Islamabad, Pakistan: His Excellency Khalid Bin Abdulaziz Al Falih, Minister of Investment, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, accompanied by a high-level government cum business delegation, met with General Syed Asim Munir, NI(M), Chief of Army Staff (COAS), at Rawalpindi.
The meeting focused on matters of mutual interest, particularly initiatives to strengthen evergrowing brotherly bilateral cooperation in a variety of sectors.
The COAS expressed his profound appreciation and gratitude for unflinching support for Pakistan from His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman. The manifestation of one of the largest business delegations’ visits to Pakistan reaffirms the enduring and fraternal ties between Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He underscored the deep respect and affection that the people of Pakistan hold for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
COAS further assured the delegation of Pakistan’s full support and commitment and conveyed his optimism for the promising outcomes that would mutually benefit both nations.
Islamabad, Pakistan: Special traffic plan for Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Islamabad. Alternative routes have been arranged for the convenience of citizens.
During the SCO Summit, traffic from Malpur to Kashmir Chowk and Dhokdi Sarina Hotel will be closed.
All types of traffic will be closed from Rawal Dam Chowk to Kashmir Chowk and Sarina–Malpur Road.
Similarly, the traffic going to Sarina from Abpara, Srinagar Highway will be closed.
As urban interchanges, those going to Rawalpindi from Murree, Bhara Kaho will use Banigala, Park Road, Rawal Dam Chowk, and Faizabad left from Korang Road.
Bihara Town from Faizabad and those driving will use Park Road and Banigala-Korang Road.
Those traveling from the Srinagar Highway to Murree, Bhara Kaho will use Chand Tara Chowk, Pak China Friendship Centre, Murree Road, Park Road, and Banigala Korang Road from the Sports Complex.
Heavy traffic will use the Taxila Motorway from Peshawar to Lahore and the Fateh Jang Motorway from Ternool Phatak.
Heavy traffic going to Islamabad and Rawalpindi from Lahore GT Road will use Chakri Motorway from Chak Bailey Road, and Traffic going to Rawalpindi from F5-, G5- and G6-Margallah Road will use 9th Avenue.
Traffic going to Zeropoint from Faisal Avenue will be diverted to 9th Avenue while those going from Bhara Kahu to Rawalpindi will use Korang Banigala Lahtada Road.
Traffic coming from Rawalpindi to Islamabad will use 9th Avenue from Saddar and Murree Roads.
Similarly, the traffic will be closed for the Expressway from Zero Point, Faisal Avenue to Koral Chowk. Citizens will alternatively use the service road for the expressway.
Those coming to Faizabad from Colonel Sher Khan (IJP) Road will use Stadium Road from the 9th Avenue signal.
Entry of all types of heavy traffic will be closed in Islamabad on 14, 15 and 16 October 2024.
A popular Eastern European saying is, “If you have buyers, you will be no more a beggar, even if you are a trash collector.”
Once a student asked Russian President Vladimir Putin during a university lecture why did Soviet Union collapse. Putin said there might be thousands of reasons but the foremost was that the USSR had hundreds of friends but fewer buyers for its production line. This is what Pakistan faces today. Having rich in countless products, its expensive but redundant administrative structure never tried to find buyers and if anyone fortunately came, it ran away after smelling fusty environment.
There is a phrase that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and Pakistan found this ray in the form of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) initiated by COAS Gen Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. This single decision has changed the horizon within the last two years and now buyers are showing confidence in investing in Pakistan. The biggest of such kind is coming from the time-tested brotherly country of Saudi Arabia.
A Saudi investor delegation arrived in Pakistan on a three-day visit on Wednesday and this delegation is headed by Saudi Minister of Investment Mr. Khalid Abdulaziz Al-Falih. The delegation includes officials and companies from various sectors including energy, mining, minerals, agriculture, business, tourism, industry, manpower. Business-to-business meetings of the Saudi delegation with Pakistani companies are scheduled for signing various agreements. The arrival of the delegation is an important milestone in Pakistan-Saudi trade relations. Saudi Arabia has shown full confidence in Pakistan’s economy, geographical position, natural resources, and capabilities and Pakistan is a preferred country for investment by the Saudi government and companies. The companies that come to Pakistan have a track record of success. A 50-member delegation of investors from more than 30 Saudi companies in information technology, marine, mining, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, and aviation is here in Islamabad.
The visit will have far-reaching benefits for the Pakistani economy and two-billion-dollar investment agreements are expected between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, thirty investment agreements will be signed in various fields, the framework of which has also been prepared.
According to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in mid-July of the year, after the agreement of a three-billion-dollar standby arrangement between Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Saudi Arabia deposited three billion dollars in the Central Bank of Pakistan and extended the repayable period of these deposits and this after this development, the IMF board approved a new loan program of seven billion dollars for Pakistan.
The new trajectory of Pak-Saudi Relations requires responsible moves from Pakistan
The Pakistani government expects that in the coming years, Saudi Arabia will invest heavily in various sectors, especially agriculture, minerals, and mining. In April of this year, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign visited Pakistan along with a high-level delegation and on this occasion, he said that there are opportunities to increase investment in Pakistan and important work in this regard will be done in the future. Pakistan has also recently formed SIFC to facilitate investment from Gulf countries to promote foreign investment and provide facilities to investors. According to official data, about 2.5 million Pakistanis are living in Saudi Arabia for employment, who send billions of dollars every year as foreign exchange to the country, which has a key position in Pakistan’s economy.
Regarding the delegation’s visit to Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in his address to the cabinet meeting that there is a possibility that investment agreements of 2 billion dollars will be concluded. On the other hand, while addressing a ceremony in Islamabad, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said that the Saudi Minister will finalize business-to-business investment projects whose value may exceed 2 billion dollars. Sources in the Foreign Office say that about 30 agreements will be signed for investment from Saudi Arabia for agriculture, information technology, construction material, petroleum, power sector, food security, meat, and Pakistani rice export.
In recent months, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have been working rapidly on bilateral trade promotion and investment agreements. At the beginning of this year, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Muhammad bin Salman, had also announced an investment package of five billion dollars for Pakistan. Pakistan is keen to partner with its regional allies in trade, defense, energy, and other sectors to overcome the prolonged economic crisis.
Charity to business relations
Instead of seeking aid from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan has made a big decision to trade with it. Trade relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia seem to be moving towards a new milestone, where a stronger investment-based relationship will be deployed and sources in the Ministry of Finance claim that by 2027, the total Saudi investment is likely to be more than 5 billion dollars.
Finance Ministry confirms that frameworks have been prepared for investment agreements with Saudi Arabia and the total investment will be more than 5 billion dollars by 2027. Saudi private sector will invest about 1 billion dollars in Pakistan and then the private sector will increase the volume of investment by appointing its local representatives in Pakistan.
MBS—A visionary Leader
Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman (MBS) is changing the country through his Vision 2030 reform strategy and Saudi Arabia announced significant changes to investment law aimed at attracting international investors. The amended law provides for investors’ rights and freedoms in a robust framework designed to facilitate and improve transparency and business activities and this move has created thousands of private investors with Saudi Arab and thousands of foreign companies are moving fast to invest within Saudi Arabia or abroad in collaboration with Saudi private investors. The amended law promises to protect investors by ensuring the rule of law, fair treatment, and protection of intellectual property along with property rights and making the transfer of funds even easier. The new law makes the registration process easier and complex licensing requirements are replaced by a simplified system. New service centers are being introduced to speed up the process of government transactions and investment. The new law includes several investment-friendly measures including civil transaction law, private sector partnership law, companies law, bankruptcy law, and the creation of special economic zones for achieving a thriving economy; to diversify its economy and create dynamic job opportunities for its citizens. This will happen through commitments to education, entrepreneurship, and innovation, including diversifying the nation’s economy through the ongoing privatization of state-owned assets, including establishing a sovereign wealth fund that will be financed through the partial IPO of Saudi Aramco; unlocking underdeveloped industries such as manufacturing, renewable energy, and tourism; modernizing the curriculum and standards of Saudi educational institutions from childhood to higher learning. By 2030, Saudi Arabia will have at least five universities among the top 200 universities in the world; and refocusing on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by encouraging financial assistance. Increasing the contribution of SMEs to GDP from 20 to 35 percent by 2030.
MBS’s special interest in Pakistan
Saudi Arabia has decided to start an investment package in Pakistan with 5 billion dollars after a historic meeting of PM Shahbaz Sharif with Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman meetings when Sharif visited him at Al-Safa Palace, Makkah after assuming the charge of PM ship in 2022. Since the Sharif family has a long history of personal relationships with the Royal family of Saudi Arabia, the relationship between the MBS and Sharif brothers is quite close. It must be remembered that the Sharif family lived in Saudi Arabia after late General Musharraf sent former prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif into exile. Saudi Royal family gifted Saroor Palace to the Sharif family who lived there for years. Moreover, COAS Gen Asim Munir also served for a long tenure in Saudi Arabia therefore Saudis know personally the military and civil leadership, and having full confidence in both, MBS offered Pakistan a new era of relation of being a seller instead of being a charity receiver.
Involvement of the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia
The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia considers mining to be important and for them, investing in mining is a key initiative among the 13 key investment sectors. Under the Fund, government institutions and the private sector are offering business opportunities to Pakistan that are not offered to any country in the South Asian region. Both Saudi Arabia and Pakistan working together will have mutual benefits while it can also boost Pakistan’s mining skills and capabilities. Saudi Fund will also invest in Rico Dick, a coal and gold mining project located in the mineral-rich region of Balochistan. After several sessions on investment, the final phase now focuses on how to balance the proportion of economic participation in the project.
MBS’s plan represents a significant pivot towards more diversified and sustainable relations with Pakistan, catering demands of the future and benefiting the citizens of both countries. However, this new outlook needs very responsible conduct from Pakistan
Saudi Arabia’s interest in investing in Pakistan can significantly change the mineral landscape of Pakistan with its public investment fund worth more than one trillion dollars, is now ready to invest to support the development of Pakistan’s mining industry. Minerals such as copper are essential for lithium batteries and play an important role in the energy transition and the development of a renewable economy. However, many of these minerals are found in geopolitically unstable places, which can make mining difficult. Pakistan also has copper and gold reserves which attracted the attention of Saudi Arabia. Pakistan’s renewable energy resources in the global context.
Pak-Saudi Trade indicators
During the first half of this fiscal year, bilateral trade between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia was recorded at 2.4 billion dollars. Pakistan’s exports were $262.58 million and Saudi Arabia’s exports were $2.219 billion. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have been working together rapidly to expand mutual trade and investment agreements. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has also reiterated Saudi Arabia’s commitment to accelerating a five-billion-dollar investment package. Both countries have strong trade, defense, and cultural ties. More than 2.7 million Pakistani expatriates live in Saudi Arabia, a major source of remittances to cash-strapped Pakistan. Saudi Arabia has often helped Pakistan in the past
Shah Salman Relief Center and Pakistan
Shah Salman Relief Center signed four joint cooperation programs with the National Disaster Management Authority, National Human Development Commission, Pakistan Red Crescent Society, and Kashmir Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Program ‘ERA’. The objective of this agreement is to support the reconstruction of communities affected by natural disasters in Pakistan. The projects benefit approximately 360,000 people directly and 690,000 people indirectly at a total cost of USD 14,223,762. Under these agreements, 1,000 permanent housing units will be built for flood-affected families, providing shelter to around 7,000 people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces. Each house is designed with two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a kitchen. The center will also establish 300 community schools equipped with solar energy for clean drinking water across Pakistan. These schools will serve around 15,000 children, while over 100,000 people will indirectly benefit upon their completion. Four secondary schools will be established in the Kashmir region and will provide a safe learning environment for 3,400 students and contribute to the long-term development of the region. Along with this, a national logistics warehouse for the National Disaster Management Authority will be established in the capital Islamabad, which will significantly increase the capacity to store and distribute relief goods during emergencies. 22 service facilities, including schools, health centers, and water projects previously established by the state in disaster-affected areas in Pakistan, to improve access to education, health care, and clean water will be restored.
The Future with Responsibilities
Pak-Saudi relationship is entering into a bold and comprehensive relationship, aimed at reducing Pakistan’s dependence on loaning from the Kingdom and diversifying economic relations through developing private sector partnerships and also finding opportunities in service sectors such as vocational education, health, infrastructure, recreation, and tourism. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s plan represents a significant pivot towards more diversified and sustainable relations with Pakistan, catering demands of the future and benefiting the citizens of both countries. However, this new outlook needs very responsible conduct from Pakistan’s private as well as public sectors because both sectors have to enhance their capacity to align with the demands of Saudi investors who deal at a global level. Any mishandling of greater opportunities would be disastrous for Pakistan which would harm the great trust MBS is showing in Pakistan.
Islamabad, Pakistan: Terrible information has surfaced from those who were arrested by law-enforcing agencies during the PTI protest in Islamabad. The arrested Afghan citizens in their confessional statements confirmed that they were hired by PTI Peshawar on daily wages to attack private and public properties such as vehicles, state buildings motorcycles etc.
Under the guise of peaceful protest in Islamabad, the confessional statements of more Afghans who committed evil are on the public scene exposing evil-minded rioters crossed all boundaries against the state. Several miscreants who were arrested for spreading chaos and disorder also include Afghan citizens who were hired for spreading chaos in the country.
The statements of Abdul Qadir, Javed, Amanat Khan, Mudasar, and Nurudin are reproduced from their video confessional statements.
My name is Abdul Qadir, I belong to Afghanistan and I work in Peshawar. In Peshawar, a man named Javed asked us to do a day’s labor for 5 thousand rupees. Javed gave us only one day’s money but not two days’ money, miscreants. This person instructed us to go and vandalize the PTI rally and set cars and houses on fire.
My name is Amanat Khan and I am from Afghanistan. Please stay away from taking money from PTI and indulging in violent activities. These miscreants should not harm the country and the nation by breaking the country’s property, do not burn the vehicles, and also do not damage the roads.
My name is Mudasir and I am from Afghanistan. We were given money by the PTI people to set fire in Islamabad, break people’s bikes, and set fire to houses too, miscreants. Now we are in the police station but no one is coming to bail us out and we are lying here in this situation, miscreants
My name is Nuruddin and I am from Afghanistan. The PTI people gave us two to three thousand labor to spread chaos during the meeting in Islamabad and set fire to the vehicles. I request my Afghan brothers to work for the right and stay away from such evil elements who are harming their own country.
Official channels informed DND News Agency that strict legal action will be taken against the elements involved in mischief and any mischief under the guise of so-called protest will not be tolerated
Monitoring Desk: The 23rd Meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Member States, which will be hosted in Islamabad on October 15-16, 2024, is surely an important event for Pakistan. The ground realities in South Asia raise several questions including whether the SCO can resolve border disputes, enhance people-to-people contacts, and develop high trade between Pakistan and India or SCO offers only dreams to over 1.5 billion populations of India and Pakistan.
She believes the SCO is a success story for countries of Central Asia that resolved 90 percent of border disputes through sideline meetings during SCO forums but there is no hope that India and Pakistan will ever resolve the Kashmir issue at their side-line meeting.
She indicated that SCO was born out of the ‘Shanghai Five’ and its objectives and aims are the same as the Shanghai Five that helped to resolve border disputes among members because states of former USSR Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan had several border issues, resulting in border tensions and these states also had border issues with China.
“On April 24, 1997, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan signed the Treaty on the Reduction of Military Forces in Border Regions. The first two meetings of the Shanghai Five focused on security confidence-building measures in the border areas between them as China and these countries share borders of over 7,000 kilometers in length and border problems were a potential threat to the relations among member states. It was also decided that their military forces would not engage in any offensive activities within the border areas; would not conduct military exercises against each other; would limit the scale, level, and frequency of military exercises in the border areas; would inform each other about their respective major military activities in the areas within one hundred kilometers from the borders; would invite each other to observe their planned military exercises; would prevent dangerous military activities in the border areas; and that they would enhance friendly exchanges between the military forces and border patrol forces along with the border areas. The foremost question is can Pakistan and India reach this level of understanding and coordination?’, she asked.
She also raised the issue of people-to-people contact and high trade among member states. Since all Central Asian States were former republics of the former Soviet Union, consequently they have very soft visa regimes and the Chinese visa regime is also quite soft for Central Asian countries and Russia. She believes that these points are just a dream if we talk about Pakistan-India relationships but we know only dreamers change the world”.
Monitoring Desk: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has government banned government employees from attending PTM rallies. A notification has been released in this regard. Notification says:
All government departments and employees are informed that participation, whether physical, financial, or otherwise, overt or covert, in any program or activity of a proscribed organization is illegal and will be dealt with according to law.
The names of the following persons have been included in Schedule 4 under Section 11EE of Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 for assisting the banned organization Pashtun Tahafuz Movement.
South Waziristan
1. Manzoor Ahmed Pashteen
2. Shah Faisal Ghazi
3. Jamal Maliar
4. Beautiful scholar
5. Muhammad Sami alias Pashteen
6. Hayat Khan
7. Ameer Hamza
8. Ishtiaq Mehsud
9. Muhammad Bilal
10. Abdul Qahar
11. Dr Syed Alam
12. Saifur Rehman
13. Murtaza Khan Mehsud
14. Mustafa Chamto
15. Mohammad Farooq
16. Mohammad Sajjad
Swabi
1. Khairul Ameen
2. Liaquat Ali Yousafzai
3. Irfan Majnoon
4. Muhammad Ali
5. Muhammad Usman
Bajaur
1. Salman Khan
2. Abuzar Khan
3. Ghirat Khan
4. Asif Ali
5. Wajid Ali
6. Huzaifa
Khyber
1. Hussain Ahmed
2. Aftab Shinwari
3. Sami Allah
4. Mohib Afridi
5. Muhammad Hanif
6. Jahangir Khan
7. Malik Naseer Ahmed
8. Khan Wali
9. Imran Lala
10. Amjad
Malakand
1. Zaheer Jahan
2. Hidayat Rahman
3. Taj Muhammad Gharzing
4. Mushtaq Khan
5. Saeed Tajmal Hasan
6. Kamran
Monitoring Desk: There is a debate going on among journalists in Islamabad claiming that TTP (officially known as Fatinta Al-Khawarij) has announced a 5-day ceasefire in Khyber district in support of the Pashtun National Court (Jirga) to support PTM as both are two sides of one coin. The ceasefire will be effective from October 9 to 13.
The banned Pashtun Tahafiz Movement (PTM) announced the holding of the so-called “Pashtun National Court” in the Khyber district on October 11, 2024.
The official circles believe that the activities of the banned PTM are a fight for the rights of the Pashtun people, but the reality is the opposite and the PTM is the political form of TTP which sows anti-state ideas and hatred among Pashtun tribes.
TTP was founded on the implementation of the so-called Shariah, but the declaration issued uses the same language as the banned PTM. The declaration of TTP has chosen the words according to the PTM and its so-called manifesto, which proves their nexus. The Pashtun areas have been bathed in fire and blood for the last two decades by TTP while in their ongoing declarations, the impression of victimization and mudslinging on the armed forces of Pakistan is being thrown. The declaration of a 5-day ceasefire by TTP is actually a failed attempt to arouse sympathy among the innocent Pashtun nations.
The talk of forced arms in the ongoing declaration is historically a complete lie because the establishment of TTP actually took place through the funding and facilitation of forces India and other hostile forces that always try to harm Pakistan, of which there is indisputable evidence.
Banned PTM is actually another form of TTP that is unable to publicize itself and has become weak, so the outlawed PTM has taken over this responsibility through the Pashtun card. TTP’s statement in favor of the banned PTM makes it clear that both organizations have the facilitation of enemy countries to spread chaos in Pakistan and especially Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
Manzoor Pashteen has not given any statement of condemnation or recorded any protest against the ongoing bloodshed and brutality by the terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Where the security forces are fighting against the terrorist organizations creating riots in Pakhtunkhwa, PTM is supporting these terrorists by wearing the cloak of victimhood. The declaration issued by Fattana Al-Khuraj in favor of the banned PTM confirms the nexus of both against Pakistan.
Islamabad, Pakistan: Pakistan’s media campaign on Palestine Solidarity Day has no mention of ‘Israel’. An expensive campaign releasing colored half-page advertisements to newspapers has everything regarding the Gaza genocide except the name of who is conducting this genocide. This can be a unique print media campaign and can be used as a textbook example of its uniqueness.
Pakistan’s media campaign on Palestine Solidarity Day has no mention of ‘Israel’
In simple words, all the advertisements for Palestine Solidarity Day (October 7, 2024) that the government of Pakistan has published in the newspapers; the word ‘Israel’ was not mentioned in the entire advertisement so there could be no question for condemnation phrases.
It is written that Palestinian children are being buried alive and burned. However, it is not written who is burying them alive and burning them. It is written that it is not enough to just condemn but to whom one should condemn is not written for readers.
Prime Minister Pakistan Mian Shehbaz Sharif has been raising his voice for Gaza since the day he came in office and he walked out from the UNGA Session when the Israeli prime minister started his speech. While following PM Sharif, several heads of state also walked out and boycotted the speech of the Israeli prime minister. He in his speeches also condemns Israeli genocide by mentioning the word ‘Israel’. However, the ministries under his command like of Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs look shy to use the word ‘Israel’ in campaigns to support the Palestinian cause.
Cardiovascular or heart disease is the leading cause of death in developed and developing world. Heart disease occurs due to the complex interaction of factors most of which are modifiable.
Whenever we talk about non-communicable diseases that can be reduced by lifestyle modification, heart disease is a prime example of this. The risk factors that lead to heart disease are too common in the developed world and are also of serious concern in the developing world. Effective integrated health promotion programs and policies are cornerstones and best tools to deal with this epidemic.
Major risk factors for cardiovascular disease are hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, obesity, smoking, and stress. Diabetes and hypertension have a direct relation with obesity and stress. So, a healthy lifestyle is important in preventing diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. Hypercholesterolemia is also related to dietary factors and physical activity. So if we summarize the lifestyle changes to prevent these diseases they come down to eating healthy and being physically active. Avoidance of cigarettes and other harmful substances along with the reduction in the level of stress is also important for the reduction of these diseases. Stress can be reduced by physical activity, healthy eating avoiding addictions, and positive attitude. If we go deep into these lifestyle factors we know that they all are interrelated. If we can set someone or a community on a healthy lifestyle, they will be able to attain all healthy habits and consequently, all benefits related to them. They will start eating healthy. They may start growing vegetables which will increase their physical activity and reduce their stress level. Once they get the habit of being in nature they will be less inclined towards harmful substances like cigarettes and alcohol. Our main focus is how people can adopt these healthy habits and then maintain a healthy lifestyle.
There is no single solution to solve the challenge of heart disease. World Health Organization promotes the use of multiple fiscal and educational policies as a first-line approach to reducing heart diseases. Now it is proven that population-based strategies are more effective than those aimed at individuals as communities play a big role in lifestyle modification. Health and longevity are influenced by the characteristics of the communities. Social and environmental factors play a role in shaping healthy behaviors. There is mounting evidence that using a broader approach through population-wide community-level intervention results in better adaptation by the people. A community-based approach to monitoring blood pressure with an automated device increased the accuracy of blood pressure measurements, diagnosis, and management. Awareness of the importance of the interrelation of social and economic factors in shaping lifestyle behaviors makes healthier choices easy, for example making a walkable community. We can move from an individual approach to a collective approach in small communities especially if we want to educate people about healthy choices. It will create a bond between people and maintenance of lifestyle modification will be easier. For further care individualized approach with a multidisciplinary setting would be helpful.
Multidisciplinary teams are increasingly found useful as a source of delivering comprehensive primary care. This will include the prevention of non-communicable diseases like heart disease. Having a multidisciplinary and integrated approach will enable people to get what they need as if the major cause of hypertension and heart disease in a person is obesity. He will benefit from the guidance of a nutritionist and physical activity instructor. Patients with stress-related issues which can lead to disease itself and also to unhealthy eating and a sedentary lifestyle, will benefit from a clinical psychologist. People who have difficulty adopting healthy behaviors will benefit from behavior therapy. A lot of lot of research has been done in recent years to help people leave certain unhealthy activities and make healthy behavior changes. So there are proven strategies to help people change their behavior. That is effective on an individual level and in groups, depending on which type of intervention is needed. Furthermore, recent studies have proved that spiritual intelligence can promote patients’ physical and mental health. So paying attention to the spiritual approach as part of integrated care is also important.
Integrated care refers to an approach in healthcare in which a multidisciplinary team of different healthcare professionals is used, and the focus would be on all aspects of health. They care for the patient, taking him as a whole, monitor their needs, and act accordingly together. Care is integrated instead of compartmentalized. So patients and healthy people have these facilities under one roof which makes it easier to use.
The author Dr. Attia Anwar is a consultant family physician with a postgraduate degree from the Royal College of GP UK. She is a strong advocate of health and well-being and wants patient participation in decision-making regarding health.
Islamabad, Pakistan: All Parties Conference (APC) on Palestine was attended by all political parties of Pakistan except PTI. The conference was jointly hosted by Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, the Pakistan People’s Party, and the PMLN-led government in the center here on Monday.
PTI sources claim that PTI initially decided to participate in today’s APC to show support with Palestine but decided at night not to participate after a lot of harsh words were exchanged between Chairman Barrister Gohar and PTI’s media team sitting in the United States. “Finally foreign group prevailed on the plea that its foreign donors and partners will get angry if we (PTI) support Palestine. This is the real reason why today PTI did not participate in the All Parties Conference on Palestine’, commented an important PTI leader on the condition of not revealing her/his identity.
An all-party conference was held to express solidarity with the oppressed Palestinians, where the national leadership demanded the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and membership of the United Nations. The APC was chaired by the President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari. APC was attended by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Chairman People’s Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, JUI (F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and other political leaders of the country.
In this regard, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar presented a joint resolution strongly condemning Israel’s genocidal actions and said that Pakistan will redouble its efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.
All Parties Conference on Palestine was attended by all parties except PTI
President Asif Ali Zardari said in his address that Yasir Arafat kept coming here, I kept meeting him along with late Benazir Bhutto. He added that a year ago Israel attacked Gaza and Palestine, and Israel’s actions are endangering the world. Apart from Palestine, Israel is also attacking Lebanon. He added that Israel is committing genocide of Palestinians, 41 thousand Palestinians have been martyred due to Israeli aggression. The health and education infrastructure in Palestine and Gaza has been destroyed. President Asif Ali Zardari said that we demand the United Nations to stop Israel from aggression. We will continue to raise the issue of Israel’s human rights violations in every forum, we call on the UN Security Council to stop Israel from aggression. He said that Israel should return from all occupied Arab territories, the international community has failed to stop the genocide of Palestinians.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who closed the conference, praised the participants for their solidarity on the Palestinian issue. He reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and called for a ceasefire.
“What Israel is doing in Palestine is unimaginable. Innocent people are being slaughtered, and the world powers are silent,” said Sharif. “We will form a group of experts to visit key international capitals and deliver Pakistan’s message of solidarity with the Palestinian people.”
Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami who took the initiative of APC, Hafiz Naeem said that in the context of Pakistan’s resolution, Pakistan does not recognize Israel as an independent state. Quaid-e-Azam had declared Israel as an illegitimate state in 1940, but Pakistan has never recognized the existence of Israel. He also said that “we have a clear position that Israel is an illegitimate and occupying state, Quaid-e-Azam had said that Pakistan will never recognize Israel”.
MQM Pakistan chief Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said in his address that we have done political demonstrations, but there is a need to talk further. He said that I think there is a need to go ahead and raise the voice diplomatically, and convey the message of Pakistan to all Islamic countries. He said that the Prime Minister should announce to sponsor the children of Palestine in all the universities of Pakistan, any practical steps should be announced today. He said that we have condemned, we cannot repair, we should announce practical measures today.
In his address to the All Parties Conference, Khalid Magsi said that our shouting would not make any difference to Israel. How will we stand before Allah on the Day of Judgment? We should all look into our necks. Khalid Magsi said that the people of Palestine are not at a loss, they are succeeding.
Muslim League (Q) leader Chaudhry Salik Hussain said that the Prime Minister’s speech at the UN also had a great impact. He said that we should talk openly here, children are being martyred in Palestine, and we should think about the solution to the Palestine problem. He said that so many women and children were not martyred in any war. After seeing the facts, we should decide on a strategy in this regard.
Abdul Aleem Khan, the leader of the Stabilization Pakistan Party, said that it has been a year since the Israeli brutality. We have not really done anything for Palestine, we have not done what we could. He said that the massacre of Palestinian children was going on even during the UN meeting. The world has gone numb. We are divided into many things. He said that there is nothing left for those countries which were divided among themselves, today look at those countries where there was fitna and corruption. Abdul Aleem Khan said that the countries where Israel attacked were not economically stable, they were divided. Do politics but put the country first.
Awami National Party leader Amil Wali Khan said that we should think about how to end the oppression of Palestinians. He said that along with Palestine we will also talk about the freedom of Kashmir. Afghanistan is also an oppressed country. He said that let the Kashmiris make their own decisions, we should also look at our own country. Emil Wali said that the cry we are crying for Palestine should not be the same for Balochistan and KP in the next 50 years.
The APC concluded with a unanimous resolution calling for the immediate cessation of Israeli hostilities and urging the Muslim world to form a unified platform to defend Palestinian rights. The participants also agreed on sending a delegation to key international capitals to raise awareness of Israel’s crimes.
The resolution declared that Israel’s ongoing actions are a grave threat to regional stability and world peace, and called on global powers to take immediate action.
Islamabad, Pakistan: Terrible information has surfaced from those who were arrested by law-enforcing agencies during the PTI protest in Islamabad. The arrested Afghan citizens...
Monitoring Desk: The 23rd Meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Member States, which will be...
Monitoring Desk: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has government banned government employees from attending PTM rallies. A notification has been released in this regard. Notification...
Monitoring Desk: There is a debate going on among journalists in Islamabad claiming that TTP (officially known as Fatinta Al-Khawarij) has announced a 5-day...
The author Dr. Attia Anwar is a consultant family physician with a postgraduate degree from the Royal College of GP UK. She is a strong advocate of health and well-being and wants patient participation in decision-making regarding health.
