Day: February 8, 2025

Islamabad: UNICEF Pakistan has appointed 14-year-old Zunaira Qayyum as its Youth Advocate for Climate Action and Girls’ Empowerment. The announcement was made during the Breathe Pakistan Climate Conference held in Islamabad, highlighting Zunaira’s commitment to addressing climate change and advocating for girls’ rights.

According to Radio Pakistan, Zunaira, hailing from Balochistan, has been a prominent voice for Pakistan’s youth on both national and international platforms, including COP 29. Her research on the impacts of climate change-induced floods on girls’ secondary education in Hub, Balochistan, gained recognition when it was named one of the winners of the UNICEF Policy Research Challenge in 2023.

Zunaira’s appointment as a Youth Advocate underscores her dedication and the importance of involving young voices in critical issues like climate change and girls’ empowerment. Her work continues to inspire and bring attention to the challenges faced by girls in the context of climate adversity.

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that Pakistan has been set on a course of economic growth through the concerted efforts of his government. He shared this during a special ceremony in Islamabad, marking the ‘Day of Development and Progress’ on the first anniversary of the current administration’s tenure.

According to Radio Pakistan, the Prime Minister reflected on the progress made over the past year, describing a shift from a state of darkness to light. He attributed this transformation to the collective efforts of the government’s team. In June 2023, the International Monetary Fund program was in disarray, and inflation was severely affecting the population. However, with support from the Islamic Development Bank, Pakistan secured a Stand-By Arrangement from the IMF, which averted a potential default.

The Prime Minister highlighted the contribution of the salaried class, who paid taxes amounting to three hundred billion rupees, as a significant factor in the country’s financial recovery. He noted a decline in inflation due to the government’s continued efforts and urged the business community to propose measures to further strengthen the economy. He assured collaboration with businessmen to develop policies that would boost exports and support local industry.

Discussing anti-smuggling measures, Shehbaz Sharif noted that Pakistan had successfully exported sugar worth two hundred and eleven million dollars to Afghanistan, attributing this to the government’s strict anti-smuggling efforts. On the topic of law and order, he expressed concern over the resurgence of terrorism, which had been eradicated in 2018. He stressed the importance of addressing terrorism to realize Pakistan’s dream of becoming a prosperous and developed nation and paid tribute to the sacrifices made by the armed forces in combating terrorism.

The Prime Minister also emphasized the government’s focus on strengthening industries, boosting exports, particularly IT-led exports, and enhancing the agriculture sector. Minister of Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, who also addressed the ceremony, highlighted the political sacrifices made by the government to save the country and mentioned initiatives like education and laptop distribution to the youth as contributors to national progress.

Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb outlined the government’s strong performance, citing an increase in foreign exchange reserves and a reduction in the policy rate. He mentioned ongoing efforts to transform technology infrastructure within the Federal Board of Revenue and emphasized key initiatives, including the privatization agenda, rightsizing of the federal government, and pension reforms.

Karachi: AMAN Dialogue-2025 organized by the Pakistan Navy will start in Karachi today (Saturday). The event will bring together chiefs of navies, coast guards, and defense forces to exchange views on shared global and regional maritime issues.

According to Radio Pakistan, the 9th Edition of the multinational maritime exercise “AMAN-2025” kicked off in Karachi yesterday. The exercise, divided into sea and harbor phases, is being participated in by over sixty countries, ships, aircraft, special operations forces, EOD marine teams, and observers.

Islamabad: Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal announced that Pakistan has been saved from default through tireless efforts and political sacrifice. He made this statement during a special ceremony in Islamabad, marking the ‘Day of Development and Progress,’ which celebrated the completion of one year of the current government in power.

According to Radio Pakistan, Ahsan Iqbal introduced the ‘Uraan Pakistan’ program, which aims to transform Pakistan into a prosperous nation by the year 2047. As part of this initiative, the government plans to send two hundred thousand youth annually to China for Information Technology training.

Additionally, the Minister emphasized a strategic focus on agriculture, with plans for one thousand agriculture researchers to travel to China next month for specialized training. This effort is seen as a catalyst to drive a green revolution in Pakistan’s agriculture sector.

Addressing the energy sector, Ahsan Iqbal highlighted ongoing efforts to make energy more efficient, affordable, and sustainable, with a particular emphasis on green energy. The Minister also outlined an ambitious goal to increase the country’s exports to one hundred billion dollars in the shortest time possible.

Nowshera: Pakistan Army officers and soldiers are not only dedicated to defending the country but are also driven by a sense of public welfare and human compassion. A tragic incident occurred in Nowshera, where an infant girl was buried alive. However, the timely intervention of the Rescue 1122 team saved the baby, who was then transported to a local hospital.

According to Radio Pakistan, when Major Waqas, who was attending a course in Risalpur, learned about the incident, he immediately went to the hospital. After completing the legal procedures, Major Waqas adopted the baby girl through the civil court.

Major Waqas’s act has received tremendous praise on social media and local Pashto channels. His act of humanity serves as an inspiring message not only for the local community but for the entire nation.