Islamabad: OIC region is the largest bloc in the world with a membership of 57 countries having a collective population of over 1.5 billion people and GDP of over US$ 4.5 trillion, therefore, the Pakistani business community should focus on OIC countries to promote its trade and exports.This was stated by Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the OIC Jeddah while interacting with entrepreneurs during his visit to the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI).Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan President, Fatma Azim Senior Vice President, Abdul Rehman Khan Vice President ICCI, Muhammad Ejaz Abbasi, Aslam Khokhar, Saeed Khan, Abdul Rehman Siddiqui, Mehboob Ahmed Khan, Khalid Chaudhry and others were present at the occasion.

Rizwan Saeed Sheikh said there is huge potential for Pakistan to export its many products to OIC countries including rice, mangoes, dairy products, fresh vegetable & fruits, sports goods, surgical instruments, pharmaceutical products, carpets, leather products and textile items by removing trade barriers and promoting trade facilitation.He also discussed the OIC Trade Fair to be held in Pakistan in 2022 and other matters pertaining to trade, commerce and investment in OIC Region.

Speaking at the occasion, Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, President ICCI said that Pakistan has strong political relations with all Muslim relations that should be transformed into growing trade and investment relations.He said that lack of information sharing and low level of interaction among the private sectors of Pakistan and OIC countries is the main reason behind the low level of trade that needs to be addressed.He stressed that the Pakistani government should cooperate with the private sector in increasing the level of commercial activities like holding of trade fairs and exhibitions and exchange of trade delegations between Pakistan and OIC region that would help in improving trade and exports.

ISLAMABAD: Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Sirajul Haq has reiterated that the government should inform the masses that why the foreigners fleeing from Afghanistan are being provided accommodations in Islamabad and other main cities of the country.

“The rulers should explain their position on stay of people belonging to NATO in Pakistan at a time when the neighboring countries have refused to do so, ” Sirajul Haq said while talking to party workers here on Monday.

He said the government and mainstream opposition parties were fighting against each other only to protect their self-interests and they were hardly interested in public cause.The rulers, he added, were also least interested in strengthening democratic institutions.

“The JI has long been asking the political parties to sit together for electoral reforms and also shared with them a complete draft on reforms but it seems they do not want free and fair elections.It is in their [ruling elite] best interest to keep the status quo intact.They have been ruling Pakistan for decades and the current system suits them” Sirajul Haq said.

Sirajul Haq criticized the PTI for doing nothing for institutions building in three years.He said the prime minister made tall claims about the government performance but the ground realities were completely different from what he was claiming.He said there was need to bring real change and enforce the system for which the country was created.

Sirajul Haq said the Muslims of this region made countless sacrifices for Pakistan but the feudal lords and capitalists hijacked the system after few years of country’s creation.He said the people of Pakistan should reject the protector of the status quo and vote for the capable and honest leadership.He said the country was enriched with enormous resources and they should be utilized for masse.

ISLAMABAD: Political leadership of the country has expressed full satisfaction over the capabilities, policies and steps of the armed forces for peace, security and internal security of Afghanistan besides ensuring protection of basic strategic interests of Pakistan.

The military leadership has made it clear that there is no favourite of Pakistan in Afghanistan and “we want representative government of Afghan people therein.Afghanistan situation impacts Pakistan as well.

Members of parliamentary Kashmir committee and defence committees of Senate and National Assembly (NA) visited GHQ on Monday wherein they were given detailed briefing on internal and national security, situation in Afghanistan, borders issues and implementation on national action plan.

Parliamentary Kashmir committee was led by its chairman Shehryar Afridi.Senate defence committee was led by Mushahid Hussain Syed and NA defence committee by Amjid Ali Khan.

All the three parliamentary committees included parliamentarians from PML-N, PPP and other opposition parties as well.

Sources said the members of parliamentary committees met army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.During the meeting they were given briefing on the latest situation in Afghanistan.They were told that what happened in Afghanistan on August 15 was unexpected.US showed haste in evacuation.However Pakistan took all the steps on borders to ensure its security and defence in the perspective of all the situation.Now Pakistan on the request of different countries is helping in the evacuation of their citizens from Afghanistan.

The participants were told that Pakistan is keeping watchful eye on the evolving situation in Afghanistan.We hope Taliban will take along all groups and such a representative government will be formed which enjoys the support of people of Afghanistan.

Pakistan played a vital role in connection with meeting between Taliban and US at Doha.

Army chief gave replies to questions on the occasion.DG ISPR Major General Babar Iftikhar and senior military officers were present on the occasion.

The members of parliamentary committees condemned strongly the Indian propaganda blitz against Pakistan on overall situation saying no role of India has remained in Afghanistan now.On the other hand India had gone to Afghanistan to destabilize Pakistan.

The members of committees while expressing full satisfaction over the professional and operational preparedness of armed forces said Pakistan army is guarantor of stability and peace and the way the protection of basic strategic interests of the country has been ensured in the prevailing situation the entire nation is proud of it.

Parliamentarians from opposition parties too paid tribute to jawans and officers of armed forces for their role and sacrifices rendered by them to ensure defence and stability of the country.

They said all the political parties stand with the armed forces shoulder to shoulder for the defence and security of Pakistan.There are no two opinions on this matter.

The participants were told that Taliban are assuring repeatedly Afghan soil will not be used against Pakistan and any other country.We hope they will ensure its implementation because terrorists attacked Pakistan check post from Afghanistan in last days.2 jawans of Pakistan army were martyred.

The members and chairmen of parliamentary committees thanked army chief for arranging briefing.

Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa said he feels happy that members of parliament question answer on important matters of defence.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan says the protection of life and property of the people is the primary responsibility of the government.

He was presiding a meeting of the concerned officers of the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication in Islamabad on Monday to get update on the establishment of Universal Pakistan Emergency Helpline 911.

The Prime Minister directed the concerned authorities to remove all obstacles in the commencement of service as soon as possible to curb crime in the country.

The Prime Minister was informed that all necessary work including inter-provincial liaison has been completed and the helpline will be ready for regular opening by the first week of October this year.

The Prime Minister hoped the launch of this helpline would help ensure peace and security in the country by enabling timely action against crime.

Meanwhile Prime Minister Imran Khan says construction of water reservoirs will not only fulfil water needs but also ensure provision of affordable electricity to meet energy requirements of the country.

Talking to Chairman Water and Power Development Authority Lt.General (retd) Muzammil Hussain, who called on him in Islamabad on Monday, the Prime Minister directed to take necessary steps to complete the construction work of new dams within the stipulated time.

The Chairman WAPDA apprised Imran Khan about the progress in the construction work on the continuing big dams under Prime Minister’s vision of Decade of Dams.

Meanwhile Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed to finalize the new SME policy to provide incentives and facilities to small business owners under the government’s Ease of Business Policy.

Chairing a review meeting on the promotion of small and medium businesses, in Islamabad on Monday, the Prime Minister said small industries have been neglected in the past while our government is focused on providing facilities to them.

The meeting was informed that small and medium enterprises account for 40 percent of the total GDP of Pakistan.

It was apprised that Loans will be provided to small and medium enterprises under the supervision of State Bank of Pakistan and special attention is being paid to the business related to the information technology sector.It was also informed that all stakeholders have been consulted in detail so that there is no loopholes in the policy.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for information and broadcasting Fawad Chaudhary has said that Shahbaz Sharif should bring his elder brother Nawaz Sharif back from London instead of gathering people in Islamabad.

Reacting to opposition leader Shahbaz Sharif’s press talk on Monday, Fawad said that Shahbaz only wants to get into world powers’ good book, which is shameful.

He said that Shahbaz carried out a ‘comic’ press conference outside Jinnah’s tomb, which is certainly not the place to do such ‘jolly’ press talks.

He said that Nawaz Sharif should come back and face the interrogations in cases against him.They [Sharif family] spent a million dollars on grandson’s wedding and snivelled later in the name of inflation, he alleged.

The minister said that PML-N is not serious about Pakistan’s real issues.Whole world was talking about Afghanistan and they [PML-N] didn’t utter a single statement about Afghan issue, he added.

Fawad said that people of Pakistan are facing tough conditions, while Shabaz’s family is sitting in London and living a luxurious life.How can they understand Pakistan’s problems? He asked.

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Human Rights Dr.Shireen Mazari says Pakistan is moving forward in its commitment to criminalize enforced disappearances.

In a series of tweets on the occasion of International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, she said a bill on enforced disappearances, prepared in consultations with the stakeholders, has been approved unanimously by National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Interior.

The Minister said she said there can never be any place for enforced disappearances in a democracy.

Dr.Shireen Mazari said Prime Minister Imran Khan met Baloch families of Disappeared who shared their list of missing family members.She said some have since returned home while others are being traced.

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Science and Technology Senator Syed Shibli Faraz says the government is making all out efforts to take the opposition on board for electoral reforms and use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in elections.

Addressing a ceremony in Peshawar on Monday, Shibli Faraz said the use of ‘Electronic Voting Machines’ will enable over one point eight million overseas Pakistanis to exercise their right to vote in the elections.

The Minister said every election in the past remained controversial due to the faults in the process of polling and counting.

He said through electronic voting machine, the result can be calculated within fifteen seconds.

The Minister termed the objections on machines by the opposition as baseless.

Islamabad: Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that construction of dams is the need of hour to meet country’s water lacking.

The Prime Minister was talking to Chairman Wapda Lieutenant General (r) Muzammil Hussain, who called on him Monday.

Chairman Wapda briefed Prime Minister Imran Khan over ‘decade of dams’ project and construction of new dams across country.

The Prime Minister showed satisfaction over the developments and directed Wapda to complete the construction work within due timeline.

He said that construction of new dams will also be beneficial to overcome power crisis.

Islamabad: Pakistan Peoples Party’s central secretary information Shazia Marri on Monday said that inflation has made a commoner’s life difficult, adding that poor is unable to feed its children.

In a statement, Shazia said that basic commodities including food are out of masses’ reach.Poor are unable to buy medicine for Sugar, Blood pressure and heart diseases.

PPP leader said that highly qualified youth are experiencing unemployment and Prime Minister is busy showcasing his pictures at charity alms houses.

She said that Only Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has the wisdom and manifesto to get unemployed and jobless youth out of this whirlpool.

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed says that the Taliban have assured to not let TTP use Afghanistan’s soil against Pakistan.

Talking to media in Islamabad on Monday, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said Pakistan Army is present along the border with Afghanistan to defend every inch of the motherland.He said around 2690 kilometers of Pak-Afghan frontier have been fenced.

The Minister said Pakistan is a responsible country and is fully capable of taking care of its national security and to come up with the international expectations.He said Pakistan has made history in facilitating peace process in Afghanistan.He said the world should also not forget that Pakistan has rendered around 80, 000 lives in fight against terrorism.

Regarding any possible influx of people from Afghanistan, Sheikh Rashid said that we have made arrangements to accommodate 3, 000 people in Islamabad only.He said any person from any nationality, who comes to Pakistan from Afghanistan, will be granted a transit visa of 21 days.

Answering a question, he said so far 1627 people have come through air route, while over 2100 people arrived through land route at Torkham.He said we were expecting a huge refugee influx from Afghanistan, but not a single person came to Pakistan as refugee.

Replying to a question, the Minister made it clear that all Pakistanis have been evacuated from Afghanistan and only 30 to 40 people are there, who themselves do not want their repatriation.

Talking about opposition alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement’s announcement of launching a march against the government, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that the opposition has nothing to sell and is unable to predict the future scenario of regional politics.He said Pakistan is going to become a centre of the international politics, but the opposition is not realizing its responsibility.He said no hurdle will be created in the way of opposition’s long march, but lawbreakers will be dealt in line with the law and the constitution.