Pakistan confident of Chinese support at International Forums: Speaker National Assembly

Islamabad, August 31, 2016 (PPI-OT):Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has said that Pakistan confidently count on Chinese support at international forums and genuine economic development. Referring to the historic brotherly relations between two the nations, the Speaker remarked that the international community cannot offer a parallel of Sino-Pak ties. He was speaking to Chinese Ambassador Mr. Sun Weidong who called on him at Parliament House Islamabad on Wednesday.

Matters of mutual interests and strategic environment in the region came under discussion. Sardar Ayaz Sadiq highlighted that based on shared geopolitical, economic, historical and strategic interests; Pak-China relations have always stood the test of time. He termed the alliance of two friends as highly imperative for responding to regional and global challenges.

He further urged the need for cementing people-to-people contacts to take bilateral relations to new heights. Sardar Ayaz Sadiq added that the completion of CPEC will change the destiny of the region and will unleash a new era of Pak-China relations. The Speaker highly appreciated Chinese assistance for enabling Pakistan’s Parliament to switch over to solar power for meeting its electricity requirements.

Sardar Ayaz Sadiq urged the need for forgoing partnerships to fast track progress on meeting Sustainable Development Goals and promotes genuine human development at all levels of the society. He highlighted that Pakistan seeks Chinese assistance in exploration of renewable energy resources and enhancement of manufacturing capacity of the Pakistani industry. He remarked that CPEC will add a new impetus to Sino-Pak business relations.

The Chinese Ambassador Mr. Sun Weidong endorsed Ayaz Sadiq’s claim that the Pak-Chin relations has no parallel in international community. He added that China is committed to an enduring partnership with Pakistan and aspires to further strengthen the existing brotherly relations. He said that China will continue to assist Pakistan in technology, defence and infrastructure development. He highlighted that the strategic calculation and environment in the region have pushed Pakistan and China into an unflinching bond.

For more information, contact:
Karamat Hussain Niazi
Secretary
National Assembly of Pakistan
Automation Centre,
National Assembly Secretariat,
Parliament House,
Islamabad – Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9221082-83
Fax: +92-51-9221106
Email: assembly@na.gov.pk
Website: www.na.gov.pk

Indian forces attack journalist’s house in Srinagar

Srinagar, August 31, 2016 (PPI-OT):In occupied Kashmir, the personnel of Indian police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force attacked and damaged the house of a senior photojournalist and harassed the inmates in Srinagar. The armed personnel barged into the house of photojournalist, Danish Ismail, in Firdousabad locality of Batamaloo in Srinagar and ransacked the house besides abusing and harassing the inmates including his wife and daughter.

“I was not at home when forces attacked my house. The forces’ personnel threw stones at my house and also damaged my car. It was a joint team of police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force. My wife fainted,” said Danish. He said that his daughter was shivering due to the fear. “I took my daughter to hospital for treatment, she is still shivering out of fear,” Danish said.

He said that a police officer had warned him not to cover protests in Batamaloo. Reports said that policemen misbehaved with photographers and hurled abuses at them in the area. “We went to the area to do our professional duties, but policemen misbehaved with us. Some policemen also tried to hurl rocks at us. It was a terrifying situation,” a group of photographers told media.

Kashmir Press Photographers Association in a statement strongly condemned the attack on Danish’s house and the misbehaviour of armed personnel with the photographers. Aijaz Ahmad Dar, a video journalist, was injured while covering protests in Wathoo village of Shopian in South Kashmir, the other day.

For more information, contact:
Kashmir Media Service
Email: info@kmsnews.org
Phone: 92-51-4435548, 4435549
Fax: 92-51-4861736

Speaker Azad Jammu and Kashmir calls on Finance Minister

Islamabad, August 31, 2016 (PPI-OT):Speaker, Legislative Assembly of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Shah Ghulam Qadir, called on Finance Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar here today. The Speaker apprised the Federal Minister about work on developmental projects in Neelam Valley, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The Speaker also apprised about the work completed on projects in energy, communication and health sectors.

The Federal Finance Minister reiterated government’s resolve to develop Azad Jammu and Kashmir. He said there will be visible decrease in load shedding in 2017. The Minister assured expediting work on health and communication sector projects. The Speaker thanked the Minister for government’s attention and giving priority to Azad Jammu and Kashmir developmental projects.

For more information, contact:
Haji Ahmed Malik
Principal Information Officer
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +92-51-9252323 and +92-51-9252324
Fax: +92-51-9252325 and +92-51-9252326
Email: piopid@gmail.com

Federal Minister Sheikh Aftab meets Japanese Ambassador

Islamabad, August 31, 2016 (PPI-OT):People of Kashmir Must be given right to decide their own future, Federal Minister Tells Japanese Ambassador Japanese Ambassador to Pakistan Mr. Takashi Kurai calls on Federal Minister for Parliamentary affairs sheikh Aftab here today. The Minister welcomed the Ambassador on his assignment in Pakistan. The Minister said that Pakistan and Japan enjoy historical relationship and called for more robust relationship between the two countries.

The Minister briefed the Ambassador about various development projects including CPEC and said that all the hurdles in executing such mega project have been removed. The Minister, while replying to a question said that Self-determination is the fundamental right of the people of Kashmir and they should be allowed to decide their own future.

The Minister thanked the Japanese ambassador for the donation of 35 hybrid vehicles for motorway police, also the Minister was briefed about the latest face recognition system for the security of airports. The Minister invited the Japanese ambassador to visit various rural areas of Attock district.

For more information, contact:
Haji Ahmed Malik
Principal Information Officer
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +92-51-9252323 and +92-51-9252324
Fax: +92-51-9252325 and +92-51-9252326
Email: piopid@gmail.com

Kashmir Issue: Ayaz Sadiq’s letters to Speakers of 196 Parliaments

Islamabad, August 31, 2016 (PPI-OT):The Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has sent letters to the Speakers of 196 Parliaments to highlight the rampant, unending and gross human rights abuse in Indian Occupied Kashmir and to garner diplomatic and political support for the freedom struggle of Kashmiri people. He said that Kashmir issue is the core priority of Pakistan’s Parliament and there is a unanimous consensus across the political parties in the Parliament. He was speaking to the President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Mr. Masood Khan who called on him at Parliament House, Islamabad on Wednesday.

He said that Kashmir issue is the oldest dispute awaiting in the UN Security Council agenda. He remarked that the forceful occupation of Kashmir was against the modern norms of nation state and people’s basic right to self-determination – the right to form government as per people’s aspirations free from foreign interference. He remarked that brutality, gross human rights abuse and oppression will never suppress the aspiration for freedom and right to self-determination.

He said that Pakistan would continue to extend its unwavering moral, political and diplomatic support to the just struggle of the Kashmiri people for their unalienable right of self-determination, as enshrined in the UN Charter and relevant UN resolutions. He highlighted that Pakistan’s support for Kashmir cause has received a new impetus during the tenure of the current government.

Appreciating the decision of the Prime Minister to send Parliamentarians as envoys to garner diplomatic support for Kashmir cause, he remarked that Parliamentary diplomacy will awaken the conscience of the international community to take notice of barbarity and oppression of the Kashmiri people by world’s so called largest democracy.

Sardar Ayaz Sadiq outlined that the National Assembly of Pakistan has called an International Conference on Kashmir issue on 13-14th October 2016 in Islamabad to highlight the human rights abuse in Kashmir and generate international support for freedom struggle of the Kashmiri people. He added that the conference will be attended by Members of Parliaments, Civil Society, Media and intellectuals from across the world.

He outlined that peace in the region is unthinkable when India continued to deny Kashmir’s their inherent right to self-determination and when their peaceful demonstrations were met with Indian high-handedness. He added that ‘oppression on unarmed protestors cannot kill their aspiration for freedom and a peaceful future’.

Referring to Pakistan’s principled stance on Kashmir, the Speaker remarked that he pulled back Pakistan from hosting 61stCommonwealth Parliamentary Conference as its chosen President when India agitated for extending invitation to Assembly of Indian Occupied Kashmir. He added that the Parliament of Pakistan could not issue an invitation to the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir Assembly to attend the Conference, as it would have been in violation of the UNSC Resolutions.

The Speaker highlighted that Pakistan’s principled stance on Kashmir was more important than hosting Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference. Sardar Ayaz Sadiq outlined that Kashmir issue is highlighted in every meeting of Parliamentary Friendship Groups and visits of Parliamentary delegations.

The President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Mr. Masood Khan highly appreciated the endeavours of the Parliament of Pakistan in taking up the Kashmir issue at various bilateral and multilateral forums. He added that the role of Parliamentary diplomacy is central to supporting the Kashmir cause. He expressed confidence in efforts of the Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq to prioritize Kashmir issue at international forums.

For more information, contact:
Karamat Hussain Niazi
Secretary
National Assembly of Pakistan
Automation Centre,
National Assembly Secretariat,
Parliament House,
Islamabad – Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9221082-83
Fax: +92-51-9221106
Email: assembly@na.gov.pk
Website: www.na.gov.pk

Competition Commission of Pakistan releases meat sector report for public comments

Islamabad, August 31, 2016 (PPI-OT):The Competition Commission of Pakistan has released a study on the meat sector in Pakistan for public comments, covering issues such as price monitoring and quality of meat and also exploring the growth potential of the sector. The study has been conducted as part of the assessments the CCP undertakes to understand competition issues in sectors that have implications for consumers. Meat is one of the heaviest weighed essential food items in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The livestock sector fulfils the country’s meat, milk and poultry demand.

CCP in its report has identified ineffective price and quality monitoring at the district level that result in high price and low quality of meat that affects both urban and rural consumers. Smuggling of animals to neighbouring Afghanistan is also an issue that affects availability at affordable price to domestic consumers.

Meat production in Pakistan is mostly an unregulated informal activity. The meat industry is marred with many challenges including the low yield per animal, poor animal feed, lack of awareness among livestock breeders related to breeds and veterinary care, and disease control. Also, poor slaughtering methods and lack of accessibility to the Animal Mandis (markets) leads to low quality of meat products and excessive pricing.

The report says that establishing new slaughterhouses and improving facilities at the existing ones is necessary to ensure quality safeguards. Moreover, increasing the accessibility of farmers to the Animal Mandis is essential for providing quality meat to the consumers at reasonable prices.

Therefore, CCP recommends a public-private partnership to run the government slaughterhouses for efficiency and quality and to increase animal mandis so that farmers can easily access them. CCP also recommends that price setting, which takes place every six to twelve months, needs to be regulated during the interim periods and meat prices should be based on both the quality of the meat and its grading.

Another market identified by CCP is the growing international demand for Halal meat and meat products. The demand for Halal meat has been growing globally. Pakistan produces 100 percent Halal meat and export of halal meat and meat products can be a significant source of foreign exchange earnings.

CCP has acknowledged efforts of the Government especially the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, which has undertaken certain regulatory measures to encourage livestock sector and for the establishment of value added meat market in the country. Section 28 of the Competition Act empowers CCP to conduct studies for promoting competition in all sectors of commercial economic activity. The study on meat sector is available on the Commission’s website, www.cc.gov.pk.

For more information, contact:
Asfandyar Khattak
Director (Media and Communications)
Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP)
7th Floor South, ISE Towers,
55-B, Jinnah Avenue, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9100260-3, +92-51-9100256
Fax: +92-51-9100251
Email: akhattak@cc.gov.pk
Website: www.cc.gov.pk

Malik, Kalwal shifted to JIC Humhama from Central Jail

Srinagar, August 31, 2016 (PPI-OT):In occupied Kashmir, the authorities have shifted the illegally detained Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Chairman, Muhammad Yasin Malik, and party leader, Noor Muhammad Kalwal, to Joint interrogation Centre Humhama from Srinagar Central Jail.

Yasin Malik was arrested on July 8 and was lodged at a police station in Srinagar. He was shifted to the Central Jail Srinagar on July 30. Before being shifted to the JIC Humhama, Yasin Malik, talking to media persons termed the recent statement of the puppet Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, comparing freedom struggle with war in Syria as absurd and based on blatant lies. Mehbooba had asked, “Do Kashmiris want Syria-type Azadi?”

“Comparing freedom struggle of Kashmiris with war in Syria or Iraq is ridiculous and shows mental bankruptcy of power-hungry politicians as Kashmiri people are fighting for their legitimate right guaranteed to them by the international community, United Nations and also pledged by the Indian Parliament and India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and many other leaders,” the JKLF Chairman said.

“Hunger of power and lust of authority have turned these politicians blind and they are busy rubbing salt into the wounds of Kashmiris, pushing them to the wall and hence promoting violence,” the JKLF Chief said, while strongly condemning the ongoing spree of killings, arrests, nocturnal raids, restrictions and beatings throughout the Kashmir Valley. He also condemned the arrest and of Advocate Hassan Babar Nehru in Doda and slapping of draconian Law Public Safety Act by the authorities.

“Kashmir is an internationally-acknowledged issue that needs a resolution and people of Jammu and Kashmir being the masters of this land and principal party to this dispute have every right to pursue their freedom struggle peacefully and it is the duty of international community to fulfil its obligations vis-à-vis resolution of Jammu and Kashmir issue so that lasting peace, tranquillity and prosperity of South Asia is ensured and guaranteed,” he said. Meanwhile, the JKLF Vice Chairman, Bashir Ahmad Butt, in a statement, condemned illegal solitary confinement and shifting of ailing Yasin Malik to JIC Humhama.

For more information, contact:
Kashmir Media Service
Email: info@kmsnews.org
Phone: 92-51-4435548, 4435549
Fax: 92-51-4861736