DNA

Islamabad: The Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates in Islamabad His Excellency Hamad Obaid Al Zaabi said that the fruits of the first artificial rain project of the UAE to mitigate the dangerous effects of the smog affecting Lahore have achieved successes and positive results so far and will continue in the coming weeks, Ambassador Al Zaabi said that the artificial rain project in Pakistan specifically in the Lahore city came under the direct patronage and supervision of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the UAE, Deputy Prime Minister and  Minister of presidential court, and through this project unprecedented scientific successes were achieved.

The UAE ambassador spoke about the artificial rain project in Pakistan and said that it comes in a step to combat high levels of air pollution, as the residents of Lahore city witnessed the first artificial rain on 16 December, and will continue in coming week, the initiative which was conducted by the government of the United Arab Emirates in cooperation with the Federal government of Pakistan and the government of Punjab province aims to mitigate the dangerous effects of smog affecting the city and its population of more than 22 million people, at the same time artificial rain was implemented which covered 10 – 15 kilometers area in Lahore.

The Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates in Islamabad announced the success of the artificial rain experiment and said: “This plan was implemented precisely in specific areas of Lahore, and light rain fell in 10 targeted areas.” the cloud seeding process included the deployment of 48 flames to stimulate rain, Ambassador Al Zaabi stressed that the UAE’s support for the artificial rain project initiative is extremely important, as only water was used which does not pose any harm to health, he gave the example of Dubai and some American states that conducted rain seeding operations.

Ambassador Hamad Al Zaabi spoke about the UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science and said that it is an international research initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the UAE, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of presidential court in 2015 to develop rain enhancement research in the UAE and support research proposals and innovative technologies that contribute to addressing water scarcity issues in arid and semi-arid regions by providing a financial grant to selected teams of researchers and scientists.

He pointed out that the Emirates Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science selects every two years two of the most distinguished research projects in the field of rain enhancement from all over the world, and provides a financial grant of up to 1.5 million US dollars for each research project distributed over 3 years at a rate of 550 thousand dollars per year, Ambassador Hamad Al Zaabi said that the program has so far provided financial grants worth more than $18 million to implement 11 innovative research projects in the field of rain enhancement, these projects work to develop new sciences and technologies to support rain enhancement operations in the United Arab Emirates and also contribute for deepening global knowledge of rain enhancement science and technology.

The Ambassador spoke about artificial cloud seeding and said that it is a process of deliberate change in the weather, whereby clouds are stimulated to drop their hidden water or frozen snow over specific geographical areas through specific chemical or biological factors that are dropped into the cloud mass to increase the density of cloud and water vapor that later falls in the form of rain and snow, and the artificial cloud seeding is used for the following goals: 1- increasing rainfall in areas that do not witness much rainfall, 2- cleaning or cooling the air, 3- preventing storms and reducing hurricanes as a result of early rainfall, 4- reducing the heat of the sun by increasing the mass of clouds.

At the conclusion of his talk about the cooperation project between the UAE and Pakistan, Ambassador Al Zaabi said that the process of artificial rain seeding is carried out by planting clouds for condensation or catalysts for rainfall, as these catalysts are planted by aircraft or ground cannons using various materials such as dry ice, solid carbon dioxide, silver iodide, calcium chloride, sodium chloride, and water mist, and the process in which silver iodide is used to control the acceleration of the rainfall process is considered the most famous process used for artificial cloud seeding, as it works to increase the density of clouds above their normal rate which makes the ice crystals inside the clouds freeze and then fall due to their weight to the ground before the rising heat returns them near the surface to its liquid state again, and to enhance the guarantee of the success of the artificial cloud seeding process, several natural factors must be present that help in cloud seeding such as the presence of cumulus clouds, the presence of rising air, determining the appropriate time for cloud seeding, and knowing the appropriate amount of stimulating materials that must be injected into the clouds.

ISLAMABAD: /DNA/ – Pakistan High Commission, New Delhi has issued 62 visas to a group of Indian Hindu pilgrims for their visit to Shree Katas Raj Temples, also known as Qila Katas, in Chakwal district of Punjab from 19-25 December 2023.

Expressing his views on the occasion, Charge d’ Affaires, Mr. Aizaz Khan, wished the pilgrims a safe journey and memorable stay in Pakistan.

Under the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974, each year thousands of Sikh and Hindu pilgrims from India visit Pakistan to attend various religious festivals/occasions. The issuance of pilgrimage visas to them is in line with the Government of Pakistan’s efforts for facilitating visits to religious shrines and promoting interfaith harmony.

Today marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Norway.

ISLAMABAD, 18 DEC: /DNA/ – Pakistan and Norway have continued to grow over the past 75 years on the basis of mutual respect and shared values. The two countries enjoy a mutually beneficial partnership in political, economic, academic, environmental, social and cultural domains. There is a common desire to promote regional and global peace, security and sustainable development.

Pakistan-Norway relations are marked by high-level exchanges and contacts with frequent meetings at the leadership level. The two countries also actively collaborate in various multilateral fora.

The bilateral economic relations between Pakistan and Norway are robust and growing with sizeable trade in multiple product lines and substantial investments of leading Norwegian companies in Pakistan including Telenor Group, Scatec ASA and Jotun Paints. Cooperation in the fields of IT & ITES, ship-breaking and ship-recycling has recently emerged with great promise.

Pakistan appreciates Norway’s steady and generous development assistance in sustainable development including SDGs, climate action and renewable energy and its solidarity during times of natural disasters and calamities. Following last year’s floods, Norway provided humanitarian assistance of 227 million NOK to Pakistan. NORPART programme of Norway’s development agency Norad has helped advance bilateral academic cooperation with enhanced student mobility and curriculum development programmes.

Pakistani-origin Norwegians are the most vital link between Pakistan and Norway. Pakistani diaspora that first arrived in Norway in early 1970s is today among the largest immigrant groups in Norway. They are a diverse multi-generational group that contributes in all walks of life including politics, liberal arts, business, education, science, research, medicine, healthcare, law, consultancy & engineering. As a country of origin, Pakistan takes pride in their socio-economic contribution in the country of their choice.

As we celebrate an important milestone in Pakistan-Norway relations, Pakistan strongly believes that friendship and cooperation between the two countries would continue to grow and flourish in the years to come.

Comment

Ansar M Bhatti

The impending elections have come into focus following a decisive move by the Supreme Court, characterized as a ‘commando action,’ wherein it suspended the Lahore High Court’s single-bench verdict concerning the appointment of Returning Officers. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) legal team had approached the Lahore High Court, advocating for the appointment of Returning Officers from the Judiciary instead of the district administration. Even to the PTI’s surprise, the LHC judge not only suspended the Election Commission’s notification but also constituted a larger bench to delve deeper into the case. The CJP Faez Isa was very much within his rights when he questioned the timing and the haste in which the judge had passed the order.

“It is truly remarkable that, initially, the judge issued an order without taking into account the verdict of the apex court regarding the February 8 elections. Subsequently, he recommended the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court (LHC) to form a larger bench, and remarkably, assumed the role of the head of the five-member bench himself’, as noted by the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP). In response, the apex court promptly suspended the LHC order, allowing the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to announce the election schedule on the very same day. Despite initial reluctance, the ECP had no choice but to comply with the Supreme Court’s directives, leading to the announcement of the schedule on the midnight of December 16, 2023.”

As the stage is meticulously set for the upcoming elections, political parties are poised to heighten their election campaigns. The PPP has already launched its extensive mass contact drive, and the PML N is anticipated to follow suit once it concludes the candidate selection process. Notably, political leaders across various parties have echoed their support for a Charter of Economy. While this proposition has been deliberated in the past, tangible progress has remained elusive. The glaring reason behind this stagnation is evident—the pressing need for a singular charter, and that is the Charter against Corruption. Ostensibly, corruption has wrought havoc on the entire system, necessitating urgent and concerted efforts for its eradication.

Amnesty International, in its latest report, has unequivocally labeled corruption as the foremost challenge confronting Pakistan. The comprehensive assessment conducted by the organization scrutinized eight key departments, revealing a distressing reality where the police emerged as the most corrupt entity, closely followed by the judiciary at the second position. This corroborates my steadfast belief that corruption stands as the paramount issue plaguing Pakistan.

Notably, this isn’t the first time that Amnesty International has brought to light the pervasive issue of corruption within the country. A previous survey conducted by the organization underscored the disconcerting fact that even institutions considered ‘prestigious’ were not immune to corrupt practices. It is disheartening to observe that despite the consistent release of such damning reports, little to no concrete actions are taken to address the highlighted concerns.

This cycle of revelation without subsequent remedial action raises serious questions about the commitment of authorities to root out corruption from the system. For any meaningful change to transpire, it is imperative that these reports serve as catalysts for genuine reform and stringent measures against corruption, fostering a system where accountability and transparency are non-negotiable principles. The gravity of the situation demands a collective and sustained effort to dismantle the entrenched culture of corruption, ensuring that these reports not only serve as documentation of the problem but as blueprints for a corruption-free future for Pakistan.

Intriguingly, no political party has ever endeavored earnestly to tackle this menace head-on. Interestingly, all prime ministers starting from 1988 till date have never completed their five-year term. Every time they were ousted from power on charges of corruption.

The military regimes, too, have faced persistent allegations of corruption. During the 11-year rule of Gen Zia Ul Haq from 1979 to 1988, a pervasive atmosphere of financial gain enveloped those in power amid the Afghan Jihad. This period coincided with a surge in sectarian violence in Pakistan, reaching its zenith. Tragically, the nation witnessed hundreds of thousands of casualties in the brutal clashes between Shia and Sunni factions. The intertwining of political and military interests during this era not only fueled corruption but also exacerbated social tensions, leaving a lasting impact on the fabric of Pakistani society.

Benazir Bhutto assumed power following the demise of General Zia in a plane crash, winning the elections that ensued. However, her government faced a tumultuous tenure, marked by allegations of extensive corruption among high-ranking officials. This led to her removal from office within a relatively short span of two and a half years. The subsequent administrations, represented by both the PML N and PPP, similarly faced premature dismissals due to comparable charges of corruption at the highest echelons of power. This pattern of governance challenges highlighted the persistent issue of corruption within the political landscape, shaping the course of successive governments in Pakistan.

The takeover by General Pervez Musharraf in 1999 was met with mixed reactions, despite Nawaz Sharif’s two-thirds majority in Parliament. The Nawaz-Military face-off was driven by various factors, and the aftermath of his ouster surprised Nawaz Sharif, who acknowledged the unexpected response from the public. People’s sentiments seemed to shift unexpectedly; while many expressed support for him verbally, the reality was different.

Even Nawaz Sharif himself was taken aback by the lack of tangible support when he was removed. Supporters who had initially encouraged him to proceed viz a viz his estranged relations with the military, were nowhere to be found when the time came. The disconnect between the verbal assurances and the actual support on the ground left Nawaz Sharif in a challenging situation. The obvious reason perhaps was his disconnect with his electorates and so is the case with other political parties.

The PTI, however, presented a unique case. Imran Khan’s removal from power triggered an immediate and impassioned public response, underscoring the widespread dissatisfaction with the manner in which he was ousted, despite his government’s lackluster performance. His political opponents employed a variety of tactics, yet failed to diminish his popularity. This resilience can be attributed to Imran Khan’s decision to confront the situation head-on rather than fleeing the country after striking deals as other leaders did upon their removal from the office.

When it comes to addressing corruption, Imran Khan’s tenure is unfortunately not an exception. Regrettably, corruption witnessed a significant surge during his time in office. Despite harboring a sincere desire to eradicate corruption from Pakistan, Imran Khan faced challenges that hindered effective action in this regard.

The current scenario, as reflected in the statements and speeches of political leaders during public rallies, is disheartening. Sadly, it appears that none of them is genuinely committed to addressing the menace of corruption once in power. If this trend persists, it is inevitable that our nation will face an uncertain future, plagued by ongoing economic distress that will disproportionately impact the well-being of its citizens.

LAHORE, Dec 17: Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi has taken notice of the death of four persons as a result of a firing incident outside a marriage hall in Baghbanpura. CM has sought a report from the Inspector General of Police in this regard.

Mohsin Naqvi has expressed his heartfelt sympathy and condolence with the family members of the slain. CM directed to ensure provision of justice to the grief-stricken families along with providing best treatment facilities to the injured. CM has ordered the relevant officials to ensure observance of SOPs in the marriage halls.