Tag: home-life

  • FBR to regulate beauty parlours, bakeries

    FBR to regulate beauty parlours, bakeries

    The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has decided to bring beauty parlours, bakeries, grocery stores, and all other retail outlets under an Invoice Monitoring System to check their tax and to ensure that no sales tax theft is taking place at these stores.

    As per reports, the FBR is going to launch its pilot project in Islamabad from next month. Under the plan, the Invoice Monitoring System will be installed at all commercial beauty parlours, bakeries, and grocery stores in the capital to record their actual sales. The project would gradually be extended across the country after its trial launch.

    The system works in a manner that whenever concerned outlets issue a copy of the invoice to a customer, an electronic copy will reach the linked FBR office. This will help the bureau keep a track of the actual sales and the amount of sales tax charged on each bill.

    The FBR officials expressed satisfaction over the system and hoped that it will help increase the revenue collection.

    Most parlours and grocery stores already charge tax so it is unlikely that the prices will be increased. However, this system will ensure that the tax you’ve paid reaches the relevant authorities and is not stolen along the way.

  • Zainab’s father appointed focal person for child abuse in Kasur

    Zainab’s father appointed focal person for child abuse in Kasur

    Child Protection and Welfare Bureau (CPWB) Punjab Chairperson Sarah Ahmad on Tuesday announced that Zainab Ansari’s father Amin Ansari is being appointed as the focal person for child abuse in the Kasur district. According to details, the father of the six-year-old – who was raped and killed in January 2018 – volunteered himself for the task.

    Zainab’s case had sparked countrywide outrage and protests and her perpetrator Imran Ali was executed nine months after her death.

    The bureau, on the directives of Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, has launched a campaign in Kasur to raise awareness regarding child sexual abuse. According to the chairperson, this is the “first time that the government has started a campaign in Kasur.” Previously only NGOs were the only ones working on the ground to tackle the problem of child abuse in the area.

    Though the bureau had established a small outreach centre at the TMA Hall in early 2018, after Zainab’s case, the centre had not been equipped properly and largely depended on the Lahore head office.

    The development comes days after the remains of three minor boys, whom police suspect were raped and murdered, were found in Kasur’s Chunian Tehsil. According to the police, two children were reported missing in August while a third had gone missing earlier this month. On the indication of a local worker, police found the body of one of the boys and the skeletal remains of the other two at a deserted place in Chunian Industrial Estate area. Residents in Chunian says that five children had gone missing in recent months. The remains of four have now been found.

    Investigators claim that the heinous crimes have been committed by a single person as suggested by the result of the samples taken from the body of one of the victims, Faizan. The police have so far detained 20 suspects from Chunian, while the samples of over 950 others have also been collected for DNA tests.

    The discovery of the bodies had led to violent protests after which the government including Prime Minister Imran Khan had taken notice of the incident.

    In recent years, Kasur has garnered international attention for being a hotspot for child abuse and pornography.

  • Hand sanitizer won’t protect you from catching flu: Study

    Hand sanitizer won’t protect you from catching flu: Study

    We had it all wrong. The hand sanitizer will not protect you
    from catching the flu, a new study reveals.

    It’s a myth that hand sanitizers kill germs promptly, even those that land you with a cold or flu. While it is true that some germs are removed with a quick squeeze, the flu-causing ones stay on. 

    According to a new study published in
    the journal mSphere, sanitizer products cannot remove the mucus on a
    person’s fingers. To test this, the researchers patted the participant’s hands
    with IAV-infected wet mucus.

    “The physical properties of the mucus
    protect the virus from inactivation,” said a physician and molecular
    gastroenterologist. “Until the mucus has completely dried, infectious IAV can
    remain on the hands and fingers, even after suitable antiseptic hand rubbing.”

    This mucus can take up to four minutes or more to dry, which means in those four minutes you have a high chance of catching the flu or transferring it to another person. Once the mucus has dried, it can be disinfected with any hand sanitizer.

    The US-based Center for Disease Control and Prevention advises people to wash their hands with soap and water instead, to reduce the chances of catching a cold. The researchers who conducted the study also agree, an antiseptic soap can clean up the flu germs within 30 seconds.

  • How to be safe during an earthquake?

    How to be safe during an earthquake?

    After an earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale jolted different parts of the country on Tuesday, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a warning that aftershocks are highly likely in the next 24 hours.

    When an earthquake strikes, most people believe that the best solution is to run out of their houses and offices but this might not be the safest solution.

    Here are a few tips you can follow to be safe:

    If you are indoor when an earthquake strikes

    Drop, Cover, Hold – Drop to your hands and knees. Cover your head and neck with your hands and hold your position until the tremors stop.

    Do not run outside – Falling debris or things from the roof can fall on you.

    Avoid using elevators

    If you are not near a desk or a table, drop to the floor next to an interior wall and protect your head and neck with your arms.

    If in bed stay there and cover head with a pillow, get out of bed only when tremors stop and wear footwear.

    Stay away from glass windows and doors.

    Do not go near to any furniture, large appliances, mirrors, cabinets filled with heavy items and hanging objects.

    If you are outdoors when an earthquake strikes

    Move to a clear area if you can do
    so safely. Avoid buildings, power lines, trees and other hazards.

    If you are near a tall building then get as far away from it when jolts start.

    If you are driving then safely pull over to the side of the road and stop when you are able to do so.

    Avoid overpasses, bridges, power lines, signs, trees and other things that might collapse or fall on the vehicle.

    Stay inside the vehicle until the shaking ends. If a power line falls onto your vehicle, stay inside until a trained person removes the hazard.

  • In pictures: Roads collapse after 5.8 quake jolts country

    In pictures: Roads collapse after 5.8 quake jolts country

    Roads of Jatlan town in Mirpur district of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) collapsed after a strong earthquake jolted different parts of the country on Tuesday evening.

    As per the details, an earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale jolted Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Lahore among other parts of northern and central Punjab besides Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and AJK.

    According to the geological wing of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the epicenter of the quake was stated to be one kilometer (km) southeast of Mirpur, 10 km beneath the earth’s surface.

    People of the areas where the quake was felt, rushed out of their homes and offices in panic reciting Quranic verses.

    At least three people were killed and 50 others injured after roads in Mirpur collapsed due to the intensity of the quake. Several vehicles, including passenger buses, were also seen falling and getting stuck in the massive cracks.

    GALLERY:

  • Strong earthquake jolts country

    Strong earthquake jolts country

    An earthquake of high intensity jolted different parts of the country on Tuesday, injuring over 50 people.

    According to the geological wing of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), tremors measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale were felt in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Lahore among other parts of northern and central Punjab besides Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

    People of the areas where the quake was felt, rushed out of their homes and offices in panic reciting Quranic verses. At least 50 people were injured and rushed to nearby hospitals in Mirpur.

    The epicenter of the quake was stated to be one kilometer (km) southeast of Mirpur, 10 km beneath the earth’s surface.

  • President Alvi spotted picking up trash on hiking trip

    President Alvi spotted picking up trash on hiking trip

    In a photo shared by his son on Twitter, President Dr Arif Alvi has been spotted picking up trash on his hiking trip with family in Changla Gali mountain resort town of Galyat.

    According to the details, the president was seen collecting garbage in a trash bag and then disposing it of in a bin by the side of a road.

    “During our treks, we usually take trash bags, but accidentally forgot them, next time will do more [sic],” the president’s son, Awab Alvi, wrote and added that Pakistanis should “behave like responsible tourists when they visit such beautiful places in the country”.

    He further said that it was sad to see “tourists taking treks, but leaving plastic bottles on the ground when they left”. 

  • Mental agony costs Careem Rs 50,000

    Mental agony costs Careem Rs 50,000

    People who regularly use Careem for conveyance are well aware of the problems one faces while availing this cab service so it will come as no surprise that the private ride-hailing service was fined Rs 50,000 by a consumer court for providing bad service and causing mental distress to a customer.

    Careem Pakistan CEO Junaid Iqbal was directed to deposit Rs 25,000 in fines to the court, Rs 15,000 to the complainant for causing mental agony and Rs 10,000 litigation fee. Judge Javed Ali Korejo delivered the verdict on a complaint filed by a Careem user.

    As per reports, petitioner Advocate Mehmood Ahmed Khan stated in his complaint that he had booked a Careem cab from Gulistan-e-Jauhar to Saadi Garden. He and some of his guests were picked by a Careem captain, who ignored directions and drove in a rash manner. Instead of following Khan’s friends who were on a motorcycle, as Khan requested him to, the captain got angry at being repeatedly asked to follow the motorcycle and dropped the passengers in the middle of the road. Khan mentioned that the passengers were all fasting when the ride ended halfway. He added that the driver also used offensive language.

    Khan further said that he had lodged an online complaint with the company before approaching the court but after receiving no satisfactory response from the management he was left with no other option.

    “They did not even reply to the legal notice he sent”, said Khan.

  • VIDEO: Man dies while proposing to his girlfriend underwater

    VIDEO: Man dies while proposing to his girlfriend underwater

    A man has drowned while proposing to his girlfriend underwater at an idyllic island off the coast of Tanzania. It is unclear what went wrong during the proposal at a popular honeymoon destination.

    His girlfriend Kenesha Antoine posted a video on her Facebook page. Video shows her boyfriend proposing to her through the window of their underwater hotel room at the luxury resort.

    “You never emerged from
    those depths so you never got to hear my answer, ‘Yes! Yes! A million times,
    yes, I will marry you!!’,” she wrote in a post confirming his death.

    Her video shows Steven Weber swimming up to the window, and pressing a handwritten note against it which read: “I can’t hold my breath long enough to tell you everything I love about you, but everything I love about you I love more every day. Will you please be my wife, marry me.”

    He then pulled out a ring as Antoine squealed with joy while filming. It is unclear what went wrong
    during the proposal.

  • Home remedies to cure dengue fever

    Home remedies to cure dengue fever

    More than 10,000 cases of dengue have been reported in the country, with the numbers rising every day. As unfortunate as it is, the government has not been able to make proper arrangements in the hospitals to combat the disease.

    If God forbid you or any of your friends or family are suffering from dengue fever, here are a few ways that might help you recover from the disease. Previously, The Current listed the symptoms and preventions for dengue fever.

    Drink a lot of water

    Excessive sweating and exertion during dengue fever can cause dehydration. Make sure that you take a lot of water and fluids and stay hydrated. Staying hydrated also reduces headaches and muscle cramps.

    Juice of Papaya Leaves

    Another very effective remedy is drinking papaya (Papeete) leaf juice. Papaya juice is known to be the best available natural remedy for dengue fever. The leaves have a mix of nutrients which help in increasing your platelet count.

    Papaya leaves also have a high level of Vitamin C which improves the immune system, while antioxidants in it help in reducing body stress. All you need to do is crush the leaves and strain the juice from the crushed leaves.

    Chew Basil leaves

    Basil (Tulsi) leaves are amazing herbs that not only help during dengue fever but also improve your overall immunity. Chewing 5-6 basil leaves boosts your immunity. Basil leaves have essential oils with natural insecticidal properties which keep mosquitoes at bay.

    Neem Leaves

    Neem leaves have medicinal properties, which is the reason why they are recommended for a variety of illnesses. Steep neem leaves and drinks the brew to increase platelet and white blood cell count. Properly brewed neem leaves also improve the immune system if suffering from dengue.

    Disclaimer: This article is research-based. Kindly consult your doctor/physician to ensure that you are not allergic to any of these and seek proper treatment for the disease.