Day: January 9, 2023

ISLAMABAD: More than four months after a national state of emergency was declared in Pakistan, up to 4- million children are still living near contaminated and stagnant flood waters, risking their survival and wellbeing, UNICEF warned on Monday. In a statement, the UNICEF said acute respiratory infections among children, a leading cause of child mortality worldwide, have skyrocketed in flood-stricken areas. In addition, the number of cases of children identified as suffering from severe acute malnutrition in flood-affected areas monitored by UNICEF nearly doubled between July and December as compared to 2021; an estimated 1.5 million children are still in need of lifesaving nutrition interventions. “Children living in Pakistan’s flood-affected areas have been pushed to the brink,” th...

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal on Monday urged the politicians and media to discourage propaganda against the government. Talking to a private channel from Geneva, he said the negative speculations on economy are badly affecting the market and business activities. Ahsan Iqbal said the current difficulties on economic front are the result of the redundant economic policies adopted by the previous government, but hopefully the situation will improve soon. He said the government is engaging with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and is optimistic that it will soon approve our 9th review to dismantle the market uncertainty in the country. The Minister said the Geneva conference will serve as a platform to attract international support for rehabilitation...

ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir met Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, at his winter camp in the Saudi city of ‘AlUla’, early Monday. According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), during the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations and the ways of enhancing them, in addition to a number of issues of common concern. The SPA also shared pictures of the Crown Prince’s reception for the Army Chief at his winter camp in the city of AlUla. The reception was attended by Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Defense and Dr Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban, Minister of State, Member of the Cabinet and National Security Adviser. The reception was also attended by the Pakistan’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Ar...

ISLAMABAD: A three-day winter sports festival 2023 will begin in Skardu (Gilgit-Baltistan) tomorrow (Tuesday). According to reports, the main events of the festival include Ice hockey, Yake race, Indus off-road rally, rafting and mayfung, lightning. Food Street will also be set up in which traditional foods will be displayed. The festival will conclude on Thursday with the final ice polo competition.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Masood Khan has said the country is living with the consequences of worst climate induced disaster and needs immediate help of the international community. He said the needs are dire. “There is a misperception that the two phases of relief and recovery are over. They are not over,” he maintained, says a press release received here on Monday from Washington DC. During his exclusive interview to one of the leading media outlets of the United States, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), on the occasion of International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan, the envoy expressed the hope that under the leadership of the United Nations, United Nations Secretary General and with the convening power of states like the United States, Paki...