Embassy of Egypt, CGSS jointly organized certificate distribution ceremony

 

ISLAMABAD, FEB 2021: On February 2, the Certificate Distribution Ceremony of the Article Writing Competition was held at the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Pakistan.

The Article competition, “Exploring Egypt: Past, Present & Future” was jointly organized by Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt and Center for Global & Strategic Studies (CGSS), Islamabad.

The competition was organized to enhance bilateral ties and cooperation between Egypt and Pakistan, and to acquaint students with knowledge of the socio-cultural and economic dimensions of both countries

The ceremony was commenced with the welcome remarks by Mr. Khalid Taimur Akram, Executive Director, CGSS, he mentioned that this competition proved to be a milestone in establishing people to people contact between Egypt and Pakistan.

Mr. Ashfaq Ahmed Gondal, Former Federal Secretary of Information and Broadcasting and Senior Member Advisory Board CGSS highlighted that we must conduct research on Egypt and its development in varios sectors especially their irrigation system and vibrant history. Mr. Ashfaq Ahmed Gondal also appreciated the innovatve idea of an article writing competition to include the student fraternity of Pakistan in studing about Egypt.

His Excellency Tarek Dahroug, Ambassador of Egypt to Pakistan appreciated and acknowledged the efforts of CGSS in organizing the Article Writing Competition that helped students learn and explore about different areas of Egypt including its culture, traditions and history.

His Excellency also applauded the students in their wonderful attempt to write informative and interesting articles about Egypt. He emphasized that this is the beginning of a strong friendship between Egypt and Pakistan and we look forward to establish more activities to connect the academia of Pakistan and Egypt. He also ensured that all best articles will also be published in Egypt.

His Excellency Tarek Dahroug, Ambassador of Egypt to Pakistan awarded certificates and Medals to students who secured positions in the Article Writing Competition.

The competition received 70 articles from across Pakistan and 5 best articles were selected. The names of position holders are as below,

1st Position: Ms. Amna Hameed

2nd Position: Ms. Fiza Khokhar

3rd Position: Ms Maryam Raza

4th Position: Mr. Aamir Iqbal

5th Position: Mr. Malik Musawar Hameed

Letters of Appreciation were also presented to the Management of CGSS for their contribution in organizing and conducting the Article Writing Competition.

------------------------------------------------------------

COURTESY CGSS

-------------

Greek Envoy calls on Ali Zaidi to discuss Greek-Pakistan cooperation

 

RAJA FURQAN

ISLAMABAD, JAN 29: The Ambassador of Greece in Pakistan, Andreas Papastravou called on Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi. Greek Envoy Papastravou emphasised on the importance of shipping and showed keen interest in furthering cooperation.

Federal Minister Ali Zaidi laid out his vision and discussed various ideas to enhance trade and also spoke about possibilities to learn from Greece’s experience and success in the maritime sector. 

Issue of seafarers and water pollution also came under discussion. Shipping being one of the 3 main pillars of the Greek Economy, Ambassador offered all support and help.

Ambassador Papastravou also thanked Minister Zaidi for receiving him and agreed on close coordination in future. 

The Envoy also appreciated the efforts of Minister Zaidi for developing the maritime sector and the blue economy in Pakistan along with focusing on export growth and facilitation.

------------------------------------------------------

COURTESY thepakistandaily

--------------

Pakistan’s business delegation to leave for Uzbekistan on Jan 31

 

Naveed Ahmad Khan 

ISLAMABAD, JAN 2021: The Advisor to Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment, Abdul Razak Dawood held a meeting with Aybek Arif Usmanov, the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Pakistan, at the Ministry of Commerce, to discuss the visit of Pakistan’s delegation to Uzbekistan. The delegation which will be led by the Advisor to the Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment, Abdul Razak Dawood, will visit Uzbekistan from 31st January 2021 to 4th February 2021.

The visit is a follow-up to the visit of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Dr. Sardor Umurzakov, on 10th in September 2020. During that visit a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Joint Working Group on Trade and Economic Affairs was signed and it was decided that the first meeting of the Joint Working Group will be held in Tashkent at a mutually agreed time. It was also agreed during this visit that possibilities of starting negotiations on a Pakistan-Uzbekistan Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) would also be explored.

Apart from Mr. Dawood, the delegation will include Secretary, Ministry of Commerce along with senior officials from other related ministries and departments. During the visit, matters relating to trade, especially the Pakistan-Uzbekistan PTA will be discussed.

The two countries are striving to enhance trade and regional connectivity. Uzbekistan shares borders with Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan. Improved connectivity and trade relations can open the doors for enhancing Pakistan’s exports to Uzbekistan and beyond which has a market of $ 90 billion.

Apart from trade, the establishment of railways’ links, banking relations, economic cooperation, maritime cooperation and investment will be discussed. The possibilities of cooperation in the fields of textile and pharmaceuticals will also be explored. It is also expected that a delegation from Afghanistan may also join Pakistan and Uzbekistan at Tashkent to culminate into a Trilateral Conference on trade and connectivity.

Pakistan has deep shared historic connections with Uzbekistan especially with regard to culture, art, crafts and traditions. Its cities like Samarkand and Bukhara have been the centres of Islamic civilization and learning. Diplomatic Relations between Pakistan and Uzbekistan were established when it gained independence from Soviet Union in 1991. Both countries are members of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Economic Cooperation Organisation and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

---------------------------------------------------------------

COURTESY dailyspokesman

-----------------

Japan renews commitment to support polio eradication efforts in Pakistan

 

ISLAMABAD, JAN 27: The Government of Japan provides US$ 4.57 million grant to procure essential oral polio vaccine as part of its continued support to Pakistan for polio eradication.

This latest grant will be utilized for the procurement of 23.66 million doses of vaccines. It will allow the programme to reach under five years old children living in the districts with persistent polio virus transmission. Districts across the country during vaccination drives planned in 2021.

The notes of the grant were signed and exchanged between the Government of Japan and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and between Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and UNICEF.

“Polio eradication is the top-most priority of the Government. We are resolutely committed to eradicating polio even in difficult times of COVID-19 pandemic. The Government of Pakistan is grateful to the people and the Government of Japan for their timely and generous support for helping us reach every child with essential polio vaccine. I am confident that we will together reach the milestone of polio-free Pakistan and world,” said Dr. Faisal Sultan, the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination.

H.E. MATSUDA Kuninori, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan paid tribute to all the frontline polio workers engaged in vaccination amid the prevailing risk of COVID-19. He added, “Japan remains committed to assisting the people of Pakistan together with UNICEF in their goal of eradicating polio.”

“We highly appreciate the brave and tireless efforts of the Government of Pakistan despite COVID-19 pandemic. With this Grant Aid, JICA will assist the vaccine procurement for children living in high-risk areas through UNICEF. The road towards polio eradication might be rough and steep. However, we will fight together for the earliest realization of polio-free Pakistan.” said Mr. Shigeki Furuta, JICA Chief Representative.

“Last year, from March to July, over 39 million children missed out on vaccination due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This increased the immunity gap, reversing previous gains made towards eradication. Despite the setback due to the COVID pandemic, the country has continued its efforts to make Pakistan Polio free,” said Aida Girma, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan, highlighting the unwavering support of the Government of Pakistan.

“The continuous support from the Government of Japan will help the country to get vaccines to the areas where they are needed most, and help Pakistan rebuild children’s immunity to get back on track to making Pakistan Polio free,” she added.

Pakistan is currently facing a challenging situation in polio eradication with the upsurge of number of polio cases. A total of 84 (19 January 2021) polio cases have been reported including 26 from Balochistan, 22 each from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh, and 14 from Punjab. The Polio programme suspended vaccination activities from March to mid-July 2020 due to COVID-19, but services resumed after mid-July to get vaccines to children countrywide.

The Government of Japan has been supporting the Polio Eradication programme in Pakistan since 1996. Over these years, the grant and loan contribution from the Government of Japan has amounted to more than US$ 226.37 million dollars to support programme in Pakistan through UNICEF.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

COURTESY dailyspokesman

-------------------

Japan provides 1,986 million Japanese Yen for Installation of Weather Surveillance Radar

 

ISLAMABAD, JAN 27: The Government of Japan has agreed to provide grants approximately worth 1,986 million Japanese Yen (Equivalent to around 19 million USD / around 3,057 million PKR) for installation of weather surveillance radar in Sukkur, Sindh province.

Notes to this effect were signed and exchanged between H.E. MATSUDA Kuninori, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan and Mr. Noor Ahmed, Secretary, Ministry of Economic Affairs in Islamabad and a Grant Agreement (G/A) on the details of implementation of the project was signed and exchanged between Mr. FURUTA Shigeki, Chief Representative, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Pakistan Office and Ms. Adeela Bokhari, Joint Secretary (Japan/NGO/INGO), Ministry of Economic Affairs.

Weather surveillance radars have been upgrade in Islamabad, Karachi and to be establish in Multan under JICA`s grand aid. Under this project, a new weather radar is developed in Sukkur, Sindh province. It covers a gap for weather surveillance and develops a weather surveillance radar network which can cover around 90% of the whole country.

It is expected that this project will enhance capacity on weather surveillance of Pakistan and contribute to mitigation of damages caused by natural and hydro-meteorological disasters.

In the signing ceremony, H.E. MATSUDA Kuninori, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan stated “ the Government of Japan will continue to work together with Pakistan to make this country disaster-resilient, making good use of experience and expertise Japan has gained from many disasters in the past.” and Mr. FURUTA Shigeki mentioned “Enhancement of weather surveillance capacity will mitigate the damage caused by natural disasters”. Both emphasized importance of disaster management.

Through this grant aid, the Government of Japan and JICA continues to assist disaster management conducted by the Government of Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

----------------------------------------------------------

COURTESY pk.emb-japan.go.jp

---------------------------