Day: July 30, 2021

ISLAMABAD: Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has directed all concerned departments to start emergency relief operations without any delay in case of torrential rains.

He issued the instructions during his visit to different areas of Lahore on Friday. The Chief Minister said no effort should be spared to protect lives and properties of the citizens during devastating rains and floods.

Meanwhile, chairing a meeting in Lahore on Friday, the Chief Minister directed that flow of water in rivers should be monitored continuously along with maintaining close liaison with relevant federal agencies. He said flood emergency control rooms should be functional round-the-clock and line departments should be fully prepared to deal with any possible challenge of floods.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has categorically rejected the false, untenable and self-serving comments made by the Spokesperson of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on the recently concluded elections in the Azad State of Jammu and Kashmir.

In a statement issued on Friday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said the Indian Charge d’Affaires was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to convey Pakistan’s complete rejection of India’s sham protest and to reiterate Pakistan’s clear and consistent position on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

The Spokesperson said India cannot hide the fact that it is in illegal occupation of parts of Jammu and Kashmir. To perpetuate its occupation of the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, India has committed horrendous human rights violations against innocent Kashmiris over the past seven decades, and particularly since 5 August 2019.

ABBOTTABAD: At least 73 candidates of various political parties and independent Friday filed their nomination papers for the 10 wards of Abbottabad Cantonment Board (ACB) local bodies elections 2021.

The ACB has all set for the local bodies elections scheduled to be held on September 12, this year. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz have not decided about their candidates yet while Jamaat-e-Islam has announced six candidates out of 10 wards.

ACB Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ammara Amar would be the Returning Officer (RO). 45 candidates have filed their nomination papers from Ward No 1 to Ward No 5 while 28 candidates have filed papers from Ward No 6 to Ward No10 to contest the elections.

From Saturday scrutiny of the nomination papers would be started which would continue for three days and publication of Names of valid nominated candidates would be published on August 3. From August 4 to 7, appeals against acceptance/rejection of nomination papers would be entertained while on August 10, the RO would announce disposal of appeals and would publish the valid names of candidates on August 11.

Candidates would be allowed to withdraw their nomination papers on August 12 and on August 13 final list of candidates with election symbols would be displayed. Elections would be held on the September 12.

MULTAN: The teams of Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO) have caught 158 power pilferers in a single day during separate operations launched throughout the South Punjab, MEPCO official told on Friday.

The MEPCO teams accompanied by special task force raided different places in Multan, Vehari, Sahiwal, Rahimyar Khan, Muzaffargarh, Bahawalnagar, Khanewal, and Dera Ghazi Khan and detected theft of over 256,000 electricity units.

A sum of over Rs 4.8 million fine was imposed on them while FIRs were registered against ten over Involvement in tampering with body of meters, direct supply, installing loop in meters, slowing down meters, meter dead stop and meter screen wash.

BAHAWALPUR: The Department of Pakistan Studies, Islamia University of Bahawalpur, hosted a webinar on the effects of the withdrawal of NATO forces from Afghanistan on the South Asian region.

The program was hosted by Prof Dr Aftab Hussain Gilani, Dean, Faculty of Law. Prof Dr Athar Mahboob, Vice Chancellor, participated in the webinar. Prof Dr Aslam Syed said the United States had fought the war in Afghanistan for two decades and spent billions of dollars, but eventually had to negotiate with the Taliban. He said that the present Taliban is different from the Taliban of 1994, who had a soft corner for Pakistan. Prime Minister Imran Khan is of the same opinion that the problem of Afghanistan will never be solved by war. Neighboring countries should help them for peace in Afghanistan.

Dr Aslam Syed said that Pakistan should try to build good relations with neighboring Afghanistan as this was the policy of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Host Prof Dr. Aftab Hussain Gilani said that the Government of Pakistan believes in coexistence and wants to maintain peaceful and friendly neighborly relations with Afghanistan. Pakistan made life and financial sacrifices for the brotherly Islamic country. More than three million Afghan refugees are still living in Pakistan. Pakistan is still working for a peaceful and prosperous Pakistan.