Day: December 31, 2021

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Four soldiers martyred, two terrorists killed in Tank operation

RAWALPINDI:Four Pakistan Army soldiers on Friday embraced martyrdom while two terrorists were killed in intelligence based operation (IBO) in Tank, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed.

According to the military media wing, the security forces conducted IBO on reported presence of terrorists in Tank during which weapons and ammunition were also recovered. The terrorists, identified as Shahzeb alias Zakir and Daniyal, were involved in terrorist activities against security forces, target killing and kidnapping for ransom.

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Earthquake hits KP’s different cities

SWAT:An earthquake of magnitude 5.8 struck different cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province on Friday afternoon.

The National Seismic Monitoring Centre (NSMC) confirmed the quake with an intensity of 5.8 on Richter Scale rattled Mingora, Malakand, Battagram, Mansehra, Hazara and other cities of the province, sending people fleeing their homes in panic.

It had a depth of 180 kilometres with the epicentre in the Afghan-Tajik border, the monitoring centre said. On Dec 24, an earthquake of magnitude 4.2 had struck Swat and other areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. It had a depth of 226 kilometres with the epicentre in the Hindu Kush Mountain range, the monitoring centre said.

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ANF seizes 576 litres chemical used in heroin

Quetta:ANF (Intelligence) and ANF, Quetta claimed to have seized 576 litres chemical used in heroin in a joint operation conducted on Friday in Killi Katta area near Quetta-Chaman main highway in district Killa Abdullah of Balochistan province.

According to a statement issued by the spokesperson for ANF, Quetta, 576 litres chemical, reported to be smuggled to Afghanistan via Chaman, main city of district Chaman of Balochistan, were seized in an operation conducted in Killa Katta area situated on Quetta Chaman highway of District Killa Abdullah. Seized materials were shifted to ANF Thana, Quetta for taking further necessary action and compliance report thereof to the higher authorities of ANF (Intelligence) and ANF, Quetta.

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Khuhro sees typhoon of inflation

LARKANA:PPP Sindh Chief Nisar Ahmed Khuhro Friday said that the mini-budget (Supplementary Finance Bill 2021) is equal to mortgaging the country’s economic sovereignty to IMF which will bring a typhoon of inflation in the country which we reject. Khuhro said that the federal government of PTI is trying to make Pakistan a colony of IMF and foreign funding institutions which will not be allowed.

In his statement issued, Nisar said that the federal government should present all secret treaties with the IMF in the Parliament and the nation. He said that today the rulers of the Islamic welfare state of Pakistan are pursuing foreign agenda on their dictation. He said that along with the PTI government and other coalition parties of the federal government including GDA, MQM-Pakistan were equally partners in making the country a slave of the IMF and making the people flourish in inflation.

He claimed that coalition parties of PTI had been defrauding the government in the anti-people legislation, so now these parties should stop their drama because the public knows their double standards. Khuhro said that the prime minister used to say that he will commit suicide but will not borrow should have committed suicide so that people could have been saved from suicides.

He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had become the ‘Dracula of foreign institutions’ in the country and had been imposed to suck the blood of the people of Pakistan. He said after mini-budget petrol and a dollar will jump to Rs200, one electricity unit will rise between Rs35 to 40 and everything will be very expensive but we will not allow this government to snatch the lives of the people. He said we need the Ayoob era like movement to get rid of the prime minister Imran Khan and PTI government for which every segment of society will have to come out.

He said billions of rupees loans had been obtained from World Bank and Asian Development Bank then why these were not being spent on the people, and why relief was not granted to the masses. He said the federal government’s policy was not to eliminate poverty but eliminate the poor. He said the only solution to get out of the crisis was removal of Imran Khan and holding of early polls.

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Top meeting seeks portal for medical admissions

KARACHI:Minister for Health and Population Welfare, Sindh, Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho held a meeting with representatives of Private Medical and Dental Colleges here on Friday.

The meeting was also attended by Parliamentary Secretary of Health, Qasim Siraj Soomro and Secretary Health, Mr. Zulfikar Shah. Private institutions that fail to follow the protocol set by the Provincial Cabinet will be investigated, Dr. Azra said.

In regards to allowing admission into private institutions, Jinnah Sindh Medical University and others told to create a portal that enables admissions on the 50% pass mark. After the Provincial Cabinet has passed a directive there is no weight to the threats by PMC towards private universities, the Minister stated.

‘We have been getting complaints from students that private universities are not allowing admission on the 50% mark.’ Dr. Azra Pechuho also said that all private institutions are bound to follow the instructions of the Provincial Cabinet. The Minister stated that despite the shortcomings in the PMC examinations, the results have been accepted. However nowhere in the PMC Bill did it state that admissions and registrations must be at above 65%.

The Minister also expressed concern that should the PMC continue in this manner that neglects the needs of an entire province, Sindh will have no choice but to begin a provincial admission and registration process from next year.

Dr. Azra Pechuho also confirmed to the representatives of the PMDC that should the PMC target any of Sindh’s private medical institutions with an investigation, the Sindh Government will be ready to support them. A committee was formed under the supervision of the Vice Chancellor of Jinnah Sindh Medical University that will overlook the process of admissions into private medical universities and colleges.

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GB Assembly members discuss employment and poverty issues

Islamabad:Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) held two days consultative workshop on “Youth Employability and Poverty Alleviation” for the members of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly in Islamabad.

The inaugural session was graced by Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan, Khalid Khurshid Khan. In the workshop, an array of experts shared their insights about the emerging issues related to youth employment and shed light on contextual strategies for poverty alleviation in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid said that in Gilgit-Baltistan there is a strong tradition of making decisions at the local level. His government intends to incorporate this local tradition into the local government model to pave the way for the representation of grassroots level communities in the governance structure.

Welcoming the participants and experts, CEO Aga Khan Foundation, Akhter Iqbal, said that it is a great platform for learning about emerging issues related to the development of Gilgit-Baltistan and making synergies with government and civil society.

The speakers in the workshop emphasized contextualizing the development plans so that they are more in sync with the issues of Gilgit-Baltistan. They lauded the local communities of Gilgit-Baltistan for introducing a successful model of community participation for other regions of Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion Dr Sania Nishtar, Special Assistant on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, appreciated the proactive approach of the government of Gilgit-Baltistan towards Ehsaas initiatives.

She said that the Ehsaas programme has introduced a system for the vulnerable communities in Pakistan, but there is a need to introduce the programme to the targeted people. A strategic plan was also discussed with members of GB Assembly and Ehsaas Nashonuma and Ehsaas One Window Centres in all tehsils of GB.

Malik Amin Aslam, Federal Minister for Climate Change/Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, shared government initiatives in tackling climate change. He laid great emphasis on living in harmony with nature instead of fighting with nature.

Amin Aslam said that the people of Gilgit-Baltistan know better how to live amicably with nature. He said that since Gilgit-Baltistan is bearing the brunt of climate change, it is imperative to intervene at multiple fronts. Speaking about the future of work, the speakers emphasized on digitization of the economy and promoting entrepreneurship in Gilgit-Baltistan. This will open up new opportunities for youth employment and economic development in the region.

The themes covered in the workshop ranged from community participation, poverty alleviation and prosperity, safety nets, climate change, digitalization, promoting entrepreneurship and responsible tourism to renewable energy. The speakers and participants agreed to gear the insights of the workshop into their policies and planning for the development of Gilgit-Baltistan.

General Manager AKRSP, Jamil Uddin, expressed his gratitude to the members of the GB Assembly and experts for making the session interactive and fruitful by giving undivided attention to the ideas discussed in the two-day consultative workshop. In the end Speaker GBA, Syed Amjad Ali Zaidi thanked AKRSP for providing an opportunity to the members of GBA to get exposure to novel ideas about the emerging issues of Gilgit-Baltistan. He concluded the workshop with a note of optimism and resolve to work together with all stakeholders towards the development of Gilgit-Baltistan.

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PML-N MPA Bilal Yasin shot, injured in Lahore

LAHORE:PML-N MPA Bilal Yasin sustained injuries after two unidentified suspects opened fire at him on Lahore’s Mohni Road Friday night. He has been shifted to Mayo Hospital for treatment, police said.

Reportedly, two suspects approached the MPA on a motorbike and targeted him in a possible assassination bid. Mayor Hospital’s medical superintendent told that Bilal Yasin was struck by three bullets, one in his leg and two in the abdomen, however, his condition is said to be stable.