ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) has found out the pangolin that was injured in an attack by a local villager in the Margallah Hills National Park (MHNP).
According to the details, when the pangolin was walking around in the forest area during a storm couple of days back, a local villager attacked it with an axe. The pangolin received severe injuries and was later found by an employee of the IWMB.
Now the IWMB is taking care of the pangolin that is considered one of the rare and attractive species of the national park. This mammal is always subjected to torture or poaching due to some false perceptions made by the people. The people consider that pangolin digs the graves in order to hunt the ants and this activity makes the graves porous and whenever it rains the water enters the graves eventually destroying them.
Inam Rasheed, an expert in biodiversity conservation, said Pangolins play an important ecological role as their burrowing behavior aerates and mixes the soil, improving its nutrient quality. Their abandoned burrows create additional shelter for other wildlife and their diet of ants and termites make them natural pest controllers.
He said the scales of pangolin consist of ‘Keratin’, which was the same material contained by human nails and hairs.
“The scales are used in the traditional Chinese medicines due to some wrong folk lore that they contain fantastic medicinal qualities. Similarly, it is believed that the flesh of the pangolin has extraordinary healing properties in a long list of ailments,” he said.
The IWMB chairperson said “We have now planned to install trackers before releasing the wildlife species inside the national park.
The elusive but ecologically vital pangolin is the only mammal in the world having scales on its fluffy and soft body. But, unfortunately, this armoured coat is its number one enemy.”
ISLAMABAD: Keeping in view the increasing leopard population in the Margalla Hills, Prime Minister Imran Khan directed the concerned departments to enure the setting up of Leopard Preservation Zone in the hills to preserve natural habitat for the endangered big cat species.
In a meeting of the committee on climate change presided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan, the approval of establishing the Wildlife Information Centre in Marghazar Zoo was also given
The Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) has stated that the population of leopards in the Margalla Hills was increasing and the animal was frequently spotted by visitors of hiking trails, especially on trails 4 and 6.
The IWMB with the assistance of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) is installing fences and gates around trail 4, which will be closed after sunset. Trail 4 was opened earlier in January to control crowding on other trails and monitor illegal wood cutting.
“The special leopard zone will provide a healthy eco-system to predators, permanently inhabiting the hills,” the prime minister said.
Prime Minister Khan, in principle, also accorded approval to the National Climate Change Policy, 2021 and the National Wildlife Policy, 2021.
He directed setting up of a think-tank to coordinate efforts among various ministries and devise out-of-the-box solutions for climate change mitigation. He also said Pakistan had established its credibility as a ‘Green Champion’ due to its flagship ‘Ten Billion Tree programme’, initiated by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.
Khan said the international community was acknowledging Pakistan’s realistic and tangible steps to mitigate impacts of climate change and directed the Ministry of Climate Change to review targets and formulate new goals, aimed at fast-tracking the steps required to preserve the natural environment.
“Preservation of the country’s national parks is paramount and stressed the need for inducting trained manpower and utilising modern technology,” he added.
The prime minister appreciated the efforts of Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam for environmental protection and highlighting Pakistan’s efforts in this field.
The IWMB observed that unlike Ayubia, no case of attacks on livestock had been reported in the Margallas within the federal capital’s jurisdiction because there was a significant wild boar and monkey population along with barking deer in the area.
The board also observed that there were five leopards in the hills which was testament to the fact that the national park had a healthy eco-system. It also cautioned visitors on trails 4 and 6 to be careful and urged the public to trek and hike in groups and return before sunset as the leopards roam between these trails, sleep through the day and come out after dark.
“In case hikers do come face to face with a leopard, running is not an option; instead one should freeze and show no signs of fear,” the board advised.
A few months ago, the IWMB released images of a female common leopard named Shezadi found to be a permanent resident of the territory between trails 4 and 6 inside Margalla Hills National Park. Shezadi was caught on camera after traps were set up by the IWMB staff for several evenings in a row in late January. Leopards patrol and control 50 square km of the territory.
The common leopard is a critically endangered species and top predator of the park and is also very territorial by nature.
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Human Rights Dr. Shireen Mazari inaugurated the first Transgender Protection Centre of Pakistan in H-9/4 Islamabad.
Addressing the audience at the event Dr. Shireen Mazari highlighted that Transgender Protection Centre will be established in other cities of Pakistan to mainstream the transgender community of Pakistan and ensure their rights.
She further emphasized that transgender community should be provided same employment and health rights as other citizens of Pakistan are granted.
She also stressed that PTI government included transgender community in Ehsaas Program and health card initiatives with the aim to provide them opportunities for their development.
Dr. Mazari also mentioned that transgender Protection Centre will provide legal aid, basic health facilities, psychological counselling and temporary shelter as well.
Ministry of Human Rights has taken various initiatives for effective implementation of Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2018 with the aim to ensure the protection, rehabilitation and fundamental rights of transgender persons as guaranteed by the Constitution in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973 to all of its citizen.
Under Section-6(a) of Transgender Protection Act, the Ministry of Human Rights has established a Transgender Protection Centre with a total cost of 35.8 million. It will protect and rehabilitate the transgender persons in need.
The Centre also provides rehabilitation, legal and medical, psychological care facilities and referral services to transgender persons. It will also help to generate awareness among general masses and the relevant stake holders.
The event was also attended by the Parliamentary Secretary for Human Rights Mr. Lal Chand, Secretary, Ministry of Human Rights Inamullah, officials of Ministry of Human Rights, and transgender activists and representatives from their community and media persons.
WASHINGTON: Islamabad and Washington may not enjoy the same close relations they once had in the past, said Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Asad Majeed Khan.
Talking to a provate television network, Asad Majeed said, “At the moment, the Biden administration is facing a lot of criticism in the US. Even the American media is criticising Washington’s Afghan evacuation policy.”
He said that Pakistan had a key role to play in Afghanistan [after the Taliban takover], the ambassador said that Pakistan may not enjoy as close, cordial relations with the US as it once did.
“To expect relations between Pakistan and the US to once again return to what they used to be in the past will not be a realistic approach,” he said.
Majeed said Pakistan’s ties with China were strong and brotherly. He said the US is an important partner of Pakistan, adding that Islamabad will do its best to maintain a balanced approach between the two countries.
To a question, Ambassador Majeed said news reports and analyses did not reflect the policies.
“Countries take independent decisions to protect their interests,” he noted. “We are protecting our interests and will continue to do so. The US does the same,” he added.
He said wherever Pakistan and America’s interests aligned, people will observe both countries moving forward in their relations.
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry announced that consultation between Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa regarding the appointment of Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (DG ISI) had been completed.
Taking to his official Twitter handle, the federal minister wrote: “Consultations between the prime minister and the army chief on the appointment of a new DG ISI have been completed and the process for the new appointment has begun.”
He further said the civil and military leadership has yet again proved that all institutions are united for the country’s stability, integrity and development.
It is worthy to be mentiond here that on Tuesday, during a post-cabinet press conference in Islamabad, the federal minister had said that during the cabinet meeting — chaired by Imran Khan — the issue of DG ISI was also discussed.
“A long meeting took place between PM Imran Khan and the army chief last night,” Chaudhry had said, adding that the government shares “an ideal relationship with the military.”
“The prime minister shares a very close relationship with the army chief,” he had said. “The Prime Minister’s Office will never take a step that would hurt the reputation of the army.”
The minister had said that the government will adopt a legal procedure to appoint the DG ISI and will ensure all constitutional requirements are fulfilled in this regard.
“It is the prerogative of the prime minister to appoint the DG ISI,” he said.
A day prior, PTI’s Chief Whip in the National Assembly Amir Dogar had said that PM Imran Khan wanted Lt Gen Faiz Hameed to continue as the director-general of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) amid the evolving situation in Afghanistan.
“The prime minister wanted Lt Gen Faiz Hameed to serve for a few more months,” Dogar, who is also the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs had said during an interview with a private TV channel.
The chief whip had said the premier, during Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, had mentioned that respect for the army and for the prime minister go hand in hand, adding the government wants to be on the same page with all the institutions.
The prime minister, according to Dogar, had noted that Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum was also a good professional soldier.
Dogar had said three to five names will be put forward before the prime minister and he will pick the new DG ISI from them. “The prime minister said he has no egoistical concerns (when it comes to the appointment).”
ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister and senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday said that country’s economy is collapsing but Prime Minister Imran Khan and his cabinet members do not care.
Talking to media persons in Islamabad, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that chairman of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) retired four days ago but government has still not initiated consultation for the new head of the anti-graft watchdog because the government wants to keep the incumbent chairman as he is tasked to target opposition.
The PML-N leader added that NAB Amendment Ordinance will be challenged in courts as well as Senate because the ordinance is being used to hide government’s thefts and corruption.
Talking about relations with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the former prime minister said that the party is consulted on issues related to opposition but it is not part of the anti-government alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).
ISLAMABAD: Some senior officers of the Commissionerate Afghan Refugees, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, have filed a joint application in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against the alleged corruption, corrupt practices, maladministration, nepotism, maltreatment, and blackmailing of their top bosses, seeking their strict accountability under the law.
The application filed by three deputy directors, including two females, and two assistant directors, has named the commissioner, chief finance officer (CFO) and a project director of the Commissionerate Afghan Refugees KP, Peshawar as respondents (accused).
According to the application, the respondents have committed mega financial corruption involving billion of rupees in the funds meant for the welfare of Afghan refugees, who have been taking refuge in KP for over three decades.
The applicants have requested the NAB to investigate the utilization of budget granted by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to the KP commissioner office during the last 20-yaers.
They said huge embezzlements in the budget, illegal allotment of government’s residences, vehicles to the officers of choice, many steps promotions of junior officers to senior grades and appointments without proper advertisement and test/ interview during last some years may also be inquired.
Regarding the illegal appointments made purely on the basis of nepotism, the application states that chief secretary (r) KP Saeed Jan Khan’s son Saif Ali Khan, who is the relative of Saleem Khan, chief commissioner Afghan Refugees has illegally been appointed.
It states that, besides hundreds of others, Arbab Nazir Khan, Arbab Imaduddin, Hamayoun Khan and Muhammad Ajmal Afridi have illegally been appointed by chief secretary (r) and incumbent Advisor to Establishment Division Arbab Shehzad Khan.
Muhammad Imran, nephew of Chief Secretary (r) Saleem Khan Mohmand, who has also been a Liaison officer for Afghan Refugees KP, has also been appointed illegally.
The application maintains that Dr Imran Zeb Khan of Mansehra, former joint secretary State and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) and incumbent secretary Housing illegally appointed dozens of people including his three brothers and a son-in-law of the spouse of his brother, which include Saboor Khan son of Tahirul Mulk Khan (Sufaid House Mansehra), Shehroz Khan son of Tahirul Mulk (Sufaid House Mansehra), Muhammad Ali son of Muhammad Taoufeeq (Sufaid House Mansehra) and Akbar Haroon son of Shehzada Gustasip Khan of Abbottabad.
Regarding immovable assets of Commissioner for Afghan Refugees Peshawar Muhammad Abbas Khan, which he allegedly made through illegal means and corrupt practices, the application claims that Abbas Khan owns a 21-Marla commercial plot in sector E-11 of the federal capital, having worth Rs 800-million. A plaza is being constructed on this plot and over Rs220-million have so far been spent on its construction.
He also owns a commercial plot measuring 80-Marla (4 Kanal) on Nowshera Road, whose worth is over Rs700-million. Besides, he has spent Rs120-million on an incomplete building structure. Moreover, he owns a Bungalow having million of rupees worth in Sheikh Maltoon Town, Mardan.
He also has domestic, commercial and agricultural lands on Charsadda Road Mardan and Akhwan Baba area of Mardan.
Abbas Khan owns many other properties, which he purchased in the names of farmers. The application claims that Mr Abbas also owns billion of rupees assets in Dubai and United Kingdom.
It contends that he made all these assets from the ill-gotten money he made through embezzlements in the funds meant for the welfare of Afghan refugees, living in Peshawar.
“Thousands of health/hygiene kits sent by UNHCR to the office of Afghan Refugees Peshawar have been distributed by some senior officials among each others.
The application has requested NAB to conduct thorough probe against the accused, who are also giving bad name to the country.
The application maintains that some senior officers of the Commissionerate submitted applications last year as well as in the start of this year to the NAB, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), provincial ombudsperson and Citizen Portal, however the respondents allegedly managed to influence, thus the investigation could not even processed.
Talking to media persons after filing the complaint, the applicant officers deputy directors Hajira Sarwar, Shahnaz Begum, Sifatullah Khan and assistant directors Khalid Rehman and Muhammad Hammad regretted that they had moved the same complaint to the provincial office of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and NAB as well as Citizen’s Portal, however the respondents allegedly managed to influence, thus the investigation could not even start.
They said NAB Peshawar teams visited their office several times for investigation, but returned back without conducting any investigation, apparently succumbing to the influence of the respondents.
They said they were raising their voice against the accused by endangering their lives as the accused were highly influential and notorious. They, however, vowed to take the matter to its logical end.
“Since, we started raising our voice against the corruption, nepotism, intimidation and moral turpitude of the respondents, they have made us rolling stone. We are facing suspensions, stoppage of our routine TA/DA, fuel bills, closure and locking of our offices on verbal orders, retrenchments and blackmailing etc through different means”.
The female deputy directors stated that a case pertaining to their harassment at workplace by the respondents was under adjudication in the Federal Ombudsman Secretariat for Protection Against Harassment.
They said some cases regarding their transfers, suspensions, and removal from service on the name of financial constraint and retrenchment were under adjudication in the Peshawar High Court.
They regretted that their lives have been made miserable by the influential respondents. They, however, expressed confidence over NAB, saying, “We are confident the anti-corruption watchdog will take action against the accused and the accused would not be able to influence it, being a well reputed federal institution”, the applicants maintained.
They said several female staffers have resigned from their service due to the harassment and blackmailing by the chief finance officer (CFO) Attaullah Khan and project director Waheed Khattak.
To a question, they said the commissioner Muhammad Abbas Khan was indirectly involved in the females’ harassment matters. They said, in fact, Attaullah Khan and Waheed Khattak are the front-mans of the commissioner.
ISLAMABAD: Coronavirus epidemic has shown downward trends as during last 24 hours Pakistan reported 18 deaths by novel coronavirus besides 689 people were tested positive for virus.
According to the latest figures displayed on National Coronavirus Dashboard of the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) 689 persons tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, besides 18 new deaths were reported.
With 689 new cases of COVID-19 were reported across the country the number of positive cases has surged to 1,259,648.
With 18 new deaths reported across Pakistan, the nationwide tally of fatalities has jumped to 28,152 on Tuesday morning.
As per the province-wise figures given by NCOC, Punjab remains the worst-hit province in terms of deaths followed by Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The overall toll of COVID-19 deaths jumped to 28,152, out of which 12,792 individuals have lost their lives to the epidemic in Punjab 7,502 in Sindh 5,650 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 933 in Islamabad, 739 in Azad Kashmir, 350 in Balochistan, and 186 in Gilgit-Baltistan.
The overall tally of positive cases eported so far across the country surged to 1,259,648, out os which 463,167 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Sindh, 436,442 in Punjab 176,048 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 106,201 in Islamabad, 34,354 in Azad Kashmir, 33,083 in Balochistan and 10,353 in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Pakistan has so far conducted 19,953,497 coronavirus tests and 42,476 in the last 24 hours. 1,189,742 patients have recovered in the country whereas 2,280 patients are in critical condition.
The COVID-19 positivity ratio was recorded at 1.62 percent.
So far, 63,046,740 people have received their first dose of coronavirus vaccine including 493,575 in last 24 hours. 32,723,061 citizens have been fully vaccinated while 604,451 received their second dose in last 24 hours.
The number of total administered doses has reached to 89,719,686 with 1,052,572 in the last 24 hours.
ISLAMABAD: The architect of Pakistan’s nuclear program and renowned nuclear scientist Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan was laid to rest at H-8 graveyard, Islamabad on Sunday evening.
Earlier funeral prayers of the nuclear scientist Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan was offered at Faisal Mosque, led by Prof Dr Ahmed Al Ghazali, were held at the Faisal Mosque at 3:30pm.
A large number of people were in attendance during the funeral prayers, despite rain which began to pour shortly after 3pm.
Among those who attended the funeral were cabinet members, parliamentarians and the military leadership.
Two separate enclosures were arranged within the mosque premises, of which one expressly catered to the general public.
Khan, 85, passed away early Sunday morning after his health deteriorated.
His health started deteriorating Saturday night, after which he was brought to the KRL hospital Sunday morning in an ambulance, at 6am.
Sources said the nuclear scientist experienced discomfort in breathing after which he was brought to the hospital. However, his health took a turn for the worse when his lungs started bleeding.
Doctors tried their best to save the renowned scientist’s life but were unable to do so, resulting in his death at 7:04am. Doctors have said he passed away after his lungs collapsed.
In recognition of his outstanding services for the country and the nation, the government announced a state funeral for Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan.
According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Interior, the national flag of Pakistan shall fly at half-mast on Sunday.
Dr Khan is considered the father of Pakistan’s nuclear program and is revered at home as a hero for building the Muslim world’s first atomic bomb.
Dr Khan became a national hero overnight, not only in Pakistan but in the Islamic world as well, when in May 1998 Pakistan gave a befitting response to India by conducting its nuclear tests.
Following the tests, Pakistan became the sole nuclear power in the Muslim world and the seventh country to possess nuclear weapons. Pakistan’s nuclear weapons have kept Indian aggression in check.
Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, born on April 1, 1936, in Bhopal, India, was a renowned Pakistani metallurgist and nuclear scientist. He was among those who migrated to Pakistan in 1947 with their families.
Dr Khan is widely regarded as the “Father of Islamic Nuclear Bomb” or founder of gas-centrifuge enrichment technology for Pakistan’s nuclear deterrent program as he developed the Muslim world’s first atomic bomb.
He acquired his engineering degree from a university in the Netherlands in 1967 and later went on to secure a doctorate in metallurgical engineering from Belgium.
Dr Khan was the first Pakistani was awarded three presidential awards. He has been awarded the Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Order of Excellence) twice and the Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Crescent of Excellence) once.
Besides his research work, Dr Khan used to take an interest in welfare activities, he added. He proved that despite difficult circumstances, one can reach the destination one sets out for oneself.
He was heavily influenced by the events of 1971, the loss of East Pakistan, and the subsequent test of nuclear explosives by India in 1974, which led him to write to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto expressing his desire to work for Pakistan’s nuclear program.
He joined Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) in 1976. Pakistan had already acquired its weapons by the 1980s but detonated in the late 1990s after India conducted its tests.
He founded the Engineering Research Laboratory, or ERL, to develop a uranium-enrichment capability. In 1981 ERL was renamed the Khan Research Laboratory or KRL.
Dr AQ Khan was awarded the Hilal-i-Imtiaz and the Nishan-e-Imtiaz in 1989 and 1999 for his outstanding performance in the world of science and technology. But he found himself in the international crosshairs when he was accused of illegally sharing nuclear technology with Iran, Libya, and North Korea.
The scientist was placed under effective house arrest in the capital Islamabad in 2004 after he admitted running a proliferation network to the three countries.
A court ended his house arrest in February 2009, but his movements were strictly guarded, and he was accompanied by authorities every time he left his home in Islamabad.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan praised Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan by saying that he was, for the people of Pakistan, “a national icon”.
“Deeply saddened by the passing of Dr A Q Khan. He was loved by our nation because of his critical contribution in making us a nuclear weapon state. This has provided us security against an aggressive much larger nuclear neighbour. For the people of Pakistan he was a national icon,” he tweeted.
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif praised Dr AQ Khan, saying that the country has lost a true benefactor today.
In his condolence message, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said,” The nation has lost a great Muslim scientist and a national hero today.”
Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan made the country’s defence invincible by his skills, said Fazlur Rehman.
Funeral prayers in absentia for the renowned scientist were held in various cities across Pakistan, including Bahawalpur, Mardan, Gujrat, Peshawar, Jhang and Hyderabad.
In Bahawalpur Jamaat-e-Islami Chief Sirajul Haq led the prayers.
In Hyderabad, MQM Pakistan held prayers in absentia. A rally scheduled to be held in the city was postponed.
