ISLAMABAD, July 30 /DNA/ – The 3rd batch of the COMSTECH-Indonesia Research Fellowship Program for Virology and Vaccine Technologies has completed successfully. COMSTECH in collaboration with Indonesian Ministry of Health, PT Bio Farma, and Padjadjaran University, the Center of Excellence on vaccine and biotechnology products, enrolled 12 early-career scientists from nine OIC member states for a month-long training in virology and vaccine technology.

The third phase of one month-long training program held in Jakarta and Bandung, west Java. Scholars from Indonesia, Cameroon, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Egypt, Pakistan, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda, participated in the program. The goal of the program was to enhance research and development capabilities in the field of virology and vaccine technology among OIC member states. First two phases of the same program have been successfully conducted in Indonesia in 2022 and 2023.

The program aimed to foster collaboration among OIC countries in vaccine production and contribute to global health initiatives. Since 2022, COMSTECH-Indonesia Research Fellowship Program has supported 24 research fellows from 18 OIC member countries.

The closing ceremony took place in Jakarta, attended by officials from COMSTECH, host institutions and experts from various OIC member states, online and in-person.

LONDON, JUL 29 /DNA/ – Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has said that Pakistan greatly values its bilateral relations with United Kingdom (UK) and desires to further expand the bilateral relations to new levels for mutual benefit. The Chairman Senate expressed these views in a meeting with Speaker of the House of Commons H. E. Lindsay Hoyle during his visit to the UK. The Chairman Senate, along with a delegation of Senators, is visiting UK to explore opportunities for further strengthening bilateral, multilateral and institutional cooperation in diverse sectors.

Chairman Senate was accompanied by Senators Agha Shahzeb Durrani, Mr. Faisal Salim Rehman, Mr. Ashraf Ali Jatoi and Members of the National Assembly, Syed Abdul Qadir Gilani and Syed Qasim Ali Gilani.

During the meeting, in his opening remarks the Chairman Senate highlighted the historical and cultural ties that both sides have enjoyed since long and said that the historical bond between the two has paved the way for deepening political, diplomatic, economic ties and people to people contacts. He further observed that these ties were further strengthened by Pakistani diaspora, which was acting as a bridge between Pakistan and UK, thus providing solid foundation for a dynamic and prosperous partnership. He said that our historic legacy, shared values and mutual goodwill were the ingredients for a strong partnership between Pakistan and UK. The Chairman Senate also acknowledged the significance of broad based parliamentary cooperation and said that Pakistan attached great importance to parliamentary diplomacy. He said that sharing democratic experiences and learning democratic values was central to Commonwealth, as a family of nations. Both Pakistan and UK enjoy excellent cooperation at Commonwealth level and Pakistan was playing an active role on this important platform. “As the representatives and voices of our people I believe we have a singular responsibility in acting as bridges between our peoples and institutions of governance”, Chairman Senate observed.

The meeting also discussed Enhanced Strategic Dialogue between Pakistan and United Kingdom, which was established in 2011. The Enhanced Strategic Dialogue serves as the institutional mechanism guiding Pakistan -UK bilateral relations. It is pertinent to mention that ESD was initiated in 2011 during the tenure of Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. The meeting discussed that Enhance Strategic Dialogue may be converted into Enhanced strategic partnership.
The Chairman Senate also highlighted the issue of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir. He said that Pakistan valued British MPs role in highlighting human right abuses in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, in the UK Parliament.

Regarding Gaza, The Senate Chairman said that Pakistan was making all possible efforts through the relevant forums to bring an end to atrocities in Gaza. He also called upon UK to raise its voice against the human rights violations. During the meeting, the Chairman Senate said that interaction and exchange of views between the parliamentary leadership and the parliamentarians was a significant step towards broadening, deepening, diversifying and augmenting inter parliamentary relations. He proposed to maintain the momentum of high level visits, and exchange more frequently between the two government, parliaments and peoples.

Speaker of the House Commons appreciated Chairman Senate’s remarks and called for a broad-based relationship between the two sides. He said that Pakistan was an important country for UK and both sides have historically enjoyed cordial relations.

Senators, including Senator Faisal Salim Rehman , Agha Shahzeb Durrani and Senator Ashraf Ali Jatoi also held a separate meeting with Secretary General CPA Mr. Stephen Twigg and exchanged views to enhance institutional cooperation between secretariats of the Senate and CPA. They appreciated the collaboration between Senate and CPA. The meeting also focussed on discussions and debates on issues concerning CPA member states.

ISLAMABAD, JUL 29 /DNA/ – Minister for Finance & Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb was called on by the Ambassador designate to the USA, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh at Finance Division today.

The Finance Minister congratulated Mr. Sheikh on his new appointment as Ambassador to USA and underscored the importance of bilateral relations between the two countries. He shared insights from his visit to Washington D.C. for the Spring Meetings and informed about the recent Staff Level Agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The Minister also elaborated on Pakistan’s economic reform agenda, focusing on key areas such as energy reforms, State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) reforms, and privatization efforts.

Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh expressed keen interest in collaborating closely with the Finance Ministry. He affirmed his commitment to showcasing Pakistan’s economic reforms agenda on the international platform. The Ambassador also conveyed his gratitude to the Finance Minister for his warm wishes and support.

ISLAMABAD, JUL 29 /DNA/ – President Asif Ali Zardari has called for greater representation of women and minorities in government jobs to enhance their inclusion in the mainstream of society. He said that the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) should find ways and means to further improve the civil service recruitment process to select the right person for the right job.

The President expressed these views while talking to a delegation of FPSC, led by the senior member of FPSC, Mr Akbar Hussain Durrani, at Aiwan-e-Sadr, today.

Talking to the delegation, the President said that FPSC had an important responsibility of recruiting civil servants to improve service delivery and promote good governance in the country. He urged the need to make the recruitment process more efficient and transparent by adopting modern technology and new methods, particularly computerized testing, that would help in the selection of qualified and efficient civil servants. He said that candidates securing high marks during the written examination should be fairly evaluated.

Mr Akbar Hussain Durrani briefed the President about the role and function of FPSC in recruiting government servants. He also highlighted certain issues being faced by FPSC.

The President assured the delegation of his support and guidance in the resolution of problems and improving the recruitment system.

ISLAMABAD, JUL 29 /DNA/ – The Kashmir movement is likely to remain an ongoing process despite the slightly changed power dynamics following the general elections in India. Although the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) governs in coalition with other parties, both the BJP and the Indian National Congress share similar policies on foreign and domestic matters, including Kashmir.

While the Indian stance remains unchanged, various internal factors and shifts in the external environment will inevitably influence the situation over time and could act as catalysts for resolving the issue. Meanwhile, to effectively counter Indian policies, Pakistan must leverage its strengths, demonstrate long-term commitment, and adopt a strategic, multidimensional approach.

These views were expressed during the 23^rd IPS Working Group on Kashmir meeting, titled ‘Third BJP Government: India’s Kashmir Policy and its Future Outlook’organized by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Islamabad. The session, moderated by Ambassador (r) Syed Abrar Hussain, vice-chairman IPS, was addressed by Khalid Rahman, chairman IPS, Dr. Syed Muhammad Ali, security analyst and strategist, Dr Waleed Rasool, director Institute of Multi-Track Dialogue Development & Diplomatic Studies, Dr Raja Sajjad Muhammad Khan, director Kashmir Policy Research Institute, Iftikhar Gillani, Ankara-based Kashmiri journalist, and Farzana Yaqoob, former minister of AJK and IPS research associate.

The discussion emphasized the need for sustained efforts to counter India’s consistent policy of dominating occupied Kashmir, despite the BJP’s apparent weakened position after the elections. Recently, the Indian government has shifted administrative powers from the chief minister to the lieutenant governor to facilitate legislative changes. This move, made in anticipation of the legislative assembly elections expected in September 2024, is part of India’s strategy to secure de jure authority over Kashmir.

However, Kashmiris must remain resilient in their cause for self-determination. The significant increase in voter turnout in Kashmir – from 19.6% in 2019 to 50.86% in 2024 – reflects the use of voting as a means of survival and resistance. Additionally, the current plight of Muslims in India serves as a cautionary example for Kashmiris not to see their future with India.

The speakers emphasized that the impact of the BJP’s policy to assert control over occupied Kashmir has become increasingly apparent over time. Indian policies seek to manipulate the Kashmiris’ goal of self-determination by making it seem unachievable, making them feel ignored internationally, and distorting their mindset toward accepting Indian dominance. Delhi also misleads Kashmiris into believing that their future lies with India and pressures pro-India Kashmiri parties to align with Indian policies. Furthermore, India fabricates media narratives to portray Pakistan as unable to support Kashmiris and to discredit the legitimacy of their struggle. Its strategy includes punishing resilience and using media to reinforce its narrative.

Pakistan must adopt a comprehensive and multi-dimensional approach to counter Indian policies on all fronts, including legal, social, political, economic, security, diplomatic, diaspora, ideological, intellectual, and historical. This includes leveraging AJK’s legal standing in international forums, mobilizing Kashmiri youth to build a supportive narrative, and engaging young political activists to sustain hope and unity. Highlighting Indian atrocities, utilizing multilateral forums, and mobilizing the diaspora are also essential. Additionally, Kashmir’s soft power should be harnessed through literature and film, and historical data on Indian abuses should be meticulously compiled. Pakistan’s strategy should address global, regional, domestic, and resistance-focused dimensions to effectively advance the Kashmir issue.

In his concluding remarks, Khalid Rahman said that a multidimensional approach is crucial for effective policy-making in AJK and for Pakistan to play a strong international role. He stressed the importance of rekindling national Kashmiri sentiment and fostering hope, arguing that a focus on strengths rather than weaknesses is essential to overcome challenges. Rahman underscored that Pakistan must maintain a proactive stance to navigate the evolving geopolitical landscape.

ISLAMABAD, Jul 29 (DNA):The government on Monday strongly condemned life threats to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa by a certain group and announced initiating legal proceedings so that no one could dare to challenge the writ of the state.

“The law will take its course against the elements behind the provocative and baseless propaganda campaign against the CJP” said Defence Minister Khawaja Asif while addressing a press conference along with Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal.

He regretted that an attempt was being made to spread bloodshed in the name of religion for vested political interests.

He said that believing in the finality of the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) is part of our faith.  He said that the Supreme Court has already clarified its position on the matter.

The minister pointed out that Qazi Faez Isa is being targeted for many years under various pretexts. He stated there there is an ongoing effort to silence a principled and upright voice in the judiciary.

Emphasizing the need for the rule of law, Khawaja Asif stated that the dictation of any individual or group will not be accepted.

Meanwhile speaking on the occasion, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal strongly condemned a recent announcement by a group, threatening the life of Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, denouncing it as an act of sedition against the country’s constitution and religious values.”

He said that the government will also take legal action to prevent such incidents in future.  Adding that those behind this move belonged to the group established in 2027-28.

“This time, we are all united as Muslims, and our belief in Khatm-e-Nabuwwat (the Finality of Prophethood) is the foundation of our faith,” he remarked.

He emphasized that no Muslim needs a certificate from any individual or group to get a certificate of his/her faith in Khatm-e-Nabuwwat. He said that only courts have the right to punish or reward, no one else can decree murder.

He said that if this right is given to Ulema (Muslim Scholars) then every school of religious though could give its own verdict.

The minister said that Pakistan Ulema also condemned this issue jointly. The minister also highlighted the need for unity and refraining from creating anarchy in the society.

ISLAMABAD, JUL 29: Over the past few days, media and social media is abuzz with rumours of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) top leader and Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal’s resignation over differences with Planning Commission’s Deputy Chairman Dr Jehanzeb Khan.

Sources close to the federal minister claim he is not resigning but if the minister is not given a free hand and the interference continues, he will call it a day and be ready to accept any other position in the government.

When contacted Dr Jehanzeb said, “The country needs unison of thought in these challenging times. There is no discord. We are all working together for economic revival and improving the lot of common people.”

However, he did not offer any comment on the various issues pointed out to him. Observers in Islamabad point out that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is surrounded by his own team that he brought from Lahore — all of them technocrats who have no political baggage.

Furthermore, Shehbaz is seen to have kept Nawaz Sharif’s team at a distance in the federal cabinet and has built his own team who are calling the shots.

Most of the Nawaz’s cabinet members are already out from PM Shehbaz’s team whereas those who make it to the current setup do not enjoy the same comfort they used to enjoy previously. The sources in the prime minister’s office, however, reject the impression of Nawaz’s team having been sidelined.

Apart from political reasons, there are several other factors and hindrances which have contributed to the rumours of Ahsan contemplating resignation from the Ministry of Planning Commission.

The first reason why Ahsan is considering resignation is that the streamlined decision-making is hindered in the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives. Both Ahsan and Jehanzeb have differing approaches to economic planning growth.

Sources informed that Jehanzeb believes in running the commission in a conventional bureaucratic manner, relying solely on the existing economist group within the ministry.

In contrast, Ahsan believes in inclusive governance, involving external experts and engaging with relevant stakeholders, industry, and academia — all of whom play pivotal roles in economic growth and development. The two different approaches are causing delays in the decision-making.

The second reason for Ahsan’s differences, according to sources, is that he wants to develop the 13th Five-Year Plan (2024-2029) aligned with the strategic road-map of the 5Es framework. This framework suggests both long-term and short-term solutions for uplifting the country’s crippled economy and increasing the country’s economic portfolio to $1 trillion by 2035.

For this purpose, a detailed strategy — Outlook 2035 — was formulated, offering an unconventional approach to economic planning. Whereas the deputy chairman of the Commission’s approach is traditional and he wants to run the Commission on the method of formulating yearly and five-year plans.

Sources claim that contrary to the deputy chairman’s approach, Ahsan believes the traditional methods have never yielded solid results for incumbent governments. Consequently, Pakistan has always been forced to seek support and guidance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, which has proved disastrous in the long term.

The third reason, as per the sources, is that the minister wants to improve the functioning of the Planning Commission and build its capacity to match global institutions, learning from their experiences and economic models.

The fourth reason for Ahsan’s grievances is that during the finalisation of the 13th Five-Year Plan, all efforts made on developing the 5Es framework and Outlook 2035 during the 26 months of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government were ignored. The sources claim that the plan does not align with any of the aforementioned strategic documents.

The sources claim that the Jehanzeb, who finalised the 13th Five-Year Plan during the interim government with the help of the economist group and the ministry’s administration, did not consult Ahsan after the February 2024 general elections.

Despite Ahsan’s insistence on aligning with the strategic plans and studies of the political government, the Deputy Chairman obtained approval from the National Economic Council (NEC) without consulting him.

According to the minister’s public statements also, he was not consulted before presenting the plan for approval. He believed the consultation was necessary to give complete ownership to the political government.

The fifth reason why Ahsan is thinking about resignation is that he believes the current structure of the Planning Commission requires reforms and a thorough overhaul. The sources informed that he has been holding continuous brainstorming sessions within the ministry with the economist group, sector leaders, and experts from various sectors.

Recently, a strategic move has been made to establish the National Economic Transformation Unit (NETU) at the ministry. This unit will assist the government in implementing economic policies and improving the overall strategy to achieve economic goals.

The NETU aims to unlock the potential of development initiatives of the government of Pakistan through strategic communication. This road-map outlines eleven key activities to promote development, engage stakeholders, and foster a national development discourse. By leveraging this road-map, the government will amplify impact, foster inclusive growth, and build a brighter future for all.

The sources claim that if the differences between the minister and the deputy chairman are not resolved, the government’s economic policy-making process may suffer in the long run.

Keeping in view the persisting differences in one of the key ministry’s top leadership, PM Shehbaz has to interfere and resolve this issue otherwise it will badly affect the government’s performance, the sources suggested.

ISLAMABAD, JUL 29 /DNA/ – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar extended a warm welcome to Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland during her inaugural visit to Pakistan. In his remarks at the Joint Media Stakeout, he praised Ms. Scotland for her eight years of dedicated service and her significant contributions to promoting the values and mission of the Commonwealth and modernizing its outlook.

Her presence in Pakistan today reflects her commitment to strong ties between Pakistan and the Commonwealth. We appreciate her tremendous contributions in promoting cooperation in the field of education, youth empowerment, capacity building and climate action.Secretary General’s personal support and climate advocacy on behalf of Pakistan following the devastating floods of 2022 was instrumental in our recovery efforts.

In our discussions today, I conveyed Pakistan’s deep appreciation and gratitude for her services to the Commonwealth and support for Pakistan.

As a founding member, Pakistan attaches great importance to the Commonwealthand institutions. Itis an important platform for forging consensus and developing partnerships in face of unprecedented global challenges. Its role in upholding the principles and norms of interstate relations is more crucial than ever.

We,therefore,believe that the Commonwealth should call for the resolution of outstanding disputes among Member States with greater urgency and press for the respect of international law and implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions.

In our meeting today, I reassured the Secretary General of Pakistan’s commitment to the Commonwealth Sustainable Development Agenda. Pakistan’s vision of regional connectivity and trade matches with the Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda. We are confident that the digital and physical connectivity clusters of the Commonwealth can contribute to developing strong partnerships amongst the member countries in terms of trade and connectivity.

I also conveyed our gratitude to the Secretary General for the technical assistance of the Commonwealth Secretariat in trade policy formulation, export development, and support for SMEs. This support is critical in capacity building and improved governance.

We see vast opportunities for collaboration with the Commonwealth in realizing our developmental goals, particularly in education, skills development, youth and women empowerment, health, and environmental preservation. Pakistan will, therefore,continue toengage with the Commonwealth with a special focus on women empowerment and capacity building for the young people.

Pakistan is honored to lead the Commonwealth agenda on youth, reflecting the high priority we place on our partnership with the Commonwealth.We value the support provided by the Commonwealth Youth Programme and are grateful for the support of the Secretary General during Pakistan’s chairmanship of the 10th Commonwealth Youth Ministers’ Meeting last year.

I also briefed the Secretary General of Pakistan’s policies to combat climate change. As one of the most climate-vulnerable countries, Pakistan will work with the Commonwealth in building partnerships in developing resilience against climate-induced disasters. We appreciate the Secretary General’s ongoing efforts in supporting Pakistan’s efforts.

Pakistan remains committed to supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening and modernizing the Commonwealth to meet 21st-century challenges. We will continue to play an active role in building bridges between the Commonwealth Secretariat and Member States and advancing Commonwealth reforms through our leadership of the Informal Working Group of the Board of Governors.

The Prime Minister looks forward to participating in the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in October in Samoa. I am also eager to engage with my counterparts at the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers’ Meetings.

In conclusion, let me reiterate Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to the principles enshrined in the Commonwealth Charter and our partnership with the Commonwealth.

We thank the Secretary General for her leadership during a period of great global change and appreciate her constructive. We honour the legacy she is leaving behind.