Gwadar-Chabahar ports considered win-win for Pakistan, Iran

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

A group of diplomats and experts on foreign relations from Pakistan and Iran have called for cooperation between Iran’s Chabahar and Pakistan’s Gwadar ports that would bring prosperity and enhance ties between the two neighbouring countries.

The diplomats and experts expressed the views during the webinar on the subject of Iran-Pakistan Economic Partnership in the Post-Corona era which was hosted by Golden Ring Economic Federation (GREF) in Lahore with the cooperation of the embassy of Iran. 

The speakers from Iran called for the use of the capacity of regional economic cooperation organizations, including ECO, and said that the Islamic Republic of Iran was ready to join the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). 

The Pakistani experts stressed the importance of Iran’s joining CPEC project, saying that it would strengthen the long-term cooperation between Tehran and Beijing. 

At the webinar, Mashallah Shakeri, Advisor to the Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran and former Ambassador to Pakistan, and Madoud Mohammad Zamani, senior expert from the Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS), shared their thoughts on the bilateral cooperation between the two neighboring countries through video link. 

The other speakers at the webinar were Hasanin Reza Mirza, director of the Golden Ring Economic Research Institute, Defence Analyst Lieutenant General Sikander Afzal (retd), Arif Kamal, and Sanaullah former Pakistani ambassadors, and Qandil Abbas, Professor of international relations at the Quaid-e-Azam University in Islamabad. 

The participants explained the important and key policies of the two countries, especially in the geopolitical scenario in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, the developments of the subcontinent, and their impact on security and economic stability in the region. 

Emphasizing the Islamic Republic’s effective vision for the development of economic relations with Pakistan, China, and Russia, the Iranian experts pointed to obstacles noting a delay on the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project from Pakistan, they said Iran was ready to export gas to the neighboring country. 

The Iranian diplomats considered the development of cooperation between the private sectors of the two countries as a key factor in the expansion of Iran-Pakistan relations and said that linking the ports of Chabahar and Gwadar will pave the way for regional cooperation between the two neighboring countries. 

They stressed the importance of advancing energy projects in the region, including the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project with China, to avoid the US pressure and sanctions. 

The Pakistani speakers called for the establishment of a joint working group with the participation of the two countries’ private sectors to find ways of development, the establishment of excellent joint centers for advanced research and development, and the acceleration of exchange programs between Iran and Pakistan. 

The participants in the webinar also suggested to develop and expand public relations between the two countries, especially in the fields of culture and tourism.

Coronavirus Update: Another spike in Sindh

By Mukhtar Alam
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Sindh’s tally of new COVID-19 infection cases increased by 16%, compared to the preceding day’s figure, on August 23 when authorities in the government declared 319 more cases, with nine more related fatalities, during the last 24 hours across the province.

Sindh tested on average 8,785 samples daily during the last week (August 17 to 23), out of which 300 were detected as new cases of the infection. About 3.5% of all 9,027 tests performed in the province, against the collective capacity of 14,940, on August 23 were new cases. 

As many as ten COVID-19 testing laboratories, including one at Sukkur, did not conduct any tests during the last 24 hours ending on August 23 afternoon. 

The official data further suggested that Sindh needed to witness stability in its numbers of deaths as well. It had on average registered six deaths daily from August 16 to 22, while nine deaths were reported alone on August 23. 

The authorities did not reveal the details related hospitalization, age, gender and area of living of the deceased persons but a report indicated that the only death that occurred on August 22 in Sindh was of a patient living in Karachi who died at home.

Keen observers believed that a majority of the nine patients who lost their lives on August 23 were not hospitalized.

The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, in his related statement on August 23, shared said that at present 4,002 COVID-19 patients were under treatment at homes (3,677), hospitals (318) and isolation centres (7). He informed that the number patients occupying ventilators in the various hospitals had decreased by just one.

According to his updates, Karachi had 160 (50%) of the total new infection on August 23, followed by Dadu (26), Hyderabad (19), Kambar Shadadkot (15), Sanghar (13), Thatta (10), Khairpur (9), Tando Allahyar (7), Jamshoro (7), Matiari (5), Shaheed Benazirabad (5), Mirpurkhas (4), Tando Mohammad Khan (4), Ghotki (4), Sujawal (4), Badin (3), Umerkot (3), Naushero Feroze (2), Jacobabad (1), Larkana (1), Shikarpur (1) and Sukkur (1). 

Sindh’s overall infection rate remained 13.46%, while the daily infection rate was 3.53% with a CFR of 1.84%.

Three marble cities being developed in Balochistan

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Three marble cities being developed in the province of Balochistan will be able to extract marble by using modern machinery. 

These three marbles cities are being developed in the cities of Khuzdar, Loralai and Dalbandin where big stones and marble reserves were available but they lacked the proper excavation and other facilities. 

The area earmarked for marble cities are Khuzdar (200 acres), Dalbandin (500 acres) and Loralai (506) acres. 

The PC-1 for these cities for provision of basic necessities including power supply (grid station), water distribution network, development of internal roads sewerage system and BHU has already been prepared. 

These three projects will create jobs, major economic opportunities besides uplift of socio-economic conditions of the area and the people in general.

Pakistan seeks Chinese assistance to preserve relics of Bhasha Dam

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Pakistan has sought Chinese assistance to preserve cultural relics near the under-construction Bhasha Dam.

The Federal Secretary, National Heritage & Culture Division, Nausheen Javaid Amjad, informed the Chinese Cultural Counselor, Zhang Heqing, during a recent meeting in Islamabad. 

She stated that, for the preservation of cultural relics in the construction site of Bhasha Dam, building an underground museum was a huge project, which was also very expensive. 

“The Chinese friends will be approached in this regard to provide the necessary assistance. Pakistan is rich in cultural heritage, which should be well preserved, excavated, restored, and exhibited. Both Pakistan and China should strengthen the exchange and cooperation in this area,” Nausheen Javaid observed. 

She added that the Chinese people were fond of the Gandhara Civilization and the 19 antiquities exhibited in China have attracted many visitors. 

She remarked that the creative cultural industry played an important role in the social economy with China having done it very well and was willing to cooperate with Pakistan to carry out workshops and seminars. 

Zhang Heqing reckoned that both sides appreciated mutual support in the fight against COVID-19, fully demonstrating yet again the brotherly friendship between Pakistan and China.

First mobile police station set up in Quetta

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The first-ever mobile police station with all modern facilities has been set up in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan. 

The mobile police station is expected to be greatly helpful for the local population to lodge their complaints with the law enforcers. 

The Chief Minister of Balochistan, Jam Kamal Khan, has stated that the mobile police station will help citizens for swift registration of their complaints.

Launching ceremony of modern frigate for Pakistan Navy held in China

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

An impressive launching ceremony of first state of the art Type-054 class Frigate for Pakistan Navy was held at Hiding Zhonghua Shipyard, China, according to a message from DG PR Navy Rear Admiral M Arshid Javed, on August 23. 

Commodore Azfar Humayun, Chief Naval Overseer, graced the ceremony in presence of the Consul General and Li Hongtao of the China Shipbuilding Trading Company (CSTC). 

The technology advance platform equipped with latest surface, subsurface, anti-air weapons, combat management system and sensors will strengthen PN Combat capability to maintain peace and stability. 

The Consul General acknowledged the good work of the Chinese Shipyard and the CSTC despite COVID-19.

Rotary Darakhshan’s webinar highlights virtues of image building

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Rotary Club of Karachi Darakhshan, with the collaboration of Rotary Club of Dhaka Central, hosted a live webinar on the subject of promoting, building and enhancing the image of Rotary on August 22.   

The event, broadcast live on various social media channels, was followed by hundreds of Rotarians in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia besides many other countries. 

The webinar was organized under the auspices of Jahangir Moghul, Assistant Rotary Public Image Coordinator (ARPIC), with the blessings of Sam Showket Hossain, the Zonal Rotary Public Image Coordinator.

Sam Liu Chi Tien Surgeon, Director, Rotary International, was the keynote speaker in the webinar, which began with the welcome speech from Asim Murtaza Khan, President, Rotary Club of Karachi Darakhshan, at the designated time of 1330 hours (Pakistan Standard Time) and concluded with vote of thanks from Irfan Qureshi, a Past District Governor, at the scheduled closing time of 1600 hours.

Zia-ur-Rahman, President, Rotary Club of Dhaka Central, which was co-host for the event, also welcomed the participants for attending the session.

There were presentations from Past District Governors, Akhtar K Alavi, Salim Raza, Shahzad Ahmed and Sajid Pervez Bhatti, District Governor, Prof Dr Farhan Essa, Past President, Syed Khalid Mahmood, and District Rotract Representative, Iqra Sajjad.

“I would like to request all the club presidents and district leaders to generate maximum activities and carry out maximum possible projects for their respective communities so that our Public Image team could continue feeding the media with success stories on a regular basis. This will impact far too greatly than publicizing occasional events,” ARPIC Jahangir Moghul observed in his speech outlining the policies of his committee.

;“Our club and district leaders should be motivated further to devote their energies and resources in executing large number of projects aimed at helping out the community and let our public image team spread the word across with consistent policies,” he urged.

The most comprehensive presentation in the session was witnessed from the veteran Rotarian Akhtar K Alavi, in which he spoke at length about the real challenges being faced by Rotary as he also offered suggestions to earn more goodwill for one of the largest voluntary service organizations of the world.

Coronavirus Update: Infection rate increases in interior Sindh

By Mukhtar Alam
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Sindh witnessed an increase of 15% in COVID-19 daily cases reported by its interior districts on August 22 when the authorities concerned confirmed detection of another 274 infections during the last 24 hours across the province.

Though, according to diseases data, the overall provincial daily new infection numbers remained static last week the districts of Karachi division and others in the interior presented frequent ups and downs in two groups. 

The interior districts had collectively reported 48% of the total cases of Sindh on August 16, which rose to 58% in the following week. 

The cases of the interior districts declined to 45% during a period from August 18 to 21. The interior districts on average added collectively 154 new cases daily, while Karachi registered 141 cases per day during a period from August 16 to 22. 

As per the official data, six districts of Karachi had a total COVID-19 infection tally of 90,809 by August 22, against 37,156 in the remaining districts of Sindh.

It was further learnt that the COVID-19 laboratories located at Karachi tested a total 4,200 samples during the last 24 hours, 2.61% of which were declared new positive cases, while the laboratories located outside Karachi in all handled 5111 samples and found 3.20% new infections.

In the meantime, the Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah’s daily related statement, issued on August 22, revealed that Karachi reported 110 cases during the last 24 hours, against 164 (60% of the total new infection) reported by the interior districts.

The Chief Minister informed that as many as 4,463 people were receiving treatment for COVID-19 at hospitals (314), homes (4,142) isolation centres (07), 223 of them were in critical condition, including 31 those put on ventilators.

The figure of patients having recovered from the diseases remained 121,144 (95% of the infected cases) on August 22 when one more related death occurred, taking the tally of fatalities to 2,358 for the province. Any details about the deceased patient’s hospitalization, age, sex and city were not shared in the statement.

The daily infection breakdown of districts, according to the statement, came as: six districts of Karachi division (110), Kashmore (32), Sukkur (15), Hyderabad (15), Sanghar (10), Ghotki (4), Shaheed Benazirabad (4), Larkana (4), Thatta (4), Badin (3), Shikarpur (3), Tando Allahyar (3), Jacobabad (2), Kambar Shadadkot (2), Khairpur (2), Matiari (2), Naushero Feroze (2), Dadu (1) and Mirpurkhas (1).

Gandhi's iconic glasses fetch $340,000

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

A pair of gold plated glasses belonging to Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the famous anti-colonial leader from India, left in a Bristol auction house's letterbox, has sold for £260,000 ($340,000). The item had been dropped off in an envelope in late July, Gulf Today reported.

Earlier this month, East Bristol Auctions estimated the glasses would be sold for around £10,000 to £15,000. However, they have now gone for £260,000. 

The auction house posted a video on social media of the moment the glasses were sold for that price. 

"We found them just four weeks ago in our letterbox, left there by a gentleman whose uncle had been given them by Gandhi himself. An incredible result for an incredible item! Thanks to all those who bid,” they acknowledged.

Andrew Stowe, an auctioneer, had explained earlier this month how his Bristol auction house had come across a pair of the assassinated independence leader's glasses. 

He revealed that a man had dropped them off in their letterbox on July 31 but staff only picked them up when they came back into work on August 3.

Rotarians advised to avoid red-tapism in dealing with journalists

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

A live webinar of Rotary International, held on August 22, highlighted the role of journalists in publicizing the various events and one of the speakers advised the fellow Rotarians to avoid red-tapism in dealing with professional newsmen if the idea was to get mileage for the various events and projects of their organization.

“It’s my personal request to the Rotary leaders of our district in particular to be polite and humble when dealing with journalists. Cultivating relationship is not a bad idea. But please don’t be rude or engage them in red-tapism, which is also against the spirit of Rotary,” Syed Khalid Mahmood, himself an eminent media professional besides being an active Rotarian, observed in his speech during the webinar titled ‘Promoting, Building and Enhancing the Image of Rotary’ and organized by Rotary Club of Karachi Darakhshan. 

“There’s absolutely no doubt about it that we need to build powerful campaigns from time to time to show and tell the masses what Rotary really is. We have to keep reminding them that we are a group of people that unites to work for good and actually rolls up our sleeves and do meaningful projects to help our communities,” he added. 

“Being a part and parcel of the editorial team at the largest media group of Pakistan for decades, I know exactly how challenging and demanding it is for the various organizations and institutions of different sizes and statures to be in the news on a regular basis,” Khalid Mahmood opined. 

“Those with greater public relation acumen or transparent track record manage to get their news in more frequently than others while in some cases haughty, arrogant or rude attitude of some individuals result in the killing of the otherwise newsworthy events which is surely a setback to the organization they lead or represent,” he reckoned. 

“At the outset it must be kept in our mind that the newspaper or the media organization is under no compulsion to publish any particular news item. Just as the visa officer at any embassy or high commission has the authority to reject or accept applications, similarly the working journalists also have a discretionary power what to cover and what not to cover on a given day, depending on their priorities,” he explained. 

“You have the example of a couple of Past District Governors of our District in whose tenure Rotary was in the news most often. And they appear in headline news even today whenever they get involved in any activity, Rotary or otherwise,” he pointed out. 

“The District leaders as well as the Club leaders should not forget the fact that the mileage given to their events through the courtesy of journalists bring multiple benefits to Rotary. You should make greater efforts to have your activities reported by newspapers and news channels as often as possible because the memory of public is short. We need to keep reminding them about our presence,” Khalid Mahmood emphasized. 

“Last but not the least, please don’t live under the illusion that your job is finished by posting your club activities on Facebook page or simply by updating your WhatsApp status with a picture of Rotary event. I am afraid, you will have to come out of your comfort zone to achieve the cherished goals,” he concluded.