FARUKH SHEHZAD

• PIDEpk has taken a bold step for achieving 7% - 9% economic growth rate annually for next 30 years to create 2Mn jobs per year & reduce public debt, which it said has already become “unsustainable”.

ISLAMABAD, APR 24: The PIDE Reform Agenda for Accelerated and Sustained growth was launched today at the Planning Commission of Pakistan. Minister of Planning Development and Special Initiatives, Asad Umar was the chief guest at the launch event. 

Asad Umar, in his opening remarks lauded the efforts of PIDE for coming up with a growth reform Agenda. He said that now that economy has stabilized after efforts of the government now is the time to work towards growth which is not only high enough but sustained for a long period as well. Thus the PIDE’s reform Agenda for a accelerated and sustained growth comes at very appropriate time.

Thereafter Vice Chancellor PIDE, Dr. NadeemUlHaque, presented the salient features of the PIDE Reform Agenda for Accelerated and Sustained Growth.

According to PIDEthe task of preparing the Reform Agenda began with asking a central question; Can Pakistan experience accelerated and sustained economic growth and If yes, how? To find an answer VC PIDE constituted a PIDE Growth Commission. The Commission comprised renowned local economists and development practitioners from all over the country.

The commission also had an adequate representation of the female professionals. The commission was supported by a secretariat at PIDE, consisting of 18 researchers led by Dr. NadeemUlHaque, Vice Chancellor PIDE.

The first step involved developing a slide deck that depicted the structural issues that constrain growth in Pakistan and the measures required to alleviate these constraints. This slide deck was discussed and modified extensively in several meetings of the PIDE Growth Commission. Next, the secretariat at PIDE drafted the outline and initiated writing the Reform Agenda based on the outline. The drafts of sections and chapters moved back and forth between the PIDE staff and the Vice Chancellor till the first draft of the complete Reform Agenda stood completed. At this stage, PIDE’s research staff interacted individually with commission members and other practitioners in government and the private sector and incorporated their suggestions.

The Commission met several times to discuss and debate each aspect of the Growth Reform Agenda. The points on which consensus could not be achieved were taken off the report while others were added. The final Growth Reform Agenda reflects the consensus viewof the PIDE Growth Commission.

The reform agenda mentions that an increasing labour force is entering the market due to youth bulge. To ensure gainful employment for the labour force entering the market and to sustain the country’s high level of debt the required GDP growth rate is 7-9% per annum. The document takes pain to stress that this is the required growth and not a projected rate.

The Agenda takes the view that the development model that Pakistan has been using since the sixtiesfocuses primarily on investment in hardware led by infrastructure. This model, argues the agenda, developed by Dr. MahbubulHaq and the then Harvard Advisory group in the ‘60s was correct for those times when the country needed investment infrastructure. However, with change dynamics, now the model needs to undergo a paradigm shift - the country now needs to shift its focus from investment in hardware to investment in the software of the society. This software is the quality human capital, innovation, R & D, and most importantly the laws, rules, and processes that further economic activity.

The Reform Agenda points out that the present laws, rules, and processes constrain the generation of ideas and carrying out overall economic activity.  The agenda citing several frictions in carrying out entrepreneurial activity calls for a revamp of the laws and processes that hamper economic activity. The examples of frictions include; 09 procedures are required to get a permit which cost around 9 percent of the construction value, land developers need 22 NOCs from different agencies to proceed with land development, 45 steps are required to lay an optic fiber for internet connectivity and on average, a firm spends 577 hours and wades through 47 procedures to pay the several taxes that it is required to pay. The reform agenda argues that amending laws and processes to significantly reduce these frictions will enormously boost growth by increasing productivity and hence investment – the two key drivers of growth.

Therefore, argues the Agenda, to begin the journey on a high growth trajectory requires a well-functioning state – entire public service including Civil Service, Judiciary, regulatory bodies, and local governments, etc will have to be reformed to deliver.

The agenda stresses that the cities that major economic activity happens in cities that are dense, walkable, and mixed-use. The agenda recommends rethinking our cities to serve as an engine of economic growth.

The agenda stresses that to increases the competitiveness of our goods and services the energy rates must be brought down significantly. In this regard, the agenda recommends several measures to clear the mess that the energy sector faces. These include; decentralization of the sector, making the regulatory authorities likeNepra and Ogra independent enough to take their decisions. The agenda also recommends sufficiently enhancing the capacity of these regulatory authorities by housing these with professionals. 

The reform agenda also identifies policy, regulatory, and procedural constraints that inhibit openness to external trade and suggests measures required to increase the degree of openness.

Recognizing that technology and artificial intelligence are disrupting almost every field, the agenda argues for state readiness to embrace technology. Internet access is recognized as a key element of such readiness.  The agenda recommends; releasing spectrum, developing a plan to facilitate laying down connectivity fiber, revisiting internet taxation, and exploring subsidizing internet access to students and marginalized segments.

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• Accountability court seeks compliance report from authorities
• Objection petitions filed against some attached properties

ISLAMABAD, APR 24: The accountability court has directed the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) as well as the relevant authorities to sell unclaimed shares and properties of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and deposit the proceeds with the state treasury.

Accountability Judge Syed Asghar Ali allowed the application filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), seeking directives to the authorities concerned to sell the attached properties of Nawaz Sharif under section 88 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).

The court order stated: “Perusal of record revealed that the accused namely Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif has been declared as proclaimed offender (PO)…this court vide order dated October 01, 2020 ordered the attachment of properties of accused.”

According to the order, six objection petitions had been filed before the court with respect to some of the attached properties. However, there are certain attached properties against which no claims have been preferred, it said, adding that “Mr Sharif has not surrendered before this court even after lapse of six months…therefore, in view of the available record and in order to procure the attendance of the accused, the application filed by NAB is allowed”.

“Concerned authorities on whose disposal of the attached properties are hereby directed under section 88 of the CrPC to sell out unclaimed attached properties while the chairman SECP is directed to sell out the attached shares of the accused in different companies within 30 days,” the order said.

According to the judicial record, Mr Sharif owns 467,950 shares in Mohammad Bakhsh Textile Mills, 343,425 in Hudaibya Paper Mills, 22,213 in Hudaibya Engineering Co and 48,606 shares in Ittefaq Textile Mills.

The deputy commissioners of Lahore and Sheikhupura have been directed to sell immovable properties within 60 days which included House No. 135 Upper Mall Lahore and 88.4 kanals of agriculture land in Ferozwattan in Sheikhupura district.

The excise and taxation offices of Islamabad and Lahore have been directed to take possession of vehicles with the assistance of the local police and sell them within 60 days.

The vehicles are Toyota Land Cruiser Model 2010, Mercedes Model 1973, Mercedes Benz Model 1991, Tractor Model 2011 and Tractor Model 2015.

The court directed the Manager MCB New Garden Town, Lahore, Standard Chartered Bank, Gulberg Islamic Branch, and Wapda Town Lahore, Manager Allied Bank New Garden Town and Manager Bank Al-Falah, Y-Block Defence Branch Lahore, to transfer the available funds into the accounts of Mr Sharif in favour of the state treasury within 30 days.

There are Rs88,150 available in MCB, Rs30,000 in two branches of Standard Chartered Bank, EUR566, $698 and GBP498 in three other branches of the same bank, Rs397,810 in Allied Bank and Rs88,704 in Bank Al-Falah.

The court sought compliance report from the above mentioned authorities.

The judge also mentioned two properties — 12 acres of agriculture land (guava orchard) in Mouza Manak Lahore and 24 kanals of fish farm in Mouza Badokisani, Lahore — since the attachment was objected to by Mohammad Ashraf and Umair Razzaq, respectively.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice president Maryam Nawaz has already challenged the attachment of properties of the Sharif family in Murree and Changla Gali with other properties frozen in connection with the Toshakhana reference.

Maryam Nawaz filed the objection petition against the attachment of House No. 24-A&B, III, Hall Road, Murree, and a house in Changla Gali, Abbottabad, in the Toshakhana case.

She stated in the petition that both houses were owned by her late mother, Kulsoom Nawaz. She said the two houses had been purchased much before the period mentioned in the reference and after the death of the owner of the houses in question, the ownership devolved upon legal heirs as per the judgement and decree dated May 14, 2019, and the houses were undivided properties in the joint ownership of all legal heirs.

She requested the court that the order dated Oct 1, 2020 was liable to be corrected under section 88 (6A) of the Criminal Procedure Code and the above-mentioned properties may be released from the attachment.

According to the Toshakhana reference, former president Asif Ali Zardari had obtained vehicles by paying only 15 per cent of the price of luxury vehicles. Out of three vehicles, he gifted a 1991 model Mercedes to Mr Sharif.

The National Accountability Bureau alleged that former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had facilitated the allotment of the vehicles to Mr Zardari and Mr Sharif by dishonestly and illegally relaxing the procedure for acceptance and disposal of gifts vide a Cabinet Division memorandum of 2007.

The Accountability Court-III of Islamabad had in May last year issued non-bailable warrants for Nawaz Sharif for not attending the court proceedings.

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COURTESY DAWN NEWS

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WATCH VIDEO: Chairman STZA expressing his views on Special Technology Zones Authority Launch

WATCH VIDEO: Chairman STZA expressing his views on Special Technology Zones Authority Launch

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• Special Technology Zones Authority and iENGINEERING Corp. Sign MOU to Build the First Technology Park in the Islamabad STZ.

ISLAMABAD, APR 24: The Government of Pakistan has committed to develop the technology sector in Pakistan. The Special Technology Zones Authority has been mandated to provide legislative and institutional support to encourage investments and high-tech business in the technology zones across Pakistan.

The Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA) has initiated the work to establish the first Special Technology Zone (STZ) in Islamabad. The Islamabad Special Technology Zone will be the pilot project of the Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA). In order to create the state-of-the-art infrastructure that can facilitate the business environment, an MoU has been signed between the STZA and iENGINEERING Corporation.

Mr. Amer Hashmi, Chairman STZA, stated that the first Technology Park in the Islamabad STZ will be established soon. 

He further said, “Islamabad Special Technology Zone is based on 150 acres of land in the Islamabad Capital Territory. The land has been identified and approved by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the land has been earmarked for the establishment of the Islamabad Special Technology Zone.”

The Islamabad Special Technology Zone (STZ) will include the state-of-the-art iENGINEERING Technology Park. The Park will develop a business campus, which will comprise of a cluster of midrise energy efficient buildings over 250,000 sq. ft in Islamabad STZ with initial investment of US$ 2 million which will create more than 2,500 highly skilled jobs and will generate over US$ 100 million in the next five years. The Park will accommodate local and foreign technology companies with Pakistani descent owners, startups, and tech-hubs which will initially materialize up to US$ 50 million of zone enterprise cumulative annual revenue for Islamabad STZ.

The Special Technology Zones Authority has been mandated to develop a technology-driven knowledge ecosystem to encourage hi-tech innovative solutions and futuristic entrepreneurship. STZA will develop a national network of Special Technology Zones which will change the economic outlook of Pakistan by enhancing IT exports and encouraging technology and knowledge transfer from global technology hubs.

According to the Memorandum of Understanding, both the organizations will work together to achieve high-tech industrial growth, create job opportunities, upskill the youth, and attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) through development of a knowledge ecosystem driven by innovation and collaboration.

While addressing the gathering, Mr. Riaz Ahmad, Chief Executive Officer of iENGINEERING Corporation, stated that iENGINEERING Technology Park will have the first mover advantage for the pilot technology zone of the Islamabad STZ. It will focus on transforming cost centers into profit centers, which will significantly increase revenue capacity. 

iENGINEERING Technology Park plans to facilitate acquisition of foreign Pakistani-descent businesses by providing a mechanism for zone enterprises to invest their profits and acquire new customers and generate new revenue streams. He further said, “that iENGINEERING Corporation has more than 20 years of unique operational experience in the technology sector in USA and Pakistan.”

While welcoming the first Tech Park developer, Mr. Aamer Saleemi, Chief Executive Officer of Islamabad STZ, assured his full support in early execution of the project. He said that Islamabad STZ will act as a catalyst for enhancing the IT exports of Pakistan and it is expected to attract more than US$350 million Foreign Direct Investment in the technology sector which will provide job opportunities to more than 200,000 youth of Pakistan. Islamabad STZ will be first place of choice in the region for the global tech companies and expatriates due to its state-of-the-art technology supportive infrastructure, lucrative tax incentives and one-window services.

With the Honorable Prime Minister, Imran Khan, as President of the Board, STZA is an autonomous body established under the Cabinet Division, Government of Pakistan. The Authority has been mandated to promote the knowledge-based national ecosystem for stimulating and enhancing the multi-dimensional collaboration between technology industry, academia, and government for 21st century innovation, entrepreneurship, and new technology creation.

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• Study of 24 countries shows the pandemic is prompting billions1 to consider more sustainable behaviors

• 80% of adults in the Middle East are more mindful of their impact on the environment since COVID-19, far higher than global average of 3 in 5 adults

• Almost three quarters of adults (72%) in the region admit companies behaving in more sustainable and eco-friendly ways is more important than before the pandemic

KARACHI, APR 24: As Earth Day is observed around the world today, new research on sustainability, commissioned by Mastercard, reveals a marked increase in consumer passion for the environment, as personal attitudes toward the environment evolve as a result of COVID-19.

In the Middle East region, 9 in 10 people, stated that they’re willing to take personal action to combat environmental and sustainability issues. This compares to 8 in 10 globally. Over 80% of adults in the Middle East also said they are even more mindful of their impact on the environment since COVID-19.

Social media seems to be driving an increase of environmentally conscious consumers, especially among Gen-Z, with 43% globally seeing social media posts from influential people showcasing climate change or environmental issues since the beginning of the pandemic. Additionally, almost a quarter (24%) of the global respondents say social media has made them more aware of their environmental and sustainable choices.

This signals a growing trend toward eco-conscious spending and consumption among people who want to turn their efforts and purchases into meaningful action for the planet.

Eco-actions essential for forward-thinking brands and businesses

Over 72% of adults in the Middle East think it’s now more important for businesses and brands to do more for the environment, and over 25% said they are going to stop using or buying from brands that do not have a plan to help the environment or behave sustainably. Nearly 15% admitted that for the first time, they have boycotted companies that have not adopted sustainable values.

Buying less impulsively by being more aware of purchases is the top change regional respondents will make as a result from COVID-19.

Specifically, respondents in the Middle East region highlighted the top three issues they want companies and brands to focus on, besides dealing with the pandemic. They want brands to focus on the health and wellbeing of their employees, reduce air and water pollution, and offer more sustainable and durable products.

“Companies, consumers and communities must work together to make the significant changes needed to effectively address climate change," said Jorn Lambert, Chief Digital Officer, Mastercard. "By embedding sustainability into the very fabric of our business – from pay-on-demand solar energy products to tools that help inform consumer spending – we can unlock the power of our network, reaching billions of consumers and partners, to create positive change for the environment.”

Eco-conscious consumers more aware of their actions

Among adults surveyed in the Middle East, 7 in 10 see reducing their carbon footprint more important now than pre-pandemic. Globally, 58% of respondents have become more conscious about how their actions can impact the environment than ever before, with Gen-Z and Millennials (65%) leading this shift.

The trend toward more conscious consumption has grown over the last decade. However, changes in attitudes and actions have increased at a rapid rate as a direct result of COVID-19.

Mastercard is equipping its global network to be a positive force for the environment

Last year, Mastercard formed the Priceless Planet Coalition which unites the efforts of consumers, financial institutions, merchants and cities to fight climate change. The coalition continues to expand and now includes more than 50 members. Collectively, the coalition has committed to the restoration of 100 million trees. Planning is already underway for the restoration of 1.2 million trees in Kenya’s Makuli Nzaui landscape.

Mastercard continues to support partners, customers and consumers by offering environmentally focused products and services, such as cards made from sustainable materials to reduce plastic waste. The company has also pledged to reach net zero emissions by 2050, building on existing commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions aligned with 1.5-degrees Celsius. Mastercard has also issued a $600 million sustainability bond and recently announced changes to its executive compensation model to help accelerate progress around three global ESG goals: carbon neutrality, financial inclusion and gender pay parity. This is all in support of the company’s goal of building a more sustainable and inclusive digital economy.

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Munaza Kazmi

Known as the “Fruit Garden of Pakistan” Quetta, city district and division of Baluchistan province and the 5^th largest of Pakistan. Quetta is a variation of Kwatkot, a Pashto word meaning ‘Fort’, as it is encircled by the four imposing hills namely Chiltan, Takatu, Zarghoon and Murdaar, which really gives it a status of enchanted valley, that surely engulf the visitor in its charm.

The city enjoys rich history dating from 11^th Century when Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi conquered it, and on top it is a love land for all Pakistanis because it’s the region where founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam M. Ali Jinnah, have spent last of his memorable days.

The only high-altitude city of Pakistan, Quetta situated at 1,680 meters above sea level, having total population of 2.8 million. Local language is Pashto, but don’t worry as some people can even communicate in English, otherwise we have option open for sign language. Climate is dry and temperate is chilly where you would find a rich diversity of dry fruits. Moreover, the valley is abundant with juniper and pistachio forests and diverse wildlife. Also, if anyone is obsessed with horses, it’s the right place to be, as horse breeding is thought to be the passion of locals.

Next, I would suggest you pay a visit to the colorful bazars where you would found yourself in brightest of colors of silk, handmade coppers, precious jewels, luxurious rugs, not less than that of the Arabian Nights. I would say, it's hard to describe the Quetta valley without getting carried away.

However, I landed Quetta in the later afternoon, where I was surprised with the hospitality of locals who went so far to communicate with me even in signs as I don’t understand Pushto, to tell me about the beautiful surroundings and their rich culture. However, it was just a little episode as the hotel driver was waving the board with my name and the shuttle was waiting outside with a basket full of fruits and assorted fritters for my aftar. Really grateful for the hospitality of Serena.

I checked into the Quetta Serena Hotel, as is Serena is my favorite, reasoning its remarkable hospitality and the best services, moreover you can find them all over the country.

Quetta Serena Hotel, Quetta's plushest hotel by a comfortable margin, the Serena is unusual among top-end hotels in that it looks like it actually belongs to its surroundings - its design echoes local architectural styles, with Baloch textiles, woodwork and local marble continuing the decorative theme inside. The rooms (all with wi-fi) are suitably refined with high-quality service from staff, plus there are two good restaurants, a food court, a coffee shop, a tennis court, outside pool also a good bookshop from where am planning to fill some left place in my personal library.

Quetta Serena has 140 rooms set in beautiful landscaped grounds.Yet despite the recent unrest all the rooms were booked, and the uniformed staff have been kept on the normal day to day business and some of the rehabilitation task, and they were truly delighted in warmly welcoming me. It surprised and equally delighted me to find out the unbending spark and encouragement in the hotel staff that is truly reflected in their hardwork.

By the by it was dinner time, so after making myself easy, I went straight to the Xuelian Restaurant. The handsome restaurantwith a wonderfully opulent dining area and an outdoor terrace overlooking the gardens, the manager told me Xuelian Restaurant is known for serving the best Chinese and Thai food in Quetta.

"Would you like to order dinner, madam?" a saffron-suited waiter asked on my first night.

I mumbled something about whatever they could rustle up in the kitchen being fine. His face registered surprise. 

"We have everything listed on the menu, madam. Fish and chips with mushy peas, sizzling beef fillet, traditional Chinese or Pakistani cuisine."

"How can you?" I asked. "Hotel must be busy in rehabilitation”.

"But we are a five-star hotel madam," he said proudly. "We must maintain standards at all times."

A few minutes later a steaming plate of delicious Shashlik and Egg Fried Rice with Mint Margaretta arrived at my table.

Next morning, I woke up for Sahoor by a polite wakeup call and avail myself with the room service menu that has everything from the classic club sandwich to delicately spiced curry.  Later I spent much of the day in the handsome garden filled with numerous roses and beside the pool with a book that I bought from the hotel book shop.

By the time of late afternoon my appetite was getting increased later evening I was ravenous equally by the day pass and by the increasingly tasty smell of cooking from the hotel food court, which made me slip from the luxury of book to the live kitchen. And there what I seen is worthy of national award, the sight of hotel staff working with much diligence was a feeling of intense proud and delight, besides it was a massage enclosed in their behaviors that “we are strong enough to resist any storm, because we have the unity, faith and discipline”.

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Munaza Kazmi has recently done Master of Philosophy from Bahria University Islamabad. Her debut novel is Unrequited Love.

She’s an author, columnist writing in different newspapers and a researcher having seven publications till yet, she’s been writing since 2016.

You can connect to Kazmi at twitter @munaza_kazmi or on research gate as munaza kazmi.

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ISLAMABAD, APR 23: The Citizens Foundation (TCF) and the Institute of Development and Economic Alternatives (IDEAS) signed MoU to collaborate to expand research in education delivery and service in Pakistan.

Under the agreement, IDEAS will offer its expertise for multi-disciplinary empirical research and evidence-based programme design; and an international network of research fellows, to help TCF achieve goals of improving the quality of and access to education in over 1600 schools across Pakistan, with a particular focus on early childhood development, teacher pedagogy and mother-tongue based multilingual education.

While speaking at the occasion, TCF’s President and CEO, Asaad Ayub commented, “At TCF, we constantly strive to improve the quality of education imparted at TCF Schools across the country. We invest in education research that informs policies and affects how our principals lead, our teachers teach, and students learn. We are excited to collaborate with IDEAS to expand our efforts for research-informed programme design within the TCF system.”

IDEAS’ CEO and Fellow, Dr. Rabea Malik said, “The goal of this collaboration is to generate rigorous and objective evidence on what works to improve access and quality of services for low-income communities; evidence that has relevance for TCF’s organizational development as well as the broader discourse on policy and development.

It is grounded in a mutual recognition of the need for an empirical approach to understanding and improving processes of service delivery and outcomes of the larger human development project. We at IDEAS look forward to working with TCF to strengthen a culture of evidence-driven implementation.”

TCF intends to develop an ethos and culture of a learning organisation with an empirical approach to programme development at all levels, course correction through engagement with data at the programmatic and organisational level, and generation of evidence that contributes to a global knowledge base of best practices in addition to supporting internal organisational learning.

The goals of this collaboration are also in line with the core mission for IDEAS of knowledge generation on key questions of service delivery, institutional reform, and economic and human development.

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LONDON, APR 22: Skyscanner has announced the launch of Arabic language website on desktop and mobile.

In an effort to offer travellers a more localised and user-friendly experience, Skyscanner has rolled out the Arabic language offering across all domains, including UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Travellers visiting Skyscanner on desktop, mobile web or via the app will now be able to select Arabic as a language option to access more localised content, including local currency and a better user experience when linking to partner sites to complete their travel bookings. 

Travel is returning in the region at a strong pace.

On Skyscanner, interest in both domestic and international flights have increased steadily from UAE travellers, with a lift of 23 per cent in searches and even more dramatically from Saudi travellers, where there was an increase of 110 per cent in searches from February to March of this year.

According to a recent YouGov survey, commissioned by Reed Exhibitions, ahead Arabian Travel Market 2021, the money that Middle East travellers spend on international leisure travel will begin to exceed 2019 levels in as little as three years.

“We’re pleased to be able to offer travellers in the Middle East a far more relevant experience on desktop, allowing them to plan and book travel in their local language and currency,” said Gavin Harris, director of strategic partnerships, Skyscanner.

“Arabic is one of the fifth most spoken languages in the world and outbound travel from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia accounts for a significant proportion of the total travel market.

“We previously launched the Skyscanner app in Arabic to great success, so it was a logical next step to bring the localised experience to desktop users too.”

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COURTESY breakingtravelnews

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ISLAMABAD, APR 22: Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Ali Alizadeh met with Chairman of the Senate of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Sadiq Sanjrani at Parliament House on Thursday.

From the Azerbaijani Embassy in Pakistan that the Pakistani Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Ali Alizadeh, who noted that the friendly and brotherly country, the people and the leaders of the two countries and the cordial relations existing between the two leaders at the meetings at the highest level of relations between the two countries, said that the establishment of conditions.

Noting the important role of parliaments in strengthening friendly and fraternal relations between Azerbaijan and Pakistan, the ambassador thanked the chairman and members of the Senate for the principled position of the Pakistani Senate in the Great Patriotic War, the adoption of resolutions condemning Armenia's aggression against Azerbaijan.

Chairman of the Senate of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Sadiq Sanjrani asked to convey his special greetings and invitation to Pakistan to the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament.

He noted that Azerbaijan is a brotherly country for Pakistan and Pakistan is interested in further expanding political, economic and inter-parliamentary ties with Azerbaijan.

Congratulating the Azerbaijani people and state on Azerbaijan's just victory in the Second Karabakh War, Sadiq Sanjrani expressed confidence that the Pakistani Senate will continue to support Azerbaijan, increase inter-parliamentary relations and mutual visits, and spare no effort to develop economic and trade relations between the two countries. He said.

The sides also exchanged views on increasing the number of joint projects and meetings between the friendship groups of the parliaments of the two countries, as well as strengthening cooperation in regional and international organizations.

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COURTESY apa.az

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New Defence Housing Authority Jobs DHA Jobs Defence Housing Authority Quetta Offers Vacancies for the Positions of Project Development Professionals. These posts are to be based in Pakistan. The aforesaid Jobs are published in leading Newspaper.

The last date to Apply is May 28, 2021. More Details About Project Development Professionals See job notification for relevant experience, qualification, and age limit information.

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COURTESY smartjobs.pk

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ISLAMABAD, APR 22: MATSUDA Kuninori, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, has strongly condemned the terrorist attack in the parking lot of Serena Hotel in Quetta, Balochistan on Wednesday and express his sorrow over the loss of precious lives.

Ambassador MATSUDA has expressed his deepest sympathies and condolences to the families of the victims and prayed for the early recovery of those injured.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims of this gruesome incident. Japan condemns terrorism in all its forms”, said Ambassador MATSUDA in his condolence message.

The Ambassador further stated that the Government of Japan is committed to continuing to support the Government of Pakistan and its security forces to combat terrorism.

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