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Nation’s morale at record high, says Maleeha Lodhi

UNITED NATIONS – Pakistan Day was celebrated at Pakistan’s Mission to the United Nations with enthusiasm with the hoisting of the national flag by the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi.

The ceremony began with a recitation from the Holy Quran.

Ambassador Lodhi read out the special Pakistan Day message of President Dr Arif Alvi, while Naeem Cheema, Acting Consul General read out the message of Prime Minister Imran Khan, according to a press release of the Mission the other day.

Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Lodhi highlighted the special significance of Pakistan Day this time with national morale at a record high and public confidence in the future of the country also at an unprecedented level.

This, she said, is also borne out by the way the nation had responded to the”recent challenges from our neighbourhood”. Resilience and self-belief, she added, were the defining features of Pakistan’s journey, a journey that saw the country braving the odds and defying the pessimism some held about the country’s future. Today, she said, Pakistanis look to the future with hope and optimism.

Ms Lodhi also spoke of the significance of the Pakistan Resolution in the freedom struggle and paid rich tribute to Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah who led the historic struggle of the Muslims of the sub-continent for an independent homeland.

The Pakistani envoy said that under a new and confident leadership Pakistan today was making important gains in its journey towards progress and prosperity.

“We remain determined, she said, to translate our Quaid’s vision into reality and ensure that people of Pakistan continue to enjoy the fruits of peace, security and development in a prospering welfare state”, she added.

The ceremony concluded with a ‘dua’ for the prosperity and progress of Pakistan.

All officers and staff of the Mission, the Consulate General and Pakistanis working at the United Nations attended the ceremony. Members of Pakistan’s armed forces serving as UN peacekeepers also joined the ceremony.

Later, addressing a community gathering at the Pakistani Consulate, Ambassador Lodhi said the gusto with which Pakistan Day was celebrated in the country and outside is the testimony of a living nation that is self-confident and eager to take part in nation-building activities.

She appreciated the role of the diaspora and said it was a model community but still needed to do more in portraying a positive image of the country.

The reception, hosted by Consul General Cheema, was largely attended. Consuls General from a number of countries and members of the Pakistani community from all walks of life participated.

A number of guests gathered around the Pakistani Consul General for cutting of a special Pakistan Day cake to mark the celebration.

The post Nation’s morale at record high, says Maleeha Lodhi appeared first on Daily Pakistan Global.

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Model Eman Suleman ‘feels no joy’ over her LSA nomination because it’s shared it with an accused harasser

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Sharaqpur Asst Commissioner Office being used as an ‘extortion cell’

LAHORE – A number of people who have approached the office of Assistant Commissioner of Sharaqpur tehsil of Sheikhupura have complained of mistreatment by the officials.

Sources say the AC Office is also being used as a ‘mini jail’ and a ‘bribery hub’ to extort money from the complainants.

Munawar Hussain, in his written application to DC Sheikhpura, revealed to DailyPakistan that even a security guard at the AC Office, named Abbas Ali, has been running a ‘gang’ to mint money from innocent people under the nose of higher authorities.

Instead of helping people out of their sufferings, Munawar said, these officials are adding to the public woes without any fear of punishment.

Earlier the man had appealed to the relevant authorities to take action against the officers as well as taking notice of the rising trend of bribery in the district.

Munawar, a resident of Dhana Juwalapur, said he needed relevant records for his land (he intended to sell) from the departments concerned, from which he submitted applications to land revenue department to complete all the legal procedures. But, Abbas Ali (the security guard), forced him to pay bribe in order to get the land records.

Following this illegal demand, Munawar said he went to the office of the Assistant Commissioner of Sharaqpur tehsil of Sheikhupura to lodge a complaint against the corrupt official only to be mistreated by the AC’s staff, who called him by names and threw him out of the office.

As of now, Munawar says the security guard at AC Office is creating hurdles for him to sell the property in his mother’s name.

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Govt should be ashamed for trying to remove Benazir’s name from BISP: Khursheed Shah

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Short video on young Pakistani wins craftsmanship spirit award at Belt and Road Competition in China

BEIJING – A short video on a young Pakistani working on Hub Power Project has won craftsmanship spirit award at the first Belt and Road Short Video Competition held on Sunday.

The video revolved around a young Pakistani ‘Dennis’ who studied in Wuhan China for five years and upon his return, he decided to work at the Hub Power Plant, a key cooperation project completed under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework.

Global Times Online, one of the organizers along with SASAC and News Center and China Public Diplomacy Association, selected eight awards among the finalists.

The award categories included Workmanship Award, Friendship Envoy Award, Special Merit Award, Chinese Enterprise’s Great Story Award, Originality Award, Popularity Award, Outstanding Organizer Award and Outstanding Works Award.

Speaking on the occasion, spokesman of Pakistan Hub Power Project of Energy China Tianjin Electric Power Construction Company, Wang Zhenhong said Pakistan Hub Power Project is Energy China’s general contracting project of super critical coal-fired power plant with the largest installed capacity in its overseas engineering procurement construction (EPC).

At present, there are over 1,000 Pakistani workers in the power plant. The annual generating capacity of the plant will reach 10 billion kWh after the project is completed, providing electric power for four million Pakistani households as estimated.

So far, this project has created a total of more than 10,000 jobs in the local area.

“Dennis is just one of the thousands of our brothers in Pakistan, who, together with us, create beautiful life through hard work,” he added.

In his welcome speech, Deputy Chief Editor Xie Rongbin said the major participants in the completion are builders from the countries along the Belt and Road and it is dedicated to establishing a communication platform for people to share their views and stories about the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) based on their experience in building the BRI.

After being posted on domestic and international video and social media platforms, the entries for the competition have attracted great attention and discussion from netizens.

The number of participants in the voting reached more than 37.5 million person times globally, which has achieved good communication effect.

He said at present, the construction of the BRI is in full swing and the international cooperation is becoming increasingly close.

With the exchanges and integration in economics and culture, international dissemination of information is showcasing particular importance.

Global Times Online is also willing to strengthen cooperation with various government agencies and enterprises throughout the construction of the BRI and become a bridge for international exchanges, he added.

General Manager of Global Times Online Shan Chengbiao remarked the competition is a public diplomatic activity showing people-to-people connectivity with Global Times Online as the organizer.

The competition is a collection of Chinese stories told in countries alongside the Belt and Road from their perspectives, and displays the achievements of cooperation projects between China and other countries under the Belt and Road Initiative.

In over one month, they have received over 300 works from 170 contestants in nearly 80 countries and regions. The protagonists of these works have a wide variety, ranging from engineers or foreign staff from Chinese infrastructure enterprises to teachers of Confucius Institutes, he added.

As one of the well-known international news media at home and abroad, Global Times and Global Times Online have been highly focusing on topics related to the Belt and Road Initiative in recent years.

Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park, Colombo Port City, China–Pakistan Economic Corridor, the Peshawar-Karachi Motorway (PKM) project in Pakistan, and other key joint projects within the Belt and Road Initiative have all been the focus of our in-depth coverage.

“We will advance the people-to-people exchanges and cultural cooperation between China and the rest of the world, and tell the Chinese cultural brand story well to the world, making our own contributions to the Belt and Road Initiative,” he added.

A number of diplomats from the foreign embassies in China, representatives from the SASAC News Center and China Public Diplomacy Association, entrepreneurs and representatives of prize winners gathered at the awards ceremony.

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Pakistan Army chief invites parliamentarians to GHQ for border briefing

RAWALPINDI – Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa will brief the parliamentarians next week on the hostile situation on the Line of Control (LOC), Working Boundary and international borders in the aftermath of recent tension with India.

The army chief invited the 21-member National Assembly Standing Committee on Defence to the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi for a briefing on April 4.

The briefing will include outlining of the measures taken by the armed forces in response to India’s aggression and provocations.

According to the DAWN, it will be the second briefing by the army chief to the parliamentarians over one month.

Earlier, parliamentarians were briefed in an in-camera session held at Parliament House on February 27, the day the Pakistan Air Force carried out a raid in India. However, Prime Minister Imran Khan did not attend the briefing.

The standing committee, led by chairman Amjid Ali Khan, includes Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Tahir Sadiq, Chaudhry Farrukh Altaf, Syed Faizul Hassan, Ijaz Ahmad Shah, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, Jamid Ahmed Khan and Ramesh Kumar Vankwani.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmakers: Chaudhry Muhammad Barjees Tahir, Riazul Haq, Muhammad Khan Daha, Alam Dad Laleka and Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada. While Khursheed Ahmed Junejo, Aftab Shahban Mirani and Mir Amer Ali Khan Magsi represent the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

Grand Democratic Alliance’s (GDA) Ghous Bux Khan Mahar, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s (MQM-P) Syed Aminul Haque, Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal’s (MMA) Salahuddin Ayubi and Balochistan Awami Party’s (BAP) Rubina Irfan are also members of the committee on defence.

A notification issued by the Senate Secretariat says that Chairman of Senate standing committee on defence Azam Swati will lead the Senate members.

During the visit, the standing committee members will pay respects at the martyrs’ memorial.

Pakistan Army shoots down Indian spy drone at LoC

Tensions between Pakistan and India escalated after the February 14 attack on Indian paramilitary forces in Pulwama district of Occupied Kashmir that killed 40 CRPF soldiers.

Prime Minster Imran Khan had offered every possible help in the investigation, but India turned down the offer and whipped up war hysteria.

Blaming Pakistan for “harbouring” the leadership of Jaish-e-Mohammad, a militant group allegedly behind the deadly Pulwama incident, the Indian air force carried out a botched air raid at an alleged training JeM camp in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan on February 26.

The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured an Indian pilot, who was handed over to India later.

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Pakistan’s export to China up 4% in 8 months

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s exports to China during first eight months (Jul-Feb) of current fiscal year increased by 3.97 percent as compared to same period of last year.

The exports from Pakistan to China during the period under review increased to $1.15 billion compared to the exports of $1.106 billion recorded during Jul-Feb (2017-18), according to latest data released by State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

The imports went down to $6.628 billion in July-February 2018-19 from $7.32 billion in same period of last year.

On year-on-year basis, the imports went down to $686.078 million in February 2019 against the imports worth of $780.621 million recorded during same month of last year.

While the exports of goods and services from Pakistan to China also decreased from $127.308 million in February 2018 to $118.707 million in same month of current year.

The trade deficit between Pakistan and China, during first eight months (Jul-Feb) of current fiscal year, shrank by 11.93 percent.

The trade deficit between the two countries decreased to $5.478 billion in July-February (2018-19) compared to the trade deficit of $6.22 billion in same period of the preceding year.

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Hamlet is an accomplishment: Sajal Aly praises Ahad Raza Mir for performance in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet- A Ghost Story”.

NASA cancels first all-female spacewalk due to spacesuit size issues

WASHINGTON – US space agency NASA said Monday that it has canceled the first all-female spacewalk, citing the size of spacesuits as a reason.

Two female NASA astronauts, Christina Koch and Anne McClain, had been scheduled to perform the historic mission on Friday.

However, after consulting with McClain, who conducted a spacewalk with her male crewmate Nick Hague on March 22, mission managers decided to adjust the assignments, “due in part to spacesuit availability” on the International Space Stations, said NASA in a statement.

“McClain learned during her first spacewalk that a medium-size hard upper torso – essentially the shirt of the spacesuit – fits her best. Because only one medium-size torso can be made ready by Friday, March 29, Koch will wear it,” the statement said.

NASA announces the very first all-female spacewalk

However, NASA clarified Tuesday in a tweet that it has more than one medium-size spacesuit torso aboard. “But to stay on schedule with @Space_Station upgrades, it’s safer & faster to change spacewalker assignments than reconfigure spacesuits.”

“We do our best to anticipate the spacesuit sizes that each astronaut will need, based on the spacesuit size they wore in training on the ground, and in some cases astronauts train in multiple sizes,” explained Brandi Dean, a spokesperson for NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

“However, individuals’ sizing needs may change when they are on orbit, in response to the changes living in microgravity can bring about in a body,” the AFP quoted Dean as saying.

“In addition, no one training environment can fully simulate performing a spacewalk in microgravity, and an individual may find that their sizing preferences change in space,” added Dean.

As a result of the rearrangement, Friday’s spacewalk will be conducted by Koch and Hague as a female-male duo, during which they will continue the work to install powerful lithium-ion batteries for one pair of the station’s solar arrays.

Meanwhile, McClain is now tentatively scheduled to perform her next spacewalk on April 8 with Canadian Space Agency astronaut David Saint-Jacques.

Of the 63 women who have ever flown in space, 37 of them have spent time on board the International Space Station. In honor of Women’s History Month, here’s a look at a few of the women who have made history doing scientific research in Earth orbit. #WomensHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/ahgscI8KGX

— Intl. Space Station (@Space_Station) March 30, 2019

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COAS to take National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Defence into confidence on April 4

He has invited them to tour GHQ

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Pakistan field first in 5th ODI against Australia

DUBAI – Pakistan and Australia today face each other at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the final ODI of what has been a surprisingly one-sided series, with the visitors remaining unbeaten in the tournament so far.

Pakistan have won the toss and elected to field against Australia.

The hosts would hope to bounce back and end series with at least a win. Shoaib Malik has been ruled out from the Final match due to injury. Imad Wasim is captaining the Pakistan side.

On the other hand, Australia will be looking to complete their Asian leg on a high by completing a 5-0 whitewash over Pakistan.

The visitors won the first two ODIs by eight wickets before claiming the series with an 80-run rout. Aaron Finch’s men then won the fourth ODI by six runs to leave Pakistan on the brink of a cleansweep.

Both sides have made one change to their playing XI. Pakistan bring Mohammad Abbas in place of Mohammad Hasnain. Australia replace Nathan Coulter-Nile with Jason Behrendorff.

Ahsan Raza and Michael Gough will be the on-field umpires while Kumar Dharmasena will be the third umpire for the match.

Pakistan fined for slow over-rate against Aussies in 4th ODI

Squads

Pakistan: Shan Masood, Abid Ali, Haris Sohail, Umar Akmal, Saad Ali, Imad Wasim (C), Mohammad Rizwan (W), Yasir Shah, Usman Shinwari, Mohammad Abbas and Junaid Khan.

Australia: Aaron Finch (C), Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey, Jason Behrendorff, Kane Richardson, Nathan Lyon, Adam Zampa

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Second marriage lands Muslim man in Pakistani prison

LAHORE – A man has been sentenced to three-month jail and Rs 5,000 fine for contracting second marriage without mandatory permission of first wife, according to local media.

Rabia Younas had filed a complaint against her husband Shoaib Zahid in Lahore’s Cantonment Courts, pleading that he contracted second marriage without obtaining her consent required under section 6 of Muslim Family Law Ordinance 1961.

After the woman’s counsel produced verbal and documentary evidence to prove the offence of the respondent, the Dawn reported, Magistrate Kashif Abbas handed down three-month imprisonment to the respondent and Rs5,000 fine.

Last December, in a similar case of second marriage without first wife’s permission, a man was sentenced to three months imprisonment and fined Rs 30,000 by a Rawalpindi’s civil court.

The convicted man’s wife Sajida Bibi had filed a petition in district civil court under Section 6 of Muslim family law, claiming that her husband Liaqat Khan had contracted a second marriage without her permission. However, Liaqat’s lawyer presented a divorce deed and other documents in the court as evidence and two witnesses who testified about his divorce before the judge.

According to the divorce deed, Liaqat had divorced Sajida on June 1, 2017, and got married again on July 9, 2017, but Sajida rejected the divorce claim and said that Liaqat had fabricated the document. Upon this, the judge sent Liaqat to jail for three months.

But it was two years ago when for the first time a court in Pakistan had sided with the woman under a 2015 family law, and followed a petition by Ayesha Bibi, who said her husband, Shahzad Saqib, had wed for a second time without her approval.

On November 2, 2017, Judicial magistrate Ali Jawwad Naqvi announced the verdict in a Lahore lower court, ordering the man to serve a six-month jail term and pay a fine of Rs200,000.

The court rejected the man’s argument that he did not need her permission because his religion allowed him four marriages.

The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), a body that advises the government on the compatibility of laws with Islam, has often criticised the demand for a wife’s written approval if her husband wants to remarry. But the CII’s recommendations are not legally binding.

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Pakistani High Commissioner to India Sohail Mahmood appointed as Pakistan’s new Foreign Secretary

ISLAMABAD – Pakistani High Commissioner to India Sohail Mahmood has been appointed as the new foreign secretary of the country.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that Sohail Mahmood has been appointed foreign secretary after consultation with the prime minister.

He said that Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua will retire on April 16.

He said that he has been working with Janjua for seven months. She is very competent, intelligent and patriot woman.

While praising her work, Qureshi said that “I pay a tribute to her. I have got to learn a lot from her.”

Janjua is the first woman to become Pakistan’s foreign secretary.

She will be replaced by Pakistani High Commissioner to India Sohail Mahmood.

The foreign minister said that Sohail Mahmood is an experienced diplomat and politician. His appointment has been made after consultation with Prime Minister Imran Khan, he added.

Mahmood has been serving as Pakistani High Commissioner to India since 2017. Earlier, he had served as Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkey.

He will now serve as the new foreign secretary of Pakistan.

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PPP protests after PM Imran announces to change BISP’s title

ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has announced to change the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) title.

The prime minister has made the decision on the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) demand and assured the GDA regarding the recommendation during his visit to Ghotki, following which former Sindh chief minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim has expressed his gratitude to the PM.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Imran Khan was quoted as suggesting that the name of BISP, the country’s largest social safety net programme of its kind, would be amended.

Changing the name of the BISP has increased political rift between the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on the other.

PPP’s former premier Yousaf Raza Gillani initiated the BISP programme in the year 2008 on the recommendation of former president Asif Ali Zardari for paying tribute to the former prime minister and PPP’s leader Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated in 2007.

PPP leadership has Slammed PM Imran’s suggestion and said that Shaheed Benazir Bhutto made sacrifices not just for the party but for the entire country.

In a tweet, Adviser to Sindh chief minister, Barrister Murtaza Wahab, said the BISP cannot be renamed unless the law is changed. “Kaptaan ur the PM not the King plz try to understand law before making commitments.”

Someone shd explain 2 PM that there is a thing called Law & when law says Benazir Income Support Programme it cant b changed unless law is changed. Kaptaan ur the PM not the King plz try 2 understand law before making commitments. Remember u spoke of Rule of Law once upon a time

— SenatorMurtaza Wahab (@murtazawahab1) March 30, 2019

Under this programme, poor women are granted Rs5,000 per month.

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Another Indian soldier commits suicide within 24 hours in Occupied Kashmir

SRINAGAR – Another Indian soldier has committed suicide by shooting himself dead in Srinagar on Sunday in Occupied Kashmir. He is the second Indian soldier who committed suicide in less than twenty-four hours.

According to the Kashmir Media Service (KMS), the soldier, identified as Ramphul Meena, shot himself with his service rifle inside his camp in Solina area.

Indian soldier kills three colleagues after a quarrel in Occupied Kashmir

He is the second Indian soldier who committed suicide in less than twenty-four hours.

Earlier on Saturday morning, an ITBP officer identified as Sub Inspector Chander Mani G Coy also ended his life in a similar manner at Town Hall Kunzer in Tangmarg area of Baramulla district.

As many as 125 military personnel took the extreme step to end their lives in 2016. They included 101 soldiers, 19 airmen and five sailors, with another three cases of fratricide (to kill a fellow soldier or superior) being reported from the three Services.

Indian Air Force’s wing commander commits suicide

This incident raised the number of such deaths amongst Indian troops and police personnel to 425 in occupied Kashmir since January 2007 till date, while the rising trend of fratricide (to kill a fellow soldier or superior) has also been observed among the Indian troops.

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By-election polling on PP-218 Multan underway amid tight security measures

MULTAN – Polling for by-elections Punjab Assembly constituency, PP-218 Multan is underway, the Radio Pakistan reported.

According to a spokesman of the Provincial Election Commission, the voting that started at 08.00 am will continue till 05.00 pm without any interval.

Tight security measures have been taken for the polling in the city.

Six candidates are contesting the by-election with the main contest between the PTI’s Malik Wasif Mazhar Raan and Pakistan Peoples Partys (PPP) Malik Muhammad Arshad. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is backing PPP’s candidate Arshad.

Malik Shahid Abbas Raan, Muhammad Tufail, Muhammad Ramzan and Muhammad Israr-Ul-Haq Cheema are contesting as independent candidates in the by-polls.

According to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), a total of 203,188 voters, including 111,918 males and 91,270 females, are registered for casting votes in the constituency.

The seat fell vacant due to the sudden death of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf MPA, Malik Mazhar Abbas Raan.

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MQM Leader Khawaja Izhar ul Hassan injured in a road accident near Super Highway Toll Plaza in Karachi

KARACHI – Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader, Khawaja Izhar ul Hassan has been injured in a road accident near Super Highway Toll Plaza in Karachi on early Sunday morning.

According to MQM leader Faisal Sabzwari, Khawaja Izharul Hassan sustained head injuries while his bodyguard was critically injured.

They have been shifted to hospital, where their condition is stated to be out of danger.

According to media reports, Khawaja Hasan was returning from Ghotki after meeting Prime Minister Imran Khan, when his car met with a mishap. More damage occurred with the second car behind him, with his bodyguards, also hit his car.

MPA Sanjay Perwani who was travelling with Hasan at the time of the accident in another car informed that the accident occurred due to a ditch dug up on the road because of some construction work nearby, adding that the driver could not see the ditch and the car crashed as there were no signs indicating the ditch or an alternative route near the site.

Three of his guards were injured in the accident, with two of them are said to be in critical condition.

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Pakistan stresses to ensure personnel’ safety, better training, equipment, health facilities in UN peacekeeping tasks

NEW YORK – Pakistan has underscored, at the United Nations (UN), the need for ensuring not only the security of the UN peacekeepers operating in the hot spots around the world but also the safety of the personnel in equal measure, the Radio Pakistan reported.

It was stated by Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Maleeha Lodhi at a peacekeeping event co-hosted by Pakistan at UN Headquarters in New York.

Attending the special meeting on Peacekeeping in UNGA with members of the delegation from Pakistan pic.twitter.com/IeVazDy0CD

— Maleeha Lodhi (@LodhiMaleeha) March 29, 2019

She, voicing concern over the increasing number of fatalities suffered by UN peacekeepers operating in hot spots around the world, said while security will remain a challenge and will vary from mission to mission, the safety side of the coin can be addressed by adequately equipping peacekeepers with training, necessary equipment, and better health facilities on the ground.

It was the first meeting on triangular formula — training, capacity building, safety and security and performance — that comprised China, Egypt, Indonesia and Morocco.

It was a privilege for Pakistan to co-host a peacekeeping event on Triangular Cooperation, at the UN today, with China, Indonesia, Morocco and Egypt, all members of the Group of Troop contributing countries @indonesiaunny @Chinamission2un pic.twitter.com/GLoi03SV3B

— Maleeha Lodhi (@LodhiMaleeha) March 29, 2019

Maleeha Lodhi said 193 peacekeepers lost their lives due to deliberate attacks, 117 due to accidents, 231 as a result of illness and 69 were listed under other causes between the year 2014 and 2019.

The Pakistani envoy said it is important for the troop and police contributing countries, the Security Council and the Secretariat to work together enabling better decision making related to the planning of peacekeeping missions.

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CM Sindh should resign due to NAB probe: Fawad Ch

ISLAMABAD – Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain Saturday said that Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah should resign as he was facing cases in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

Talking to a private news channel, he said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf was a true democratic political party in the country and it was the evidence of the fact that its sitting ministers tendered their resignations when they were facing cases in NAB.

Murad Ali Shah was working as a front man of the former president Asif Ali Zardari rather to work as Chief Minister of the province, he said.

He said Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) governments had left the country with a burden of loans due to their wrong economic policies.

Fawad Hussian said the PPP leadership had failed to bring improvement in the lives of the people even after running the government in the province for more than a decade.

Replying to a question, he said the federal government had no plan to change the provincial government of Sindh, but there was always a constitutional process that could be adopted for the purpose.

The minister said despite the country was facing economic challenges, even though the Prime Minister has announced a huge development package for the province.

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WWF-Pakistan, Wapda celebrate Earth Hour 2019

LAHORE – WWF-Pakistan joined more than 180 nations around the world on Saturday to celebrate Earth Hour, the global movement united by millions of people worldwide to show their commitment to protecting the planet.

In Lahore at 8:30 p.m. local time, Earth Hour was celebrated at WAPDA House, with Lieutenant General Muzammil Hussain (Retd), Chairman WAPDA as chief guest, WWF-Pakistan senior management and WWF-Pakistan’s Goodwill Ambassadors.

Addressing the ceremony, WAPDA Chairman said that Earth Hour is an opportunity for us to be a part of the global movement to take action for our home. He said that WAPDA joined hands with WWF-Pakistan to organize Earth Hour at WAPDA House as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility.

While emphasizing the importance of energy, he said that energy conservation is the need of the hour, we must conserve it now so that we have resources in the future. The Chairman shared with the participants that WAPDA has devised a comprehensive strategy for harnessing water and hydropower resources to improve water availability in Pakistan and offset the adverse impact on climate change.

“We plan to add two MAF to water storage capacity and 828 MW hydropower generation capacity up to 2025 in short term, another eight MAF and 5653 MW up to 2030 in medium term and 28 MAF and 6245 MW up to 2050 in long term with completion of its various projects in water and hydropower sectors,” he said adding that the construction work on Mohmand Dam is about to start in a couple of weeks, while construction of Diamer Basha Dam will also commence this year.

Speaking at the event, Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General, WWF-Pakistan said that in 2019 the country continues to embrace the true essence of the global Earth Hour movement.

“Earth Hour was first celebrated in 2010 in Pakistan, and we have seen it grow bigger with each passing year. This is a very optimistic sign that our aim to rally people from all corners of the country for our planet has anchored roots. In the past decade, Earth Hour has inspired millions to support and participate in critical climate and environmental initiatives, helping drive climate policy, awareness and action worldwide. If we take a look into our past we would understand that movements have shaped our lives—movements matter— and the Earth Hour movement will shape our future.”

Other major landmarks across the country also participated in Earth Hour by switched off lights. These included: DCO Office; Avari Hotel, PC Hotel, WASA, LESCO, Fatima Group, Wazir Khan Mosque, Hazori Bagh, Trail Dehli Gate, Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) Lahore, MCB House, LDA Complex, Parliament House, Supreme Court of Pakistan, Pakistan National Monument, Damn-e-Koh, Pak-China Friendship Centre, Shah Faisal Mosque, Convention Centre, D-Chowk, Lake View Park, 7th and 8th Avenues, Sindh Assembly and Frère Hall.

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Pakistan fined for slow over-rate against Aussies in 4th ODI

DUBAI – The International Cricket Council said on Saturday that Pakistan has been fined for maintaining a slow over-rate against Australia in the fourth one-day international in Dubai.

According to a communique issued by the ICC, Pakistan’s captain Imad Wasim was also fined 20 per cent of his match fee.

According to the global governing body of cricket, Jeff Crowe of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the fine after Pakistan was found to be short of its target after time allowances were taken into consideration.

Australia defeat Pakistan by 6 runs in 4th ODI

“In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minor over-rate offences, players are fined 10 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount,” the media release stated.

If Pakistan commit another minor over-rate breach in an ODI within 12 months of this offence with Imad as captain, it will be deemed a second offence by him and Imad will face a suspension, it warned.

The statement continued that Imad pleaded guilty to the offense after the end of the match and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing.

On Friday, Australia defeated Pakistan in a nail-biting encounter by 6 runs despite a debut hundred by Abid Ali and second career century by Mohammad Rizwan in the fourth encounter of the five-match series.

Australia now leads the series with decisive 4-0 as Pakistan struggles to evade a White Wash. The final match of the series is scheduled to be played in Dubai on Sunday.

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Pakistan highlights Billion Tree Tsunami at the United Nations

UNITED NATIONS – Pakistan projected its flagship project “Billion Tree Tsunami”, as one of its flagship efforts to arrest climate change at a high level event on the subject organized by the President of the UN General Assembly, according to a press release issued by the Pakistan Mission to the UN.

The Project, the UN was told, had become the first entity under the global “Bonn Challenge” to surpass the pledge of restoring 3.48 million hectors and created half a million green jobs, the press release said. It has now been transformed into a nation-wide “10 Billion Tree Tsunami”, inaugurated by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

During the meeting, Pakistan stated that climate change, besides causing widespread devastation, threatens countries’ abilities to accomplish national priorities and achieve sustainable economic growth, according to the press release. It was also mentioned that Pakistan, with its contribution to the total global Green House Gas (GHG) emission limited to only 0.8%, was considered the eighth most climate vulnerable country in the world.

According to the press release, it was brought to the attention of the world assembly that Pakistan had faced vagaries of climate change in the form of glacial melt and widespread devastation caused by floods in 2010 and 2011 and drought in 2014.

Pakistan had taken actions in the domain of both adaptation and mitigation, which includes in disaster risk reduction, resilient agriculture, flood water utilization for ecosystem restoration, ground water recharge, renewable energy, transportation, and town planning.

Pakistan also flagged the vital importance of climate finance, it said. While referring to Pakistan’s adaptation needs that stood at $14 billion per annum, Pakistan called on the developed countries to fulfil their pledge of mobilising $100 billion by 2020.

Pakistan’s statement was well received, including by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), specifically praising our achievement in global “Bonn Challenge” and reforestation efforts through “10 Billion Tree Tsunami” in its own statement at the Assembly, according to the press release.

The High-Level Meeting on Climate and Sustainable Development for All was convened by the President of the General Assembly, Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces on 28-29 March 2019. The Meeting was attended by a number of high-level delegations from around the world including the Presidents of Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, and Prime Ministers of Fiji and Dominica.

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