Tag: Pakistan

  • Food ban to be lifted from domestic flights: Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority

    Food ban to be lifted from domestic flights: Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority

    The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) will lift the ban on food services on domestic flights from March 1, ARY News has reported.

    The ban was imposed on January 15, due to a rise in Covid-19 cases in the country. The ban was imposed on both domestic and international flights. However, the ban on international flights has not been lifted yet.

    The spokesperson of PCAA has said that passengers still need to follow precautionary Covid-19 measures during travel.

    As per the National Command Operation Centre (NCOC), Pakistan recorded 1,207 new cases of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours while 14 people lost their lives to the deadly virus.

  • Get your seat online: PCB announces ticket availability for Pakistan-Australia Test series

    Get your seat online: PCB announces ticket availability for Pakistan-Australia Test series

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the availability of Pakistan-Australia test series tickets online from today (Friday).

    The matches will be played in several cities of Pakistan— Rawalpindi (March 4-8), Karachi (March 10-12) and Lahore (March 21-25 ).

    According to the board, the ticket price for the general enclosure has been fixed at Rs 100, a first-class ticket at Rs 200, a premium ticket at Rs 350 and VIP Enclosure ticket at Rs 500.

    In the first phase, 50 per cent of the tickets will be sold. The remaining ones will be offered for sale after the confirmation of the number of spectators from the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC).

    PCB has directed that ticket holders are required to bring their Covid-19 immunisation certificate and Identity cards along with them.

    Australian test skipper Pat Cummins said his team is “comfortable” with security arrangements and excited by what lies ahead.

    The Kangaroos are due to leave over this weekend.

    Earlier this month, Australia confirmed the historic visit of its cricket team for the first time in 24 years.

  • ‘Beasts will realise consequences’, Politicians reacts to Zahir Jaffer’s conviction

    ‘Beasts will realise consequences’, Politicians reacts to Zahir Jaffer’s conviction

    Zahir Jaffer has been found guilty in Noor Mukadam’s case and has been sentenced to death by a session court in Islamabad on Thursday.

    Following the announcement of the verdict, Twitterati praised the decision. Pakistani politicians came forward and talked about the justice system in the country.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz tweeted, “The wounds Noor Mukadam’s rape and murder inflicted on the collective conscience of humanity may never heal but it is reassuring that beasts in human disguise will realise that consequences can be grave.”

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry praised the police and prosecution, saying that they fulfilled their responsibilities and the court decided in four months. He further added, “Hopefully the justice institutions will meet the expectations of the people and the rule of law will come into force.”

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Naz Baloch said that she has a lot of respect for Noor’s parents. She tweeted, “Finally Justice prevailed!! Lots of respect for the courageous parents of Noor Muqaddam who fought for their innocent daughter until the murderer Zahir Jaffar was sentenced for the heinous crime.”

    Reacting to the news, PML-N MNA Hina Parvez Butt said, “This justice is not enough, but may your brutal death drive us into making this world safer for all the Noors.”

  • Disguised as security officials, robbers loot foreigners

    Disguised as security officials, robbers loot foreigners

    Street crime in Karachi has increased manifold in recent months. A foreigner who was visiting Pakistan to attend a marriage ceremony was robbed at Sea View, ARY News reports.

    According to details, an FIR has been registered against this incident in Karachi. As per news reports, two suspects used to follow foreigners to rob them after identifying themselves as law enforcers.

    “While they were on their way home, they were intercepted by a white vehicle by men posing as cops, erecting a barricade,” said the complainant. “In the guise of checking, the robbers took the money from them and ran away,” added the complainant whose son-in-law and friend were visiting Pakistan from the United Kingdom (UK).

    Police arrested a few members of the notorious gang. They also recovered looted foreign and local currencies, expensive items including laptops and mobile phones, fake number plates, police uniforms, wireless sets and weapons used in various crimes.

    Police are on the hunt for other members of the group as further investigation is underway.

  • ‘PM Khan is a predator of free speech’: Pakistanis denounce PECA Ordinance

    ‘PM Khan is a predator of free speech’: Pakistanis denounce PECA Ordinance

    Since the promulgation of the Ordinance amending the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, the law has been receiving a lot of criticism from the Opposition, civil society, journalists and even government allies.

    In a joint statement, the Opposition termed PECA “fascist and dictatorship”. The statement was released after a meeting between Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership, reports Geo News.

    Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif took to Twitter and said, “So-called ‘defamation’ amendment to PECA, promulgated by presidential ordinance, shows the real fascist face of the ruling clique.”

    PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto- Zardari said that freedom of expression and press is being muzzled under the guise of preventing false news. “Khan Sahib himself is the biggest leader of fake news mafia in Pakistan,” said Bilawal.

    PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz was of the view that PECA is going to be used against the government.

    While condemning the Ordinance, PPP’s Senator Sherry Rehman said that such laws are unacceptable.

    Lawyer Reema Omer tweeted, “With PECA Ordinance, PM Imran Khan has proven yet again that he is a predator of free speech.”

    However, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) restrained the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) from making arrests under Section 20 of PECA despite its promulgation by President Arif Alvi on Sunday, reports Dawn.

    Federal Minister of Information Technology and Telecommunication Amin Ul Haque has written to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, urging him to either withdraw or review the Ordinance.

  • Covid-19: NCOC eases curbs for passengers travelling to Pakistan

    Covid-19: NCOC eases curbs for passengers travelling to Pakistan

    The National Command Control Centre (NCOC) on Wednesday announced that from tomorrow (February 24), requirement of negative PCR report for passengers travelling to Pakistan has been abolished for fully vaccinated travellers.

    According to the new orders, pre-boarding negative PCR has been abolished for inbound travellers who are fully vaccinated. It also says that passengers below 12 years of age are exempted from mandatory vaccination. Passengers between 12-18 years of age are allowed to travel without mandatory vaccination till March 31, 2022.

    The Sindh government on Tuesday revised Covid-19 restrictions. Ban on indoor dining and weddings have also been lifted.

    Under the new relaxed rules, the following will apply:

    Gatherings

    • Indoor gatherings of all types, including weddings, with a cap of 500 fully-vaccinated guests will be allowed
    • Outdoor gatherings allowed with strict enforcement of safety protocols

    Dining

    • Ban on indoor dining has been lifted. And, outdoor dining for fully-vaccinated citizens and takeaway service will be allowed

    Business timings

    • Businesses will continue without time restrictions

    Office routine

    • Offices will be allowed to operate at 100% capacity of fully vaccinated workers with normal working hours

    Education sector

    • Institutes for children under 12 years of age will open with stringent Covid-19 protocols.
    • Institutes for children above 12 years of age will open with stringent Covid-19 protocols (fully vaccinated)

    Public transport

    • Public buses will be allowed to operate with 80% of their seating capacity. Wearing masks will be mandatory throughout the journey. However, a complete ban on serving meals/snacks during the journey will remain imposed till February 28

    Gyms

    • All gyms will be allowed to remain open for fully-vaccinated individuals only

    Shrines

    • Open for fully-vaccinated individuals only

    Cinemas

    • All cinemas will be allowed to remain open for fully-vaccinated individuals only

    Amusement Parks

    • Open for fully-vaccinated individuals only

    Sports

    • All types of sports are allowed for vaccinated individuals

    Domestic air/land travel meals

    • A complete ban on serving meals/snacks during the in-flight or land journeys for domestic travel will remain imposed till February 28

    Railways

    • Railways will operate with a 100% occupancy level for vaccinated individuals only
    • A complete ban on serving meals/snacks during the journey will remain imposed till February 28

    Mask wearing

    • Compliance with compulsory mask-wearing while incorporating innovative measures for enforcement
    • Strict adherence to SOPs in mosques and other places of worship be ensured by the respective district administration

    Extended lockdowns

    • Smart lockdown with stringent enforcement protocols based on disease clusters.

    Pakistan’s daily Covid-19 death toll witnessed an increase after several days.

  • Woman kidnaps ex-husband after he re-marries, demands ransom from family

    Woman kidnaps ex-husband after he re-marries, demands ransom from family

    A woman has been arrested in Yemen on the charges of kidnapping, her husband after he re-married,Gulf News Has reported. As per media reports, the woman alsot tortured and demanded ransom from the family of her ex-husband.

    The man, identified as Mubarak Sultan, was allegedly kidnapped by Taghred Ghalib, on February 7 in Yemen’s south west province of Taiz, according to an unverified police statement posted on the Internet.

    Sultan was abducted while strolling down the street with the help of the woman’s brothers and transported to an unknown location.

    The woman while confessing her crime said, “Yes!” I have kidnapped and tortured him to take my frustration out.” She added that she has shared the pictures of her severely injured ex-husband’s body to set an example.

    She further said that her ex-husband lied, cheated and shared her pictures online and leaked private conversations.

  • UAE to ease covid-19 restrictions for Pakistanis travelling to Dubai

    UAE to ease covid-19 restrictions for Pakistanis travelling to Dubai

    The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is planning to ease Covid-19 travel restrictions for Pakistanis with regards to Covid-19 restrictions. Passengers travelling to Dubai will no longer be required to show reports of a rapid antigen test upon their arrival.

    Passengers arriving from Pakistan must have:

    • A valid negative COVID‑19 PCR test certificate with a QR code linked to the original report for verification purposes, for a test conducted within 48 hours. Validity should be calculated from the time the sample was collected, prior to departure from an approved health facility.
    • A rapid COVID‑19 PCR test report with a QR code for a test conducted at the departure airport within six hours of departure.

    There are specific requirements for passengers travelling to Dubai airport though. They still have to undergo another PCR test and quarantine, on arrival to the UAE until they test negative.

    Meanwhile, travelers transiting through Dubai won’t be required to show a negative PCR test unless it is mandated by their final destination. Passengers must also obtain a negative PCR test received within 48 hours.

  • Bomb blast targets police van, three officers injured

    Bomb blast targets police van, three officers injured

    Three police officers sustained injuries after a police mobile was targeted in Dera Ismail Khan.

    According to media reports, the police mobile was damaged in the bomb blast detonated by a remote control. The injured officers have been moved to the hospital where they are said to be in critical condition.

    Security agencies have cordoned off the area and launched a manhunt to arrest the culprits.

    According to initial reports, a police team was deployed for the ongoing polio campaign in the town.

    No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

    There has been an increase in attacks targeting law enforcement agencies for the past few days..

  • PM Imran Khan announces ‘no tax’ policy for freelance workers

    PM Imran Khan announces ‘no tax’ policy for freelance workers

    Prime Minister(PM) Imran Khan has announced that registered freelancers will be exempted from all types of taxes.

    While addressing the launching ceremony of the E-commerce Portal, PM said that freelancers will not be liable to any sort of tax on their income now.

    He said, “IT [sector] is youth-driven. All of these tech company owners became billionaires by the age of 20.”

    He also shared that the government’s aim is to take Information technology (IT) exports upto $50 billion in the upcoming years. The exports of IT have reached $4 billion during the past two years.

    He also added that women at home will be able to empower themselves by freelancing at home.

    He also opened up about his future plans to work with Microsoft co-founder, Bill Gates, for the IT industry. He was invited to Pakistan to honour him as he made efforts to eliminate polio disease from the country.

    PM said, “But my interest was to involve him in Pakistan’s IT [industry] even if in an advisory capacity.”

    In September 2021, the Information Technology Ministry of Pakistan launched a portal to register freelancers.

    World Bank released a report last year in September in which it revealed that the number of freelancers is much higher than Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.