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  • Cabinet Committee grants approval for UAE to build cargo terminal at Karachi Port

    Cabinet Committee grants approval for UAE to build cargo terminal at Karachi Port

    The Cabinet Committee on Inter-Governmental Commercial Transactions has granted approval for the proposed collaboration between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) aimed at establishing a bulk and general cargo terminal at East Wharf, Karachi Port.

    Before the agreement is finalised, it will undergo ratification by the federal cabinet, following which the governments of Pakistan and UAE will officially sign it. The draft agreement, which has been endorsed by the cabinet committee, encompasses various essential aspects.

    These include the terms and conditions of the agreement, the cost estimation for the terminal’s reconstruction, the terminal’s expected lifespan, its maximum cargo handling capacity, the dimensions of the quality wall, royalty details, land rent per square meter in the bonded areas, storage charges, dock labour charges, upfront payment arrangements (adjustable and non-adjustable), as well as the quantum and type of investment involved.

    The Cabinet Committee on Inter-Governmental Commercial Transactions meeting, where the draft agreement received approval, was chaired by Finance Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Monday.

    The committee’s decision was based on a summary presented by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, which outlined the proposed government-to-government agreement between UAE and Pakistan for fostering cooperation in the development of the bulk and general cargo terminal at Karachi Port’s East Wharf. The agreement operates under the framework of the Inter-Governmental Commercial Transaction Act 2022, as indicated by the Ministry of Finance.

  • Court accepts petition declaring Imran Khan’s sisters and PTI leaders absconders

    Court accepts petition declaring Imran Khan’s sisters and PTI leaders absconders

    An anti-terrorism court in Lahore has accepted a petition filed by the police to declare Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s sisters and other PTI leaders ‘absconders’ for not cooperating with the ongoing investigation related to the May 9 riots cases.

    Police told the court that PTI leaders are not cooperating with the investigation and are currently in hiding. According to the police, those PTI leaders are involved in the May 9 riots.

    The police, therefore, pleaded with the court to declare the aforementioned individuals “absconders”.

    The court has initiated the process with Aleema Khan, Uzma Khan, Aslam Iqbal, Hammad Azhar, Farrukh Habib, Murad Saeed, Zubair Niazi, Hassaan Niazi, Ali Amin Gandapur, Azam Swati, Andleeb Abbas and others named in the plea.

    On the other hand, the court has also extended the judicial remand of PTI’s senior leaders, including Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Ejaz Chaudhary, and former Punjab governor Umar Sarfraz Cheema.

    The court has also directed the police to submit challans against them at the next hearing.

  • Police ‘reluctant’ to register 13-year-old housemaid torture case against civil judge

    Police ‘reluctant’ to register 13-year-old housemaid torture case against civil judge

    A shocking incident of severe torture on a 13-year-old housemaid, employed by a civil judge in Islamabad, has come to light.

    Reportedly, the police are facing accusations of reluctance to register a case against the judge, reported Dawn.

    The civil judge, a member of the Punjab Judicial Service on deputation at the Federal Judicial Academy for about three years, and his wife, are alleged to have subjected the girl to merciless beatings and burns.

    According to the Sargodha District Police Officer, the young girl had been hired as a housemaid through a contractor for a monthly salary of Rs10,000, about six months prior to the incident. The girl’s family was informed by the employer that they were dissatisfied, prompting them to take her back to Sargodha.

    On their way back, the mother noticed the injuries on her daughter’s body, and they sought medical treatment in Sargodha, where it was confirmed to be a case of torture. Due to the severity of her head injuries, the girl was transferred to Lahore for further treatment, with the assistance of the Sargodha police.

    Upon receiving a complaint and a medico-legal certificate detailing the girl’s injuries, police reached out to their counterparts in Islamabad, requesting them to register the case. Unfortunately, the response from the Islamabad police was deemed unprofessional.

    Following media attention on the issue, the Sargodha police once again approached the capital police to file the case. However, the Islamabad police asked for the physical presence of the complainant at their station, despite having received all relevant documents from Sargodha.

    The girl’s father lodged a complaint with the capital police for the case to be registered against the employer at the Humak police station. Police sources also suggested the possibility of a case being registered against the judge for hiring an underage maid and concealing facts.

    The complainant detailed the horrific condition in which they found their daughter, with injuries to her head, hands, legs, and broken teeth. She revealed that she endured daily torture by the judge’s wife, who sometimes denied her food and confined her to a room.

    In response to the allegations, the civil judge claimed that the girl had injured her own head and that his wife had questioned her about a theft incident involving gold ornaments. He further claimed that the marks on her face were a result of her habit of eating clay.

    This distressing incident has raised concerns about the treatment of domestic workers and the need for swift and serious action against such perpetrators.

  • The Ken-ergy is real: BTS’s Jimin gives a shoutout to Ryan Gosling

    The Ken-ergy is real: BTS’s Jimin gives a shoutout to Ryan Gosling

    Real Kens always recognize reach other.

    Ken-ergy king Ryan Gosling gave a shout out to BTS’s Jimin ahead of the Barbie release when he acknowledged that he had worn the same look the K-pop star had for his ‘Permission to dance’ music video.

    “There’s an unspoken rule that if you bite another Ken’s style, you have to give them your prized possession,” Ryan said as he offered Jimin his guitar.

    And now, Jimin has sent back a message to Ryan and the team of Barbie by thanking them for the guitar, adding that he is looking forward to the film.

    This wholesome crossover between two different worlds has taken over Twitter, because when two icons come together to slay you know magic is about to happen.

    BTS cameo in Barbie 2? We’re crossing our fingers and praying.

  • Farah Gogi might become approver against Imran and Bushra

    Farah Gogi might become approver against Imran and Bushra

    According to the sources of The News, former First Lady Bushra Bibi’s close friend Farah Gogi is going to provide evidence against former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife.

    According Murtaza Ali Shah’s report for The News, Farah Gogi has been in contact with Pakistani authorities and has been cooperating with them for nearly a month now.

    On the other hand, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership has told Farah Gogi and her husband Ahsan Jameel Gujjar not to cooperate with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and other legal institutions.

    According to trusted sources, Farah Gogi has also shared important information with the Pakistani authorities.

    The sources stated that Farah Gogi was asked to leave the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the first week of May after the Pakistani government informed the Gulf state that she was a wanted individual and had engaged in corrupt activities while living in Dubai.

    Farah Gogi started a conversation with the Pakistani authorities after reaching Italy, as she has been blacklisted, which means she is unable to enter the UAE because of the cases filed against her.

    According to Pakistani investigators, Farah is involved in selling a Graff watch set, gifted to then-Premier Imran Khan by the Saudi crown prince Mohammad Bin Salman, to Dubai-based businessman Umar Farooq Zahoor for $2 million.

    She has also been named in cases related to bribes for postings and transfers during Usman Buzdar’s tenure as Chief Minister of Punjab. Allegations have been made that the bribes were funneled through Farah Gogi to Bushra Bibi and Imran Khan.

    Azhar Siddique, who is currently in the UK, has been aiding Farah Gogi with her legal issues. He told Murtaza Ali Shah that he was in contact with Farah Gogi and her husband, but he was unaware of their whereabouts. He has also said, “All allegations against Farah Gogi are politically motivated and false. She has done nothing wrong. There is no case against her”.

    Azhar Siddique has also said that he has no knowledge if Farah Gogi is in contact with Pakistani authorities or negotiating with them.

  • US dollar surges against Pakistani rupee for eighth consecutive day in interbank market

    US dollar surges against Pakistani rupee for eighth consecutive day in interbank market

    The US dollar has been steadily appreciating against the Pakistani rupee for eight consecutive days, showing a continued upward trend in its value. On Tuesday, the currency further strengthened in the interbank market.

    At the start of the daily trading session in the interbank market, the American currency gained Rs1.8, reaching a value of Rs289 against the local currency. Over the course of the last eight days, the US dollar has gained Rs12.50 against the rupee in the interbank market.

    Interestingly, on Monday, despite receiving financial support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other friendly countries, the Pakistani rupee depreciated even further against the US dollar.

    According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the dollar’s rate increased by Rs1.1 on Monday, with a closing rate of Rs287.92. In comparison, it had closed at Rs286.81 on Friday, showing a 0.39 per cent decline in the value of the rupee against the US dollar.

  • Petroleum dealers’ strike averted: Govt approves Rs1.64 per litre profit margin increase

    Petroleum dealers’ strike averted: Govt approves Rs1.64 per litre profit margin increase

    The government has successfully reached an agreement with the Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) to avert the strike they had threatened last week. After extensive negotiations, the government agreed to increase the profit margin on petroleum products for dealers by Rs1.64 per litre.

    Chairman of the PPDA, Abdul Sami Khan, made the announcement regarding the deal. Initially, the government had proposed a lower increase of Rs1.64 per litre, but the dealers, who had originally sought a higher increase of Rs5 per litre, resisted, deeming it insufficient to cover their rising business costs. Eventually, they accepted the government’s offer.

    The new profit margin for dealers will be implemented in four phases. Every fortnight, it will be raised by Rs0.41 per litre, culminating in a full raise of Rs1.6 per litre within two months. This will bring the dealers’ margin to Rs7.6 per litre, up from the current Rs6 per litre.

    The decision to strike was initially announced by the PPDA in response to the ongoing inflation crisis. The association stated that increasing interest rates and inflation had severely impacted their businesses and demanded a raise in the dealership margin to cope with the challenges they were facing. They also pointed out a decline in sales by 30%, partly due to the smuggling of Iranian fuel into the country.

    Read more: Petroleum dealers and Minister set to meet today to resolve profit margin dispute

    However, the strike was deferred for two days after the PPDA members engaged in discussions with the State Minister for Petroleum, Musadik Malik. The minister’s visit to Karachi was aimed at convincing the PPDA to call off the nationwide strike.

    In summary, following negotiations with the government, the Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association has agreed to suspend their planned strike, and the government will increase their profit margin on petroleum products in a phased manner over the next two months.

  • Imran Khan gets relief from the court in lawyer’s murder case

    Imran Khan gets relief from the court in lawyer’s murder case

    Imran Khan, Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), had received respite on Monday when the Supreme Court (SC) restricted the police from arresting the former prime minister until August 9 in connection with the Quetta murder of senior lawyer Abdul Razzaq Shar.

    The Supreme Court heard a petition on Monday against the former prime minister’s nomination in the case involving Shar’s killing via gunshot in Quetta.

    On June 6, Advocate Shar was assassinated by unknown individuals on three motorcycles when he was going to the Balochistan High Court (BHC).

    Ataullah Tarar, the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM), claimed that the targeted murder was connected to a treason case Shar was bringing forth against Imran under Article 6 of the Constitution. He has also said that Imran Khan is “directly responsible” for the murder of a famous lawyer.

    A three-judge panel made up of Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Mussarat Hilali ordered Imran Khan  to appear before the court on August 9.

  • PPP denies consensus reached on caretaker Prime Minister as PML-N sticks to Ishaq Dar

    PPP denies consensus reached on caretaker Prime Minister as PML-N sticks to Ishaq Dar

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has on Monday denied that the ruling coalition has reached agreement on who will become interim Prime Minister as reports of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) nominating Finance Minister Ishaq Dar gain traction.

    Minister for Climate Change, Sherry Rehman, held a press conference today to categorically deny that a consensus has been reached after media reports surfaced last night that PPP has agreed to Dar’s nomination.

    “Someone has been crowned as caretaker Prime Minister based on fake news,” Rehman said in a thinly veiled reference to rumors about Ishaq Dar. “We want a level playing field for everyone,” she pointedly said, adding that no name has as yet been suggested to PPP.

    She also stated that her party is forming a committee of three members to make decisions about the caretaker setup.

    News reports about Dar, the father-in-law of the younger daughter of PML-N head Nawaz Sharif, set off frenzied criticism among political analysts and commentators. Dar is a close ally of Nawaz Sharif’s, raising concerns about his neutrality as a caretaker Prime Minister.

    The news was first reported by Express Tribune’s Shehbaz Rana, while The News’ Azaz Syed tweeted last night that PPP had agreed to Dar’s nomination.

  • Latest AI-powered artery scan can predict heart attack risks years before symptoms appear

    Latest AI-powered artery scan can predict heart attack risks years before symptoms appear

    Fountain Life, a pioneering health technology company, has introduced a revolutionary artificial intelligence (AI)-powered coronary artery scan capable of predicting heart attack risks years before symptoms manifest. This groundbreaking outpatient procedure involves a quick CAT scan of the heart following the injection of a specialised dye into the vein.

    By analysing the scan results and detecting the quantity and type of plaque present, the AI technology offers valuable insights into heart health, potentially aiding in the reversal of heart disease. Fountain Life envisions partnering with physicians to make its AI health services widely accessible and shift healthcare from reactive to proactive, focusing on early detection and prevention of chronic diseases.

    The key highlight of Fountain Life’s offering is its AI coronary artery scan, a non-invasive alternative to traditional procedures that holds the potential to transform the landscape of preventive cardiology. The procedure’s effectiveness lies in the AI model, which has been meticulously trained on vast datasets, including asymptomatic conditions, to enhance accuracy and reliability. By allowing early detection and timely intervention, Fountain Life aims to revolutionise the way heart health is managed, potentially saving countless lives.

    In addition to the AI coronary artery scan, Fountain Life has developed an advanced full-body MRI using AI technology to identify various abnormalities, including cancer and neurogenerative diseases. This comprehensive approach ensures that potential health issues are identified across the body, promoting overall well-being and comprehensive care.

    Acknowledging the significance of AI in early detection and treatment decision-making, cardiologists have praised Fountain Life’s initiative. The technology promises to complement their expertise, providing additional tools to enhance patient care and potentially prevent life-threatening heart-related incidents.

    Impressed patients who have undergone the AI coronary artery scan have expressed gratitude for the life-saving potential of this technology. Fountain Life’s commitment to advancing healthcare with AI-based solutions has garnered positive feedback from the medical community and patients alike.

    Nonetheless, the adoption of AI in healthcare may face certain challenges, particularly in addressing the clinical latency gap and adapting payment models to support such innovative approaches. Despite these obstacles, Fountain Life remains steadfast in its belief in the potential to improve patient outcomes by tackling health problems at their root causes.

    One of the major advantages of the AI artery scan is its minimal risk, involving only low-dose radiation, equivalent to that of a transatlantic flight. Fountain Life is dedicated to refining and optimising its procedures further, lowering costs, and ultimately enabling people to lead longer, healthier lives by detecting health issues early and effectively reversing them at an affordable price point.

    Fountain Life’s AI-powered coronary artery scan marks a significant milestone in preventive healthcare, and the company is determined to continue its mission to empower physicians and patients alike in the pursuit of healthier hearts and lives.