The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Pakistan

  • Onyisi elected President of Nigerians in Pakistan

    Onyisi elected President of Nigerians in Pakistan

    Francis Onyisi has been elected as the new president of the Nigerian Community in Pakistan (NCP).

    He was elected at the election held on Saturday, March 16 in Islamabad and Lahore.

    Reacting to his election, Onyisi thanked members of the community and promised to work with the Nigerian High Commission and the government and people of Pakistan to further promote people to people contact between Nigeria and Pakistan.

    He also lauded support and cooperation of Nigerian Ambassador to Pakistan, Dauda Danladi who he said took personal interest in making the NCP Election process fair and transparent.

    Mrs. Omoshalewa Awolaja, Chairperson, NCP Election Commission urged NCP members to be good ambassador of Nigeria in Pakistan.

    The immediate past President, Isaac O A Omomolesho  welcomed  Onyisi and assured him of necessary support to further promote the cause of Nigeria in Pakistan and taking the bilateral and economic ties between two brotherly countries to the new heights.

    Mrs. Bolanle Afolabi, Treasurer of the association appreciated the role being playing by Nigerians to promote good image Nigeria in Pakistan.

  • Nigerian Community in Pakistan holds election

    Nigerian Community in Pakistan holds election

    New officers of the Nigerian Community in Pakistan (NCP) will be elected on Saturday, March 16.

    Incumbent President, Isaac Omomolesho who disclosed the plan for the election said electoral officers of NCP were appointed on the ratio of five from Lahore, the Provincial Capital and eight from Islamabad, the Federal Capital.

    The tenure of the office for the elected officers is for two years.

    NCP was established in 2006 under a Constitution approved by the Nigeria High Commission in Pakistan to promote shared vision and common objectives of south-south cooperation between Nigeria and Pakistan.

    Omomolesho lauded the Nigerian Ambassador in Pakistan, Dauda Danladi for his support to make the process of elections a great success to further enhance people to people contact between Nigerians and our host country, Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

    He NCP is playing a major role educate the Nigerians coming to Pakistan promote good image of Nigeria to people of Pakistan; obey the laws of  Islamic Republic of Pakistan and shun illegal activities.

    Omomolesho thanked President Goodluck Jonathan whose visit to Pakistan last year during the D-8 Summit paved the way for many Nigerians to acquire proper

    official documents and e-Passports to return to their home with dignity and honour.

    He advised the Nigerians coming to Pakistan to follow the appropriate channels for any kind of business activity which is Islamabad, Lahore or Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce or Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce.

    On arrival in Pakistan he urged Nigerian businessmen to report to the Nigerian High Commission in Islamabad as well as to office of Nigerian Community in Pakistan based in Islamabad and Lahore.

    He commended the Government of Paksitan, particularly the Ministry of Interior for issuance of special Residential Permits and Working Permits to the Nigerians residing in Paksitan.

    He also paid tributes to the people of Pakistan who are peace loving and highly patriotic noting that  Nigerians living in Pakistan desire

    peace, political stability and prosperity of the host country, Pakistan.

    “We share our National Pride and glorious Victory of African Cup of Nations (AFCON-2013) with the people of Pakistan as we Nigerians consider Pakistan as our  second home, “ the NCP President said.

    He congratulated the Super Eagles of Nigerian Football team, particularly the strategy of Stephen Keshi, Coach of 2013 winning team for the historic victory.

    The Nigerian community in Pakistan would be celebrating the Golden Jubileeof Diplomatic Relations between Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Nigeria starting from  23rd March (Pakistan Day) and end on August 14  (Independence Day of Pakistan)

     

  • Nigeria targets $1bn trade with Pakistan

    Nigeria targets $1bn trade with Pakistan

    Nigeria plans to enhance a two-way trade up to $ 1 Billion with Pakistan before the end of the year.

    The High Commissioner to Pakistan, Alhaji Dauda Danladi disclosed the plan last Friday said the Nigerian High Commission in Pakistan is actively working to start economic initiatives through a Joint Nigeria-Pakistan Commission.

    According to him trade with Nigeria is beneficial for Pakistan as Nigeria can serve as a window of business opportunity to the whole of West Africa.

    He said majority of Pakistani Industrialists have shown their interest to participate in the forthcoming Single Trade Fair to be held in Kano State this year  and appreciated the goodwill gesture shown by Islamabad, Lahore and Faisalabad Chambers of Commerce  to invest in Nigeria.

    “President Goodluck Jonathan attaches great importance to boost economic interaction with Pakistan. Consequently, great opportunities are being explored by the Nigerian High Commission in the area of Agricultural machinery like tractors, Pharmaceuticals and export of garments including electro-medical apparatus to Nigeria from Pakistan to enhance two way trade to $ 1 billion with Pakistan by the end of 2013” the High Commissioner stated.

  • Nigeria to expand military cooperation with Pakistan- Ambassador

    Nigeria to expand military cooperation with Pakistan- Ambassador

    The Nigerian Ambassador to Pakistan Dauda Danladi has called for more military collaboration between Nigeria and Pakistan.

    He made the call during a meeting with President, National Defence University, Islamabad, Lt.General Nasser Khan Janjua last Monday.

    Danladi noted that the two countries enjoy very cordial military relations since 1960 and have been playing a vital role in promoting peace in the world by participating in military peace keeping under the United Nations Security resolutions.

    Over the years, many Nigerian military officers have been trained and are still undergoing training in various Pakistani military institutions while the Nigeria hope to benefit from Pakistan’s experience in the areas of training and counter-terrorism.

    Lt.  General Nasser  Janjua commended the excellent performance of the Nigerian Military Officers undergoing training at the National Defence University.

    Both leaders agreed that mutual cooperation between Pakistan and Nigeria need to go beyond training aspect and could extend to other areas for mutual benefit.

    Lt.  General Nasser  Janjua, President, National Defence University, Islamabad briefed the Nigerian Ambassador about the military training facilities at National Defence University which were lauded by the Nigerian diplomats.

    The Nigerian Ambassador Dauda Danladi delivered his lecture about the security environment in the African Continent to the foreign military participants under training at National Defence University, Islamabad.

  • UK to host Afghan-Pakistani talks

    UK to host Afghan-Pakistani talks

    British Prime Minister David Cameron will hold key talks with the leaders of Afghanistan and Pakistan to discuss the Afghan peace process, BBC reports.

    The trilateral summit – the third since last summer – is aimed at improving co-operation between both countries to promote regional stability.

    For the first time Afghan and Pakistani army and intelligence chiefs will also take part in the discussions.

    NATO troops are scheduled to withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of 2014.

    In a process initiated by Mr. Cameron last year, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari have agreed to work together on a framework of co-operation following the international troops’ departure next year.

    The steadily approaching deadline for the military exit will inevitably be a key factor in the talks, not least for Pakistan with its concerns about security across the region from then on, the report adds.

    Mr. Cameron will host a dinner with Mr. Karzai and Mr. Zardari at his official country residence Chequers north of London on Sunday evening.

    He will then hold the in-depth talks with both presidents and their key officials on Monday.

    “This trilateral process sends a very clear message to the Taliban: now is the time for everyone to participate in a peaceful political process in Afghanistan,” Downing Street said in a statement.

     

  • Pakistan militant leader ‘killed’

    Senior Pakistani militant leader Mullah Nazir has been killed by a United States drone strike, security officials told The BBC.

    He died with at least five fighters when two missiles struck his vehicle in the north-west tribal district of South Waziristan, they said.

    He was the leader of one of four major militant factions in Pakistan, accused of sending fighters to back the Afghan Taliban and fight foreign troops there.

    Mullah Nazir was wounded in a suicide bomb attack in November.

    Wednesday night’s drone strike targeted Mullah Nazir, reportedly as he and his fighters prepared to swap to a new vehicle after his pick-up developed a fault.

    It took place in Angoor Adda, near South Waziristan’s main town of Wana, close to the Afghan border.

    Reports say Mullah Nazir’s deputy, Ratta Khan, was also killed in the attack.

    Officials also said four militants were killed in a separate attack in North Waziristan, but their identities are not known.

     

  • Bomb kills Pakistan Shia pilgrims

    Bomb kills Pakistan Shia pilgrims

    At least 19 Shia Muslim pilgrims have been killed by a bomb attack on a bus convoy in southwest Pakistan, local officials told The BBC.

    More than 20 people have been injured in the incident in the Mastung district of Baluchistan province.

    Pakistan has experienced worsening sectarian violence in recent years. Last month 23 Shia Muslims were killed by a bomb in the city of Rawalpindi.

    No group has yet said it carried out Sunday’s bombing.

    Initial reports said it had been detonated by remote control but a government official said it had been a suicide attack.

    Officials said that some of those injured were in a critical condition and that the death toll may rise.

    The bus convoy had reportedly been on their way to neighbouring Iran, a Shia-majority country and popular pilgrimage destination.

     

  • UN suspends Pakistan polio drive

    UN suspends Pakistan polio drive

    The United Nations has suspended an anti-polio campaign in Pakistan after three more health workers died in the latest of a spate of gun attacks.

    Attacks in the Peshawar region killed a vaccination supervisor and her driver, and injured a student volunteer, BBC reports.

    Coming after five deaths on Tuesday, the UN said it was suspending its three-day vaccination drive.

    No group has claimed responsibility, but the Taliban had issued threats against the UN’s anti-polio campaign.

    Pakistan is one of just three countries where the disease is still endemic.

    The UN children’s agency UNICEF and the World Health Organisation were suspending work on the programme nationwide after Wednesday’s bloodshed, said UNICEF spokesman Michael Coleman.

    The UN provides technical and financial support to employees and volunteers of the local health department who administer the polio drops.

    The programme was halted in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces on Tuesday after four female health workers were shot dead in the city, while another female worker was killed in an attack in Peshawar.

    The vaccination supervisor and her driver died when their car was sprayed by gunmen riding motorbikes in Charsadda district, north of Peshawar, police said.

     

  • Polio workers killed in Pakistan

     

    Four female Pakistani polio vaccination workers have been shot dead in the country’s largest city Karachi, police told the BBC.

    The attacks happened during a three-day UNICEF nationwide drive against polio, which is endemic in Pakistan.

    No group has said it carried out the shootings, but the Taliban had issued threats against the polio drive and are active in parts of Karachi.

    The attacks took place in three separate locations in the city.

    Meanwhile, a teenage girl was wounded in an attack when gunmen opened fire on a team of female health workers on the outskirts of Peshawar in the north-west.

    Pakistani health officials said the latest anti-polio drive – during which an estimated 5.2m polio drops were to be administered – had been suspended due to the attacks.

    There has been opposition to such immunisation drives in parts of Pakistan, particularly after a fake CIA hepatitis vaccination campaign helped to locate Osama Bin Laden in 2011.

    Militants have kidnapped and killed foreign NGO workers in the past in an attempt to halt the immunisation drives which they say are part of efforts to spy on them.

    Along with Afghanistan and Nigeria, Pakistan is one of only three countries where polio is still endemic.

     

  • Blast kills 17 in Pakistan market

    At least 17 people have been killed and dozens injured in a car bomb attack on a market in the Khyber tribal region of north-west Pakistan, officials told the BBC.

    Women and children were among those killed in the blast at the market in Jamrud, the main town in Khyber.

    The explosion took place close to the offices of the tribal administration. The injured have been taken to hospital in the nearby city of Peshawar.

    No group has said it carried out the attack as yet.

    The bombing comes a day after a 15-hour stand-off between militants and security forces in the vicinity of Peshawar airport, located just about 10km (six miles) east of Jamrud town.

    At least 10 militants were killed in the clash, many of them ethnic Uzbek fighters, officials said.

    The Pakistani Taliban said they carried out that attack.

    The powerful blast in Khyber destroyed vehicles and damaged buildings in the market area. Many of those wounded are said to be in a critical condition.