For the past decade or so, Pakistan has been bending over backwards to portray itself, not just as an Islamic country, but as a land with a Buddhist past – a past which it is keen on preserving and propagating. The Center for Gandharan and Buddhist Studies is part of the effort to preserve and foster an important part of the country’s heritage which could help build bridges with Buddhist countries like Sri Lanka. Islamabad feels the need for Colombo’s cooperation in helping the Center realize its full potential.
China has said that it supports the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in carrying out an objective and professional evaluation of Pakistan’s financial situation, adding that the relevant measures should not affect normal bilateral cooperation between China and Pakistan.
The United States has said that it will examine closely Pakistan request for a loan from the International Monetary Fund(IMF), adding that “part of the reason that Pakistan found itself in this situation is Chinese debt”. But the Pakistan Finance Minister Asad Umar rebutted the narrative that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was responsible for Pakistan’s debt problems and the need for IMF bailout.
Sidhu, who was speaking at a literary festival in Kasol on Saturday, said, “If I go to Tamil Nadu, I don’t understand the language. Not that I don’t like the food, but I can’t take it for long. That culture is totally different.But if I travel to Pakistan there is no difficulty. The language is the same and everything there is just amazing.”
“After taking into account the current situation and consultation with leading economists, the government has decided to approach the IMF for a bailout program,” announced Finance Minister Asad Umar through a recorded video message. The government took the decision after friendly countries did not bail it out. Prime Minister Imran Khan had visited Saudi Arabia with a begging bowl. Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce Razak Dawood, who accompanied the Prime Minister, had described his Saudi Arabia visit thus: “Iit was awful to beg from Saudi Arabia”.
A human rights campaigner at heart Rabiya Javed Agha was responsible for promulgation of the National Commission on the Rights of the Child Bill 2017, the Hindu marriage Act 2017, the ICT Child Protection Bill and Juvenile Justice Ordinance System 2018, when she was serving in the Human Rights Ministry.
Across the region, journalists are being intimidated, harassed and arrested just for being journalists. The trend must not be left unchallenged. Freedom of the media is embedded in the concept of democratic freedoms, the Colombo Dec;laration said.
A study conducted by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the request of the World Bank president, has found that Bangladesh’s human capital has improved in quality between 1990 and 2016, reflecting growth in the economy. The improvement in Bangladesh’s case has been better as compared to India and Pakistan, the study reveals.
Puppets are a part of popular culture and entertainment across the world, especially in the South Asian region. They reflect the cultural heritage of their region, its mythology, music, beliefs, rites and rituals. Puppetry has been around since ancient times, writes cultural anthropologist Dr. Lopamudra Maitra Bajpai in newsin.asia
It was “political survival instinct” of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in the context of the 2019 parliamentary elections, which made the Indian government suddenly call off the Foreign Minister-level India-Pakistan talks which were to be held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session next week.
