Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s office has again confirmed the three-year extension given to Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa recently, saying a notification pertaining to the extension in the general’s tenure has already been issued on August 19, Pakistan Today reported.
According to the details, the statement came after a meeting between PM Imran and Gen Bajwa amid reports of an alleged rift between the civilian government and the military establishment. This was the second meeting of the two bigwigs in a week.
During this meeting, the top leaders discussed matters pertaining to national security, said the statement issued by the PM House.
In the earlier meeting, Gen Bajwa met Imran in an apparent attempt to allay the latter’s concerns over the recent political developments in the country. The statement further said that the two sides discussed the prevailing situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir (IoK) and at the western border, and internal security issues were discussed.
The PM’s meeting with the army chief was followed by a meeting with Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt Gen Faiz Hameed on Tuesday.
However, media reports dub these meeting as an attempt to assuage Imran’s concerns by the military. “The government and army are not on the same page due to disagreement on certain points, especially the exit of former PM Nawaz Sharif from the country on health grounds,” reports had earlier stated.
After these statements, military spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor refuted claims of an alleged divide between the country’s civilian and military leadership, reiterating that both sides are on the same page.
“This is baseless gossip. There is absolutely nothing of the sort,” said ISPR director general as he dismissed speculations of a rift.
“The army is supporting a democratically elected government as per the constitution. There will be no let-up in this [support] as it is a must for the progress and prosperity of Pakistan”, he added.
The wildlife department of Gilgit Baltistan has auctioned four licenses for hunting the markhor, the official national animal of Pakistan.
According to a report in Arab News, the Ministry of Climate Change agreed to the licenses, including for trophy hunting of the much in demand flare-horned Astore markhor, a large goat species native to Pakistan. Under the government’s scheme, 12 licenses for markhors are issued every year in Pakistan, four in Gilgit Baltistan.
Each license was sold for over $80,000, from which 80 percent will go to the villages where the hunt takes place for developing their infrastructure. A total of $500,000 was reportedly raised from the auction.
The report, quoting president of a wildlife conservation community in Astore, Abdul Sami, further said that the before the licensing was introduced two decades ago, both residents and influential people would just hunt the animals for fun and meat.
Sami shared that the licensing has benefited rural communities, as the money from permits becomes their development funds.
“We have built schools, hospitals, water supply systems, and maternity homes from the trophy hunting scheme in the area,” Sami said, disapproving criticism against markhor hunting.
Earlier this year in February, a photograph of American hunter Bryan Kinsel Harlan posing with an Astore markhor he killed had invited social media outrage. Harlan had reportedly paid a record $110,000 to shoot it on a tourist expedition to Pakistan’s northern Himalayan region of Gilgit-Baltistan.
Meanwhile chief conservator Zakir Hussain claimed that the markhors would have been extinct had it not been for the licensing program. The population of markhors in the Astore Valley is currently 2,500. According to the wildlife department’s data, the markhor population in the province has increased to over 6,000 from a mere 200 in the 1990s.
Trophy hunting season runs from November to April. As markhors prefer cold, they can usually be found at the height of 8,000-11,000 feet, however, during winters they descend to 5,000-6,000 feet.
Markhor hunting usually takes place at dawn or dusk. Hunting of female and young animals below the age of six is strictly forbidden. The age of the markhor is determined by its horns, the older the markhor is, the bigger its horns will be. Markhors live about 15 years on average. The hunter is accompanied by wildlife department officials who ensure that everything is done as per the law.
Karachi witnessed a very strange story of a robbery, in Korangi No.5.
According to reports, thieves entered a house in Karachi where they held three women hostage.
The robbers started looting and had grabbed all valuables inside the house. After raiding most of the cupboards and rooms inside the house, they entered the room where they had held the women hostage.
One of the women from the three shouted out and prohibited them from entering claiming that her husband had died recently and she was in “Iddat” and according to Islamic values and traditions she was not to see another man till a set period of time.
When the thieves got to know this, they left all the valuables and left the house, asking the women to pray from God so that he may ease their difficulties.
The women then told the whole story to their surprised neighbours. They did not report the matter to the police and the inquiry of local police came back empty-handed.
Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has said that when he saw the former premier Nawaz Sharif climbing the stairs of the plane he remembered the doctors’ reports, which said the patient ‘will be gone [forever]’ if not allowed to go abroad, Geo News reported.
According to the details, PM Imran while addressing a gathering in Mianwali after putting the foundation stone for a hospital said that in the reports it was written that “the patient had heart problems, kidney problems, high sugar and if the patient is not allowed to go abroad then he will be ‘gone’ [forever].”
PM said that he wondered if Sharif’s recovery owes to the luxurious plane he travelled in or to the London climate, adding that he seeks clarity on the issue and that the matter needs to be investigated.
The prime minister taunted former PM again by saying that maybe Nawaz had recovered by simply looking at the plane “since it was such a magnificent plane and a common man cannot travel in such an aircraft”.
The statements from PM Imran have come only a few days after he had put the burden of letting Nawaz travel abroad for treatment on Pakistan courts.
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Imran Khan had earlier said in an indirect reference to Nawaz’s travel to London that there are separate laws for the weak and powerful in the country, requesting the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Asif Saeed Khosa to deliver prompt justice.
PM also urged CJP Khosa and puisne judge of the Supreme Court Justice Gulzar Ahmed to come forward and restore public confidence in the judiciary.
CJP Khosa later responding to PM’s remarks reagarding the judiaciary said that Imran Khan himself agreed for ‘someone’ to travel abroad, so it should not be said that the judiciary was the sole authority in the matter.
CJP added, “Do not taunt us regarding the powerful, everyone is equal before the law”.
After CJP Khosa’s remarks Imran Khan clarified his stance and said that the government agreed to allow the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo for medical treatment on “humanitarian grounds”.
Nadia Jamil has been using her social media to bring awareness to a cause she feels deeply about.
The actor-activist has been sharing some heartbreaking stories of children being raped and her words are enough to send a shiver down your spine.
Nadia is not sharing heartbreaking stories to raise awareness, she is also calling out the authorities to take swift action and work towards the protection of children.
Meanwhile, Nadia’s upcoming drama serial Damsa will also highlight child abuse and trafficking.
Nadia will play a nurse in the drama which will “highlight the concepts of marriage, children and the dangerous reality of child trafficking.”
Nadia said that she dedicates her performance to “all the children of Pakistan, who wait and never give up hoping.”
Who does not like sales? Girls (and guys), its time to shop and enjoy this weekend by spending money on all the things you have been waiting to buy.
The Current has listed a few brands that have blessed or white Friday sales this weekend
BTW’S great Friday sale offers up to 50% sale on Friday 22nd Nov
Official website link: https://btwonline.pk/
On Warda, you can get 30% off on selected items from 21st-24th Nov
Official website link: https://www.warda.com.pk/
Origins is giving Up to 40% discount on 22nd Nov, Friday.
Official website link: https://www.originsestore.com/
Ego has the Friday sale upto 50% off.
Official website link: https://wearego.com/
White Friday sale of outfitters and Ethnic offer 30%off from 22nd nov -24th Nov.
Official website link: https://outfitters.com.pk/
Weekend sale is from 22nd-24TH Nov.
Shoebox is giving flat 25% off on all stock.
Bata has sales for the 3 days of the coming weekend
The Royals tour of Pakistan was definitely one of the highlights of the year and the Princess’ wardrobe was the cherry on top. Duchess Kate stole the show with a number of traditional dresses from local designers including Maheen Khan, Gul Ahmed and Khadija Shah.
And it appears that the Duchess was very pleased with her wardrobe because Khadija of Élan got a signed thank you note from Kate herself.
Khadija shared a picture of the letter on Twitter and expressed her happiness over receiving it.
Along with appreciating the designer for her work, the letter also said: “Pakistan really is a wonderful country, which we both thoroughly enjoyed visiting and hope to return one day soon.”
Kate had worn a cream and black embroidered outfit by the designer label as she boarded a plane back to Islamabad after an unexpected storm had disrupted their schedule and forced the royal couple to spend the night in Lahore.
Kate wore the same outfit to a private visit the royal couple undertook to the SOS Village in Lahore.
Kate and William visited Pakistan for the first time in October. Their five-day tour had a jam packed schedule which included visits to Lahore, Islamabad and Chitral.
Date : 23rd Nov
Time: 8 PM – 12 AM
Venue: Mövenpick Hotel Karachi, Club Road, Karachi
Date : 23rd Nov, Saturday
Time: 8-10PM
Venue: MAD School, Karachi,
Date : 23rd-24th Nov
Time: Sat-Sun
Venue: Black Box Sounds, Street 17, Plot 3 Jillania Market G-8/1, Islamabad.
Date : 24th November, Sunday
Time: 8
PM – 11 PM
Venue: Governor house, Lahore
Date : Nov 22 at 3 PM – Nov 24 at 12 PM
Venue: Fortress Square, Mian Mir Bridge, Fortress Stadium.
The Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Division (PASSD) has announced that it will partner with Facebook to handle malnutrition in Pakistan.
As per details, Ehsaas will host a first-of-its-kind ‘Design Hackathon’ on malnutrition at the National Incubation Centre, Islamabad on December 14 and 15.
The Designed Hackathon will connect experts in malnutrition with
digital marketers who with the help of Facebook, will build innovative digital
campaigns around the specific challenges of malnutrition.
Speaking on the matter, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation Dr Sania Nishtar said, “Ehsaas is bringing together the smartest talent in digital marketing and technology to tackle malnutrition across the country and improve millions of lives.”
“Social media is an important medium through which we can educate the public, and we are excited to see the results of this pioneering,” she added.
Millions of children in Pakistan suffer health and development consequences due to malnutrition. At least 703 children have died due to malnutrition and different diseases in the Tharparkar district in 2019.
The Ehsaas Programme with this partnership with technology and social media platforms aims to reach new people across Pakistan with educational messages on malnutrition and the different sides associated with this disease.