‘european Dream’ oF guJrat man Drowns with him in meDiterranean

ISLAMABAD aNadolu ageNCy peeRpressure, desire for a “better” life in europe, and sheer desperation all made Muhammad Ali board an overcrowded boat that last month set off on the world’s most dangerous migrant sea crossing.

Unfortunately, Ali, 21, did not make it to his desired destination. The boat capsized in the rough waters of the Mediterranean Sea shortly after leaving the Benghazi coast in Libya for Italy. Ali and more than a dozen died, their dreams and hopes drowning with them.

“His friends had all gone to Italy and were persuading him to join him. We tried stopping him, but he didn’t listen. He wanted to go to europe,” a heartbroken Chaudhry Mansha Bhojpur, uncle of the deceased Ali, spoke to Anadolu Agency on the phone from their hometown Gujrat.

Ali was on the Italy-bound boat, which on February 22 met an accident, resulting in the death of 16 people. Islamabad says that at least seven people who died were nationals.

The high number of casualties of migrants in shipwrecks has once again put the spotlight on refugees who are using dangerous sea routes to get to europe.

Since the beginning of the year, 327 migrants have died or gone missing in the Mediterranean Sea, according to the Missing Migrants Project. The project is an initiative of the UN’s International Organisation for migraNT rouTes: Conflicts, poverty, wars, and violence are the reasons why people are leaving their home countries and, in some instances, forced to migrate,

Migration (IOM) to document such migrants.

Recent incidents with a high death toll include a boat capsizing off the coast of Libya, in which 18 people died and 55 are missing. On February 26, an overcrowded wooden boat smashed into the rocks off the coast of southern Italy and killed at least 67 people, including men, women and children. Ali’s family, who are mourning his death, say it is a time of sadness. “Ali kept on persuading his parents, why can’t he live with his friends? Why can’t his parents send him? Why can’t his parents do anything for him? It was emotional blackmail,” says Bhojpur. On February 17, Ali took a flight to egypt from Dubai and then headed for Libya, where he met the agent who made arrangements for the sea travel.

Before getting on the boat, Ali talked to his family and told them that he would text them when he had an Internet connection. For two days, they had no information about him. Then the family got news from international media about the boat crash. Ali was recognised by his family from videos and pictures circulating on social media.

“Please don’t be influenced by anyone.

Ali’s friends had made it to Italy and he thought he would do too. But this is a dangerous route,” his uncle pleas, saying they are in touch with authorities in Libya to bring him home.

Pakistan stands besides Turkey in difficult time after deadly earthquake

Islamabad

aNadolu ageNCy

Pakistan was among the first countries to send search and rescue teams to Turkey following last month’s deadly earthquakes in the nation’s southern parts, the concerned authority said in its report to Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who has shown full support to the nation during the challenging time.

The government immediately dispatched a 33member Pakistan Army Urban Search and Rescue Team (USRT) on February 6, shortly after twin devastating earthquakes struck southern Turkey, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said in the report.

The following day, another 51-member Rescue 1122 squad left for Turkey.

The death toll from two powerful earthquakes has risen to over 45,000, while the relief and rehabilitation phase has begun for over 13 million people in 11 provinces affected by the natural disaster.

Over 9,000 international search and rescue personnel, including three teams from Pakistan, had flown into Turkey to assist the Turkish government in saving people trapped under the collapsed buildings.

During the rescue and search operations, Pakistani teams saved 14 people independently, in addition to the same number pulled to safety in collaboration with other teams, while also recovering 201 bodies and clearing 237 sites. “The team was able to recover a young boy 148 hours after earthquakes,” according to the NDMA report.

Furthermore, the Rescue 1122 team alerted the country’s USAR teams, who rescued five people from the collapsed buildings.

marriyum derides imran as ‘jackal’ for evading arrest

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum

Aurangzeb on Sunday derided Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan for allegedly evading arrest. In a tweet, the minister said that Imran Khan, who allegedly stole Toshakhana gifts and was “responsible” for economic destruction and inflation in the country, “escaped from Zaman Park residence fearing imminent arrest”. She said that the PTI chief had allegedly “dodged his daughter”, and now escaped from Zaman Park residence by “dodging children, party workers and women” [gathered outside his residence]. Sharing a picture of Nawaz Sharif, she said that genuine leaders bravely face arrest even in sham cases, but “jackal criminals like Imran flee away [fearing arrest]”. In another tweet, Marriyum Aurangzeb called Imran Khan a “jackal” for hiding behind his workers to prevent his arrest in corruption cases. The minister said ironically, Imran Khan got bail in almost every case, whether it was related to “abusing a female judge or launching an attack on the court and police or concealing information about his [alleged] daughter from the court”.

Indonesian Ambassador Encourages Pakistani Students To Avail Scholarships

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt reLief suPPLies: On Tuesday, a Pakistan Navy ship carrying 1,000 tons of relief supplies, 1,800 large family-sized winterized tents, and 29,000 blankets sailed from Karachi to Turkey.

Indonesian Ambassador to Pakistan Adam M. Tugio on Sunday has said that there are enormous scholarship opportunities for Pakistani students in Indonesia because many universities offer full scholarships to Pakistani students. He made these remarks while visiting a two-day International education Summit 2023, on 4-5 March 2023 to promote the education system in Indonesia and provide access to information on scholarships being offered by universities in Indonesia.

Ambassador Tugio said that the expo is also a good opportunity for the embassy since it can introduce some best universities in Indonesia.

The event is organized by the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce Industry (RCCI) with the objective to inspire Pakistani students with great educational prospects in Pakistan.

Ambassador Tugio commended the initiative of RCCI in organising the first-ever educational expo and underscored the important role of the university. He encouraged business community to play proactive role by connecting innovations from university labs to the markets. Speaking on the occasion, the President of RCCI, Saqib Rafiq reminded the audience that to have a strong economy, it is very important to first make Pakistan academia stronger. “Although we have brilliant students, they need to have proper guidance so that they could excel to their full potential”, he added.

The Pakistan Army team returned on February 24, while the Rescue 1122 team arrived a day earlier.

“Pakistan immediately extended full support in search, rescue and medical assistance along a provision of aid, and relief activities,” the NDMA stated in the report, adding that a medical team of 10 members was also deployed there.

“Overall, Pakistan’s swift response and deployment of trained teams played a crucial role in providing much-needed aid and support to the affected areas of Turkey and Syria. Their selfless efforts and dedication towards assisting their fellow humans in times of need are commendable and appreciated by the international community,” the authority said.

Apart from the fresh batch of relief goods, the NDMA has already sent nearly 10,069 winterized tents, 745 tons of relief assistance goods, and more than 33,000 blankets to affected areas via air and road routes. According to the report, a total of 26 flights, including 10 special chartered aircraft, were utilised to transport such relief items.

Last month, Prime Minister Sharif said Islamabad will send 100,000 tents to Turkey in the coming days.

Moreover, local charities such as the Al-Khidmat Foundation, edhi Foundation, Baitussalam Welfare Trust, Sailani Welfare Trust, and Pakistan Red Crescent have been involved in relief and rescue efforts in the earthquake-ravaged regions. Teams’ work Lauded: On Wednesday, Sharif hosted members of Pakistani teams who participated in the search, rescue, and relief efforts, thanking them for their efforts and assisting their Turkish brothers and sisters.

“The government and the people of Pakistan are grateful to all of you as you were the ones who arrived in Turkey soon after the earthquakes to help your Turkish brothers and sisters in a difficult time,” Sharif said, adding that they will remember these services for a long time.

“I saw my team working diligently on the occasion of the visit to Turkey, I have invited you all here to thank you all of you for your efforts,” he added. earlier that day, Army Chief Gen. Syed Asim Munir visited the Headquarters engineers Division in Rawalpindi and met with his army team that had returned from Turkey. He interacted with the rescue team members and appreciated their professionalism and commendable work during rescue efforts.

“Gen. Asim highlighted the importance of our enduring strategic relations with Turkey and Syria and the need to assist, particularly in times of crises,” the army’s media wing said in a statement.