December 11, 2021 – Page 2 – Madagascar Newswire

December 11, 2021

APHC concerned over plight of Kashmiri detainees in hell-like jails

Srinagar, December 11, 2021 (PPI-OT):In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference has condemned the inhuman treatment meted out to the illegally detained Hurriyat leaders and activists lodged in hell-like jails of the territory and India.

The APHC General Secretary, Molvi Bashir Ahmad Irfani, in a statement issued in Srinagar expressed grave concern over the deteriorating health of the ailing incarcerated leaders including APHC Chairman Masarrat Aalam Butt, Vice Chairman Shabbir Ahmad Shah, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Aasiya Andrabi, Dr Shafi Shariati, Dr Abdul Hameed Fayaz, Dr Muhammad Qasim Fakhtoo, Dr Ghulam Muhammad Butt, Muhammad Yousuf Mir, Muhammad Yousuf Falahi, Ayaz Akbar, Altaf Ahmed Shah, Peer Saifullah, Raja Merajuddin Kalwal, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Shahidul Islam, Farooq Ahmad Dar, Fehmeeda Sofi, Naheeda Nasreen, Maqsood Ahmad Butt, Ghulam Qadir Butt, Muzaffar Ahmad Dar, Zahoor Ahmad Butt, Nazir Ahmad Sheikh, Showkat Ahmad Khan, Muhammad Ayub Dar and Muhammad Ayub Mir.

The APHC leader said all the detainees are suffering from multiple ailments and proper medical care is not available in the jails. The inmates are being denied basic amenities and unhygienic food and atmosphere has further aggravated their health condition, he said. He paid rich tributes to the exemplary dedication and steadfastness displayed by the illegally incarcerated leaders and activists against India’s illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir.

The APHC General Secretary said more than six-and-a-half thousand resistance leaders and activists are languishing in different jails without any legal trial and because of the coronavirus pandemic, their families and relatives have been denied access to them. He said the custodial killing of a Pakistani detainee, Zia Mustafa, in a fake encounter by Indian troops in the forests of Poonch, has created panic among the relatives of the prisoners.

The APHC leader urged the United Nations Human Rights Council and other human rights organisations to take cognizance of the plight of Kashmiri detainees and arrange medical treatment for the ailing prisoners through International Committee of Red Cross under the auspices of World Health Organization. He demanded early settlement of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions and Kashmiris’ aspirations for ensuring durable peace in South Asia.

For more information, contact:
Kashmir Media Service
Phone: +92-51-4435548, +92-51-4435549
Fax: +92-51-4861736
Email: info@kmsnews.org
Website: www.kmsnews.org

December 11, 2021

Namaz disallowed in Gurgaon yet again

Gurgaon, December 11, 2021 (PPI-OT):Members of extremist Hindu organisations did not allow Friday Namaz in Gurgaon city of the Indian state of Haryana. In a bid to stop the prayers at Sector-37 in the city, condolence meetings were organised for Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat, his wife and other army personnel who lost their lives in a chopper crash on December 8. Trucks and other vehicles were also found parked hap hazardously at the Namaz location.

Meanwhile, the Friday Namaz was disrupted in a park located in Sector-44 by members of the Hindu right-wing organisations. However, due to the deployment of a heavy police force at the site, no untoward incident was reported.

A Muslim man who was prevented from reaching the site said, “This is a wrong way to stop us from offering Namaz. In Sector-37 a number of people are offering Namaz since several years but nobody stopped us but now few organisations are deliberately disrupting the prayers to gain political mileage. We believe that a real Hindu cannot prevent anybody from offering prayers,” Rashid Malik told media.

Earlier, in a meeting with the district administration, the Muslim organisations had decided to go ahead with Friday prayers at 18 places including six temporary spots in Gurgaon.

For more information, contact:
Kashmir Media Service
Phone: +92-51-4435548, +92-51-4435549
Fax: +92-51-4861736
Email: info@kmsnews.org
Website: www.kmsnews.org

December 11, 2021

Prime Minister inaugurates several infrastructure projects in Mianwali

Islamabad, December 11, 2021 (PPI-OT):Prime Minister Imran Khan has emphatically stated that the present government will only take those decisions which are in the interest and welfare of the public. Addressing a big public gathering after inaugurating and laying foundation stone of several development projects in Mianwali on Saturday, the Prime Minister said he will not disappoint the masses and this country will be transformed into a great nation for which it was created.

Imran Khan said we are ready for dialogue with everybody including those in Balochistan and Tribal districts but there will be no reconciliation with those who plundered the national exchequer and laundered the money abroad. The Prime Minister announced that the federal, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments will award scholarships to six point two million youth to pursue higher education. An amount of forty-seven billion rupees will be spent on it.

Imran Khan said the entire population of Punjab will be provided with health cards by March next year under which each household will be eligible to get medical treatment worth one million rupees annually. The Prime Minister pointed out that inflation is an international phenomenon caused by COVID-19 related lockdowns. He however said the prices in Pakistan are still lower when compared with other countries.

He said Ehsaas Rashan Program has also been launched to provide wheat flour, ghee and pulses to the underprivileged lot on thirty percent subsidized rates. He said Kamyab Pakistan program envisaging interest free loans of up to five hundred thousand rupees is also aimed at uplifting the weak segments of the society.

Imran Khan said there will be record development in backward areas of the country including Mianwali. Alluding to the ground breaking of Balksar-Mianwali-Muzaffargarh Road, the Prime Minister said the project will be completed in one and a half years.

In his remarks, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said the government is especially focusing on the development of backward areas. He said it is the first time that district development package of 360 billion rupees has been introduced to ensure equitable development.

Usman Buzdar said the local government system will soon be introduced in order to address the problems of the people at grassroots level. Usman Buzdar said the provincial government has also approved one hundred thousand jobs in public sector departments. The projects that were inaugurated on the occasion included Establishment of City Park at Old Cattle Mandi Mianwali, Dualization of Sargodha – Mianwali Road (Phase-1) and Establishment of Miyawaki Forest at NAMAL Lake.

Apart from Balksar-Mianwali-Muzaffargarh Road, the Prime Minister also performed the ground breaking of Upgradation of Kalabagh-Shakardara Road, Upgradation of DHQ Hospital Mianwali, Prime Minister Package -II, District Development Package, Establishment of Wooded Land at NAMAL Lake.

For more information, contact:
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Government of Pakistan
4th Floor, Cabinet Block, Pak. Secretariat, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9103557
Email: info@moib.gov.pk
Website: http://www.moib.gov.pk

December 11, 2021

United Nations Development Programme, National Commission for Human Rights and European Union mark International Human Rights Day

Islamabad, December 11, 2021 (PPI-OT):The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), along with European Union funded project Huqooq-e-Pakistan, held an event today to mark International Human Rights Day and to create awareness on human rights.

The event aimed to raise public awareness on human rights principles, available policies, initiatives, and human rights mechanisms that can be accessed by rights holders in Sindh, especially vulnerable groups. The event also included distribution of food relief packages to marginalized communities, including widows, transgender persons, and religious and ethnic minorities, affected by economic aftermath of COVID-19.

The event was organized under NCHR’s human rights advocacy and awareness-raising mandate. As an independent state institution, NCHR is also working towards promotion and protection of human rights by review of existing and proposed legislation and policies, research, and technical advice to government on inter-ministerial and inter-provincial legislative and policy coherence, and facilitation of dialogue and engagement between government and civil society. UNDP has been providing technical support to NCHR in planning and implementation of initiatives that support its mandate.

During the event, Chief Guest and Chairperson National Commission for Human Rights, Ms. Rabiya Javeri said, “The economic impact of COVID-19 and high inflation rates have adversely affected the most vulnerable groups in the society. Although this distribution is only a drop in the ocean, it is a small attempt to provide monthly ration packages to those most affected by poverty and economic inequality.”

Ms. Anis Haroon, NCHR Member Sindh said, “To remove inequalities our society needs to get rid of class biases and believe in universality of human rights: equal opportunities of education, health and livelihood for all.”

On the International Human Rights Day, UNDP Pakistan’s Assistant Resident Representative Mr. Kaiser Ishaque congratulated the National Commission for Human Rights on their continued commitment to protect and promote human rights, especially on the protection of the rights of the marginalised groups in Sindh. “UNDP and NCHR have a rich history of collaboration. UNDP looks forward to supporting NCHR in its mandated role of advancing human rights in Pakistan,” he said.

UNDP is supporting Pakistan to fulfil its Human Rights obligations and addressing and finding solutions for deep-rooted forms of discrimination, affecting the most vulnerable people. We aim to build forward better, and to leave no one behind.

For more information, contact:
Communications Analyst
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pakistan
4th Floor, Serena Office Complex,
Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-8355650
Cell: +92300 535 8225
Fax: +92-51-2655014-15
Email: fatimah.inayet@undp.org
Website: http://www.undp.org.pk

December 11, 2021

International Mountain Day being observed today

Islamabad, December 11, 2021 (PPI-OT):International Mountain Day is being observed on Saturday to raise awareness to highlight the importance of preserving the beauty of mountains across the world. The theme of this year is ‘Sustainable Mountain Tourism.’

December 11, 2021

Government committed to bring powerful mafias into ambit of law: Gill

Islamabad, December 11, 2021 (PPI-OT):Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Communication Dr. Shahbaz Gill says the present government, despite difficult circumstances, is making sincere efforts to provide maximum relief to the people. Addressing a ceremony in Lahore, he said the PTI government is striving to undo the devastation and damages caused by previous regimes.

The Special Assistant said the expensive electricity production agreements made by previous government, compelled people to pay more prices. He said the government is committed to bring the powerful mafias into ambit of law and take action against them by imposing heavy fines on them.

December 11, 2021

Mianwali is the hometown of Prime Minister Imran Khan as well as mine too: Sardar Usman Buzdar

Lahore, December 11, 2021 (PPI-OT):Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has said that Mianwali is the hometown of Prime Minister Imran Khan as well as mine too and a stronghold of PTI. The government will come up to the expectations of the people and for this purpose, we are working round the clock. The government will achieve its development goals and the journey of progress and prosperity will continue under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The Punjab Government has ring-fenced District Development Package of Rs. 360 billion for the uniform development of each area. Through the District Development package, the resources have been diverted to the backward areas. Usman Buzdar said that for the first time in the history of Punjab, special funds have been allocated for the backward areas. The government will ensure the composite development of each district.

Usman Buzdar said that the government is making serious efforts to remove the deprivations and backwardness of remote areas. This was stated by him while addressing a public gathering after the inaugurations and foundation stone laying ceremonies by PM Imran Khan in Mianwali, today. The Chief Minister said that our government has made a huge increase of Rs. 85 billion in annual development program 2021-22.

This extraordinary increase has taken the overall volume of ADP of Punjab to Rs. 645 billion. This volume will reach Rs. 740 billion if PSDP is also included. No government has ever given such a huge development budget in the history of Punjab. This will start a new era of development in the province. He termed Sehat Insaaf Card a remarkable initiative that will ensure the provision of quality healthcare facilities free of cost to every citizen of the province. He said that soon every citizen of Punjab will have Sehat Insaaf Card.

He said that work has already been started to provide one lakh jobs on merit in Punjab. He said that the PTI government has completed public welfare-oriented projects in its short span of three years which the former governments failed to do in their 70 years. There were only seven universities in the past but our government has set up 21 universities in the last 3 years. Similarly, only 1500 schools were upgraded in the past but the present government has upgraded 27 thousand schools.

There was only 12 cement factories but the incumbent government has issued NOC to 16 more cement factories out of these 3 cement factories will be set up in Mianwali. There were only 3 special economic zones in the past but the PTI government has established 13 special economic zones in Punjab.

He further maintained that under Prime Minister’s Package-I development projects of worth Rs. 25.91 billion have been completed in Mianwali. Whereas, under Prime Minister’s Package-II, work on 844 development schemes has been started. He said that several development projects have been inaugurated and the foundation stone has been laid, today.

Rs 2.17 billion will be spent on the upgradation of 39 km long Kala Bagh Shaker Dara road. Similarly, 200-bed Mother and Child Hospital is being speedily completed in Mianwali. Moreover, Rs. 2 billion is being spent on the upgradation of DHQ Hospital.

He said that Balksar Mianwali Muzaffargarh Road is being completed at a sum of Rs. 13.5 billion will prove to be a lifeline for the residents of the area. He thanked Prime Minister Imran Khan for the construction and repair project of 237 km long MM Road.

He said that the Punjab Cabinet has approved the new Local Government Act. He said that the new system would resolve the people’s problems at their doorsteps and the fruits of development would reach at the grass-root level. There will be an upper-level council that will make all the decisions in Mianwali.

The people of Mianwali will themselves elect their representatives. The government will conduct this election on a party basis. The dreams of the Prime Minister are being materialized. We are serving the people of the province with good intentions and will continue to do so, CM concluded.

For more information, contact:
Office of the Chief Minister of Punjab
Government of the Punjab
8-Club Road, GOR-I, Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-99205562-3
Fax: +92-42-99205561
Website: https://cm.punjab.gov.pk/

December 11, 2021

Cabinet Standing Committee for Finance and Development gives approval to include five projects of the health sector in Annual Development Programme 2021-2

Lahore, December 11, 2021 (PPI-OT):On the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, The Cabinet Standing Committee for Finance and Development has given the approval to include five projects of the health sector in Annual Development Programme 2021-22. These projects will cost Rs 6.58 billion.

According to details, in order to ensure quality healthcare facilities for the children, as directed by Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, the government has included the project of setting up of University of Child Health Sciences Lahore in the Annual Development Programme 2021-22. This project will cost Rs 4.16 billion.

The University of Child Health Sciences will be a state-of-the-art institution for the treatment of children where modern facilities of diagnosis, treatment besides promoting the research and development of Pediatrics diseases would be ensured. Similarly, the government has also approved to set up Dentistry College in Rawalpindi at a sum of Rs. 24 crore and a dental college in Quaid-e-Azam Medical college Bahawalpur at the cost of Rs. 24 crore and these projects have also been included in ADP 2021-22.

Moreover, approval has also been given for the procurement of Linear Accelerator equipped with necessary facilities for the Oncology department Mayo Hospital at a cost of Rs. 84 crore and MRI and CT scan for the radiology department of General Hospital which will cost Rs. 50 crore and these schemes have also been included in the Annual Development Programme 2021-22.

The Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said that the provision of quality healthcare facilities to the people is the top priority of the incumbent government. The government during the last three years has substantially increased the budget for the health sector besides ensuring quality healthcare facilities to the remote areas of the province.