RefoRms, investoRs-conducive enviRonment to help pakistan combat economic issues: us envoy

momentum especially in terms of strong people to people contact and economic ties”.

Corporate Corner

pRINCIPALDeputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs at the US Department of State, Elizabeth Horst Friday said that long-lasting reforms in the economic sector and creating businessconducive environment for the investors could help Pakistan cope with the prevailing economic issues.

“Pakistan has a lot of investment potential in various sectors of economy, while the robust policies can help attract local and foreign investment in the country, ensuring sustainable development”, she said while responding to the questions of the students in an interactive session.

The session was held here at National University of Science and Technology (NUST)’s Lincoln Corner. The US high official was accompanied by United States Ambassador to Pakistan, Donald Blome.

She said, “The US recognizes the fact that Pakistan has been a victim of terrorism, and has rendered endless sacrifices in its fight against terrorism.

“The recent attack in Peshawar Police Lines mosque is a reminder that a lot of work needs to be done to wipe out terrorism completely.

“Terrorism is a global issue which needs to be addressed through ensuring that the space for terrorists shrinks, and root causes are eliminated”, she said.

“United States is an active partner of Pakistan in its

islamabad police file case against unknown person after ‘pet’ leopard runs amok in residential area

ISLAMABAD

Staff report

The Islamabad Police on Friday opened a criminal investigation against an unknown person for “domesticating” a leopard, a day after it ran free and injured several people in an upscale residential area of the capital. Yesterday, video clips of the feline jumping across walls and navigating roads in the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Phase II neighbourhood of Islamabad went viral on social media, leading to an hours-long effort by authorities to capture it.

On Friday Islamabad Police tweeted that its Sahala Police Station, under whose jurisdiction DHA Phase II falls under, booked an unidentified suspect under sections 324 (attempt to commit murder) and 289 (negligent conduct with respect to animal) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The leopard was a pet in an unknown person’s home, the police alleged. “The suspect endangered the lives of citizens by keeping dangerous animals,” it said in a second tweet. “The search for the accused is ongoing, legal action will be taken after arresting him soon.”

Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman tweeted a video of the big cat sitting on the ground, saying this “leopard who escaped from a private zoo last night in Islamabad is alive and well at our Animal Rescue centre at the old zoo”. She added: “Its six-hour capture operation injured one of our Wildlife staff quite badly. Costs to the community and the animal could have been much higher. STOP private zoos.” struggle against terror and we will continue working together for finding out solutions to end the root causes of terrorism”, she said. About climate change impacts on the world environment, Elizabeth Horst said that there were no easy solutions to address the climate change issue which was impacting the citizens globally.

“This is the time that we have to join hands and come up with the solutions to mitigate climate change impacts, when countries like Pakistan are witnessing transition into the new technologies”, she said.

Earlier in her opening remarks, Elizabeth Horst said, “The United States and Pakistan have been enjoying cordial relations for the last 75 years, having a positive

“Although sometimes these relations get little bit distracted due to the regional and security issues that are going on, but at the heart of Pakistan-US relations is, its people to people contact and growth”, she said.

She said that the US had been offering an extensive range of educational, cultural and exchange programmes to Pakistani students which were fostering bilateral relations and people to people contacts.

“The US-Pakistan Green Alliance is the most exciting part of bilateral cooperation to address global climate crisis. The US administration recognizes that this is the crisis that no country can manage by itself. I am hopeful that both the countries will come up with such solutions to address climate crisis under this alliance, enabling us to look into global as well as local problems.

“Pakistanis have endured a terrible flooding last year, and we have to address climate crisis together.”

She pointed out the need for the countries to come up with the best possible solutions to address climate change in which “the science and technology sector will be most important to ensure comfortable life style of people along with addressing climate issue.”

Along with the public sector efforts for micro-economic stability, private sector should also contribute for economic growth in the country. Talking about the value of democracy and freedom in the society, she said that the current US administration was focusing on strengthening democracy and human rights.

Pirzada urges handing over of children to CPI in presence of lady police

ISLAMABAD Staff report

Federal Minister for Human Rights Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada, being the patron, chaired the third meeting of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Child Protection Advisory Board here in the Ministry of Human Rights, Islamabad on Friday.

The objective of the meeting was to discuss the pending issues of the Child Protection Institute (CPI) and Zainab Alert Response and Recovery Agency (ZARRA).

The Advisory Board is mandated, under the Child Protection Act, 2018, to advise the government on matters relating to policy, legislation and implementation of the rights of children at ICT level.

In the meeting, Board unanimously approved to move for certain amendments in the relevant section/clause of the act to change the composition of the Advisory Board to make it more practical and viable.

The Director General CPI Ms Rabeea Hadi requested the representative of the Inspector General of Police in Islamabad for more coordination and support in tracing of Afghan Children, their reunification and particularly in the rehabilitation of drug addict children those are handed over to CPI by the police.

During the meeting, issues of

Pakistan Navy Promotes Two Commodores

relocation and construction of customized building of CPI, resource allocation, drafting of supplementary rules, institutionalization of Helpline 1099, Prime Minister Performance Delivery Unit and ZARRA and recruitment of staff for both CPI and ZARRA also came under the discussion.

Moreover, the board discussed the proposal to move for necessary legislation for the adoption of unclaimed children from the CPI.

Riaz Hussain Pirzada urged the Islamabad Police to make sure the availability of lady police while handing over the custody of children to CPI for making this process more protected.

The Minister also advised the concerned authorities of CPI and ZARRA to fully utilize the human, tangible and financial resources to make both CPI and ZARRA fully functional and effective for the better safety of children in ICT.

ANF seizes 741.693kg drugs worth US $ 17.827m

RAWALPINDI

Staff report

Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) Pakistan has seized 741.693 Kg drugs and 6020 Liters Hydrochloric Acid (HCL) of worth US$ 17.827 Million and arrested 19 culprits from different parts of the country.

According to press release, ANF impounded 4 vehicles while conducting 30 counter narcotics operations throughout the country. The seized drugs comprised 5.338 Kg Heroin, 689.741 Kg Hashish, 14 Kg Opium, 11.556 Kg Methamphetamine (Ice), 20.430 Kg Amphetamine and 3376 Diazepam Tabs of 0.628 Kgs.

ANF Balochistan recovered 239.200 Kg drugs and 6020 Liters Hydrochloric Acid (HCL) in 5 operations and impounded a vehicle. The seized drugs comprised of 3 Kg Heroin, 227 Kg Hashish and 9.200 Kg Methamphetamine.

ANF Punjab recovered 202.580 Kg drugs in 4 operations while arrested two persons involved in drugs smuggling and impounded a vehicle. The seized drugs comprised of 1.080 Kg Heroin, 14 Kg Opium and 187.500 Kg Hashish.

ANF KPK recovered 221.767 Kg drugs in 11 operations while arrested 4 persons involved in drugs smuggling. The seized drugs comprised of 199.841 Kg Hashish, 1.496 Kg Methamphetamine and 20.430 Kg Amphetamine.

ANF Sindh recovered 73.980 Kg drugs in 4 operations while arrested 7 persons including 3 women involved in drugs smuggling and impounded 2 vehicles. The seized drugs comprised 1.180 Kg Heroin, 72 Kg Hashish and 0.800 Kg Methamphetamine.

ANF North recovered 4.166 Kg drugs in 6 operations, arrested 6 persons including a foreigner in drugs smuggling. The seized drugs comprised 0.078 Kg Heroin, 3.400 Kg Hashish, 0.060 Kg Methamphetamine (Ice) and 3376 Diazepam Tablets. All cases have been registered at respective ANF Police Stations under CNS Act 1997 and further investigations are under way.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy has promoted two Commodores to the rank of Rear Admiral with immediate effect.

Rear Admiral Khyber Zaman is a graduate of Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth, UK and was commissioned in Operations Branch of Pakistan Navy in 1994. He is a graduate of PAF Air War College, National Defence University, Islamabad and International College of Defence Studies China. The Flag Officer is a recipient of Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Military).

Rear Admiral Shafquat Hussain Akhtar was commissioned in Operations Branch of Pakistan Navy in 1994. The Flag Officer is a graduate of Pakistan Navy War College, Naval War College, Turkiye, National Defence University, Islamabad and International College of Defence Studies China. The Admiral is a recipient of Sitara-i-lmtiaz (Military). pr

exercise spears of victory, 2023 concludes at king abdulaziz air base

ISLAMABAD: A contingent of Pakistan Air Force participated in Exercise Spears of Victory, 2023 which concluded at Air War Centre Dhahran (King Abdulaziz Air Base), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The PAF contingent consisted of pride of Pakistan, JF-17 Thunder and F-16 aircraft which roared in the aerial boundaries of our Muslim brethren country while participating in the exercise. The exercise also witnessed participation of modern fighter jets and support elements from PAF and friendly countries. Air Marshal Abdul Moeed Khan, Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (Air Defence) witnessed the closing ceremony of the exercise and appreciated the efforts of PAF contingent for making the exercise a great success. pr