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PAF- F-16 Plane crashed in Islamabad during March 23 parade rehearsal

Pilot, Wing Commander Nauman Akram Martyred

ISLAMABAD: A fighter jet of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) crashed in Islamabad on Wednesday 11th March.

“Pakistan Air Force reports with regret that a PAF F-16 aircraft crashed near Shakarparian, Islamabad during the rehearsals of 23rd March parade,” said a PAF spokesperson. The spokesperson said the pilot, Wing Commander Nauman Akram, was martyred in the crash.

Rescue teams rushed to the crash site immediately after the incident and the area was cordoned off. Some high tension wires passing through the area were also damaged in the crash. A fire erupted in the bushes of the meadow and fire fighters could be seen putting out the fire. The reasons of the crash and losses in this incident have not yet been ascertained. “A board of inquiry has been ordered by Air Headquarters to determine the cause of accident,” the spokesperson added.

Following the tragedy, President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed their deep grief over the martyrdom of Wing Commander Akram. The President and the Prime Minister in their separate messages prayed for the departed soul and for the fortitude of the deceased family.

Wing Commander Nauman Akram Shaheed laid to rest: Wing Commander Nauman Akram Shaheed, who embraced martyrdom in a fighter jet crash in Islamabad during rehearsal for Pakistan Day parade, was laid to rest at Shuhada Graveyard, RA Bazaar Cantt on Thursday 12 March. Punjab Governor Ch Sarwar, a number of civilians and army officers from all walks of life attended the ceremony.

Nauman Akram Shaheed is survived by a widow, a son and a daughter.

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Chinese Attack Helicopters in Pakistan Air Force: War Against Indian Cobras

News Desk | March 7, 2020 | Source : globalvillagespace

Islamabad had in 2015 ordered 12 Bell AH-1Zs under the USA’s Foreign Military Sales process and then followed that in 2018 with a deal for 30 Turkish Aerospace T129s worth $1.5 billion.

But the AH-1Z sale has been on hold since US President Donald Trump cut security funding to Pakistan, and export sanctions related to the US-built LHTEC T800 engines which power the T129 has led to the suspension of that contract.

This impasse, and a pressing need to retire its fleet of 48 Bell AH-1Fs, is now pushing Islamabad to consider alternatives, Major General Syed Najeeb Ahmed, commander, army aviation, told Defence IQ’s International Military Helicopter conference in London on 26 February.

“We are looking at other options. One of them is in China in the shape of the new attack helicopter they have created called the Z-10ME,” he says. “In case the first two options do not materialise this third option will be considered.”

Pakistan had previously evaluated an earlier version of the CAIC Z-10, but Ahmed says the latest iteration has improved weapons and systems.

Ahmed is extremely doubtful that the AH-1Z deal can be resurrected, and although Turkish Aerospace is developing an indigenous replacement engine for the T129, he is not confident that this will be ready in time.

In fact, Pakistan has set a deadline of July this year for a final decision, Ahmed says.

The relative urgency is driven by India’s capability increases, as New Delhi grows its fleet of Boeing AH-64E Apaches.

“The Cobras are no match for the Apaches that the Indians are getting,” he says. “We definitely want to match that [capability].”

In April 2016, Bell announced that it would sell 12 AH-1Z Vipers to Pakistan. The U.S. State Department had approved the sale of 15 AH-1Z Vipers and associated equipment at an estimated cost of $952 million to Pakistan in April 2015. While the first rotorcraft were expected to be handed over to the PAAC by mid-2017, no delivery has taken place to date due to deteriorating U.S-Pakistan relations.

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Pakistan, China and Russia decide to conduct trade in local currencies skip dollars

By Ali Ahmed on March 17, 2020

A road map will be finalized and signed at SCO’s Finance Ministers’ meeting in Moscow on March 18th.

Representatives from the finance ministries and central banks of China, India, Russia, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan will attend the SCO conference in Moscow.

The eight-member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), including China, Russia, and Pakistan, have made the principle decision to conduct bilateral trade and investment and issue bonds in local and national currencies instead of US dollars.

As per details, a road map will be finalized and signed at SCO’s Finance Ministers’ meeting in Moscow on March 18th.

Russia, as chairman of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, has called for suggestions from all member states for trade and investment in local currencies. After a detailed review of these proposals in Moscow’s meeting, a system of mutual settlement of national currencies will be introduced for the member countries of the SCO.

All member states will sign a roadmap for trade and investment in national currencies between member states. Russia has issued the agenda for the SCO’s Finance Ministers’ meeting summoned in Moscow on March 18.

As per reports, the finance ministry of Pakistan has completed preparations in light of the agenda of the conference of finance ministers.

Representatives from the finance ministries and central banks of China, India, Russia, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan will attend the SCO conference in Moscow.

In addition, Iran, Afghanistan, Belarus, and Mongolia are the observer countries of the SCO who wish to become a regular member of the organization.

Reports say that if the trade and investment between the member states of the SCO begin in national currencies instead of dollars and pounds, it will be a big breakthrough. It will also strengthen the national currencies of the member countries and promote mutual trade and investment.

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Publisher Jang Group Mir Javed ur Rahman passes away

Web Desk | 31 March 2020 | The News International

KARACHI: Chairman and Printer Publisher Jang Group, Mir Javed ur Rahman, the eldest son of Mir Khalil-ur-Rahman, and brother of Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, passed away in Karachi on Tuesday.

The Jang Group chairman was under treatment at a private hospital in Karachi and had been battling lung cancer.

Mir Javed ur Rahman had inherited from his father, Mir Khalil-ur-Rahman, the twin qualities of being a fearless journalist and someone who would relentlessly pursue the truth.

Under his visionary leadership, the Jang Group became the leading media house in Pakistan, operating newspapers, magazines, and TV channels across the country.

The Jang Group, under the guidance of Mir Javed ur Rahman, learned to stand up for the truth despite severe economic pressures exerted on it by several powerful individuals over the past few decades.

Mir Javed ur Rahman instilled the culture of free expression at the Jang Group and imprinted several important legacies on the heart of the organisation, chief of them being the value of service to the people.

Today, the secret to the success of the Jang Group lies in the professionalism of its journalists, analysts and opinion writers, who have followed in the footsteps of Mir Javed ur Rahman to fearlessly speak truth to power.

‘Mir Javed ur Rahman’s demise end of an era in journalism’

PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif also offered his condolences over the demise of Mir Javed ur Rahman, saying that Mir Javed ur Rahman had the honour of leading a group that had always stood by Pakistan.

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