Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari has reaffirmed the country’s commitment to its long-standing “One China Policy” and expressed admiration for China’s unwavering support, including its principled stance on the Kashmir issue. In a statement marking the Chinese New Year, President Zardari said that Pakistan and China enjoy an unbreakable bond that has withstood the test of time.
“Like a stalwart horse, our friendship is a symbol of strength, resilience, and progress,” President Zardari said, adding that the Chinese New Year, also known as the Year of the Horse, is a time for renewal and growth in Pakistan-China relations. He expressed confidence that the upcoming year will see new heights in trade, innovation, and people-to-people exchanges between the two nations.
President Zardari also praised China’s economic growth and expressed admiration for the Chinese people’s happiness and stability. He said that his visits to China have always been a source of inspiration and have opened new avenues for cooperation between the two countries.
The President also highlighted the significance of the meeting between Pakistan’s founding leader, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, and China’s Chairman Mao, which marked a historic milestone in Pakistan-China relations. He praised China’s leadership, under President Xi Jinping, for playing a crucial role in promoting global peace and development.
In a separate development, the Sindh government has signed an agreement with the US Department of Agriculture to provide free meals and ration to over 200,000 students studying in 1,300 government primary schools in the province under the McGovern-Dole Program. The project will be funded by a $80 million grant from the US.
Meanwhile, the federal government has announced that electricity will be provided without any interruption during the fasting hours of Ramadan. In a related development, the Lahore High Court has issued a written verdict directing the return of the amount deposited by Maryam Nawaz in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case.
In a bizarre incident, the Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, expressed regret over not meeting his party’s founding leader, Javed Hashmi. However, the party’s spokesperson, Faisal Javed Khan, clarified that Imran Khan and his party’s deputy chairman, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, had visited Javed Hashmi at the Adiala Jail but did not meet him.
In another incident, the Superintendent of Adiala Jail submitted a three-page report on the facilities available to PTI’s chairman, Imran Khan, in the jail to the Supreme Court. In a separate development, the Sui Southern Gas Company has announced a revised gas schedule for the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan during the month of Ramadan.
In a related development, the Education Department of Sindh has taken a significant step to curb the sale of narcotics and vaping products in schools in Karachi. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has also started monitoring the weather situation in the country, predicting a relatively pleasant weather during the month of Ramadan.
In a shocking incident, the PTI leader, Sher Ali Arbab, has admitted to the party’s role in the death of a woman due to a traffic jam in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Peshawar High Court has directed the Inspector General of Police and the Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to immediately open the roads.
In a separate development, Saudi Arabia has started preparations to sight the Ramadan moon, with a major gathering expected to take place at the Ha’ta Sdir location.
