Category: Pakistan

MUZAFFARABAD: Kashmiri people living on both sides of the Line of Control (LOC) and across the world over observed the Kashmir Martyrs” Day on Tuesday and paid homage to the martyrs of July 13,1931. The protest rallies and demonstrations were held all over Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) to invite the world”s attention towards the unresolved Kashmir dispute and gruesome human rights violations by the Indian forces in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The peoples on this occasion reaffirmed their determination to continue the struggle till the achievement of their right to self determination in accordance with the United Nations agreed resolutions. On July 13,1931, the troops of Dogra Maharaja had killed 22 Kashmiris one after the other, outside the Central Jail in Srinagar during court proceedings against Abdul Qadeer, who had asked the Kashmiri people to defy the Dogra Rule. Thus, 22 youth sacrificed their lives till the completion of Azaan (call for prayer). Talking to media persons here, AJK Prime Minister Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider Khan paid glowing tributes to the Kashmiri martyrs and renewed the pledge to continue the struggle of Kashmir liberation till the complete liberation of IIOJK from Indian clutches. He said the supreme sacrifice rendered by the Kashmiri martyrs on July 13,1931 had infused spirit among the Kashmiri people and had added a new chapter in the history of resistance and sacrifice. He said the sacrifices of July 13,1931 martyrs had served a beacon light for the Kashmiri struggling for their right to self determination and added that this indomitable spirit of sacrifices will remain alive in the freedom history of Kashmir. The prime minister said the objective, for which the Kashmiri martyrs had offered their sacrifices, would continue and expressed the hope that the long night of terror and repressions would soon be ended and the dawn of freedom would rise and Kashmiris would ultimately get their fundamental right to self determination. He said the month of July has a significant importance in the freedom history of Kashmir and added that during the month of July the historical accession to Pakistan resolution was passed while the sacrifice of Burhan Wani has also given new dimension to the Kashmir liberation movement

ISLAMABAD: The sale of cars during fiscal year 2020-21 (Jul-Jun) has surged by 56.7 percent as compared to same period of last year, a data released by Pakistan Automobile Manufacturing Association (PAMA) said on Tuesday. According to the data, as many as 151,182 cars were sold in the period under review as compared to 96,455 units in same period of last year. On yearly basis, the sale of cars in the country increased by 57.9 per cent in June compared to same month of the preceding year. The sale of cars rose to 11,568 units in June compared to 7,325 units during same period of previous year. The breakup figures show that 25,276 units of Honda civic and city were sold during the year 2020-21as compared to the sale of 14,091 units last year, thus showing a jump of 79 percent. Toyota Corolla cars’ sale however witnessed a decrease of 17 per cent as it went down to 18,355 units in the corresponding year from 22,140 units in same period of previous year. Suzuki Swift’s sale surged by 26.7 percent as its sale increased to 2,316 units from 1,828 units in the year 2019-20. Similarly, the newly launched Toyota Yaris also witnessed increase as its sale jumped to 28,295 units in the year under review. Sale of Suzuki Cultus increased to 17,510 units in the corresponding year whereas during same period last year, the sale was recorded at 12,307 units. The sale of Suzuki Wagon R witnessed a sharp increase of 81 percent as it rose to 12,639 units from 6,984 units in the year 2019-20. Suzuki Alto also witnessed a sharp increase as it went up from 30,916 units in FY21 to 37,720 units in the previous year. Meanwhile, sale of motorbikes witnessed an increase of 39 percent as it rose to 1.904 million units in Fiscal Year 2020-21 compared to sale of 1.37 million units in same month of last year.

ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi on Tuesday said with the best mango produce in the world, Pakistan had the potential to make a bigger export footprint of the “King of Fruits” by adopting proper agrarian techniques. “Introduction of mango’s new varieties through research, quality control and value addition can help Pakistan earn high revenues in the international markets,” the president said in his address at the Mango Festival here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr. The Mango Festival was organized by the Rahim Yar Khan Chamber of Commerce and Industries, and the Ministry of Commerce that showcased a wide assortment of local mangoes, ranging from the well-known varieties like Chaunsa, Sindhri, Dusehri and Anwar Ratol to the less known Coconut Ambri, Surkha Gulab and Samar Bahisht. President Alvi said Pakistan’s sweet mangoes could no doubt be presented before the world with great pride and mentioned in that regard his ‘mango diplomacy’ under which he had sent the gifts of mangoes to the rulers, presidents and prime ministers of different countries. The mango gifts were sent to 37 countries this year and to 17 last year, he added. The president stressed that Pakistan needed to take measures in quality presentation of food produce to boost the exports.

TARBAILA: Power generation of Tarbela dam on Wednesday reached 2327 megawatts while the water level of the reservoir slightly increased to 1445.13 feet. According to Tarbala Dam officials, the water inflow increased to 211700 cusecs feet due to monsoon”s heavy downpour while the outflow was 155000 and the water level of the reservoir remained 1445.13 feet. Today, 12 power generation plants out of 17 have produced only 1445.13 megawatts of electricity while the plants were working with low capacity and five of them were shut down. It was also disclosed that 800 cusecs of water were released for Pehur High-Level Canal (PHLC) to supply water, some areas of KPK for irrigation. Water inflow in the dam also increased during the last few days owing to the snow and glaciers melting caused by the scorching heat. Water level in the Tarbail dam reservoir would increase and it would also raise the power generation of the dam.

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Tuesday said Pakistan wanted to adopt a joint strategy on Afghanistan after consultation with important countries of the region. “As Pakistan is fulfilling its responsibilities, the improved situation in Afghanistan will benefit all. If, God forbids, the situation in Afghanistan deteriorates, all will be affected,” Qureshi said in a statement from Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan. The foreign minister said since he was in Tajikistan to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers” meeting, he wanted to utilize the opportunity to discuss the situation in Afghanistan with important countries of the region, which were also monitoring the situation. He said after a detailed discussion already held with his Tajik counterpart on the situation in Afghanistan on Monday, he held meetings with foreign ministers of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Afghanistan today. He was also expected to meet the foreign ministers of China and Russia, he added. The foreign minister said India by playing the role of a spoiler in Afghanistan was disturbing regional peace. He said India should let Afghanistan live with peace and urged the international community to prohibit it from the negative attitude. Qureshi said as the neighbouring countries would be affected by the Afghanistan situation, it was a golden opportunity to take consultative process forward. He said Pakistan was the only country, which, despite its limited resources, was hosting three million Afghan refugees for decades, however, it could not afford to welcome more refugees if the situation in Afghanistan deteriorated again. The minister said Pakistan by sacrificing 70,000 lives and suffering huge economic losses had paid a heavy price in the war against terrorism. He said since under the guise of Afghan refugees, some anti-Pakistan elements could enter the country, it was their obligation to remain cautious. Qureshi said he considered most of the Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan as innocent and wanted to return to their country. Pakistan, he said, wanted to help the Afghan people on humanitarian grounds, but also wanted to ensure the safety and security of its own people. It also desired sustainable peace and stability in Afghanistan. How long fingers would be pointed towards Pakistan, he questioned. He urged the Afghans not to repeat the mistakes of past and find a way by sitting together. “We invite the important Afghan personalities for dialogue. Afghan leaders should sit and tell how we can help them,” he added.