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Category: pakistan

  • Phool Patti to showcase Pakistan’s rich heritage through truck-art during FIFA World Cup 2022 in Doha

    DOHA: Phool Patti – a social enterprise and entrepreneur project is all set to showcase Pakistan’s rich cultural heritage through ‘truck art’ during the FIFA World Cup-2022 in Qatar, as millions of football lovers across the globe will visit Doha to watch the high profile event in November.

    As per details, on invitation from the Qatar museum to enter into an official partnership with Jedariart, a 2022 focal program in Doha, the Phool Patti team, comprised of its founder/Creative Director Ali Salman Anchan, Mumtaz Ahmad and Muhammad Amin, unveiled an awe-inspiring mural to the delight of everyone who has had the opportunity to see it.

    The truck art mural was completed just ahead of the FIFA World Cup. The best part is the timing of this project as millions of people will witness the marvelous truck art murals — a beautiful and vibrantly colored style of art.

    The mural size is around 23×33 feet and painted at Al Mansoura metro Station # 1 Doha.

    This truck art mural features typical depictions including peacocks, falcons, Chakoor, jasmine, and rose flowers.

    The mural also features the Qatar desert and the Pakistani northern area mountains, and other important Pakistani elements.  The bottom of the mural which is highlighted with the truck art famous line “Dekh Magar Pyaar Say” (Look but only with Love) in Urdu and in English is complimented by the top portion which states “Qatar Pakistan Friendship” encircled in English and Urdu.

    In addition to completing this truck mural masterpiece, Phool Patti was invited by Qatar Museum to speak about truck art at the fire station art gallery.

    Anchan explained Pakistan’s world famous and unique truck art to the attendees. Phool Patti impressed the crowds with its success story and all of its project’s achievements.

    An Indian participant from all India permit explained how they are trying to revive their art in India they also painted murals in typography which they use on some of their trucks.

    Ali Salman Anchan said the best part of Jedariart is the Pakistani truck art mural and the Indian Truck Mural is painted side-by-side and people can actually get a better idea of both countries’ truck art.

    This comparison needs no words to explain why Pakistan truck art is famous and why everyone loves it. Very positive feedback has been seen from people from every walk of life from all over Doha. also thank to the Qatar Museum for beautiful oppunitines

    The Jedari Art program is an annual event that Qatar Museum organizes to add more life and color to the city, through well-designed murals and street art.

    The Phool Patti team is promoting the unique and vibrant Pakistani Truck Art globally.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • New York City establishes Racial Justice Commission to ensure equity

    New York: New York City has established a Racial Justice Commission to eliminate racial discrimination (if any) and ensure the provision of equal rights to all. 

    Voters in the community eligible to cast votes will have to respond to three questions mentioned on the back of the ballot paper in next month’s New York City General elections so that the NYC charter could be amended in the larger interest of its dwellers. The amendment will remain effective for a period of two years.

    The New York City government wants the diverse communities living in the City to be given equal importance in all government departments and sectors, and the law needs to be amended to implement the same.

    The city government has recently set up a Commission for Racial Justice which will collate the opinions, suggestions, and recommendations of various communities and provide them to the government for amending the law.

    The commission has asked each voter three questions on the back of the ballot paper in the election to be held on November 8.

    The 1st Ballot Question will be: Add a Statement of Values to Guide Government. This proposal would amend the New York City Charter: Add a preamble, which would be an introductory statement of values and vision aspiring toward “a just and equitable city for all” New Yorkers; and Include in the preamble a statement that the City must strive to remedy “past and continuing harms and to reconstruct, revise, and reimagine our foundations, structures, institutions, and laws to promote justice and equity for all New Yorkers.”The preamble is intended to guide City government in fulfilling its duties. Shall this proposal be adopted?

    The question No-2 will be about  the establishment of a Racial Equity Office, Plan, and Commission. This proposal would amend the City Charter to: Require citywide and agency-specific Racial Equity Plans every two years. The plans would include intended strategies and goals to improve racial equity and to reduce or eliminate racial disparities; Establish an Office of Racial Equity and appoint a Chief Equity Officer to advance racial equity and coordinate the City’s racial equity planning process. The Office would support City agencies in improving access to City services and programs for those people and communities who have been negatively affected by previous policies or actions, and collect and report data related to equity; and Establish a Commission on Racial Equity, appointed by City elected officials. In making appointments to this Commission, elected officials would be required to consider appointees who are representative of or have experience advocating for a diverse range of communities. The Commission would identify and propose priorities to inform the racial equity planning process and review agency and citywide Racial Equity Plans. Shall this proposal be adopted?

    The question No-3 will be about Measuring the True Cost of Living.This proposal would amend the City Charter to: Require the City to create a “true cost of living” measure to track the actual cost in New York City of meeting essential needs, including housing, food, childcare, transportation, and other necessary costs, and without considering public, private, or informal assistance, in order to inform programmatic and policy decisions; and Require the City government to report annually on the “true cost of living” measure. Shall this proposal be adopted?

    Meanwhile the Apna community center is organizing various sessions to guide the Pakistani community living in New York in this regard, where registered voters from the community are being told how to answer the questions asked on the back of the ballot paper on polling day.

    If Pakistani American voters want to take any help, they can visit the link provided by Apna Community Center and assure the city government that they, as Pakistani American voters, will give better suggestions to amend the law on polling day.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • ICLI’s Young Scouts pay tribute to Muslim veteran heroes in recognition of their services in U.S forces

    New York: A group of Young Scouts at the Islamic Center of Long Island (ICLI) paid tribute to Muslims in recognition of their valued services in the armed forces, and other important departments of the United States (U.S). 

    The grand event was well-attended by people belonging to different walks of life. Muslim officers serving in the US forces were also part of the event.

    President of the Islamic Center of Long Island, Habib Ahmed administrated the ceremony. Habib Ahmed, not only highlighted the services of veterans but described the event as a good omen for Muslims in America.

    The guests who participated in the event expressed their views not only by appreciating the services of Muslims but also by praising the role of Muslims in the development of America.

    Vice President of Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Flag, Fred Nielsen while talking to VOSA TV informed about the details of the event while calling it a good practice.

    A member of the Boy Scouts of America said that it is a good tradition to pay tribute to veterans

    US Army Sergeant Retd Faisal Farooqui was presented with the Shield of Honor by Boy Scouts of America. They also expressed their gratitude.

    Deputy Inspector Adeel Rana, President of the New York Police Department’s Muslim Officers’ Society (NYPD-MOS) was also honored with the award. He thanked the organizers of the event for the acknowledgement and recognition.

    The services of Muslims in the armed forces were praised by the youth of America.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • MVNY holds clean-up drive in connection with Environmental Stewardship Day

    New York: Muslim Volunteers for New York organized a clean-up campaign on the occasion of “Environmental Stewardship Day” in Ruppert Park, where trees were planted besides presenting arts and crafts, music and much more.

    The voluntary cleanup campaign collaborated with Parks and Council Member Julie Menin at the Ruppert Park on the Upper East Side, Second Avenue in New York State.

    Mubeen Siddiqui, founding member of Muslim Volunteers for New York, said that the aim of this campaign is to highlight environmental protection among people.

    The event was attended by a large number of community members.

    Different saplings were also planted on this occasion, and the volunteers disposed off trash from the site.

    Former Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine said that the Parks Department has always been supportive of environment-friendly events. Such initiatives will develop a sense of responsibility and happiness among the masses, especially the youth.

    Speaking to Voice of South Asia (VOSA TV), Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright said that it was great to attend this event, especially since events like this are great for our children where they get to learn some environmentally friendly actions.

    Deputy Inspector Adeel Rana, President of the New York Muslim Officer Society, said that people from different schools of thoughts including Muslim community, are present here with us today and it is a good initiative on behalf of the Muslim volunteers.

    Consul General of Pakistan for New York Ayesha Ali, members of the organization planted saplings and cleaned the park, including children.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • NYPD-MOS starts relief assistance to the flood-battered KPK province in Pakistan

    New York: Muslim Officers Society of New York Police Department (NYPD-MOS) has started providing relief assistance to flood victims in Pakistan.

    The scope of relief activities will further be expanded, in the coming days.

    Necessary supplies including some 800 blankets, 300 jackets, and 300 gas cylinders have been provided as part of the New York Police Muslim Officers Society’s relief activities to the flood victims in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province.

    Apart from this, a temporary kitchen has also been established from where fresh food is being prepared and distributed to 400 people on a daily basis.

    As many as six houses are currently being constructed by MOS for the homeless people while the construction of a mosque has also started immediately.

    The MOS members also inspected the affected area and informed their organization about the damage caused by the flood.

    Muslim Officers Society members said that more goods are being sent to Pakistan from New York, the scope of relief activities will be spread throughout the country.

  • Possible resources to be provided to help victims of domestic violence: NYC Council Speaker

    New York: New York City Council’s Speaker Adrienne Eadie Adams has said that all possible resources will be provided to help women who are victims of domestic violence.

    Turning Point for Women and Families along with its partner organizations, Apna Community Center, CONNECT, the Commission on Gender Equality, the Arab American Family Support Center, and others, gathered at its 5th Annual Vigil for Survivors of Domestic Violence at City hall.

    New York City Council Speaker and the chief guest of the event Adrienne Eadie Adams said that domestic violence is increasing due to the community’s silence over this grim issue.

    In order to prevent and discourage the domestic violence on women, it is necessary to take legal action immediately, while we all have the responsibility to provide better guidance along with legal support to such affected women.

    The data available in the report of the New York Police Department shows that the cases of domestic violence are increasing every year.

    According to the last year’s report of the department, about 35 thousand cases of domestic violence were reported in different boroughs and counties of the city.

    The New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams also present on this occasion. Jumaane D. Williams together with the women – the victims of domestic violence and who are fighting these incidents legally, gave the message that there is no exception in the case of sexual discrimination and domestic violence against women.

     

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Services of Mushtaq Khan, the Founder of Surriya Mushtaq Welfare Foundation acknowledged

    New York: Kashmiri community in New York City hosted a grand reception for Mushtaq Khan, the founder of Surriya Mushtaq Welfare Foundation – an organization of Azad Kashmir’s Islamgarh-Mirpur region in recognition of his philanthropic services to humanity.

    The event held in Brooklyn, began with the recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by Naat-e-Rasool peace be upon him (PBUH).

    Mushtaq Khan, the chief guest of the ceremony was welcomed with the presentation of bouquets from the event organizers.

    Asif Jahangir, the socio-entrepreneur of the Kashmiri community, and the host of the event appreciated the services of Mushtaq Khan in the event.

    In his address to the participants, Mushtaq Khan said: “I have three programs, and have also opened a Skill Center for girls, where they are being taught various things.

    “We should also teach our children to help others, this will be useful in other places as well.”

    Addressing the event, other participants said that consensus is necessary for success in any work, this is the secret behind Mushtaq Khan’s success.

    The event was attended by a large number of people including political and social personalities of the community while the participants also announced donations to Mushtaq Khan for his welfare trust.

  • APAG awards ‘Quaid-e-Azam Scholarships’ amongst 10 Pakistani-American students

    New York: The American-Pakistani Advocacy Group (APAG) awarded first-of-its-kind Quaid-e-Azam Scholarships to ten Pakistani-American students, with the aim of supporting them in their academic endeavors, and nurturing future leadership qualities.

    This scholarship is aimed at providing need-based assistance for first-generation Pakistani college students currently attending CUNY/SUNY schools. The scholarship aims to aid these students in their academic endeavors and to cultivate leaders of the next generation.

    The ceremony, held in the Royal Mirage Hall Jamaica Avenue, Queens village New York began with the recitation of a few verses of the Holy Quran.

    The national anthems of Pakistan and America were also played in the ceremony with national zest.

    The Directors of American Pakistani Advocacy Group Ali Rashid informed about the aims and objectives of the organization and shed light on its activities.

    Speaking to Voice of South Asia (VOSA TV), Ali Rashid said that for the first time, the Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah Scholarship has been given to ten children on merit to help them in their educational endeavors and nurture them to become future leaders.

    Quaid-e-Azam Scholarship Certificates were awarded to the students in the function.

    Appreciating the initiative of APAG, the students said that they are very happy to get the scholarship.

    Addressing the participants, Consul General of Pakistan in New York Ayesha Ali said: “we are starting an internship program with the efforts of the Pakistani Consulate in New York, and we welcome all students who want to be a part of it.”

    Deputy Inspector Adeel Rana, President of Muslim Officer Society, said that it is a pleasure to participate in this event today because the students present in the function are the bright image of our future.

    The US officers said that they are present in the program with the future leaders, and celebrating their success which they have achieved in the form of scholarship.

    Councilwoman Linda Lee said APAG’s services to the community are commendable.

    Linda Lee also presented citations to members of the APAG for their community service.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • US may grant TPS to Pakistanis whose families displaced due to flood at home

    New York: US government is likely to grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Pakistani American people whose homes have been washed away, and whose families were displaced by the recent ruthless floods.

    Congresswoman Yvette Clarke while addressing the ‘3rd annual day of dignity’ organized by the American Council of Minority Women (ACMW) said that families of Pakistanis living in America have been displaced and they can’t return home. She pledged to take up the issue with the relevant authorities so that the people can apply for the TPS facility.

    The event began with the recitation of a few verses of the holy Quran.

    Yvette Clarke said she will speak up to the secretary department of homeland security within the next week or so, on the issue of granting the TPS for Pakistani American nationals, and hoped that the government will grant this status.

    “It’s taking too long, we know that many Pakistanis are here who cannot return. They have nothing to return to because their families have been displaced. We must act urgently,” she said.

    “I expect, we will receive TPS, I will keep the community up to date. Once the designation is granted, the people may apply for TPS.” she said.

    The congress woman also appreciated the ACMW for organizing the blessed day. She said that ACMW’s services for the community have been ceaseless and selfless on behalf of minority women across the nation.

    “Let me thank Bazah Roohi, who has been a leader in our community, and her commitment and focus on human dignity is adorable. She said if 10 more women like  Bazah Roohi are in our community , then we will see all us enjoying the fruits of the labor, and no family would be left without having things of necessity in life.

    She said gun violence in our community is out of control. In this city and across the nation. I am tired of it, and we all are tired of it. She said the nation has observed many movements of silence to remember those who lost their lives in gun violence. However, the congress has a few months back passed the gun control bill and the president Joe Biden has sighed the same. Much progress has been achieved for the prevention of gun violence.

    She said the bipartisan safe community acts to gun control most significant step towards a peaceful future of USA.

    Minority children are disproportionally killed by the guns. There is more to be done to protect citizens in the country.

    Bazah Roohi the Executive Director and founder of the American Council of Minority Women (ACMW) on this occasion said the first day of dignity was held back in 2020 during the covid-19 period. “This is my favorite event after the Chand Rat.”

    Consul General of Pakistan in New York Ayesha Ali also graced the event with her presence. She appreciated Bazah Roohi for doing brilliant work for the community like Back to school, Halal Meat, Chand Rat etc.

  • U.S. Regime Threatens to “Hang” Pakistan’s Deposed Leader if He Holds Anti-Coup March

    Imran Khan had been the extremely popular progressive populist secular (non-sectarian) democratically elected Prime Minister (PM) of Pakistan during 18 August 2018 to 10 April 2022, when he then became overthrown by a U.S. coup and replaced by Shebaz Sharif, the younger brother of Pakistan’s Nawaz Sharif, who was Pakistan’s 5th-wealthiest billionaire and who had been Imran Khan’s immediate predecessor as the PM. On October 14th, Geo TV in Islamabad Pakistan headlined “Imran Khan to be hung upside down if he launches long march: Rana Sanaullah,” and reported that Imran Khan was being threatened now with execution if he would actually hold his promised march protesting the coup that had forced him out. Nawaz Sharif had championed and built upon the Islamist General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq’s military government’s policy of empowering the fundamentalist-Sunni (Saudi-Wahhabist-trained pro-jihadist) clerics in uniting Islamic law with Pakistan’s laws, so as to unite the aristocracy with the theocracy in Pakistan, with the aim being to benefit both the billionaires and the clergy, at the Pakistani public’s expense. Imran Khan is now organizing this protest march to call for a restoration of democracy to Pakistan, and to oust the Government’s control by the appointees of the aristocrats and the clergy.

    That headline’s phrase “long march” refers to Imran Khan’s promise to lead a million-plus-person “long march” to the capital city, which is Islamabad, to bring the downfall of the U.S.-led recently-installed coup-regime, which had installed Shebaz Sharif. “Rana Sanaullah,” in that headline, refers to the coup-imposed Federal Minister of the Interior, under Shebaz Sharif. Sanaullah was in a position to be able — with the rest of Shebaz Sharif’s Government (backed by the U.S.) — to carry out that threat.

    Also on October 14th, Geo TV bannered “Rana Sanaullah will be arrested if he enters Punjab: Cheema,” and reported that, “Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Interior Omar Sarfraz Cheema said that Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan will be arrested if he enters Punjab.” Both the dictators (the aristocrats and theocrats), and the democrats (Imran Khan’s group), are “gunning” against each other; and, right now, the dictators — with the crucial help of America — have the upper hand. For this reason, Imran Khan has not yet announced a date on which his proposed march will take place. He is instead travelling the country to campaign for it.

    Imran Khan refers to himself as being a “party of one,” because he is up against the entire existing corrupt Government of Pakistan, and so he founded and leads his own Party, PTI. A joint web-search for “Imran Khan” “PTI” and “wikipedia” brings up no “PTI” but instead shows just “Imran Khan,” and that article says “He is the founder and chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), one of the largest political parties in the country.” However, though PTI is “one of the largest,” all of the others are opposed to it, because PTI is opposed to both the aristocracy and the theocracy. They are, and have been, united with the U.S. Government, in order to oust Imran Khan from power. (Today’s U.S. Government always supports aristocrats and theocrats against democrats, in order to be able to extract its cut, for the benefit of America’s billionaires, via the IMF etc. — various money-laundering institutions of this global-gangland operation, America’s “rules-based international order.”) The way they did this was by Pakistan’s Supreme Court ruling for a no-confidence vote against Imran Khan in the parliament to oust him as the Prime Minister; and the parliament then appointed Nawaz Sharif’s brother to replace Imran Khan. They would have liked to appoint Nawaz, except that, as Reuters had headlined on 24 December 2018, “Ousted Pakistani PM Sharif gets seven years’ jail for graft,” and, like any other pretend-‘democracy’, the aristocrats and theocrats who controlled Pakistan’s Government needed a public-electoral fig-leaf in order to give any permanency to their joint dictatorship over the country; so, they chose Nawaz’s younger brother instead.

    Omar Sarfraz Cheema, in that headline “Rana Sanaullah will be arrested if he enters Punjab: Cheema,” is a member of Imran Khan’s PTI Party, which is the dominant Party in the Punjab region of Pakistan. When Rana Sanaulah threatened to get Imran Khan “hung upside down,” that was a threat which came not only from Pakistan’s aristocracy, and not only from Pakistan’s clergy, but also from the U.S. White House and Congress, which constitute the imperial center that has been enabling Pakistan’s aristocrats and clergy to control Pakistan. In the 15 October 2021 video “Imran Khan: The extended interview with MEE” (MEE being Middle East Eye, a news-source that isn’t under the U.S. regime’s thumb), at 5:40 in the interview, Khan, when he was asked what U.S. President Biden had said to him about Pakistan’s situation, Khan reluctantly admitted that Biden had refused to be in contact with him. (That interview is archived here, in case it might become removed from the internet.)  At that time, a year back, Khan was still hoping that the U.S. regime wouldn’t overthrow him (as it did).

    Another, and even more telling, interview with Imran Khan had occurred on the night of 19 June 2012, when Julian Assange interviewed him by remote from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, and its youtube version started being copied over six hundred times to the main Web archive, web dot archive dot org, but then all of those hundreds became mysteriously destroyed so that even at that archive, which is headquartered in the U.S., none of those copies any longer functions. However, the show can still be seen at RT, https://assange.rt.com/khan-episode-nine.html, from which it has been archived twice, such as here, and copies elsewhere also remain online, such as here and here and here and here and here, and the transcript of it is here; so, the U.S.-and-allied regimes might not be able to eliminate all copies of it from online. Anyway, this interview shows not only why Assange is being destroyed by the U.S./UK regime, but that they also are doing all they can to destroy Imran Khan.

    19 June 2012 happened to be Assange’s first night being protected from the UK/U.S. regime inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, which was when the democrat, Rafael Correa, was leading that country. Correa himself became replaced by the secret U.S. agent Lenin Moreno as Correa’s successor, who on 2 April 2019 allowed UK to drag Assange out to supermax solitary confinement in London’s Belmarsh Prison awaiting ultimate extradition to the U.S. (Assange isn’t a citizen of either country, but of Australia, which has done nothing to protect him or his rights as an Australian citizen, and is therefore obviously a slave-regime to the UK/U.S. regime — and yet Australians aren’t revolting against that slavery by their Government.) Ever since, Assange has been effectively blocked to communicate to or with the public, so that he presumably will die either in that prison or else in one in the United States, basically a dead man, ever since 2 April 2019, who has never been tried in any court on any criminal charge (other than jumping bail on a cooked-up rape charge that was then dropped). It’s interesting that in the 19 June 2012 — the 9th — installment of “The Julian Assange Show,” interview with Imran Khan, both men were stoic about their likely becoming ultimately crushed by the global U.S./UK regime. Religions have their martyrs, but, so, too, do democrats. Aristocrats have only their greed, and their pretenses; but that is backed up by their enormous power — against which to revolt is the extreme form of courage and heroism.

    The post U.S. Regime Threatens to “Hang” Pakistan’s Deposed Leader if He Holds Anti-Coup March first appeared on Dissident Voice.

  • Pakistan’s consulate in NYC pays tribute to community members, organizations for supporting flood affectees.

    New York: Pakistan’s consulate in New York, USA held a grand ceremony in recognition of the services of the Pakistani American community members, and various organizations, engaged in welfare activities for the relief and rehabilitation of the flood victims of Pakistan.

    A minute’s silence was observed in memory of those who lost their lives in the ruthless floods caused by climate change, and to express sympathy, and solidarity with their family and relatives.

    The event held at the Pakistani Consulate in New York started with the recitation of a few verses of the holy Quran.

    The host of the event and Consul General Ayesha Ali, while addressing the guests, appreciated the ongoing activities of the Pakistani American community and their various organizations for the flood victims.

    She said that wherever Pakistanis live in the world, they never forget their countrymen in difficult times.

    Officials of the Pakistani American community, social and business figures, and heads of various organizations, members and volunteers participated in the ceremony.

    Speaking on this occasion, Deputy Commissioner of International Affairs Dilip Chauhan and Senior Advisor Ahsan Chughtai from the Mayor’s Office of New York City said that the difficulties and sufferings of the Pakistani flood victims cannot be estimated, but our even a little help can make their lives less difficult.

    On this occasion, Deputy Inspector Adeel Rana, President of Muslim Officers Society of New York Police, addressed the participants and informed them about the ongoing activities of his organization for the flood victims.

    He said that this is the time to just step forward and help the flood victims.

    Addressing the event, various personalities of the community reiterated their commitment to help their countrymen and brothers. He said that he will not give up the relief activities until the complete rehabilitation of the flood victims.

    The attendees reiterated their determination that they will continue to work until the lives and conditions of their Pakistani brothers and sisters suffered by floods return to normalcy.

  • Pak Punjab clinches MLT tape ball cricket trophy

    By: ALI ABBAS

    New York: Pak Punjab won the title of the ‘major league tape ball cricket tournament’ (MLT) played under the umbrella of the New York State Championship.  

    As per details, Pak Punjab won the toss and decided to bat first against LI Titan in the final match of the Major League Tape Ball Cricket Tournament held at the Eisenhower Ground in Westbury, Long Island, New York.

    Pak Punjab gave LI Titan a mountain-like target of 124 runs in the allotted eight overs.

    The tournament’s undefeated team, LI Titan started batting while chasing 124 runs, but their players could barely score 66 runs and Pak Punjab won the match comfortably by 58 runs.

    Earlier, State Senator John E. Brooks was the guest of honor.

    Jay Mir informed him about the efforts of the American Premier League and Major League Tape Ball for the promotion of cricket in America.

    Senator John Brooks presented the trophies to the winning and runner-up teams and the man of the match awards.

    In a conversation with Voice of South Asia (VOSA TV), Senator John E. Brooks said that he was very happy to see the cricket match. He hopes that cricket will gain popularity in America as well.

    On this occasion, the co-founder of Major League Tape ball and director of New York State, Jay Mir, in a conversation with Voice of South Asia, described the championship as excellent and successful.

    Earlier, Director Marketing Muhammad Khan said that Jay Mir is doing a great work for the promotion of cricket in America. All cricket fans should support cricket and Jay Mir in America.

    The winning team of Major Tape ball League Pak Punjab and runner-up LI Titan will also play the national level tape ball championship starting from November 10 in the state of Texas.

  • NYPD’s Muslim cops send first consignment of relief goods to Pakistan’s flood victims via Turkish Airlines

    BY:  ALI ABBAS

    New York: The New York Police Department’s Muslim Officers Society (NYPD-MOS) has sent its first shipment of much-needed relief goods to Pakistan’s flood victims via Turkish Airlines.

    Muslim Officers Society’s office-bearers said that they are with Pakistani brothers and sisters in this difficult time and vowed to dispatch more relief goods to the homeland in the coming days.

    The Muslim Officers Society, the representative organization of Muslim officers in the NYPD, delivered relief goods collected from different cities for the flood victims of Pakistan through its volunteers to the cargo section of the John F. Kennedy Airport in New York.

    On this occasion, Consul General of Turkey Reyhan Ozgur, and Consul General of Pakistan Ayesha Ali reviewed the off-loading and transfer of relief goods while Deputy Inspector Adeel Rana, President of Muslim Officers, briefed them on the recent activities of their organization. They also talked to VOSA TV and informed about the relief activities and mutual coordination efforts.

    Turkish Consul General said that the two countries have historical and fraternal relations; Turkey will provide all possible assistance in this difficult time.

    The Consul General of Pakistan Ayesha Ali thanked the brotherly country – Turkey for its generous support to Pakistan. “Turkish consulate and Turkish Airline have been extremely involved in the entire process. I am thankful to them,” said Ayesha.

    Muslim Officers Society President Adeel Rana and Second Vice President said that Turkish Airlines will deliver the first shipment of relief goods 4 tons  including clothes, medicine, PPE, hygiene and essential items to Karachi, Pakistan, without any fare, and will send another 20 tons of goods in the coming days.

    Adeel Rana said this relief activity was supposed to start a couple of weeks earlier, however due to some difficulties including the UN-GA session, it was delayed and today with the help of our community we have begun dispatch of our relief goods.

    As Turkish airline is transporting these goods free of cost so we don’t want to overburden them.

    On the occasion of the departure of the first batch of relief goods, Ahsan Chaghtai, Senior Advisor to the Pakistani American Community for New York City, Mayor Eric Adams, Deputy Public Advocate Kashif Hussain and others were also present.

    Ahsan Chaghtai said that a big announcement will be made soon from the mayor’s office to help the flood victims.

    For the flood victims of Pakistan, Muslims living in America are trying to help their Pakistani brothers and sisters as much as possible in this difficult time.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • APPAC scores major policy win for Pakistani flood victims

    New York: American Pakistani Public Affairs Committee (APPAC) efforts to get a substantial relief package for flood victims in Pakistan got a big boost when Senator Lindsey Graham promised to introduce a relief and rehabilitation monetary allocation in the next stopgap funding bill.

    Senator Graham informed Dr. Ijaz Ahmad, Chairman of APPAC during a meeting in South Carolina. During the meeting Dr. Ijaz briefed the Senator about the needs of the flood victims and the huge damage to infrastructure due to heavy flooding this season.

    The Senator conveyed his sympathy and condolences to the families on the loss of life of their loved ones, homes, and places of livelihood.

    Dr Ijaz Ahmad, Chairman APPAC, also met President Biden twice recently in NY city. During the conversations with President Biden Dr Ahmad requested to approve more aid for the flood victims harmed due to climate change.

    President Biden assured Pakistani citizens that he is aware of their  sufferings caused by the climate change. He has allocated billions of dollars to help reduce effects of climate to the world.

    President Biden mentioned in reception that in the near future climate change will be responsible for major crisis the world is going to face. There is possibility that some cities will be wiped out due to climate change related calamities.

    APPAC has been working with the congressional leadership of the Democratic and Republican parties to secure an immediate relief package and long term help to rehabilitate damaged infrastructure.

    Senate Chairman of foreign affairs committee Senator Bob Melendez and Senator Cory Booker have agreed to work for bipartisan support for a long term aid bill as Pakistan cannot rehabilitate damaged infrastructure with its own resources.

    Pakistan needs financial support from all the industrialized world as they are main the source of carbon emissions and climate change effects, the congressional leaders asserted.

    Chairman Dr Ahmad accompanied recently the three member US House representatives to Pakistan to access the damages caused by climate change flooding.

    The delegation included Congresswoman Sheila Jackson, Congressman Tom Suozzi and Congressman Al Green. During the visit the congressional leaders promised to earmark  enough  US aid to help flood victims in the relief efforts.

    APPAC is also in the process of engaging lobbying and public relations firms to spearhead a long term relief and reconstruction package for Pakistan.

    APPAC during these meetings has also urged congressional leaders and Biden Administration to approve TPS, a Temporary Protective Status for Pakistanis living in the United States without legal documentation, so they can support their families economically during this crisis. TPS status will allow them to work and earn legally for at least three years in the US.

  • COPO establishes its first Community Facilitation Center in NYC

    New York: The Council of People’s Organization (COPO) has taken yet another step in social services by establishing its first Community Facilitation Center – ‘Older Adult Center’ on Coney Island Avenue Brooklyn, in New York.

    The Older Adult Center’s grand inauguration ceremony was held with a ribbon cutting. US officials graced the event with their participation.

    The ceremony officially started with the recitation of a few verses from the Holy Quran.

    The opening ceremony was attended by Congresswoman Yvette Clark, Council Member Shahana Hanif, representatives of the Brooklyn Borough Mayor’s Office, New York Police Department officers, scholars, and a large number of community members.

    Addressing the participants, Yvette Clarke and other US officials praised COPO’s move. They said that the activities of the Muslim community for the welfare of humanity are worthy of emulation.

    Mohammad Rizvi, the host of the event and the head of COPO, while expressing to the audience, said: “we have always gone beyond our responsibilities in difficult times and worked to help humanity regardless of cast, creed and color.”

    On this occasion, representatives of the Ukrainian community acknowledged the activities of COPO. They said that after Russia’s attacks on Ukraine, for the first time, “we asked COPO to help the troubled Ukrainian people, and this organization did not disappoint us.”

    The filmmaker of “Who’s Next”, a film made on hateful actions against Muslims in America, also attended the event. She said that Muslims have been facing hateful actions but this community does not conspire against anyone but always works for everyone.

    Speaking on this occasion, well-known religious scholar Allama Sakhawat Hussain Sundralvi said that the purpose of our creation is to help each other for the greater good of humanity.

    At the end of the ceremony, Allama Shakhawat Hussain offered a prayer, while COPO was presented with certificates of appreciation by various US officials in recognition of its services to the community and appreciated its new endeavor.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Induction into NACA Cricket Hall of Fame is a source of delight: Moin Khan

    CONNECTICUT: Former Pakistan’s legendary wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Moin Khan has been inducted into the American Cricket Hall of Fame.

    The annual induction ceremony of the NACA Cricket Hall of Fame was held in the American state of Connecticut. Moin attended the event, virtually.

    It is worth mentioning here that Moin Khan – one of the finest wicket-keepers in Pakistan’s cricket history could not attend this memorable function physically, since he was denied a U.S visa by the authorities concerned for the reasons best known to them.

    Former West Indian cricketers, Sir Richie Richardson and Shivnarine Chanderpaul are also international inductees into the US Cricket hall of fame.

    Awards and jackets were given to the former Pakistani cricketer during the ceremony which were received by an official on behalf of Moin Khan.

    While expressing his feelings on his induction into the American Cricket Hall of Fame, Moin Khan said: “I could not participate in the event due to not getting a US visa, but being nominated for the NACA Cricket Hall of Fame is a source of happiness for me.”

    In one of his messages, Moin Khan said, “Grateful to be inducted into the world’s first Cricket Hall of Fame, I am happy that my efforts have been recognized”

    Moin Khan especially thanked the entire NACA team including Dave Cameron, Charles Simpson, Abdullah Omar, Saleem Chippa and Nusrat Sohail.

    Moin’s services for cricket spanned over 14 years. He has been recognized by US cricket as they decided to reward the former wicket-keeper by including him in the prestigious category.

    Moin Khan – primarily a wicketkeeper–batsman, remained a member of the Pakistani national cricket team from 1990 to 2004. He has also captained the Pakistani side.

    He made his international debut against the West Indies at Multan. He took over 128 catches and 20 stumps, scored 2741 runs in 69 Test matches.  He played 219 ODI matches, scored over 3,266 runs, taken over 214 catches and 73 stumps in ODI format.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • ‘American officials assure AJ&K President to play their part in resolution of the long-standing Kashmir issue’

    New York: President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K) Barrister Sultan Mahmood has said that US officials have assured him to play their role to settle the long-standing Kashmir issue between Pakistan and India – the two south Asian nuclear neighbors.

    Barrister Sultan Mahmood who is currently in the US said this while addressing a dinner reception organized in his honor at a local restaurant located on Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn.

    He further said that now the subject of Kashmiriat will be taught in all the educational institutions of Kashmir. Also, he said the people of Kashmir have been given the facility of health cards.

    The ceremony saw overwhelming participation from the Pakistani-American Kashmiri community.

    The ceremony kicked-off with the recitation of a few verses from the holy Quran followed by a Nat-e-Rasool (SAW).

    Sultan Mahmood presided over the event, while other dignitaries also graced the ceremony with their presence on the stage.

    The topic of this meeting was the Kashmir issue, on which the speakers expressed their views.

    Sultan Mahmood said India is trying to suppress the Kashmir issue and the Modi regime wants to impose a Hindu ruler upon the Muslim dominated territory. But the Kashmiris will not let this happen and they will continue to struggle for their right to self-determination and freedom.

    He said that Kashmiris will not remain silent until the freedom of occupied territory.

    In a meeting, Mahmood said that the American officials have assured him to resolve the Kashmir issue.

    Qazi Mushtaq thanked Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry for his participation in the event and also welcomed the other guests on this occasion.

    Sardar Sawar Khan, the head of the Pakistani-American Kashmiri community, said that the struggle for the occupied Kashmir Valley will continue at all fronts.

    The participants appreciated the efforts of the organizers of the event for highlighting the importance of Kashmir issue.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Developing countries need $3.3 to $ 4.5 trillion financial support annually to achieve UN SDGs: Ambassador Munir Akram

    New York: Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Ambassador Munir Akram said that the developing countries need the financial support of at least $3.3 to $ 4.5 trillion per year to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs), within the given timeline.

    While addressing as G77 chair at the GA plenary on Social Development in Third Committee, the other day said Munir said the international community and multilateral institutions should revitalize global development cooperation and invest in inclusive and sustained growth, eradication of poverty and hunger, reducing inequalities and enhancing the well-being of all.

    “We must enable the developing countries to eradicate poverty and hunger and achieve the SDGs.” Munir said.

    Developing countries need the financial support of at least $3.3 to $ 4.5 trillion per year to achieve SDGs within the given timeline. For this, resources must be mobilized from all possible sources: fulfillment of the 0.7 percent ODA target; redistribution of the $650 billion in new SDRs; and concessional finance from the multilateral institutions and development banks.

    At the same time, Munir said there is a need to take coherent and coordinated actions and innovative measures to promote vaccine equity, build better health systems and improve early warning and monitoring systems.

    During the last session, a report was requested on the “Implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly, with a particular focus on the goal of eradicating poverty in the world”.

    In the report submitted, the Secretary General has called for strengthening long-term social policies to enhance people’s capacities for and resilience to future crises, as well as for preserving social spending to support national policies and strategies to fully implement the 2030 Agenda, leaving no one behind.

    The analysis contained in the report of the Secretary General provides us with an overview of the discussions held by the Commission for Social Development during its sixtieth session, and the need to address inequality to eradicate poverty and achieve the goals of the World Summit for Social Development and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, focusing on trends in inequality within and among countries.

    As stated by Secretary General in his report, “The steady progress of the past decades has been halted or reversed owing to the multifaceted and widespread impacts of conflicts, climate change and the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which have also exacerbated inequalities. Rising food and fuel prices and slowing economic growth are worsening poverty and could have devastating impacts on a large segment of the world’s population. If no effective actions are taken, these challenges could fuel societal polarization, thereby undermining social cohesion.”

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • APAG, Rotary Club conduct joint flood relief drive in Dasu, Upper Kohistan

    US: American Pakistani Advocacy Group (APAG) along with Rotary Club and Ujala-e-Pakistan conducted a much-needed joint flood relief drive in Dasu, Upper Kohistan, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Thursday.

    This area has been hit hard by the recent floods, and a very few organizations have hardly been able to reach out the flood affected residents of this mountainous region to assist them.

    Hundreds of people received full-family packages which included clothes, floor mat, quilt, ration pack, medicine, women sanitary kit, shoes and floor mat.

    Family package also includes, medicines such as Brufen, Panadol,  ORS, Polyfex, Flagel, Calpol, Dettol Women hygiene kit were also distributed amongst the residents.

    Reports suggest that one-third of Pakistan has been subjected to flood water and destruction, more than 2000 citizens and 1.3 m cattle have been killed while the population of 30 million is affected by the flood.

    Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif had recently posed a question before the global leaders at the UN General Assembly as to why Pakistan is paying the price of climate change since the country’s carbon-footprint contribution is almost zero.

    More than 33 million people including women and children are now at high risk of health hazards across the country. Around 650,000 women are giving birth in makeshift tents. Millions of climate migrants are still looking for dry land to live.

    13000, km road network, and 370 bridges, millions of homes and 4 million acres of land have been swept away by floods, while the damages of this climate catastrophe are immensurable

    The recent ruthless floods have caused a loss of whopping $30 billion to the already fragile economy of Pakistan.

    António Guterres Secretary-General of the United Nations has recently pledged to call a ‘Donors’ Conference’ to help support the flood-hit Pakistan.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • US to not leave Pakistan alone in the devastating situation of floods: Robert Zimmerman

    NEW YORK: Robert Zimmerman, a candidate for the U.S Congress from the state of New York, has said that the U.S will not leave Pakistan to the mercy of devastating floods, and called upon the international community to come forward and help Pakistan in the need of the hour.

    Also, once in the government, Robert Zimmerman said will make sure that the members of the Pakistani community are included in both his congressional staff and advisory committees in the U.S. It’s very important to move to resolve a host of issues such as legal immigration problems, social and political rights, etc.

    Dr. Ijaz Ahmed, Chairman of the American Pakistani Public Affairs Committee (APPAC), organized a fundraising dinner at his residence in Long Island in honor of Robert Zimmerman, a candidate for the US Congress from the District 3 of New York.

    Adnan Bukhari, President of APPAC New York Chapter, moderated the event. The event began with the recitation of the Holy Quran and the introduction of all the guests.

    APPAC Chairman Dr. Ijaz Ahmed drew the attention of Congress candidate Robert Zimmerman to the damage Pakistan is facing due to climate change and informed about the disastrous situation of the recent floods.

    He said Europe and America are responsible for carbon emissions in the growing industrialization in the world, but Pakistan is paying the price in the form of irreparable loss. Rich countries should stand with developing countries.

    Dr. Ejaz while apprising Zimmerman said that Pakistani community living in US must be given representation in the government departments so that it could serve the country.

    He said  total population of Pakistanis living may constitutes more than one percent, but they deserve to be given space in the local politics and government.

    He said hate is number one issue particularly after the then president Donald trump talked about banning Muslims and minorities.

    Dr Ejaz said he was meeting with the president Joe Biden in Manhattan and informed him about the melting glaciers of North pole. On this the president said that he was aware of the grim situation. Joe Biden recalled that some twelve years back, the then president Barrack Obama and he was invited in a meeting at a secured location in Washington. In this meeting, Biden said the issue of climate change was under discussion. It was informed that climate change is going to become the major global issue in next 20 years and it will first struck the Asian countries such as Indonesia.

    Today, we are witnessing the impacts of climate change in the Asia and currently, Pakistan is suffering from the flood devastation. Dr. Ejaz informed that around 40 percent of the total area of the country is under waters, 30 million population is homeless, and forced to live under open sky, with no shelter, 2,000 people have lost their lives while 6000 pregnant women are going to give births.

    He said as Pakistani diaspora, the American Pakistanis want to play their role as bridge between Pakistan and US, saying there have been ups and downs in bilateral relations. Strong ties between Washington and Islamabad are in great interests of the people of both countries, he stressed.

    On Dr. Ijaz Ahmed’s attention to the important issues, Congress candidate Robert Zimmerman admitted that the destruction caused by floods in Pakistan has not been seen in the last 50 years, our government is ensuring all possible assistance, vowed not to leave Pakistan alone in this crucial time.

    The board members of APPAC participating in the fundraising event asked Congress candidate Robert Zimmerman about several important issues including the conditions imposed by IMF on Pakistan, increasing aid in the flood situation, to which he also gave detailed answers.

    Nadeem Akhtar, Dr. Munir and others from Dales Chapter of APPAC participated in the event through Zoom.

    At the end of the fundraising dinner, the host Dr. Ijaz Ahmed thanked the guest Robert Zimmerman for his arrival, while the Congress candidate also expressed his gratitude to APPAC for fundraising and assured him that he will be elected.

    He vowed that the APPAC recommendations will definitely be presented in the Congress.

    Adnan Bukhari appealed to the community to vote for Robert Zimmerman on November 8 polls.

  • 38th annual American Muslim Day Parade held in New York

    New York: Organized by the Muslim Foundation of America, the 38th annual American Muslim Day Parade was held in New York, with traditional zest and fervor.

    Muslims from different countries came together and gave the message that Islam is a religion of peace and security.

    Pakistani, Indian, Bangladeshi, Turkish, Arabic and African Muslims gathered for the 38th annual Muslim Day Parade on Madison Avenue in Manhattan in New York and began with a recitation of the Holy Quran.

    Later, Raja Razak, a prominent figure of the community, presented Naat-e- Rasool SAW.

    On this occasion, Zuhr pray call (Azaan) was given and Zuhr prayer was offered in congregation led by Mian Tahir.

    After the prayer, the Muslim Day Parade marched to its destination on 25th Street with the New York Police traditional band and march under the leadership of Marshal and first Pakistani American Federal Judge Zahid Qureshi.

    First Pakistani-American Judge Zahid Qureshi, American official, APPAC Chairman Dr. Ijaz Ahmed, community political and social figures, New York Police Muslim officers and students also participated in the parade.

    Citizens and tourists from different countries lined up along Madison Avenue to watch the parade.

    On this occasion, Federal Judge Zahid Qureshi said in a conversation with Voice of South Asia (VOSA TV) that the message for all Muslims is to be united, and that is precondition for the success.

    The Muslim Day Parade went through its designated routes and reached 25th Street, where the American National Anthem was played.

    On this occasion, the organizers of the parade Mian Fayyaz, Faris Fayyaz, Ainul Haq and Mian Tahir and others expressed their views.

    The organizers said in a conversation with Voice of South Asia that our aim is to gather Muslims in America in one platform, and we want Muslims to participate in the local political system here and exercise their right to vote.

    The participants of the parade were attended the event with their families, they said that they are always a part of this parade; we cannot do anything for ourselves without being united.

    Before the end of the parade, awards were presented to the leaders of the New York Police Department’s Muslim officers and organizations in recognition of their service to the community.

    At the end of the parade, Muslim children were taught Islamic values in a unique way, which was well appreciated by all.

  • US Congressman Tom Suozzi, others urge global community to support flood-hit Pakistan.

    New York: US Congressman Tom Suozzi, has said that Pakistan is going through a very crucial time due to floods, and urged the global community to come forward and extend all out support to the flood-hit Pakistanis.

    He was speaking at a fundraising event for flood victims in New York.

    The Rotary Club of Hicksville South and the Pakistani Society of America, in collaboration with other organizations, organized a fundraising dinner for flood victims at a local hotel in Long Island, New York, in which US Congressman Tom Suozzi, and other officials attended, and appreciated the event organizers for feeling the pain of the flood victims,

    In his address to the participants, Congressman Tom Suozzi, informed about his visit to the flood-affected areas of Pakistan at the beginning of this month and the difficulties faced by the victims.

    He said that the relationship between Pakistan and America has definitely been subject to ups and downs, but we have asked our government to help Pakistan in this difficult time.

    Consul General of Pakistan in New York Ayesha Ali, Azad Kashmir President Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry and others also participated in the ceremony.

    Addressing the audience, they informed about the damage caused by the flood.

    On this occasion, prominent figures of the community, New York Police Muslim Officers Society President Deputy Inspector Adeel Rana, Sagheer Ahmed and others were presented with certificates of appreciation for working to help the flood victims from America.

    Before the end of the ceremony, the well-known singer Fakhir created the magic of his voice and warmed the blood of the audience, with presentation of songs in his melodious voice.

    A large number of participants collected funds for the flood victims

    They said that Pakistan cannot deal with the effects of this disaster alone, Pakistan should get relief in repayment of debts.

    Participating in the event, the Nassau County Comptroller burst into tears while describing the plight of flood victims. He appealed for maximum help.

    Community activists participating in the event said that they are trying to provide all possible assistance to the flood victims.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Pakistan PM questions as to why his country is paying the price of climate change

    New York: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday posed a pertinent question before the global leaders at the UN General Assembly as to why Pakistan is paying the price of climate change since the country’s carbon-footprint contribution is almost zero.

    Addressing the UNGA-77 session in New York, Pakistan’s premier said that climate change has pushed one-third of his country under waters in the wake of a superstorm that no one had witnessed in living memory. More than 11 million people would further be pushed below the poverty line, he said.

    “No words can describe the shock we are living through. I have come here to explain, the scale and magnitude of this climate catastrophe that has pushed one-third of my country underwater in a super storm that no one has seen in living memory,” he said.

    More than 33 million people including women and children are now at high risk of health hazards. Around 650,000 women are giving birth in makeshift tents.1500 people lost their lives in the flash flood. Millions of climate migrants are still looking for dry land to live.

    13000, km road network, and 370 bridges, millions of homes and 4 million acres of land have been swept away by floods, while the damages of this climate catastrophe are immensurable. Pakistan had never seen such a huge devastating impact of global warming, ever before.

    “I have visited personally every corner of my country. People of Pakistan ask as to why this flood devastation has racked havoc. It’s time to ask as to what can be done, and what must be done.”

    Undeniable truth is the calamity has not been triggered by anything we have done. Our glaciers are melting at fast pace, and this global warming is making Pakistan a hottest place and one of the world’s 10 vulnerable countries on the planet.

    Real worry is next days when the cameras would leave and the story would shift away from this hot issue like Ukraine and we would be left to mercy of monster monsoon floods.

    Many of lives we have saved. Permanent food insecurity, 11 million people will be pushed further below the poverty line.

    We have mobilized all available resources. Budget priorities have now been shifted to flood hit citizens, cash transfers are being made to the most effected 4 million women.

    Rs 70 billion are being spent on the Benazir Income Support Program. But the scale of disaster is immeasurable .

    He questioned as to why are my people are paying the price of global warming, though no fault of us.  We have no contribution towards the carbon footprint but our economy is suffering the crippling impacts of climate change.

    Hope is the best enemy of darkness, Pakistanis are resilient people. He said rapid economic growth is the top most priority of Pakistani government. We need a stable external environment; sustainable peace could only be achieved through the just solution of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in light of the UN resolutions.  He said the long standing issue of Kashmir needs to be resolved in accordance with the will of Kashmiri people.

    He said New Delhi has ramped up troops in IOK. Through extra judicial killing, and deliberate targeting of Kashmiri youth, India is seeking to turn the Muslim dominated IOK into Hindu dominated territory as fake domiciles have been issued to some two million people, fraudulently.

    India must take credible steps to bring peace and build strong ties with Pakistan. He said that the both nuclear armed countries have so far fought three wars and the consequence of which is the grinding poverty. War is no option. The mutual problems and issues can be resolved through peaceful negotiations. Shehbaz also asked the India to come up and have close ties with Pakistan and work together for the promotions of education and healthcare in both countries.

    Talking about the neighboring Afghanistan, Shebaz Sharif said that 30 million Afghans are left without functional economy. Pakistan is very concerned for the restoration of peace and progress in Afghan soil. He asked to global community to support Afghanistan in this crucial time.

    He also spoke about the Afghan women’s and girls’ right to education and work, while urging the world to avoid isolating the Afghan Interim Government, as it could “aggravate the suffering of the Afghan people, who are already destitute”.

    “Constructive engagement and economic support are more likely to secure a positive response,” he said.

    The premier said that a peaceful, prosperous, and connected Afghanistan is in everyone’s “collective interests.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • UN SG pledges to call ‘Donors’ Conference’ to support the flood-hit Pakistan, soon: PM Shehbaz

    New York: Pakistani Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that the recent ruthless floods have caused a loss of whopping $30 billion to the already fragile economy of Pakistan.  

    Also, he said that the António Guterres Secretary-General of the United Nations has pledged to call a ‘Donors’ Meeting’ possibly in New York, or somewhere else to help support the flood-hit Pakistan.

    Talking to the media during his visit to a photo exhibition titled “Floods in Pakistan: A climate Carnage” in the Sect Lobby of UNHQs, the Prime Minister said that the floods have racked havoc on the daily lift and properties in Pakistan. He said the damage caused by the flood is estimated to be around $30 billion which may go up as the exact scale of devastation is yet to be ascertained.

    He said the standing crops have been damaged. The land for the cultivation of crops is not ready, as flood water is still stagnant elsewhere in four provinces including Sindh, and Baluchistan.

    The PM said he has convened meetings with the UN Secretary-General. He is a very kind-hearted soul and has sympathies with the flood victims in Pakistan.

    Shebaz also thanked the global leaders including the US president, Presidents of Turkey and Iran etc,. who have urged the global community to help support Pakistan in the need of hour.

    Minister for Information Mariyum Augangzeb was flanked with the PM during the visit. She told media that the French President has called upon the global leaders and financial institutions to come up with mechanism to support countries like Pakistan who have been suffering from the impacts of climate change.

    She said the country was already facing economic crisis for the last four years, and the recent floods have compounded the plight of Pakistanis.

    She said 650,000 women are pregnant, and 2600 such women are going to give birth soon, and they need special attention from us in terms of healthy baby food, nutrition, tents, medical care, and warm clothes on the eve of cold weather in Sindh and Baluchistan. NDMA is releasing data as per need-based requirements.

    She said the PM has categorically asked that the production cost of Panadol and Paracetamol tablets will not go up as their demand is increasing due to water borne diseases and Dengue outbreak after the floods. She said the Ministry of Finance will give subsidy for the producers of these medicines, if needed.

    She said the US president Joe Biden has a good reception for heads of the states and he has special attention towards floods and catastrophic situation in Pakistan. This was PM Shehbas Sharif’s voice as well. This is a shared concerned of global community. NGOs has important role to play in natural calamities like situation.

    Mis. Melissa Fleming, USG for Global Communication also spoke during to media during her visit to the exhibition site. She said the floods have wreaked havoc in Pakistan. This is the worst of climate change. It has mass destruction. She said that people who don’t believe as to how climate change is devastating, they should go to Pakistan and look into the scale of devastations by themselves.

    There are 25 photos of sites of disaster and the impact. On digital screen, a documentary is played which has been produced by ministry of information and Broadcasting.

    The department of global communication has also shared their documentary to be played on Pakistan floods and climate change.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Bill Gates calls on Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif

    New York: A day after the U.S President Joe Biden made a fervent call for extending help to Pakistan where floods have caused huge devastation in his speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Bill Gates, the co- chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation called on Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday on the sidelines of UNGA.

    This information was shared by Prime Minister House through a tweet.

    During the meeting, Shahbaz apprised Bill Gates about the human cost of climate change, food insecurity triggered by floods, and the plight of flood-stricken women and children.

    https://twitter.com/PakPMO/status/1572942697165455360/photo/1

    It is relevant to mention here that PM Shehbaz Sharif is visiting New York to attend the 77th session of the UN General Assembly wherein he has been meeting with the world leaders to discuss the global issues of mutual interests.

    The UNGA session is being convened at a time when half of Pakistan is inundated with flood water. Sindh, Baluchistan, Punjab, KPK provinces suffering due to flood, while the picturesque Gilgit-Baltistan is feeling the heat of climate change with witnessing unprecedentedly changing rain patterns, and fast melting glaciers, flash flooding and glacial lake outbursts.

    The floods have killed over 1,500 people and displaced 30 million as the Pakistan government,  with the support of the UN and partners, is racing against time to help the distressed people.

    Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb also said in a tweet on Thursday that Bill Gates called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in New York.

    She said the PM apprised him about human cost of climate change, food insecurity triggered by floods and plight of flood-stricken women and children

    Yesterday. the US President Joe Biden made a fervent call for extending help to Pakistan where floods have caused huge devastation in his speech to the UN General Assembly.

    “Pakistan is still under water, needs help,” the president told the 193-member Assembly in its high-level debate, when he dealt with the adverse impacts of climate change.

    The iconic hall of the General Assembly was packed-to-capacity with world leaders, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, when Biden spoke.

    In his address, Biden  announced over $2.9 billion in new assistance to address global food insecurity, building on the $6.9 billion in US government assistance to support global food security already committed this year.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Peace to remain a distant dream in South Asia, until the longstanding J&K dispute is peacefully resolved: Pakistan’s FM Bilawal

    New York: Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday said that the Hindutva” ideology, the RSS-BJP government in India has initiated illegal demographic changes in the occupied territory in gross violation of international law, and urged the UN to implement its resolutions in letter and spirit.

    Addressing the ministerial meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir, Bilawal thanked the Secretary-General for providing an update on the implementation of the action plan that was adopted during the last meeting of the OIC Contact Group on the margins of the 48th OIC CFM in Islamabad.

    “Today’s interaction would help us take stock of the prevailing political and security environment and the consequent impact on the humanitarian and human rights situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and consider ways and means to address these challenges,” Bilawal said.

    Last month marked the completion of three years of India’s illegal and unilateral actions of 05 August 2019 aimed at changing the internationally recognized “disputed” status of Jammu and Kashmir and altering the demographic structure of the occupied territory in blatant violation of the United Nations Security Council Resolutions.

    To this end, India has resorted to a series of illegal actions, gross and consistent violations of human rights, and other crimes:

    First, there is no letup in the Indian military deployment in occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Roughly 900,000 troops to date. This military deployment is the densest occupation in recent history.

    Second, this massive Indian occupying force has continued to perpetrate vicious and repressive actions, including:

    He said extrajudicial killings of innocent Kashmiris in fake encounters; Custodial killings and “cordon-and-search” operations; the use of pellet guns to kill, maim, and blind peaceful protestors; o the abduction and enforced disappearance of 15,000 young Kashmiri boys; and “collective punishments” with the destruction and burning of entire villages and urban neighborhoods.

    Third, the Indian authorities incarcerated the entire Hurriyat leadership, the true representatives of Kashmiri political aspirations. Most Hurriyat leaders are subjected to brutal and inhumane treatment at the hands of Indian occupation forces.

    Fourth, in pursuance of the “Hindutva” ideology, the RSS-BJP government in India has initiated illegal demographic changes in the occupied territory in gross violation of international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention. This is central to its scheme of converting the Muslim majority into a Hindu-majority territory to drown out the demand for freedom and self-determination.

    New “domicile rules” have been introduced, and over 4 million fake domicile certificates have been issued to Hindus from across India to settle in occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The land and properties of Kashmiris are being confiscated for military and official use, Bilawal added.

    Through an exercise of reallocation of electoral seats in the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir “legislature” and the gerrymandering of electoral boundaries within the occupied territory by a so-called “Delimitation Commission” Muslim representation is to be further reduced, and the voices for freedom further silenced.

    There will be no peace in South Asia until the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is peacefully resolved on the basis of justice and international legitimacy.

    The dispute has remained unresolved primarily due to India’s refusal to implement the resolutions of the Security Council, which stipulated that the final disposition of the State of Jammu and Kashmir shall be made in accordance with the will of the people expressed through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite conducted under the auspices of the United Nations.

    The ceasefire understanding of 25 February 2021 along the Line of Control (LOC) was a prime example of Pakistan’s efforts to maintain peace along the LOC, save precious Kashmiri lives, and alleviate the sufferings of Kashmiris living along both sides of the LOC.

    We expected that India would take positive steps to enable the resumption of dialogue to resolve the dispute. Instead, India intensified its repression.

    Pakistan is prepared to resume a dialogue with India to resolve the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. However, the onus is on India to create a conducive environment for such a dialogue. It must:

    – Reverse its unilateral and illegal measures instituted on 05 August 2019;

    – Halt its human rights violations in IIOJK;

    – Halt and reverse the demographic changes in the occupied territory.

    Pakistan’s FM said that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, along with Palestine, is one of the two longest- standing items on the UN and OIC agenda.

    Pakistan greatly appreciates the OIC’s continued and unequivocal support for this just cause.

    The OIC has been at the forefront of efforts to support the legitimate struggle of the Kashmiri people for their inalienable right to self-determination, as reflected in the decisions and resolutions of the Islamic Summits and Council of Foreign Minister sessions and the statements issued by the OIC’s General Secretariat.

    The OIC’s Contact Group has made an invaluable contribution to galvanizing international attention on the worsening situation in IIOJK.

    OIC support remains fundamental to efforts toward a lasting solution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, as captured in the action plan agreed in Islamabad earlier this year.

    He urged for an active support in raising the issue at relevant UN fora, including the possibility of writing a joint letter to the Security Council on behalf of the Contact Group conveying its outcome documents.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Brooklyn Mosque Volunteer sues NYPD over ‘false’ arrest at his place of worship

    New York: Brooklyn mosque volunteer named Ishtiaq Ahmed filed a federal lawsuit on Tuesday alleging that New York Police Department (NYPD) officers falsified an “assault” that never happened in order to arrest Mr. Ahmed and intimidate him and his mosque community.

    According to a press note released from the lawyer of Ishtiaq Ahmed, NYPD officers fabricated the assault after an interaction in which Mr. Ahmed enforced social distancing restrictions against members of service attempting to enter the Makki Masjid mosque’s prayer room during services.

    The press release alleges that NYPD officers falsely reported that Mr. Ahmed assaulted a member of the mosque community during that interaction, even though CCTV footage confirms that no assault happened. The purported victim of the assault also told media outlets that no assault occurred and that he never made a report to the police.

    Based on their ‘fabricated’ report, NYPD officers arrested Mr. Ahmed, jailed him for 24 hours, and charged with him assault. It took months for the false charges to be dismissed.

    “When I came to this country, I never expected police here could do this,” Mr. Ahmed said. “They targeted me and destroyed my life to make an example of what happens if you question them. Police act like they can get away with anything they want in our community.”

    According to the Complaint, the ‘fabricated’ report was retaliation for the mosque’s recent objection to NYPD officers seizing the mosque pulpit to make speeches promoting the NYPD, as well as Mr. Ahmed’s effort to apply the mosque’s social distancing restrictions against NYPD officers. The Complaint alleges that NYPD officials had regularly visited the Makki Masjid mosque in Brooklyn’s “Little Pakistan” neighborhood to make such speeches as part of “community policing” tactics that were actually intended to divide the community.

    The Complaint alleges that the officers intended to humiliate, intimidate, and punish Mr. Ahmed and his community for denying them unfettered access to the mosque.

    “NYPD framing Mr. Ahmed was part of a decades-long police campaign to intimidate and control the city’s Muslim communities,” said attorney Shakeer Rahman. “Although NYPD has tried to rebrand its surveillance of immigrants as ‘community policing,’ Mr. Ahmed’s experience shows how this reform is just as violent as the tactics of the past.”

    According to the press release, the fabrication was perpetuated by several NYPD officers, including Deputy Inspector Richard Taylor—who was present during the interactions that NYPD falsely characterized as an assault.

    “It is unacceptable that several NYPD officers thought they could lie about Mr. Ahmed and get away with it,” said attorney Sam Barr. “This culture of impunity has to end.”

    As a result of his false arrest, Mr. Ahmed claims that he suffered physical injuries and has experienced emotional distress, including post-traumatic stress disorder. He also lost his Taxi and Limousine Commission license upon his arrest, and the incident had a devastating effect on his ability to support his family.

    “Since the arrest last year I have not been able to sleep, I get nightmares and suicidal anxiety, I have been terrified to go to the Friday prayers, and I cannot even look at the clothes I was wearing that day,” Mr. Ahmed said. “My children feel the trauma too, their grades at school are suffering, and they tell me they want to leave the country.”

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Seven decades on, India obstructed UN efforts to implement UNSC resolutions on J&K: Pakistan’s FM Bilawal

    New York: Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday said that over the last 7 decades, India has obstructed the efforts of the UN mechanisms to implement the UN Security Council’s resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).

    Addressing the 12th Ministerial Meeting of the UN Group of Friends of Mediation, titled “Avoiding Humanitarian Crises through Mediation” Bilawal said the continuation of India’s illegal actions was manifested in the unilateral measures taken on and since 5 August 2019 to annex the occupied territory of Jammu and Kashmir without even the fig leaf of legal justification or plebiscite.

    He said the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is one of the oldest issues on the agenda of the Council. At the outset, the Security Council decided that “the final disposition of the State of Jammu and Kashmir will be made in accordance with the will of the people expressed through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite conducted under the auspices of the United Nations”.

    The Security Council also instituted several mechanisms to secure the implementation of its decisions on Jammu and Kashmir, including:

    1. a) the UN Commission on India and Pakistan (UNCIP);
    2. b) the deployment of the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP); and
    1. c) the appointment of several distinguished Special Representatives.

    To this end, Pakistan continues to advocate a more active role by the United Nations Security Council and the Secretary-General.

    We urge the Secretary-General to avail the full panoply of mediatory measures available to him under Article 99 of the UN Charter to persuade India to reverse its unilateral measures and agree to promote an equitable solution to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with Security Council resolutions and

    the UN Charter. The Security Council should give full support to the Secretary- General in using his good offices to this end.

    Bilawal said “let me begin by thanking the Co-Chairs Turkiye and Finland for organizing 12th Ministerial Meeting of the UN Group of Friends of Mediation and their successful stewardship of this initiative.”

    Pakistan also commends the UN Secretary General and President Erdogan of Turkiye for successfully mediating the landmark Black Sea Grain Initiative.

    He said The important role of the United Nations in conflict prevention is unquestionable.

    Bilawal said the Charter of the United Nations contains a comprehensive framework for the pacific settlement of disputes. At any stage of a conflict, the Security Council can recommend to the parties appropriate procedures or methods of settlement of their dispute, which may include mediation under Chapter VI of the Charter.

    Under Article 37 and 38, the Security Council also has the power to recommend terms of settlement to the parties, if they request this or if the Council considers that the continuance of their dispute is in fact likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security. Over the years, the Security Council has also established subsidiary organs to carry out mediation in pursuance of this core mandate.

    Nearly 77 years after the signing of the Charter, the challenges and threats to peace and security are perhaps more complex, but the Charter’s purposes and principles remain valid and immutable. It is imperative to reaffirm our commitment and confidence in these principles and to promote solutions to disputes and conflicts, between large and small States, on the basis of these principles.

    The Secretary General’s repeated calls for a ‘surge in diplomacy’ for peace is both urgent and important. And, such a surge of diplomacy must emanate from the United Nations and the machinery that is available to it for the purpose, including for mediation and similar means of dispute resolution.

    While the United Nations has had several successes in mediating political settlements to disputes and conflicts, it could and should have done more and with greater success.

    In conclusion, Excellencies, let me say that Pakistan is a proud member of the Group of Friends of Mediation, and I would like to thank the Chairs and all the members of the Group for their work.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • France, Pakistan agree to join hands for economic revival, reconstruction of flood-hit areas

    New York:

    According to APP News, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday had a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly here.

    Besides exchanging views on the enhancement of bilateral relations, the two leaders agreed on mobilizing international support for Pakistan to help recover and rebuild its economy on a sustainable footing in the aftermath of the recent devastating floods in Pakistan related to climate change.In order to gather the relevant International financial partners and development partners, France will host an international conference before the end of the year aiming at contributing to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of flood-affected areas of Pakistan.

    France would also help with climate-resilient reconstruction-related financing, to accelerate the transition to renewable energy.

  • PM Shahbaz Sharif meets French President on sidelines of UNGA session

    New York:

    According to the APP News, Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday met with President of France Emmanuel Macron, on the sidelines of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly here.

    During the meeting, they discussed bilateral ties as well as matters of regional and international importance.

    Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb, Minister of State Hina Rabbani Khar, and SAPM Tariq Fatemi accompanied the prime minister.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.