Friday, May 15, 2026
Home Blog Page 859

Spirit of Indonesian Independence continues to burn despite rain in Islamabad

By
admin
-
Spirit of Indonesian Independence continues to burn despite rain in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD, AUG 10 /DNA/ – More than three hundred Indonesian nationals along with their families gathered this morning at the Embassy of the Republic Indonesia in Islamabad. Despite rain, they remained enthusiastically join the pre-event series to celebrate the 79th anniversary of the Indonesian Independence Day on 17 August 2024.  

“Thank you for coming to all Indonesian nationals from Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujrat, Sialkot, Faisalabad, and Abottabad,“ said Mr. Ferry J. Murdiansyah, Chief of the Indonesian Embassy’s Committee of the Independence Day 2024 in his welcoming remarks. He also appreciated the presence of all coordinators who have helped the Embassy in protection mission towards its nationals in Pakistan.   

The pre-event is marked by great festivity. A highly anticipated, joyful aspect of the Independence Day celebration is the indispensable tradition of the sport events and fun games that take place nationwide and across the globe supported by the Indonesian missions abroad. In Islamabad, the pre-event begins with fun walk at the Diplomatic Enclave. All participants wear T-Shirt in national fervor and spirit of red and white representing the colors of the Indonesian flag. Regardless of age, there are fun activities for everyone.

Covering a distance of 3 kilometers the fun walk finished back at the Embassy where the participants were greeted by refreshments and surprise gifts. Later, various games described as ‘Lomba 17an’ in the Indonesian language got underway featuring hotly contested various events such as badminton, table tennis, volleyball, and futsal.

The Indonesian traditional popular games like Tug of War (Tarik Tambang), Wooden Clog Race (Lomba Bakiak), Sack Race (Balap Karung), Spoon-Marble Race (Lomba Kelereng), and coloring competitions for the kids were special features of the day. These games highlight the playful and amusing nature of the celebrations not only greatly entertained the participants and spectators but showcased Indonesia’s rich cultural heritage as well. Apart from physical activity and amusement, the sports and fun games essentially symbolize the spirits of unity, friendship, and collaboration among Indonesian nationals.

“With the funwalk under rain, we are expected to feel the hard struggle of our nation founding fathers and mothers to reach the independence for us. However, the independence is not the end of our journey. As the first Indonesian President Sukarno declared that the independence is the golden bridge towards justice and prosperity,” explained Chargé d’Affaires Rahmat Hindiarta Kusuma.     

Moreover, the Indonesian Chargé d’Affaires while introducing the Indonesia’s 79th Independence Day Logo and Theme, “New Nusantara, Advanced Indonesia”, he further illustrated the momentous transition and the ambitious project of shifting the Indonesian capital city and administrative heart from the bustling city of Jakarta to Nusantara City which is greener and sustainable. “Nusantara is conceptualized and designed to be more than just a new capital city but it essentially represents a long term vision for the nation,” he concluded.

“For sure, I am very happy. Meeting with my Indonesian friends and having traditional meals together are such blessing for me,” said Muna, an Indonesian national married to Pakistani from Kasur, Punjab. “I am coming to the Embassy not alone, but along with my Pakistani families. We really enjoy the event,” added Andalusia from Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

To spice up the event, the special food stalls were set up by the Indonesian students, offering a choice of Indonesian popular scrumptious dishes such as Rendang (spicy meat dish), Nasi Goreng (fried rice), Nasi Padang (steamed rice served with various dishes), Mei Goreng (fried noodles) and Soto or the traditional soups, and much more.

The Indonesian Embassy highly appreciates the support and participation of Omar Travel, Super Crown Travel, Destiny Holiday Planners, A2Z Travel Solutions, Marwa Travel and Shelozon MPL, Al-Zohra Travel & Tours, OZ Travel & Tours, Akhtar Travel & Tours, and Crown International Travel, that make the pre-event possible.

Following the pre-event, the Indonesian Embassy is currently preparing the Indonesian Expo 2024 at the Centaurus Mall on 16-18 August 2024 and the Flag Hoisting Ceremony at the Embassy’s premises on 17 August 2024 as the core event to celebrate the Independence Day.  

A medal that save our country from Humiliation

By
admin
-
Qamar Bashir

By Qamar Bashir

Being a nation of 250 million people and experiencing one failure after another of our sportspersons in the Paris Olympics was heartbreaking. These defeats were not due to the failure of the players to perform in the sports arena but rather a reflection of our collective failure in almost every discipline compared to developing or developed nations.

However, it was perhaps divine intervention that nurtured an honest, pure, dedicated, and talented soul for years, saving us from a total whitewash at the Olympic Games and giving the entire nation priceless moments to relish, celebrate, and cherish.

This moment, like for me and my wife, who did not even blink, fearing to miss the golden moments of glory yesterday, came when our only “HERO” Arshad Nadeem made history. He set a record in javelin throw that no one had ever achieved in the past and which will be difficult to break in the near future. His victory was a beacon of hope and pride, reminding us of the potential we hold as a nation when our talents are nurtured and supported.

Today, all our family members stood with pride once again before the TV screen, watching as the gold medal was garlanded around our hero’s neck while our national anthem played in the background. This filled our hearts with overwhelming emotions and brought tears to our eyes. We were at a loss for words to thank Almighty Allah and Arshad Nadeem for giving us such an exalted moment of glory. His achievement saved us from feeling dejected, humiliated, gloomy, and sad.

The Chinese Embassy’s message which Congratulated its Pakistani brothers and sisters on Arshad Nadeem’s historic win of first Olympic gold medal in 40 years and breaking the Olympic record of men’s javelin in Paris was heart-warming.

Now that the entire nation is fully geared to celebrate Jashan-e-Azadi and is preparing to receive our sole hero of the Olympics, we need to conduct a retrospective inspection. This reflection will help us understand the underlying issues that led to our collective failures in the sports arena and pave the way for future improvements.

While being in the power corridors for most of my professional life, I can confidently say that we have many talented, educated, and expert professionals in every field. However, we all know that our potential cannot be fully realized until we establish the rule of law, have clarity in our national objectives, and consistently respect our constitution and the people’s mandate. This includes eliminating the existence of multiple centers of power within the country. Most importantly, it requires investing in our human capital.

Pakistan’s investment in education, health, vocational training, sports, professional training, and research and development significantly lags behind both developed and many developing countries. Pakistan allocates approximately 1.7% of its GDP ($4 billion) to education, in stark contrast to the 6.2% and 5.5% ($800 billion) spent by developed countries and around 9.6% and 9.1% of their GDP spent by some developing countries. In terms of healthcare, Pakistan’s expenditure is also minimal, around 2.8% ($6billion) of GDP, whereas developed nations often spend between 10-12% ($4trillion) of their GDP on health. In research and development (R&D), Pakistan spends less than 0.3% ($ 700 million) of its GDP, which pales in comparison to countries like South Korea and Israel, which invest over 4% ($90Billion) of their GDP in R&D. Similarly, vocational training and sports in Pakistan receive minimal financial support.

Pakistan’s neglect in the sports arena is even more pronounced. The sports budget does not exceed $40 million annually, which includes funding for the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), various sports federations, and infrastructure projects. There is a lack of a robust network of sports academies and educational institutions dedicated to nurturing young talent. Talent identification programs are sporadic and limited in scope. The economic model for sports in Pakistan is underdeveloped, making the sports economy unlucrative and disorganized compared to successful sports nations.

Enhanced training facilities and access to world-class coaching are virtually non-existent. Comprehensive athlete support programs, including nutrition, sports science, psychology, and medical care, which ensure athletes remain in peak physical and mental condition, are unknown in Pakistan. The integration of sports science and medicine to produce consistently high-performing and medal-winning athletes is absent. This systemic neglect hampers the potential of Pakistani athletes and prevents the country from achieving significant success in international sports competitions.

We know that investment in grassroots programs ensures a steady pipeline of talent by nurturing young athletes from an early age, and long-term investment in these programs will make our sportspersons a dominant force in their respective sports, enabling them to regularly win medals at the Olympics. Structured competitive platforms, such as the college sports system, provide athletes with the necessary experience and exposure, which is crucial for producing numerous Olympic medalists.

We are also well aware that financial support and scholarships allow athletes to focus on training without financial burdens, resulting in sports dominance. International exposure and exchange programs help athletes gain experience and improve performance, leading to consistent success in events like the Olympics and World Championships. These strategies, if implemented effectively, can transform Pakistan’s sports landscape and elevate our athletes to international acclaim.

Ironically, despite knowing what needs to be done to create a sustainable sports ecosystem, our politicians, bureaucrats, both military and civilian, and businessmen have failed to take the necessary actions to lift our country from its abysmal despair. Instead, they have created a haven for themselves and their families in Pakistan and abroad. Their children receive quality education, healthcare, training, and capacity building comparable to the privileged in any developed country. Meanwhile, the masses are left to rely on divine mercy and special prayers, with little support or opportunity for improvement. This stark contrast highlights the deep inequalities and neglect that have hindered the nation’s progress in every sector, including sports. This time around, divine intervention did the magic; next time, it may not.

By Qamar Bashir

Former Press Secretary to the President

Former Press Minister to the Embassy of Pakistan to France

Former MD, SRBC, CEO, ATV

Three soldiers martyred, four terrorists killed in separate incidents in KP’s Tirah

By
admin
-
Three soldiers martyred, four terrorists killed in separate incidents in KP's Tirah

RAWALPINDI, AUG 10: Three Pakistan Army soldiers embraced martyrdom during shootouts with terrorists at three different locations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tirah Valley, the military’s media affairs wing said on Friday.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), fire exchange took place between security forces and the “Khwarij” at three different locations in Tirah Valley of Khyber District.

“Resultantly, four khwarij were sent to hell due to effective engagement by own troops.”

However, during the intense fire exchange, three brave soldiers — Havildar Inam Gul, 37, resident of District Mianwali; Sepoy Muhammad Imran, 29, resident of District Tank and Sepoy Iltaf Khan, 22, resident of District Mardan, — having fought gallantly embraced Shahadat.

It added that a sanitization operation is being conducted to eliminate any other “Kharji” found in the area as security forces are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve.

Since the Taliban came into power in Afghanistan in 2021, Pakistan has witnessed a significant surge in terrorist attacks on security forces, especially in provinces bordering the neighbouring country in recent months with the militants using advanced weaponry and equipment.

With the security forces hitting hard on terrorism, the frequency of such incidents of violence went down in recent months. The Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) Annual Security report stated that during the second quarter of the current year, Pakistan witnessed 380 violence-linked fatalities and 220 injuries among civilians, security personnel, and outlaws, resulting from as many as 240 incidents of terror attacks and counter-terror operations.

In the backdrop of this, the federal cabinet had approved the launching of the counter-terrorism operation — Operation Azm-e-Istehkam — following the National Action Plan’s Central Apex Committee’s recommendations to root out terrorism from the country.

US envoy  extension of Afghan refugees

By
admin
-
Donald Blome

675,190 Afghans have returned to their country as of August 4

Adil Shaheen

ISLAMABAD: United States Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome has appreciated Pakistan’s decision to extend the stay of registered Afghan refugees by a year, a statement from the US embassy in Pakistan said on Friday.

A large number of Afghan immigrants, with an estimated 1.7m undocumented as of October 2023, reside in Pakistan. Last October, the caretaker government had announced the repatriation of all illegal foreigners citing security concerns. The decision was alleged to be meant for Afghan refugees, a charge that was denied by officials.

Pakistan launched the first round of deportation in November last year, and according to state-run Radio Pakistan, 675,190 Afghans have returned to their country as of August 4 under the drive.

While the government had decided to begin the second round of repatriation of holders of Afghan Citizenship Cards (ACC), it last month granted 1.45 million Afghan refugees another year, extending their permitted stay in Pakistan till June 30, 2025.

According to the US Mission Spokesperson Jonathan Lalley, Blome expressed the sentiments in a meeting today with Minister of States and Frontier Regions Amir Muqam in Islamabad.

While thanking Muqam for Pakistan’s “long history of hosting Afghan refugees”, Blome also reaffirmed the US’s commitment to working with Pakistan to “assist Afghan refugees and Pakistani community members in areas hosting refugees”.

PTI suspends hunger strike outside parliament

By
admin
-

The move has happened on direction of PTI founder, says Omer Ayub

Saifullah Ansar

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Friday announced to suspend its hunger strike camp outside the parliament. PTI’s Secretary General Omer Ayub said that the decision was made on the direction of the PTI founder.

He said Imran Khan had directed the party members to prepare for the Independence Day celebrations in their constituencies.

The party’s secretary general, however, said the symbolic hunger strike would begin after a hiatus of few days and a formal announcement would be made in this regard.

Meanwhile, Opposition alliance, Tehreek Tahafuz Ayin-e-Pakistan has announced to hold a public gathering in Lahore on August 27.

Representative Akhunzada Hussain Yousafzai talking to media, he emphasised that Lahore public gathering would be the biggest and historic jalsa.

He reiterated that this historic public gathering would pave the way for opening the doors of Adiala jail, referring to the release of Imran Khan.

He disclosed that the venue for the public gathering would be finalised with the administration on August 16.

He asserted that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was the biggest party of Pakistan and they requested Minar-e-Pakistan for the venue.

He regarded the arrest of PTI MNA Chaudhry Imtiaz arrest, a ridiculous tactic, he demanded to issue production orders of PTI MNA and brought PTI members in the Parliament.

IPPs owners consider forensic audit a deathblow: Mian Zahid Hussain

By
admin
-
IPPs owners consider forensic audit a deathblow: Mian Zahid Hussain

KARACHI, AUG 9 /DNA/ – The Chairman of the FPCCI Advisory Board and National Business Group Pakistan, President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum, and All Karachi Industrial Alliance, as well as former provincial minister Mian Zahid Hussain, said on Friday that IPPs have proved to be a death warrant for industry, trade, and poor people.

IPPs have been involved in plunder and other crimes in the name of business for decades, which should not be allowed, he said.

Mian Zahid Hussain said fuel theft and invoicing are common among favorite IPPs. Still, it has never been investigated for obvious reasons.

Talking to the business community, the veteran business leader said there is an unbelievable difference between prices of imported coal purchased by various IPPs, which has been deliberately ignored for years.

He observed that this price variation is the biggest evidence of corruption. Still, no action is being taken in this regard.

Mian Zahid Hussain informed that some IPPs are getting cheap fuel. Still, instead of generating electricity, they have been selling it at high prices in the market without any fear of law.

The business leader said that some IPPs consider forensic audits a deathblow to their businesses and would do everything to avoid audits by pleasing officials concerned.

That’s why there has never been a heat audit. Despite massive over-invoicing, no government has ever needed to examine it.

Mian Zahid Hussain said that many IPPs have shown their cost to be 20 to 25 percent higher than the original, accepted without hesitation, equal to bargaining with the country and the nation.

He said that the slabs in the electricity bills are anti-people because a unit increase in the bills doubles the bill. If a customer who uses 200 units per month uses a few more units, he has to pay more bills for six months, which is the worst exploitation of poor people.

He said that if a consumer consumes one unit more than a slab, he has to bear up to six months, which is a deliberate conspiracy against the public to hide the losses of Discos.

 Mian Zahid Hussain said that the people who make the policies of IPPs benefit from them. Important policies in Pakistan are not made by experts but by politicians not remotely related to the relevant field. For this reason, the loot in the electricity sector has also increased compared to that committed by the East India Company.

Due to the inflated power plants, hundreds of factories and thousands of businesses have been closed, and hundreds of thousands of people have become unemployed. At the same time, the economy is rapidly being destroyed.

Mian Zahid Hussain added that the highest capacity payment is currently going to the Atomic Energy Commission, which is surprising because it is a government-owned institution.

UAE Ambassador greets Arshad Nadeem

By
admin
-
UAE Ambassador greets Arshad Nadeem

DNA

ISLAMABAD, AUG 9:  Message from Hamad Obaid Alzaabi UAE Ambassador in Islamabad.I extend heartfelt congratulations to the people of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on Arshad Nadeem’s historic gold medal at the Paris Olympics by record-breaking 92.97-metre throw.

This victory is a testament to the talent and determination of the Pakistani people that brings immense pride to Pakistan and inspires athletes globally.

As the UAE Ambassador, I am proud to witness such milestones in our brotherly nation.

Ethiopia, Pakistan discuss collaborative initiatives for human resource development

By
admin
-
Ethiopia, Pakistan discuss collaborative initiatives for human resource development

ISLAMABAD, AUG 9 /DNA/ – The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan have discussed collaborative initiatives to produce productive human resources for their countries.

The joint skill development initiatives such as hands on trainings and courses came under discussion during a meeting between H.E. Mr. Jemal Beker, Ambassador Extraordinary, Plenipotentiary and Special Envoy of FDRE to Pakistan, and H.E. Mr. Salik Hussain, Federal Minister of Overseas Pakistanis & Human Resource Development.

The joint initiatives, discussed in the meeting, are aimed at equipping both countries’ youth with modern technical and vocational education and trainings in various sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, Computing, Block Chain and others.  

The meeting also focused on the collaborations that are imperative to foster strong bilateral relations between the two countries.

During the meeting, H.E. Ambassador Jemal Beker highlighted the Ethiopian government’s commitment to produce skilled and highly skilled manpower as a part of its Home Grown Economic Reforms Programme (HGERP) that is aimed to foster macroeconomic stability, encourage private sector investment, enhance domestic production, and improve the government’s capacity to deliver quality services.

He said under the HGERP 1.0, Ethiopia had achieved a stable, robust and sustainable economy especially by attracting foreign direct investment, increasing productivity and job creation in the country.

H.E. Ambassador Jemal Beker highlighted the recent launch of HGERP 2.0 by the Government of Ethiopia which is aimed at creating a stable macroeconomic environment, transforming investment and trade environment, boosting productive growth and improving public sector capability.

H.E. Minister Hussain shared Pakistan’s experience in human resource development, highlighting his ministry’s efforts to forge collaboration with foreign countries for skill development and job creation for the country’s youth.

He assured the Ambassador of his government’s full support for the collaborative initiatives of the skill development.

He invited H.E. Ambassador Jemal to lead a tree planting event at the University of Gujarat in the earliest possible time.

This event, organized by the Minister’s office, aims to promote environmental awareness and aligns with GreenLegacy initiative of H.E. Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali, Prime Minister of Ethiopia.

Mohsin Naqvi meets Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Ahmed Al-Malki

By
admin
-
Mohsin Naqvi meets Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Ahmed Al-Malki

ISLAMABAD, AUG 9 (DNA): Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi visited the Saudi Arabian Embassy in the Diplomatic Enclave and met with Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Ahmed Al-Malki on Friday.

During the meeting, matters of mutual interest and ways to promote Pakistan-Saudi relations were discussed in detail.

Interior Minister assured the Saudi Ambassador of taking robust action against professional beggars traveling to Saudi Arabia.

He stated that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has been directed to crack down against the mafia across the country involved in sending beggars to Saudi Arabia.

He said that this mafia is tarnishing Pakistan’s image abroad. He highlighted that the people of Pakistan have great reverence and respect for Saudi Arabia.

He said that Saudi Arabia has always stood by Pakistan in difficult times.The Saudi Ambassador said that both countries have brotherly relations.

Court verdict stripping of bat symbol ‘resurrected dead party’: Bilawal

By
admin
-
Bilawal

ISLAMABAD, AUG 9: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said Friday that a dead political party was resurrected through a court decision that stripped of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) bat symbol, emphasising that the judiciary was responsible for the current crises.

“No one sitting in this House is responsible for the current crisis in the country. Only the court was and is the reason for the crisis,” said the PPP chairman.

Addressing the National Assembly in today’s session, Bilawal insisted that the judiciary is constantly “interfering” in Pakistan’s politics.

“The history of judiciary is before everyone,” the young politico said, adding that his party had to fight for justice on behalf of its martyred leaders — Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto.

He added that the PPP founder did not get a fair trial from the judiciary, while lamenting the delay in justice for common citizens. It was this year, he added, that his grandfather received justice posthumously.

Commenting on PTI’s bat symbol case, Bilawal said it was initially a result of the party’s “rigged” intra-party elections, according to the court. He insisted that the verdict on the bat symbol was not issued by him or the government.

“This verdict resurrected a dead political party after which, it started mobilising,” he said, adding that the decision had political implications and benefitted the PTI at the last minute — closer to February 8 general polls.

The Supreme Court had, ahead of elections, stripped the PTI of its electoral symbol ‘bat’.

“They have handed out the verdict and seats [to PTI] like candy,” he said, adding that the court issued a political decision that the party did not even seek.

“They did not even ask for it and the law and Constitution did not even permit it.”

Bilawal, taking a jibe at the judiciary’s role in the country, said that the institution is so capable that it cannot just run the courts but also build dams.

In his speech at the Parliament, during which the opposition protested by making noise, the PPP politician lamented about the rise of politics of hatred in the country. “The political division today did not exist earlier.”

Pointing towards the political crisis in Bangladesh, Bilawal said Pakistanis are carefully watching the unfolding situation in the wake of the anti-government protest that triggered its prime minister Sheikh Hasina to resign.

He insisted that it is crucial for the state to now pay attention to the issues of the people who are experiencing an economic crisis.

1...858859860...3,998Page 859 of 3,998

Stay Connected

64FansLike
60FollowersFollow

Latest Reviews

Exchange Rates

USD - United States Dollar
EUR
1.17
GBP
1.35
AUD
0.72
CAD
0.73

EDITOR PICKS

POPULAR POSTS

POPULAR CATEGORY

© Centreline Magazine