Tag: Peshawar

  • Lt Gen Faiz appointed as Bahawalpur Corps Commander

    Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed has been appointed as Bahawalpur Corps Commander, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said Monday.

    He was previously appointed as the commander of the Peshawar Corps last year. It is pertinent to mention that when his appointment took place, it was speculated that he had former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s favour, however, Khan himself has denied it several times.

    In his place, the military’s media wing said Lieutenant General Sardar Hassan Azhar Hayat has been posted as the commander of the Peshawar Corps.

    During Khan’s tenure, Lt Gen Hameed was given the post of Director General (DG) of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan in 2019. He had previously served in the ISI as the head of internal security and comes from the army’s Baloch Regiment.

    Last week, Lt Gen Asif Ghafoor was appointed as the Commander XII Corps (Quetta), after Lt Gen Sarfraz Ali was martyred in a helicopter crash. Lt Gen Ghafoor had previously served as the ISPR head.

  • Pakistan and Afghanistan to launch luxury bus service in August

    Pakistan and Afghanistan to launch luxury bus service in August

    Pakistan and Afghanistan will launch a luxury bus service between Peshawar and Jalalabad, as well as Quetta and Kandahar, by the end of August.

    During the visit of Pakistan’s official delegation to Kabul, the two nations have also agreed to boost bilateral trade by allowing unrestricted travel for trucks and other goods-carrying vehicles. Meetings were held between the delegation and other top Afghan officials, including the temporary ministers of foreign and commerce.

    In a joint statement released at the conclusion of three days of talks between Pakistani and Afghan officials (July 18–20), both sides committed to continuing their efforts to remove obstacles through mutual cooperation and coordination.

    The delegation from Pakistan was led by Commerce Secretary Muhammad Sualeh Ahmad Faruqui and included businessmen as well as senior members of various ministries. The delegation from Afghanistan was led by Nooruddin Azizi, the minister of trade and industry, and Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting foreign minister.

    In order to ensure prompt clearance of trade and transit traffic and to address bottlenecks and obstacles on a priority basis, the official also agreed to make border crossing points more efficient.

    In an effort to further boost trade between the two nations, the two sides approved the implementation of the Temporary Admission Document (TAD), which permits free movement of vehicles engaged in bilateral trade but prohibits the loading and unloading of cargo at border crossing points.

    Additionally, all crossing points, particularly Torkham, Kharlachi, Ghulam Khan, and Chaman-Spin Boldak, will have longer operating hours, according to the authorities.

    The bilateral discussions were still centred on trade. Both parties concentrated on enhancing bilateral trade, transit, and accessibility as well as taking the necessary actions to facilitate trade and address issues faced by importers, exporters, traders, and business owners in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

    In parallel, a delegation from the Afghan business community headed by Khan Jan Alokozai, co-chairman of the Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJJCCI), arrived in Pakistan on Thursday to take part in a roundtable of Pak-Afghan trade stakeholders. Members of the PAJCCI as well as senior business figures from the Kunar and Nangarhar Chambers of Commerce and Industry make up the delegation.

    Zubair Motiwala, chairman of the PAJCCI, lauded the efforts of the commerce chamber in setting up visits to Chaman, Torkham, and Swat for joint discussions on bilateral and transit trade, exploring new trade avenues, removing trade barriers, and aiding governments in formulating policy.

  • Peshawar: 80,341 motorcyclists fined for not wearing helmets

    Peshawar: 80,341 motorcyclists fined for not wearing helmets

    In Peshawar, the City Traffic Police fined 297,913 people for breaking various traffic rules so far this year, and they have collected roughly Rs700,000 in fines from them.

    According to information provided on Sunday by City Traffic Police officers, 80,341 motorcycle riders received fines for not wearing helmets, 29,945 people for parking in no parking areas, 32,298 people for breaking lane discipline, 12,222 people for breaking traffic signals, and 9,934 drivers for breaking one-way streets.

    Furthermore, 7,888 drivers received fines for driving a vehicle without a valid license, 1,131 for driving without a permit, 6,327 for using tinted glasses, 814 for using a cell phone while driving, and 1,080 for underage driving.

    In addition to 4,379 shop owners for encroachments, the traffic police also fined 4,094 drivers for overloading, 271 for riding one-wheeled on bikes, 1,296 for not using seatbelts, and 6,839 for refusing to show a driving license when asked by the police.

    The City Traffic Police received 2,457 calls on its helpline about various issues during the first half of the year 2022. Out of them, 2,289 complaints were settled, while 168 calls pertained to various traffic system reform proposals.

  • Number of 3G, 4G users in Pakistan increases to 113.89 million

    Number of 3G, 4G users in Pakistan increases to 113.89 million

    The latest data from Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) reveals that the number of 3G and 4G users grew by 1.14 million from 112.75 million in April 2022 to 113.89 million in May 2022.

    Pakistan’s cellular subscriber base grew by 0.25 million to 193 million by the end of May 2022, up from 192.75 million at the end of April, according to Brecorder.

    By the end of May, cellular mobile teledensity had risen from 87.6 per cent to 87.67 per cent. By the end of May, the total teledensity had risen to 88.81 per cent, up from 88.74 per cent in April.

    The monthly penetration of Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS) at the end of April had risen to 51.73 per cent, up from 51.24 per cent.

    Network providers

    The total number of 3G users on Jazz fell from 6.222 million at the end of April to 6.068 million at the end of May, a reduction of 0.154 million. By the end of May, the number of Jazz 4G users had risen from 36.567 million to 37.168 million.

    Zong 3G subscribers fell from 3.357 million at the end of April to 3.272 million at the end of May, while 4G users grew from 27.952 million at the end of April to 28.317 million at the end of May.

    Telenor 3G subscribers fell from 3.696 million at the end of April to 3.613 million at the end of May, whereas Telenor 4G users enhanced from 21.216 million at the end of April to 21.494 million at the end of May.

    By the end of May, there were 3.576 million Ufone 3G users, up from 3.673 million at the end of April. Ufone’s 4G users increased from 8.761 million at the end of April to 9.052 million at the end of May, a 0.291 million increase over the previous month.

  • Labourers demand increase in monthly wages, pensions

    Labourers demand increase in monthly wages, pensions

    On May 15, the provincial president of the Muttahida Labour Federation (MLF) in Peshawar, Muhammad Iqbal stated that the current price hikes had made life difficult for poor workers but the government had remained silent.

    He remarked that the provincial and federal governments should enhance monthly wages and the Employees’ Old-Age Benefit Institution pension in relation to the country’s current price hikes and inflation, speaking during a protest gathering staged in honour of May Day here at Shobra Chowk.

    The leader was of the view that workers had played a critical part in the country’s progress, but that each subsequent government had crushed them under one excuse or another. He claimed that the government and investors had teamed up to close down industrial units in the province as part of a well-planned plot.

    Read more: Pakistan’s textile exports surge by 30 per cent

    Iqbal said that the authorities should take measures to protect the rights of lower-paid strata and labourers in order to ease their lives.

  • PM Shehbaz condemns the killing of Sikh citizens in Peshawar

    PM Shehbaz condemns the killing of Sikh citizens in Peshawar

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the killing of two Sikh citizens in Peshawar.

    “Strongly condemn the killing of our Sikh citizens in Peshawar, KP. Pakistan belongs to all its people. Have ordered a high level inquiry to ascertain facts. The killers will be arrested & meted out exemplary punishment. My most sincere sympathies to the bereaved families,” PM said in a tweet.

    Unknown assailants killed two persons of the Sikh community at Sarband area in Peshawar. According to the police, two persons riding on motorbike opened fire on two shopkeepers of the Sikh community selling spices at Bata Tal Bazaar. They succumbed to their injuries on the spot.

    The deceased were identified as Kanwaljeet Sigh and Ranjeet Singh. According to journalist Iftikhar Firdous, the Islamic States Khurasan (ISKP) chapter says it carried out the attack targeting two Sikhs. In October 2021, ISKP also claimed another such attack in Peshawar.

    The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan also condemned the killing of Sikh citizens.

  • CNG prices pushed to Rs140 per kg for sales tax collection

    CNG prices pushed to Rs140 per kg for sales tax collection

    The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has raised the sales tax rate on compressed natural gas (CNG) supplies to customers.

    On Tuesday, the FBR published S.R.O. 587(I)/2022 to replace S.R.O. 39(I)/2022, which was issued on January 8, 2022. It has amended the value of compressed natural gas (CNG) supply to consumers in order to charge sales tax from CNG stations.

    It has set the value of supply to CNG customers in order for gas generation and distribution businesses to charge sales tax from CNG stations.

    CNG rates

    The price of CNG in Region-I, which includes Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Potohar, has been raised from Rs134.57 per kg to Rs140 per kg (Rawalpindi, Islamabad, and Gujar Khan).

    Read more: Pakistani Rupee crashes to a record low against US dollar 

    Moreover, the cost of CNG has been raised from Rs128.11 per kg to Rs135 per kg in Region-II, which covers Sindh and Punjab except for the Potohar region.

  • Pakistan divided on Eid again, KP celebrates Eid today

    Pakistan divided on Eid again, KP celebrates Eid today

    Partial Eid-ul-Fitr is being celebrated in different in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the tribal districts as different areas of the province decided to follow Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee that announced Eid on May 3.

    In KP and several Balochistan regions, Eid prayers were held in open spaces, mosques, and Eidgahs. In Balochistan, Eid is being celebrated in Chaman, Pishin, Qilla Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Zhob and other areas.

    Special prayers were performed for the country’s well-being on the occasion, and scholars underscored the significance of this Eid in speeches. In their Eid sermons, the Ulema also condemned the episode of hooliganism at Masjid-e-Nabawi.

    The main meeting of the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee was held at the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony in Islamabad with Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad in the chair, while the zonal committees met in their respective areas to sight the Shawwal crescent. After the meeting, it was announced that Eid will be celebrated on May 3 in Pakistan.

    However, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan’s Special Assistant Barrister Dr Muhammad Ali Saif announced on Sunday that the province would celebrate Eid on May 2, after receiving at least 130 sightings of the moon.

  • Pakistan Railways announces two ‘Eid special trains’

    Pakistan Railways announces two ‘Eid special trains’

    Pakistan Railways announced on Monday that it will run two Eid special trains from Karachi to Peshawar and Lahore on April 29 and April 30, respectively, for commuter convenience during Eid-ul-Fitr.

    One special train would depart from Karachi to Lahore and the other from Karachi to Peshawar, according to railway authorities at the Karachi Division’s Divisional Superintendent office.

    First Train – Karachi to Peshawar

    According to them, the first train will depart Karachi for Peshawar at 2:30 pm. on April 29, 2022. The train will pass through Karachi Cantt, Landhi Hyderabad, Nawabshah, Rohri Khanpur Bahawalpur, Multan, Khanewal, Shorkot Cantt, Toba Tek Singh, Gojra, Faisalabad, Chiniot, Chenab Nagar, Shaheenabad, Sargodha, Mandi Bahauddin, Lala Musa, Jhelum, Rawalpindi, Taxila and finally reach Peshawar at 11:00 pm

    The train will include 14 economy class carriages. A total of 1,000 passengers will be able to board this train.

    Second Train – Karachi to Lahore

    The second special train would depart Karachi Cantt at 7:45 pm on April 30, 2022, for Lahore.

    It would travel through Landhi, Hyderabad, Nawab Shah, Rohri, Sadiqabad, Rahim Yar Khan Khanpur, Bahawalpur, Multan Cantt, Khanewal, Mian Channu Chichawatni, and other cities before arriving in Lahore at 03:30 the next day.

  • ‘Establishment offered us three options, not us’, Imran Khan maintains his stance

    ‘Establishment offered us three options, not us’, Imran Khan maintains his stance

    While talking to reporters, former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan insisted that the establishment gave him three options, contradicting the Pakistan military’s statement that the options were presented by Khan himself.

    Khan said, “The establishment gave me three options, so I agreed with the election proposal. How could I accept the resignation and no-confidence suggestion?”

    Last week, Director-General (DG) Major General Babar Iftikhar said that the PM Office had contacted the military leadership to help resolve the ongoing political crisis. He added that the army chief and DG ISI visited the PM office at “their” request to play the role of “mediator”.

    The former prime minister said that the military was onboard over the Russia visit. He said, “Gen Bajwa said we must visit Russia.” The army has also confirmed that they agreed with the decision to visit Russia.

    Responding to the recent Toshakhana (state gifts) controversy, the PTI chairman said they were his gifts, so it was his choice whether to keep them or not. “Meray tohfay, meri marzi [my gift, my choice],” he added.

    According to media reports, the former PM received gifts worth more than Rs140 million from world leaders during his tenure and he kept them all either by paying a minor amount or without any payment.

    “Whatever I took from Toshakhana is on record. I purchased the gifts after paying 50 per cent of the cost,” Khan said.

    Regarding Farah Khan, he said that she had no position or ministry, how could she take money, if anyone has any evidence, bring it forward.

    About his party’s rallies in Peshawar and Karachi after the removal of his government, Imran Khan said: “I have never seen such a large number of people coming out in Pakistan.”

    He maintained his stance that the PTI government was removed as part of an “international conspiracy” and urged the nation to not accept this.

    The former prime minister also admitted that the filing of a reference against Justice Qazi Faez Isa was a “mistake”. The reference against the SC judge should not have been filed, I have no personal enmity with anyone, it was sent by the law ministry”, the PTI chairman cleared.