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Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Germany completes troop pull-out from Afghanistan: minister

BERLIN: Germany has completed its troop pull-out from Afghanistan, started in May, the defence ministry announced Tuesday, ending a nearly 20-year deployment there alongside US and other international forces.

The announcement of the pull-out of German troops, whose presence there was second only to the US forces, came as the US aims to complete its own withdrawal by September 11.

“After nearly 20 years of deployment, the last soldiers of our Bundeswehr have left Afghanistan this evening,” said German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer in a statement. “They are on the way back.

“A historic chapter comes to an end, an intensive deployment that challenged and shaped the Bundeswehr, in which the Bundeswehr proved itself in combat,” she added.

On Twitter, the minister offered her thanks to all the 150,000 men and women who had served there since 2001, saying they could be proud of their service.

And she paid tribute to those killed and wounded in service there. “You will not be forgotten,” she said.

According to the army, 59 German soldiers have been killed since 2001 in the course of their service in Afghanistan.

– Germany a major contributor –

Before the pull-out began, Germany still had 1,100 soldiers operating as part of the 9,600-strong NATO training and support mission — second only to the US military presence.

Britain, Italy and Turkey also have a significant military presence there, the five countries between supplying 6,000 members of the mission, called Resolute Support.

Smaller contributors to the force, such as Denmark, Estonia and Spain, have already pulled out their forces.

Germany stepped up its pull-out after US President Joe Biden announced he was pulling US troops out of the country after 20 years there.

In April, Germany’s defence ministry had announced it planned to pull out its troops by early July.

Biden aims to have US troops out of Afghanistan by September 11, the 20th anniversary of the devastating Al-Qaeda attacks on the United States.

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PP-38 by-poll: ECP fines PML-N MNA, warns Firdous Awan over code of conduct breach

DASKA: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has fined Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNA Arman Subhani over code of conduct violation in PP-38 Sialkot by-poll, ARY News reported.

According to the ECP spokesperson, MNA Arman Subhani has been fined Rs49,000, while Special Assistant to Chief Minister Punjab (SACMP) Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has been warned over her entry into the constituency before elections.

The SACPM, after getting a warning from the ECP has assured the authorities from not entering the constituency again.

The PP-38 Sialkot by-poll is scheduled on July 28 on the slot vacated after the death of PML-N Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) Khush Akhtar Subhani.

The PML-N had issued an election ticket to the younger brother of the deceased lawmaker, a former MPA Tariq Subhani, whereas, Qaiser Iqbal had been given the poll ticket by the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

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Rickshaw driver breaks into tears over closure of CNG stations

KARACHI: The prolonged closure of compressed natural gas (CNG) stations in Karachi has created problems for commuters as well as rickshaw drivers in the city.

As per details, rickshaw drivers in the city, who feed their families on daily wages they earn are facing hardships because of the closure of CNG stations in the city. The government has deprived us of our livelihood, said one of the rickshaw drivers while talking to ARY News.

The rickshaw said due to the closure of CNG stations they are dejected and running a rickshaw on the petrol is not helping him to earn enough to feed his family properly.

“I came out of the house to earn bread and butter for my family without breakfast,” said the rickshaw driver who broke into tears.

Another rickshaw driver said there is not much earning while running the vehicle on petrol and added that usually, he used to earn Rs2000 to 2500 daily, but now, after the closure of CNG stations, earning Rs1000 has become difficult.

It is to be noted that due to the worsening gas crisis in the country, Sui Southern Gas Company (SSG) had announced to suspend gas supply to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) filling stations across Sindh for an unidentified period from June 22.

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KP announces summer vacation for schools

PESHAWAR: After Punjab, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday announced summer vacation for schools in the province from July 1, ARY News reported.

According to a notification, issued by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Elementary and Secondary Education Department, all government schools in the province will remain closed between July 1 and July 11 for students of kindergarten to class 8.

Meanwhile, students of grades 9-12 will continue their classes for preparation of their board exams.

Punjab Education Minister Murad Raas announced on Monday month-long summer vacations for schools in the province.

Taking to Twitter, the minister announced that summer vacation in all Punjab schools will start from July 1, 2021.

“Summer vacation for Schools of Punjab to start July 1st, 2021 till August 1st, 2021,” he announced in a tweet.

The education minister also requested all children and their families follow SOPs issued by the government during vacations. “In these times of vacation, my request to all the children and their families is to follow SOPs issued by the government.”

The federal education ministry on Tuesday announced to promote students of federal government schools from grade one to seven without exams.

A notification was also issued by the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) in this connection.

Furthermore, the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) also announced summer vacations in government schools.

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Single power distributor like KE for entire city not feasible, SAPM Gauhar says

ISLAMABAD: The Prime Minister’s special aide on power and petroleum Tabish Gauhar has Tuesday said a new power distribution system is in works which is set to be ready by February next year in which one would be at liberty to choose whose connection they want, ARY News reported.

It is not feasible to rely on a single distributor to a city with a population of over 25 million, he said, adding that it’s like entrusting one body with the key to an entire metropolis.

We are not including private sector in the distribution system so business groups can too invest and foray into the power sector, he said.

Separately on the gas shortage and consequent crisis emerging within the industrial sector that faces the brunt of it, the SAPM said until tonight some 125 mmfcd gas has been made part of the system and only 50 mmfcd shortage will still remain.

He said the industrialists need to be flexible with gas crisis situation and cooperate and on the other hand urged Sui Southern Gas Company to not cut gas connections terming it a wrong practice.

Tabish Gauhar also admitted water levels in Tarbela and Mangla have decreased which the authorities did not foresee or plan for and now the country faces shortfall of power generation.

We have managed 300,000 ton furnace oil and will have to generate exorbitant power using that without a choice, however, Tabish Gauhar said and added that this practice is being discouraged now with sustainable alternatives.

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COAS Bajwa, EU Military Committee chairman discuss bilateral cooperation

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Tuesday had a video call with the Chairman of the European Union Military Committee (EUMC) General Claudio Graziano, ARY News reported, citing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

According to the military’s media wing, matters of mutual interests, regional security situation including recent developments in Afghan peace process and enhanced bilateral cooperation with European Union (EU) came under discussion during the call.

General Qamar Javed Bajwa said that Pakistan values its relations with EU and is earnestly looking forward to enhance mutually beneficial multi-domain relations based on common interests.

EU Military Committee chairman also appreciated Pakistan’s role in regional peace and stability especially the Afghan Peace Process.

Both the dignitaries pledged to play their role for further improvement in cooperation at all levels, said ISPR.

Earlier on May 17, ambassador of the European Union Androulla Kaminara had called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa at the GHQ to discuss matters of mutual interest and regional security situation.

In a statement released that day by ISPR, it was said that during the meeting the ambassador and the army chief deliberated also on the recent developments in Afghan Peace Process.

“COAS said that Pakistan values its relations with EU,” the press statement had read, adding that Pakistani earnestly looks forward to enhancing “mutually beneficial multi-domain relations based on common interests”.

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Covid-19 vaccination: Here’s how you can verify your certificate

KARACHI: The federal government has been providing a vaccine certificate to all the citizens who have been inoculated against coronavirus.

A certificate can also be downloaded if you have only been partially vaccinated – this means if you have received the first dose.

Now you can also verify your Covid-19 vaccination certificate through a QR code. People can also visit National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) website to verify immunisation certification.

Now COVID Vaccination Certificate can be verified through QR Code or by visiting https://t.co/7QePoGd6ZG ! pic.twitter.com/DrhNUs8wU2

— NCOC (@OfficialNcoc) June 29, 2021

Alternatively, you can visit a National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) centre to get your vaccination certificate.

The vaccination certificate, having an issuance fee of Rs 100, will show their immunization status.

A COVID-19 immunization certificate portal was launched countrywide in March. Pakistan has started a mass vaccination campaign late last month that is now open to all adults.

Nearly 13 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the country of 220 million people so far, with about 3.5 million people fully vaccinated, according to the National Command Operation Center, which is overseeing the pandemic response.

Pakistan has primarily used Chinese vaccines – Sinopharm, CanSinoBio and Sinovac- in its inoculation drive and, earlier this month began allowing those under 40 to receive AstraZeneca, of which it has a limited supply meant for people traveling to countries that require it.

Pakistan has so far granted emergency use authorization to six different vaccines, including China’s Cansino, Sinopharm, Sinovac, Russian Sputnik V, European AstraZeneca and US Pfizer vaccines.

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