WEATHER ISLAMABAD Sunny
ISLAMABAD ISSUE: 35 VOL: 1
41°C 105°F
Precipitation: 0% Humidity: 31% Wind: 23 km/h Friday– June 16, 2017
|
PAGES: 4 RS: 15/www.thedestination.com.pk
Ramadan 20 1468 AH.
Proposed new US sanctions result of internal politics in US, Putin A new round of proposed US sanctions on Russia is evidence of an internal political struggle in the United States, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday during his annual question and answer session with Russian citizens. The US Senate voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday for new sanctions to punish Russia for its alleged meddling in the 2016 US election, and to force President Donald Trump to get Congress’ approval before easing any existing sanctions. Putin said Washington’s policy of imposing sanctions on Moscow on various pretexts had always been to try to contain Russia. AIOU exams for overseas students from July 16 Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) will conduct final exam of Metric, FA and BA programs for Pakistanis settled in Middle-East from July 16. It will be continued till 13 th August. These exams will take place in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Oman and Bahrain. Exams centers have been set-up in all these countries. Roll number slips to all the enrolled students have been sent at their given addresses. Date sheet/roll number slips have also been placed at website Overseas@aiou.edu.pk . Students abroad could also contact for further information from University’s Directorate of Overseas Education and e-learning in Islamabad, at phone numbers 92-51- 9250140 or e-mail overseas@aiou.edu. pk. It may be mentioned here that the University’s has recently taken various steps to upgrade its education programs for the overseas students. On the directives of Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Shahid Siddiqui, the Directorate was also trying to provide best possible services to these students through the support of Foreign Missions abroad. World Bank approves over $500m for Afghanistan The World Bank has approved financing worth more than 500 million dollars for Afghanistan to support a string of projects to boost the economy, help improve service delivery in five cities and support Afghan ref ugees sent back f rom Pakistan. The bank said the grant, including donor money, worth some 520 million dollars would help the Afghan government at a time of uncertainty. The World Bank said in a statement that the package will help Afghanistan with refugees, expand private-sector opportunities for the poor, boost the development of five cities and build rural roads. World’s attention drawn towards HR abuses in IOK Kashmiri representatives, Shamim Shawl and Hassan Al-Banaa, have drawn the attention of the international community towards the gross human rights violations perpetrated by Indian police and troops in occupied Kashmir. Sha m i m Shawl add ressing the ongoing 35th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva informed the audience of the victimization of the Kashmiri youth by Indian forces to suppress the Kashmiris’ ongoing freedom movement. She said, “With systematic conspiracy, the Kashmiri youth are blinded and physically crippled.
PM TERMS HIS APPEARANCE BEFORE JIT A MILESTONE FOR SUPREMACY OF CONSTITUTION
|
fb.com/TheDestinationNews |
twitter.com/th_destination
Pakistan justifies its guest of honour status at Kunming’s fair
Nawaz Sharif says present process of accountability has been extended to period beyond his birth.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif says his appearance before Joint Investigation Team is a milestone for rule of law and supremacy of the Constitution. He was talking to media in Islamabad on Thursday afternoon after over two and a half hours appearance before the JIT probing allegations into Panama Papers. The Prime Minister said never before in the history of the country, three generations of a family were held accountable the way his family is being done. The Prime Minister said the present process of accountability has been extended to period beyond his birth. Nawaz Sharif said he and his family have repeatedly been subjected to merciless accountability but no allegation of corruption had ever been proved. He expressed the confidence that the
outcome of the ongoing inquiry would not be different as he and his family have done nothing wrong. The Prime Minister pointed out that first accountability of his family began in 1972 when their assets were nationalized. Then PPP Government pursued policy of victimization of his family but could not find anything wrong. Nawaz Sharif said had there been any evidence of corruption against him or his family then Musharraf would not have instituted a false case of plane hijacking against him. Referring to the on-going investigations, the Prime Minister said all documents relating to his own assets and those of his family are already with the Supreme Court and today he once again handed them over to the JIT. Mian Nawaz Sharif
emphatically stated that what is going on has nothing to do with corruption or bungling of government resources. He said purely personal and family matters and businesses are being complicated and politicized. He said JIT report and the Supreme Court verdict in the case would come soon but we must remember that there would be a people’s JIT next year. He said we all will have to present ourselves before JIT of 200 million people of Pakistan. He said above all, we will have to appear before the court of Almighty Allah Who is not dependent on any JIT.
Russia continues trials of new MC-21-300 airliner
MOSCOW—Russia’s new medium-haul passenger plane MC-21-300 has performed its second f light, the Irkut Aircraft Company, part of Russia’s United A i rc r af t Cor por at ion , reported on Wednesday. The plane’s flight took place at the aerodrome of the Irkutsk Aviation Enterprise, an Irkut subsidiary, the company’s press office said. “During the f light, the plane’s takeoff and landing characteristics were checked and the operability of its systems was assessed. The flight took place as part of factory developmental tests and passed without any critical remarks,” the press office reported. The new Russian short-and medium-haul narrow-body passenger plane MC-21
(Mainline Aircraft of the 21st Century) performed its debut flight on May 28, 2017 over the aerodrome of the Irkutsk Aviation Enterprise. The f light lasted half an hour at an altitude of 1,000 meters and at a speed of 300 km/hr. Russia plans to produce two versions of the aircraft: the MC-21-200 and the MC-21300. The plane’s versions differ only by their capacity: the MC-21-300 can seat from 163 to 211 passengers while the MC-21-200 can carry from 132 to 165. The order book for the MC-21 airliner comprises 285 planes, 175 of which have been contracted on prepayment. Preliminary understandings have been reached and framework ag reements have been signed on the other 110
airliners. Russia’s flagship airline Aeroflot has become the first and the largest client: it intends to buy 50 MC-21 planes. There is also a firm contract with Indonesia’s Crecom Burj Berthad for the delivery of 25 airliners and an option for 25 more planes, as well as a letter of intent signed with Egypt’s Cairo Aviation on the delivery of six passenger planes and an option for four other airliners. Tanzania’s national airline Air Tanzania, as well as Iran, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia have displayed i nterest i n t he pla ne. According to Russia’s Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov, Russia may supply up to 1,000 newest MC-21 pla nes through 2037.
By Ansar M Bhatti in Kunming KUNMING (CHINA)— Pakistan justified its nomination as “’guest of honour’ at the Kunming South and Southeast Asia Expo, 2017, as it businessmen came out in a big number this time, with new varieties of goods to attract local market , said the Expo’s organizers. Around 200 Pakistanis’ stalls at specially allotted Pavilion were the Center of attention for the visitors.Pakistan’s products particularly the leather and marble-made goods, besides traditional handicrafts were the eye-catching. An official Wang Wei said that Pakistan is very close to their heart and they wished it should get maximum benefit from the expo, that will conclude on Monday. He said Pakistan has gained a most prominent position among the common Chinese because of its active role in Belt and Road’s initiative. Pakistan was provided the opportunity of being the
lead country , not only for being China’s all-weather friend, but also because the bilateral balance of trade has tilted too much in China’s favour and now the Chinese Central government wanted it should get corrected for a win-win situation. Li Jao, a senior official of Yunnan’s Department of Commerce, explained to the gathering of international journalists that Pakistan has the potential, but has not risen to it due to extraneous circumstances. Hence, the opportunity at Kunming enabled it to showcase its products, attracting Chinese and other international buyers. Indeed, with around 200 stalls, including the main theme pavilion at the very entrance, designed in the likeness of the Lahore Fort, depicting strength of character, continuity and diversity, Pakistan put its best foot forward; tastefully displaying a variety of products like textiles, leather and sports
goods, rice, marble-ware, furniture, traditional handicrafts, cutlery and jewellery. It was heartening to observe thousands of Chinese and international buyers throng to the Pakistani stalls, although the hundreds of other exhibition booths from emerging economic giants in the region also displayed their best merchandise. The expo was formally inaugurated early this week by the Governor of Yunnan province Chen Hao. It was also addressed by Pakistan’s Consulate General in China Amana Baluch who thanked the Chinese government for its special gesture of goodwill towards her country, that she hoped will be a great source of help enhancing Pakistan’s export to China and other regional countries, as well as improving balance of payment position. She termed the expo as a historical event, giving further boost to their all-round socio-economic partnership.
2 Friday - June 16, 2017
THE DESTINATION
NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL PHOTO OF THE DAY
Global Wind Day observed I S L A M A BA D — G l o b a l Wind Day was observed across the world on Thursday. The theme of the day this year is “Discover the Power of Wind Energy.” It is a day for discovering wind, its power and the possibilities it holds to change our world. The objective of the day is to raise awareness about the role of wind power in reshaping global energy systems, decarburizing economies, boosting growth and increasing job opportunities. It is also a day for discovery
of the work that has already begun by pioneers around the world. In more than 80 countries around the world, wind farms are in operation, generating energy from a clean and renewable source. Thousands of individuals are involved in the production of energy from the wind, but for many people, wind energy is a mystery. Global Wind Day is the day when you can visit wind farms, meet experts, attend events and find out everything you want to know about wind energy.
Global Wind Day is a coordi nated action bet ween Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) and the national associations to introduce the general public to wind energy through a series of activities. In the run-up to June 15, hundreds of public events are held all over the world from family outings and wind farm visits to seminars with experts and leading industry figures. In 2011, there were events organised in 30 countries, on
4 continents. Events included visits to onshore and offshore wind farms, information campaigns, demonstration turbines being set up in cities, wind workshops and a wind parade. Many events happened on Global Wind Day itself, but there were also events on the days and weeks before and afterwards. In 2012 there were 250 events around the globe and a very popular photo competition.
TOKYO— Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture said it would import 12,300 tonnes of feedquality wheat, and 200 tonnes of barley for livestock use, via a simultaneous buy and sell (SBS) auction that closed late
on Wednesday. The ministry had sought 120,000 tonnes of feed wheat and 200,000 tonnes of feed barley to be loaded by September 30 and arrive in Japan by November 30 in the tender that is usually
conducted weekly. It is seeking the same amounts for each grain to be loaded and shipped during the same period in a similar tender that will be held on June 21. Japan buys and sells its feed
wheat and barley via so-called SBS auctions, in which endusers and importers specify the origin, price and quantity of grain, allowing millers to meet their varied needs for the feed grain.
Japan to import 12,500 tonnes feed wheat and barley via tender
Lalazar is a tourist spot situated 21 km from Naran in Kaghan Valley, Pakistan. It is located at the height of 10,499 feet (3,200 meters). Lalazar is a lush green meadow with full of wild flowers and pine and fir forest. Exclusive photo by The Destination team.
SCO starts 3G, 4G internet service on trial basis in Gilgit
Constructing House of Cards on Running Washing Machine Earns LG Prestigious Industry Award
Special Com mu nication Organization (SCO) has started 3G and 4G internet service on trial basis in Gilgit. A spokesman of the organization told our Gilgit correspondent the SCO will provide internet, multimedia and data service to the subscribers of S.COM mobile service free of costs for next fifteen days. For mal ser vice will be launched after approval of the Federal Government
Spain’s government survives confidence vote over graft MADR ID —Spain’s conservative government on Wednesday survived a vote of no conf idence 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 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 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.
Islamabad / SEOUL — Proving that a washing machines can be the star of a viral video, LG Electronics’ House of Cards video was the recipient of an AME Award in the category of branded enter t ai n ment. One of the most prestigious industry honors, the AME (Advertising & Marketing Effectiveness) Awards recognize a marketing campaign’s strategy, creative concept, production value and most importantly, effectiveness, on the global stage. The video (www.youtube.com/
watch?v=sEftHIXPG2Y) quickly achieved 100 million cumulative views across various sites when it debuted on YouTube last spring. In the video, professional card stacker Bryan Berg is seen building a 3.3-meter-tall house of cards on top of an LG Centum System™ washing machine running at 1,000 RPM, a feat which earned Berg a world record for the highest card structure built in 12 hours. The video was designed to demonstrate in a creative manner LG’s new Centum System,
which maximizes the washing machine’s reliability and energy efficiency with minimal vibration and noise. “Creativity is our most effective tool for breaking through the clutter and getting our home appliance message in front of target consumers,” said Han Chang-hee, vice president of marketing at LG Home Appliance & Air Solution Company. “It’s always appreciated when industry leaders recognize the good work that we’ve been doing. Our thanks and gratitude go out to the
judges of the AME Awards for this honor.” Following on the success of its House of Cards campaign, LG produced a series of popular videos to tell the story of its unique and innovative appliances, including “painting” a gigantic wall mural using over 18,000 lightbulbs and commissioning a professional rock climber to scale a 33-story building with nothing more than the suction power from two cordless vacuum cleaners.
Turkmenistan hosts Central Asian International Ecological Forum Qatar withdraws troops from Djibouti-Eritrea border mission Qatar has withdrawn its t roops f rom the border between Djibouti and Eritrea, where the Gulf state has been acting as mediator in a border dispute, the Qatari Foreign Ministry said. It did not give reason for the withdrawal
Three days’ Central Asian international ecological forum under the slogan “Initiative for cooperation in the field of environmental and sustainable development in the Central Asia” began its work at “Yildyz” hotel in Ashgabat city last week. The officials of the Central Asian governments, heads and representatives of the international and regional organizations, diplomatic missions accredited in Tu rk menist an, leading experts of environmental protection, representatives of the ecological sector and Media take part in the Forum.
The main topic of the forum is “Climate change and water cooperation in the light of the sustainable development in the Central Asia”. The main goal is assistance in strengthening of a dialog between the governmental institutions and international community, scientific circles, civil society and business structures of the Central Asian republic in the issues of development of environmental protection as well as sharing views and elaborating joint vision of the sustainable development strategy for the region. The for um began with the greeting message of
President of Turkmenistan H.E. M r. G u rba ng u ly B e r d i m u h a m e d ov, addressed to the participants of the Central Asian international ecological forum and representatives of nature protection organizations. Heads of the delegations from the Central Asian Republics delivered statements. There were two plenary sessions on the first day of the Forum. High level segments passed under the title «Challenges and opportunities for ecological cooperation in the field of climate change and water resources in Central Asia»
and “Harmonization of the legal base of the Central Asian republics in the field of water cooperation and ecology”. These sessions were dedicated to the opportunities for collaboration and the role of the diplomats and parliamentarians in terms of the climate change and water cooperation in the region. Second and the third days of the forum were covered by the thematic discussions. There was parallel sessions and conclusions on June 7, 2017 and closing ceremony took place the same day.
but the move comes as Qatar faces a major diplomatic crisis with some of its Gulf Arab neighbours. They cut ties a week ago, accusing Doha of backing militancy and Iran. Qatar strongly denies this. “Qatar has been an impartial
diplomatic mediator i n resolving crises and disputes between brotherly and friendly countries and will continue to be a major player in the international community,” the ministry said in a statement.
It did not specify the number of troops affected. Qatar has informed the Djibouti government of the withdrawal, the ministry said. Saudiowned media reported that Djibouti had reduced its level of representation in Qatar.
Turkey to help end diplomatic row b/w Qatar, Arab countries Turkey will send its foreign minister to Doha on Wednesday to help end a bitter diplomatic row between Qat a r a nd ot he r A r ab countries. Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement that Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu will meet his Qatari counterpart and the country’s emir. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt severed relations with Doha last week, accusing it of supporting Islamist militants and Iran.
THE DESTINATION
Friday - June 16, 2017
3
NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL
R
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. 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. President’s Culture Centre: The luminous, blue-domed building of President’s Culture Centre is one of the most beautiful buildings in Kazakhstan. It hosts a high-quality national museum inside. Traditional Kazakh items are exhibited on the ground floor while the archaeological section is situated on upper floor. Kazakhstan’s history from the 14th century is covered on the 3rd floor of the centre. Address: Baraeva 1, Old Town, Astana, Kazakhstan Palace of Peace & Harmony: The Palace of Peace and Harmony is a 77 m high pyramid type building in Astana. This beautifully structured building is visible from the both coasts of Ishim. It is constructed to host the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. Also, it hosts a 1,500-seat opera house built at the lower levels.
Imran Haider Hamdani
Kyzylorda, Kzyl-Orda city, Kokshetau etc.
Southern Kazakhstan: The 4 provinces namely Almaty, Zhambyl, Kyzylorda and South Kazakhstan are situated in the southern area of the country. Almaty is centre for all type of activities in this area. Some of the main cities in southern part include Almaty, Taldy-Kurgan city, Taraz, Shymkent, Baikonur,
EU launches legal cases against Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic for not taking in refugees
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 Baikonur Cosmodrome:
Baikonur Cosmodrome is a centre of space exploration. It is the world’s oldest and largest operational space launch facility centre located in the desert steppes of Kazakhstan. Most of the Russian’s exploration of space is launched from here. One needs to give a 45 days prior notice before visiting the Cosmodrome. Some special tourist agencies also arrange the visits. Taraz:
Now a days it has become one of the fast growing cities of Kazakhstan. Located in Zhambyl Province near the border with Kyrgyzstan, the city celebrated its official 2000 anniversary (recognized by UNESCO) in 2001. The Babaji-Khatun Mausoleum (10-11th centuries) and Aisha-Bibi Mausoleum (11-12th centuries) located just outside the town are masterpieces of ancient architecture. UNESCO has listed those ancient venues as the world architectural rarities. Aksu-Zhabagly state natural reserve: The fantastic Aksu-Zhabagly state natural reserve is situated 1000 to 4000m (3280 to 3120ft) above sea level. This scenic 750 sq. km area of hills is listed in UNESCO biosphere. It is home for 1679 species of vascular and primitive plants and around 1274 species of 470 kinds and 70 families are registered under the Vascular plants group. The place is full of juniper woods and different types of tree species. These mountain woods have not been cut since a period of about 70 years. It also offers shelter for 238 species of birds, 42 species of animals. Western Kazakhstan: The regions of Mangystau, At y rau, West Kazak hstan and Mangystau are the part of Western Kazakhstan. The province West Kazakhstan is located at the northwest region of country which lies pertly in both, Europe and Asia. The main cities on western Kazakhstan include Oral (Uralsk), Aktyubinsk, Atyrau, Aktau etc. This part of the country has developed economic links with many Russian cities and other countries. Blessed with huge natural resources, the western part has many architectural heritage sites and several eco-tourism spots. Ustiurt: The chalk-cliffed preserve of Ustiurt is one of the largest preserves in Kazakhstan. It is situated in the Karagie Depression, 132m (433ft) below sea level Mangystau Region: The Mangystau province is wellknown as one of the finest areas of Kazakhstan rich in oil, gas, construction materials, various ores and minerals. The people of the country call it as the land of tourism which has several recreation resources and rich cultural heritage.
The city of Taraz is wellknown as the ancient city which is more than 2000 years old. Once it was famous as capital of Karakhan State.
Writers are requested to send their contributions at editor@thedestination.com.pk
Egypt to handover 2 uninhabited islands in Red Sea to KSA
South Korea at a glance The European Commission has launched legal action against three countries - the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland for failing to respect their commitment to take in refugees. The Commission
has sent formal letters of notice to the three states giving them one month to respond to its concerns. The letters said that they could be taken to Europe’s top court, the European Court
of Justice, if the matter is not resolved. The European Union member countries agreed in September 2015 to relocate one hundred sixty thousand refugees from Greece and Italy.
Egyptian Parliament has approved handing over two uninhabited islands in Red Sea to Saudi Arabia. The deal, to hand over the Tiran and Sanafir islands, was agreed during King Salman’s visit to Egypt last year. It had sparked protests in Egypt, but the parliament says the issue lies in its jurisdiction, while final approval will be given by president.
U.S. Embassy Leads Pakistani Delegation to International Franchise Expo
ISLAMABAD —The U.S. Commercial Service (USCS) is leading this week a delegation of Pakistani companies from Karachi, Islamabad, and Mirpur to the International Franchise Expo 2017, in New York, USA. The expo is the largest franchise expo in the United States, and runs from June 15-17. More than 400 exhibitors, including leading U.S. franchise concepts in a
variety of sectors, will display their newest services and products. At the expo, Pakistani companies will have the opportunity to negotiate business deals with American franchise companies, bringing new high quality entrants into the fast-growing Pakistani consumer market. CS will support the Pakistani companies in attendance with Business-to-Business (B2B)
match mak ing, and t rade counselling. Highlighting the importance of Pakistan’s participation in the Expo, American Commercial Counselor Steve Knode noted, “Many U.S. franchise concepts have opened and thrived in Pakistan, and I think there is demand for much more. We are delighted to showcase other terrific U.S. franchise brands at IFE to our Pakistani
delegation members, who we hope will one day bring A mer ica’s best products and services to Pakistan’s consumers.” The United States is Pakistan’s largest trading partner, and in 2016, USCS led more than 200 Pakistani businesspeople to key U.S. trade shows, ranging from poultry products and waste management, to information technology and solar
power. The U.S. Commercial Service is the trade promotion arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. U.S. Commercial Service trade professionals in over 100 U.S. cities and in more than 75 countries help U.S. companies get started in exporting or increase sales to new global markets.
Muhammad Farooq Ahmad farooqharis15@gmail.com South Korea is among the few ones in the world where every feature is worth appreciating. Whether this is a topographical, drainage, weather, architectural or traditional. A story is hidden behind each. Diversity is what makes it charming.
Korea has four distinct seasons, with each offering unique and beautiful landscapes. In the spring, forsythia, cherry blossom, azalea and many other flowers are in full bloom; in the summer, people travel in numbers to the coasts to enjoy their vacation on the beach; in the fall, the mountains put
on a fascinating coat of crimson leaves; and in the winter, the land is covered with snow. South Korea has many fascinating tourist attractions. With an interesting blend of traditional and modern attractions, South Korea becomes a great tourist destination. Korea is rich in culture, history, technology, and food. Seoul is the principal tourist destination for visitors. The other popular tourist destinations outside of Seoul include Seorak-san national park, the historic city of Gyeongju and semi-tropical Jeju Island. Jejudo or Jeju Island, also known as the “Island of the Gods,” is a popular tourist attractions for Koreans and many international visitors. It remains one of the top honeymoon destinations for Korean newlyweds. The island’s mixture of volcanic rock, frequent rains, and temperate climate, make it very similar to the Hawaiian Islands in the U.S. Seoul is the capital city of South Korea and is also the country’s political and economic center. This beautiful city consists of a wonderful modern and ancient architecture which make this city a worth a visit. Seoul has many historical and cultural landmarks. Seoraksan is the highest mountain in the Taebaek
Published by Rana Tahir Shahbaz from Office # 2 , First Floor, Abbasi Plaza , Bani Gala Islamabad (ph: 051-8314196, fax: 051-8315196) & Printed at Roohani Art Press Islamabad
mou nt ai n ra nge i n t he Gangwon Province in eastern South Korea. The national park attracts many national and international tourists all year round, but the main season for Seoraksan national park is autumn. The autumn colours in the area are considered amongst the most beautiful in Korea. The red and yellow forest is interrupted by rocks and small mountain streams f low amidst this. The park contains several famous temples, including Baekdam-sa. The inner part of the Taebaek Mountain R a nge is na med I n ner Seorak. The Korean economy is driven by the manufacturing and exports including ships, automobiles, mobile phones, PCs, TVs, and other electronics to countries all around the world. Korea has enjoyed rapid economic growth thanks in large part to its export-focused strategy. In 2015, Korea’s GDP was USD$1.4495 trillion based on Bank of Korea. Today, the nation boasts the 11th largest economy in the world and in Asia is the 4th largest economy. Recently, Korean dramas and movies are also widely exported thanks to the popularity of Korean pop culture. K-pop stars are also active on the world stage.
THE DESTINATION
4 Friday - June 16, 2017
China supports Pakistan to safeguard national security BEIJI NG —W hile f ir mly opposing and strongly condemning all forms of terrorism and extreme violent actions targeting civilians, China on Wednesday reiterated its support to Pakistan in its efforts to fight against terrorist forces and safeguard national security and stability. “China will f ur ther strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation with the international community to ensure peace and stability of the region and beyond,” Spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry, Lu Kang said in a statement issued
from Beijing. Responding to a question regarding reported confirmation of killing of the two Chinese nationals in Pakistan, he said, the Chinese side has been highly concerned about the information that the two kidnapped Chinese in Pakistan might have been killed. “So far, the Pakistani side has yet to finally confirm the aforementioned information to China. We will continue to do our best and coordinate with the Pakistani side to verify as soon as possible the relevant situation,” he added. He said, China and Pakistan have been
in close communication and coordination with each other since the kidnapping incident took place. “We acknowledge the positive efforts made by the Pakistani side to try and rescue the kidnapped and commend the pledge made by the Pakistani side to take further effective measures to ensure the security of Chinese nationals and institutions in Pakistan,” he added. The spokesperson said, attaching high importance to protecting the safety and lawful rights and interests of Chinese nationals overseas, China stands ready to
enhance communication and cooperation with the relevant countries. “Meanwhile, we always ask Chinese nationals traveling overseas to observe local laws and regulations, respect local customs and practices, and heighten awareness for potential risks,” he said and added, “As for reports on Chinese nationals allegedly engaging in illegal preaching activities in Pakistan, we will work with the Pakistani government to carry out investigation in accordance with law.”
Oil hits six-week low as OPEC fails to curb oversupply LONDON, JUN 15 (DNA) - Oil prices dropped to sixweek lows on Thursday, under pressure from high global i nventor ies a nd doubts about OPEC’s ability to implement agreed production cuts. Brent crude oil fell 30 cents to $46.70 a barrel, its weakest since May 5 and just above six-month lows, before recovering a little ground to trade around $46.80 by 0755 GMT. U.S. light crude was down 30 cents at $44.43, also a six-week low. Both crude oil benchmarks have lost all the gains made at the end of last year after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries agreed with other
big producers to cut output in an effort to prop up prices. OPEC and its allies have promised to restrict output until at least the end of the first quarter of next year to try to drain surplus supply. But inventories are near record highs in many parts of the world, and many traders expect further price falls. “The market is in trouble,” said Tamas Varga, analyst at London brokerage PVM Oil Associates. Crude prices have fallen about 12 percent since May 25, when OPEC agreed to extend its output limits into next year. Despite the deal, some OPEC members, including Nigeria and Libya, have been exempt
from cutting and their rising output is seen to be undermining efforts led by Saudi Arabia. “OPEC 2017 year-todate exports are only down by 0.3 million barrels per day (bpd) from the October 2016 baseline,” analysts at AB Bernstein said. OPEC’s pledge was to cut some 1.2 million bpd, while other producers including Russia agreed to bring the total reduction to almost 1.8 million bpd. But production in the United States, which is not part of the deal, has jumped 10 percent over the past year to 9.33 million bpd. “Production growth in Libya and Nigeria and continued rig additions in the U.S. are
complicating the picture, raising doubts on OPEC’s strategy,” AB Bernstein said. T he U.S. gover n ment’s Energ y Infor mation Administration has raised its prediction for domestic output growth in 2017 to 460,000 bpd from a predicted decline of 80,000 bpd in December. OPEC now expects U.S. production to increase by 800,000 bpd in 2017. This suggests global oversupply will persist for a while. The International Energy Agency says it expects oil supplies next year to outpace demand despite consumption hitting 100 million bpd for the first time.
Over 25,000 Ukrainians sign petition for unblocking VKontakte social network “A total of 25,107 people have signed the petition lodged on the Ukrainian president’s website on May 16,” the presidential administration said. Now Poroshenko will have to respond to the petition and review his May 18 decree which executed the National Defense and Security Council’s decision to ban Russia’s VKontakte and Odnoklassniki social networks, as well as the Mail. ru and Yandex internet companies. The banned Russian internet companies have a significantly large audience
in Ukraine. Yandex claims to have as many as 11,000,000 U k rainian users, while about 25,000,000 Ukrainian citizens use the Mail.ru platforms for communication. A total of 16,000,000 people i n U k rai ne use Vkontakte, while the number of Odnoklassniki users totals around 9,500,000. Ukrainian citizens were granted the opportunity to lodge petitions on the president’s website in August 2015. As many as 25,000 signatures are needed for the president to consider a petition.
Serena Hotels Celebrate Four Years of Triumph at the World Travel Awards ISLAMABAD—Mr. Aziz Boolani CEO South and Central Asia received appreciation at the World Travel Awards where Islamabad Serena Hotel was awarded Pakistans Leading Hotel 2017 and Pakistans Leading Hotel Suite 2017 for the Presidential Suite at Islamabad Serena Hotel, the Kabul Serena Hotel was awarded A fg h a n ist a n’s L e a d i ng Hotel and Dushanbe Serena Hotel received the award for Tajikistans Leading Hotel for the fourth year running at the World Travel Awards Asia & Australasia Gala Ceremony 2017, held at Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai in China. The World Travel Awards™ is voted for by travel and tourism professionals worldwide, and this accolade recognizes the commitment to excellence which organizations demonstrate in each preceding year. The World Travel Awards™ is the most prestigious, comprehensive and sought after awards programme in the global travel and tourism industry. The awards this year were presented before an invited audience of the industrys leading luminaries and international media. To u r i s m P r o m o t i o n Services – Pakistan (TPS),
Euro zone yields off lows as US policymakers hike rates again LON DON — US Federal Reserve policymakers gave markets a reality check by pushing ahead with a tightening of monetary policy despite some weak economic data, pulling government bond yields off their recent lows on Thursday. Having hit multi-week lows, euro zone government bond yields edged higher across the board, tracking a move in US Treasuries overnight after the Fed raised rates by 25 basis points and signalled it would begin selling assets accumulated over years of money printing. “They have taken a cautious approach to balance sheet normalisation, but they have begun it and it’s definitely a tightening of policy,” said ING strategist Martin van Vliet. “The meeting was
definitely tilted towards the hawkish side.” Any action by the US central bank tends to reverberate across the debt markets of developed countries, as many investors have European, US and Japanese government bonds in their portfolio and switch between them when there are changes in yields. Germany’s 10-year government bond yield, the benchmark for the region, rose 1 basis point to 0.24 percent, off a seven-week low hit on Wednesday at 0.225 percent. The yield on 10-year US Treasury yields rose as much as 4 basis points from a seven-month low of 2.10 percent hit after weakerthan-expected US data on Wednesday. L owe r- r a t e d S o u t h e r n European government bonds
- which tend to be most sensitive to any changes or tweaks on monetary policy - were up 2-3 basis points in early trade. “The periphery had rallied the most on Wednesday, led by Portugal, so maybe investors are thinking hold on, we may have gone a bit too far,” said Van Vliet. Portugal’s 10-year borrowing costs dropped 14.5 bps on Wednesday, their steepest one-day fall in nearly a month. Greek government bond yields remained steady on Thursday ahead of a key Eurogroup meeting later. Euro zone finance ministers will meet later in the day to discuss whether or not to approve the disbursement of aid to Greece, money that the country needs to avoid defaulting on upcoming debt obligations.
Most analysts expect the aid to be approved, but said an agreement on debt relief is unlikely to be reached today. “So far each episode in the Greek drama has always ended up with a last-minute temporising solution and this time euro area finance ministers are likely to approve the disbursement of the next tranche of aid and to postpone discussions about debt relief until after the summer,” BBVA strategists said in a note. An agreement on debt relief is a pre-requisite for the International Monetary Fund to participate in a deal for Greece, which in turn would pave the way for the European Central Bank to involve Greek government debt in its asset purchase scheme.
TOCOM hits 2-week high on firm Shanghai futures TOKYO—Benchmark Tokyo r ubber futures extended gains and hit a two-week high on Thursday on the back of firm Shanghai futures. The market may get further support as the International Rubber Consortium (IRCo) will hold an internal meeting of its Committee on Strategic Market Operations this weekend in Indonesia to discuss falling rubber prices.
Rubber Authority of Thailand Governor Titus Suksaard conf i r med the meeting will take place. He said the Rubber Authority would attend the meeting to discuss measures to stabilize rubber prices, which could include curbing exports and production. The meeting follows benchmark Tokyo rubber futures dropping to a seven-month
low last week. But some market participants wondered whether production cuts, if any, would help improve rubber prices much further as such cuts in the past had rarely led to higher prices. The Tok yo Com modit y Exchange rubber contract for November delivery finished 3.9 yen higher at 199.4 yen ($1.82) per kg after
hitting a two-week high of 199.5 yen earlier. The mostactive rubber contract on the Shanghai futures exchange for September delivery rose 160 yuan to finish at 12,845 yuan ($1,891) per tonne after hitting a near two-week low earlier. The front-month rubber contract on Singapore’s SICOM exchange for July delivery last traded at 146.5 U.S. cents per kg, up 1.6 cent.
N EW YOR K— Pa k ist an has criticized the aspirants for permanent seats in an expanded United Nations Security Council (UNSC) India, Brazil, Ger many and Japan for opposing that reform of the 15-member body should be guided by the principles of democracy. “I have to say, the objection has left us dumbfounded,” A mbassador Maleeha Lodhi said in response to a document prepared by the co-chairs of the intergovernmental negotiations (IGN) identifying democracy and representativeness as shared principles of the UN membership that need to be taken into consideration in reforming the Security Council. On the concluding day of the long-running IGN process that has been in progress for the past several months, Ambassador Lodhi responded to the Indian Permanent Representative, Syed Akbar uddin’s earlier assertions which questioned the centrality of these
universal principles for the Council’s reform. “This is the first time, we are hearing someone speak against the notion of democracy and representativeness in the august chambers of the United Nations,” the Pakistani envoy said while referring to the G-4’s objections. “Is reform of the Council not fundamentally about equitable representation on the Council?,” Ambassador Lodhi asked. “We agree on practicing democracy at home but some countries here argue that it should not be practiced at the UN!” Emphasizing that the purpose of the negotiations was to find areas that can serve as a common denominator, Ambassador Lodhi said it was argued that because the process lacked democracy, this should not be a guiding principle for reforming the Council. “We can hardly agree with this assertion,” she said, adding, “Juxtaposing the
absence of a text to the lack of democracy is disingenuous.” Another argument, the Pakistani envoy said, was that because the Security Council was not democratic at present, its future should also be shorn of democracy and application of the principle of democracy to its reform should be cast aside. “We agree that the Council’s present composition is not sufficiently democratic. But this is precisely the reason why any reform should strive to make it more democratic.” The council’s reform, aimed at making it more representative and effective, was backed by the 2005 world summit held at UN Headquarters in New York. Practically all member states agree on enlarging the membership of Council, but they are sharply divided over the details. Progress towards restructuring the Security Council remains blocked as India and its allies known as the Group of Four, push for permanent seats while Italy/Pakistan-led
Uniting for Consensus (UfC) group firmly oppose any additional permanent members. As a compromise, UfC has proposed a new category of members, not permanent members, with longer duration and a possibility to get re-elected once in an effort to democratize the Council. The Security Council is currently composed of five permanent members Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States and 10 non-permanent members that are elected in groups of five to two-year terms. In the IGN this week, Italy, on behalf of the UfC, reiterated it call for expansion of the Security Council only in the 2-year non-permanent seats. Pointing this out, the Pakistani envoy said that despite this “some interventions claimed that no one supports expansion only in the 2-year non-permanent seats.” She said, “This makes us ask, are we not hearing each other or have we chosen to ignore inconvenient facts?”
Pakistan pushes for UNSC reform on democratic principles
CPEC to boost investment climate for decades ISLAMABAD, JUN 15 (DNA) - Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders (ICST) Thursday said investment climate has been improved slightly while the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would boost it for decades.
“The economic corridor will not only boost Pakistan’s economy but will also contribute to the improved investment climate in the country,” Patron Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders Shahid Rasheed Butt said.
Pakistan needs investment of 20 percent of GDP to achieve required economic growth as the current rate of investment was keeping GDP growth rate under stress, he added He said the last year’s investment target was 17.7 percent
while it remained 15.8 percent, slightly improved than the corresponding year. Butt said the private investment dropped from 10.2 percent to 9.9 percent against the target of 12.2 percent.=DNA
SMEs best tool for low-cost job creation, poverty reduction a subsidiary company of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED), owns and manages eight hotels across Pakistan of which Islamabad Serena Hotel is the flagship property. AKFED seeks to develop tourism potential in selected areas in the developing world, by building, rehabilitating and managing hotels and lodges that contribute to economic growth and positively impact the overall investment climate in an environmental and culturally sensitive manner. Since its inception, Serena has stressed cultural
and environmental sensitivity, for which it has received global recognition through a number of awards. Globally, the travel and tourism industry makes a real difference to the lives of millions of people by driving growth, creating jobs, reducing poverty and fostering development and tolerance. Whereas the contribution of the industry to global GDP is over 10%, in Pakistan the contribution is under 3%. The potential for growth is immense but world class infrastructure – like the award-winning Serena Hotels –is taking various steps to
expand the scale and depth of tourism in Pakistan. World Travel Awards celebrates its 24th anniversary this year and is acknowledged across the globe as the ultimate travel accolade. Attended by senior executives from major travel companies, hotel owners, operators, destinations, WTA events are universally respected as providing established, top level networking opportunities, regionally and globally. The brand aims to celebrate those organisations who push the boundaries of industry excellence
I SL A M A BA D, J U N 15 (DNA) - Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Thursday said the government should develop an effective strategy to attract Chinese investment in joint ventures in the SME sector which offer low-cost job creation and rapid poverty reduction. Chinese businessmen can help boost local SMEs through joint ventures in the industrial zones planned along CPEC, it said in
a press releaae issued here. Technological cooperation bet ween businessmen of Pakistan and China can also help and modernise existing SMEs through a transfer of technology, Chairman FPCCI Reg ional Com m it tee on Industries Atif Ikram Sheikh said. He said the development of the proposed industrial zones along the trade route will offer an opportunity for development of the SME sector which is the backbone of the economy. Atif Ikram Sheikh said development of the SME sector is necessary for equitable and inclusive economic growth and we must take advantage of the
emerging opportunities. The business leader said cooperation between the two friendly nations will also ensure rapid transfer of technology which is necessary to modernise SMEs. China must support Pakistan in developing its comparatively advantageous industries in the mining, agriculture and manufacturing sectors, he demanded. Some of the fields in which joint ventures can be worked out include logistics, trucking, warehousing, fisheries, horticulture, minerals, food processing, surgical instruments, construction, livestock, dairy, ICT, engineering, apparel, and cold storage and supply chain
business, he noted. The business leader said many popular western companies buy products from Pakistan and sell them in the international market under their brand name while giving a very small share to local SMEs which must be tackled. SMEs constitute around 90 percent of the 3.2 million private enterprises; it employs around 70 percent of the nonagriculture labour force. These enterprises also contribute over 30 percent to GDP and 25 percent of the country’s total export earnings which can be increased substantially. The share of SMEs in the value-added manufacturing is estimated at 35 percent.