Anti-narcotics force Balochistan recovered total of 845 kg drugs worth 92,820,000 US dollars from Pishin 

Islamabad, December 12, 2021 (PPI-OT):Pishin-In an Intelligence based operation, Anti-Narcotics Force recovered 340kg of Heroin and 505kg Morphine from a cave in Pishin district’s area called Kali Boti. The stored drugs were destined to be smuggled abroad through Gwadar. Further investigation in this regard is underway.

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USF Board approves 10 projects worth PKR 11.5 billion

Islamabad, December 12, 2021 (PPI-OT):The Universal Service Fund (USF) Board has approved 10 projects worth approximately PKR 11.5 billion to provide high speed internet service, and optical fiber projects for top tourist destination areas Kumrat Valley, Swat including 19 un-served and under-served districts of Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces to facilitate approximately 4.4 million people.

Advised by the Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Syed Amin Ul Haque, the USF Board approved award of high-speed mobile broadband contracts to Jazz, Ufone and Telenor, while the optic fiber cable projects contract to PTCL.

Federal Secretary Ministry of IT and Telecommunication and Chairman of USF Board, Dr. Muhammad Sohail Rajput chaired the 80th Board of Directors meeting of USF. The meeting was attended by Member Telecom, Muhammad Omar Malik, Chairman PTA, Major General ® Amir Azeem Bajwa, and VP for Government Sales-Super Net Pvt Ltd, Imran Akhtar Shah, Chairman-Consumer Association of Pakistan, Kaukab Iqbal and other officials.

While addressing the meeting, Federal Secretary for IT and Telecommunication and Chairman of USF Board, Dr. Muhammad Sohail Rajput said, “USF was established 15 years ago but in the first 12 years the pace of implementation of projects was quite slow. In the last three years since the current government took charge, especially in the last two years, a record 37 projects worth over PKR 31 billion have been contracted; in FY 2019-20, 12 projects were contracted, in FY 2020-21, 25 projects were contracted and in FY 2020-21, we plan to contract 28 projects.

This reflects the exemplary leadership of Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication, Syed Amin Ul Haque who is working day and night to fulfil the Prime Minister’s Digital Pakistan vision and Connectivity for all policy, so, it is important that USF continues to bridge the digital divide and ensure timely completion of all projects going forward.”

According to the details, the Board approved award of high-speed mobile broadband contracts to Jazz for districts of Mianwali and Khushab in Punjab that will serve an unserved population of around 0.37 million in 186 unserved muazas and an approximate unserved area of 5,080 sq. km. The Board also approved award of high-speed mobile broadband projects in tourist destination contracts to Jazz, covering districts of Mansehra, Abbottabad, Swat and Upper Dir in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

These projects will provide access to 153.83 km unserved route length and an approximate unserved area of 65.51 sq. km. The tourist projects in destinations like Janat Nazeer Wadi, Kumrat and others will strengthen the Prime Minister’s tourism program and tourists and local citizenry will enjoy access to the fastest internet and network services.

On the special directive of Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication, Syed Amin Ul Haque, preliminary technical survey and design for these projects has been completed in record time while the projects will also be completed in minimum time.

Furthermore, the Board also approved award of high-speed mobile broadband contract to Ufone for providing high-speed mobile broadband services in districts of Lasbella and Awaran in Balochistan that will serve an unserved population of around 0.15 million in 223 unserved muazas and an approximate unserved area of 39,012 sq. km.

Similarly, the Board also approved award of high-speed mobile broadband contract to Telenor for providing high-speed mobile broadband services in districts of Buner and Shangla in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that will serve an unserved population of around 95,840 in 102 unserved muazas and an approximate unserved area of 1,232 sq. km.

USF Board also approved OFC Program for Union Council level and award of optic fiber cable contracts to PTCL for providing backhaul connectivity in districts of Mianwali, Dadu, Jamshoro, Badin and Hyderabad in Sindh that will serve an unserved population of around 3.7 million in 135 unserved union councils by laying 1,385 km of optic fiber cable and installing 301 BTS Towers.

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Prime Minister takes notice of legitimate demands of fishermen in Gwadar, assures stern action against illegal fishing 

Islamabad, December 12, 2021 (PPI-OT):Prime Minister Imran Khan has taken notice of the very legitimate demands of fishermen of Gwadar and assured them for taking stern action against the illegal fishing by trawlers. In his tweet, he also assured them to speak to the Chief Minister of Balochistan on the issue. The fishermen in Gwadar had been protesting against the devastating impact of illegal fishing by trawlers along the coast on the livelihoods of local fishermen.

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JKMM deeply concerned over escalating atrocities in IIOJK 

Srinagar, December 12, 2021 (PPI-OT):In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the Jammu and Kashmir Mass Movement (JKMM) has expressed deep concern over the escalating atrocities by the Indian troops on the innocent people of the territory. The JKMM Information Secretary, Shabbir Ahmed in a statement issued in Srinagar termed the current situation in IIOJK as extremely dire with regard to protection of civilians.

He said that the Kashmiris were facing severe difficulties due to continued siege and search operations, raids by Indian infamous National Investigation Agency (NIA), dismissal of government employees and arrests of students, businessmen, journalists, lawyers, intellectuals and political activists.

Shabbir Ahmed lamented that the Modi-led fascist Indian government was inflicting political revenge on the people in the occupied territory under various pretexts. He said that India was trying to paint all institutions as Hindutva, adding that extrajudicial killings, genocide, forced arrests, oppression, violence against women, ban on political activities and violations of basic human rights have become a routine matter.

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Special occasion held at Embassy of Pakistan to celebrate Christmas

Islamabad, December 12, 2021 (PPI-OT):Embassy of Pakistan Washington co-hosted with All Neighbours, a community organization representing Christians and other faiths, a special event to celebrate Christmas here at the Embassy, says a press release received here today from Washington DC.

Founder of the All Neighbours, Mr. Ilyas Masih thanked Embassy of Pakistan especially Ambassador Dr. Asad Majeed Khan for opening the doors of the Embassy to the Christian community and holding events on major occasions such as Christmas and Easter on regular basis.

Congratulating Christian community in the United States and world across, Ambassador Dr Asad Majeed Khan stated that at a time when the tide of religious extremism threatened cherished values of tolerance and peace world-wide, showing respect for other faiths holds the key to promoting inter-faith harmony.

Highlighting religious diversity of Pakistan, the Ambassador recalled the assurance given by Pakistan’s founding father Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah of complete religious freedom for people of all faiths in the country.

He said that the way the entire leadership of the country and the whole nation has united to condemn a horrific incident of Sialkot was reassuring in stemming the tide of extremism and religious intolerance. Ambassador said that Christmas carried message of love, peace, forgiveness and hope.

He highlighted that Islam meant peace, therefore, religious harmony in the world was bound to usher in peace and security. The event was attended by a large number of Christians and members from other faiths, who lauded the Embassy’s initiative of holding Christmas Celebrations graciously.

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IIOJK people being denied their fundamental rights by India

Birmingham, December 12, 2021 (PPI-OT):Tehreek-e-Kashmir, UK, held various meetings in the United Kingdom in connection with International Human Rights Day to remind the world that the people of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir are being denied their fundamental rights by India.

MP and Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Commons, said that it was very important to keep raising voices against all kinds of human rights violations in the world and as far as the Kashmir and Palestine disputes are concerned, “These are big scars on international community,” he said.

Urging international intervention to stop crimes against humanity being perpetrated in the two occupied territories by India and Israel, he said, “Silence on Kashmir exposes hypocrisy of the international powers.”

While speaking at a conference jointly organised by Tehreek-e-Kashmir, UK, Palestine Solidarity Conference and Stop the War Coalition, Fahim Kayani, president of Tehreek-e-Kashmir, UK, said: “The UN has failed to play role in stopping Indian atrocities committed by the brutal Indian army against innocent Kashmiris.”

He criticised the so-called democracy summit hosted by the US President, Joe Biden on the World Human Rights Day on the 10th of December 2021, saying unfortunately, among over 100 participants, India was also sitting on the table with President, Biden.

“Mr President and all those who believe in human rights and right to self-determination, there are over 10 million people in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, who are being denied the basic right to life and right to self-determination as promised by the UN and international community,” Kayani said. Mr President, the US is also a signatory to over 20 resolutions and documents on Kashmir at the UN that call for plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir, he added.

Mushaal Hussain Mullick, the Chairperson of Peace and Culture Organisation, said that this is the time to hold India accountable and ask it about Kashmiri political detainees, languishing in infamous Tihar jail on frivolous charges. The detainees included Muhammad Yasin Malik, Masarat Alam Butt, Shabbir Ahmad Shah, Aasiya Andrabi, Nahida Nasreen, Fehmeeda Sofi, Ghulam Muhammad Butt, Ayaz Akbar, Meraj-ud-din Kalwal, Peer Saifullah, Farooq Ahmad Dar and Altaf Ahmad Shah, she added.

Muhammad Ghalib, President of Tehreek-e-Kashmir Europe, said that IIOJK was facing the worst human rights abuses where aged people – Syed Ali Gilani and Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai were being killed in custody but no one held India accountable. Marwan Darwaish, Palestinian human rights activist, said, the struggles of Palestinians and Kashmiris are leading light for those who believe in human rights and international law. “The Palestinians and Kashmiris will win their battle,” he said.

Shaista Safi, a Kashmiri activist, said Indian military is conducting fake encounters and killing unarmed, civilian Kashmiris and then denying their families to see the faces of their loved ones. “This is height of war crimes in IIOJK,” she deplored.

Hurriyat leader Abdul Hameed Lone referred to the illegal arrest of rights defender, Khurram Parvez by India whose work has been used by the United Nations to unmask India’s war crimes in the territory. “Nearly 40 journalists have been interrogated by Indian agencies,” he added.

Ahsan Untoo, a Kashmir-based human rights defender, said India has put every Kashmiri who lives outside Kashmir for want of study or job on notice. “Their families are being harassed, their details are being taken,” he added.

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APHC concerned over upsurge in Kashmiris’ ethnic cleansing in IIOJK 

Srinagar, December 12, 2021 (PPI-OT):In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has expressed concern over the upsurge in ethnic cleansing of the Kashmiris, who have been forcibly occupied and subdued by India since 1947.

The APHC spokesman in a statement issued in Srinagar strongly condemned the wide range illegal construction of residential buildings for non-state subjects in the name of migrant Pandit community and termed it a well-thought-out ploy of India to change the demography of the territory.

Since all the land laws have been repealed to demolish the blockades in this way, he warned that the people of Kashmir have never accepted military aggression and forcible occupation as testified by its glorious history. The spokesman, hailing the valour and exemplary steadfastness of the freedom-loving people of Kashmir, added that the prevailing graveyard-like silence imposed by over one million Indian forces in IIOJK is a delusion for the fascist regime of India.

The people of Kashmir are engaged in a rightful and legitimate resistance movement, demanding their inalienable right to self-determination as recommended and guaranteed by the United Nations resolutions so India has no right to suppress the Kashmirs’ freedom sentiments, he maintained.

The APHC spokesman urged the United Nations to stop India from its nefarious designs of changing the demography of the disputed territory, in violation of the international laws and agreed norms of conflict resolution. While lauding the role of the Pakistan government to help resolve the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN resolutions, he said that the people of IIOJK were highly thankful to Pakistan for its sincere support and efforts on political, moral and diplomatic fronts.

The spokesman urged the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, to block ethnic cleansing perpetrated by the Indian fascist regime in the occupied territory and take serious cognizance of its criminal acts of genocide, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and widespread human rights abuses. The spokesman added that it had become highly imperative to address the Kashmir dispute in the best interests of world peace and prosperity, which had become a nuclear flashpoint at global level.

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Hurriyat leaders condole deaths of various persons in IIOJK 

Srinagar, December 12, 2021 (PPI-OT):In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference, Shabbir Ahmed Dar, Jammu and Kashmir Muslim League leader, Farooq Ahmed Tawheedi and Tehreek-e-Istiqlal Chairman, Gulam Nabi Wasim, today, visited Putukha, Krankshiva and Sopore and condoled the demises of the father of Hurriyat leader, Shakeelu Rehman, mother of Mohammad Ashraf and mother of Chief Editor of weekly Aihtisaab, Azad sahib.

According to Kashmir Media Service, speaking to the mourners, the Hurriyat leaders lauded the role of the families of the deceased in the resistance movement. They also condemned Indian atrocities on the hapless Kashmiris. The world needs to break its criminal silence and stop the genocide of the Kashmiris by India, they added. Shabbir Ahmed Dar later visited the bereaved family of Gulam Hassan Bachha, a prominent educationist and Chairman of Muslim Educational Trust, Sopre, who passed away recently.

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