline,” the report said.

Apart from Lahore, several other cities including Faisalabad, Karachi, Peshawar and Rawalpindi have also recorded significantly high PM2.5 levels compared to the WHO guidelines

As per the report, multiple factors contributed towards such hazardous levels of air quality including crop burning stubble, deforestation, industrial and vehicle emissions, smoke emitted from brick kilns etc.

Owing to the alarming situation, the government even imposed a lockdown in multiple cities across Punjab in the wake of thick smog that engulfed several districts.

In December 2023, Lahore even witnessed the country’s first-ever artificial rain after planes equipped with cloud-seeding equipment flew over the city’s 10 areas to battle the dangerous air quality levels in the metropolis.

Pakistan’s average PM2.5 levels are only exceeded by Bangladesh’s 79.9μg/m³. Meanwhile, India is ranked third with 54.4μg/m³ PM2.5 levels.

ISLAMABAD, MAR 18 /DNA/ – Amb. Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) to Pakistan, paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister today.

The Ambassador congratulated the Prime Minister on his re-election and conveyed best wishes of U.A.E. President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and hoped that the strong fraternal ties between the two countries would be strengthened further in the years ahead.

The Prime Minister thanked the U.A.E. leadership for their warm messages of greetings and conveyed his best wishes for President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Recalling the historic ties between Pakistan and the U.A.E., the Prime Minister said Pakistan attached great importance to its brotherly relations with U.A.E. The two countries had always supported each other and there was a strong desire on both sides to elevate the relationship to a higher level, the PM added.

The Prime Minister further said that Pakistan wanted to translate the tremendous political goodwill into a stronger economic partnership. Noting the exciting transformation of the U.A.E. into a hub for commerce, tourism, and investment, the Prime Minister said Pakistan wanted to partner with the U.A.E. He highlighted the role of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) as an efficient mechanism to attract foreign investment into priority sectors including agriculture, minerals & mining, I.T., renewable energy and industry.

On the multilateral side, the Prime Minister congratulated the U.A.E. for successfully hosting COP 28 meeting on climate change last year as well as its efforts to bring peace in Gaza while serving as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. He also appreciated the U.A.E. for hosting nearly 1.8 million Pakistanis who were a bridge between the two countries.

The Ambassador reaffirmed the U.A.E. leadership’s commitment to Pakistan and said that U.A.E. looked forward to work with the government of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif to build stronger ties.

The Ambassador extended an invitation to the Prime Minister on behalf of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to visit the U.A.E. at the earliest convenience. While accepting the invitation, the Prime Minister also reiterated an invitation to the President of U.A.E. to visit Pakistan at his earliest convenience and said the people of Pakistan were waiting to accord him a very warm welcome. 

ISLAMABAD, MAR 18: /DNA/ – U.S. Ambassador Donald Blome met today with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to discuss a wide range of bilateral issues, including U.S. support for economic reforms in Pakistan. They discussed regional security, the potential for growth in the trade and investment relationship, and the enduring importance of the U.S.-Pakistan Green Alliance framework.

Ambassador Blome conveyed the United States’ commitment to working with the government and people of Pakistan, underscoring that prosperity and security for Pakistan remains a top priority for the United States.

DNA

ISLAMABAD, MAR 18: President Asif Ali Zardari has urged the need to enhance trade and investment relations with the USA, besides exploring collaborative opportunities in diverse sectors. He said that American enterprises should be encouraged to invest in the Pakistan Stock Exchange as well as bring innovative business ideas to the country’s economy.

The President made these remarks while talking to the Ambassador of the United States of America (USA) to Pakistan, Mr Donald Blome, who called on him, at Aiwan-e-Sadr, today.

During the meeting, the President said that Pakistan had enjoyed a long-standing and broad-based relationship with the USA spanning over seven decades, which needed to be further strengthened. 

The President stated that the top priority of Pakistan was to put its economy on the right track and overcome economic and security challenges. He highlighted that climate change was a global issue, and Pakistan was among the countries most vulnerable to its adverse impacts. He said that Pakistan wanted to improve its agricultural sector by adopting modern irrigation techniques to conserve water and reduce reliance on flood irrigation.

The US Ambassador to Pakistan, Mr Donald Blome, said that Pakistan and the USA could enhance bilateral collaboration in the fields of trade & investment, climate change, renewable energy, agriculture and security. He informed that the USA had completed the Sindh Basic Education Program to build climate-resilient schools to strengthen Pakistan’s education sector.

The US Ambassador also congratulated the President on assuming the office for a second time.

ISLAMABAD, MAR 18: /DNA/ – Ambassador Per Albert Ilsaas commended the strides made by PRCS under Chairman Laghari’s guidance, noting the organization’s remarkable countrywide program outreach and robust volunteer base; reaffirmed Norway’s commitment to supporting PRCS’s humanitarian endeavors.

Chairman Sardar Shahid Ahmed Laghari commended Ambassador Ilsaas for his genuine concern for Pakistan’s people and emphasized the visit’s potential to strengthen ties between both countries, not only in humanitarian efforts but also in exploring areas of collaboration beyond diplomacy.

[Islamabad, 18th March 2024]- The Ambassador of Norway to Pakistan, His Excellency Mr. Per Albert Ilsaas, met with Chairman Sardar Shahid Ahmed Laghari of the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) at the PRCS National Headquarters here on Monday. During the meeting, Ambassador Ilsaas emphasized the crucial role of humanitarian service, expressing a shared dedication to advancing such efforts in Pakistan.

Ambassador Per Albert Ilsaas commended PRCS’s pivotal role in alleviating the suffering of vulnerable communities. The meeting delved into various topics including bilateral relations, the programs and initiatives supported by the Norwegian Red Cross and the imperative of enhancing cooperation for the betterment of humanity.

Chairman Laghari provided insights into PRCS’s initiatives, notably its post-flood rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in Pakistan, highlighting collaborative programs with support from the Norwegian Red Cross. These programs encompass basic healthcare, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities, water supply schemes, mobile health units, deployment of mobile health teams and initiatives targeting vulnerable groups such as children under five and pregnant women.

He also briefed the Ambassador about the newly launched pilot program of Cash and Voucher Assistance, focusing on pregnant and malnourished women in Jamshoro district, Sindh province. In collaboration with the Norwegian Red Cross, PRCS is supporting 1000 pregnant and malnourished women by providing PKR 109,000 per family over a nine-month period.

Chairman Laghari commended Ambassador Ilsaas for his genuine concern for Pakistan’s people and emphasized the visit’s potential to strengthen ties between both countries, not only in humanitarian efforts but also in exploring areas of collaboration beyond diplomacy.

He emphasized PRCS’s anticipation of continued support from the Government of Norway, especially in the recovery phase following the devastating Monsoon 2022 floods. Chairman Laghari also expressed a keen desire to enhance cooperation, particularly with the Norwegian government and the Norwegian Red Cross, with the aim of strengthening collaboration in provinces like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, merged districts, and extending it to other provinces such as Sindh and Balochistan.

Ambassador Ilsaas commended the strides made by PRCS under Chairman Laghari’s guidance, noting the organization’s remarkable countrywide program outreach and robust volunteer base. He reaffirmed Norway’s commitment to supporting PRCS’s humanitarian endeavors. Prior to this, the Norwegian envoy was briefed on various sectors and also recorded his impressions in the visitor’s notebook during his visit.

In appreciation of their shared commitment to humanitarian causes, Chairman Laghari presented Ambassador Ilsaas with a commemorative shield and souvenir symbolizing the enduring partnership between Norway and Pakistan in advancing these efforts.