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  • Injection causing vision loss withdrawn from market

    Injection causing vision loss withdrawn from market

    Federal Health Minister Nadeem Jan has banned the sale and usage of Avastin injection that led to severe eye infections and loss of vision.

    On Sunday, Caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab, Mohsin Naqvi, held a meeting with the Health department and doctors to discuss the matter.

    The number of patients affected by the injection across Punjab has increased to more than sixty, with the highest number of cases in Multan. The number of patients affected is expected to increase.

    According to the health minister, diabetic patients in Lahore, Kasur and other districts were given Avastin injections to tackle retinal damage, however, it led to severe infections and loss of sight in a dozen patients.

    Punjab Chief Minister has also halted sales of the injection in question and to remove stock from the market till the inquiry report is finished.

    Moreover, a case has been lodged against the two absconding suppliers of locally manufactured injection Avastin, while Punjab government has formed a five-member committee of experts to look into the matter and submit a report in three days.

    The Chief Minister has stated that strict action will be taken against all concerned drug inspectors for negligence and the affected persons will be treated free of cost.

    The Punjab government has also decided to monitor the supply of eye medicines, forming a committee for the sale of eye medicines and injections to issue licences.

    All the details of medicines and injections will be compiled in the data of the health department and there will be monitoring of surgeons’ procedures.

    The issue was raised by Chaudhary Manzoor Ahmed, member of Pakistan Peoples Party, who had posted on X (formerly Twitter) that his friend got infected and eventually blinded after getting the injection.

  • Muhammad Asif slams Babar Azam, World Cup squad

    Muhammad Asif slams Babar Azam, World Cup squad

    Former test cricketer and fast bowler Muhammad Asif has criticized Pakistan captain Babar Azam along with the rest of the squad selected for the upcoming World Cup.

    In a statement given on social media, Mohammad Asif slammed the Pakistani squad selected for the World Cup, attacking many players including captain Babar Azam.

    He also abuse National Cricketer Ihsanullah during a live on X.

    Mohammad Asif said that he picked Babar Azam in trials after he had only faced twi balls. “You can ask his father (Azam Siddiqui) that I picked Babar in the ZTBL trials.”

    The former fast bowler admitted that Babar is one of the best batsmen in the country but said that he plays too many dot balls and increases pressure on Rizwan. If you give him good balls, he can’t hit, the former pacer opined.

    “Almost all the bowlers we have in the squad are average, no one is special”, Muhammad Asif said.

    He also said that favoritism goes on in the team. Stating that he and Shoaib Akhtar used to be special bowlers in the team, he expressed the view that there are no special bowlers in the team now. Babar Azam’s father

    Azam Siddiqui, reacted to Mohammad Asif’s criticism, writing, “When Babar played the U-16 World Cup, there used to be a club school of cricket next to the DPS Model Town Ground. There was a match with Babar’s club, on the other side, Muhammad Asif was preparing for a comeback. He played this match and Babar used to open. Hoi Babar came out with great patience and told me that Asif Bhai said very badly.”

    Azam Siddiqui further said that Mr. Mansoor Rana helped Babar to play for ZTBL while his trial was going on in the National Academy.

    The captain’s father further said that “Babar’s first salary of 16,800 helped Babar to move forward. Your timely testimony will be of great help to us. People are requested not to talk directly about Muhammad Asif with reference to Babar”.

  • Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority is dividing into two entities

    Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority is dividing into two entities

    A specialised committee consisting of nine members has been established to supervise the division of the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

    Heading this committee is Shazia Rizvi, who holds the position of Joint Secretary II within the Ministry of Aviation. Assisting her as the committee’s deputy is Vice Air Marshal Taimoor Iqbal.

    As per the official notification, Vice Air Marshal Taimoor Iqbal will serve as the committee’s deputy. The committee will also include other distinguished members, namely Asif Iqbal, the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation; Abdul Malik from the Ministry of Finance; and Nadir Shafiq, the Deputy Director General of Regulatory CAA.

    In addition to the aforementioned members, Commodore Mirza Aamir, President of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Board; Saqib Butt, Director of Finance at CAA; Sameer Saeed, responsible for Aviation Security; Sadiqul Rahman, Director of APS; and Abid Ali Shah, Director of HR at CAA, will also be integral parts of this committee.

    The committee has been allocated a deadline of October 15th to carry out its assigned tasks. The primary objective of this restructuring initiative is to bifurcate the CAA into two distinct entities, namely the Pakistan Airport Authority (PAA) and the Bureau of Air Safety Investigation (BASI).

    In addition to the creation of these new entities, the committee holds the vital responsibility of seamlessly transferring assets, funds, personnel, records, and equipment between them.

  • Juggun Kazim was harassed by fans for this reason

    Juggun Kazim was harassed by fans for this reason

    Actress Juggun Kazim was a guest on Momin Saqib’s show ‘Had Kar Di’ where she criticised Pakistani audiences for turning a blind eye to toxic love stories promoting violence and sexism towards women.

    The ‘Gunah’ actress said that she had once shared a picture on her Instagram where she was kissing her husband’s cheek. The picture got her severe backlash.

    “I couldn’t understand! This was four or five years ago. I said what is everyone’s problem? That’s my husband!”

    Juggun questioned why it is appropriate to display violence on television screens but controversy ignites when romance is shown.

    Drama channels profiting off of women’s misery is often discussed by public figures, including ‘Kuch Ankahi’ writer Syed Mohammad Ahmed. In a June appearance on ‘Mazaaq Raat’, he spoke at length about television channels prioritizing viewership ratings over honest storytelling.

  • Imran to be transferred from Attock jail to Adiala jail: High Court

    Imran to be transferred from Attock jail to Adiala jail: High Court

    The Chief Justice of Islamabad High (IHC), Justice Aamir Farooq, has issued orders to shift Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan from Attock jail to Adiala jail in Rawalpindi, stating that the former prime minister deserves a better class in jail. His rights should not be violated, Justice Farooq stated.

    The chief justice also said that according to the law, under-trial prisoners of Islamabad should be kept in Adiala jail, asking why Imran Khan is being kept in Attock.

    Mentioning that Imran Khan was sent to Attock jail in the Toshakhana case, the Chief Justice pointed out that his sentence in the said case has been suspended.

    Additional Attorney General Munawar Iqbal told the court that Imran Khan was being kept in Attock jail in the cipher case.

    On the other hand, Imran Khan’s lawyer, Sher Afzal Marwat, has demanded an exercise machine for Imran Khan, saying that the PTI chief was a sportsman.

    Earlier, Attock jail’s superintendent refused to transfer Imran Khan to Adiala Jail due to security concerns.

  • Increase in Pink Eye cases; IHRA releases SOPs

    Increase in Pink Eye cases; IHRA releases SOPs

    Lahore is in the throes of the spread of Pink Eye — medically known as conjunctivitis.

    According to health department officials, 85 new cases of conjunctivitis have been reported in the city within the past 36 hours.

    Several cases have also been reported in Karachi, Hyderabad, Rawalpindi and other cities.

    What is Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)?

    Eyes have a transparent membrane called conjunctiva which covers it. Pink Eye is when the blood vessels become swollen or inflamed, which causes the eye to turn red.

    This often causes irritation and severe itching.

    While in some cases conjunctivitis heals on its own, some cases are severe and require consultation with the doctor.

    Symptoms

    According to Aga Khan University Hospital, symptoms include redness in the eye, increased tears from the affected eye, burning sensation, itchiness, and thick yellowish discharge from the eyes

    How does it spread?

    Pink eyes can be caused by a virus, bacteria or an allergy from dust, pollen, chlorinated pool, or any other item.

    It can also spread from person to person through close contact with the infected person or by touching the used items of the infected person; coughing and sneezing

    Treatment

    Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) has released guidelines for the viral infection.

    It states that viral conjunctivitis can be treated with an antibiotic eye drop and/or a steroid eye drop. This helps in reducing the inflammation but does not treat the infection.

    The symptoms can also be countered with cool compress and lubricant eye drops like artificial eye drops (which can also be refrigerated to keep it cool and soothe the eyes).

    How to stop Pink Eye?

    1. Discard tissues that come in contact with the infected eye discharge.
    2. Do not share towel, soap, pillow and other similar items with others if you are infected.
    3. Do not share eye drops even with the infected person.
    4. Wash hands with soap for at least 20 seconds; especially before and after washing applying the ointment to the infected eye.
    5. Wash your hands after coming in contact with the infected person or with the items used by the patient.

    Remember to seek medical help in case of severe pain and sensitivity to light, weakening of vision, and if redness persists more than 10-14 days.

  • Karachi-Lahore flights encounter GPS signal disruptions

    Karachi-Lahore flights encounter GPS signal disruptions

    GPS signals for flights between Lahore and Karachi reportedly ran into difficulties in receiving signals.

    The GPS signals got disrupted approximately 100 nautical miles around Karachi and Lahore.

    Civil Aviation Authority has issued Notices to Airmen (NOTAM) regarding the problem and instructed the pilots of the aircraft to immediately inform them about difficulty in receiving the GPS signal.

    Complaints were also received around Rahim Yar Khan Airport that the planes were not getting the signal.

    This raises safety concerns for aircrafts.

    According to Samaa news, issues regarding GPS signals have been raised before as well but it still has not been resolved.

  • Taylor Swift sparks rumours of dating footballer Travis Kelce after she’s spotted at match

    Taylor Swift sparks rumours of dating footballer Travis Kelce after she’s spotted at match

    Looks like Taylor is no longer in her happy, free, confused and lonely era.

    Rumors were floating around that there was something going on between the ‘Anti Hero’ singer and American football player Travis Kelce, after the NFL star revealed in a podcast that he tried to give her a friendship bracelet at the Eras tour but was dissapointed when he couldn’t hand it over. The quarterback then revealed on ‘The Pat MacAfee Show’ that he had been talking with the ‘Cruel Summer’ singer and invited her to his Sunday game, and it looks like Taylor was Ready For It when she was spotted at the Chiefs games.

    The ‘Reputation’ singer was spotted chatting with the football player’s mom Donna Kelce.

    Speaking to People Magazine, a source close to the singer said she accepted the invite despite having a busy work schedule.

    “Taylor is very focused on work right now and hanging out with her girlfriends. Travis invited her to the game, and of course she said ‘yes. She just thought it was a fantastic way to spend Sunday.”

    Taylor was spotted cheering along with the rest of the fans after Travis scored a touchdown

    After the game, Taylor and Travis were spotted leaving the game together in his convertible, prompting many users to refer to Taylor’s song ‘Getaway Car’ after the pictures surfaced.

  • Anti-corruption establishment arrests Bushra Bibi’s ex-husband, Khawar Maneka, from Airport

    Anti-corruption establishment arrests Bushra Bibi’s ex-husband, Khawar Maneka, from Airport

    The ex-husband of Bushra Bibi, Khawar Farid Manika, has been arrested at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore on Monday.

    Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested Khawar Manika and handed him over to the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE).

    The ex-husband of the former first lady was leaving for Dubai when FIA officials arrested him at the airport, as his name is on the Exit Control List (ECL). After that, ACE registered a case against him.

    Khawar Manika is known as a spiritual devotee of Baba Farid Ganj Shakar and is originally from Pakpatan. Manika has also served as an officer in the Custom Department.

    Maneka has three daughters and two sons with his ex-wife, Bushra Bibi.

  • ‘Your talking to me has placed me in a most embarrassing position’, Former CJ Bandial slammed

    ‘Your talking to me has placed me in a most embarrassing position’, Former CJ Bandial slammed

    Former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, before his retirement earlier this month, had a telephonic conversation with Justice Sardar Tariq Masood to discuss a matter of complaints against fellow judges of the apex court, as per The News.

    As per the sources of Geo’s senior reporter Abdul Qayyum Siddiqui, Justice Masood received a phone call from CJ Bandial on the night of September 5, 2023. The two justices had a conversation, initially intended to discuss and resolve complaints against fellow judges of the Supreme Court, which took a bitter turn.

    Sources suggest that during the contentious telephonic conversation, former Chief Justice Bandial extended an offer to Justice Masood. Allegedly, he proposed that if a pending complaint against another judge were withdrawn, then the complaint against Justice Masood would also be resolved.

    Displeased by the call, Justice Masood wrote a letter to the former CJ on September 6, expressing his disapproval. Justice Masood was upset at how the former CJ had called him instead of forwarding the matter to the current members of the Supreme Judicial Council, including Justice Qazi Faez Isa, Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan, the chief justice of the Sindh High Court, and the chief justice of the Lahore High Court.

    The letter penned by Justice Masood — dated September 6 — reads as follows:

    Mr Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan, Islamabad.

    “Dear Sir,

    Yesterday you spoke to me on the phone and informed me that a complaint against me was submitted by Mrs Amina Malik and you asked me what to do with it. Sir, with the greatest of respect I do not think it was appropriate for you to have talked to me about the said complaint. Sir, you’re talking to me has placed me in a most embarrassing position.

    Under the circumstances, it would be best if the said complaint is placed for consideration before the Supreme Judicial Council as I do not want an additional accusation of seeking favour to be leveled against me. I am confident that the Council will attend to it in accordance with the constitution and the law, and if the complaint is found to be false and intended to malign me then the Council will act pursuant to clause 14 of the Supreme Judicial Council (Procedure of Inquiry), 2005.

    Yours very sincerely,

    Justice Tariq Masood”

    Geo News attempted to contact the former chief justice to get his stance on this matter but, as of now, no response has been received.