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topleadershipgreetssaudiaonfoundingday

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PRIME Minister Imran Khan and members of his cabinet on Tuesday extended greetings to Saudi Arabia whose leadership is commemorating for the first time the oil-rich kingdom’s foundation nearly 300 years ago.

In a tweet, the prime minister greeted King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the people of the Kingdom.

“On the historic founding day of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, I extend our heartiest greetings to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, HM [His Majesty] King Salman binAbdulaziz, HRH [His Royal Highness] Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman [and] brotherly people of the Kingdom, ” he tweeted.

Khan also wished prosperity for the nations of SaudiArabia and Pakistan. “May our two countries and our people prosper. ”

“Saudi Arabia […] and Pakistan stood with each other in all difficult times […] the tradition will go on, ” Minister of Information Fawad Chaudhry wrote.

Saudi Arabia held celebrations on Tuesday to commemorate its foundation, choosing a date that downplays the central role played by clerics from an ultra-conservative school of Islam.

A royal decree last month declared February 22 an official holiday, known as “Founding Day ” , to be commemorated every year in recognition of “the commencement of the reign of Imam Muhammad bin Saud” and marking the start of the first Saudi state.

The anniversary marks the day in 1727 when Mohammed bin Saud, founder of the first Saudi state, took over the emirate of Diriyah — a remote town that now lies on the northwest edge of the Saudi capital Riyadh.

The government lined up events that include musical performances on Saudi modern history, fireworks, drone shows and sound effects, with 3,500 performers taking part, state media reported.

state land worth Rs22mn retrieved on Punjab ombudsman’s directive

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On the orders of Punjab Ombudsman retired Maj. Azam Suleman Khan, 18-Kanal state-owned land valuing Rs 22.22 million has been retrieved in Bhakkar, Mandi Bahauddin, ChichaWatni, and Kot Adu districts and handed over to the concerned administration for official use. Giving details on Tuesday, a spokesman explained that on the orders of Khan to regain 13.5 marlas occupied portion of Government Girls High School, Dagar Rahtas Bhakkar, the administration has retrieved government land from the illegal occupation of one Muhammad Afzal and a complaint has been lodged against him. The boundary wall of the said school has also been constructed to save the government property. The students and their parents have thanked the ombudsman’s office for protecting the precious school property in their area. In another development, the spokesman added the involvement of the ombudsman office has resulted in the retrieval of 10-Kanal 16marla portions of a local graveyard in Chichawatni from the illegal occupants, having a market value of Rs11.6 million. Similarly, the ombudsman’s office also intervened to vacate 2-Kanal 18-marla portions of KotAdu graveyard with a market value of Rs0.9 million.Alongside, 4-Kanal 6-marla portion of another graveyard and shamlat land has also been recovered from squatters in Mandi Bahauddin with a market value of Rs1.7 million, the spokesman concluded.

daily coronavirus cases dip below 1,000 for first time in over four weeks

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The daily positivity rate of Covid-19 fell to 2.52 percent on Monday as the nation reported 961 new cases, the first time in over a month that the daily infections fell below 1,000, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) said on Tuesday. The new cases surfaced after the country conducted 38,139 tests during the last 24 hours, taking the total caseload to 1,502,641, according to the NCOC, a department leading the campaign against the pandemic. The active cases witnessed a declining trend as 2,393 patients recovered during the last 24 hours, pushing the active case count down to 66,227. The pandemic killed 13 people on Monday, raising the overall tally to 30,053 deaths. Sindh is the worst-hit province with 564,895 infections recorded, followed by Punjab, which has reported 499,365 cases so far.

Security gains recalled as Operation Radd ul-Fasaad turns five

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Army Chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa on Tuesday paid tribute to soldiers who laid their lives during Operation Radd ul-Fasaad, or elimination of strife, and the spirit of the great nation of Pakistan.

In a message, issued on behalf of Gen. Bajwa, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Maj. Gen. Babar Iftikhar said: “Today marks five years of operation.Aimed at consolidating gains of two-decade-long War on Terror and eliminating remnants of terrorists across the country, the operation placed the security of people of Pakistan as a core objective. ”

“Operations continue successfully as the country transitioned from uncertainty to peace, ” it added.

The achievements of RuF have only been possible due to the sacrifices rendered by the soldiers and the resilience of our people. “We salute the supreme sacrifices of our martyrs and spirit of our great nation, ” Gen. Bajwa said.

“The achievements of RuF have only been possible due to blood of martyrs and resilience of our people, ” it said, observing the writ of state restored from Karachi to Khyber as RuF enters the sixth year.

This operation, steered by Gen. Bajwa, was launched on February 22, 2017, against the presence of proscribed outfits and effectively foiled several attack attempts.

Since 2017, 67 new wings of the Frontier Corps (FC) have been formed to enhance the efficacy of the law enforcement agencies (LEAs).

During this period, security forces trained over 40,000 police personnel and 22,000 Levies and Khasadar personnel across the country.

Effective steps have also been taken against extremist literature, it said.

Under the border management plan, 95 percent of work on the razor wire fencing of the Afghanistan border and 78 percent on the Iran border fencing has so far been completed. 679 security forts, borders posts and terminals have also been erected. The troops also cleared more than 60,000 landmines.

The authorities also ensured the safe return of temporarily dislocated persons (TDPs) to their homes in the formal tribal regions.

Implementing National Action Plan (NAP), militants were tried in the military courts whereas action was also launched against over 78 outfits. More than 1,200 conspiracies hatched by hostile intelligence agencies (HIAs) were also exposed.

Operations in the tribal areas also helped to ensure smooth working on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Karachi improved from the sixth spot to 124th in International Crime Index.

Thorough security was provided to the sixth census and polio eradication teams in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

The concerned departments also ensured the safe arrival, stay and departure of international cricketers participating in the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL). Five years ago when RuF commenced, Gen. Bajwa had said: “Every Pakistani is a soldier in this operation. ”

Crucial to protect the planet for future generations: PM

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Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday urged the nation to plant at least five trees a family and join the government in her efforts to achieve the target of a protected environment for future generations.

Addressing the participants at the launch of the nationwide Spring plantation campaign, the prime minister said owing to Pakistan’s unique vulnerability to climate threats, ambitious forestation was crucial to saving the country.

The plantation drive coincided with Scouts’Day as the government decided to register the young force with the BillionTreeTsunami programme to carry out plantation at a wider scale.

Some 750,000 members of the Pakistan Boy Scouts’Association will join the drive to achieve the target of planting 540 million saplings this season.

Khan said the purpose of choosing Scouts’ Day for the launch of the campaign was to encourage the youth to take responsibility in protecting their environment.

He said a highly climate-vulnerable Pakistan could not cope with climate risks, particularly floods, desertification and heatwaves, which had become increasingly frequent due to global warming and reduced tree cover.

He said Pakistan was blessed with immense natural resources, adding it was the responsibility of every person to contribute towards protecting the environment through the plantation.

He said planting at least five trees per family would go a long way in making Pakistan clean and green.

Khan mentioned the Billion Tree project acclaimed international recognition, including by the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the British prime minister, Boris Johnson, who acknowledged Pakistan as a leader in combating climate change.

“Our future is linked with a green Pakistan and we all need to join hands in achieving this goal, ” he said. The prime minister said Pakistan’s 12 unique climatic zones provided a favourable ground for tree plantation of all species.

He mentioned the current season would witness the target accomplishment of planting 540 million trees.

Minister of State for Climate Change MalikAmin Aslam said Pakistan’s successful tree plantation model was inspiring several countries and mentioned that recently a memorandum of understanding was signed with SaudiArabia in this regard.

According to the MoU, he said, Pakistan will present a plantation model to the kingdom based on the suggestions of its own experts.

He said the Minister for Environment of Germany said his government intended to inject €20 million into the Tree Tsunami project.

Earlier, the prime minister planted a sapling to mark the launch of the plantation campaign.

Minister for Climate Change Zartaj Gul, Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood and a number of scouts attended the event.

ukraine Issue: lawmakers give Putin permission to use force outside Russia

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Russian lawmakers gave President Vladimir Putin permission to use military force outside the country on Tuesday, a move that could presage a broader attack on Ukraine after the US said an invasion was already underway there. Members of the upper house, the Federation Council, voted unanimously to allow Putin to use military force outside Russia effectively formalising a Russian military deployment to the rebel regions, where an eight-year conflict has killed nearly 14,000 people. Several European leaders said earlier in the day that Russian troops have moved into rebel-held areas in eastern Ukraine after Putin recognised their independence. But it was unclear how large the movements were. Ukraine and its Western allies have said Russian troops have been fighting in the region since the separatist conflict erupted in 2014. Moscow denies these allegations. White house terms russian troop deployments ‘invasion’: The White House on Tuesday began referring to Russian troop deployments in eastern Ukraine as an invasion after initially hesitating to use the term — a red line that President Joe Biden has said would result in the US levying severe sanctions against Moscow. “We think this is, yes, the beginning of an invasion, Russia’s latest invasion into Ukraine, ” Jon Finer, principal deputy national security adviser, said in an interview on CNN. “An invasion is an invasion and that is what is underway. ” The White House decided to begin referring to Russia’s actions as an invasion because of the situation on the ground, according to a US official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. The administration resisted initially calling the deployment of troops because the White House wanted to see what Russia was actually going to do.After assessing Russian troop movements, it became clear it was a new invasion, the official added. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki also alluded to the Russian action as being an invasion in a Twitter post commenting on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz ’s decision to halt the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in response to Russia’s actions. “The US president made clear that if Russia invaded Ukraine, “ we would act with Germany to ensure Nord Stream 2 does not move forward, ” Psaki said. putin recognises rebel regions: For weeks, Western powers have been bracing for an invasion as Russia massed an estimated 150,000 troops on three sides of neighbouring Ukraine. They warned an attack would cause massive casualties, energy shortages in Europe and economic chaos around the globe and promised swift and severe sanctions if it materialised. The European Union and Britain announced on Tuesday that some of those measures were coming. Western leaders have long warned Moscow would look for cover to invade and just such a pretext seemed to come on Monday, when Putin recognised as independent two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, where government troops have fought Russia-backed rebels in a conflict that has killed over 14,000 people. The Kremlin then raised the stakes further on Tuesday, by saying that recognition extends even to the large parts now held by Ukrainian forces.

PM Khan lauds shehryar afridi's efforts for KashMir cause

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cHAIRMAN Kashmir Committee Shehryar Khan Afridi called on Prime Minister Imran Khan onTuesday.The Prime Minister was apprised of the steps taken by the Kashmir Committee in various international forums to help raise awareness on the Kashmir dispute, especially with the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), European Union (EU), US Congress and other international parliamentary bodies and stakeholders over the past two years.

The Prime Minister was also apprised of the progress on ongoing development schemes in Kohat Division.

The Prime Minister appreciated the efforts of the Kashmir Committee for raising the issue of Kashmir at the international level and directed them to intensify their efforts for this purpose.

The Prime Minister directed the Chairman Kashmir Committee to ensure timely completion of various development schemes being implemented in Kohat Division to provide maximum relief and facilities to the people.

SC turns down NAB request to cancel bails of family of PPP leader

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The Supreme Court on Tuesday provided relief to the family of PPPMPKhursheed Shah as it rejected the request of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to cancel their bails.

The apex court threw out the appeals of NAB which prayed to the court to cancel bails of all suspects in the case.

It also rejected the bail cancellation appeal against Sindh Minister Awais Qadir Shah. Justice MansoorAli Shah remarked that Shah was granted bail on unsubstantiated evidence submitted by the anti-graft watchdog.

Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said if the main accused was out on bail, how his co-accused could be put behind the jail. He said the co-accused included Shah’s spouses and children.

“No need to arrest Khursheed Shah’s wives, children and relatives. Without substantiation proof, authorities cannot register a case against anyone” the top judge remarked.

On this, the NAB prosecutor said that contractor Abdul Razzaq Bohrani gave Rs2.5 million to Shah in commission.

During the investigation, the contractor could not tell any specific reason as to why he gave this amount to Mr Shah.

Justice Ayesha Malik asked the prosecutor why he reckoned that the cheque he offered was a bribe or commission. The judge said it might be a gift.

He asked the NAB to dig deep in its investigation and present its case in the trial court.

UAE scraps rapid testing requirement for travelers from Pakistan

DUBAI

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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is scrapping its pre-departure rapid antigen testing regime at airports for Pakistan passengers traveling to the cities of Dubai and Sharjah, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said. However, passengers from four nations — Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka — will still have to submit a valid rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) certificate for a test conducted at an approved facility within 48 hours of departure.

The duration of the period will be considered from the time when the passenger has submitted his sample to the laboratory for the test.

The passengers will undergo a PCR test at Dubai International Airport and have to self-quarantine until the result is processed and released.

However, all transiting passengers are not required to present a PCR test certificate unless it is mandated by their final destination.

former boss accuses government of unleashing fia on opponents

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Former Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director General Bashir Memon said the agency was being used for political victimisation of the opponents of the government. Talking to the media outside a court in Lahore on Tuesday, he said he was saddened to hear the remarks of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) as well as a sessions court in cases involving the agency. “The IHC, in its verdict, said that the FIA could not be allowed to behave like the Indian spy agency RAW, ” he said. Memon said the FIA had a systematic mode of operation. “It is not a political organisation, but a department that works in the light of laws of the land, ” he asserted. He claimed when he was heading the agency, he did not serve even a single notice on the basis of the receiver’s political affiliation. Earlier, the sessions court extended the interim bail granted to Memom until March 15. The court also ordered the agency to provide relevant documents to Memon. It merits a mention here the FIA had registered a case against Memon in connection with money laundering and other charges.

cop hurt in di Khan explosion

LAHORE

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A policeman sustained injuries when a blast hit his mobile in Kulachi Tehsil of Dera Ismail Khan District on Tuesday. According to police, the bomb was planted near the parked vehicle. The suspects exploded the bomb with the help of remote control. The injured was immediately shifted to a hospital. A police force was quickly dispatched to the scene which conducted a search operation.

G77 pushes for countering spread of online hate, disinformation

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The group of developing countries — called G77 — is concerned over the misuse of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to spread online hate and disinformation, a n d

stresses the need for count e r i n g this phen o m e -

n o n , P a k i s t a n ’s ambassador to the UN and the 1 3 4 member b o d y ’ s c h a i r man, Munir Akram, said. If left unchecked, it could be used to mislead and to spread racism, xenophobia, negative stereotyping, stigmatisation and, most dangerously, breach of individuals’ right to privacy, Ambassador Akram said on Monday at a session devoted to a landmark new report that calls for, among other elements, the renewal of multilateralism.

“The group welcomes the efforts of the Secretary General to promote international cooperation in countering disinformation and takes note of the proposed ‘global code of conduct that promotes integrity in public information’ , ” he said, adding a further clarity was required in this regard.

“The G77 and China believe that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance are a repudiation of humanity and regrets that millions continue to be victims of the same, ” he said and called for the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action combating those trends.

In this regard, Ambassador Akram said, the group also believes that the establishment of an international independent expert mechanism could promote a transformative change for racial justice and equality in the context of law enforcement globally.

“The group notes with concern that persons belonging to racial and ethnic minorities and to other groups, including Asians and people of Asian descent, especially women and girls, have been victims of racist violence, threats of violence, discrimination and stigmatisation as a result of the pandemic. ” For the group, he also said the important issues pertaining to digital cooperation remain: inclusive digital economy, access to digital networks and connectivity, technology transfer, investment in digital infrastructures, data protection, artificial intelligence, avoiding Internet fragmentation, countering the proliferation of disinformation and misinformation, and outlining shared principles for a digital future for all to achieve the 2030 Agenda.