Islamabad, October 13, 2018 (PPI-OT): Advisor to PM on climate change Malik Amin Aslam Khan has inaugurated Clean Green Pakistan drive at Said Pur Village near F-6 Islamabad today (Saturday). This event was jointly organized by UN-HABITAT, Akhtar Hameed khan Memorial Trust (AHKMT), Water supply and sanitation collaborative council (WSSCC) and Ministry of climate change. Government functionaries, NGOs, Civil Society, students and media personnels participated in the event.

Adviser to Prime Minister Malik Amin Aslam Khan along with foreign dignitaries, ambassadors participated in the on ground activities of clean green Pakistan Movement (solid waste collection, hand wash demonstration etc.) Speaking on the occasion, he said it is a movement to make Pakistan clean and green through changing mind-sets and behaviours of people.

He appealed to the people of Pakistan for active participation in this national cleanliness campaign. Through this drive, we will focus on five key areas which include, plantation, solid and water waste management, building of new toilets especially in remote areas, Sanitation and hygiene. He added Malik Amin Aslam Khan distributed cash prizes among the students who secured first, second and third positions in clean green art competition.

For more information, contact:
Principal Information Officer,
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +92-51-9252323, +92-51-9252324
Fax: +92-51-9252325, +92-51-9252326
Email: piopid@gmail.com
Website: www.pid.gov.pk

Islamabad, October 13, 2018 (PPI-OT): Pakistan said at the United Nations that the highest priority must be accorded to protecting children especially those living in conflict areas and under foreign occupation, says a press release received here today from New York. Speaking in the debate in the General Assembly’s Third Committee on the ‘Promotion and protection of the rights of children’, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN, Maleeha Lodhi reminded the international community of the plight of children in Palestine and Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir who continue to be caught in a ‘vortex of violence’ and are exposed to unimaginable horrors every day.

She stressed the need to reach out to those “who suffer disproportionality from war, economic upheaval, poverty and climate change”. Conflicts, said Ambassador Lodhi, violate every conceivable right of children, and the trauma arising from targeted attacks, sexual violence, forced conscription mar them for the rest of their lives. “Ensuring adequate physical and mental health, education, food, clothing and shelter, and provision of a future free from malnutrition for all children was a collective commitment of the international community”, she said.

Underscoring the priority given by Pakistan to protecting and promoting the rights of children, Ambassador Lodhi said that investing in children was considered a key to development and prosperity by her country. This was also evidenced by the fact the Pakistan was one of the earliest signatories of the Convention on Rights of the Child and its optional protocols and had also ratified all core ILO conventions on child labour, she added.

The Pakistani envoy also described the recent policy measures taken in Pakistan to promote the rights of children and said that new legislation was adopted to protect children from abuse, maltreatment, exploitation, neglect and mental violence. She also highlighted the work of the National Commission for Child Welfare and Development, which she said, was working closely with UNICEF to assess and promote child rights across the country.

For more information, contact:
Principal Information Officer,
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +92-51-9252323, +92-51-9252324
Fax: +92-51-9252325, +92-51-9252326
Email: piopid@gmail.com
Website: www.pid.gov.pk

Islamabad, October 13, 2018 (PPI-OT): H.E. Moazzam Ahmad Khan, Ambassador of Pakistan to UAE, hosted a dinner reception to honour Pakistan Cricket Team at his official residence in Abu Dhabi, says a press release received here today from Abu Dhabi. The Ambassador welcomed the cricketers and management of the team. Speaking on the occasion, he felicitated all team members on displaying thorough team spirit and professionalism during 1st Test Match against Australia.

“Like entire nation, Pakistan Embassy and Pakistanis living in UAE are appreciating the team for performing well in the test match”, the Ambassador added. He also applauded the untiring efforts of PCB for promoting cricket in and outside of Pakistan. Lastly, he wished the team all the best for their future cricketing engagements. Sarfraz Ahmed, Captain of Pakistan Cricket team, thanked the Ambassador for supporting and recognizing the efforts of the team. He also appreciated the love of all Pakistanis living in UAE for the team. The event was followed by dinner and group photo.

For more information, contact:
Principal Information Officer,
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +92-51-9252323, +92-51-9252324
Fax: +92-51-9252325, +92-51-9252326
Email: piopid@gmail.com
Website: www.pid.gov.pk

Islamabad, October 07, 2018 (PPI-OT): I express solidarity with the bereaved families, who lost their loved ones due to devastating earthquake on 8th October 2005. Since then we have been repeatedly affected by both hydro-meteorological and geo-physical disasters of enormous magnitude. We observe this day as “National Resilience Day” to not only pay homage to our people who lost their lives due to these disasters, but also as a day of our renewed national resolve for resilience.

This occasion calls for urgent need to implement a paradigm shift from response-oriented approach to a proactive, integrated and holistic approach to Disaster Risk Management aligned with global frameworks including the Sendai Framework for DRR and global Sustainable Development Goals. Such an approach envisages mitigation through a mix of structural and non-structural measures, putting in place strong response mechanisms and recovery plans to minimize losses. It also underpins the need for preparing communities to better combat such adversities being the usual first responders.

Today we have a robust institutional structure for disaster management in the form of National and Provincial Disaster Management Authorities. We now need to strengthen the District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) that are supposed to be the actual implementing bodies of DRM policy and plans at local level. This will be one of the most important components in our local government system. Government of Pakistan is cognizant of the fact that there is increase in intensity and frequency of natural disasters; and assures required resource allocation for implementation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Policy and National Disaster Management Plan.

For more information, contact:
Principal Information Officer,
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +92-51-9252323, +92-51-9252324
Fax: +92-51-9252325, +92-51-9252326
Email: piopid@gmail.com
Website: www.pid.gov.pk

Islamabad, October 07, 2018 (PPI-OT): Pakistan observes 8th of October to express solidarity and sympathy with families who suffered natural calamities. It reminds us of the devastating earthquake of 2005 that wreaked havoc in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other parts of the country by causing immense damages to life, property and infrastructure. The people of Pakistan have exhibited courage, selflessness, spirit of sacrifice and resilience to withstand the testing times despite being hit by multiple disasters of mega magnitude.

The observance of this day as “National Resilience Day: is also an occasion for stock-taking and to reiterate our commitment to make greater efforts for preparing ourselves to face such adversities. It is also an occasion to show our resolve for disaster risk reduction. Disasters have affected the economy and severely impacted social fabric of society. Our institutional response capacities have been tested to a great extent. We need to adopt best practices, implement desired policy actions and strategies aimed at resilience building of our nation.

The Policy actions in Pakistan should address key sectors like safe development of infrastructure, Disaster Preparedness along with other areas, such as poverty alleviation, thorough land-use planning, building codes implementation, water resources management, sound agriculture practices and enhanced forestation across Pakistan including coastal areas. It is heartening to note that our national disaster management systems led by National Disaster Management Authority is engaged in creating awareness among our people, besides building capacities at different levels.

I would urge all Federal and Provincial stakeholders to create synergies in action to ensure disaster risk reduction, preparedness, besides mounting swift and prompt response mechanisms. We must take care of vulnerable segments of our society including women, children, elderly people and people with disabilities in all our interventions.

For more information, contact:
Principal Information Officer,
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +92-51-9252323, +92-51-9252324
Fax: +92-51-9252325, +92-51-9252326
Email: piopid@gmail.com
Website: www.pid.gov.pk

Islamabad, October 06, 2018 (PPI-OT): Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training, Mr. Shafqat Mahmood held meeting with Vice President (Operations), Asian Development Bank (ADB) Mr. Wencai Zhang and Country Director ADB Xiaohong Yang in Islamabad. Mr. Wencai Zhang said that ADB is working for a long time and has invested in many infrastructure and Social Sector projects not only in Pakistan but in other Asian Countries including China, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

The Vice President informed the Education Minister about the different Social sector projects particularly in the field of education that ADB is working on in Pakistan and in other countries of Asia. The Vice President ADB, Mr. Wencai Zhang offered ADB support to the Education Minister in the Technical and Skill Development fields and also in the formulation of National Education Policy.

“He said that Pakistan should take benefit from the expertise of the ADB and ADB can provide Technical support during the formulation and implementation of National Education Policy”, added Mr. Wencai Zhang. Mr. Wencai Zhang also informed Mr. Shafqat Mahmood that ADB is interested in working with Pakistan in the field of Skill and Capacity development. “Linkages must be developed among the skill development institutes and the job market so that the students after vocational and technical training can get immediate jobs”, added Vice-President ADB.

Federal Minister for Education Mr. Shafqat Mahmood appreciated the help and support offered by Mr. Wencai Zhang and stated that Education and Skill Development is the main focus of the present government. He said that Pakistan is facing humongous challenge in the field of education and according to the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan the education ministry is all set to introduce reforms that comprise of Introducing uniform Education and Certification system and uniform curriculum throughout the country, Improving the Quality of education, Skill Development and Vocational training and also to enroll the 25 million out of school children.

Another component is to work on the adult education, added the education Minister. Mr. Shafqat Mahmood said that education ministry will also soon introduce a National Education Policy that will address all these challenges. “We are currently assessing the situation, setting our goals and targets and we would like the support of ADB in the formulation and implementation stages”, added the Minister for Education.

Both sides agreed to hold further meetings in this regard. Later, the minister was also called on by the ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Pakistan, H.E. Mr. Nawaf Bin Said Al-Malki and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Pakistan, H.E. Mr. Takashi Kurai. Cooperation in the field of education was discussed and both sides agreed on increased coordination and further meetings to find new avenues of cooperation in education sector.

For more information, contact:
Principal Information Officer,
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +92-51-9252323, +92-51-9252324
Fax: +92-51-9252325, +92-51-9252326
Email: piopid@gmail.com
Website: www.pid.gov.pk