DNA

ISLAMABAD, NOV 20: Ambassador of U.A.E. to Pakistan, Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi called on Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad today.

The Emirati Ambassador presented a formal invitation to the Prime Minister for attending the forthcoming COP-28 meeting in Abu Dhabi. He said that Pakistan was one of the leading countries in climate change negotiations and the U.A.E. was hopeful that Pakistan would play its part in ensuring the success of COP-28.

The Prime Minister congratulated the U.A.E. for hosting this important global climate change conference and assured of Pakistan’s active participation in the event.

Progress on bilateral cooperation was also discussed. The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction at the robust and wide-ranging engagement between the two countries and stressed the need to focus on strengthening cooperation in energy, trade and investment.

During discussion on the situation in Gaza, the Prime Minister urged Muslim countries to speak with a united voice to urge the international community to end the violence and brutal murder of innocent civilians in Gaza at the hands of Israeli Occupation forces.

Welcomes appointment of Shahera Shahid as the new Information Secretary

KARACHI, NOV 20 /DNA/ – “The APNS expresses its grave concern over the non-payment of advertisement dues by the Federal and provincial governments despite various assurances by the respective governments.

Mr. Sarmad Ali, Secretary General, APNS has stated that the meeting of the Executive Committee held on November 20, 2023 chaired by the President, APNS, Mrs. Nazafreen Saigol Lakhani has noted that the Federal and provincial governments have not paid the dues related to display, SPL and non-budgeted advertisements which has caused serious liquidity crisis for newspapers to meet their expenses. The members of the Executive Committee strongly urged upon the Prime Minister of Pakistan and Chief Ministers of the provinces to advise the concerned departments to release the payment at the earliest.

The APNS in a resolution, welcomed and congratulated Ms. Shahera Shahid on her appointment as Secretary Information for the second time and hoped that during her tenure, the problems faced by the print media, would be addressed and the relations between the APNS and the Ministry would be further strengthened.

In another resolution, the APNS strongly condemn the brutal murder of Mr. Jan Muhammad Mehr, senior journalist, Sukkur Bureau Chief of Kawish Group and urged upon the IG Police, Sindh to expedite the arrest of the culprits who are at large for three months.

The members expressed their profound grief over the killing of innocent peoples including journalists, children and women in Gaza by the Israeli forces and offered fateha for the martyrs.

The following attended the meeting :

Nazafreen Saigol Lakhani, President, Sarmad Ali, Secretary General, Shahab Zuberi, Finance Secretary,  Bilal Farooqui (Daily Aghaz), Mohsin Bilal (Daily Ausaf), Khalid Mahmood (Weekly Family), Muhammad Younus Mehar (Daily Halchal), Kazi Asad Abid (Daily Ibrat), Syed Akbar Tahir (Daily Jasarat), Mushtaq Ahmed Qureshi (Monthly Naey Ufaq), Zahida Abbasi (Daily Nau Sijj), Salman Qureshi (Monthly Naya Rukh) and Faisal Zahid Malik (Daily Pakistan Observer).

Shahid Saati  of Daily Vatan Gujrati ) attended as special observer.

Following attended on ZOOM.

Mohsin Seyal (Daily Aftab), Waseem Ahmed (Daily Awam, Quetta), Ansar Mahmood Bhatti (Monthly Centre Line),  Fauzia Shaheen (Monthly Dastak), Rukhsana Saulat Saleemi (Weekly Nikhar), Jamil Ather (Daily Tijarat) and Nasir Daad Baloch ( Daily Sindh Sujaag)

ISLAMABAD, NOV 20 /DNA/ – The Centre for Strategic Perspectives and India Study Centre at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) organized an event to launch a Book, titled “Development Pathways: India-Pakistan-Bangladesh (1947-2022)” authored by Dr. Ishrat Husain. The event was attended by eminent members of foreign and civil services, academia, civil society, media, and the diplomatic corps in Islamabad. Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance, Dr. Waqar Masood Khan, was chief guest on the occasion.

DG ISSI Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, in his welcome remarks, introduced both the author and the Book. He highlighted Dr. Ishrat’s six decades of distinguished public service and contributions for economic and institutional reforms – including a consistent emphasis on political stability and policy continuity for sustainable long-term development. Ambassador Sohail Mahmood also lauded the author’s direct and accessible writing style, making complex economic issues and policy debates more understandable to readers across a broad spectrum. He noted that given the rich data sets of the three countries were contained in the Book, it could serve as a solid foundation for further studies on the economic trajectories of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The most valuable aspect of the Book, according to him, was the chapter dealing with risk factors and “pain points” for the future. He also pointed out that the Book made it clear that sound economic management alone did not produce the desired effect and that investing in social and human development was an imperative, which would also enhance the dividends manifolds. In conclusion, he described the Book as a valuable contribution to the existing literature and a source of thought-provoking ideas on a range of subjects.

Ambassador Nadeem Riyaz, President of the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS), shared his thoughts on Dr. Ishrat Husain’s Book. He praised the author for his sound academic work and gave a detailed account of the major subjects covered in the Book. These included macroeconomics, balance of payments, remittances, human development, social protection, service deliveries, poverty reduction, digitalisation, labour market, and applications of emerging technologies. Ambassador Riyaz particularly focused on the Book’s extensive conclusions. He recommended that Pakistan should concentrate on addressing the instability and unpredictability in the economic realm. He highlighted that all three countries had heavy regulations and administrations, problems with start-ups, and issues of taxation that continue to restrict small and medium enterprises. Lastly, Ambassador Nadeem Riyaz commended the author for the valuable effort to sum up the long period of 75 years.

Dr. Idrees Khawaja appreciated the author’s efforts in writing this timely Book. Dr. Khawaja also praised the author for including young co-authors. He gave a summary of the Book, explaining that it compared the economic performances of three countries with similar histories and backgrounds. He lauded the author for analyzing the factors behind the divergent economic growth trajectories of these countries. Dr. Khawaja also shared his own analysis of the Book and asked thought-provoking questions about the various themes taken up in the comparative analysis. He also recommended studying the different patterns of foreign assistance for Pakistan that appeared in the 1960s, 1980s and 2000s. In his opinion, the primary reason for the slowed development of Pakistan was due to the practice of ‘rent-seeking’ and corruption.

Dr. Ishrat Husain shared how the Book evolved, as the subject was considered essential for understanding the present and projecting the future. The Book talked about the changing times for Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. He noted that Pakistan was once considered a role model for developing countries, while Bangladesh was referred to as a ‘basket case’ and India was struggling with poverty, illiteracy, and other social issues. However, the situation had now significantly changed and India and Bangladesh fared relatively better, while Pakistan was facing challenges. Dr. Ishrat also dilated on the challenges he faced in finding comparable data from all three countries spanning from 1947 to 2022. He highlighted the “five shocks” that affected Pakistan’s economy — from refugee influx in 1947 to war in Afghanistan; and identified “8 critical success factors”, including the forms of government, the role of women, and urbanization, among others. He also discussed the “Risks and Pain Points” for the next 25 years for the three countries – including addressing climate change; enhancing intra-regional trade; ensuring inclusive growth and reducing inequality; managing urbanization; and tackling institutional decline. Dr. Ishrat concluded by emphasizing the need for improving governance structures to ensure sustained and inclusive economic growth and development.

Dr. Waqar Masood Khan, Adviser to PM on Finance, lauded the author and co-authors for their contribution to addressing the knowledge gap in this field. In particular, he applauded Dr. Ishrat’s devotion and motivation for the subject. The Book’s choice of subjects and focus was also underscored by Dr. Khan, who believed that it would substantially assist experts and practitioners. Dr. Waqar Masood added that the Book rightly addressed the convergences and divergences between the three economies, as he termed the 1990s as the turning point for the three economies. He explained that this shift was due to globalization, liberalization, and the end of the Cold War. He highlighted some of the challenges faced by Pakistan and India, such as administrative matters, infrastructure, small industry, and investment. Dr. Khan addressed the regulatory bodies in all three countries and positively evaluated their functioning. He believed that South Asia had moved past the traditional approach towards economic development and become somewhat predictable. Dr. Khan recommended building up reserves, which he felt served as the critical component of any economy.

The engaging session was followed by a lively Q&A session. In the end, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman of BoG ISSI, presented a vote of thanks expressing gratitude to the speakers for their insightful inputs on the Book.

DNA

ISLAMABAD, NOV 20: The 26th Sustainable Development Conference (SDC), the annual flagship event of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), kicks off from Tuesday (November 21st) to Thursday (23rd) at local hotel in Islamabad. With an overarching theme “Light at the End of the Tunnel: Hope in Times of Despair”, the Conference aims to raise hope and optimism for the future of the region and to contribute toward a more sustainable and resilient South Asia and beyond.

The conference, being a prime event in South Asia and beyond, provides a forum to SDPI’s researchers and other researchers, policy practitioners, policy makers, and academia from across the world to share their research work and engage in a dialogue with fellow panelists and audiences. Through the SDC, SDPI upholds a beacon of light, and is regarded as a source of inspiration. Carrying on with the tradition, this year’s SDC will be presenting the way forward amidst the global times of trial.

The conference would mainly highlight the unprecedented times of political and economic turmoil marked by uncertainty and despair due to multiple crises, conflicts, climate change, and the post-pandemic transformations the world is faced with. These challenges have severely impacted the development agenda, particularly in South Asia, where the effects of these crises have been the most acute. Despite these challenges and trials, our hopes are still high for a sustainable future development. The conference invites scholars, researchers, practitioners, legislators, bureaucrats, and other professionals to place their solutions on the table and share messages of hope, inspiration, and optimism in times of despair.

Over the years, SDPI has taken the initiatives in providing policy guidance to the incumbent governments in Pakistan. The Institute’s mission has been to catalyze the transition towards sustainable development with a view of being a centre of excellence on sustainable development policy research, capacity development and advocacy in Pakistan. In this context, this SDC would assist the government and legislators in its agenda-setting for a better tomorrow and a better Pakistan.

Under the overarching theme of “Light at the End of the Tunnel: Hope in Times of Despair”, the SDC will be holding sessions on related sub-themes. SDPI invites research papers on sub-themes, including but not limited to poverty graduation, debt sustainability, political coherence and development, Key policies for the new government, way ahead for climatic and environmental challenges, renewable energy, building resilience in times of crisis and conflict, climate action and sustainable development, private sector engagement for sustainable development, promoting inclusive and equitable development, innovation and technology for sustainable development, circular economy and universal health care.

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Note for editors/assignment editors:

SDC’s Keynote Plenary Sessions and parallel panels will be broadcast live on SDPI’s web channel (www.sdpi.tv) and Facebook for wider dissemination.

Press Releases of all panels separately will be posted in real time at the end of each panel on SDPI’s website www.sdpi.org A consolidated Press release will be shared with media outlets and will also be posted on the website. Pictures of panels will also be posted on the website with panels and plenaries.

Kindly assign your team to cover this mega conference which have invited some key experts on various themes.

Every year the SDC outcomes comprises a peer reviewed anthology based on papers presented which is launched at the succeeding Conference. Keeping with this tradition, the 26th SDC will launch the SDC 2022 peer reviewed volume titled ‘Sustainable Development in Unusual Times: Building Forward Better’ along with other publications.

Islamabad, Nov 20, /DNA/ – In observance of World Children’s Day, Chairman of Jammu Kashmir Salvation Movement Altaf Ahmed Bhat brings attention to the distressing conditions faced by Kashmiri children as a consequence of the Indian occupation in the region.

Chairman Bhat underscores the urgent need for the international community to recognize and address the profound challenges endured by the youngest residents of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

Alarming statistics reveal the toll on Kashmiri children, with over 900 children among the 96,263 people martyred during the last 34 years in IIOJK. Shockingly, more than 1,07,924 children have been orphaned by Indian troops since 1989. Additionally, hundreds of Kashmiri children have lost their eyesight due to the firing of pellets by Indian troops, amplifying the humanitarian crisis in the region.

Chairman Bhat condemns the practice of Indian troops arresting and torturing children during so-called Cordon and Search Operations (CASOs), emphasizing that such actions constitute a gross violation of human rights. He points out that children in IIOJK are enduring lasting trauma from witnessing the killing of their loved ones in front of their eyes, a devastating consequence of the Indian military occupation.

The prolonged military presence has also significantly impacted the physical and psychological health of Kashmiri children, casting a dark shadow over their formative years. Chairman Altaf Ahmed Bhat urges the global community to remember the plight of IIOJK children on World Children’s Day and stresses the importance of holding India accountable for its non-compliance with international conventions on children’s rights in the region.

In a call to action, Chairman Bhat urges the Modi regime to uphold international obligations for the promotion and protection of the rights of children in IIOJK. He implores the international community to exert pressure on India to address the grave concerns surrounding the well-being of Kashmiri children.

Chairman Bhat further said that, Israel’s actions continue to raise serious concerns, as it appears to engage in egregious crimes against humanity without facing consequences. The stark evidence of these transgressions is evident in the deliberate killing of over 5000 Palestinian children, marking a disturbing record in comparison to recent conflicts. On this World Children’s Day, it prompts reflection within the international community. The sorrowful silence surrounding Israel’s claimed “right to self-defense” juxtaposed with the ongoing daily massacres of innocent Palestinian children is both troubling and heart-wrenching.

On this World Children’s Day, Chairman JKSM Altaf Ahmed Bhat calls on the world, UN, P5 and EU to stand in solidarity with the innocent lives affected in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine, emphasizing the imperative of securing a better and safer future for children all around the world.