Doha, 18 Feb. 2022

Qatar-ExxonMobil 2021 Champion Nikoloz Basilashvili (Georgia) will face once again 2021 Runner Up and World No. 16, Roberto Bautista Agut (Spain) on Saturday at the final 2022 Qatar-ExxonMobil Open. The tournament is held at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.

Robert Bautista Agut demonstrated his fighting qualities on Friday Karen Khachanov 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 in a thriller under the lights in Doha. The Spaniard produced an intense and aggressive performance, overcoming the Russian in two hours and 26 minutes to reach the final at the ATP 250 event for the second consecutive year.

Roberto Bautista Agut defeated Andy Murray 6-0, 6-1,  Andy Murray suffered worst defeat in decades.

“The atmosphere was unbelievable,” Bautista Agut said in his on-court interview. “I want to give a lot of credit to Karen, he was playing unbelievably. I had to fight really hard to turn the score around. It was a really tough match.”

The second seed found his range as the match went on with the key turning point coming in the third game of the second set, when Bautista Agut fended off seven break points in a mammoth game to hold. From there, the World No. 16 put his foot down and raised his level deep in the third set, breaking at 5-5 with a powerful smash, before holding to seal his win.

The 33-year-old, who overcame Andy Murray and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina for the loss of just three games in his opening two matches, now leads Khachanov 6-2 in their ATP Head2Head series.

“He was playing very fast," Bautista Agut added. "He was playing very solidly, he was defending very well and he hit many unbelievable passing shots. I had to play incredibly well tonight. I enjoyed tonight so much.”

Bautista Agut has strong pedigree in Doha, having lifted the title in 2019 and reached the final last season. The Spaniard will be aiming to capture his first tour-level crown since he triumphed in Doha three years ago when he faces Nikoloz Basilashivili in a repeat of last year's championship match on Saturday.

Khachanov was aiming to reach his second tour-level final of the season, after advancing to the final at the Adelaide International 1 in January.

Earlier, Basilashvili continued his love affair with the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, soaring into the final for the second consecutive year with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech.

The Georgian lifted the trophy in Doha last season, defeating Roger Federer en route. Basilashvili will have the opportunity to triumph again when he takes to court on Saturday after he broke Rinderknech three times to end the World No. 61’s run and advance.

“I am feeling great,” Basilashvili said. “I really like playing in Doha. I see the ball really well here and physically I feel much better than previous matches. The final will be a tough match.”

Basilashvili, who arrived at the ATP 250 event on a six-match losing streak in 2022, is aiming to win his sixth tour-level title this week.

Rinderknech was bidding to reach his second final of the year, having enjoyed a run to the championship match at the Adelaide International 2 in January.

Doha, 17 Feb. 2022

State Minister for Energy Affair State of Qatar, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, and Shaukat Tarin, the Federal Minister for Finance, Revenue, and Economic Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan held virtual meeting as per the press release from Qatar Energy.

Both parties during their meeting focused on a number of topics of mutual interest, foremost of which was cooperation in the field of energy between Qatar and Pakistan.

Daily AUGAF, Pakistan, in it's publication dated 16 February issue reported that both sides discussed ways and means on promoting bilateral and economic ties between two countries. The issues for setting up of the LNG terminal in Pakistan came under discussion in the meeting.

Finance Minister assured the Qatar Energy Minister, of all possible support to resolve the issues for facilitating the State of Qatar’s investment in Pakistan.

Secretaries of Finance, Maritime Affairs and Energy, Chairman OGRA and senior officers also participated in the meeting.

Earlier, the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) in November 2021 cleared state-run Qatar Energy’s bid to acquire 49 per cent stakes in an upcoming private sector LNG terminal, paving the way for Qatar’s first direct investment in Pakistan’s energy market.

Energas, a merchant terminal yet to come on ground, is currently owned by three local business groups — Lucky, Sapphire and Halmore. Qasim Terminal Holding LLC (QTHL) is a subsidiary of Qatar Energy formerly known as Qatar Petroleum which has two long-term LNG supply contracts with state-run Pakistan State Oil (PSO).

Doha, 15 Feb. 2022 (ATP-QTF)

On the 2nd day of Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2022, Two-time champion, 34 year old  Andy Murray produced a strong first-round performance to brush past Daniel 6-2, 6-2 on Tuesday.

The Scot was pleased with how he dealt with the threat of Daniel this time around. “He played very well in Australia, he had a very good run there and was too good for me there. I tried to be the one dictating from the first point, and I thought I did that well. It was one of the better matches I’ve played in recent months.”

Murray is a two-time champion and four-time finalist in Doha, and he looked happy to be back as he hit 11 winners and broke Daniel twice to ease to the first set.

World No. 110 Daniel broke in the first game of the second set to momentarily halt the Murray charge, but a trademark backhand winner that sealed an immediate break back was typical of how the Scot struck the ball throughout and he went on to seal victory in one hour, 20 minutes.

On Monday, first day of Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2022, Karen Khachanov  overpowered World No. 51 Mackenzie McDonald in a tight encounter in the first round of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha on Monday.

Both men made few errors in a high-quality match, but the Russian was able to find something extra at key moments to run out a 7-6(3), 6-3 winner in one hour, 25 minutes.

Khachanov has enjoyed a strong start to 2022, reaching the final at the Adelaide International (l. to Monfils) and pushing eventual champion Rafael Nadal to four sets in the third round of the Australian Open in January, and he had to bring his best to his opening-round match.

“Overall I feel it was a great match," said the Russian in his post-match interview. "A great performance, I think, from both sides.

World No. 28 Daniel Evans showed good form during his first-round match in Doha, where he eased past Edgar Gerasimov 6-4, 6-4 in one hour, 31 minutes.

Evans hit the ball cleanly throughout in his first ATP Tour meeting with Gerasimov. He broke to love in the fifth game of the match and stayed solid to give his Belarusian opponent little say in the first set.

The Qatar ExxonMobil Open, one of two ATP Tour events held in the Middle East, has been selected by players as the ATP 250 Tournament of the Year on four occasions (2015, ’17, ’19, '21). Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have won multiple titles at this event, with Nadal's haul including the 2014 singles title and four doubles crowns (2005, '09, '11 and '15). Djokovic won back-to-back titles in 2016 and '17.

Round of 32 Results
Today’s Order of Play
Alexander Bublik (Kazakhstan x7) bt Jozef Kovalik (Slovakia) 6-2, 6-4; Elias Ymer (Sweden) bt Joao Sousa (Portugal) 2-6, 6-3, 7-5;
Arthur Rinderknech (France) bt Jiri Vesely (Czech Republic) 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4;  Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (Spain) bt Malek Jaziri (Tunisia) 6-1, 6-3;               Marton Fucsovics (Hungary) bt Lloyd Harris (South Africa x8) 6-4, 7-6 (4); Andy Murray (Britain) bt Taro Daniel (Japan) 6-2, 6-2;                                               Emil Ruusuvuori (Finland) bt David Goff in (Belgium) 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 Doubles Round of 16:                                                                                                                          Mackenzie McDonald (United States) and Botic Van de Zandschulp (Netherlands) bt Illya Marchenko (Ukraine) and Issa Alharrasi (Qatar) 6-3, 6-2;
Wesley Koolhof (Netherlands) and Neal Skupski (Britain x3) bt Arthur Rinderknech and Manuel Guinard (France) 2-6, 6-3, 10-6.

Singles Round of 16 Centre Court: Starts at 2:30pm:
(1) Denis Shapovalov (CAN) vs Alex Molcan (CRO) ; Followed By: Botic van de Zandschulp (NED) vs (4) WC Marin Cilic (CRO)

Not Before 6:00pm;

(WC) Andy Murray (GBR) vs (2) Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) Followed By: (6) Karen Khachanov (RUS) vs David Goff in (BEL)

Grandstand 1 Starts at 2:30pm
Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) vs (7) Alexander Bublik (KAZ) (3) Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) vs (LL) Elias Ymer (SWE)
Followed by - After suitable rest:

Doubles - Quarter-finals:

Sander Gille/Joran Vliegen (BEL) or Malek Jaziri (TUN)/Mubarak Zaid (QAT) vs Rohan Bopanna (IND)/Denis Shapovalov (CAN)

Followed by - After suitable rest:
Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO)/Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP) vs Manuel Guinard/Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) or Wesley Koolhof (NED)/Neal Skupski (GBR)

Grandstand 2 Starts At 2:30pm
Soonwoo Kwon (KOR) vs Marton Fucsovics (HUN)  Followed by: (5) Daniel Evans (GBR) vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP)
Followed by - Time and court TBA Doubles - Quarter-finals:

Daniel Evans/Ken Skupski (GBR) or Andrey Golubev (KAZ)/Fabrice Martin (FRA) vs Alexander Bublik (KAZ)/Marton Fucsovics (HUN)

Not before 6:00pm - After suitable rest:

Nikola Mektic/Mate Pavic (CRO) or Jonathan Erlich (ISR)/Lloyd Harris (RSA) vs Mackenzie McDonald (USA)

Abu Dhabi, 15 Feb 2022 (Anadolu, Khaleej Times)

Turkiye and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have a common goal of taking bilateral ties to higher levels, the Turkish president said on Tuesday.

Addressing businesspeople and investors in Abu Dhabi, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "We are taking necessary steps to strengthen economic ties in all areas, especially in infrastructure, aviation, banking, and finance."

The Turkish president, who last visited the UAE in 2013, is in the country for a two-day visit at the invitation of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

Turkish President  was addressing to the business community in Abu Dhabi, he said that both countries have a strong will to enhance trade relations and boost investments, which was manifested by the signing of 13 cooperation agreements in various sectors on Monday.

Agreements on the defense industry, health, climate change, industry, technology, trade, economy, culture, agriculture, trade, economy, youth, transportation, disaster management, meteorology, communication, and archive were inked during a meeting between the Turkish and UAE delegations chaired jointly by Erdogan and Sheikh Mohammed.

Erdogan said the UAE is Turkiye's prominent trade partner in the Gulf region, and trade volume and buoyancy in private sector partnership were maintained even during a period of tense relations.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reviewed the prospects of further consolidating bilateral relations and advancing cooperation and joint work between the two nations in various fields.

Sheikh Mohamed welcomed Erdogan's visit to UAE and expressed hope this "significant visit would create further momentum to strengthening cooperation and building a new prosperous phase of partnerships for the higher good of the two countries, their peoples and all the nations of the region."

“We discussed opportunities to strengthen our bilateral relations and witnessed the signing of several agreements and MOUs aimed at expanding co-operation between our two countries.”

Sheikh Mohamed thanked Turkey for its condemnation of the recent terrorist attacks on civilian sites in the UAE by Yemen's Houthi rebels.

The Abu Dhabi Crown Prince said agreements made during his visit to Turkey in November had provided a platform for economic and trade partnerships between the countries.

The Abu Dhabi Crown Prince said agreements made during his visit to Turkey in November had provided a platform for economic and trade partnerships between the countries.

During that visit, the UAE announced it was setting up a US$ 10 billion investment fund in Turkey.

Later, President Erdogan visited Expo 2020 Dubai, where he was welcomed by Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid AlMaktoum, Vice President of United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai,

Islamabad, 11 Feb 2022 (Media)

Islamabad – Prime Minister of Islmaic Republic of Pakistan, Imran Khan on Thursday has distributed appreciation certificates among ten federal ministers over their outstanding performance.

For the FY 2020-21, a total of 40 ministries and divisions prepared their agreements. Over 1300 reform, policy, development, and administrative initiatives were chosen for delivery through 6000 targets identified on a quarterly basis. For these targets, over 1700 inter-ministerial dependencies were tracked.

The top 10 ministries recognised for their performance at a ceremony held in Islamabad were as follows :

• Ministry of Communications, headed by Murad Saeed
• Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives headed by Asad Umar
• Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Division headed by Dr Sania Nishtar
• Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training headed by Shafqat Mahmood
• Ministry of Human Rights headed by Dr Shireen Mazari
• Ministry of Industries and Production headed by Khusro Bakhtiar
• National Security Division headed by Dr Moeed Yusuf
• Ministry of Commerce headed by Abdul Razak Dawood
• Ministry of Interior headed by Sheikh Rashid Ahmed
• Ministry of National Food Security and Research headed by Syed Fakhar Imam

The ministries with a performance score of 80 per cent and over were also highlighted in the function. However, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Finance; Economic Affairs; Defence; Defence Production; Law & Justice; Ministry of Information and Broadcasting; kind of important ministries failed to obtain their position among top tens.

Addressing the function, the prime minister singled out Saeed for praise as his ministry came out on top despite his young age.

The premier said the appraisal would be a quarterly affair, bonuses would be given on its basis, also adding that in future the top 10 ministries should not be announced before hand so as to ensure the attendance of all federal ministers.

The Prime Minister's Office said the rewards were being distributed in accordance with "The Performance Agreement" signed with the federal ministries in which targets were set for them.

The PMO added that the main purpose behind the agreement was to evaluate the performance of ministries, enforce a system of rewards and penalties for government officials and improve service delivery.

Daily Express Tribune reported Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Foreign Minister in a letter to Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Establishment Mohammad Shehzad Arbab, Qureshi expressed his reservation after the foreign ministry was given 11th rank.

He said that the foreign ministry had achieved 22 out of the 26 targets and 18 out of the 24 targets as per the performance agreement during the first quarter, adding that the foreign ministry also carried out high-level activities during this period.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs raises questions on the method of grading. It should be clarified under which method the grading of ministries was done," the foreign minister further said in the letter.

Meanwhile, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said that PM Imran had distributed certificates among his ten favourite ministers, which meant that he had expressed "no-confidence" in the rest of the members of the federal cabinet.

Addressing a workers' convention in Multan, Bilawal said that the prime minister was busy distributing certificates among his ministers when he should be focusing on solving the people's issues. He vowed that the people of Pakistan would show PM Imran the reality of his government's performance. "The certificate that you will receive from the people in the [next] elections, you suffered a trailer of that in the by-elections," he said.

Bilawal said that the communications minister, Murad Saeed, was awarded a certificate even though he failed to work on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). In an apparent reference to Asad Umar, he said that another minister from Karachi was fired and then kicked out from one ministry, but was now looking after the planning ministry.

Doha, 10 Feb. 2022

Qatar Airways scheduled flights to Multan International Airport, Pakistan, will resume on 22 February 2022, with a three weekly service and taking it to four weekly, effective 27 March 2022 after the airline temporarily suspended flying to Multan in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The route will be operated by Airbus A320 offering seats in Business Class and Economy Class.

With the addition of three weekly flights to Multan, passengers can now enjoy seamless connectivity to over 140 destinations across the airline’s extensive global network via the best airport in the world, Hamad International Airport, including popular destinations across the Middle East, Europe and North America.  The national carrier of the State of Qatar remains committed to Pakistan with the resumption of Multan, further bolstering global connectivity.

Following the resumption, the airline will operate 66 weekly flights to and from six airports in Pakistan, serving more cities in Pakistan than any other full service global airline.

Qatar Airways flight QR616, will depart from Hamad International Airport at 20:45, arriving at 02:00 the next day into Multan International Airport. Qatar Airways flight QR617, will depart from Multan International Airport at 03:25, and arrive into Hamad International Airport at 05:15. The new service will offer one stop connectivity to Pakistani communities in the Middle East, Europe and North America.

A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was announced as the ‘Airline of the Year’ at the 2021 World Airline Awards, managed by the international air transport rating organisation, Skytrax. It was also named ‘World’s Best Business Class’, ‘World’s Best Business Class Airline Lounge’, ‘World’s Best Business Class Airline Seat’, ‘World’s Best Business Class Onboard Catering’ and ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’. The airline continues to stand alone at the top of the industry having won the main prize for an unprecedented sixth time (2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021).

Doha, 06 Feb. 2022

Chinese envoy to State of Qatar, Zhou Jian has said that His Highness Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad AlThani's visit to China is of great significance to China-Qatar relations and the Olympic cause.

Talking on the recent visit to People's Republic of China of Amir of State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani who attended official grand opening ceremony of Beijing Winter Olympic Sports on the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping

He said that Amir of Qatar's visit to China is unprecedented, with three unique factors: His Highness is the only guest who is both a head of and an IOC member from Asia, the only head of state from the Gulf region, and the only state leader in the Middle East to have attended both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games in Beijing.

He said that he believes the visit of Amir of Qatar will leave a remarkable record in the history of Olympics and China-Qatar relations. It is a visit of unity. The official motto for Beijing 2022 is “Together for a Shared Future”, which illustrates the spirit of “together” in the new Olympic motto. The visit of His Highness to China fully demonstrates the firm support from the international community for the Beijing Winter Olympics and sends a strong signal that China and Qatar will work together under Olympic spirit and oppose politicization of sports.

He said that he was confident that with the support of Qatar, the Winter Olympics will become a new symbol of solidarity and bring more confidence and courage to the world for a better future. It is a visit of friendship. President Xi Jinping and Amir of Qatar are old friends with great friendship. In 2008, the two leaders met for the first time during the Summer Olympics in Beijing, which marks the start of long-time friendly exchanges. In 2014 and 2019, President Xi Jinping received Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Beijing for an official visit. In June 2019, the two heads of states met again in Dushanbe. After the pandemic outbreak in 2020, our two heads of states immediately spoke to each other to convey confidence and support.

Chinese envoy said that as the Winter Olympics fall on the Chinese lunar New Year this year, the visit of His Highness to China will not only be a celebration of the Winter Olympic Games, but also a celebration of lunar New Year in China with President Xi and the Chinese people. I believe their great friendship started with Olympic Games will be once again enhanced by Beijing 2022.

He said that it was a visit of cooperation. In recent years, under the strategic guidance of the two heads of states, China-Qatar relations have witnessed sustained, sound and stable development. During Amir of Qatar's visit to China, President Xi Jinping held the first face-to-face meeting with him since the pandemic, and exchange in-depth views on bilateral relations and major international and regional issues, providing the top-level design that will guide the direction for our future relations and inject strong impetus into China-Qatar friendship in the new era.

Zhou Jian said that hosting the Winter Olympics is a solemn commitment China has made to the international community. Over the past six years, following a green, inclusive, open and clean approach, we have made orderly progress in all preparation works. At present, 12 competition venues are completed, 3,000 athletes are participating, 300 million Chinese people are taking part in winter sports driven by the Games, and 1.4 billion Chinese people are welcoming guests from all over the world. China has the confidence and capability to deliver a splendid, extraordinary and outstanding Olympic Games to the world.

It is also the common aspiration of China and Qatar for a successful Winter Olympics  and look forward to seeing our friendship reinforced in Beijing, the "Duel Olympic City". China is also ready to take the Winter Olympics as an opportunity to work with Qatar for a shared future, to make new contributions to the Olympic cause and Beijing 2022, and inject new impetus into China-Qatar relations.

Talking on meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Amir of Qatar on last Saturday in Beijing,  Zhou Jian said that it is highlighting the close relationship between our two countries. President Xi pointed out that China-Qatar relations have witnessed rapid and in-depth growth over the recent years. Pragmatic cooperation between our two countries strive against the impact of the pandemic, and bilateral cooperation in various fields including energy and infrastructure has yielded fruitful results. At present, China-Qatar relationship is facing new opportunities, and China is willing to work with Qatar to lift our strategic partnership to a new level. His Highness the Emir said that the bilateral relations between Qatar and China have achieved historical outcomes, and Qatar is pleased to have developed such strong and deepening ties with China.

Second is reaffirming our confidence in mutual support. President Xi called for firm support between China and Qatar and both the leaders once again confirmed for firmly support to both the countries national sovereignty, stability and security.

Third is mapping up blueprints for mutual cooperation. President Xi said China supports Qatar in the development strategy of "National Vision 2030", and is willing to work with Qatar in the joint construction of "Belt and Road" Initiative, as well as the implementation of Global Development Initiative. The Chinese side will expand cooperation in the fields of energy, infrastructure and other sectors, build a long-term and stable energy partnership, and will encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest in Qatar and take active parts in Qatar’s infrastructure construction and the Free Zone. We also welcome the Qatari side to increase investment in China. President Xi expressed China’s wills to deepen cooperation in counter-terrorism and other fields, and expressed his hope that Qatar could continue to play an active role in finalizing the FTA agreement between China and Gulf States. His Highness the Emir said Qatar welcomes invest from Chinese enterprises to Qatar, and is willing to deepen cooperation with China in various fields such as energy and infrastructure, and actively promote cooperation under the "Belt and Road" Initiative to make grater contributions to our bilateral relations. His Highness also expressed Qatar’s readiness to play an active role in deepening the cooperative relationship between GCC and China.

Fourth is enhancing mutual exchanges between our two peoples. President Xi stressed the importance to enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and Qatar. He also highlighted that China supports Qatar in hosting the 2022 World Cup and the 2030 Asian Games, and will launch cooperation of giant pandas with Qatar, which is the first of its kind in the Middle East region. His Highness congratulated China for the excellent response to the COVID-19 outbreak, which comes as a result of the determination and hard work of the Chinese government and its people. He expressed Qatar’s willingness to strengthen cultural exchanges with China and promote cooperation in the fields of education and sports.

The giant panda is recognized as the national treasure of China, which enjoys great popularity all around the world. It is a symbol of peace and friendship. The cooperation between China and Qatar on the joint research of giant pandas has become a highlight of our bilateral ties, and resembles the friendship between our two leaders. Currently, the site of panda houses in Qatar is under construction. Later this year before the World Cup, Chinese giant pandas will arrive in Qatar, marking their first debut in the Middle East. This will be a remarkable gift from China for the Qatar World Cup, and we hope that the pandas will bring happiness and best wishes from the Chinese people to the brotherly Qatari people, and serve as a new bridge of friendship between our two countries.

In his concluding remarks, Chinese ambassador to Qatar Zhou Jian said that China and Qatar are good brothers, good friends and good partners. Our two sides established strategic partnership in 2014, ushering in a fast track of development. In particular, during His Highness’s successful visit to China in 2019, our two leaders have reached broad consensus on further deepening cooperation in all fields, drawing up new blueprints for bilateral ties in a new era of great development.

Looking back to our relations, we have yielded fruitful results. Looking to the future, China-Qatar relations are full of boundless expectations. We will remain committed to our common aspirations of solidarity and collaboration. Following the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, Qatar will host the FIFA World Cup in November. China is ready to work with Qatar to present two splendid sports feasts and offer strong support to China’s "Long-Range Objectives Through 2035" and Qatar’s National Vision 2030, boosting the confidence of mankind to overcome difficulties under the new Olympic motto: "Faster, Higher, Stronger and Together".

We will join our efforts on international fairness and justice. China is ready to work with Qatar to uphold true multilateralism. We should remove barriers, not erect walls. We should open up, not close off. We should seek integration, not decoupling. We will make persistent efforts in the reform of global governance following the principles of fairness and justice, and make economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial for all.

Doha, 06 Feb. 2022

Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah, Chairperson, National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) of State of Qatar received at NHRC Headquarters visiting Foreign Minister of Finland, Pekka Haavisto and accompanying members of delegation.

Both sides discussed possibilities of joint cooperation in all areas of human rights as per the press release from NHRC Qatar.

 

Doha, 06 Feb. 2022 (QNL)

Dr. Hamad Bin Abdulaziz Al-Kawari, Minister of State, Qatar and President of Qatar National Library was presented the commemorative badge by Rashad Ismayilov, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the State of Qatar, on the 880th anniversary of the Azerbaijani poet, Nizami Ganjavi.

Commenting on the occasion, Dr. Hamad Bin Abdulaziz Al-Kawari said: “On behalf of Qatar National Library, we are honored to receive this commemorative badge on the 880th anniversary of the Azerbaijani poet, Nizami Ganjavi. The occasion also marks the Library’s continued commitment and support to build cultural bonds across nations. We thank the Azerbaijan Embassy for sharing this special gift.”

Rashad Ismayilov, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan expressed his sincere appreciation to Dr. Hamad Bin Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari and Qatar National Library for their support in celebrating the 880th anniversary of Nizami Ganjavi. The Library’s efforts showcasing Azerbaijan’s history and culture is greatly appreciated and we hope to continue strengthening our joint efforts in the areas of literature and poetry in the coming years.

Muzaffarabad, Pakistan-administered Kashmir (Anadolu News)

While Pakistanis and Kashmiris are set to observe the Kashmir Solidarity Day on Saturday in support of the pro-freedom movement in Indian-administered Kashmir, young artists pick color and brush to paint daily life in the picturesque valley.

Pakistan and its controlled part of the disputed valley officially observe the day on Feb. 5 every year since 1991 to express solidarity with people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Rabia Zainab, a fourth-year student at the Arts and Design Department of the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir in Muzaffarabad, said she has tried to bring hope to the people, encouraging them to stay “steadfast” in their struggle against the suppression.

“Apart from purple, I have used yellow (water) color, which is a symbol of happiness and hope. I wish to intrigue the oppressed with the feeling of hope for a bright future and self-satisfaction through my piece,” she said.

Titled Light in the Darkness of Life, Zainab’s artwork is part of a painting contest organized by the university to highlight the different aspects of life in Kashmir, especially in the context of the solidarity day, through colors.

“Hope is like a trust that we can give to others. It is a remedy for despair and grief, in addition to courage and will to live,” she said, referring to the dominating purple color, which is a symbol of strength.

“Tomorrow awaits us because of hope. We all suffer calamities in common and if there is no hope (for a better tomorrow) we might have given up earlier,” she maintained, citing the psychological impact on a common Kashmiri caused by casualties, sieges, and economic destruction for decades.

Kashmir, a Muslim-majority Himalayan region, is held by India and Pakistan in parts and claimed by both in full. A small sliver of Kashmir is also held by China.

Since they were partitioned in 1947, the two countries have fought three wars – in 1948, 1965, and 1971 – two of them over Kashmir. Some Kashmiri groups in Jammu and Kashmir have been fighting against Indian rule for independence, or for unification with neighboring Pakistan.

According to several human rights organizations, thousands of people have reportedly been killed in the conflict in the region since 1989.

Essence of peace

Echoing Zainab’s views, Hafiz Usman Naeem said in his piece of artwork, predominantly a pencil drawing showing a child in a cage, he has attempted to paint the essence of peace and hope for the “oppressed” Kashmiris.

“A good piece of art can either soothe the pain or make it more intense. It (drawing) also shows the silence of the UN and the international community over a continuing streak of human rights violations in the valley,” the young artist told Anadolu Agency.

“The child is caged but only temporarily because one day the valley will lighten up with the fire of freedom,” he maintained. “Let’s be hopeful of a great outcome.”

Syed Bilal Kazmi, another university student taking part in the contest, used watercolors to paint a Kashmiri mother holding her child in her arms. With an eye-soothing green background, the highlight of Kazmi’s artwork is the “supreme smile” of the woman attired in a blue Kashmiri gown, and sporting a traditional cap.

“Even though she has long been facing a myriad of hardships, her happiness tells the world how courageous a Kashmiri woman and mother can be,” Kazmi said while speaking to Anadolu Agency. While holding her child, the woman makes a victory sign, vowing to remain steadfast in the face of multiple challenges she has been facing for decades.

Half-widows

Rukhsana Khan, the head of the Arts and Design Department, said that dozens of young artists took part in the contest, painting various themes in regard to “circumstances on the other side of the divide,” including “half widows,” and destruction of Kashmir’s cultural identity and violation of human rights etcetera.

Half-widow is a term given to Kashmiri women whose husbands have been missing. Several human rights groups accuse the Indian forces of being involved in the forced disappearances during the ongoing conflict in Kashmir.

Moreover, she said the young artists have also painted the agony of Kashmiri youths and their struggle for their homeland, in addition to the traditional architecture of Kashmir Valley, which is also the identity of people across the divide in Kashmir.

The valley comprises Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani-administered Kashmir, also known as Azad Kashmir, and the scenic Neelum Valley. Whereas, the rest of the districts of the Pakistani part of Kashmir belong to the Jammu region.

The artworks will be put on display on Feb. 5 at the university campus.