Thursday, 31 October 2019
Times Aishwarya twinned with Aaradhya!
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful actresses in Bollywood. The star is celebrating her 46th birthday today and her fans can't keep calm. Several fan clubs on social media dedicated to the 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' actress have shared some unseen pictures of the diva and we are all hearts!from Latest Entertainment News, Movies News, Celebrity News, Breaking News | Entertainment - Times of India
Bday Special: Ileana's hotest bikini clicks!
Bollywood actress Ileana D'Cruz turns a year older today and we just couldn't keep calm as the diva has taken her social media game to the next level. Not only is she giving it back to the haters but at the same time also entertaining her fans with some drool-worthy bikini pictures.from Latest Entertainment News, Movies News, Celebrity News, Breaking News | Entertainment - Times of India
Accord with traders: Govt to forego revenue potential of Rs70-100 bn
ISLAMABAD: With the compromise of traders on key documentation points just on eve of Azadi March, the government has literally agreed to forgo at least a revenue potential in the range of Rs70 to Rs100 billion from wholesale and retail sector.The wholesale/retail sector is contributing peanuts to national kitty on account of taxes despite possessing sizeable share in the range of 17 to 18 percent in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).It is yet to see how the IMF’s visiting review mission responds on this political compromise that would have far reaching negative impact on overall taxation system of the country.However, the FBR has come up with explanation on one important point of signed document whereby the top officials of tax machinery confided to The News that there would be no blanket exemption on size of shops up to 1,000 square feet from registration of sales tax at all. “We will come up with negative list for identifying a few sectors where this size of shops will not be used for registration of sales tax,” said the official.The FBR, he said, will only bring amendment to law where the limit of electricity bills increased from Rs0.6 million to Rs1.2 million for purpose of sales tax registration.The FBR’s analysis showed that the wholesale and retail sector contributed 18 percent into overall GDP but their contribution to Income Tax and GST stood at just Rs40 billion including Rs35 billion in shape of Income Tax and Rs5 billion as GST. Their revenue potential is estimated more than Rs500 billion but with low effective rate some economists estimated that the FBR agreed to forgo at least Rs70 to Rs100 billion by giving them message that the government would be lenient with them.On other hand, Pakistan’s leading economists have confirmed to The News on Thursday that the trader leaders tactfully exploited fluid political situation to get maximum benefits on account of documentation as well as foregoing revenue potential in the range of Rs70 billion to Rs100 billion on annual basis.However, the FBR high-ups do not agree to such estimates but they accept one point in their background discussions that the government had abandoned moves for ensuring sales tax registration at retail stage.One leading economist who had done his estimation told The News on Thursday on the condition of anonymity that the contribution of wholesale and retail trade stood at Rs7,000 billion into Gross Domestic Product (GDP). At import stage, its contribution stood at Rs1,500 billion so the remaining size at domestic stage hovered around Rs5,550 billion. There are 10 percent big retailers while 90 percent are small retailers. If average tax is taken at 5 percent, he estimated that the FBR had foregone with revenue potential in the range of Rs70 to Rs100 billion.Another economist said that the small traders contributed very little to the tax collection and this latest agreement might result in foregoing of Rs7 to 10 billion on per annum basis.One FBR official told this scribe in background discussion that the representatives of all industries were demanding of jacking up limit of electricity bill from Rs0.6 million to Rs1.2 million on the pretext that the electricity prices had gone up as the FBR had introduced this tier system almost five to six years back. With this increase in limit and in case of implementation on exemption from sales tax registration up to 1000 square feet it means that the FBR allowed more than one million retailers not to come into sales tax registration system.“This is the biggest compromise on documentation and revenue collection side,” said the official sources and added that the FBR also agreed to defer CNIC condition for next three months. The FBR made tall claims but surrendered with one move of traders when they threatened government to join Azadi march after which the government succumbed to the political pressure.The rate of turnover tax reduced from 1.5 to 0.5 percent up to Rs100 million for traders could be justified on the basis of this argument that there would be input cost incurred on it so the rate of 1.5 percent was on higher side.But if one goes by this argument, why certain input was not allowed to salaried class. For instance, the salaried person had to incur certain cost for reaching his office so there should be incentive on taxable limit up to that extent but there is no such incentives for voiceless salaried person but the retailers/traders use political clout to maximize benefits from last so many years.
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from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2JFyu8N
Doctors, paramedics intensify strike in Punjab
LAHORE: The prolonged tug-of-war between provincial health authorities and doctors’ alliance has taken a huge toll on poor patients, who are virtually deprived of their basic right to healthcare in public sector hospitals in the province.The Grand Health Alliance’s strike in government hospitals entered 22nd day on Thursday, which multiplied the miseries of poor patients both physically and financially, yet it failed to move the authorities and doctors to reach some kind of settlement to restore sanity in hospitals in the province.The doctors, nurses, paramedics and allied health professionals have intensified their protest and boycotted duties in indoor wards on third consecutive day Thursday after continuing withdrawal of services from Out-Patient Departments (OPDs) and Operation Theatres (OTs) and Central Laboratories for all elective procedures for 22nd day on the trot against enforcement of Punjab Medical Teaching Institutions (Reforms) Act 2019, which they believed, is a way to privatise public sector hospitals in the province. However, the protest was intensified after Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education (SHC&ME) initiated departmental action with terminations and disciplinary action under Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability (PEEDA) Act 2006 against protesting members of Grand Health Alliance.However, the GHA Chairman Dr Salman Haseeb Chaudhry announced resuming working in South Punjab hospitals to provide healthcare services to the injured victims of tragic accident of train fire in Liaquatpur in Rahim Yar Khan on humanitarian grounds. “The doctors, nurses, paramedics have started working in Burn Unit of Nishtar Hospital, Multan, Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur, and Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Rahim Yar Khan to ensure provision of efficient and effective treatment to the burn victims of Tezgam Express,” he informed media on Thursday.Dr Salman Haseeb, however, condemned Punjab government and SHC&ME Department for failing to fulfill its earlier commitment of establishing burn units in teaching hospitals after tragic incident of oil tanker fire in Ahmadpur Sharqia, Bahawalpur, in 2017.“Had government taken its commitment of establishing burn units seriously, we could have provided state-of-the-art treatment to the burn patients in Thursday’s train fire tragedy and saved quite a few lives as well,” he added.Barring in South Punjab hospitals, the young consultants, young doctors, nurses, paramedical staff and allied health professionals practically boycotted healthcare services, except emergency services in public sector hospitals across the province. The GHA members staged a protest sit-in in front of office of Vice-Chancellor of King Edward Medical University (KEMU) as well as in Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and Jinnah Hospital to register their protest.Thousands of patients are being deprived of treatment of minor operations, consultation, diagnosis and treatment of their ailments and injuries on a daily basis, while the worst hit were those who had been travelling from remote districts to reach the mega teaching institutions only to be disappointed due to lack of availability of required treatment in hospitals.
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from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2WuFQB6
Siraj asks Sheikh Rasheed to step down
KARACHI: Ameer of Jamaat-e -Islami Senator Sirajul Haq has demanded of the Minister for Railways, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, to resign and order a detailed inquiry into the tragic train accident in Rahimyar Khan in which according to initial reports over 70 people perished and scores injured.The JI Amir was talking to media at the Idara-e-Nor-e-Haq on Thursday. Siraj said this is the ninth train accident during the tenure of the present government. He said the Railway Minist er Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed should step down and accept the responsibility of the horrifying accident.He said due to the wrong policies of the government, Islamabad has become ‘Containerabad’ and the issue of Kashmir has been undermined. The senator said the masses are still waiting for the government's concrete plan on Kashmir. He said it is unfortunate that till to date neither the government nor the establishment have taken the masses into confidence on Kashmir, which goes on to show they are least interested in doing something about the conflict. Siraj said supporting the Kashmiris is vital for the solidarity and integrity of Pakistan as after the occupied Kashmir, India will turn towards Pakistan.On the domestic economic conditions, Siraj said the ministers are living happily while the masses are spending days in misery.
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from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2C1KcGu
Historic, political significance of October in Pakistan’s history
LAHORE: October holds a special historic and political significance in Pakistan’s 72-year history as sitting Prime Minister Imran Khan, his predecessors Nawaz Sharif and Mir Zafarullah Jamali, former president Pervez Musharraf and Maulana Fazlur Rehman etc would never surely forget the events that had prominently featured during this month.As far as Imran Khan is concerned, it was his very widely-attended October 30, 2011 rally at Minar-e-Pakistan, Lahore, which had helped his political entity “Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf” rejuvenate and made him emerge as a frontline political leader. Imran has never looked back since, finally getting hold of the ‘throne’ after a long political struggle in 2018.Exactly eight years later, or very recently on October 30, 2019, Maulana Fazlur Rehman had arrived in Lahore, leading a massive rally of supporters attending his long march against Imran Khan’s government. The cleric also addressed a large public gathering at Lahore’s Minar-e-Pakistan before proceeding to Islamabad. The 66-year old Maulana too, may never have led a crowd as massive as this one throughout his political career. What a coincidence!The month of October also saw the first Pakistani premier Liaquat Ali Khan getting assassinated, the swearing in and deposition of numerous rulers, the imposition of the first-ever martial law, the dissolution of country’s first constitutional assembly and the holding of various ballot exercises.Had Pakistan’s former rulers, Gen Ziaul Haq, Benazir Bhutto, Malik Ghulam Muhammad, Kh Nazimuddin, Ayub Khan, Sir Feroz Khan Noon and Iskander Mirza been alive, they too would had fondly and unwillingly recalled their pleasant and unpleasant memories associated with this eventful month of October!Currently stealing all the limelight and attention by leading an anti-government march towards Islamabad, Maulana Fazlur Rehman had led Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), a political alliance consisting of conservative, Islamist, religious and far-right parties during the October 10, 2002 elections, which had seen Zafarullah Jamali emerging as country’s premier.The Maulana-led MMA had bagged 63 seats in this ballot exercise to stun may within and outside the country, and had gained global recognition at a juncture when all eyes were focused on Pakistan that was acting as an ally of the United States-led international powers in their fight against Osama bin Laden and his militant outfit Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001 bombing of the twin towers in New York.The October 2002 elections, which were held under the watchful scrutiny of the military government of Gen Musharraf, had introduced multi-party democracy in the country by ending the two-party rule of the PPP and the PML-N.Ably supported by the then president Pervez Musharraf, the PML-Q had surfaced in the mainstream political spectrum of Pakistan by bagging 126 seats, followed by the PPP that could win 81 seats in the National Assembly. The PML-N had vanished into oblivion during these polls as its leader Nawaz Sharif was languishing in jail on the orders of Gen Musharraf.Just about three years earlier, on October 12, 1999, Musharraf had ousted Nawaz Sharif from power. It was also in October 2010 that Musharraf had launched his new political party, the All Pakistan Muslim League at a club in London. On October 16, 1951, Pakistan’s first premier Liaquat Ali Khan was assassinated in Rawalpindi. And on October 17 of the same year, Malik Ghulam Muhammad had assumed the charge as country’s governor-general, with Kh Nazimuddin taking over as prime minister.All this had happened some four years after Indian troops had landed in Kashmir on October 27, 1947 as the Maharaja of this state had declared accession with India. On October 7, 1954, Foreign Minister Ch Zafarullah Khan became member of the International Court of Justice at The Hague.And on October 24, Governor General Ghulam Muhammad had dissolved country’s first constitutional assembly. On October 6, 1955, Ghulam Muhammad’s resignation was accepted and he was succeeded by Iskander Mirza. On October 1, 1956, an Electorate Bill was introduced in the National Assembly providing for joint electorate in East and West Pakistan.On October 7, 1958, President Iskander Mirza had declared martial law in Pakistan. He abrogated the constitution of 1956, describing it as “unworkable” and full of “dangerous compromises”. Gen Ayub Khan was appointed chief martial law administrator. Mirza had dismissed the government of Sir Feroz Khan Noon, and dissolved the National assembly and the provincial legislatures. Mirza also proceeded to outlaw all political parties and nominated Ayub Khan to become the new prime minister, charged with the task of administering the country. On October 24 of the same year, Gen Ayub was sworn in as prime minister by Iskander Mirza. Just three days later, on October 27, Ayub had forced Iskander Mirza to step down, becoming country’s president himself. On October 26, 1959, Ayub Khan introduced the concept of basic democracies and the very next day he became a field marshal. On October 22, 1964, Kh Nazimuddin had died in Dhaka. On October 28, 1972, President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had inaugurated the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant. On October 5, 1975, Pakistan and Bangladesh had agreed to establish diplomatic ties.On October 16, 1979, military ruler Gen Zia had put off polls indefinitely, political parties were dissolved and press censorship imposed. On October 6, 1988, eight political parties had formed the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI), though they could not prevent Benazir Bhutto from winning the November 1988 polls and becoming premier.On October 24, 1990, general elections were held. While IJI bagged 106 seats, the Pakistan Democratic Alliance (PDA), of which the PPP was the main component, could win only 45 National Assembly seats. Nawaz Sharif became the 12th prime minister of Pakistan on November 1, 1990, succeeding Benazir Bhutto. He also became head of the IJI. On October 6, 1993, yet another electoral exercise was held in the country. While the Benazir-led PPP had won 86 seats, the runners-up PML-N could secure 72 seats. On October 19 of the same year, Benazir Bhutto was elected prime minister for the second time.On October 8, 2005, a devastating earthquake (worst-ever in Pakistan’s history) had jolted Kashmir and NWFP, killing over 80,000 people. On October 18, 2007, Benazir had returned to Pakistan, after exile of about eight years. She was ‘greeted’ by a bomb attack in Karachi. The motorcade carrying BB was the target. The bombing had occurred two months before she was assassinated. This event, known as “Karsaz incident” had resulted in at least 180 deaths, while 500 people were injured. Most of the dead were the PPP workers.
from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2N2ESZC
from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2N2ESZC
KP CM orders removal of Nowshera Medical College BoG chairman
PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan finally took notice of the alleged irregularities and illegal appointments in the Nowshera Medical College (NMC) and its teaching hospital, Qazi Hussain Ahmad Medical Complex, and removed Gulrez Hakim Khan from his position as chairman of the Board of Governors (BoG).Sources at the Chief Minister's Secretariat told The News that Mahmood Khan signed the summary on Wednesday to remove Gulrez Hakim from his position. The summary was dispatched to the Health Secretariat for further action.The chief minister was convinced that issues in Nowshera Medical College were now damaging his reputation as people suspected he had intentionally kept silent on the happenings there," a government official privy to the developments told The News on condition of anonymity.The sources said that Dr Nausherwan Burki, the architect of health reforms of PTI government — Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Medical and Teaching Institutions Reforms Act 2015 (MTI Act) — reportedly intervened to ask the chief minister to take action against Gulrez Hakim.
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from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2WxZlJe
Opposition parties’ workers proceed to Islamabad for Azadi March
PESHAWAR: Several big processions under the banner of different opposition parties, mainly JUI-F and ANP Thursday left for Islamabad to join the Azadi March.The main procession from Peshawar started from the Ring Road where the main office of JUI-F is located. It was led by the provincial leaders of the JUI-F. The ANP procession had left for the federal capital before that of the JUI-F. The ANP activists started the journey from Peshawar in the form of a cavalcade having hundreds of vehicles. It joined the main procession in Charsadda comprising thousands of vehicles and led by Aimal Wali Khan. The central president of the party, Asfandyar Wali Khan, heading another big vehicular procession joined the marchers at the Rashakai Interchange in Nowshera district.The JUI-F convoys, on the other hand, were a bit late. The processions from southern districts of the province under the leadership of the senior party leader, Akram Khan Durrani, reached Peshawar in the afternoon and left for the Rashakai Interchange.
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from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2PHilUd
Capital students suffer as colleges suspend bus service without notice
Islamabad: Hundreds of students, especially those living in far-off areas, were troubled on Thursday morning for not getting college buses due to the unannounced suspension of the transport service. Practically, there was no class work in schools and colleges due to the absence of a large number of students. The Federal Directorate of Education, which oversees schools and colleges, on the one hand, decided to keep the educational institutions open on the day of the political sit-in in the city but ironically did not allow the buses to operate.
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from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2q9kkG5
Peek Freans Introduces the Peek Freans Emerging Artist Prize
Karachi: Peek Freans is dedicated to spreading joy among their consumers and they do so not only through their products, but also through other alignments and initiatives. Their latest award launched in collaboration with Karachi Biennale Trust this year, aims to recognize young artists who have shown exceptional talent and potential. This year’s winner, Arsalan Nasir, was presented with a unique medallion at the inaugural ceremony of Karachi Biennale 2019 for his work.The Karachi Biennale is held every two years to provide a platform for emerging artists to show case their work. This year, the event showcased multiple artists from all over Pakistan as well as several other countries. The theme for this year was the devastating ‘development footprint’ on ecology.While speaking to the media, Arsalan talked about the dangers of rapid urbanization in our part of the world, particularly with regards to the environment.Speaking about the award, Dr Zeelaf Munir, Managing Director & CEO EBM, Keeping in line with EBM’s history of nourishing the environment and championing positive change, we are doing our part by encouraging youngsters to use their creativity to help raise awareness about the environment.”***
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from The News International - National https://ift.tt/333ACyB
World Bank chief impressed by Tarbela Dam 4th Extension Project
PESHAWAR: World Bank President David R Malpass on Thursday visited Tarbela Dam and had a round of the main dam and the power house of Tarbela 4th Extension Hydropower Project.Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda, Federal Secretary Muhammad Ashraf, WAPDA Chairman Lt Gen (Retd) Muzammil Hussain and World Bank senior officials accompanied him during the visit.The World Bank president expressed his pleasure over completion of Tarbela 4th Extension Hydropower Project within the timeframe and less than the estimated cost, adding that the work on the project was impressive.He lauded the efforts of government of Pakistan, particularly Ministry of Water Resources and Minister Faisal Vawda for improvement of water resources in Pakistan. Earlier, Water Resources Federal Minister Muhammad Faisal Vawda said 523 billion units of electricity had been contributed by Tarbela Power Station to the national grid so far.Welcoming the World Bank president at Tarbela, WAPDA Chairman Lt Gen (Retired) Muzammil Hussain commended that the World Bank not only helped broker Indus Water Treaty between Pakistan and India but also administered the entire financial arrangements with assistance of the friendly countries to complete Indus Basin Replacement Works, which included two mega dams - Mangla and Tarbela, five barrages and nine inter-river link canals to divert water from the western rivers to the eastern rivers.The WAPDA chairman said that as many as 378 MAF water had been released from Tarbela reservoir to meet irrigation needs of the country. In addition, Tarbela 4th Extension Hydropower Project, commissioned last year, has also generated 5.6 billion units – more than the generation envisaged in the PC-I of the project.
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from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2NshKmA
Cuba keen to enhance cooperation with Pakistan in various fields
Islamabad: Cuba wantsto enhance its cooperation with Pakistan in biotechnology, healthcare, trade, investment and other sectors as both countries have good potential to cooperate with each other in multiple fields to achieve beneficial results.This was said by Dr. Roberto Morales Ojeda, Vice President of Cuba while addressing the business community at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI). Gabriel Tiel Capote Ambassador of Cuba in Pakistan, Alberto Blanco Silva Director of Asia and Oceania Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, Dr. Nestor Marimon Torres Director of International Relations Ministry of Public Health of Cuba and others were in his delegation.Vice President of Cuba said that Cuba was analysing the contracting manufacturing with Pakistan for some pharma products. He said that Cuba was not endowed with enough natural and mineral resources and its leadership focused on knowledge economy by promoting science including biotechnology.
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from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2JF2Lo7
Major train accidents in Pakistan since 1953
LAHORE: Innumerable train-related catastrophes in Pakistan have left the nation mourning since 1953; research conducted by the Jang Group and Geo Television Network shows.On Thursday, the latest train tragedy had left at least 75 people dead (till the filing of this report at 6.30 pm Thursday evening), after an ill-fated train going from Karachi to Rawalpindi, had caught fire that was reportedly caused by the explosion of a gas cylinder being used by some passengers making breakfast. The resulting inferno had also destroyed three economy-class carriages of the train.Founded in 1861, Pakistan Railways owns 4,800 miles (7,791 km) of track across the country, and according to its growth vision till 2026, this public sector entity seeks to increase its share of the transportation sector from about five percent currently to 20 percent with Rs886.68 billion (US$6.3 billion) China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) rail upgrade budget. During financial year 2018-19, Pakistan Railways had served 70 million passengers; it has often been criticised for its deteriorating service and declining number of passengers and trains.On August 20, 2019, the “International Railway Journal” had written: “Pakistan Railways has announced its highest-ever revenue of Rs54.6 billion (US $340.5million) for the 2018-19 financial year, which it says is Rs10 billion more than in 2017-18. The company faced higher costs in 2018-19 of Rs 6 billion due to pay increases, higher pension contributions, and rising fuel charges. Nevertheless, it managed to cut its annual deficit by Rs4 billion from Rs36 billion in 2017-18 to Rs 32 billion in 2018-19. It refurbished 24 passenger trains at its workshops in Lahore and Islamabad. These trains attracted around 8 million passengers and generated Rs5 billion in additional revenue. Overall, Pakistan Railways increased the number of rail passengers to 70 million”.Railway was the predominant mode of transportation in Pakistan until 1970s. At its peak between 1955 and 1960, Pakistan Railways had handled 73 percent of the country’s freight traffic (compared to less than four percent in 2015).(References: Pakistan Railways and the Business Recorder etc). But despite keeping its targets high, Pakistan Railways has a history of fatal railway accidents.Here follows brief details of some major train accidents in the country. In 1953, some 200 people were killed in a railway accident at Jhampeer. In 1954, 60 people were killed in an accident at Jhang Shahi. In 1969, over 80 people were killed in the Liaquatpur rail accident.On October 22, 1987, 28 people were killed and 60 others injured when a bus had collided with a train near the city of Moro, about 200 miles north of Karachi.On the night between January 3 and January 4, 1990, 350 people were killed in a train accident at Sangi village, near Pannu Aqil Cantonment, some 15 km from Sukkur.This particular incident is said to be the worst accident of its kind in Pakistan’s 67-year history. According to the “Los Angeles Times”, television footages had showed rows of bodies wrapped in blankets near the wreckage of an overcrowded 16-carriage and 1408-seat Multan to Karachi Bahauddin Express passenger train that had switched onto the wrong track to hit a 67-car freight train standing in a village station. The locomotive overturned and several cars were crushed or ripped open. Over 700 people were injured in this disaster. The investigation found railway staff to be ‘directly responsible’ for the disaster. Three staffers on duty at Sangi station were charged with manslaughter.On June 8, 1991, according to the American news agency Associated Press, a crowded passenger train had again slammed into a freight train, killing 100 people.This Karachi-Lahore-Islamabad express had crashed into the freight train parked at the station in Ghotki, 400 miles north of Karachi.In November 1992, 54 people were again killed in an accident at the Ghotki Railway Station after a passenger train had rammed into the back of a freight train.On March 3, 1997, 14 people were killed and about 100 injured in a train crash near Khanewal city.Officials said six cars of a Karachi-bound passenger train had derailed after it had failed to stop at a junction and was diverted onto a dead-end track to avoid a more serious collision.On July 13, 2005, 110 people had perished after Quetta Express was hit from behind at Ghotki Railway Station by another train (Karachi Express), which had missed a signal. The collision had caused several of the cars to derail. The derailed cars were subsequently hit by a third train (Tezgam). The three trains were carrying over 3000 passengers all together. Some people had even claimed that the death toll was around 500.In August 2005, an upcountry Super Parcels Express had jumped the railswhile crossing the Malir Bridge near Landhi in the Karachi Division. Eight bogies were substantially damaged when an axle had broken due to overloading.In August 2006, seven coaches of Lahore Express had jumped the rails near Domeli, a station 33 km short of Jhelum. Four of the coaches had plunged into a 50 feet ravine.In February 2006, one person was killed and 30 others injured when Lahore-bound Karakoram Express had derailed near Bahawalpur.It was again in February 2006 that a Chinese container train carrying chemicals had collided with a stationary oil train some 180 km from Karachi. The action had sparked a fire but there were no casualties. The train carrying oil was on the track at the station when a northbound goods train had hit it from behind and a fire broke out. At least 18 wagons of the goods train were burnt out in the blaze, and some oil spilled at the scene.In December 2007, nearly 50 people had died in a derailment incident near the town of Mehrabpur in Sindh. Some 14 of the train’s 16 carriages had left the tracks, some mangled by the crash, others simply sliding down an embankment into the water.In July 2013, 14 members of an extended family were killed by a speeding train that had hit a motorcycle-rickshaw near Khanpur village, about 50 km from Gujranwala.It was also in July 2013 that two people had lost lives when a Rawalpindi-bound train had derailed near Gujranwala.And in October 2014, a Business Train had hit a freight train near Ran Pathani, leading to the unnatural demise of an assistant driver.On July 2, 2015, three carriages of a special train fell into a canal and another derailed near Gujranwala, leaving around 20 dead.On November 17, 2015, Jaffar Express had derailed near a place called “Aab-e-Gum” in Balochistan, leading to another 20 deaths. On November 3, 2016, two trains had collided at the Landhi Railway Station in Karachi, killing 21 persons. On July 11, 2019, 21 people were killed as Akbar Express hit a parked cargo train at the Walhaar Railway Station near Sadiqabad.
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from The News International - National https://ift.tt/34gU0Zh
Azadi March thrusts ‘nonentity’ into center stage with a bang
ISLAMABAD: Will Prime Minister Imran Khan give way and stand down because of the pressure mounted by the Azadi March organised by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and intensification of the protest in the coming days?The question naturally rises as the JUI-F supremo has refused to budge from his firm stand that Imran Khan has to hand his resignation. As of today, no amount of pressure and incentives has worked to coax Fazlur Rehman into backing down. He has also not been managed thus far.A powerful common refrain from Imran Khan and his comrades is that the premier will never quit, as there is no reason to do that. However, the demand for his exit is equally boisterous and unrelenting. During his 2014 sit-in, he had declared that if all the opposition parties join hands and this much crowd (pointing to his supporters gathered then) demands his resignation; he will take no time to oblige.Whether or not the JUI-F leader will be able to quickly achieve his prime objective, he is the winner of the game as he has rattled the government. He has nothing to lose and has a lot to gain. He has already made a huge accomplishment by occupying the political centre stage that is a dream of every politician worth the name.He has not only effectively solidified his political base and created his immense relevance but has also expanded his vote-bank. Whether or not “liberals” will vote for him, this class, which used to despise him is now supportive of his cause. This is no mean windfall.Relentlessly dismissed by his principal detractor, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), as a big nonentity for a long time, Fazlur Rehman and his next moves are a hot subject of discussion of all political talk everywhere in streets. The corridors of power are locked in weighing ideas how to neutralize the impact of the Azadi March.How ominous, unmanageable the JUI-F stalwart is can be well judged from the unprecedented number of containers that have been transported to Islamabad, Rawalpindi, their surrounding areas and some other cities to contain the protest and people’s participation. Additionally, the incomparable security arrangements and massive deployment of law enforcement agencies in the federal capital are indicative of the fact that the Azadi March is his own decision and disapproved by influential quarters. The administration doesn’t want to take any chance about ensuring that the protest remains confined to its designated place and disperses.Although the 2014 sit-ins of PTI and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), and Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) could not squeeze quick resignation of Nawaz Sharif as prime minister, yet they shattered, beleaguered and weakened his government. They amply exposed its vulnerability. Therefore, they were successful to the extent of scaring and cornering it.Those protests were of different kind and nature in all respects including the level of participation of people and the logistics they had at their disposal from the current agitation. There was no dearth of resources as well.To say that the Azadi March will strengthen the present government is a naïve, apolitical approach. It will certainly affect the present regime which will take time to come out of the mauling done by the agitation. Every agitation of this sort ultimately results in making governments weak. Result this time can’t be different.Fazlur Rehman is the only politician (support of other opposition parties to his venture being nominal), who has single-handed confronted the government head-on after its 15-month rule, and thrown the first genuine great challenge to it although he was consistently put down by his chief adversary as inconsequential, who has lost the game and is incapacitated to retrieve and revive his political position.Another indication to the fact that the JUI-F leader is the master of his own destiny and can engage in a protest on his own posing a real threat comes from the poor coverage of the electronic media. The difference can be felt by comparing it with the 24/7 visual reporting of the previous three sit-ins. Had the Azadi March been an ordinary protest, not bothering the government, it would not got the treatment from TV channels it has been extended.Maybe, even the JUI-F supreme leader, before kicking off his instant venture, also never thought of such paramount prominence, eminence and relevance as he has secured in a matter of a few days. Month back, he prepared a plan and is implementing it cleverly. He knows how to play his cards in an effective manner. He has proved to be the most shrewd, sharp and perceptive politician who has left his counterparts far behind. The entire politics is revolving around his game-plan.Since the start of the current protest five days ago and even before, Fazlur Rehman has challenged the government as no contemporary politician or any of his companions in the opposition parties has dared it. The threat he has posed may aggravate in case of any rash handling of the agitation.In his entire political career spanning more than three decades, Fazlur Rehman was never confronted with such monumental derision, ridicule and scorn as Imran Khan has showered on him before and after becoming the prime minister during the past five years. The PTI always discarded him as a big nobody, who doesn’t have the political support, capacity and capability to challenge it. But he has done it.Today, the JUI-F chief has turned out to be the biggest menace for the prime minister because of the Azadi March and the possible phases of the protest that would follow. Imran Khan’s unremitting attack on him has hardened him into a politician, who is willing to accept anyone and is ready to work with anybody but the PTI chairman as the prime minister. Fazlur Rehman’s loathing matches the unabated revulsion he has been bombarded with since a long time.The PTI always underestimated his power and force and never thought of lowering its rhetoric against him. He has been retaliating to his condemnation but not as frequently as often he has been slammed. The diatribe has all the time been led by Imran Khan followed by other PTI leaders.While Fazlur Rehman’s ties with deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and former President Asif Ali Zardari have experienced ups and downs over the years, he never had had any kind of relationship with Imran Khan that can be described even as working. The underlying cause behind the PTI chairman’s never-ending admonition of the JUI-F chief has been the latter’s unflinching alliance with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo or Zardari during different eras. All the time, Imran Khan believed that the JUI-F stalwart was a hurdle in his mission to politically demolish and decimate Nawaz Sharif and Zardari.Fazlur Rehman has a hardcore highly disciplined and organised squad of followers in the religious lobby especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Balochistan, interior parts of Sindh and some areas of Punjab. Nobody is in a position to challenge him in the sect he belongs to. His followers do not switch loyalties.
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A few occasions where religious parties played decisive roles
LAHORE: While none of us might be having any idea as of now as to what Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman would actually achieve or boast to accomplish in coming hours and days through his long march against the incumbent Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government, there is absolutely no doubt that a hand in glove relationship of the religious and political parties has proved a lethal combination on many occasions in the country's history, research shows.Supported by the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and various opposition parties, the 66-year old Maulana is now in Islamabad, proving a pain in the spine for Premier Imran Khan.History shows that various religious parties, enjoying fair amount of political clout, once even had the potential to invite Martial Laws in the country, besides getting Prime Ministers and Chief Ministers sacked through aggressive, well planned, timely and "ably supported" agitations and protests on the road.Annals of history tell us that these religious entities had once possessed the knack of taking on the ruling governments and even the establishments of the time, without paying heed to the consequences. Here follow a few examples where religious parties, backed by political entities on opposition benches and other "islands of power," had resorted to streets and had achieved their desired results:In 1953, a series of violent riots against the Ahmadia Movement in Lahore were spearheaded by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) founder, Maulana Maududi (1903-79), a globally-renowned Sunni theologian, famous for writing a commentary of the Qur’an called the Tafhim-ul-Quran.Though these riots were later quelled by the Pakistan Army, the JI-led demonstrations in February 1953 had soon escalated in the city and brought in its wake murders, loot and arson, in particular targeting the Ahmadia community.Unable to contain the increasingly widespread civil disorder, the then Pakistani Governor General Ghulam Muhammad was left with no other option but to hand over the administration of Lahore city to the army under Lt General Azam Khan who had to impose Martial Law on March 6, 1953 to stem the alarming tide of violence.The JI wasn’t alone in this fight against the army and the state. In fact, this movement was a continuation of the 1949 "Tehreek-e-Khatm-e-Nabuwwat," which was launched under the auspices of the "Majlis-e-Ahrar-ul-Islam" that had demanded the removal of the then Pakistani Foreign Minister Muhammad Zafarullah Khan, and ouster of other Ahmadis from top government offices and the declaration of Ahmadis as non-Muslims.After the January 1953 convention of the All Pakistan Muslim League in Dhaka, the anti-Ahmadia elements had threatened to take direct action after February 1953, if their demands are not met.In February 1953, the burial of an Ahmadi was resisted by anti-Ahmadia elements in Sargodha and on February 23, the anti-Qadyani riots had broken out in West Pakistan, especially engulfing the volatile Punjab province.Two Qadyani newspapers ‘Alfazal’ and ‘Farooq’ were banned by the government. In March 1953, Qadyani teacher Manzoor Ahmed was killed in Lahore’s Arain-dominated Baghbanpura locality and the Ahmadia place of worship in Rawalpindi was set ablaze by a mob. Many shops and houses belonging to Ahmadis and even to the President of Jamaat-e-Ahmadia of Rawalpindi were ransacked.The English version of the Justice Muneer Inquiry Report about these riots tells that on March 12, 1953, six days after Martial Law was imposed in Lahore, the Additional Magistrate Jhang had prohibited the Head of the Ahmadia Community from commenting on anti-Ahmadia riots.During the 70-day-long military deployment, Lahore finally returned to normalcy under General Azam Khan. During this eventful period, Maulana Maududi and then-Secretary General of the Awami Muslim League, Maulana Abdus Sattar Niazi, were arrested and sentenced to death.Maududi was also charged with writing his famous (yet provocative) "Qadyani Mas’ala," a propaganda pamphlet. The Martial law authorities of the time had passed death sentence on Maulana Abdus Sattar Niazi on May 7, 1953 and on Abul Ala Maududi on May 11. However, a day before Martial Law was lifted on May 14, 1953, the death sentences of both were commuted. Death sentences of the two religious leaders were annulled later on. The fallout of the Martial Law was immense.The-then Pakistani Governor General Ghulam Muhammad had not only dismissed Mian Mumtaz Daultana as Chief Minister Punjab for stoking sectarian fire for political benefits, but Prime Minister Khwaja Nazimuddin was also sent home along with his entire cabinet.In 1948, Maulana Maududi was jailed for issuing a decree (fatwa) on jihad in Kashmir and in 1949, the government was forced to accept Jamaat’s resolution for an Islamic constitution. Maududi was released from jail in 1950.In 1958, the Jamaat-e-Islami was banned by the then Martial Law Administrator, Field Marshal Ayub Khan, and in 1964, Maududi was again sent behind bars for a few months. Maulana Maududi’s successor, Mian Tufail Mohammad was also tried under the Official Secrets Act during the Ayub Khan era for mutiny.Nine prominent leaders belonging to different political parties were tried for mutiny under the Official Secret Act. All nine of them had decided to launch a movement for democracy. Mian Tufail (not Ameer JI at that time) was one of these nine leaders. The trial lingered on for two years and ultimately, the case was quashed.We all know that in 1977, a nine-member Pakistan National Alliance (PNA) was formed with a slogan of "Nizam-e-Mustafa" to take on the-then Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Despite each parties standing with different ideology, PNA was noted for its large physical momentum and its right-wing orientation. The alliance had performed poorly in the 1977 polls and had levelled rigging accusations against Bhutto.The main PNA leaders were Fazlur Rehman's father, Mufti Mehmood, Maulana Maududi, Shah Ahmed Noorani, Shujaat Hussain's father Zahoor Ellahi and Air Marshal (retd) Asghar Khan, etc. Bhutto's early call for the elections was an idea to not give time to the opposition to make decisions and arrangements for the ballot exercise. Following violent political activism by his foes, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had tried to crush the power of this PNA alliance with the help of his agencies such as Federal Security Force (FSF) and Rangers, but in vain.Bhutto was removed from office in a coup staged by General Zia in July 1977. The country went under Martial Law and Bhutto was controversially tried by the Supreme Court and executed less than two years later, for allegedly authorizing the murder of Nawab Muhammad Ahmed Khan Kasuri, a political opponent.Remember, on July 20, 1996, the-then Jamaat-e-Islami Chief, Qazi Hussain Ahmad, had announced starting protests against the ruling Benazir Bhutto government, vehemently alleging it of corruption. Qazi Hussain had resigned from the Senate on September 27 of the same year and had announced starting a long march against the Benazir government.Protests started on October 27, 1996 by JIand the opposition parties. And on November 4, 1996, the Benazir government was sent packing by her loyalist, President Farooq Leghari.History shows that after Maulana Maududi had founded the Jamaat-e-Islami in 1941, during the British Empire's rule in India, he had strongly opposed the creation of an independent Pakistan. A few years ago, the-then Jamaat-e-Islami Chief, Syed Munawar Hassan, was condemned for his "outrageous" remarks on the qualifications for a martyr and pre-requisites of martyrdom. His viewpoint was slated by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), numerous religious and national political entities for declaring the dead terrorists like the late Taliban Chief Hakeemullah Mehsud as martyrs and for not acknowledging the sacrifices of Pakistan Army soldiers and around 50,000 innocent Pakistanis who had lost their lives at the hands of Al-Qaeda/Taliban militants since 2001.Although the JI had performed poorly in the 1993 elections, it did manage to pull enough support to ensure that the PML-N got defeated and PPP returned home victorious and pave the way for the late Benazir Bhutto’s return to power for the second time.
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Indians have smallest brains in the world
ISLAMABAD: Researchers including those from IIIT Hyderabad developed the first Indian human brain atlas which revealed that India has some of the smallest brains in the world. The study found that there is a significant difference in the shape and size of the brain between Indians, Chinese, Koreans and Caucasians. In fact, the brain size of Indians is smaller in height, width, and volume in comparison with the western and other eastern populations, reported the India Today.Who all were involved in the research? The study, published in the journal Neuroscience India, was a collaborative effort by researchers Raghav Mehta from McGill University in Canada, Jayanthi Sivaswamy and Alphin J Thottupattu from the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Hyderabad, and R Sheelakumari and Chandrasekharan Kesavadas from Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology in Kerala.According to the study, a brain atlas helps researchers compare findings from different brain imaging methods like Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and functional MRI (fMRI), or between healthy and diseased brain states, or across individuals.The Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) in Canada, and the International Consortium for Brain Mapping (ICBM) created the world's first digital human brain atlas using the brain MRI scans of 305 young normal Caucasian subjects. However, the researchers said that the brain atlas does not account for differences across groups with different gender, race, or disease conditions. The researchers recruited 100 young healthy Indian adults -- 50 female and 50 male -- aged 2130 years, and developed the Indian atlas from their brain scans.The result of this study indicated that there is a significant difference in the size of Indian and Caucasian brains in terms of length, width, and height.Comparison of the Indian, Chinese and Korean brain atlases revealed that the Indian brain is comparable in terms of length with both the atlases, while it was significantly smaller in terms of height and width.The study, however, did not reveal what functional dissimilarities may exist in these populations due to the brain size deviations.
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No hurdles for Azadi March participants: KP govt
PESHAWAR: Chief Minister's Adviser Ajmal Wazir Khan said on Thursday that there were no hurdles for the participants of "Azadi March" in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as roads, businesses and educational institutions remained open.Addressing a press conference, Ajmal Wazir said that it was the first time in the history of the country that not a single road was blocked for protestors. He believed the JUI-F had no agenda for the long march , adding the government was following the agreement with opposition. He said that containers on roadsides were not meant to block roads, but will facilitate journalists in the coverage. Ajmal Wazir said the government had established a control room.
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Photos: Ileana celebrates her bday & Halloween
Ileana D'Cruz has come a long way in Bollywood and has made a place for herself in the industry. The actress rules millions of hearts and she loves to treat them with her stunning pictures on her Instagram.from Latest Entertainment News, Movies News, Celebrity News, Breaking News | Entertainment - Times of India
Can't help but fall in love with Ananya's pics
Ananya Panday marked her debut with Punit Malhotra's 'Student Of The Year 2' and received appreciation for her performance in the film. The actress is one of the young sensations of Bollywood and a fashion icon for a lot of girls out there!from Latest Entertainment News, Movies News, Celebrity News, Breaking News | Entertainment - Times of India
Abhishek wishes Aishwarya on her birthday!
Wednesday, 30 October 2019
Smog emerges as major air pollutant in Lahore
LAHORE: Smog emerged as a major air pollutant in the provincial metropolis on Wednesday resulting in serious health hazards especially diseases relating to eyes, lungs and skin.According to the experts, smog is the chemical reaction of sunlight, nitrogen oxides (NO) and volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere, which leaves airborne particles, called particulate matter, and ground-level ozone. This ground level layer of ozone is formed from other pollutants and can react with other substances, in both cases under the action of light.Environmentalists term ozone (O3) the most important photochemical oxidant. They say it is a secondary pollutant formed when precursor pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NO) and volatile organic compounds react under the action of light. They say that ozone is also transported long distances in the atmosphere and is, therefore, considered a trans-boundary problem.Smog is a problem in a number of cities and continues to harm human health. Ground-level ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide carbon monoxide are especially harmful for senior citizens, children, and people with heart and lung conditions such as emphysema, bronchitis, and asthma. It can inflame breathing passages, decreasing the lungs' working capacity, and causing shortness of breath, pain when inhaling deeply, wheezing, and coughing.On the other hand, Met officials said that very severe cyclonic storm KYARR is active in the Arabian Sea. Under the influence of this storm, moist currents are penetrating coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan. A westerly wave is present in upper parts of the country and is likely to affect north-western parts in next 24-36 hours.They predicted that mainly dry weather is expected in most parts of the country, while cold in northern areas. However, cloudy weather condition with rain and dust storm is expected in districts of Sindh and Balochistan.Cloudy weather conditions with rain (snowfall over high mountains) are also expected at isolated places in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan. On Wednesday, rain was recorded in Mithi, Tharparkar, Mirkhani, Dir and Drosh. Lowest temperature was recorded at Skardu where the mercury dropped to 0°C while in Lahore it maximum temperature was 31°C and minimum 17.7°C.Meanwhile, Environment Protection Authority DG held a press conference here and said the department had imposed a complete ban on smoke emitting industrial units, brick kilns and other such units. He said the smoke due to burning of remains of crop at the Indian side is contributing heavily in building up smog.Naseemur Rehman, a senior EPD official, said that during the month of October, the department inspected 3,277 air polluting units, 1,696 notices were issued to various air polluting industries, 288 brick kilns and air polluting industries were sealed and 129 FIRs were registered.
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Law offenders to face action: Sarwar
LAHORE: Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar on Wednesday said that it was the responsibility of Azadi March leaders to abide by the agreement, and strict action would be taken against those who would take law into their own hands.During a meeting with Punjab Minister for Housing Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed, the governor said the people were standing with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government. The Opposition's agenda of creating unrest and instability would be foiled as it had already been exposed before the people, he added.The PTI government under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan would complete its constitutional tenure, he asserted. Talking to delegations, including a 30-member delegation of diplomats from China and Afghanistan, the Punjab governor said that durable peace could not be restored in the region until the resolution of Kashmir issue, adding that Pak-China relations were higher than the mountains and deeper than the oceans as China had always stood with Pakistan in difficult time.The governor said that China had supported Pakistan at every level, including Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and Kashmir issue, adding that Chinese investment of billions of dollars under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was also a great example of Pak-China friendship.Pakistan is playing its role sincerely in peace in Afghanistan as peace and development in Pakistan are linked with peace in Afghanistan, he maintained.Regarding Kashmir issue, prevailing situation in region, Afghan peace process and other matters, the governor said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan had always stressed for dialogue process to resolve issues.
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Rule of law to be ensured: CM Punjab
LAHORE: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar presided over a meeting at his office here on Wednesday in which steps about maintenance of law and order were reviewed.The meeting also reviewed security arrangements taken in different districts. The chief minister directed the police and other law enforcement agencies to remain active to protect lives and properties of people.No one would be allowed to take law into one’s hands nor would anybody be permitted to disrupt the routine life, he said. The rule of law would be ensured at every cost in the province, the chief minister added.On special instructions of the chief minister, the meeting decided to provide quality healthcare facilities to chronically-ill prisoners and the chief minister also sought a list of prisoners confined in different jails from ACS (Home).He directed for submitting the list at the earliest, adding that they would be provided the best treatment facilities. The provision of the best treatment was a right of ill prisoners and the Punjab government would grant them this right, he added.The IG briefed about the law & order situation of the province as well as security of the march participants. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has expressed sorrow and grief over the death of mother of Federal Secretary Dr Ejaz Munir.In a condolence message, the chief minister extended sympathies to the bereaved family and prayed that may the Almighty grant courage to the family to bear the loss with equanimity.The CM expressed deep grief over the death of the father of Justice Aalia Neelam of Lahore High Court and extended sympathies to the bereaved family. He has prayed that Almighty Allah rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved family to bear the loss with equanimity.
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500-bed teaching hospital to be constructed in Sialkot
LAHORE: Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid said on Wednesday that a 500-bed teaching hospital would be constructed in Sialkot. She said this while chairing a meeting at Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department here.The meeting reviewed progress on upgrade and other matters relating to Sialkot DHQ Hospital.Chief Planning Officer Abdul Haq apprised the meeting of the medical facilities being provided in the hospital. Dr Yasmin Rashid said provision of the best healthcare facilities to the masses was the important agenda of the government.She added that the best available treatment facilities would be provided in the new state-of-the-art teaching hospital. Mother and child treatment facilities would be made available and parking tower will also be constructed in the teaching hospital which would have 500 beds, the minister concluded.—APPOur correspondent adds: A meeting of Cabinet Committee was held at Civil Secretariat here on Wednesday. Primary and Secondary Healthcare Secretary Capt (R) M Usman, Lahore Division Commissioner Asif Bilal Lodhi, DC Danish Afzaal, Punjab Heath Services DG Dr Haroon Jahangir were also present on the occasion.The commissioners and DCs of other areas participated in the meeting through video link. Dr Yasmin Rashid said that all available resources were being utilised for the eradication of dengue.The ratio of dengue cases has significantly reduced due to efforts of officers and district administration, she said. Effective measures should be taken continuously in order to eradicate dengue larva, she added.Dr Yasmin said all diagnostics tests of dengue patients were being conducted free of cost. She said the Health Department was collecting facts and figures of dengue patients from private hospitals and laboratories.Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid Wednesday distributed Sehat Insaf Cards among the deserving people at Government TB Bilal Gunj Hospital. Special Secretary Khalid Nazir Watto and CEO Health Lahore Dr Shoaib-ur-Rehman Gurmani were also present. Dr Yasmin Rashid also visited Sehat Insaf Card counter and exchanged views with the people.Addressing the participants in the ceremony, she said according to the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan, Sehat Insaf Cards were being distributed among those who were living below poverty line.Sehat Insaf Cards are being distributed in more than 20,000 deserving people in the hospital, she said and added people having Sehat Insaf Cards could avail free treatment facility for their families amounting to Rs720,000.
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GCU seminar: Healthy, active lifestyle can avert breast cancer
LAHORE: Leading actress Maya Ali addressed a large gathering of female students in a breast cancer awareness seminar held at Government College University (GCU) here Wednesday. She called upon young girls to adopt healthy and active lifestyle to avoid the risk of cancer.“My dear girls, it’s your life, you will get it only once, make a promise to yourself that you would take care of it”, said Maya Ali while addressing the seminar organised by the GCU’s Quality Enhancement Cell in collaboration with the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre (SKMCH&RC).She encouraged the girls to talk to their parents about their health issues and immediately consult doctors if they find any unusual change in their body. She asked them to dedicate at least 30 minutes of their life to exercise in adopting an active lifestyle.She encouraged the students to work as volunteers. “Don’t shy while raising awareness among your female family members, friends and other associates about the breast cancer and guiding them the methods of self-examination,” she concluded.GCU Quality Enhancement Cell Director Ms Iram Sohail and Dr Afifa Ashraf from SKMCH also addressed the seminar. Iram Sohail highlighted frightening increase in the ratio of breast cancer in Pakistan and also talked about the impact of awareness campaigns.Dr Afifa Ashraf told the GCU female students about the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and methods of self-examination, which she said, was very helpful in early detection of this disease in young girls and women. She said all women were at risk of developing breast cancer, while the factor that put some women at greater risk was family histories of breast cancer, non-healthy food and lazy lifestyle.GCU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Asghar Zaidi appreciated the SKMCH team for organising awareness seminars in universities about this potentially fatal disease. He stressed that health and educational institutions go hand in hand in gaining a better understanding of such a diseases which affects one in nine women in our country. Prof Zaidi said that the GCU would lead in organising similar nation-wide awareness campaigns about other diseases like dementia.
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Private schools in capital to remain closed today
Islamabad: As the JUI-F's Azad March participants will reach Islamabad today (Thursday), the local private schools have announced they will keep campuses closed for the safety of students.However, there is no official word about the government's educational institutions in this respect. Most private colleges and universities have also announced the closure of campuses today (Thursday). Islamabad Private Schools Association president Zofran Elahi announced on Wednesday that as the anti-government protest could cause a law and order situation in the capital city, it had been decided that all local private schools would remain closed on October 31 and November 1. He said the reopening of schools would be decided by the association in light of the law and order situation. Parents hailed the decision and said it would keep their school-going children out of harm's way. They said they won't send children to school for their safety until they were satisfied with the law and order situation.
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Security arrangements for Tableeghi Ijtima trains
LAHORE: The Pakistan Railways police have made special security arrangements in the special trains being operated to facilitate the participants in Tablighi Ijtima, Raiwind. According to the police spokesman on Wednesday, strict security arrangements have been made in trains and at the railway stations on the directions of Railways Police IG Wajid Zia.All SPs have been directed to ensure foolproof security in special trains in their railway divisions. The officers have also been directed to deploy a good number of patrolling police in the trains.The Lahore railway police SP has been directed to remain present at Raiwind railway station and monitor the security arrangements. Traffic police have also been deputed to control the traffic around the Raiwind railway station.
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ICCI urges govt to compensate victims of weekly bazar
Islamabad: Muhammad Ahmed Waheed, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) has called upon the government to compensate Itwar Bazaar fire affected traders for business losses as they needed financial support to revive their businesses.He said this while talking to fire incident affected traders during his visit to H-9 Itwar Bazaar. Tahir Abbasi Senior Vice President, Khalid Chaudhry former Vice President and Saeed Ahmed Bhatti former Vice President ICCI were also present at the occasion. Ahmed Waheed said that this was the fourth fire incident in H-9 Itwar Bazaar, which should be a cause of concern for CDA, MCI and the local administration. He said that CDA and MCI had conducted inquiries of previous fire incidents in H-9 Sunday Bazaar, but neither any inquiry report was made public nor responsibility was fixed on any one. He stressed upon the Chairman CDA and Mayor Islamabad to arrange a judicial inquiry of the recent fire incident in H-9 Itwar Bazaar. He also urged that government should pay due compensation to the fire affected traders of Itwar Bazaar as without government support, it would be difficult for them to revive their businesses.Tahir Abbasi, Senior Vice President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry said that thousands of persons were doing business in H-9 Itwar Bazaar, but CDA has not arranged their insurance, which was unfortunate. Tahir Abbasi stressed that fire brigade vehicles, Rescue 1122 team and Quick Response Force should be present in the Itwar Bazaar all the time on business day to cope with any fire incident in future that would minimize the losses of traders.
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Diorama on ‘Sufis & Shrines’ inaugurated at Lok Virsa
Islamabad: Federal Minister for Education, Professional Training, National History and Literary Heritage, Shafqat Mahmood Wednesday inaugurated a newly revamped three-dimensional diorama on ‘Sufis and Shrines’ at the Pakistan National Museum of Ethnology, popularly known as Heritage Museum, Lok Virsa. Addressing the inauguration ceremony, the federal minister congratulated National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage for revamping the existing Diorama on Sufis and Shrines. He said that the diorama depicted contribution of Sufis and saints towards peace, love, harmony and brotherhood among the mankind. He said that Lok Virsa’s mandate was to preserve, document and promote cultural heritage both tangible and intangible. He said that promotion of folk heritage would also create more space for expressing diversity within the culture, asserting cultural autonomy and dignity. He said that thousands of people were visiting Heritage Museum and enjoyed the tour of heritage of Pakistan. Earlier, the minister performed ribbon cutting in front of the revamped diorama and later took round of it.
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Women education vital to progress: Shahid Afridi
SIALKOT: Former cricket team captain Shahid Khan Afridi Wednesday said women education was vital to social and economic progress of a country. Addressing the local business community at the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) during a fund raising ceremony for Shahid Afridi Foundation (SAF), Afridi said women’s role is very important in every sector of national development. He said it is very alarming that some 25 million children in the country are out of schools. He said it is the basic responsibility of the government and every citizen to play their role in educating all children, particularly girls in the country.
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Man killed in Mohmand blast
GHALLANAI: A man was killed in a blast in Ambar tehsil in Mohmand district here on Wednesday, official sources said. The sources said that the man identified as Abdullah, son of Sher Bahadur, was killed in the blast caused by an improvised explosive device at Shatai Maina in Ambar. The man died on the spot.
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Five of a family killed in DI Khan accident
DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Five persons, including two women and two children, were killed and eight others injured when a tractor-trolley overturned near Mughal Kot on the Dera-Zhobroad on Wednesday. The tractor-trolley was coming from Zhob to Dera Ismail Khan when it overturned at Sarobi Pul due to brake failure.The eight injured also included women and children. They were taken to the District Headquarters Hospital in Dera Ismail Khan. The injured were identified as Rubina Bibi, Salma Bibi, Khazana Bibi, Maimoona Bibi, Raza Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Mir Saleem and Akram.
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Court issues notice to KP governor
PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday issued a contempt of court notice to Governor Shah Farman in the case of former vice-chancellor of the Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan.The court directed the governor to submit his reply as chancellor of the university. The Supreme Court of Pakistan had ordered payment of all the incentives and arrears to former vice-chancellor Dr Asmatullah in 2013. Later, the Peshawar High Court also ordered in 2017 to decide the case of the former VC within 60 days. However, the case was not decided.
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Traders organise strike in KP on second day
PESHAWAR: Traders staged protest rallies here in the provincial capital and other cities and towns in the province to force the government to withdraw what they termed anti-business policies as their strike continued on the second consecutive day across the province.The main protest camp was held at the new cloth market in the Bazaar-e-Abresham Garaan while protesting traders also held a march in the old city and Peshawar Saddar. Markazi Tanzeem-i-Tajiran, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa President Malik Meher Elahi told The News that the protest was held across the province except for Malakand division as traders and businessmen there have already been exempted from paying taxes. “Still Malakand traders have expressed solidarity with us,” he added.He said the traders showed unity and this was the reason the talks with the government were successful. “Our team in Islamabad informed us that the talks were successful,” he said, adding, the protest was called off and commercial activities have resumed across the province.He said the government was forcing the traders to become its withholding agents. “The government wanted traders to collect tax from consumers. The traders were asked to make invoice every month and deposit the tax in the bank,” he explained. The traders objected to this condition as they were neither educated to handle tax collection nor do they have resources for hiring accountants and engaging lawyers for the job which is the government’s responsibility, he elaborated. He added that now the government has set a limit for the withholding agents and small traders were exempted from this condition.The government also constituted a committee for the submission of identity card copy condition that would complete its recommendation in three months. Earlier, Peshawar Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industries President Mohammad AtifHaleem told The News that the traders observed two-day complete strike.He said both sides have to show some flexibility, adding, the government should introduce a realistic system of taxation. The mess created in 40 years could not be cleared quickly, he argued.Atif Haleem said nobody was refusing to pay tax but the taxation should not damage the businesses. He admitted that there are people among traders who were not paying taxes and they should be exposed. He claimed that the protest was not to protect tax-evaders among traders but it was organized to make the government realize to adopt prudent policies.
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PAF ready for aerial defence of motherland: air chief
ISLAMABAD: Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) has said that PAF places highest premium on self-reliance through indigenization alongside modernization and expansion of existing combat capabilities.The Air Chief was addressing the Inter Squadron Armament competition held at an operational air base on Wednesday. The No 11 Multirole Squadron was adjudged the best squadron of Inter Squadron Armament Competition, which was held at Sonmiani firing range. All PAF Fighter Squadrons were evaluated for operational readiness and weapon system performance under competitive environment. The main highlight of the competition was exceptional performance by the JF-17 Thunder aircraft and it reaffirmed its position as the front line fighter of the PAF, the spokesman of PAF said.Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan said that PAF stands ever ready for the aerial defence of motherland and has always responded to nation’s call with full valour and commitment. Highlighting the Kashmir situation, he said that we stand by our Kashmiri brethren in their just struggle for self-determination and reiterated that the human atrocities must end immediately. "We are fully alive to the situation and cannot lower our guards," the Air Chief maintained.The competition, which commenced on 10 October, 2019 saw PAF fighter pilots from all weapon systems exhibiting highest level of professionalism through pinpoint weapon delivery. After a close competition, No 11 Multirole Squadron achieved highest score and was declared the winner of Inter Squadron Armament Trophy.First time introduced Best Armament Trophy (BAT) was shared by No 2 Squadron and No 8 Squadron, while No 14 Squadron won the Maintenance Trophy. Wing Commander Noman Akram was awarded the coveted Sher Afgan Trophy for being the best marksman in the competition.
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Thailand chief monk visits Peshawar Museum, Takht Bhai ruins
PESHAWAR: A nine-member delegation from Thailand on Wednesday visited archaeological sites in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Peshawar Museum. The visitors evinced a keen interest in the findings and discoveries of Buddhism and Buddhist heritage. The delegation, comprising chief monks and monks, officials of Archaeology and Museums visited Takht Bhai ruins and Peshawar Museum and performed worship.They also received a briefing on Peshawar Museum, Buddhism heritage sites in KP. Archaeology and Museums Director Dr Abdul Samad briefed the monks on the archaeological sites in Peshawar, Takht Bhai ruins, Buddhism, gallery of Buddhist statues, antiques and artefacts in the museum.He said there were over 6,000 archaeological and heritage sites in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the research was being carried out to revive these sites properly.“The followers of Buddhism would find a treasure trove of Buddhist statues and heritage after thorough research and revival of these sites,” the official told the delegation.He said that Unesco had declared the Takht Bhai ruins a world heritage site in the year 1980, where thousands of ruins of Buddhism exist. Dr Abdul Samad said the government had taken several steps for attracting foreign tourists, scholars and researchers to the province.The official said a comprehensive policy had been evolved for preserving and protecting the archaeological sites and places in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.He mentioned the latest discoveries and the rich Gandhara heritage in various parts of the province. The official said the government was giving top priority to repair, renovation and preservation of archaeological heritage, and historical buildings in the province.He said a plan had been chalked out to protect and preserve all ancient places and buildings properly. About the Peshawar Museum, he said the historic Peshawar Museum was built in 1907. It is famous for its collection of Buddhist artwork dating from the ancient Gandhara Empire.Initially, DrSamad said, the museum had only one exhibition hall, but two more were added in 1969–70. In 2004–05, the museum was further expanded with the construction of a new block with two galleries, two halls for the museum's collection in storage, offices for the provincial directorate of archaeology, a conservation laboratory and a cafeteria. The historic exhibition hall was also renovated at that time. The current collection has almost 14,000 items based on Gandhara, Greco-Buddhist, Kushan, Parthian, and Indo-Scythian life.The museum showcases art, sculptures, coins, manuscripts, statues, ancient books, early versions of the Quran, weapons, dresses, jewellery, Kalash effigies, inscriptions, paintings of the Mughal and later periods, household materials and pottery as well as local and Persian handicrafts.He said the Peshawar Museum has one of the largest and most extensive collections of Gandhara art of the Buddhist period and is considered to be one of the biggest collections of Buddhist objects in the world. It also contains the largest collection on Buddha. Buddhist stone sculptures, terracotta figurines and other Buddhist objects.The display of Gandhara art in the main hall includes Buddha's life stories, miracles, worship of symbols, relic caskets, and individual standing Buddha sculptures. The ethnological objects of that period are also exhibited in the museum.He told the visitors that it has 8,625 coins, of which 4,510 are pre-Islamic. The main interest of the museum's numismatic collection is that the coins were recovered from archaeological sites, including Shah-Ji-Ki-Dheri, Sari Bahlol, Takht-i-Bhai and Jamal Garhi. The collections of Bactrian Greek, Indo-Greek, Indo-Scythian, Indo-Parthian and Kushan coins have been published.
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Diphtheria claims lives of three children of same family
GUJRANWALA: Three children of a same family died of diphtheria here in Sarfraz Colony, Gujranwala on Wednesday. Adnan and Abul Hassan, aged five-year-old and a 3-year-old baby girl were admitted to a hospital with symptoms of diphtheria where they died.Reportedly all the kids were administered anti-diphtheria vaccination. When contacted, DHO Sahibzada Farid said a fact-finding probe was underway.
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Preparations made to welcome Azadi marchers
NOWSHERA: The JamiatUlema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) has finalised arrangements to welcome the participants of the Azadi March in Nowshera. It was learnt that a convoy of the Azadi March would leave Nowshera for Islamabad at around 3 pm today.JUI-F provincial head Maulana Ataur Rehman, opposition leader in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Akram Khan Durrani, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz provincial leader Amir Muqam, Awami National Party leaders Mian Iftikhar Hussain and AimalWali Khan, Pakistan People’s Party provincial head Humayun Khan and QaumiWatan Party provincial chairman Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao would lead the convoy of the Azadi March towards Islamabad.
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Lawyers in Jhang observe strike against police
JHANG: Lawyers of District Bar Association (DBA) Wednesday observed a strike against police officials who allegedly gave illegal favour to the opponents of a senior lawyer. According to the DBA secretary, lawyer Syed Shabbar Raza cultivated paddy crop on his 6-acre land in Thathi Bahram Shah area and his opponents with the connivance of local police cut the crop at night. The DBA secretary said a meeting of the executive committee of the Bar has been called for Thursday to decide further course of action.
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Bilawal to visit south Punjab from Nov 1
MULTAN: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is visiting south Punjab from November 1 in connection with his mass mobilisation campaign. Bilawal will spend seven days at Multan Bilawal House and three days at Bahawalpur division. He will address public a meeting in Dera Ghazi Khan division.The PPP leader would spend maximum time with the party workers and office-bearers of south Punjab and would address public meetings in different districts.Bilawal has planned to visit the region after JUI-F leader Maulana Fazalur Rehman spent two days on south Punjab roads during his Azadi March. Rahimyar Khan, Bahawalpur, Multan and Muzaffargarh are considered strong constituencies of the PPP politicians. Talking to reporters, PPP leader Habibullah Shakir said Bilawal’s visit would strengthen the Azadi March narrative and would activate and accelerate party in the agrarian region.Bilawal would address a public meeting at Pull Darah on Sangi Road soon after his arrival on November 1.The PPP leader would stay at Chaudhry Zaka Ashraf Sugar Mills in Bahawalpur and on November 4 he would leave for Multan where would address lawyers at the Multan High Court Bar Association on November 6.
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Rs14 bn rainwater conservation projects in Karak inspected
PESHAWAR: Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Mohibullah Khan on Wednesday visited Karak and inspected the rainwater conservation projects worth Rs14 billion undertaken under the Pakistan’s Agriculture Emergency programme. The minister scrutinised LAK-Kana mini-dam, Shaheedan Water reservoirs, Andi-Karak water reservoirs and other rainwater conservation projects during the visit to Karak district. The minister was briefed by DG Soil Conservation Yaseen Khan that the relevant projects would enhance agricultural production by eliminating aridness in the area as well as greatly benefit fishing.
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PPP leader Khanzada Khan’s son joins PTI
MARDAN: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Zeeshan Khanzada has resigned from the basic membership of the party and announced to join the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Zeeshan Khanzada met Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad last night and showed his intention to join the PTI. Defence Minister Pervez Khattak was also present during the meeting. It may be noted that Zeeshan Khanzada’s family has been affiliated with the PPP since its inception. His father Khanzada Khan contested elections on PPP ticket and was twice elected Member of National Assembly from his native Mardan. He also remained senator twice. Khanzada Khan also served as president of the party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.Khanzada Khan’s family was victimised by the General ZiaulHaq regime and their business remained closed till 1988.
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Efforts on to develop Lower Kohistan: official
MANSEHRA: Deputy Commissioner Sahibzada Najeebullah Khan has said that the government is working to bring Lower Kohistan on a par with other districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Speaking at a public forum in Shakrugukund near Dubair on Wednesday, he said that roads infrastructure was being developed in such a difficult terrain where people couldn’t even imagine civic services in the past. District Police Officer Suleman Khan, speaking on the occasion, said: “We will ensure that all development schemes approved for the district could be executed in time and people could enjoy all sorts of amenities,” he added. Earlier, locals highlighted the problems related to health, education and other sectors.
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from The News International - National https://ift.tt/36i0SHC
Tuesday, 29 October 2019
Verdict reserved on Capt Safdar's bail plea
LAHORE: A local court here on Tuesday reserved a verdict on a bail plea of Muhammad Safdar, son-in-law of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a hate speech case.The court also reserved its verdict on an application seeking physical remand of the PML N leader for investigations. A government lawyer moved the application on behalf of the state challenging the Oct 22 ruling of a judicial magistrate who had turned down a plea for physical remand of the PML N leader. He stated that an investigation against the accused had hit a snag owing to the judicial magistrate's decision of not handing over the custody of Safdar to the police.
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CM reviews progress on priority projects in KP
PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan said on Tuesday that consultant has been hired and mobilised to conduct survey for the Peshawar to Dera Ismail Khan Expressway, which is expected to be completed by January 2020.He was chairing the second review meeting of the priority projects, including Rashakai Economic Zone, Swat Economic Zone, Daraband Economic Zone, Mohmand Marble Economic Zone, Buner Marble City and progress on Insaf Rozgar Scheme at Chief Minister’s Secretariat here.Minister for Finance Taimur Saleem Jhagra, Principal Secretary to CM Shahab Ali Shah, Secretary Industries, MD Khyber Bank, Chief Executive EZDMC and other high-ranking officials attended the meeting, said a handout.He said the project would link the southern belt of the province with major communication routesbesides promoting tourism, trade and industrialisation in the province. The chief minister said that Daraband Economic Zone in Dera Ismail Khan would help develop the southern districts in addition to creating livelihood opportunities for the local people.He said industrialisation in the province was of paramount importance to overcome unemployment, provide livelihood opportunities and establish economic self-sustainability of the province.Briefing the chief minister on the progress on Insaf Rozgar Scheme in the merged districts, the meeting was informed that 7,257 forms were received by September 30 and financial loans worth Rs129.68 million have already been disbursed.The chief minister directed the officials to speed up the revision and approval process so that maximum number of youth from the tribal districts could be provided loans for starting businesses.Mahmood Khan was informed that the development agreement for Rashakai Economic Zone would be completed in the next 10 days .The PC-1 for land acquisition and approach roads for Buner Marble City has been submitted for approval.The chief minister directed the meeting to finalise the modalities to supply electricity and gas to Rashakai Economic Zone. He directed the departments concerned to work on extending the wheeling of provincially generated electricity to industrial units.The chief minister hoped the initiative would have two folded benefits in which cheap electricity will be provided to industries to help reduce the production cost and attract investors. He added that the wheeling regime would help increase provincial revenue.With regard to Swat Economic Zone, the chief minister directed the quarters concerned to ensure the timely transfer of land to the Economic Zones Development and Management Company.He said the government was committed to inaugurating one development project in the Economic Zone sector every four months.Mahmood Khan directed the officials concerned to expedite work on establishment of the Mohmand Marble Industrial Zone and Buner Marble City. He said completion of the projects would channelise the marble industry.
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from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2q2Ncj5
PIMS to remain on high alert from today ahead of ‘Azadi’ March
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences has been put on high alert from today (Wednesday) onwards ahead of ‘Azadi’ March announced by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam – Fazl (JUI-F) in the federal capital.In reference to a letter issued by District Magistrate ICT Islamabad on October 27 on ‘high alert in the hospital and availability of beds’, the PIMS administration issued a circular on Tuesday informing all the concerned departments at PIMS that “the hospital will remain on high alert during the rally of JUI-F at Metro Depot, H-9 near Itwar Bazaar, Islamabad from October 30 to till further orders”.The shift staff and emergency staff of the hospital will perform their duties as usual while all the heads of clinical and non-clinical departments and supervisory staff of PIMS have been requested to prepare and issue Emergency Duty Rosters in this regard, states the circular issued by Deputy Executive Director at PIMS Dr. Zulfiqar Ghouri.The circular states that the departments of neurosurgery, orthopedic and general surgery are especially requested to depute maximum staff for ‘on call duty’. Chief CMO and Clinical Coordinator at PIMS Emergency Department Dr. Sharjeel Zaheer has been nominated as the focal person to deal with the emergency situation, states the circular issued by the approval of Executive Director at PIMS.According to Deputy Director at PIMS Dr. Waseem Ahmed Khawaja, the PIMS has already working out special arrangements to deal with, God forbid, any bigger emergency while arrangements being made to keep limited number of beds vacated for managing any disaster. In case of any emergency, the PIMS is ready to vacate greater number of beds as for the purpose, arrangements have already been made, he said.He said the PIMS administration has directed all the staff including nurses and doctors on duty to remain on high alert while in case of any emergency, additional staff can be deputed immediately.
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from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2MZUj4V
SCCI concerned at heavy power loadshedding
PESHAWAR: The Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) President Maqsood Anwar Pervaiz has expressed concern over hours-long electricity loadshedding in the business centres and markets near the Ring Road in the provincial capital.A press release said that he was talking to a group of traders, who expressed reservations over the long power cuts at the markets, shopping plazas and business centres located at the Ring Road connecting with the Charsadda Road and the Grand Trunk Road.The SCCI chief asked the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) to ensure power supply from alternate feeder to the shopping centres, markets, and the residential localities on the Ring Road.He said business activities have been affected due to the long power loadshedding. The SCCI chief added that electric appliances have been damaged due to frequent tripping and power fluctuation.Maqsood Anwar said there was no justification for electricity loadshedding in the winter season. He said trade activities have already slowed down due to wrong economic policies of the government, while the power cuts have hit businesses in the provincial capital as well. The SCCI chief urged the provincial government and Pesco to ensure uninterrupted power supply from alternate feeder instead of the Sarband feeder.
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300 stalls gutted in Islamabad’s H-9 weekly bazaar
ISLAMABAD: Over 300 stalls of clothing and garments were gutted in H-9 weekly bazaar in a big fire, which erupted in wee hours of Tuesday, a few hours before opening of bazaar’s timing.The weekly bazaar is located a few meters from the Metro Bus parking area, where the Maulana Fazalur Rehman-led ‘Azadi’ March had been allowed to hold public meeting or stage sit-in.According official reports, a total of 302 stalls were completely destroyed in fire, which was spotted by watchman on duty near Gate no. 9 at around 3:40 a.m. and rapidly engulfed sections D, E and H series stalls of clothing, ‘lunda’, shoes and other miscellaneous items.According to official sources, the Fire Brigade Headquarters control room of the Municipal Corporation of Islamabad (MCI) received call from watchman at 3:56 a.m. The fire was controlled within an hour with hectic efforts of 120 fire-fighters with the help of 12 fire tenders of Fire Brigade Islamabad, Rawalpindi’s 1122 and Pakistan Navy, an official who was involved in the operation said. The cooling process, however, continued for the next an hour time.No loss of lives, however, was reported as the fire was erupted when bazaar was closed. The stallholders whose stalls were gutted in fire reached the spot after sunrise and they were seen weeping over huge loss, the eye-witnesses said.The loss to selling goods of stall holders is said to be between Rs150 to 200 million due to fire which was fourth and second big fire within a period of around two and half years. An official of MCI said the fire was caused by short-circuiting but another official requesting not to be named did not rule out sabotage act behind the tragedy.Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Hamza Shafqaat has ordered inquiry into the incident. He said the fire was controlled within an hour saying that foolproof arrangements would be made so that such incidents do not take place in future.The weekly bazaar, which was shifted from Sector G-9 to H-9, when Kamran Lashari was CDA chairman due to construction of the 9th Avenue, opens on Sunday, Tuesday and Friday every week.
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from The News International - National https://ift.tt/31ZllgU
Labourers for hydropower project end protest
MANSEHRA: The labourers working on 830 megawatt SukiKinari hydropower project have ended their 10-day protest after the assistant commissioner of Balakot and director Labour Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assured them that action would be taken against the company executing the project if it didn’t meet their demands within two weeks.A meeting was held with director Labour Department IrfanullahMarwat in the chair. Assistant Commissioner of BalakotNawab Samir Leghari, Director Labour Department in Hazara division Faizullah, president of Labour Union of SukiKinari dam workers TahirHussain Shah and representatives of the company executing the project attended the meeting.Irfanullah Marwat told the meeting that the CGG company should follow labourer laws, which guaranteed the basic rights to workers and a uniformity in wages, health benefits, holidays, death claims and other perks and privileges.
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‘Inclusiveness among youth should be promoted’
KARACHI: Speakers at a series of seminars and conferences here highlighted the need to promote inclusiveness, peace, harmony and reconciliation among youth through education and training.The first of a series of seminars titled ‘Advancing Inclusiveness among Youth through Training and Education’ was jointly organised by Paigham-e-Pakistan Centre for Peace, Reconciliation and Reconstruction Studies, Islamic Research Institute (IRI), International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI) and Iqra University Karachi in collaboration with Inter-Universities Consortium for Promotion of Social Sciences (IUCPSS), Islamabad.The aim of the seminar was to promote peace, harmony and reconciliation among youth through training and education. Islamic Research Institute Director General Prof Dr Zia ul Haq introduced the audience about Paigham-e-Pakistan and Naujawanan-e-Pakistan which aim at promoting participation of youth in decision making in order to protect them from anti-state propaganda through counseling for socioeconomic empowerment and countering violent extremism.Speaking on the occasion, Iqra University Vice Chancellor Dr Wasim Qazi said the potential of the youth can be utilized to bring a positive change in the society and to eliminate the menace of terrorism and extremism.Students of the Iqra University also gave presentations, demonstrating the role of the youth in peace building and eliminating extremism from the society. Dr Murtaza Noor of IUCPSS applauded the efforts of Paigham-e-Pakistan team for disseminating the message of peace.The seminar was followed by a two-day Paigham-e-Pakistan training workshop for youth at the Iqra University on Oct 22-23. The aim of the workshop was to train youth to play their role in peace building and reconstruction of the society.On the first day of the workshop, four sessions were held in which speakers talked about the challenges faced by the youth. Vice Chancellor Iqra University The next seminar titled ‘Role of Youth in Promotion of Inclusiveness and Peace Building’ was held at Jinnah Sindh Medical University Karachi on Oct 24. Another seminar on the same theme was also organised at Jamia tur Rasheed Karachi the same day, followed by an event titled ‘Role of Youth in Peace Building’ at Dadabhoy Institute Karachi on Oct 25.Separately, the ‘Students Art & Literary Festival’ was organised on Oct 26, followed by city tour, workshops and gala dinner on Oct 27 as part of third edition of International Students Convention and Expo at the Institute of Business Administration Karachi. Different sessions titled ‘Entrepreneurship - A Better Choice for Earning Livelihood’, ‘University Youth as a Source of Tolerance, Dialogue and Conflict Management’, and ‘Youth as Catalyst for Inclusive Democracy and Interfaith Harmony’ were organised as part of the convention on Oct 28.On Oct 29, International Students Convention 2019 was held at Iqra University Karachi while different sessions titled ‘Responsive Pakistanis for a Just and Equitable Society’, ‘Media, Cybercrime, Youth and Peace Building’ and Role of Youth in Drug-Free Campuses and Societies’ were organised at Institute of Business Administration Karachi under Paigham-e-Pakistan, Saiban-e-Pakistan and Dukhtaran-e-Pakistan initiatives of the government of Pakistan.
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