Tag: Pakistan

  • Asian Development Bank to develop irrigation system in Pakistan

    Asian Development Bank (ADB) approves to develop an irrigation system in Pakistan.

    This irrigation system will boost agronomy and food security in Punjab province.

    “Given Pakistan’s vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, it is essential to build irrigation infrastructure for climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture,” said ADB Director General for Central and West Asia Yevgeniy Zhukov. “ADB’s support will help boost the supply of local produce and promote food security while increasing economic growth.”

    “By integrating infrastructure and agricultural interventions, this project directly supports smallholder farmers to manage their limited resources more efficiently and maximize the benefits from irrigated agriculture,” said ADB Principal Portfolio Management Specialist Natsuko Totsuka.

    “The project will strengthen the capacity of local authorities to maintain these irrigation systems, boost rural economic growth and help to reduce poverty in the province.”

    However, Pakistan is now facing scarcity of water and mismanagement of water resources because of very old irrigation systems.

  • ‘Set the record straight’: Jahangir Tareen responds to allegations of giving PM Khan pocket money

    ‘Set the record straight’: Jahangir Tareen responds to allegations of giving PM Khan pocket money

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) disgruntled leader Jahangir Tareen, clears the air on the allegations levelled towards him of bearing the expenses for Bani Gala, the residential place of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.

    Jahangir took to Twitter and wrote, “Regardless of the current status of my relationship with Imran Khan, the truth must be told. I did whatever was in my capacity to help PTI in the quest to build a new Pakistan.”

    “I never gave a penny for the household expenses of Bani Gala. Just want to set the record straight,” tweeted Jahangir.

    Earlier, former PTI leader, Justice (retd) Wajihuddin Ahmed, claimed that PM Khan’s monthly household expenses were once catered by Tareen.

    Wajihuddin revealed that Tareen initially gave funds worth Rs3 million per month for Imran Khan’s household expenses, which was later increased to Rs5 million per month.

    Speaking further about the honesty of the premier, Wajihuddin said that the notion about Imran Khan being an honest man is “completely wrong”.

    “This belief is entirely false that Imran Khan is a [financially] honest man,” Wajihuddin said. “His condition is such that he hasn’t been running his household himself for years.”

  • Lahore’s air quality reaches 981, normal air quality should be below 50

    Lahore’s air quality reaches 981, normal air quality should be below 50

    Lahore recorded the worst air quality in four years on Wednesday. An Air Quality Index (AQI) of 981 was recorded near the Mall Road, Samaa has reported. As per United States Environmental protection agency, the hazardous category indicates an AQI of 301–500. The ‘good’ category is 0–50, which is followed by ‘moderate’ at 51–100 while anything in the 101–301 AQI range is considered unhealthy.

    The AQI on Wednesday was recorded above 700 in most areas of Punjab’s capital. A level of 761 was recorded in Gulberg Town, 625 in Fatehpur, while the air quality in Model Town was recorded 591, Samaa reported.

    In November, Lahore was also ranked number one while Karachi ranked fifth among the top five cities with bad air quality in the world.

    Meanwhile, in November, Provincial Minister of Punjab for Environment Protection Muhammad Rizwan claimed that there has been no smog in Punjab, including Lahore, for the last two years.

  • Sri Lankan cricket legend Ranatunga thanks PM Khan for ensuring justice for Priyantha Kumara

    The former 1996 Cricket World Cup-winning Sri Lankan captain, Arjuna Ranatunga, thanked Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan for his efforts to find all those involved in the lynching of Priyantha Kumara and his support for the deceased’s family.

    Sharing the letter he wrote to the premier, Arjuna tweeted, “Thank you for all your efforts in bringing justice for the crime committed against Priyantha Kumara, and for the continued support and commitment toward his family.”

    The letter reads, “You [Imran Khan] have always been unwavering in facing challenges whether it be on the cricket field or the political arena. Since you’ve become the prime minister of Pakistan, you have been carefully addressing some controversial issues in the country.”

    Earlier this month, 49-year-old Kumara, a manager at Rajco factory in Sialkot, was lynched by a mob. The mob tortured him to death and later burnt his body.

    Following the news, PM Khan condemned the incident and ensured the punishment of those who were involved.

    A First Information Report (FIR) was registered against 900 workers of Rajco Industries and several arrests have been made.

  • Elon Musk shows interest to start internet services in Pakistan

    Elon Musk shows interest to start internet services in Pakistan

    Officials from the United States-based broadband service provider, Starlink, owned by Elon Musk, has visited Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA) headquarters in Islamabad on Monday to discuss the launch of a satellite broadband connectivity in Pakistan.

    The delegation, including Director Middle East & Asia, Ryan Goodnight, and Head of Global Site Acquisition, Ben Macwilliam, met with Chairman of PTA, Maj General Amir Azeem Bajwa (R), and Executive Director, Frequency Allocation Board.

    During the meeting, both sides discussed matters related to the provision of satellite broadband connectivity in Pakistan and future plans to connect Pakistan with global networks through Starlink broadband services. PTA Chairman shared Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision of a digital Pakistan to Starlink representatives. He also emphasised the prospects of the internet services market in a country. He gave full assurance for the support from PTA towards the operational framework of Starlink in Pakistan.

    Prior to this, Elon Musk’s satellite broadband services started their pre-booking in India but only in selected cities due to some regulatory issues. They are hoping to apply for a commercial license by January 31, 2022, to officially launch it by next year all over India.

  • Shehryar Afridi calling Pakistani community in Europe to physically attack a journalist is unacceptable, says RSF

    Shehryar Afridi calling Pakistani community in Europe to physically attack a journalist is unacceptable, says RSF

    Reporters Without Borders also known as Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF) took to Twitter to condemn the attack on Younas Khan, a journalist who questioned the chairperson of the Parliamentary Special Committee on Kashmir Shehryar Khan Afridi in France during an event.

    RSF’s condemnation comes in relevance to Afridi’s leaked audio, where he was not happy with the organisers of the event during which Younas Khan questioned him whether he had any interactions with parliamentarians or Tink Tank when he was touring France.

    RSF tweeted, “Pakistan: #RSF strongly supports Paris-based Pakistani journalist @younaskhan1977, who is now the target of death threats after he was thrashed and insulted by a famous Pakistani politician, @ShehryarAfridi1, recently visiting #France.”

    “@younaskhan1977’s only wrongdoing was to ask a question that displeased @ShehryarAfridi1. In a leaked audio clip, the politician can be heard calling members of the Pakistani community in Europe to physically attack the journalist. These threats are unacceptable,” added RSF.

    Afridi’s leaked audio revealed that he was unhappy and could be heard talking to the organisers that he came to the event at their request. “If I did not answer the questions there, people would have said that I was scared and ran away,” said Afridi.

    “When the journalist was asking me questions, why did you [organisers] stay silent, why didn’t you ask him why this news was published?” Afridi questioned using explicit language.

    Shehryar Afridi told the organisers of the ceremony that they did not miss the chance to demean him, adding, “As far as I am concerned, it would have been good, but it is a matter of Pakistan’s honour.”

    “If you do not ask this journalist about the news, I will not spare you,” warned Afridi.

  • Pakistanis in trouble again as more tax hikes planned by the government

    With rising inflation, and an increase in taxes, the poor and working middle-class are being adversely affected.

    At the moment the government is planning on tightening the budget of tax hikes and spending cuts if the country is to get the $1 billion it needs from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    “I never thought it would become so difficult to survive,” said Sibte Hasan, a 43-year-old construction supervisor from Pakistan’s second-biggest city Lahore.

    The Pakistani rupee has also fallen to around 14% since May, which is a historic low.

    Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin is still hopeful things will be better but little to no relief is being given by the government as the country faces an inflation and gas crisis and rising taxes.

  • ‘We have battled before and will do again’: Fawad Chaudhry warns TTP

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry warned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and said that the government will only talk to those who respect the Constitution and law of Pakistan. Otherwise, the government has battled before and will do again, reports Dawn.

    The information minister said that the Taliban government had once again pressed the TTP to abide by the ceasefire agreement. “And I think their advice is sane,” he added.

    Chaudhry’s remarks came after TTP’s announcement of ending a month-long ceasefire with Pakistan and the death of a policeman in an alleged armed attack on a polio vaccination team by TTP in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

    The banned organisation TTP said the government had not only failed to implement the decisions reached between the two sides but also raids had been conducted by Pakistan in Dera Ismail Khan, Lakki Marwat, Swat, Bajaur, Swabi, and North Waziristan where they killed and detained militants.

    Prior to this, both sides [Pakistan and TTP] had reached a month-long ceasefire from November 1 to November 30, 2021. According to which the Pakistani government promised to release 102 imprisoned mujahideen.

  • Video: PPP’s Saeed Ghani opening water bottle for Bilawal

    Video: PPP’s Saeed Ghani opening water bottle for Bilawal

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari handed over a water bottle to his party fellow Information minister Sindh Saeed Ghani to open.

    In a video, the chairman can be seen sitting alongside Ghani and Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah while addressing a press conference in Karachi.

    The moment went viral when Bilawal picks up a bottle of water and for a moment attempts to open the plastic seal on the cap. Ghani is seen reaching out to assist him and Bilawal gave the bottle to him. Ghani opens it and instantly handed it over to Bilawal.

  • ‘Should we keep her?’: Wasim Akram after Shaniera comes home

    ‘Should we keep her?’: Wasim Akram after Shaniera comes home

    Former Pakistan cricket team captain Wasim Akram has posted a picture with his wife Shaniera Akram on his social media after she came back to Pakistan after a long time. He asked his fans a question about ‘keeping his wife’.

    The veteran cricketer wrote: “Look what I found on sea view this morning, should we keep her?”

    Earlier in September, the cricketer reunited with his wife Shaniera and daughter Aiyla after 10 long months in Melbourne, Australia.

    Wasim shared a beautiful video clip on Twitter of the reunion with his daughter and we can’t stop thinking about how cute it was.

    In the video, Aiyla was seen rushing towards the door to meet her father. She opens it and joyfully jumps into her father’s arms for a long hug.