January 1, 2022

2021 successful year for Pakistan’s multilateral diplomacy at UN: Munir

Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations Ambassador Munir Akram has said the year 2021 was a successful year for Pakistan’s multilateral diplomacy at the United Nations.

In a New Year message, he said Pakistan continued to push for Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination in the 2021 in a determined bid to advance the cause of their freedom from India’s yoke.

He said we continued to make the legal, political and moral case for Kashmiris freedom struggle. We underscored that under international law they have the right to resist, with all means at their disposal, and attain their inalienable right to self-determination.

Ambassador Akram said we are determined to play a constructive role as a Chairman of Group of 77 (developing countries) for the year 2022.

Source: Radio Pakistan

January 1, 2022

Pakistan again calls on int’l community to take notice of India’s relentless oppression in IIOJ&amp;K

Pakistan has strongly condemned extra-judicial killing of four more Kashmiris by Indian occupation forces in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

In a statement today [Saturday], Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said Indian occupation forces martyred the youth during staged cordon and search operations in Srinagar and Kupwar.

He said Indian occupation forces have martyred at least 210 Kashmiris in fake encounters or so called "cordon and search operations" in last year.

He said Pakistan calls on the international community to take immediate notice of India's relentless oppression in IIOJK.

He said Pakistan also urges the international community to play its role for a just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions and wishes of the Kashmiri people for durable peace and stability in the region.

Source: Radio Pakistan

January 1, 2022

Govt taking concrete measures to protect rights of minorities: President

President Dr Arif Alvi says the government is taking concrete measures to protect rights of minorities and promote religious tourism in the country.

Talking to a delegation of minorities led by MNA Lal Chand Malhi in Karachi today [Thursday], he said Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah always raised voice for the rights of all minorities irrespective of their creed and religion.

Dr Arif Alvi also lauded the role being played by the minorities for the development the country.

Source: Radio Pakistan

January 1, 2022

Covid-hit world welcomes 2022 with scaled-back celebrations

The world ushered in the New Year 2022 with scaled-back celebrations due to new restrictions aimed at slowing soaring Covid-19 cases amid the hope a better new year. New Zealand first welcomed the New Year 2022 with breathtaking fireworks that were launched from the Sky Tower in Auckland.

New Year also dawned in Australia with splendid fireworks display went ahead at Sydney harbour.

Welcoming hundreds of thousands of spectators from around the world, the UAE's Ras Al Khaimah New Year's celebrations dazzled all with a spectacular fireworks display that smashed two Guinness World Records.

The Omicron Coronavirus variant dampened New Year festivities around much of the world.

New York City scaling down its famous ball drop celebration in Times Square, as only 15,000 spectators were allowed into the official viewing area instead of the usual 58,000.

Around the globe, events were scaled back or cancelled outright, such as with the traditional fireworks over the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur.

In London, officials announced the spectacle would come to life on the television screen, as Big Ben rang in the New Year for the first time since 2017 following a restoration.

In Asia, celebrations were mostly abridged or cancelled. In South Korea, a traditional midnight bell-ringing ceremony was cancelled for the second year, while festivities were banned in Tokyo.

China, where the Coronavirus first emerged in late 2019, was on high alert, with the city of Xian under lockdown and New Year events in other cities cancelled.

Source: Radio Pakistan

January 1, 2022

Govt increases petroleum prices by Rs4 per litre

The government has increased petroleum prices to meet Petroleum Levy target agreed with International Monitory Fund.

According to the notification issued by Finance Ministry, in the fortnightly review of Petroleum Products' Prices, Prime Minister Imran Khan rejected the proposal of OGRA for increase in prices of Petroleum Products and advised to increase only four rupees per litre.

The new prices are; Petrol 144.82 rupees per litre, High Speed Diesel 141.62, Kerosene 113.53 and Light Diesel 111.06 rupees per litre.

The new prices are effective from today (Saturday).

Source: Radio Pakistan

January 1, 2022

Rs 34bn will be transferred to provinces from new Finance Bill: Farrukh

State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib has said that the government imposed track and trace taxation system on cigarette sector that already had imposed on the sugar sector.

Talking to a private news channel, the minister said that 34 billion rupees would be transferred to the provinces as per 18th amendments from the new tax collection finance bill.

The minister said that now various sectors were not registered on tax system but the government wanted to document all these sector to collect the tax in future.

He said the dynamic leadership of Prime Minster Imran Khan has set the various example for the other rulers including health card for low income segments of the society, Ehsaas Ration card, construction of around 10 new universities in the different parts of the country, direct power system at local body election first time introduce by this regime

Source: Radio Pakistan