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Tag: Top News

  • PM Imran all set for another modest US trip

    PM Imran all set for another modest US trip

    After his austere United States (US) trip from earlier this year, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan is all set for another one of the same kind as merely $162,000 (Rs25 million) from taxpayers’ money will be spent, The Express Tribune reported.

    The premier will reach Washington on September 21, where he will not only hold meetings with US President Donald Trump among other top government officials, but also address the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session.

    It is also believed that PM Imran will once again take a commercial flight instead of opting to charter a plane in a bid to save money as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government continues to attempt to reduce the burden on the national exchequer.

    Previously, the premier’s visit to the US had cost the treasury around $67,180 (Rs11 million). Around Rs1.35 million were spent on accommodation for PM’s 27-member delegation, while the PM chose to stay at Pakistan Embassy instead of some lavish hotel.

    According to the details of the expenditures, an amount of Rs92,120 were incurred on transport, Rs142,000 on gifts, Rs6,075,800 on airfare, miscellaneous expenditures stood at Rs1,287,460, tips at Rs706,001 and meals at Rs1,389,077.

  • Buzdar’s metro plan backfires, number of commuters falls by 20,000

    Buzdar’s metro plan backfires, number of commuters falls by 20,000

    Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar-led provincial government’s Metro Bus fare policy has backfired as both Lahore and Rawalpindi-Islamabad metro buses have faced a drastic decrease in the number of passengers.

    According to The News, after the Punjab Metro Bus Authority increased the bus fare from Rs20 to Rs30, the number of commuters on Lahore Metro Bus has decreased by up to 20,000 per day while around 10,000 to 20,000 passengers have stopped commuting via the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus.

    “We were expecting an annual increase of Rs800 million in the revenue of Punjab Mass Transit Authority (PMTA) by increasing the fare. However, it is quite surprising that the number of passengers has decreased up to 20,000 in Lahore and 10,000 to 20,000 in Rawalpindi-Islamabad on a daily basis,” reports quoted an official as saying.

    It is very strange for us to know that passengers are so sensitive about the fare, the official said further. “The PMTA management is preparing the report on this unexpected outcome which will be presented to the authorities concerned in a week or two.”

  • PCB announces probables for Pak-Sri Lanka series

    PCB announces probables for Pak-Sri Lanka series

    Head coach and chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq has named 20 probables for the training camp, which will commence at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore from Wednesday.

    In a press release, PCB has announced that the camp is being set-up to prepare the side for the upcoming ODI and T20I series against Sri Lanka, which will be held from 27 September to 9 October.

    Sarfaraz Ahmed has been retained as captain for the series, while Babar Azam has been named as vice-captain.

    The appointments were confirmed by PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani, following the recommendations made by Misbah-ul-Haq and the PCB Cricket Committee.

    Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik have not been named in the probables as they have been granted NOC until 12 October to participate in the Caribbean Premier League.

    Following are the names of the Probables:

    Sarfaraz Ahmed (captain), Babar Azam (vice-captain), Abid Ali, Ahmed Shehzad, Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Umar Akmal, Usman Shinwari and Wahab Riaz.

  • Supreme Court orders Modi govt to restore normalcy in Kashmir

    Supreme Court orders Modi govt to restore normalcy in Kashmir

    The Supreme Court of India (SCI) on Monday ordered the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi-led government to restore normalcy in occupied Kashmir “as soon as possible while keeping in mind national safety and security.”

    “Schools, hospitals, public transport should function properly,” said the ruling of a three-member bench of India’s apex court.

    According to Dunya News, the ruling came as the SCI took up multiple pleas against the Indian premier’s August 5 decision of revoking the special autonomy of Indian-occupied Kashmir (IoK).

    The court has ordered the government to submit a report mentioning the actual situation in the region that has been lockdown for 43 days with communication blackout.

    During the hearing of petitions, Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi remarked that if “requirement arises”, he would himself visit Jammu and Kashmir and expressed concerns over reports of inaccessibility of Kashmiris to the high court.

  • Pakistan unveils schedule for sending first-ever astronaut to space

    Pakistan unveils schedule for sending first-ever astronaut to space

    Federal Minister for Science and Technology Chaudhry Fawad Hussain has said that Pakistan is committed to sending its first astronaut to space by 2022, ARY News reported.

    According to the details, the minister said that China would collaborate with Pakistan in its space mission and the selection process for the astronaut would start in 2020.

    He added that 50 people will be selected in the initial selection process and then the list would come down to 25 in 2022, out of them only one would be sent to space.

    The minister also said that the debris of India’s first space mission namely ‘Shakti’, which had failed, was even posing dangers to the space missions of other countries.

    Furthermore, Fawad said that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) will play an important role in the astronaut’s selection.

    Earlier, on July 25, the minister had announced that Pakistan would send its first citizen to space by 2022 following a selection process.

  • Man accuses police of ‘stealing his 23 premium liquor bottles’

    Man accuses police of ‘stealing his 23 premium liquor bottles’

    A man has appealed to the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO), complaining that he was arrested on trumped-up charges of possessing 60 litres of local liquor, Pakistan Today reported.

    According to reports, Muhammad Javed, a resident of Okara district, stated that Lahore’s Defence-A police confiscated from him alcohol worth Rs455,000, including five bottles of Grand Fish, five bottles of Royal Flavored and 13 bottles of Gold Label.

    “Defence-A police snatched away 23 branded bottles from my car when I was driving to DD Block of Defence Phase IV,” said the appellant.

    “I was taken into custody and a false case of 60-litre local liquor was lodged against me,” he said. In addition, he said that he also had to pay Rs32,500.

    Javed inquired as to what became of the alcohol which was recovered from his possession since it would not show up in police records.

    On Sept 1, 2019,  Defence-A Police Station lodged an FIR against Muhammad Javed and charged him under The Prohibition (Enforcement of Hadd) Order, 1979-3 and The Prohibition (Enforcement of Hadd) Order 1979-4 for possession of “local liquor” on Sept 1, 2019.

    According to the FIR, an informant had told the police that Javed was carrying two barrels of local liquor and waiting for customers near Al-Fatah store in DD block, phase 4, DHA. As per the FIR, the police arrested Javed, recovered 60 litres of liquor and also impounded his vehicle.

    Defence-A Police SHO Rana Akhtar Ali denied allegations made against his department, saying that Javed is, in fact, a bootlegger and the FIR was registered on the basis of what was found from the spot.

    “60-litre liquor was recovered from the accused, who is apparently operating on someone else’s directions. We are investigating the matter and soon the real culprit(s) will also be arrested,” the SHO said.

    He further added, “He may go to anyone he wants but we stand with our stance and have solid proof.”

  • Tips on how to save money

    Tips on how to save money

    We all struggle with saving money. And considering Pakistan’s volatile economic situation, it is imperative for us to save money for a more secure and stable future.

    Compiled from CNBC, here are seven tips you can apply in your everyday life to save money.

    Keep your expenses very, very low

    Keep your expenses low by avoiding spending on things you don’t need. Think twice before you buy anything – from food to clothes – and ask yourself if you really need it. Frugal living is the way to go.

    Pack lunch for work

    We often end up spending a lot of money by eating out or ordering food for lunch every day during the workweek. This puts a big dent on your pocket. Plan your meals ahead and take lunch from home. You’ll be surprised to see the money you’ve saved at the end of the month and how much healthier it is.

    Don’t go out every night

    Going out has become an important part of our days, and weekends and it tends to be very heavy on the pocket. Instead of going out, plan one-dish get-togethers at homes. The point is to spend time with each other.

    Cut down on groceries

    Before you head to the grocery store, make sure you have a full stomach and a prepared list of items you want to buy. That way, you won’t get sidetracked by things you don’t need or food cravings that pop up while you’re there. Also, buy things in bulk – you’ll save a few rupees.

    Save 40% to 50% of your earnings

    Growing your money isn’t just about keeping expenses low, it’s also about making a plan to save what you have leftover. Put your savings in a savings account or invest them somewhere so you are not tempted to use them.

    Start a side job

    Opportunities are endless and if you have a skill or some extra time on your hands, utilise it to start a small side business which can contribute to your income.

    Don’t get caught up in comparison

    This is probably the most important tip of them all. A lot of the time, people end up spending money they don’t have on something they don’t need — usually because someone else has it or expects them to have it.

    Everyone wants to flaunt around their wealth but you should never feel the need to spend money to impress anyone. If you do, you may find yourself competing way past what your budget allows.

  • PM Imran, Maulana Tariq Jamil among top 50 most influential Muslims

    PM Imran, Maulana Tariq Jamil among top 50 most influential Muslims

    Prime Minister Imran Khan and affluent religious scholar Maulana Tariq Jamil have been ranked among the top 50 most influential Muslims in the world.

    The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre in Jordan, in its annual publication of the World’s 500 Most Influential Muslims in 2019, ranked PM Khan at number 29 and Maulana sahab at number 40.

    Other Pakistanis which feature on the list include Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai, CEO Ary Network Salman Iqbal, Muniba Mazari, Abida Parveen, Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan and Dr Umar Saif. Former PM Nawaz Sharif and Maulana Fazal ur Rahman have also made it to the list of top 500 influential Muslims.

    Writing about PM Khan’s challenges, the publication said his “crackdown on corruption and bringing accountability to the forefront has fast made him a global name. He has already implemented cutbacks in extravagant government expenditure and is using his personal credibility to fundraise for a dam.”

    The publication also gave a brief overview of his political journey, his cricketing days and about his philanthropic ventures including Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre and NUML University.

    “A Sporting Legend: Imran Khan played professional cricket for 22 years and is recognised as one of the game’s finest all-rounders. His ability to lead and unite an often disparate team, culminated in Pakistan winning the 1992 World Cup. It is this ability and success that many hope can be replicated in the political field,” read the publication.

    About Maulana Tariq Jamil, the publication said, “Maulana Tariq has delivered thousands of lectures around the world. He has been very effective in influencing all types of the community ranging from businessmen and landlords to ministers, actors and sports celebrities.”

    Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan topped the list followed by Saudi King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud (2), King of Jordan Abdullah II ibn Al-Hussein (3), Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei (4) and King of Morocco His Majesty Amir al-Mu’minin (5).

    Others on the list include Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad, MP Sajid Javed and London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Egyptian footballer Mohammed Salah and Islamic scholar, Dr Zakir Naik.

  • Army Chief inaugurates new NUST campus in Quetta

    Army Chief inaugurates new NUST campus in Quetta

    Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa inaugurated the newly-established NUST Campus in Quetta along with Chief Minister Balochistan Jam Kamal Kha. The project had been announced in 2017 and completed over a period of two years.

    In the first batch, 550 students will study BE (Bachelor of Engineering) in Civil Engineering and Computer Sciences and MS disciplines including Water Resource Engineering Management, Tunneling/Mining Engineering and Computer and Allied Sciences programs.

    The new campus has been built as part of Khushal Balochistan Program. The COAS appreciated the efforts of the armed forces and other law enforcement agencies (LEAs) for maintaining law and order situation in the province and facilitating the completion of development projects.

    Addressing students of various educational institutions of Balochistan, the army chief appreciated and encouraged the youth and urged students to equip themselves for upcoming opportunities in different fields.

  • Malala is ‘deeply concerned’ about the situation in Kashmir

    Malala is ‘deeply concerned’ about the situation in Kashmir

    Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, who had been receiving a lot of flak over not speaking up about Indian atrocities in Indian occupied Kashmir, in a series of tweets expressed her concern on the ongoing lockdown in the valley, shared accounts of Kashmiri girls in the area and appealed to world leaders to work towards instilling peace in the valley.