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Tag: Fawad Chaudhry

  • Gen Bajwa’s extension: ‘Supreme Court can’t tell us what to do,’ says Fawad

    Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has said that the Supreme Court (SC) “does not have the authority to dictate the parliament on what matters to legislate on and how”.

    The apex court, in its November 28 verdict, had allowed the federal government to grant a six-month extension to Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, directing the government to legislate on the army chief’s tenure and extension during the said time.

    Speaking to Voice of America (VOA), Fawad questioned the judiciary’s “authority to direct the parliament on legislative matters”. “The SC’s orders have a lot of legal defects and shortcomings. It almost eliminates Article 243.”

    Article 243 of the constitution pertains to the command of armed forces — that the federal government should have their control.

    “The SC cannot tell the parliament that ‘you can legislate on this but cannot legislate on that’ or ‘you can or cannot extend the duration’,” Fawad said, adding that in the constitutions of 1956 and 1962, the duration of the army chief’s tenure was ascertained.

    “But after many debates and arguments, it was taken out of the constitution of 1973, and there was a reason for that because the parliament wanted the prime minister (PM) to be empowered.”

    WATCH VIDEO:

    “If you assign a specific amount of term to the army chief then how would you remove him before the expiration of his term, if need be. Therefore, the SC’s verdict has a lot of flaws and it needs to be corrected.”

    The minister maintained that the federal cabinet was awaiting the release of the detailed verdict of the apex court, after which the government would decide how to proceed forward. “The decision to file a review petition still has to be finalised,” he clarified.

    When asked about the differences between the government and the opposition, and how they could hinder efforts aimed at the smooth passage of any legislation in the parliament, the Fawad said “all political players in the country were on the same page on the matter since the army chief was apolitical”.

  • PM Imran to inaugurate Science and Technology Park today

    PM Imran to inaugurate Science and Technology Park today

    Prime Minister Imran Khan will inaugurate the country’s first National Science and Technology Park in Islamabad today.

    Federal Minister Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry took to Twitter to announce that “Prime Minister Imran Khan will inaugurate Pakistan’s first National Science and Technology Park in NUST.”

    Fawad Chaudhry also wrote that the initiative is a combination of researchers and industry that turned the world around. The coming ten years will be bright years for Pakistan’s science and technology.”

    Earlier, on Dec 5, Prime Minister Imran Khan had launched the ‘Digital Pakistan’ programme, an initiative to introduce the latest technologies for public welfare.

  • Fawad Chaudhry calls Dr Salam a ‘visionary’

    Fawad Chaudhry calls Dr Salam a ‘visionary’

    Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry paid a rich tribute to Pakistan’s first Nobel Laureate Dr Abdus Salam by saying that he was a “visionary” who launched Pakistan’s space programme when China and India hadn’t even started.

    Addressing at the convocation of Capital University for Science and Technology (CUST) at the Convention Centre, the minister said, “When we started our space program and established SUPARCO in 1962 under the patronage of a great scientist like Dr Abdus Salam, a visionary, China and India had not even thought about the idea.”

    “We [Pakistan] are the second country in Asia, after USSR, to launch our rocket, Rehbar, into space in 1963. Our space program is one of the most modern space programs in the world,” Fawad revealed.

    “And now when we talk about sending our mission to space in 2022, people are shocked and are unable to believe it,” the minister added.

    Watch video here:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B5ua2QKBtEO/

    The minister also shared that work on introducing agriculture drone to enhance crops production was in progress.

    He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan was focusing on the development of the science and technology sector and that the budget of it was increased 600 times in the last eight months. He added that the government intends to further increase the budget up to 1500 times through public-private partnerships.

    Fawad regretted that the science and technology sector was not given its due importance in the past because of which there was a lack of progress in this field.

    Pakistan lost its focus on development after involvement in the Afghan war, Fawad said.

  • VIDEO: Federal Minister Fawad messes up US history on-air; makes Benjamin Franklin president

    VIDEO: Federal Minister Fawad messes up US history on-air; makes Benjamin Franklin president

    Federal Minister for Science & Technology Fawad Chaudhry, in yet another faux pas, has messed up the history of the United States (US) on-air by not only making polymath Benjamin Franklin an “American president”, but also accrediting him for 1930s’ New Deal.

    Speaking to a private media outlet on Monday, the minister had said that it was time for a “New Deal” among all state institutions. “At the moment, no institution in Pakistan is strong enough to challenge any other institution. Everyone is looking to enhance their own mandate. We must slow down and strike a New Deal.”

    “A deal like the one by US president Benjamin Franklin. It changed the entire country. It is what we need as well. Specially, at a time when the chief justice has also highlighted the need for a dialogue and the army chief as well as the prime minister want to strengthen civilian institutions,” Fawad had said.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    But what many, including the show hosts, didn’t realise, was that the science minister himself didn’t know what he was talking about.

    Not only was Franklin never elected president of the US, the New Deal — a series of programmes, public work projects, financial reforms and regulations enacted by President Franklin Roosevelt between 1933 and 1939 — came over a 140 years after his death. The programmes responded to needs for relief, reform and recovery from the Great Depression.

    This, however, isn’t the first time that Fawad has put himself in an awkward situation by presenting “alternate” facts. In May this year, he had said that the Hubble Space Telescope was sent into space by Pakistan’s aeronautics and aerospace research agency Suparco, instead of its US counterpart, NASA.

    Twitter had erupted into a volley of laughs and memes following the gaffe, as people had mercilessly mocked the minister.

  • JKT, Fawad Chaudhry attend Zainab Abbas’ valima

    JKT, Fawad Chaudhry attend Zainab Abbas’ valima

    Zainab Abbas’ wedding festivities came to a close Sunday night with a grand valima.

    Among those in attendance were PTI’S Jahangir Khan Tareen, Fawad Chaudhry, Dr Yasmin Rashid and cricketer Mohammad Amir. Zainab’s mother, Andleeb Abbas is an integral member of PTI.

    Jahangir Khan Tareen
    Fawad Chaudhry with the newly weds

    Zainab looked ethereal in a lavender outfit by Élan.

    The glowing bride being escorted by her parents

    Aren’t these two adorable?

    Zainab tied the knot with Hamza Kardar in an intimate nikkah last month. Hamza is the son of the former finance finance minister and former governor of State Bank of Pakistan, Shahid Hafeez Kardar and the grandson of the renowned cricketer Abdul Hafeez Kardar. Zainab’s other events included a mayun and a shendi.

    Nikkah
    Mayun

    VIDEO: Zainab Abbas hits a sixer as Amir bowls on her shendi

    Shendi

    Wishing the happy couple all the very best for their future.

  • ‘Pakistan to introduce battery-powered electric buses,’ says Fawad Ch

    ‘Pakistan to introduce battery-powered electric buses,’ says Fawad Ch

    Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Fawad Chaudhry has revealed that Pakistan will become the first country of South Asia which would introduce battery-powered electric buses in the country.

    The minister in his Twitter message has said that the budget of science and technology has increased up to 600% in the current year, adding that he would make efforts to hike the budget to 1000 per cent next year.

    Fawad credited Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan for his special attention in the sci-tech sector, saying that the government has brought back the country to research and development with the support of the PM.

    Chaudhry said that ministerial commissions are being established with Russia and the government is now focused on the European Union (EU) and United States (US).

    He said, “It is our failure for not manufacturing engines, but we will make up solar panels and lithium batteries in the next three years. The energy system of the country will be completely changed.”

    The minister further announced that Jhelum biotech park will become the largest herbal medicine park of South Asia, whereas, Pakistan will be the first country which would manufacture battery-powered [electric] buses in the region.

    On November 20, it emerged that the government had set to launch electric buses in Pakistan to combat air pollution. The federal government has reportedly signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with private ride-hailing service to introduce electric vehicles in the country.

    The MoU was signed by Fawad Chaudhary and CEO of bus hailing service in Islamabad on Tuesday, according to Radio Pakistan.

    Under this agreement, the company will introduce electric battery-powered buses and also spend Rs12 billion to expand its transport bus service in the country.

  • Fawad Chaudhry has asked SUPARCO to help in providing internet to Kashmiris

    Fawad Chaudhry has asked SUPARCO to help in providing internet to Kashmiris

    More than 100 days have passed since the Indian Government revoked Article 370 and imposed curfew in Indian occupied Kashmir and there is no information as to when the curfew will be lifted.

    In a recent media talk, Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry said that he has reached out to Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) to provide internet to the people of Kashmir via satellite.

    “Internet is considered a fundamental right nowadays. I have asked SUPARCO to check the feasibility of providing internet to caged citizens of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir via satellite,” said Fawad, adding that his ministry is ready to help out SUPARCO wherever they need help.

    Fawad highlighted the plight of the Kashmiris and said that they have every right to have access to the internet.

    https://twitter.com/FawadPTIUpdates/status/1195003818125221890
  • Fawad lashes out at Sanjay Dutt’s ‘Panipat’ for ‘trying to rewrite history under RSS influence’

    Fawad lashes out at Sanjay Dutt’s ‘Panipat’ for ‘trying to rewrite history under RSS influence’

    Minister for Science and Technology, Fawad Chaudhry doesn’t mince words when it comes to expressing his thoughts.

    Recently, while responding to a tweet about the upcoming Bollywood historical saga Panipat, Fawad wrote on Twitter, “When idiots try to rewrite history under RSS influence this is minimum one should expect, agay agay dekheiye hota hai kiya…”

    Panipat which features Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Kapoor and Kriti Sanon in the lead is directed by ace filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker (Lagaan, Swades, Jodha Akbar). The film reportedly depicts the story behind the Third Battle of Panipat, which was fought between the Maratha Empire and the King of Afghanistan, Ahmad Shah Abdali in 1761.

    While Arjun will be playing Maratha warrior Sadashiv Rao Bhau, Dutt will essay the role of the Afghan ruler Abdali.

    Read more: ‘Another anti-Pakistan project’: Mehwish Hayat lashes out as SRK’s ‘Bard of Blood’ stirs controversy

    The film has not only irked Pakistanis for misrepresentation of Muslim rulers but according to The Print, the Embassy of Afghanistan has also expressed concerns to New Delhi and sought a meeting with the Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar to discuss the film.

    The Afghans are critical of the way the former Afghan emperor Ahmad Shah Abdali has been portrayed in the period drama. Abdali is a revered figure in Afghanistan and is regarded as the founder of the modern state of Afghanistan.

    The Afghanistan Embassy in New Delhi also wrote to the Ministry of External Affairs regarding the matter, while the ex-Afghan ambassador to India tweeted directly to Dutt over the portrayal.

    Panipat is scheduled to hit the screens on December 6. The demolition of the Babri Masjid in the city of Ayodhya, in Uttar Pradesh, took place on the same date in 1992.

    Previously Ranveer Singh’s portrayal of Alauddin Khilji in last year’s Padmaavat left many historians aghast and irked the Muslims who felt that the great emperor was turned into a vile villain.

    Read more: Arts vs Politics: A contentious debate engulfing India

    Watch trailer here:

  • Fawad Chaudhry offers to help India handle smog

    Fawad Chaudhry offers to help India handle smog

    Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has offered to help India combat the smog problem engulfing both countries.

    Taking to Twitter, the minister suggested using a scientific solution to handle the smog.

    Fawad in his tweet said that the burning of crops in the Indian city of Jalandhar was causing chaos on both sides of the border adding to the toxicity in the air making it difficult to breathe in.

    He then offered a machine-based solution to turn the crop residue into a source of energy rather than burning it.

    A thick layer of smog has descended again on Punjab, especially hitting Lahore.

    According to the Air Visual, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Lahore is hazardous. The toxic smog in Lahore also forced the government and private schools to remain closed on Thursday.

    Meanwhile, experts in India argue that current levels of air pollution represent a public health emergency requiring full emergency mode response from local and national authorities.

  • ‘You won’t find a place to hide,’ Fawad warns Opp against underestimating govt

    ‘You won’t find a place to hide,’ Fawad warns Opp against underestimating govt

    Federal Minister for Science & Technology Fawad Chaudhry has warned Azadi March protesters against underestimating the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, saying that it is “exercising self-restraint only on Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s call”.

    Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam- Fazl (JUI-F) is currently holding a sit-in in Islamabad against the “illegitimate” Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government that they say “stole people’s mandate”.

    Protesters belonging to the JUI-F as well as other opposition parties on Friday reached Islamabad as Fazl gave the premier a two-day deadline for his resignation following fiery speeches by Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.

    With government members stepping up to support PM Imran, Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Saturday tweeted to warn the opposition members.

    “Don’t dare to underestimate #PTIGovernment we are exercising self-restraint because @ImranKhanPTI has desired so, if he makes a call these bunch of opportunists ll not find a place to hide in Pakistan,” he wrote.

    Opposition parties are yet to react to the federal minister’s statement.