The Destination Issue 47 Vol 1

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ISLAMABAD ISSUE: 47 VOL: 1

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Shawal 10, 1438 AH.

No need to request cricket boards to play series in Pakistan

PM N a w a z S h a r i f h a s instructed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday to not request any foreign cricket authority to play a series in Pakistan. Statement of the premier came in as he hosted a ceremony in honour of the national cricketers after the team won country’s maiden Champions Trophy 2017 last month. In addition to the winning squad of Pakistan, the gathering was graced by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb among other dig nit ar ies. W hile addressing the ceremony, PM Nawaz said that the national cricketers are the “leaders” of the country who made the nation proud of their achievement.

Pakistan, China working for prosperity of entire region: PM

Tu rkey hopef u l a s Erdogan meets Qatar defence minister Turkey said it remained hopeful of a solution to the Gulf crisis that has seen its ally Qatar diplomatically and economically isolated, after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held talks with the emirate’s defence minister.

In Ankara’s latest show of support for Qatar, Erdogan hosted Defence Minister Khaled bin Mohammed al-Attiyah for talks at the headquarters of the ruling party in Ankara.

The meeting came as Ankara, which has stood by Doha throughout the crisis, resists pressure to shutter a Turkish military base on the emirate that Qatar’s neighbours want to see closed.

Over 100,000 migrants crossed Mediterranean to EU since Jan, UN says More than 100,000 migrants and refugees have made the perilous journey across the Mediterranean to Europe since the beginning of the year, and 2,247 have died trying, the UN said Tuesday. Between January 1 and July 3, more than 85,000 migrants landed in Italy, nearly 9,300 arrived in Greece, nearly 6,500 arrived in Spain and over 270 landed in Cyprus, the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) said. While the numbers are staggering, they remain far below last year’s figures. During the same period in 2016, 231,503 people made the crossing to Europe, with the 100,000-mark passed already in February that year.

EU, Japan get ready for free-trade deal Four years of talks between

the European Union and Japan are expected to end in a new free-trade deal to be signed later this week, the EU said on Tuesday. An EU-Japan summit in Brussels on Thursday will formalize both a free-trade arrangement and a deal on “strategic partnership,” according to the EU. European Council President Donald Tusk and president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, will represent the EU. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will head a Japanese delegation. Japan and the EU have been in negotiations since March 2013. “The EU-Japan trade agreement would not only boost the EU’s economy. It would also strengthen Europe’s leadership in shaping global rules according to our values,” an EU statement read.

12th summit of G20 countries to begin in Hamburg, Germany

Nawaz Sharif has invited Ch i nese compan ies to invest in coal power projects and t ransmission lines in Pakistan. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has invited Chinese companies to expand and diversify investment in power sector by participating in the process of setting up transmission lines and local coal generation projects. He was talking to a Chinese delegat ion he a de d by Chairman National Energy Administration Nur Bekri in Islamabad on Tuesday. The Prime Minister said that Pakistan is fully committed to the timely and effective

implementation of all projects under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Nawaz Sharif said that the completion of Sahiwal Coalbased Power Plant in record time will greatly help the government of Pakistan in resolving the power shortages from the country.’

He said we are happy that our pledge with the people of Pakistan to end power shortages is being honored.

On bilateral relations, the Prime Minister stated that the exemplary relations between Pakistan and China are based on mutual respect and trust and that Pakistan wishes to explore all existing

opportunities to further cement these relations. The Prime Minister said that both the countries are working for the prosperity of the people of the region through joint economic and development efforts. He said Pakistan shares the Chinese vision of regional and global economic integration through strengthening connectivity.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the present Government is committed to the efforts of improved regional connectivity and is extending its full cooperation for the early execution of the projects in the most effective manner. Nur Bekri,

said that National Energy Administration of China is rigorously executing energy projects in Pakistan.

Appreciating the development vision of the present government in Pakistan, the Chairman said that National Energy Administration, China is committed to complete the on-going energy projects in Pakistan within stipulated time lines. The meeting was also attended

by Minister for Water and Power Muhammad Asif, Pu njab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and other senior officials.

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Army Chief vows to consolidate gains of war against terrorists

Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa expresses his satisfaction on troops’ state of preparedness, contributions towards internal security. He further said that the Army shall continue its support to all state institutions for prosperity of Pakistan and its people through selfless devotion and commitment. He said this while interacting with officers and soldiers at Pano Aqil Garrison on Tuesday. The Army Chief said Pakistan has come a long way towards success against terrorism and vowed to consolidate gains to further strengthening of the State neutralizing

all negative stimulants. He was briefed on operational preparedness and internal security matters. Qamar Bajwa expressed his satisfaction on troops’ state of preparedness and contributions towards internal security.

Army Chief also hailed their performance during recently conducted 6th Population and Housing Census and other internal security tasks.

Earlier, on arrival at Pano Aqil, COAS was received by Commander Karachi Corps Lieutenant General Shahid Baig Mirza and other officers. COAS said that Army shall continue its support

to all state institutions for prosperity of Pakistan and its people through selfless devotion and commitment.

“Country comes first, self later”, COAS remarked.

COAS said that Pakistan has come a long way towards success in its efforts against terrorism and militancy. “We shall now consolidate our gains to further strengthening of the State neutralizing all negative stimulants”, COAS reiterated. Earlier, on arrival at Panuaqil, COAS was received by Commander Karachi Corps Lieutenant General Shahid Baig Mirza and GOC Panuaqil.

9 special economic zones planned to be set up along CPEC: Ahsan Iqbal

Indonesian President Jokowi set to visit Turkey

Jakarta—President Joko Widodo will pay an official visit to Turkey on Thursday, marking the first visit by Indonesia’s head-of-state in seven years, the Turkish

ambassador to Jakarta said Tuesday. “The visit will play a key role in developing bilateral relations,” Meh met Kad r i Sa nder Gurbuz told. Noting that

Turkish-Indonesian relations dated back to the 16th century, Gurbuz said political ties between the countries had been “extremely positive” since Indonesia declared i ndependence in 1945. The ambassador added that the visit was also expected to see negotiations on a free trade agreement between Turkey and Indonesia. “I am sure these negotiations will contribute to the acceleration of our economic relations,” he said. International issues are also expected to be on the agenda. Both countries are members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the G20, the D-8 and MIKTA. Foreign Minister Rento Marsudi said, “We wish

to build a partnership with Turkey in strategic industry”. “After that, we will start with trade in services and others. Secondly, we will also conduct cooperation in the development of strategic industries. We will conduct joint development with regard to land or air branches and others,” she remarked. Thirdly, cooperation will also be done in the field of counter-terrorism, she added. Turkey is one of the important partners of Indonesia as common countries with majority Muslim population and common members of various international organizations such as G20, the Organization of Islamic Conference, and others, she acknowledged.

President calls for expeditious tax refunds to small industries

ISLA M A BA D, J U L 04 (DNA) – President Mam noon Hussain on Tuesday said that the process of tax refunds to small industries should be expedited and they be provided all necessary facilities to further strengthen the

country’s economy.

The President was talking to a delegation of Pakistan Electric Fan Manufacturers Association, headed by its Chairman Nabeel Ahmed Ilyas, which called on him at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.

The President appreciated

that Pakistani fan industry was manufacturing energy efficient fans which was of great significance in the context of current energy situation.

There is a need to enhance coordination between the fan industry and relevant

ministries to further promote this trend so that issues of the industry could be resolved.

The President stated that small industrialists could manufacture better products through proper usage of government concessions and exemptions.

President Mam noon Hussain assured the delegation of his full support to resolve the issues of fan manufacturing industry.

He directed the Ministry of industry & Production to take prompt measures to solve the problems of fan industry adding that in this regard cooperation of Ministry of Finance should also be sought.

Our Staff Reporter Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal says enemies of Pakistan want to prevent the development in the country. He was giving opening remarks at a high level ‘preparatory meeting for special economic zones’ u nder China Pakistan Economic Corridor in Islamabad on Tuesday. The Minister regretted that rumors are being spread among the business

community about economic zones. He said the enemies of the country earlier tried to create rift between provinces and the federation on CPEC and now trying to sabotage the project. Ahsan Iqbal said that nine special economic zone will strengthen Pakistan’s economy.

The Minister for Planning said that the mega project is not a charity but an opportunity. He said that nine zones are offering value proposition

for economic development and growth. He said this is best time to reap the benefits of the projects. Ahsan Iqbal said that Pakistan should be able to show best option to investors. He said that creation of job is important for us because we need two million jobs every year. The Planning Minister said that local investors should start joint ventures with Chinese investors to boost the economic growth of the country.

JIT summons NAB chief Qamar Zaman Chaudhry: sources

I S L A M A BA D — S o u r c e s have confirmed that the Joint Investigation Team (JIT), constituted in Panamagate has summoned NAB chief Qamar

Za ma n Chaud h r y tod ay.

Earlier on Tuesday, it was Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s elder son Hussain Nawaz who appeared before the JIT for

the sixth time. The premier s son was interrogated for five hours in which the investigation team asked questions about the money trail and offshore accounts held by the Sharif family. The JIT has six days left to submit the final report to the Supreme Court of Pakistan, which is due on July 10. “Even you (political opponents) will not escape by working against the constitution,” expressed Hussain Nawaz, following his appearance before JIT. Hussain also questioned during his media talk as to how will they find evidence as there was no money laundering.

2 Wednesday- July 05, 2017

THE DESTINATION

NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL PHOTO OF THE DAY

Abe expected to agree EU-Japan trade deal on Thursday

Markhor is a wild goat and one of the most beautiful wild animals inhabiting the mountain-

ous regions of Pakistan. The animal prefers living on dangerous and steep cliffs of the mountains to protect themselves from the attacks of wild predators including snow leopard and wolf.

BRUSSELS—The European Union and Japan expect to commit to signing a free trade deal on Thursday, the EU said, in what both see as a push back against a feared U.S. turn toward protectionism under President Donald Tr u mp. Conf ir ming on Tuesday that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe would meet heads of EU institutions in Brussels on the eve of a G20 summit with Trump and other world leaders in Germany, the European Council said: “Leaders are expected to announce a political agreement on the EU-Japan free trade agreement.” That would be well short of a final accord ironing out all the commercial intricacies between two of the world’s biggest economies.

But both sides, having seen

Trump pull back from free trade relationships, are keen to show they remain committed to removing barriers they say hamper growth.

“It is important for us to wave the flag of free trade in response to global moves toward protectionism by quickly concluding the free trade agreement with Europe,” Abe told ministers at a meeting on Tuesday about the EU negotiations.

“This agreement is also important for our growth strategy. We will negotiate with all our energy until the very end to achieve the best deal for Japan.” Abe will meet European Council President Donald Tusk, who speaks for the 28 EU national leaders, a nd Eu ropea n Commission President JeanClaude Juncker, the bloc’s

executive head. Juncker’s Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom was in Japan at the weekend and said after her talks that she was “quite confident” that a broad agreement could be announced on Thursday.

EU officials had said that Abe would only visit Brussels if both sides were certain that the political agreement would be signed Malmstrom said: “You can do good, fair, transparent and sustainable trade agreements where you win and I win, and not the American view, which seems to be, ‘You lose and I win’.”

Abe, Tusk and Juncker will go on to Hamburg on Friday for the G20 summit. The host, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, is expected to lead calls for Trump to keep trade open. He pulled

out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) with Japan and 10 other states on his first day in office in January.

U.S.-EU talks on a trade pact called TTIP have been in limbo since then. Japan and the EU launched their bilateral negotiations in 2013 but have been struggling to achieve breakthroughs in key areas, such as Japan scrapping tariffs on EU cheese and wine and Europe giving greater access for Japanese cars and car parts. Although Japan and the EU account for about a third of global GDP, their trade relationship has room to grow - also by a third according to EU officials, who see a deal boosting the EU economy by 0.8 percent and Japan’s by 0.3 percent long-term.

MOSCOW ( X i n hu a) - Visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, met here Monday and agreed to further cement bilateral ties and strengthen coordination on the Korean Peninsula and other major issues. China and Russia are comprehensive strategic partners of coordination, and it is quite important for them to intensify communication and coordination in dealing with major affairs, said Xi, who had a tete-a-tete with Putin in the Kremlin shortly after his arrival in

Moscow.

T h e t wo sid e s s h o u ld strengthen cooperation, and steadfastly support each other in pursuing their own development paths and defending their respective sovereignty, national security and development interests, added the Chinese president. They also need to step up policy communication and action coordination on major regional and global issues, so as to tackle risks and challenges and promote world peace, stability and prosperity, he added. For his part, Putin said

he agrees that the two sides should beef up mutual support and strengthen coordination on major regional and global issues.

It is important to boost headof-state diplomacy, which leads and promotes the development of bilateral relations, said Putin, adding that Xi’s ongoing state visit, the second of its kind since he took office in 2013, will further boost the two countries’ partnership. The two leaders also exchanged views on the Korean Peninsula and Syria issues. They agreed to jointly

push for a proper settlement of the peninsula issue via dialogue and negotiation.

As for the U.S. deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in South Korea, Xi and Putin said the move concerns the strategic balance in the region. China and Russia, they stressed, are both opposed to installing THAAD in South Korea. Russia is the first leg of Xi’s ongoing foreign trip, which will also take him to Germany for a state visit and the upcoming summit of the Group of 20 major economies.

K ABUL, J UL 04 (DNA) - Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Tuesday said his country agreed to conduct joint border operations with Pakistan.

His statement came two weeks after Pakistan proposed joint border operations against illegal movements.

Ghani told a visiting delegation of the U.S. Senate led by Senator John McCain, Chairman of the Senate Armed Ser vices Committee, that Washington’s support is not taken for granted.

According to an official statement, the U.S. delegation

infor med Afghan leadership about Pakistan’s pledges to cooperate for peace in Afghanistan. Last month, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistan Army’s media affairs wing, said in a statement that Pakistan and Afghanistan have fought against terrorism and they should continue this effort together. The ISPR said that Pakistan army chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa directed cooperation with Afghan forces in checking illegal movements.

In February this year, in a clear response to the similar move by Pakistan, the Kabul

government handed over to Islamabad a list of 32 terrorist training centers and 85 top militants allegedly based in Pakistan. Ties between the two Muslim nations are at all-time low following a string of terrorist attacks in Pakistan earlier this year that claimed close to one hundred lives, and were staged by militants allegedly hiding in Afghanistan.

This was followed by a massive truck bombing on May 31 in the Afghan capital Kabul that killed up to 150 people, mostly civilians. The Taliban’s Haqqani Network allegedly

hiding in Pakistan was blamed for the attack.

Kabul and Islamabad have long been blaming each other for cross-border terrorism.

Afghanistan and Pakistan share 18 crossing points -- the most commonly used ones are Torkham-Landi Kotal and Spin Boldak-Chaman. Afghanistan does not officially recognize the whole Durand Line as an international border with Pakistan.

Kabul sees it as an annexation of the ‘Greater Afghanistan’ by the British Raj in 1896 before Pakistan and India came into being in 1947.=DNA

Xi, Putin agree to boost coordination on major issues

PM invites China’s NEA to invest in Pakistan’s power projects ISL A M A BA D — P r i me Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said China’s National Energy Administration to expand and diversify its investment in the power sector of Pakistan by joining process of setting up of transmission lines and local coal-generation projects. In a meeting with Chairman National Energ y Ad m i n ist r at ion (NEA) Nur Bekri here, the Prime Minister said both the countries were working for the prosperity of the people of the region through joint economic and development efforts.

Acknowledging the support of NEA, the Prime Minister said that completion of the energy projects on fast track basis will help the Government of Pakistan in overcoming the energy crisis. The Prime Ministers said Pakistan was fully committed

to the timely and effective implementation of all projects under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

“Pakistan shares the Chinese vision of regional and global economic integration through strengthening connectivity, and that is the reason Pakistan is among the early partners in the One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative,” the Prime Minister said. Nawaz Sharif said exemplary relations between Pakistan and China were based on mutual respect and trust and that Pakistan wished to explore all existing opportunities to further cement these relations.

He extended gratitude to the Chinese ministries and institutions for their support in making CPEC a reality and an example for the world to follow. The Prime Minister emphasized that the government was committed to the efforts of improved regional

connectivity and was extending its full cooperation for the early execution of the projects in the most effective manner.

He felicitated the Chairman NEA on being chosen for the conferment of Hilali-Pakistan award by the President Islamic Republic of Pakistan for his meritorious services in the energy sector of Pakistan.

The award will be for mally bestowed in the investiture ceremony to be held at Aiwa-i-Sadr. The Prime Minister said completion of Sahiwal Coal-based Power Plant in record time would greatly help the government of Pakistan in resolving the power shortages from the country. The Chairman NEA said that National Energy Administration of China was rigorously executing energy projects in Pakistan.

Appreciating the development vision of the present

government in Pakistan, the Chairman said NEA China was committed to complete the on-going energy projects in Pakistan within stipulated time. The meeting was also attended by Minister for Water and Power Khwaja Muhammad Asif, Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and other senior officials. The Chinese delegation comprised Huang Xuenong, DG Department of Elect r ic Power; Liu Deshun, DG Department of Oil & Gas; Gun Jun, DG Department of International Cooperation; Wu Ruipeng, Director Depar tment of General Affairs and Suo Yunpeng, Deputy Director Department of International Cooperation, NEA. Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Sun Weidong was also present during the meeting.—DNA

May on Monday to discuss bilateral ties and regional issues, including the recent Cyprus talks, according to a presidential source, reported

by Radio Pakistan.

Erdogan and May highlighted the importance of reaching “a fair, lasting and comprehensive solution for both sides” by overcoming the deadlock in the Cyprus negotiations, the source,

who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to media, said. The UN is seeking a peace deal to unite Cyprus under a federal umbrella, which could also define the future of Europe’s relations with Turkey, a key player in the conflict.

The Eastern Mediterranean island has been divided since 1974, when a Greek Cypriot coup was followed by violence against the island’s Turks, and Ankara’s intervention as a guarantor power. The two leaders also confirmed their determination to enhance bilateral relations, especially economic and defense industry ties; they also resolved to strengthen cooperation in the fight against terrorism.

May a l so c onde m ne d

the recent k illi ngs of Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development (AK) party figures in the country and conveyed her condolences to Erdogan, the source added.

According to an emailed statement from her office, “The prime minister offered her condolences following the killings of the president’s party colleagues in the southeast of Turkey this weekend.

“They agreed this kind of brutality only strengthens our resolve to work together to tackle terrorism, and noted countering extremism would be a key topic for discussion at this week’s G20 summit in Hamburg.”

Anadolu Agency’s Gurhan Kartal contributed to this report from London.

Turkey, Britain agree to reach solution for both sides by overcoming deadlock in Cyprus negotiations

Turkey and Britain have agreed to reach a comprehensive solution for both sides” by overcoming the deadlock in the Cyprus negotiations, the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to media, said. P resident Recep Tay yip Erdogan spoke over the phone with British Prime Minister Theresa

Afghanistan agrees on joint border ops with Pakistan

Robots to aid tourists, clean floors at South Korean airport

5th round of talks begins in Astana, Kazakhstan

UAE school fees second highest in world

North Korea tested long-range intercontinental missile

Robots will start roaming South Korea’s largest airport this summer, helping travelers find their boarding gates and keep its floors clean as the country prepares for its first Winter Olympics.

Starting this month, Troika, a self-driving robot made by LG Electronics, will rove the Incheon International Airport, telling travelers how long it takes to get to boarding gates and escorting them to their flights. A jumbo cleaning robot will help cleaning staff swab the wide expanses of floors in the airport, west of Seoul. Travelers can insert their tickets into its scanner to get flight information.

Fifth round of talks between the Syrian government and opposition begins in the Kazakh capital Astana on Tuesday.

The two-day talks are sponsored by Russia, Iran and Turkey.

The previous round of negotiations in early May ended with a commitment to establish four “de-escalation zones”, which both sides would refrain from attacking.

A successful agreement between the parties could build momentum for the UN-sponsored peace talks in Geneva on 10th of this month. The two-day talks are sponsored by Russia, Iran and Turkey.

Education costs are touching the sky in the UAE with a survey revealing that school fees in the country is the second highest in the world. An HSBC study found that the cost for sending a child to school in the UAE, from primary to university, will be around $99,378 (Dh365,025). It is the second highest in the world, the first being Hong Kong where parents have to spend around $132,161 as educational costs.

HSBC’s The Value of Education series is based on a survey conducted with 8,400 parents from 15 countries and territories.

North Korea says it has successfully tested a long-range intercontinental missile which has capability to hit anywhere in the world. An announcement on North Koreas state television said the missile potentially has the range to reach the US mainland.

According to Japanese government, the missile flew for about 40 minutes and may have landed in Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone. The development comes ahead of the G20 Summit later this week in which leaders of the United States, China, Japan and South Korea are expected to discuss efforts to rein in the North’s Korea’s nuclear and missile tests.

THE DESTINATION

Wednesday- July 05, 2017

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NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL

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co Park Tashkent’s first Ecological Park, a project based on Rana Tahir Shahbaz the concept of ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’, opened its doors on April 7. The Eco park in Tashkent has been built by the Fund Forum with support from Mitsubishi Corporation and has found good use for old car tires, plastic bottles and metal pipes in line with the principles of an ecology park.

Broadway

Saligokh Street, known locally as ‘Broadway’, has some street artists and painters, who display their original artworks. There are many shopping centers, fashion shops, boutiques, restaurants, and cafes are located on and around the Broadway in Tashkent. Here you may also pick up some handmade crafts and bric-a-bracs.

Aqua Park

Located in the north of Tashkent, close to the Tashkent TV Towers, Aqua Park is the largest swimming area in Tashkent. Aqua Park is a water park for the whole family to enjoy, where young and old, will spend an unforgettable day’s visit to our park. Aqua Park Includes a restaurant and coffe shop.

miniatures and paintings of chapters in his story.

Imam al-Bukhari Memorial Museum 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

Uzbekistan

Tourist Attractions “hammer” and “wave” and many more amazing rides for both adults and children.

Tashkent Zoo

Today it houses over 500 different species of animal and is the only zoo in Tashkent where you can experience big animals such as gorillas and giraffes. With over 22 hectares to explore and incredible animal displays taking place throughout the day (including feeds and keeper talks) no visitor leaves disappointed.

Gafur Gulyam Park

Being one of the greenest parks in Tashkent, Gafur Gulyam Park covers 23 acres. Variety of attractions to suit all tastes makes the park a favourite spot for residents of all ages. he large lake in the center of the park with a small green island bestows visitors a mild micro-climate and creates an idyllic living piece of wildlife.

Alisher Navoi National Park and Monument

Japanese Garden

Japanese Garden in Tashkent is a small park in the center of the city with a nature of distant island countries, where the admiration of the beauties of nature is one of the essential components of life. Here, natural beauty is skilfully emphasized by the artistic-expressive means of Japanese landscape art.

Botanical Garden

Collection of the Botanical Garden are of more than 4500 species, forms, varieties and species of trees, shrubs, dwarf shrubs, vines, grasses and aquatic plants. Botanic Garden in Tashkent - it’s an open air museum, a national treasure and the pride of the country and science. It is located next to the Tashkent Zoo in north-eastern part of Tashkent.

Mirzo Ulugbek Recreation Park

Tashkent’s Alisher Navoi National Park is one of the greatest city parks in the country. Covering a large park, a large lake, canals and fountains, a meadow and ornamental flower gardens, there’s a good chance you’ll forget you are right in the center of Tashkent. National Park in Tashkent has something for everyone.

Bobur Memorial Park

Seven kilometres (four miles) southeast of Andijan is this park, opened in 1993 to celebrate the arrival of earth brought from Babur’s Kabul grave. Entombed in marble, the earth is the centrepiece of a large garden spread over a hillside Babur was fond of visiting.

Navoi Park

Mirzo Ulugbek is one of the the first and the best recreation parks in Tashkent. Mirzo Ulugbek Recreation Park is famous among locals for an artificial pond, a large number of trees and benches for relaxation in the summer, commercial shops, cafes and many amusement rides and entertainment attractions, a really paradise for both adults and children.

This green haven of trees and boating ponds lies east of Babur Square, In the park’s northeast corner rests the gently decaying splendour of the residence of Akhmed Beg Khodja. Elsewhere, the Bolalar Bogi (Children’s Garden) is a new fairground at the crossroads of Fitrat and Sharaf Rashidov.

Babur Recreation Park is another amusement park in the center of Tashkent, with lots of green spaces and beautiful pond in the center. Babur Park in Tashkenr is home to the Seattle Peace Park, a collection of small tiles designed by Tashkent and its sister city - Seattle based schoolchildren, and to the famous Peace Bell, which was erected here in 2003.

Here you will find information, view photos and read tourist reviews of Babur Literary Museum in Andijan. Since 1990, it has housed a literary museum detailing Babur’s poetry and prose, liberally sprinkled with reproductions of famous

Babur Recreation Park

Tashkent Land

Tashkent Land is considered to be one of the best amusement parks in Tashkent. The locals are used to call it Disneyland. Tashkent Land has a legendary “roller coaster” , breathtaking swings

Babur Literary Museum

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Imam al-Bukhari Memorial Museum is dedicated to the life of Imam Muhammad ibn Ismail al Bukhari, outstanding researcher of Hadiths in Islam.

Museum-Cell Of Sadriddin Ayni Jalol Ikromi

The memorial museum is devoted to the life of Sadriddin Ayni and Jalol Ikromi, the outstanding classical writers of the Uzbek and Tajik literature.

Artisan Development Center

In Bukhara Artisan Development Center you’ll find a wide range of handicrafts, jewellery boxes, silk-embroidered tapestries and much more.

Tim-Abdullakhan Bazaar

A roof closed Tim Abdullah Khan bazaar in Bukhara is a shopping place for carpets and lovely and big suzanas near Poi Kalon Ensemble.

Taqi-Zargaron Market

If you are interested in buying beautiful and unique jewelry to take home, you should take a trip to Taqi-Zargaron Trading Dome in Bukhara.

Taqi-Telpakfurushon Market

Description About Welcome to in Bukhara. Here you will find information, view photos and read tourist reviews of in Bukhara. In ancient times in Bukhara, domed bazaar buildings were erected over all important crossroads of this city. Some of these domed bazaars (locally called taqi) are still [...]

Taqi-Sarrafon Market

The Taqi-Sarrafon is no longer a money exchange center, but it now has lots of great shops where you can pick up interesting souvenirs.

Faizullah Khojayev House Museum

This wonderful example of the 19th – century architecture houses the ethnographic exhibition, featuring rich merchants’ life of the 19th- 20th centuries.

Museum of Metal Chasing

Blacksmith’s Museum Workshop, which is located in the Kulyuta Caravansarai, exhibits finest collections of Bukharan blacksmith handicraft.

Museum of Decorative Applied Arts

The Museum of Decorative Applied Artslocated in Sitora-i Mohi Khosa palace, displays the finest examples of decorative art of Central Asia.

Kamoliddin Behzod Fine Arts Museum

Welcome to Kamoliddin Behzod Fine Arts Museum in Bukhara. Here you will find information, view photos and read tourist reviews of Kamoliddin Behzod Fine Arts Museum in Bukhara.

Magok-i Attari Mosque (Museum of Carpets)

Welcome to Magok-i Attari Mosque (Museum of Carpets) in Bukhara. Here you will find information, view photos and read tourist reviews of Magok-i Attari Mosque (Museum of Carpets) in Bukhara.

Ulughbek Madrassah

Ulughbek Madrassah is a part of Kosh madrassah, which is also includes Abdul-aziz Khan Madrassah. Today, the madrassah hosts the museum of history of the restoration of the architectural monuments of Bukhara.

Chashma-i Ayub Mausoleum (Museum of Water Supply)

Welcome to Chashma-i Ayub Mausoleum (Museum of Water Supply) in Bukhara. Here you will find information, view photos and read tourist reviews of Chashma-i Ayub Mausoleum (Museum of Water Supply) in Bukhara.

Ismail Samani Mausoleum

Ismail Samani mausoleum is one of the oldest preserved monuments in Bukhara. This 10th century mausoleum, marks a new era in the development of Central Asian architecture, which was revived after the Arab conquest of the region.

The Ark Fortress (Regional Studies Museum)

The Ark Сitadel in Bukhara, Uzbekistan is a massive fortress was initially built and occupied around the 5th century AD.

TV Tower

The Tashkent Television Tower is a 375 metres high tower and is the tallest tower in Central Asia. The construction of Tashkent TV Tower is started in 1978 and it began operation 6 years later, on 15 January 1985. It was the 3rd tallest tower in the world from 1985 to 1991.

(Source: visituzbekistan.travel)

Macron sets out five-year roadmap Syria warns U.S. to calculate Germany backs UAE’s stand on Qatar for France, promises radical reform reactions in case of new aggression: official

PARIS (Xinhua) -- With “efficiency, representativeness and responsibility,” French President Emmanuel Macron outlined his roadmap for the eurozone’s second largest economy over next five years during which he says he wants to restore voter confidence and the country’s sovereignty. “The people have given us a mandate. I want to talk about the institutions that I want to change and the principles of actions I intend to follow,” Macron said, “Commitments will be met, reforms will be done,” he added.

Macron pledged to cut the number of lawmakers by a third, while promising to strengthen the parliament’s means so that “work becomes more fluid.”

Furthermore, he wants to remove the Court of Justice of the Republic, which handles government officials’

trails, and instead further reinforce magist rates’ independence.

“Laws are made to frame the deep trends of our country,” he said, calling for effective institutions and less overall legislation. In a 90-minute speech, Macron said he would resort to referendums if parliament does not vote major institutional reforms quickly enough.

“I hope that all the deep transformations, which I have just described and of which our institutions are in desperate need, are adopted within a year,” he told parliament. Macron also said he would lift the state of emergency, imposed in the wake of Paris attacks on November 2015, in autumn in order to “re-establish the freedom of the French.”

“The penal code as it is and the powers of magistrates as they are can -- if the system is well ordered

-- allow us to annihilate our enemies,” he said. Having never held elected office before, Macron won the French presidency on May 7. He came under fire for convening a joint session of parliament, known as a congress, and vowed to transform it to an annual meeting, defying critics of concentrating too much power in the presidency.

R ig ht-w i ng law ma ke r Nicolas Dupont-Aignan said he was disappointed by the declaration that lacked “concrete” proposals. Left-wing veteran Jean-Luc Melenchon, who leads the 17-strong “France Unbowed” group in parliament, boycotted the congress. Pr ime Minister Edouard Philippe will give details on the president’s economic and social project in the National Assembly on Tuesday.

DA M ASCUS ( X i n hu a) — Sy r i a’s D e p u t y Fo r e ig n Minister Faisal Mekdad said that his government would not be surprised if the U.S. carried out a new attack on Syria, as “the crazy can do anything.”

Mekd a d’s rema rk s ca me against the backdrop of a new escalation in the Syrian chemical file, with Washington alleging that the Syrian government is preparing for a new chemical attack. On Monday, the White House said the United States had identified the Syrian government’s potential preparations for another chemical weapons attack, warning of “a heavy price” if such attacks were conducted.

“The activities are similar to preparations the regime made before its April 4, 2017 chemical weapons attack,” the White House said, referring to the April alleged chemical attack on the city of Khan Sheikhun in northern Idlib province.

Activists and the United States accused the Syrian army of carrying out the attack, while the Syrian government denied such allegation. In the same month, the United States struck the Shayrat Air Base in central Syria with 59 Tomahawk missiles, saying the chemical attack was prepared in that base.The Syrian government denied the accusations, stressing it has disposed of all of its chemical programs, when the chemical arsenal of Syria was handed over to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in 2013, and was declared destroyed in 2014. But since the United States renewed the accusation last week, talks have

re-emerged about the intention of Washington to conduct another attack, taking the chemical weapons issue as an unsubstantiated pretext.

Mekdad warned the United States to “precisely calculate the possible reactions,” if it were to carry out a new aggression on Syria. “The reactions of Syria and its allies will not be as it was before and this is what we said and what the military and political leadership in Russia also said,” Mekdad said.

Speaking during a press conference in Damascus, Mekdad said that there was no moral justification of the April U.S. strike on Syria, “however, the crazy can do anything.” The Syrian official stressed again that his government is no longer having chemical weapons for military purposes.

He said the new pressure on Syria comes in the wake of the “recent field development in Syria,” adding that the current time “is the best for the Syrian state,” in terms of the situation on the ground in key Syrian areas. Meanwhile, Mekdad accused the United States of being a beneficiary of terrorism. “The United States and its allies invested in terrorism and the (last April) strike was premeditated against all those fighting terrorism in the region,” he said. “They aim to support a coup against the Syrian government, which is targeted due to its stances in the region against Israel,” he said. He added that al-Qaida terror network was created by the United States and the real face of terrorism was created by the consecutive U.S. administrations.

Agencies Un ited A rab Em i rates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahayan said on Tuesday that Arab countries boycotting Qatar over its alleged support for terrorism were still awaiting a response to their demands via mediator Kuwait.

“We are still waiting for the response from our brothers in Kuwait regarding the response that they received from Qatar and once we examine it among ourselves we will take the decision of course,” Sheikh Abdullah said at a news conference with his German counterpart in Abu Dhabi.

Officials from the UAE and Saudi Arabia have suggested that f u r ther sanctions, including the possibility of kicking out Qatar from the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council, could be imposed if Doha failed to heed the demands.

Asked about any further sanctions, Sheikh Abdullah advised caution. “I think it is premature to talk about the extra sanctions and steps and procedures to be taken by these countries,” he said.

“This depends on what we will hear from our brothers in Kuwait and the dialogue and conversations among ourselves and the examination of these responses.”

Meanwhile Germany’s foreign minister said the diplomatic stand-off in the Gulf region between Qatar and its neighbours gives the entire region an opportunity to move together to step up its fight against terrorism financing.

Speaking in Abu Dhabi on the second day of a regional tour, Sigmar Gabriel said he had agreed with Sheikh Abdullah that harbouring of terrorists or their financing must end. He added that there were plenty of ways to prevent a further escalation of tensions in the region, where Qatar faces a blockade from its Arab neighbours.

China says Arabs and Qatar should solve crisis

China says the best way to resolve the crisis between Qatar and other A rab nations is to work out a solution by these countries themselves.

China’s UN ambassador Liu Jieyi, while addressing a news conference in New York, hoped that dialogue and consultations will produce good results.

Meanwhile, Egypt will

host a meeting of Arab nations on Qatar issue on Wednesday. Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman in a statement said foreign ministers of Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates will discuss future steps in dealing with Qatar, besides excha ng i ng v iews on existing international and regional contacts.

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

THE DESTINATION

4 Wednesday- July 05, 2017

Tariq Mahmood Pasha appointed new FBR Chairman ISLAMABAD —The federal government appointed Tariq Mahmood Pasha – a close confidant of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar – as the new chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), further consolidating the control of Q Block over the tax department. His immediate challenge will be to win support of the top FBR hierarchy. Pasha is from the 12th Common batch of the Civil Service. Tariq Pasha – a grade 22 officer belonging to Inland Revenue Service – will also be the Secretary Revenue Division. Before his appointment as FBR chairman, Pasha was serving as Special Assistant to

Finance Minister, Secretary Economic Affairs Division and Secretar y Statistics Division. The Establishment Division has issued the notification for the appointment of the new FBR chairman.

However, the government has not yet appointed the new secretary of EAD. The post of Secretary Privatisation also remains vacant after appointment of Shahid Mehmood as Secretary Finance before Eid. Pasha will be the fourth FBR chairman appointed during the tenure of the present PML-N government. His appointment has been made at a time when the FBR is already in the eye of a storm due to the ongoing Panama

leaks probe.

T he Supreme Cou r t of Pakistan and its constituted Joint Investigation Team have expressed reservations over the cooperation extended by the FBR in the matter. Pasha’s appointment was highly anticipated due to his close proximity with Dar. After serving in Punjab, Pasha joined the finance ministry in December 2014. Pasha is the younger brother of a former senior FBR officer. Sources said that the federal government was reluctant to appoint a person from the existing top FBR management, as it wanted to appoint someone who is really close to Q Block – the seat of finance ministry.

Khamenei tells Iranian judiciary to pursue Kashmir issue

Urea sales resumed on Govt assurance

Islamabad—Fertilizer manufacturers have decided to resume sales of urea after Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Food Security & Research have given assurance to issue subsidy notification within next 10 days.

The Subsidy Notification has faced procedural delays by concerned Ministries as that had to be issued before 30 June 2017 for disbursement of new subsidy scheme announced in budget 201718. Thus the industry had earlier decided to stop the sales of Urea. The industry hopes that the Govt will fulfil its commitment and devise a simplified way of subsidy disbursement.

The crisis escalated after the newly announced subsidy was disowned by either

of Ministry to follow up through notification. It is learnt that unnecessary verification process is likely to be done away with, thus relying mainly on GST returns, filed by the companies. FBR, with new leadership is expected to facilitate the process, thus helping the industry which is one of the highest contributors to the national exchequer. The backlog of Rs 20 bn subsidy claims of previous scheme remains still a headache for Ministry of Food Security, and financial burden of delayed payments has already caused serious concerns for the fertilizer industry. Under these circumstances, the manufacturer companies had been reluctant to participate in the subsidy scheme.

Foreign firms sent home the $1.88bn profit in July-May KARACHI—Foreign companies working in Pakistan repatriated $1.88 billion in profits and dividends to their home countries in the 11 months through May, a year-on-year increase of nearly 7 per cent, the State Bank of Pakistan said. The amount was almost equal to the foreign direct investment (FDI) of $2bn Pakistan attracted during the same period. Moreover, remittances sent by Pakistanis working abroad and the country’s exports are also in decline. The highest FDI was received by the power sector during the period. However, the highest amount was repatriated from the food sector thanks to the landing of international food chains in Pakistan during the last five years.

Inflows to the food sector were also higher this year, due mainly to the sale of a majority stake in Engro Foods to FrieslandCampina, one of Europe’s biggest dairy companies. The sector saw no inf low a year

ago. Instead, there was an outflow of $53m. Another change was noted in banks and financial institutions, which received $63m in FDI but the profits and dividends sharply increased to $219m, the second-highest outflow this year. The power sector received $548m in FDI during the 11-month period while the outflow of profits and dividends was $150m.

Inflows to the power sector dropped this year despite government efforts to boost the amount. The inflow during the same period of the last fiscal year was $703m.

The biggest change was noted in the construction industry which received the third-highest amount of FDI, i.e. $418m. The inflow was just $45m in the same period a year ago, indicating that the escalating property prices and housing demand attracted foreign companies to make big money. However, the outflow as profits and dividends from this sector during the July-May period was just

successes. However, we remain concerned that the Afghan Taliban, and specif ically Haqqani militants, continue to violate Pakistan’s sovereignty by using Pakistani soil to plan attacks in Afghanistan, including on our forces and presence there. No state enjoys true sovereignty if its monopoly over arms and force is compromised by armed, non-state actors operating on its soil.

Security and stability start with social resilience; therefore, we focus strongly on supporting Pakistan’s own strategy for economic growth and development. Our 70 years of relations has been marked by strong partnership with the people and government of Pakistan in this regard.

Together, we used American grants to help establish key institutions such as the Institute for Business Administration, the Lahore University for Management Sciences, and the Indus Basin Project, as well as build key infrastructure such as the Mangla and Tarbela dams. Since 2009, we have committed over 524 billion rupees in assistance to advance Pakistan’s development goals: Energy, economic growth, agriculture, education, and health. Our assistance also supports Pakistan’s most vulnerable populations, including women, minorities, and temporarily displaced people. It enables Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies to fight terrorism, meet community policing needs, expand access to justice, maintain law and order, and extend the writ of the state into under-governed areas.

Since 2011, nearly 33 million Pakistanis have benefitted from USAID’s efforts to add more than 2,800 megawatts to the national grid.

for the construction of the Kurram Tangi dam in North Waziristan. This partnership will result in the irrigation of more than 16,000 acres of agricultural land and production of 18 megawatts of electricity, enough to benefit 100,000 Pakistanis. Last year, America and the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa completed the 7.5 billion rupee Gomal Zam irrigation project. It will irrigate 191,000 acres in Tank and Dera Ismail Khan Districts and increase business, trade, and jobs for 30,000 households. Economic development is good for both Pakistan and America. Twoway trade between Pakistan and America amounted to more than 576 billion rupees in 2015; Pakistan exports more to the United States than to any other country. In return, America has consistently ranked among the top sources of foreign direct investment in Pakistan. Small businesses and ent repreneurship can be catalysts for growth in Pakistan as they are in America. Our embassy supports entrepreneurship groups and incubators, including the WECREATE Centre, which helps Pakistani women develop and operate businesses.

We want to see continued growth in our bilateral trade and ever more positive trends in Pakistan’s investment climate. Private sector ties create lasting connections between the people of our two nations.

What is good for Pakistani prosperity and resilience is good for us, too. The American people invest more in our Fulbright exchange programme in Pakistan annually than anywhere else in the world, enabling Pakistani students to gain the skills needed to advance their careers and build a prosperous and fulfilling future for themselves and Pakistan. While in America, a Pakistani student is an informal ambassador of

$900,000. The outflow may increase in the next couple of years since the construction is a long-term investment.

FDI in oil and gas exploration companies also dropped to $135m from $235m a year ago, whereas the outflow as profits and dividends was $85.3m in July-May 201617. The total outflow in the outgoing fiscal year could top $2bn, which would be a fairly big amount for the country, particularly against the backdrop of falling remittances, declining exports and a trade deficit of about $30bn.

The current account deficit nearly trebled to $8.9bn during July-May, due mainly to poor exports. The massive increase in the current account deficit can hit the exchange rate regime as foreign exchange reserves have been continuously declining since October. The country’s reserves are still over $20bn, but rising debt servicing is expected to bring them down

70 years of US-Pakistan relations

TEHRAN—Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, has called upon the Judiciary of his country to pursue issues like Kashmir legally and adopt official position on such international issues.

Ayatollah Khamenei made these remarks at a meeting with high ranking members of Iran’s judiciary including Chief Justice, Sadeq Amoli Larijani. “The Judiciary should intervene from a legal position in such issues as

sanctions, US confiscations and terrorism or [come out] in support of downtrodden personalities in the world such as Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky or the Muslims of Myanmar and Kashmir,”.

In such issues, Ayatollah Khamenei said, the Judiciary should “decisively declare its supportive position or opposition so it is reflected across the world.” While Kashmir is gripped in decades of bloody conflict with Muslim majority seeking their right

to decide their political destiny, Muslim community of Myanmar has been facing a systematic deadly campaign of suppression. This is the second time that Ayatollah Khamenei has referred to Kashmir in last 10 days.

Ayatollah Khamenei, during his Eid-al-Fitr sermon urged the Muslims worldwide to support the people of Kashmir who faced oppression even during the fasting month of Ramadan.—DNA

Nepali vice president visits China to strengthen ties K ATH M A N DU, J U L 04 (DNA) - Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun left for China on Tuesday on a week-long trip that aims to consolidate ties between the two countries.

Pun, a former Maoist commander, is leading an 11-member delegation to attend China’s 23rd Lanzhou Investment and Trade Fair, a gathering of business leaders and foreign delegates in Lanzhou, the capital of northwest Gansu province.

On Wednesday, he is scheduled to address a forum on the New Silk Road and will also address members of the business community. Along with Malaysia, Nepal will be a guest of honor at the event also known as the Lanzhou Fair.

Nepal is reportedly working on a protocol of its transit and transport agreement with China, which was signed a year ago during a visit by Nepali Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli. Once signed, the protocol will eventually help Nepal reduce its dependence on India, its neighbor in the south, which has traditionally exercised clout over the landlocked country.

Ties between the two countries grew strong after Oli visited

China in March last year and signed a raft of agreements in Beijing.

Many in Kathmandu think Nepal was being pushed northward following an unofficial five-month blockade by India in 2015, which halted supplies and chocked the mountainous country.

The Indian move followed promulgation of Nepal’s longawaited post-war constitution, which triggered protests from ethnic groups in the country’s southern plains.

The diplomatic standoff and the ensuing overtures led to distance between Nepal and India, casting doubt whether India would have a grip over its strategically-important backyard.

Last week, China handed over a national academy on the outskirts of capital Kathmandu to Nepali police force, which guards the country’s northern border.

On May 12, Nepal joined South Asian nations, including Pakistan and Bangladesh in signing an agreement to become part of the China megaproject -- the One Belt One Road (OBOR) -- that is estimated to cost around $5 trillion for building roads,

bridges, ports and railways spanning over 60 countries across Asia, Africa, Middle East and Europe.

Last month, a five-member Chinese delegation led by Chinese Assistant Minister Kong Xuanyou held foreign secretary-level talks in Kathmandu.

The two sides discussed bilateral agreements including the OBOR and other Chinesefunded projects in Nepal.

But with the change of guard in Kathmandu last month -Sher Bahadur Deuba of the pro-Indian Nepali Congress party became prime minister -- analysts say Beijing worries whether Nepal would follow through last year’s agreements.

“I think bilateral visits between the two countries will continue in the next few years because China wants Nepal to sign more agreements and implement it on time,” Basnet said.

Apart from the signing of a framework agreement on OBOR, “they have lobbied with the government to sign another MoU [Memorandum of Understanding] so that Nepal is firmly part of their [OBOR) campaign”.

David Hale The Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah wrote to President Truman the first message to America from Pakistan for our Independence Day. Speaking of our two nations, he wrote that that the “common desire for order, justice and peace, and their equal wish to contribute to uplift suffering humanity are the best proof, which I hope will lead to the intimate and confident collaboration of our two countries in all matters for our mutual interests. ” For over 70 years, America and Pakistan have built a relationship based on these mutual interests, including democracy, stability and security, and economic development in Pakistan and the region. Our embassy in Islamabad is one of the largest and most modern of our missions worldwide.

Its size ref lects the many ways in which we cooperate and shows our long-term commitment to ensuring our relationship benefits both of our peoples. Every day, my team works with Pakistani colleagues to promote trade, human development, disease control, economic prosperity, energy efficiency, agricultural production, law enforcement training, educational and professional exchanges, and defence cooperation. America has invested in, supported, and expanded this relationship for reasons of our national interest – as has Pakistan – but the

results are mutually beneficial, as they must be in any healthy relationship. We seek a secure, resilient, prosperous, and democratic Pakistan that can contribute those attributes to South Asia. Our security partnership with Pakistan has been a pillar in the relationship since Pakistan’s formation.

Together we promote strategic stability, combat terrorism, and work to help Afghanistan establish a viable peace and reconciliation process. Since 2001, the United States has provided about 629 billion rupees in security assistance grants to Pakistan. These grants have strengthened Pakistan’s counterinsurgency and counterterrorism capabilities, helped support Pakistan’s participation in international peacekeeping operations and maritime task forces, provided equipment and infrastructure, and reinforced our long-term military-to-military relationship. In 2016, Pakistan was also the largest recipient worldwide of US “International Military, Education and Training” grants for the professional development of the Pakistani military.

Pakistan’s military personnel and civilian population have sacrificed and suffered too much at the hands of terrorists.

Pakistan’s security operations have reduced the ability of certain militants to use Pakistani territory to conduct cross-border attacks. This is a justifiable source of pride and relief for Pakistanis, and we admire your

I n D e c e m b e r 2 016 , we signed an agreement to provide over 8.5 billion rupees

Pakistan, no doubt changing perceptions and helping Americans re-examine some of their own assumptions. When they return, we know Pakistani exchange students share their experiences. This deepening of two-way understanding has intangible but invaluable benefits for our overall relationship.

There is an active network of 22,000 Pakistani alumni of American exchanges and English-language programmes throughout the country. They work together to contribute to their communities and serve as informal ambassadors of the f lourishing PakistaniAmerican relationship. The highly successful community of Americans of Pakistani origin also contribute to our relationship. We are very proud of prominent Americans of Pakistani origin, including Federal Court Judge Abid Riaz Qureshi and NASA avionics engineer Hibah Rahmani.

Although our bilateral relationship has faced challenges at times in our history, American and Pakistani shared interests have shaped an enduring relationship over seven decades. In an August 14, 1947 message to Governor General Mohammed Ali Jinnah, President Truman congratulated Pakistan on its “emergence among the family of nations” and pledged firm friendship and good will, saying, “The American people anticipate a long history of close and cordial relations with your country. We rejoice with you in the prospect for rapid progress toward the advancement of the welfare of the people of Pakistan. In over thirty years as a diplomat, I have learned that the most enduring ties between countries are those made at the people-topeople level.

Tea worth $491mn imported in 11 months

Govt sets target to produce 4.262 million tons of meat

APTMA to organize textile convention in mid-July

Launching of first ever Urdu Digital Dictionary

Country spent US$ 491 million on the import of tea during last 11 months to fulfill the domestic requirements of the commodity. Tea imports into the country witnessed 3.19 percent increase during the period from July-May, 2016-17, according the data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. About 187,070 metric tons of tea imported into the country during last eleven months of current financial year as against the import of 159,003 metric tons of same period of last year. However, soyabean oil imports into the country during the period under review decreased by 35.35 percent as compared with the imports of the corresponding period of last year.

Government has set a target to produce about 6.262 million tons of meat during the year 2017-18 in order to fulfill the domestic meat requirements of meat. It has set to enhance domestic meat production by 13.89 percent during the financial year 2017-18 to tackle with the domestic meat consumption, said an official in the Ministry of National Food Security and Research. he said that beef production targets were fixed at 2.155 million tons by increasing the average production to 9.74 percent. He said that during the period under review, about 717,000 tons of mutton would be produced by enhancing the existing production capacity to 5.88 percent.

All Pakistan Textile Mills Association with all textiles Associations in the country will organize the textile convention in the mid of July.

In textile convention APTMA, all textile industries will hold consultation and consensus for future plan of action for the growth of the industry in country, Secretary General, APTMA, Anis ul Haq told APP here. He emphasized upon competitive business environment to compete with regional competitor for enhancing the country’s exports. “We want to compete the regional competitors including India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Vietnam for enhancing the county’s export to achieve the target of economic stability and growth,

People from different walks of life welcomed the launching of firstever Urdu Digital Dictionary by Urdu Dictionary Board (UDB), Karachi, terming it as a valuable asset for promotion of Urdu language among the younger generation. The dictionary, comprising over 22 volumes, is available online for the users to assist them in learning Urdu language with actual meanings, pronunciation and sounds. The dictionary was compiled by UDB, Karachi under the supervision of (NHLH) Division. The task of creating first-ever Urdu Dictionary was given to Urdu Dictionary Board after which the work was started under the supervision of Advisor to PM.