Saturday, 17 September, 2022 I 20 Safar, 1444 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XIII No 79 I 12 Pages I Islamabad Edition
In meet wIth XI, Pm lauds CPeC’s transformatIonal ImPaCt g
XI TERMS SHEHBAz ‘A PERSON OF PRAGMATISM AND EFFICIENCy’
SAMARKAND/ISLAMABAD
P
staff report
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday met Chinese President Xi Jinping here wherein he appreciated the transformational impact of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) on Pakistan’s socio-economic development. During the bilateral meeting took place on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the Council of Heads of State of Shanghai Cooperation Organization here, the prime minister also reaffirmed his government’s commitment to high quality development of CPEC. Both the leaders reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations and exchanged views on important regional and international issues of mutual interest. This was the prime minister’s first meeting with the Chinese president since assuming office in April 2022. The interaction between the two leaders was marked by traditional warmth as well as exceptional mutual trust and understanding. In his welcoming remarks, the Chinese
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SCO ENDORSE PM’S CALL FOR CLIMATE CHANGE PLAN FOR PAKISTAN
president described Prime Minister Sharif as “a person of pragmatism and efficiency”. He also added that the prime minister was a leader with “a longstanding commitment to China-Pakistan friendship”. Noting the enduring nature of China-Pakistan bilateral ties, the prime minister underlined that our ‘All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership’ and Iron-brotherhood had withstood the test of time. He reaffirmed his personal resolve to take their bilateral relations to greater heights. Prime Minister Sharif extended his best wishes to President Xi Jinping and the Communist Party of China for the forthcoming 20th CPC National Congress. He underscored that the SCO provided an excellent forum to further their shared vision and mutual values into concrete plans for regional cooperation and integration. The prime minister thanked President Xi, the government and the people of China for the generous and timely support to the flood affected people in Pakistan. He said that the outpouring of sympathy
and support from all quarters across China was touching and a true reflection of the “unique” friendship between China and Pakistan. He condoled with President Xi over the tragic loss of life and devastation caused by the earthquake in Sichuan Province on September 5, 2022, emphasizing that the Government and people of Pakistan stood with China in the face of this natural calamity. The prime minister briefed President Xi on his government’s policies for Pakistan’s sustained growth, industrial development, agricultural modernization, and regional connectivity. Both leaders welcomed the signing of a Protocol to the Framework Agreement on ML1 Railway Project. Prime Minister Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s consistent and unwavering support to China on all issues of its core interest including Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang and Hong Kong. He also thanked the Chinese government for support extended to Pakistan for its sovereignty and territorial integrity, FATF, national development, COVID-19 pandemic and other areas. Sharing his views with President Xi on the international situation, the prime minister highlighted that challenges like climate change, health pandemics and growing inequalities could only be tackled through cooperation of all nations in accordance with the UN Charter. He lauded President Xi’s visionary Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Global Development Initiative (GDI), which called for collective action for sustainable development and win-win outcomes. Prime Minister Sharif highlighted the serious human rights situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and thanked China for its principled stand on the dispute. The two leaders reaffirmed their resolve to building the Pakistan-China Community for Shared Future in the New Era. The prime minister renewed his invitation to President Xi Jinping to undertake a state visit to Pakistan, underlining that the people of Pakistan were looking forward to accord a warm welcome to him.
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PDM welcomes President Alvi’s reconciliation proposal ISLAMABAD staff report
The representatives of PML-N-led coalition have welcomed President Arif Alvi’s reconciliation proposal and recommended to convince the Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) leadership.
According to the details, the political temperature of the country is still burning up, but President Arif Alvi has entered the field and volunteered as a medium for reconciliation between the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and PTI. Reacting to the President’s pro-
posal for reconciliation, the government members said that they have been saying since the first day that the country cannot move forward without reconciliation. In this regard, Senator Azam Swati said that the only way to improve the country’s situation is fair and transparent elections. How-
ever, Senator Manzoor Kakar said whoever takes steps for reconciliation will always be remembered. After the exclusive interview of President Dr Arif Alvi with Dunya News on Wednesday, the political leaders are also saying that the results of what is going on behind the scenes may come out soon.
Death toll from catastrophic floods crosses 1,500 KARACHI staff report
Death toll from catastrophic floods crossed 1,500 on Friday as over 92,000 among displaced citizens in Sindh were treated from infectious and water-borne diseases. In a report issued on Friday, the Sindh Directorate General Health Services said 92,797 citizens were treated on September 15 (Thursday). Of these, 588 were confirmed to have malaria with another 10,604 cases. The report said that 17,977 cases of diarrhoea and 20,064 skin disease cases were reported on Thursday, alongside 28 cases of dengue. A total of 2.3 million patients have been treated since July 1 in the field and mobile hospitals set up in the flooded region. Further, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said 22 flood-related deaths were reported over the last 24 hours. Since June 14, 1,508 people have died. In its daily situation report, the NDMA also said nine individuals were injured in flood-related incidents during the last 24 hours, taking the total to 12,758. Recent floods, brought by record monsoon rains and glacial melt in northern mountains, have also swept away homes, vehicles, crops and livestock in damage estimated at $30 billion. The government and the United Nations have blamed climate change for the surging waters in the wake of record-breaking summer temperatures, with Pakistan receiving 391mm of rain, or nearly 190 per cent more than the 30-year average, in July and August. That climbed to 466pc for Sindh, one of the worst-affected areas. On Friday, there were signs of life returning to normal in parts of the province as water levels continued to recede. Dadu Deputy Commissioner (DC) Murtaza Ali Shah told media that the level of floodwater had dropped by approximately two feet at various spots, including the ring bund, in the district’s Mehar city. He said there was still eight to night-feet-high water in the city’s adjoining areas, but the level was continuously reducing. And “markets in the city have started opening partially,” he added. Dadu Assistant Commissioner Mohsin Sheikh said that the residents of Mehar, who had shifted to safer locations in the wake of floods, had started returning after the drop in water levels. Moreover, DC Shah said water levels had also dropped by the same measure in Khairpur Nathan Shah. Separately, PPP MPA Pir Mujeebul Haq, who was elected from Dadu’s PS-74 constituency, said that the water level in the Main Nara Valley Drain had dropped by two feet. In Johi, MNA Rafique Jamali, elected from Dadu’s NA-235 constituency, said the water level was around eight to nine feet high in the city and that the water level was dropping at the city’s ring bund. He said markets had started opening partially in Johi. PPP MNA Sikandar Ali Rahoupoto, who has been elected from Jamshoro’s NA-233 constituency, estimated that the water was standing up to eight to nine feet in Bhan Syedabad and adjoining areas after the levels dropped by around two feet. “Bhan Syedebad has partially opened,” he said.
IMF, WB exposed ‘imported’ govt fiasco to fix economy: Imran ISLAMABAD staff report
Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Friday said that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank reports show that the “imported” government has “failed to prevent the economy from going into a tailspin despite inheriting a stabilised economy moving on an upward trajectory”. “IMF & World Bank Reports show this Imported Govt has failed to prevent economy going into tailspin despite inheriting a stabilised economy moving on an upward trajectory,” Imran wrote
on his official Twitter handle. “This was reflected in the Economic Survey which identified our economic performance as the best in past 70 years in terms of growth rate (6%), industry, agriculture, employment, construction, exports, remittances & tax collection – at an all-time high,” he added. The PTI chief said that Pakistan now faces unprecedented inflation hitting everyone, unemployment, food insecurity and the rupee in freefall. “Imported government is completely directionless. The only achievement of this cabal of crooks has been to get another NRO for the billions they looted from Pakistan. The question the
whole nation is asking is: Who is responsible for this conspiracy against Pakistan,” he questioned. In another tweet, Imran compared the prices of different commodities during the tenure of PTI and the current government. “What we left behind & how the Imported government, brought in through regime change conspiracy, has wreaked havoc with the economy,” he further said. The ex-premier was forced to step down after losing a confidence vote in parliament. Since then, he has been campaigning for new elections. He has been pushing for fresh elections during his fiery speeches to gatherings across the country.