Connect with us

Foreign News

Pakistani Envoy says Africa a Promising Continent with Vast Opportunities

Published

on

Share

Mr Abdul Razak Dawood, the Advisor to the Pakistani Prime Minister on Commence and Investment, on Tuesday declared that Africa was “a promising continent and land of opportunities”.

The envoy stated this on Tuesday in Lagos at the 2nd Pakistan-Africa Trade Development Conference, a Single Country Exhibition, holding from Nov.

23 to Nov.
25.

He also called for closer economic ties with Africa to harness mutual benefits in trading activities with Pakistan.

The exhibition targets the business community from Nigeria, other West African nations, as well as non-ECOWAS countries.

100 companies are participating in the exhibition that showcases pharmaceuticals, paints and chemicals, surgical instruments, beauty and cosmetics, leather products and accessories.

Others are kitchen wares, food and beverages, automotive and agricultural machinery, electrical appliances and information technology.

According to Dawood, until now, Africa has been a distant frontier for Pakistan, economically, with the trade volume not very high.

“It has hovered around only four billion dollars, but the good news is, ever since we created the ‘Look Africa Policy’, our trade is increasing by 21 per cent .

“Soon after coming into power, the Prime Minister of Pakistan took the initiative and asked the ministry of commerce to look at regional connectivity and, in particular, look at Africa.

“As a result of that, we developed a ‘look Africa policy’ and we analysed all the 54 countries of the continent and our study showed a promising continent and a land of opportunity.

“Our vision is to get closer and set a target of doubling our export in the next five years; we are looking at regional connectivity. We are not only looking at Africa. We are equally looking at Asia as well.

“We were trying to get positive results after the first conference in Kenya, but due to the pandemic, we could not come to this country until this time and we will be coming back to Nigeria next year,” he said.

He added that no cooperation was possible without the business men and women from Africa and Pakistan, urging governments of both groups to facilitate robust collaboration.

Speaking earlier, the High Commissioner of Pakistan to Nigeria, Mr Muhammad Azam, said that with global priorities moving away from geo-politics to geo-economies all over the world, national policies must focus on transformation via multiple facets.

“African continent is the largest free trade area with 1.2 billion persons market.

“It has tremendous business potentials and resources to benefit its market and government of Pakistan.

“The ‘Look Africa Initiative’ aims at improving trade and investment relationship between Africa and Pakistan.

“The Pakistan trade development conference, a single country exhibition, is the manifestation of the initiative undertaken by the Pakistani ministry of commerce.

“In the post-COVID-19 environment, this conference will enable the business communities of Pakistan and Africa, especially the Nigerian business community, meet with 100 Pakistani companies to interact with each other,” he said. (NAN)

Foreign News

Cambodia Arrests 2 Foreigners for Smuggling 2.27 kg Narcotics

Published

on

Share

Cambodian customs police at the Phnom Penh International Airport said they have arrested two South Korean nationals for an attempt to smuggle 2.27 kg narcotics to South Korea.

The duo, a man and woman, were caught Sunday night while they checked in for a ZA215 flight bound for Seoul.

The General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia said in a news release on Monday.

In their body searches, our customs officials found many packs of drugs wrapped around their waists, the news release said.

“As a result, some 1.29 kg of crystal methamphetamine and 0.98 kg of ketamine were seized from the two suspects’ possession.’’

The Southeast Asian country has no death sentence for a drug trafficker.

Under its law, someone found guilty of trafficking more than 80 grammes of illicit drugs could be jailed for life.

According to the country’s Anti-Drug Department (ADP), Cambodia nabbed 3,899 drug-related suspects, including 106 foreigners, in 1,659 cases from Jan. 1 to March 3, 2024.

According to the report they confiscated a total of 2.79 tonnes of narcotics.

Most of the seized drugs were ketamine, crystal methamphetamine, methamphetamine tablets, heroin, ecstasy, and cocaine. (Xinhua/NAN)

Continue Reading

Foreign News

February Ends with Extreme Heat – WMO

Published

on

Share

The UN weather agency, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), says February saw more extreme heat and unusually high temperatures in both hemispheres.

Summarising the state of the climate, it said the month ended with extreme heat in the southern hemisphere where it is summer, while high temperatures atypical of the northern hemisphere winter prevailed.

Parts of North and South America, northwest and southeast Africa, southeast and far eastern Asia, western Australia and Europe all saw record-breaking temperatures, either on a daily basis or for all of February.

“The anomalous heat is consistent with the persisting warming observed since June 2023, with seven consecutive new global monthly temperature records, including January 2024,” Alvaro Silva, a climatologist working with the WMO, said in a statement.

Global sea surface temperatures were record high. While the El Niño weather pattern “has stoked temperatures in some parts of the world, human induced climate change is the long-term major contributing factor,” he added.

Conversely, a large part of northwestern Canada, central Asia – and from southern central Siberia to southeastern China – witnessed exceptional cold during the last week of the month.

The meteorological winter in the northern hemisphere and summer in the southern hemisphere finished officially at the end of February.

Meanwhile, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) raised increasing concern on Friday that more refugees would cross into Chad from Darfur in the coming weeks amid a worrying lack of food and other essentials.

Almost a year since the start of the civil war between rival militaries in Sudan, neighbouring Chad urgently needs more humanitarian aid and significant development investment, the agency reported, especially in its eastern areas which are hosting the refugee influx.

This investment will allow the country to continue its generous open-door stance towards refugees.

“Chadian officials are concerned that many more hungry Sudanese families will come in the next weeks,” said Kelly Clements, UNHCR’s Deputy High Commissioner, who is in the country to review the relief operation.

“The country is committed to keeping its borders open, despite the fragility of this region.

“But, doing so will put even more strain on Chad, which has so graciously been hosting refugees from Sudan’s war – now raging almost a year – and other refugees still here from earlier emergencies.” (NAN)

Continue Reading

Foreign News

More Than 30,000 Killed in Gaza Strip War – UN Officials

Published

on

Share

More than 30,000 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since Israel launched its military offensive in October, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Thursday.

Volker Türk quoted the number during a meeting of the UN’s Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The head of the UN’s World Health Organisation (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, also used the figure in a post on X, formerly twitter.

“The death toll in Gaza has surpassed 30,000 a large majority women and children.

Over 70,000 Palestinians have been injured,” he wrote.

“This horrific violence and suffering must end. Ceasefire.”

Neither Türk nor Tedros quoted a source.

An official confirmation from the health authorities in Gaza, who usually post the figures daily, is expected later.

Israel launched its assault on the Gaza Strip in response to Palestinian militants from Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist organisations killing of more than 1,200 people inside the Jewish state on October 7. (dpa/NAN)

Continue Reading

Read Our ePaper

Top Stories

NEWS3 hours ago

Tinubu Appoints new Team for Almajiri Education Commission 

SharePresident Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of a new leadership for the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children...

NEWS3 hours ago

Military Debunks Claim of Reprisal Attacks on Okuama Community

Share The Nigerian Military has debunked claims that it has embarked on reprisal attacks on Okuama Community in Delta. Some...

NEWS3 hours ago

FG Appeals to SSANU, NASU to Call Off Warning Strike

ShareThe Federal Government has appealed to the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational...

NEWS3 hours ago

2 Siblings Die in Bauchi Inferno, another Burnt to Death by Mob      

ShareTwo children have been burnt to death in Bauchi following a fire incident in their residence, the Police said in...

POLITICS3 hours ago

2024 FCT Budget: Wike presents N1.15trn to NASS

ShareBy Laide Akinboade, Abuja  The Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike,  on Monday,  defended the details of the...

NEWS3 hours ago

NDLEA Urges Imo Govt to Construct Rehabilitation Centre for Psycho-depressed Youths

ShareFrom Marcel Duru & Charity Wins, Owerri The Public Relation Officer (PRO) of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Alhaji...

NEWS3 hours ago

Okuama: Defence Ministers Condemn Attack, Vow to Nab Perpetrators

ShareBy Tony Obiechina, Abuja The Minister of Defence, Muhammed Badaru and the Minister of State for Defence Dr Muhammed Matawalle...

BUSINESS4 hours ago

Nigeria, Benin Republic Collaborate to Boost Trade, Economic Relations

ShareBy Tony Obiechina, Abuja Nigeria has strengthened its diplomatic and economic relations with the Republic of Benin. This was disclosed...

Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson
NEWS4 hours ago

Dickson Fulfils N100m Scholarship Pledge to 228 Beneficiaries

ShareFrom Mike Tayese, Yenagoa Former Governor of Bayelsa and Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator...

NEWS4 hours ago

Ijaw Women Commend Tinubu on Otuaro’s Appointment as Administrator of PAP

ShareFrom Mike Tayese, Yenagoa Ijaw women under the auspices of Ijaw Women Connect (IWC), Worldwide has commended President Tinubu for...

Copyright © 2021 Daily Asset Limited | Powered by ObajeSoft Inc