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Pakistan resurrecting projects under the Belt and Road Initiative: Ahsan Iqbal

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The current administration hopes to give projects covered by China’s Belt and Road Initiative some new life as it works to strengthen the nation’s struggling economy, according to federal minister for planning, development, and special initiatives Ahsan Iqbal, who made this statement here on Tuesday.

In addition to collaborating on agricultural projects and the relocation of some Chinese businesses to Pakistan, the government is looking forward to cooperative ventures for renewable energy projects. As stated in a Bloomberg interview, Ahsan Iqbal is co-chair of the committee in charge of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
“Well, I’m really optimistic since I recently visited China and met with their top leadership.Consequently, I see a lot of desire on the Chinese side to advance CPEC into its second phase and to rekindle its momentum,” he stated.

CPEC, which comprises new power plants and a port in the southern town of Gwadar, was viewed as the centerpiece project for Pakistan, which was considered a leading location for BRI initiatives.

The COVID-19 pandemic and Pakistan’s ongoing economic challenges, which have necessitated the participation of the International Monetary Fund, caused the progress on new projects to stop.

Power plants that eliminated the country’s long-standing power shortfall were among the about $25 billion worth of projects that went online in the first phase, according to a Bloomberg story. A much-needed railway renovation project was approved last week by a Pakistani committee. “To ensure that Pakistan is not overburdened,” Iqbal stated, the project would be completed in two stages.

Initial train service will connect the southern coastal city of Karachi with Multan, which is located little over halfway to Islamabad, the capital. A Gwadar water supply project, port dredging, and an Iranian power transmission line are among the major BRI projects that the government has completed that had been languishing for years.

As a result, Iqbal stated, “all these things really help China see that the new government is again serious and it restored their confidence that now Pakistan is, you know, serious about CPEC initiatives.”

In an effort to stimulate Pakistan’s economy, China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng launched five new corridors last year to commemorate the CPEC’s tenth anniversary, one of which was directed at growth.

Islamabad taking a step back while pushing the private sector to form alliances with Chinese companies would probably be one shift in the second phase. With labor prices rising and geopolitical tensions increasing, the other major focus—albeit a long-shot prospect—is to attempt and draw in Chinese companies considering migrating from China.

Given that China’s high cost of living is forcing more than 80 million jobs to be shifted outside, Iqbal remarked, “that would be a success.”

They visited Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, as you may know. Right now, it’s very packed. He continued, “So it’s true that they’re searching for new locations.”

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Instagram releases a kid-focused feature.

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With the help of this new Instagram function, parents will have more control over what their kids do online.

New users between the ages of 13 and 15 will have their Teen Accounts enabled immediately, while current users in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia will be gradually transferred to the new accounts over the course of the following 60 days.

Important characteristics of teen accounts

Teen accounts are by default set to private, which limits the display of their posts to authorized followers and keeps non-followers from getting in touch with them.

Restrictions on Teen Messaging: To minimize unwanted encounters, teens are only able to message people they follow or already have a connection with.

Control of Sensitive Content: Tight settings will prevent exposure to potentially dangerous content, like advertisements for cosmetic procedures or violent content.

Parental Control: Guardians can keep an eye on their offspring’s internet behavior, such as direct messaging and content intake.

Positive Content: By allowing teenagers to research interests, like sports, music, or the arts, they can enhance their online experience.

Extra protection

Reminding teenagers to take breaks after 60 minutes of app use is part of the daily limit.

Sleep mode: To encourage sound sleep habits, automatically mute notifications between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Using artificial intelligence to power age verification, underage individuals can be identified and moved to teen accounts.

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Asif Ali hopes to be called up for Pakistan after a great Champions Cup performance.

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In yesterday’s 92-run defeat against Markhors, Asif Ali, who is playing for the Dolphins under Saud Shakeel, scored a fast half-century.

Asif stated in an interview with a local news station that he wanted to do well enough throughout the competition to possibly earn a spot back on the national squad.

He also disclosed that, prior to making his international debut, he batted at number four in domestic cricket but was forced to settle for number six. The energetic batter had a new task because of the
in batting order.

Asif stated, “Going from No. 4 to No. 6 is not easy.” “It’s critical to train properly for your position in international cricket. It can be challenging to drop to a lower position at the international level if you’re used to playing higher up the order at home.

He talked candidly about the Dolphins’ defeat against the Markhorses as well, stating that given the pitch conditions, he would not have chosen to field first.

“Batting was challenging because the pitch favored bowlers in the latter parts of the game,” he remarked. Because of the early dampness, the Dolphins’ management decided to field first.

He then on, “If they had asked me, I would have told them to bat first and not fall for that.”

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Report: Solar is expected to set new records this year.

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In 2023, there was an expected 87% increase in growth. This year’s increase is 29% over the previous one, according to the research.

The cheapest source of electricity globally is solar power, and as such, it is expanding quicker than many anticipated, according to Euan Graham, an Ember electricity data analyst.

Ember estimates demonstrate the rapid growth of solar energy: in 2024 alone, new solar capacity will surpass the 540 GW of additional coal power added globally since 2010.

Expected to add 334 GW, or 56 percent of the global total in 2024, China continues to lead the globe in this industry.

According to the survey, it is followed by the US, India, Germany, and Brazil. These five nations will account for 75% of the new solar capacity in 2024.

According to the research, maintaining the sector’s growth required grid capacity and battery storage.

“Providing enough grid capacity and developing battery storage is critical for handling electricity distribution and supporting solar outside of peak sunlight hours as solar becomes more inexpensive and accessible,” the statement stated.

“Solar power might continue to surpass forecasts for the remainder of the decade if these issues are resolved and development is sustained.”

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