Changchun set to become major sports tourism destination in China

CHANGCHUN, China, May 28, 2019 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/– More than 30,000 marathoners and sports fans gathered in Changchun, capital of Jilin Province, for an international marathon race on May 27. The combination of the event and tourism industry has injected vitality into the city’s ambition to become a major sports tourism destination in China, according to Changchun Sports Bureau.

Located in northeast China, Changchun boasts its rich ice and snow resources and a pleasant climate. It is also one of the two Chinese cities that are home to gold medalists of both Summer and Winter Olympics. The city’s sports administration has explored various ways to encourage its citizens to participate in sports, which has yielded good results. The annual international marathon race is on the agenda of the city’s government report, which aims to attract more citizens to embrace a healthy lifestyle. About 70 percent of Changchun’s revenue is invested in areas relating to its citizens’ livelihood, so they can have a better taste of the city’s development.

Changchun has the country’s oldest bases for automobile industry and film production, and is the cradle of industries such as railway vehicles, photoelectric technology, applied chemistry and biological products. Thanks to its geographic advantage as the center of Northeast Asia, the city government is stepping up opening-up and revitalization, making tourism its pillar industry for development.

The city government has elevated sports as a top priority to build a “healthy Changchun” to improve awareness, fitness and living standard of its citizens, which has been recognized by the World Health Organization. Changchun’s practice has offered useful reference in China’s aspiration to become a sports power”.

Changchun citizens now can find a fitness site within eight minutes of walk, and talk to sports administrators in their neighborhoods. Besides, the government has reserved large tracts of land for sports facilities. Citizens can book sports venues and find gym mates online. The sport population in Changchun exceeds 51 percent, which provides an important foundation for the city’s goal of building a top events and sports tourism destination.

Changchun is famous for the kindness from its people, and has hosted the international cross-country ski festival, Vasaloppet China, for 17 consecutive years. The city’s landscapes, citizens’ enthusiasm and humanistic environment have impressed marathoners from China and abroad over the past three years. The quota for this year’s marathon, over 30,000, was booked up within 24 hours.

“The marathon race has deeply integrated with Changchun’s urban characteristics, offering marathoners more opportunities for participation, training and tourism, as the sector expands,” said Liu Haiyu, head of the city’s sports bureau.

Source: Changchun Sports Bureau

Jazz partners with Oxfam in Pakistan to digitally empower young women

Karachi, May 28, 2019 (PPI-OT): In an effort to digitally empower Pakistan’s youth, Jazz, the country’s leading digital communications company and Oxfam in Pakistan, a leading international development organization have agreed to collaborate. The partnership will result in the expansion of a number of socioeconomic opportunities, especially for young adolescent girls, to create a more inclusive digital environment for future generations.

Jazz and Oxfam aim to tackle the root cause of poverty by aligning their sustainability efforts with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. For Jazz, the objective is to scale up sustainable solutions. Both organizations believe more young Pakistanis need to learn about blended education platforms; get online to access critical content and life skills, and gain digital financial literacy.

This partnership aims to scale up and create innovative solutions for achieving tangible results through Jazz’s Make your Mark programme. These solutions will be directed towards supporting digital skills training and literacy for young girls with a key focus on the Girl Child Education program which Oxfam is currently implementing across 38 schools in Sindh and Punjab.

This partnership will also identify synergies for joint work as Oxfam is currently implementing its innovative Empower Youth for Work programme while Jazz focuses on youth empowerment through access to technology. Additionally, this collaboration also seeks to work jointly for adult literacy for women, in the rural areas of Pakistan, using technology in coordination with the Ministry of Education.

Syed Ali Naseer, Chief Corporate and Enterprise Officer at Jazz said, “Youth empowerment is a core focus that aligns with the social mandates of both Jazz and Oxfam. We realize that there is an urgent need to work to address poverty alleviation by introducing digital literacy tools for young girls in underserved areas. Young people must absorb the skills required to thrive in a futuristic economy.”

Oxfam in Pakistan Country Director Mohammed Qazilbash said, “With the ICT resources and tools at Jazz’s disposal and Oxfam’s local and global developmental expertise, both organizations can bridge the education gaps in our public schools by imparting digital skills and collaborating to create a more ICT-ready job base for young people, particularly women.”

With this collaboration both organizations are aligning their goals with the SDG 4 (Quality Education) of the Government of Pakistan. Over the next few years, further interventions will be presented to stakeholders to expand impact towards the agenda of youth empowerment and education for girls through technology.

For more information, contact:
Jazz
Tel: +92-111-300-300
Website: https://www.jazz.com.pk

Serving Hands Organization, Engro Foundation and National Bank of Pakistan organizes Ramadan Mega Relief Free Medical Camp

Karachi, May 28, 2019 (PPI-OT): Serving Hands Organization, Engro Foundation and National Bank of Pakistan in collaboration with Lyari Development Authority (LDA), Karachi Union of Journalist (KUJ), Pamco logistic, Khan group of companies and Universal Information System organized Ramadan Mega Relief Free Medical Camp at LDA Sales Centre near Journalist Society Hawksbay scheme 42 bl-3A to facilitate the neighbouring poor villages of Musharaf colony, Bhootni Goth, Benazir 500 Quarters scheme, Lashkari Goth etc.

Honourable Dr. Badar Jamil DG, LDA inaugurated this Mega Relief Medical camp where 1200 patients were treated and Multi-National companies costly medicines were distributed free of cost by expert Doctors and medical staff. DG LDA said, this is a great effort of Serving Hands in the great month of Holy Ramadan to provide little relief to these poor ‘Hands to Mouth’ families of our neglected society.

Dr. Badar Jamil furthermore added that LDA is standing with Serving Hands Organization for this noble cause and will Insha’Allah provide Serving Hands a permanent community shelter to continue this essential medical service to poor patients. DG Dr. Badar Jamil, Dr. Sikandar Ali President (SHO) G. Secretary Ahmad Khan Malik (KUJ) and Syed Ibne Hassan Vice President/ Spokesman’s NBP also distributed over 100s of Rashan bags along with Eid special suits to the needy families.

President SHO Dr. Sikandar Ali and G. Secretary Arshad Anwar promised to continue these camps and free medical services of their team to the suffering community in the poor areas of Sindh. Serving Hands Organization team also thanked to Mr. Aman Ul Haque Engro Foundation, Group Head Shaukat Mahmood, CSR Head Iqba Wahid of NBP, Mr. Nasir Razi (Scotland), Mr. Yashab Tamanna (UK), Mr. Asad Khan (USA), Mr. Ahsan (USA) and Mr. Zafar Khan (Dubai) for their valuable financial support to this noble cause.

For more information, contact:
Vice President / Divisional Head (A)
National Bank of Pakistan (NBP)
Corporate Communication and Brand Management Division
Head Office, NBP Building, I.I. Chundrigar Road,
Karachi, Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-99220773
Cell: +92-300-8202184
Fax: +92-21-99212734
Email: ibne.hassan@nbp.com.pk
Website: https://www.nbp.com.pk/

Punjab Chief Minister takes notice of molestation of a 13 years old girl

Lahore, May 28, 2019 (PPI-OT): Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has taken notice of molestation of a 13 years old girl in Kasur. He has sought a report from the DPO and directed to provide justice to the affected girl along with the early arrest of the accused.

For more information, contact:
Directorate General Public Relations, Punjab (DGPR)
Government of the Punjab
21-Mahmood Gaznavi Road (Abbot Road), Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-99201390-1-2
Fax: +92-42-99201371-2
E-mail: info@dgpr.punjab.gov.pk
Website: www.dgpr.punjab.gov.pk

Punjab Chief Minister chairs meeting for promoting economic activities

Lahore, May 28, 2019 (PPI-OT): Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar presided over a meeting at his office on Tuesday in which various proposals regarding promotion of economic activities and generation of job opportunities were reviewed. The future roadmap in the backdrop of meetings held on the occasion of the visit of the Chinese Vice President also came under discussion.

The Punjab government decided to devise an effective strategy for the CPEC and the Chief Minister directed the line departments that CPEC-related strategy should be given final shape as soon as possible adding that salient feature of this strategy should be devised early so as to take maximum benefit of the CPEC projects. He said that CPEC Cell should be made more effective and expanded in the P and D department and added that Chinese collaboration would be further utilized in different sectors including vocational training, agriculture, education, and energy.

China has made unprecedented steps for overcoming the poverty issue and the Punjab government will benefit from this Chinese model to decrease poverty. CPEC is a golden opportunity for the durable development of Punjab and the rest of the country and it would be fully benefited upon. He said that Chinese investors will be given all sort of facilities in Punjab for investment.

Usman Buzdar said that Punjab government is setting up special economic zones and Chinese investment in these zones will be welcomed. He said that CPEC will promote economic activities which will generate new employment opportunities. There is a great demand for skilled labour and it is needed to give special attention to technical and vocational training to fulfill this demand. Human development has been focused in the new Pakistan, he added. The Chief Minister was given a briefing about the generation of new job opportunities. Provincial Minister for Finance Hashim Jawan Bakhat, Economic Advisor Dr. Salman Shah, Chief Secretary, Chairman P and D and others attended the meeting.

For more information, contact:
Directorate General Public Relations, Punjab (DGPR)
Government of the Punjab
21-Mahmood Gaznavi Road (Abbot Road), Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-99201390-1-2
Fax: +92-42-99201371-2
E-mail: info@dgpr.punjab.gov.pk
Website: www.dgpr.punjab.gov.pk

Punjab Chief Minister sees off Chinese Vice President

Lahore, May 28, 2019 (PPI-OT): Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan returned back to China after his three-day visit to Pakistan. Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar seen off the distinguished guest at the Lahore Airport. On the occasion, Usman Buzdar said that he is happy to host the Chinese guest and it is a matter of honor for us. Your visit will further strengthen the Pakistan-China friendship.

The immortal relation of Pakistan-China friendship will never end, he said. Pakistan and China are moving side by side in the journey of development and brotherly relations are touching new heights in the present tenure. A new chapter of love, affection, and cooperation has been written between the two countries, he added.

The Chinese Vice President thanked the Chief Minister for warm hospitality in Lahore and added that he can never forget the love which he is given in Lahore. China is already standing with Pakistan in the journey of development and prosperity and would do so in future as well and the immortal friendship would be further strengthened by working on new dimensions of mutual cooperation, he added.

Usman Buzdar also presented the album of pictures of Lahore visit to Chinese Vice President who showed a keen interest in it. Your team has worked very hard and this album is memorable for me, he said and added that he is going back with fond memories. Provincial ministers Raja Basharat, Syed Sumsam Bukhari, Nauman Langrial, Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Ijaz Alam, Taimur Bhatti, Samiullah Ch., Ashfa Raiz, Ansar Majeed Khan Niazi, Hafiz Mumtaz Ahmad, Hashim Dogar, Chief Secretary, IG Police and others were also present on the occasion.

For more information, contact:
Directorate General Public Relations, Punjab (DGPR)
Government of the Punjab
21-Mahmood Gaznavi Road (Abbot Road), Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-99201390-1-2
Fax: +92-42-99201371-2
E-mail: info@dgpr.punjab.gov.pk
Website: www.dgpr.punjab.gov.pk

Punjab Chief Minister congratulates Cabinet Committee for Law and Order

Lahore, May 28, 2019 (PPI-OT): Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has congratulated the cabinet committee on law and order for making best security arrangements on the occasion of martyrdom day of Hazrat Ali (RA) and said that this day has passed peacefully due to the best arrangements made by police and administration. I extend congratulations to law minister Raja Basharat, other ministers, police and administrative officers for their wonderful arrangements. The line departments, as well as the police, have diligently performed duties and their performance has remained praiseworthy for maintaining the law and order in the province, he added.

For more information, contact:
Directorate General Public Relations, Punjab (DGPR)
Government of the Punjab
21-Mahmood Gaznavi Road (Abbot Road), Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-99201390-1-2
Fax: +92-42-99201371-2
E-mail: info@dgpr.punjab.gov.pk
Website: www.dgpr.punjab.gov.pk