ISLAMABAD: Security Advisor Dr Moeed Yousuf has said Pakistan came to fore as the most credible ally of US in 2001.

“we rendered sacrifice of over 80000 lives in war on terror”, he said this while addressing a ceremony here Monday.

He held Pakistan was most affected among other countries in Afghan war.Pakistan started hosting Afghan refugees since 1980 decade while Taliban movement started from South Kandhar city of Afghanistan.

He went on to say several things were said against Pakistan which proved incorrect later.

He observed Pakistan assisted for the peace and security in Afghanistan.But mistakes were committed by overlooking ground realities therein.

He stated that Afghan refugees migrated to Pakistan to avoid US attacks.

He remarked India created artificial crisis on borders so that our attention could remain focus on eastern borders.We had to face terror acts.

He remarked Pakistan made efforts to persuade Taliban for talks.

ISLAMABAD: Decision has been taken to seal different streets in Islamabad in view of growing cases of COVID-19.

Islamabad administration has issued notification for sealing 16 streets.

According to notification street No 54 and 56 of sector G-7/2 will be sealed and smart lock down will remain in place in street No 9 of sector I-10/2, Street No 1 of sector G-9/2 and street No 34 and 52 of sector G-9/1.

Street No 11 of sector E-11/4, Street No 112 of sector I-10/4, Streets no 2, 8, 10, 70, 77, 122, 125 and 126 of sector G-9/3 are being closed.

According to notification unnecessary movement in the areas which have been subjected to lock down will remain banned.However the grocery shops will be allowed to remain open.

The notification will stand implemented with immediate effect.

ISLAMABAD: Former President of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) Dr.Shahid Rasheed Butt on Monday said it is very difficult to make PIA profitable therefore more time and money should not be spent on this bleeding enterprise and it should be sold.

The losses of PIA has come down substantially but it is still wasting up to 140 million rupees per day which is a drag on nations kitty, he said.

Shahid Rasheed Butt said that dozens of countries including the US are without a national flag carrier and it will make no difference if Pakistan has not one.

He said that last year PIA losses during the first six months were 36.5 billion rupees that have come down to Rs25 billion during the current year but it is still not affordable.

The losses of PIA have come down by 31.5 percent but its revenue has also almost halved from Rs51.2 billion to 27.6 billion due to various reasons including travel restrictions.

The current level of losses are not sustainable, therefore this company should be sold to use saved money on national and social development, he demanded.

Islamabad: Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Monday said that the Taliban have assured to not let TTP use Afghanistan’s soil against Pakistan.

Talking to media in Islamabad, Rashid 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 has 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.

ISLAMABAD: Allama Iqbal Open University has announced the schedule of admissions for the autumn semester 2021.Admission for the second phase will start from September 1.The educational programs offered in this phase will include University Teacher Training Programs, BA (Associate Degree), and BS (ODL Mode) programs.Matriculation, FA and I.Com admissions offered in the first phase will continue till September 6.It is pertinent to mention here that the university has shifted its overall affairs from manual to automation.Under the digitalization policy, all the admissions will take place online.Admission forms and prospectuses will be available on the university’s website www.aiou.edu.pk from

September 1.

AIOU has introduced 34 educational programs for international students, in which admissions for Matric and FA programs will continue till September 6, while admissions for BS, B.Ed, Post Graduate Diploma, and BBA programs will start from September 1.Overseas Pakistanis residing in any country of the world can take admission in these programs.Apart from Pakistanis, citizens of other countries are also eligible for admission to these educational programs.Admission forms and prospectuses for all the programs will be available on the University’s website from September 1.From admission to exams, all teaching activities will be online.Eligibility criteria for admission can be checked on the University website

http: //fmbp.aiou.edu.pk.The International Collaboration and Exchange Office can be contacted

on +92519250175 or by email at ICE@AIOU.EDU.PK.