Journalist Qaiser Mahmood passes away

By Syed Sajid Aziz
(Pakistan News & Features Services) 

Qaisar Mahmood, a veteran journalist and a senior member of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), passed away in Karachi on September 10. He was suffering from lung cancer and remained hospitalized for quite a while. 

After having done masters from the University of Karachi, he worked in many leading news organizations during his long journalistic career in which covered different beats over the years. His longest professional stint came at the Jang Media Group. 

After serving as a Senior Reporter than the Chief Reporter of The News, he moved to the Geo News editorial committee with whom he remained associated until his final days. 

Previously he had worked for The Frontier Post, when the Peshawar-based organization had launched its Lahore edition with great fanfare in late 1980s. He also served Voice of America (VOA) and British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

Asif Zardari fully supports BRI, CPEC

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Former President Asif Ali Zardari, has asserted that China was a true friend of Pakistan, having provided selfless help to Pakistan's economic development and social progress over the years.

"The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), proposed by President Xi Jinping is far-sighted. The construction of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) promotes Pakistan’s development and prosperity and improves people’s livelihood,” the former President expressed these views while meeting with the Chinese Ambassador, Yao Jing, at Islamabad on September 10.

“The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) firmly supports the BRI as well as the CPEC. Our party hopes to strengthen the exchange of experience in party governance with the Communist Party of China and promote the continuous development of the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic partnership,” Asif Zardari remarked. 

Earlier the former President and co-chairman of the PPP, Asif Ali Zardari, alongwith the Vice Chairman of the Senate, Saleem Mandviwala, and Senator Sherry Rahman, upon arrival at the Chinese embassy in Islamabad, were warmly welcomed by Ambassador Yao Jing and Minister Counselor Pang Chunxue. 

Ambassador Yao recalled that the PPP and the Bhutto family were old and good friends of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people, having firmly supported the development of China-Pakistan relations for a long time. 

“China attaches great importance to the traditional friendship with the People's Party and is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with it to promote the comprehensive and in-depth development of the relations between the two parties and the two countries,” he added.

Railways to invite ML-1 tenders from September 12

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Pakistan Railways is set to invite the much awaited tenders for its mega Mainline-One (ML-1) project from September 12. It’s one of the major projects being undertaken in the multi-billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). 

“We are going to open the international tenders of the ML-1 on September 12. It is good news for the Pakistan Railways. The railways management will simultaneously initiate the publicity of this mega project which it believes is the only way to revive the ailing public sector corporation,” Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, the Minister for Railways, announced in a press briefing at Lahore where Pakistan Railways is headquartered. 

It was revealed that the bidding documents for USD 6.8 billion have already been finalized and the documents titled ‘Upgradation of ML-1’ have been divided into three separate packages.

Japan urged to invest in CPEC projects

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Defence Minister, Pervaiz Khattak, has urged Japan to make investment in mutually beneficial projects, particularly those under the auspices of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). 

He expressed these views when he met the Japanese Ambassador in Pakistan, Kuninori Matsuda, at Islamabad on September 10. 

He specifically urged Japan to make investment in maritime and industrial manufacturing sectors to help promote industrial activities through mutual benefit partnership.