Day: May 31, 2023

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Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will leave for Jordan and Iraq on Wednesday.

In the first leg of the visit, he will travel to Jordan to attend the royal wedding.

The Foreign Minister will visit to Iraq from fifth to sixth of the next month.

During the visit, of Iraq Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will meet with Iraqi leadership, and hold detailed meeting with his counterpart.

Important agreements will also be signed during the visit.

Foreign Minister is undertaking this visit at the invitation of the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Iraq Dr. Fuad Hussein.

Source: Radio Pakistan

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Naval Chief calls for development of new technology, AI introducing innovations

Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi says development of new technology and artificial intelligence requires that traditional war tactics be replaced by innovation.

He said this while addressing the 52nd convocation ceremony of Pakistan Navy War College held in Lahore on Wednesday. The Naval Chief was the Chief Guest of the ceremony.

Speaking on the occasion, the Naval Chief said that promotion of awareness regarding the maritime sector is a distinction of the Pakistan Navy War College.

Source: Radio Pakistan

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Islamabad Records Alarming Number of HIV Cases

Officials have reported that two treatment and diagnostic centers in Islamabad are seeing an average of 50 new HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) cases each month. In the past seven months, 331 new patients have been diagnosed, many of whom are from Rawalpindi and other cities in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and Azad Kashmir.

The twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad have the highest number of HIV patients, with additional cases reported in cities such as Abbottabad, Mansehra, Haripur, Gujrat, Lahore, Gujranwala, Narowal, Chakwal, Mandi Bahauddin, Minwali, Sargodha Kotli, Bagh, and Ponch.

Many patients avoid seeking treatment in their hometowns due to the stigma associated with the disease and fear of discrimination. As a result, they travel to major cities like Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi for diagnosis and treatment.

Reports reveal that approximately 46 new patients tested positive for HIV in October 2022, 48 in November, 40 in December, 40 in January 2023, 72 in February, 44 in March, and 35 in April 2023.

The National Aids Control Program has established a second center at the Federal Government Poly Clinic due to the high number of patients seeking HIV treatment at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). However, since this center is relatively new, only a few HIV patients have visited it so far.

Source: Pro Pakistani

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Former Pacer Expresses Concern Regarding Shaheen and Shadab’s Decision to Play England’s T20 Blast

Renowned Pakistani fast bowler, Junaid Khan, has expressed his concern over the participation of key national cricketers in the ongoing Vitality T20 Blast in England.

Speaking to the media, Junaid said that PCB should have prevented the likes of Shadab Khan and Shaheen Afridi from participating due to the upcoming crucial ODI season.

Junaid Khan stated that Shaheen Afridi has recently returned to the national side from a prolonged injury, and his services will be required for the team as he is the backbone.

“It would have been best if the board did not allow him to play and advised him to work on his fitness and take some rest because the World Cup is near,” said Junaid Khan.

The Swabi-born cricketer remarked that Shadab Khan has been experiencing the same fitness issue for a long time, and he should prioritize fitness over playing in leagues.

Junaid Khan added that the board should only allow young players who exclusively participate in the T20 format, as league cricket provides them with an opportunity to learn.

“Just like Usama Mir and Zaman Khan came to participate in the league, these are the youngsters who have come here to learn, just like I did in the beginning,” he added.

It is pertinent to mention here that Shadab suffered a neck injury during a match in the ongoing T20 Vitality on Friday when he collided with his teammate, Nathan McAndrew.

Source: Pro Pakistani

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‘Pakistan Can Earn $300 Million Through PVC Exports’

Significant investments to expand and improve the efficiency of domestic PVC production have created an opportunity for Pakistan to earn $300 million through the export of surplus volumes and products, according to Muhammad Idrees, Chief Commercial Officer at Engro Polymer and Chemicals Limited (EPCL).

Currently, Pakistan’s per capita PVC consumption stands at 1.2 kg versus a global average of 6.1 kg. Growth in the country’s per capita consumption will be driven by rising per capita income, increasing urbanization, and robust domestic manufacturing in the coming years.

Through various customer engagement and market development initiatives, such as a retail outlet – thinkPVC, EPCL is actively promoting various standardized, high-quality PVC products.

At a media briefing, Mahmood Siddiqui, Vice President of Manufacturing of the company, highlighted, “Since 2015, the company has invested over $188 million in Plant expansion and other upgrade projects for higher efficiency, reliability, and diversification of operations. In 2021, EPCL enhanced its PVC capacity to 295,000 tons per annum, which is sufficient to fully cater to the local demand and achieve exports as well”.

Idrees said that “the company is collaborating with TDAP to explore global markets for export of value-added PVC downstream products. In the last two years, the company exported surplus products worth USD 48 million to Turkiye and Middle Eastern markets, while import substitution of around $300 million contributed significantly toward solving Pakistan’s balance of payments situation. The downstream PVC industry can fully utilize its excess capacity and help in earning $300 million in valuable foreign exchange by standardizing and improving the quality of finished products”.

The company’s 2030 vision is to become a globally-competitive PVC producer, prioritizing exports, and increasing the domestic per capita PVC consumption to international levels. As part of its business strategy, the company is also looking to position PVC as the “Material of Choice” with a primary emphasis on value-added products.

For the company to enact its plans and maximize the potential of PVC exports while also meeting increasing local demand, it is equally imperative for the government to ensure a conducive business environment with the availability of the right policies and necessary utilities.

Source: Pro Pakistani