The News Of Pakistan

LAHORE: The Punjab government has decided to introduce a comprehensive package for the labourers’ welfare which would be announced by Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Labour Day falling on Wednesday (tomorrow).The ceremony will be held in Nankana Sahib where the chief minister will distribute allotment letters of flats among the workers along with the distribution of Insaf Sehat Cards.In this regard, a meeting was held under the chair of Chief Minister Usman Buzdar at his office here Monday in which the labourers' package and arrangements of the ceremony were reviewed. Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that time had come to improve the living conditions of the labourers adding that a special package had been chalked out by the government to facilitate the labourers.The labourer is a friend of Almighty Allah and resources will be provided for his happiness. Every measure will be adopted for maintaining good health and other facilities of the labourers, he added. L...

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday issued notices to the Punjab government and the provincial health department on a petition challenging rules regarding human organs transplantation.The petitioner, Naeem Siddique, pleaded to the court that the provincial health department’s rules were not in conformity with the Human Organs Transplantation Act 2010.The law permits, after approval from a committee concerned, donation of kidney from a non-relative person, but under the health department’s rules a non-relative could not donate kidney to a patient, the petitioner said. The petitioner argued that his eight-year old daughter required kidney transplantation, while doctors were saying that the health department rules did not allow donation of kidney from a non-relative person to the patient for transplantation. “Due to the difference between the government rules and the law, kidney transplantation of my daughter could not be conducted,” the petitioner added. The petitioner requested the ...

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday dismissed a petition seeking directions for presidential system of government in the country.A single bench comprising Justice Ameenuddin Khan declared the petition non-maintainable, ruling that it was beyond court’s jurisdiction to issue an order on such petitions. The petitioner had impleaded President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan as necessary parties in the case.The petitioner pleaded that the enforcement of presidential system of government was in the best interest of the country. The petitioner claimed that Pakistan had always made progress in the presidential system and sought directions to conduct a country-wide referendum for replacement of existing parliamentary system in the country with the presidential system.The petitioner also sought the court order for changing the existing mechanism of appointment of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman and the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) by electing the holders of bo...

LAHORE: The Punjab Healthcare Commission on Monday sealed a drug-addiction treatment and rehabilitation centre for insufficient psychiatric, health and residential facilities after evacuating 12 patients.The PHC team conducted a raid on ‘Dua Rehab, Addiction and Psychological Centre, Wapda Town which was functional without the PHC registration, requisite human resource, that is, psychiatrists, doctors, para-medical staff, and insufficient facilities like the residential and emergency cover. The PHC team evacuated 12 patients and handed them over to their relatives prior to sealing the premises.A spokesperson for the PHC has said that so far the commission has conducted raids on 84 drug addiction treatment and rehabilitation centres, and evacuated 866 persons. “Out of these, 39 completely and six were partially sealed, and were fined with over Rs10million. Moreover, show-cause notices had been served on 24 centres after stopping them from taking new admissions and discharging the admitt...

LAHORE: Along with provision of subsidised 19 items on Green Channel Stalls being set up in 30 Ramazan bazaars of the provincial capital, the district administration Lahore has involved 29 national and multinational companies to establish their stalls to sell their items on meager and controlled rates as compared to the open market to provide relief to the masses.Deputy Commissioner Lahore Ms Saleha Saeed chaired a meeting for the establishment of stalls of national and multinational companies. The meeting was held on here Monday at Nadir Hall. Representatives of national and multinational companies, Assistant Commissioner HQ and DO Food (MCL) attended the meeting.DC Ms Saleha Saeed said citizens could purchase fruit, vegetables and other items on controlled and subsidised rates. While ensuring representatives of the companies, the DC said District Administration would protect and look after their items at night time and she also asked them to bring their best quality items on stalls a...

LAHORE: In line with the vision of the Prime Minister for encouraging construction of high-rises to save precious land, Lahore Development Authority (LDA) on Monday gave a go-ahead for construction of the tallest building in the City at Finance and Trade Centre in Johar Town.Officials said the 500 feet high-rise building would be constructed on a 44-kanal and would house a hotel of an international chain. It will comprise of 45 floors, including three basements.They said that LDA had approved the building plan for construction of this structure. Chief Town Planner Syed Nadeem Akhter Zaidi and Additional Director General Housing Zarif Iqbal Satti handed over the approved plan to the representatives of a group that is constructor and financier of the project.Environment Protection Agency and Traffic Engineering and Transportation Planning Agency have already issued No Objection Certificate for construction of this building, officials said adding grey water treatment plant would be instal...

LAHORE: Ajoka Theatre will mark the first death anniversary of its founding director Madeeha Gauhar with tribute programme entitled “Resolutely Remembering Madeeha” today (Tuesday) here at Alhamra Arts Council.The programme includes theatrical performance of Madeeha Gauhar’s acclaimed play “Barri”, documentary screening and stimulating Qawwali performance. Written by Shahid Nadeem, “Barri” highlighted the sufferings of four woman inmates of a prison cell. They include a woman activist, a mother arrested in place of her wanted son, a dervish woman charged with dancing in a shrine and a young woman who murdered her husband, thrice her age. The play was a sensitive and poignant portrayal of the tensions and the bonding between the wronged women from varying social classes.Before the performance of the play, an exhibition highlighting the life and artistic career of Madeeha Gauhar will also be held at Alhamra Hall 2. According to the Shahid Nadeem, the programme is a tribute to Madeeha’s p...

LAHORE: The Knowledge School (TKS) head office organised annual “Network Associates Convention 2019” at UMT Lahore campus.According to a press release, the event was attended by the President ILM Trust\UMT Ibrahim Hasan Murad, Director General UMT Abid HK Sherwani, renowned journalist and senior scholar Orya Maqbool Jan, Country Director TKS Brigadier (retd) Shahid Akram Kardar and all network associates along with position holder students. Achievements in the past one year were given out by the Country Director Shahid Akram Kardar. The message of the founder of ILM Trust Dr Hasan Sohaib Murad (Late) was also screened in the form of a documentary. Addressing the ceremony, Ibrahim Murad laid emphasis on making education system students-centered to make them better human beings and Muslims and to produce future leaders. “We are transforming learners to leaders,” he added. President ILM Trust\UMT also laid emphasis on instilling patriotism in kids and youths.In order to recognise the achi...

LAHORE: Punjab Assembly on Monday passed unanimous resolution against blasphemous material against Khulfa-e-Rashideen published in the O-level book.The resolution was moved by Provincial Minister Hafiz Ammar Yasir and passed by the House unanimously. It demanded immediate expunging of the blasphemous material from the O-level book. Meanwhile, the House also passed another resolution unanimously condemning the recent terror attacks in Sri Lanka on the occasion of Easter. The resolution was moved by PML-N MPA Tariq Gill. from The News International - Lahore http://bit.ly/2XSbMPh

LAHORE: Vocational and Rehabilitation Centre in collaboration with Lahore Arts Council-Alhamra organised an event of a special child's performance at Alhamra Hall-III & art exhibition at Alhamra Art Gallery, Mall Road. The event concluded with heart-warming performances of beautiful souls. Executive Director Alhamra Ather Ali Khan attended the event, inaugurated the exhibition and boosted the children’s spirits. He said such competition, exhibition and non curriculum activities play a healthy role in providing smooth atmosphere to such people. from The News International - Lahore http://bit.ly/2GQxnlq

Rawalpindi: The newly designated director of Recovery Department, Jamshed Aftab has evolved a strategy to improve the recovery process in order to generate more revenue.Chairing a meeting on Monday, Jamshed Aftab told that through a letter to chief officers he has appealed to Municipal Corporation Rawalpindi and District Council to obtain NOC for clearing Property Transfer and Commercial cases of clients.The director said that obtaining NOC from Wasa would help this department to make water bills recovery from defaulters. Obtaining of NOC from Wasa be made mandatory for clients who apply for property transfer and changes in proper states. In this regard Wasa would issue SOP under which NOC would be issued in three days period to the clients who clear their outstanding dues against water tariff.While the clients who pay outstanding dues on the spot would be issued NOCs on the same day. To make the recovery process more effective, Wasa has also decided to make a survey for assessing the ...

Rawalpindi:The local management has decided to establish 16 ‘Ramazan Sasta Bazaars’ in Rawalpindi to provide all eatable items in cheaper prices as compared to open market to the public.Total nine bazaars will be set in Rawalpindi in which two bazaars in cantonment board localities, while seven in city and Potohar Town areas. The local management has decided to set up one bazaar in Kallar Syedan, one in Taxila, two in Gujar Khan, two in Kotli Satian and one in Kahuta. Equal facilities will be provided in all bazaars.Assistant Commissioner (Rawalpindi) Ahmed Hasan Ranja told ‘The News’ that we are going to establish 16 ‘Ramazan Sasta Bazaars’ where public will get quality vegetables, fruits and other items on cheaper rates.The Sasta Bazaars will be operational from May 5, he assured. Punjab government has directed deputy commissioners of all districts to provide maximum relief to public in Ramazan. Punjab government has also ordered to immediately arrest profiteers and hoarders. The buy...

Islamabad : Protesting nurses of federal government hospitals Monday threatened a full-fledged strike on D-Chowk, should the government continue to lend a deaf ear to their longstanding demands.The demands of the nurses include timescale promotions as per Estacode rules; induction of additional nursing staff in order to bridge the widening nurse-patient ratio and to decrease workload; increase in nurses’ stipend to a minimum of Rs40,000 so that it is brought at par with the amount being paid in KPK and Punjab; increase in mess and kit allowance so that it is raised to Rs11,000 per month (equivalent to other provinces); award of Nursing Professional Allowance of Rs10,000 per month as prevalent in other provinces; de-freezing of the Health Risk Allowance equal to basic running salary; award of proper accommodation to nurses as per their entitlement quota; exemption of night shift duties of nurses who have completed 20 years of service or have reached 50 years of age; and handing over of ...

LAHORE: Nearly 50 religious parties have warned of a countrywide movement against the tabling and passage of a controversial legislation in Sindh Assembly that aims to prevent minorities from converting to Islam.The All Parties Conference for consultation against the controversial bill tabled by Nand Kumar Goklani of PML-Functional, has warned of a movement like Nizam-e-Mustafa movement of ’77, saying that the legislation was a violation of the Constitution of Pakistan, fundamental rights and part of conspiracies to secularise Pakistan and denude it of its Islamic character. Besides, embracing any religion is the fundamental religious freedom enjoyed by every citizen of the world under UN charter.The conference, chaired by Pir Mian Abdul Khaliq, custodian of Bharchundi Sharif shrine, while presided over by Milli Yakjehti Council and JUP-Noorani president Dr Abul Khair Zubair, was held for consultation over the moves by Sindh government to re-legislate the bill which was earlier passed ...

Islamabad: The Departments of Health and Population Welfare of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in collaboration with USAID-funded Global Health Supply Chain Programme-Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) project organized a design and development workshop for implementation of Inventory Management (IM) Module of Logistics Management Information System (www.lmis.gov.pk ) here on Monday.The system, already deployed for Family Planning (FP) and Immunisation products, will be enhanced to include other health commodities related to prevention of infectious diseases and provision of basic health services for the people of the province.The system will initially be piloted in four districts of the province namely, Swat, Lakki Marwat, Charsadda and Mohmand. Once deployed, the system will provide complete visibility of the health products at various levels of service deliveries and will assist health managers to take timely and evidence-based decision to avert stock-outs. This activity follows earli...

KARACHI: Fireworks were witnessed during the session of Sindh Assembly on Monday as the opposition and treasury legislators verbally clashed on the demand for creating a new province comprising urban parts of Sindh.The demand for a new province after carving out urban parts of Sindh was reiterated by Opposition legislators of the Muttahida Quami Movement. The lawmakers belonging to the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party bitterly opposed the demand while expressing their firm resolve that each of the inhabitants of Sindh would prefer to lay down their lives than to let their native land be divided. Legislator of Opposition MQM Khawaja Izharul Hassan said the Constitution of 1973 contained the provision and prescribed the method for creating new provinces.The MQM legislator said he would continue to raise the demand for creation of a new province in Sindh due to unabated discrimination being meted out to people of the urban parts of Sindh. He demanded that the Sindh government should launch a...

ISLAMABAD: At least seven members of the National Assembly (MNAs) are almost sure to make it to the parliamentary cricket team on the basis of their professional talent to represent Pakistan in the tournament of such squads of eight countries in Britain in July.The British parliamentary cricket team is hosting the event in the UK on July 8-15 on the sidelines of the Cricket World Cup to be played from May 30 to July 14, 2019. A total of eight teams will take part in the event. At the same time, the national cricket teams of Pakistan and India will play matches in the World Cup.Pulls and pressures aside, the selectors are concerned about choosing a professional lineup based on its performance during the training and practice session in view of its significant match with the Indian parliamentary team.“Win or defeat in this encounter will be as important as it has been between national cricket teams of Pakistan and India,” President of the Islamabad Region Cricket Association (IRCA) Shaki...

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Monday witnessed an exchange of barbs between former prime minister and PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Minister for Aviation Division Ghulam Sarwar Khan during the question hour.The government and opposition also exchanged harsh remarks on a motion moved for extending the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council Ordinance, 2019 for further 125 days. The extension in the ordinance was approved by the majority voice vote. The exchange of barbs took place when Ghulam Sarwar Khan while responding to a question asked during the question-hour said the PIA was running into losses, while Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s Air Blue was making profits.On a point of explanation, Abbasi said Ghulam Sarwar was in the PPP when things were going wrong and he was also part of it. He said special assistant to the PM had made a statement that minister for petroleum was replaced due to corruption in the ministry.“The tariffs of gas have increased and people are getting inflated bil...

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan thanked Huawei for setting up their office in Pakistan and for its continued investments in the country.The prime minister has said this during a meeting with founder of Huawei Mr Ren Zhengfei. The two sides discussed the development of ICT technologies and how to enhance mutual cooperation in the future.The prime minister said that Huawei may strengthen its collaboration with Pakistan through local manufacturing, technology transfer in such fields as AI and contribute to Pakistan’s economy.Imran Khan thanked Huawei for setting up their office in Pakistan and for its continued investments in the country. The PM said that Huawei may strengthen its collaboration with Pakistan through local manufacturing, technology transfer in such fields as AI and contribute to Pakistan’s economy.Pakistan would welcome Huawei’s investment and facilitate them in doing business. Ren Zhengfei thanked the prime minister for his support to Huawei, adding: “The development...

LONDON: A Lahore-born Pakistani Scottish Muslim is expected to be named next month as the new poet laureate, replacing Carol Ann Duffy.Imtiaz Dharker, 65, would be the first Asian, Muslim or Pakistani person and second woman to become poet laureate in the position’s 350-year-long history. She has written about religion, identity, culture and feminism. She was born in Lahore to conservative parents but moved to live in Glasgow as a child and studied locally.Imtiaz Dharker’s daughter, Ayesha Dharker, 41, is a Shakespearean actress who also appeared in Coronation Street. On Desert Island Discs in 2015, Dharker said: “I am a Pakistani Scottish Calvinist Muslim, adopted by India and married into Wales. Don’t try to put me in a box. I’m a cultural mongrel.”The culture department said that an appointment has not yet been confirmed and the final decision will be taken by The Queen. It is understood that Dharker was chosen by the government to succeed Duffy when her ten-year term ends on April ...

ISLAMABAD: Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost said on Monday that his country was prepared to cooperate in any efforts for normalisation of their relations with Saudi Arabia. The ambassador said during a meeting of the Pakistan-Iran Parliamentary Friendship Group, which met here at theParliament House under the chairmanship of its convener Senator Lt Gen (R) Abdul Qayyum. Senators, who participated in the discussion, included Waleed Iqbal, PTI; Syed Muhammad Ali Shah Jamote, PPP and Sajjad Hussain Turi. The meeting was also attended by the Iranian Ambassador Mehdi Honardoost and Dr Eijaz, Additional Secretary of the Foreign Office.Prime Minister Imran Khan’s recent visit to Iran was appreciated. Iranian ambassador lauded Senator Abdul Qayyum’s desire for Muslim unity and said Iran was fully ready to cooperate in any effort for normalisation of their relations with Saudi Arabia, says a statement issued at the end of the meeting, by the Senate Secretariat.During the meeting, ...

ISLAMABAD: British Deputy High Commissioner Richard Crowder said that English cricket team will be visiting Pakistan soon.The DHC, posted in Islamabad maintained that cricket is shared love for both countries. He has expressed the hope that one day soon, “I can welcome the English cricket team back to Pakistan too.”He was talking on the occasion of conclusion of world prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) cricket team a two-week tour of Pakistan. During their visit they played several matches around the country, including in Islamabad, Lahore and Abbottabad. They played against several military teams, including the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) Cricket Team in Abbottabad, the Army X Corps Young Officers in Islamabad, and the Pak Army IV Corps team in Lahore.The Sandhurst team also played the British Council’s DOSTI team at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore and the British High Commission team in Saidpur in Islamabad. According to the British High Commission the DOS...

LAHORE: Special Assistant to Prime Minister Nadeem Afzal Chan called on Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar at his office here Monday.During the meeting, various matters of mutual interest, including political situation and media related strategy came under discussion. Gulraiz Afzal Chan MPA was also present on the occasion.Talking on the occasion, the chief minister said that opposition is afraid of the accountability process and added that no thief will be let off. The people are yearning for the accountability of the plunderers.“Attention has been paid to the provision of healthcare and educational facilities and the development schemes relating to the backward areas are being personally monitored by me” he said.“I am also monitoring the ground realities by visiting various districts, no one will be allowed any interference in the mission of public service” he said. The opinion of the public representatives is given credence for finalising development schemes, he added.Nadeem Afzal C...

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Monday passed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Local Government Bill 2019 amid protest and uproar by opposition parties.It paved the way for introducing a two-tier local government system in the province. The opposition parties members gathered in front of speaker dais soon after the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Sultan Mohammad Khan tabled the bill.It might be the longest-ever protest of the opposition parties inside the House as they continued it till the end of about 91 amendments proposed by the opposition and treasury benches in the same bill.The opposition members, while standing in front of the speaker presidium, shouted slogans against the government, thumping the desks and even some of the members were blowing whistles during the proceedings.Speaker Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani time and again called upon the opposition leader Akram Khan Durrani to end the protest and participate in the legislation. But the opposition pa...

MANSEHRA: The classes in the lone Girls Degree College Balakot would begin in the current academic session as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is set to appoint teachers and other staff. "The government has sanctioned teachers posts and other vacancies for the newly constructed girls' degree college. The classes would start from June this year," MPA Ahmad Hussain Shah told a gathering held in connection with the launching of a book in Balakot on Monday.He said that people of Balakot were without appropriate health care services when the civil hospital was destroyed in the October 8, 2005, devastating earthquake. The lawmaker said that rural health centre construction in Hassa area was in its final stage and the patients would be able to get medical treatment there. He said that a library and two cricket stadiums would be built in Balakot and process to acquire land for those schemes was in the final stage. "The youngsters are our future and it is our prime duty to p...

Rawalpindi: The newly designated director of Recovery Department, Jamshed Aftab has evolved a strategy to improve the recovery process in order to generate more revenue.Chairing a meeting on Monday, Jamshed Aftab told that through a letter to chief officers he has appealed to Municipal Corporation Rawalpindi and District Council to obtain NOC for clearing Property Transfer and Commercial cases of clients.The director said that obtaining NOC from Wasa would help this department to make water bills recovery from defaulters. Obtaining of NOC from Wasa be made mandatory for clients who apply for property transfer and changes in proper states. In this regard Wasa would issue SOP under which NOC would be issued in three days period to the clients who clear their outstanding dues against water tariff. While the clients who pay outstanding dues on the spot would be issued NOCs on the same day.To make the recovery process more effective, Wasa has also decided to make a survey for assessing the ...

LAHORE: A series of protests by visually-impaired citizens brought traffic on major city roads to a standstill resulting in inconvenience for the road users, including ambulances and rescue services. The first protest was staged by visually-impaired persons in front of the Lahore Press Club for the acceptance of their demands. The protesters blocked the road due to which the flow of traffic got disrupted. Citizens of metropolitan city got stuck on Davis Road, Empress Road, Abbot Road, Garhi Shahu, Habibullah Road and other adjacent area. Flow of traffic was shifted to other busy roads.Later, the visually-impaired persons moved towards Faisal Chowk following which the people got stuck on Mall Road, Queen’s Road and Hall Road. The flow of traffic shifted to Ferozepur Road as well. The visually-impaired made hands chain and chanted slogans against government. They demanded jobs under special quota, regularisation of contractual staff and daily wagers. They complained that salaries were no...

Islamabad: United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) in collaboration with School of Leadership Monday celebrated the achievement of the Red Code team, recently declared one of the winners of the Generation Unlimited (GenU) Global Youth Challenge.The team was comprised of three young Pakistani girls, Sara Farooq Khan, Sana Farooq Khan and Mahin Usman. The GenU Global Youth Challenge is an initiative launched by Unicef to engage young people and encourage them to find innovative solutions to issues from their everyday life. A total of 32 teams from 16 countries participated and presented their ideas in the Challenge.On 12 April, five global winners were announced. The team ‘Red Code’ from Pakistan was one of them; others included teams from Thailand, Zimbabwe, Sudan and North Macedonia. Each winning team will receive $20,000 and tailored mentorship for scaling up their respective projects, a press release said.Minister of State for Climate Change, Zartaj Gul while addressing the ceremony ...

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Authority on Monday issued a special report on spices industries of the province. As per the report, the KP Food Authority with a mandate to ensure food safety and hygiene standards in open and local spices business raided local small-scale grinding and process units from time to time."A total number of 247 processing units have been inspected 449 times in Peshawar, Bannu, Swat, Mardan, Kohat, Abbottabad and Dera Ismail Khan," it read. The report stated that adulteration of wheat straw, rice husk, rancid oil, local substandard colours, china salt were found in spices industries."Poor premises and personal hygiene of the food handlers and unavailability of medical fitness certificates of the workers were also observed," the report revealed. According to the report, misbranding and no proper labelling, improper cleaning of raw material and use of old rusted machinery are the major reasons of low-quality products."No proper st...

MANSEHRA: The tourists swarmed the scenic Kaghan valley soon after reopening of Kaghan-Naran section of Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad road on Monday."We have reached Naran and want to move towards Babusar Top but the National Highway Authority would take another two to three weeks to clear this road for traffic," Asima Shahzadi, a tourist said. With the reopening of the road the other day, the tourists started rushing here to enjoy snow scattered all around in the Naran, which is considered a commercial centre of Kaghan valley."One can witness snow all around in Naran town and the nearby mountains presenting a spectacular view to the visitors," Shahzadi added. The machinery is yet to be moved to reopen Saiful Muluk Lake Road where a large number of tourists come to enjoy the resort."Once the Lake Road is cleared of heavy snow, the tourism activities would enhance as those coming here might visit the place," Mohammad Adnan, a tourist from Lahore, said. The tourist...

LAHORE: In line with the vision of the Prime Minister for encouraging construction of high-rises to save precious land, Lahore Development Authority (LDA) on Monday gave a go-ahead for construction of the tallest building in the City at Finance and Trade Centre in Johar Town.Officials said the 500 feet high-rise building would be constructed on a 44-kanal and would house a hotel of an international chain. It will comprise of 45 floors, including three basements. They said that LDA had approved the building plan for construction of this structure. Chief Town Planner Syed Nadeem Akhter Zaidi and Additional Director General Housing Zarif Iqbal Satti handed over the approved plan to the representatives of a group that is constructor and financier of the project.Environment Protection Agency and Traffic Engineering and Transportation Planning Agency have already issued NOC for construction of this building, officials said adding grey water treatment plant would be installed in this building...

PESHAWAR: The Workers Welfare Board (WWB) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has released Rs 60 million for the workers children scholarships. An official communiqué quoted WWB Chairman Khayam Hassan Khan as having said out of Rs800 million allocated for scholarships of the employees' children, over Rs380 million had been released so far to various educational institutions for better and quality education of the labourers' children. He said the board would continue financial assistance to the children of the low-salary employees in the shape of scholarships. In the current year, he said, the WWB would distribute the cheques for Rs800 million among them. from The News International - National http://bit.ly/2V6mo08

PESHAWAR: The local police unearthed a heroin making factory being run in a house in the limits of the Paharipura Police Station, officials said on Monday. An official said that the wife of the owner of the house was arrested.The police officials said four kilograms of heroin along with the raw material was recovered from the factory being run in a house in the Momin Town. They added the owner of the factory, Hameedullah, is an Afghan national who was not present at the house. His wife, who is a Pakistani, was arrested from the spot. The police said the woman told the cops that her spouse used to travel frequently to Afghanistan.Meanwhile, police during another action at the Small Industrial Estate recovered 51 pistols and 10 rifles from a factory and arrested two persons. Police said the weapons were being smuggled to the down country. from The News International - National http://bit.ly/2GJSq8g

Islamabad: President Dr Arif Alvi Monday urged the members of the Parliament (MPs) to plant at least one tree each to become a role model for the rest of the country. He said this after a detailed briefing given to him about plantation of trees at jurisdictions of Awan-e-Sadr, Parliament House and Cabinet Block. During the drive, pine, golden shower (Cassia Fistula), orange, peach and loquats will be planted. He said the project should be completed speedily with minimum cost. The president said trees plantation at maximum level was very important to tackle climate changes. from The News International - National http://bit.ly/2V1MlOp

PESHAWAR: Heavy machinery of the Rescue 1122 was rushed to rescue birds stuck up at a tree on the Raza Shah Shaheed Road on Monday. An official of the Rescue 1122 said a local called for help after birds stuck up at a tree in the cantonment area after which rescue officials with heavy machinery were sent to the spot to rescue the birds. All the birds were rescued successfully. from The News International - National http://bit.ly/2GXyuin

MIRANSHAH: Two security personnel were martyred and one more sustained injuries in various incidents in North Waziristan district on Monday, sources said. According to reports, unidentified assailants attacked a checkpost of the security forces at Sheen Kandow area in Dattakhel tehsil. As a result, Sepoy Mujahid embraced martyrdom. In the second incident, Havaldar Nazeer Mir was martyred and Naik Qaiser sustained injuries in an exchange of fire between the security forces and the militants during an operation being conducted in Meerkhon Top in Dewgar area near Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan. The sources said the militants escaped after the clash with security forces. The dead and injured personnel were shifted to Miranshah Camp Hospital. from The News International - National http://bit.ly/2VaymWI

PESHAWAR: Five children sustained burn injuries in a gas explosion at a house in Gulabad locality on Monday. Officials said the fire broke out in a house in Gulabad after a gas explosion that left injured five children. Those injured were identified as Saima, Gulalai, Usman, Zainab and Malala. They were taken to the burn ward in Hayatabad Medical Complex. from The News International - National http://bit.ly/2GQpCe2

PESHAWAR: A policeman was shot dead by unidentified attackers in the limits of the Mathra Police Station on Monday. The constable identified as Lihaz Khan was serving at the Police Lines in Peshawar and was on leave, it was learnt. Police started an investigation into the incident. from The News International - National http://bit.ly/2V5VENk

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has directed the Higher Education Department (HED) to initiate career counselling of students after grade-8, enabling them to identify strengths and weaknesses which will help them in choosing fields.The chief minister directed the HED to work out modalities for initiating evening classes in all the colleges of the province to focus on quality and efficiency, rather than expansion of schemes.He was chairing a progress review meeting of the HED at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat. The meeting was also attended by Chief Secretary Muhammad Saleem Khan, CM’s principal secretary Shahab Ali Shah, Additional Chief Secretary Dr Shehzad Khan Bangash, secretary higher education and other officials.The chief minister stated that due to expansion policies, limited attention is given to efficient management of resources in the already established infrastructure and institutions which negatively affects services delivery.The meeting was informed that a total of ...

KP Goods Transporters warn of wheel jam after RamazanBy our correspondentPESHAWAR: All Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Goods Transport and Adda Owners Federation on Monday warned of observing wheel jam strike throughout the country after the holy month of Ramazan if the government did not withdraw the increase in the prices of petrol and diesel. The announcement was made during a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club. The representatives of both organisations declared that it was impossible for them to continue the transport business in such a situation.Flanked by supporters, the provincial chairman of the body, Haji Liaqat, vice-president Syed Jamal Afridi, general secretary Sikandar and press secretary Haji Gul Naseeb said that more than 40 percent tractor trailers have stopped plying due to the increase in the prices of petrol and diesel.Liaqat said the price of diesel per litre had reached Rs120. He said the transporters had to pay Rs300 to Rs500 at every stop from Wazirabad Gujranwala, K...

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA and provincial president for PTI Sports and Culture Wing, Fazal Elahi, has said there is no shortage of talent in the merged districts and no one would deprive them of their rights.Speaking at a news conference on Monday, he said that giving tribal youth their rights in sports was part of PTI’s manifesto. He said the government had finalised the party’s Sports and Culture Wing for tribal districts, with the election of Saeedullah Orakzai as its president, Khadija Kubra as vice-president and Maria Orakzai as finance secretary.The MPA said sportspersons from the region would be given opportunities at national and international levels in every game. He said the tribal people had passed through a difficult situation over the last several years, and the youth remained far behind in every walk of life.The players from tribal districts would represent own areas in the Olympic Games and others, he said. The PTI lawmaker said he would pay a visit to ...

PESHAWAR: Employees of the Federal Judicial Complex, Hayatabad staged a demonstration outside Peshawar Press Club on Monday to protest against the non-provision of special allowance to them.Led by the representatives, the protestors carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans in favour of their demands marched on the road, urging the government to take practical steps for the acceptance of their demands.The speakers recalled that the National Judicial Policy Committee in its meeting had decided to provide judicial, utility and special allowances to them but the employees of federal courts and tribunals were ignored. They said when the employees took up the cases in the superior courts, all the high courts of the four provinces ordered provision of the same facilities to the employees of the federal courts. from The News International - National http://bit.ly/2V1Ml0R

SWABI: A three-day national design, build and flying competition at the Ghulam Ishaq Khan (GIK) Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology concluded here on Monday.It was organized in collaboration with the STEM Careers Programme, a project of the Higher Education Commission (HEC). The STEM Careers project encourages talented students of the country to come forward and play their due role in achieving technological breakthroughs.Prof Dr Masroor Ikram, Director Academics, Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS), Islamabad and head of STEM Careers project, was the chief guest at the prize distribution ceremony. Nosherwan Arshad, AIAA's president said that after shortlisting 18 teams participated in the competition.Prof Masroor said the competition provided a golden opportunity to young engineers of different universities to design, build and fly their remote control aircrafts, display their skills, test knowledge and practical work. "The STEM project...

LAHORE: Along with provision of subsidised 19 items on Green Channel Stalls being set up in 30 Ramazan bazaars of the provincial capital, the district administration Lahore has involved 29 national and multinational companies to establish their stalls to sell their items on meager and controlled rates as compared to the open market to provide relief to the masses.Deputy Commissioner Lahore Ms Saleha Saeed chaired a meeting for the establishment of stalls of national and multinational companies. The meeting was held on here Monday at Nadir Hall. Representatives of national and multinational companies, Assistant Commissioner HQ and DO Food (MCL) attended the meeting.DC Ms Saleha Saeed said citizens could purchase fruit, vegetables and other items on controlled and subsidised rates. While ensuring representatives of the companies, the DC said District Administration would protect and look after their items at night time and she also asked them to bring their best quality items on stalls a...

PESHAWAR: Governor Shah Farman on Monday administered the oath to Member Provincial Assembly Liaqat Khattak as a provincial minister.The ceremony was arranged at the Governor's House, said an official handout. Federal Minister for Defence Pervez Khattak, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri, Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, Provincial Assembly Speaker Mushtaq Ghani, ministers, MPAs, government officials and others attended the function.Later, the governor greeted the new provincial cabinet member who is the younger brother of Pervez Khattak and wished him success in discharging his new responsibilities. Liaqat Khattak is a former district nazim of Nowshera. He was elected to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly in by-election. He won the PK-64 Nowshera seat vacated by his brother, former chief ministerPervez Khattak. The latter preferred to retain his National Assembly seat to become the defence minister in the federal cabinet.Pervez Khattak had won one National Assembly ...

Islamabad:Pakistan wants peace and prosperity in Afghanistan and will continue extending its all-out support in its rebuilding process, said President of Pakistan Dr. Arif Alvi on Monday while addressing the Pak-Afghan cultural event, Payam-e-Subh organised by Higher Education Commission (HEC) for Afghan students pursuing higher education in different universities of Pakistan.“You are the elite and privileged ones. You have been given the opportunity to study in Pakistan. Go back to your country with better education and skills, as it is your responsibility to rebuild your country,” said the President.Dr. Alvi said that Afghanistan has gone through a lot of miseries, however the Afghan nation has proved that nobody can subjugate them. He underlined that Pakistan and Afghanistan enjoy strong brotherly relations and the two countries have always stood by each other. “Nobody can defeat the friendly bonds between the two countries,” he affirmed.The President regretted that the two countrie...

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Interior Ijaz Ahmad Shah said Monday that the federal capital police should keep close liaison with the general public to earn respect. He was speaking to a gathering during his visit to Police Lines Headquarters, here on Monday.He was received by IGP, Muhammad Aamir Zulfiqar Khan along with DIG/Security Division, DIG/HQrs and SSP/HQrs. After receiving guard of honor, the Minister for Interior laid a wreath of flowers at Martyrs Mausoleum.He also visited School of Investigation and inaugurated State of the art ‘Firing Simulator’ set up with the help of INL at cost of Rs2 crores. He was also briefed at E-learning facility established in School of Information Technology. Afterwards, Minister for Interior planted a sapling at Police Lines Headquarters as a part of Clean Green Pakistan as envisioned by the Prime Minister of Pakistan. Minister for Interior also held a brief Media talk, in which he focused vulnerability of Police in the backdrop of security an...

Islamabad: President Dr Arif Alvi said that NAB has a pivotal role towards the elimination of corruption from the country. He added that indiscriminate accountability is need of the hour, in order to discourage the corrupt elements.The president said this while talking to NAB Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal, who called on him here at Aiwan-e-Sadr, Islamabad. NAB chairman also presented annual report-2018 of his organisation to the President. The president stated that corruption has been lifelong concern for him, as this menace has destroyed both the institutions and economy of the country. He emphasised that it is of utmost importance to root out corruption in order to ensure progress and development in the country.He underscored that the government’s mission is to make Pakistan a corruption free country in which NAB has to play an important role. Expressing his satisfaction over the performance of NAB, he said that NAB is an independent institution and trust of the people on it will ...

Islamabad:Protesting nurses of federal government hospitals Monday threatened a full-fledged strike on D-Chowk, should the government continue to lend a deaf ear to their longstanding demands.The demands of the nurses include timescale promotions as per Estacode rules; induction of additional nursing staff in order to bridge the widening nurse-patient ratio and to decrease workload; increase in nurses’ stipend to a minimum of Rs40,000 so that it is brought at par with the amount being paid in KPK and Punjab; increase in mess and kit allowance so that it is raised to Rs11,000 per month (equivalent to other provinces); award of Nursing Professional Allowance of Rs10,000 per month as prevalent in other provinces; de-freezing of the Health Risk Allowance equal to basic running salary; award of proper accommodation to nurses as per their entitlement quota; exemption of night shift duties of nurses who have completed 20 years of service or have reached 50 years of age; and handing over of th...

There comes a time in the life of almost every great writer when they have to choose between their passion and mundane comforts. They become many things to many people due to diversity of expectations. Since they are not jugglers, they fail to keep many balls in the air.They make gains but then they also make losses and gradually a sense of loss take them over, making them restless and urging them on. When we place them on high pedestals, we need to acknowledge that they are human beings and every shade of their life cannot be perfect. Jaun Elia was one such great poet.“He (Elia) was a sadist,” said his daughter Sohaina Elia, whom he used to call Ghamcho with love. “He would put himself in pain. Seeing him in pain, others would also be in pain. And in seeing others in pain, he would sort of take pleasure,” she said.She was, or should be, the key speaker at an event arranged by Madeeha Arslan at her residence in Naval Anchorage in memory of the great poet. Though of late this housing so...

Islamabad: The Country Representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Dr. Palitha Mahipala, and the PM’s Adviser on Health Dr. Zafar Mirza—both of them newly-appointed—Monday resolved to work in close coordination to uplift the health system and to achieve health-related Sustainable Development Goals.During a one-on-one meeting with Dr. Zafar to discuss Pakistan’s health agenda, the two deliberated on issues like developing Islamabad Capital Territory as a model for strengthening the health system with a focus on Primary Health Care.Dr. Zafar lauded Dr. Palitha’s contribution to improving health systems in Sri Lanka during his tenure as Director General Health and Additional Secretary Health in his home country. The Sri Lankan health system has a long record of strong performance and its progress towards Universal Health Coverage stands out as an example for the rest of the world. “We can learn a great deal from the Sri Lankan experience in strengthening primary health care and ...

Islamabad: The Departments of Health and Population Welfare of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in collaboration with USAID-funded Global Health Supply Chain Programme-Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) project organized a design and development workshop for implementation of Inventory Management (IM) Module of Logistics Management Information System (www.lmis.gov.pk ) here on Monday.The system, already deployed for Family Planning (FP) and Immunisation products, will be enhanced to include other health commodities related to prevention of infectious diseases and provision of basic health services for the people of the province.The system will initially be piloted in four districts of the province namely, Swat, Lakki Marwat, Charsadda and Mohmand. Once deployed, the system will provide complete visibility of the health products at various levels of service deliveries and will assist health managers to take timely and evidence-based decision to avert stock-outs. This activity follows earli...