Pakistan Today: 2017

Tuesday, 7 March 2017

Pakistan first country to benefit from high-quality solar maps: World Bank

Pakistan has become the first country to benefit from duly validated, high-quality solar maps under a global initiative, allowing it to tap into its renewable energy resources more effectively, the World Bank said in a press release on Tuesday.

The new solar maps for Pakistan were unveiled today at a workshop hosted by the Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) and the World Bank in Islamabad.

According to the World Bank, Pakistan is now part of a small group comprising mainly developed countries with access to sustainable and affordable sources of indigenous energy

"With the costs of solar power having decreased significantly over the past couple of years, Pakistan now has the opportunity to unleash investment in solar energy without the need for subsidies," said Anthony Cholst, Acting Country Director for the World Bank, Pakistan.

"The World Bank stands ready to support the federal and provincial governments in realising this objective, alongside the support we are already providing for development of hydro-power sector reform and the strengthening of the transmission grid. It is time to realize the full potential of this clean and secure source of energy," he added.

"These new solar maps will definitely ensure qualified improvement vis-a-vis previous studies, and will underscore the tremendous solar potential that exists across Pakistan," said Amjad Ali Awan, Chief Executive Officer of AEDB.

Awan also appreciated the World Bank for its "valuable contribution" to Pakistan's "continued efforts towards scaling up of renewable energy in an affordable and sustainable manner."

Details of solar mapping project

Led by the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program, a multi-donor trust fund administered by the World Bank, the initiative will "facilitate investors in making more informed project decisions".

"The maps will help large solar power projects in obtaining commercial financing by reducing the resource risk," the press release further said.

The World Bank project on solar mapping in Pakistan includes field data being generated by nine solar measurement stations installed two years ago across the country.

"The project supports AEDB’s efforts to harness renewable energy in all the provinces by improving access to bankable data," the World Bank statement said. "The solar maps used the latest solar resource modeling techniques, based on 18 years of satellite and global atmospheric data from 1999-2016."

Lawyers from Balochistan ask SC to reject Nisar's objections on Quetta inquiry

The Balochistan High Court Bar Association on Tuesday said the objections of the interior ministry regarding the credibility of the Quetta inquiry commission report must be rejected, reported DawnNews.

The association’s 17-page long reply to the Supreme Court defended the report’s finding and said the interior minister should be tried for contempt of court as he is raising "unnecessary doubts" on the report’s credibility

The inquiry commission, investigating last year's Quetta carnage that left more than 74 people dead, in its report had regretted that Nisar reportedly met Maulana Mohammad Ahmed Ludhianvi, the head of three banned organisations — Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan, Millat-i-Islamia and Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat — on Oct 21, 2016 to listen to his demands and conceded to them.

The report also "exposed the incompetence and negligence of the ministers" Ghani Khilji, President of Balochistan High Court Bar Association, had said.

The Supreme Court had allowed the interior ministry to submit its objections to the report, which dubbed the damning findings of the Quetta inquiry commission on terrorism 'unnecessary, uncalled for and violative of natural justice'.

The commission, which took 56 days to finalise the report, asked the state, which has receded in the face of those spreading hatred and murder, to re-exert itself.

Key recommendations in report

• The National Action Plan should be made into a proper plan, with clear goals, a comprehensive monitoring mechanism, and periodic reviewing.

• Nacta (National Counter Terrorism Authority) must be activated. It must do what the Nacta Act mandates.

• The public space needs to be reclaimed to counteract the virulent propaganda of the terrorists. The laws and Constitution need to be reestablished and the state must re-exert itself.

• The Anti-Terrorism Act needs to be enforced, and terrorists/terrorist organisations must be proscribed without delay.

• The federal and Balochistan governments must develop and maintain a databank with information or perpetrators/suspects of heinous crimes and terrorists organisations.

• Forensic laboratories should be not under the jurisdiction of the police, but of scientists. The results/tests should be uploaded in a central databank and easily accessed from any province.

• All crime scenes should be professionally secured, forensically examined and extensively photographed as soon as possible.

• Protocols or standard operating procedures should be developed with the help of experts.

• The shortcomings of the hospital, government of Balochistan and police need to be addressed and removed.

• All educational institutions, including madaris, need to be registered.

• Entry into and departure from Pakistan needs to be properly monitored; all persons must have the requisite documentation.

• The customs authorities should ensure that contraband is not brought into the country.

• If the media broadcasts and propagates the views of terrorists, then those doing so must be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

• The amount of compensation for the legal heirs of the deceased and for the injured should be expeditiously distributed.

Pakistan defence minister vows to respond to militant attacks from Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Tuesday said Kabul has admitted that areas that terrorists use to launch attacks in Pakistan were not under its control.

He said it was Pakistan’s duty to respond after its soldiers are killed in the militant attacks from across the border, adding that after Kabul’s admission Pakistan has the right to act. He said Pakistan has responded to the militant assaults by attacking militants on Afghan border and would do so in the future.

The defence minister said Afghanistan and India were in cahoots and Kabul has become a puppet in the hands of India.

“It is our duty to respond in the face of cross border attacks regardless of our desire for good relations with Afghanistan”.

The ministers said Pakistan reopened the border crossings with Afghanistan on humanitarian grounds so that standard people could go back to their country.

Pakistan, Kuwait to boost bilateral relations in diverse fields

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Kuwait have agreed to enhance bilateral relations in diverse fields.

The understanding came at a meeting between Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah in Kuwait City on Tuesday.

The two leaders discussed matters of mutual interest.

The Prime Minister underlined the need for enhancing economic cooperation between Pakistan and Kuwait in industrial, agriculture, energy and defence sectors.

He urged the Kuwaiti investors to take advantage of the immense economic opportunities available in Pakistan.

PM Nawaz proposes establishment of Pakistan-Kuwait joint business council

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has proposed establishment of a Pakistan-Kuwait Joint Business Council for promotion of trade relations between the two countries.

He was talking to Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber Al Mubarak Al-Hamad at Bayan Palace in Kuwait on Tuesday.

The Prime Minister pointed out that Pakistan and Kuwait have been economic and trade partners for long and Pakistan wished to further enhance its relations with Kuwait in all spheres. The Joint Ministerial Commission provides the best platform to take stock of bilateral cooperation in various economic sectors and setting new benchmarks to carry this cooperation forward.

Referring to the level of bilateral trade between the two countries, the prime minister reiterated that this needed to be further enhanced to its fullest potential. Encouraging greater private sector interaction could enhance the existing level of trade as well as bridge the imbalance in existing trade patterns.

Nawaz Sharif said over 114,000 Pakistanis live in Kuwait which was evidence of the strong ties existing between the two countries. It also confirmed the immense importance that Pakistan attaches to relations with Kuwait.

Nawaz Sharif also emphasized the importance of early resumption of GCC- Pakistan Free Trade Agreement negotiations with the support of Kuwait and most importantly spoke of the need for lifting of visa restrictions as it would remove a major hurdle in freedom of movement for the business community.

He stressed that Pakistan was an investment friendly country and an attractive destination for foreign investors, due to its liberal investment policy and high rate of return.

There are ample opportunities for investors, with one hundred percent equity or joint ventures in Pakistan. Over 1,000 leading multinational companies are currently successfully operating in various sectors of our economy.

The Prime Minister said there were a number of energy and infrastructure development projects in Pakistan that could be considered by foreign investors. He said we would welcome further investments from Kuwait in mega infrastructure and energy projects being undertaken in Pakistan.

Earlier, Nawaz Sharif was accorded a warm welcome upon arrival at the Bayan Palace with Guard of Honor.

Meanwhile, talking to Speaker of Kuwaiti Parliament Marzouq Al-Ghanim in Kuwait City, the Prime Minister emphasized the need for greater parliamentary exchanges between Pakistan and Kuwait.

He said these exchanges will enhance relations between the two countries.

Speaker Marzouq briefed the Prime Minister about the proceeding of Kuwaiti Parliament.

Imran Khan seems remorseless over 'Phateechar' remarks in Geo TV interview

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan, who came under harsh criticism for his remarks against foreign cricketers of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), seemed remorseless in his interview with Geo News on Tuesday.

Speaking at Geo News talk show Capital Talk, the former captain of Pakistani team said the holding of PSL final in Lahore would not pave the way for resumption of international cricket in the country.

When Hamid Hamir, host of the TV show, told him that the International Cricket Council (ICC) plans to send World XI to Pakistan, Khan said: “ I will have to use the word Patheechar again”.

Khan also denied that he made racist remarks with regards to foreign players and said he didn't mean to humiliate the cricketers by his remarks.

Talking to journalists on Monday, Khan had said: "I didn't even know the names of the 'phateechar' (low-class) players who they were claiming were foreign players".I think they grabbed some people from Africa and others from elsewhere to claim that they were foreign players. We don't know who they were," said the PTI chief."

Imran said that the foreign players who attended the PSL final in Lahore would have come even to play domestic cricket if they were offered money. He said that the big names of international cricket were unwilling to come to Pakistan and did not arrive

Imran's #Phateechar comment fires up social media

Imran Khan's statement declaring foreign players who participated in the Pakistan Super League 'phateechar' incited fury and anger on micro-blogging site Twitter, as some cricket enthusiasts accused the cricketer-turned-politician of resorting to petty politics and racism.

Had Imran Khan known of the impact that his 'phateechar' comment would have, the PTI chairman might have not made them at all. Pakistani Twitterati had a field day trolling the former World Cup-winning captain for his harsh statement. Even supporters of Imran seemed to distance themselves from his recent comments.

— Ayesha Khan (@Ayesha_JKhan) March 7, 2017

Imran Khan, the man who used to be extremely popular on social media, may have fallen out of love with many owing to his recent comments. Will the PTI chairman apologise for his controversial remarks or will he stick to his words?