Tag: Pakistan

  • Pakistan to broaden ties with US for the bright future of IT sector

    Pakistan to broaden ties with US for the bright future of IT sector

    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.

    Read more: US launches $23 million project to enhance Pakistan’s power sector

    “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.

  • This 8-year-old started driving two years ago

    This 8-year-old started driving two years ago

    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.

    Read more: This Mercedes has a smaller engine than the Honda Pridor

    Promoting underage driving is becoming a worrisome trend in Pakistan, which the government must address promptly.

  • BBZ follows ZA Bhutto, becomes Foreign Minister in 30s

    BBZ follows ZA Bhutto, becomes Foreign Minister in 30s

    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.

  • Sindh House attack case: bail cancelled of PTI MNAs, back in jail

    Sindh House attack case: bail cancelled of PTI MNAs, back in jail

    Islamabad High Court (IHC) cancelled the interim bail of two accused Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Members of National Assembly (MNAs) Attaullah Niazi and Faheem Khan of being involved in the Sindh House attack.

    On March 18, PTI workers barged into the PPP’s stronghold in Islamabad, Sindh House to allegedly attack disgruntled PTI MNAs who were staying there to seek refuge from the former government.

    The decision was made during the hearing by Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangir. Complainant Jamal Mandokhail’s counsel Raja Nazeer and the defendants’ lawyer Advocate Faisal Siddique presented their arguments before the court.

    After hearing their arguments, the two were arrested outside the courtroom.

    Other than them,12 PTI members were arrested by the Islamabad Police for being the part of protest.

  • PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal under fire for comments on Cuba; Cuban Ambassador reacts

    Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal sparked an outcry through his comparison of Pakistan with Cuba while highlighting poor performance and incompetence of the previous government.

    The minister said: “We not want Pakistan to become Cuba or North Korea. We have to set Pakistan on the path to development, like Malaysia, Turkey, China and South Korea.”

    Ahsan Iqbal, in fact, was trying to draw a comparison of the poor performance of the previous, saying that the “PTI government had hampered the CPEC’s progress and soured ties with the European Union, the United States and even brotherly Muslim countries, pushing the county into isolation.”

    Responding to Iqbal’s statement, Cuban Ambassador in Pakistan Zener Caro, in a tweet, said, “Fortunately, Minister Ahsan Iqbal’s disrespectful mention of Cuba in his press conference in Lahore does not represent and has nothing to do with Pakistanis’ true respect and deep affection for Cuba and its people.”

    Following it, former Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari also took to Twitter and gave a fact check to current federal minister.

    She said, “Ahsan Iqbal’s ignorance or desperate desire to please his US regime change conspiracy masters has now led him to demean Cuba by saying he doesn’t want Pakistan to become like Cuba!”

    “Cuba is a country that fought hard to win freedom & rid itself of US interference where the US had imposed a clause in Cuba’s constitution to maintain control over its policies”, she added.

    Other people also commented over the minister’s comparison and termed it inappropriate.

    https://twitter.com/5heldonC00PER/status/1518524462706171905?s=20&t=Eg-pm7L4CK2dB9Cjdwdm-Q

    https://twitter.com/DrAmjadAliKhan/status/1518530444739887105?s=20&t=Eg-pm7L4CK2dB9Cjdwdm-Q

  • This Mercedes has a smaller engine than the Honda Pridor

    This Mercedes has a smaller engine than the Honda Pridor

    In the 1990s, Poland-based Alpha Technology produced this miniature Mercedes SL 500, which was marketed at Mercedes Benz dealerships and select toy stores. This one, on the other hand, was kept in a wooden crate for years before being purchased by its present owner last year.

    It is powered by a 97cc Honda single-cylinder engine with a two-speed gearbox with reverse and has a black body meant to look like the R129 500SL. It offers a black vinyl interior, rear mechanical disc brakes, a handbrake, a gearbox, and three pedals.

    It boasts coil springs at all four corners, a 12-volt electrical system, a hinged trunk, and a four-spoke steering wheel, despite the fact that it is essentially a go-kart. Steel Gullideckel-style wheels with 135.00–6 Duro bias-ply tyres are also included.

    A multi-disc wet clutch transmits power from the 2.5 horsepower (1.8 kW/2.53 PS) engine to the rear wheels. The electrical system operates the lights and the horn, and it has a 1.4-liter (0.3-gallon) fuel tank.

    The convertible seems to be in good shape, owing to the duration of time it spent in a box, the lack of use has resulted in atrophy. According to the listing, some mechanical maintenance will be required before the go-kart can run as intended.

    Read more: Hyundai’s electric vehicle wins ‘World Car of the Year’ award

    It is for sale through Bring a Trailer in Merritt Island, Florida, and comes with the crate, factory books, and a bill of sale. As of this writing, the top offer is a tantalising $7,669.

  • Another teenage girl in Karachi goes missing

    Another teenage girl in Karachi goes missing

    A week after a minor from Karachi went missing, another girl same as her age, 14-year-old Nimra Kazmi went missing on April 20th from the same area, i.e. Karachi’s Malir district.

    Nimra’s mother said that she left her home at 9am to go to work, but her daughter was not at home when she returned. Despite thoroughly searching for her, she was nowhere to be found.

    According to her mother, Nimra was a grade-10 student and was preparing for her final exams. She appealed to Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah and the Inspector-General of Sindh for the recovery of her teenage daughter.

    As per the police, a case has been registered and a search is underway.

    It is pertinent to mention that Zehra’s whereabouts are still unknown. According to the police, they are putting in all their efforts.

  • PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal invites PTI’s Asad Umar to ‘farewell dinner’

    PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal invites PTI’s Asad Umar to ‘farewell dinner’

    The newly-appointed Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal has written a letter, inviting his predecessor former Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar to a farewell dinner “on a date and time of the Umar’s convenience.”

    The federal minister said that in the meeting he would “like to be briefed on the developmental initiatives of greater public importance” that the PTI government “had started and which should be continued in the public interest”.

    “I look forward to a positive response from you. My office will coordinate with your personal staff to schedule the proposed farewell dinner/meeting with you at the earliest,” the letter further reads.

    However, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader is yet to make a comment on this invitation.

    The PML-N’s leader move, however, has been widely appreciated by social media users.

  • ‘Imran caused huge damage to Pakistan in every sense’: Nawaz Sharif

    ‘Imran caused huge damage to Pakistan in every sense’: Nawaz Sharif

    Former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif met with Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari who both lashed out at former PM Imran Khan and his policies, regretting that Imran Khan promoted the culture of hooliganism and immorality in politics. “The PTI chairman has caused huge damage to Pakistan in every sense of the word.”

    Both PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari talked at length about political as well as coalition government affairs during the meeting that lasted for over three hours on Thursday in London.

    Later, both the leader addressed a press conference where they lashed out at former PM Imran Khan and his policies. Nawaz Sharif said: “Khan promoted the culture of hooliganism and immorality. He has caused huge damage to Pakistan in every sense of the word.”

    About the US foreign conspiracy which was claimed by Khan, Nawaz Sharif posed several questions: “Were you involved in holding an atomic blast? Why will there be a foreign conspiracy against you?”

    Nawaz said that Khan had claimed that he would take his own life before approaching the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for financial support. “But we did not see him taking his own life till now,” he added.

    “Imran Khan’s rule has been the darkest chapter in the history of Pakistan. We are saddened at the state of affairs in Pakistan and what it has been turned into. There are enormous challenges we are facing but we will repair the damage, through national consensus. All the stakeholders from all the provinces including PPP, PML-N, JUI-F and others political powers will play their due role”, he added.

    Similarly taking a jibe at Khan, Bilawal said: “There was no conspiracy against Khan at the White House. However, a conspiracy against him was hatched at the Bilawal House to throw out an illegal, selected and cruel government through the power of the vote [no-confidence motion].”

    Moreover, he said that using the experience and guidance of elders like Sharif and his father the new generation will strengthen Pakistan to face the challenges.

    About the meeting between Bilawal and Sharif, Geo News‘ sources revealed that the PPP chairman didn’t ask for the positions of Senate chairman, Governor Punjab or seat adjustments.

    As per the sources, Nawaz was told that Bilawal may bring up these matters. However, Bilawal told Nawaz he was calling him to discuss the possibility and the need for working together in the future for the greater cause of a strong and vibrant democracy.

    The three-hour-long meeting between the PML-N supremo and PPP chairman was held in two parts. In the first part, Bilawal and Nawaz held a one-on-one meeting, while in the second half, other senior leaders of both parties were also present in the meeting.

    Now, upon his return to the country, Bilawal will take an oath as foreign minister of Pakistan.

  • 15-month-old in NWA: Pakistan reports first polio case in 15 months

    The first wild poliovirus case was detected in a 15-month-old baby boy from North Waziristan, Pakistan. It is the third case to have been reported worldwide during the ongoing year 2022.

    The National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad has confirmed the type-1 wild poliovirus (WPV1) in a toddler from North Waziristan. The NIH polio eradication laboratory also confirmed another case from the Bannu district in KP, which was detected in the environmental samples collected on April 5. Both viruses detected in the samples are closely related to each other.

    Pakistan reported the polio case in the country 15 months after the previous poliovirus case was reported on January 28, last year from the Killa Abdullah area of Balochistan.

    Secretary Health Aamir Ashraf said, “This is, of course, a tragedy for the child and his family and it is also very unfortunate both for Pakistan and polio eradication efforts all over the world. We are disappointed but not deterred.” He further added, “The case has appeared in Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) where the poliovirus was detected in the environment late last year and where an emergency action plan is already being implemented.”

    According to Anti-Polio Programme, Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has badly been affected by the poliovirus after detection from the environmental samples in the last quarter of 2021. The samples of the virus were found in Dera Ismail Khan and Bannu divisions last year.

    The Health Secretary also revealed that teams have deployed to conduct detailed interrogation into the case detected in North Waziristan. The emergency immunization campaigns are continued to prevent further outbreaks of poliovirus in the country.

    Talking about the issue, National Emergency and Operations Centre (NEOC) Coordinator Dr Shahzad Baig said, “To address the challenges in Southern KP, the Pakistani government and its global partners have already initiated an emergency action plan to address the challenges in this part of the province.”

    The province had reported as many as 22 cases of poliovirus in 2020. However, there was no wild-type virus among the detected case in KP province.