Category: General

European Union Special Representative for Human Rights Eamon Gilmore has termed Pakistan a safe country.

Talking to Minister for Law and Justice Dr Farogh Naseem in Islamabad, he praised the Minister for his efforts for enacting new laws.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister Law and Justice briefed the EU representative about the legislation on gender rights including women's property rights.

They also discussed Pakistan's status in FATF.

Source: Radio Pakistan

The United Nations said Thursday at least eight members of polio vaccination teams were killed “during the course of their life-saving work” in Afghanistan.

Ramiz Alakbarov, the U.N. secretary-general's deputy special representative for the South Asian nation, strongly condemned the violence while disclosing details of the incidents in the Afghan provinces of Takhar and Kunduz.

“We are appalled by the brutality of these killings, across four separate locations,” Alakbarov said in a statement. “These are the first attacks on polio workers since nationwide campaigns resumed in November last year.”

The envoy said the violence prompted Afghan authorities, the Taliban, to suspend house-to-house polio vaccination campaigns in Takhar and Kunduz. There were no immediate claims of responsibly for the violence.

Afghan health workers have previously come under attack across the country, ravaged by years of war and persistent drought. Nine polio workers were killed during national polio vaccination drives in 2021.

“This senseless violence must stop immediately, and those responsible must be investigated and brought to justice. This is a violation of international humanitarian law,” Alakbarov said.

Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two countries where wild poliovirus continues to paralyze children, although new cases have dropped lately to historic low levels on both sides of the border.

The last wild poliovirus infection in Pakistan was detected in January 2021. Afghanistan has reported one case in 2022. Four were detected there last year. The dramatic drop in cases in both countries has raised hopes of ridding the region of the crippling disease.

U.N. officials say the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and cessation of hostilities have led to an increase in vaccination rates and health workers were able to vaccinate 2.6 million additional children in November and December for the first time in three years.

Source: Voice of America

Eighteen more deaths and 1,455 new positive cases of Coronavirus have been reported in the country.

According to statistics issued by National Command and Operation Center, 42,396 tests were conducted yesterday while positivity ratio remained three point fur percent.

1,220 patients of Coronavirus are still in critical care.

Source: Radio Pakistan

The European Union has vowed to support Pakistan in its efforts for promotion of human rights.

The resolve was expressed by Deputy Head of European Union Mission in Pakistan Thomas Seiler during a meeting of representatives of Ministry of Human Rights and European Union in Islamabad today [Wednesday] to discuss the EU funded project 'Huqooq-e-Pakistan'.

The Project contributed to strengthen the institutional and policy framework at the federal and provincial level to promote and protect human rights. It included the development of a five-year strategic vision for chalking out human rights policies and implementation frameworks for Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan and Sindh.

The Deputy Head of Mission said EU plans to continue to work together with the Government of Pakistan and with human rights institutions at federal and provincial levels as part of the bilateral cooperation.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser has said that Pakistan adheres to an independent foreign policy aimed at protecting country's socio-economic interests.

He was addressing the inaugural session of Regional Dialogue 2022 "South Asia: Emerging Opportunities and Challenges" in Islamabad today [Wednesday].

The Speaker National Assembly said Pakistan always desires peace with its neighbours as it is the only way for socio-economic development in the region.

Asad Qaiser said Afghanistan has been passing through a challenging time in its history and it is mandatory for all stakeholders to support peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Source: Radio Pakistan

President Dr Arif Alvi has called for raising awareness amongst the public about preventive measures to reduce the ratio of diseases including thalassemia.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony of Bone Marrow Transplant Center in Rawalpindi today [Wednesday], he said legislation should be made regarding thalassemia test of both boys and girls before their marriages.

President Alvi, however, pointed out that mass screening at the present stage is not feasible and therefore required awareness about conducting targeted medical tests as a preemptive measure.

On the legislation regarding organ donation, he stressed that a set of commonly adopted recommendations by medical community could be more effective and helpful for the government in taking a course on the important matter.

The President highlighted the importance of a preventive approach in controlling several other diseases such as diabetes through a balanced diet, hepatitis by means of single-use syringes and even COVID-19 through frequent handwashing.

Source: Radio Pakistan