Tag: winter

  • Landa Bazar traders threaten to close shops due to increased taxes on imported products

    Landa Bazar traders threaten to close shops due to increased taxes on imported products

    Shop owners at Landa Bazaar Karachi have threatened to close their shops in protest of the hike in import tariffs.

    Muhammad Usman, secretary general of the Pakistan Second Hand Clothing Merchant Association, urged that the government remove the increased levies placed on imported cotton clothing at a news conference while threatening to close their stores.

    The spokesperson pointed out that the price of imported used clothing had increased due to government action. With the value of the dollar rising steadily, it is getting harder for people to satisfy their necessities. The authorities have raised the valuation on imported goods in such circumstances, he said.

    It was previously reported on December 23 that the government increased the tax on imported items from Rs81 to Rs225 per kg, forcing the dealers to increase the cost of normally inexpensive shirts, blankets, and other warm clothing.

    In the country’s numerous “Landa Bazars,” shoppers shopping for affordable winter clothing will have to contend with inflationary pressure.

    According to the announcement made in this respect, in addition to the sales tax and customs duty of 5 per cent, which are levied on imported used products, there is also a regulatory charge of 10 per cent and an income tax of 5.5 per cent.

    The price of imported used goods, such as warm clothing, sweaters, blankets, jackets, and shoes, as well as children’s toys, would increase as a result of the tax rate increase.

  • PCB to donate earnings from match against England to flood victims

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that gate earnings from the first T20I against England will be donated to the Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Fund 2022.

    The match will be played on September 20 at the National Stadium in Karachi and will begin at 7:30pm (local time).

    The PCB has urged cricket supporters and fans to buy tickets in large quantities once they go on sale online the following week in order to show solidarity with all those affected by the floods.

     “We at the PCB express our grief and sorrow for all those affected by the extreme monsoon rainfall and floods, which has ​resulted in havoc and devastation beyond imagination, killing over 1,000 and leaving around a million homeless. As cricket unites our proud nation, we stand firmly with the victims and all those involved in​ the flood relief and rescue operations,” said PCB chairman Ramiz Raja in a statement.

    According to the data issued by the National Disaster Management Authority(NDMA), at least 1,033 people have died in floods caused by heavy rains in the country.

  • Pakistan is drowning. Why don’t we care until it’s too late?

    Floods in Pakistan have affected more than 30 million people, which is about 15 per cent of the country’s population. More than a thousand people have lost their lives and millions have been displaced, prompting the government to proclaim a national emergency. This is one of the worst natural calamities in recent times. The harrowing videos and pictures on our television screens and social media show massive devastation, pain, tears, and death spread across the country. Entire villages have been washed away, and there are places that have been fully drenched due to the inundated rain and floods, turning them into islands without any access to the outside world. There are places without electricity, without internet, without phone data, without roads, and without food and help. What Pakistan witnessed in the 2010 floods is not even close to what the country is facing today. A decade later, the country is fully swamped with water. Unfortunately, we the people woke up a little too late to this harsh reality. With every passing day, the death toll increases and so does the destruction.

    The national response has been slow, to say the least, but mercifully all governments, federal and provincial, are actively helping the flood victims. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has been actively visiting the flood-affected areas and trying to be at the top of his game by showing empathy towards the needy and has categorically said that it is time Pakistanis show unity and keep everything aside to save the flood victims while Chairman PTI Imran Khan will be hosting a telethon for fundraising on Monday. However, Khan has said that the PTI’s movement for Haqeeqi Azadi will continue alongside its flood relief work. PTI held a jalsa in Jehlum for its fight for haqeeqi azadi on August 27. A PTI member took to the stage and said that overseas Pakistanis should not give funds to the flood victims because the present government took away their right to vote. Khan also reiterated that his struggle against thieves will continue whether come what may. Such calamities demand a bipartisan approach from our leaders but well here too we have managed to fail our country. Khan seems pretty adamant that his quest against those he does not approve of will continue, even if there is a flood or war. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that the Opposition can keep playing “jalsa, jalsa” while they will deal with the flood catastrophe.

    The question remains: will the politicians be able to let their politics take a backseat for now and show some empathy towards their own citizens? Can’t politics, the numbers game, and the blame game wait? For once, our politicians should look beyond their own personal interests and agendas and stand united. Our politicians must give priority to those millions of people who have been affected by floods. It is time that all Pakistanis must donate wholeheartedly. The people need to be prompt with their help and generosity. We hope that partisan politics is put on hold, and all political leaders fully dedicate their voices and efforts to helping the flood victims. They need to be rescued right now and relief efforts must continue. They will later need to be rehabilitated and relocated. It will take a lot of resources and hard work. We must all come together to help them right now. Our political battles can wait.

  • NCOC to give winter vacations in January instead of December

    NCOC to give winter vacations in January instead of December

    The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has decided to shift the annual winter vacations for education institutions from December to January, reports Geo News.

    The decision was made in a meeting held on Tuesday, which was attended by all the education ministers who backed and agreed to the proposal.

    According to the NCOC, the vaccination process will continue in educational institutions. However, the institutions will remain closed in areas where heavy snowfall occurs.

    On the contrary, Sindh has already announced winter vacations for educational institutions from December 20, 2021 to January 3, 2022.

    Prior to this development, Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood on Tuesday said that as per the “agreed proposal”, winter vacations should be announced from December 25 to January 4.

    However, he added that further notifications will be issued from the concerned governments.

  • Shahzeb Khanzada warns of December crisis, Hammad Azhar ignores question in heated debate

    Shahzeb Khanzada warns of December crisis, Hammad Azhar ignores question in heated debate

    Energy Minister Hammad Azhar appeared in Geo News’ programme Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath on Monday, during which the minister indulged in a heated debate with the host of the programme, Shahzeb Khanzada.

    During the show, Khanzada asked Azhar about the expected shortfall of gas in the winter season but the minister refused to answer the question. The minister kept refusing to answer the question about an expected gas crisis in December saying that he will appear again to talk about it.

    The federal minister said that he has only come to talk about the facts presented on Friday’s episode of the programme. The host mentioned that in Friday’s programme, he did talk about the expected shortfall of gas in the winter.

    The show on Friday, October 15, shared data from a report, compiled by Nepra, on the performance of the Ministry of Energy and asked the question: why is the ministry delaying the purchase of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is costing the public dearly.

    Khanzada claimed earlier that he had invited the minister on his show 27 times, but the minister refused to come.

    Earlier in Friday’s show, Khanzada warned of the expected gas shortage during the winter season as Pakistan will not have the required number of LNG cargoes. He explained that during the winter season the government will only have 10 LNG cargoes. The government has the capacity to have 14 LNG cargoes but in the winter, the demand for LNG is more than 14 cargoes.

  • Examination centres in Quetta violate COVID-19 SOPs

    Students in Quetta were forced to appear in BA and BSc examinations with no heater arrangements.

    A video doing the rounds on social media shows that no COVID-19 standard operating procedure (SOPs) were followed at the examination centers. SOPs including social distancing and wearing of masks were overlooked.

    Furthermore, very few students can be seen wearing masks in the examination center.

  • Mercury in Karachi to drop further next week

    Mercury in Karachi to drop further next week

    The temperature in Karachi is going to fall down to 9 degrees Celsius next week as cold winds have started to blow in the port city, Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has said.

    The weather in the metropolis is expected to get colder from January 27 to January 29, the department said.

    “It will get colder as wind speed will increase from 42 km [kilometres] per hour to 48 km per hour,” a spokesperson of the Met Office was quoted as saying.

    “The temperature in Karachi has for now been recorded at 18 degrees [Celsius] and is expected to drop to as low as 12 [Celsius] degrees today,” the spokesperson added.

    Moisture in the air was recorded at 43% and visibility level was 3 km.

  • How to avoid dry skin in this cold weather

    How to avoid dry skin in this cold weather

    It’s
    winter and your skin needs all the extra care you can give. cold weather can
    result in dry air that can make your skin dry. Dry hands,tight skin and chapped
    lips. These are some of the significant signs that indicate that your skin
    needs to be moisturized. 

    Make sure that your skin is hydrated throughout the
    winters. Hot showers may be tempting, but washing the face with lukewarm water
    helps avoid stripping oils from the skin. And apply moisturizer after the wash. 

    Don’t forget to drink water

    In winter we usually forget to drink forget because we do
    not feel thirsty. Set alarms just to remind yourself that you have to grab a
    glass of water. 

    Use a gentle cleanser

    Try to use for a gentle cleanser to retain the skin’s
    natural moisture. If your skin feels tight after you’ve cleansed, you may be
    stripping your skin. Your skin should feel both hydrated and free from
    irritation after cleansing. And don’t forget to drink lots and lots of water.

     Protect
    your lips

    Normally we do not pay much attention to our lips but the
    skin on your lips can also get dry and cracked during winter months. Try a lip
    balm for added daily protection, and if you plan to be in the sun, use the
    proper SPF to protect your lips from the sun’s potential damage.

     Body
    bonuses

    It’s the season for creamy body lotions, foot balms and
    moisturizing masks. Treat yourself to regular at-home spa moments to rejuvenate
    and replenish dry and flakey skin.

     At
    home

    The weather may be chilly outside, but inside, the
    conditions could be affecting your skin. Use a humidifier and if you are using
    a gas or electric heater, try to put a pot full of water in front of your
    heater so that your skin does not become dry. Preferably maintain a neutral
    temperature at home that will maintain the skin’s moisture and balance.

  • Schools in Punjab to remain closed till January 12

    Schools in Punjab to remain closed till January 12

    Educational institutes across Punjab will now have longer vacations than planned. The Punjab education department extended the vacations on Monday.

    Schools and colleges were supposed to open on Monday, January 6, after winter holidays but the education department extended vacations due to the weather. They will now open on January 12.

    Education Minister Murad Raas confirmed that the extension was because of the cold weather.

    Earlier, Murad Raas has wished good luck to all the students and teachers for going to school on Monday.

  • Panagahs provide warmth as cold wave grips Pakistan

    Panagahs provide warmth as cold wave grips Pakistan

    Amid the cold wave that has gripped the entire county, Prime Minister Imran Khan directed the chief ministers of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to ensure that no person is left out in the cold.

    PM Imran Khan asserted that in case there is no space in the existing Panagahs, temporary ones should be set up to accomodate everyone.

    Following the premiere’s orders, Panahgah’s have been set up in different parts of the country to provide shelter to the homeless and poor.

    The Government of Pakistan and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf’s official Twitter handles have been sharing visuals of the Panahgah’s that have been set up in different parts of the country.

    Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar also surveyed the Panagah set up in Thokar Niaz Baig, Lahore to ensure that it had all the facilities.

    PM Imran had also taken this initiative last year in the winters.