Geo news has reported that 10 bodies were found in Karachi in a span of nine hours on Sunday.
Rescue officials revealed that all the individuals were likely drug addicted, adding that three bodies were discovered at the KMC ground in Lyari’s Lashari neighborhood while other were found in Golimar, Jahangir Road, Landhi Godam Chowrangi, Defense Phase Seven, Orangi Town Sector 15, and Khamisu Goth.
The bodies were initially taken to respective police stations and then to the mortuary.
The World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) have approved big loans for Pakistan.
Asian Development Bank
Pakistan and the Asian Development Bank signed a $250 million policy-based loan agreement to promote sustainable infrastructure and services through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).
The agreement also aims to develop post-flood infrastructure, emphasizing climate resilience and gender considerations in project planning.
A technical assistance grant of $700,000 was allocated for program implementation, with an additional $950,000 approved for PPP pipeline development and capacity building.
World Bank
The World Bank has approved loans of $535 million for Pakistan, focused on two key areas: the Crisis Resilient Social Protection (CRISP) Programme and the Sindh Livestock and Aquaculture Sectors Transformation Project.
The CRISP Programme includes a $400 million loan to improve security schemes, particularly through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), to build resilience among vulnerable households against economic and climate shocks.
The World Bank defends criticism against BISP by stressing the need to strengthen social protection despite increasing poverty rates exacerbated by recent economic challenges and climate shocks.
Additionally, the World Bank approved $135 million for the Sindh Livestock and Aquaculture Sectors Transformation Project, which targets climate-smart practices and enhances competitiveness among small and medium producers in Sindh. This initiative aims to benefit over 940,000 farm families, strongly emphasising gender inclusivity and provincial capacity building.
Following a recently revised fatwa from Dar ul Uloom Karachi, the Sindh Institute of Child Health and Neonatology (SICHN) in Karachi announced on Friday the suspension of its ‘Human Milk Bank’ and referred the matter to the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) for further guidance.
“Initially, the Human Milk Bank was established after seeing and receiving a fatwa from Darul Uloom Karachi, which provides religious endorsement to proceed,” the notification stated, elaborating on the basis of establishing SICHN.
However, a recently revised fatwa issued by Darul Uloom Karachi dated June 16, 2024, has prompted SICHN to discontinue the functionality of the Human Milk Bank and seek further guidance from Dar ul Uloom.
Pakistan’s first Shariah-compliant Human Milk Bank and Early Childhood Center at SICHN was inaugurated on June 10 by Sindh Health Minister Dr. Azra Pechuho, along with officials from UNICEF and the Pakistan Pediatric Association (PPA).
It was intended to provide breast milk to babies “born before 34 weeks of gestation or less than 2 kg of weight” who could not receive the required nutrition from their mothers.
The official statement also highlighted details of the fatwa, issued on December 25, 2023, that were made conditional for the endorsement of the milk bank, e.g., that Muslim children only be given Muslim women’s milk, ensuring kinship, hygiene, and that this service should be provided free of cost.
However, the recent fatwa available on Dar ul Uloom Karachi’s official website includes a detailed analysis of the establishment of a milk bank that did not comply with Shariah laws because of the hard maintenance of the concept of kinship and other religious concerns.
Amid intense heat, Karachi continues to face severe electricity load shedding lasting between 12 and 14 hours. Despite the challenging weather, unannounced power cuts persist throughout the city, extending well past 2 am in many areas.
Neighbourhoods such as Lyari, Kemari, Sarjani, Baldia Town, and Orangi endure prolonged load shedding, with interruptions lasting up to 14 hours. Similarly, Gizri, Korangi, Landhi, Liaquatabad, Qayyumabad, and Shadman experience more than 10 hours of power cuts. In Malir, Memongoth, North Karachi, and North Nazimabad, residents face load shedding exceeding 12 hours.
In response to these challenges, a spokesperson for Karachi Electric maintains that power supply across the city remains normal, despite reports of extensive and prolonged interruptions in various neighbourhoods.
New reports reveal that 15 medical and dental colleges across Pakistan have illegally admitted students.
According to officials from the federal health ministry, last year, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) had barred admissions to 15 medical and dental colleges, where over 1200 students are currently enrolled.
Officials reported that despite warnings from the PMDC, these colleges granted illegal admissions to students. Previously, 15 medical colleges had received partial approval from the former Pakistan Medical Commission, while charging students fees and other expenses totaling over one billion.
The colleges in question are located in Karachi, Sanghar, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar. The FIA (Federal Investigation Agency) is currently investigating 18 medical and dental colleges implicated in the admissions scandal.
The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has decided to impose a new electricity tariff by imposing monthly fixed charges for residential consumers from July 1, ARY News reported.
NEPRA has proposed fixed charges of Rs200-1,000 a month in electricity bills, which the government has yet to approve.
As per the proposal, domestic consumers using 301-400 units a month will pay Rs 200 per month from July 1, 2024, while those using 401-500 units will pay Rs400, and end electricity consumers consuming 501-600 are to pay Rs600.
The residential consumers who use the 601-700 units will pay Rs800 a month, and those who use above 700 units will pay Rs1,000 a month.
Residential consumers using the ToU (time of use) meter will also pay Rs1,000 fixed charges a month.
Commercial consumers having load less than five kilowatt will also pay Rs1,000 a month as fixed charges. However, users consuming loads of five kilowatt and above will now pay Rs. 2,000 from the existing Rs500, an increase of 300 percent.
Currently, the total cost of electricity unit comprises 72 percent fixed charges and 28 percent variable charges, according to ARY News.
After Budget 2024-25, the federal government added Rs. 5.72 per unit in power tariff.
NEPRA had already announced that the average electricity tariff would rise to Rs. 35.50 per unit from the current Rs. 29.78.
The Rehman Baba grid station in Peshawar experienced a major technical fault after feeders were forced to remain operational by PTI leaders and their supporters, Geo News reported.
According to the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO), power supply to 32 feeders from the grid station was disconnected after they were forced to continue.
The spokesperson stated that at 2 o’clock that day, protesters forcibly entered the grid station and switched on the feeders.
The angry protesters reportedly verbally abused the PESCO staff and confiscated their mobile phones.
A PESCO team is currently engaged in repair work. Restoring electricity may take hours, and consumer issues are escalating due to ongoing protests.
Previously, Fazal Elahi, PTI Member of the Provincial Assembly, entered the Rehman Baba Grid Station and restored power to 10 feeders.
While earlier this week, Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur visited the Dera Ismail Khan grid station following unannounced load shedding of electricity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He issued a clear threat to the federal government, stating that if power supply to the National Grid from the province is reduced, he will halt it. Gandapur further criticised WAPDA for mistreating the province, accused government officials of holding positions through electoral fraud, and asserted that the federal government is neglecting its responsibilities.
Pakistanis celebrated Eid-ul-Azha from June 17 to 19. During this extended break, more than 400,000 tourists reportedly visited various tourist spots in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Over 174,000 tourists visited Naran Kaghan, 162,000 tourists traveled to Galiyat, 46,000 visited Malam Jabba, and 23,000 explored Upper Dir.
According to the tourism department, 2,920 tourists visited Upper Dir, 1,830 visited Lower Chitral, and 570 explored Upper Chitral during this period.
Many people from developing countries aspire to acquire citizenship in European states. Some countries offer relatively straightforward paths to citizenship, while others present significant challenges. Sweden stands out as the easiest country in Europe for obtaining citizenship, whereas Estonia and Latvia are the most challenging.
A recent study by CIS analysed Eurostat immigration data from 2009 to 2021 to identify which countries have the highest and lowest rates of non-EU residents acquiring citizenship.
The analysis revealed that the nine most challenging countries to obtain citizenship are located in Central Europe. Estonia ranks as the most difficult country for non-EU citizens to naturalise, with the lowest average acquisition rate—approximately one in 200 residents. Additionally, the acquisition rate for men in Estonia is lower at 0.58 percent compared to 0.69 percent for women.
Latvia, the Czech Republic, and Lithuania also have acquisition rates of less than 1 percent for non-Europeans, contrasting sharply with the average of 3.56 percent across European countries. Austria, Liechtenstein, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Germany follow, granting citizenship to about one in fifty non-EU residents. Denmark, outside Central Europe, presents the next highest hurdle with an acquisition rate of 2 percent.
Over the past decade, six of the ten most challenging countries have seen an increase in citizenship grants year-on-year, particularly Denmark, which experienced a notable rise. Germany’s acquisition rate remained stable, while Latvia, Lithuania, and Slovenia saw declines.
Many countries implement various programs aimed at attracting foreigners, including opportunities for investment, as well as citizenship and tax benefits.
Individuals seeking migration often favour Golden Visa and Golden Passport routes, terms that are sometimes used interchangeably despite minor distinctions.
10 Easiest European Countries to Get Citizenship
According to the report, Sweden ranks as the easiest country, with nearly one in ten (9.3 Perce) non-EU residents obtaining citizenship—more than double the EU average.
Sweden boasts the highest acceptance rates for both genders, with women experiencing a slightly higher acceptance rate of 10.02 percent compared to 8.66 percent for men.
Norway, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Iceland follow as the second to fifth easiest countries to acquire citizenship, with an acquisition rate of one in 25 (4 percent).
Data shows that northern European countries generally have the highest citizenship acquisition rates, with Sweden, Norway, Iceland, and Finland leading the pack.
In southern Europe, Portugal emerges as the easiest, while the Netherlands, Ireland, and the United Kingdom are the most accessible Western European states for citizenship. The UK ranks eighth, with nearly three in 50 (3.2 percent) residents granted citizenship.
Poland and Croatia are the easiest countries in Central Europe for changing nationality, with acquisition rates of 4 percent and 3.9 percent respectively. Northern and Western Europe present the most accessible regions for nationality changes, with an acquisition rate of 5.9 percent compared to 1.9 percent in Central Europe and 3.6 percent in the South.
Today, June 21, will be the longest day and shortest night of the year.
The duration of the day today will be about 14 hours, while the duration of the night will be 10 hours.
After July 1, the length of day will begin to decrease gradually, and on September 22, the length of day and night will be almost equal.
Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfraz told Samaa, that today in Islamabad, the day will be 14 hours 32 minutes, and the night will be 9 hours 28 minutes, while in Karachi, the day will be 13 hours 41 minutes and the night will be 10 hours 19 minutes.