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  • Cabinet sets aside $150m for corona vaccine

    As the world inches closer to the COVID-19 cure, the federal cabinet has approved a grant of $150 million to procure coronavirus vaccine amid a surge in infections across Pakistan.

    This was announced by Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on National Health Dr Faisal Sultan along with Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz while giving details about decisions taken by the cabinet in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

    Meanwhile, the government has also decided to administer the vaccine to people in phases. In the first phase, the health workers and the elderly, who are more vulnerable to the infection, will be innoculated, followed by other ages group.

    According to the minister, the government has already approached a few companies to procure the potential vaccine and an initial conversation has been started with them.

    On November 4, it was learnt that the health ministry had recommended purchases of potential coronavirus vaccines under last-stage trials and allocation of $100 million in funds for its advance booking. The request was subsequently approved by the prime minister and was sent to the cabinet for final approval.

    Commenting on the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) recent public rally in Multan, Faraz urged the opposition not to play with the lives of people for “its personal gains”, saying the second wave of coronavirus was at its peak in the country. He said public rallies are banned to protect people from the coronavirus and the government will deal with the violators legally.

    The number of coronavirus cases is on the rise in Pakistan. Over 5,000 localities across the country have been put under ‘smart lockdown’ by the government to contain the soaring tally. On the other hand, the violation of anti-virus precautionary measures are continued, as people disregard the use of mask and social distancing in public and private places.

  • Newsletter – 1st December 2020, Tuesday

    Newsletter – 1st December 2020, Tuesday









    *|MC:SUBJECT|*

    Today is the 1st day of the last month. The unforgettable 2020, which has been so far filled with elbow-bump greetings, lockdowns, Zoom family gatherings and over-washing the groceries, is almost over. There will be cold, sunny days throughout major cities in Pakistan.
     

    Morning Meme

    The Opposition’s Jalsa: Aseefa Zardari is “pretty cool”

    Yesterday’s jalsa in Multan was attended by political bigwigs, including PML-N’s Maryam Nawaz, and PPP’s Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, who was attending in place of her brother Bilawal Bhutto. The star of the jalsa was undoubtedly Aseefa, whose attendance and way of speaking reminded many on social media, of her mother Benazir Bhutto. 

    So many people were talking about her likeness to Benazir that Ali Tareen, son of PTI’s Jahangir Tareen, called Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari “pretty cool”, in response to which he was offered to join PPP by a PPP supporter. The next jalsa will be held in Lahore on December 13.
     

    Read on

    COVID stats in Pakistan you need to know 

    The government has imposed 5082 smart lockdowns, with at least two million people under lockdown. Azad Jammu and Kashmir is in complete lockdown, while 1459 smart lockdowns are in place in Punjab, 206 in Sindh, 182 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 3205 in Islamabad and 30 in Gilgit Baltistan.

    According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), the National Positivity Ratio has reached 8.53%. Sindh has reported the highest positivity ratio at 14.04%, followed by Balochistan at 11.95 %, Islamabad at 6.62% and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at 5.57%. In Punjab and Gilgit Baltistan, the positivity rate is 4.84% and 3.43% respectively.
     

    Reaction on sexual abuse allegations against Babar Azam

    Pakistan Cricket Board Director of Media and Communications Samiul Hassan nay kaha hai kay the sexual violence allegations against Captain Babar Azam are a personal matter and the board won’t be commenting on the issue. 

    The board’s spokesperson was responding to a question posed by an Urdu daily after a damning press conference by the alleged victim, Hamiza, who claims to be Babar’s schoolfellow and neighbour.

    Press say baat kartay huye the Lahori woman claimed that the young cricketer tricked her into believing that he loved her and would marry her.
     

    Read on

    Blue dragon spotted

    You won’t believe what washed up on a beach in South Africa. Around 20 shell-less, dragon-like creatures known as Blue Dragons, were spotted on a beach near Cape Town. And they look like they have come straight out of a fantasy or a sci-fi movie. 

    They are also called ‘the most beautiful killer in the ocean’ because they feed on venomous aquatic creatures and kill with a sting that can cause nausea and pain. While they look a lot like mini dragons, they also have features of a bird, lizard, and octopus.
     

    Current Baba’s prediction

    You haven’t wanted to take a break from work jitna you want to today. Shaid you need some good sights and sounds ya phr some new faces and places. Maheenay ka pehla din hai so MIGHT BE the day for you!

     

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  • Shah Rukh Khan spotted sporting a new look for upcoming film ‘Pathan’

    Shah Rukh Khan was spotted outside Yash Raj Studios sporting long locks, reportedly his new look for upcoming film Pathan.

    Pictures of the actor which have gone viral on social media show him with his long hair that half-tied at the back. Even at 55, the actor was looking dapper in a white t-shirt and denim jeans paired with sneakers.

    As per reports, Deepika Padukone will reunite with him for the film. The actress made her Bollywood debut opposite SRK in Om Shanti Om and has gone on to star with him in several films including Chennai Express and Happy New Year.

    Pathan is being directed by Siddharth Anand and also stars John Abraham. The film marks SRK’s comeback to the big screen after a hiatus of more than two years. His last release was Zero in 2018 which was a commercial and box-office flop.

    The film is expected to release by the fall of next year. Although the film’s official release date has not been announced yet, rumours and reports say that the film will most likely be released on October 2, 2021

  • Death by suicide killed more people in October than COVID-19 in Japan

    At least 2,153 people committed suicide in Japan in the month of October while the total number of deaths from COVID-19 is 2,087, according to the latest statistics shared by the government of Japan. As per Japan’s National Police Agency data, the number of suicide cases increased to 2,153 in October from 1,805 in September.

    The data also revealed that COVID-19 has taken a disproportionately higher toll on women than men. Suicide among women increased by almost 83% last month compared to the same month the previous year. In comparison, male suicides rose by approximately 22% over the same time period.

    Layoffs, social isolation and anxiety triggered by the pandemic are said be the key causes behind the surge in suicide rate.

    Japan is one of the few developed countries that release suicide data frequently and has the world’s second-highest suicide rate after South Korea but the suicide rate in the country was declining until the pandemic.

    Unlike, most countries impact of COVID-19 has not been very severe in Japan but the country’s existing mental health crisis has been made worse because of the pandemic.

    Earlier this year, the United Nations issued a warning that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic could create a global mental health crisis. According to a survey conducted by World Health Organisation, the demand for mental health services has increased worldwide. The survey also revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted or halted critical mental health services in 93% countries.

    Meanwhile, WHO has also recommended all adults to do a minimum of 150 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week, even more, for well-being and mental health in the COVID-19 era. It has also recommended children and adolescents to include an average of one hour of daily physical exercise into their routines and limit time in front of electronic screens.

    People of all ages must compensate for growing sedentary behaviour with physical activity to ward off disease and add years to their lives, it added.

  • FBR achieves five-month tax target

    FBR achieves five-month tax target

    The Federal Board of Revenue has collected Rs1.690 trillion during the first five months (July-Nov) of the fiscal year 20-21, collecting Rs17 billion more than the collection target set for the required period.

    According to media reports, the overall collection could further increase to Rs1.694 billion after book adjustment.

    Profit reported that the department had collected Rs350bn revenue in November, witnessing a growth of 4.4 per cent against last month’s 3.7 per cent.

    According to a report in Express Tribune, the five-month target was set at a low level, which was equal to 33.7 per cent of the annual target and considered very low.

    The report claimed that the FBR could not achieve the monthly target for the fourth successive month and the five-month target was achieved only due to the better performance of Pakistan Customs.

    It is pertinent to mention that the government had fixed Rs4.963 trillion as tax target for the current fiscal year after consultation with the International Monetary Fund.

  • COVID-19: WHO recommends adults to workout for 150 minutes per week

    All adults should do a minimum of 150 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week, even more, for well-being and mental health in the COVID-19 era, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said.

    WHO also recommended that children and adolescents have an average of one hour of daily physical exercise and limit time in front of electronic screens.

    People of all ages must compensate for growing sedentary behaviour with physical activity to ward off disease and add years to their lives, it added.

    “Increasing physical activity not only helps prevent and manage heart disease, type-2 diabetes and cancer, it also reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety, reduces cognitive decline including Alzheimer’s and improves memory,” Ruediger Krech, WHO director for health promotion said.

    Yet one in four adults and a “staggering” four out of five adolescents do not get enough physical activity, which can include walking, cycling, gardening and cleaning, the WHO said.

    “These guidelines emphasise what many are experiencing during the COVID restrictions that are applied all over the world. And that is that being active every day is good not only our bodies but also our mental health,” said Fiona Bull, head of WHO’s physical activity unit.

    “Phone a friend and do classes online together, help your family members, do it as a family. And when you can, get outside,” she said.

    Read more – Workout at home with Katrina Kaif’s routine

    Research into the ill-effects of sedentary behaviour has grown in the past decade, leading to the new advice, Bull said.

    “That is limit sedentary time, and do more activity to offset sedentary time, particularly for those who do long hours of sedentary, which includes a lot of people who have got office-based work environments,” she said. “For children we also recommend they limit sedentary time, particularly screen time.”

    Pregnant women and postpartum mothers are now included in the recommendations of 150 to 300 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic activity per week for adults.

    This brings health benefits for both the mother and baby, according to Juana Willumsen, a WHO technical officer.

    “For example there is a 30% reduction in gestational diabetes amongst women who are physically active during pregnancy,” she said.

    Adults above 65 are advised to add muscle strengthening and activities focusing on balance and coordination to help prevent falls later.

    Devices worn on the wrist or hip that track physical activity are helpful for all, Bull said.

    “Monitoring how active you are is very good feedback,” she said. “That is important because we tend to think we might be more active. We tend to underestimate how much time we spend sedentary.”

  • Five areas in Peshawar under smart lockdown

    Five areas in Peshawar under smart lockdown

    Five areas in Peshawar are under smart lockdown, according to a notification issued by the Peshawar Deputy Commissioner.

    According to a notification, the areas are:

    • Streets 7-11, Sector E-VI, Phase VII, Hayatabad
    • Streets 1, 1-A and 2, Sector N-IV, Phase IV, Hayatabad
    • University Town area, bound by Circular Lane, Park Road and Old Jamrud Road
    • Hayatabad Industrial Estate, bound by Industrial Estate Road, Wazirdund Canal, National Highway 5, Polyfine Chemfarma Road
    • Peshawar Cantt area, bound by Gulberg Road, Stadium Road and Qayyum Sports Complex

    Lockdown in these areas will be executed from 6 pm today and will remain in place until further notice. During the lockdown, all gatherings will be banned and all shops except those of essential services will remain closed. Congregations in mosques will also be restricted to five people only.

    Pakistan has reported 400,482 coronavirus cases so far. The virus cases emerged during the last 24 hours are 2,458.

  • Fact Check: Dozens of people have died in NAB custody

    Fact Check: Dozens of people have died in NAB custody

    Claim: Several people have died under NAB custody

    Fact: At least 12 people who died in NAB custody have been reported on by mainstream media

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and former finance minister Ishaq Dar has not only claimed that dozens of people died in the custody of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) but also told HARDtalk presenter Stephen Sackur to “Google it”.

    Speaking to BBC, he brought the journalist’s attention to the human rights condition in Pakistan. “What’s happening in Pakistan… dozens of people have died in NAB custody.”

    When Sackur asked him if he was claiming that people had died during detention by NAB, Dar reiterated his claim and told the presenter to head to Google to verify it.

    https://twitter.com/WaraichHaider/status/1333666178250788864

    But is there any truth to the claims made by the ex-finance minister?

    Amid conflicting reports, NAB maintains that not even a single person has died in its custody, at least not because of torture and in recent times.

    One of the most recent cases remains that of the former chief executive officer (CEO) of the University of Sargodha’s Lahore campus, Mian Javed Ahmed, who was in Camp Jail in connection with a NAB inquiry.

    He died in prison reportedly of cardiac arrest in late 2018. With pictures of his dead body still in handcuffs sending shockwaves across the nation, NAB said the teacher was not in the bureau’s but in judicial custody.

    Earlier in 2004, the then NAB chairperson had ordered an inquiry into the death of a former divisional engineer of PTCL, Agha Mohammad Sajjad, who died in NAB custody.

    A NAB spokesperson had said the former PTCL official who was taken into custody on the charges of corruption from Lahore was brought to NAB police station, where he suffered a heart attack. The official died on the way to hospital, he had said and rejected allegations that the death was caused by torture.

    Former Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) senator Sehar Kamran, however, says that “NAB custody is worse than the United States’ (US) infamous military jail, the Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp”.

    The scattered data of alleged rights violations by NAB was compiled by Kamran in a brief she reportedly sent to Federal Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari among other authorities concerned earlier this year.

    According to the brief, 11 NAB suspects, minus Mian Javed, have lost their lives while in custody or “as a direct result of the harassment by the agency”.

    Aslam Masood

    Aslam Masood, the chief financial officer (CFO) of Omni Group, was arrested through Interpol when he was boarding a flight from London to Jeddah in October 2018. He was subsequently extradited to Pakistan from Saudi Arabia in February 2019. He died of a cardiac arrest on August 17, 2020 while in NAB custody.

    Engineer Aijaz Memon

    Aijaz Memon, an executive engineer serving in Sindh government’s Works and Services Department, was accused of misappropriation of Rs90 million development funds for Jacobabad. He was kept in the Sukkur Central Prison, where he suffered a heart stroke, and passed away during treatment at the local Civil hospital on May 31, 2020, less than three months after being placed in NAB custody.

    Advocate Zafar Iqbal Mughal

    Advocate Zafar Iqbal Mughal was a leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and district bar member from Layyah. He was detained by NAB authorities on October 11, 2019, in a bogus housing scheme case (a non-registered housing colony on 254 acres in Layyah). He remained in NAB custody for 86 days and after severe deterioration of health, he was transferred to the hospital only four days before death. He died in NAB custody on January 6, 2020, a few days before his hearing scheduled for January 17, 2020.

    Raja Asim

    Raja Asim was arrested in the stock exchange corruption case on March 26, 2014. After five years in custody without sentencing, his case remained inconclusive, while other accused individuals in the same cases were not pursued. Due to delayed provision of healthcare/medication for
    pneumonia, Raja Asim passed away in NAB custody at the age of 42. His death was declared after a delay of five days.

    Brigadier (r) Asad Munir

    Former Military Intelligence officer and prominent defense analyst Brig (r) Asad Munir committed suicide after the emergence of media reports that NAB had decided to file a reference of abuse of office against him. His body was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his apartment in Diplomatic Enclave on March 16, 2019.

    He left a suicide note, addressed to the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP), seeking action against NAB’s conduct against those who have not even been convicted.

    Muhammad Nasir Sheikh

    Muhammad Nasir Shaikh, additional director (land) of KDA was arrested by NAB on November 27, 2015, for alleged China-cutting and land grabbing. With his death in April 2019, he became the second KDA official held without prosecution and to pass away in custody.

    Professor Dr Tahir Amin

    Professor Dr. Tahir Amin, a renowned educationist, international relations expert and the vice chancellor of Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU) Multan was accused of nepotism and financial malpractice. NAB chief initiated a probe against him on the complaint of a former colleague. Under tremendous stress, he also made an abortive attempt to commit suicide and later died of a heart attack on April 5, 2019.

    Qaisar Abbas

    Qaisar Abbas was arrested in Nandipur Power Project Case on August 30, 2018, he was shifted to the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) after complaining of chest pain. He passed away on October 1, 2019.

    Chaudhry Arshad

    Chaudhry Arshad, chairperson of Members Welfare Committee of Ministry of Commerce Employees Cooperative Housing Society (MOCECHS), was arrested by the anti-graft watchdog over charges of corruption allegedly leveled by corrupt officials with nexus of land mafia.

    According to reports, Chaudhry Arshad was under severe pressure to sign documents in a bid to occupy the housing society when he suffered a heart attack and passed away on August 7, 2018.

    Muhammad Saleem

    Muhammad Saleem, deputy director (revenue) of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) was apprehended by NAB in September 2017 in connection with LDA commercialisation fee corruption case on the basis of an anonymous complaint.

    Despite suffering from liver disease, he was sent to Camp Jail on judicial remand by an accountability court. When his health deteriorated, he was shifted to Services Hospital where he died in NAB custody on December 24, 2018.

    Abdul Qavi Khan

    Abdul Qavi Khan, another KDA officer was arrested on November 27, 2015, he was accused of illegal construction and sale/purchase of plots in a housing scheme named “University Hill Villas”. He died under mysterious circumstances at Central Jail Karachi.

    “NAB’s little respect for human rights is widely known. The extent to which human rights are violated by NAB can only be established by documentation, a process in which this institution is obviously not interested. Surprisingly, NAB victims too have not attempted a record-based assessment of this important institution’s performance. In this situation a fact sheet prepared by former senator Sehar Kamran can only be welcomed. The first shocking fact presented in this report is that NAB is allegedly responsible for causing 12 deaths,” writes human rights champion IA Rehman.

    VERDICT: TRUE

  • Humayun Saeed, baby Mustafa Abbasi all smiles as they meet each other for the first time

    Humayun Saeed, baby Mustafa Abbasi all smiles as they meet each other for the first time

    Humayun Saeed with wife Samina paid a visit to Hamza Ali Abbasi in Islamabad, meeting his son Mustafa Abbasi for the first time.

    Both Humayun and Mustafa were beaming as they met each other for the first time.

    “MashAllah the most adorable and chilled out kid Mustafa Hamza Abbasi,” wrote Humayun in the caption.

    He added that he had the” strangest yet happiest feeling” when he held Mustafa and realised that Hamza is not only married but also has a child now.

    Humayun’s sister-in-law Sana Shahnawaz also shared pictures from their meeting and both Humayun and Mustafa were all smiles in these photographs also.

    Abbasi and Naimal Khawar welcomed their first child on July 30 this year.

  • Newlyweds in Multan walk 6km due to PDM jalsa roadblocks

    Newlyweds in Multan walk 6km due to PDM jalsa roadblocks

    A newlywed couple on Monday had to walk six kilometres due to road blocks due to the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) jalsa in Multan.

    According to reports, the couple were at Lodhran’s Dunyapur tehsil when they encountered several barriers with police and other security personnel, asking them to stop their vehicle. The groom with his ‘barat’ had to park their cars on the side of a road from where they went to their destination on foot. 

    Shipping containers and heavy vehicles were parked at different spots around Multan as a security measure, while mobile phone services were also suspended inconveniencing locals.