Balochistan, Sindh shut down schools after 2 coronavirus cases confirmed

February 27, 2020

QUETTA: Balochistan and Sindh provinces after confirmation of two coronavirus cases, have shut down schools.

Schools and educational institutes throughout Balochistan would remain closed till March 15 as part of the measures being taken to prevent coronavirus and for the safety of children, the provincial government said in a notification.

The notification clarified that all public and private educational institutes, as well as madrassas, would remain closed after two coronavirus cases were confirmed in Pakistan — one each in Karachi and Islamabad. The notification was approved by Secretary Secondary Education Department.

“Matriculation Examination under Balochistan Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education are also being postponed and the remaining papers will be organized in due course of time,” it added.

In a message, Balochistan education minister said: “The ongoing examinations of Grade 9 and Matriculation are also suspended. We want to keep our children safe”. “This step has only been taken as a safety measure and no one needs to panic,” he added.

On the other hand, Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani also announced that the schools in the province would remain closed on Thursday and Friday.

Sindh Govt has decided to close all the schools of province for Thursday & Friday (27th & 28th Feb).

The provincial minister said: “We took this step as a preventive measure for coronavirus as parents are concerned about their children”. “We have shut down schools for two days, which will be followed by Saturday and Sunday. The situation will remain stable and we will reopen schools on Monday,” he added.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza confirmed late Wednesday that two coronavirus cases were reported in Pakistan. “Both cases are being taken care of according to clinical standard protocols & both of them are stable,” he wrote on Twitter.

Dr Mirza emphasised that there was “no need to panic [as] things are under control” and that no one should “share information of the patient”. The patient in Karachi, as well as his family, was immediately placed in quarantine at a private hospital on the National Stadium Road while the one in Islamabad was moved to the capital’s Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).

The first confirmed coronavirus patient, a 22-year-old man, had arrived in an aeroplane from Iran and has a history of travel to Tehran from where he reportedly acquired the virus, a spokesperson for the Sindh health department said.

The health department was, as of reporting time, examining the passengers he has traveled with. It was also set to dispatch a team to inspect his residence as well as his neighborhood.

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Pakistan pays Russia $93.5m, settles 40 year old trade dispute

Our Correspondent

February 26, 2020

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has settled a 40 year old trade dispute with Russia after Islamabad paid an amount of $93.5 million (Rs. 1.442 billion) to Moscow.

A report appeared on Wednesday stated that the issue between Russia and Pakistan was a major hurdle in boosting the country’s trade ties with Russia. The dispute resolution is likely to improve trade between the two countries, an official said.

According to the official, the payment of $93.5 million against the Russian exporters’ claims pending since the disintegration of the Soviet Union would now pave the way for billions of dollar investments by Russian investors in Pakistan, Geo News reported.

Earlier last year, the government had authorised its Ambassador to Russia to sign the deal. Under the agreement, the Pakistani government was bound to return $93.5 million to Russia within 90 days.

Islamabad was liable to clear pending exporters’ claims to the tune of $23.8 million as per the settlement agreements reached on October 6, 2016 and December 27, 2017.

Russia had late last year said it was willing to expand cooperation with Pakistan on multiple fronts, including the industrial sector, agriculture, energy, medicine and railways, Radio Pakistan had reported.

The remarks were made by Russian Trade Minister Denis Valentinovich Manturov during the sixth meeting of Pakistan-Russia Inter-governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific Technical Cooperation at the Foreign Office in Islamabad.

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America has a very good relationship with Pakistan, Trump tells huge crowd at India rally

Our Correspondent

February 24, 2020

AHMEDABAD: America has very good relationship with Pakistan and that Washington was working with Islamabad in a very positive way, said United States President Donald Trump on Monday.

Trump made the comments while addressing the Namaste Trump event in Ahmedabad alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Since taking office, my administration is working in a very positive way with Pakistan,” Trump said, according to Indian media.
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“Our relationship with Pakistan is a very good one. Thanks to these efforts we are beginning to see signs of big progress with Pakistan and we are hopeful for reduced tensions, greater stability and the future of harmony for all of the nations of South Asia,” Trump added.

During his speech, Trump also announced defence deals between the two countries worth 3 billion dollars, reported the Indian Express. Calling PM Modi a “tough negotiator”, Trump also announced that both the countries are chalking out “the biggest every trade deals” on his visit to India.

Trump arrived in India earlier on Monday for his maiden visit to the country. The president was accompanied by his wife Melania, daughter Ivanka, son-in-law Jared Kushner and top brass of his administration, reported Indian Express.

Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were due to address a huge rally of around 100,000 people at the world’s biggest cricket stadium in Modi’s home state before Trump and First Lady Melania fly to the Taj Mahal.

Ahead of his departure to India, the US president tweeted, “I hear it’s going to be a big event, some people say the biggest event they ever had in India. That´s what the prime minister told me”.

Things could hardly be going better for the Republican as his campaign for reelection in November gathers pace, following his acquittal earlier this month after the House impeached him for abuse of power related to pressure on Ukraine.

Read also: Trump leaves for India visit expecting ‘biggest event’ of the country

Despite a first term dogged by near constant scandals and investigations, Trump feels he can win against the growing Democratic frontrunner, leftist Bernie Sanders, and he is clearly chuffed at the idea of huge crowds in India.

“I look forward to being with the people of India,” Trump said as he left the White House on his first trip to India. “We’re going to have many millions and millions of people,” he said. “I hear it’s going to be a big event, some people say the biggest event they ever had in India. That’s what the prime minister told me.”

Trump has something of an obsession with big crowds, frequently boasting about the size of his rallies, compared to those of his Democratic opponents.

Enormous crowds are guaranteed during the one-night trip, given Modi’s own prowess at staging mega-rallies. But Indian officials said they didn’t expect more than 100,000 people at any one time. The figure of millions touted repeatedly by Trump may be the result of a misunderstanding or translation problem, experts said.

Modi visited the United States last year, when he and Trump made a joint appearance before tens of thousands of Indian-Americans at a football stadium in Houston.

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Crackdown launched against black-marketing of masks amid Coronavirus fear

Our Correspondent

February 23, 2020

21080_PrmntSfty — Paramount Safety Products Location shoot 9.2.11 Wenco, O'Connor, WA

ISLAMABAD: Crackdown around the country has been launched against black marketing of respiratory masks and other items used for protection from Novel Coronavirus (NCV) by Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), spokesperson of the Ministry of Health said.

Drug Regulatory Authority has conducted raids at five pharmacies in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar over sale of protection items on inflated rates, spokesperson said.

A large number of respiratory masks, and disposable gloves recovered from these pharmacies.

Legal action will be taken against those involved in violation of the law, the spokesperson said.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr Zafar Mirza has said that the medical stores and the wholesale dealers were earlier warned against black marketing of these items.

The government, won’t allow anyone to sell these items on inflated rates above then the fixed prices.

The prices of the masks and gloves, face shields and other items will be kept at the prices of December 2019, Dr Mirza said.

The government closely monitoring the situation related to the coronavirus and will allow any person or entity to indulge in black marketing, he said.

The government is taking all possible measures for protection from the coronavirus outbreak and will use all resources at hand to protect the people from it, he added.

With input from INP

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Sufis promote peace and inter civilizational harmony: Speakers

Our Correspondent

February 22, 2020

LAHORE: Sufis like Mevlana Rumi and Sultan Bahoo are real preachers of human friendship, peace, tolerance and peaceful co-existence in the world. Through their poetry, they are bringing humans close.

These were unanimous words of participants of a two day international conference organized by MUSLIM Institute, in collaboration with University of the Punjab, at university’s campus.

The conference titled as ‘Mevlana Rumi & Hadrat Sultan Bahoo: Preachers of Human friendship, Peace, Tolerance and Coexistence in the world’ was chaired by. Dr. Naushad Ali Khan, VC, Islamia College, Peshawar and among distinguished speakers including Dr. Muhammad Osman, President Sudanese Community in Pakistan, Prof. Dr. Faleeha Zahra Kazmi, Chairperson Persian Department LCWU Lahore, Abdul Rehman Mehmood Charge d’Affairs Embassy of Sudan Islamabad, Nadeem Bhabha Poet Writer & Critic, Dr. Z. A. Awan Author of books on Hadrat Sultan Bahoo USA, Prof. Dr. Bushra Mirza VC Lahore College for Women University, Prof. Dr. Zakaria Zakar VC, Okara University, Prof. Dr. Zia ul Qayyum VC AIOU, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ali VC, QAU, Islamabad and concluding remarks were presented by Sahibzada Sultan Ahmad Ali Chairman MUSLIM Institute, Islamabad.

Speakers highlighted that Sufi teachings have the capacity to address the widening gap between the West and Islam as their teachings aim to promote peace, tolerance and moderation. Along with interfaith harmony, inter civilizational cooperation has also become indispensable with respect to today’s growing prejudices among societies.

Historically, Sufis have played a crucial role in spreading Islam not only in the subcontinent but also across the globe. Through their pluralistic vision of Islam, they propagated peace love and interfaith harmony among societies encompassing diverse socio-cultural values.

Expert of inter civilizational studies, Dr. Piotr Klodkowski from Poland emphasized that in 21st century, Sufi message should be conveyed in the way that people should understand the essence of their message. However, creativity and innovation in the propagation of Sufi message is the need of the hour.

It is for the first time that the two people from Pakistan Dr. Muhammad Akram Shah sb and Dr. Saleem Azhar who rendered valuable service to the Persian language is granted life time membership by the Academy of Letters Tehran, Iran. A Sufi empowers local masses to better deal with the menace of extremism and sectarianism very effectively. Man is the combination of body and soul. However, growth and development of both is inevitable for a balanced life. How a man can achieve the status of self-actualization?

A Sufi through his kalam and thought helps us in achieving the status of self-actualization. By dint of their invaluable services and literary contribution, they are present today among ourselves and guide us in every walk of life. They not only guide masses during their time but also guiding us today by dint of the universality of their message.

They are the true ambassadors of the message of Quran and Sunnah. Even after the lapse of eight centuries, Sufi message is as relevant today as this was decades ago. It is high time that we should make the teachings of these Sufi an integral part of our syllabus. Such conferences must be result oriented.

Speakers encouraged the Youth to play an active role in the propagation of Sufi message.

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Pakistan use untapped potential of women and get economy up by 30 per cent: WB Country Head

Our Correspondent

February 20, 2020

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan can use untapped economic potential of women in the workforce which help boost the economy by up to 30 per cent, said Illango Patchamuthu, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan.

“By empowering women and girls to expand their skills, access to information, mobility, and access to finance and assets, may help country to grow quickly”, Illango Patchamuthu said speaking at Pakistan’s Second Human Capital Summit held in Islamabad.

Participants highlighted the need to invest in girls’ education and women’s economic empowerment as crucial to Pakistan’s sustained growth.

While last year’s Human Capital Summit focused on policy making, the Second Human Capital Summit engaged practitioners, learning from insights on the ground in Pakistan. Building upon the ‘Girls Learn, Women Earn’ initiative launched in December 2019, the Summit – co-hosted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and World Bank Pakistan – marked the progress being made in Pakistan in efforts to enable girls to excel in school, and women to thrive in the workplace.

World Bank’s country head maintained that every additional year of schooling for a girl increases her future earnings by up to 10 per cent.

The conference was opened with remarks from Dr. Sania Nishtar, Special Assistant on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety to the Prime Minister, and Dr. Shinichi Kitaoka, the President of JICA. “Government of Pakistan’s Ehsaas program has a very serious intent to drive forward the agenda of women empowerment.

Ehsaas stringently follows 50 per cent rule across the board for women inclusion in all Ehsaas initiatives including interest free loans, scholarships and asset transfers”, said Dr. Sania Nishtar. “Likewise, Kafaalat that has recently been launched by the Prime Minister will ensure financial and digital inclusion of 7 million disadvantaged women across Pakistan who will now benefit from the monthly stipend of Rs. 2,000 along with access to bank accounts and affordable smart phones.”

Dr. Kitaoka emphasized the importance of investment in Human Capital. “Investments in Human Capital, such as education, health and nutrition, are inevitable for building a progressive foundation for Human Security,” said Dr. Shinichi Kitaoka.

“Learning from Japan’s experience, we know that countries can also enhance their Human Capital by thriving on trust and promoting the role of families and communities in national development. JICA will work pro-actively to build and nurture Human Capital by leading with trust and collaborating in the areas of education, health and nutrition as key building blocks of sustained Human Security for all.”

The challenges and constraints of the education system in Pakistan to promote girls learning were discussed by the panels. Poverty, distance from home to schools, and parental perception of schools’ safety were noted as three of the main determinants of school attendance for girls. In the ‘Girls Learn’ panel, it was highlighted that young girls in rural areas are the least likely to have full access to education and the gender gap in enrolment is a persistent issue across education levels.

In order to tackle these challenges, panelists showcased Accelerated Learning Program which provides overage out of school children with learning opportunities for their Human Capital development as a good practice from within Pakistan. Representatives from the government, academia, development organizations, commercial banks, telecom industry, startup ecosystem, fashion industry, civil society and media also participated in the Summit.

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Pakistan urges UK Parliament group to brief UN on situation in Kashmir

Our Correspondent

February 20, 2020

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi urges UK Parliament group to brief UN on situation in Kashmir, He said that normal life remains paralyzed due to restrictions since August last year in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJK).

Addressing a press conference along with Chairperson All Party Parliamentary Group on Kashmir in UK Parliament Debbie Abrahams in Islamabad, he urged the UK Parliament Group to brief the United Nations on worst human rights situation in Occupied Kashmir.

Qureshi regretted that situation in Occupied Kashmir is getting deteriorated following Indian illegal and unilateral actions of August 5 last year, adding that Indian brutal and real face stands exposed before the international community, and massive Indian brutalities are ringing wake up call for international community.

The foreign minister appreciated the United Nations Secretary General s remarks in which he called for implementing UN Security Council s resolutions on Kashmir.

He also urged Parliaments of various countries, including UK House of Commons, to pass unanimous resolutions on Kashmir just like Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion, Debbie Abrahams has slammed the Indian government for not allowing UK Parliamentary group to visit Occupied Kashmir, adding that the purpose of group s planned visit to Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Indian Occupied Kashmir was to review human rights situation there.

She said that Islamabad extended all-out cooperation to UK Parliamentary Group for visiting Azad Kashmir, but New Delhi did not allow the group to visit Occupied Kashmir.

Debbie Abrahams further said head of UN Human Rights Commission will soon visit Pakistan and India to collect documentary evidence about prevailing situation in Kashmir.

She expressed hope that India will cooperate with the Commission just like Pakistani government.

Meanwhile, Senior Vice-Chair All Party Parliamentary Group on Kashmir MP Imran Hussain said the Kashmiri people are facing communication blackout in the held valley and they are unable to get access to the essential commodities, including medicines owing to continuous curfew.

He said we are here to explore the human rights situation on the both sides of Line of Control.

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Steering Committee devising strategy to achieve economic diplomacy goals

Our Correspondent

February 19, 2020

ISLAMABAD: Steering Committee on Economic Diplomacy met in Islamabad to begin devising a strategy to achieve the country’s economic diplomacy goals.

Special Assistant to PM on National Security Division and Strategic Policy Planning Cell, Dr. Moeed W Yusuf, chaired the meeting, that discussed the modalities to come up with a strategy to improve the country’s international standing through economic diplomacy.

Officials from various ministries were present in the meeting who discussed modalities for inter-ministerial coordination in implementing the strategy.

The Strategic Policy Planning Cell (SPPC), housed in National Security Division, has been directed by the Prime Minister to assess comprehensive security situation in its various dimensions including traditional, economic and human security and provide input on strategic responses to Pakistan’s internal and external challenges.

In this regard, SPPC has established a Steering Committee and an expert Working Group to deliberate on the economic diplomacy paradigm and submit its draft strategy to the Prime Minister. The aim of the working group is to come up with a comprehensive plan which will coordinate the efforts of different ministries to improve our country’s ability to pursue economic diplomacy with other nations.

SAPM Dr. Moeed W Yusuf said that Economic Diplomacy is an umbrella encompassing finance, economics, trade, labor, tourism, among other sectors, all of which should be synergized to achieve better linkages with the world and accelerate economic growth.

The participants of the meeting discussed the areas in which Pakistan can successfully leverage economic diplomacy to improve bilateral economic and diplomatic ties.

The Steering Committee will be the forum where the strategy will be discussed and finalized.

Dr. Moeed Yusuf said that by bringing politicians, technical experts and bureaucracy together, better results can be achieved in terms of ensuring overall gains for the country.

Strategic Policy Planning Cell (SPPC) is the intellectual hub for evidence-based policy planning on issues relevant to the National Security Committee. These pertain primarily to various aspects of traditional, economic/financial and human security. The mainstay of SPPC is the Council of Experts consisting of think tanks, universities and independent policy experts. Economic Diplomacy Working Group is a part of the Councils of Experts.Read more:

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Antonio Guterres praises Pakistan’s resilience, commitment for Afghans despite minimal international support

Our Correspondent

February 17, 2020

ISLAMABAD: Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary General (UNSG) on Monday lauded Pakistan’s “remarkable resilience and commitment for the Afghan brothers” despite of minimal international support.

In his address to an international conference on the future of the 4.6 million Afghan refugees living in Pakistan titled 40 years of Afghan Refugees Presence in Pakistan: A New Partnership for Solidarity, organised jointly by the Pakistan government and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Islamabad, Antonio Guterres affirmed that the United Nations favours repatriation of Afghan refugees.

“We have come together to recognize a remarkable story of solidarity and compassion. It is important to do so because it is a story that spans over decades,” he said.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, ministers and senior officials from 20 countries, participated in the conference.

“The story of Pakistan and Afghan refugees is a story of compassion to be celebrated for many reasons, one of which is that such compassion is missing from much of the world,” said the UN chief, Antonio Guterres,\.

“For 40 years, the people of Afghanistan have faced many crises, for 40 years the people of Pakistan have responded with solidarity. This generosity now spans across decades and generations and this is the world’s largest protracted refugee situation in recorded history.

“This is also a story close to my heart. In my previous life, as the UN human rights commissioner, Pakistan was a familiar destination. During most of my time at the post, Pakistan was the number one refugee-hosting nation in the world.

“For more than three out of every four years since 1979, either Pakistan or Iran have ranked as the top refugee-hosting country. And even though major conflicts have since erupted in other parts of the world and the refugee population has soared, Pakistan is still today the world’s second largest refugee hosting country in the world.

“On every visit here, I have been struck by their resilience, exceptional generosity and compassion. I not only saw compassion in words but in deeds.

“The generous spirit is fully in-line with what I regard as the best description for refugee protection is found in Surah Al-Tawbah of the Holy Quran and I quote: “And if anyone seeks your protection then grant him protection so therein he can hear the words of God. Then escort him where he can be secure.”

“This protection should be accorded to believers and non-believers alike – in a remarkable example of tolerance, many centuries before the 1951 convention that defines in a modern concept refugees and the protection they deserve.

“I saw that compassion play out in real time in Pakistan and it was grounded in vision. We have seen many innovative policies introduced here: bio-metric registration, access to the national education system, healthcare and inclusion in the economy. And in spite of the many challenges that Pakistan faced, the commencement of these initiatives has made a big difference. Indeed many [of these practices] have been recognised as a global model of good practices.

“Some of these policies have inspired elements of the global compact on refugees. we have been proud to work with you to support Pakistan host communities of Afghan refugees. However, we must recognise that international support for Pakistan has been minimal compared to your own national efforts.

“As we look to the challenges ahead, the global community should step up. As we have marked 40 unbroken years of solidarity, but we also despair at the 40 broken years of hostility.

“The Afghan conflict drags on and on and we see deep impact of the protracted nature of conflict, poverty and forced displacement. We know the solution lies in Afghanistan and I hope the signals of a possible passageway of peace will lead to a better future for the people of Afghanistan.

“I see with us Ambassador Khalilzad and I want to strongly encourage [pursuing] the way for peace. The Afghan people can count on the United Nations to support the efforts for peace. We don’t seek protagonism, we are here only to serve.

The Afghan people need and deserve peace and prosperity and full respect of their human rights,” Guterres said.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres stated on Sunday that he was hopeful that talks between the US and the Taliban would lead to a reduction of violence in Afghanistan and the peaceful return of refugees to their homes.

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India rejects occupied Kashmir mediation offer by UN chief

Our Correspondent

February 17, 2020

NEW DELHI: India on Monday rejected an offer by United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres for mediation on the Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan, pronouncing that the matter will only be discussed bilaterally.

Guterres, who is on a four-day trip to Pakistan, had last week said in Islamabad that he was “ready to help if both countries agree for mediation”. The secretary-general made this statement prior to attending a conference on Afghan Refugees in Islamabad.

The issue [of Jammu and Kashmir] that needs to be addressed is that of vacation of the territories illegally occupied by another country, Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson of the Indian external affairs ministry told the media in reaction to the statement of the UN chief.

“Further issues, if any, would be discussed bilaterally. There is no role or scope for third party mediation,” the spokesperson noted. The spokesperson also stated that the country hoped the UN security-general would also ask Pakistan to take credible action against terror.

The UN secretary-general is also expected to visit Kartarpur Gurdwara to see the pilgrim corridor which he describes as a, “unique experiment in cross-border ties” during his stay in the country.

Commenting on the Kashmir lockdown last week, Guterres had expressed his deep concern and suggested both the countries to, “de-escalate, both militarily and verbally” to safeguard peace.

According to the Indian publication, the security-general has offered mediation on Kashmir multiple times in the recent past, especially in August 2019 when Indian government annulled article 370 of its constitution and imposed restrictions in Jammu and Kashmir.

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Pakistan urges UK Parliament group to brief UN on situation in Kashmir

India rejects occupied Kashmir mediation offer by UN chief

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