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Ramadan 19 1468 AH.
U N h i g h ly appre ciate s Turkmen aid to Afghanistan The UN Secretary General, who was on a working visit i n Tu rk me n ist a n , not e d that he was delighted with Turkmenistan’s initiatives to help the long-suffering people of Afghanistan. He particularly emphasized the construction of a railway and social projects. In addition, António Guterres highly appreciated the initiative of President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov to provide the political space of neutral Turkmenistan for the negotiations of representatives of different forces in Afghanistan to resolve the situation in the country. The UN SecretaryGeneral stressed that the United Nations fully supports and welcomes the proposal and efforts of Turkmenistan to restore peace in Afghanistan. Sri Lanka lauds Pakistan’s efforts for maritime security in region Sri Lan kan President Maith r ipala Sir isena has lauded the efforts of Pakistan Navy for the maritime security in the region. He was talking to Naval Chief Admiral Zakaullah who called on him in Colombo. The Sri Lankan president also recognized the cooperation extended by Pakistan Navy to Sri Lanka in the recent floods. The Naval Chief assured continued cooperation in the area of training to the Sri Lankan personnel of armed forces. Chinese Naval ships depart after four-day goodwill visit to Pakistan Four days good will cum training visit of PLA (Navy) Task Group to Pakistan concluded. Three Chinese Navy war ships Chang Chun, Jing Zhou and Chao Hu were part of this task group under the command of mission commander Rear Admiral Shen Hao, Deputy Commander East Sea Fleet. During stay at Karachi, the officers and men of the visiting ships held professional discussions and interactions with ounterparts from Pakistan Navy on the subjects of mutual interests. Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah also visited PLA (N) ships and was accorded warm welcome upon arrival. The mission commander of Chinese Navy, Rear Admiral Shen Hao called on Senior Officials of Pakistan Navy and Civilian dignitaries. London high-rise blaze At least six people died and more than 50 injured after a massive fire broke out in a high-rise building in London on Wednesday. London Police said the fire engulfed the 27-storey Grenfell Tower and firefighters are busy to extinguish the blaze. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said firefighters rescued a large number of people but many are still unaccounted for. Maldives among 22 states offer Pakistanis visas upon arrival With increased checks of Pakistanis at the airports and excruciating detailing of their documents and visa applications, there still are countries that would offer you visa upon arrival and visa-free entries. Maldives and Nepal offer to give Countries that offer Pakistanis visa-free entries are Trinidad a nd Tobagom , Va nu at u , Dominica, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Micronesia and Haiti.
PAKISTAN TO PLAY KEY ROLE IN PUSHING FORWARD BELT AND ROAD PLAN
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Stability of Afghanistan vital for security of regional countries: China BEI J I NG – A Ch i nese Foreig n Ministry Spokesperson Wednesday said the peace and stability of Afghanistan was highly important for the development and security of the neighboring and the regional countries. “So, we contend that any move should respect sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan and conducive to the peace process of Afghanistan,” Lu Kang said during his regular press briefing while responding to a media report about deployment of more US troops in Afghanistan. When asked has China undertaken a kind of mediation between Pakistan a nd A fg h a n i s t a n , t he
spokesperson said , he was not aware of such a report. He, however, said, “In principle, I should say, China always supports an Afghan led peace process in Afghanistan.” Lu Kang hoped the relevant regional countries would strengthen cooperation and unity to fight the terrorism and stay upholding peace and stability in that region so that to create an enabling environment for the regional development. Regarding update on possible killing of two kidnapped Chinese citizens in Pakistan, he said, “We express high concerns but todate Pakistan has not confirmed this information
to China.” The Chinese side is now intensifying efforts to verify the relevant information, he added. On the question that the abducted Chinese nationals were working with a Korean missionary, he said, “We always require the Chinese citizens to abide by the local laws and regulation during travelling and living foreign countries and respect the customs of local people and stay alert to protect their own security and safety.” On the information of possible preaching by these people, he said, the Chinese side will cooperate with Pakistan to further investigate this information.
Pakistan in, England out in Champions Trophy final
By Ansar M Bhatti in Kunming KUNMING–The fifth China-South and Southeast Asia Think Tank Forum held here praised high Pakistan’s commitment and a leading role in pushing forward Belt and Road’s initiative, through rapid implementation of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC. Stating that the CPEC’s paves way for the success of President’s Xi Jinping initiative, they said that the Pakistan has proved its diplomatic and economic strength to carry it out for global connectivity through road, rail and sea links for shared prosperity. The Form was the part of the ongoing South Asia and Southeast Asia trade and investment conference/expo that aimed to increase cooperation among China and the other regional countries, helping to achieve mutual benefits. The two-day forum, which ended on Wednesday, was a meant to implement new initiatives and measures proposed at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in Beijing in May, the think tank forum’s organizers said. More than 300 experts and scholars from 14 countries and some international organizations have attended this year’s think tank forum, a record high in its history. The number of participating think tanks also increased, comprising more than 30 foreign and 40 domestic organizations, including
those from Pakistan. The participants believed that since the CPEC is pilot and major project of B&R initiative, its success will guarantee better future of all the countries, engaged in B&R initiative. He Zukun, head of the Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences, said that through dialogues and discussions at the forum, think tanks from China, South Asia and Southeast Asia are expected to further their practical cooperation against the backdrop of the Belt and Road Initiative. He said the forum will give new impetus to promoting transport connections, trade cooperation and people-to-people communication among involved countries. Gao Feng, vicegovernor of Yunnan, gave several suggestions at the forum on how to deepen practical cooperation among China and countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia. Gao said that they should strengthen dialogues to build more consensus, promote people-topeople communication and cooperation, and get advice from think tanks. Sh a o Q iwei, for me r d i re ct or of the China National Tourism Administration, said that the Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2013, has made prominent achievements in the past four years. Regional cooperation between China and South Asia and Southeast
Asia has connected 20 Asian countries, involving nearly 20 million square kilometers and 3.6 billion people. This accounts for 41 percent of the countries, 45 percent of the land and 87 percent of the population of all Asia, respectively, Shao said. Shao said the increasingly balanced flow of tourism brought practical benefits to local people in the region, and that the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road will continue to promote mutual prosperity and further understanding and trust. The think tank forum has provided six topics for discussion, including construction Economic Corridor, people-to-people exchanges and tourism cooperation, and economic, social and cultural communication among the cross-border ethnic groups between Yunnan and neighboring countries. The event was previously called the China-South Asia Think Tank Forum and changed its name this year as it welcomed more active participation of Southeast Asian countries in the event. It may be mentioned here that Pakistan had got the status ‘Guest of Honour’ at the seven-day international expo that is scheduled to end on Monday. The highest number of stalls set up at the expo were from Pakistan. Pakistani value-added products especially leather, marbel,and handicrfts attracted good business.
Uzbekistan: family and society
Pakistan has qualified for the Champions Trophy final, successfully chasing a 212-run target set by England in the all-important semi-final in Cardiff. Hasan Ali is man-ofthe-match for his outstanding performance with the ball, taking three wickets in this
Since early years of independence, the protection of the family, motherhood and
patriotism and love of the Motherland are brought up since childhood; it is where the
such topical areas as raising the level of social assistance to needy strata of the pop-
childhood has been identified as state policy priorities in Uzbekistan. The Uzbek people see the family as a reliable hearth to bear and bring up a healthy generation, ensure continuity of generations. Noble aspirations and ideas take roots in a family environment. High spirituality comes with mother milk, family upbringing, guidance of ancestors, and a sense of Motherland. In his books and speeches, the First President of Uzbekistan repeatedly expressed the deep concept that healthy family bears healthy society, makes the state powerful, and the Motherland prosperous. In this context, he certainly implied not so much physical health, as moral and spiritual. In this regard, the creation of a family is seen as a significant event, which goes beyond personal and private sense, but acquires social significance. It is the family that can make a person happy, equally as unhappy. It is the environment where
love for mother, home, mahalla, and school originates... That is why the problems of the family and upbringing of a harmonious generation have been a matter of great concern in the republic. They are in the spotlight of state programs that have been successfully implemented in recent years, public organizations, and particularly a unique institution of mahalla, or local community, all of which focus on raising the culture of family relations. T he Act ion St r at eg y on P r ior it y Development Areas of Uzbekistan for the next five years has become a new impetus to the development of the family institution and its support in our country. It clearly specifies the further support, development and strengthening of the family, enhancement of its role in bringing up the future generation spiritually mature and comprehensively advanced. The document covers
ulation, strengthening the status of women in public and political life, reformation of the healthcare system, strengthening of the status of local communities, and addressing employment issues. All this is inextricably linked with the increase in family welfare, and full protection of their interests. Special attention is paid to the creation of legal foundations for the protection of the family, motherhood and childhood, guaranteeing mother and child rights, and ensuring stability in the families. The family has been revered as the highest value in our ancient land from time immemorial. The whole philosophy of the East extolled and exalted it. The family ethics, family relations, respect for the mother-woman, which has been built over centuries, has revived in recent years. The philosophy of human care and hospitality has been strengthened.
crucial game. The green-shirts made their 212-run target look easy, owing to strong partnerships between Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez and Babar Azam.
It is the family atmosphere that enroots such high human qualities as respect for elders and care for the younger, respect for national customs and traditions, conscientiousness and mercy, which are inherent in the Uzbek people. They have entwined with the flesh and blood of the nation and, what is very important, meet the requirements of today. What a contemporary family is about? The answer to this question is, to some extent, suggested by a recent sociological survey on this topic, conducted by the Public Opinion Study Center ‘Ijtimoiy Fikr’ in the light of the objectives of the Year of Dialogue with the People and of Human Interests. The key objective of the study was to identify priority trends in the public opinion on family and marriage issues, the upbringing of children, comprehensively advanced generation, and building of the system of social orientations and attitudes of citizens. It showed that the family plays an important role for the Uzbek people, and preserves its social and moral significance. Family values remain the key pillar for the residents in the light of socio-political and democratic transformations. According to respondents, the family contributes to further strengthening of the country’s security and stability, citizens are aware of the extent of its responsibility for the future of their children and society as a whole. Citizens see the age of the marrying couples as an important factor for the creation of a strong family. The monitoring of polls has shown an increase in the number of citizens who consider 24-25 years for men, and 21-23 years for women as the optimal age for the creation of a family. Many justly
believe that young people should get education, a profession, and become mature and economically independent before creating a family. According to respondents, the readiness of young people for creation of a family is determined by such qualities as moral maturity and responsibility. Citizens are aware of the need to prepare young people for family life, and see it as a duty of parents. By their personal example, they should demonstrate what a family should be, how the spouses should treat each other, how to treat children in certain circumstances related to marriage and family relations. Parents should pass on their experience and skills on the creation of a strong and well-to-do family. As noted by the participants of the survey, the natural mechanism of transferring such skills to the family is insufficient at the modern pace of life. In this context, an important part should be undertaken by educational institutions, local communities, and specialized services of legal and psychological assistance. The majority of respondents support the provisions of the Family Code, according to which young people must undergo a medical examination and inform each other about their health before marriage. The participants of the survey demonstrated the unity of views on the importance and necessity of parental blessing when entering into marriage. Absolute majority (99.4%), regardless of age, ethnicity, level of material well-being, recognizes that for a young family, the consent of parents is an indispensable condition and a guarantee of family happiness and well-being of the young people entering into marriage. (continued)
2 Thursday - June 15, 2017
THE DESTINATION
NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL PHOTO OF THE DAY
Kenya bets on bamboo trees to tackle climate change
Tirich Mir is the highest mountain of the Hindu Kush range, and the highest mountain in the world outside of the Himalayas-Karakoram range, located in Chitral District of Pakistan. Exclusive photo by The Destination team.
At least 55 killed in heavy-rain triggered landslides in Bangladesh In Bangladesh, at least 48 people were killed due to landslides triggered by strong rains in three hilly districts of the country. According to Department of Disaster Management, rescue teams are engaged in relief work in Rangamati, Chittagong, and Bandarban districts.
proposed during Tuesday’s debate were already being examined in parliament. “Leave the bus and come back to parliament,” he told Iglesias, referring to a muchpublicised bus commissioned by Podemos to tour Spain and denounce corruption. “Get to work instead of present i ng votes of no confidence.” To which Podemos responded that its parliamentary group was the one that had registered most initiatives. “For a time, you were able to fool people by saying you were something else, that you had come to regenerate things, but in reality, you are a crutch for the Popular Party, nothing more,” said Iglesias. The main opposition Socialists also had a dig at Podemos. “Stop saying that this is an opportunity to unseat Rajoy, because it isn’t true,” said Jose Luis Abalos, parliamentary spokesman for the Socialists, pointing to the fact that Podemos knew it did not have the necessary support to see the vote through. But the motion still managed to once again raise the issue of corruption in Spain, where the PP has been particularly hard hit by graft scandals. Opinion polls regularly show cor r uption is Spaniards’ main concerns after sky-high unemployment.=DNA
Price of Iranian origin Chocolates reduced
KARACHI—The matter of custom valuation of Iranian origin Chocolates has been resolved and its price has been reduced. This was stated by Sheikh Muhammad Tariq, Chairman FPCCI Standing Committee on International Affairs in a meeting with Moorad Nemati, Commercial Consellor of Iran in Karachi. Sheikh Muhammad Tariq informed the house that, “The
Iranian Chocolate was earlier being valued by Customs at par with the higher valued brands of Swiss, French and other EU origin countries.” He further said, “The matter was pointed out in the meeting with Customs valuation authorities.” “They realized the matter and resolved by reducing its value to US$ 170 per kg,” he added and appreciated them.—DNA
Thai PM set to speed up
Thailand-China railway project Xinhua—Speaking at Government House following a weekly cabinet meeting, Prayut said he will certainly use the Article 44 absolute power to solve legal snags involving the construction of an initial stretch of the 252 km high-speed train project between Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima province. That is part of the rail project primarily designed to link southwest China’s Yunnan
province with northeastern Thailand via northern Laos. He said that the delay in the Thailand-China railway project due to legal difficulties had already been discussed by his cabinet members and that Article 44 will be enforced next week. He said he had not intended to use his absolute power which, he said, was eventually needed to put forward the railway project.
Turkey urges Saudi Arabia to make sincere efforts for resolving ongoing Gulf countries crisis with Qatar Turkey has urged Saudi Arabia to make sincere efforts for resolving the ongoing Gulf countries crisis with Qatar. Addressing the r uling Justice and Development Party’s parliamentary group meeting in Ankara on Tuesday, he said isolation of Qatar nation was neither Islamic nor humanitarian. Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis says
and the U.S. According to the International Network of Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR), an intergovernmental organization registered with the UN that promotes the growing of bamboo and rattan for economic and environmental gains, the global bamboo economy is now valued at 60 billion U.S. dollars and is a potential income generator for rural communities. The Vision 2030 Director General, Julius Muia, said that the Secretariat is seeking to identify ways to enhance awareness of the adverse effects of climate change. Muia stated that the Initiative was geared at establishing
appropriate mechanisms for involving the public in building resilience of the country’s poor and those in vulnerable situations. “Climate change is a crosscutting global issue and it is crucial that all stakeholders involved in the implementation of Vision 2030 flagship projects, work closely to mainstream fitting climate change responsive strategies into development plans,” he said. Aware of the threats posed by global war ming, the Kenya Vision 2030 Delivery Secretariat has been holding structured discussions with various stakeholders
including private sector players to establish how best to incorporate climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies in County governments. Special focus has been directed to key Vision 2030 projects that are being implemented. The bamboo planting program is a Kenya Vision 2030 project under the greening Kenya initiative. It is designed to encourage and enable Kenyans to participate widely in environmental activities by developing small bamboo forests in pursuit of achieving the targeted 10 percent forest cover by 2030.
M A DR I D — Spai n’s conser vative gover nment on Wednesday survived a vote of no confidence tabled by the far-left Podemos to denounce rampant corruption after a dayand-a-half of lively, sometimes acrimonious debate. Eighty-two lawmakers in the lower house voted in favour of the motion to unseat Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, 170 against and 97 abstained, prompting it to fail. The vote had never been expected to succeed as a majority of lawmakers were against it, but it was brought to parliament by Podemos to shine the spotlight on Rajoy’s ruling Popular Party (PP), which has been hit by a series
of corruption scandals. It was also the occasion for other opposition parties and Podemos to lay bare their differences in a highly-fragmented parliament that has forced Rajoy to head up a minority government following two inconclusive elections in 2015 and 2016. Albert Rivera, head of the cent re-r ight Ciudadanos, which like Podemos burst onto the national political scene in these elections on the back of voter frustration with traditional parties, asked its leader Pablo Iglesias to “come back to reality.” In his speech, he said that seven of the 11 measures to fight corruption that Iglesias
proposed during Tuesday’s debate were already being examined in parliament. “Leave the bus and come back to parliament,” he told Iglesias, referring to a much-publicised bus commissioned by Podemos to tour Spain and denounce corruption. “Get to work instead of presenting votes of no confidence.” To which Podemos responded that its parliamentary group was the one that had registered most initiatives. “For a time, you were able to fool people by saying you were something else, that you had come to regenerate things, but in reality, you are a crutch for the Popular Party, nothing more,” said Iglesias.
The main opposition Socialists also had a dig at Podemos. “Stop saying that this is an opportunity to unseat Rajoy, because it isn’t true,” said Jose Luis Abalos, parliamentary spokesman for the Socialists, pointing to the fact that Podemos knew it did not have the necessary support to see the vote through. But the motion still managed to once again raise the issue of corruption in Spain, where the PP has been particularly hard hit by graft scandals. Opinion polls regularly show cor r uption is Spaniards’ main concerns after sky-high unemployment.
Spain’s government survives confidence vote over graft
Spain’s government survives confidence vote over graft MADRID, JUN 14 (DNA) - Spain’s conservative government on Wednesday survived a vote of no confidence tabled by the far-left Podemos to denounce rampant corruption after a day-and-a-half of lively, sometimes acrimonious debate. Eighty-two lawmakers in the lower house voted in favour of the motion to unseat Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, 170 against and 97 abstained, prompting it to fail. The vote had never been expected to succeed as a majority of lawmakers were against it, but it was brought to parliament by Podemos to shine the spotlight on Rajoy’s ruling Popular Party (PP), which has been hit by a series of corruption scandals. It was also the occasion for other opposition parties and Podemos to lay bare their differences in a highly-fragmented parliament that has forced Rajoy to head up a minority government following two inconclusive elections in 2015 and 2016. Albert Rivera, head of the centre-right Ciudadanos, which like Podemos burst onto the national political scene in these elections on the back of voter frustration with traditional parties, asked its leader Pablo Iglesias to “come back to reality.” In his speech, he said that seven of the 11 measures to fight corruption that Iglesias
NAIROBI— The Kenyan government said Tuesday it has stepped up efforts to reduce the country’s susceptibility to the severe effects of climate change by planting rapidly maturing bamboo in selected catchment areas. Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Professor Judy Wakhungu said Nairobi is currently experiencing acute water shortage caused by low water levels in Ndaka-ini dam which serves 84 percent of Nairobi residents with water. “Bamboo can grow in almost any kind of climate and thrive in the poorest of soils. To tap into this lucrative green economy, the government has positioned itself to commercialize bamboo,” Wakhungu said in a statement issued in Nairobi. “The profit potential has become even greater as environmentalists link bamboo with climate change mitigation, and the possibility of increased income through carbon credits,” she said, noting that currently, effects of climate change are already being felt across the country. The world bamboo market is growing, led by China and an increasing demand for sustainable products in Europe
Qatar is moving in the right direction, but common ground needs to be found to resolve the crisis. Add ressi ng the US House Armed Services Committee’s meeting in Washington, he said US President Donald Trump was focused on stopping all terrorist funding.
UN urges Israel to conduct probe into all alleged violations of HR law
United Nations has accused Israel of not bringing per petrators of alleged war crimes to justice. A report published by the world body urged Israel to conduct prompt, impar tial and independent investigations of all alleged violations of international human rights law and international crimes.
EU’s Juncker says no Paris climate deal renegotiation ST R A SBOU RG , J U N 14 (DNA) - Eu ropean Commission chief JeanClaude Juncker on Wednesday rejected US President Donald Trump’s suggestion that the Paris climate pact could be renegotiated. Trump’s decision two weeks ago to pull out of the landmark pact was “a sign of abdication from common action”, Juncker told the European Parliament.
the assembly in Strasbourg, France. “Climate action does not need more distractions. We have spent 20 years negotiating. Now it is the time for action,” he said. Ju ncke r s a id he s aw “strengthened resolve” around the world to implement the deal, vowing to work with other US partners like the states of California and New York as well as China and Canada.
Trump has made a vague suggestion that he could try to renegotiate terms with better guarantees for US industry. “The European Union will not renegotiate the Paris Agreement,” Juncker told
The Paris pact was signed by the United States and 194 other nations in 2015. Juncker said EU climate com m issione r M ig uel Arias Canete would host talks with his Chinese and
Canadian counterparts in September to forge ahead with implementing the pact. Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine, speaking in Strasbourg, called for EU help in fighting climate change as her Pacific archipelago is exposed to climate-induced sea level rises. Juncker promised not to let her down. “Madame President, we will work to help your country continue to mark the beginning of our days. We will not allow the denial of the very few to be the end of the days of the Marshall Islands,” he said. T he d ay af ter Tr u mp announced Washington
was pulling out of the Paris agreement, Juncker and European Council President Donald Tusk met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to support the Paris agreement. But the two sides failed to endorse a joint statement because of a separate trade row that EU officials said did not undermine their determination to fight climate change. The United States is the world’s second-largest greenhouse gas emitter, after China, so Trump’s decision could seriously hamper efforts to cut emissions and limit global temperature increases.==DNA
THE DESTINATION
Thursday - June 15, 2017
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NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL
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anked as the ninth largest country in the world as well as the world’s largest landlocked country, Kazakhstan stretches from Siberia to the deserts of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, and from China to the Caspian Sea. Bordered by Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and China, Kazakhstan covers two time zones and five climatic zones. The country offers everything in a great scale.....mountain tops, sparkling shine of glaciers, soft twilling of coniferous woods, huge rocky canyons with colored rainbows, emerald mountain lakes, noisy rivers, poetry of sunrises, uniqueness of flora and fauna etc. In Kazakhstan, tourists can find recreation opportunities all round the year. Eco-tours are very famous that make your vacations active. With a large number of pleasant surprises, a trip to Kazakhstan will remain an unforgettable trip for the rest of your life. Kazakhstan is divided into 14 provinces. The cities of Almaty and Astana cities have the status of State importance and do not relate to any province. A tour to Kazakhstan can be divided in major 7 parts namely Almaty city, Astana city, Central Kazakhstan, Eastern Kazakhstan, Northern Kazakhstan, Southern Kazakhstan and Western Kazakhstan. Almaty: The city is situated in southeast Kazakhstan in a beautiful setting between mountains and plains. This largest city of the country boasts modern architecture, wide streets, cool fountains, parks and squares, spectacular mountain views particularly in spring and autumn. The city has plenty of business centers, theaters, museums, art galleries, exhibition halls and a wide selection of modern entertainment complexes that include movie theaters, casinos, nightclubs, parks, restaurants, cafes etc. Medeo: Drive just 15km above Almaty, you will find a picturesque valley, called Medea. It has one of the largest and unique speed skating rinks in the world, situated at 1,700m above sea level. The Olympic sized ice stadium of Medeo is the biggest ice stadium which can accommodate 32,000 spectators at a time. World’s top skaters come here to test their skills. The venue also has a mountain-water swimming pool located just below the ice rink. Chimbulak: Chimbulak is skiing resort in Almaty situated 2,230m above sea level. Skiers can reach the Talgar Pass (3,163m above sea level) and a 3,000m-long downhill piste by a cable car. Further, you can go for mountain climbing and hiking which offers some breathtaking views of Alpine routes
Imran Haider Hamdani
Argentina appoints new foreign minister
BUENOS AIR ES— A rgenti na named Jorge Faurie as its new minister of foreign affairs on Monday, as he pledged to provide “continuity” in his management of the role. Faurie, who had been ambassador to France, was sworn in at the presidential palace by President Mauricio Macri, in presence of Susana Malcorra who stepped down from the role
in May for personal reasons. “We have much to contribute to the world,” said Macri. According to the president, Faurie will have “a task doubly or triply more complicated since he will not only replace a minister like Malcorra, but we are also at a time when we will need concrete successes...such as the integration with the OECD and Mercosur and negotiations
with the EU” for a freetrade agreement. Speaking to journalists, Faurie said he would seek to provide “continuity” to the work done by Malcorra. Faurie has been one of Argentina’s leading diplomatic figures since first becoming an ambassador in 1998. Besides Spanish, Faurie speaks English, Portuguese, French, Italian and Romanian.
Qatar asks UN agency to resolve Gulf airspace row
Qatar has asked the United Nations’ aviation agency to inter vene in an airspace rights’ dispute with three Gulf States following an escalating diplomatic row and trade blockade.
Informed sources said that Qatar has sent a letter to the International Civil Aviation O rga n i zat ion’s gover ning council in an effort to resolve the dispute after Saudi Arabia, United Arab
Emirates and Bahrain closed their airspace to Qatari f lights. ICAO spokesman William Raillant-Clark said the agency could not make an immediate comment on the matter.
Founder and Chief Editor: Rana Tahir Shahbaz Editor: Tayyaba Imran Contact #: 051-8314196 Fax#: 051-8315196 Mob#: 0300-8503803, 0347-5959747 www.thedestination.com.pk info@thedestination.com.pk
A journey to Kazakhstan Charyn canyon:
An 80 km Canyon located on the Charyn River, Charyn Canyon is also popular as the “little brother of the Grand Canyon”. It is the second largest canyon in the world. One part of the Canyon is covered with unusual rock formations and is known as the Valley of Castles. The Canyon is engraved by the Charyn River into a flat barren steppe that stretches itself 175 km East of Almaty. Svyato-Voznesensky Cathedral (Zenkov Cathedral of Holy Ascension):
Made of wood and constructed without nails, the Zenkov Cathedral is one of the bare Tzarist-era buildings to endure the 1911 earthquake.
Writers are requested to send their contributions at editor@thedestination.com.pk
A unique wooden building of cathedral is a beautiful example of Orthodox Church architecture. The walls of this multi-domed church have been painted with sharp colours and the main chapel walls are covered with murals and gilt-edged icons. Central Mosque: Central Mosque is the biggest mosque in Kazakhstan. This blue turquoise dome mosque has become the central building of Islam in Almaty. It is built with the style of Central Asian Mosques and has 5 graceful minarets, all with blue domes. The famous Green Bazaar and Almaty’s Arbat are located near it. Address: 12’ Pushkin str., Almaty, Kazakstan | Astana: Astana is the capital and second largest city (behind Almaty) of Republic of Kazakhstan. Located in the north-central portion of Kazakhstan, the city is experiencing an economical boom with some of the greatest building projects. Once a tiny mining town, today the city of Astana is lined with many stores, coffee houses, restaurants, discotheques and even some casinos. Some modern places and the buildings have become the attractions for the visitors. The Korgalzhin National Park: Located to the south-west side of Astana, the Korgalzhin National Park is the biggest reserve zone in Kazakhstan. Covered by feather grass steppe, the preserve has got two big lakes, Tengiz and Korgalzhin. There are about 350 kinds of plants and around 82 kinds of birds inside the park. Duman: Duman is the first and only aqu a r iu m located a rou nd 3000km away from the ocean. There are more than 2000 marine animals living inside. The Aquarium has got around 3 million litres of water and requires around 120 tons of special sea salt. Bayterek tower: This 105m-high monument and the observation tower has become the symbol of the capital of Kazakhstan. It has an observation desk at 97m height which symbolizes the year when the capital of the country was moved from Almaty to Astana. This popular venue hosts an art gallery, a large aquarium and a restaurant too. Continued—(source: Kazakhstan.com)
Bangladesh diplomat in New York charged with labour trafficking, assault
Bangladesh’s deputy consul general in New York was indicted on Monday on charges of labour trafficking and assault for forcing his servant to work without pay through threats and intimidation, a New York City prosecutor said. Mohammed Shaheldul Islam has limited diplomatic immunity and was ordered to surrender his passport when he appeared before Queens Supreme Court Justice Daniel Lewis, said Queens District Attorney Richard Brown in a statement. Bail was set at $50,000 bond or $25,000
cash. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. According to the indictment, Islam brought another Bangladeshi, Mohammed Amin, to New York between 2012 and 2013 to work as a household help for Islam and his family. “Soon after Amin’s arrival, the defendant allegedly took his passport and required the man to work 18 hours a day ... Even though Amin had a contract which outlines his compensation, it is alleged he was never paid for his work,” the statement said.
US appeals court upholds decision blocking Trump’s revised travel ban
A US appeals court has upheld a decision blocking President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban on people from six Muslim nations. Ruling on a case brought by the state of Hawaii, the appeal judges found that the executive order violated existing immigration legislation. Reacting to the latest ruling, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said the president’s executive order to protect the US is fully lawful and ultimately will be upheld by the Supreme Court.
Hong Kong becomes new member of AIIB The Finance Committee of the Legislative Council approved on May 12, the funding for subscription of 7,651 shares of the AIIB’s capital, including 1,530 paid-in shares that are amounting to about 1.2 billion Hong Kong dollars (153.9 million U.S. dollars) and payable over five years, and 6,121 callable shares. Having completed the subsequent legal procedures, Hong Kong was admitted as a new member of the AIIB, the HKSAR government said. Financial Secretary of the HKSAR government Paul Chan said that “the early completion of our accession process demonstrates Hong Kong’s readiness to support the operation of the AIIB.” “As the leading international financial center, Hong Kong has a sophisticated, robust and
highly liquid financial market, and an abundance of top professionals with global experience, coupled with the unique advantage of ‘one country, two systems’,” Chan said, adding that Hong Kong is “well placed to help the AIIB to raise funds to finance various infrastructure projects.” Besides, Hong Kong’s exper ience and exper tise i n the design, constr uction,
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operation and management of major infrastructure “have been well proven internationally,” he said, adding that “Hong Kong’s professional services and financial services sectors can certainly contribute to the success of the AIIB, while Hong Kong’s participation in the AIIB can also create new opportunities for the relevant sectors.”
THE DESTINATION
4 Thursday - June 15, 2017
Coal power plants quickest way to overcome energy deficiency: Zahid
ISL A M A BA D — Fe d e r a l Minister for Climate Change Zahid Hamid said that the coal power plants are quickest way to overcome energy def iciency. “T hese coal power plants are according to the Environmental Quality Standards set by provincial Environmental Protection Agencies,” he said during a meeting with Assistant Se c r e t a r y G e ne r a l a nd United Nations Development Program Regional Director, Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific Haoling Xu.
The Minister said, “Pakistan is an energy deficit country which is affecting our growth. It is our top priority to come over energy crises.” He further added that, “In long term we are developing hydro power projects and wind energy projects also to meet our energy requirements. We have established biggest solar energy park of 1000 MW.” He also told the delegation that, “We already have Climate Change Policy and framework for its implementation. The institutions that will be established
under the newly passed Climate Change Act will help to implement Climate Change Policy.” “We will welcome any support from United Nations Development Program in setting up these institutions under this Climate Change Act. U NDP can help in arranging donor conferences to catch funds for Climate Change fund under Climate Change Act,” he said. Xu said, “We offer our values by getting things done for governments. We not only want
to be entrusted partner but also service provider. We can offer our help in technical and operational level to implement things.” He also highlighted that, “Pakistan is first country in the region to secure Green Climate fund.” The meeting was attended by Neil Buh ne Count r y Resident of UNDP, Additional Secretary Abdul Lateef and Director General Environment Irfan Tariq.
TDAP participates in National Mango, Summer Fruit Festival H Y D E R A BA D —Tr a d e Development Author it y of Pakistan (TDAP) office at Hyderabad participated in the twin events, exhibition and seminar, of 52nd National Mango and Summer Fruit Festival at Mirpurkhas, Sindh. The Exhibition was inaugurated and visited by Provincial Minister for Agriculture Sohail Anwar Siyal, Government of Sindh who named “Sindhri Mangothe pride of Pakistan.” The Exhibition was held at Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Hall, Horticulture Research I n s t it ut e, M i r pu r k h a s. A l most 70 st alls were installed by the Mango P roducers /G rowers of almost150 varieties from different Areas of the Sindh. TDAP office Hyderabad installed their stall for the guidance and awareness of the growers and encouraging them to broaden export base of mango product.
Almost all the participants, exhibitors and visitors, visited the stall of TDAP and they were informed, encouraged and guided by the team of TDAP from Karachi and Hyderabad respectively for making mango more exportable- quantity wise and quality wise. On the second day, an informative Seminar on the production and promotion of mango product was held. The two guest speakers arranged by TDAP, one from Sindh Abagar Board Hyderabad and other from Quarantine, Department of Plant Protection Karachi, highlighted the Pre-harvest and Post-harvest treatments of the product. They urged the growers to please take very care of their orchards by themselves and do not solely depend on contractors. This is an industry itself and not a side business. In the seminar, Post-harvest treatment was also brought to
Askari Bank, UnionPay Int’l sign agreement for NFC, EMV Debit Card issuance SHANGHAI— Askari Bank Limited (AKBL), Pakistan’s premier banking institution and UnionPay International, one of the world’s largest payment schemes, have entered into an agreement to issue UnionPay QuickPass (NFC) and EMV Chip Cards in Pakistan. The initiative will allow AKBL customers to enjoy convenience of contactless payments “Tap and Go” while keeping the payments safe and secure. Further, the agreement would allow AKBL customers to conduct transactions at 41 million merchants and over 2 million ATMs worldwide along with 10 million online merchant sites. The partnership was signed by Farr ukh Iqbal Khan, Group Head Operations, Askar i Ban k Li mited Pakistan and Han Wang, General Manager, UnionPay International Middle East in Shanghai, China in the
presence of Larry Wang, Chief Business Development Of f ice r of Un ion Pay International, Asim BashirCountry Head Branchless Ban k i ng and A DCs of AKBL. “Askari Bank has always been at the forefront in reshaping and re-def ining financial services landscape and signing agreement with UnionPay International for QuickPass (NFC) and EMV chip card issuance is yet another step,” said Farrukh Iqbal Khan, Group Head Operations, Askari Bank Limited. He further added that, “The Askari Bank will take advantage of UnionPay successful best practices for financial inclusion in China while redefining AKBL strategic plan for financial inclusion.” “We are excited to work with UnionPay in Pakistan. Askari Bank continues to focus on improving customer experience and providing greater
convenience by continuing to introduce new and innovative products. ‘Tap and Go’ contactless payments will add further convenience for AKBL customers while keeping the payments safe and secure,” said Asim Bashir, Country Head Branchless Banking and ADC, Askari Bank Limited. Larry Wang Chief Business Development Off icer of Union Pay I nter national said, “We are glad to offer new payment options for Pakistanis together with
A K BL. Union Pay have made quite an achievement in Pakistan these years.” “At present, 70 percent of ATMs and 95 percent of POS terminals in Pakistan accept UnionPay cards, and over 3.4 million UnionPay cards have been issued in the country. The launch of UnionPay innovative products like QuickPass and EMV chip cards here this time will further enhance our service capability for the local residents,” he said.
Indian terrorism in occupied Kashmir is attack on humanity, President AJK M U Z A F FA R A B A D — Sa rd a r M a s o o d K h a n , President Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Tuesday termed the Indian terrorism in the occupied Kashmir as an attack on humanity. In a statement, the President AJK strongly condemned unprovoked Indian firing across the Line of Control (LoC) in Tatta Pani and Mandhol sector. He paid rich tribute to Asad Ali and Waqar Ahmed who embraced martyrdom in the result of Indian shelling. He said, “Indian shelling aimed at targeting civilian population on the LoC
which was a flagrant violation of international law.” He expressed distress over the silence of international community on carnage in Kashmir by Indian brute forces. He said, “Barbarism has been let loose on Kashmiri people in the holy month of Ramzan and Kashmiris are targeted by state terrorism for seeking their inalienable right of self-determination.” Sardar Masood Khan said, “The people of Indian occupied Kashmir (IOK) should not be considered alone and isolated adding that Indian
forces were targeting and killing the youth mercilessly.” The President AJK said, “The occupation forces in the Indian Occupied Kashmir are pushing youth towards militancy and armed resistance by threatening them with punitive military measures.” “The movement of the people of Kashmir is indigenous and peaceful. India is denying Kashmiri youth and Kashmiri freedom leaders the political space they need by choking off all channels of communication,” he said. The President AJK added that, “India has launched a
two pronged attack. It’s killing Kashmiris in IOK with impunity which is a war on mass scale against unarmed civilians; and simultaneously it has mounted fourth generation warfare against Pakistan, it’s people and it’s institutions.” Sardar Masood Khan said, “This twin warfare must end if we want to see peace and stability in region. The people of Kashmir and Pakistan are demanding dialogue and diplomacy while India was pushing militarism and state terrorism.”
Pakistan’s Chief of Naval Staff in Sri Lanka
the focus of the audience of growers and exporters. They were informed about the hot-water treatment, vapour treatment, grading and packaging of exportable mangoes, which were applauded by the audience. Sajid Jamal Abro, Secretary Agriculture, Government of Sindh, highlighted the importance and utility of such events and suggested for holding of such events even at greater level like Expo Centre
Karachi where Importers from international markets may be invited through the Co-operation of Trade Development Author it y of Pakistan (TDAP). Fida Hssain Mahesar, Deputy Director TDAP Hyderabad assured that he would convey the suggestions to the Senior Management of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP).
PIA launches mobile Apps, online check-in facility for passengers K A R AC H I — P a k i s t a n International Airlines (PIA) announced the commencement of its mobile Apps and Online Check-In Facility for passengers. The airline’s passengers will now be able to book their tickets online, give feedback and also checkin through PIA website or mobile apps prior to arrival at the airport. These added facilities and features are part of the Dig it al Tra nsfor mat ion Program at PIA with the aim to facilitate its passengers by providing online and self service capabilities. On one hand the mobile app will facilitate PIA customers and on other hand it will help the National Flag Carrier PIA to increase its direct sales. Online Check-in facility is available both on PIA website and its mobile apps, however initially available for domestic flights between Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad and will soon be implemented on all other domestic and
COLOMBO—At the invitation of the Sri Lankan Navy Commander, Chief of the Naval Staff - Pakistan Navy, Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah is in Sri Lanka on a five days official visit. He was warmly received by the Commander of the Sri Lankan Navy, Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne and Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan Dr. Sarfraz Ahmad Khan Sipra, at the Bandaranaike International
Airport, Colombo, said a press release issued here. During his visit, Admiral Mu h a m m a d Z a k a u l l a h called on top military officials in Sri Lanka including Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Kolitha Gunatilleke, Commander of Sri Lankan Army Lt. Gen AWJ. Crishanthe De Silva and Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Eng. Karunasena Hettiarachchi at their office. During the meetings both
sides exchanged views on issues of bilateral importance and mutual interest. On the occasions, mementos were exchanged to mark the visit. Chief of the Naval Staff was also the Chief Guest at the Passing out Parade held at the Naval and Maritime Academy Trincomalee where he declared open the Sailing Club. Admiral Zakaullah also visited the Temple of the Tooth Relic and the I nt e r nat ional Budd h ist
Museum at Kandy on Sunday morning. Ad miral Mu ham mad Zakaullah joined Pakistan Naval Academy in 1975 and was commissioned in the Operations Branch in 1978. He specialized as Principal Warfare Officer from UK and Navigation and Direction Officer from Pakistan. He was appointed to the highest seat of the Pakistan Navy in 2014.
DOHA—The diplomatic crisis in the Middle East might have far-reaching repercussions for the region and the global energy markets. But the Saudi led blockade of Qatar, the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas, will only result in disruption if the situation aggravates further and international sanctions are put on Qatar. This does not seem likely in the current situation. Despite
US President Trump’s incitement of the GCC countries, Qatar remains an important US ally with its largest military base in the region based out of the tiny gas-rich emirate. Another factor going in favour of Qatar is the sheer size of its contribution to global LNG expor ts. According to the International Group of Liquefied Natural Gas Importers (GIINGL), Qatar exported roughly 80 million
tons of LNG in 2016. That is equivalent to almost one third of the global LNG supply. And then there are the customers. The list includes Japan, China, India, and a host of European countries with enough political clout to ensure a befitting response should any attempt is made to stop Qatar’s energy exports to these regions. For now, even with Saudi and other Emirati waters off-limits to Qatar, it
can continue using the Iranian route or sail through the Strait of Hormuz as long as Oman does not join the Saudi led embargo. However, the ban will result in additional refuelling costs and delivery time in the medium to long term as the UAE’s port of Fujairah is one of the key ports for the global energy market and is used as a stop-over for carriers heading to Asia, Europe and the United States.
Qatar LNG exports: safe for now
international flights. Passengers will be able to perform web check-in 24 hours prior to the scheduled departure and up to three hours before the flight departure time. However, passengers with web check-in would be required to report at check-in counter for baggage drop off at least 45 minutes
prior to the flight departure time due to stringent security checks at the airport. Acting CEO PIA, Nayar Hayat while sharing his views on the occasion, said, “Online Check-In through website and mobile apps is a step forward in our quest to improve passenger experience with PIA and we
will continue to bring further improvements in order to facilitate and please our passengers.” He congratulated PIA’s ICT Department for the design and implementation of the new mobile apps and online check-in capability.