Multinational aMan 2023 exercise to start on 10th: pak navy

ISLAMABAD Staff report

MEDIAbrief of multinational Maritime Exercise AMAN-23 was held at PNS JAUHAR. Commander Pakistan Fleet Vice Admiral Ovais Ahmed Bilgrami briefed media regarding Exercise details.

Pakistan Navy has been conducting AMAN series of multinational maritime exercise every two years since its beginning in 2007. Eighth edition of the exercise is scheduled to be held this year from 10-14 February, involving participation of over 50 countries with ships, aircrafts, Special Ops Forces/ EOD Marines teams and observers. The exercise is divided into two phases: harbour and sea. Harbour phase involves activi- ties such as seminars, operational discussions, professional demonstrations, international get togethers and pre-sail planning of evolutions at sea. The sea phase would include tactical maneuvers, exercises related to maritime security such as anti-piracy and counter terrorism, search and rescue, gunnery firings and air defence exercises. Highlight of the sea phase will be the International Fleet Re-

pr cargo trains’ fare increased by 25pc, notification issued

ISLAMABAD Staff report

After a 10 percent increase in passenger trains fares, the Pakistan Railways has jacked up the fares of freight trains by 25 percent also.

A notification about raise in cargo train fairs were issued here on Wednesday.

Those who desired to send parcels and luggage through freight trains would have to bear 25 percent additional expanses now.

Former chinese ambassador appointed as assistant minister

ISLAMABAD

Staff report

Nong Rong, the former Chinese ambassador to Pakistan, has been appointed assistant minister of foreign affairs, the State Council announced.

Nong, 56, was appointed Chinese ambassador to Pakistan in 2020. He held a farewell reception on Jan 16 in Islamabad announcing his departure. Nong spent the majority of his career in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. He became mayor of Guigang in 2015 and was named head of the regional commission of ethnic and religious affairs in 20.

Corporate Corner

way. Cumulatively, these realities make maritime stability a vital national security interest. We realize the importance of maritime security not only for Pakistan but for all other countries whose prosperity and progress are tied to the seas.

descon oxychem completes 9-million ‘safe’ man-hours

view, which will be witnessed by national and foreign dignitaries

As a maritime nation, Pakistan has substantial stakes in keeping our seas safe and secure. Our interests are based on three major factors. Firstly, our extraordinary dependence on the seas for trade; secondly, operationalization of CPEC project and thirdly, our strategic location astride the global energy high-

While we talk of security and stability at sea, let us be mindful of the threats and challenges that we face in the maritime domain, ranging from piracy, terrorism, narco-arms trafficking to climate change. However, vastness of the seas makes it extremely difficult for any one nation to deal with these diverse challenges alone. This calls for collective effort to make sure the seas remain safe and secure for all of us to use and benefit from. Pakistan Navy is therefore a firm believer in the concept of Collaborative Maritime Security and has been actively participating in Maritime Security.

Three die in Swat loader pickup plunge

SWAT

Syed Shahabuddin

Three persons died here on Wednesday when a loader pickup plunged into a ditch near Sarbanda area of Matta Tehsil in Swat District.

According to Matta Police Moharar Fayaz Khan, the loader pickup was on the to a hilly area Sarbanda from Matta when the accident occurred.

He informed the dead included driver 22-year-old Muhammad Salim, son of Muhammad Saeed;

25-year-old Attaullah, son of Ghulam Muhammad and 21-year-old Abdul Samad, son of Pai Mohammad. The police said cause of the accident could not be ascertained yet. However, a local source told this scribe that the accident happened due to “brake failure.”

Meanwhile, two persons including a woman died and two others sustained injured in an explosion in a firecrackers-producing factory in Okara.

According to police, the explosion occurred in a firecracker-man- ufacturing factory near Shabir Walakho in Okara. As result, four persons including three women sustained injuries. Rescue 1122 rushed to the post and rushed the injured to THQ Hospital Okara where two of them including a woman, succumbed to their burns. Later, the two other injured namely, Muhammad Ahmed and Fouzia were referred to Lahore due to their precarious.

Meanwhile, DPO Mansoor Aman ordered to arrest the culprits behind the incident.