Tag: President Dr Arif Alvi

  • Aiwan-e-Sadr certified as world’s first presidency to go green

    The Aiwan-e-Sadr on Friday achieved a distinctive distinction as it was awarded an international certification of ISO 50001 EnMS, making it the world’s first President Secretariat running on clean energy.

    According to the presidency, President Dr Arif Alvi has successfully cut down over 35 per cent of its energy use, which would save Rs72.5 million to the national exchequer.

    After assuming office in 2018, President Alvi had envisioned a Green Presidency Initiative to curtail President Secretariat’s energy usage and shift it to a renewable energy source.

    The president described the monetary benefits of going green and said savings from energy conservation and clean energy generation were equivalent to 3,154,750 KWh. The initiative equates to 3,144 tons reduction of greenhouse gases and plantation of 142,909 mature trees.

    Alvi said the Presidency’s initiative should also be replicated across the country considering the importance of energy conservation across the world. He also thanked the private sector companies who supported the initiative under their Corporate Social Responsibility.

    While launching the initiative, Alvi said he never thought of getting such recognition. He asked the youth to be conscious of the global needs considering the sensitivity of the situation.

  • President Alvi addresses joint session in NA amid media protest

    President Dr Arif Alvi addressed a joint sitting of parliament on Monday, marking the start of the fourth parliamentary year of the National Assembly amid chaos outside parliament.

    The President of Pakistan congratulated the members of parliament at the start of the new legislative year and expressed hope that democratic values and the “tradition of tolerance” flourish in Pakistan.

    Amid loud protests by the Opposition, President Alvi said: “Despite you making noise, you will have to accept the reality.”

    Dr Alvi briefly discussed the country’s progress and shed light on various topics.

    Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs)

    President Alvi stressed the need to introduce electoral reforms in order to bring transparency to elections in Pakistan.

    Financial Action Task Force (FATF)

    “People paying tax in such large numbers shows complete trust in government policies,” Alvi said, congratulating the government for devising and implementing laws and procedures to address FATF requirements.

    Sexual harassment cases

    Alvi said the government had paid “special attention” to the rights of women.

    “In recent days, incidents of sexual violence against women emerged due to which everyone is sad and I think it is a national responsibility to take steps to curb such incidents,” he said.

    President Alvi added that the government had taken measures to stop such violence and it was also society’s responsibility to play its role. “Making videos while an [harassment] incident is taking place does not suit the Pakistani society, so it will have to protect women so they can wander freely.”

    Corruption

    Because of corruption and wrong priorities, we were not only deprived of progress but also left behind in the world in human development indicators,” Alvi said.

    Health Sector

    He said that “18 million families were benefitting from the health cards so far”.

    “Pakistan is going towards universal health coverage, he added while praising the government’s efforts,” he concluded.

    Kamyab Jawan Programme

    The President noted that the government had set aside Rs260bn through which 12 million families will be given cash income, while Rs100bn had been earmarked for the Kamyab Jawan Programme to give loans to the youth to start businesses.

    Opposition walkout

    During his address, the Opposition kept booing and at last walked out of the session.

    The Opposition also accused the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government and National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser of violating the Constitution by not allowing a debate on the presidential address through­out the third parliamentary year, which ended on August 13.

    Politicians including Shehbaz sharif Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Sherry Rehman, Mian Raza Rabbani and Ahsan Iqbal joined the protest and showed solidarity with the journalists.

    “Thanks to all friends and well-wishers who were sending messages of solidarity the whole night whole day, we just finished a 24 hours protest camp in front of the parliament against threats to media and new proposed law for legalising censorship in Pakistan,” Hamid Mir tweeted, mentioning the end of the protest.

    President Alvi did not mention the journalists’ protest against the Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA).

  • ‘Never happened even under Martial Law’, reporters stopped from attending Parliament session

    In a first in Pakistan’s history, reporters were not allowed to enter a joint session of Parliament on Monday.

    Parliamentary reporters were to be present in the press gallery for President Dr Arif Alvi’s address but entered the hallway to find that the door was locked. The press gallery was closed for the journalists.

    The Parliamentary Reporters Association (PRA) strongly condemned the closure of the press gallery and said, “Closing the gallery is the worst dictatorship.”

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator PPP, Sherry Rehman condemning the closing of the press gallery tweeted, “This did not happen even in martial law era. Govt [government] is on collision course with democracy”

    Twitterati lashed out at the government for banning the journalists from entering the session.

    Journalist Absar Alam tweeted, “This is the Parliament’s Press Gallery, which was never closed during the Martial Law era, but is closed today so that journalists cannot enter.”

    Journalist Nusrat Javeed tweeted, “Have been covering Parliament since 1985. Even in [the] worst of times governments never behaved so humiliating to media. Sad. Really sad.”

    Journalist Owais Tohid took to Twitter and said, “Highly condemnable act to ban accredited journalists from covering joint parliament session. So-called punishment for protesting proposed draconian laws to silence Pakistani media.”

    Even though the reporters have been banned from covering the session, the joint session is being aired live on news channels.

  • ‘TTP may be considered for general amnesty, provided they follow constitution of Pakistan’: Arif Alvi

    ‘TTP may be considered for general amnesty, provided they follow constitution of Pakistan’: Arif Alvi

    President Dr Arif Alvi has said that if anyone wants to leave the ideology of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and work as per the Constitution of Pakistan, the government may consider a general amnesty.

    Speaking on Dawn News programme, ‘Khabar se Khabar’, President Alvi said, “The TTP is a threat to us. We have been told that they will stay with them [Afghan Taliban] but do nothing against Pakistan.”

    “It’s one step, Pakistan will consider general amnesty, if anyone surrenders,” further added Alvi.

    Earlier, Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid had said in an interview that TTP is not a problem of Afghanistan but of Pakistan, so it is Pakistan’s job to formulate a strategy in this regard.

    “If TTP believes in our followers and our Amir-ul-Mominin, then they [TTP] will have to follow them as well,” added Mujahid.

    The detailed interview of the president is yet to be aired on Dawn News. A short teaser of the show was aired by the channel on Wednesday.

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    President Alvi calls for sports to be promoted across Pakistan
    
			
    President Alvi calls for sports to be promoted across Pakistan
    
			
    President Dr Arif Alvi has urged the need to promote mega sports events in the country to attract young talent and project Pakistan’s soft image in the world.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    President Alvi highlighted the importance of sports while talking to the management of the Kashmir Premier League (KPL), which called on him at the Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad on Friday.
    

    The president praised the upcoming league and said it would provide a quality platform to Kashmiri youth to display their cricket talent, besides promoting Kashmir’s beautiful landscapes and culture at a global level.
    

    Read more – President Alvi shares his list of 10 must-read books
    

    President Alvi assured the delegation that his office will extend all possible support for highlighting the event at national and international levels.
    

    Chairman Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir Affairs Shehryar Afridi, President KPL Arif Malik, CEO KPL Chaudhary Shahzad Akhtar, members of senior management of KPL, franchise owners and senior officials of the government were among those who attended the meeting.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Dr Arif Alvi, wife open up on personal life, marriage
    
			
    President Dr Arif Alvi and First Lady Mrs Samina Arif Alvi recently opened up on their personal life, relationship dynamics and revealed how they got married. 
    

    Appearing on Nida Yasir’s show, Dr Alvi and Mrs Samina shared that they are second cousins. When Yasir, in her typical style, asked if their marriage was an arranged or love, the president said that it was a “mix,” adding that they have an age difference of five years. 
    

    President Alvi also shared that he would write letters to his wife after their marriage. 
    

    Talking about their relationship dynamics, President Alvi and his wife shared that they joke around with each other at home but no one takes any offence. President Alvi said that he feels that Samina has a better sense of humour than him.
    

    “There are times when she objects to what I would wear and I’d ask her if I had ever criticised what she wore,” joked President Alvi to which Samina added that he never really listens to her.
    

    

    “We’ve been married for almost 50 years now and I have never asked her to change the way she dresses,” said the president to which Samina responded: “That’s because I always dress well.”
    

    Read more – Pakistani dramas are depressing, says First Lady Samina Alvi
    

    The couple have one son and three daughters together, all of who are married. 
    

    Talking about their children, the duo said that while Samina did the personal grooming of the children, President Alvi looked after their studies.
    

    “It was from Grade 9 to 12 that I taught them,” said Dr Alvi, adding: “Samina was the one who groomed them otherwise.”
    

    “It was a big task to help our son with the studies,” said Samina. “I think because sons are the troublemakers. Daughters, on the other hand, are timider. They listen to whatever you tell them.”
    

    “We tried to make our children understand the importance of education to a point that the only thing they thought about was education,” said President Alvi. “That wasn’t what we wanted so we started focusing on other aspects as well. Even after our daughters were married, all they could think about was studying. I told them there was more to life than studying, raise your kids.”
    

    

    Meanwhile, President Alvi also gave viewers a glimpse into his childhood saying that growing up he was a very naughty child, according to his elder. He said that he deeply misses his school days adding that his father was very strict and he was very close to his mother.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Hajra Khan appeals to President Alvi, PM Khan to resolve PFF issues
    
			
    Hajra Khan appeals to President Alvi, PM Khan to resolve PFF issues
    
			
    Pakistan National Women Football Team captain Hajra Khan has urged President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan to resolve issues pertaining to the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF).
    

    In a video message, Khan said: “Today I speak in utmost sadness that the Pakistan Football Federation was suspended today for the second time in the last five years.”
    

    “I speak on behalf of all those football players, whose hard earned bread came from the sport. It came from representing Pakistan. We’ve worked hard, blood and sweat, to represent this country and we’ve taken it to the podium, we’ve won championships in the past,” said Khan.
    

    “Where do we go next? What is next for us? What sport do we switch to? Who do we rely on? Where do we express our love for the country, how do we do it,” she questioned. 
    

    Requesting the President and Prime Minister, Khan said: “Today I request the President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan to take notice of the matter. There is still hope and we are expecting a response from you two. We expect the country to back us when we need them the most right now.”
    

    “It is a request, it might not be humble anymore, but it is a request. It is a need, it is a representation from all football players and again, it all relies on you,” she added. 
    

    

    


    

    

    

    Reiterating her point, Khan in the caption said: “Players have all been affected roughly. Football as a sport has been ridiculed over time in Pakistan.”
    

    “Who’s answerable,” she questioned. 
    

    Meanwhile, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has said that they are “surprised” by the ban, expressing that the decision was taken in “haste.”
    

    PSB director-general Col (retd) Asif Zaman while talking to The News, said that Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Dr Fehmida Mirza had requested patience during her press conference held a couple of days back.
    

    “We were not expecting such a hasty decision from the football’s governing body. It has shocked us as the game of football will be the ultimate sufferer after such a decision. The minister had assured her help for resolving the issue in the best interest of the game,” said Col Zaman, adding: “Though the government does not want any interference, for the sake of the game’s future we wanted an amicable settlement of the issue.”
    

    Zaman said he was expecting FIFA to carry out a detailed and thorough review of the prevailing situation.
    

    “We were taken by surprise by this hasty decision that I feel would serve no good to the future of the game. We were expecting a rational review of the situation by the game’s governing body before imposing a suspension on the PFF,” said the DG.
    

    The FIFA in a handout issued on Wednesday said the decision to suspend Pakistan was prompted by the recent takeover of the PFF’s Headquarters in Lahore by a group of protesters and an alleged decision by certain individuals to remove the FIFA-appointed Normalisation Committee of the PFF led by Haroon Malik and to hand over the leadership of the PFF to Syed Ashfaq Hussain Shah.
    

    When PFF president Ashfaq Shah was approached in Islamabad where he was nursing his minor surgery, he said he was disappointed by the decision like any other Pakistani.
    

    In 2009, Khan was selected in the Pakistan national team for the 2010 South Asian Games in Dhaka, Bangladesh. After Khan’s participation at this event, the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) selected her for a FIFA women’s football coaching course in Colombo, Sri Lanka. In December 2010, she played in the inaugural SAFF Women’s Championship, helping Pakistan reach the semi-final.
    

    21 year old Hajra Khan made history for Pakistani national women football team when she invited to top three German football clubs SGS Essen, FSV Gütersloh 2009 and VfL Sindelfingen to play, she spent three weeks there and played preseason trials. Being a Pakistani international footballer that opportunity was an important milestone in her career, she said.
    

    She was the first Pakistani women footballer to sign an international contract in 2014 with Sun Hotels & Resorts Football Club to play in the Maldives National Women’s league.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Fahad Mustafa, Humayun Saeed pray for President Alvi’s swift recovery from COVID-19
    
			
    Humayun Saeed and Fahad Mustafa have sent their best wishes to President Dr Arif Alvi after he tested positive for COVID-19. 
    

    “May Allah bless him with good health,” wrote Humayun on Twitter. 
    

    

    


    

    

    

    “Get well soon Sir President,” said Mustafa. 
    

    

    


    

    

    

    On Monday, President Alvi announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19. He clarified that though he had received the first shot of the vaccine, “antibodies start developing after [the] second dose that was due in a week”.
    

    “Please continue to be careful,” he urged. 
    

    First Lady Samina Alvi later shared that the President had mild symptoms “but is in good spirits”. She added that she had tested negative for the virus. 
    

    

    


    

    

    

    President Alvi also thanked everyone for their good wishes and prayers, sharing that he felt much better today (Tuesday).
    

    “PM [Imran Khan] called sharing his experience. Advised rest, sleep and soups,” added the President. 
    

    

    


    

    

    

    Wishing President Alvi a speedy recovery. 
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    ‘I’ve done it’: Bushra Ansari celebrates as she receives first dose of COVID-19 vaccine
    
			
    Bushra Ansari has received her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
    

    Sharing a video of herself receiving the shot, the veteran actor wrote: “Yyyyyeeee. I’ve done it.”
    

    


    

     
    

    She urged her followers to get the vaccine saying that it was necessary for themselves and their loved ones.
    

    “This vaccine is so important to get for our friends and family,” said Ansari in her video. 
    

    She also joked about getting the jab first since she is a senior citizen.
    

    “I never had fun being a senior citizen until today,” she joked.
    

    Earlier, Reema Khan, Samina Peerzada, and President Dr Arif Alvi along with his wife shared pictures and videos of themselves getting vaccinated for the novel coronavirus.