Mir Hazil Bizenjo passes away

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Veteran politician and chief of the National Party, Senator Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, having served as a federal minister in the past, passed away at a private hospital of Karachi on August 20. 

According to details, the late Senator, who hailed from Balochistan, was suffering from liver cancer. He was shifted to Karachi where he breathed his last in a private hospital. He was 62.

His death was widely condoled. The President of Pakistan, Dr Arif Alvi, while expressing condolences with the bereaved family, said that late Bizenjo will always be remembered for the cause of politics and nationhood. 

Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of the Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, also expressed grief and extended heartfelt condolences to the Bizenjo family.

Muharram moon sighted, Ashura on Aug 30

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Muharram-ul-Haram moon has been sighted on August 20, chief of the Ruat-e-Hilal Committee, Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rahman declared. 

The first of Muharram will fall on August 21 while Ashura, the tenth of Muharram, be observed on August 30, Mufti Muneeb notified. 

With the sighting of moon on August 20, it has been confirmed that the Islamic Hijri New Year 1442 will now commence on August 21 in this part of the world.

Heavy rains inundate, frustrate Lahore

By Asma Hassan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The heavy monsoon rains, as was being forecast, have lashed Lahore and other cities of Punjab. Life has generally become miserable for people in many areas. 

In Lahore, the rain had started around midnight and lasted for about eight hours on August 20. 

As feared, the heavy rains became the cause of discomfort and inconvenience for the residents of the metropolis. 

Life became difficult even in the posh areas which were also inundated by rain water. Many roads turned into canals and rivers which made commuting hazardous. 

The rains have destroyed the routine life and the traffic flow has been greatly affected. The supply of electricity has also been disrupted in the hot and humid weather. 

The disruption of electricity in particular has caused considerable mental distress for the people of Lahore.

The students as well as the parents have been frustrated by the frequent power breakdowns which prevented them from attending their online classes.

As the educational institutions throughout the country have been prompted to engage into online teaching, because the campuses are closed, electricity has become the main necessity for taking online classes.

With the colossal problems caused by the rains, people have forgotten to enjoy the pleasant moments which are generally associated with it.

There was a time when people waited eagerly for the rainy weather for enjoyment but the miseries caused by rains in the recent times have compelled people to feel scared instead.

It’s being hoped that the concerned authorities will take preemptive and precautionary measures as more rain is being forecast during the next few days.

The government departments must take actions to save people from embarrassment and torture due to monsoon rains. They should arrange for the equipment like suction pumps to drain out rainwater which will enable the traffic running smoothly on roads.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi arrives Beijing

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, has arrived Beijing on August 20 for a two-day official visit to China. 

At the Beijing Airport, the Foreign Minister was welcomed by Ambassador Moin-ul-Haque besides other senior Pakistani and Chinese officials. 

Shah Mahmood Qureshi will meet his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, and hold talks to be focused on various fields including various projects under the second phase of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

New track for KCR within four months

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Federal Railways Minister, Shaikh Rashid Ahmed, has announced that the new track for the much talked about Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) will be laid within four months. 

Addressing a press conference the Railways Minister pointed out that the Mainline 1 (ML-1) project, being implemented under the auspices of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), was a very significant one and, after its implementation, the Pakistan Railways will enter into a modern era. 

To a political question, Shaikh Rashid, known for his farsightedness, asserted that the present government will complete its constitutional tenure of five years.

CCTV camera mounted atop police vans to monitor security

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Karachi Police has prepared elaborate plan to ensure foolproof security for the month of Muharram.

In this connection, 10 police mobiles equipped with state of the art CCTV cameras would be deployed to monitor law and order situation in Karachi. 

These CCTV cameras can capture images from 360 degree security strength will help improved surveillance task.

Jahangir Moghul to organize Rotary webinar on Aug 22

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The popular social figure of Jahangir Moghul, in his new role of the Assistant Rotary Public Image Coordinator (ARPIC), will be organizing a live webinar on August 22 with the objective of promoting the image of Rotary International, one of the largest voluntary service organizations of the world. 

Jahangir Moghul, who was elected as the Governor of Rotary International District 3271 (Pakistan) for the year 2015-16, has been appointed the ARPIC for the Rotary year 2020-21.

“This is going to be our first webinar of the new Rotary year. It will be held on from 1330 to 1630 hours (Pakistan Standard Time) on the subject of Promoting, Building and Enhancing the Image of Rotary,” he informed PNFS. 

The joint zoom meeting, to be participated by Rotarians of Pakistan and a few other countries of the region, is being hosted by Rotary Club of Karachi Darakhshan, the home club of Jahangir Moghul, with Rotary Club of Dhaka Central being the co-hosts. 

Liu Chi Tien Surgeon, Director, Rotary International, will be the keynote speaker in the webinar with Sam Showket Hossain, Rotary Public Image Coordinator, and Past District Governors, Akhtar K Alavi, Muhammad Faiz Kidwai, Salim Raza, Shahzad Ahmed and Sajid Pervez Bhatti, also scheduled to share their thoughts. 

Asim Murtaza Khan, President, Rotary Club of Karachi Darakhshan, will deliver the welcome address while the meeting will be moderated by the club’s Past President, Waqas Moghul.

Pakistan’s role in ensuring regional peace lauded

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Chinese Ambassador, Yao Jin, has highly lauded Pakistan's role in ensuring regional peace and stability. 

Addressing a webinar organized by Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies, Ambassador Yao Jin pointed out that priority was being given to socio-economic development in the second phase of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). 

It is pertinent to note that in the second phase basic emphasis is to be paid to poverty alleviation, industrial development and basic health services. 

Ambassador Yao Jin said that the two-way exchange of delegations and CPEC scholarships played an important role in human resource development.

US-China ties on path of recovery?

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

It appears that after verbal skirmishes, now USA and China are in the the process of settling towards their previous ties.

The tensions in the relationship had begun when President Donald Trump faced big criticism from Americans in his policy towards COVID-19 pandemic. 

The American were at the top of the list of counties that had the highest death toll from the deadly virus. 

The war of words began when President Trump fired the first shovel against China accusing of delay in notifying the world about the Wuhan Coronavirus that led to pandemic. 

However, as per analyses the ice has started melting as a major step that can be termed as damage repair between the two countries when they decided to resume their flight schedule to maximum enabling stranded citizens to fly to each other countries with ease. 

The US Transport Department has announced that China and the United States will each allow air carriers to double current flights to eight per week between the world’s two largest economies, an international wire news network reported. 

At the same time the department said it will allow four Chinese passenger airlines currently flying to the United States to double flights to eight weekly round-trips, as China has agreed to allow US carriers to double flights to China. 

The US-China agreement allows both countries to operate more than 100 weekly flights between the two nations. In May, the Trump administration had asked Air China, China Eastern Airlines Corp, China Southern Airlines Co, Hainan Airlines Holding Co and their subsidiaries to submit their flight schedules. 

These latest developments between two largest economies would bring sigh of relief to smaller counties worried of the present situation, it can be observed.

90 percent local laborers to be recruited in CPEC projects: Ambassador

By Masood Sattar Khan

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Yao Jin, has declared that as many as 90 percent local laborers will be recruited in projects under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). 

China fully supports Pakistan's government human resource development programs, he said. 

The Chinese Ambassador expressed these views when he met with the Federal Education Minister, Shafqat Mahmood, who was also thrilled with the success of the CPEC which was further strengthening the friendship between Pakistan and China. 

The Education Minister stated that the National Vocational and Training Commission will establish liaison through the CPEC Authority with the Chinese companies for recruitment of Pakistani workforce.