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The Crucial Connection Between Climate Change and Mental Health

Climate change is driving a mental health crisis and accelerating eco-anxiety. Dr. Emma Lawrance is leading Climate Cares, Imperial College London, a centre dedicated to research on climate change in mental health. The researcher spoke to IPS about the need to address this growing concern.




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May Teacher Voices Echo Around the Globe

We must build a new social contract for education – a contract based on equality, equity, and universal human rights. At the center of our global efforts to ensure education for all, we must put teachers first in everything we do. They are frontlines heroes who deliver every day to educate children, cultivate young talent, […]





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William tops Bald Man list despite Charlotte's 'floods of tears' over his beard

William's new beard style didn't go down well with his daughter, Princess CharlottePrince William has reclaimed his title as the "Sexiest Bald Man Alive" for the second consecutive year, surpassing Hollywood stars like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. This honour, based on a study of search traffic...




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Beyoncé's fans in for surprise as Yale University introduces course on singer's legacy

Yale University introduces Beyoncé course: Deets insideBeyoncé’s fans are in for a surprise as Yale University has announced a new course centering on the singer and her iconic legacy.According to Yale Daily News, the new students will “dive deep” into...




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Princess Beatrice steps up for King Charles amid new Royal role

Princess Beatrice stepped into the spotlight earlier this week during a visit to The King’s Foundation’s Future Textiles exhibition at the Garrison Chapel in London. The 36-year-old royal was warmly greeted by Jacqueline Farrell, the charity’s Education Director, and had the...




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Prince William receives new surprising title as he prepares to become King

Prince William receives new surprising title as he prepares to become KingPrince William, who's making headlines for his future role as monarch amid King Charles health crisis, has received a new title before taking the throne.The Prince of Wales has seemingly given Princess Kate a reason to laugh...




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Chris Evans reflects on becoming a father, celebrating Christmas with Alba

Chris Evans hopes to become a great dad somedayChris Evans has recently discussed about fatherhood and marital relation with Alba Baptista. Speaking at upcoming Red One movie premiere on November 11, Evans responded to the question about becoming a superhero father like his co-star Dwayne Johnson...




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Meghan and Harry's past decisions begin to weigh heavily

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are facing fresh "cause for anxiety" following what royal commentator Lee Cohen calls a string of "bad judgments." Speaking to Nana Akua on GB News, Cohen, who has frequently criticized the Sussexes, suggested that the couple may be enduring "sleepless nights"...




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Coldplay's Chris Martin carries out 'unusual' ritual before boarding airplane

Chris Martin has superstitious belief about his deathColdplay frontman, Chris Martin seems to have a superstitious mindset as he fears that he might die in a plane crash one day just like American singer and songwriter, Buddy Holly. Due to this anxiety, Martin has adopted a very unique habit of...




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Ben Affleck eager to finalise divorce proceedings with Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck tied the knot in Las Vegas on July 16, 2022 Ben Affleck opened up about his exertion over constant questions regarding Jennifer Lopez, as the actor awaits legal verdict on their divorce.As per a close source, "The reason he may always look it when he is out and...




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Ariana Grande expresses admiration for 'amazing' beau Ethan Slater

Ariana Grande praises her ‘adorable’ beau Ethan SlaterAriana Grande has recently expressed her admiration for beau and adorable Wicked co-star Ethan Slater.Speaking to Entertainment Tonight at Wicked press tour in Los Angeles over the weekend, the pop star praised Ethan for his...




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John Krasinski breaks silence on being named PEOPLE's Sexist Man Alive

John Krasinski named PEOPLE's Sexist Man Alive 2024John Krasinski has recently broken silence on being named PEOPLE’s Sexist Man Alive 2024.“Just immediate blackout, actually. Zero thoughts,” said The Office alum after he got the big news in this week’s cover story....




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Knife-Edge November: Teetering on the Climate Abyss

Standing high on the vertiginous edge of the future and looking down into a volcanic seething of approaching doom, it is a totally understandable desire to want to close your eyes, walk away and turn on the sports channel. If you have one. Put the air-con on too. Last year was the hottest on human […]




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Cities Will Be Hit Hardest By Climate Change, UN Report Warns

Cities are in a unique position, simultaneously the biggest emitters of greenhouse gasses and the most affected areas of the greenhouse effect. As a new UN report shows that rapid urbanization and industrialization have adverse effects on the environment, causing a rise in sea levels, prolonged rainfalls and flooding, and an increase in overall temperature. […]




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Countdown Begins in Defining Twelve Days to Historic Global Climate Deal

The 29th session of the Conference of the Parties on climate change has officially kicked off in Baku, Azerbaijan, with the promise of striking yet another historic global climate deal and finance adaptation, gender responsive action and financing, and forgotten issues such as food waste are top on the agenda as every action is as […]




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The 1.5 degrees Celsius Target from Paris (Probably) Died on November 5th.

So, the worst has happened. American voters have apparently just elected the most chaotic and kleptocratic individual in their country’s political history as their president. (We say ‘apparently’, because these days nothing can be certain about the integrity of the US political or electoral system – as is the case with far too many other […]




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Kin urge CHR to probe killing of 2 coconut farmers in Masbate

Lolita Abril urged the CHR to conduct an independent investigation into the killing of her husband Ronel Abril and another coconut farmer Roger Clores last September 26. The two were allegedly killed by elements of the 2nd Infantry Battalion (2nd IB) in an “armed encounter.”




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Bells ring for detained journo’s freedom

"If Cumpio and Domequil who have voices to speak for being a journalist and a church worker respectfully are already being persecuted by weaponized laws, how can an ordinary Filipino seek justice for himself?"



  • * Latest Posts
  • Civil & Political Rights
  • Top Stories
  • Frenchie Mae Cumpio

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House probe urged to include EJK victims in Duterte’s counterinsurgency

Karapatan said that the quadcomm hearings revealed the involvement of Duterte’s people in perpetrating human rights violations against activists and human rights defenders.




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Bill would see equality between widows and widowers

A bill discussed at the House labour committee on Tuesday would change pensions given to widowers and see them brought in line with those given to widows. It was submitted by independent socialist MP Kostis Efstathiou. Akel MP and committee chair Andreas Kafkalias said the current division between widowers who receive a pension and those […]




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Philippines: Accelerating Growth That Leaves No One Behind

The Asian Development Bank has launched a new country partnership strategy (CPS) to support the Philippines’ transformation in the next 6 years. It is designed to ensure sustainable, inclusive and resilient growth in the face of climate challenges.




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2024 Asian Regional Forum on Investment Management of Foreign Exchange Reserves - Roberta Casali

Opening remarks by Roberta Casali, ADB Vice-President for Finance and Risk Management, at the 2024 Asian Regional Forum on Investment Management of Foreign Exchange Reserves, 25 September 2024, Japan




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Empowering Women in Uzbekistan through Home Ownership

The Mortgage Market Sector Development Program aims to transform the government’s housing financing approach to a market-based mortgage system that can provide long-term and affordable housing loans to low- and middle-income households, with specific consideration to home ownership by women.




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By Investing in Technical Training, a Brighter Future Beckons for the Youth of Bhutan

The Asian Development Bank is ramping up investment in technical and vocational education and training in Bhutan, which is helping to train thousands




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Asian Impact Webinar: Asian Development Outlook September 2024 Launch

Developing Asia’s outlook remains upbeat, with falling inflation and solid growth driven by strong domestic demand and exports. But risks remain, including geopolitical tensions and rising protectionism. How can the region remain resilient?




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How Bamboo can be Developed as a Tool for Climate Action and Financial Inclusion

Bamboo value chain can be developed and scaled up to support climate action, create green jobs, resilient businesses, and financial health, especially for the region's rural communities.




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Intervention on behalf of the Multilateral Development Banks at COP29 - Masatsugu Asakawa

Intervention by Masatsugu Asakawa, President, Asian Development Bank, on behalf of the multilateral development banks at COP29, World Leaders Summit, 12 November 2024




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Development Asia: Advancing Uzbekistan’s Sustainable Development via PPP Road Projects

As a landlocked country, Uzbekistan’s roads carried 1.24 billion tons, or 90.6% of all freight, in 2020 (rail 5.2%, pipelines 4.2%).




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Development Asia: Build Together, Benefit Together: Seoul’s Approach to Urban Development

Cities are engines of economic growth, generating over 80% of the global gross domestic product. As centers of innovation and technological development, they play a crucial role in creating jobs, driving commerce, and providing social services.




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Trump on Day 1: Begin deportation push, pardon Jan. 6 rioters and make his criminal cases vanish

Donald Trump has said he wouldn’t be a dictator — “except for Day 1.” According to his own statements, he’s got a lot to do on that first day in the White House.




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Number of Children and Their Education in Philippine Households

This paper examines the impact of family size on children's education in the Philippines.



  • Publications/Papers and Briefs

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Dollarization and the Multiple Currency Phenomenon in Lao PDR: Costs, Benefits and Policy Options

This paper examines the costs and benefits of the multiple currency phenomenon in Lao PDR and considers options in terms of policy response.



  • Publications/Papers and Briefs

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Debt cannot become acceptable new normal in climate financing: PM Shehbaz

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said that debt cannot become the “acceptable new normal” in climate financing, as he addressed the challenges faced by developing countries within the global climate finance framework.

His statement came during a Climate Finance Round Table Conference organised by Pakistan on the sidelines of the two-day World Leaders Climate Action Summit, also known as COP29, currently being held in Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku.

“We stand at a crucial threshold where global climate finance framework must be redefined to effectively meet the needs of vulnerable nations,” PM Shehbaz said.

He explained that financing in the form of loans increases the debt of developing nations and pushes them towards “mounting debt traps” which he referred to as “death traps”.

He added, “Debt cannot become the acceptable new normal in climate financing which is why we must resume focus on non-debt financing solutions enabling countries to fund climate initiatives.”

“Despite years of promises and commitments, the gaps are growing, leading to aggregate barriers in achieving objectives of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).”

PM Shehbaz called climate financing an “urgent need of the hour”, stating that developing countries need to deliver Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and “need an estimated $6.8 trillion by 2030 to implement less than half of their current NDCs.”

The prime minister further urged donor countries to “fulfil their commitment” which is 4.7 per cent of their gross national product (GNP) and capitalise on existing climate funds.

“One such commitment is a $100bn annual climate pledge established a decade ago at COP15 [which] is now reported by OECD to have reached only $160bn,” he said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, flanked by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, attends the Opening Ceremony of the United Nations climate change conference COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan on Nov 12, 2024. — Reuters

PM Shehbaz said that Pakistan can relate to the “agony and pain of other vulnerable countries”, highlighting how the country faced two devastating floods.

“In 2022, one-third of Pakistan was under water and the country had to repurpose all development and climate funds for financing basic relief and humanitarian efforts,” he said.

Pakistan is ranked among the top 10 most climate-vulnerable countries, according to the Global Climate Risk Index 2021. It has faced increasingly frequent and severe weather events, such as unprecedented floods, intense monsoon rains, devastating heat waves, rapid glacial melting and glacial lake outburst floods.

Pakistan witnessed devastating floods during the 2022 monsoon season, induced by climate change, resulting in the loss of at least 1,700 lives.

With 33 million people affected and swathes of agricultural land washed away, the damage incurred losses worth $30 billion, according to government estimates.

In June 2024, a heat wave brought record-high temperatures, severely impacting public health and agriculture.

Participating world leaders and delegates pose for a family photo during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku on Nov 12, 2024. — AFP

While emphasising transparency and coordination in financial commitments made to developing countries, he stated that Pakistan alongside other developing countries, calls for stronger more equitable climate finance mechanisms under the UNFCCC.

He reiterated the pertinent need for reform of international financial architecture saying that “now is the time to build up on the momentum for international financial reforms” so that no nation is left behind in the global response to climate change.

PM to highlight ‘balanced and ambitious’ climate action

According to the Foreign Office, several high-level events and roundtable discussions hosted by Pakistan will also take place at the Pakistan Pavilion during COP29.

It added that at COP29, Pakistan will call for “balanced and ambitious progress on all issues such as loss and damage, adaptation, mitigation and means of implementation”.

“It will seek predictable financing to address developing countries’ climate goals. Pakistan will also underscore the historical responsibility and the principle of Equity and Common but Differentiated Responsibility and call on developed nations to undertake deeper emission cuts.”

PM Shehbaz was warmly received by Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev and UN Secretary-General António Guterres upon his arrival at the summit venue today, state-run Radio Pakistan reported.

PM Shehbaz Sharif is received by Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev and UN Secretary-General António Guterres as he arrives at the venue to attend COP29 in Baku on November 12. — Radio Pakistan

The first day of the Climate Action Summit will feature statements from various heads of states, beginning from 3pm Pakistan time.

Speakers include the United Kingdom’s PM Keir Starmer, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Among those scheduled to address the high-level meeting tomorrow, besides PM Shehbaz, are Bangladesh leader Muhammad Yunus and Russia’s PM Mikhail Mishustin.

PM Shehbaz is listed as the 37th speaker out of 47 leaders during the session scheduled from 10am to 6pm (Pakistan time).

The prime minister will also participate in a high-level event ‘Glaciers 2025: Actions for Glaciers’ organised by Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon on the protection of glaciers.

PM Shehbaz will also hold separate meetings with the prime ministers of Denmark and the Czech Republic, who are also attending COP-29, Radio Pakistan stated.

PM meets world leaders

On the sidelines of COP29, PM Shehbaz interacted with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and discussed cooperation on climate change and matters of mutual interest, Radio Pakistan reported.

The premier also met with PM Starmer, where the two discussed enhancing Pakistan-UK cooperation.

He also met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his wife Emine Erdogan, where they discussed environmental pollution as well as matters of mutual interest between the two friendly nations, the report added.

In his interactions with Nepal’s President Ramchandra Paudel and Bangladesh’s Yunus, PM Shehbaz discussed growing temperatures, the threat of rising sea levels, and forest conservation in South Asia.

Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and PM Shehbaz explored strengthening bilateral relations as well as expanding regional connectivity.

In his meetings with Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Tajikistan’s Rahmon, the leaders spoke about the conservation of glaciers and water resources in Central Asian countries and Pakistan.

They also exchanged views on expanding communication links among Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, Radio Pakistan highlighted.

World leaders meet for climate talks, but big names missing

Dozens of world leaders convene in Azerbaijan for COP29 but many big names are skipping the UN climate talks where the impact of Donald Trump’s election victory is keenly felt.

UK’s Starmer will unveil an “ambitious” update to the UK’s climate goals later today, and said he wanted his country “to show leadership on the climate challenge.”

Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Narendra Modi and Emmanuel Macron are among G20 leaders missing the event, where uncertainty over future US unity on climate action hung over the opening day.

“It’s not an ideal situation,” acknowledged Steven Guilbeault, Canada’s environment minister. “But in 30 years of COP, it’s not the first time that we’ve faced obstacles,” he told AFP.

“Certainly, everything is still possible.”

Washington’s top climate envoy John Podesta is seeking to reassure countries in Baku that Trump’s re-election will not end US efforts on global warming, even if the issue will be “on the back burner”.

But despite calls for global cooperation, the opening day got off to a rocky start, with feuds over the official agenda delaying by hours the start of formal proceedings in the stadium venue near the Caspian Sea.

“This will be a tough COP,” said Fernanda Carvalho, global climate and energy policy lead at WWF.

“Countries are divided. There is a lack of trust,” she told AFP, and divisions over climate finance “will be reflected in every room of those negotiations.”




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Beijing pushes to join security efforts for citizens in Pakistan, sources say

Beijing is pushing Pakistan to allow its own security staff to provide protection to thousands of Chinese citizens working in Pakistan during talks, after a car bombing near Karachi’s airport that was seen as a major security breach, sources said.

Last month’s airport bombing that killed two Chinese engineers returning to work on a project after a holiday in Thailand was the latest in a string of attacks on Beijing’s interests in Pakistan.

The attacks have angered China, which has pushed Pakistan to begin formal negotiations for a joint security management system.

Reuters spoke to five Pakistani security and government sources with direct knowledge of the previously unreported negotiations and demands on condition of anonymity, as the talks are sensitive, and reviewed a written proposal sent by Beijing to Islamabad.

“They (Chinese) want to bring in their own security,” said one official, who sat in on a recent meeting, adding that Pakistan had not so far agreed to such a step.

According to the official, a written proposal sent to Islamabad by Beijing, and forwarded to Pakistani agencies for review, mentioned a clause allowing the dispatching of security agencies and military forces into each others’ territory to assist in counter-terrorism missions and conduct joint strikes.

The dispatching would be done after discussions, but Pakistan was averse to the proposal, one official said.

Neither Beijing nor Islamabad confirmed the talks officially.

Dawn.com has also reached out to the Foreign Office for a comment.

The source, and two other officials, said there was a consensus on setting up a joint security management system, and that Pakistan was amenable to Chinese officials sitting in on security meetings and co-ordination.

But there was no agreement on their participating in security arrangements on the ground.

The first official said Pakistan had asked China for help in improving its intelligence and surveillance capabilities instead of direct involvement.

A spokesman for China’s foreign ministry told Reuters it was not familiar with talks on a joint security scheme, but added, “China will continue to strengthen co-operation with Pakistan and make joint efforts to do its utmost to maintain the security of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions.”

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, declined to comment to Reuters while the interior and planning ministries did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

In a statement last week, Pakistan’s interior ministry said both sides agreed to develop a joint strategy to prevent similar incidents in the future.

‘Grave security breach’

The nature of the Karachi bombing has angered Beijing, which is now pushing harder to achieve a long-standing demand to control security arrangements for its citizens.

A pick-up truck rigged with nearly 100 kilogrammes of explosives waited unchecked for about 40 minutes near the outermost security cordon of the heavily guarded airport before its driver rammed it into a vehicle carrying Chinese engineers, officials said.

“It was a grave security breach,” admitted one of the officials investigating the bombing, which came just a week before Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s visit to Islamabad, the first such trip in a decade.

The official said investigators believe the attackers had “inside help” in securing details of the itinerary and route of the engineers, who had returned from a month off in Thailand.

They were to be escorted back to a power plant set up as part of plans for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Longtime Pakistan ally China has thousands of nationals working on projects grouped under the CPEC, a $65-billion investment in President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative, which seeks to expand China’s global reach by road, rail and sea.

‘Chinese frustrations’

Publicly, China has mostly backed Pakistan’s arrangements, even as it calls for enhanced security.

Privately, Beijing has expressed frustration. At one recent meeting, the Chinese side provided evidence that Pakistan had failed to follow security protocols agreed on twice in recent months, three officials said. Such protocols usually feature high standards for the deployment and movement of Chinese officials.

However, earlier this month, China’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, while speaking at an event, had expressed frustration over the attacks, stating it was “unacceptable” and urging Islamabad to strengthen security measures for Chinese nationals and crack down on anti-China elements.

In response, Foreign Office Spokes­person Mumtaz Zahra Baloch had called the statement “perplexing” and a stark departure from the longstanding diplomatic norms between the two nations.

Chinese nationals have been in the crosshairs of banned outfits who accuse Beijing and Pakistan of exploiting minerals in Balochistan, where China has a strategic port and mining interests.

Thousands of Pakistani security officers from the army, police and a dedicated force called the Special Protection Unit are posted to guard Chinese nationals.

Only China’s embassy in Islamabad and its consulates are allowed Chinese official security personnel, the Pakistani officials said.




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Constitutional bench to start hearing cases from Nov 14: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday announced that the recently established constitutional bench will start hearing cases on November 14 and 15.

Earlier, the SC constituted a three-judge committee to fix cases, issue court rosters, form benches, and decide weekly caseload for its recently established constitutional bench.

The committee held a meeting today which was chaired by Justice Aminud Din Khan (head of the constitutional bench) and attended by Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, who participated through a telephone call from Karachi.

The SC said in a press release, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss matters for the formation of the constitutional bench.

During the meeting, the committee was briefed by the court’s registrar’s office regarding the pending constitutional cases, the statement said adding, “[The] committee resolved that priority shall be accorded to the oldest cases.”

On Nov 5, the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), in its maiden session, had picked Justice Amin as head of the constitutional bench by a seven-to-five majority.

Chaired by Chief Jus­tice of Pakistan (CJP) Jus­tice Yahya Afridi, the reconstituted JCP for­m­ed a seven-member con­stitutional bench, inc­­luding Justices Ami­nud Din Khan, Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Muha­m­mad Ali Mazhar, Ayesha A. Malik, Hassan Azhar Rizvi, Musarrat Hilali and Naeem Akhtar Afghan.

Today’s press release mentioned that Justice Ayesha Malik will not be available on Nov 14 and 15 and “a bench comprising all available Judges shall be constituted to proceed with cases on these dates.”

The SC Registrar Muh­ammad Salim Khan released the court roster of a six-member constitutional bench which will begin hearing cases at 9:30am on Nov 14.

The bench will include Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Musarrat Hilali and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan.

The SC directed the Registrar to schedule cases for hearing before the bench.

The next meeting of the committee will be held on Nov 13 at 12:30pm after Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar arrives in Islamabad.




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4250 maintenance kit part number

4250 maintenance kit part number




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to write better papers

to write better papers




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your favorite meal could be killing you slowly

your favorite meal could be killing you slowly




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to write a beauty contest proposal

to write a beauty contest proposal




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to write a book in 24 hours 24 hour bestseller series

to write a book in 24 hours 24 hour bestseller series




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4250 paper tray part number

4250 paper tray part number




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you can be an entrepreneur at 13

you can be an entrepreneur at 13




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to youtube videos manually

to youtube videos manually




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Behavioral Adaptation to Improved Environmental Quality: Evidence from a Sanitation Intervention

This study finds that investing in sanitation not only improved children’s health, but also created valuable time-savings for all household members.




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2940-PRC: Hubei Huangshi Urban Pollution Control and Environmental Management Project[LR-C01-1 Ci lake dredging part 1 Bid No.: 0703-1520CIC1J602]




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2821-PRC: Guangxi Beibu Gulf Cities Development Project[QZ-C01: Road No.2 Northern Section (Phase II) and Related Urban Infrastructure of Qinzhou Port]




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2963-MON: Fifth Health Sector Development Project[# BBE-02/15 Supply of Blood Bank equipment for National Tranfusiology Center in Mongolia]




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Climate Resilient Urban Services Project – Tham Luong Ben Cat

The project will support Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee and their government to finance sound wastewater and drainage system in the remaining catchments, thereby strengthening its foundation as the socioeconomic growth pole of southern Viet Nam. The impact of the project will be improved surface water quality and drainage capacity in HCMC. The outcome will be increased wastewater and drainage collection and treatment capacity in key catchments in HCMC.




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Preparing the Babeldaob Island Urban Resilience Project (formerly Strengthening Urban Planning and Management)

For approval in 2023.