The World TB Day was observed throughout Pakistan on Monday. The day aimed towards mobilizing support to fight against the fatal disease of TB. The government of Pakistan is committed to focus on mobilizing communities, raising awareness, encouraging provincial/para government agencies and donors to invest in TB control at priority on national and global agenda. The celebrations were through organizing seminars, walks, workshops and rallies with the involvement of people belonging to all walks of life across the country.

The slogan for World TB Day this year was “I am stopping TB”. This year was particular; the events globally aimed towards mobilizing the resources to support the fight against this disease through community initiatives, raising awareness to be a part of the Stop TB Strategy, and encouraging the governments and donors to invest in TB control. People across the country participated wholeheartedly in this noble endeavor and played their part in eliminating TB.

Pakistan is 8th among the 22 high burden countries with incidence of 177 per 100,000 population for all types of tuberculosis. The disease takes a share of 5.1 percent of the total national disease burden. The National TB Control Programme with its provincial departments in all four provinces, AJ&K and Northern Areas ensures free diagnosis and treatment facilities at all public health centers. There are more than 5,000 diagnostic and treatment facilities functioning throughout the country. In 2006 Pakistan contributed 55% of the total number of detected cases in the region indicating that TB control activities are well placed in the country. The National TB Control Programme was revived in year 2000 to make operational DOTS Strategy in the country. Since then, in excess of 798, 222 patients have been registered for treatment, out of which 85 per cent successfully completed their treatment. The programme has been praised for its progress in recent reviews conducted by external TB experts and international donors. The DOTS programme to treat the disease has been a landmark as it opened new vistas for the patient and doctor alike.

Advocacy Communication and Social Mobilization has been used successfully to address the key challenges faced in the fight against TB. For this year World TB Day celebrations the National TB Control Programme organized a number of advocacy and communication activities. People from all over the country joined the international community in its revels. All the identified activities took place both at the National and provincial level.

NTP organized an advocacy seminar to engage both the print and electronic media in raising awareness regarding tuberculosis. Secretary Health was the chief guest while messages and comments on the day were given by the different representatives from various stakeholders. This provided an opportunity to discuss various important issues including cure of the disease, free diagnosis, treatment, medication, accessibility (100% DOTS coverage) and stigma.

ISLAMABAD: The nation celebrated the Pakistan Day with great fervor and zeal Sunday. The day dawned with 31 gun salute in the federal capital and 21 gun salute in the provincial capitals. Special prayers were offered in all mosques of the country for the solidarity and well being of Pakistan.

Main feature of the day was Armed Forces Parade which was held at Jinnah Sports Complex, Islamabad. President Pervez Musharraf took the salute, reviewed the parade and addressed it eulogizing the services of the Armed Forces in the defence of the country, natural calamities and nation building projects. Caretaker Prime Minister Muhammadmian Soomro, Defence Minister Salim Abbas Jilani, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen Tariq Majeed and services chiefs flanked the president on the saluting dais.

The parade was witnessed by thousands of people representing all walks of life. Overflowing enclosures manifested the love, affection and faith people repose in their brave and courageous Armed Forces. On arrival at the parade venue, President Pervez Musharraf was received by the prime minister. Smartly turned out contingents, drawn from three services, presented guard of honour. It was followed by a scintillating fly-past of the PAF combat aircrafts led by Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mehmood Ahmed. JF-17 thunder fighter aircraft, the manifestation of the Pak-China friendship also participated in the fly-past and maneuvered in front of the dais to the thunderous applause of the audience.

After the president’s address, Parade Commander Brig Ehsan ul Haq, drove past the saluting dais leading the contingents of the three services bearing national standards. Battalions of the Punjab, Baloch, Sindh, contingents of Pakistan Navy, PAF, Armed Forces Nursing Services, Pakistan Rangers Punjab, Police (Islamabad), Special Service Group marched past the saluting dais.
Contingent of the President’s Body Guard, Armoured Corps, Mechanized Infantry, Heavy Anti Tank Regiment, Artillery, Air Defence, Engineers, Signals and Army Strategic Force Command which included Hatf-II (Abdali), Hatf-III (Ghaznavi), Hatf-IV (Shaheen-1), Hatf-V(Ghauri), Hatf-VI (Shaheen-6) , Babar Cruise Missile and Raad Missile drove past the dais. After the mechanized Columns the Floats from four provinces, Azad Kashmir, Northern Areas, Science and Technology drove past the dias

Helicopters of the Army Aviation which included Cobra (Gunship helicopters), Ecurecuil, Bell-412, MI-17 and Puma flew past the dais. Aerobatics by PAF Sherdil team were also another attraction of the parade. The parade was rounded off with a scintillating and heart warming display of free fall from a height of 10,000 feet by the para troopers of Special Service Group of Army, Navy and PAF. Maj Gen Tahir Mahmood, General Officer Commanding Special Service Group led the free fall jumps. People stood on their seats to witness the thrilling display of the parachuting as all participants landed with professional excellence near the saluting dais. President Pervez Musharraf came down the dais, met the paratroopers and appreciated their skill and professional acumen in the field of parachuting and free-fall demonstration.

Flag hoisting ceremony held to mark Pakistan Day
BEIJING: A flag hoisting ceremony was held to mark the Pakistan Day with great zeal and fervour here at the Pakistan Embassy on Sunday. The ceremony started with the recitation of holy Quran after which Ambassador of Pakistan to China Salman Bashir performed the flag hoisting.

On the occasion a group of students of Pakistan Embassy College sang national anthem and national songs and got repeated applauses from the guests. The ambassador, on the occasion read out the messages of president and prime minister of Pakistan.

Officials of the Pakistan Embassy, their families, Pakistani community living in Beijing, Chinese students studying in Urdu Department of Peking University, and students of Capital Medical University also participated in large number. The ambassador on the occasion also congratulated the guests.

Pakistan Day celebrated in IHK
SRINAGAR: Pakistan Day was celebrated with enthusiasm and fervor in the Indian held Kashmir on Sunday. People hoisted Pakistan flag on their roof tops.

Special prayers for Pakistan’s solidarity and success of the freedom movement of the Kashmiris from illegal Indian occupation were offered at mosques. Meanwhile the security remained tightened throughout the Indian held Kashmir on Sunday.

Musharraf receives greetings from Turkish President
ISLAMABAD: President of Turkey Abdullah Gul has greeted President Musharraf on the occasion of Pakistan Day being celebrated on March 23. President Abdullah Gul in his message to President Musharraf said, “Turkey, which is determined to further improve the historical bonds of fraternity and sense of solidarity between the people of Pakistan and Turkey, and pass them on to the younger generations, will continue to stand by Pakistan in every field, as it has done until today.”

He said, “I would like to renew my best wished for your excellency’s health and happiness and for welfare and prosperity of the people of the friendly and brotherly Pakistan.” Concluding his message, the Turkish President said, “I wish that the 68th anniversary of the Lahore Resolution, which laid the foundations of the idea of Pakistan, will be an occasion for Pakistan to strengthen its national unity and integrity.”

Water Day with the theme of ‘Sanitation’ was celebrated in Pakistan along with the rest of the world on Saturday. Water may make 75 percent of the earth but the fact is that the world is facing a shortage of this life giving resource. The increasing imbalances between the availability and demand, industrialization, degradation of ground water and surface water quality has rendered water insufficient.

But that is not the only problem. Inter sectarian competition; interregional and international conflicts all pose a threat to the scarce resource. While ground water may play a major role in meeting domestic demands for irrigation in arid and semi arid areas, groundwater mining and the lack of adequate planning and governance have opened up a new debate on the sustainability of groundwater resources.

ISLAMABAD: Jashne Eid Millad-un-Nabi (Saw) is being celebrated with great reverence and religious fervor throughout the country today (Friday). Special functions have been organized to mark the day in a befitting manner. Various organizations have decided to observe the great day of the birth of holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) as Tahaffuz-e-Namoos-e-Risalat (Protection of the prestige of Apostleship of the Last Prophet).

A National Seerat conference organized by the Ministry of the Religious Affairs will be held at the National Library Auditorium Islamabad which will be attended by the leading religious scholars and Ulema from all over the country. On the occasion, awards will be given to the books written in Urdu and regional languages on the topic of Sirat-un-Nabi (Saw).

On this occasion, several religious and social groups are convening Milad and naat gatherings, processions and Sirat-un-Nabi (peace be upon) conferences. The Pakistan academy of letters has organized a Naatia Mushariya in connection with Eid Millad un Nabi (Saw). Millad processions would be held in various cities and towns across the country which will be addressed by the Ulema to highlight various aspects of the life of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

Similarly, the ceremonies for milad and processions have been organized in Karachi as well. The central procession will be taken out from Memon Masjid Bolton Market led by Allama Shah Turabul Haq Qadri. This procession will move on its designated route and end at Nishtar Park. Besides, many other processions appearing from different areas will end at Nishatar Park.

All the major government and private buildings, mosques, roads and streets have been illuminated to mark the day. Ulema will address the participants of these processions and cast light on the sacred life of the holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him).

The Government has taken strict security measures to ensure peace and avoid any untoward incident. Directives issued from central police offices, said that all the field officers have been directed to keep police on high alert during the ceremonies held to celebrate Jashne Eid Millad-un-Nabi (Saw) throughout the country.-SANA

ISLAMABAD: The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has said that poor sanitation combines with a lack of safe drinking water and inadequate hygiene to contribute to the terrible global death toll. In a message ahead of World Water Day falling on March 22, he said, “This year, World Water Day coincides with the International Year of Sanitation, challenging us to spur action on a crisis affecting more than one out of three people on the planet.

He said every 20 seconds, a child dies as a result of the abysmal sanitation conditions endured by some 2.6 billion people globally. That adds up to an unconscionable 1.5 million young lives cut short by a cause we know well how to prevent.

Those who survive face diminished chances of living a healthy and productive existence. Children, especially girls, are forced to stay out of school, while hygiene-related diseases keep adults from engaging in productive work, he said.

The secretary general said leaders who adopted the Millennium Development Goals in 2000 envisioned halving the proportion of people living without access to basic sanitation by the year 2015 – but we are nowhere near on pace to achieve that goal. Experts predict that by 2015, 2.1 billion people will still lack basic sanitation. At the present rate, sub-Saharan Africa will not reach the target until 2076.

He said while there have been advances, progress is hampered by population growth, widespread poverty, insufficient investments to address the problem and the biggest culprit: a lack of political will. Ban Ki-Moon said with the right resolve, there are many steps that members of the international community can take.

The Commission Sustainable Development in 2005 outlined a series of measures aimed at securing meaningful progress, holding Governments of affected countries primarily responsible. It also called for international support through a conducive policy environment, financial resources and the transfer of technology to countries in need. If we take up the challenge, the positive impact will reverberate far beyond better access to clean water.

Every dollar invested in water and sanitation yields an estimated seven dollars worth of productive activity. And that comes on top of the immeasurable gains in cutting poverty, improving health and raising living standards. World Water Day offers a chance to spotlight these issues, but this year let us go beyond raising awareness – let us press for action to make a measurable difference in people’s lives, he concluded.

March 22 is designated as World Water Day, by the General Assembly in its resolution 47/193 of 22 December 1992. The observance aims at promoting awareness of the extent to which water resource development contributes to economic productivity and social well-being