International Day of UN Peacekeepers

International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers

29 May 2017

Al-Bab Report

“Investing in Peace Around the World”

For nearly 70 years, UN peacekeeping has proven to be one of the international community’s most effective investments in peace, security, and prosperity. 

Demand for UN peacekeepers has risen steadily over the years, and deployment is now near an all-time high. Peacekeeping has had a positive impact on the lives of millions of people around the world.

Despite their different sizes and mandates, all UN missions have the same goals: to save lives, protect people, to set the stage for peace, and then close.  They are intended to be short-term investments that provide long-term dividends by creating the time and space for political processes to unfold. 

To date, fifty-four UN peace operations have completed their mandates. Two more, in Cote d’Ivoire and Liberia, will soon close, joining a long list of successful operations in Angola, Cambodia, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Timor-Leste and elsewhere.

Looking forward, we are aiming to do more to end operations that have achieved their goals. We are also reforming and adapting our peacekeeping missions to improve their effectiveness in the increasingly challenging environments in which they work.

Today’s peacekeeping budget -- less than one -half of one percent of global military spending -- is money well spent. It is a fraction of the cost of allowing conflict to spread and erode the gains of economic development. The investment is multiplied by the economic growth and prosperity that follow from stability and security after successful peacekeeping missions.

The UN is working hard to make all our peacekeeping operations cost-effective from start to finish. We are constantly finding ways to reform, restructure and drive costs down.

At the same time, UN peacekeepers are relentless in searching for new ways to build sustainable peace.

Peacekeeping operations have evolved from simply monitoring ceasefires to protecting civilians, disarming ex-combatants, protecting human rights, promoting the rule of law, supporting free and fair elections, minimizing the risk of land mines and much more.  They also work to ensure that women are fully represented in peace processes, political life, and in branches of government. All these investments are fundamental to building lasting peace.

Since taking office earlier this year, I have made ending the scourge of sexual exploitation and abuse committed by UN personnel, including peacekeepers, one of my top priorities. We are by no means perfect. But when we make mistakes, we learn from them, striving continuously to deploy our personnel and assets in a way that is not just responsible, but beneficial to the people and communities we serve.

I look forward to working with the Member States on this.  Our partnership is central to the success of peacekeeping missions since the Member States decide where troops go, what they will do, and what resources will support them. Our close cooperation is vital if we are to deliver on the promise of lasting peace, while peacekeepers create conditions on the ground to enable solutions to emerge and take root.

I have also prioritized ensuring that women play a far more active role in peace operations, as troops, police and civilian staff. Gender parity is essential for its own sake, and the presence of women increases the chances of sustained peace while reducing incidences of sexual abuse and exploitation.

On this International Day of UN Peacekeepers, we pay tribute to more than 113,000 ‘Blue Helmets’, UN Police and civilian personnel deployed to 16 missions.  We acknowledge the contribution made by an ever-growing number of Member States to our operations.  We thank more than one million women and men who have served under the UN flag with professionalism, dedication, and courage throughout our history. And we honor the memory of more than 3,500 peacekeepers who lost their lives while serving.

Last year, 117 peacekeepers paid the ultimate price. They included military, police, international civil servants, UN Volunteers and national staff from 43 countries. So far in 2017, twelve peacekeepers have been killed.

Their efforts on behalf of the international community are one of the most concrete expressions of the UN Charter’s determination “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.” We all owe them a great debt.

U.S. Embassy Donates Law Enforcement Equipment and Vehicles to Islamabad Police

U.S. Embassy Donates Law Enforcement Equipment and Vehicles to Islamabad Police

and the Pakistan National Police Bureau

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Islamabad, May 23, 2017 – High ranking Pakistani police officials received law enforcement counter-terrorism related equipment at an event held at Islamabad Police lines HQ today.  The equipment handed over at the ceremony included vehicles, communication equipment, uniforms, and Crisis Response Team equipment, valued at over $1 million dollars.  The event was presided over by Deputy Inspector General Islamabad Police Ashrif Zubair Saddiqi, with the American Embassy represented by Deputy Regional Security Officer Rob Meyer. 

The donations are being provided by the U.S. Department of State’s Anti-Terrorism Assistance (ATA) program, which provides training and equipment to law enforcement personnel throughout the world.  The ATA has partnered with Pakistani law enforcement agencies at the provincial and federal level since 2003 to strengthen Pakistan’s counter-terrorism capabilities, training well over three thousand officers from various law enforcement agencies throughout Pakistan, and has previously donated approximately $3.3 million USD in equipment to Pakistan since the inception of the program. 

UN Headquarters Observes International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers

UN Headquarters Observes International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers

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-- 5 fallen peacekeepers from Pakistan to be honored at ceremony at UN Headquarters –

The United Nation Headquarters will observe the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers Wednesday, 24 May.  Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will lay a wreath to honor all fallen peacekeepers and will preside over a ceremony at which the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal will be awarded posthumously to 117 military, police and civilian personnel who lost their lives while serving in peacekeeping operations during 2016. 

Five fallen peacekeepers from Pakistan are among the 117 who will posthumously receive the Dag Hammarskjold medal  --  Havildar Abdul Majeed Khan and Havildar Zishan Ahmed, who served with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO ); Lt-Colonel Muhammad Ashraf, who served with the  United Nations Operation in Cote d’Ivoire (UNOCI); Naik Qaiser Abbas, who was deployed with the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic  (MINUSCA); and Ms. Sjabnam Khan who served in a civilian capacity with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

In a video message to mark the Day, the Secretary-General said:  “Every day, peacekeepers help bring peace and stability to war-torn societies around the world.  On the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, we pay tribute to the more than 3,500 peacekeepers who have given their lives in the service of peace since 1948.” 

                                         

He further said: “Their sacrifice only strengthens our commitment to ensuring that United Nations peacekeepers continue protecting civilians in harm’s way, promoting human rights and the rule of law, removing land mines, advancing negotiations and securing a better future in the places they are deployed.  Now, more than ever, it is essential that we continue investing in peace around the world.”

Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, said: “We pay our greatest respects to the committed and courageous peacekeepers who are no longer with us today. I offer my deepest and most sincere condolences to the families of those we honor and to the bereaved. It’s critical that we continue to invest in peace and make every effort to carry forward their noble work, and that we continue to pursue reform efforts to make United Nations peacekeeping more efficient and effective. That is the best way we can honor the memories and sacrifices of our fallen peacekeepers."

Today, more than 96,000 uniformed personnel from 124 troop-and-police-contributing countries serve under the blue flag, alongside more than 15,000 international and national civilian staff and nearly 1,600 United Nations Volunteers.

Pakistan is the 3^rd largest contributor of military and police personnel to UN peacekeeping.  It currently deploys more than 7,100 uniformed personnel to the UN peace operations in the Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Liberia, South Sudan, Sudan and the Western Sahara.

The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers was established by the General Assembly in 2002, to pay tribute to all men and women serving in peacekeeping, and to honor the memory of those who have lost their lives in the cause of peace.  The Assembly designated 29 Mayas the Day because it was the date in 1948 when the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), the world body’s first peacekeeping mission, began operations in Palestine.  

While the Day will be marked in New York on the 24^th, UN Peacekeeping operations and UN offices around the world will commemorate the Day on or around the 29^th. 

American Ambassador David Hale meets with Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa

American Ambassador David Hale meets with Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa

Al-Bab Report

Islamabad, May 22, 2017 — American Ambassador David Hale met today with Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

Ambassador Hale noted President Donald Trump’s call during his speech at the Arab-Islamic-American Summit for a vision of peace, security, and prosperity, and unity in conquering extremism and terrorism. Ambassador Hale affirmed Pakistan’s role and great sacrifices in this effort. 

Ambassador Hale thanked General Bajwa for his public commitment on May 18 that Pakistan is taking measures to ensure that militants do not use Pakistan’s soil to conduct attacks against any country.  In this vein, during their meeting, General Bajwa offered renewed assurances that Pakistan would not permit its territory to be used to plan or conduct attacks against Afghanistan.  The Ambassador and General Bajwa reiterated their nations’ commitment to a secure, stable, and prosperous Afghanistan.

UN and Human Rights

UN and Human Rights

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Stand up for human rights to – and through – health, experts urge Governments

GENEVA (22 May 2017) – The world is at a watershed moment that could lead to greater dignity for everyone throughout their lives, but only if Governments invest in the integral relationship between human rights and health specifically for women, children, and adolescents, a UN-backed group of politicians and health and human rights experts has said.

“Leadership is fundamental to maximize the benefits of the interplay between health and human rights. If human rights to – and through – health are not at the centre of what we do, the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda will surely fail,” said Tarja Halonen, former President of Finland and co-chair of the High-Level Group on the Health and Human Rights of Women, Children and Adolescents, which today published a report on realizing human rights to and through health.  

The High-Level Group*, which was established by the World Health Organization and the UN Human Rights Office in May 2016, emphasizes that the largest ever generation of adolescents is an unprecedented opportunity for sustainable development, provided their rights to health and through health are respected.  Yet the Group warns that there is an erosion of – and in some cases backlash against - human rights worldwide, which threatens to undermine progress in improving the health and well-being of all people.    

 The report emphasizes that against a backdrop of rising nationalism, marginalization –  including of undocumented migrants, refugees, slum dwellers and indigenous peoples -  proceeds hand in hand with violations of rights, with particularly dire consequences for women, children and adolescents and undermining stability for entire societies.

“The realization of human rights in the context of sexual and reproductive health, including access to safe abortion – is not only seriously uneven or unattainable at the country-level, it is under direct attack, risking the reversal of hard-won advances in preventable maternal and child mortality and undermining the health of adolescents worldwide,” said Tarja Halonen.

Since the right to health was recognized in 1946 in the Constitution of the World Health Organization and then in 1948 with the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the right has been reaffirmed in numerous international treaties and political commitments ratified and adopted by States.

“Many promises have been made but still millions of women, children, and adolescents are denied their fundamental human rights, leading to preventable deaths, injury, physical and mental illness and other harm. Despite medical breakthroughs and scientific advances, societies continue to undervalue the health and dignity of women, children, and adolescents, undermining their rights and dismissing their rightful claims,” said Hina Jilani, a member of the Elders and the Group’s co-chair.

“Translating human rights norms into tangible action and results from hinges on local and national leadership. Health workers, as human rights defenders, can play an indispensable role in supporting action and holding authorities accountable for ensuring all people are able to enjoy their right to health.  They must be protected as they do so,” explained Dr. Denis Mukwege, renowned gynecologist in the Democratic Republic of Congo and rapporteur of the Group.

The High-Level Group is calling on Governments to take steps to allocate at least 5% of GDP for public health spending, which is the recommended percentage for achieving Universal Health Coverage.

“We know what needs doing, and how to do it. We know why we should do it. We also know it makes financial sense. What we need are more concrete and sustained political commitment and leadership,” the report says.

The report, which is addressed to the Director-General of the World Health Organisation, Margaret Chan, and the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, will be presented to the World Health Assembly on 22 May, and to the Human Rights Council on 13 June 2017. 

France supporting green energy development in Pakistan

France supporting green energy development in Pakistan
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On May 22^nd, 2017, H.E. Mrs. Martine DORANCE, Ambassador of France along with H.E. Jean-François CAUTAIN, Ambassador of European Union visited the construction site of the national Hydropower Training Institute (HPTI) in Mangla and participated in the cornerstone ceremony hosted by WAPDA’s member Water, Mr. Nasir Hanif.

France and EU through the French Agency for Development (AFD) have provided the Government of Pakistan with a 4 million euros funding. The grant of 2.5 million Euros was delegated to the AFD by the European Union as part of the Asia Investment Facility. In addition to the EU grant, the French Agency for Development has provided additional funding of 1.5 million Euros for the successful and timely completion of the project.

Upon its completion by end of 2018, the hydropower training center will contribute to the capacity-building of public and private hydropower operators like WADPA, provincial operators, and independent power producers. It will ensure a sound and skilled development of hydropower projects by strengthening the capacities of technicians and engineers in charge of designing and operating hydropower plants.

For the last ten years, France through the French Agency for Development has been promoting green energies in Pakistan and has allocated more than 300 million euros to investments in hydroelectricity. About 80% of this amount is financing projects implemented by WAPDA to develop the tremendous Pakistani potential in hydroelectricity.

France is committed to supporting the Government’s strategy to solve the energy crisis and to fight climate change through investments in low-carbon-emission energy generation in line with COP21 Paris agreement approved by the Parliament of Pakistan. 

A week back, on May 14^th, 2017, H.E. Mrs. Martine DORANCE, Ambassador of France visited the construction site of, he Jaggran II hydropower plant in AJK and participated to the corner stone ceremony hosted by H.E. Mr. Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider Khan, Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

France, through the French Agency for Development (AFD), has also provided the Government of Pakistan with a 68 million euros soft loan for the construction of the 48MW hydropower plant located about 90 km from Muzaffarabad city towards North-East. The project is being built in the upper extent of Jaggran Nullah, a right bank tributary of the Neelum River. It is located downstream of the existing 30.4 MW Jaggran I hydropower project, funded earlier with French support, and being operated since 2000 by the Power Development Organisation (PDO).

Jaggran II Hydroelectric Power Project will operate as a run-of-the-river scheme and will not entail any major environmental or social constraints. It will be connected to the national grid, and will help alleviate the energy crisis in Pakistan. Upon its commissioning in 2020, it will provide a reliable source of renewable energy and a permanent supply of electricity for the 1.2 million people living in the Muzaffarabad area, with strong social and economic positive impacts.

Besides the soft loan provided to the Government of Pakistan, AFD is also providing a grant for capacity-building of PDO.

UN Cinema celebrates the role of female peacekeepers at PNCA

UN Cinema celebrates the role of female peacekeepers at PNCA

Al-Bab Report

ISLAMABAD: UN Cinema was launched on Tuesday at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA), Islamabad, with the screening of ‘A Journey of a Thousand Miles: Peacekeepers,’ a documentary on the role of women in international peacekeeping.

The first screening of the UN Cinema marks the International Day of UN Peacekeepers which is celebrated each year on 29 May.

UN Cinema is a new collaboration between the UN Information Centre and PNCA to feature films and documentaries focused on development, humanitarian issues, and human rights from around the world.

Directed and produced by Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy and Geeta Gandbir, ‘A Journey of A Thousand Miles: Peacekeepers’ follows a unit of one hundred and sixty Bangladeshi women who, between June 2013 and July 2014, travel far from their friends and families to join the United Nations Stabilizing Mission in Haiti. They form one of the world’s first all-female, predominantly Muslim peacekeeping units; shattering every stereotype the world holds about the capabilities of Muslim women.

In his opening remarks, UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan’s (UNMOGIP’s) Head of Mission and Chief Military Observer Major General Per Lodin highlighted the importance of female peacekeepers and the evolving nature of UN peacekeeping operations around the world.

UNMOGIP is the second oldest UN peacekeeping mission that monitors the ceasefire between India and Pakistan along the Line of Control and Working Boundary in Jammu and Kashmir.

Major General Per Lodin said:

“In all fields of peacekeeping, women peacekeepers have proven that they can perform the same roles, to the same standards and under the same difficult conditions, as their male counterparts. It is an operational imperative that we concentrate our efforts to recruit and retain female peacekeepers.”

Vittorio Cammarota, Director UN Information Centre said:

“This new partnership is instrumental in increasing the number of Pakistani people we can share information with on what the United Nations System is working on in Pakistan and abroad.”

US Supports Medical Emergency Training for Pakistani Policemen

The US Supports Medical Emergency Training for Pakistani Policemen

Islamabad, May 16, 2017: Last weekend, more than two dozen Pakistani police officers graduated a six-week medical emergency training course, with eight officers also completing a two-week Master Trainer medical course.   Held at the Jakarta Center for Law Enforcement Cooperation in Indonesia, the training taught life-saving medical skills to police officers who are often the first responders at scenes of emergencies and accidents.  The courses, supported by the U.S. Embassy’s International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) section, included attendees from seven police organizations from across Pakistan. 

The Pakistani police officers attending this course felt confident of their new skills, with one officer declaring “I’m now confident that I am capable of saving lives” in a medical emergency.   All of the participating officers received internationally recognized certification in Basic Life Support.  The eight police officers who completed the Master Trainer course are returning to their police organizations to teach medical first aid skills to their fellow law enforcement officers.    

This INL-funded training was implemented in response to requests received from Pakistani police agencies for assistance with training police officers in basic medical first aid skills.  INL Director Katie Stana noted, “INL’s goal is to work with our Pakistani partners to make sure every law enforcement officer has the training they need to effectively serve the public.”  Stana added that “There is no question that this training gives Pakistani police officers the skills necessary to save lives, especially in rural areas of Pakistan where the police may be the only first responders.” 

The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs works in more than 90 countries to help countries combat crime and corruption, counter drug-related crime, improve police institutions, and promote laws and court systems that are fair and accountable. 

UNICEF and Stunting and Wasting in South Asia

Stunting and Wasting, a Major Threat for Child Survival and Development of South Asian Nations

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Across South Asia, less than five percent of the 8 million severely wasted children are receiving appropriate care and treatment.

Kathmandu, 16 May 2017 – A regional conference organized jointly by the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will identify actions to accelerate progress in the care of severely wasted children, which affects 8 million children in South Asia. It brings together, for the first time, government representatives, UN partners, and civil society organizations from across South Asia, together with regional and global experts on nutrition to exchange regional analyses, expertise, and experience on addressing wasting in the context of overall nutrition programming.

South Asia remains the epicenter of the global child wasting and stunting crisis. Severe wasting compromises the ability of children to grow and develop to their full potential, contributing to stunted growth and cognitive deficits as well as increased mortality risk. The costs of inaction to families and nations are considerable – stunted children earn 20 percent less as adults compared to non-stunted children, constraining economic growth across the region.

“The first priority is ensuring the healthy growth and development of children. This requires interventions to improve women’s nutrition before and during pregnancy, actions to support breastfeeding from the very first hour of life, interventions to improve the quality of food for young children, and programs to protect children from infections. And when these prevention efforts fail and children become severely wasted, it is critical they receive appropriate care and treatment to safeguard their lives, growth, and development,” said Jean Gough, Regional Director for UNICEF in South Asia.

Across South Asia, less than five percent of the 8 million severely wasted children are receiving appropriate care and treatment. This low coverage is adding to the burden of mortality and morbidity in young children and limiting the growth and development of the untreated millions. Early detection and treatment of wasting is one powerful action to reduce stunting and its negative impacts.

“Investing in the capacity of communities, community-based organizations and civil society groups to identify and address undernutrition within their communities are the core of our endeavors for a collective approach to nutrition in South Asia. This investment is the key to unlocking the potential of this generation and the next,” said Amjad Hussain Sial, Secretary-General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

Community-based approaches are indeed critical to preventing and treating severe wasting.  Over 50 countries have adopted community-based management of severe wasting, including Afghanistan, Nepal, and Pakistan. These community-based care approaches are already saving thousands of lives and safeguarding the growth and development of many more Children by bringing more affordable services closer to families.

USAID Mission Director Inaugurates the Faculty of Education At Fatima Jinnah Women’s University, Rawalpindi

USAID Mission Director Inaugurates the Faculty of Education

At Fatima Jinnah Women’s University, Rawalpindi

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Islamabad, Mary 16, 2017 — U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director John Groarke, Dr. Muktar Ahmed, Chairman of the Higher Education Commission, and Dr. Balig ur Rehman, State Minister of Federal Education and Training inaugurated the new $1.5 million Faculty of Education building at Fatima Jinnah Women’s University (FJWU), constructed by USAID to attract the best and brightest young Pakistani women to the teaching profession. 

“Our shared goal is to invest in the next generation of doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs – the next generation of leaders,” Groarke said in his remarks.  “Women are a proven development multiplier and their full participation in all levels of society helps build resilient communities.” 

In addition to the new Faculty of Education building, USAID has provided scholarships to FJWU students, including many training to become teachers.  The U.S. Embassy partners with FJWU on numerous projects that promote women’s education and empowerment.  From 2012-2016, the U.S. Embassy supported a partnership between FJWU and the University of Texas at Austin to strengthen women’s education in the Behavioral Sciences, Gender Studies, and Communication/Media Studies. 

In her remarks, FJWU Vice Chancellor Samina Amin Qadir said, “The construction of the Faculty of Education by USAID is an attempt to further facilitate the talented and academically high performing students coming from across the region, to have access to higher education and help them realize their potential.”

Through USAID, the U.S. government has provided $47.5 million for the construction and rehabilitation of 17 Faculty of Education buildings across Pakistan, which together can support more than 5,000 student teachers and 200 faculty members total per year.  USAID has also provided in-service training to almost 14,000 educators and more than 3,100 scholarships to enable students to earn their bachelor's or associates degrees in education. 

Mission Director Groarke added: “Within these classrooms and learning spaces, Fatima Jinnah Women’s University faculty will train thousands of future educators to teach children the foundational skills of literacy and numeracy, create classroom settings where children’s creativity and passion for learning are allowed to flourish, and ensure students develop market-relevant skills that will enable them to thrive in a rapidly changing twenty-first century global economy.” 

Visiting USDA Scientists Discuss Cotton Productivity Improvements with Pakistani Partners

Visiting USDA Scientists Discuss Cotton Productivity Improvements with Pakistani Partners

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Islamabad, Mary 17, 2017 — Agricultural experts from the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Research Service met in Islamabad this week to discuss the U.S. -Pakistan Cotton Productivity Enhancement Program (CPEP) with Pakistani government officials, public and private sector representatives and farmer organizations.  The meetings focused on input from Pakistani representatives on how to build on the CPEP program’s successes.

The program is a partnership between the U.S. Agency for International Development, USDA, a consortium of the Pakistani government and university research facilities, and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA).  The primary goal of the program is to study and combat Cotton Leaf Curl Virus (CLCuV). To date, CPEP has substantially decreased losses due to CLCuV through promoting best management practices among small farmers affected by the virus. Also, new sources of resistance to CLCuV have been identified and CLCuV resistant cotton lines are currently in advanced field trials at Pakistani government research institutes.

Dr. Jodi Scheffler, USDA’s CPEP Coordinator, noted that “Our Pakistani partners are leaders in CLCuV research and are creating innovative new strategies to mitigate the effects of CLCuV, to benefit Pakistan’s cotton farmers.”  She further stated, “Our joint development of virus resistant cotton lines will be of immense value, not only to Pakistan but the world.”

Control of CLCuV is crucial in Pakistan, as it has caused major losses to Pakistan’s cotton industry, threatening both Pakistan’s economic stability and food security. The program receives essential support from the Pakistani government, university and institute members, the public and private sectors, and farmer organizations.

The scientists will also meet with the National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) Institute of Plant Genetics Resources (IPGR) and other partners from the Farmer Field Schools project to discuss future initiatives.

UN Drug and Crime and Punjab

UN Drug and Crime and Punjab
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14 May 2017: A two days successful event was hosted by Punjab Judicial Academy, Lahore in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), with extensive consultative sessions focused under the title of “Judicial Education System and Future Role of Judicial Academies”.

The event was conducted in two parts: day one was conducted at Flatties Hotel Auditorium and utilized for consultative sessions on different thematic areas articulating with the needs of the education system in Judiciary. The inauguration was done by the honorable Justice of Lahore High Court, Shujat Ali Khan and subsequently, a welcoming speech with elaboration on key objectives of the event was deliberated upon by Director General Punjab Judicial Academy, Mahrukh Aziz. Several international and national experts shared their respective thoughts with the concerned audience, having a special emphasis on drawing tangible recommendations for the future roadmap of Judicial Academies in the country. The subjects covered were: Curriculum development and Review for Judges and Court Staff; Information Technology and Distance Learning; Monitoring and Training Evaluation; Faculty Development and Linkages; Research and Publications; and Administration of Judicial Education Institutions. Also United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Pakistan’s Criminal Justice advisor Ms. Jouhaida Hanano was given an opportunity to aware participants on the United Nations Convention against Corruption, Global Judicial Integrity Network and Training Manager Aftab Shuaib to explain the linkage of IT based, United Nations Global eLearning initiative for capacity building of human resource.

The second part of the event was conducted at Punjab Judicial Academy Auditorium, in the gracious presence of Honorable Chief Justice of Lahore High Court Syed. Mansoor Ali Shah as the Chief Guest. Director General Punjab Judicial Academy, Mahrukh Aziz welcome all the honorable guests and commend the efforts of all participants to make the event a success. Afterward, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Country Representative Mr. Cesar Guedes addressed the august house comprised of honorable Judges of Lahore High Court, Legal professionals, and academics of civil society. He highlighted the need for continuance and sustainable human resource development for an organization and awareness on international best practices. He also presented an overview of all the global initiatives, UNODC is undertaking in the criminal justice system across the world and in Pakistan.  He assured the legal fraternity on the resolve of UNODC country office Pakistan’s to provide utmost support in the future endeavors also. After that honorable Mrs. Justice Ayesha A. Malik of Lahore High Court presented the Lahore Declaration on Future of Judicial Academies. She explained to the house on the decisions and recommendations reached through the previous day consultative sessions.

BORDER OUTPOSTS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT TO ENHANCE PAKISTAN’S SECURITY

BORDER OUTPOSTS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT TO ENHANCE PAKISTAN’S SECURITY

Al-Bab Report

Islamabad, May 12, 2017 - A meeting was held between Brig Muhammad Yousaf Majoka, DIG FC KP and Katie Stana, INL Director to mark the inauguration of Border Outpost Construction Project at General Headquarters, Rawalpindi. DIG FC KP expressed his gratitude to INL’s assistance, mentioning that “The US Embassy’s INL has stood with FC for more than a decade, helping to reduce civilian and law enforcement casualties, cross-border infiltrations, smuggling of narcotics, kidnapping for ransom and other crimes on the western border of Pakistan”.

Inauguration celebrated the completion of three-year $10 mn project that began in 2014, which included the construction of five Company Headquarters, 33 Border Out Posts and renovation of 54 Security Posts. During previous phases, 54 border outposts were constructed and 30 facilities renovated at a cost of $ 5.5 mn.

During the inauguration ceremony, Stana recognized the important role that the FC plays in safeguarding Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan, noting that the Frontier Corps is Pakistan’s first line of defense in border security, and we are proud to support its mission”. In particular, she highlighted INL funded border outposts in the Chitral area of KP, Mohmand and Bajaur Agencies of FATA, which provided critical protection during several attacks from 2014-2016 from across the border, helping to protect the lives of FC personnel engaged in countering narcotics and preventing cross-border infiltration.

In addition to this infrastructure support, this year INL will provide more that $5 mn in equipment, including bulletproof vests, helmets, and bomb protection suits to the FC to help improve personnel safety to the troops and extend the reach of the FC in FATA and along the Pak-Afghan border.

American Embassy Leads Pakistani Delegation to Recycling and Waste Management Trade Expo

American Embassy Leads Pakistani Delegation to Recycling and Waste Management Trade Expo

Al-Bab Report

Islamabad, May 09, 2017 - A member of the U.S. Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) joined a delegation of Pakistani companies from Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and Multan at Waste Expo 2017, in New Orleans, Louisiana.  The expo is the largest annual recycling and waste management trade show in the United States and runs from May 8-11. More than 500 exhibitors will display their newest innovations and products, including leading companies in the sector, such as Caterpillar, Cummins, and Green Machine. 

At the expo, Pakistani companies will have the opportunity to negotiate business deals with American firms, improving their operational capabilities and technological know-how in the area of recycling and waste management.  FCS will support the Pakistani companies in attendance with Business to Business matchmaking, trade counseling, and official site visits for product demonstrations.

Highlighting the importance of the delegation, American Commercial Attaché Steve Knode noted, “Events like Waste Expo provide an opportunity to learn about industry best practices and innovative solutions.  We are delighted to showcase to Pakistani companies the very best, cutting-edge recycling and waste management technology.   With new methods and machinery, Pakistan’s cities and towns will be cleaner and greener.”

The United States is Pakistan’s largest trading partner, and in 2016, more than 200 Pakistani businesspeople traveled to a total of 15 states to build trade ties between the United States and Pakistan with support from the U.S Foreign Commercial Service.  These trade promotion tours focused on increasing bilateral trade between our nations, in everything from dairy products to solar power technology.  The U.S. Commercial Service is the trade promotion arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. U.S. Commercial Service trade professionals in over 100 U.S. cities and in more than 75 countries help U.S. companies get started in exporting or increase sales to new global markets.

Saudi dates to the vulnerable in Pakistan

Saudi dates to the vulnerable in Pakistan

Dr. Jassim Taqui

In an impressive function held at the Saudi Embassy, Islamabad, the Saudi Charge d’Affaires Marwan Ridwan Mirdad presented 878 metric tons of dates to the acting Country Director of WFP. The dates is a gift from King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center for the disadvantaged people in Pakistan. The dates will be distributed among 350,000 vulnerable people including Temporary Displaced people of FATA.  

On this occasion Mirdad reaffirmed the close brotherly relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, stating that King Salman was committed to the wellbeing of the people of Pakistan.

The WFP will distribute the dates during the coming holy month of Ramadan and beyond.