U S EMPHASIZES GREATER CONTACT WITH PAKISTAN TO ADDRESS REGIONAL AND GLOBAL CHALLENGES

Parliamentary Exchanges are Useful to Understand Each Other's Perspective on Issues of Mutual Interest

U S emphasizes greater contact with Pakistan to address regional and global challenges

A four-member US Senate delegation led by Senator John McCain, Chairman Senate Armed Services Committee called on the Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz in Islamabad.  Welcoming the US Senators, the Adviser said parliamentary exchanges are useful to understand each other's perspective on issues of mutual interest and concerns. Senator McCain and his colleagues appreciated the success achieved by Pakistan in its counterterrorism campaign which they said was so impressively visible during their trip to North Waziristan. The Adviser said Pak-US relationship is important for ensuring peace and stability in the region. With reference to recent developments concerning the India-US relations, the Adviser emphasized the need to maintain strategic balance in South Asia. Sartaj Aziz said Pakistan remains committed to the Quadrilateral Coordination Group process in Afghanistan. He said no country has as much vital stakes in the success of these joint efforts, as Pakistan. In view of the growing challenges confronting the world, the Senators emphasized greater contact between Pakistan and the US to work together to address the regional and global challenges. They highlighted significance of improved relations between India and Pakistan and welcomed closer coordination between Pakistan and Afghanistan on various complex issues. During their visit to North Waziritan, the US Senators witnessed the erstwhile hideouts and communication infrastructure of    terrorism, which has been cleared of terrorists as a result of operation Zarb-e-Azb. The Senators commended the rehabilitation work being carried out by Pakistan Army to resettle the displaced people back in their area with dignity and honour. Later, they also met with wounded soldiers and officers who were seriously affected during initial phases of the operation and have now voluntarily rejoined the battlefield. The visitors appreciated the determination and grit of all affected Pakistani soldiers and their unparalleled sacrifices for their motherland.

“Economic stability is due to the political stability in the country- foreign exchange reserves crossed the mark of twenty three billion dollars”: Information Minister

Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid says economy of the country has been strengthened due to prudent economic policies of the government. In an interview, he said inflation is lowest in history of the country and government reduced prices of petroleum products that resulted in control of prices of different commodities. Next year, additional 10000 megawatt of electricity will be produced against deficiency of 5000 megawatt. Government wants to probe all corruption cases, but some of the opposition parties have person specific agenda, which is unjustified. Opposition should prepare for election campaign instead of staging sit-ins after Eid. Visit of Chinese President was delayed due to sit-ins as it was conspiracy against the development of Pakistan.

Flash Floods Kill 43 in Parts of KPK- PM Directs to Accelerate Rescue and Relief Efforts in the Flood-Hit Areas of Chitral

As many as 17 people were reportedly missing in Ursoon Village while as many were injured due to flash flooding caused by a cloud burst in the area. Around 30 houses were demolished in the rainstorm caused by continuous heavy rainfall in the area near the Pak-Afghan border. The rains began late Saturday and were concentrated mainly in K-P, which has been badly affected by flooding in recent years that some scientists have linked to climate change.

According to ISPR  Army troops are carrying out relief and rescue operation in Chitral. Troops provided food, tents and medical aid to affected people in Ursoon village. Lama helicopter of Army evacuated the injured from affected areas

Talking to Radio Pakistan's News and Current Affairs channel, Mushtaq Ghani said an emergency has been declared in hospitals of Chitral area to provide maximum medical aid to flood affected people and a helicopter has also been arranged to rescue injured.  He says the provincial authorities are closely working with army teams to help the victims.

Interior Minister Will Inaugurate NADRA Mega-Centre In Islamabad Today

According to spokesman of the Ministry, facility of CNIC issuance and registration of family and children will be provided in the center. The spokesman said the centre will be capable to process two thousand applications for Computerized National Identity Card on daily basis. He said six more Mega Centres and fifteen Passport Executive Offices will also be established in the country to provide fast facility to the people regarding registration.

France qualified for semi-finals after beating Iceland by five goals to two in the Euro Football Cup at Saint-Denis

France has qualified for semi-finals after beating Iceland by five goals to two in the last quarter-final in the Euro Football Cup 2016, at Saint-Denis, France. Portugal, Wales and Germany have already qualified for the semi-finals

Weather

Mainly hot and humid weather is expected in most parts of the country during the next twelve hours. However rain-dust thundershower is expected at scattered places of Hazara division and Kashmir while at isolated places of Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Malakand, Kohat, Dera Ismail Khan, Zhob, Kalat divisions, FATA and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Temperature of some major cities recorded this morning: Islamabad and Gilgit twenty five degree centigrade, Lahore twenty eight, Karachi twenty nine, Peshawar thirty, Quetta and Muzaffarabad twenty four and Murree seventeen degree centigrade.