HELSINKI, Mar 15 (Xinhua/APP/DNA): The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is set to establish an accelerator and two test centers for communications and quantum technology in Finland, the government announced on Friday.

A press release issued by the government said the Board of Directors of NATO’s Defense Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) has approved Finland’s proposal to establish the facilities. The Ministry of Defense will be responsible for the project.

The Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) will establish an accelerator in Espoo, southern Finland, in collaboration with the Aalto University and the University of Helsinki.

The accelerator will focus on next-generation communications and quantum technology.

The government said that one test center will be installed at the University of Oulu in northern Finland, while the other will be at a VTT office in Otaniemi, Espoo.

The Otaniemi center will concentrate on cyber-secure communications, quantum technologies and space technologies, while the center at the University of Oulu will provide companies with opportunities to test 6G network technologies.

ISLAMABAD, Mar 15 (APP/DNA): The National Assembly Friday unanimously passed a unanimous resolution condemning the ongoing Israeli aggression against the people of Palestine.

The resolution was moved by Pakistan Peoples Party Member of the National Assembly, Shazia Marri.

She said that all political parties in the House had signed the resolution.

The resolution recognized this day as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia and reiterated that Islam is a religion of peace, tolerance, and acceptance.

“The House recognizes this day as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia. It reiterates that Islam is a religion of peace, tolerance and acceptance” the resolution said.

The resolution, “categorically condemns Israel’s war on Palestine, where the latest attack cost 21 lives of Palestinians standing in the line for aid during the holy month of Ramazan denounces the continued Israeli aggression, which has led to the loss of over 30,000 lives since October 7, 2023.”

It called upon the federal government to play a more proactive role in pushing the international community to enforce a ceasefire.

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court Thursday dismissed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed Sunni Ittehad Council’s (SIC) petition challenging the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) ruling that denied reserved seats to the party.

“Petitions are unanimously rejected,” the court maintained.

Earlier today, the PHC resumed the hearing being conducted by a five-member bench led by Chief Justice Mohammad Ibrahim Khan and comprising Justice Ijaz Anwar, Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, Justice Shakeel Ahmad and Justice Arshad Ali.

During his arguments, SIC’s lawyer Barrister Ali Zafar said the Constitution does not mention when a party has to submit a list of names for reserved seats to the ECP.

“It is not written anywhere that you cannot resubmit the list or when it has to be submitted,” the barrister argued, adding that there is no restriction on providing a second list and that the ECP could have issued a second schedule, as it did for the general elections.

“As per the law, those who participate in elections will get seats,” Justice Anwar remarked.

The court then questioned Barrister Zafar if it wasn’t clearly stated anywhere that the second schedule cannot be issued.

“The law does not prevent the Election Commission from issuing another schedule,” the lawyer responded.

Justice Arshad remarked that Section 104 explains the mechanism for reserved seats as it states that when a list is submitted then another list can be given.

“Section 104 says that if a political party participates in an election, it will give a list,” the lawyer argued.

He earlier argued that whoever wins the number of seats, they get reserved seats in the same proportion.

“Their seats cannot be increased.”

“If these seats are not given, the parliament will not be complete,” remarked the chief justice, responding to which the lawyer requested the court to interpret the Constitution in a way that there remains no gap in its interpretation.

Barrister Zafar told the court that the ECP has the authority to [make] laws to maintain justice. He added that there is also an election for reserved seats, and that, too, should be transparent.

While discussing the admissibility of the application, the lawyer said that the pleas filed in Punjab and Sindh were limited to the respective provincial assemblies, but the one being heard by PHC pertains to the reserved seats of the province issued in the National and KP provincial assembly.

He argued that while the SIC had not submitted the list, the Lahore High Court had given a decision that there was no prohibition.

Before concluding his arguments, Barrister Zafar then directed the court towards a declaration regarding the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) which he had taken from ECP’s website. The lawyer earlier argued that the party was also given reserved seats later by the electoral authority in the past.

The electoral body, on March 4, had accepted applications of the opposing parties and decided that the seats in the National Assembly and provincial assemblies would not remain vacant and would be allocated by a proportional representation process of political parties on the basis of seats won by political parties.

ISLAMABAD, MAR 14 /DNA/ – Hashoo Foundation, the sustainability arm of Hashoo Group, has won a CSR award in the “Community Impact” category for its pivotal role in empowering communities across Pakistan through multifaceted initiatives encompassing education, financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, training, and support for over 35 years. Zulfiqar Malik, General Manager of the Pearl-Continental Hotel Karachi, collected the award at the 13th Annual CSR Awards ceremony organized in Karachi by The Professionals Network.

Established in 2011, the CSR Awards stand as a significant recognition platform under The Professionals Network’s stewardship, celebrating the impactful contributions of corporations and NGOs towards Pakistan’s socio-economic uplift.

The Corporate Social Responsibility Awards 2024 is the most Prestigious Recognition Awards program for Corporate Social Responsibility registered with the IPO (Intellectual Property Rights Organization) and copyright protected.

Sharing his thoughts on this prestigious accolade, Abdul Waheed, Director of Finance at Hashoo Foundation, expressed, “Our mission has always been to create lasting change within underserved communities and enable them to live empowered and sustainable lives. We are honoured with this recognition from The Professionals Network, and we will continue expanding our footprint to enlighten as many lives as possible.”

Hashoo Foundation serves underprivileged communities through humanitarian and capacity-building approaches across the country, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations. The Foundation has been making concerted efforts to drive positive change in Climate Change, Entrepreneurship, Economic Growth, and Social Sector Development by engaging with the public sector, academia, national and international networks, and private sector entities.

Hashoo Group is Pakistan’s premium conglomerate with a diversified business portfolio spanning both national and international markets. The Group owns and operates the Pearl-Continental Hotels & Resorts and PC Legacy & Hotel One brands in Pakistan and has business interests encompassing the information technology, investment, travel & tourism, and real-estate sectors.

DNA

ISLAMABAD: On the direction of the Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) from the related departments including Member Technology and Digitalization, where all the office affairs of CDA are to be digitized rapidly there, several steps are being taken to provide best IT facilities to the citizens.

According to the details, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) board has approved the construction of an IT park on an area of 3.3 acres in Sector G-10 of Islamabad, for which a plot has also been allocated.

Further, Islamabad IT Park will be established under Public Private Partnership. The covered area of this park will be 1 lakh square feet. In which 5 to 6 thousand freelancers should be worked. In the IT Park, working space for freelancers, start-ups, software houses, library, space for exhibition of IT products, research centers, conference halls, meeting rooms will also be allocated.

It should be noted that the private companies will bear all the costs of building Islamabad IT Park, while after 15 years this park will be completely handed over to CDA. Similarly, private companies will be able to rent space and build IT offices in this park. This will not only increase the income of CDA but also ensure the provision of modern and quality IT facilities to the citizens of Islamabad. On this occasion, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) administration says that equipping the city of Islamabad with modern facilities is one of the first priorities of the organization so that all possible facilities can be provided to the citizens coming to Islamabad.

In a major political development, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and hailed his first engagement with the chief executive belonging to rival Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) as “positive”.

He stated this while addressing a press conference flanked by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and other PML-N leaders following a meeting with the premier.

CM Gandapur, who belongs to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), said he stressed the need to hold political dialogue with party incarcerated founder Imran Khan who has been behind bars since August last year in different cases ranging from corruption to terrorism.

“I have asked the prime minister to politically engage with Imran Khan. Political engagement will lead to a political solution,” he added.

Gandapur said PM Shehbaz had also assured him that he would be allowed to meet the party founder in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail where the authorities have beefed up security measures and barred ex-premier Imran from holding meetings owing to “threat alert”.

The KP CM said he told the premier that he had to hold a meeting with the party founder to discuss upcoming Senate polls.

Gandapur said he held discussion with the premier to resolve issues of the masses. “The prime minister has assured that all dues of province will be cleared,” he said describing his meeting as “good and positive”. 

Responding to a question related to PM Shehbaz’s recent visit to KP, Gandapur said he was not present in Peshawar during the PM’s visit.

“It’s our tradition that we take special care of guests,” the CM added.

RAWALPINDI, MAR 13 /DNA/ – General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Commander Bahrain National Guard, called on General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, at Joint Staff Headquarters, Rawalpindi.

Matters of bilateral professional interest and further strengthening of security and defence cooperation between the two countries were discussed during the meeting. Both sides reiterated the resolve to further strengthen security and defence cooperation between the two brotherly countries.

Earlier, upon arrival at Joint Staff Headquarters, a smartly turned-out tri-services contingent presented ‘Guard of Honour’ to the visiting dignitary.