Pakistan is all set to start the local manufacturing the Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V in collaboration with Russia in the coming months.
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, during a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart on Wednesday, said Pakistan was looking forward to Russian collaboration for the local production of the Sputnik V vaccine.
The Russian FM said his government had provided 50,000 doses to Pakistan and intended to provide more than 150,000 doses in the coming weeks.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had arrived on Tuesday for a two-day visit in Islamabad, where he was received by Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
FM Lavrov also expressed satisfaction over an increase in bilateral trade that reached $790 million over the last year.
Earlier, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) had approved the emergency use of the Russian vaccine.
Two doses of it are currently being administered across private facilities in major cities for around Rs13,000.
National Institute of Electronics (NIE) has claimed that their new e-voting machines will halt election rigging and ensure transparency during the general elections.
Earlier this month, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), NIE, National University of Science and Technology (NUST), and COMSATS University have collaborated to develop indigenous e-voting machine.
While explaining the voting process through the indigenously manufactured e-voting machine, Technical Research Director of NIE, Kamran Bhatti, said that symbols of all contesting political parties will be visible on the machine for the e-voting machine.
Voters will only need to press the button of the candidate they want to vote for. A green light on the ballot box of the e-voting machine will notify them that they have successfully cast the vote.
The e-voting machine will also compile the final tally after the polling ends. The record of the e-voting could be used in courts and also as a reference if the results are challenged.
The Director of NIE added that voters will be verified through thumb impressions that will be provided by NADRA on the day of general elections.
He claimed that the NIE e-voting machine cannot be hacked that will ensure the safety of the data of the voters.
Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has been making efforts to introduce an e-voting system in the general elections to ensure impartiality and transparency.
In November 2020, PM Imran had announced electoral reforms for free and fair elections in the country.
The reforms included open balloting through a show of hands during Senate elections, an e-voting system for general elections and allowing overseas Pakistanis to cast their votes.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Wednesday claimed to have detained two suspects for selling fake COVID-19 vaccine in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
As per reports,FIA’s Deputy Director Abdur Rehman, during the hearing of a case relating to COVID-19 vaccine price at Peshawar High Court, said that they have recovered a huge quantity of fake medicines and coronavirus vaccine from their possession.
Rehman told the court that the investigation agency also traced a factory manufacturing fake COVID-19 vaccine and other medicines used for the deadly disease in Lahore. The deputy director added that relevant authorities had already left for Lahore to seal the facilities.
Meanwhile, last year in March, the police had arrested an alleged doctor selling a COVID-19 vaccine. According to details, police carried out a raid at a fake clinic where the doctor claimed to have COVID-19 vaccine. The police arrested him and shifted to an unknown place for an investigation into the matter.
According to SSP South, the man arrested was a dentist by profession and was identified as Dr Dedar.
“He is booked under various sections of Pakistan Penal Code for fooling people,” the officer had said.
Iffat Omar has promised to get 10 people vaccinated after jumping queue to get vaccinated herself at Federal Minister for Housing and Works Tariq Bashir Cheema’s residence in Lahore. The model-turned-actor also admitted her fault and apologised for her actions after receiving a barrage of criticism and backlash.
Responding to a social media user, Omar said that not only will she forgo the second dose, but she will also get 10 people vaccinated.
When the user told her why he was angry over her actions, Omar said: “I regret and [am] really ashamed but I will fix it.”
“Please accept my forgiveness,” she added.
The model further made her intentions clear by responding to other users and asserting that she will get 10 deserving people vaccinated against the virus.
Omar had come in the line of fire after a video of hers receiving the COVID-19 vaccine at Cheema’s residence went viral on social media with netizens accusing her of jumping the queue to get vaccinated when more deserving citizens still have to wait. At the time, only those aged 60 and above could avail the free vaccine under the government drive, while those aged 50 could get registered for a shot and there was no commercially available vaccine against the coronavirus in Pakistan.
The minister had initially denied accusations of jumping queue and claimed that a team from the University of Health Sciences (UHS) had arrived at his residence to administer a ‘booster shot’ of a ‘trial vaccine’.
The minister said the same team had earlier administered the first dose of the trial vaccine to his family at their residence.
Meanwhile, Omar at that time had told people to “take it easy”.
In a now-deleted tweet, the model had said that she received a booster shot of the Chinese vaccine CanSino. However, Pakistani Twitterati had called her out on the claim, pointing out that CanSino was a single-dose vaccine and does not require a booster shot.
Prime Minister Imran Khan’s former wife Jemima Goldsmith has schooled him on the topic of rape, saying that the “onus is on men”. PM Imran in an interactive session with the public on Sunday had blamed rising rape cases on “vulgarity” when asked what his government is doing to curb the surge in rape cases and sexual violence, especially against children.
Pakistanis had strongly criticised the premier and told him that rape is an act of violence and has nothing to do with the way a person dresses.
PM Khan’s words made it to international publications and now Jemima has criticised him for his remarks.
Sharing a report, Jemima quoted an ayat with which she wrote: “The onus is on men.”
Goldsmith added: “I’m hoping this is a misquote/ mistranslation. The Imran I knew used to say, ‘Put a veil on the man’s eyes not on the woman’.”
I'm hoping this is a misquote/ mistranslation. The Imran I knew used to say, "Put a veil on the man's eyes not on the woman." https://t.co/NekU0QklnL
Responding to Jemima’s comments, Focal Person to the Prime Minister on Digital Media Dr Arslan Khalid said that PM Khan “never engaged in victim blaming”.
“DailyMail has misinterpreted his comments about purdah which in Islam is for both male and female,” said Dr Khalid. “Rest he talked about how society must act against trends that harmfully influence young minds and turn them into sexual predators.”
He never engaged in victim blaming. Dailymail has misinterpreted his comment abt Purdah which in Islam is for both male & female. Rest he talked abt how society must act against trends that harmfully influence young minds & turn them into sexual predators.https://t.co/nBX8kglwVB
Dr Khalid also shut down other media outlets and said that they are reporting a “total misrepresentation of what he said.”
Total misrepresentation of what he said. PM didn't engage in victim blaming. Instead,he referred to how his Gvt has introduced a robust anti rape law & how society must act agnst trends tht harmfully influence young minds & turn them into sexual predatorshttps://t.co/PhtTlkDyZ9
Later, a spokesperson of the government said that misperceptions are being created about PM Khan’s comment regarding the incidence of rape in the country.
The spokesperson said that while expressing deep concern about it, the Prime Minister spoke about the societal responses and the need to put our efforts together to eliminate the menace of rape completely. Unfortunately, part of his comment, consciously or unconsciously, has been distorted to mean something that he never intended.
The statement further said: “The Prime Minister said that our strict anti-rape laws alone will not be able to stem the rise in sex crimes. The whole society has to fight it together including lowering exposure to temptation.”
“Prime Minister emphasised a holistic solution with the society and the stringent legal remedies, which are already in place, working together to eliminate the scourge. Plucking a line out of the statement would always distort the perspective and would not serve the narrative of the actual comment.”
“PM Imran Khan remains fully committed to utilise all avenues at the government’s disposal to tackle the incidence of rape. He believes that all of us have a role to play in the fight and hoped that we would do so,” concluded the statement.
Meanwhile, Pakistanis have all sorts of reactions to Jemima’s statements with some asking her if she still loves PM Khan and others rallying for her to become Prime Minister.
A bill seeking criminal proceedings against anyone who defames the military, has been approved by National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior.
The bill, under which the said act is punishable by up to two years in prison or a fine of Rs500,000 or both, will now be presented before the lower house of the parliament.
According to sources, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have opposed it as a violation of right to freedom of expression.
However, it received the votes of a majority during the NA body’s meeting.
Last year, the National Assembly had introduced the Criminal Law Bill, 2020, to make intentional defaming and insulting the armed forces as a punishable felony.
According to an insertion 500A in the Pakistan Penal Code Act 1860, anyone who deliberately ridicules or slanders the armed forces or member of the armed forces shall be found guilty.
England pacers Jofra Archer, Saqib Mahmood and Sam Billings have raised their voice and spoken in support of Moeen Ali after author Taslima Nasreen’s Islamophobic tweet.
Taslima, in a now-deleted tweet, had said that the England all-rounder would have joined the militant Islamic State (IS) group had he not been playing cricket.
“If Moeen Ali were not stuck with cricket, he would have gone to Syria to join ISIS,” Taslima had said.
Jofra Archer did not take it lightly and wrote: “Are you okay? I don’t think you’re okay.”
The Bangladeshi-Swedish author later tried to calm things down, claiming that her tweet on Moeen was “sarcastic”.
“Haters know very well that my Moeen Ali tweet was sarcastic,” said Nasreen. “But they made that an issue to humiliate me because I try to secularise Muslim society and oppose Islamic fanaticism.”
“One of the greatest tragedies of humankind is pro-women leftists support anti-women Islamists,” she added.
Haters know very well that my Moeen Ali tweet was sarcastic. But they made that an issue to humiliate me because I try to secularize Muslim society & I oppose Islamic fanaticism. One of the greatest tragedies of humankind is pro-women leftists support anti-women Islamists.
Domestic English cricketer Ben Duckett also extended his support to Ali, saying: “This is the problem with this app. People being able to say stuff like this. Disgusting. Things need to change, please report this account!”
Nasreen’s tweet also sparked outrage on social media.
Heartening to see the way British Cricketers have stood up for #MoeenAli after Taslima Nasreen's hideous tweet. Wish our chaps would take a cue or two and speak their mind, not just coordinate their hashtags.
Another form of #extremism. Anyone with a beard is a Taliban and IS terrorist. This stupidity must always be given a shut-up call, always, like this great English player has done to support his team mate… #MoeenAli#taslimanasreenpic.twitter.com/5bRJ0HakhR
Moeen (Ali) wants people to know he is Muslim and Asian and British and that there is no conflict between any of those. Not easy for those to understand who has made a profession selling bigotry. #MoeenAlihttps://t.co/wsOw3bfgN8 via @cricketmonthly
Taseelma Nasreen is an Islamophobic maniac. Moeen Ali is a devout Muslim, excellent cricketer, human bng, associated wid charity works 4 kids, ambsdr for free cricket coaching. Has shown concern abt British Muslims joining terrorist organisations such as Al Qaeda & ISIS.#MoeenAlipic.twitter.com/CKDMwC3ybG
Shame on you @taslimanasreen. You will be remembered as a garden variety bigot not a writer, certainly not a rationalist or feminist. https://t.co/tjjeheBmdJ
Moeen Ali's presentation reminds me of Hashim Amla. Both exhibit the same disciplined conduct and politeness on and off the field. An absolute role model #MoeenAli@benstokes38@JofraArcher
Meanwhile, Moeen’s father Munir Ali also spoke about the hurt it has caused and how his son has broken stereotypes while following his heart and faith.
Speaking about the tweet, Ali said: “I am hurt and shocked to read Taslima Nasreen’s vile remark against my son Moeen. In her “clarifying” tweet, where she described her original remark as sarcasm, she also says she stands against fundamentalism.”
“If she looks into a mirror, she will know what she tweeted is what is fundamentalist – a vicious stereotype against a Muslim person, a clearly Islamophobic statement. Someone who doesn’t have self-respect and respect for others can only stoop to this level,” he continued.
Munir further said: “Truth be told, I am really angry, but I know I would be playing into the hands of people like her if I let my rage get out of control. If I get to meet her someday, I will tell what I really think of her on her face.”
“For now, I would ask her to pick a dictionary and see the meaning of sarcasm. It’s not what she thinks it is. It’s not spewing vile poisonous stuff against someone you don’t even know and then retracting it by saying it was sarcasm. Of all the people to pick on for her agenda, I can’t believe she has chosen my son. Everyone in the cricketing world knows the person he is. Let me reiterate for those who don’t,” he concluded.
The matter had risen when Ali, Chennai Super King’s new recruit for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, had requested to remove the logo of a liquor brand from his jersey.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s production house Dhoni Entertainment has announced that it will produce India’s first animated spy series Captain 7 in collaboration with Indian brand licencing company Black White Orange (BWO). According to reports, Captain 7 will feature India’s captain cool in whole a new avatar.
Speaking about his upcoming venture, Dhoni, in a statement said: “The concept and story is great. It will bring to life my other passions along with cricket.”
Dhoni’s wife and co-producer and director of Dhoni Entertainment Sakshi Singh Dhoni added: “When BWO came to us with the concept of an animation fiction show based on Mahi, we were on board. A whole lot of adventure awaits you with Captain 7.”
The announcement was also made through the official Twitter account of Dhoni Entertainment. The first season of the series is scheduled to release next year.
'Captain 7' – the beginning of India’s first animated spy universe based on MS Dhoni’s attributes, from the house of Dhoni Entertainment and Black White Orange..7️⃣ We can already feel the action! 🤩@msdhoni@SaakshiSRawatpic.twitter.com/04v4SqsVmT
— Dhoni Entertainment Pvt Ltd (@DhoniLtd) April 7, 2021
“Creating aspirational Indian brands was one of the core thoughts when we started BWO,” said Founder and CEO of BWO Brands Bhavik Vora.
“While our focus has been licensing, we’ve always explored clutter-breaking new avenues. This is our first foray into original content and what better way than to take MSD’s legacy forward,” he added.
The winner of a major Sri Lankan beauty prize has suffered head injuries after a tussle on stage.
Beauty queen Pushpika De Silva won the ‘Mrs Sri Lanka’ title at a ceremony on Sunday. Moments after the crown was placed on her head, the 2019 winner seized Mrs De Silva’s crown, claiming she could not be awarded the title because she was divorced.
Though the judges had announced Ms De Silva the 2021 winner at the final in a theatre in Colombo, the 2019 winner, Caroline Jurie, stripped Mrs De Silva of her crown, citing a pageant rule that competitors must be married and not divorced.
“There is a rule that you have to be married and not divorced, so I am taking my first steps in saying that the crown goes to the first runner-up,” Mrs Jurie told the audience while taking off Mrs De Silva’s crown.
She then placed the crown on the runner-up, prompting a tearful Mrs De Silva to walk off stage. The video of the incident has gone viral on social media.
The organisers later apologised to Mrs De Silva, after they confirmed that she was only separated and not divorced and returned the prize to her.
Meanwhile, Mrs De Silva, in Facebook post, said that she had to go to a hospital to be treated for head injuries after the incident.
The pageant winner said that she would take legal action for the “unreasonable and insulting” way she was treated.
“There are a lot of single mums like me today who are suffering in Sri Lanka,” said Mrs De Silva, addressing a press conference. “This crown is dedicated to those women, those single mums who are suffering to raise their kids alone.”
According to a report, the national director of Mrs Sri Lanka World, Chandimal Jayasinghe, has said that the crown would be returned to Mrs De Silva on Tuesday.
“We are disappointed,” he said, adding: “It was a disgrace how Caroline Jurie behaved on the stage and the Mrs World organisation has already begun an investigation on the matter.”
Police have questioned Mrs Jurie, who is the current holder of the ‘Mrs World’ title, as well as Mr Jayasinghe, about the incident.
The Mrs Sri Lanka World beauty pageant is a major contest in the country. The prime minister’s wife was among the guests at the ceremony.
The Bureau of the FIFA Council has suspended the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) with immediate effect due to third-party interference, which constitutes a serious violation of the FIFA Statutes.
According to a press release by FIFA, this situation was prompted by the recent hostile takeover of the PFF headquarters in Lahore by a group of protestors and an alleged decision by certain individuals to remove the FIFA-appointed normalisation committee of the PFF led by Haroon Malik and to hand over the leadership of the PFF to Syed Ashfaq Hussain Shah.
FIFA issued a letter warning that, should the illegitimate occupation of the PFF headquarters not be lifted and the office bearers recognised by FIFA not be permitted free access to the building to carry out their mandate, the matter would be immediately submitted to the Bureau of the Council for decision.
A statement by the governing body confirmed that Bureau of the FIFA Council suspended the PFF with immediate effect due to third-party interference, which constitutes a serious violation of the FIFA Statutes.
“This situation was prompted by the recent hostile takeover of the PFF headquarters in Lahore by a group of protestors and an alleged decision by certain individuals to remove the FIFA-appointed normalisation committee of the PFF led by Haroon Malik and to hand over the leadership of the PFF to Syed Ashfaq Hussain Shah,” it said.
The group led by Ashfaq Shah stormed into PFF headquarters last month, forcing Haroon Malik and the NC to vacate the office and its control.
FIFA had termed the takeover ‘illegal’ and issued an ultimatum that NC should be handed over the PFF control by March 31 otherwise Pakistan could face a suspension.
The Ashfaq group had ignored the deadline and announced to continue its hold over PFF headquarters.
As the situation remains unchanged, the Bureau of the Council has decided to suspend the PFF.
This suspension will only be lifted once FIFA has received confirmation from the normalisation committee of the PFF that the PFF’s premises, accounts, administration and communication channels are again under its full control and it can continue to carry out its mandate without further hindrance.
Earlier, the Provincial Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab, Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti had addressed the issue and promised to play a pivotal role in resolving the issue with a “positive solution” but nothing has happened yet.
پاکستان فٹ بال فیڈریشن کے تنازعہ پر کردار ادا کرنے کا فیصلہ،فریقین سے رابطہ کیا جارہا ہے۔فیفا کی جانب سے پاکستان کی رکنیت معطل ہونے سے عالمی سطح پر ملک کی بدنامی ہوگی۔بحیثیت حکومت ملک میں فٹ بال کے فروغ اور سہولیات کی فراہمی کا کام کررہے ہیں۔جلد تنازعہ کا مثبت حل نکلے گا۔
