Category: Islamabad

Islamabad: The Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination had kicked off spring tree plantation campaign in Margalla Hills National Park , marking a significant step towards environmental conservation.

Chairperson Islamabad Wildlife Management Board and Secretary Ministry of Climate Change, Ayesha Humera Ch, inaugurated the campaign by planting a sapling at the Trail 5 of the national park.

She was accompanied by the Joint Secretary of the ministry Muhammad Jamil, MoCC and EC Deputy Director Muhammad Saleem, Upscale Green Pakistan Programme and IWMB office-bearers.

The tree plantation launching ceremony was also attended by various segments of the society including students, teachers, government officials, media personnels and members of the civil society organisations.

'Trees are the backbone of our ecosystem, and their conservation is crucial for protecting the environment from pollution,' Secretary Ayesha Humira Moriani emphasised. 'This year, we aim to expand the plantation campaign on a large scale, engaging communities and promoting sustainable practices.'

Addressing the tree plantation ceremony participants, she said that this campaign highlights the importance of plants as the "lungs of our environment" and underscored the need for their community-based conservation and protection of the natural resources of this biodiversity-rich national park.

Recognizing the critical role of future generations, the Ministry has actively involved school children in the plantation drive, she added.

As part of the campaign, school children enthusiastically participated in planting fifty saplings, demonstrating their commitment to environmental stewardship.

Chairperson Islamabad Wildlife Management Board and Secretary Ministry of Climate Change, Ayesha Humera Moriani also urged all stakeholders including communities, civil society organisations and individuals to join hands with the government in this noble endeavour and contribute to a greener, more sustainable Pakistan.

Islamabad: The National Assembly (NA) on Wednesday paid tribute to the women for their pivotal role in the nation's progress and their steadfast commitment to equality and justice.

A resolution, tabled by Shahida Rehmani, was passed by the National Assembly, stating: "On this historic day, February 12, 2025, as we commemorate National Women's Day, this Parliament pays tribute to the women of Pakistan for their immeasurable contributions to the nation's progress, their resilience in the face of adversity, and their unwavering commitment to achieving equality and justice."

The resolution emphasized that National Women's Day serves as a powerful reminder of the indispensable role of women in shaping society, strengthening families, empowering communities, and driving the socio-economic development of Pakistan.

The Women's Parliamentary Caucus honored Madr-e-Millat Fatima Jinnah, Begum Ra'ana Liaquat Ali Khan, and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, acknowledging their leadership and legacy.

The resolution further reaffirmed the commitment to building a nation where women are not only equal partners but also leaders, innovators, and change-makers, striving for a future where every woman in Pakistan can thrive without fear, discrimination, or inequality.

Islamabad:The Senior Vice President of Pakistan Powerlifting Federation, Muhammad Arshad Khan Turk has underscored the importance of investing in grassroots sports development to unlock country's full potential and promote sporting excellence.

He was of the view that there was immense talent was seen in the 2nd National Students Olympic Games which concluded here at the Pakistan Sports Complex last week.

The event saw enthusiastic participation from students across the country, competing in 16 sports, including athletics, archery, badminton, basketball, catch ball, cycling, chess, futsal, football, gymnastics, rope skipping, skating, table tennis, throw ball, tug of war and volleyball.

Turk also stressed that focusing on grassroots sports activities will enable talented athletes to emerge and represent Pakistan internationally, bringing pride to the nation.

He believes that Pakistan has immense talent, which needs to be nurtured and polished through encouragement and training at the grassroots level.

Islamabad:Federal Minister for Housing and Works Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada has emphasized that water is a sensitive issue and should not be trivialized through irresponsible statements in Parliament.

Speaking on the Point of Order in the Parliament House, he highlighted that the Council of Common Interests (CCI), which includes the Prime Minister and Chief Ministers is responsible for addressing water disputes.

"When I was in the Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC), discussions took place regarding water-sharing issues between Sindh and Punjab, as well as Balochistan. However, nowadays, misleading statements are made on television, creating the impression that people's rights are being usurped. Rights are not taken away in this manner; Bahawalpur also lost when river water was blocked," he stated.

He further explained that Bahawalpur's water share is also stored in the Diamer-Bhasha Dam, and if Punjab receives its share, Bahawalpur should also be given its due portion. "We demand that the portion of Punjab's water allocated in the river be shared with Bahawalpur as well."

Pirzada criticized the misinformation being spread, arguing that no new rivers have been created nor has any infrastructure been developed to support such claims. He called for responsibility and truthfulness from both from the Government's Leaders and the Opposition, stating that reckless statements damage the credibility of the Parliament and the country's image.

He also pointed out that senior politicians from Sindh, including Khurshid Shah and Naveed Qamar, have extensively discussed the water crisis in CCI meetings, acknowledging it as a serious issue that even sparks international disputes. However, he firmly opposed any exploitation of Bahawalpur's water rights in the name of distributing resources to the desert areas.

"As representatives of Bahawalpur, we are present in the Assembly and fully capable of protecting our region's interests. No one else needs to speak on our behalf. We will continue to raise our voices to ensure fair water distribution for our people," he asserted.

Islamabad:Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday said the successful establishment of a strong linkage between academia and industry was a hallmark of the PML-N government, stressing the urgent need to keep pace with the 4th Industrial Revolution.

Addressing the concluding session of a seminar on "Implementation of Industry 4.0," organized by the Engineering Development Board at NUST Islamabad, he highlighted that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government had established several national centers during its 2013-2018 tenure.

'These are not merely research centers; rather, they are an industry-driven program designed to support the launch of startups in collaboration with labs established in various universities,' he explained.

Ahsan Iqbal said the PML-N government established the National Center for Excellence in Big Data and Cloud Computing, as well as National Centers for Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Applied Mathematics, Satellite Technology and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), each of which was linked laboratories from 8-10 universities.

He recounted various measures undertaken by the PML-N government under Vision 2010 and Vision 2025, initiatives aimed at making Pakistan prosperous and strong in every way during its past tenures. However, he mentioned that these efforts had been derailed due to political instability.

He also referred to the collapse of the national economy when the PML-N returned to power in 2022 after the failed government of PTI. In April of that year, the Ministry of Finance revealed its inability to release funds for the final quarter of the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), he added.

However, the minister said that under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the PML-N government had introduced prudent policies that were now yielding positive economic results. "We avoided an external default by sacrificing our political capital; today, Pakistan's economy is turning around after this sacrifice," he added.

The minister underscored the need for peace, political stability, ten-year continuity in policies and a consistent reform agenda to achieve national development and prosperity, pointing out that no country in the world has reached the status of a developed nation without adhering to these four fundamental elements.

Islamabad:Sameh Ahmed E-Ghamrawi, Charge' d'Affaires of Egypt, Tuesday pledged to boost bilateral trade between Egypt and Pakistan by facilitating business exchanges and promoting private sector collaboration.

During his visit to the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), accompanied by Embassy officers, Amr Abdallah and Ahmed Zowil, he emphasized the need for increased business delegation exchanges and the establishment of closer ties between the ICCI and Cairo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, along with other relevant government departments, said a press release issued here.

The Charge' d'Affaires highlighted Egypt's attractive investment opportunities, including tax exemptions, joint ventures, and value-added prospects that would benefit both countries.

ICCI President Nasir Mansoor Qureshi welcomed the Egyptian delegation and stressed the importance of promoting balanced trade, specifically by showcasing Pakistan's export potential in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, marble, gemstones, and pink salt.

He further emphasized the ICCI's determination to not only enhance local business but also strengthen international trade.

Senior Vice President Abdul Rehman Siddiqui reaffirmed the Chamber's commitment to deepening cooperation between the two nations.

Executive Member Fatima Azeem called for increased exchanges of women entrepreneurs to empower women in both countries.

Vice President Nasir Mehmood Chaudhry underscored the similarities between Egypt and Pakistan, while Sanaullah Khan highlighted the role of Al-Azhar University in religious education.

Naeem Siddiqui, Special Advisor to the ICCI President, stressed the need for direct connectivity between the two countries to facilitate business growth.

Secretary General Ghulam Murtaza termed the visit a significant step towards fostering greater business collaboration between Egypt and Pakistan.

The meeting also saw the participation of Executive Member Chaudhry Mohammad Irfan and ICCI member Shahid Zafar.