FARUKH SHEHZAD

Discussion explored how government and private 

sector can partner to help Pakistan progress 

towards a fully-fledged digital economy

ISLAMABAD, NOV 25 /DN/ - Sigve Brekke, the President and CEO of Telenor Group, today participated in a special virtual dialogue with Prime Minister Imran Khan as part of a country strategic dialogue on Pakistan hosted by the World Economic Forum (“WEF”). 

In the dialogue, Telenor Group called for greater cooperation between public and private sectors in bridging Pakistan’s significant gap in digital access.

Looking at the challenges contributing to this digital divide, Telenor Group emphasised the need to create an environment in which mobile operators can continue to strengthen connectivity, which is the building block of the digital economy. In this context, Sigve Brekke stated that fair and predictable regulatory and taxation regimes are necessary to improve business climate and a key requisite for future investment into Pakistan.

During the discussion, Brekke also highlighted how the global pandemic has elevated the role of connectivity and digital tools in everyday life. This critical infrastructure is offering people a lifeline as well as being an important fundament for economic activity and recovery going forward.

There is a danger that the digital acceleration we have experienced this year will leave some people behind. The economic impact of connectivity multiplies with greater participation; hence ensuring connectivity for all is critical. In recognition of this, Telenor continues to work to ensure digital inclusion for everyone in Pakistan.=DN

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MATSUDA Kuninori, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan celebrates successful conclusion of the 2020 Afghanistan Conference in Geneva co-hosted by Afghanistan Finland and the United Nations

OSLO – Norway will keep aid to Afghanistan at a high level until 2024. However, Norway could reduce the aid if the peace talks and anti-corruption efforts fail.

Norway announced its position during a donor country conference for Afghanistan on Tuesday.

“Norway will maintain development assistance at a high level until 2024 and provide around NOK 650 million in development assistance and humanitarian aid in 2021.

“Our support and further levels (of support) will be assessed on the basis of the authorities’ efforts against corruption,” Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide (H) said.

She added that satisfactory progress in the peace process is also important.

Managed expectations

Finland hosted this year’s donor country conference in collaboration with Afghanistan and the UN.

Due to the corona situation, the conference was held digitally.

At a similar donor country conference in 2016, the global community managed to scrape together around USD 15 billion in aid to Afghanistan.

This time, expectations have been more subdued, and sources in diplomacy say – according to the news agency DPA – that the sum will probably be lower than in 2016.

At the same time, several large donors linked new conditions to the aid, just like Norway.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has estimated that aid covers about 75% of the country’s public spending.

Peace talks

The conference takes place in what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls a turning point for Afghanistan, not least in light of the ongoing peace negotiations with the Islamist group Taliban in Doha.

At the same time, there are prospects that the United States and NATO will reduce their military presence in the country.

Søreide nevertheless believes that there is reason for cautious optimism.

“A peaceful solution is crucial for sustainable development, and our support will be assessed in the light of progress in the Afghan peace negotiations,” she added.

EU aid

The EU stated that the organization would provide EUR 1.2 billion in aid to Afghanistan over the next five years.

“Our assistance will support the Afghan authorities’ goals of democracy, sustainable development and modernization, help lift people out of poverty, improve governance, reduce corruption, and improve the daily lives of Afghans,” EU Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen said.

The EU has also made support conditional on the peace process, but Brussels also warned against making aid a political instrument.

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COURTESY NORWAY TODAY

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BRUSSELS, NOV 25 - The European Union today reconfirmed its long-standing solidarity and partnership with the people of Afghanistan, pledging support of €1.2 billion over the period 2021–2025 in both long-term and emergency assistance at the 2020 Afghanistan Conference “Peace, Prosperity and Self-Reliance”.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell, speaking at the opening session of the conference, said: “With intraAfghan peace negotiations having started, but terrible violence still causing great suffering for the

Afghan people, Afghanistan is at a crossroads. The Afghan people can count on the European Union’s support for a prosperous and peaceful future for their country, but our support relies on democracy, human rights, and social progress being protected.”

Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, who announced the EU’s pledge at the conference and participated in a side event on anti-corruption, said: “A pledge of €1.2 billion for the next four years illustrates our commitment to the Afghan people. Our assistance will support the Afghan authorities’ agenda for democratic, sustainable development and modernisation, helping to lift people out of poverty, improve governance, reduce corruption and enhance the daily lives of the Afghan people.”

Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, who co-hosted a side event on sustainable peace building, as well as a high-level meeting on international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians in Afghanistan ahead of the conference, said: “We are boosting our humanitarian aid to help those most in need. While it must never become a political instrument, humanitarian assistance, International Humanitarian Law and protection of civilians must be central in the ongoing Afghan Peace Process negotiations.

The protection of civilian lives and respect of International Humanitarian Law in conflict cannot wait for the end of the peace negotiations. It must begin now.”

Significant but conditional support The significant financial commitment demonstrates that the EU is unwavering in its determination to promote a peaceful, democratic, sovereign and prosperous Afghanistan, deserved and long awaited by its people, and makes clear that EU development assistance is based on clear conditions and principles.

These conditions are laid out in a paper co-authored by the EU and other key international partners of the country, which combined provide 80% of international assistance to Afghanistan. As reiterated by High Representative/Vice-President Borrell and Commissioner Urpilainen at the Conference, the EU’s support to Afghanistan is conditional upon an inclusive, Afghan-owned, Afghan-led peace process that builds on the political and social achievements of the last 19 years. Preserving democratic pluralism, the constitutional order, institutional transparency and accountability, and the rule of law, further promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms, especially for women, children and minorities and including freedom of media, and pursuing sustainable peace, development and prosperity, are essential for Afghanistan’s future.

Many of the principles for EU and international support are reflected in the Joint Political Communiqué and the Afghanistan Partnership Framework, which were adopted at the Conference.

The EU’s development assistance is subject to adoption of the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework along the lines proposed by the European Commission on 2 June. This assistance will support implementation of the second Afghanistan National Peace and Development Framework covering the period of 2021-2025. The EU’s support will also help to address growing poverty levels in Afghanistan in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alongside development support, the EU will also continue to provide impartial, life-saving humanitarian assistance, boosting the coronavirus response as well as assisting victims of conflict and forced displacement, including with emergency food provision, protection services to address gender-based violence, the education of children, as well as advocacy for respect of International

Humanitarian Law by all parties to the conflict. In 2016, the EU similarly pledged Afghanistan €1.2 billion euros over a four-year period. Actual payments in 2016–2020 exceeded €1.75 billion. In 2002–2020, the European Union has committed in total more than €5.1 billion to Afghanistan. Afghanistan is the largest beneficiary of EU development assistance in the world. EU support aims to preserve the political and development achievements of the last 19 years and is guided by strong democratic and human rights principles.

The EU has been among the most generous humanitarian donors to Afghanistan. Total EU humanitarian assistance in the country since 1994 amounts to almost €1 billion.

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ISLAMABAD, NOV 25 - Prime Minister Imran Khan and several ministers will interact with global business leaders and heads of multinational companies at a Country Strategy Dialogue (CSD) on Pakistan to be held by the World Economic Forum on Wednesday.

CSD is the WEF’s signature platform for countries with rising economies and promising growth potential.

The dialogue will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Imran, who will also participate in an interactive dialogue with WEF President Børge Brende and the CEOs of leading global corporations and WEF partner companies, a Foreign Office (FO) statement said.

In subsequent sessions of the day-long CSD, global business leaders will hold discussions with Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Economic Affairs Minister Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar and Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar on wide-ranging subjects including economy, finance, investment, trade, manufacturing, digitalisation and startups, regional connectivity, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, etc.

The last segment will include a roundtable on “Energy Transition Priorities and Challenges in Pakistan”, co-led by Energy Minister Omar Ayub, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam and SAPM on Petroleum Nadeem Babar.

Moderated individually by the president, managing director and other senior officials of the WEF, each session of the CSD will enable CEOs of global corporations and multinational companies to interact directly with Pakistan’s top leadership on the "vast business and investment opportunities available in the country due to the various initiatives for economic reforms by the current government", according to the FO press release.

This is the second CSD to be organised by the WEF for Pakistan this year. A similar event was held during Prime Minister Imran’s visit to Davos, Switzerland, for the WEF Annual Meeting in January.

"The second CSD by WEF within one year is a recognition of Pakistan’s positive economic trajectory and its commendable resilience to the myriad of challenges including the Covid pandemic," the FO said.

WEF to 'celebrate Pakistan Strategy Day': senator

Meanwhile, PTI Senator Faisal Javed on Twitter said the WEF had announced to "celebrate #PakistanStrategyDay" on November 25 in what he said was a move "to acknowledge PM Imran Khan's successful policies against Covid-19".

He said Pakistan's strategy and success will be showcased as a case study to the world.

"This is yet another endorsement of Pakistan's brilliant strategy of handling both corona and economy," he wrote.

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COURTESY DAWN NEWS

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Dawn.com could not independently verify if such a celebration was scheduled to be held.

ISLAMABAD, NOV 25 - Pakistan has reported more than 3,000 daily coronavirus cases and 59 deaths during the last 24 hours. This is the highest daily total of infections the country has reported since July 9.

Data from the government's portal to track the spread of the disease in the country shows that 3,009 infections were reported on November 24, taking the national total to 382,892. Meanwhile, with 59 new deaths, the toll has risen to 7,803.

Breakdown of cases and deaths reported:

• Sindh: 1,382 cases, 13 deaths
• KP: 382 cases, 9 deaths
• Balochistan: 45 cases, 1 death
• Punjab: 648 cases, 25 deaths
• Islamabad: 424 cases, 6 deaths
• Azad Jammu and Kashmir: 113 cases, 4 deaths
• Gilgit-Baltistan: 15 cases, 1 death

Munaza Kazmi

Tourism is one of the most incredible socio-economic phenomena of the twentieth century. It singly started from an action “enjoyed by only a small group of relatively well-off people” during the first half of the last century, it gradually became a mass popular during the post- World War II, particularly from the 1970s and onwards. It now reaches wider scale and larger numbers of people throughout the world and is a source of employment for a significant segment of the labor force.

Tourism can contribute as the major service sector in a country as well as in the globe as a whole. Furthermore, in this sector there is ample scope for cultural exchange, views and philosophy, in this regard it may contribute to peace through improved cross-cultural understanding.

Rather than export earnings, international tourism also generates an increasingly significant share of government tax revenues throughout the world. In addition, the development of tourism as a whole is usually accompanied by considerable investments in infrastructure, such as airports, roads, water, sewerage facilities, telecommunications and other public utilities. Such improvements not only generate benefits to tourists but can also contribute to the local area and thus be crucial to regional economic development.

Moreover, tourism provides a substantial amount of jobs for women and unskilled workers, tourism can appreciably contribute to empowering women and lighten poverty. Even so, it is now generally accepted that tourism can make an imperative role to employment, export receipts and national income in most countries and regions. Furthermore, tourism is often identified as the most promising driving force for economic development of under developed countries and regions endowed with areas of natural beauty because it offers them a valuable opportunity for economic diversification.

Likewise, if it goes uncontrolled it can be a threat for natural resources, including fresh water, marine resources, endanger species, and forests. Since, tourism can also lead to the indiscriminate clearance of native vegetation for the development of new facilities, increased demand for fuel wood and even forest fires. In many countries, coastlines are becoming overbuilt due to tourism development until the damage caused by environmental degradation – and the eventual loss of revenues arising from a collapse in tourism arrivals – becomes irreversible. 

As intensive tourism development and recreational activities in coastal areas can not only lead to beach destruction and coastal degradation but can also threaten coral reefs and other marine ecosystems. Other major problems arising from tourist activities in mountain regions include disruption of animal migration by road and tourist facilities, sewage pollution of rivers, excessive water withdrawals from streams to supply resorts and accumulation of solid waste on trails. 

Here the solution could be offered by the government through making environmental policies, management measures and technologies that can surely reduce these negative impacts by proposing the foundation of sustainability in tourism, that is commonly known as ecotourism. 

Since only Sustainable tourism can take care about the environment through ecological development by attempting to make as low impact on the environment and local culture as possible, while helping to generate future employment for local people, with the aim to ensure that development brings a positive experience for local people, tourism companies and the tourists themselves. Moreover, it facilitates in protection of natural and heritage assets.

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World Children’s Day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1954. It is celebrated on November 20 as a day of world brotherhood and understanding of children, dedicated to activities aimed at ensuring the welfare of children around the world.

November 20 is an important milestone in the formation of children’s rights. On this day in 1959 the General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, and in 1989 – the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Since 1990, World Children’s Day marks the anniversary of the adoption of these fundamental documents in the field of child rights protection.

Ensuring the rights of the child is one of the global issues of our time, in which the entire world community is interested. Each state is guided by the understanding that human progress and general development are impossible without improving the status of women and children and ensuring their rights. It is in the family that a child receives the physical and spiritual development that allows him or her to become a full member of society, capable of an independent life.

Today, more children and adolescents are enrolled in preschool, primary and secondary education than ever before. At the same time, according to the UN, about 113 million children in the world do not attend school for one reason or another. 97% (about 110 million) of them live in the so called “third world” countries: 48.5 million people – in countries of South and South-East Asia; 42.3 million people – in countries of Africa.

Shortages of qualified teachers, poor quality teaching materials, ad-hoc classrooms, and poor sanitation make it difficult for many children to learn. An estimated 617 million children and adolescents around the world are unable to achieve minimum levels of proficiency in reading and mathematics, although two-thirds of them are in school. Children in rural areas are more than twice as likely not to attend elementary school as their urban peers. In conflict zones, 27 million children are out of school. Without life-long learning skills, children face greater obstacles to potential employment at a later age. They are more likely to suffer adverse health outcomes and less likely to participate in decisions that affect them, compromising their ability to build a better future.

In addition, in the current situation, the closure of schools and universities due to coronavirus has disrupted the full educational process for approximately 1 billion students and schoolchildren in 160 countries. COVID-19 has also caused major disruption to child health services. According to UNICEF, a study in 77 countries found that in 68% of them, the pandemic affected the organization of regular child health checkups and immunization services.

SCO member states attach great importance to ensuring the rights of children and youth, and work is focused on ensuring the rights of young people, their self-expression, disclosure of their creative potential, as well as creating favorable social conditions and opportunities for education and employment.

Within the framework of relevant state programs, initiatives are launched to familiarize young people with modern knowledge, promote their interest in science and technology, art and literature, as well as legal education.

Close attention is paid to the development of children’s sport and physical activities, culture, increasing spirituality, education and upbringing of youth in the spirit of respect for such invariable values as patriotism, high morality and mutual respect.

The SCO countries are actively cooperating with international organizations such as UNESCO, UNICEF and civil society institutions in the field of child rights.

In the SCO member-states the issues of social protection and ensuring children’s rights are regulated by laws and other legal acts. In India, for example, the Constitution reflects the prohibition of all forms of discrimination and a separate emphasis on children’s rights and freedoms. Children’s organizations, both public and private, effectively carry out their activities to ensure that children have access to primary and secondary education, health care, and that they are not subjected to violence or forced to work. One of the main organizations is the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights, which has expanded its activities to all states of India.

Kazakhstan continues to improve legislation to protect children’s rights, including children with mental and physical disabilities, children in vulnerable situations, and children in conflict with the law. In 2016, the institution of the Commissioner for Children’s Rights was established by presidential decree. In 2019, the President signed a law “On introducing amendments and additions” to some legislative acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on issues related to the activities of organizations that perform functions to protect the rights of the child. In particular, the law provides for the establishment and operation of centers to support children in difficult situations, as well as the inclusion of these centers in the list of organizations that carry out functions to protect the rights of the child.

The practical implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child has contributed to positive changes in the lives of several generations of Kazakh children, namely, a more than fivefold decline in child mortality, the development of inclusive education, and improvements to the social protection system.

In 2011, the State Council of China approved the Child Development Plan for 2011-2020, which sets new goals and new measures for the development of children’s affairs by the Chinese government, marking a new stage in China’s work on child protection.

The Plan sets goals to be achieved in five areas: child health, education, welfare, social environment and legal protection. Under this document, focused work is being done to improve the basic medical and health system, improve children’s physical health, provide children with quality education, and expand child welfare.

Kyrgyz legislation on children’s rights and interests consists of the Constitution, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and other normative legal acts. In 2006, Kyrgyzstan was the first country in Central Asia to adopt a Children’s Code. The code consolidated children’s rights and established principles and mechanisms to protect children. Kyrgyzstan is one of 62 countries which achieved the Millennium Development Goal of reducing child mortality by more than two thirds. Its early childhood development rate exceeded 72 percent. Pre-school education reaches 64 percent of children under 5. The rate of participation in organized pre-primary education programs reached 91 percent.

Pakistan’s existing legislative and policy framework for child protection includes commitments of the country that is a signatory to various international treaties and conventions, provisions of the national constitution, federal and provincial laws, including criminal and sharia law, and national policies and action plans related to children.

Pakistan has ratified a number of international treaties providing special protection for children, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child of 1989, the International Labour Organization’s Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention of 1999, the SAARC Convention on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution of 2002 and others.

Russian legislation enshrines child rights at the federal level. All relations between children and parents are set out in the Family Code and a number of other legal acts. In 2009, a presidential decree established the post of the Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights. At the time of signing the decree, children’s ombudsmen were already functioning in 18 regions of the country. Exactly one year later there were 48 of them, and by the end of 2010 there were 62. Significant work was done to ensure that each region of Russia had a person in charge of children’s issues. And by the beginning of 2015 the establishment of the institute was almost completed in all 85 regions. The most important result of the Commissioner’s activity is real assistance provided to applicants in protecting the rights and legal interests of minors.

Children’s rights are also regulated by the country’s Constitution and other laws and regulations.

In Tajikistan the National Commission on the Rights of the Child was established, which coordinates the implementation of international obligations of the Republic in the field of children’s rights and within its authority implements the state policy to ensure the rights and interests of the child and regulates issues related to the education and upbringing of children.

Foundations and non-governmental organizations that provide social assistance to children are active in the country. One such foundation is the Lona Charitable Foundation, established in 2009, and throughout its activities provides practical assistance to sick children with cancer and children with body burns. The Foundation also provides material assistance to poor families, boarding schools, nursing homes and orphanages.

In the legal system of the Republic of Uzbekistan, more than 100 legal acts have been adopted related to rights and protection of children. In particular, the Law “On guarantees of children’s rights” reflects guarantees of children’s rights to life, freedom and personal inviolability, state support to families raising children, as well as to rest and leisure, health care, education and others.

Under the Constitution, the rights of minors are protected by the state. The post of Deputy Commissioner for Human Rights of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan (Ombudsman) – Commissioner for the Rights of the Child – has been introduced in the country. A single system of continuous education has been introduced in the country, aimed at radical reform of the education sector. In addition, Uzbekistan pays close attention to the development of children’s sports and creativity.

At the Bishkek summit of SCO in 2019, the SCO heads of state expressed their support to the initiative of the Uzbek side to prepare a draft UN Convention on the Rights of Young People and expressed their intention to conduct coordinated work on this issue.

According to experts, the significance of this UN Convention for the SCO countries is that it takes into account international and national experience in regulating current aspects of the protection of youth rights and aims to increase efforts at international, regional and national levels to meet the needs of young people, strengthen capacity and guarantees of rights, freedoms and support the interests of young people in all their diversity around the world.

The Convention will be a timely and effective response to the challenges and opportunities faced by states and the world community as a whole in harmonious development of young people, realization of their enormous potential for the well-being and sustainable development of the SCO countries.

As for the work carried out within the SCO, I would like to note that one of the main tasks of the SCO, according to its Charter, is to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with the international obligations of member states and their national legislation.

In this regard, through the SCO Youth Council and other relevant mechanisms, extensive work has been initiated to develop youth cooperation aimed at promoting physical, mental and spiritual development of the young generation, involving them in large-scale plans for joint development.

On October 30, 2020 the Youth Council held its regular meeting, during which deep attention was paid to the prospects of development of volunteer movement in the SCO region, exchange of experience on the development of new formats of educational programs, including in the conditions of influence on these processes of pandemic.

Regular discussions, conferences, cultural and sporting events, as well as youth forums are held, aimed at revealing the creative, social, educational, spiritual and moral potential of the young generation, strengthening friendship and mutual understanding, as well as the development of good neighborly relations, strengthening interethnic and interfaith cooperation.

The project of the International Service “SCO Youth Map” is successfully implemented, international festivals “Student Spring of SCO and BRICS countries” and SCO Marathons are held annually. Within the “SCO Our Common Home” project the SCO Secretariat works with young people by providing them with technical support, as well as a platform for organizing various events, such as interactive games “Model SCO” and intellectual contests “Leader of the 21st Century”. Every year the SCO Secretariat organizes an “Open Doors Day” for students and schoolchildren.

For 15 years, “Children Fairy Tales” art exhibitions of children’s drawings on the themes of folk tales of SCO member states have been held. By holding such events, we introduce our young generation to the diversity of cultures in the SCO countries; encourage their interest in the history of classical and folk art.

I would like to emphasize the importance of the Exhibition of Children’s Paintings of the SCO countries held in June 2020 on the theme “Unity in the fight against the epidemic, protection of the common home”. In their works the participants not only revealed the theme of fighting the virus, but also reflected the ideas of peace, friendship, joint support and aspiration for development – the ideas of “the Shanghai spirit”. It is gratifying that the young generation of SCO shares the principles of mutual support from an early age and calls for solidarity.

The leaders of our countries also approved the Action Plan for the implementation of the SCO Development Strategy 2025, according to which the member states will consider the establishment of a mechanism of meetings of heads of agencies of the SCO member states responsible for the implementation of youth policy, as well as continue to develop youth exchanges and programs in the SCO region.

In addition, the SCO is taking measures aimed at counteracting the involvement of young people in terrorist, separatist and extremist structures. In particular, as a result of the SCO summit in Qingdao in 2018, the heads of state adopted a Joint Appeal to youth and the Program of Action for its implementation, which are focused on active involvement of young people in creating a decent future, promoting physical, mental and spiritual development of the younger generation. The documents emphasize the utmost importance of ensuring favorable social and economic conditions, availability of opportunities for education, self-expression, disclosure of creative potential and realization of work for young people.

I express confidence that the young generation of SCO member states will make a worthy contribution to the development and prosperity of their countries, strengthening regional and global stability and security, dialogue between peoples, cultures and religions.

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ISLAMABAD, NOV 24 - Allama Iqbal Open University has postponed its ongoing examinations  for the Semester Spring, 2020 throughout the country from November 26. However, papers scheduled on 25 November will be conducted as per previous schedule.

This decision was made yesterday in a high level meeting held under the chairmanship of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor, Dr. Zia Ul Qayyum.

Moreover, the decision will not apply on online examinations of the overseas students of the University.

The Vice-Chancellor said that the university would follow the decisions of the government in true letter and spirit. He, further, said that COVID-19 SOPs must be implemented strictly and number of visitors visiting the university should be curtailed. It was, also, decided that all classes and workshops would be conducted online for the autumn 2020 semester.

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ISLAMABAD, NOV 24 – 2-day international workshop and exhibition of products of artificial intelligence developed and marketed by various institutions of Pakistan inaugurated today morning at COMSTECH.

Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General, COMSTECH, Dr. Shoab A. Khan, Chancellor, Sir Syed CASE Institute of Technology and Dr. Shahid Mahmud, Chairman & Group CEO – Interactive Group addressed the inaugural session.

Dr. Iqbal informed that we will have to live with new normal now. He said that the paradigm of development has changed and now we have to invest in human resources to accelerate the development of the country. He urged that now its time to fund innovation, and centers of excellence in artificial intelligence. Dr. Iqbal highlighted the role of COMSTECH in science diplomacy and informed about the recent launch of COMSTECH Consortium of Excellence, a joint initiative of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan and COMSTECH.

Dr. Shoaid A. Khan, Chancellor, Sir Syed CASE Institute of Technology, talked about the current status and use of the artificial intelligence in his opening remarks. He highlighted the importance of the AI and showed the use and benefits of this technology in general and in the area of healthcare. He stressed the need to have a policy and strategy to nurture, adopt, develop, and implement AI in Pakistan to ultimately reap the benefits of this technology.

Dr. Shahid highlighted the importance of the artificial intelligence and its impact on the world. He mentioned that how AI technologies are changing the world. Dr. Shahid said that technology billionaire individuals are rich than many countries in the world due to the application of these modern technologies. He urged that Pakistan must have strategy to trigger the potential of artificial intelligence.

On the exhibition floor 11 exhibitors from Pakistan have their AI products on display and eight researchers have their products, ideas poster presentation. The workshop consists upon six technical sessions which are being conducted by eighteen experts from Pakistan, United Kingdom, and Austria. It is being attended by a large audience virtually from OIC member states and a certain number of people are attending it in-person at COMSTECH Auditorium as per COVID SOPs. This workshop and exhibition would conclude at 1700 hours tomorrow evening, Nov. 25.

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RAWALPINDI, NOV 24 – The 237th Corps Commanders’ Conference presided by General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) held at GHQ.

Forum reviewed geo strategic, regional and national security environment and discussed internal security, situation along borders, Line of Control (LOC) and atrocities in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJ&K). Forum also took a comprehensive overview of the positive progress in Afghan Peace Process.

Forum showed serious concern in the wake of irrefutable evidence of Indian state sponsored terrorism and efforts to destabilize Pakistan. Indian efforts to sabotage CPEC, involvement in financing and training of terrorist organizations for fomenting unrest in Pakistan, especially in AJK, GB and Balochistan are an affront to peace and security in the region, forum emphasised.

Deliberating upon recent surge in Cease Fire Violations (CFVs) by the Indian Army, forum resolved to take all measures necessary to protect innocent population living along LOC from Indian firing deliberately targeting civil population.

Forum expressed strong will, resolve and determination to defend the motherland against any misadventure.

Forum also deliberated upon the COVID-19 situation and measures required to confront the pandemic in the wake of 2nd wave. COAS specifically directed all commanders to ensure measures to support the national effort.

Pakistan Army with support of state institutions and the nation is fully prepared to thwart all internal and external challenges. It is our duty to transform these challenges into opportunities for the stability and prosperity of the people of Pakistan, COAS concluded.

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