Doha                                                                                                                                                                                                    25 March 2018

Lulu Hypermarket Outlets in Qatar Observed today Earth Hour by switching off the external lights

Doha                                                                                                                                                                                               24 March 2018

Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser AlThani, Prime Minister & Interior Minister of Qatar launched 2018-2022 National Health Strategy carrying it's theme as  'Our Health, Our Future’. It was launched at Qatar National Convention Centre on Saturday. The event was held at the opening ceremony for the 2018 Middle East Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare.

Present on the occasion were Dr. Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs; Dr Hanan Mohamed Al-Kuwari, Minister of Public Health; a number of ministers, top officials of major healthcare organisations in Qatar and a number of international healthcare experts. Over 2,500 healthcare professionals from across Qatar’s health sector, and a number of delegates from region and beyond participated on the occasion.

Under new strategy, 19 targets on national level are pointed out, progress on which will be measured regularly. Among the national targets include increasing of physical activity among adolescents, implementing of wellness programs at workplace and improving access to mental health services.

It also reflects a global shift in thinking by focusing on seven priority population groups. It aims to shape services around people, patients and their families and change the way the health system works, moving from focusing on treating the symptoms of disease to helping people stay healthy.

Dr. Hanan Mohamed Al-Kuwarial stressed on importance of  better health living as she said on the occasion ' 'Our ambition for the next stage in our journey is to make sure that all the population living in Qatar enjoys better health. This would be by further improving the healthcare system capacity and performance, a renewed effort on health promotion and diseases prevention and an efficient use of the available resources, ' she added..

The Minister said that Qatar’s health system made enormous progress under the National Health Strategy 2011-2016. Qatar has significant achievements in healthcare as Qatar ranked 13th in world's healthcare systems and first in the Middle East by the Legatum Institute in its Annual Global Prosperity Index and is credited towards the wise leadership of country, she said.

She told that new strategy will build upon the momentum to define a new path forward, inspired by the Qatar National Vision 2030.

Dr Mariam AbdulMalik, Managing Director, Primary Health Care Corporation said 'A key pillar of the National Health Strategy 2018-2022 is the shift from focusing on diseases to enhancing preventative health services. As the first point of contact for most patients in Qatar’s health system, primary care has a central role to play in realising this ambition', she said.

 

 

Islamabad                                                                                                                                                                                          23 March 2018                                                                                                                                                                               (Media Reports)

The people of Pakistan throughout the globe are celebrating Pakistan Day 2018 across the country with traditional zeal and fervour.

Pakistan Day commemorates Lahore Resolution on March 23, 1940, when All-India Muslim League demanded a separate nation for Muslims from then British Indian Empire.

Celebrations took off  with special prayers offered by people in masajid throughout the country after Fajr prayers for the progress, prosperity and solidarity of the country. A 31-gun salute in Islamabad, and 21-gun salutes in provincial capitals were given. National flag was hoisted at all major government buildings through out the country.

Change of guard ceremonies were held at the mausoleums of Father of the nation, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah in Karachi and Dr Allama Mohammad Iqbal in Lahore.

Maithripala Sirisena, President of Sri Lanka was Special guest at the traditional Military parade on Friday to mark the day. Troops from Turkey, Jordan and United Arab Emirates also joined Pakistani troops during military parade held at Parade Ground in Islamabad.

Traditional Military parade ceremony commenced from recitation of verses from Holy Quran. Present on the occasion were President of Pakistan, Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Defence Minister Khurrum Dastagir, Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, Naval Chief Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi. Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee Zubair Mehmood Hayat, diplomats including  Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria, Deputy High Commissioner J.P. Singh and Military Attaché Brig. P. Vishwasrao.

Contingents of Pakistan Army, Pakistan Air Force, and Pakistan Navy held a march-past and a salute to the president of Pakistan. Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan led a fly-past as a salute to the president.

Troops from Frontier Corps, Pakistan Rangers, Northern Light Infantry, Mujahid Battalion, Tri Services Lady Officers, Tri Services Armed Forces Nursing Services, Special Services Group, and President Bodyguards also took part in the parade.

Pakistan made tanks 'Al Khalid' and 'Al Zarrar',  among missiles  'NASR', 'Shaheen' , 'Ghauri' and 'Babur' cruise missiles participated in the parade.

A number of airplanes from Army Aviation and Pakistan Air Force demonstrated aerobatic feats for the audience. Combat and attack helicopters, skydivers of airborne units from the three armed forces were among demonstrated their skills.

Cultural delegates and floats from Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Kashmir featured colourful cultures during the ceremony.

President Mamnoon Hussain, in his speech, welcomed the Sri Lankan president, and troops from Turkey, Jordan, and UAE to the parade.

He paid tribute to founders of country who made the creation of Pakistan possible and to the martyrs of Pakistan movement. President of Pakistan stressed on the importance of peace and stability for country's progress.

He said that cooperation for international peace is base of  country's foreign policy. Islamabad also extends a hand of cooperation to the regional countries but taking the gesture as a weakness will be a dangerous mistake, the president added.

President Mamnoon Hussain denounced Indian army's attacks from across the Line of Control and Working Boundary. Strongly condemning India for its irresponsible behaviour and its atrocities in Indian held-Kashmir,  he said that 'only solution to the dispute of Kashmir is providing the right of self-determination to the Kashmiri people, and Pakistan will continue to play its role in this regard',

On anti-terrorism operations in the country, he lauded armed forces and the nation for eliminating terrorism from the country under operations Raddul Fasad and Zarb-i-Azb. On this occasion, President of Pakistan announced a medal "Tamga-i-Azam" for those who rendered sacrifices for restoration of peace.

On Friday, President of Pakistan awarded 141 Pakistani citizens and foreign nationals for their services in various fields including science, literature, arts, sports and media. Deceased human rights lawyer Asma Jahangir was awarded Nishan-i-Pakistan, the highest civilian honour on her struggle for democracy and advocacy for human rights.

The Pakistan Day parade was discontinued during tenure of military Gen. Pervez Musharaf and also during Asif Zardari government in fear of terrorism. However, It was Nawaz Sharif government which resumed military parade and other celebrations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Islamabad                                                                                                                                                                                      22 March 2018

PPP Senator Sherry Rehman has been declared the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, read a notification issued by the Senate Secretariat on Thursday.

Rehman is the first female in Pakistan to hold the position.

PPP, after getting its candidates elected as Senate chairman and deputy chairman — Sadiq Sanjrani and Saleem Mandviwalla, respectively — has now occupied the office of the opposition leader with the support of 34 members. Rehman is the party's seventh opposition leader in the Senate.

After being elected, Rehman thanked her party's leadership and its allies for supporting her. She vowed to cooperate with all opposition parties in Senate going forward and to make the upper house more effective and active.

"We will play our role in making the government answerable," she said, adding that the opposition will make efforts to strengthen the federation.

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Monday had challenged the PPPs move to nominate Senator Rehman for the opposition leader's position in the upper house of the parliament.

In a letter to Senate Chairman Sanjrani, PTI Senator Azam Khan Swati — himself a nominee for the seat —had contended that the list of members supporting Senator Rehman for the slot of opposition leader contravened the rules and procedures of the house.

The party had accelerated its efforts to thwart the PPP move and met with representatives of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), senators from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) as well as the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) to seek their support.

While talking to DawnNewsTV earlier in the week, Senator Swati had claimed that the party enjoys support of the majority of opposition members.

Swati, however, secured only 19 votes.

Meanwhile, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari congratulated Rehman on becoming the opposition leader in Senate.

"Election of Sherry Rehman as Leader of the Opposition in the Senate was in line with PPP’s inherited policy of empowerment of women and providing them equal opportunities to play their role in every sphere of life," he was quoted as saying in a statement.

First female opposition leader

Last week, the PPP had started lobbying for Senator Rehman after party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari nominated her for the position.

Bilawal had expressed hope that Rehman would become the first female opposition leader in the Senate, saying, "PPP ready to make history again".

Earlier, the late Benazir Bhutto had served as leader of the opposition in the National Assembly during the two previous PML-N governments in the 1990s.

Shahrbano Rehman, better known as Sherry Rehman, was born on 21st December 1960 in Karachi. She was educated at Smith College and later at the University of Sussex where she studied Art History and Political Science.

Rehman has served as an MNA and a minister in the centre for various departments including health, women development and information. She has also served as Pakistan's ambassador to United States in PPP-led government's recent term.

 

Kabul                                                                                                                                                                                                      21 March 2018                                                                                                                                                                              (AlJazeera)

At least 29 people have been killed and 52 others wounded in a mid-day explosion in the Afghan capital, Kabul.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group claimed responsibility for Wednesday's attack, which took place close to Kabul University and Ali Abad hospital, its Amaq news agency said.

News reports quoted the interior ministry as saying that a suicide bomber had detonated his explosives while walking among a group of people.

The attack happened as many Afghans are marking the Nowruz holiday, a celebration of the start of spring and the Persian new year.

Last Tuesday, on the eve of Nowruz, interior ministry officials had said that there was enough security for the celebration.

In an interview with Al Jazeera from Kabul, Habib Wardak, a national security analyst, said the timing and location of the attack was "no coincidence".

"It's a national holiday for us. A lot of people are gathering across various points in the city, and this is certainly one of them where people celebrate the new year."

He said there is a shrine in the area popular among Afghans celebrating the Persian new year.

Wardak said there was a "glimmer of hope" that the new year would bring new effort for reconciliation. But he said the latest explosion is "not a good sign".

Since the beginning of this year, ISIL and the Taliban have launched a series of deadly attacks across the country, killing more than 200 people in Kabul alone, according to an Al Jazeera tally.

On Saturday, a Taliban suicide bomber detonated explosives near a compound for foreign security contractors in Kabul, killing three civilians.

Amid the deteriorating security situation, General John W Nicholson Jr of the US Army said in December that his country would deploy more troops in an advisory role to Afghan forces in 2018, on top of the 14,000 American soldiers already stationed in the country.

The US invaded Afghanistan in 2001 to topple the Taliban. Since then thousands of civilians have been killed in the bloody fighting between the US-backed Afghan government forces and the armed group.

Doha                                                                                                                                                                                                    21 March 2018

First time in Qatar Kochu TV (Popular South Indian Kids channel) conducting a kid’s talent show, “Lulu Kochu Rocks in Qatar 2018” at Lulu hypermarket Barwa city on March 23^rd at 5 PM.

Kids will get opportunity to enjoy with Singoo.

The event is organised by Watermelon Advertising and sponsored by Lulu Hypermarket. event's presenting sponsor is Al Anees  Electronics whereas gifts are sponsored in collaboration of Lulu Hypermarket and Al Anees Electronics.

Doha                                                                                                                                                                                                    21 March 2018

Mohammed bin Tawar Al Kuwari, Vice President of Qatar Chamber of Commerce received today on Wednesday a trade delegation representing a number of major agricultural and food companies from Pakistani city of Lahore, headed by Mahmoud Ghaznavi, former Vice President of Lahore Chamber.

During the meeting, they discussed ways to enhance cooperation between Qatari businessmen and their Pakistani counterparts, especially in the agriculture and food sector.   Mohammed bin Tawar Al Kuwari said on the occasion that Qatari-Pakistani relations are witnessing remarkable development and that the two friendly countries are keen to enhance bilateral trade relations to new heights.

He said that State of Qatar is witnessing smooth development and a boom in projects thus providing e great opportunities for cooperation among business owners in various fields, especially in the food security sectors, thus giving the opportunity for Pakistani investors to enter the Qatari market.

Mahmoud Ghaznavi, head of Pakistan delegation said that Pakistani companies are looking forward to concluding agreements and partnership with their Qatari counterparts, noting that many Pakistani companies specialized in agriculture and food are currently participating in the Qatar International Agricultural Exhibition "Agritec 2018".

It is to note that couple of Pakistani traders are also participating in Agri-TEQ 2018 at the the Doha Exhibition Center.

Ghasnavi extended his invitation to Deputy Chairman QCC to visit Pakistan and let Qatari business delegation witness and identify opportunities, especially in the food and agricultural fields.

 

Doha                                                                                                                                                                                                      21 March 2018

Sa'ad Sherida Al-Ka'abi, President & CEO of Qatar Petroleum (QP) and Chairman Qatargas concluded his visit to New Delhi and talks on enhancing cooperation with top Indian energy officials.

Al-Kaabi held talks during the visit with India’s Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, which focused on bilateral cooperation and means to strengthen energy relations with Qatar, particularly in the LNG sector.

Al-Kaabi, and the accompanying delegation from Qatar Petroleum and Qatargas, held similar talks with senior leaderships of Indian Oil, GAIL, Petronet, and Reliance Industries.

QP Chief expressed great satisfaction at the positive conclusion of the visit and said “Qatar appreciates and values its long term and mutually beneficial relationship with India, and reiterates its commitment to effectively contribute to satisfying India’s growing energy demand, including the reliable delivery of LNG and other hydrocarbons. I would like to thank the Indian government and all the executives and energy leaders we have met for their hospitality and constructive discussions. We look forward to more cooperation between our companies.”

India is a strategic partner for Qatar Petroleum. Its business relationship includes LNG supplies and other energy products to fuel the vibrant Indian economy.

India also represents one of Qatar’s largest markets with more than 10 million tons delivered annually in recent years. Qatargas supplies multiple customers in India and is the single largest LNG supplier to the country.

In 1999, RasGas (now Qatargas) and Petronet LNG Limited signed a long-tern SPA for 7.5 million tons per annum of LNG. This was followed in December 2015 with a new SPA for the supply of an additional one million tons per annum, raising the total annual long-term commitment between the two companies to 8.5 million tons per annum.

Doha                                                                                                                                                                                                    21 March 2018

A QR 3.0 billion cost of new Island city, spread over an area of 300,000 square meters, adjacent to The Pearl Qatar  is expected to launch by end of next month (April) and to be completed by 2021 end.

Turki bin Mohammed AlKhater, Chairman , United Development Company (UDC) announced today  at company's Ordinary and Extraordinary General Assembly meeting that UDC was set to develop a new island city near The Pearl Qatar. He told that QR 2.5 billion from allocated amount of QR 5.5 billion for it's five year (2018-2022) expenditure plan to develop major new projects will be spent on the new island.

Later, at the end of the General Assembly meeting, Ibrahim Jassim Al Othman, UDC President and CEO told that QR 500,000 from QR 3.0 billion cost of the new city will be met from investors, both local and abroad. On a question on funding from banks, AlOthman said that local banks are very much in position to support to the project.

On a question by asiantelegraphqatar.com, AlOthman told that name of the new city will be announced on it's launching day, i.e., by end of April. UDC President and CEO told while talking to media that the new island will  have some thing unique and different architectural design. there will be beachfront and waterfront villas of different categories and independent islets, a green park, an aquarium-style water park, an air-conditioned outdoor boardwalk,  etc.

AlOthman told that design work of the new island city is in progress and project will start in July this year.  On a question, he said that island will have a capacity to accommodate around 6,000 inhabitants.

On the on-going projects on The Pearl Qatar City, AlOthman said that key developments include Al Mutahidah Towers, Giardino Village and Floresta Gardens. On a question, he said that work to build int'l  school and hospital on Pearl Qatar is also expected to start this year.

 

Doha                                                                                                                                                                                                    17 March 2018

10^th Annual Youth-led Conference “EMPOWER 2018” concluded recently with a declaration seeking international support for youth initiatives to achieve effective citizenship. The event was organised by Education Above All (EAA) Foundation’s programme, Reach Out to Asia (ROTA).

Kicking off the final day of “EMPOWER 2018”, the attendees had the opportunity for educational offsite visits to renowned places such as Qatar National Library, Msheireb Museum, Fire Station, Kahrama Tarsheed Park, Souq Waqif, as well as a visit to Dahl Al Hamam park organized by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment for the participants.

Following the visits, experts reflected on the offsite activities at the conference venue and shared great learning with participants. As day 3 was the last day of the event, ROTA Youth Advisory Board Members revealed the conference outcomes, while ROTA Youth Service Clubs (RYSC) presented flash stories and achievements.

The ROTA Youth Service Clubs (RYSC) awards ceremony was also held to recognise the efforts of the four winning clubs on their community service projects. Four prizes were awarded to following project: “Q- Wasel” for Best comprehensive project, “Bina Taalou” for Best achievements, “Jouraat Hayat” for best teamwork, and “Tahammal Binafsak” for best organized and systematic project.

Held under the theme ‘Youth and Effective Citizenship’, this year’s conference provided a platform for youth to hone their leadership skills whilst taking the initiative to develop solutions to some of the world’s most pressing global issues.

This year “EMPOWER 2018” was a true culmination of the efforts of the 450 youth who took part this year and a true reflection of their views, and recommendations with respect to the topic of ‘Youth and Effective Citizenship’. They were able to discover their voice and build their knowledge, skills, and experiences, towards creating positive change for themselves and their communities, as well as effectively contribute to the progress and prosperity of their nations.

The three-day event included a combination of panel discussion, keynote speeches, workshops, seminars, off-site activities, exhibition, social programme and youth artistic expression. The core takeaways for the youth included to be driven by opportunity and not by necessity as well as be enterprising and work towards economic prosperity. They could also make a difference by investing their time and efforts in supporting the economy by endorsing local products. Social media channels are also being considered as an effective tool to be updated on every aspect of one’s life and community.

This year's theme also celebrated the milestone of ROTA completing 10 years of Youth Empowerment through its EMPOWER initiative. More than 450 passionate young people from Qatar, the region, and around the world gathered in the conference, to explore youth empowerment and promote youth leadership, service learning and global citizenship.

This year, ROTA received more than 1,000 applications from 55 countries. Participants were selected following a meticulous screening of all applications and personal interviews with applicants in order to determine the most appropriate candidates.