Tag: Rawalpindi

  • Shoaib Akhtar reveals he used to pull a truck to train as a fast bowler

    Shoaib Akhtar reveals he used to pull a truck to train as a fast bowler

    Pakistan’s former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has disclosed the training methods that helped him improve his bowling speed and eventually break the 160kmph barrier in the ICC World Cup 2003.

    In an chat with Sportskeeda, Rawalpindi Express said he started pulling light vehicles on the roads of Islamabad before moving on to pulling a truck for at least 4-5 miles.

    “I use to bowl 157 and 158kmph consistently but somehow I was unable to click 160kph. I started planning to train in order to cross the 160kmph barrier,” said Akhtar.

    “Initially, I tied up myself to a tyre and pulled it but the tyre was too light to build my muscles. Later, during nighttime in Islamabad, I tied myself to a small car and pulled it but this also turned out to be light training for my body.”

    Shoaib Akhtar said he intended to tie himself to a truck and pull it afterwards. This worked out since he began training and was able to pull a truck for nearly 5 kilometres.

    “I doubled my weight training for the sake of building muscles in the gym. This started changing my biomechanics,” he added.

    Shoaib Akhtar made the ICC World Cup bowling record with 161.3 kmph against England in 2003.

  • Heatwave emergency declared in Rawalpindi Zoo

    Heatwave emergency declared in Rawalpindi Zoo

    Ayub National Park Zoo in Rawalpindi has declared a heatwave emergency to safeguard animals from heatstroke and dehydration amid an extraordinary surge in temperature in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. It has been decided to install air-conditioners for animals if the temperature reaches 50 degrees Celsius.

    To prevent heatstroke in lions, bears, monkeys, zebras, deer, wolves, birds, and tigers, water ponds have been installed in their cages, as well as air-coolers and extra fans with ice blocks in their night barracks.

    Army Heritage Foundation Director-General Brig (retd) Asif Akhtar while talking to The Express Tribune said that unusually high temperatures have increased the risk of heatstroke and dehydration in animals and birds, thus the zoo administration has declared an emergency to preserve animals and birds from the heatwave’s detrimental consequences.

    Jungle World Zoo Deputy Director Major (retd) Salman explained that as the temperature rises, the animals’ feeding patterns alter, and the veterinary staff adjusts their nutrition accordingly.

    “Lions, bears, tigers, deer, zebras, monkeys, puma, and wolves are fed a variety of vitamins and minerals in water to protect them from heatstroke and dehydration,” he said.

    In the current situation, the zoo administration has urged visitors not to disturb the animals in cages, as the current heatwave is already causing them harm.

  • Rawalpindi: Transporters continue to overcharge ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr

    Rawalpindi: Transporters continue to overcharge ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr

    The transporters have doubled fares ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, as they do every year, causing trouble to travellers who are heading to their hometowns to spend Eid with their loved ones and family.

    A massive influx of passengers was observed at all bus terminals as well as the Rawalpindi Railway Station. On May 1, both bus and wagon stations, as well as the railway station, were packed with folks heading back to their hometowns to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with their families.

    Transporters at the Pirwadhai, Faizabad, Rawat, Humrahi and Soan Bus/Wagon Terminals were majorly involved in overcharging customers.

    Passengers were spotted frantically sprinting from one bus stop to the next in search of tickets, while transporters took advantage of the situation and asked for higher charges.

    Read more: City Traffic Police Lahore to check overcharging, overloading by transporters on Eid

    Long-distance transporters, on the other hand, were blatantly plundering poor travellers by demanding increased fares in addition to luggage charges.

  • PCB finalises schedule for PSL8 without consulting franchises

    PCB finalises schedule for PSL8 without consulting franchises

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finalised the eighth season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) schedule without consulting the franchises, states Geo News’ sources.

    “There was no discussion between franchises and the PSL management regarding the schedule but despite that, it was finalised,” the franchises were quoted as saying by the sources.

    PSL8 will be held between February 15 and March 31, 2023. The venue has also been finalised as the tournament will take place in four cities of Pakistan — Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi.

    Before the start of the league, international cricket teams — New Zealand and West Indies will visit Pakistan in January 2023.

    It is pertinent to mention that some media reports suggest that the new federal government decided to remove the current Chairman of PCB Ramiz Raja from his position.

  • CDA to spend Rs80 million on maintenance of street lights in Islamabad

    CDA to spend Rs80 million on maintenance of street lights in Islamabad

    The Capital Development Authority (CDA) would spend about Rs80 million on street light repairs and maintenance to keep the city lit at night.

    On several main highways, intersections, connecting roads, marketplaces, and streets in Islamabad, the Authority’s Street Light Department will install new street lights and replace damaged street lights and transformers, according to a CDA spokesman on Wednesday. The tender will be published in national publications soon before work begins.

    He said the administration was committed to providing the necessary resources to the street lighting division in the best interests of the capital city and its citizens, under the leadership of CDA Chairman Aamer Ali Ahmed.

    The continuous functioning of street lights was necessary to offer inhabitants safe transportation and to ensure the city’s security at night, according to the spokesman.

    Allocated Budget for Sectors

    According to information, a budget of about Rs20 million has been put aside for the construction of new street lights on different important highways and linking roads between GT Road and Haj Complex, as well as Sector I-14/2-3.

    Moreover, about Rs19 million has been set aside for the installation of new and contemporary street lights on Sector I-11/2’s key highways, link roads, and marketplaces, as well as the upkeep of broken street lights.

    Read more: Shopkeepers fined in Islamabad for not adhering to DC rates

    Similarly, Rs16 million has been set aside for sector I-16 in order to ensure sufficient illumination on major highways, service roads, and marketplaces. In addition, Rs11 million would be spent on lighting from Sector I-10, Faqir Appi Road, to Victory Pipe Industrial Area.

    The administration has agreed to spend Rs11 million to install new and modern street lights in Sector I-14-1, I-14/3, and I-14/4 to ensure sufficient lighting, and Rs7 million to install new street lights in Sector H-11 from NUST University to Srinagar Highway.

  • Shopkeepers fined in Islamabad for not adhering to DC rates

    Shopkeepers fined in Islamabad for not adhering to DC rates

    On April 27, special teams led by the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration issued fines of up to Rs40,000 to shop owners for overcharging consumers.

    During surprise raids conducted by magistrates and assistant commissioners, shops from several marketplaces were penalised, according to an ICT administration spokesperson.

    Irfan Memon, the Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad, said the administration was enforcing strict adherence to the rate list of food goods in marketplaces during Ramadan in order to prevent profiteering.

    He stated that strict action was being taken against racketeers in the federal capital and that violators were being fined heavily on the spot for overbilling. During the holy month, he claimed, daily price-checking would continue unabated.

    After investigating 628 shops across the city, officials sealed five shops and arrested 12 vendors, according to details.

    Read more: Pakistan’s energy crisis worsens, resulting in ten hours of load shedding

    The AC secretariat inspected dairy, poultry, and milk shops, as well as general stores, bakeries, and fruit and vegetable shops, for quality, general hygiene, expired products, and compliance with notified pricing and the exhibition of the DC rate list of necessary commodities.

    Three merchants were detained for refusing to exhibit the rate list and overcharging, while others who broke the law were fined and warned.

  • ‘Sasta Ramzan Bazaar’ fails to provide relief in third Ashra

    Residents of Rawalpindi are still hoping for some relief at Ramzan Bazaars and utility stores. In the first two Ashras, the ‘Sasta Ramzan Bazaars’ have utterly failed to grab the public‘s interest by offering substandard items at hefty prices.

    People from all walks of life even urged Prime Minister (PM) Shahbaz Sharif to pay unannounced visits to Rawalpindi’s ‘Sasta Ramzan Bazaars’ and other open marketplaces to check the pricing and quality of products being sold in the last ‘Ashra’.

    In fact, all government personnel, even Deputy Commissioners and Commissioners, are expressing minimal concern to provide assistance to the public as they know they will be transferred after the oath of chief minister in Punjab is taken.

    According to trustworthy sources, the Punjab government will deploy strictly professional policemen around the province, especially in Rawalpindi, to bring a positive change despite the fact that the holy month is about to end.

    Read more: Lahore continues to face gas and power outage in Ramzan

    Due to the district government’s incompetence and poor administration, the ‘Sasta Ramazan Bazaars’ organised at Chungi No 22, Jarahi on Adiala Road, Committee Chowk, and Haidri Chowk have all miserably failed to provide assistance to the populace.

  • Praise for Imam-ul-Haq after he sets record in Pak-Aus Test match

    Praise for Imam-ul-Haq after he sets record in Pak-Aus Test match

    Former Pakistan cricket team fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar praised left-handed batsman Imam-ul-Haq for scoring centuries in both innings and Shafique for his maiden Test century against Australia in Rawalpindi.

    Imam scored 111 runs while Shafique scored 136 runs.  

    After five days on the cricket field, the first Test match ended in a draw.

    Meanwhile, Twitter was all praise for Imam-ul-Haq.

  • Pak vs Aus: Imamul Haq, Shafique create Test record against Australia

    Pak vs Aus: Imamul Haq, Shafique create Test record against Australia

    Imam-ul-Haq created a Test record and his opening partner Abdullah Shafique hit a maiden hundred as Pakistan’s first home Test against Australia in 24 years ended in a tense draw in Rawalpindi on Tuesday.

    Imam-ul-Haq was the Player of the Match for scoring hundred in both the innings. He said that he has been working hard for the last couple of years and he feels good to score centuries in both the innings, especially against a team like Australia.

    Shafique finished on 136 as Pakistan were 252 without loss when the match ended without a result.

    The home team led by 208 runs after dismissing Australia for 459 in the morning session. Pakistan declared 476-4 in their first innings.

    Left-arm spinner Nauman Ali grabbed four wickets on Monday and finished with career-best figures of 6-107 in 38.1 overs — his third five-wicket haul in eight Tests. Shaheen Afridi bowled really well.

    The second Test of the series will begin on Saturday, March 12.

    The Australian cricket team is in Pakistan for its first tour of the country in 24 years.

    Pakistani authorities aren’t taking any risks and have deployed 4,100 security personnel, army snipers and road closures for the players.

  • Pindi woman sentenced to death for blasphemous Whatsapp status

    Pindi woman sentenced to death for blasphemous Whatsapp status

    A 26-year-old Muslim woman in Rawalpindi has been sentenced to death for posting blasphemous material on her WhatsApp status, reports Dawn.

    The court ordered that the woman must be “hanged by her neck till she is dead”. She was also given a 20-year jail sentence and a fine of approximately Rs200,000.

    She was arrested in May 2020 on the complaint of Muhammad Hasnat Farooq in the FIA (Federal Investigation Agency) Cyber Crime Wing.

    According to the United States (US) Commission on International Religious Freedom, up to 80 people are jailed in Pakistan on charges of blasphemy.

    In December, a Sri Lankan factory manager working in Sialkot was beaten to death and later burnt by a mob in broad light after being accused of blasphemy.