Tag: Usman Buzdar

  • PM Khan, CM Buzdar, Babar Azam and others extend prayers after powerful quake jolts Balochistan

    PM Khan, CM Buzdar, Babar Azam and others extend prayers after powerful quake jolts Balochistan

    Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan, Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar, captain of Pakistan cricket team Babar Azam along with other cricketers and politicians have extended their prayers after a powerful earthquake of 5.9-magnitude hit several cities of Balochistan early Thursday morning.

    Taking to Twitter, PM Khan directed all federal departments to fully assist the Balochistan government in provision of relief to the earthquake victims.

    Prime Minister said the federal government will extend all possible assistance to Balochistan government in this difficult hour.

    CM Buzdar said that he is saddened by the loss of life and property caused by the earthquake in Balochistan.

    “In this hour of sorrow, we stand with our brothers and are ready to assist the Balochistan government in every possible way in rescue activities,” he said in a tweet.

    “Terrible to wake up to this sad news. Prayers with the lovely and brave people of Balochistan. I hope and pray that the situation remains under control with immediate rescue efforts. Stay safe and strong, Balochistan,” said Babar while extending his prayers on Twitter.

    Other cricketers also extended their prayers and wishes on Twitter.

    President Dr Arif Alvi expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of lives in Harnai, Balochistan.

    In a tweet, he condoled with the bereaved families and prayed for the departed souls.

    A strong earthquake in different parts of Balochistan killed at least 20 people and injured more than 300 others.

    According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), most of the deceased are children.

    The quake affected Quetta, Sibi, Harnai, Pishin, Qila Saifullah, Chaman, Ziarat and Zhob in Balochistan. The magnitude of the quake was measured at 5.9 on the Richter scale.

    Meanwhile, Chief Minister Balochistan Jam Kamal Khan shared a helpline number on Twitter for complaints and assistance.

    He also shared the pictures of the rescue mission by the government departments and Pakistan Army.

  • Punjab govt suspends health officers over Nawaz’s fake vaccination entry

    Punjab govt suspends health officers over Nawaz’s fake vaccination entry

    The Punjab government suspended the Medical Superintendent (MS) and a senior doctor of Lahore’s Kot Khawaja Saeed Hospital over Nawaz Sharif’s fake vaccination entry case.

    MS Ahmed Nadeem and Dr Munir Ahmed have been asked to report directly to the health department, reported Geo News.

    According to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) watchman, Abul Hassan and ward boy Adil used the ID of a third employee, Naveed, to enter Sharif’s fake data into the system. Police registered cases against the three of them and arrested Abul Hassan and Adil.

    Moreover, the investigative team comprising officials from FIA and the provincial health department have seized important records from the hospital.

    A four-member team presented a report before Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar. The National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) summoned the Punjab health secretary to Islamabad.

    A fake entry was made on the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) portal, which said that Nawaz, who is currently in London, was administered the first dose of Sinovac on September 22 and he is due to receive the second dose next month. The entry was later deleted from NADRA portal.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz said, “Just like this fake government, its vaccination record and entry data for vaccines is also fake.”

  • Punjab CM’s office denies giving information about vehicles under Buzdar’s use

    Punjab CM’s office denies giving information about vehicles under Buzdar’s use

    The Punjab Chief Minister’s (CM) office has denied giving out the information about the vehicles under the use of CM Usman Buzdar, claiming it ‘legitimate privacy’.

    Under the transparency law, such information cannot be shared, the office said in a reply to a query submitted by a lawyer.

    Abdullah Malik, a lawyer, had sent the query to the CM office earlier this year invoking the rights to the citizens under the law.

    The office took nine months to answer him and refused to share copies of the logbooks (containing details of the official vehicles’ use).
    Section 13 (i)(b) of Punjab Transparency & Right to Information Act 2013 reads, “A public information officer may refuse an application for access to information where disclosure of the information shall or is likely to cause harm to a legitimate privacy interest unless the person concerned has consented to disclosure of the information.”

    According to Dawn, Advocate Usama Khawar Ghumman revealed that Buzdar was using vehicles that were funded by taxes. Moreover, he said the logbooks could reveal misuse of the official vehicles by government officer’s families. These logbooks can also reveal if the vehicles used by the officials fall under their name or not. The denial of information about the vehicles is plainly illegal and unconstitutional.

    Earlier, the federal government denied giving out information about the exchange of gifts between Prime Minister Imran Khan and other heads of state.

    In the notice, it is mentioned that the matter is reflective of inter-state relations and the disclosure of such information potentially damages the interest of Pakistan in the context of international relations.

  • ‘Puppet PM will lose the govt if we get rid of puppet Buzdar in Punjab’:Bilawal

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said that Prime Minister Imran Khan himself will lose the government if the Opposition de-seats puppet Cheif Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar in Punjab.

    Addressing a gathering in Rahim Yar Khan, Bilawal reiterated that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) needs to understand the role of the Opposition. He said that his party is doing its part and that the PML-N will need to topple the government by sending both PM Khan and Buzdar home.

    Criticising the PML-N, Bilawal said, “It is not possible that you talk about ‘vote ko izzat do’ [give respect to the vote] and run away the moment one has to use the power of the vote.”

    “It is not possible that you [PML-N] talk about respecting the vote and then you boycott the by-elections and the Senate elections. Because of you, people are angry with us as well. If you talk about respecting the power of the vote, then you need to start practicing that power yourself as well,” said Bilawal.

    “I urge you [PML-N] to get courage, work together, think about the people, don’t think about ego or personal preferences. We need to save Punjab together,” said Bilawal reminding the PML-N that if they are not ready, the people will not forgive them.

    “When we were with you [PML-N], you used to say that nothing can happen without resignation. I challenge you here to work with us or start implementing your own words and resign,” added Bilawal.

    Bilawal said, “You [PML-N] will have to do either of the two things, otherwise the people of Punjab will know that you are neither revolutionary nor ready for reconciliation but a hypocrite.”

    “The people of Punjab will reject the politics of hypocrites. We politely tried to explain to you but now we will show you how things are done through our hard work and political acumen and hold PM Khan accountable,” said Bilawal accusing the PML-N of being a facilitator of the government.

    Bilawal Bhutto claimed that the PPP will form the government in the Centre and provinces.

  • CM Buzdar’s recommendation appointed as seventh IGP, fifth Punjab chief secretary

    CM Buzdar’s recommendation appointed as seventh IGP, fifth Punjab chief secretary

    The federal cabinet has approved the appointment of Kamran Ali Afzal as the Punjab chief secretary and Sardar Ali Khan as Punjab inspector general of police (IGP) with immediate effect, reported Dawn.

    Afzal is the fifth Punjab chief secretary while Khan is the seventh IGP during the three years of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.

    According to official sources, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar had recommended three names each for the new Punjab chief secretary and the IGP to Prime Minister Imran Khan.

    For the chief secretary, CM Buzdar had reportedly recommended the names of Ahmed Nawaz Sukhera, Afzal, and Babar Hayat Tarrar and for IGP his picks were Khan, Zafar Iqbal and Mohsin Butt.

  • Fact Check: Islamia University Bahawalpur is not in the top 1000 international universities

    Fact Check: Islamia University Bahawalpur is not in the top 1000 international universities

    Claim: Islamia University Bahawalpur is in the top 1000 international universities

    Fact: Islamia University Bahawalpur is not in the top 1000 international universities

    Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar on Wednesday, in his speech at the Kissan Convention in Bhawalpur, said, “As per the Times Higher Education World Ranking of Universities, Islamia University of Bahawalpur is amongst the world best 1000 universities.”

    According to the World University Ranking, Islamia University of Bahawalpur is not in the top 1000 universities but is in the list of 1001+ universities.

    Screengrab from the Times Higher Education World University Ranking official website

    Furthermore, CM Buzdar said that the Islamia University of Bahawalpur is among the top nine universities in Pakistan.

    Checking the Higher Education Commission’s (HEC) official website which was last updated in 2015, the Islamia University of Bhawalpur is not included in the list.

    Screengrab from the Higher Education Commission’s official website.

    VERDICT: FALSE

  • CM Punjab Buzdar promises to ensure better sporting facilities for youth

    CM Punjab Buzdar promises to ensure better sporting facilities for youth

    Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has promised to ensure better sporting facilities for youth in Pakistan.

    Taking to Twitter, CM said: “The whole nation is proud of Arshad Nadeem. He finished in top 5 but his determination will motivate and inspire Millions of Pakistanis.”

    “Punjab Government will Insha Allah ensure more and better sporting facilities for our youth to follow in the footsteps of Talha Talib and Arshad Nadeem,” said the CM.

    While several others encouraged both Arshad Nadeem and Talha Talib for their efforts in Olympics without any facility.

    Here are a few tweets from politicians, sportsmen and notables, encouraging Nadeem:

    https://twitter.com/76Shadabkhan/status/1423980451782397961?s=20

    Arshad congratulated the gold medalist Neeraj Chopra and apologised from the nation for letting them down.

    https://twitter.com/ArshadNadeemPak/status/1423983262406483972?s=20

    The 24-year-old athlete finished fifth among 12 contestants as India’s Neeraj won gold and Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch and Vitezslav Vesely claimed silver and bronze medals.

    Arshad Nadeem was aspiring to win Pakistan’s first Olympics medal since the men’s hockey team earned a podium finish in 1992.

    The athlete made history last week as he became first-ever Pakistani athlete to qualify for the final of any track and field event in the Olympics.

  • Sajid Sadpara summits K2 again, buries father Ali Sadpara on K2

    Sajid Sadpara summits K2 again, buries father Ali Sadpara on K2

    Sajid Ali Sadpara reached the summit of K2 — for the second time — along with his teammates Canadian filmmaker Elia Saikaly and Nepal’s Pasang Kaji Sherpa on Wednesday. Wednesday proved to be an exceptionally good day as a total of 24 climbers were successful in reaching the summit of K2.

    The K2 expedition was planned by Sajid and his teammates to find the bodies of his father Muhammad Ali Sadpara, Iceland’s John Snorri and Chile’s Juan Pablo Mohr. The three climbers were last seen on February 5 near the Bottleneck on K2 as they attempted to reach the summit.

    Sajid Sadpara, who was accompanying the three on Feb 5, had to abandon his summit bid after his oxygen regulator malfunctioned and he returned to camp 3. Bad weather thwarted multiple attempts to search for the missing climbers. The climbers were presumed dead on February 18.

    After successfully finding the dead bodies of the three, Ali Sadpara has been buried on the world’s second highest peak K2.

    This was confirmed by Ali Sadpara’s son Sajid on Twitter.

    Sajid said that he has temporarily buried his father’s body in the snow at K2 Camp 4 so that the body can be protected from avalanches and other mishaps.

    He mentioned that a climber from Argentina helped him a lot in this important mission. He brought the body of Ali Sadpara from the height of bottleneck to Camp 4 with him.

    Ali Sadpara’s son said that after burying his father’s body, he hoisted the Pakistani flag on it to mark his grave and recited the Holy Quran on behalf of the whole nation.

    Cheif Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar also paid tribute to Sajid Sadpara in a tweet, saying: “The whole Nation is proud of @sajid_sadpara for retrieving the body of National Hero Ali Sadpara after a thorough search from the heights of K-2

    He further added: “On behalf of people of Punjab I pay my respects and honour to late Ali Sadpara and family for their services to the Pakistani Nation!

  • Hostile intelligence agency involved in Lahore blast: CM Buzdar

    Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar in a press conference has said that the blast in Johar Town, Lahore, was carried out by a “hostile intelligence agency”. CM Punjab said that terrorists involved in the attack have been arrested.

    “It was found that a hostile intelligence agency was involved, which provided financial help to this network,” said CM Buzdar.

    “The Punjab government established an investigation team. I am satisfied to tell you that the investigation was started by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and the suspects were identified within 16 hours. In four days, the terrorists were arrested in raids in the country.”

    CM Punjab also thanked all law-enforcement agencies (LEAs) for their efforts and termed the arrests of the suspects in the blast as a “big success”.

    “I want to inform you that the Punjab government has traced all high-profile cases in the province and arrested their suspects,” added Buzdar.

    A powerful blast near the residence of Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed killed three people and injured 24 others, including a police constable.

  • ‘The proposed budget has measures to give relief to the common man’: CM Buzdar

    ‘The proposed budget has measures to give relief to the common man’: CM Buzdar

    The Punjab government on Monday approved the proposed budget for the fiscal year 2021-22 today with an estimated total budget outlay of Rs2.653 trillion, including an Annual Development Programme (ADP) worth Rs560 billion.

    The budget session was the first one in the newly-constructed building of the Punjab Assembly. The total outlay of the budget has increased by more than 18% and the development budget has gained 66% compared with the current fiscal year.

    The Punjab Cabinet also approved the much-anticipated 10% increase in salaries and pension of provincial employees and also green-lighted the decision to increase the minimum wage of workers from Rs17,500 to Rs20,000.

    The Chief Minister of Punjab Usman Buzdar said that the budget is not a “magic of statistics” but is a document based on development.

    Taking a jibe at the Opposition, Buzdar said: “The job of the incompetent and failed Opposition is just to make noise. Criticising the government’s positive policies only for the sake of criticising make them look bad.”

    In the cabinet meeting, the Board of Revenue proposed to increase the agricultural tax. However, CM Buzdar and the Punjab Cabinet unanimously rejected the suggestion.

    “The proposed budget has measures to give relief to the common man,” CM Buzdar. “All targets are realistic and all priorities have been set in accordance with the needs of the masses.”