Day: September 22, 2020

Minister: (FM terms Kashmir, Palestine disputes as UN’s most glaring and long-standing failures)

Islamabad:Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said the Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine disputes are the UN’s most glaring and long standing failures.

Virtually addressing the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations in New York on Tuesday, he said the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ and K) still await fulfillment of the commitment made to them by the United Nations to grant them their right to self-determination.

Referring to the UN role he said it addressed an historic need “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war”; to reaffirm equal and fundamental rights of men and women and nations large and small; and to promote better life in larger freedoms.

The Foreign Minister said today the UN resolutions and decisions are flouted; international cooperation, especially in the Security Council, is at its lowest; force is threatened with abandon; critical Treaties and Covenants, designed to promote development and protect the globe’s fragile environment, are discarded.

He pointed out that the very forces that led to the Second World War, racism and fascism are taking the shape of rising xenophobia and Islamophobia. He said while we have seen enormous international cooperation to combat COVID-19, it has failed to unify humanity as it could have.

Highlighting Pakistan’s contributions to the world body, he said Pakistan remains an ardent believer in multilateralism and the indispensability of the United Nations and has contributed over 200,000 troops to 47 Missions in 26 countries, losing 157 of our bravest in the process. He said we have also hosted the largest protracted refugee population.

Advisor: (Govt committed to its electoral reform agenda: Shahzad)

Islamabad:Advisor on Accountability Shahzad Akbar has said the government is committed to its electoral reform agenda and will support every step to make the electoral process more transparent.

Talking to a private news channel, he said the use of biometric system in the election is mandatory to remove doubts about transparency in manual polling process.

He said PML-N and PPP leadership should play a more active role in electoral reforms committee of the Parliament, as change would come from the Parliament, not through negative politics.

Shahzad Akbar said the government wants to implement proposed electoral reforms with consensus. He said the federal cabinet has already approved the electoral and constitution amendment bills which are now pending for final approval from parliament.

Minister: (Pakistan starts phase three trials of vaccine against Covid-19)

Islamabad:Pakistan has started phase three trials of a vaccine against Covid-19.

In a tweet on Tuesday, Minister for Planning Asad Umar said the vaccine has been developed by a Chinese Company. He said a total of forty thousand people will participate in this trial in seven countries, of which eight to ten thousand will be Pakistanis. He said initial results are expected in four to six months.

Meanwhile, briefing media persons here on Tuesday, Special Assistant on National Health Services Dr Faisal Sultan described the clinical trial of Covid-19 vaccine as an important step to build the country’s capacity in preparing other vaccines against different diseases.

He said Pakistan is now also included in the list of countries which are conducting clinical trials of Covid-19 vaccine. He expressed the confidence that this vaccine will be safe and effective which will benefit not only Pakistan but the peoples around the world. Executive Director of National Institute of Health Major General Aamir Ikram said the safety of this vaccine is ensured as it is now being administered to the security personnel in China.

Education: (Letter of understanding on Environment education programme signed)

Islamabad:A letter of understanding on Environment education programme was signed between World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-Pakistan) and Federal Directorate of Education, Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training on Tuesday.

The Parliamentary Secretary Ms Wajiha Akram for Federal Education, Federal Secretary Ms Farah Hamid Khan for Federal Education, Additional Secretary Federal Education Mr Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani graced the occasion. Hammad Naqi and DG Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) Ms Zia Batool signed the agreement. The famous singer vocalist and alumni of FDE Schools Mr Fakhir was also present in the ceremony.

According to a press release, the objective of the program is to educate and involve youth in advocacy workshop and community action projects by focusing on enhancing individual’s personal and professional capabilities for adopting more environmental friendly and sustainable practice.

The agreement between the two organization would focus on the development of educational content and activities to raise environmental education awareness through interactive and digital platforms.

Environmental educational / awareness activities will be conducted in selected Educational Institutions. For this purpose, selected students shall be enrolled in Digital ECO Internship Program (DEIP) until December 2020 to give the students hands on experiential learning on appreciation of Nature and Diversity of Natural Habitats.

Certificate of completion and community service letter will be awarded to students upon successful completion of all internship sessions to encourage and motivate the youth in community development activities.

President: (President confers Hilal-e-Pakistan on outgoing Chinese envoy)

Islamabad:President Dr Arif Alvi has awarded the Hilal-e-Pakistan to outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing in recognition of his services of further strengthening the Pakistan-China relationship in diverse fields.

Ambassador Yao Jing has served in Pakistan thrice in various capacities and in aggregate stayed in Islamabad for eleven years.

The special investiture ceremony was held here at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Tuesday, where the President presented Ambassador Yao Jing with the country’s second-highest civil award, given to people for their meritorious contribution to the national interests of Pakistan.

The event was attended by the Chairman Senate, Speaker National Assembly, federal ministers, and high officials of the government.

ISPR: (Pakistani soldier martyred in Afghan cross-border attack: ISPR)

Islamabad:A Pakistani soldier was martyred on Tuesday at a military post in Bajur sector during firing that originated in Afghanistan.

According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), 24-year-old Sepoy Sabir Shah embraced martyrdom due to the firing from across the border in Bajur sector on Pakistan Army Post along the Pakistan-Afghanistan Border, late last night.

“Pakistan has been consistently raising the issue for border management on other side to avoid use of Afghanistan soil against Pakistan,” the ISPR said.

NCOC: (NCOC allows resumption of secondary classes from September 23)

Islamabad:The National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) on Tuesday allowed resumption of secondary classes from September 23 after reviewing the current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

According to a statement issued by the NCOC, Planning Minister Asad Umar, Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood, Interior Minister Brig (r) Ijaz Ahmad Shah, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan, as well as the provincial education ministers and secretary education attended the Tuesday’s meeting.