Day: December 3, 2020

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KP govt looks at UNDP’s Amn-o-Insaf programme as flag bearer of rule of law interventions

Peshawar:Despite the many challenges faced due to the Covid-19 pandemic, UNDP’s Amn-o-Insaf (AOI) Programme has been able to achieve its outputs and make significant progress in 2020. The Programme supports both the supply and demand sides of rule of law. This is made possible by strengthening justice institutions and citizen rights as well as deepening ongoing efforts to secure peace and stability in the country. The same was highlighted by UNDP Pakistan Resident Representative (a.i.) Ms. Aliona Niculita in her welcome remarks at AOI’s Annual Progress Review Board (PRB) Meeting held virtually yesterday.

Co-chaired by Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Mr. Shakeel Qadir Khan and UNDP Pakistan Resident Representative (a.i.) Aliona Niculita, the PRB was attended by representatives from KP Home Department, KP Police, KP Prosecution Department, Economic Affairs Division, KP Bar Council and donors including Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and Government of Japan.

Mr. Shakeel Qadir Khan welcomed the participants and said that rule of law in the development sector is a new area for international assistance and the UNDP AOI is the flag bearer to attract more international support in the area.”In the past three years, I have seen UNDP AOI make major strides. What makes this programme unique is that it is a good blend of soft activities with infrastructural support”, he highlighted while mentioning the importance of the sector to Government of KP and stressing on the significance of development efforts in the Merged Areas (MAs). He also offered the support of Planning and Development Department to take the work further.

UNDP AOI Manager Mr. Jakhongir Khaydarov delivered a detailed presentation and highlighted areas of success for the programme during 2020. He mentioned that UNDP will be supporting PHC to establish 14 virtual courts in KP and MAs. Among achievements, digitization of case file record has been completed and the next phase is also anticipated, and UNDP has provided necessary institutional support to courts in MAs for their functionality.

Throughout this year, AOI has been working on the capacity building of judges and courts staff, which will continue next year as well.

In spite of the restrictions imposed due to Covid-19, 6731 persons, including 2204 women were made aware of their legal rights through legal awareness campaigns in MAs with the support of KP Bar Council and Civil Society Organization partner. The programme provided law libraries and bar room furniture to three bar associations in districts of the MAs namely Khyber, Mohmand and Bajaur and digitized KA Bar Council’s record room.

Mr. Jakhongir further highlighted that 100% of the original construction work at the Joint Police Training Center Nowshera under the INL Pakistan funding has been completed and savings of US $1.6 million that occurred are being used to build additional facilities. This is expected to be completed in 2021.

Looking forward to 2020, another successful year for UNDP and AOI, Mr. Jakhongir said that in addition to completion of several ongoing projects, five Model Police Stations will be constructed in the MAs with support from Government of Japan and support KP Police in training of 500 MAs police personal.

Moreover, four training centres to eradicate poppy cultivation will be constructed in KP and MAs with funding from Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.

Ms. Aliona Niculita appreciated the support of partners and said this meeting has given a great opportunity to identify gaps on where to direct additional efforts. The meeting successfully concluded with a vote of thanks.

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Cold weather forecast in Balochistan areas

QUETTA:Regional Meteorological Center Quetta has forecast that dry weather is expected in most parts of the province whereas cold and dry is expected in hilly areas of the province during the next 24 hours.

Weather during the last 24 hours: cold and dry weather prevailed in most parts of the province. Maximum temperature recorded today: Barkhan 28, Dalbandin 27, Gwadar 29, Jiwani 27, Kalat 21, Khuzdar 26, Lasbela 33, Nokkundi 29, Panjgur 26, Pasni 30, Quetta 24, Sibi 29, Turbat 31, Ormara 28, Zhob 24, Uthal 32, Usta Muhammad 27, Chaman 22, Dalbandin 27, Kharan 30, Loralai 25, Mastung 21, Muslim Bagh 24, Pishin 23 and Ziarat 17.5.

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Woman commits suicide in Quetta

QUETTA:A woman committed suicide by consuming poison in Qumbrani road area of the provincial capital on Thursday.

According to rescue sources, a 22-two-year-old woman identified as wife of Gul Muhammad Lehri, 22, a resident of Qumbrani road area, died after taking some poisonous substance.

The body was shifted to Sandeman Provincial Hospital Quetta and later handed over to the heirs after conduction of medico-legal formalites.

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Call to stop charging additional duty on IV Chamber

QUETTA:Sheikh Muhammad Tariq, Chairman, Customs Committee, Healthcare of Pakistan, expressed dissatisfaction over the additional duty imposed by the customs officials on the IV Chamber.

In a statement on Thursday, he said: “FBR has highlighted the names of certain devices, including the IV Chamber for the diagnosis of symptoms, with different abbreviations in the relevant SRO. This device is being used by all doctors, nurses, and medical staff to deal with a contagious disease like coronavirus. In most cases, the IV Chamber plays a significant role in saving human life commonly known as the Glucose Bottle Chamber or IV Chamber.”

Tariq said t has been displayed under the name of IV Chamber in the notifications from the government of Pakistan. Medical science and physicians, especially emergency staff and medical stores, also use or sell it under the same name.

H said officers of Karachi Customs who are unauthorized and unrelated to the medical line refuse clearance by giving a new name to this important device according to their understanding or demand additional duty. The medical emergency staff has been yelling for its shortage for decades in the past and now when the Corona epidemic is at its height, the issue needs to be addressed urgently. HDAP has contacted the authorities several times in this regard and written complaints have also been lodged, he said.

Tariq said: “We demand that right now stopping the I.V Chamber by customs or demanding additional duty would be tantamount to playing with human lives. It is clear that diagnostic tools and vaccines are also important as life-saving drugs or sometimes more effective than these. The entire HDAP committee has decided to use all possible legal means to get its voice heard by the government.”

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Envoy: (UNGA adopts Pakistan-led resolution promoting interfaith dialogue)

ISLAMABAD:The UN General Assembly (UNGA) has adopted with majority votes a resolution moved by Pakistan and Philippines on promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue.

In a series of tweets, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Munir Akram said the adoption of resolution is part of the efforts of Prime Minister Imran Khan for universal prohibition on willful provocation and incitement to raise awareness about Islamophobia, anti-Muslim hatred and defamation of religious personalities and symbols.

The Ambassador said our collective resolve to promote a culture of peace is important. He said the resolution is to bridge differences between religion, societies, cultures and civilizations by promoting a culture of peace dialogue and mutual respect.

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NCOC: (Pakistan reports 3,499 new COVID-19 cases, 39 deaths in last 24 hours)

ISLAMABAD:As many as 3,499 new cases of Coronavirus surfaced in the country after the tests of 42,904 over the last twenty-four hours.

According to the latest statistics of National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 39 more people died of the virus during the last twenty-four hours.

The figure of patients recovered from the virus has reached 346,951. There are now 51,654 active cases in the country.

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NA: (Parliament to play effective role for protection of rights of persons with disabilities: Asad Qaiser)

ISLAMABAD:Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser has said Parliament will play an effective role for protection of the rights of the persons with disabilities.

Speaking at a ceremony in connection with International Day of Persons with Disabilities here on Thursday, he said laws related to rights of special persons will be further improved.

He said it is our collective responsibility to encourage the special persons. He paid tribute to the social welfare organizations working for rehabilitation of special persons.