FARUKH SHEHZAD

ISLAMABAD, OCT 21: Construction of the extension of Intensive Care at Maternal and Child Care Centre and Children’s Hospital was launched at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad.

The grant assistance from Japan worth $32 million (3.62 billion Japanese Yen) was signed in Tokyo two years ago.     

On this special occasion, MATSUDA Kuninori, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, expressed his respect to all those who worked hard to start this project amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prior to this, in this August, Japan extended another grant assistance of $31.4 million to establish a new Maternal and Child Health Center at Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences in Hyderabad.

Ambassador MATSUDA commented, “PIMS and Liaquat University are symbols of Japan's health development assistance to Pakistan in the north and south of the country, respectively.

I am sure that the two institutions will make a significant contribution to the improvement of maternal and child health as regional medical hubs.”

Chief Representative of JICA Pakistan Office, FURUTA Shigeki also remarked, “The project has been long-awaited in order to respond to the growing needs of clinically high-risk perinatal cases from all over Pakistan.

In this project, high quality medical treatment will be provided to severely ill mothers and children, accommodating 300 patients at Maternal Foetal Intensive Care unit, and 1,100 patients at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit a year.”

According to the current plan, the construction will be completed in April 2023.

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ISLAMABAD, OCT 21: Cold chain optimization equipment worth USD 6.59 million funded by the Government of Japan and procured through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for enhancing national capacity to store COVID-19, was today handed over to the Government of Pakistan.

The Parliamentary Secretary on Health, Dr. Nausheen Hamid received the cold chain equipment from the Ambassador of Japan, MATSUDA Kuninori, in presence of the UNICEF Representative in Pakistan, Aida Girma, at a ceremony held in the National Emergency Operation Centre, Expanded Programme for Immunization (EPI).

“We greatly value the significant contributions made by Japan during the last 70 years of its diplomatic relations with Pakistan,” said Dr. Nausheen Hamid. “Over the years, our two countries have partnered in various sectors including health, education, power and many other. I affirm our strong desire to further deepen and broaden our bilateral ties with Japan.”

“The Expanded Programme for Immunization in Pakistan has a strong cold chain system that is considered the backbone of the programme as it handles and stores massive quantities of vaccines inclusive of all kinds of COVID-19 vaccines.

It is, however, important to know that the cold chain system can be risky in countries which have extreme temperatures and the power supply is unreliable. I am grateful to the Government of Japan for providing this cold chain optimization equipment for vaccine storage and ensuring quality check as it would definitely strengthen our existing system,” she added.

The equipment procured through funds from Japan, include power generators, voltage regulators and temperature monitoring devices which will enhance vaccine storage capacity of EPI, especially at provincial and district level where power outage and voltage fluctuation is frequent.

The new equipment would help to ensure optimum temperature control at storage facilities thus maintaining the efficacy of the Covid-19 vaccine. 

Japanese funds will also be used for strengthening the capacity of health care staff to handle the cold chain equipment.

Japan has extended a total of $23.5 million grant assistance to Pakistan for its counter-COVID19 measures including provision of hygiene items, medical equipment, and training of health care staff.

Speaking at the event, Ambassador MATSUDA stressed that Japan has prioritized the health sector as part of its development cooperation policy for Pakistan for decades, including Maternal & Child Health, Polio Eradication, Routine Immunization and Counter-COVID-19 measures.

He expressed his hope to open a new area of cooperation in the future partnership between Japan and Pakistan in the health sector, suggesting that tackling diabetes could be one of the candidates.

 “I am looking forward to seeing a new chapter added to the friendship between Japan and Pakistan on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries next year,” the ambassador said.

As part of COVID 19 pandemic response UNICEF has been assisting the Government of Pakistan in procuring CoVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX facility.

It has also procured cold chain, laboratory and personal protective equipment and handed over to the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination.

“Today’s ceremony reinforces the high level and longstanding support of the Government of Japan to UNICEF in its efforts to procure vaccines and essential equipment for strengthening immunization services in Pakistan,” said Aida Girma, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan.

“May it be routine immunization or the large-scale COVID-19 vaccination drive, storage of vaccines at optimum temperature is essential to maintain their efficacy and effectiveness.

The cold chain support equipment being handed over to the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination today, will help in making vaccines available to people across the country, especially the marginalised and those living in hard to reach areas, Ms. Girma said.”

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ISLAMABAD, OCT 21: A Roundtable conference was arranged to discuss “New Uzbekistan-New Elections”. The roundtable was jointly organized by Embassy of Uzbekistan to Pakistan and Center for Global & Strategic Studies (CGSS), Islamabad, Pakistan.

Aybek Arif Usmanov, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Pakistan in his opening remarks stated that people to people contact is very significant for regional connectivity.

The economic cooperation is very important keeping in view the current global developments. Ambassador of Uzbekistan also stated that Pakistan is the transit hub for international trade.

Pakistan and Uzbekistan have promoted peace and stability in the region. At this occasion, special editions two magazines “Peace International” and “Diplomatic Focus”, devoted to Uzbekistan were also presented.

Ambassador of Uzbekistan thanked and payed tribute to the journalist community of Pakistan for playing a vital role in further cementing the brotherly ties between both nations.

Khalid Taimur Akram, Executive Director, CGSS stated that CGSS has taken several initiatives to promote Central & South Asia connectivity. CGSS has engaged various universities across Pakistan in this regard.

Grand initiative of Central and South Asian regional connectivity by Shavkat Mirziyoyev has proved to be a milestone development for regional integration. 

Pakistan and Uzbekistan embarked on a new journey of prosperity, enhancing bilateral cooperation, joint ventures for regional peace and stability, and strengthening economic and strategic partnerships.

Major General Khalid Amir Jaffery HI(M), (Retd) in his keynote speech stated that our countries and people have always been connected. Our bilateral ties including trade, culture, religion and people to people connectivity is enhancing with the passing time.

He stated that all these initiatives are very important so that our youth gets to know each other. Therefore, interaction must be promoted between both the countries.

Dr. Zarmina Baloch, Assistant Professor. Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women’s University, Peshawar discussed Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s initiatives for regional connectivity.

She stated that his visionary leadership has made it possible for the countries to connect and prosper. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan due to his exceptional commercial diplomacy and inventive leadership has achieved greater regional connectivity.

Prof. Dr. Shabir Ahmad Khan, Director, Area Study Center (Russia, China & Central Asia), University of Peshawar stated that Pakistan will serve as a gateway for Uzbekistan. He explained why Uzbekistan is exceptional in Central Asia, he stated that Uzbekistan is a model of gradual reforms and prioritizing economy over politics and this model has mode Uzbekistan successful.

He stated that during the Presidency of Shavkat Mirziyoyev many issues have been resolved with consensus. He also praised His Excellency Aybek Arif Usmanov, Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Pakistan for playing a leading role in Central and South Asia connectivity.

He stated that smooth border crossing will ensure a good market and Uzbekistan has become the voice of all regional states.

The Roundtable was followed by the Book Launch ceremony that is compiled and published by CGSS on the idea of Central & South Asia Connectivity.

The title of the book is “Shavkat Mirziyoyev – A Visionary Statesman”. This Book is a collection of Research Articles written by senior academicians from various universities of Pakistan and practitioners from various sectors.

This is the first time that a Book of this kind has been published by any institute in Pakistan highlighting the fruitful initiatives of the Uzbek President and can prove to a cornerstone in promoting this vision globally.

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ISLAMABAD, OCT 20: Keeping its 50 million customers at the core of its business operations, Telenor Pakistan’s entire employee base took out to the streets, digital mediums, roads and markets to connect with the organisation’s valued subscribers as part of its 10th Customer Day.

The entire day is dedicated to giving Telenor Pakistan’s staff a detailed and personal look at the inner workings of every customer care channel, gathering valuable insights on the front lines, directly from its userbase.

During Customer Day, Telenor Pakistan’s top management and employees proactively reach out to customers to better understand and serve end-users while getting a grasp on how their lifestyles evolve around connectivity.

The Customer Day represents Telenor Pakistan’s customer-centric approach to designing its products and services, while nurturing a creative, empathetic, and problem-solving culture.

At Telenor Pakistan, the process of improving customer experience is designed to leave no stone unturned.

It starts with interactions between Telenor Pakistan staff and end-users, in which the operator gains behavioural and operational insights, from the observations of its employees who then work towards adding greater value to connecting people to what matters most.

Following the interactions, consolidated feedback is shared with the Centricity team, which in itself is solely dedicated to improving customer experiences all year round. The final step is to identify the way forward and assign necessary duties to designated team members to close the loop with resolution for all customers.

Commenting on the Customer Day, Chief Executive Officer, Telenor Pakistan, Irfan Wahab Khan said, “Customer Day at Telenor Pakistan is an event that everyone looks forward to - to understand how we create an impact on the lives of millions of Pakistanis and what more can we do to serve them better.

It is a unique opportunity that we will continue to honour beyond just this one day; for us, it’s a way of life. Our efforts revolve around bringing More Se Zyada value for our customers while connecting them to what matters most to them.”

While Telenor’s Customer Day had previously been celebrated by allowing teams to physically visit customer care centres around the country, this year’s circumstances are suitable mostly for virtual visits with a few exceptions.

The day allows Telenor Pakistan teams to create customer-centric strategies and to work towards understanding the evolving needs of its vast customer base, adding progressive value to the lives of millions.

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• Blome is currently serving as the ambassador of the US in Tunisia.
• A career Foreign Service diplomat, Blome has extensive experience in the region.
• He once worked in the US embassy in Kabul, which was closed a few months ago after the collapse of the Ashraf Ghani government.

WASHINGTON, OCT 20: US President Joe Biden picked career diplomat Donald Blome as his top diplomat in Pakistan, as the volatile situation in Afghanistan escalates following the withdrawal of US troops from the country.

Blome is currently serving as the ambassador of the US in Tunisia. He is a career Foreign Service diplomat with long experience in the region who once worked in the Kabul embassy, shuttered earlier this year during the US military withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Pakistan is playing a major role in diplomacy with its Taliban-ruled neighbour.

International agencies have warned that Afghanistan is on the verge of humanitarian collapse without access to aid or foreign reserves, which remain frozen in the United States.

Pakistan's relationship with neighbouring China has also been of interest to the Biden administration, which regards Beijing as its chief international rival.

Tunisia, where Blome has worked as ambassador since 2019, is an important diplomatic outpost for the United States in North Africa, representing interests beyond the country's borders, including in neighbouring Libya.

The ambassadorial position requires Senate confirmation.

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Courtesy geo.tv

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BEIJING, OCT 20: Chinese smartphone major Xiaomi announced on Tuesday that the company would begin mass production of its electric vehicles by the first half of 2024.

The news was revealed by the company's Chief Executive Officer Lei Jun at an investor day meeting.

The news was also later confirmed by Zang Ziyuan, a director in Xiaomi's international marketing department, who posted the news on his verified Weibo account.

In March this year, Xiaomi announced its foray into the electric car market and revealed plans to invest 10 billion dollars in the business over a period of 10 years.

Later in September, the company officially registered Xiaomi EV, Inc, its electric vehicles brand.

The electric vehicle business has employed 300 people and they were selected from among more than 20,000 applicants.

Xiaomi EV will set up its first plant for the mass production of electric vehicle cars in the Beijing suburb of Yizhuang. The electric vehicle brand is headed by CEO Lei himself.

Commenting on the developments, Lei Jun said: "The release of an electric car is not a PR stunt. It so happened that cars from ordinary means of transportation have turned into smart and technological devices.

"The advent of the electric car is another step in building your own ecosystem, where everything is focusing on comfort and improving the user experience."

The race to dominate China's electric vehicle market is heating up with not only Xiaomi but other brands like search engine Baidu also announcing a standalone EV company in January and appointing a CEO thereafter.

Names like Nio, Xpeng and Elon Musk' Tesla are also forces to reckon with when the Xiaomi electric vehicle debuts in the market.

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Courtesy anews

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All-rounder scored 40, claimed three wickets in the match

MUSCAT, OCT 20: Shakib Al Hasan’s all-round performance has given Bangladesh a great chance to join the Super 12 teams as they beat Oman in a must-win tie of the ICC T20 World Cup.

The side successfully defended a respectable 153-run total by reducing the co-host to 128-9 in their allotted 20 overs.

Only resistance from Oman batters came from Jatinder Singh’s bat, who scored 40 off 33 balls with the help of four boundaries and a six.

He was supported by Kashyap Prajapati, who scored 21 off 18 balls.

For Bangladesh, the star of the show with the ball was Mustafizur Rahman, who claimed figures of four for 36 in his four-over spell.

Meanwhile, Shakib bowled a brilliant spell, where he claimed three wickets for 28 runs in his four overs.

Earlier, after opting to bat, the Bengal Tigers went off to a slow start and lost two quick wickets with just 21 runs on the scoreboard.

Shakib and Naim made a vital 80-run stand for the third wicket to bring the team back into the game.

Apart from that, no other Bangladesh batter managed to resist Oman’s bowling attack. Shakib departed after scoring a quick 42 off 29 balls with the help of six boundaries.

Meanwhile, Naim scored 64 off 50 balls which includes three boundaries and four maximums. The team was bowled out for 153 in their allotted 20 overs

For Oman, Fayaz Butt and Bilal Khan shared three wickets each.

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Courtesy Samaa news

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STOCKHOLM, OCT 5: Reasons Why Online Learning is the Future of Education because the concept of traditional education has changed radically within the last couple of years. Being physically present in a classroom isn’t the only learning option anymore — not with the rise of the internet and new technologies, at least.

Nowadays, you have access to a quality education whenever and wherever you want, as long as you can get online. We are now entering a new era — the revolution of online education.

There’s no need to discount the skepticism surrounding education through the internet. It’s hard to understand the notion of leaving behind the conventional classroom, especially if it's to face this vast space called The Internet.

However, that’s not reason enough to shy away from this alternative, which has proven to be valid and useful for many students. According to the most recent survey from Babson Survey Research Group, over 30 percent of higher education students in the United States are taking at least one distance course.

Online education is a sensible choice whether you’re a teenager or an adult. As a student, this can be a useful learning method for sharpening your skills in a difficult subject, or learning a new skill.

Keep on reading to learn five more reasons why you should get involved in online education!

1. It's flexible.

Online education enables the teacher and the student to set their own learning pace, and there’s the added flexibility of setting a schedule that fits everyone’s agenda. As a result, using an online educational platform allows for a better balance of work and studies, so there’s no need to give anything up.

Studying online teaches you vital time management skills, which makes finding a good work-study balance easier. Having a common agenda between the student and teacher can also prompt both parties to accept new responsibilities and have more autonomy.

2. It offers a wide selection of programs.

In a space as vast and wide as the internet, there are infinite skills and subjects to teach and learn. A growing number of universities and higher education schools are offering online versions of their programs for various levels and disciplines.

From music composition to quantum physics, there are options for every type of student. Studying your program online is also a great option for getting an official certificate, diploma, or degree without physically setting foot on a university campus.

3. It’s accessible.

Online education enables you to study or teach from anywhere in the world. This means there’s no need to commute from one place to another, or follow a rigid schedule. On top of that, not only do you save time, but you also save money, which can be spent on other priorities.

The virtual classroom is also available anywhere there’s an internet connection, and a good way to take advantage of this is to travel. For example, if you’re studying abroad and want to get a job, online education is a great choice. There’s no reason to give up on working or studying while exploring new and exotic places.

4. It allows for a customized learning experience.

We’ve mentioned before how flexibility can help you to set your own study pace. But online education is also flexible for each student’s individual requirements and level of ability.

Online classes tend to be smaller than conventional class size. Most of the time, online learning platforms only allow one student at a time, and in almost all cases, this allows for greater interaction and more feedback between you and your tutor.

There’s often access to very diverse material such as videos, photos, and eBooks online as well, and tutors can also integrate other formats like forums or discussions to improve their lessons. And this extra content is available at any moment from anywhere, which will offer you a more dynamic and tailor-made education.

5. It’s more cost-effective than traditional education.

Unlike in-person education methods, online education tends to be more affordable. There’s also often a wide range of payment options that let you pay in installments or per class. This allows for better budget management.

Many of you may also be subject to discounts or scholarships, so the price is rarely high. You can also save money from the commute and class materials, which are often available for free. In other words, the monetary investment is less, but the results can be better than other options.

Final thoughts

These are only a few reasons to choose an online education, and why 90 percent of students today think that online learning is the same or better than the traditional classroom experience.

Every student must assess their unique situation and decide according to their needs and goals, and while this alternative to traditional education is not for everyone, it's still a convenient option with virtually endless options for international students all over the world.

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Courtesy educations.com

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This is a must win game for the Bengal Tiger

Muscat, OCT 19: Mohammad Naim scored a half-century, while Shakib Al Hasan smashed a quick 42 to lead Bangladesh to a respectable 153 runs in their must-win game against Oman in the ICC T20 World Cup.

After opting to bat, the Bengal Tigers went off to a slow start and lost two quick wickets with just 21 runs on the scoreboard.

Shakib and Naim made a vital 80-run stand for the third wicket to bring the team back into the game.

Apart from that, no other Bangladesh batter managed to resist Oman’s bowling attack. Shakib departed after scoring a quick 42 off 29 balls with the help of six boundaries.

Meanwhile, Naim scored 64 off 50 balls which includes three boundaries and four maximums. The team was bowled out for 153 in their allotted 20 overs

For Oman, Fayaz Butt and Bilal Khan shared three wickets each.

Bangladesh suffered an upset defeat against Scotland, while Oman registered a convincing 10-wicket victory over Papua New Guinea.

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Courtesy Samaa news

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• Arch-rivals to clash on October 24

DUBAI, OCT 19: Pakistan cricket team think tank is expected to include seniors and experienced players in the playing XI in the all-important clash against India in the ICC T20 World Cup.

The arch-rivals are set to lock horns on October 24 at the Dubai International Stadium.

The warm-up game against the defending champions West Indies, which Pakistan won by seven wickets, is the clear indication, that how the team is going to line up.

Although reports suggest that there could be one change on cards in the line-up that featured against the Windies.

One of these two – in-form batter Haider Ali and hard hitter Asif Ali – could feature in the playing XI against India.

Asif could be preferred over young Haider, because of having more experience in international cricket.

This means Pakistan could line up something like:

Batters: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik and Asif Ali.

Bowlers, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hassan Ali and Haris Rauf.

All-rounders: Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim.

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Courtesy Samaa news

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MOSCOW, OCT 19: Special Representatives of Russia, China and Pakistan for Afghanistan met in Moscow today.

Common security concerns and mutual interests for provision of urgent humanitarian and economic assistance to Afghanistan were discussed.

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