Current Final

Tag: Pakistan

  • Rights groups denounce PEMRA’s efforts to regulate web content

    Rights groups denounce PEMRA’s efforts to regulate web content

    Digital rights activists on Tuesday rejected the proposal of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to regulate digital content and Over the Top TV (OTT).

    According to the details, PEMRA on Tuesday released a document titled “Consultation on Regulating the Web TV & OTT Content Services” on its website, seeking comments on the matter by February 14, which drew strong reactions.

    The document proposes a number of regulatory guidelines, including licensing, inspection, content regulation and putting a complaint handling mechanism in place for web TV and OTT platforms.

    In response to the document, the participants were of the view that any such measures would cause regression in Pakistan’s digital growth. Furthermore, that the measures would curb freedom of expression, increase censorship and diminish digital rights for Pakistanis.

    A press release in this regard said that the draft regulations “are thinly disguised as draconian attempts to discourage new media journalism, including YouTube/website channels being run by Pakistani journalists who have been forced out from mainstream media over the past two years by the authorities to curtail their professional and/or entrepreneurial work or dozens of entrepreneurial and non-legacy current affairs news and current affairs websites that are filling the gaps in information from legacy media and providing useful local community information”.

  • Robbers ask shopowner for forgiveness after looting his grocery store

    Robbers ask shopowner for forgiveness after looting his grocery store

    After robbing a utility store in Sharifabad, unidentified armed men robbed asked the shopkeeper to forgive them for their offense as they ran away.

    According to the shopkeeper, Atique, two men came at his store and robbed it of two 10 kilograms sacks of flour, at least 10 kilograms of pulses, 10 bags of cooking oil and ghee and five kilograms of various spices. They also took his mobile phone and cash on gunpoint and also looted another employee at the store when he came for work.

    Atique told that before escaping, the robbers asked him for forgiveness. They said to him that this was the first time they had robbed a store. “They said they would not have done such an awful crime if they weren’t forced to by their need,” he said.

    The shopkeeper said that both the robbers were young and had not covered their faces. He complained that although he had informed the police immediately after the incident, they could not be arrested.

  • Pakistan launches first electric rickshaw

    Pakistan launches first electric rickshaw

    It’s time to bid goodbye to those rickshaws which produce poisonous gases or make noise because Pakistan is introducing electric rickshaws. These new electric rickshaws will run on batteries and will be completely manufactured in Pakistan.

    According to manufacturers, this new mode of transport will soon be seen on roads.

    “But for that to happen, it’s very important that the government endorses these vehicles. If this rickshaw will be successful in the country and its demand increases, many other vehicles will be converted soon”, an industrialist said.

    The three-wheelers were launched at the event ‘Showcasing Pakistan’s First Fully-Electric Three-Wheel Vehicle’ that was inaugurated by PM’s Adviser on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam.

    The adviser said, “By the end of this year the electric vehicle policy will be fully launched in the country. The policy will boost the concept of pollution-free vehicles in the country”.

    The electric vehicles do not emit smoke or make noise pollution and cut fuel cost as well, Aslam added.

  • UK permits its citizens to travel to Pakistan’s northern areas

    UK permits its citizens to travel to Pakistan’s northern areas

    The United Kingdom has permitted its citizens to travel to tourist spots in Pakistan’s northern areas, due to the better security situation of the country.

    The announcement was made by the British High Commissioner to Islamabad Dr. Christian Turner. 

    This is the first main update in the UK travel advisory since 2015 following the return of British Airways to Pakistan in June 2019 and the royal visit of Prince William and Kate Middleton in October 2019.

    The announcement is the “result of a comprehensive review of UK travel advice for Pakistan, based on a wide-ranging assessment of the country’s security situation,” reads a statement published on the British government website.

    “Among other changes, the advice now allows for travel by road to the North of Pakistan as well as the Kalesh and Bamboret Valleys.”

    High Commissioner Turner appreciated the Government of Pakistan for providing a better security environment over the past years.

    “Following my arrival in December 2019, I made this review of the travel advice a priority. I am delighted that British nationals will be able to see more of what Pakistan has to offer,” he said.

  • Can you get coronavirus through your AliExpress order?

    Can you get coronavirus through your AliExpress order?

    Chinese health authorities have said that the international outbreak of respiratory illness caused by coronavirus has killed over 70 people and affected at least 1,500 others.

    The deadly outbreak began in Wuhan, China, at a market selling live poultry, seafood and wild animals. Now the virus has turned up in Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam, Nepal, France, Australia and even the United States. Investigators in still other countries, including Pakistan and several American states, are evaluating possible cases.

    Officials in China have closed transportation links from and within Wuhan and other affected cities. The move was a significant escalation in the country’s attempts to contain the virus as millions embarked on holiday travel for the Lunar New Year.

    ALIEXPRESS POSING ANY THREATS?

    With news of the outbreak taking the world by storm and people going an extra mile to protect themselves and their loved ones, someone has pointed out how global population might be at risk due to ordering stuff from Chinese online shopping giant, AliExpress.

    Launched by the Alibaba Group in 2010, AliExpress is made up of small businesses in China and other locations, such as Singapore, that offer products to international online buyers.

    But can ordering stuff from China also get the virus delivered to your doorstep?

    The answer is no. Reports quoted Epidemiologist Zoran Radovanovic as saying that an order from AliExpress takes several weeks to be delivered, and the virus cannot survive that long. The length of time it survives primarily depends on the conditions — whether it’s damp, dark, and on what surface it finds itself, because it’s easier to survive on plastic than on metal.

    In the case of this virus, it’s a matter of hours — it can survive for several hours on a surface, but not for several days. So chances are that if you pay extra for faster delivery, you could end up being at risk of getting infected.

  • Azad Kashmir president challenges Indian army chief to attack valley

    Azad Kashmir president challenges Indian army chief to attack valley

    Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan has dared Indian chief of army staff (COAS) to attack the region, adding that the armed forces of the country were ready to avert any and all attacks against its soil.

    Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane, in his maiden press briefing as the top Indian military commander, had on January 11 said that the forces were ready to take appropriate action to gain control over Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

    The statement had come five months after Indian Foreign Minister (FM) Subrahmanyan Jaishankar had said that he expected India to gain physical control over AJK one day.

    “Don’t forget what has happened in the past. The armed forces of Pakistan are always ready to give a befetting response to India,” Khan reportedly said on Saturday.

    Khan further said that if the United States (US) wanted to act as a mediator in resolving the Kashmir dispute, it would have to take action against the brutalities of Indian forces in held Kashmir first. “The troubled valley is a living hell. Youngsters are being imprisoned, people are being electrocuted and even kids are being labelled as enemies.”

    He also thanked China for playing its role in highlighting the issue in the United Nations (UN).

  • Edhi shelter raided after girl allegedly dies of torture

    Edhi shelter raided after girl allegedly dies of torture

    A judicial magistrate along with the team of the Sindh Social Welfare Department raided an Edhi shelter home in Karachi’s Clifton Thursday after a girl allegedly died of torture there.

    A woman in her complaint registered in the Clifton police station had stated that a girl was tortured to death by a teacher at the shelter home.

    As per reports, SSWD (Sindh Social Welfare Department) officials took seven girls into protective custody during the raid. The statements of around 150 girls were documented in the presence of the judicial magistrate and seven of them complained that they were tortured. The girls were handed over to the Sindh Social Welfare Department.

    Meanwhile, the Head of the Edhi Foundation Faisal Edhi rebutted the allegations and termed the case as baseless saying that the girl died a natural death because she was sick.

    “It was a natural death that was why it wasn’t reported to the police”, he stated.

    He said the complainant had been living in the shelter home since her childhood, adding that her brother wanted to take her home with him which is why “all these stories were being made up”.

    Faisal further said that 150 girls were present inside the shelter home at the time of the raid and only seven of them agreed to leave, adding that the girls who were taken into protective custody had “liberal views”.

  • Woman accuses interviewer of ‘trying to seduce PM Imran’, gets called out

    Woman accuses interviewer of ‘trying to seduce PM Imran’, gets called out

    A woman has accused CNBC journalist Hadley Gamble, who interviewed Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, of wearing a short dress “to seduce” the Pakistani premier.

    “Could her dress have been any shorter? In Davos no less where it’s -6 degrees. Is she interviewing him or trying to seduce him? [sic]” Doreen Kiani tweeted along with a clip of PM Imran’s interview to the American media outlet.

    https://twitter.com/DoreenKiani/status/1220249781580247040

    It wasn’t later that the journalist called Kiani out and said that the premier was “a bit old” for her.

    THE INTERVIEW:

    Earlier, PM Imran roundly rejected the notion being projected by US officials that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was some sort of a debt trap for Pakistan.

    Speaking to Gamble during the interview, he said Pakistan was grateful to China as it had helped the country in difficult times by making investments. “We were at rock bottom when the Chinese [government] came and rescued us,” the PM said.

    Responding to a question, the premier rejected the impression that CPEC had made Pakistan ‘indebted’ to China and pointed out that Chinese loans accounted for only 5-6 per cent of Pakistan’s total loan portfolio.

    “CPEC envisages cooperation in different sectors, including technology transfer in the agriculture sector,” he said.

    The premier also spoke of the Kashmir issue, his meeting with United States (US) President Donald Trump, Pak-US ties and tensions that continue to soar between Washington and Tehran.

  • I have more money than he has hair: Shoaib Akhtar about India’s Sehwag

    I have more money than he has hair: Shoaib Akhtar about India’s Sehwag

    Former Pakistani bowling star Shoaib Akhtar has dismissed former Indian batsman Virender Sehwag’s claim that Rawalpindi Express showers praise on India because “it makes business”.

    An old video, showcasing Sehwag, had recently resurfaced and made waves on social media in which the former Indian sportsman says Akhtar praises cricket rivals as it would make him a quick buck, The News reported.

    Akhtar, while speaking to a private media outlet on Wednesday, explained that the video was taken out of proportion and sarcastically remarked that he had “more money than Sehwag had hair on his head”.

    “Sehwag is a great friend of mine. He spoke these words in a light-heartened way but people were quick to take things out of context,” he said. “I mean, I have more money than he has hair on his head.”

    Furthermore, Akhtar clarified that other big names in Pakistan cricket would share kind words for the neighbours and added that “jealous” people want to divide the two cricket nations.

    “I have fans across the world, not just in India. That’s why I have the fastest growing YouTube channel. It does not mean that I’m looking to make money if I compliment them. Ramiz Raja and Rashid Latif say good things about India as well.”

    “I do think that there is a factor of jealousy, I have been targeted time and time again we are already politically divided but now people want to divide cricket as well,” he said.

  • Aurat March Manifesto is out, here is what it says

    Aurat March Manifesto is out, here is what it says

    It is not a secret that women get unequal treatment in the Pakistani society. Their rights are infringed, their labour is not recognised, and they are underpaid. 

    The enlightened class, mostly students, who take interest in social and political issues have now started to raise their voice for women rights.

    Last year when the poster of Aurat March was released, it received lots of comments, ranging from sexists jokes to rape threats.
    Despite the overwhelming backlash, the Aurat March will be organized on the 8th March of 2020. This time here is what they are fighting for.

    Economic Justice: 

    The exploitation of women working in formal and informal industries should be liberated from capitalistic exploitation. Also, a safe working environment as per the workplace act 2010 should be ensured by providing a harassment-free environment.

    Environmental Justice 

    Apart from women rights, they also demand protection for animal rights, clean drinking water, and recognization of women role in the production of food. 

    Accountability against violence

    The activists demand an immediate end of gender-based violence against women and minorities in the online and offline world.

    There should be strong accountability against the state repression against women and transgenders. Moreover, they demand strong implementation of anti-harassment laws in workplaces to make offices and public spheres a safe place for suppressed genders.

    Police brutality  

    Police reforms acts should be implemented to curb the abuse of power by state institutions. The activists also stand in solidarity with the victims of police brutality like the family of Naqeebullah Mehsud or Sahiwal massacer.  

    Enforced disappearances 

    The state should immediately halt the unlawful practice of abducting people unlawfully as it is the gravest violence of human rights. Women have also been disappeared and a huge number of families have suffered because of the state violence.

    Inclusion 

    The public spaces should be made friendly for disabled people, their efforts should be recognized. People with less visible disabilities like chronic and mental illnesses should be recognized and victims should be accommodated. 

    Reproductive justice

    They petition the government to amend the Child Marriage Restraint Act 1929 and the minimum age should be raised from 16-18. 

    The women and suppressed gender should have total autonomy over their bodies and quality reproductive and sexual health facilities should be made accessible to women and genders.

    Access to public space

    They demand safe access for women in public space and streets for their social and political activities. They also demand affordable and inclusive public transport and clean public toilets for women.

    Furthermore, there should be no moral policing against women.  

    Anti-war

    They believe that war is a business and no one wins except corruption, and it further strengthens hatred and masculinity that deeply divides society. Moreover, they argue that the Kashmir issue is deliberately created by the stakeholders of power for their vested interests. 

    Kashmiris should be given the right for self-determination and the violence of the state and non-state actors should be condemned. As feminists, they denounce warmongering, militarization, and politics of destruction – they will keep their activism against it.