British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has congratulated Shehbaz Sharif on becoming Prime Minister of Pakistan, Radio Pakistan reports.
According to a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Britain’s Prime Minister wrote PM Shehbaz a letter on April 26 in which he stated that the UK and Pakistan have enjoying deep relations, bolstered by strong people-to-people contacts. In his letter, Boris Johnson noted that the United Kingdom and Pakistan have been locked in bonds supported by strong people-to-people links.
“He also recalled their meeting in 2016 during his visit to Pakistan and the discussions held on a number of shared interests including girls’ education, health, economics and trade relations,” the statement issued by the ministry read.
“PM Johnson looked forward to working together including in addressing global challenges,” the statement read.
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.
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.
Former chief justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar met Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and advised him not to criticise the judiciary.
The meeting took place at the latter’s Lahore residence in Zaman Park on Wednesday wherein they deliberated the judiciary’s role vis-à-vis the ongoing political crisis and constitutional matters among other issues.
According to media reports, the PTI chief had invited former CJP Saqib Nisar to his Zaman Park residence with the aim to `consult’ legal experts on various prevailing constitutional as well political issues.
The PTI chief discussed with the former CJP legalities regarding oath-taking by the Punjab chief minister-elect since the Lahore High Court had advised the governor to administer oath on Thursday (today).
Talking to ARY News following the meeting, Justice (r) Saqib Nisar lauded the country’s judiciary for doing “great work”.
He said he advised the former prime minister to not criticise the judiciary. He said he also discussed with Khan the constitutional crisis in Punjab, as well as the issue of the oath-taking of the newly elected Punjab chief minister.
Earlier, addressing PTI workers’ convention in Lahore on Wednesday, Imran Khan said that his party will observe Ramadan 27 (a possible Shab-e-Qadr) as “Shab-e-Dua” (Night of Prayers) and urged all Pakistanis to join PTI’s Shab-e-Dua for the “real freedom of Pakistan”.
He also asked party representatives to launch a public campaign at UC level in their constituencies for preparations regarding the party’s Islamabad march. “I want two million people to reach Islamabad on my call,” he added.
Following talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced his arrival in Kyiv on Wednesday. “I have arrived in Ukraine after visiting Moscow,” he wrote on his official Twitter account as he landed ahead of talks with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“We will continue our work to expand humanitarian support and secure the evacuation of civilians from the conflict zones. The sooner this war ends, the better — for the sake of Ukraine, Russia, and the world – it will be ,” Guterres tweeted.
I have arrived in Ukraine after visiting Moscow.
We will continue our work to expand humanitarian support & secure the evacuation of civilians from conflict zones.
The sooner this war ends, the better – for the sake of Ukraine, Russia, and the world.
During talks in Moscow on Tuesday, Guterres repeated calls for both Russia and Ukraine to work together to set up “safe and effective” humanitarian corridors in war-torn Ukraine.
“Despite the fact that the military operation is ongoing, we still hope that we will be able to reach agreements on the diplomatic track,” the Russian leader said in televised remarks.
Pakistan is taking steps to establish a welcoming environment for the digital industry, and now is the right time to elevate tech relations with the United States (US) according to Ambassador Masood Khan.
The United States is willing to assist, and we are ready to join the IT revolution by integrating and adopting breakthroughs in US technologies, Khan said at the Pakistan Tech Summit 2022 in Silicon Valley, California.
According to the Pakistani ambassador, the Forum provides a venue for Pakistani business leaders, tech startups, and technology professionals to come together and establish affinities, expand contacts between Silicon Valley and the Pakistani startup ecosystem, and team up for Pakistan’s better future.
He said that more than 64 per cent of Pakistan’s population is under the age of 30, and the country’s burgeoning middle class is likely to surpass the 100 million mark in the near future. This youth bulge, paired with a rising middle class, envisioned a bright future for the country’s IT sector.
He claimed that tech entrepreneurs in Pakistan have made half a billion dollars in the last 18 months, largely due to US funding, and that the sector is poised to create tens of billions of dollars in the next decade.
Ambassador Khan stated that the Pakistani government will continue to take initiatives to make the tech industry more welcoming. He stated that laws are being made more business-friendly, that ease of doing business is a focus, and that venture capitalists are being offered incentives.
The Envoy mentioned many incentives being offered to boost the tech sector, including the ability for investors to return their funds, data protection legislation in the works, and intellectual property challenges being handled.
“We want to open a consulate general in the Bay Area to connect Silicon Valley with Pakistan in order to promote and assist the growth of entrepreneurs in Pakistan,” the Ambassador continued.
During the conference, he invited participants to share the results of their discussions and to identify areas where the government and embassy could assist.
Reality television star and entrepreneur Khloe Kardashian never fails to speak up about what’s on her mind, and this time she claims that social media is no ‘fun’ anymore for her.
After being trolled for her highly photoshopped images and pressured by her fans to post more natural photos of herself, Khloe now reveals that now has “Anxiety” due to Instagram.
Recently, the Hulu diva spoke about the anxiety that she has regarding her Instagram after fans accused her of Photoshopping her images. On the premiere episode of the family recently arrived Hulu series The Kardashians, Khloe claimed that the social media platform is no longer fun. Later in the second episode, Khole was seen in a conversation with her close friend Malika Haqq before her interview with late-night host James Corden.
In that instance, Khloe Kardashian said, “I have such anxiety about going. It’s never the interview, it’s always the aftermath. Now you have to listen to everyone say this, or judge you or over-analyze something you say and pick this apart.” Later while speaking with the cameras, she continued, “Social media used to be fun and silly. There’s definitely always trolls. Now, everything is so critical. The way I look, my situation with Tristan, is my hair done the right way, this, that. I’ve got to the point where it’s literally safer to stay home.”
Replying to that Malika Haqq said, “Anxiety is real and the amount of criticism and scrutiny you have to deal with is also real, but I do like that you do deal.” She also said, “You could disappear and decide you don’t want this to be your life anymore because someone doesn’t have something nice to say to you.” Later in the scene, the KUWTK star was seen talking to the camera and stating that she is currently living by the mantra “f*** the haters” and claims that tuning out criticism is “much easier said than done”.
Continuing her conversation she said, “It’s so deteriorating on your self-esteem, your confidence, the way that you view yourself. Even posting photos on Instagram, I’m anxious, even when I barely did retouching. I’m still so afraid to post it because people are going to say I did this.”
We have previously heard or seen 13-year-olds driving confidently on Pakistani roads, but this time a YouTube video of an 8-year-old boy driving a full-fledged Toyota SUV with his 10-year-old sister has stunned everyone.
The video posted on the internet was shot by his own father, who owns the white Toyota Fortuner. The boy claimed in the video that he has been driving since he was six years old, which is even more surprising given that he is struggling to look out the window, confirming that he is unable to obtain a clear view of the road.
In the comments section, the majority of viewers critiqued the video for encouraging underage driving and putting others’ lives at risk, while others applauded the boy’s driving skills. It is worth adding that this is not the first time a video of this kind has gone viral. Earlier, a kid who seemed to be 11–12 years old was recorded months ago driving a Toyota Land Cruiser on a busy road.
The reality series Lock Upp has lately been gaining a lot of attention on social media and most of it has to do with the secrets that are revealed by the contestants every once in a while. In a recent episode of the show, contestant Munawar Faruqui was seen opening up on the traumatic sexual abuse he went through, as a child and everyone seemed visibly moved by his claims.
Host Kangana Ranaut also decided to join the conversation as she shared her own experience with child abuse.
For the unversed, the show kicked off in February this year and has been experiencing record-breaking viewership numbers, ever since. Its premise revolves around a group of controversial celebrities who have to survive on minimum utilities while fulfilling a bunch of tasks to keep themselves safe. It is being produced by Ekta Kapoor and actor Karan Kundrra is also a part of it as a jailor.
In the Judgement Day Special episode of Lock Upp, inmate Saisha Shinde was under the threat of getting eliminated when Munawar Faruqui decided to reveal one of his secrets to save her for the week. He shed some light on how he was sexually abused by two of his relatives for five years at a time when he was too young to even understand what was happening. He further explained how he had to face both of them every day, which was one of the reasons why he could never really speak about it in the past.
Host Kangana Ranaut was extremely touched by his story and added to the discussion by revealing how she had been a victim of s*xual abuse as well.
“This is something that even I have witnessed. I was too young, and there was a guy in our hometown, who was a few years older than me. So, he used to touch me inappropriately… but I didn’t understand his intention at that time.”
“That guy was exploring his sexuality, so he used to call us, asked us to strip down our clothes, and he used to check us…. we were around 6-year-old.”
Earlier the Woh Lamhe diva strongly criticised a video of a little female vlogger who recreated a scene of Alia Bhatt’s upcoming biopic film, Gangubai Kathiawadi.
An Instagram influencer, Kiara Khanna who is also known as ‘chhoti Alia Bhatt’, re-enacted a dialogue of Alia from her upcoming film which went viral across social media. She shared two screenshots on Instagram stories and tagged Minister of Women and Child Development, Smriti Irani.
She penned, “Should this child imitate a sex worker with a beedi in her mouth and crude and obscene dialogues? Look at her body language, is it ok to sexualize her at this age? There are hundreds of other children who are being used similarly.”
The film is based on the life of a real sex worker based in Mumbai who is mentioned in the book ‘Mafia Queens of Mumbai’ by S. Hussain Zaidi. This film is being released under the banner of Bhansali Productions with the collaboration of Pen India Limited. Ajay Devgn and Vijay Raaz will also be seen in interesting roles.
Prior to it the Queen actress, also slammed Deepika Padukone‘s newly released film, Gehraiyaan.
She wrote, “I am also a millennial but I identify and understand this kind of romance … in the name of millennial/new age/urban movies don’t sell trash pls … bad movies are bad movies no amount of skin show or p*rnography can _ save it … it’s a basic fact koi gehraiyaan wali baat nahi hai (there is no depth in it).”
Following in the footsteps of his grandfather Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has taken oath as 30th Foreign Minister of Pakistan today (Wednesday).
The 33-year-old minister joined Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif-led cabinet in an oath-taking ceremony held at Aiwan-i-Sadr, Islamabad.
He was elected as a Member of the National Assembly (MNA) in the general elections 2018. It is for the first time he will be serving as a member of the federal cabinet.
Former PM Zulfikar Ali Bhutto first took the charge of the Ministry of Foreign Ministry in 1963 at the age of 35 during the regime of General Ayub Khan.
As foreign minister, Bhutto significantly transformed Pakistan’s hitherto pro-Western foreign policy. Moreover, he began asserting a foreign policy course for Pakistan that was independent of the United States (US) influence.
Bhutto worked to establish stronger relations with China. Bhutto also signed the Sino-Pakistan Boundary Agreement on March 2, 1963, which transferred 750 square kilometers of territory from Azad Kashmir to Chinese control.
Moreover, Bhutto advocated hardline and confrontational policies against India over the Kashmir conflict and other issues.
The 30-year-old Shari Baloch committed a suicide bombing near the Confucius Institute of Karachi University on April 26. In the suicide attack, she targeted four people including Chinese nationals and a van driver, reports Independent Urdu.
She was an educated woman who belonged from Kech, Balochistan. She had been with Balochistan Students Organisation-Azad (BSO Azad) since college. She later joined the separatist movement of the Majeed Brigade of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). She completed her master’s degree in education from Allama Iqbal Open University in 2014
However, as per Urdu news reported that he completed a bachelor’s in Education (B.Ed) in 2014 and earned a Master’s degree in education in 2018. Later, she also earned a master’s degree in Zoology. As per her allegedly Twitter account, she has done M.Phil in education as well. She was married to a doctor and have two children together, one son and a daughter. She was teaching in a government school in Balochistan but the school did not confirm it yet.
Her relative revealed to a reporter that most of the family members are part of the bureaucracy.
According to her relative, “It is being said on social media that some members of Shari Baloch’s family went missing so she took such a step to take revenge but not a single person in her family has gone missing to date. She was ideologically committed to it, so maybe she took such a step.”
Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) Raja Umar Khattab also confirmed that it was the suicide attack that was carried out by a female clad-in-burqa. Police also released CCTV footage in which Shari Baloch was standing near the gate of the Confucius Institute. She blew up when a van was about to enter the institute at 1:52 pm.
[TRIGGER WARNING] VIDEO MAY BE SENSITIVE TO SOME AUDIENCE
Four people lost their lives including three Chinese nationals and a driver while three people survived from injuries including Ranger personnel, one Chinese national, and a security guard. The injured people were taken to a nearby hospital
The deceased three Chinese nationals are identified as Prof. Huang GuiPing, Ding Mufang, and Chen Sai while Wang Yuqing received injuries.
Later, Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) took the responsibility for the suicide attack near the Confucius Institute.
A spokesperson of BLA spokesman said, “Shari joined the Majeed Brigade two years ago and six months ago she confirmed that she was determined to carry out the attack. She has been active in her mission ever since.”
A tweet from her husband, Habitan Bashir Baloch also came to light for appreciating his wife’s selfless act.
He penned down, “Shari Jan, your selfless act has left me speechless but I am also beaming with pride today. Mahroch and Meer Hassan will grow into very proud humans thinking what a great woman their mother was. You will continue to remain an important part of our lives.
“The police had received reports regarding security threats to Chinese nationals and security was also provided to them, however, no intelligence report of suicide attack through a female bomber was received,” the top police official said while speaking on Geo News program Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath.
China has strongly condemned the recent suicide attack on Karachi University and extended deep condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims.
In a statement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said, “The government of the People’s Republic of China expresses strong condemnation and indignation over this major terrorist attack and extends deep condolences to the victims and sympathies to the injured and bereaved families.”
Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Wu Jianghao called the Pakistan Ambassador to China Moinul Haque and demanded that Pakistan should immediately make a thorough investigation into the tragic incident, and apprehend and punish the perpetrators to the full extent of the law. “We expect that Pakistan will take all possible measures to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens living across Pakistan and to avoid the recurrence of such cowardice incidents happening again.”
Moin ul Haque, in a message, said, “The entire nation is in shock and mourns the loss of these precious lives including our Chinese friends.”
Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif also visited the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad after the incident to offer condolence over the incident.
PM said, “The blood of the Chinese people should not be shed in vain, and those behind this incident will surely pay the price.”
