Day: August 23, 2022

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David Hemp not to seek an extension to his contract 

Lahore, August 23, 2022 (PPI-OT):The Pakistan Cricket Board today confirmed David Hemp is not seeking an extension to his two-year contract, which expires in October.

David Hemp: “I have enjoyed living in Pakistan and working with the women cricketers, but it has also been difficult on me and my young family as I have been unable to spend enough time with them like any other father. After consulting my family, I have conveyed this difficult decision to the Pakistan Cricket Board, which has very graciously understood my situation and accepted my decision.

“It has been incredibly enjoyable and satisfying working with the girls. Although results in international arena may not truly reflect the hard work and effort that went into the planning and preparations, I am satisfied that I gave my very best and the girls equally responded.

“I was especially pleased with the emergence of Fatima Sana, who won the ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year 2021 award and became the first Pakistan women cricketer to win the ICC Cricketer of the Month award and displayed her excellent talent in the recently-concluded Commonwealth Games. I am optimistic we will see many more young women cricketers from domestic competitions and talent hunt programmes to enter the Pakistan framework and contribute in the teams’ future achievements.

“I want to thank everyone at the Pakistan Cricket Board, women’s wing and the entire side who not only backed and supported me but also made my stay memorable and comfortable. I will remain a big fan of Pakistan women’s cricket, will continue to follow their progress with excitement and remain confident that better results and successes await them down the road.”

Tania Mallick, PCB Head of Women’s Wing: “It is sad to lose someone of David’s caliber, enthusiasm and strong work ethics, but at the same we also understand and accept that family has to come first. The PCB thanks David for all his efforts and contributions, and wishes him best of luck in his future endeavours.” The replacement of David Hemp will be announced in due course.

For more information, contact:
Media Manager,
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)
Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore 54600, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-5717231-4
Fax: +92-42-5711860
Website: www.pcb.com.pk

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Meeting of Executive Committee of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society held 

Karachi, August 23, 2022 (PPI-OT):The Executive Committee of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) held its meeting on August 23, 2022 at APNS House, Karachi under the chairmanship of its President by Sarmad Ali, President, APNS.

The members of the Executive Committee pointed out that because of the delay in payments from the Federal and provincial governments, the member publications were facing serious financial crisis. The Committee asked the Federal and provincial governments to expedite the payments to the print media so that the newspapers can meet their expenses.

The members of the Executive Committee agreed that the press campaign be started to highlight the importance of the print media. The Executive Committee showed its concern on the havoc created by the recent floods and heavy rain and sympathized with the people of Balochistan, Sindh and South Punjab. The Executive Committee asked the member publications to create awareness of the plight of the flood-effectees in national press.

The Executive Committee adopted the report of the Advertising Committee on the applications of various advertising agencies and granted provisional accreditation to M/s. Marshmallow Adverting (Pvt.) Ltd., Lahore, M/s. Focus 360 Marketing (Pvt.) Ltd, Rawalpindi, M/s. Spot On Associates, Karachi and M/s. Commerlance (Pvt.) Ltd., Karachi. The application for restructuring of M/s. Linkers Communications (Pvt.) Ltd., Islamabad was also approved.

The following attended the meeting:

Sarmad Ali, President, Shahab Zuberi, Vice President, Nazafreen Saigol Lakhani, Secretary General, Bilal Farooqui (Daily Aghaz), Fauzia Shaheen (Monthly Dastak), Najamuddin Sheikh (Daily Deyanat), Muhammad Waqaruddin (Daily Dunya), Bilal Mahmood (Weekly Family), Muhammad Younus Mehar (Daily Halchal), Kazi Asad Abid (Daily Ibrat), Syed Akbar Tahir (Daily Jasarat), Muhammad Manzoor Rana (Daily Mashriq, Quetta), Zahida Abbasi (Daily Nau Sijj), Salman Qureshi (Monthly Naya Rukh), Mubashir Mir (Daily Pakistan, Lahore), Faisal Zahid Malik (Pakistan Observer) and Dr. Waqar Yousuf Azeemi (Monthly Roohani Digest).

The following attended the meeting on Zoom:

Irfan Athar (Daily Tijarat), Mohsin Bilal, Joint Secretary, Muhammad Awais Khushnood, Finance Secretary, Mumtaz A. Tahir (Daily Aftab), Waseem Ahmed (Daily Awam, Quetta), Ansar Mahmood Bhatti (Monthly Centre Line), Imtinan Shahid (Daily Khabrain) and Rukhsana Saulat Saleemi (Weekly Nikhar).

For more information, contact:
All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS)
32, Farid Chamber Abdullah Haroon Road,
Karachi Post Code 74400
Tel: +92-21-5671256, +92-21-5671314
Fax: +92-21-5671310
E-mail: apns@apns.com.pk
URL: www.apns.com.pk

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Government and opposition must focus on flood impact, climate justice 

Lahore, August 23, 2022 (PPI-OT):The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) expresses grave concern at the loss of life and livelihoods wrought by floods across the country, especially in Balochistan, Sindh and southern Punjab. The indifference of the federal and provincial governments and the political opposition is evident from their inability – even amid a growing death toll to prioritise human life over confrontational politics, palace intrigue and dangerous rhetoric.

The scale of destruction needs to be mapped urgently and affected persons provided access to clean drinking water as well as basic food and medical supplies in the immediate term. The state must prioritise the most vulnerable households and communities in this effort, including women, dependent children, persons living with disabilities, the sick, and the elderly.

Both the government as well as all elected representatives must urgently implement well-conceived, practical measures to counter the food shortages, disease, displacement, and loss of livelihood caused by the floods. However, this year’s weather patterns must also serve as an SOS to the state that Pakistan’s survival in the long term is incumbent on its ability to begin to deliver climate justice to its people.

For more information, contact:
Chairperson,
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP)
Aiwan-i-Jamhoor, 107-Tipu Block,
New Garden Town, Lahore-54600
Tel: +92-42-35864994
Fax: +92-42-35883582
Email: hrcp@hrcp-web.org
Website: www.hrcp-web.org

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UAE Ambassador calls on CM Punjab Ch Parvez Elahi in Islamabad 

Lahore, August 23, 2022 (PPI-OT):The Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Mr Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zabi called on Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Parvez Elahi at Punjab House in Islamabad on Tuesday. Former federal minister Moonis Elahi was also present in the meeting.

Issues of mutual interest, the promotion of relations between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates and increasing cooperation in various fields were discussed on this occasion. The UAE ambassador congratulated Parvez Elahi on assuming the post of the chief minister and invited him to visit the UAE. It was mutually agreed to start work on the Mubarak Center at Ferozepur Road in Lahore while agreeing that close contact will be further enhanced in future to promote economic ties.

Ch Parvez Elahi thanked UAE’s Minister Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan as the Dhabi Group would invest billions of rupees. The Punjab government would provide full support for the construction of Mubarak Center; he added and noted that Mubarak Center would be the tallest building in Lahore.

State-of-the-art Mubarak Center would have business centers and a 7 Star Hotel which would be linked to the Gaddafi Stadium by a flyover. This plan would greatly facilitate the international players’ access to Gaddafi Stadium while relieving the torment of traffic jams on the busy roads of Lahore during the tournaments, he mentioned.

The CM said that this project was started during his previous tenure; unfortunately, the project fell victim to the vengeful politics of PMLN. Now, this government would advance the work on this project rapidly as it would boost commercial activities while creating employment opportunities, he further said.

The CM noted that brotherly relations exist between Pakistan and UAE and added that the time has come to transform these relations into a strategic partnership. There are immense opportunities for investment in Punjab and the UAE’s investors could benefit from them, he remarked. UAE’s cooperation in the development of Pakistan is worthy of praise and the provincial government values its cooperation for the improvement of education, health and other sectors, he added. Business-to-business delegations’ visits are also important and I would visit the UAE at the earliest opportunity, said Parvez Elahi.

The UAE ambassador appreciated the CM’s interest in investment promotion and mentioned that UAE’s investment companies are interested in investing in Pakistan. The Mubarak Center project would further boost bilateral relations. Pakistan is our second home and relations would be further strengthened. The UAE leadership stands with Pakistan and we would welcome you on your arrival in the United Arab Emirates, he concluded.

For more information, contact:
Mediacell, Pakistan Muslim League
30-C, Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi Road,
Gulberg-II, Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-35878428
Fax: +92-42-35877329
Website: www.pmlmediacell.com

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Announcement – Blocking of VULMS Accounts for Spring 2022 

Lahore, August 23, 2022 (PPI-OT):It is informed that LMS accounts of all such students who have not paid their outstanding dues shall be blocked on August 26, 2022. Students with blocked accounts will not be able to view Spring’2022 (Mid-Term) result and make date sheet for Spring’2022 (Final-Term). It is therefore advised to clear all outstanding dues at the earliest, in order to avoid any inconvenience.

For more information, contact:
Virtual University of Pakistan (VU)
M.A. Jinnah Campus, Defence Road, Off Raiwind Road,
Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-111-880-880
Fax: +92-42-99200604, +92-42-99202174
Website: www.vu.edu.pk

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Report Launch: Voices on Kashmir 

Islamabad, August 23, 2022 (PPI-OT):The India Study Centre (ISC) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) launched a Special Report titled “Voices on Kashmir” on August 23, 2022. Mr. Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Spokesperson Ministry of Foreign Affairs was the Chief Guest of the event.

In his address, Mr. Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said that the key message about Kashmir is that it is a dispute from the past which must be resolved according to the United Nations Security Council Resolutions. In this regard, Pakistan is ready to provide all possible support to the Kashmiri people to enable them to exercise their right to self-determination. He further stated that on Jammu and Kashmir issue, there is a political and national consensus where all past and present political governments have passionately advocated the cause of Kashmir. Stressing upon the significance of the report, he stated that Pakistan has been a voice of the Kashmiri people and this report adds to that voice.

Earlier in his introductory remarks, Dr. Arshad Ali, Director ISC, stated that Jammu and Kashmir is the core issue between Pakistan and India which is the longest pending dispute on the agenda of the UNSC. In his welcome remarks, Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, DG, ISSI discussed the report and highlighted that the statements in the report were recorded in history and included the voices from all over the world.

In his keynote address, Chairman Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Mr. Khalid Rahman stressed that the Kashmir issue has not been resolved due to the stubbornness of India and also due to complications of the global political system which favours the powerful. He further highlighted that all of us have a role to continue the discourse which favours the Kashmiris. One way of doing so is by framing the Kashmiri struggle as a political and indigenous movement. Towards the end, he identified how the report could be improved further by including more Kashmiri voices to it.

While expressing his views about the report, Mr. Altaf Hussain Wani, Chairman, Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR) appreciated the report and the role it serves in raising the voices for the Kashmir cause. He further said that there is a continuity of efforts to highlight the Kashmir cause and it is necessary especially after the new domicile laws introduced by India.

While highlighting the existing debate on the Kashmir issue, Mr. Ahmed Quraishi, leading journalist and lobbyist, said that in seven decades there has been a shift in how the world looks at India and Kashmir. In 2016, the inclusion of Kashmir in the United Nations High Commissioner’s Report altered the way of viewing the dispute. The report brought into light different war-crimes committed by India in the region. He further stressed that media and other non-diplomatic influencers also need to contribute their share in shaping the narrative about the dispute.

The event was concluded with the presentation of shields to the Chief Guest and speakers by Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman, Board of Governors, ISSI and with a firm resolve by all speakers and participants for continued efforts to highlight the just cause of Kashmir.

For more information, contact:
Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI)
Sector F-5/2, Islamabad – 44000, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9202481
Fax: +92-51-9204658
E-mail: strategy@issi.org.pk
Website: http://issi.org.pk/