ISLAMABAD, MAY 14 /DNA/ – Maryam Nawaz, Chief Minister of Punjab, met with Pakistan Hockey team along with Provincial Minister Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar in Islamabad. They congratulated the Hockey team on winning the Silver Title.
The CM Maryam Nawaz appreciated the performance of the Pakistan hockey team. On behalf of the Punjab government, a sum of 30 million rupees was distributed among the Pakistan hockey team.
ISLAMABAD, May 14 (DNA): Federal Minister of Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said on Tuesday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s decision to resolve the ongoing crisis in Azad Jammu and Kashmir had averted a tragedy.
Addressing a press conference along with Federal Minister of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Balochistan Engineer Amir Muqam at the Parliament House, he said that the conspiracy of the inimical forces was foiled who faced humiliation due to the Prime Minister’s timely actions.
Terming Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf as “Tehreek-e-Intishar”, he said its dreams of creation of chaos and anarchy had also been shattered.
“Along with the enemy, the ‘Tehreek-e-Intishar’ also thought that in some way or the other, chaos would spread and there would be anarchy” as its leadership wanted to benefit from the sad situation.
Tarar said that the Prime Minister took all the coalition parties and stake holders on board and heard their views.
“Yesterday’s meeting was attended by all the political leadership including the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir”, he remarked.
The minister said the political leadership and federal ministers resolved the issues through mutual understanding.
The minister said that the prime minister resolved the issue with excellent decision making as the crisis can be eliminated only by timely decisions.
“There is a world of difference between the incompetent government of the past and present elected regime”, he added.
He said that inflation was being controlled by prudent government policies and measures.
The minister maintained that foreign investment was increasing, the stock market was breaking records which proved that the economy was on the right track.
Reduction in inflation is not being digested by certain elements. He said that every conspiracy will be thwarted by the grace of Allah, and all conspirators will be exposed.
Lashing out at the founder of PTI, he said Imran Khan was a convicted prisoner facing trial in several corruption cases. He said that Imran’s letters to the International Monetary Fund or Chief of Army Staff had no significance. He remarked that in the past PTI’s conspiracies regarding IMF loan agreement and GSP plus status failed and in future too such plots will also fail.
“Kashmir is our jugular vein , we will not let any enemy look at it with an evil eye,” he remarked.
To a question, he said that Kashmir issue was being raised at all relevant forums and it should be resolved according to UN resolutions.
Expressing heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyred policemen, he said they will be supported.
He said Pakistan’s reputation was being restored, foreign delegations were visiting and foreign investment was increasing gradually thanks to the policies of the government.
To a question he said that the AJK had a special status and its affairs were run with the grant of the federal government.
He said that due to the policies of the government inflation was coming down, which was a positive sign.
Islamabad, 14 May /DNA/ – Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and British High Commissioner Jane Marriott met at the Zardari House, Islamabad today.
Chairman Bilawal and British High Commissioner Jane Marriott held talks on the promotion of bilateral and socioeconomic relations.
ISLAMABAD, MAY 14 /DNA/ – A special event featuring a performance by young Japanese musician Kenta Shoji was held at the residence of WADA Mitsuhiro, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan on Tuesday, attended by a number of guests and music lovers.
As the event started, Mr. KENTA first mesmerised the audience with his mastery over playing the piano which was followed by captivating songs that he sung in Japanese, English and Urdu language . The singer from Kyoto, Japan, took the audience by surprise when he sang popular Pakistani hits by Vital Sign “Dil Dil Pakistan” and “Aitebar”and received a great applause from each one the attendees.
Mr. Kenta started playing the piano at the age of 20. He has produced a wide range of vocal/piano songs covering his favourite genres of music such as Soul, R&B, Rock, Pop and Jazz.
In 2022, he launched his album “Skip”. The following year he started travelling around the world performing his music on the streets and at various live music events.
DNA
ISLAMABAD, MAY 14: Anti-Muslim prejudice in the West is largely fueled by biased media portrayal and stereotypical representation, reinforcing negative perceptions. Additionally, political institutions exploit and amplify these prejudices for their own gain, further deepening discriminatory attitudes.
This was observed by Dr Abdul Samad, assistant director of the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative at Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, who delivered a lecture on ‘US Muslims, Their Philanthropic Contributions, and Impact of Islamophobia’ at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS). The session was joined by Khalid Rahman, chairman IPS, and moderated by Abdullah Adnan, research fellow IPS.
Despite comprising only 1.1% of the total population in the US, American Muslims make significant philanthropic contributions. He noted that Muslims in the US face socio-economic challenges but still donate approximately $4.3 billion annually, demonstrating their commitment to charitable causes, including for places of worship, overseas relief, civil rights, domestic relief, Covid-19, and other avenues.
He further underscored the diversity of the Muslim community and the challenges they face due to anti-Muslim sentiments and Islamophobia. Drawing from insights shared by scholar and author Khaled Beydoun, he elaborated on the various dimensions through which Islamophobia is manifested, spanning institutional, community, and private spheres.
At the institutional level, Dr Samad highlighted the impact of anti-Muslim legislation and policies, which perpetuate systemic discrimination against American Muslims. He also pointed out the biased media portrayals and anti-Muslim rhetoric from political figures as the major contributing factors to a hostile climate for Muslims in the country.
Furthermore, he shed light on the challenges faced by Muslims at the community level, including the alarming rise of anti-Muslim hate groups and resistance to refugee resettlement efforts. He emphasized that these community-level challenges are compounded by instances of harassment, hate crimes, bullying, and violence experienced by individuals on a personal or private level.
Such Islamophobic manifestations have largely been constructed by the racialization and stigmatization of Muslims through biased media representation, he stressed. However, the recent Gaza crisis has resulted in a growing movement within the US marked by wider sympathy towards Muslims. Moreover, there is an established system of checks and balances and remedial steps to address prejudice and discrimination at the state level.
Dr Samad also mentioned the significant influence wielded by faith-based organizations worldwide and the collaborative efforts of different religious communities in supporting one another and combating Islamophobia.
In this regard, he stressed the importance of building associations and collaborations between Muslim nonprofit entities. He elaborated on Indiana University’s Community Collaborative Initiative, comprising 25 Muslim organizations, which serves as a cooperative platform to foster philanthropic research, generate diverse philanthropic ideas, and bring together disparate entities to promote sustainability in their efforts to support communities against religious prejudices.
Expanding on the notion of philanthropy, Dr Samad highlighted that the concept of Muslim philanthropy is beyond mere monetary giving. It includes non-monetary actions, including giving one’s time, testimony, and even simple gestures like a smile.
In concluding remarks, Khalid Rahman emphasized the need to examine philanthropy beyond its Western-defined, monetary-centric perspective, acknowledging the rich history of Muslim philanthropy.
He further highlighted the evolving nature of philanthropic practices and noted the shifting dynamics influenced by global politics, particularly the ongoing Gaza crisis, as a pivotal event that has reshaped perspectives and priorities in philanthropy. He noted that philanthropic efforts for Gaza transcend religious boundaries and have overshadowed Islamophobia. With Muslims increasingly viewed as victims, there is a notable shift in public perspectives at the individual level, he said.
ISLAMABAD, MAY 14: /DNA/ – U.S. Ambassador Donald Blome met today with the Minister of Law and Justice and Human Rights Azam Nazeer Tarar to discuss a broad range of issues important to the bilateral relationship, including judicial independence, upholding human rights, and strengthening the rule of law.
Ambassador Blome expressed U.S. support for Pakistan’s democracy and continued economic, political, and social development.
ISLAMABAD, MAY 14: Islamabad High Court’s Justice Babar Sattar has written another letter to IHC Chief Justice Aamir Farooq regarding the alleged interference in judicial affairs.
In his letter, Justice Sattar wrote, “In the audio leaks case, I was given a message to back off. I was told to back off from scrutinizing the surveillance system, but I did not pay any heed to such threats.”
He insisted that such messages risked causing substantial damage to the process of justice, adding that the focus of the malicious campaign appears to be an intimidation tactic to influence judicial proceedings.
Also Read: IHC takes action over social media campaign targeting Justice Babar Sattar
According to the text of the letter, the court has notified the secret and investigative agencies in the audio leaks case, in addition to the relevant ministries, regulatory bodies, the Intelligence Bureau, the Federal Investigation Agency. The court also notified the regulatory bodies such as the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and PEMRA.
Earlier in May, IHC Chief Justice Aamir Farooq took action against individuals involved in a negative social media campaign targeting Justice Babar Sattar. The move comes in response to a letter penned by Justice Sattar to CJ Farooq, outlining concerns regarding the malicious campaign.
Also Read: Supreme Court Bar Association calls for probe into interference with judiciary
The letter, which prompted Chief Justice Aamir Farooq’s decision to initiate contempt of court proceedings, sheds light on the gravity of the situation. Allegations stemming from the campaign, particularly regarding Justice Babar Sattar’s citizenship status, have necessitated swift judicial action.
ISLAMABAD, MAY 14: /DNA/ – Former President of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Dr Shahid Rasheed Butt, said on Tuesday that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has successfully regained the confidence of the lenders and other international institutions.
He said that under PM’s guidance, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb would successfully negotiate a new contract with the International Monetary Fund, which would positively impact the economy.
He observed that the Finance Minister’s resolve to sell state-owned firms is commendable, as it will help save trillions of wasted rupees to keep these companies artificially alive.
Shahid Rasheed Butt said in a statement issued here today that the country was saved from bankruptcy by the Prime Minister’s efforts, and now the confidence of the international institutions has been restored.
The country also prioritizes investment because it is the only way to overcome its problems.
Shahid Rashid Butt said that the previous governments only relied on tall claims. Still, the present administration is also seriously improving the economy, the results of which are coming to light.
He noted that inflation is coming down, and people are optimistic about better conditions while the business community is on the upswing.
He said that the Finance Minister is sure that the country cannot bear the burden of failed state-owned companies and that it is better to sell them to avoid the annual loss of trillions of rupees.
He said that some elements always oppose privatization for their politics’ sake without considering its economic implications. They are now trying to become obstacles in the process of selling SOEs.
The finance minister should stick to his position and sell all the loss-making government companies without caring about anyone because it is a matter of national security.
There is no such thing as strategic state-owned companies, according to the Finance Minister, who feels that the economy of Pakistan can no longer take the load of state-owned enterprises.
He believes that transferring all state-owned enterprises, regardless of their classifications to the private sector is a very positive stance.
He said that the International Monetary Fund and influential circles do not accept any other economic concept about state-owned firms; therefore, privatization of these enterprises is necessary as soon as feasible.
Phone addiction a significant health risk: Dr. Tayyab Afghani
ISLAMABAD, MAY 14 /DNA/ – The leading ophthalmologist at Al-Shifa Trust, Prof. Dr. Tayyab Afghani, said on Tuesday that smartphones have developed into a significant risk for youngsters.
Mobile phones keep children connected at all times and serve many positive purposes, but overuse has become common, leading to serious eye complications, he said.
Talking to media men, Dr. Tayyab Afghani said smartphones can have severe and long-lasting effects on children’s eye health.
He said parents and teachers should know about the consequences of children staring at smartphones for too long.
According to him, most children with access to a smartphone use it almost all the time, while those whose eyesight is still developing have disastrous impacts on their vision.
Afghani said smartphones can potentially contribute to epidemic levels of eye problems, and a research shows that by 2050, the vision of 50 percent of the world’s population may be affected.
He said mobile phones have anti-glare screens and settings that reduce the emission of blue light, which may damage the cornea. However, adjusting the brightness, contrast, and size of the text can reduce some harm to the eyes.
Teaching children to blink frequently when watching the screen and ensuring the screen is at least 16 inches away from their eyes while watching is always helpful.
He stressed that parents and teachers should try to involve children in other activities that distract them from the screen.
He said that setting time limits on how long kids can stare at screens is the best way to keep them from getting eye problems.
Every six months, a trained ophthalmologist should examine children’s eyes, lubricant eye drops should be used, and the 20-20 rule must be followed.
According to this rule, a person using a screen should shift his eyes to look at an object 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This should be repeated after a 20-minute gap.
ISLAMABAD, MAY 13 /DNA/ – Pakistan’s Foreign Service fraternity is today mourning Dr. Diyar Khan. A distinguished diplomat, Dr. Khan served the nation for over 28 years. He was Pakistan’s Ambassador to Argentina and Consul General in Guangzhou, China.
He also served at Pakistan’s Missions in Beijing, Kabul, Sana’a, Rome and the United Nations, New York. His professionalism, impeccable integrity and dedication to public service were truly admirable. He will be dearly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time. Rest in Peace, Dr. Diyar Khan.
