TDCP plans to establish resort and food streets near Hiran Minar
LAHORE: The Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP) has planned to establish a state-of-the-art resort in the vicinity of the historical monument Hiran Minar near Sheikhupura along with art and craft markets, food streets and camping sites. The site work of the project has been completed and national and international food chains will also be invited to set up their stalls in food streets. TDCP General Manager Asim Raza told Pakistan Today that Hiran Minar was located in the middle of 104 acres of TDCP’s land. We are also establishing three to four food streets here in which all the traditional food stalls will be set up. When asked about the sensitivity of historical monument and construction, he said, “Since this is an area close to a historical monument, we will not set up anything here on a permanent basis.
Source:Pakistan Today
July 03, 2020 19:41 UTC
Vehicle used in PSX attack spotted in TV drama
KARACHI: While investigators are hard at work to make headway into the attack on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) this week, a car similar to the one used by the attackers to reach their target was spotted in a TV drama of late. According to sources, the car which the terrorists used to get to the PSX was seen in an episode of the TV drama aired on a private entertainment channel Wednesday last. The vehicle with registration number BAP-629 was used in the incident. Four terrorists who had attacked the stock exchange building on Monday were also killed. Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly (NA) on June 30, Prime Minister Imran Khan had said Pakistan has no qualms that Monday’s terrorist attack on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) was orchestrated in India.
Source:Pakistan Today
July 03, 2020 17:37 UTC
Coronavirus situation improving across country except Sindh, says Umar
Sindh remains the worst-hit province by the pandemic in terms of cases followed by Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan. 113,623 coronavirus patients have recovered in the country whereas 2,479 patients are in critical condition. Crediting this development to citizens following precautionary measures to curb the spread of the virus, Umar said if this continues, the country’s situation will continue to improve. He also urged citizens to remain mindful of the fact that an improvement was only being seen because they were following precautionary measures. But because people are following precautionary measures and the administration is also taking action […] this number may be less than 400,000,” he further said.
Source:Pakistan Today
July 03, 2020 17:36 UTC
Emirates resumes flights to Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad
Emirates airline has resumed services to Pakistan’s three main cities — Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad — after a temporary suspension. Passengers, however, will be required to carry a negative Covid-19 report from an approved laboratory issued within 96 hours of the journey. “Following the receipt of relevant government approvals, Emirates has resumed passenger services to Pakistan. Customers can travel to and from Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad if they meet the requirements of their destination,” an Emirates spokesperson was quoted as saying by Khaleej Times. Emirates from June 24 had temporarily suspended passenger services from Pakistan until July 3 after about 30 Pakistanis who arrived in Hong Kong on board an Emirates flight tested positive for Covid-19.
Source:Pakistan Today
July 03, 2020 16:30 UTC
US donates 100 ventilators to support Pakistan’s Covid-19 response
KARACHI: A shipment of 100 brand new ventilators donated by the United States government through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in cooperation with Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority, to support Pakistan in its fight against Covid-19, have arrived here. “This donation delivers on American President Donald Trump’s generous offer of these critically needed supplies and supports Pakistan’s urgent response to the pandemic. The ventilators are valued at about $3 million and reflect the latest in cutting-edge medical design and technology. They are compact, easily deployable, and will enable Pakistan to more effectively treat patients suffering from Covid-19,” it added. US Ambassador in Pakistan Paul Jones, in his remarks, said “The United States stands with Pakistan in its fight against coronavirus.
Source:Pakistan Today
July 03, 2020 16:30 UTC
19 Sikh pilgrims, driver killed as train rams into coaster near Sheikhupura
–Pilgrims were returning to Peshawar from Nankana sahib when their vehicle crashed into train at an unmanned crossingLAHORE: At least 19 Sikh pilgrims and their driver were killed on Friday when the Shah Hussain Express train rammed into a coaster near Sheikhupura. The Sikh pilgrims were travelling to Peshawar from Nankana Sahib. According to the DPO, there were two more coaches carrying Sikh pilgrims that took a different route and are safely on their way. The Sikh family that was killed in the train accident belonged to Peshawar’s Mohalla Jogan Shah. The spokesperson alleged that Railways Minister Rashid has “completely failed” at his job and demanded his immediate resignation.
Source:Pakistan Today
July 03, 2020 15:56 UTC
Rupee gains 67 paisas in interbank market after a weak week
Despite analysts’ concerns regarding the weakening of Pakistani rupee over the past week, the strengthening of the rupee is attributed to the supply of dollars. Liquid foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) increased by 7.42 per cent on a Week on Week (WoW) basis from $16,730 million to $17,971 million. “There have been several positive developments recently and stabilisation of the rupee was expected,” says Capital Stake Director Research Maha Jafer Butt. According to SBP, the interbank price of Euro depreciated by Rs1.91 to close at Rs 186.63 on Friday, against the last day’s close at Rs 188.54. The exchange rates of Saudi riyal and UAE dirham decreased by 18 paisas each to close at Rs44.31 and Rs 45.25 respectively.
Source:Pakistan Today
July 03, 2020 14:48 UTC
Covid waste disposal
In view of the highly contagious nature of the coronavirus disease, the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency has issued guidelines for safe disposal of Covid-19 waste. They make it mandatory for facilities’ management to ensure proper handling and disposal of the waste. First, the waste will be shifted to a storage room before being transferred to a waste disposal site, either located on the premises of the hospitals, or to be transported to another location for treatment. All facilities will have to maintain the record of the number of bags disposed of, waste containers transported to disposal sites in vehicles marked for the purpose, the number of trips made to the waste disposal site and the amount of waste disposed during each trip. All those involved in the handling and disposal of such waste should wear personal protection equipment and use the necessary gadgets.
Source:The Express Tribune
July 03, 2020 05:15 UTC
Woman kills man for refusing proposal
A woman in Swat on Thursday shot dead her lover in the Swat district after he turned down her marriage proposal. The Barikot police said that the victim, identified as Hussain Ali, had been in a relationship with Neelum for a long time. The girl wanted to marry Ali and had even refused several marriage proposals from other men, the police added. However, Neelum found out that Ali was cheating on her with another girl. Around a dozen women have reportedly been killed so far this year in the district over relationships.
Source:The Express Tribune
July 03, 2020 05:03 UTC
Kurram ceasefire announced
Paramilitary forces on Thursday took up positions in trenches and on hilltops after a ceasefire was announced between the Balishkhel and Para Chamkani tribes of the area days after 15 people were killed and 35 others were injured in a clash between the two tribes. Locals said that following an intervention from local military leaders, a Jirga comprising local elders, politicians, administration officials and local youth brought the two warring sides to the table. Having traded fire all night long on Wednesday, the two sides were urged to enforce a ceasefire A land dispute between the two tribes in the area escalated five days ago in Kurram which descended into an armed conflict. Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2020.
Source:The Express Tribune
July 03, 2020 05:03 UTC
‘Pakistan's exports showing signs of recovery’
PM aide was informed that prior to the Covid-19 outbreak at the end of Feb 2020, Pakistan’s exports were on an upward tra-jectory. Chairing a meeting held to discuss export strategy at the Ministry of Commerce on Thursday, Dawood highlighted the support provided by the government in that regard. The situation persisted and in April 2020, exports slumped 54% as compared to April 2019. With efforts of the government to encourage the export sector, the first signs of recovery were observed in May 2020, which saw 33% decline in exports as compared to same month of last year, they said. In addition that, figures also indicate that the strategy for geographical and product diversification for exports is bearing fruit.
Source:The Express Tribune
July 03, 2020 03:22 UTC
PLRA preparing list of corrupt staff members
LAHORE: The Punjab Land Record Authority (PLRA) has decided to take action against corrupt staff members of the department as the preparations of a secret list of corrupt officials is under the works, Pakistan Today learnt reliably on Thursday. Sources believe that the authority had digitised the land records but at the same time, corrupt elements had become active within the authority. Sources revealed that some of the staff of the head office were also involved with these corrupt elements and many officers received monthly bribes from the staff of service centres. However, he added that people were not benefiting from the computerised land records system due to long queues at Land Record Centres, the complexity of documents, delays in land transfers and slow procedures in general. Regarding the services provided to the public, corruption, incompetence and forgery, the DG clarified that corruption and incompetence would not be tolerated in the PLRA.
Source:Pakistan Today
July 02, 2020 18:22 UTC
Another crucial challenge for the PTI government
Enforcing SOPs during Eidul AzhaWhile Eidul Azha comes at the end of July, the purchase of sacrificial animals has already started. Soon cattle markets will spring up around big cities where, in normal Eids, entire families rush to buy sacrificial animals of their choice. Crowded cattle markets could cause a rapid spread of the coronavirus. Unlike the Eidul Fiter, as much as 80 percent of the spending on the “Major Eid” is on sacrificial animals. Unless the government succeeds in enforcing the SOPs, the Eidul Azha too may significantly enhance the number of positive cases adding to the speed of the pandemic’s spread.
Source:Pakistan Today
July 02, 2020 17:48 UTC
Inflation unchecked
It is hardly a new thing for the inflation target set by the federal government to be missed, but despite the rhetoric, it can hardly escape the blame for the inflation rate rising to 8.6 percent in June, up from 8.2 percent in May. Instead, food inflation leads the way. Official figures show that food inflation was fuelled by a 17.7 percent rise in wheat prices, along with supply problems. It is also no help to the government that there should be such a rate of food inflation. All inflation is electorally bad, but food inflation is the worst.
Source:Pakistan Today
July 02, 2020 17:48 UTC
Custodians of The Back Door
The custodians seem to have learnt their lessonPolitics in the land of the pure has suffered due to backdoor entries. The PTI has entered the corridors of power through the front door after over 22 years of struggle. The front-door political entrants and the backdoor custodians have joined hands to move the political players to their respective ends for normalcy to be restored. The PPP (Bhutto) was indeed a front door political entity but it has been disgraced by Zardari to be bracketed with Chor Darwaza parties like the PML (N) and PML(Q). The backdoor custodians should now ensure for the health of the nation that political players enter through the front door while only garbage is moved out from the back to be dumped at the waste site.
Source:Pakistan Today
July 02, 2020 17:48 UTC