‘Pakistan highly values strong relations with Russia’

Pakistan deeply values its cordial relationship with Russia and remains committed to promoting strong ties among the two nations. 

This was stated by Sindh Governor Mohammad Zubair in a meeting with outgoing Consul General of Russia Oleg N Avdeev at the Governor House on Wednesday. 

The governor said rampant changes in the global geopolitical scenario since 2011 had led to renewed closeness between the two countries. Appreciating the outgoing Russian CG for his role in promoting friendship between the two nations, Zubair said such efforts were to thank for the series of partnerships undertaken by the two countries in the spheres of technology and trade.

“Russia’s help in the establishment of Pakistan Steel Mills and the technical assistance extended for the Guddu and Muzaffargarh power plants are among the many prominent projects undertaken over the years. Russia’s support can never be ignored by the people of Pakistan,” said Governor Zubair.

He said Russian investment in the Thar Coal Project was also highly appreciable and added that the people of Sindh and Pakistan look forward to more such partnerships.

Speaking specifically about Karachi, considered a commercial hub of the country, the governor said the increasingly peaceful city had emerged as a favoured destination for multinational firms and invited Russian businesses to explore the metropolis’ economic potential. 

Consul General Avdeev expressed his gratitude to the people of Sindh and Karachi for extending him respect and care during his years here.

Narcotics control 

A multi-faceted strategy is a need of the hour if we want to protect our youth from the increasing menace of drug abuse, as per Sindh Governor Mohammad Zubair. 

In a meeting with the director general of the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), Major General Mussarat Nawaz Malik, the governor said people involved in the narcotics business must be strictly dealt with for ensuring a safe and healthy future of the country’s youth.

"The menace of drugs has already inflicted a sizable number of our population, including the youth, demanding urgent and radical steps to combat it," the governor said.

He regretted that youths hooked on drug could not become productive members of the society. “There is dire need to curb the growing problem by rehabilitating the drug addicts so that they could lead a healthy and successful life,” he advised.

"We must join hands for development of a healthy environment for our youth to help them refrain from taking drugs,” he said.

The ANF chief informed the governor that the agency was not only engaged in an active operation against the drug sellers but it had also initiated a series of programmes for rehabilitation of the addicts.

Referring to a treatment centre established in the Lyari area by the ANF for the addicts, he said people of different age groups and social backgrounds were being treated at the centre.

The ANF chief said many of the addicts had been successfully treated and were assisted to resume a normal and healthy life.

Mentioning that high school, college and university students were soft targets for those involved in the narcotics business, he said a foolproof and effective strategy was needed to counter the challenge of growing drug addiction. 

Maj Gen Malik said a close coordination among parents, teachers, the relevant government agencies and other sections of society was urgently needed to protect the youth. He said the ANF had recently arrested drug dealers and seized drugs worth billions of rupees. The governor assured him of all support with special reference to raising public awareness about the threat and as how to counter it. 

Laptop scheme

In view of its positive results, plans are being drawn up to expand the scope of the Prime Minister's Laptop Scheme and students enrolled in their second semesters would also now be eligible, according to Sindh Governor Mohammad Zubair.

He was speaking at a ceremony held at the Governor House where commendation certificates and cash awards were distributed among high-achievers from the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University, Lyari, and the Jinnah University for Women.

The governor said the federal government had introduced the laptop scheme to enable talented students to benefit from latest technologies. Also, he added, several steps had been taken on a priority basis for the promotion of higher education and cited the cash awards as an example.

The governor praised the students for their exceptional performances and the faculty members for their support to the pupils.  The vice chancellor of the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University, Lyari, and the chancellor of the Jinnah University for Women attended the ceremony.