January 8, 2022

Concluding ceremony of One Week Performance Evaluation Training Program – 2021 for ADSJs Batch-III

Lahore, January 08, 2022 (PPI-OT):The concluding ceremony of “One Week Performance Evaluation Training Program – 2021 for Additional District and Sessions Judges (Batch-III) was held on 1st January, 2022 at 01:30 p.m. in the Punjab Judicial Academy, which was Chaired by Mr. Ashtar Abbas, Director Administration, PJA. Mr. Tariq Iftikhar Ahmad, Director Training (Distance Learning), PJA, Ch. Muhammad Siddique, Director Academics / Program, PJA and Mrs. Bushra Zaman, Director Research and Publication also participated the ceremony.

The concluding ceremony was started with the recitation of the Holy Quran. Where after, Ms. Farzana Shahzad Khan, AD and SJ, representative of participants expressed her views about the training program. After that Mr. Ashtar Abbas, Director Administration, Punjab Judicial Academy passed concluding remarks.

While addressing the participants, Mr. Ashtar Abbas said that admittedly, it is the desire of every officer that he /she be promoted at a higher post and I pray that all of you may be promoted at your turn at the earliest. A where-after, certificate was distributed amongst the participants by the Chair and Directors of the Punjab Judicial Academy and at the end group photo was taken.

For more information, contact:
Punjab Judicial Academy
15 – Fane Road Lahore
Email: info@pja.gov.pk
PABX. No: 042-99214055-8
Website: www.pja.gov.pk

January 8, 2022

International Seminar on Corruption and Human Rights, jointly organized by the Government of Pakistan, OIC-IPHRC, with UNDP, OHCHR and UNODC

Islamabad, January 08, 2022 (PPI-OT):The Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), in partnership with the Government of Pakistan, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) held the 7th International Seminar on the subject of ‘Combating corruption-a pre-requisite for the full realization of all human rights and sustainable development’.

Besides Commission Members, the Seminar was attended by experts from relevant organizations such as the OHCHR, UN Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, UNDP and UNODC. Many representatives from several OIC Member and Observer States including their National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) as well as civil society also actively participated.

The Seminar discussion focused on the negative effects of corruption on sustainable development and human rights. Discussion highlighted key challenges related to corruption in different countries that prevent full realization of human rights, and proposed ways and means to strengthen the role of existing national, regional, and international human rights mechanisms in building resilient systems based on rule of law that prevent corruption and enable sustainable development.

“We are happy that the Government of Pakistan and UN agencies are supporting this seminar on combating corruption, which only shows the importance of addressing the social evil that is gravely affecting human rights of all segments of society,” said Dr Haci Ali Acikgul, Chairperson OIC-IPHCR.

“Human rights lens provides a valuable normative framework to address corruption, to foster a culture of transparency, accountability and rule of law, and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals,” H.E. Ambassador Askar Mussinov of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Assistant Secretary General of the OIC stated.

“Our fight against corruption is essential to the achievement of Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals. We must join hands to address the underlying factors and enablers of corruption at both the national and international levels,” iterated H.E. Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Pakistan.

“In the areas of health, education, and justice, we cannot risk discriminatory access to rehabilitative services or unfair monopolisation of public resources. Corruption is a threat to fundamental human rights,” said Dr. Shireen Mazari, Minister for Human Rights of Pakistan.

“Corruption has a devasting impact on quality and accessibility of human rights and social protection services. It further debilitates efforts in achieving the SDGs and undermines the capacity and legitimacy of government and its institutions,” stated Mr. Knut Ostby, Resident Representative, UNDP Pakistan. “UNDP Pakistan is committed to supporting the rights and responsibilities of all individuals for a more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive future. We continue to work closely with governments and development partners to integrate transparency, accountability and anti-corruption measures into our governance and rule of law interventions.”

The seminar highlighted that corruption drains public resources away from education, healthcare, and effective infrastructure instrumental to improving economic performance and raising living standards for all. Thus, corruption impacts the fundamental human rights of all segments of society, especially poor, vulnerable, and marginalized segments thereby alienating them further from mainstream social protection and other essential services.

The seminar called upon the international community to translate the global focus on human rights protection and SDGs, which has been a central issue for international cooperation, into concrete, measurable actions on the ground to effectively address the issue of transnational corruption through a declaration that was adopted unanimously at the closing session.

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

January 8, 2022

Dream of peaceful Indo-Pak ties stands defeated by extremist ideology of Indian Government: Fawad

Islamabad, January 08, 2022 (PPI-OT):Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain says Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir presents a sad face of human tragedy, political havoc and a constant denial of human rights to generations of innocent Kashmiris by fascist Indian regime. He was addressing a webinar organized by the Embassy of Pakistan in Berlin to mark the Jammu and Kashmir Right to Self-determination Day.

The Information Minister said the oppression has now spread from bounds of the illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir to entire India, as minorities are facing a similar situation under Modi’s RSS driven Hindutva ideology. He said dream of peaceful Indo-Pak relations stands defeated by extremist ideology of the Indian government.

The Information Minister urged international community to persuade India to stop brutal oppression of innocent Kashmiris, revert unilateral and illegal actions of 5th August 2019 and cooperate with the United Nations to hold a free and fair plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir.

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

January 8, 2022

Over 20m families to be facilitated through Rashan Karyana Store program: Sania

Islamabad, January 08, 2022 (PPI-OT):Special Assistant on Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection Dr Sania Nishtar has said that over 20 million families would be facilitated through Ehsaas Rashan Karyana Store program. Inaugurating first Ehsaas Rashan Karyana Store at old Shujabad road in Multan, she said Prime Minister Imran Khan is paying special focus on poverty alleviation. Dr Sania Nishtar said different initiatives are being taken for this purpose adding that 16 projects are being run under the Ehsaas program to facilitate deserving people.

January 8, 2022

Army Troops engage in evacuating stranded tourists in Murree

Islamabad, January 08, 2022 (PPI-OT):Army Troops are engaged in evacuating the stranded tourists in Murree. According to ISPR, Army engineers have also reached to open the main roads. Jawans of FWO along with machinery are busy in opening the roads. The ISPR said those trapped in traffic are being provided with food, water, tea and other necessary items including safe shelter. Pakistan Army has established four camps at military college Murree, Jhika Gali, APS Kuldana and Station Supply Depot Sunny Bank.

January 8, 2022

Economic indicators improving in country: Hammad Azhar

Islamabad, January 08, 2022 (PPI-OT):Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar says economic indicators are improving in the country due to the prudent policies of the government. He was addressing the inauguration ceremony of 132 KV grid station and ground breaking ceremony of gas transmission pipeline in Faisalabad. The Minister for Energy said increase of 13 percent consumption of electricity has been recorded in the country during the current year which indicates pace of economic growth.

He said country’s exports have increased up to 30 percent, tax revenue 38 percent and foreign remittances 30 percent. Hammad Azhar said the government fully realizes about problem faced by people due to inflation, adding that measures are being taken to tackle the situation.

January 8, 2022

1345 new cases of coronavirus reported in country

Islamabad, January 08, 2022 (PPI-OT):1345 new cases of Covid-19 have been reported in the country in a single day with positivity rate touching 2.89 percent. According to National Command and Operation Center, one patient died of the virus during the last twenty-four hours.

January 8, 2022

Pakistan strongly condemns killing of three more Kashmiris in IIOJ and K

Islamabad, January 08, 2022 (PPI-OT):Pakistan has strongly condemned the persistent killing spree by Indian forces in the illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the martyrdom of three more Kashmiris in Badgam district yesterday. In a statement, Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said Indian spate of state terrorism in the illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir has raised the toll of extra-judicial killings to eleven in first seven days of January.

He said Indian occupation forces martyred at least 210 Kashmiris in fake encounters and so called cordon-and-search operations, last year. The spokesperson called on international community to take immediate notice of the Indian state-terrorism and hold it accountable for egregious human rights violations of innocent Kashmiris.