Qatari Envoy asks Pakistani businessmen to find new ways of trade

Karachi, February 28, 2020 (PPI-OT): H.E. Mr. Mishal Mohammed Ali Al-Ansari, Consul General of the State of Qatar, described Pakistan as a trusted friend, said that Qatar also considers Pakistan its best friend and is in favour of further strengthening relations. We are keen to promote bilateral trade with Pakistan, but joint efforts must be made to enhance trade and investment, while addressing a meeting at Pakistan Chemicals and Dyes Merchants Association (PCDMA). The meeting was attended by PCDMA Chairman, former director Karachi Stock Exchange Mr. Amin Yousuf Balgamwala, VC, Mr. Asif Ibrahim, former Chairman, Mr. Arif Balgamwala and other members.

The Consul General of Qatar informed to commercial importers regarding business opportunities available in Qatar, also urged to enhance their contacts with Qatari businessmen and to find common business paths to promote bilateral trade. In this regard, the Consulate will provide all possible facilities to Pakistani businessmen. Envoy said that the Qatari government wants to enhance trade with Pakistan, which requires that we cooperate with each other and focus on promoting exports by examining the markets of both countries.

Mr. Amin Yousuf Balgamwala, PCDMA chairman and former director Karachi Stock Exchange welcomed the Consul General and appreciated the Qatari government’s desire to expand trade with Pakistan. Thanks for providing a large number of job opportunities. He said that Pakistan’s exports to Qatar are low while imports are high. Its mean trade is in favour of Qatar.

Amin Yousuf Balgamwala briefed to envoy about tourism, vegetables and fruits sectors and urged to promote export in these sectors. He also emphasized to exchange trade delegation to promote bilateral trade. PCDMA chairman proposed a joint venture for establishing manufacturing units in the fields of chemicals and plastics, which are beneficial to the economies of both countries.

For more information, contact:
Secretary General
Pakistan Chemicals and Dyes Merchants Association (PCDMA)
Chemical and Dye House, Rambharti Street,
Jodia Bazaar, Karachi-74000
Tel: +92-21-32432752, +92-21-32439124
Fax: +92-21-32430117
Email: pcdma2@gmail.com
Website www.pcdma.com.pk

National Institute of Maritime Affairs holds seminar on Kashmir issue at Bahria University, Karachi

Karachi, February 28, 2020 (PPI-OT): The National Institute of Maritime Affairs (NIMA) organized a seminar on the topic of ‘Kashmir issue – Revocation of Articles 35A and 370 of Indian Constitution; Options for Pakistan vis-à-vis Rising Hindutva in India’ at Bahria University, Karachi. Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi graced the occasion as Chief Guest. The honourable Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider graced the second session of the seminar as Guest of Honour.

 

During the seminar, various prominent and distinguished speakers comprising Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, Ambassador (Retd) Abdul Basit, Former CJCSC General (Retd) Zubair Mahmood Hayat, Group Captain (Retd) Sultan M Hali, Dr. Rabia Akhtar, eminent Policy Makers, Security Analysts and Academicians contemplated on historical, legal, ethical and socio-political aspects of Kashmir issue beside implementation of Hindutva Ideology by India’s BJP fascist government.

 

The speakers underscored the need of effective diplomatic and media campaigns to mobilize international community on Kashmir crisis and strongly condemn the Indian Atrocities in Indian Occupied Kashmir. In this context, the policy options for Pakistan to effectively deal with ongoing crisis in Kashmir were also deliberated.

 

Earlier, Director General NIMA, Vice Admiral (Retd) Abdul Aleem highlighted the ‘special status’ of Kashmiris as well as depriving citizenship status of certain segments of Indian Muslims which is an obvious evidence of emerging face of Indian fascism. The Guest of Honour, Honourable Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider also elucidated the audience that Plebiscite is the only solution to Kashmir issue. He augmented the need to project Kashmir issue among International community for its rightful solution in favour of Kashmiris.

 

Later, Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi in his closing remarks accentuated India’s move to change the status of the disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir is another manifestation of the Indian Government to promote Hindutva Ideology, which is aimed at “saffronising” India and turning it into a Hindu-dominated “Hindustan”.

 

He further stated that Kashmir being the core conflict between India and Pakistan has its implication on the security situation at sea. Pakistan Navy however is well aware of the resultant challenges and is ready and prepared to thwart enemy’s ill designs. The seminar was attended by a large number of dignitaries, Tri-Services officers, academia, media representatives, members of think tank and students of Bahria University, Karachi.

 

For more information, contact:

Directorate of Public Relations,

Pakistan Navy

Naval Headquarters, Islamabad, Pakistan

Tel: +92-51-20062326

Cell: +92-300-8506486

Website: www.paknavy.gov.pk

Air Chief awards cash prize to players of National Kabaddi Team

Islamabad, February 28, 2020 (PPI-OT):Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force met the players of Pakistan National Kabaddi team at Air Headquarters, Islamabad today. He felicitated the team for winning Kabaddi World Cup, 2020, which was held at Lahore.

 

Interacting with the players, the Air Chief lauded the performance of players who brought laurels to the country by winning the biggest event in the sport which is very popular in the rural areas of Pakistan. He further said that winning the final against arch rival India was an icing on the cake, which has made the whole nation proud. He added that it was a proud moment for PAF, as 07 players including the captain Chief Warrant Officer Muhammad Irfan are part of the Pakistan Air Force Kabaddi team, which is also the title holder of National Championship. The Air Chief also awarded cash incentives to the national heroes.

 

For more information, contact:

Director Media Affairs

Pakistan Air Force (PAF)

E-mail: pafdpr@paf.gov.pk

Tel: +92-51-9507751, +92-51-9261300

Fax: +92-51-9260868

Website: http://paf.gov.pk/

The Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights meets

Islamabad, February 28, 2020 (PPI-OT): The Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights in its meeting held on Friday at Parliament House discussed in detail the Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention and Punishment Bill, 2020, introduced in the House by Senator Sherry Rehman. The Committee also reviewed in detail the Government Bill, The ICT Rights of Persons with Disability Bill, 2020, introduced and referred to the Committee. The Maintenance and Welfare of Old Parents and Senior Citizen’s Bill, 2019, introduced by Senator Rana Maqbool Ahmed was passed by the Committee unanimously.

 

Chaired by Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokar, the meeting was attended by Senator Sherry Rehman, Senator Muhammad Tahir Bizinjo, Senator Muhammad Usman Khan Kakar, Senator Rana Maqbool Ahmed and senior officers from the Ministry of Human Rights, along with all concerned.

 

Discussing the Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention and Punishment Bill, 2020, introduced by Senator Sherry Rehman; the Committee recommended some amendments and assured that after their incorporation; the Bill will be passed in the next meeting.

 

While considering the ICT Rights of Persons with Disability Bill, 2020; the Committee in addition to the suggested amendments by the members of te Committee invited a group of differently-able people for their view and input on the Bill and to suggest amendments. It was recommended that the jurisdiction of this Bill must be extended to the whole of Pakistan and all Federal Government institutions working in provinces.

 

It was also suggested implementation mechanism of the Bill must be strengthened. Representation from the community of differently-able person must be ensured in the council to be constituted under the Bill. Specific terminology for different disabilities must be used. Further it was suggested that all websites in Pakistan must ensure Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) standards are applied. Airlines should facilitate people with disabilities while travelling.

 

The Committee decided to address all of their concerns of differently-able persons ad take the Bill in the next meeting for further discussion. The Committee also decided to summon all relevant stakeholders, Governor State Bank, PIA and other related organizations in the next meeting for their input on the Bill.

 

For more information, contact:

Senate of Pakistan

Tel: +92-51-9204564534

Fax: +92-51-9205703

H.No.7, Cat-II, G-8/2,

Islamabad, Pakistan

E-mail: senate@comsats.net.pk

Website: www.senate.gov.pk

UN rights chief concerned over HR abuses in IOK, anti-Muslim violence in Delhi

Geneva, February 28, 2020 (PPI-OT): The United Nations human rights chief has expressed serious concern over the situation in occupied Kashmir and the escalating anti-Muslim violence in New Delhi. Occupied Kashmir has been under a repressive lockdown for nearly seven months while a number of people have been killed during peaceful protests against the controversial citizenship act in New Delhi.

 

The UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, addressing the 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva regretted that no steps have been taken to address excessive use of force and other serious human rights violations by Indian forces in occupied Kashmir.

 

She noted that as many as 800 people including political leaders and activists reportedly remain in detention. “Schools, businesses and livelihoods have been disrupted by the continued heavy military presence,” she said. The high commissioner also noted that the Indian government has partially restored mobile and internet services, after a decision by the Indian Supreme Court. However, she added that the authorities continue to impose excessive restrictions on the use of social media.

 

Michelle Bachelet said that in India more broadly, the Citizenship Amendment Act adopted last December is of great concern. Indians in huge numbers, and from all communities, have expressed in a mostly peaceful manner, their opposition to the Act, she said. The high commissioner expressed concern over reports of police “inaction” in the face of attacks against Muslims by Hindu groups, as well as previous reports of excessive use of force by police against peaceful protesters. “This has now widened into broader communal attacks, with 24 people killed since Sunday 23 February. I appeal to all political leaders to prevent violence,” she added.

 

It is to mention here that Michelle Bachelet in her inaugural speech at the 42nd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in September 2019 had also expressed concerns about restrictions imposed in occupied Kashmir. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has also published two reports on human rights violations by Indian forces in the occupied Kashmir. These reports published in June 2018 and July 2019 were dismissed by India.

 

For more information, contact:

Kashmir Media Service

Phone: +92-51-4435548, +92-51-4435549

Fax: +92-51-4861736

Email: info@kmsnews.org

Website: www.kmsnews.org

Kicked in the abdomen by mob, Delhi woman gives birth to ‘Miracle Baby’

New Delhi, February 28, 2020 (PPI-OT): For 30-year-old Shabana Parveen, it was nothing sort of a miracle – giving birth to a healthy baby boy after surviving a brutal attack by a mob who kicked and assaulted her and her husband in northeast Delhi’s Karawal Nagar. Their home set afire by the mob, Ms Parveen’s family is now pinning their hopes on the newborn who they called a “miracle baby”.

 

Ms Parveen, her husband, two kids and mother-in-law were sleeping inside the house on Monday night when a mob barged into their house. Narrating their ordeal, Ms Parveen’s mother-in-law Nashima told media, “They hurled religious slurs, beat up my son. Some of them even kicked my daughter-in-law in the abdomen…as I went to protect her they came charging at me… We thought we would not survive that night. But with God’s grace we somehow managed to escape from the clutches of the rioters.”

 

“We rushed Parveen to a nearby hospital but doctors there asked us to go to Al-hind Hospital where she delivered a baby boy on Wednesday,” she added. Despite having lost their home for over two decades and all belongings, her family has overcome the initial shock and are now overjoyed with the birth of the “miracle baby”.

 

Ms Nashima said she had no clue where the family would go after Ms Parveen was discharged from the hospital. “It’s all gone there. Nothing left. Maybe, we will go to some relative’s place and see how we can re-build our life,” she said. Ali, 6, who held his one-day-old brother, caressing his forehead, said, “I will take care of him forever and save him from every ill.”

 

The violence over the amended citizenship law in northeast Delhi has claimed 38 lives so far and left over 200 people injured. Frenzied mobs torched houses, shops, vehicles, a petrol pump and pelted stones at locals and police personnel. Jaffrabad, Maujpur, Babarpur, Yamuna Vihar, Bhajanpura, Chand Bagh and Shiv Vihar are among the areas mainly affected by the clashes.

 

For more information, contact:

Kashmir Media Service

Phone: +92-51-4435548, +92-51-4435549

Fax: +92-51-4861736

Email: info@kmsnews.org

Website: www.kmsnews.org

 

Delhi woman, 85, trapped as mob set her home on fire, choked to death

New Delhi, February 28, 2020 (PPI-OT):An 85-year-old woman is among those who died in the violence that has engulfed northeast Delhi over citizenship law protests since Sunday. 38 people have died and over 250 injured after five straight days of violence that saw vandalism, arson and stone-throwing.

 

Akbari was trapped inside her home in the neighbourhood of Gamri Extension after a mob set it on fire on Tuesday morning. Her son told media that his mother was on the third floor of their home when her four grandchildren saw that a mob was approaching their home to set it ablaze.

 

“At around 11 am, the children said there’s no milk at home. So I went out to buy milk. While returning, my son called up to say that about 150 to 200 men have reached home. I don’t know if they were Hindus or Muslims. The children had locked the gate from inside,” Akbari’s son Saeed Salmani said.

 

His four children, all between 15 to 20 years, too were inside the home. Among the four children were two girls. “My mother was on the upper floor and got trapped. I could not go inside as people said they will kill me too,” Mr Salmani said. “The children kept calling asking saying ‘Papa, aa jao, bachao hamein (Papa, come and save us),”.

 

Trapped inside her home, Akbari had burn injuries on her hands and died of suffocation. The children managed to survive. Mr Salmani said the mob first set fire on the ground floor where he had his garment workshop, and went upstairs to set the first, third and fourth floors on fire. The entire family lived on the third floor, he said.

 

Akbari’s body remained inside the burnt house for close to 10 hours and could be taken out by firefighters only at around 9:30 at night on Tuesday, after the fire was brought down. “I am sure she must have screamed for help…No one could get here to help. She died of suffocation,” Mr Salmani said. “I appeal everyone to not make it about Hindus and Muslims. I had been working with so many Hindu employees. There was always peace,” the grieving son said. “Now I lost my mother. My house and workshop too are gone.”

 

For more information, contact:

Kashmir Media Service

Phone: +92-51-4435548, +92-51-4435549

Fax: +92-51-4861736

Email: info@kmsnews.org

Website: www.kmsnews.org