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  • Karachi traders refuse to comply with COVID SOPs

    Karachi traders refuse to comply with COVID SOPs

    Traders in Karachi have refused to pull down shutters by 8 pm amid the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan.

    Addressing a joint press conference, representatives of Sindh Tajir Ittehad (STI) and All-City Tajir Ittehad (ACTI) said that they will not close their businesses from Friday.

    “Arrest us and put us behind bars,” they said while announcing the ‘jail bharo’ movement.

    “Closing businesses at 8 pm will lead to an economic meltdown for traders,” argued the traders. The traders said they planned to recover their losses caused by the lockdown imposed last year and that fresh restrictions will impact the businesses further.

    They also lamented that the Sindh government had announced to waive-off taxes last year, but have instead imposed new taxes since then.

  • Panic among Karachi residents after metal objects fall from sky

    Residents of Karachi’s Sher Shah area went into panic after strange metal objects fell from the sky.

    According to details, eyewitnesses said that heavy objects fell at three different areas in Pak Colony and the site area. A grave at Mayo Shah Cemetery and roofs of three houses were damaged by the metal pieces.

    Authorities have sent the heavy iron objects for an analysis and the situation will be clear after they have been investigated.

    SHO Sher Shah Muhammad Rafique said that the police are inspecting the matter and as per the initial reports the metal objects are of an exploded boiler.

  • Teammates defend flip-flop on trade with India; say PM, Commerce Minister Imran ‘wear different hats’

    Teammates defend flip-flop on trade with India; say PM, Commerce Minister Imran ‘wear different hats’

    Teammates of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan have defended his move to defer cotton and sugar trade plans with India as the PM after approving the same as the commerce minister earlier.

    Defending the move, National Security Adviser (NSA) Dr Moeed Yusuf said that the premier wear two hats as both the commerce minister and the chief executive of the country.

    When asked if Imran, as the commerce minister, believed the proposal should be forwarded to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) for approval, but differed on his own idea as the PM, the NSA didn’t respond.

    “I am not the bureaucrat here to determine the technicalities,” he said, adding that it was just irrelevant.

    Federal Minister Fawad Chaudhry also went for a similar choice of words, saying that the premier “wore two hats”.

    “As the PM chairing the federal cabinet meeting he also has to take into account the recommendations of other stakeholders, including the foreign, defence and interior ministries,” the minister maintained.

    The statements come days after the federal cabinet rubbished plans to resume cotton and white sugar import from India despite Commerce Minister Imran Khan’s proposal approved by ECC headed by Finance Minister Hammad Azhar.

    The federal cabinet chaired by PM Imran deferred the proposal despite improving Pakistan-India ties, saying New Delhi should first restore the autonomous status of the troubled disputed valley of Kashmir.

  • Broadband subscriptions reach 100 million in Pakistan: PTA

    Broadband subscriptions reach 100 million in Pakistan: PTA

    The broadband services have reached 100 million (10 crore) people in Pakistan, tweeted Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

    In 2012, only two million people had subscribed to internet services, but after the introduction of 3G services, the figures jumped to 16 million in 2014.

    Moreover, the average downloading speed and upload speed provided by broadband providers are 17.7/ 11.3Mbps. The internet speed is above the levels in comparison to other regional countries.

    Mobile data prices are also affordable in Pakistan. According to the recent figures, mobile data prices declined to 0.70 per cent, which is well below the UN Broadband Commission’s recommendation of less than two per cent.

    All four national cellular mobile operators (CMOS), fixed-line broadband operators, including Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) have collectively crossed 100m subscriptions, due to the higher growth rate in data usage.

    Pakistan’s telecom sector has achieved many milestones previously also such as reaching 100 million mobile subscriptions in 2010, the introduction of the first-ever biometrically verified SIMs across the country in 2009 and implementation of the world’s first open-source Device Identification Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS) in 2019.

    The PTA lauded the users and service providers for achieving this landmark and announced that crossing the 100 million benchmark would be formally celebrated soon with all the stakeholders and national and international telecom community.

  • Ramzan to begin from April 14, announces MoST

    The Ministry of Science and Technology has announced that the holy month of Ramzan will commence on April 14 in Pakistan.

    “The moon of Ramzan, 1442 AH will be sighted on the evening of April 13, 2021,” said the ministry in a tweet. “The first of Ramzan will be on April 14, 2021. The moon will be clearly sighted in Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Karachi.”

    Minister of Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry also shared the announcement on social media.

    Chaudhry has been a vocal critic of the old-fashioned and outdated moon-sighting procedure, arguing that Pakistan should opt for science and technology to follow the moon cycle. He often clashed with the Ruet-e-Hilal committee on this.

    In December, last year the government appointed Moulana Abdul Khabir Azad as the new head of the committee replacing Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman.

  • Muggers in Karachi steal phones worth Rs400,000 after man posts ad online

    Muggers in Karachi steal phones worth Rs400,000 after man posts ad online

    Two robbers in Karachi have stolen mobile phones worth Rs400,000 from a man in Karachi’s Bahadurbad area.

    As per reports, a Karachi resident had posted an ad online to sell his mobile phones. However, instead of serious buyers, robbers broke into his house, attacked him and stole his phones.

    The CCTV footage of the incident clearly showed the faces of the suspects and revealed that the incident happened at around 8:45 pm.

    Last year, at least 20,155 suspects were arrested in targeted raids, according to an annual report by the Karachi police. These included 269 men suspected in high-profile terrorism incidents.

    Over 764 street criminals were arrested and there were 241 encounters of the police with criminals. According to he police report, 15 police officials embraced martyrdom and 44 others were injured. Meanwhile, 49 terrorists and other criminals were killed during the encounters. 

    Police arrested 3,405 members of 189 gangs involved in stealing vehicles, 474 suspects were arrested by the police helpline and 19,909 CCTV cameras were set up across the city.

  • British company introduces special hijabs for Muslim lawyers

    A British company Ivy & Normanton has launched a range of hijabs designed specifically for female advocates to wear in court. The initiative has been welcomed by Muslim women across the United Kingdom because no specific brand made hijabs for female advocates.

    Speaking to Arab News, the designers said they hoped to inspire more young Muslim women to join the legal profession.

    Barrister and founder of Ivy & Normanton Karlia Lykourgou, while talking to the publication, said: “I think people aspire to be what they can see.”

    “To keep encouraging diversity at the bar, we have to make sure that those who don’t fit the white, male stereotype have the tools they need so other young people can see them and believe they have a place in the profession too,” she said further, adding: “The Ivy & Normanton hijab was developed so other women could easily find a piece of clothing that expresses their identity as a Muslim and an advocate and get on with the job.”

    According to the brand’s website: “I&N hijab was created in collaboration with hijab wearing members of the legal profession to be perfectly designed for court.”

    “Made of 100% organic bamboo silk, it’s moisture-wicking and hypoallergenic to keep you cool in the summer and comfortable in winter, and is a perfect size and shape for tucking into a suit jacket or into a collarette, so you can express your identity as a person and a professional.”

  • Why is the Pakistan cricket team so dramatic?

    Why is the Pakistan cricket team so dramatic?

    Pakistan may have won the match, beating South Africa with three wickets, but one thing is for sure: we don’t believe in an easy win.

    After such a painfully slow start, a crackling century by Babar Azam and all kinds of twists and turns, Pakistan’s win went right down to the very last ball.

    There were many dull parts of the game but it was the Babar century and the four-for from Nortje that lit the game up after Van Der Dussen gave South Africa something to defend with his maiden international century.

    There were clouds hovering in the chase for Pakistan but with a solid partnership between Babar and Imam ul Haq, it gave Pakistani side a better start despite Fakhar Zaman’s early fall of wicket. Sealing the deal for Pakistan, Faheem Ashraf hit a four to the covers and bagged the first win against Proteas in a three-match series.

    Meanwhile, Azam’s century puts him in a league of his own as the cricketer becomes the fastest batsman in the world to score 13 ODI centuries. It took the Pakistan captain only 76 innings to score 13 tons in the 50-over format.

    South Africa fought back through Nortje’s short balls and could have won it as well, had it not been for a no ball and free hit in the penultimate over. Always trust these two teams to make you bite your nails.

    Ramiz Raja, on commentary, saw the funny side to the happenings and reckoned why his team was so much in demand – they were entertainers through and through.

    Imam too saw the funny side. Speaking after the game, the cricketer said: “You know there’s this pandemic bringing everyone down these days and so we thought we’d entertain people a little.”

    Here are some reactions from experts, fans and notable people after a breathtaking win by Pakistan:

    https://twitter.com/Jadoon_hun/status/1378024435509248000?s=19

    https://twitter.com/oyee_khan/status/1378208940572442625?s=19

  • Incumbent government fails to control inflation, 9.1pc ahead of Ramzan

    The Consumer Price Index (CPI) witnessed a new round of inflation (increase in prices of goods and services) up to 9.1 per cent from 8.7 per cent in February.

    Inflation took place primarily due to price increase in food items, clothing and footwear, say the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

    Non-food items also witnessed a price hike due to higher energy rates in Pakistan. Due to the shortage of production, at the beginning of the current Fiscal Year (FY), inflation stood at 9.3pc in July that eased down to 8.2pc.

    On a month-on-month (MoM) basis, inflation increased by 0.36pc due to the increasing price of cooking oil, sugar, wheat, pulses, petroleum products, and electricity charges.

    Higher food prices pulled up inflation by 11.5pc YoY and 1.7pc MoM in the urban areas of Pakistan. The situation is similar in the rural areas where the food items prices increased 11.1pc YoY and 1.5pc, on MoM in March.

    The MoM increase indicates that prices of essential food items will see a further rise next month. The weekly prices also show an upward movement which will drag monthly inflation.

    The urban areas saw a price hike in March from the previous month included eggs 12.96pc, fruits 10pc, potatoes 9.54pc, chicken 6.58pc, sugar 4.82pc, tomatoes 4.67pc, pulse mash 4.57pc, pulse gram 4.39pc, rice 1.61pc, and wheat flour 1.46pc.

    The items whose prices declined in urban areas were onions 2.37pc, dried fruits 2.19pc, fish 1.78pc and vegetable 1.48pc.

    In rural areas, egg prices were higher by 15pc, chicken 12.21pc, potatoes 11.43pc, fruits 6.08pc, sugar 5.77pc, besan 4.71pc, pulse gram 3.89pc, gram whole 2.53pc, pulse mash 2.52pc, pulse masoor 2.18pc, vegetable ghee 1.58pc, cooking oil 1.53pc, and wheat flour by 0.97pc.

    Whereas tomato prices decreased by 6.10pc, fish 1.14pc, condiments & spices 0.61pc, and wheat 0.33pc.

    Average inflation measured by the Sensitive Price Index (SPI) surged to 18.7pc in March from 11.9pc during the previous month. On an MoM basis, it increased by 5.7pc in March.

    The Wholesale Price Index was slightly up from the previous month’s 9.5pc to 14.6pc in March. WPI inflation MoM increased by 3.7pc in March.

  • Govt says no plans to privatise anything PIA

    Govt says no plans to privatise anything PIA

    The National Assembly (NA) was informed on Friday that there is no plan to privatise any of the assets of national flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).
    Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan said this during the question hour while speaking at the floor of the House, which met with Speaker Asad Qaiser in the chair.

    Sarwar said that the present government is very keen to make the national flag carrier self-reliant and profitable entity. Efforts are underway to improve the financial health of the airline by reducing its losses through various means, he said. He also said that loss-making routes have been closed and flights on profitable routes have been added which has resulted in reduction of losses.

    Responding to a question, the aviation minister said that 82 pilots were dismissed for acquiring the licences through unfair means. He said that a transparent mechanism has now been evolved to ensure the issuance of licenses in a transparent manner. An agreement to this effect has also been signed with the UK Civil Aviation Authority, he added.

    He maintained that the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA) will carry out an audit of Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in July this year. He was confident this will lead to removal of travel restrictions on the PIA in the European countries and that the airline will regain its past glory.

    He said that the European Union (EU) aviation safety watchdog had previously decided to retain its ban on PIA from operating in EU member states, expressing its dissatisfaction over the steps taken by the CAA to address licensing and safety concerns. However, recently in March, the EU’s aviation safety watchdog termed safety standards of Pakistan’s CAA as “satisfactory”.

    The decision was made following a two-day meeting of the EU’s Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and CAA officials, in which representatives from Denmark, Italy and Sweden participated via video-link, he said.
    The minister for aviation said that Quetta and Dera Ismail Khan airports will be upgraded and that eight new planes will be inducted in the fleet of PIA to further improve its performance.

    Taking the floor, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has taken the initiative of ‘Live Call Programme’ to directly connect with the people and listen to their problems. He said that this step of the prime minister should be appreciated. He further said that the premier is expected to again interact with the people via telephone next week.

    The House was later adjourned to meet again at 4:00 pm on Monday.