Day: January 8, 2022

Islamabad, January 08, 2022 (PPI-OT):Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi will undertake a four-day official visit to Romania and Spain from tomorrow. During the first leg of the visit, Foreign Minister Qureshi will visit Bucharest and hold meetings with his Romanian counterpart and other dignitaries. Besides focusing on measures to further deepen bilateral cooperation, the two sides will hold wide-ranging consultations on regional and international issues.

The Foreign Minister will subsequently visit Spain. Besides meeting with his Spanish counterpart, Foreign Minister Qureshi will hold meetings with other Ministers and Members of the Spanish Parliament. In a statement, the Foreign Office spokesperson said Romania and Spain are important partners of Pakistan, both bilaterally and in the context of the European Union. The Foreign Minister’s visit will give further impetus to the growing cooperation with these two friendly countries.

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

Islamabad, January 08, 2022 (PPI-OT):Prime Minister Imran Khan has said the country’s economy is witnessing strong growth and creating jobs. In a tweet on Saturday, he pointed out that profits of listed businesses grew by fifty nine percent for the first nine months of last year. He hoped that businesses and employers will share these gains with their workforce.

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

Islamabad, January 08, 2022 (PPI-OT):Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhary Fawad Hussain has asked the people to postpone their upland tour plan for a few days. In a tweet today [Saturday], he said hundreds of thousands of vehicles are heading towards Murree and other high places and it has become impossible for local administration to provide facilities to such a large number of people.

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

Islamabad, January 08, 2022 (PPI-OT):Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has said that help of civil armed forces has been sought to evacuate the stranded tourists in Murree and Galiyat. In a video message, he asked the locals to come forward for the help of stranded tourists. He said given the presence of large number of tourists in these areas, we have closed all routes to Murree. Meanwhile, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has reached Murree to supervise relief and evacuation activities.

In another video statement, he said there have been sixteen to nineteen deaths due to snowfall in Murree. The Minister said efforts are underway to evacuate stranded tourists. He said the entire administration of Rawalpindi and Islamabad is engaged in these efforts.

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

Islamabad, January 08, 2022 (PPI-OT):Chief Minister Government has declared Murree a calamity hit area in view of the situation arising there because of heavy snowfall. In a statement, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar announced to impose emergency in Murree. In view of the situation emergency has been declared in all the important departments including police, administration, rescue 1122 and hospitals.

Usman Buzdar said that evacuating the stranded tourists is our top priority. He said that rest houses and other public sector places have been opened in Murree and adjoining areas. He said the tourists are being provided with necessary relief items including food items. The Punjab Chief Minister has also given his helicopter for rescue activities.

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

Islamabad, January 08, 2022 (PPI-OT):The two-day International Seminar on the theme of “Combating Corruption – A Prerequisite for the full enjoyment of all Human Rights and Sustainable Development” concluded with the adoption of ‘Islamabad Declaration.’

The Seminar was organized on 6-7 January 2022 by the Government of Pakistan and the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), in collaboration with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The International Seminar was attended by more than 200 international and national stakeholders including Government officials, OIC member and observer States, IPHRC Commissioners, members of the OIC Secretariat and relevant United Nations agencies, practitioners, academia, civil society and media representatives.

Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi delivered the Keynote Address at the inaugural session. He articulated Pakistan’s approach towards combating the scourge of corruption and illicit financial flows as well as ensuring the protection of human rights, in line with the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan. The Foreign Minister also called on the OIC countries to explore innovative ideas and initiatives for strengthening the international framework to prevent corruption – which is an essential pre-requisite for sustainable development.

Remarks at the inaugural session were also delivered by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (pre-recorded video statement), Assistant Secretary General of OIC, and IPHRC Chairperson. Thereafter, a panel of international experts shared best practices and highlighted important aspects regarding the theme of the International Seminar. The OIC Member States and other participants took active part in the discussions. The Keynote address during the closing segment was delivered by the Minister for Human Rights Dr. Shireen M. Mazari.

Based on deliberations during the International Seminar, the ‘Islamabad Declaration on Combating Corruption for the full realization of all Human Rights and Sustainable Development’ was adopted. Corruption was recognized as a major impediment to sustainable development in developing countries. The salient elements of the “Declaration” included:

Need for strengthening existing national, regional and international legal and human rights mechanisms/institutions to combat corruption and in building resilient systems;

Improving transnational cooperation for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of corrupt offences, as well as in the recovery and return of confiscated assets;

Following a people-centric and human rights-based approach in combating corruption;

Enhancing the capacity of the judiciary, prosecution service and law enforcement agencies to combat corruption;

Promotion of civic engagement and social accountability;

Establishing of an OIC intergovernmental working group (IGWG) to actively explore innovative ideas and initiatives under the OIC and the UN auspices for mutual legal assistance on issues of corruption and stolen legal assets;

Integrating the role of technology in promoting increased transparency, accountability, accessibility and citizen participation; and

Introduction of strong anti-corruption legislations to end impunity and recovery of stolen assets.

The International Seminar was part of Pakistan’s persistent efforts to strengthen the international framework against corruption, recovery of stolen assets, promotion and protection of all human rights, and achievement of inclusive and sustainable development.

For more information, contact:
Spokesman
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Government of Pakistan
Tell: +92-51-9205494
Fax: +92-51-9204202
Cell: +92-336-5644459
Website: www.mofa.gov.pk

Islamabad, January 08, 2022 (PPI-OT):President Dr Arif Alvi, on Saturday, while welcoming the organizers of a two-day Esports event in Islamabad, said the tournament would involve Pakistani youth and would bring further investments in the country in future.

In his virtual message at the opening of the Esports tournament organized by Galaxy Racer here, he said, “I am glad that the investment is taking place in the special technology zone and the fact that this investment is in the fastest growing industry of video gaming.” He congratulated the patron of Galaxy Racer Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum and his entire team for their launch event in Pakistan.

“This investment will harbinger a new era of cooperation between the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan.” The President thanked Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum for his special interest in Pakistan. He noted that there was a youth bulge in Pakistan and such Esports events could be highlighted and started in Pakistan with tremendous youth involvement. “I am happy that the Galaxy racing event and subsequent events will be later generated in Pakistan.

There is talent in Pakistan for software writing and Esports development.” The event showed that the youth bulge in Pakistan was going in the right direction, he added. “Our colleges, universities and our government are working hard to make sure that Pakistan is able to supply software resources to the entire world. There is a tremendous need for this software talent within Pakistan and even throughout the world.”

“Everywhere I visited over the last few years the governments have been requesting Pakistan to support human resource development in their countries.” He observed that the Special Technology Zone Authority chaired by Amir Hashmi was a very good platform to invite investments.

“I made a special effort when I was in Dubai to request investors to look in this area as there is a ten-year holiday from income tax, customs and duties.” He said, “All the special technology zones are the areas where investment in information technology can take place besides investments in brick and mortar.”

President Alvi remarked that virtual reality was an important part of artificial intelligence in future. “The chips made for virtual reality were the basic foundations for the mathematical calculations which were needed for neural networks and artificial intelligence,” he explained.

“The gaming chips in fact led to the ability to have tremendously a broad and extensive neural network through which artificial intelligence is taking over the world.” He thanked the investors and artist Fakhar Alam – a great link and proponent of Pakistan throughout the world, for organizing the mega event.

“I must thank Amir Hashmi and must thank the participants who are here and the organizers for making a venture in Pakistan which will not only increase prosperity but the ability of Pakistan to become a player in the world in the field of gaming and software.” He wished good luck to the participants of the gaming event.

Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum of United Arab Emirates (UAE) inaugurated the Gamers Galaxy, Pakistan’s biggest esports festival, with a grand prize pool of 20,000,000 Pakistani Rupees, presented by Mountain Dew and organized by Galaxy Race.

Visitors gathered in huge numbers at the main arena to witness intense battles in the tournaments of PUBG Mobile Gamers Galaxy, Valorant, HER Galaxy Valorant Spike Rush 2v2 (Pakistan’s first-ever female esports tournament), and the community tournaments of FIFA 22, and Tekken. The finalists will compete for a 2 CRORE Pakistani Rupees prize pool.

For more information, contact:
Principal Information Officer,
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +92-51-9252323, +92-51-9252324
Fax: +92-51-9252325, +92-51-9252326
Email: piopid@gmail.com
Website: www.pid.gov.pk