Pakistan on its way to becoming a great nation, says PM Imran in telephone calls with public

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday assured citizens that Pakistan was "on its way to becoming a great nation", saying that every area in the country had a special quality that could be developed to its advantage.

The premier made these remarks while answering the public's questions via telephone, in the first such session since he assumed office in 2018.

The first caller, a person from Sahiwal, asked Prime Minister Imran about the government's strategy to vaccinate the population against Covid-19. Outlining the government's plan, the premier said that in the first phase, frontline health workers, especially those treating coronavirus patients would be vaccinated.

After that, citizens who were over 60 years of age or those with pre-existing conditions that made them more vulnerable to Covid-19 would be vaccinated, followed by the general public.

"Rich and poor will not matter. We will try to cover as many people as possible," he stressed.

In response to a question by another citizen, the premier said that every area of Pakistan has a "certain advantage" that can be developed for its benefit. Elaborating on his statement, he said that Gilgit Baltistan could never be an industrial hub similar to Karachi and Sialkot but it could become a hub for tourism.

Citing the example of Switzerland, he said the country was "half the size of our Northern areas yet every year it earns $80 billion from tourism", comparing it to Pakistan's exports, which he said amounted to $25bn annually.

"GB is twice [the size] of Switzerland and has taller mountains. If we concentrate on tourism then the whole area can become prosperous like never before. I have talked to the [GB] chief minister, we have to make it a tourism hub."

Talking further about the region, the premier said the government was setting up a grid station in GB and would also set up hydroelectricity plants. "We have also planned roads which will open the area for tourism."

He said this would lead to "so much prosperity in the region that people [currently] leaving GB for jobs elsewhere would not have to do so".

Moving on to Balochistan, he said the province was sparsely populated and the distances between residential populations were "too vast so development is not easy".

"Balochistan's political setup has also damaged its people and caused harm." The premier said that a local government system was needed so the money would "[trickle down] to the villages instead of remaining with the people at the top".

Prime Minister Imran noted that south Balochistan had been "left even more behind" but the PTI government had announced the "biggest package in Balochistan's history" for its development.

"We have given internet connectivity [and] it has become a source of development. Many areas did not have 3G and 4G [services] but the reason for that was terrorism.

"We have decided to [make 3G and 4G services operational] for our youth in far-flung areas and tribal areas so people have connectivity".

He urged the people to "have some patience", saying the government wanted to develop far-flung areas that had been left behind but had limited resources.

"As resources keep increasing, as our mineral wealth in Balochistan starts increasing, we will try that it is first invested in Balochistan instead of going anywhere else."

Blasphemy

Replying to a question regarding Islamophobia and publication of blasphemous cartoons of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Prime Minister Imran said the West could not understand the Muslims' "depth of feelings" for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) because they "view religion differently".

"Nothing hurts us more than [the prophet's] disrespect but the West does not understand this." He described his own efforts to combat Islamophobia, saying he had raised the issue in the United Nations and the UN General Assembly and then jointly raised it for a third time along with Malaysia's Mahathir Mohamad and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"Until heads of Muslim countries come together and agree [to tackle it], the issue will not be solved. This is a struggle we have to continuously do and I fully believe we will be successful."

Naya Pakistan Housing Project

In response to another caller, the premier explained why the government had decided to launch the Naya Pakistan Housing Project (NPHP).

Comparing the conditions in the United States and Europe, he said that "80 per cent of people in those countries took loans to buy houses, 30pc of people in Malaysia while only 0.2pc of people in Pakistan" did the same.

Talking about the changes the government had brought into the system, he said: "It took us two years in the courts to clear the stuck [foreclosure] law. Now that this obstacle has vanished, the banks can give loans.

"Banks do not have the practice of giving loans because they were not used to giving loans to ordinary people. I met with bank managers and we agreed that banks should be trained to give loans to ordinary people who do not have cash or security."

He said that after the government's subsidies, people would take loans to build houses and the money they had previously paid for rent would now go towards paying their instalments.

"The project has started and slowly people and banks are understanding it. Now banks are themselves advertising that people should come and take loans from them," he said, adding that this would give an opportunity to salaried people and labourers to build their own houses.

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Boxer Aslam dies after receiving knockout punch in Karachi

Professional Boxer Mohammad Aslam lost his life in a local boxing bout in Karachi.

Fight organized at a private club in Karachi for the heavyweight (plus 80kg), Aslam was hit by a punch by opposing boxer Wali Khan, causing him to fall into the ring. The boxer was rushed to a hospital for medical treatment, where he died.

The 34-year-old Aslam was and hailed from the Pashin district of Balochistan. His rival Wali also belongs from the same area. Aslam also used to take part in kickboxing competitions.

Funeral prayers of late Boxer were offered in the Sohrab Goth area of ​​Karachi and the body has been sent to Pashin.

Boxers Amir Khan and Muhammad Wasim also expressed sorrow over the death. Wasim asked the government to take action as the fight was illegal and without safety precautions.

Amir Khan urged organizers to make sure that there are doctors and paramedic staff during the fight.

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Pakistan on its way to becoming a great nation, says PM Imran in telephone calls with public

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday assured citizens that Pakistan was "on its way to becoming a great nation", saying that every area in the country had a special quality that could be developed to its advantage.

The premier made these remarks while answering the public's questions via telephone, in the first such session since he assumed office in 2018.

The first caller, a person from Sahiwal, asked Prime Minister Imran about the government's strategy to vaccinate the population against Covid-19. Outlining the government's plan, the premier said that in the first phase, frontline health workers, especially those treating coronavirus patients would be vaccinated.

After that, citizens who were over 60 years of age or those with pre-existing conditions that made them more vulnerable to Covid-19 would be vaccinated, followed by the general public.

"Rich and poor will not matter. We will try to cover as many people as possible," he stressed.

In response to a question by another citizen, the premier said that every area of Pakistan has a "certain advantage" that can be developed for its benefit. Elaborating on his statement, he said that Gilgit Baltistan could never be an industrial hub similar to Karachi and Sialkot but it could become a hub for tourism.

Citing the example of Switzerland, he said the country was "half the size of our Northern areas yet every year it earns $80 billion from tourism", comparing it to Pakistan's exports, which he said amounted to $25bn annually.

"GB is twice [the size] of Switzerland and has taller mountains. If we concentrate on tourism then the whole area can become prosperous like never before. I have talked to the [GB] chief minister, we have to make it a tourism hub."

Talking further about the region, the premier said the government was setting up a grid station in GB and would also set up hydroelectricity plants. "We have also planned roads which will open the area for tourism."

He said this would lead to "so much prosperity in the region that people [currently] leaving GB for jobs elsewhere would not have to do so".

Moving on to Balochistan, he said the province was sparsely populated and the distances between residential populations were "too vast so development is not easy".

"Balochistan's political setup has also damaged its people and caused harm." The premier said that a local government system was needed so the money would "[trickle down] to the villages instead of remaining with the people at the top".

Prime Minister Imran noted that south Balochistan had been "left even more behind" but the PTI government had announced the "biggest package in Balochistan's history" for its development.

"We have given internet connectivity [and] it has become a source of development. Many areas did not have 3G and 4G [services] but the reason for that was terrorism.

"We have decided to [make 3G and 4G services operational] for our youth in far-flung areas and tribal areas so people have connectivity".

He urged the people to "have some patience", saying the government wanted to develop far-flung areas that had been left behind but had limited resources.

"As resources keep increasing, as our mineral wealth in Balochistan starts increasing, we will try that it is first invested in Balochistan instead of going anywhere else."

Blasphemy

Replying to a question regarding Islamophobia and publication of blasphemous cartoons of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Prime Minister Imran said the West could not understand the Muslims' "depth of feelings" for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) because they "view religion differently".

"Nothing hurts us more than [the prophet's] disrespect but the West does not understand this." He described his own efforts to combat Islamophobia, saying he had raised the issue in the United Nations and the UN General Assembly and then jointly raised it for a third time along with Malaysia's Mahathir Mohamad and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"Until heads of Muslim countries come together and agree [to tackle it], the issue will not be solved. This is a struggle we have to continuously do and I fully believe we will be successful."

Naya Pakistan Housing Project

In response to another caller, the premier explained why the government had decided to launch the Naya Pakistan Housing Project (NPHP).

Comparing the conditions in the United States and Europe, he said that "80 per cent of people in those countries took loans to buy houses, 30pc of people in Malaysia while only 0.2pc of people in Pakistan" did the same.

Talking about the changes the government had brought into the system, he said: "It took us two years in the courts to clear the stuck [foreclosure] law. Now that this obstacle has vanished, the banks can give loans.

"Banks do not have the practice of giving loans because they were not used to giving loans to ordinary people. I met with bank managers and we agreed that banks should be trained to give loans to ordinary people who do not have cash or security."

He said that after the government's subsidies, people would take loans to build houses and the money they had previously paid for rent would now go towards paying their instalments.

"The project has started and slowly people and banks are understanding it. Now banks are themselves advertising that people should come and take loans from them," he said, adding that this would give an opportunity to salaried people and labourers to build their own houses.

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Senate approves bill mandating Arabic be taught in all Islamabad schools

The Senate on Monday approved the Compulsory Teaching of the Arabic Language Bill 2020 which makes teaching of the Arabic language mandatory in primary and secondary schools in Islamabad.

The bill was presented by PML-N Senator Javed Abbasi and approved near-unanimously by members of the Senate, with PPP Senator Raza Rabbani offering the sole dissenting note. The ministry concerned will implement the bill within a period of six months.

The bill states that Arabic will be taught in schools in Islamabad from grades 1 to 5, while Arabic grammar will be taught to grades 6 to 12.

Abbasi said Arabic is the world's fifth most-widely spoken language and the official language of 25 countries. He emphasised that learning Arabic could open up more job opportunities for Pakistanis in the Middle East and lead to lower unemployment and increased remittances. He also said the Holy Quran and daily prayers were read in Arabic and "we would not go through the problems we are currently facing if we understood the Holy Quran."

He added that he was in favour of multiple languages being taught such as Russian, Spanish and English. "No one objected to this [teaching of English] and said that English shouldn't be taught."

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan concurred with Abbasi, saying that the government "categorically supported" the bill. He added that according to Article 31 of the Constitution, "Measures should be taken to spend our lives according to the Holy Quran and Sunnah."

According to Khan, learning Arabic was crucial to "become a good Muslim [...] and understand God's message".

Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Senator Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri also voiced his support for the bill and said, "Arabic is the language of the heavens." He added that learning Arabic could help in understanding the Holy Quran.

Rabbani, meanwhile offering his dissenting note, alleged that the legislation was the state's attempt to use "Islam for achieving a political agenda". He further added that the state was trying to eliminate Pakistan's multicultural and multi-lingual diversity by importing "Arab culture".

"The Arab culture is not mine, [the] Indus Valley [Civilisation] is my culture."

He said that the bill would give priority to Arabic over regional languages when, according to him, Arabic had nothing to do with the religion of Islam or the Holy Quran beyond being the language it was revealed in. "We don't need a certificate from anyone of being a Muslim," Rabbani said, while disagreeing with the notion of being outside the fold of Islam if one didn't support the adoption of Arabic.

The bill was earlier moved by Abbasi in a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education in October 2020. The committee had approved the bill and directed the education ministry and Federal Directorate of Education to complete tasks related to its implementation within six months.

The bill next required approval by the National Assembly Standing Committee on Education and then by both the Senate and National Assembly.

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PM Imran, COAS Bajwa discuss national security matters

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Monday called on Premier Imran Khan in Islamabad, a statement issued by Prime Minister Office (PMO) said.

Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lieutenant General Faiz Hamid was also present during the meeting, it added.

Matters pertaining to internal and external security were discussed during the meeting, it further stated. No further details were provided by the Prime Minister Office.

This is the third high-level huddle at the PM Office between the trio within a month as meetings also took place on January 11 and 25.

Observers believe that the meeting, which took place on January 25, might be linked with the current Afghan situation particularly after the Biden administration announced to review the peace deal with the Afghan Taliban.

The meeting was believed to have taken place to finalise Pakistan’s strategy as the Biden administration will soon formally contact Islamabad to discuss the peace efforts in Afghanistan.

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Pakistan thanks Chinese President Xi Jinping for COVID-19 vaccine gift

Pakistan on Monday thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for gifting it the Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine which reached the country today.

A ceremony was held at Nur Khan Base in Islamabad where 0.5 million doses were given to Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

While talking to media, the foreign minister said the "gift is a practical proof of friendship between the two countries," adding that “China once again demonstrated its everlasting friendship with Pakistan," by helping it in times of need.

"This is even more important as we are completing seven decades of diplomatic ties this year," he added.

FM Qureshi said: “I want to thank the Chinese government, President Xi Jinping, and the people of China on behalf of the Pakistani government and Prime Minister Imran Khan.”

The minister also expressed his gratitude to his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, with whom he was in talks for the early delivery of the vaccine.

Qureshi added that Beijing has stood "shoulder-to-shoulder with Islamabad in the fight against the coronavirus."

Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong said Pakistan was the "first country in the world to receive vaccines donated by the Chinese government", calling it a "manifestation of brotherhood".

Rong said that Pakistan is China’s "closest friend" and is a "priority for cooperation." The envoy also mentioned Pakistan's approval of Sinopharm vaccine and trials of another Chinese vaccine.

Earlier today, a Pakistan Air Force aircraft brought back the country's first consignment of COVID-19 vaccines from China, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan confirmed.

"Thank God, the first batch of Sinopharm vaccine has arrived! Grateful to China and everyone who made this happen," Sultan said in a statement released on Twitter.

"I salute our frontline healthcare workers for their efforts and they'll be first to get vaccinated," he said.

Pakistan has asked China for another one million doses. Pakistan is also set to receive 17 million doses of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine under a global scheme to deliver coronavirus treatments to developing nations.

About 6 million doses will arrive by the end of March under the COVAX scheme, with the remainder due by mid-year, Sultan announced last week.

The country has reported 1,615 new infections and 26 deaths in the latest 24-hours, taking the total number of cases to 546,428, with 11,683 deaths.

"All eligible citizens as per phases will be informed to register once the vaccine process will start," health ministry announced on its website.

Pakistan signed up last year to the vaccine sharing scheme coordinated by the World Health Organisation to support lower-income countries.

Pakistan has approved both the vaccines for emergency use and will review their approval quarterly, officials said.

 

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PDM poses no danger to the government: PM Khan

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said that the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an alliance of eleven Opposition parties, "poses no threat to the ruling PTI government" and that its "bubble has burst."

The PM was chairing a meeting of his party's leaders and spokespersons in the federal capital during which he was briefed about various issues, including the foreign funding case, Senate elections, and action taken against the land-grabbing mafia.

Addressing the meeting and responding to the foreign funding case against the PTI, PM Imran Khan said that the party has "submitted the details of more than 40,000 donors, adding that the Opposition failed to submit the details of donors during their tenures.

He said that the PTI has a "clear record in the foreign funding case" and that it received "no money from any foreign source." Taking a jibe at the Opposition parties, he said that now is the time for PML-N, PPP and other parties to be accountable to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) regarding the funds they received from abroad.

The premier added that former prime minister and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif was the one to "bring money into politics," adding that he took money from Osama bin Laden.

"Nawaz Sharif built his ATM through the land-grabbing mafia and the Khokhar brothers are the ATMs of the PML-N," the PM said while also directing his ministers to take strict measures against the occupation mafia in Lahore.

Regarding the issue of the Senate election, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that his government is asking the Senate to make amendments in a bid to make the elections more transparent.

"By objecting to the idea of making the Senate elections more transparent, the Opposition is doing nothing but exposing itself," the PM said.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Imran Khan also congratulated Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for becoming the first province to provide universal health coverage to every citizen.

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