PAJCCI hosts discussion on issues affecting realization of Pak-Afghan

PESHAWAR Staff report

Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industries (PAJCCI) kicked off 11th Focus Group Discussion on “economic and political issues” affecting the full realization of bilateral trade potential” at Islamabad on Thursday. The meeting was attended by business community members from Pakistan and Afghanistan and government officials. The core objective of the dis- cussion was to remove trade barriers, deliberating and recommending measures to realize trade potential between the two countries, identifying ways to develop sustainable policy framework for long term bilateral and transit trade using each other’s capability and resources, capitalizing on the strengths of private stakeholders, B2B connectivity, setting up of border bazaars to raise employment amongst SME and home industry, encouraging and involving businesswomen to play their role in economic uplift of both the countries.

Fawad warns Punjab, KP governors of Article 6 if polls delayed

ISLAMABAD Staff report

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry made it clear that the elections was the sole panacea to the prevailing problems currently confronting the country and those who were creating obstacles in holding the polls within 90 days were violating constitution and would face Article 6.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, Fawad, who was flanked by PTI senior leaders Hammad Azhar, Shahbaz Gill and Ali Awan, said that the imported government compounded the miseries due to the backbreaking inflation and resurgence of terrorism.

He said that at the time when the whole country was under trauma due to tragic Peshawar blast, the imported government was busy in taking revenge as Sheikh Rasheed and Imran Riaz were arrested and a case was registered against Shandana Gulzar, which were condemnable. He raised question that who was wise enough to advise the imported government to file cases against their opponents. government, Fawad said that PTI government under leadership of Imran Khan succeeded in controlling the terrorism affectively as no major terror incident took place at that time despite the fact the region was passing through major transitional period, as the process of the US troops’ withdrawal from Afghanistan was going on.

Fawad warned that the country cannot afford confrontation and division at this time. Therefore, he said that it was high time to take confidence building measures to help bridge the fast widening fissure, because the policy of arrests, coercions, threats and political victimizations was no more workable.

He warned that the use of power could further complicate the matter, as efforts were afoot to destabilize Pakistan.

Fawad went on to say that the PTI did not want confrontation with the institutions because the government cannot run without their support, but PTI just wanted that they should not support the puppet, incompetent, inapt and crooked government unnecessarily.

“We want that institutions should accept supremacy of constitution and law and should respect human rights and accept public right to elect their leader through their power of votes,” he added.

He raised question that who was spreading chaos and anarchy in the country when Pakistan needed stability and peace.

He said that Imran Khan knew the leadership of Afghanistan and was cognizant to the fact that war was no solution to problems that was reason, he launched a peace initiative which was widely welcomed and peace restored in the country.

Fawad said that PTI government played a lead role in safe evacuation of foreign diplomats and journalists stranded in Afghanistan after the abrupt US troops’ withdrawal.

“We brought the country back to tourism from terrorism within nine months,” he added. However, he stated that the imported government confused

Pakistanis are increasingly exposed to second-hand cigarette smoke, especially in the workplace or at home. In the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey for 2012-2013, 39.1% of the respondents reported being exposed to indoor cigarette smoke every day. Second-hand smoke is the fourth leading cause of disability and death in Pakistan; in 2017 alone, it caused 33,524 deaths - 2.37% of the nation's total deaths. It's not necessary to smoke a cigarette yourself to suffer from its adverse consequences on health. Keeping in mind its numerous health effects, avoiding second hand smoke is increasingly becoming a public concern as well as a basic human right. This is why many countries, including Pakistan, have attempted to enact laws that prohibit cigarettes from being lit in public spaces. The cigarette alternatives being adopted worldwide have been designed to limit the harmful impacts of choosing to smoke. With the potential to positively impact countless lives, they present smokers with less risk of harm through science-backed smoke-free alternatives. Scientists around the world have shifted their focus on less harmful alternatives that smokers can replace cigarettes with as a first step to reducing risks. Countries like Japan, UK, Sweden, Norway, to name a few, have taken up the responsibility to reduce the number of smokers by legalising HeatedTobacco-Products (HTP) and adopting less harmful strategies nationwide. These countries are already seeing a great decline in their numbers of smokers, and perhaps, Pakistan’s population could take a page out of their notebooks.

Domino's becomes official food partner of Quetta Gladiators

Karachi: Domino’s Pakistan has announced its partnership with Quetta Gladiators for PSL Season 8. The renowned pizza brand will now serve as the official food partner for the Gladiators throughout the season. The partnership was made official during a memorandum signing ceremony that featured top people from either parties, including CEO Domino’s Pakistan Faisal Munshi, COO Saad Khan and CMO Raafay Haider along with Owner Quetta Gladiators Nadeem Omar. He was accompanied by Director Quetta Gladiators Hasan Omar and the skipper of the side Sarfaraz Ahmed. pr

Careem partners with Fly Jinnah; expands corporate portfolio

Karachi: Careem, the pioneer of ride hailing in Pakistan, has recently partnered with Fly Jinnah, a newly launched private airline for domestic flights in Pakistan, to expand its corporate portfolio Careem for Business (C4B). Under the partnership, Careem will be providing hassle-free mobility solutions to 100+ Fly Jinnah employees across major cities of Pakistan. As a start, Careem will be providing 11 cars on a monthly basis with 24/7 operations as well as bigger vehicles (hiace and hijets) for the airline’s crew members, including captains and cabin crew. pr policy and non-seriousness reversed all the hard-gains of the PTI government in short span of few months.

Fawad stated that Bilawal Bhutto visited America more than 17 times but not once to Afghanistan because he did not now the sensitivity of the issue.

Similarly, he said that imported Shehbaz Sharif did not call a single meeting on the issue of Afghanistan, adding that the imported government was so confused that no one knew what they wanted.

Lashing out at the Khawaja Asif, Fawad said that he blamed Imran Khan for the resurgence of terrorism in the country, but fact was that there was no bomb blast during PTI time. He said that country was at crossroad as it has inflation on one side and terrorism on the other side. Fawad warned that peace cannot be achieved by turning Pakistan into a graveyard.

However, he said that the time when the country needed a political dialogue, the government was busying in booking the PTI leadership in different cases including seditions.