Top News
China says will surely help Pakistan in financial crisis (Lead)
By Gaurav Sharma
Beijing, Nov 3 (IANS) China on Saturday assured Pakistan of its full support to “tide over” the financial crisis, clearly signalling Beijing’s readiness to give fresh loans to its all-weather ally which is in deep economic distress.
During the on-going China visit by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan, Beijing also told Islamabad to “push forward” the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the heart of the Chinese Belt and Road project the feasibility of which Pakistan has begun to doubt over debt concerns.
India is opposed to the $60 billion CPEC whose planned route is through the disputed Kashmir held by Pakistan.
“The Chinese government will provide necessary support and assistance to Pakistan in tiding over the current economic difficulties,” China’s Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou said.
The minister gave no specific information about China’s financial assistance, saying the details were being discussed.
He was talking to reporters after Khan and his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang held talks at the Great Hall and supervised the signing of 16 bilateral deals.
Khan, who met Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday, is understood to have sought financial help for Pakistan which is in dire straits due to the ballooning foreign debt.
“The relationship between the two countries has deepened since then because the CPEC in 2013 was just an idea. Now it is on the ground. And it has caught the imagination of the people of Pakistan,” Khan said while meeting Li.
“We feel that this is a great opportunity for our country to progress, to attract investment, it gives us an opportunity to raise our standard of living, growth rate. You will see the difference because a lot has happened since 2013. One of the things, of course, is my party has come to power.”
Pakistan which has already secured a $6 billion loan from Saudi Arabia thinks the amount is not enough to clear the financial mess and has also sought a bailout package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The IMF wants Pakistan to disclose all the financial details of the Chinese-funded CPEC for providing the bailout package.
The Chinese are wary of Islamabad going to the IMF, dominated by its rival the US which opposes the Belt and Road project.
Experts say that the Chinese have pushed Pakistan into heavy debt through the CPEC, a charge denied by Beijing.
Some ministers in Khan’s new government have expressed concerns over the Chinese investments in Pakistan, with one slashing the budget of a rail project by $2 billion.
However, Khan has pledged to work to implement the CPEC and has assured Pakistan’s full support for it.
“The vision of Xi Jinping for jointly building the Belt and Road initiative is being turned into a reality. Against such a backdrop, the CPEC also has new opportunities and need to be further pushed forward,” said the Chinese Vice Foreign Minister.
“The two sides will firmly move forward the CPEC while ensuring the smooth operation of completing projects and advancing the ongoing projects.”
“The two sides will gradually bring the dimension of industrial cooperation to the CPEC and extend it to other parts of Pakistan,” he said.
Kong said the project will also focus on the social sector.
“The two sides have agreed to establish a foreign-ministerial dialogue mechanism to make overall planning and coordinate in various fields,” he added.
–IANS
gsh/soni/sed
Top News
Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.