July 3, 2021 – Page 5 – PPI News Agency

Pakistan rejects inclusion in US Child Soldiers Prevention Act List

Islamabad, July 03, 2021 (PPI-OT):Pakistan has categorically rejected the inclusion of its name in the US State Department’s “Child Soldiers Prevention Act List”. In a statement, Foreign Office Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said we categorically reject the unsubstantiated and baseless inclusion of Pakistan in the “Child Soldiers Prevention Act List” – published under a domestic US legislation – in the US State Department’s Annual Trafficking in Persons Report 2021. He said Pakistan does not support any non-state armed group; nor any entity recruiting or using child soldiers. He said Pakistan’s efforts in fighting non-state armed groups including terrorist entities are well recognized.

Foreign Office Spokesperson said the inclusion of Pakistan in the “CSPA List” depicts a factual error and lack of understanding. He said no State institution was consulted by the US prior to the publication of the report. Nor were any details provided of the basis on which the conclusion was reached.

He said overall, on the issue of Trafficking in Persons, Pakistan is committed to fighting this scourge both at the national and international levels. We have taken a range of legislative and administrative actions in that regard during the last one year. Foreign Office Spokesperson called upon the authorities concerned in the United States to review the baseless assertions made in the TIP Report, especially with regard to the unwarranted inclusion of Pakistan in the “CSPA List.”

For more information, contact:
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Government of Pakistan
4th Floor, Cabinet Block, Pak. Secretariat, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9103557
Email: info@moib.gov.pk
Website: http://www.moib.gov.pk

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Corona claims 34 lives in country during last 24 hours – Press Note issued by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

Islamabad, July 03, 2021 (PPI-OT): Following is the text of press note issued by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

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As the Coronavirus cases decline and situation of pandemic improves in the country, 34 more deaths were reported during the last 24 hours. According to the National Command and Operation Centre, 48,027 tests were conducted while 1400 positive cases of the infection were detected. Positivity ratio remained 2.91 percent. The death toll due to pandemic has reached 22,379 in the country.

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President calls for effectively highlighting Indian atrocities against Muslims of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir

Islamabad, July 03, 2021 (PPI-OT):President Dr Arif Alvi has emphasized the need to effectively highlight the atrocities being committed by Modi government against Muslims of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir at International fora to expose its real face to the world. The President was talking to Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Munir Akram in Islamabad. Talking to the Ambassador, he also urged the need to showcase the contributions made by Pakistan in the war on terror as well as at international fora.

He said the world must acknowledge Pakistan’s contribution in the war on terror as it successfully defeated terrorism by offering enormous sacrifices and that success story of the country should be properly projected. The President said the world had now recognized Pakistan’s stance that conflict in Afghanistan could only be settled through political means.

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Tarin committed to manage national economy for achieving higher sustainable growth

Islamabad, July 03, 2021 (PPI-OT):Minister for Finance Shaukat Tarin has expressed the government’s strong commitment to manage national economy in most efficient and effective manner to achieve higher sustainable and inclusive growth. The minister was addressing virtually on “Pakistan’s Economy- Fragility and Smart Action Strategy” National Workshop Balochistan-7. He said that for achieving sustainable and inclusive growth, the government devised a comprehensive set of economic reforms across all sectors of the economy.

The minister said we have achieved macroeconomic stability and now we are moving towards the higher growth trajectory. He said, measures are being focused on establishing and strengthening an economy which was not only self-reliant but also capable of competing with its competitors globally.

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Pakistan, Uzbekistan agree to foment ties in diverse fields

Islamabad, July 03, 2021 (PPI-OT):Pakistan and Uzbekistan have agreed to keep up momentum of high-level exchanges and further expand bilateral cooperation and understanding in diverse fields. The understanding reached during inaugural round of Pakistan-Uzbekistan Bilateral Political Consultations was virtually held between the two sides.

The two sides exchanged views on whole gamut of bilateral relations including political, economic and trade, culture, people-to-people exchanges, regional connectivity, defense and security and regional as well as global issues. They expressed satisfaction on the positive momentum in high-level visits and interactions including the visit of the Uzbek foreign minister to Pakistan and virtual summit between Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The two sides discussed progress on Trans-Afghan railway project between Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. The two sides underlined the convergence of views in ensuring security, stability and lasting peace in Afghanistan through an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process.

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Government decides to launch ‘Kamyab Pakistan Program’ to uplift poor segments of society

Islamabad, July 03, 2021 (PPI-OT):The government has decided in principle to launch ‘Kamyab Pakistan Program’ during the current month to uplift the poor segments of the society. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting chaired by Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin in Islamabad today (Saturday). Housing projects, skill development, health cards, easy loans and agri-services will be brought under the banner of ‘Kamyab Pakistan Program”.

Speaking on the occasion, the Finance Minister said the government has allocated billions of rupees for this project under which interest-free loans of up to five hundred thousand rupees will be given to four million poor households. Shaukat Tarin said the farmers will also be given interest-free loans under this program. In his remarks on the occasion, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Youth Affairs, Usman Dar said ‘Kamyab Pakistan Program’ is the biggest initiative of government’s welfare agenda.

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Foreign Office Spokesperson expresses grief over death of seven Canadian Pakistanis due to house fire

Islamabad, July 03, 2021 (PPI-OT):Foreign Office Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the tragic death of seven Canadian Pakistanis including four children due to house fire in Alberta, Canada. In a statement, he said our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims of this tragic incident. We also pray for quick and full recovery of the injured.

The Spokesperson said our Consulate General in Vancouver is in contact with the relevant Canadian authorities to ascertain the facts, and with the bereaved family to offer all possible assistance. Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said as per the relevant Canadian authorities, the cause of the fire is still unknown. However, preliminary investigations indicate that it’s not criminal in nature.

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Statement by Acting Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, Aamir Khan at the High-Level Meeting on the Middle-Income countries

Islamabad, July 03, 2021 (PPI-OT):Mr. President of the General Assembly,

Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen,

I wish to thank the PGA for organizing this high-level meeting today to deliberate on the challenges faced by Middle-Income countries (MICs) further exacerbated by the pandemic.

Mr. President,

MICs are home to almost 70 per cent of the global poor.

Well before the pandemic, it was recognized that they face significant challenges to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and adopt the 2030 Agenda. Many of them have been hard hit by the pandemic. Remittance flows to low- and middle-income countries are expected to decline by $109 billion in 2020, or 19.7%, relative to 2019. 270 million people in low- and middle-income countries expected to face acute food insecurity by the end of 2020. Additionally, crippling debt, global economic inequalities and vulnerability to the effects of climate change and natural disasters, stunt prospects for growth in the lower echelon of middle income countries.

Mr. President,

If we are to build back better from the pandemic our first priority should be equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccine for all. Intellectual Property Rights and export controls should not prevent countries from saving lives.

Second, the biggest challenge lies in access to affordable and concessional financing and debt relief for these countries. Middle income countries’ ratio of total external debt service to exports; a useful indicator of trends in debt and repayment capacity rose from 14.7% in 2019 to 17.5% in 2020, the highest level since 2005. The G-20 DSSI and the Common Framework for Debt Treatments are welcome.

However, access to this and other support is still based on income criteria, which prevents middle-income countries from benefiting from them. Resultantly, more than forty percent of the MICs have been excluded from many forms of assistance for pandemic response. Of those eligible, only half of the middle income countries are participating due to the fear of downgrading by credit rating agencies that might result in the loss of access to private external financing.

Also, DSSI alone would not be sufficient.

Clearly, concessional finance, debt relief and restructuring, with the participation of all bilateral, multilateral and private creditors are required to augment efforts by these countries to overcome their multifaceted challenges. It is thus imperative that we recognize multiple dimensions of the vulnerabilities of MICs, in the criteria for accessing concessional resources of finance.

Third, digital divide is increasingly turning into a new face of development divide. Technology transfer and bridging the digital divide would be key for developing countries to leapfrog in this domain.

Finally, the time is now for the UN Development System, the international community, the global economic ecosystem and the private sector to come together in support of the efforts of MICs.

I thank you

For more information, contact:
Principal Information Officer,
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +92-51-9252323, +92-51-9252324
Fax: +92-51-9252325, +92-51-9252326
Email: piopid@gmail.com
Website: www.pid.gov.pk

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