Govt plans no curb on PDM rally in Lahore: Shibli Faraz

Federal Minister for Information Shibli Faraz on Tuesday said that although there is a ban on holding public gatherings, however, the government would not create any hindrance for the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to hold a rally in Lahore.

“We will not stop anyone from attending the PDM public gathering in Lahore,” he said but added that action would be taken against anyone violating the law barring gatherings during the pandemic.

While justifying the government’s acts to impose restrictions on movement, he said that many countries have imposed a curfew during the second wave of COVID-19.

“Violations of SOPs could lead to a difficult situation,” he said adding that they are not bothered about the opposition’s public gatherings rather they are worried regarding the health of the masses participating in it.

He asked as to what opposition gained from turning Multan into a political battlefield during the pandemic and warned that in case of rising COVID-19 cases, the government had to force the closure of businesses, which have resumed owing to the successful policy of the government.

Even our hospitals are not able to bear the load of rising patients, he said.

Speaking over Ravi River Project in Lahore and Bundal Island project in Karachi, Shibli Faraz said that the projects would invite foreign investment besides also creating job opportunities for local people.

The Bundal Island project will attract US$60 billion investment and would benefit the people of the Sindh province, he said while assuring the stakeholders of the project that the federal government has no plans to take the project to Islamabad.

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Govt okays procurement of Covid-19 vaccine

The federal cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan has approved funds to purchase the Covid-19 vaccine.

The cabinet meeting chaired by PM Imran Khan here in Islamabad approved $150mn to procure an anti-Covid vaccine. The health workers and people above 60 years of age will get the first doses of the coronavirus vaccine in the first stage.

Briefing media about the decisions taken in the federal cabinet meeting regarding the anti-Covid vaccines, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan said that the cabinet has approved funds for the advance purchases of COVID-19 vaccines.

“Frontline workers will be given first doses of coronavirus vaccine in the first stage,” said SAPM Faisal, adding that elderly people will be vaccinated in the second stage while the common public will receive the first dose of vaccine in the third stage whenever it becomes available.

The government hopes to procure Covid-19 vaccine in the first quarter of 2021, SAPMDr Faisal Sultan told the media.

He further said that govt the cabinet meeting has approved a major reduction in prices of Remdesivir injection used to treat COVID-19 patients. “Govt has fixed price up to Rs5000 for a Remdesivir injection” he added. Earlier, the federal cabinet had fixed its price up to Rs10,873 on June 16.

Last week, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) had approved technical supplementary grant for the advance purchases of COVID-19 vaccines.

Faisal Sultan said the Standard Operating Procedures designed by the NCOC need to be followed indiscriminately by all sections of society.

The federal cabinet also approved an extension in service of the executive director of the National Institute of Health. The cabinet okays privatisation of Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) and plan for a golden handshake to the employees of the state-owned Pakistan Steel Mills.

The meeting was briefed over Naya Pakistan Housing Authority, Ravi Urban Development and Bundal Island project.

 

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Govt plans no curb on PDM rally in Lahore: Shibli Faraz

Federal Minister for Information Shibli Faraz on Tuesday said that although there is a ban on holding public gatherings, however, the government would not create any hindrance for the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to hold a rally in Lahore.

“We will not stop anyone from attending the PDM public gathering in Lahore,” he said but added that action would be taken against anyone violating the law barring gatherings during the pandemic.

While justifying the government’s acts to impose restrictions on movement, he said that many countries have imposed a curfew during the second wave of COVID-19.

“Violations of SOPs could lead to a difficult situation,” he said adding that they are not bothered about the opposition’s public gatherings rather they are worried regarding the health of the masses participating in it.

He asked as to what opposition gained from turning Multan into a political battlefield during the pandemic and warned that in case of rising COVID-19 cases, the government had to force the closure of businesses, which have resumed owing to the successful policy of the government.

Even our hospitals are not able to bear the load of rising patients, he said.

Speaking over Ravi River Project in Lahore and Bundal Island project in Karachi, Shibli Faraz said that the projects would invite foreign investment besides also creating job opportunities for local people.

The Bundal Island project will attract US$60 billion investment and would benefit the people of the Sindh province, he said while assuring the stakeholders of the project that the federal government has no plans to take the project to Islamabad.

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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.

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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.

 

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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.

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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.

 

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