Pakistan receives first batch of Chinese COVID-19 vaccine

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February 1, 2021

ISLAMABAD: The first batch of Chinese coronavirus vaccine has reached Pakistan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan announced on Monday.

A special Pakistan Air Force (PAF) plane with the first tranche of Sinopharm vaccine landed in Islamabad earlier today.

Taking to Twitter, SAPM Dr Faisal Sultan thanked China and everyone who made this happen and said the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) and provinces played an instrumental role in tackling COVID.

“I salute our frontline healthcare workers for their efforts & they’ll be first to get vaccinated,” he tweeted.

As per details from the NCOC, all necessary measures have been put in place for vaccine storage in Islamabad and the move of vaccines to various federating units particularly to Sindh and Balochistan through the air.

A vaccine nerve centre has been established at the NCOC with provincial and district Level vaccine administration.

China’s State Councilor and Foreign Minister, Wang Yi during a phone call with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi last week had promised to provide 500,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine to Pakistan by January 31.

Beijing had asked Islamabad to send an airplane to get the vaccines.

Later, Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Hua Chunying had also confirmed that in order to support the brothers and sisters in Pakistan, the Chinese government would provide a batch of vaccines as aid and would actively coordinate with the relevant Chinese enterprise to speed up export of vaccines to Pakistan.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China and Pakistan have been working together to overcome difficulties.

Pakistan has approved three foreign anti-COVID vaccines as of now, including the Chinese Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine, for emergency use in the country.

Pakistan plans to provide vaccines to frontline health workers and elderly people in the first phase.

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AIOU with 1.4m students is second largest varsity in Asia: Dr Ziaul Qayoom

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Our Correspondent

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January 26, 2021

ISLAMABAD: Vice Chancellor, Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) Islamabad Prof. Dr. Ziaul Qayoom said that AIOU is the second largest university in Asia in which 1.4 million students have matriculated simultaneously.

He was addressing a meeting of faculty and officers of Allama Iqbal Open University, Sialkot at its regional campus. Director Regional Services Inamullah Sheikh, Additional Director Sialkot Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali, CEO Education Maqbool Ahmed Shakir, Ashiq Hussain Siddiqui, Farida Khawar, CEO Nadia Khawar, Zarina Shahid, Hamid Saeed, Mohammad Tehseen, Sadaf Gilani, Muhammad Tahir, Tariq Bhatti and Abdul Sattar were also present.

Academic system to improve the academic quality of the AIOU, whish being transferred to Learning Management System (LMS), the VC said, adding that the computer centers will be established in areas of the country where internet or computer facilities are not available, along with the old system, technology.

The role cannot be moved without adding it to the system, he said that all administrative, workshop and other matters of the varsity will be digitized in the next 6 months.

Dr. Zia-ul-Qayyum said that 80% of the 54 regional campuses across the country are being constructed and as the Vice Chancellor he is visiting each campus to review the issues on the ground and in consultation with academics and local staff. Resolving.

He said that by April 2021, 176,000 tutors will be online in the system and students will be connected to them under computerized automatic system. He said that no child would refuse education just because of money. All eligible children submit their admissions. From the second semester, the institution will pay the institutional fee from the Student Support Fund and any eligible student application in the previous year will not be rejected.
VC said all four telecom operators can submit fees online and admission confirmation will be done in just one week.

The decision to pay the tutors’ dues through telecom operators has not been taken yet, the automotive admissions will be started thanks to the online automated system, he said, adding that efforts are being made to improve the system in good faith.

Criticism will be heard and full steps will be taken to resolve the issues.

Readmore: Famous showbiz diva Tara, daughter of PTI leader, Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood

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COAS, DG ISI call on Prime Minister Imran Khan

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TNT Monitoring Desk

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January 26, 2021

ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Director General ISI Lieutenant General Faiz Hamid called on Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) tweet matters pertaining to National Security were discussed during the meeting.

According to the tweet, the prime minister, the army chief, and the intelligence’s top official discussed matters related to national security.

The development comes two weeks after the army chief and DG ISI had called on PM Imran Khan, and COAS Bajwa had vowed that the culprits behind the Machh massacre would be brought to justice.

They discussed the national security situation and condemned the “unfortunate Machh incident”, said a brief statement issued by the PM Office.

The continuous human rights violations in Indian Kashmir and the frequent ceasefire violations over the Line of Control (LoC) also came under discussion.

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PML-N parliamentary party to meet today in Islamabad

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Nuzhat Aftab

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January 25, 2021

ISLAMABAD: Parliamentary party of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) meeting will be held in Islamabad today (Monday).

According to party sources, PML-N parliamentary party meeting will be held at the Parliament House at 3:00 pm. PML-N vice-president Maryam Nawaz will preside over the meeting.

Sources said that the meeting will chalk out future strategy of the anti-government campaign. The meeting will be attended by all key members of the PML-N.

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PDM all set to stage protest in front of ECP today

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Tanzeel Ahmed

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January 19, 2021

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) an 11-party anti-government coalition is all set to stage a massive protest in front of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) office in Islamabad today (Tuesday).

The PDM president and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that the 11-party opposition alliance will stage a protest in front of the ECP against the delay in PTI foreign funding case.

Earlier, addressing a press conference with Maryam Nawaz Sharif after a PDM steering committee meeting in Islamabad, Maulana Fazlur Rehman has termed the foreign funding case as the ‘biggest scandal in the history of the country’ and said that Imran Khan had created political instability by taking “Mother of NROs”.

Maulana told media that the meeting of the conglomerate discussed the strategy of PDM’s protest before the Election Commission. “On Tuesday, the PDM leadership will stage a massive protest in front of the Election Commission of Pakistan”, he added.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman alleged that Imran Khan was the main accused in the foreign funding case in which private business was done through a secret account. He said that PDM will protest in front of the ECP office and demand an early verdict as the delay is raising suspicions.

Informing about the decisions taken by the PDM steering committee, he said that on January 21, there will be a million march rejecting Israel followed by a rally in solidarity with Kashmiris on February 5 at Liaquat Bagh, Rawalpindi. “There will be a full-scale protest against those who sold off Kashmir”, he said.

He further said that historic rallies would be held in Hyderabad on February 9, Sialkot on February 13, Pishin on February 16, Sargodha on February 23, Khuzdar on February 27, followed by the decision to march towards Islamabad. The final date for the Long March will be announced at the PDM rally, said Fazlur Rehman.

Meanwhile, in view of the PDM protest planned for Tuesday, the security of the Election Commission of Pakistan has been tightened, with orders to not let protesters enter the ECP building and parking lot.

The administration has issued a security plan, according to which, more than 1800 police personnel will be on duty for the security of the building.

Additional security cameras have also been installed for better surveillance of the ECP office. Officials have been directed to not allow protesters to enter the Election Commission building and parking lot.

On Monday, the Deputy Commissioner and SSP Islamabad visited the Election Commission office and reviewed the security arrangements. On this occasion, DC Islamabad also briefed the Election Commission officials on the security situation.

According to the district administration, 5 SPs and 10 DSPs will be present for maintaining law and order. Protesters and rally participants will park their vehicles in the parking lot of the convention center and come to the Election Commission on foot.

Moreover, Islamabad Police will issue alternative routes to maintain flow of traffic in the vicinities.

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Passengers of PIA’s impounded plane land in Islamabad

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Sara Maqsood

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January 17, 2021

ISLAMABAD: The passengers, who boarded Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Boeing 777 that was seized by Malaysia, have reached Pakistan through alternative airline.

According to details, 118 passengers have landed in Islamabad from Kuala Lumpur Airport via Dubai while 54 passengers have been taken back to Pakistan via Doha.

It is pertinent to mention here that Malaysian authorities on Friday had seized PIA Boeing 777 over being defaulter of lease payment.

The plane was taken into custody on court’s order at Kuala Lumpur Airport with passengers on board.

PIA had purchased the aircraft on lease from a Vietnamese company in 2015. The national flag carrier’s spokesman said that the matter was under hearing at British court.

Earlier, Federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan hasd claimed that PIA acquired Boeing 777 on expensive lease during tenure of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

The aviation minister, while talking to media persons, said that PIA had failed to pay lease on time due to coronavirus pandemic but Malaysian court issued order without listening to arguments of the airlines.

He also said that PIA will appear before London court on January 22 and in Malaysian court on January 24.

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Winter Relief project in Pakistan by KSRelief

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Our Correspondent

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January 14, 2021

ISLAMABAD: King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) had distributed US$ 1.3 million 22,550 winter kits among poor and deserving people residing in District Chitral, Swat and Shangla in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and surrounding areas of Islamabad.

The project covered and benefited 135,300 people with the total cost of US$ 1,258,164.

KS Relief distrubuted winter kits under winter relief package of the Saudi King Salman, in collaboration with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration.

Each package comprises of 02 Quilts, shawls of men and women, 09 pairs of socks and warmers for both men and women of needy families living in the colder regions.

We are proud that we had completed this challenging project in a very short span of time and in harsh and extremely cold weather with the help of government of Pakistan.

The targeted areas were at very high peaks with no proper roads and with little or no facilities.

At a total cost of US$ 1,258,164 and 135,300 individuals benefited from this project.

Project was one of the humanitarian projects by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and relief center to assist needy families living in the coldest areas in north region of Pakistan.

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Nawaz Sharif passport controversy nothing but politics: Yousaf Raza Gillani

By

Tanzeel Ahmed

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January 14, 2021

ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister and Pakistan Peoples’ Party stalwart Yousaf Raza Gillani has termed the passport issue of Mian Nawaz Sharif just politics nothing more saying the Government is making efforts to hoodwink public.

Talking to media outside Accountability Court on Islamabad, Gillani said that the talk on cancelling Nawaz Sharif’s passport is nothing but politics.

To a question, Gillani said they can’t make any demands from the Pakistan Army. Such a demand would be unconstitutional, he remarked.

Talking on Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) decision has said that the 11-party national alliance is making united decisions for betterment of country. All parties in the alliance are united and firm on its cause.

Accountability Court in Islamabad resumed hearing the Toshakhana reference against former president Asif Ali Zardari and Yousaf Raza Gillani.

Gillani appeared in court for the hearing, while Zardari applied for exemption from appearance because of his health.

NAB Prosecutor Sardar Muzaffar said the defendants keep asking for more time to present their arguments. If they don’t present their arguments then the court should do away their right to do so, he said.

The judge said they will make a decision after looking at all the legal aspects involved.

NAB has accused former prime minister Gilani of illegally allotted cars to Nawaz and Zardari.

The accountability watchdog stated that Zardari and Nawaz obtained cars from the Toshakhana by paying only 15% of the price of the luxury vehicles.

It also alleged that Gillani had facilitated the allotment of the vehicles to Zardari and Nawaz by illegally relaxing the rules.

According to the reference, Zardari had received armoured vehicles as gift from the UAE and Libya between 2005 and 2008 but didn’t report the report the gifts or deposit them.

The Toshakhana is an official treasury where gifts from foreign dignitaries or heads of state are deposited. Two former prime ministers, Nawaz and Gilani, have also been nominated in the reference. Gilani, however, has been granted an exemption from appearing for the case hearings.

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One Man Commission visits Katas Raj Temple and Prahlad Temple Multan

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Our Correspondent

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January 8, 2021

Katas Raj Temples - The News Today - TNT

ISLAMABAD: The One Man Commission, headed by Dr Shoaib Suddle, has returned to Islamabad after completing its visit to Katas Raj Temple and Prahlad Temple Multan, under the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Other members of the commission Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani MNA and Advocate Saqib Jilani were also part of the delegate.

On arrival in Islamabad, Dr. Ramesh Kumar, while talking to the media, informed about the details of the visit.

“Our recent visit to Katas Raj Temple and Prahlad Temple Multan was part of the ongoing efforts to restore the historical Hindu holy sites,” Dr Ramesh said, adding that the commission would visit Hinglaj Mata Temple Balochistan and Sindh next week.

The historic Prahlad Temple is one of the sacred sites in Hinduism, Dr. Ramesh Kumar, who is also patron-in-chief of Pakistan Hindu Council, said. He informed that the Holi festival was originally started from the Prahlad Temple in Multan which is now considered as an international festival.

He hoped that under the orders of the Supreme Court, the Prahlad Temple would soon emerge as the best example of interfaith harmony and religious tolerance.

Talking to the media, Dr. Ramesh Kumar also criticized the incompetence of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB). He regretted that the Prahlad Temple is currently in a very miserable condition and needs urgent attention by the management.

It is worth mentioning that the historic Prahlad Temple was demolished by local extremists in response to the Babri Masjid tragedy in India.

“The ETPB, instead of taking care of Hindu temples and Gurudwaras, is much more interested in making money from selling evacuee properties,” Dr Ramesh said.

On the occasion, he also acknowledged the positive role of the Supreme Court for protection of minorities’ rights.

“If a local Muslim national can be authorized to take care of Muslim minority religious properties in India and Israel then why in Pakistan, every government is reluctant to appoint Hindu chief of ETPB since last 74 years?” Dr Ramesh questioned.

According to him, the first prime ministers of Pakistan and India, Liaquat Ali Khan and Jawahirlal Nehru, signed a remarkable agreement in New Delhi in April 1950. Under the Liaquat-Nehru Accord, both governments agreed to provide equal civic rights to the minorities, and protection.

Dr Ramesh further emphasized that the accord, which was signed 70 years ago, also urged to punish all those who are found guilty of offences against minorities and their property.

“In view of their deterrent effect, collective fines shall be imposed, where necessary.

Special Courts will, where necessary, be appointed to ensure that wrong doers are promptly punished,” he elaborated.

On the occasion, Dr. Ramesh Kumar also demanded that a case of criminal negligence must be initiated against the officials for not performing their duties to protect temples and other religious places, adding that the restoration of historic temples would help in projecting a positive image of Pakistan on the international level.

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Multiple attempts made to break PML-N in last 2.5 years: Khawaja Asif

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Tanzeel Ahmed

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December 30, 2020

Khwaja Asif - The News Today - TNT — Pakistani Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif (L) and US ambassador to Pakistan David Hale attend the 4th Round of the US-Pakistan bilateral dialogue in Islamabad on November 6, 2017. The event, organised by private think tanks, is aimed at improving US-Pakistan relations, and working towards a resolution to the conflict in neighbouring Afghanistan. / AFP PHOTO / AAMIR QURESHI

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) stalwart and former defence minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday said that there have been many attempts to break the PML-N and weaken its supremo Nawaz Sharif over the last two and a half years.

Khawaja Asif, who was arrested by the anti-graft watchdog late Tuesday night in a case pertaining to acquiring assets beyond means of income, was talking to reporters outside an accountability court in Islamabad.

The PML-N lawmaker said he was “100% sure” that Prime Minister Imran Khan was behind his arrest.

It may be added here that National Accountability Bureau arrested Khawaja Asif outside fellow PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal’s house in the federal capital where the party had gathered for a meeting. Following the arrest, Maryam Nawaz addressed reporters and said that Khawaja Asif had been told all cases against him would be written off if he stood against Nawaz Sharif.

When a reporter asked Khawaja Asif to elaborate on Maryam’s statement, the lawmaker said: “This is what we are all being told.”

“I was given a charge sheet that assets increased but NAB has not conducted any investigation in the matter. I have been facing this case for over two years, first in Rawalpindi then in Lahore.”

Meanwhile, inside the accountability court of judge Mohammad Bashir, NAB prosecutor sought a two-day transit remand.

To which the defence counsel pointed out that travel between Islamabad and Lahore takes only four hours and questioned why the bureau was seeking a two-day transit remand. He also informed the court that the counsel was awaiting grounds of arrest.

It may be noted here that since the case’s jurisdiction is with the accountability court in Lahore, the accountability court in Islamabad could only grant a transit remand.

Taking the rostrum, Khawaja Asif also informed the accountability judge that NAB has not provided grounds of arrest yet.

After hearing both sides, judge Mohammad Bashir granted a one-day transit remand and directed NAB to provide Khawaja Asif and his counsel grounds of arrest.

“In view of the distance between Islamabad and Lahore, transit remand is granted subject to medical fitness as such as the Investigating Officer (IO) is directed to produce the accused before concerned accountability on or before December 31 [Thursday]”.

In Lahore, a resolution was submitted to the Punjab Assembly condemning Khawaja Asif’s arrest. Filed by PML-N leader Hina Pervez Butt, the resolution said Khawaja Asif is a democrat and a supporter of the supremacy of the Constitution.

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