Pakistan’s government should support dairy industry says PCJCCI Senior Vice President Ehsan Choudhry

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Lahore (Nut Desk) Pakistan China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI) President Mr Wang Zihai expressed these views in a think-tank session held here at PCJCCI Secretariat on otherday. He added, “We have learned that Pakistan is the most important exporter and producer of dairy products in South Asia; whereas, Chinese technologies are low-priced if we adopt the techniques and technology used by China, Pakistan could advance in this industry.” PCJCCI president said that China is willing to explore more about Pakistani dairy industry to see if it has the opportunity to be part of Pakistan in this sector. From 2011 to 2022, China’s dairy imports rose at a compound annual growth of 12.3 percent, and the demand is still expanding. Milk powder, liquid milk, high value-added dairy products such as whey, cheese, butter and cream are also in high demand in the Chinese market.

PCJCCI Senior Vice President Ehsan Choudhry said that currently, China’s dairy imports mainly come from New Zealand (40.44 percent), the Netherlands (17.15 percent) and Australia (7.38 percent). Pakistan’s government should support this industry to boost export and domestic production, especially to control the adulteration of loose milk. He asserted that the local farmers are facing many problems, such as a lack of education, latest storage facilities, transfer of milk, and cold storage; the government should come forward to train and educate them with the modern technology. In this way, Chinese consumers’ demands for high-quality dairy products will be satisfied. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s economic development, industrial upgrading and industrial chain extension can be expected in the process.

PCJCCI Vice President Sarfaraz Butt said: “Animal husbandry is one of the pillar industries in Pakistan. Specifically, Balochistan, where Gawadar Port under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is located in, is with unique advantages of breeding beef cattle and dairy cows.” He added that the construction of epidemic-free area in Gawadar Port is progressing in an orderly way. If the industrial chain of China can be extended to Pakistan, it is expected to achieve win-win outcomes for the dairy industry of both countries. The joint chamber’s Secretary General Salahuddin Hanif said that Pakistan is among world’s top five largest milk producers, with over 60 million tonnes of milk production each year.

British Council partners with Lahore Biennale Foundation for Virtual Museum

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British Council partners with Lahore Biennale Foundation for Virtual Museum, marking the 75th anniversary of Pakistan

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir)  The British Council and Lahore Biennale Foundation (LBF) have partnered to launch the Lahore Biennale Foundation Virtual Museum project at the National College of Arts, Lahore. The virtual museum is a digital platform for artists, academics and creative practitioners to re-examine our shared cultural language and artistic legacy. The launch event was attended by senior members of the arts community as well as representatives from the British Council and the British High Commission. The project is part of the British Council’s Pakistan-UK Season: New Perspectives programme to mark the 75th anniversary of Pakistan.

The project invited a diverse group of curators, collaborators and artists across the board to respond and contribute to 75 years of Pakistan’s rich, multifaceted history and culture post-independence. The aim is to facilitate broader socio-cultural changes in public interaction which has led to the need of providing people with a virtual space to reconnect with their cultural heritage. The project also questions the role of the “traditional forms of museum making” and builds on the global reality of virtual connectivity despite physical borders, making cyberspace an ideal platform for local and global conversations – transcending boundaries by making knowledge production an accessible and open-ended reality. The LBF’s Virtual Museum engages in new forms of museum making, overcomes physical boundaries, and functions as an enduring online resource.

Kate Joyce, Business Director Cultural Engagement, British Council South Asia, said: “The Virtual Museum is an innovative way to use art and heritage in community building in an inclusive and impactful way. This formed part of our programme of activity for Pakistan/UK: New Perspectives programme. I look forward to many young artists and curators contributing to this space and meaningfully sharing ideas that pave the way for an inclusive and sustainable future. The tragic recent events in Pakistan with the floods underline the importance of working together to tackle global challenges.”

The curators and themes for the project are Dastaan-I-Urdu, curated by Ali Usman Qasmi (Co Curator: Mahmood Ul Hasan); The Body and Beyond: Women’s Movements in Pakistan, curated by Farida Batool; Taos Chaman – Post-Colonial Identity in Artistic Practices in South Asia, curated by Masooma Syed; Manduva: Exploring What We Won’t Like to Call ‘Lollywood’, curated by Sarmad Sultan Khoosat; Ilm-e-Mosiqui: Classical Legacies, Folk Music and Contemporary Classics, curated by Sarah Zaman and Architecture through Space and Time: Conversations with the first generation of Pakistani Architects, curated by Tanvir Hasan. All these themes respond to a different aspect of our country’s shared history, cultural language and artistic legacy.

Qudsia Rahim, Executive Director at the Lahore Biennale Foundation, said: “The Lahore Biennale Foundation Virtual Museum is a unique form of archiving, knowledge making and exhibition discourse in response to the global socio-cultural changes in museum practice and public perception. Curated by a collaboration of leading local artists and academics (and not with a Western lens), it represents our shared history and heritage, and hopes to build upon the research as presented by local practitioners. With the current climate crisis in the country, it is now more crucial than ever, to come together, collaborate and help each other.”

Malaysia is becoming hub of higher education, says Yasmin Rashid

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Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Provincial Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid has said that it is encouraging that Malaysia is becoming the desired destination of foreign students for higher education and specialization.

She said this while inaugurating a two-day Education Expo arranged by the Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) for the benefit of students who are aspiring for higher studies abroad at Avari Hotel on Saturday here. As many as 10 leading universities of Malaysia have been invited to participate in the expo.

Dr. Yasmin Rashid said that Pakistan has cordial and brotherly relations with Malaysia and this expo is a timely initiative which will benefit the students who are aspiring for higher studies abroad.

“I am happy to see that the Malaysian universities are offering higher studies in multiple disciplines, including medicine,” she added. 

EMGS CEO Mr. Mohd Radzlan bin Jalaludin disclosed that the event is going to be an ideal opportunity for Pakistani students, faculty and counselors to meet the Malaysian govt and universities representatives directly and discuss their study and visa options.

Mr. Mohd Radzlan bin Jalaludin said the students would be able to seek visa guidance directly from the Malaysian government officials. He said that the participating universities are offering generous scholarships up-to 50 per cent and tuition fee waivers to the Pakistani students. 

He said that the enrolled students would have an option to get the US, UK and Australia degree at one-third the cost in Malaysia and with the option to transfer to UK or Australia to complete their degree.

Besides, he added that the students could also get a dual degree from leading international universities while completing their studies in Malaysia, where the per month living expense for students is quite similar to what they spend in Pakistan. He said that Malaysia being a Muslim country is especially safe for girls for studies and work alike.  

Education Malaysia Global Services is a company under the purview of the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia. It is also the principal body that manages the movement of international students in Malaysia, including facilitating visa processing.

Education Malaysia Global Services is working hard to make Malaysia a global education hub of choice and ensure the welfare of all international students who want to study in Malaysia. EMGS plans to regularly hold education expos so that more and more Pakistani students could benefit from study options in Malaysia, he concluded.

An evening with Shahid Nadeem of Ajoka theatre by Third World Solidarity.

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London (Qasim Ali)
Pakistanis will Bounce Back, says playwright Nadeem.
Leading Pakistani playwright and head of Ajoka Theatre Shahid Nadeem said Pakistanis are a resilient nation which  will bounce back and overcome the present political and economic crises and build a just and prosperous society. He was speaking in London at a reception given in his honour by the Third World Solidarity. He spoke about his own journey as a writer and activist and his involvement in the democratic movements. He said he was from the generation of Pakistanis born after the Partition, which is determined to keep the dream of a free and just society alive despite the attempts by the dark forces of authoritarianism and fundamentalism to turn it into a nightmare. 
Earlier the founder of Third World Solidarity, Mushtaq Lasharie CBE, welcomed Mr Nadeem and other guests Punjabi poet Mazhar Tirmizi paid tribute to the commitment and creative contribution of Shahid Nadeem and traced his career as a writer and activist to the student days.Journalist and poet Iftikhar Qaiser talked about the days of Zia ul Haq’s rule and Shahid’s role as a human rights activist and Amnesty International official.
The tributes were followed by musical performances by Sumaira Javed, Pavan and Naeem Khan. 
The event was attended by a large number of artists, activists and media people.

Rehan Siddiqi On His Own Behalf Helping flood victims in Pakistan

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Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir) Rehan Siddiqi, a well-known host, music producer, the most popular overseas Pakistani , community activist , producer of over 500 concerts across overseas community and National promoter representing over 30 Pakistani legends across the Overseas Pakistani.

He has been a very big support to the Entertainment industry as well as Helping Pakistani Real Estate across the country by bringing overseas Pakistani real estate buyers he’s mobilized to help the flood victims in Pakistan. Rehan Siddiqi had a special meeting with the American Congress representative, Sheila Jackson, and discussed the relief of the flood victims in Pakistan.

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson is visiting Pakistan under the leadership of a delegation, in which she will meet with the top government figures including the Prime Minister of Pakistan, in which she will give her support to the people affected by the floods in Pakistan. This delegation will also visit the flood-affected areas in Pakistan, after which the relief activities will be started immediately after assessing the damage caused by the flood.

American Rehan Siddiqi culture has become a unique identity in all of America including Houston in terms of social and welfare work. Rehan Siddiqi says that many people have suffered a lot due to the flood and the amount of help given to these people is very little.

Work to solve the problems of these people. Rehan is very much involved in the political circle of Us and has always promoted friendship between Paksitan and Us He was able to help grant visas for many Pakistanis in medical situation as well as played a major role in bringing American leadership to Pakistan for flood relief efforts.

United States Congress Congresswoman , the US state Department to meet Pakistan Government landing today in ISLAMABAD and will be visiting the affected areas of pakistan and will be making a report to provide Aid to Pakistan , the delegation is headed by Sheila Jackson Lee and US Government officials as well as American Pakistan community leaders including Rehan Siddiqi well known overseas Pakistani as well as Tahir Jawed , Tanweer Ahmed.

Google CS First Phase 4 to be Launched

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Google CS First Phase 4 to be Launched in collaboration with the Sindh Information, Science & Technology Department.

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) After the successful implementation of Google CS First in selected cities, Sindh Information, Science & Technology Department has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Tech Valley Pakistan, a local country partner of Google for Education, to launch CS First Phase 4, with the support of Google and Ministry of IT & Telecom, in Pakistan’s one of the biggest metropolitan cities, Karachi now.

The past three phases of Google CS First were conducted throughout Pakistan in cities like Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Mainwali, Quetta, and trained more than 130 trainers and 600 students on early-age coding.

CS First, a program of Google, empowers teachers to teach computer science to kids between 9 to 14 years with easy-to-use tools and resources. Through this program, students learn through instructors, video tutorials, and block-based coding in Scratch, which helps in enhancing their creative and analytical skills.

Mr. Asif Ikram, Secretary, Information and Science Department, Sindh, while signing the MOU, said, “This partnership would take our mission of making a difference in the lives of citizens through digital interventions. We need such capacity-building programs so that when our kids reach the advanced level, they have sufficient background knowledge and necessary skills such as coding.”

Under Phase 4, Google for Education’s Partner in Pakistan, Tech Valley, will collaborate with the Sindh Information, Science & Technology Department to organize training sessions in different government schools in Sindh and equip kids with basic coding knowledge.

Tech Valley, the local country partner for Google for Education, has localized the global CS First curriculum to suit the Pakistani context and has developed a detailed implementation plan.

CEO Tech Valley Umar Farooq said during the ceremony, “Tech Valley is grateful to Google and its team for supporting this excellent initiative in Pakistan. Apart from teaching kids coding through Art, Storytelling, and Game Design, we have also clubbed the Be Internet Awesome Program in these training sessions so that students can be smart, responsible, safe, and aware while surfing the internet.”

Tech Valley Pakistan is a global innovative consulting firm working with various development organizations, INGOs, and private and government organizations. Its mission is to inculcate a culture of technology and entrepreneurship through digital innovations.

 

 

 

 

 

Global retail giant Miniso partners with Jomo.pk

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Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir) MINISO, a global lifestyle brand that has taken the Pakistani market by storm, has announced teaming up with JOMO – one of Pakistan’s fastest and most trusted e-commerce destination. The partnership gives JOMO.pk the online distribution rights for MINISO’s lifestyle and fashion products – including its very popular licensed Marvel toys and accessories.

MINISO has rapidly expanded to more than 70 retail locations in Pakistan since its launch in 2017. The brand offers consumers visually pleasing, user-friendly, and high-quality lifestyle products. Bags & accessories, electronics & appliances, cosmetics, scented products, stationary & gifts, toys, textile, household items, skincare & cleansing, makeup tools and health & beauty are the eleven category pavilions that they cover. MINISO regularly co-partners with popular brands such as the Bare Bear, Adventure Awaits, Coca-Cola, Mickey Mouse, Pink Panther, Disney and the Marvel series to delight its Gen Z customers and encourage “interest-based consumption.”

“This is a milestone partnership, where a global retail giant like MINISO has shown trust in JOMO to expand its online reach in Pakistan. This collaboration will not just offer our customer-base a whole new range of products across the lifestyle portfolio, but will further cement JOMO’s position as the most preferred and trusted online commerce platform in the country.” – commented Ali Khan-Bajauri, CEO and Co-founder, JOMO Technologies at the signing ceremony at Jomo Office in Lahore.

“We’re very happy to partner with JOMO to extend our reach to masses in Pakistan and be more accessible where we don’t have MINISO stores” – a statement said.

Miniso products go live on Jomo.pk in September, coinciding with Miniso’s 5th Anniversary in Pakistan. 

 

 

 

LWMC Atif Chaudhary appointed as New Chairman

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Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir) Government of Punjab appointed Mr. Atif Chaudhary as new Chairman Member board of Directors LWMC. Government of Punjab issued notification on 23rd August, 2022 and de-notified the five board of directors.

As per the issued notification five new Board of Directors have also been notified including Chairman LWMC Atif Chaudhary, Mr. Abdul Kareem Khan, Ms. Rizwana Iqtedar, Syed Raees-ud-Din Ahmed and Mr. Safdar Shaheen Pirzada. Chairman LWMC took charge and conducted a meeting with all the departments including Operations, Communication, HR, Procurement etc. Chairman LWMC gave standing instructions to improve cleanliness situation in the city on war footings, chairing the meeting he emphasized and gave directions regarding presence of officers in field and ensuring proper cleanliness in every nook and corner of the city.

Chairman LWMC added that Lahore is the city of gardens and no tolerance will be observed over any sort of negligence by anyone. Department should work as a team and every officer should own LWMC. It was also directed by Chairman LWMC to the officers for maintaining smooth relations with public, political and social sector of the society by resolving their complaints and maintaining regular cleanliness. Directing all senior staff of LWMC Chairman stated that department should focus on its vision of clean Lahore followed by vigilance in routine operations. During Monson season LWMC should strictly follow the SOP`s & must be prepared for any sort of hindrance, all officers should remain in field despite of any weather conditions.

Xiaomi Foundation donates USD 100,000 to aid flood-affected people

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Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir) Xiaomi Foundation today announced donation of USD 100,000 to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to support UNHCR’s operation in Pakistan including this most recent emergency response to the flooding and other situations affecting refugees and host communities in Pakistan.

 

Since June, Pakistan’s landscape has been altered by torrential rain, which has submerged approximately one-third of the country under water, taken the lives of thousands, and forced millions to flee their homes.

 

According to the National Disaster Management Authority, more than 33,046,329 individuals have been displaced, and over 1,051,570 houses are damaged because of these devastating floods. 

 

UNHCR is on the ground already distributing life-saving support to affected communities, including many of the 1.3 million Afghan refugees who have been generously hosted in Pakistan for over 40 years. In the worst hit areas of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, UNHCR has already provided refugee villages as well as host communities with more than 71,000 emergency relief items, including tents, plastic tarpaulins, sanitary products, cooking stoves, blankets, solar lamps and sleeping mats. In addition, UNHCR delivered 10,000 sandbags to help households build up defenses around their homes.

 

Those who would like to provide refugees and local communities in Pakistan with emergency support like shelter, household supplies and blankets, can provide your help via donating to UNHCR “PAKISTAN FLOODS EMERGENCY”: https://donate.unhcr.org/int/en/pakistan-floods-emergency

 

Xiaomi Corporation hopes for the best for those affected, and for a speedy recovery in the affected area.

 

 

 

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan visits NADRA Headquarters

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• Minister inaugurates NADRA Biker Service.

• Chairman NADRA briefed the Interior Minister about NADRA Bikers, other initiatives for the facilitation of general public.

• NADRA Biker’s is a home-based service to carry out all the processes of Identity Card:

• The Biker service has been introduced as pilot in Islamabad and Rawalpindi: Tariq MalikMinister Interior Islamabad:

Federal Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah has launched NADRA Biker Service for carrying out all the processes of CNIC applied in renewal and modification categories at the door-step of the applicant.

The inauguration ceremony was held at NADRA Headquarters, Islamabad. During his visit to NADRA Headquarters, Chairman NADRA briefed the Interior Minister about NADRA operations in Sindh, Baluchistan and South Punjab which have been badly affected by devastating floods and heavy rains.

The minister was informed that the monsoon rains and floods have caused heavy losses to the most of buildings of NRCs which are inundated under water; however, the equipment has been saved and evacuated. Houses of 150 NADRA employees in those areas have been damaged, the chairman informed. Moreover, during the briefing Chairman NADRA informed the Minister that more than 37 million people have been terribly affected due to on-going floods and continuous rain pour. He told that the heavy rains and flooding situation in certain areas had led to the loss of CNICs of affected people which would be needed to have an access to governments’ relief disbursement and other relief activities.

With regard to Biker service, Mr. Malik informed that initially the pilot phase of the service would be started in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. By the end of December this year, NADRA Biker service would be extended to all the districts of the country, he added. Chairman NADRA told the minister that after rolling out digital online services for the citizens, a home-based NADRA’s Biker service is basically a portable NADRA Centre that will walk into the peoples’ lounges and register them in their premises saving them from the hassle of visiting NADRA centre. Through this service the female registration officers using scooties will also carry out the registration of women only.

Mr. Malik apprised the minister that he had been working on out-of-box solutions with a prime focus on creating hand-on facilitation and hassle-free registration for general public in a bid to accommodate more than 125000 footfall daily at 771 NADRA centres across the country. He informed that the long queues at NADRA registration centers, especially in big and densely populated cities led him to go an extra mile by successfully establishing 97 new NRCs and adding more than 100 new MRVs in the existing fleet within past 10 months.

Lauding the efforts of Chairman NADRA, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said Tariq Malik had latterly set a new benchmark globally by creating public facilitation regime through the implementation of international standards and world’s best practices in NADRA. Speaking on the occasion, Interior Minister said that having a wide network of NADRA Registration Centers (NRCs) in total, Mobile Registration Vans (MRVs) and online Pak Identity service/Mobile App across the country to cater for the registration of the people of Pakistan without prejudice on daily basis, the introduction of a NADRA Biker shall bring NADRA services at people’s homes.”

The minister directed the Chairman to smart facilities should be introduced in small towns across all provinces. Nadra Biker Service is a great facility and Its network should be spread throughout the country, said Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah The minister directed that the scope of online facilities for overseas Pakistanis should also be expanded. The minister urged on Chairman NADRA to develop an automated system to register the new born children.

U The applicants will have to get appointment through website (https://www.nadra.gov.pk), mobile application (NADRA Rahbar) or NADRA Call Centre on 1777 (for subscribers of Mobilink, Ufone, Telenor and Zong) and (051) 111 786 100 (for fixed lines).

Every citizen will be able to benefit from NADRA Bikers Service, the senior citizens, women, disabled, sick persons and those, who cannot go to NADRA offices during office hours, will now be able to obtain the ID card from the comfort of their home. Thus, the ID card will be sent to the applicant’s current/permanent address through courier service.