Pakistan and 75 years of UN peacekeeping Dr. Jassim Taqui DG, Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad June, 1st, 2023: Today an event was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad, in collaboration with the United Nations, to celebrate 75 years of United Nations peacekeeping, paying homage to the more than 200,000 Pakistani service women and men who have served in 46 UN Missions since 1960 – including 171 who lost their lives. Pakistan is among the largest troop-contributing countries to UN peacekeeping with nearly 4,334 military and police personnel currently serving in nine locations around the world. “Pakistan is proud of its long-standing association and contribution to UN peacekeeping,” said the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar at the event. The Minister of State paid tribute to the services and sacrifices rendered by UN peacekeepers for advancing the shared goals of peace all over the world and reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong commitment and support to the UN peacekeeping and peacebuilding architecture.

ILO and the Textile Industry Dr. Jassim Taqui DG, Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad May 30, 2023: The ILO and its Better Work program held the Textile and Ready Made Garment Industry Forum in Karachi, attended by over 200 relevant key stakeholders. The event was opened by the ILO’s Country Director, Mr. Geir Tonstel, and the IFC’s Principal Investment Officer, Ms. Zunee Muhtashim. Keynote addresses were given by Zulfiqar Haider, Secretary, Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, and Mr. Mudassar Raza Siddiqi, Director General (Textiles), Ministry of Commerce, who both emphasized the commitment of the Government to supporting the growth of the textile and ready-made garments. The issues of trade agreements and standards compliance were addressed by panelists from the European Union Delegation to Pakistan, the Sindh Human Rights Commission, representatives of the Better Work program in Pakistan, and the International Accord. The discussion focussed on the need to ensure that Pakistan continues to benefit from opportunities provided by international trade agreements and that its industries ensure compliance with international labor standards and local legislation at the ground level. The discussion was led by Mr. Colin Fenwick, Better Work’s Head in Asia. Panel participants also explored the need for Pakistan to develop its approaches to product and market diversification and to enhance its focus on sustainability, to ensure that Pakistan’s industry can effectively compete with its international and regional neighbors. Perspectives were given by leading industry players, the Regional Trade Policy Advisor of the British High Commission in Pakistan, the National Textile University, Faisalabad, and the Employers’ Federation of Pakistan.

UN PEACEKEEPERS INTERNATIONAL DAY Dr. Jassim Taqui DG, Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad May 29, 2023: The following in the message of the UNSG message on International Day of the UN peacekeepers: United Nations peacekeepers are the beating heart of our commitment to a more peaceful world. For 75 years, they have supported people and communities rocked by conflict and upheaval across the globe. Today, on the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, we honor their extraordinary contributions to international peace and security. Since 1948, more than two million peacekeepers have served in 71 missions, helping countries navigate the difficult path from war to peace. They are also critical to the protection of civilians caught up in the chaos of these deadly conflicts, providing a lifeline of hope and help in some of the most dangerous contexts imaginable. In carrying out this essential work, many peacekeepers have paid the ultimate price. More than 4,200 peacekeepers have lost their lives serving under the UN flag. We stand in sympathy and solidarity with their families, friends, and colleagues, and will forever be inspired by their selfless devotion to the cause of peace. Today, more than 87,000 peacekeepers from 125 countries serve in 12 operations. They face rising global tensions and divides, stagnating peace processes, and more complex conflicts. Despite these obstacles, and working with a wide range of partners, peacekeepers persevere. To people living under the shadow of conflict, our teams of Blue Helmets represent hope. As peacekeepers support humanity, let us always support and recognize them.

WFP WELCOMES CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE PHILIPPINES Dr. Jassim Taqui DG, Al-bab Institute for Strategic Studies Islamabad May 23, 2023: The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomed a contribution of US$ 100,000 from the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines to Pakistan for its ongoing flood response to reach the most vulnerable flood-affected communities with relief, recovery, and rehabilitation support. The Ambassador-designate of the Republic of the Philippines to Pakistan, Maria Agnes M. Cervantes, handed over the donation to Rathi Balakrishnan, WFP’s Country Director a.i., during a ceremony held at the WFP office in Islamabad on 18 May. "The Philippine Government is always ready to provide whatever help it could give to the people of Pakistan, with the Philippines and Pakistan considered as most vulnerable to climate change. This is an extension of our appreciation to Pakistan for its assistance after Typhoon Yolanda brought devastation to a large part of the Philippines”, said Ambassador-designate Maria Agnes M. Cervantes. The contribution comes at a critical time and will support thousands of people in need after the devastating floods last year. Malnutrition was already a major public health concern across the country before the floods, but now its acute form is an increasing concern in the worst-affected areas of Sindh and Balochistan, especially among children under 5.

THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY Dr. Jassim Taqui DG, Al-bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad May 22, 2023: The following is the message of the UNSG His Excellency Antonio Guterres on the occasion of the International Day For Biological Diversity: On the International Day for Biological Diversity, we reflect on our relationship with humanity’s life-support system. From the air we breathe and the food we eat to the energy that fuels us and the medicines that heal us, our lives are wholly dependent on healthy ecosystems. Yet our actions are devastating every corner of the planet. One million species are at risk of extinction -- the result of habitat degradation, skyrocketing pollution, and the worsening climate crisis. We must end this war on nature. Last year’s agreement on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework marked an important step – but now is the time to move from agreement to action. This means ensuring sustainable production and consumption patterns. Redirecting subsidies from nature-destroying activities towards green solutions. Recognizing the rights of Indigenous peoples and local communities, the strongest guardians of our world’s biodiversity. And pushing governments and businesses to take stronger and faster action against biodiversity loss and the climate crisis. Let us work together across governments, civil society, and the private sector to secure a sustainable future for all.

The First French Alumni Day celebrated in Pakistan in May Dr. Jassim Taqui DG, Al-bab Institute for Strategic Studies Islamabad May 18, 2023:

The first-ever France Alumni Day, the world day of international graduates from the French Higher Education will be held in May 2023 in France and all over the world. In France, Alumni from all countries will be celebrated during a special gathering hosted by the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Mrs Catherine Colonna at the Ministry on the 23rd of May. In Pakistan, the French Embassy, Campus France Pakistan, and France Alumni Pakistan will host all Pakistanis who got a part of their Education and professional training in France on the occasion of three networking events for meeting each other and discussing with Embassy representatives, companies & key people in the following cities: • Karachi on Friday 19th May • Islamabad on Saturday 20th May • Lahore on Sunday 28th May The events in Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore will open with a welcome speech given by respectively Mr. Nicolas Galey, Ambassador of France to Pakistan, Mr. Alexis Chahtahtinsky, Consul General of France in Karachi, and Mr. Habib Anwar, Honorary Consul of France in Lahore. The Higher Education and Scientific Attaché of the French Embassy in Pakistan and the Campus France Pakistan officer will present the French Alumni Network in Pakistan. Outstanding Pak-France Alumni will then be invited to share their life and success stories. There will also be time for alumni to network with representatives from the French community, corporate and academic sectors. Launched on the initiative of the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Catherine Colonna, France Alumni Day is organized worldwide by Campus France, which coordinates and develops the network of France Alumni since its creation in 2014.

Improving nutrition in Gwadar and Lasbela Dr. Jassim Taqui DG, Al-bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad May 18, 2023: The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Planning and Development (P&D) Department of the Government of Balochistan have signed an agreement for the implementation of the Gwadar-Lasbela Livelihoods Support Project II (GLLSP-II) to improve nutrition behaviors and practices for food insecure communities in the Gwadar and Lasbela coastal districts. These areas are highly exposed to climate shocks, resulting in lower productivity in agriculture, livestock, and fisheries. Funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the agreement was signed in Islamabad between Rathi Balakrishnan, WFP Country Director a.i. in Pakistan, and Rehmat Dashti, Project Director, P&D Department of the Government of Balochistan. “I am confident that the partnership between the Government of Balochistan and WFP will help us achieve our joint nutrition targets. I appreciate WFP’s efforts to ensure long-term solutions to the malnutrition challenges in Pakistan,” said Rehmat Dashti. The project will contribute to the prevention of malnutrition through behavioral change interventions on nutrition, building on a nationwide existing program WFP supports, the Benazir Nashonuma Programme. As part of the broader Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), the Benazir Nashonuma program targets pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under two through 484 facilitation centers in 156 districts across Pakistan, including in Gwadar and Lasbela. The GLLSP-II project will also support these beneficiaries and use the ten operational facilitation centers - six in Lasbela and four in Gwadar- within government health facilities.

A SAFE SPACE in Lahore Dr. Jassim Taqui DG, Al-bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad May 16, 2023: Renowned artist Ahmer Farooq’s solo show ‘A Safe Space’ opened at Pakistan Art Forum Gallery on 6th May. The show sheds light on the concept of safe spaces within a society and the important role that they play in the development of subcultures. The show displayed 17 paintings, 1 sculpture, and 1 NFT. The German Ambassador to Pakistan, H.E. Mr. Alfred Grannas inaugurated the show. The Norwegian Ambassador, the US Consul General, and the head of Communications and Cultural Affairs at the German embassy were also in attendance alongside different foreign diplomats and art enthusiasts. Challenging the homogenous view of society, ‘A Safe Space’ celebrates the ‘marginalized’. It pays homage to the spaces the ‘marginalized’ carve out for themselves, both as an act of resistance as well as a pressing need. These spaces become sites of inclusion, connectivity, and celebration of who these people are and the lives they choose to live. The power imbalances in every society create a ‘self’ and the ‘other’, where the other is structurally, systemically, and socially excluded. Women, queer communities, and ethnic and religious minorities often become these ‘marginalized’ groups, whose realities are demarcated, amongst other ways, by a lack of spaces, making it difficult to move, live freely, and integrate into society. About the artist Ahmer Farooq is a visual artist based in Lahore, Pakistan. He works with mixed media to produce contemporary art that depicts current concerns, anxieties, and aspirations by focusing on personalities and movements in an evocative and alluring manner. Over the years, he has developed a signature style using a color palette that has been recognized globally. He was awarded The Stephen Medd ‘Artist of the Year Award’ in 1999. His work is held in private collections in China, Denmark, Germany, India, Japan, Norway, Pakistan, UAE, the UK, and the USA, to name a few. He honed his artistic skills through formal and semi-formal training. He completed his basic art education at Bedford Modern School in the UK and continued to develop his broader professional skills with an MBA from Imperial College.

UNSG on WORLD TELECOMMUNICATION Dr. Jassim Taqui DG, Al-bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad May 16, 2023: The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said: On this World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, we highlight the power of technology to advance sustainable development in Least Developed Countries. The digital revolution is a defining force of our era. The opportunities are tremendous: from transforming education and health care to accelerating climate action and the achievement of all the Sustainable Development Goals. But to realize the promise of technology, we must confront its perils: The lack of ethical guardrails and robust governance frameworks. The proliferation of hate speech and disinformation. The amplification of social divides and economic inequalities. And the risks posed by Artificial Intelligence, from deep fakes to biased decisions by neural networks that no human can fully explain. Technology must be an instrument to reduce divides – not deepen them. As the internet becomes ever more central to value creation and innovation, Least Developed Countries risk falling further behind. We must dramatically improve accessibility and inclusivity and eliminate the digital divide. We must support the creation of digital public goods: open-source software, open data, and open content. We must invest in the capacities of public institutions so that they have the skills and resources to understand, oversee, shape, and engage with Artificial Intelligence and other transformative technologies. And we must come together around a Global Digital Compact – to avoid fragmentation, safeguard human rights, and ensure technology is a force for human well-being, solidarity, and progress. I commend the International Telecommunication Union for working to accelerate global connectivity for all by 2030. Let us all do our part in closing the digital divide and securing a more equitable and sustainable future everywhere.

The Secretary-General takes note of the ongoing protests that have erupted following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan yesterday in Islamabad and calls for all parties to refrain from violence. He stresses the need to respect the right to peaceful assembly. The Secretary-General urges the authorities to respect due process and the rule of law in proceedings brought against former Prime Minister Khan.

South Asia could eliminate child marriage only in 55 years – UNICEF Dr. Jassim Taqui DG, Al-bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad May 4, 2023: South Asia continues to drive global reductions in child marriage and is on pace to eliminate child marriage in about 55 years, according to a new analysis issued by UNICEF South Asia today. Child marriage has declined steadily in South Asia. In the last decade alone, a girl’s likelihood of marrying in childhood in South Asia has dropped by nearly half, from 46 percent to 26 percent. This progress is driven largely by India, with notable declines in Bangladesh, the Maldives, and Pakistan. However, the region remains home to nearly half (45 percent) of the world's child brides. While India has recorded significant progress in recent decades, it still accounts for one-third of the estimated child marriage cases globally total. Already, an estimated 640 million girls and women alive globally today were married in childhood – of which 290 million are in South Asia, according to the latest estimates included in the analysis. Despite a steady decline in child marriage in the last decade, multiple crises including climate catastrophes, economic shocks, and the ongoing fallout from COVID-19 are threatening to reverse hard-earned gains in South Asia. The COVID crisis has made it difficult for girls to access health care, education, social services, and community support. "The world is engulfed by crises on top of crises that are crushing the hopes and dreams of vulnerable children, especially girls who should be students, not brides," said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. "Health and economic crises, escalating armed conflicts, and the ravaging effects of climate change are forcing families to seek a false sense of refuge in child marriage. We need to do everything in our power to ensure that their rights to an education and empowered lives are secured." In South Asia, levels of child marriage vary considerably across the region, from over 50 percent in Bangladesh to 2 percent in the Maldives. Within countries, there is further disparity: in Afghanistan, for example, there is a tenfold difference in prevalence across provinces. However, overall, child brides in South Asia are more likely to live in poor households, have less education, and reside in rural areas. For example, 1 in 4 child brides in Pakistan have never been to school.

WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY Dr. Jassim Taqui DG, Al-bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad May 3RD 2023: The following is the UNSG His Excellency Antonio Guterres's message on International Mother Earth Day: On World Press Freedom Day: For three decades, on World Press Freedom Day, the international community has celebrated the work of journalists and media workers. This day highlights a basic truth: all our freedom depends on press freedom. Freedom of the press is the foundation of democracy and justice. It gives all of us the facts we need to shape opinions and speak truth to power. And as this year’s theme reminds us, press freedom represents the very lifeblood of human rights. But in every corner of the world, freedom of the press is under attack. Truth is threatened by disinformation and hate speech seeking to blur the lines between fact and fiction, between science and conspiracy. The increased concentration of the media industry into the hands of a few, the financial collapse of scores of independent news organizations, and an increase of national laws and regulations that stifle journalists are further expanding censorship and threatening freedom of expression. Meanwhile, journalists and media workers are directly targeted on and offline as they carry out their vital work. They are routinely harassed, intimidated, detained, and imprisoned. At least 67 media workers were killed in 2022 — an unbelievable 50 percent increase over the previous year. Nearly three-quarters of women journalists have experienced violence online, and one in four have been threatened physically. Ten years ago, the United Nations established a Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists to protect media workers and end impunity for crimes committed against them. On this and every World Press Freedom Day, the world must speak with one voice. Stop the threats and attacks. Stop detaining and imprisoning journalists for doing their jobs. Stop the lies and disinformation. Stop targeting truth and truth-tellers. As journalists stand up for truth, the world stands with them.