Govt to ter minate contracts with 15 IPPs to reduce electricity costs
The Pakistani government has decided to review and terminate agreements with 15 Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to provide relief to the public burdened by high electricity costs, sources revealed on Thursday Led by Energy Minister Awais Leghari a task force has finalized a framework to address the issue The government plans to immediately end contracts with six IPPs established in the 1990s and gradually phase out agreements with nine
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T President Asif Ali Zardari signed the controversial Election Act Amendment Bill 2024 which becomes a law The gazette notification will be issued today (Thursday) as the bill has been sent to the Senate Secretariat The Senate passed the Election Act Amendment Bill by a majority vote despite protest by the opposition Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf (PTI) on Aug 6 As the session started with Yousuf Raza Gilani in the chair Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) Senator Talal Chaudhry presented the Election Act Amendment Bill The opposition members stood on their seats and started protest
The amendment provides that a candidate who does not submit the party certificate before obtaining the election symbol will be con-
sidered an independent candidate
If the list of candidates for reserved seats is not submitted within the specified period, no political party will be entitled to those seats ” It also provides that any candidate’s declaration of affiliation to a political party will be irrevocable PTI CHALLENGES THE BILL: The Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) on Wednesday moved the apex court against the Election Act Amendment Bill
The decision was taken a day after the government passed the Election Act Amendment Bill 2024 to deny the PTI reserved seats after the Supreme Court verdict PTI chief Barrister Gohar Ali Khan approached the Supreme Court through Advocate Salman Akram Raja while making the federal government and the Election Commission of Pakistan respondents in the application
The application said the PTI
had submitted its candidates list to the ECP and it must be given the reserved seats in line with the SC July 12 verdict ECP FILES REVIEW PLEA: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on the other hand filed a review petition regarding the Supreme Court s decision on reserved seats in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) favour Last month, a 13-member full court bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa delivered a verdict on the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) petition related to reserved seats
Justices Aminuddin Khan and Naeem Afghan had dissented from the majority decision
The Supreme Court had annulled the decisions of the Peshawar High Court and the Election Commission, ordering that the reserved seats be allocated to the PTI
address, the COAS touched on the long-standing Kashmir issue and expressed sorrow over the ongoing
T WO EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES PROJECTS L AUNCHED UNDER PSDP
The Global System for Mobile Communication Association (GSMA) has urged the Pakistani government to gradually eliminate the 15% Advance Income Tax (AIT or withholding tax) on essential telecoms services and the 19 5% sales tax on mobile services, which creates additional barriers to digital inclusion for low-income households In its latest report titled Realising Pakistan s
of $4 4 billion in Chinese commercial loans and a one-year extension of loan rollovers from Saudi Arabia and
UAE The SBP chief assured that there are no external payment pressures predicting foreign exchange reserves could reach $13 billion by the end of this fiscal year Governor Ahmad noted that Pakistan’s import of petrol, oil, and lubricants has significantly decreased from $2 5 billion to $1 4 billion per month He projected inflation to be 13 5% for the current fiscal year with a reduction to 7% next year He highlighted that budgetary measures and rising energy prices could impact inflation rates
The SBP governor mentioned that GDP growth has been constrained to 3 5% over the past decade stressing the need to increase domestic exports by 10% to 15% He outlined a five-year plan to stabilize the economy, which includes controlling the current account deficit, ensuring foreign exchange re-
serves cover three months of imports, and achieving financial stability and transparency During the committee proceedings there was a heated exchange between opposition leader Omar Ayub and treasury party MNA Azhar Kiani, leading to a boycott by opposition members Minister of State
GMO contamination in Pakistani rice shipment alarms export circles
conducted on July 31, 2024 categorized the product as hazardous due to unauthorized GMO presence As per a news report the EU Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) issued a notification on August 2 2024 regarding the discovery The contamination source has been traced back to government laboratories in Germany and Luxembourg Rice is Pakistan’s second most important food crop and a significant export commodity to European countries which have stringent regulations against GMO products due to health concerns
The EU maintains a zero-tolerance policy for GMO rice, and Pakistan has adopted a similar stance However, lapses in the regulatory framework could undermine these efforts The recent incident is not isolated In June 2021 a shipment containing 500 tonnes of GM rice from India was also detected In response, Pakistan tightened regulatory checks on rice cargoes to curb the trade of GM rice The federal government instructed the Department of Plant Protection Ministry of Food Security & Research (MFS&R) to enforce strict regulations on inbound and outgoing rice consignments following concerns raised by the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP)
These measures were implemented after European Union authorities rejected shipments containing GM rice
The Punjab government echoed similar concerns in April 2018 expressing strong reservations about the trade of GM rice As part of these tightened regulations, Pakistan blocked the entry of a Chinese rice seed shipment in 2018, leading to diplomatic communications from the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad The Chinese diplomat highlighted the issue of a 2 000ton shipment of hybrid rice seed being stuck at Karachi port due to negative GMO testing results
MARI PETROLEUM ANNOUNCES RECORD RS7 7BN
800% BONUS SHARES
Pak S uzuki halts produc tion, faces massive losses due to govt restric tions
Key suspect in Khalil-urRehman Qamar’s kidnapping case appears in cour t
A sif merchant has no criminal record in Pakistan, says C TD
Following
Turmoil shakes BD central bank, workers force top officials to resign
FI N A N C E Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb
has said that now China, Saudi Arabia and the USA have agreed to a rollover of a total of $12 billion the IMF is now good to give a 37month $7 billion EFF, which is expected now to be approved by the IMF’s Executive Board at the end of this month or the beginning of next There is one problem with these roll-overs They only provide a one-year relief from the need to repay them Another problem is that they have been rolled over before and it is likely that the political cost of getting these rollovers will increase when Pakistan attempts to get another rollover And attempt it will have to because the deposits will become due for repayment before one of the reviews for the IMF programme, and if it is not possible to repay these deposits, the IMF is likely to make Pakistan get them rolled over
These debts are not just ordinary sovereign debts, but the Saudi and Emirati debts are deposits with the State Bank of Pakistan They are not meant to be used, but merely bolster the foreign exchange reserves, and give an essentially false sense of security to foreign commercial lenders They are not wholly responsible for some credit rating agencies’ refusal to upgrade Pakistan, but have been a contributing factor The Chinese debt is in the form of money owed to Chinese banks for CPEC loans Chinese rollovers are nervewracking as they can only be made if the amount owed is actually paid; then there is a fresh loan made This helps explain why the government is attempting to issue so-called Panda Bonds Though this might be a clever way of rolling over Pakistan’s debt, it will still remain debt
This makes clear the country’s central problem This IMF programme is not the ultimate goal Clever ways of managing the debt are not needed, because they will still leave the country in debt Some way of repaying the debt is necessary, so that no more rollovers are needed However so long as the attitude that debt is there to be contracted, not repaid, remains, among the country s decision makers the country will not emerge from the debt trap it finds itself in
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late)
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar
t h ,
Haniyeh’s death raised many queries
At Penpoint
TH E killing of Hamas Politbureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran presumably by Israel has not been claimed as its work raises a vast array of questions, while at the same time answering a few Perhaps the most salient feature of the murder is that it came right after the signing of the Beijing Declaration by a number of Palestinian organizations including Hamas Previous talks between Hamas and Al-Fatah have been about the holding of fresh elections (the last were in 2006 and both the Palestinian Liberation Organization and Hamas, cannot claim that their mandates are particularly recent ) It should be noted that this massacre by Israel is something the Netanyahu government seems committed to even as it embarrasses Israel’s supporters the world over The first thing that the war does is keep Netanyahu in office and thus helps block his ongoing prosecution for corruption, The USA was motivated to sign off on a move meant primarily to save a sleazebag from his just, deserts because Haniyeh was supporting something, the Beijing Declaration which it wanted but which it did not want Beijing to deliver The USA is as concerned as anyone about the shape of apost-invasion Gaza and it would like it to be governed by the Palestinian Authority which governs the West Bank with the Hamas ousted One requirement would be an agreement among Palestinian groups to work together for that goal However China managing that reconciliation means it is doing what the USA could not do There are two reasons why this is particularly galling for the USA First, there is its antipathy to China because of their global rivalry Then there is its intervention in the Middle East, an area in which it has recently begun to take an interest, with a major recent success being its successful mediation between Saudi Arabia and Iran China is interested in the Middle East for the same reason the USA is oil However the USA has made Israel the cornerpiece of its strategy but China is not committed to it China is bumping up against the USA of late, one important example being its taking the side of the USSR in its invasion of Ukraine Its being aligned with the USSR and the Central Asian Republics makes a certain sense because of its One Belt One Road initiative and the New Silk Road plan
However central to its vision is a guaranteed source of oil from Saudi Arabia as well as Iran It does not want to end up like Russia if the Taiwan situation leaves it facing US sanctions Its access to Middle East oil dovetails with its need to secure the Indian Ocean and China Sea routes which allow it access That is what makes CPEC so important: then the oil only needs to get to Gwadar before landing onto a secure route to China Surprisingly, India is also involved in the matter It has begun to function as the USA’s main catspaw
in the region and particularly against China At the same time India is also deeply interested in the Middle East, primarily because of the oil there It must be remembered that for the first time, a power, perhaps even a superpower, is getting involved in the Middle East which does not have a significant Jewish population The USSR was generally opposed to Israel because of its own direct ties to the Palestine Liberation Organization and to the Arab states like Egypt and Syria (Even now, the only naval base of Russia outside its territory is in Syria ) India has a historic link to the Palestinian cause, but the link between the PLO and the Congress Party has been reversed under the BJP which initiated relations with Israel when Morarji Desai was PM and had Atal Bihari Vajpayee as his Foreign Minister India and Israel realised that they both had to deal with a large an intractable Muslim minority, and it is to be noticed that they have been following essentially the same policy in dealing with them India in particular has shown in Indian Occupied Kashmir that it has been an apt pupil of Israel both in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
One of the responses has been the election of Yahya Shinwar as Haniyeh s successor as Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau Shinwar is the same age as Haniyeh, and like him is a product of the Gaza refugee camps Their families became refugees after fleeing from the same town Ashkelon in what is now Israel Both he and Haniyeh took degrees in Arabic literature from the Gaza Islamic University and both had been jailed by the Israelis Haniyeh thrice for short periods, Shinwar for v22 years between 1989 and 2011, until he was released in a prisoner exchange He was presently headed of Hamas in Gaza, and is said to be responsible for the October 7 attacks which have provoked Israel into its ‘final solution Shinwar has been described
Israel no longer appears in control of events It has faced unprecedented criticism for its tactics, including from the International Court of Justice It does have the backing of the USA, with the current Administration vying with Congress to prove a greater degree of support for Israel. HaniyehÊs assassination may be a further stage in IsraelÊs deline. It certainly didnÊt bring a victory of any kind any closer.
T h e i m p o r t a n c e a n d e v o l u t i o n o f b u r n u n i t s i n h e a l t h c a r e
struggled
absence of
Bsuch as intensive care and physiotherapy further compromised patient outcomes The lack of resources in many burn centres is not limited to this facility Across the country burn units are often underfunded and understaffed This results in insufficient medical supplies, outdated equipment, and inadequate facilities The shortage of trained medical personnel, including burn surgeons, nurses, and therapists exacerbates the problem leading to delays in treatment and suboptimal care The incident at Ahmadpur Sharqia in 2017 highlighted the region s vulnerability to mass burn injuries and the subsequent strain on overwhelmed medical facilities A tanker explosion resulted in over 200 deaths and numerous severe burn injuries overwhelming local hospitals and exposing the inadequacies in emergency preparedness and response The lack of preparedness for such emergencies is a grave concern The absence of a coordinated emergency response plan and the limited capacity of existing burn units to handle mass casualties underscore the need for comprehensive disaster management strategies To address these critical issues increased government funding public-private partnerships and community engagement are essential Investing in burn centres, training medical personnel, and raising awareness about burn prevention can significantly improve patient outcomes and save lives Allocate dedicated funds for burn centres to improve infrastructure equipment and staffing Adequate funding is crucial to ensure that burn centres can provide the necessary medical supplies, maintain modern equipment, and offer competitive salaries to attract and retain skilled healthcare professionals This financial support should come from both government and private sectors with a focus on sustainable long-term investment Ensure burn centres have access to specialized medical professionals, including surgeons, nurses, physiotherapists, and psychologists A
multidisciplinary approach to burn care is essential for addressing the complex needs of burn patients Collaboration among various specialists can enhance treatment outcomes and facilitate comprehensive rehabilitation programs Develop comprehensive emergency plans to effectively manage mass burn casualties This includes establishing protocols for rapid response, ensuring the availability of necessary medical supplies, and conducting regular training exercises for healthcare personnel Creating regional burn centers with the capacity to handle large-scale emergencies can improve overall preparedness and reduce the burden on individual facilities Implement widespread burn prevention campaigns to educate the public about safety measures and first aid Raising awareness about common causes of burn injuries such as household accidents and industrial incidents can help prevent burns Public education campaigns should also focus on teaching basic first aid techniques to improve initial responses to burn injuries Encourage community involvement through volunteer programmes, donations, and partnerships with organizations like APWA (All Pakistan Women’s Association) Community support can play a vital role in enhancing burn care services Volunteer programmes can provide additional manpower while donations can help fund necessary resources Partnerships with local organizations can facilitate outreach and education efforts By prioritizing burn care and investing in specialized facilities Pakistan can make significant progress in improving the lives of burn survivors and preventing future tragedies The implementation of these recommendations requires a collaborative effort from government agencies, healthcare providers, non-governmental organizations, and the community Together, these stakeholders can create a robust burn care infrastructure that meets the needs of all burn patients and ensures their long-term recovery and reintegration into society
The writer is a freelance columnist
MeerAb
Young women and societ y: An engine of total growth
women are leading successful businesses,
driving innovation, creating jobs, and con-
tributing to economic growth
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS:
workforce, pursuing careers, and attaining leadership positions However, gender pay gaps and barriers to career advancement remain challenges
TH E role of young women in society has evolved significantly over time influenced by cultural social economic and political changes
EDUCATION AND EMPOWERMENT
ACCESS TO EDUCATION: Increased access to education for young women has been a critical factor in their empowerment Education opens up opportunities for better jobs higher income and greater independence STEM FIELDS: Efforts to encourage young women to enter STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields are ongoing These fields have traditionally been male-dominated but increasing female participation is crucial for gender equality in the workforce
SOCIAL AND CULTURAL INFLUENCE
MEDIA REPRESENTATION: The way young women are portrayed in media influences societal perceptions and their self-esteem Positive role models and diverse representations can help challenge stereotypes and promote self-confidence
BODY IMAGE AND MENTAL
HEALTH: Young women often face societal pressures regarding body image, which can affect their mental health Promoting body positivity and mental health awareness is important for their well-being
ECONOMIC PARTICIPATION
WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION: Young women are increasingly entering the
ENTREPRENEURSHIP: There is a growing trend of young women starting their own businesses Support systems such as mentorship programs and funding opportunities are vital to foster female entrepreneurship
POLITICAL AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
ADVOCACY AND ACTIVISM: Young women are at the forefront of many social and political movements advocating for gender equality, environmental sustainability, and human rights
REPRESENTATION IN POLITICS:
While there has been progress young women are still underrepresented in political positions Efforts to increase female participation in politics are essential for inclusive governance
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: In many developing countries young women face additional challenges such as lack of access to education early marriage and limited healthcare International efforts and policies are needed to address these disparities
GLOBAL MOVEMENTS: Movements like #Me Too and #HeForShe have brought global attention to the issues young women face and have encouraged collective action towards gender equality Thus promoting the rights and opportunities of young women is not just a matter of justice but also essential for the overall progress and development of society
Young women play numerous positive roles in society contributing to various fields and driving social change Some of the key areas where young women have made significant positive impacts include:
LEADERSHIP AND INNOVATION
POLITICAL LEADERSHIP: Young women are increasingly taking on leadership roles in politics advocating for policies that promote gender equality, environmental sustainability, and social justice
ENTREPRENEURSHIP: Many young
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP: In communities worldwide young women are leading grassroots movements and community organizations, addressing local issues such as education, health, and poverty
EDUCATION AND MENTORSHIP
ROLE MODELS: Young women who achieve success in various fields serve as role models for younger generations inspiring them to pursue their dreams and break down barriers
MENTORSHIP: By mentoring others, young women help cultivate the next generation of leaders providing guidance support and encouragement
ADVOCACY AND ACTIVISM
SOCIAL JUSTICE: Young women are at the forefront of movements advocating for human rights gender equality and social justice They use their voices to highlight issues such as racial discrimination LGBTQ+ rights and economic inequality
ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISM: Many young women are leaders in the fight against climate change, advocating for sustainable practices and policies that protect the planet
ARTS AND CULTURE
CREATIVE EXPRESSION: Young women contribute to the arts through literature, music, visual arts, and performance, enriching cultural life and challenging societal norms through their creative works
CULTURAL PRESERVATION: They play key roles in preserving and promoting cultural heritage ensuring that traditions and histories are passed down to future generations
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
STEM CONTRIBUTIONS: Young women in science technology engineering and mathematics (STEM) are making ground-breaking contributions, from scientific research to technological innovations
ADVOCACY FOR DIVERSITY IN STEM: They also advocate for greater diversity and inclusion in STEM fields working to create opportunities for underrepresented groups
A view from the bridge on Britain’s race riots
Meta, TikTok and X c an claim they are merely platforms, but technic ally they are publishers on steroids , and without filters: A s such, they too must be held accountable
vestor all of migrant origin contributing to the British economy with the income tax they pay and to their local communities with the money they spend They can even become mayors and prime minister, as demonstrated by Sadiq Khan (of Pakistani origin) and Rishi Sunak whose Indian parents migrated to Britain from East Africa in the 1960s Sunak became prime minister in October 2022 in part to restore the Conservative Party s reputation for economic competence after years of chaos under four successive Tory prime ministers since Britain voted to leave the EU in 2016 Among those primarily responsible for that Brexit vote was Nigel Farage the populist farright agitator whose entire political career has been devoted to extracting the UK from Europe Throughout his campaign, economy with the truth was Farage’s speciality For example he constantly claimed that the EU was an unelected dictatorship (in fact the European Council consists of elected member state representatives and the European Parliament is wholly elected); that 70 percent of British laws were made by the EU (the actual figure was just over 13 percent); and that EU membership cost Britain £55 million a day (the real cost was half that and even that took no account of EU funds flowing the other way) Whether Britain was right to leave the EU, as it eventually did in 2019, is an argument for another day However, most analysts estimate that the British economy is at least 3 percent smaller as a result that Brexit has sliced 5 percent off UK economic growth and that every family in the country is £1,000 worse off It is beyond surreal that Farage, having been largely responsible for this debacle, is now stoking xenophobia and trying to blame the downturn on an influx of migrants Someone needs to tell him and his supporters the problem is not immigration: It s the economy stupid
Unsurprisingly, Farage was among the first to fan the flames when three young children were stabbed to death and 10 people were injured in an attack during a dance and yoga workshop on July 29 in the northern English seaside town of Southport Within minutes posts on social media stated confidently that the attacker was a Muslim asylum seeker who had arrived illegally on a small boat crossing the English Channel Those posts were lies: police swiftly confirmed that the young man accused of the attack was a 17-yearold British citizen born in Wales to parents from Rwanda ironically the country to where Rishi Sunak s government planned to deport asylum seekers, because it is a
Many young women work as doctors nurses therapists and researchers improving healthcare outcomes and advancing medical knowledge
MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY: They are vocal advocates for mental health awareness, helping to reduce stigma and promote access to mental health resources
VOLUNTEERISM AND HUMANITAR-
IAN EFFORTS
VOLUNTEERING: Young women volunteer their time and skills to support humanitarian efforts, whether it’s through local community service or international aid organizations
CRISIS RESPONSE: They play crucial roles in responding to crises from natural disasters to public health emergencies, providing aid and support to those in need The positive roles of young women in society are vast and varied reflecting their diverse talents passions and commitments Young women face numerous barriers in society that can hinder their personal and professional development These challenges are often rooted in systemic inequalities and cultural norms:
EDUCATIONAL BARRIERS
ACCESS TO EDUCATION: In some regions girls have limited access to education due to poverty, cultural norms, or conflict
ECONOMIC BARRIERS
GENDER PAY GAP: Women including young women often earn less than their male counterparts for the same work limiting their financial independence and career growth
EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION: Young women may face discrimination in hiring promotions and workplace treatment which can stifle their career advancement
SOCIAL AND CULTURAL BARRIERS
GENDER STEREOTYPES: Societal expectations about gender roles can limit the opportunities available to young women and affect their aspirations and self-esteem
CULTURAL NORMS: In some cultures, traditional practices and norms can restrict young women’s rights and freedoms such as early marriage or restrictions on mobility and education
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING BARRIERS:
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH: Lack of access to reproductive health services and education can affect young women s health and autonomy Mental Health: Young women often face pressures related to body image academic performance, and social expectations, which can impact their mental health
POLITICAL AND CIVIC BARRIERS:
UNDERREPRESENTATION: Young women are often underrepresented in political and leadership positions, limiting their influence on decision-making processes
LACK
LEGAL
Among the various t ypes of c yberattacks, there is one that is somewhat different, and it mainly occ urs when there is a
in the physic al dimension
safe country But the damage had been done, leading to the appalling scenes of mayhem we have witnessed on Britain’s streets for the past week Prime Minister Keir Starmer s firm and decisive response to the riots is to be applauded and his reassurances in defense of the UK s Muslim minority must be respected Home Secretary Yvette Cooper should also be commended for immediately authorizing a full range of prosecutions and penalties for convicted rioters and police have quicky brought offenders to justice: three men were jailed on Wednesday for violent disorder, the first of what will be a procession through the courts This is exactly the kind of deterrent that is needed After all no matter how noble one might think a cause is it doesn t give anyone the right to take the law into their own hands Quite frankly I believe observers both at home and abroad have had enough with thugs destroying public property, disfiguring national monuments or attacking others in the name of their “cause ” whether it is religious environmental or political This applies equally to all races and religions alike Certainly, the UK s minority Muslim community have an added responsibility to now curb any members from violating the law, no matter how angry or intimidated they feel They would also be well advised to champion successful and inspirational stories of integration Apart from Sadiq Khan another impressive example would be Nadhim Zahawi, an Iraqi Kurd whose family fled Saddam s regime in 1978 when he was 11: Zahawi became an MP and eventually Chancellor of the Exchequer and is a hugely successful businessman Last week in The Times he wrote a deep and thoughtful column entitled How the British
Meta, TikTok and X can claim they are merely platforms, but technically they are publishers on steroids, and without filters: as such, they should not be immune and they too must be held accountable
Faisal J Abbas is the author of Anecdotes of an Arab Anglophile
CY B E R is a vector of attack and a battlefield no less important and significant than the physical dimension The Cyber Directorate issued a statement this week regarding the increase in influence attempts online The Iranians are trying to mess with our heads Cyber warfare can relate to many possible damages ranging from shutting down critical infrastructures such as electricity water and fuel to hacking and stealing classified
after 22:00 due to a predicted attack by
JERUSALEM POST
Chinese envoy reiterates call for immediate ceasefire in Gaza
China’s machiner y industr y sees stable per formance, new momentum in H1
ply chain Luo added CHINA S SHIPBUILDING INDUSTRY SOARS IN H1, SOLIDIFIES LEADING POSITION China s shipbuilding industry saw significant growth in the first half of this year, reinforcing its global leading position, according to data released Tuesday by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT)
From January to June China completed shipbuilding projects totaling 25 02 million deadweight tonnes (DWT), an increase of 18 4 percent compared to the same period last year
chain the industry has accelerated the research and development (R&D) of core technologies and equipment in recent years said Luo Junjie executive vice president of the federation A number of independent R&D achievements emerged in concentration in the first half of the year further enhancing the resilience and security level of the industrial chain and sup-
New orders surged to 54 22 million DWT, reflecting a remarkable year-on-year growth of 43 9 percent By the end of June the order book stood at 171 55 million DWT up 38 6 percent from the previous year
The MIIT s data also demonstrates China s dominant position in the global shipbuilding market In the first half of this year, the country s shipbuilding completions, new orders, and order book as measured by DWT accounted for 55 percent, 74 7 percent and 58 9 percent of the global totals respectively
In 2023 the three key market indicators stood at 50 2 percent 66 6 percent and 55 percent respectively
Despite the uncertain global economic outlook and the impact of trade protectionism and de-globalization on the shipbuilding industry, China s economy remains resilient, and the recovery trend in maritime trade continues said Cao Bo deputy director of the statistical information department of the China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry (CANSI)
Azma bukhari strongly criticizes mastermind of May 9
L A H O R E : Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari has said that the mastermind of the May 9 incident is shamelessly and brazenly asking for forgiveness The person who once claimed that he would not grant anyone an NRO is now pleading for mercy Even if Imran Khan tries to clear his name, the dark stains on his reputation cannot be erased The international media reported that PTI members attacked military installations Under a plan Imran Khan incited people and manipulated their minds These unfortunate individuals burned the statues of our national heroes, Karnal Sher Khan and M M Alam She further stated that on the day Imran Khan was arrested his key associates urged people to take to the streets The day after his arrest Imran Khan himself admitted that the public reacted to his arrest A few days ago Imran Khan also admitted to attacking the GHQ The information minister added that, on the one hand, you burn the house of the founder of Pakistan, and on the other hand, you shamelessly ask for forgiveness Under the leadership of Yasmin Rashid Ijaz Chaudhry and Mehmood-urRashid PTI attacked the Corps Commander s House while Hassaan Niazi first waved and then burned the Corps Commander s uniform At the time of the attack on the Corps Commander House, Aleema Khan, Uzma Khan, and Rani Khan were present She mentioned that video evidence of the attacks on military installations and sensitive agency offices is available The videos of PTI members attacks are not just one or two but are in hundreds, available on every social media platform Your crocodile tears and fake apologies are being thrown back at your face P R
CDA C hief for preser ving environment, green belts during c ycling tracks construc tion
I S L A M A B A D: Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Chief Commissioner Islamabad, Muhammad Ali Randhawa, chaired a meeting at CDA headquarters The Asian Development Bank (ADB) mission participated in the meeting via Zoom, while senior officers from the CDA were also in attendance During the meeting the ADB consultant gave a detailed briefing on the project for construction of cycling tracks in Islamabad Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa stated that the cycling tracks project would be introduced not only as a recreational activity but also as an affordable and alternative mode of transportation for the residents of Islamabad He emphasized that the cycling tracks should be inter connected with the Metro bus routes and electric bus stations in Islamabad He also instructed that this project should be developed as per the international standards while making it economical at the same time Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa further stressed that special attention should be paid to preserving the environment and green belts during the construction of the cycling tracks He added that input from environmentalists should be sought to ensure the project is environmentally friendly P R
PTA & MoIT&T Commence Implementation of D igital Gender Inclusion S trategy
With the inaugural meeting of the Steering Committee on Digital Gender Inclusion Ministry of IT & Telecom & PTA formally commenced implementation of strategy on 7th August 2024 The meeting was chaired by Ms Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister of State for IT & T and convened by Chairman Pakistan Telecom Authority Major General (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman The steering committee will be overseeing the smooth implementation of the strategy to significantly reduce digital gender divide within next three years The committeewill be continuously assessing the outcome of the identified thematic working groups on access, affordability, digital literacy, inclusion, safety & security and data & research The steering committee comprises of representation from concerned government organizations private sector and academia including Ms Raheela Hameed Khan Durrani Minister for Colleges Higher & Technical Education Balochistan Mr Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, Secretary Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training; PR
DIG Islamabad holds khuli ka tcher y to address public grievances
ISLAMABAD: According to the details following the special
categories Extending his heartiest felicitations to the award recipients the chief guest remarked PR
BANGL ADESH NOBEL L AUREATE MUHAMMAD YUNUS TAKES CHARGE OF CARETAKER GOVT
(Finland)
80 92
metres
Luiz Mauricio da Silva (Brazil) –
80 67 metres Julius Yego (Kenya) – 80 29 metres
Andrian Mardare (Republic of Moldova) – 79 14 metres
Lassi Etelatalo (Finland) – 78 81
metres
N O TA B L E A B S E N C E S:
Julian Weber (Germany) – X Neeraj Chopra (India) – X Nadeem’s first throw was termed a “No throw” as he fum-
bled the load-up and returned to the start mark The event, which began at 11:25 pm Pakistan Standard Time (PST) is being closely followed by fans across Pakistan with Nadeem carrying the hopes of a nation longing for an Olympic medal Nadeem secured his place in the final after an impressive first throw of 86 59 metres during the qualifying round at Stade de France earlier this week His performance ensured automatic qualification joining India s Neeraj Chopra and Grenada s Peter Anderson, who also qualified with outstanding throws The excitement around Nadeem s participation has been palpable with Pakistan s white-ball cricket captain Babar Azam among those
