Where are the trees?: SC seeks details of Billion Tree Tsunami project

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday took notice and sought details of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s Billion Tree Tsunami project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

A two-member bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan, hearing a case pertaining to tree plantation near rivers and canals, has also summoned the secretary of climate change and issues contempt of court notices to Sindh and Punjab governments over failure to submit a report on the matter.

“There are no trees in Nathia Gali, Malam Jabba, and even Murree,” observed the top judge, questioning the Billion Tree Tsunami project.

He remarked that the Islamabad administration boasts planting 500,000 trees but they are nowhere to be seen. “Were they planted in Bani Gala? There are no trees planted along the rivers from Islamabad to Karachi. There are no trees in Peshawar and there is deforestation going on in Nathia Gali.”

The bench sought details of the funds spent on the Billion Tree Tsunami including records of expenditure and their justification, and count of trees planted along with photographic evidence – satellite view.

The apex court also ordered the Sindh government to plant trees along lakes and highways.

from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/37hxOBe

Friendship with China a 'cornerstone' of Pakistan's foreign policy: President Alvi to Gen Wei

Pakistan's friendship with China is "the cornerstone of its foreign policy", President Dr Arif Alvi told Chinese Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe during the latter's visit to the Aiwan-e-Sadr today, reiterating support to Beijing over its domestic sovereign entities and territorial disputes.

In a statement, the President House said Dr Alvi welcomed the Chinese defence minister to Pakistan and that the two neighbouring nations "reiterated their resolve to further consolidate their friendship for the mutual benefit".

"Pakistan's friendship with China was the cornerstone of its foreign policy and Pakistan wanted to further improve and cement its ties with the People's Republic of China so as to address the security challenges being faced by the region," the president said, according to the statement.

President Arif Alvi also informed the visiting Chinese delegation that "Pakistan strongly adhered to One-China Policy and supported China on issues of Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang and South China Sea".

With regard to other regional issues, he and Gen Wei spoke about the Kashmir issue, as well as India's aggression and state-sponsored terrorism.

Dr Alvi expressed concern over "the Indian hegemonic designs that posed a threat to regional peace and stability" and "highlighted India's state-sponsorship of terrorism against Pakistan".

He also appreciated China's steadfast support to Pakistan on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. A day prior, Pakistan had "strongly and categorically" rejected India's statement on the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) Resolution on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

The president lauded China's economic progress and the measures it took in containing the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/3lkPeSI

Khalid Khursheed sworn in as new chief minister Gilgit-Baltistan

Khalid Khursheed has been sworn in as Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) chief minister (CM) in Gilgit on Tuesday.

The oath-taking ceremony was held at the Governor House GB, where Raja Jalal Hussain Maqpoon administered the oath to Khalid Khursheed.

Members of the Gilgit-Baltistan  Assembly and other high officials attended the oath-taking ceremony.

The election for the leader of the house of Gilgit Baltistan Assembly was held through show of hands in the GB Assembly Hall in Gilgit.

Khalid Khursheed got 22 votes while the opposition nominated candidate Amjad Hussain secured 9 votes. The session was presided over by Speaker Syed Amjad Ali Zaidi.

Last week, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf clinched both speaker and deputy speaker seats in the Gilgit Baltistan Legislative Assembly (GBLA).

PTI’s Syed Amjad Ali Zaidi was elected as Speaker of Gilgit Baltistan Assembly. He secured 18 votes while the joint opposition’s candidate Ghulam Muhammad got  8 votes.

from Latest Pakistan News - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/3fRLTcL

Khalid Khursheed sworn in as new chief minister Gilgit-Baltistan

Khalid Khursheed has been sworn in as Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) chief minister (CM) in Gilgit on Tuesday.

The oath-taking ceremony was held at the Governor House GB, where Raja Jalal Hussain Maqpoon administered the oath to Khalid Khursheed.

Members of the Gilgit-Baltistan  Assembly and other high officials attended the oath-taking ceremony.

The election for the leader of the house of Gilgit Baltistan Assembly was held through show of hands in the GB Assembly Hall in Gilgit.

Khalid Khursheed got 22 votes while the opposition nominated candidate Amjad Hussain secured 9 votes. The session was presided over by Speaker Syed Amjad Ali Zaidi.

Last week, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf clinched both speaker and deputy speaker seats in the Gilgit Baltistan Legislative Assembly (GBLA).

PTI’s Syed Amjad Ali Zaidi was elected as Speaker of Gilgit Baltistan Assembly. He secured 18 votes while the joint opposition’s candidate Ghulam Muhammad got  8 votes.

from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/3fRLTcL

Punjab govt to establish int’l standard bus station in Lahore

With an aim to improve the transport system in the province, Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Usman Buzdar has given approval for the establishment of international standard bus terminal in Lahore.

In this context, CM Usman Buzdar has set deadline of December 10 for the concerned officials to present the design of the new terminal, which will be constructed at Thokar Niaz Baig.

He has also announced that similar terminals will also be constructed in Multan and Faisalabad while green electric busses are being introduced in major cities including Lahore.

CM Punjab directed to take necessary steps for purchasing the buses and warned that any compromise on quality will not be tolerated. The complete process should be transparent and follow all set rules and regulations, he stressed.

He also said that with electric buses, environmental pollution and smog will be reduced.

Last week, Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar had inaugurated Firdous Market Underpass in Lahore.

According to details, the 540-meter long two-lane dual carriageway underpass would facilitate traffic from the adjoining areas with special arrangements for water disposal.

from Latest Pakistan News - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/37p8TMo

Punjab govt to establish int’l standard bus station in Lahore

With an aim to improve the transport system in the province, Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Usman Buzdar has given approval for the establishment of international standard bus terminal in Lahore.

In this context, CM Usman Buzdar has set deadline of December 10 for the concerned officials to present the design of the new terminal, which will be constructed at Thokar Niaz Baig.

He has also announced that similar terminals will also be constructed in Multan and Faisalabad while green electric busses are being introduced in major cities including Lahore.

CM Punjab directed to take necessary steps for purchasing the buses and warned that any compromise on quality will not be tolerated. The complete process should be transparent and follow all set rules and regulations, he stressed.

He also said that with electric buses, environmental pollution and smog will be reduced.

Last week, Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar had inaugurated Firdous Market Underpass in Lahore.

According to details, the 540-meter long two-lane dual carriageway underpass would facilitate traffic from the adjoining areas with special arrangements for water disposal.

from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/37p8TMo

Pakistan’s COVID-19 positivity ratio reaches to 6 per cent a day

Pakistan’s COVID-19 positivity ratio fell to 6 per cent on Tuesday, a week after reaching its highest-ever level of 7.46pc since the coronavirus outbreak began in the country earlier this year.

A meeting of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) with Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar in the chair was informed today that the highest test positivity rate was recorded in Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s Mirpur district at 20.62pc, followed by Peshawar at 19.58pc, Hyderabad at 19.3pc, Karachi at 13.86pc, Abbottabad at 11.21pc, Quetta at 10.76pc and Multan at 10.66.

The NCOC was briefed that Pakistan’s positivity ratio has fallen to 6pc during the previous 24 hours. Azad Jammu and Kashmir recorded the highest positivity ratio at 14.05pc, followed by 10.01pc witnessed in Sindh, 9.04pc in Balochistan, 5.03pc in Islamabad, 3.8pc in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 2.6pc in Gilgit Baltistan.

There are a total of 2,165 critically ill Covid-19 patients across the country but the number of such patients is increasing sharply, the forum was informed.

67 more Covid-19 deaths and 2,458 new infections were reported during the last 24 hours. The death toll in the country has soared to 8,091 while 343,286 patients stand recovered from the pandemic.

There are now 400, 482 confirmed cases in the country out of which 2,165 are in critical condition.

 

from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/37tQ62C