Devcom hosts “Leaders in Sustainability Awards” for development champions

Faisal Sheikh

ISLAMABAD, OCT 26 /DNA/ – Devcom-Pakistan (Development Communications Network) organized the prestigious “Leaders in Sustainability Awards” ceremony to honor individuals, organizations, and institutions demonstrating exceptional commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. The ceremony celebrated the achievements of those who have made significant contributions to advancing sustainable practices in Pakistan, addressing climate change, and fostering resilience across sectors, and appreciating the corporates for putting up efforts for the community’s wellbeing. Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) was the technical partner and cohost of the event.

The Pakistan-Arab Refinery Company Limited and National Bank of Pakistan won community wellbeing awards. The Capital Smart City won an award for promoting sustainable housing in the climate action category while Best Western Premier won conservation achievements awards in the climate action category. The Centre for Climate Diplomacy was awarded for promoting Pakistan’s stance over the climate crisis. Riffat Ara Baig was conferred upon the award for engaging youth in creative arts to raise awareness about climate change and mountain resource conservation over the years. The Comprehensive Health and Education Forum (CHEF) International won an award in the category of sustainable community health initiatives after the donor-support concluded.  

The event was graced by Deputy Head of Mission of the Malaysian High Commission in Islamabad, Mohammad Sayafik Firdaus as the Chief Guest.

 He commended the award recipients for their dedication to sustainable development, acknowledging that their work aligns with both local and global goals for climate action and environmental sustainability.

In his address, Mr. Sayafik underscored the importance of cross-border collaborations to tackle environmental challenges, emphasizing that sustainability is a shared responsibility and requires concerted global efforts. Pakistan has achieved many milestones in combating climate change and promoting sustainable practices, including the milestones of nongovernmental organisations and the corporate sector that have many environmental sustainability and community wellbeing initiatives.

Mr. Sayafik said that Malaysia has made significant strides toward sustainability, driven by government initiatives, private sector efforts, and international collaborations. While the country has faced environmental challenges, such as deforestation and urban pollution, its focus on sustainability is advancing through policies and programs aimed at balancing economic growth with environmental conservation.

Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 is the national plan of Malaysia that emphasizes inclusive, sustainable growth, aiming to reduce inequalities and promote equitable wealth distribution while prioritizing green technology and innovation. Malaysia has set ambitious goals to increase renewable energy usage to 31 per cent by 2025 and 40 per cent by 2035. Solar energy is particularly promising, with investments and policies to support large-scale solar installations.

Devcom-Pakistan Executive Director and founder of the Leaders in Sustainability Awards, Munir Ahmed highlighted the significance of celebrating sustainability champions whose work inspires a shift towards environmentally responsible practices in Pakistan.

Rawalpindi, 25 Oct: /DNA/ – On 25 October 2024, Khwarij attacked a Mosque in District Lakki Marwat during Maghrib Prayers.

Gentleman Cadet Arif Ullah (under training at Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul & on leave at his hometown), was also present there, offering prayers in the same Mosque.

As soon as Khwarij started firing, he immediately responded and fought the khwarij bravely. However, during the incident, Gentleman Cadet Arif Ullah (Age 19 years; resident of Lakki Marwat) embarced Shahadat sacrificing his life, while saving many innocent lives of worshippers.

Such heinous and cowardly act of attacking worshippers in the mosque while praying reflects the true ideology of these Khwarij.

Valiant act of a young Gentleman Cadet is a testament of spirit of sacrifice and dedication of Security Forces’ personnel to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country and such sacrifices further strengthen our resolve.

ISLAMABAD, Oct 25 (APP) President Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned a terrorist attack in which 10 FC personnel lost their lives. The president expressed heartfelt condolences over the terror attack and paid tribute to the FC personnel who embraced martyrdom, according to a President House press release. Lauding the patriotism of the martyred soldiers, President Zardari conveyed his condolence to the bereaved families. He prayed to Allah Almighty for the elevation of the martyrs’ ranks in paradise and for strength for their families to bear the loss.

RAWALPINDI, OCT 25: /DNA/ – Closing ceremony of Pakistan – Russia Joint Exercise Druzhba-VII in Counter Terrorism domain was conducted between the Armies of Pakistan and Russia at National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Pabbi, today.

Two weeks long exercise was commenced on 13 October 2024. Special Forces of Pakistan Army and 54 x all ranks from Russian Army participated in the Exercise.

Inspector General Training & Evaluation (IGT&E), Lieutenant General Fayyaz Hussain Shah, HI (M) graced the Closing Ceremony as Chief Guest. Russian Ambassador, His Excellency Albert P. Khorev also witnessed the Ceremony.

The troops displayed highest standards of professionalism during the conduct. The Exercise was aimed at refining drills, procedures and techniques, besides harnessing the historic military to military relations among the friendly countries.

ISLAMABAD: Justice Mansoor Ali Shah has fired broadside against outgoing Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa for remaining “complacent and indifferent to external pressure on the judiciary” during his tenure as the senior puisne judge skipped a full court reference to bid farewell to the latter.

CJP Isa took oath as the 29th chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) on Sept 17, 2023 at a ceremony, where his wife Sarina Isa was standing beside him.

Justice Yahya Afridi, who was appointed by a Special Parliamentary Committee (SPC), is set to take oath as the next chief justice tomorrow (Saturday).

In a letter to Supreme Court Registrar, Justice Shah — who would have become the CJP had the 26th Amendment not been passed — noted that it is universal custom to hold a farewell event to acknowledge the departing chief justice’s contributions.

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However, he said, traditions, like institutions, “rely on the merits of those who embody them.”

He explained that he decided against attending former CJP Saqib Nisar’s reference because “he had exceeded the limits of his constitutional role”.

He reiterated that he would also not be attending CJP Isa’s reference “though for different but more worrying reasons”.

Justice Shah pointed out that the chief justice’s role is to protect the rights of the people, uphold judicial independence, and ensure justice for all.

“CJP Isa, like an ostrich, with his head in the sand, remained complacent and indifferent to external influences and pressures on the judiciary,” he wrote, adding: “Instead of standing as a bulwark against interference, he opened the gates wide, betraying the judiciary’s sacred role as a check and balance on power.”

The senior judge further said that the outgoing CJP showed “neither the courage nor the moral fortitude to defend the judiciary rather ceded ground to those who sought to weaken the courts for their own gain thereby compromising the very foundation of the rule of law.”

He also said that CJP Isa’s actions have displayed a blatant disregard for the collegiality and respect essential to maintaining judicial harmony.

“Through a pattern of self-righteousness he consistently failed to engage in dialogue and refused to lead with the consensus-building that is the hallmark of judicial leadership.”

Apparently referring to the July 12 reserved seats verdict, the incumbent chief justice has little regard for the judgments of Supreme Court and has “contemptuously and unashamedly suggested that they may not be implemented by the Executive.”

Earlier on Oct 22, CJP Isa — in a detailed minority judgment — stated that the implementation of the top court’s July 12 verdict was not binding as the review petitions in the case were still pending and not fixed for hearing.

“He [Justice Isa] has fostered bitter divisions and fractured relationships of colleagues within the Court leaving scars on the judiciary that will last long. His tenure will be defined by pettiness, vindictiveness, and a lowly approach to administrative matters, having no grace or humility,” Justice Shah added.

He concluded by saying that to attend a reference and celebrate such a tenure would send a message that a chief justice can “betray his institution, erode its strength, act petty and low, and still be celebrated as an honorable servant of justice.”

When the top judge retires today, Justice Afridi will succeed him and take the oath of the office of CJP in a ceremony slated to be held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr. President Asif Ali Zardari will administer the oath to the CJP-designate.

Justice Afridi has been appointed the 30th chief justice of the country, who will serve for a fixed three-year term starting tomorrow (October 26), according to a statement from the Aiwan-e-Sadr released on Wednesday.

He is the first CJP to be appointed under Articles 175A(3), 177, and 179 of the Constitution following the 26th Constitutional Amendment.

The ruling coalition last week successfully pushed through the highly contentious judicial reforms through parliament via a two-thirds majority with 225 and 65 votes in the lower and upper house, respectively.

ISLAMABAD, OCT 25 /DNA/ – Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority rebuts the news,  that the country is carrying healthy stocks of HSD, suggesting no more need to import HSD in view of the ample supplies available with the refineries. It is clarified that HSD sales in the current month of October 2024 are up by 21% against the projected sales due to anti smuggling drive initiated by the Federal Government and the start of the agri season. The high sales have depleted the stocks that were reported as high earlier by refineries and are now enough only to cater for 19 more days of national consumption/sales, as per the latest sales and stocks report.

Since September, OGRA-the sector regulator has proactively built-up stockpiles in anticipation of the agricultural season, scheduled maintenance shutdown at PARCO, and the anticipated increase in demand due to the government’s robust actions against illegal fuel smuggling. This positively led to higher stocks, which temporarily faced media criticism from certain industry players. The strategic buffer created by OGRA has thus has been proved instrumental in maintaining supply continuity and avoiding potential shortages, stamping OGRA’s commitment to ensuring national energy security.

In the monthly Product Review Meeting for November, 2024 held on 22nd October that was attended by the CEO/MD’s of the oil industry and representatives from the Ministry of Petroleum, it was decided to allow import of around 266,000 M tons to fulfill the deficit during November, catering for the sales and replenishment of the depleted stocks. The month of November is critical due to the agri season and the country’s major supply source PARCO (contributing nearly 50% of the country’s refinery production) is offline for 40 days. OGRA’s mandate requires it to strive to maintain steady fuel supplies and prevent any potential shortages.

It is pertinent to point out that the planning process for the imports of HSD is the same as other petroleum products and volumes are assigned to the oil marketing companies as per their sales projections/local availability and inventory levels. This planning is an ongoing process where corrective actions are taken when the divergence from the plan is significant and warrants correction. OGRA continuously reviews the national oil supply chain situation in every 10 to 15 days to make necessary adjustments (if required) according to market behavior.

ISLAMABAD, OCT 25 /DNA/ – The Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) and the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) signed a MoU for complementing each other for Science Advocacy and Regional Development. It was signed by Executive Director COMSATS, Ambassador Dr. M. Nafees Zakaria, and Director General ISSI, Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, today at COMSATS Secretariat.

COMSATS is an intergovernmental organization of 27 member developing countries, committed to advancing scientific research, innovations and technologies for sustainable development. ISSI is an autonomous premier think tank of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs dedicated to providing in-depth understanding and objective analyses of regional and global strategic issues impacting international peace and security.

The MoU will pave the way for collaboration for activities such as scientific research, studies and publications, professional exchange and capacity building, sharing of knowledge and experiences, science diplomacy, and regional & international cooperation.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by Ambassadors and diplomats, Heads/representatives of COMSATS’ partner organizations, as well as senior officers of COMSATS and ISSI.

Amb. Sohail Mahmood deliberated on ISSI’s commitment to expanding partnerships and outreach to niche specialised institutions. He considered COMSATS as one such organization focused at S&T for development. Amb. Mahmood highlighted ISSI’s vision of next generation programs that concentrate on youth-inclusive dialogue and research. He noted that we need to pay critical attention to topics such as “Global South” and Middle Powers — the key players in both geopolitical and geo-economic landscapes.

In his remarks, Amb. Zakaria expressed unflinching commitment of COMSATS to pass on the benefits of contemporary technologies to its Member States, and noted that COMSATS aspires to benefit from the strengths of ISSI with an aim to promoting intra-South reliance and cooperation. He highlighted some of the recent initiatives of COMSATS in the emerging fields of science and technology. He considered the MoU signing as beginning of mutually beneficial collaboration between COMSATS and ISSI.

The collaboration reflects the shared commitment of COMSATS and ISSI to harness latest technologies and innovation for sustainable development on a global scale.

ISLAMABAD, OCT 25 /DNA/ – Delegation appreciates BISP’s Dynamic Registry, Targeted Social Protection, and Digital Payment Mechanisms

“Social Protection as Our Common Goal: Collaboration will Strengthen Pakistan-Uganda Ties,” says Secretary BISP Amer Ali Ahmad

Islamabad: A 21-member Ugandan delegation, led by Ms. Lucy Nakyobe Mbonye, Secretary of Public Service, concluded their four-day study visit to the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) today. The visit focused on gaining insights into BISP’s experiences to social protection.

During the visit, the delegation received comprehensive briefings on Pakistan’s socio-economic context and BISP’s operations, including the evolution of BISP since 2008, Unconditional and Conditional Cash Transfer (UCT and CCT) programs, and the BISP National Socio-Economic Registry (NSER). They also observed BISP’s use of the NSER for adaptive social protection, notably in response to COVID-19 and the 2022 floods.

The delegation also visited the BISP Dynamic Registration Center and Nashonuma Health Facilitation Center in Murree to witness firsthand the field operations, including real-time NSER updates and health services for mother and child beneficiaries.

Ms. Lucy Nakyobe Mbonye expressed her gratitude to BISP’s management for their facilitation and hospitality, commending the organization’s dynamic registry, targeted outreach, and efficient digital payment system. She praised BISP’s use of technology and data collection and described BISP as a role model for women’s empowerment. She highlighted the importance of coordination among stakeholders, adding, “Through BISP, we can enhance our social protection system to be more inclusive, transparent, and effective in reducing poverty in Uganda.”

Secretary BISP Amer Ali Ahmad congratulated the Ugandan delegation on their successful study tour, expressing hope that Uganda’s government will implement or replicate these learnings to strengthen their own social protection programs. He noted, Social protection is our common goal; through mutual collaboration and knowledge exchange, our relationship will strengthen, leading to better outcomes.