Day: July 2, 2024

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has directed all relevant institutions to remain high alert during Monsoon season. He issued these directives while chairing a meeting regarding national preparedness for the Monsoon in Islamabad today. The Prime Minister also constituted a high-level committee to deal with any emergency situation during Monsoon season. He also instructed the National Disaster Management Authority to assist all provincial governments and related institutions regarding Monsoon. The Prime Minister said advisory to the people living in affected areas regarding any expected situation in emergency due to monsoon should be ensured. He said advance information should be disseminated to farmers and people living alongside the rivers and canals through media on a daily basis. The meeting was briefed that heavy monsoon rains are expected in all the provinces in first and second week of the current month. It was further informed that spell of monsoon rains will move from south-east to north in Pakistan this year. Rains are expected in Potohar region and eastern part of Punjab in the first week of this month, while heavy rains are expected in Karachi, Mirpur Khas, Nawabshah, Sukkur and Hyderabad in the second and fourth week of this month. The meeting was briefed that spell of monsoon rains in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will likely to remain active till third week of next month. In Balochistan, heavy rains are expected in the coastal and border areas of Sindh and Balochistan in the second, fourth and first two weeks of the current month. In Gilgit-Baltistan, partial rains are expected in this month, while massive rains are expected in the first three weeks of August. In Azad Jammu and Kashmir, massive rains have been forecast with land sliding in the first three weeks of this month. The meeting was also briefed about the preparations to handle any emergency situation due to Monsoon rains across the country. It was briefed that rescue agencies including NDMA PDMA, troops of Pakistan Army are const antly on high alert in the affected areas. NDMA has introduced a Mobile App for monsoon alert and weather conditions as well as advance information which is being used by people. The meeting was informed that a National Monsoon Contingency Plan has already been prepared and delivered to the relevant institutions and provincial governments to deal with any emergency situation. Source: Radio Pakistan

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for enhancing trade, investment and connectivity between Pakistan and Tajikistan. Addressing a joint news conference, along with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in Dushanbe today, he emphasized to further enhance cooperation in diverse fields, including agriculture, education, health and trade. Shehbaz Sharif said today numerous Memorandums of Understanding were signed between the two countries, will be helpful in furthering our relations. He said strategic partnership agreement is of great importance. He congratulated the Tajik side for joining hands to sign this agreement which will further brotherly relations and expanding avenues of cooperation in times to come. The Prime Minister also stressed the need for building rail connectivity between Tajikistan, Afghanistan to all the way to port of Karachi. As regards, bilateral cooperation, the Prime Minister said CASA1000 is likely to be completed next year. This will bring prosperity to the region. The Prime Ministe r further said that he held one on one meeting with the Tajik President, who talked of China-Tajikistan and Afghanistan corridor. Talking about the menace of terrorism, Shehbaz Sharif said both Pakistan and Tajikistan have paid great sacrifices in fight against terrorism. Highlighting Pakistan's sacrifices in the war against terrorism, he expressed the resolve to defeat this menace through collective efforts. He said Pakistan is ready to offer its cooperation in fighting the scourge of terrorism. Mentioning the global challenges, the Prime Minister condemned the ongoing oppression in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Gaza. He said peace in South Asia will remain elusive till the resolution of the Kashmir dispute in light of the UN Security Council resolutions. Shehbaz Sharif also thanked President Emomali Rahmon and the people of Tajikistan for giving a warm welcome to his delegation. He extended invitation to the Tajik President to visit Pakistan. Source: Radio Pakistan

Foreign Secretary Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi has reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to further expand and diversify mutually beneficial cooperation with Belarus. He was talking to the First Deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus Sergei Lukashevich in Islamabad today. During the meeting, bilateral areas of cooperation, and important regional and global developments came under discussion. Source: Radio Pakistan

Pakistan has called for re-evaluation of Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine in light of genocide in Gaza and rights abuses in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). This was stated by Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, Ambassador Munir Akram, while speaking at the 97th plenary meeting of General Assembly in New York. He said the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the worst human rights violations in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir are clear examples of the failure of the "Responsibility to Protect (R2P)" concept and the prevention of genocide and war crimes against humanity. Ambassador Munir Akram said given the scale of killings, devastation and the humanitarian crisis, there is no more apt situation calling for urgent intervention to stop the genocide than in Gaza, where international community has failed so far. He said two years ago, Genocide Watch warned of genocide in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir where nine lac Indian troops are suppressing Kashmiris' qu est for freedom. Munir Akram said over one lac Kashmiris have been killed, 20,000 women raped and thousands of people including thirteen thousand youth have been disappeared. Ambassador Akram asked the Special Advisor on the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) to take cognizance of Pakistan's call and pay special attention to the situation in occupied Jammu and Kashmir and within India. Source: Radio Pakistan

Chairman National Assembly Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting Pullain Baloch has said that Radio Pakistan is an important source of news and entertainment for people. During a visit to Radio Pakistan Quetta, he said all available resources will be utilized for the betterment of the state broadcaster. Pulain Baloch added that problems being faced by Radio Pakistan and its employees will be addressed on priority basis. Source: Radio Pakistan