Siasat Wala Blog

KARACHI: Sindh Agriculture Minister Ismail Rahoo on Tuesday said that the provincial government will waive-off its loans of the farmers, who have been affected due to recent rains, ARY News reported.  Talking to ARY News programme Bakhabar Savera, Ismail Rahoo said cotton, tomatoes, sugarcane, rice and other crops are badly damaged in several districts of the province including Badin, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Tando Allahyar and others. Farmers are already passing through worst economic situation due to increasing inflation and the recent rains have added to their misery, the minister said. Rahoo said that the Sindh government is currently carrying out relief and rescue activities and after completion it will announce a relief package for the farmers. The agriculture minister again demanded of the federal government to announce agriculture loan and tax waiver for rain-hit farmers of the province. Read more: Karachi districts among 20 declared calamity-hit by Sindh govt Yeste...

LAHORE: A meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar consider over construction of small dams for water conservation, ARY News reported on Tuesday. The chief minister approved for starting initial work on four small dams in Koh-e-Suleman for conservation of the water of hill torrents. Construction of small dams to conserve water is the need of time and the government of Punjab mulling over various options for small dams schemes, Chief Minister Buzdar said. “Hundreds of thousands cusecs previous water at hill torrents of Koh-e-Suleman goes in vain without utilization,” chief minister said. Building of small dams is necessary to conserve and properly utilize the water, he further said. Construction of small dams will also provide clean drinking water to the backward areas, he said. “A technical study has been initiated for construction of four small dams in the first phase,” Buzdar said. Earlier, provincial Secretary Irrigation briefed the chief minister about key matt...

KARACHI: A local court here on Tuesday sent an accused person to jail on judicial remand in a case related to blackmailing and harassment of Dr Maha Ali Shah, a young medic who had shot herself to death inside her house in DHA. Police produced Dr Irfan Qureshi before the Judicial Magistrate South and informed him that two other accused – Waqas and Junaid – named in the FIR are still at large. After a preliminary hearing, the magistrate sent the arrested accused to jail on judicial remand and adjourned the hearing. Read More: Two men remanded in police custody The Gizri police registered an FIR against Junaid Khan, Waqas Hassan Rizvi, and dentist Dr Irfan Qureshi on the complaint of Dr Maha’s father, Syed Asif Ali Shah who held the three men responsible for his daughter’s death. He alleged that the suspects raped his daughter, hooked her to drugs, and subjected her to severe harassment, due to which she committed suicide. Read More: Dr Maha Shah death case takes a new turn On Aug...

AstraZeneca Plc said on Monday it has begun enrolling adults for a U.S.-funded, 30,000-subject late-stage study of its high profile COVID-19 vaccine candidate. Trial participants will receive either two doses of the experimental vaccine, dubbed AZD1222, four weeks apart, or a placebo, the company said. The trial is being conducted under U.S. government’s Operation Warp Speed program, which aims to accelerate development, manufacturing and distribution of vaccines and treatments for COVID-19. U.S. President Donald Trump has said a vaccine for the novel coronavirus could be available before the Nov. 3 presidential election, much sooner than most experts anticipate. AstraZeneca, which is developing its vaccine in conjunction with Oxford University researchers, and Pfizer Inc with partner BioNTech SE have said they could have data by October to support U.S. emergency use authorization or approval of their respective vaccines. AZD1222 is already undergoing late-stage clinical trials i...

LAHORE: Prime Minister Imran Khan is scheduled to reach Lahore on a day-long visit today (Tuesday) to hold key meetings, ARY News reported. During the visit, the prime minister will hold one on one meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and major decisions likely to be taken during the meeting. The premier will also meet the provincial ministers, MPAs, MNAs, cabinet members, and senior bureaucrats during his stay in the provincial metropolis. He will get briefings from concerned departments on development projects and 2-year performance of the provincial government. Prime Minister Imran Khan would be given a detailed briefing on the establishment of southern Punjab secretariat, according to sources. It is pertinent to mention here that the Punjab government will present its two years performance before the people in a ceremony planned tomorrow (Wednesday). Read More:  PM Imran Khan to announce special package for rain-hit Karachi Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman ...

UCH SHARIF: In a tragic incident, a six-year-old girl died after being mauled by a pack of stray dogs in Uch Sharif city of Punjab on Tuesday, ARY News reported. Stray dogs savaged the minor victim in Moza Khairpur Jadded area within the remits of Dhoor Kot police station. Read More: Dog attack severely injures child in Karachi as father pleads for treatment She was rushed to a nearby medical facility where medics referred her to a Bahawalpur hospital due to her grave injuries but she couldn’t survive and succumbed to her wounds. Last month, a two-year-old boy had sustained severe wounds on his face after a stray dog attacked him in Gulzar Colony area of Karachi. Narrating the entire incident, the father of the victim, Kaleem Ullah, said a stray dog attacked his child a day back, inflicting severe injuries on his face. Read More: Nine-year-old boy mauled to death by dogs “My child was attacked by a stray dog. If he loses his eye injured in the attack then who will be responsible...

GENEVA: Countries with significant active spread of coronavirus must prevent amplifying events, as opening up without the virus being under control would be a “recipe for disaster”, the World Health Organization said on Monday. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recognised that many people are getting tired of restrictions and want to return to normality eight months into the pandemic. The WHO fully supported efforts to reopen economies and societies, he told a news conference, adding: “We want to see children returning to school and people returning to workplaces, but we want to see it done safely.” “No country can just pretend the pandemic is over,” he said. “The reality is this virus spreads easily. Opening up without control is a recipe for disaster.” “Explosive outbreaks” have been linked to gatherings of people at stadiums, nightclubs, places of worship and other crowds, where the respiratory virus can spread easily among clusters of people, Tedros said. “Decis...

KARACHI: A case of grenade attack over Mominbad police station has been registered against unknown attackers, ARY News reported on Tuesday. The case was registered at the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on the complaint of the station head officer (SHO). Earlier on Monday, two officials sustained minor injuries in a grenade attack by unidentified assailants near Mominabad police station in Karachi. A senior police officer had told media that unidentified men hurled a grenade on the gate of Mominabad police station, however, the timely response by on-duty officials had foiled the attack. The attackers, however, managed to flee from the scene. No death was reported in the incident, however, two policemen sustained minor injuries while jumping off the range of grenade fragments, said senior superintendent police (SSP) Fida Hussain. The police department has commenced a probe into the incident and identification of the attackers with the help of CCTV footage. The post Karachi gre...

ISLAMABAD: An accountability court in Islamabad on Tuesday decided to indict former president Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur in the mega-money laundering reference on September 9, ARY News reported. The accountability court Judge Azam conducted hearing on mega money laundering case and decided to indict Asif Zardari, Faryal Talpur, others on September 9. The AC accepted exemption pleas of Asif Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur in money laundering case and adjourned the hearing till September 9. It is pertinent to mention here that an accountability court will also indict former president Asif Ali Zardari in the Toshakhana reference on Sept 9. Mega Laundering Case Zardari, his sister and other accused are facing charges of laundering more than Rs35 billion through fake bank accounts. Zardari’s close aides Hussain Lawai and Anwar Majeed have also been nominated in the scam. Read More:  Zardari, Gillani to be indicted in Toshakhana case on Sept 9, rules court Hu...

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court (SC) has fixed appeal of the federal government against invalidating sugar commission inquiry report for hearing, ARY News reported on Tuesday.  The federal government had challenged Sindh High Court’s (SHC) decision of nullifying the report in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. A three-member bench of the SC will take up the plea on tomorrow. The bench includes Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Gulzar Ahmed, Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Ijazul Ahsan. On August 17, Sindh High Court (SHC) had nullified the sugar inquiry commission and its report and had ordered authorities concerned to conduct a fair inquiry into the matter. A SHC division bench comprising Justice KK Agha and Justice Omar Sial had announced the reserved verdict on a petition filed by the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) against an inquiry commission formed by the government to probe into a sugar crisis that hit the country earlier this year. The SHC declared report of Sugar Inqu...

Zoom shares soared on Monday after the video-meeting service reported that quarterly revenue rocketed as its ranks of users more than quadrupled. The Silicon Valley-based company that has become a popular way to work, learn or socialize during the pandemic said it made a profit of $186 million on revenue of $663.5 million in the quarter that ended on July 31. That compares with a net income of $5.5 million in the same quarter a year earlier. “Organizations are shifting from addressing their immediate business continuity needs to supporting a future of working anywhere, learning anywhere, and connecting anywhere on Zoom’s video-first platform,” founder and chief executive Eric Yuan said in an earnings release. Zoom shares were up more than 22 percent in after-market trades that followed release of the earnings, which beat market expectations. Zoom reported that it ended the quarter with approximately 370,000 customers that had more than 10 employees, more than four times as many t...

ISLAMABAD: An Islamabad High Court (IHC) bench will take up today appeals of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif against his conviction in Al-Azizia and Avenfield property references. The division bench comprising Justice Amer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani will also hear the appeals of Maryam Nawaz and retired Captain Mohammad Safdar in the Avenfield reference. Besides, NAB’s appeals, including one seeking an increase in the PML-N supreme leader’s sentence in the Al-Azizia case from seven years to 14 years and the other against his acquittal in the Flagship reference, will also be heard. Read More: Nawaz maybe ‘at much greater risk’ if exposed to Covid-19: medical report Nawaz’s lawyer Khawaja Haris filed an application in the court the other day, requesting the bench to either allow his client’s pleader to represent him in today’s proceedings or adjourn the hearing until his return. Maryam and Capt Safdar also filed an application with a request for adjourning the Avenf...

ISLAMABAD: The coronavirus claimed four more lives across the country in the past 24 hours, taking the number of people succumbing to the highly contagious disease to 6,298. According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 300 people tested positive for the contagion during this period, bringing the national tally of cases to 296,149. As many as 20,882 samples were tested, out of which 264 turned to be positive. Read More: Australia’s COVID-19 deaths in virus hotspot fall to two-week low The number of active coronavirus cases has gone down to 8,881 as 280,970 patients have recuperated. Besides, 1,044 Covid-19 patients are under treatment in 735 hospitals across the country, out of whom 92 are on ventilators. Six Million Cases U.S. cases of the novel coronavirus have surpassed six million as many states in the Midwest reported increasing infections, according to a Reuters tally. Also Read: How common cold viruses are being used in vaccines from Russia, China Iowa,...

SYDNEY: Australia’s second-most populous state Victoria, the epicentre for COVID-19 infections in the country, on Tuesday reported its lowest rise in virus-related deaths in two weeks as a second-wave outbreak eases. Victoria said five people died from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, the lowest one-day rise since Aug. 15, while 70 people tested positive for the novel coronavirus, a seven-week low. The fall in the number of new cases comes as the state capital Melbourne begins its fourth week of a six-week lockdown that sees residents confined to their homes, a nightly curfew imposed and large parts of the state economy ordered to close. The restrictions are set to be relaxed later this month, with State Premier Daniel Andrews scheduled to detail the timetable for easing curbs on Sunday. Health officials said Victoria is expected to reduce new daily infections to near single-digits by mid-September, down from over 700 new cases a day last month, but warned the risk of new outbreaks ...

SRINAGAR: In Indian Illegally occupied Kashmir, Indian troops in their continued acts of state terrorism martyred twenty four Kashmiris and injured 59 in the month of August. According to the data issued by the Research Section of Kashmir Media Service (KMS), these killings rendered one woman widowed and four people orphaned. During the period, at least fifty nine people were injured due to the use of brute force including firing of bullets, pellets and teargas shells by Indian troops and police personnel. The troops and police personnel also destroyed or damaged eleven residential houses and structures and also looted several houses in the month. The Indian forces in so-called operation arrested 98 people. Read more:  Kashmir struggle has taken a new turn: FM Qureshi The number of martyred during current year has jumped to 172 in occupied Kashmir. Last week, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had said Kashmiri people’s struggle for their inalienable right to self-determi...

KARACHI: At least five people were injured on Tuesday in a blast at compressor room of a compressed natural gas (CNG) station  in Nazimabad, area of Karachi, ARY News reported. According to rescue sources, the blast occurred near Board Office Nazimabad, adding, all the injured were shifted to to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for medical treatment. The sources said the blast took place at a compressor room  of the CNG station, injuring five including operator of the station. Two motorcycles were also baldy damaged in the incident. The identification of the injured could not be established. In a separate incident of the same nature that place in Karachi, on March 24, last year, at least two person were killed and four left wounded in a cylinder explosion at the  CNG  filling station. Read more:  CNG cylinder blast injures 14 in Peshawar The incident took place in North Karachi area of the metropolis. Rescue sources had said that the explosion occurred at comp...

Our world has become heavily dependent on the internet for almost everything. Wherever we go, we need to make sure that there is a fast WiFi connection. Along with it, come the password woes that we all face. More often than not, we come across some outlandish and hilarious given to the connection. While that is one thing, their passwords can be as bizarre too. View this post on Instagram Let my neighbors use my wifi A post shared by Pablo Rochat (@pablo.rochat) on Aug 27, 2020 at 7:52am PDT One such instance went viral on the internet. A San Francisco based digital artist named Pablo Rochat posted a video on Instagram in which a poster is being displayed. On it, ‘Free WiFi’ is written as the heading in bold capital letters. Its username is called ‘Good Luck.’ Funnily enough, it is perfect for the password that is about to follow. It consists of random characters in it and it goes on and on, until the end of the building wall. Take a ...

ISLAMABAD: The federal government disbursed Rs105.42 billion for uplift schemes during the first two months of the current fiscal year, according to the Planning Commission. It said the government has set a target of doling out Rs116 billion development funds in the first quarter of fiscal year 2020-21. Of the total funds disbursed during July and August, a collective sum of Rs7.40 billion was dispensed to federal ministries, Rs13.55 billion to the Water Resources Division, and Rs13.48 to the Cabinet Division. Read More: Govt disburses Rs541.63 bn of PSDP funds The commission said Rs12.94 billion worth of funds were disbursed to the Finance Division, Rs20.91 billion to the National Highway Authority (NHA), Rs2.39 billion to Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) and National Transmission & Despatch Company (NTDC), and Rs5.61 billion to the High Education Commission (HEC). It said Azad Jammu and Kashmir got uplift funds amounting to Rs4.96 billion, Gilgit Baltistan Rs4.45 bill...

KARACHI: A trailer carrying cargo containers overturned at Aiwan-e-Sadar road damaging a portion of the road, ARY News reported on Monday. A container while falling from the trailer hit the footpath and an electricity pole. The container went down to the roadside sewerage drain after collapse. The incident damaged the road, while the container yet to be removed from the drain, according to the eyewitnesses. Traffic Police in a statement said that heavy machinery has been called to remove the container from the nullah. “The vehicular traffic has been diverted to alternate route from Airwan-e-Sadar road,” said the traffic department. Normal flow of vehicular traffic flow yet to be restored in Karachi , while rainwater still standing at various places. The rainwater still standing at Khajoor Chowk. A track of Submarine Underpass of the city has also been under the water, said SSP Traffic Police. Karachi yet to return to normal life after Thursday’s heavy rainfall in the port city, ...

KARACHI: Taking notice of the immense showers in parts of Sindh, Chief Minister (CM) Murad Ali Shah has directed concerned deputy commissioners to provide maximum help to the people, ARY News reported on Monday. The CM Sindh telephoned DCs of Tharparkar, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Badin and Sujawal after heavy downpour. He directed the officials to remain on their toes and provide relief to the rain-hit people. Murad Ali Shah also directed to evacuate stranded masses in the rain-hit areas to safer places and ensure provision of food, water and tents for them. The deputy commissioners were advised to give hourly report about relief work to him (CM Sindh). Several cities of Sindh including Mirpurkhas, Sukkur, Tharparkar, Umerkot, Badin, Sujawal, Larkana, Thatta, Jacobabad and others have also witnessed rain after which the water has flooded different localities. Read more: Seventh spell of monsoon showers to hit Karachi today However, Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a...

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday vowed to take “very tough” action against elements igniting flames of sectarianism in the country on the occasion of Youm-e-Ashura. Taking to Twitter, he said: “I want to thank our nation for the peaceful observing of Ashura in the country. However, unfortunately, information has come to me of elements who tried to ignite flames of sectarianism on this occasion and I will be taking very tough action against them.” I want to thank our nation for the peaceful observing of Ashura in the country. However, unfortunately, information has come to me of elements who tried to ignite flames of sectarianism on this occasion and I will be taking very tough action against them. — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 31, 2020 Read More: PM Imran wants ‘brave’ Kashmiris to draw inspiration from Karbala Amid foolproof security, Youm-e-Ashura was marked with solemnity across Pakistan yesterday to pay homage to Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and other mart...

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi took to Twitter on Monday to greet the government and the people of Malaysia on the country’s Independence Day. “Selamat Hari Merdeka to the Government and the people of Malaysia,” he wrote on his official social media account. FM Qureshi said: “Pakistan looks forward to forging closer cooperation in the days to come and to strengthening the relationship between our two countries.” Selamat Hari Merdeka to the Government and the people of Malaysia. Pakistan looks forward to forging closer cooperation in the days to come and to strengthening the relationship between our two countries. @HishammuddinH2O — Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) August 31, 2020 Prime Minister Imran Khan had paid a two-day official visit to Malaysia earlier this year, during which the two countries signed a number of pacts to enhance bilateral cooperation and trade in various fields. The prime minister and his then Malaysian counterpart Mahathir Mohama...

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday heard a petition against Pakistan People’s Party MNA Shazia Marri over allegedly holding fake degree, ARY News reported.  As per details, the PPP lawmaker of the lower house of the parliament has been accused of holding fake degree. The Sindh High Court (SHC) has served notices to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the University of Karachi in this context. The further proceedings in the case have been adjourned till September 22. Shazia Marri was born on 8 October 1972 in Karachi to Deputy Speaker of the Sindh Assembly Atta Muhammad Marri. The PPP stalwart remained Member Provincial Assembly of Sindh and Information Minister. Currently she is MNA of the Pakistan People’s Party. Read more: ECP disqualifies BAP MPA over fake degree Last year, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had disqualified a member of Balochistan Assembly, associated with the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), for possessing a fake degree. A thr...

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) will take up on Tuesday (tomorrow) appeals of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain Safdar against their conviction in the Avenfield reference. The court will also take up the PML-N supremo’s appeal against his conviction in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills reference. Nawaz’s lawyer Khawaja Haris moved two miscellaneous applications in the IHC, stating that his client can’t appear before the court tomorrow and requested exemption from personal appearance on his behalf on medical grounds. The applications submitted to the IHC registrar will be taken up along the appeals tomorrow. A two-judge bench comprising Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani will hear the case. The appeals of Nawaz and Maryam against the Avenfield verdict will come up for hearing after a passage of more than a year. The accused have been out on bail since Sept 19, 2018 when the IHC suspended the 10-year, seven-yea...

LAHORE: Punjab has reported 28 Covid-19 cases over the past 24 hours, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 96,769, ARY News reported. According to Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department, two more people died from the virus in the last 24 hours. The number of people died from the disease in the province stands at 2,198. More than 943,160 samples have been tested to diagnose the presence of COVID-19 thus far, according to a statement of the health department The number of people recuperating from the infection in the province has passed 92,000. It is pertinent to mention here that the coronavirus cases are on the decline in Pakistan as 213 new infections were detected across the country over the last 24 hours, lifting the national tally of overall cases to 295,849. According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), six more people succumbed to the highly contagious disease during this period, pushing the death toll from the virus to 6,294. Read Mor...

ISLAMABAD: The water level at Rawal Dam has surged to red mark and the reservoir management has decided to open spillways of the dam, ARY News reported on Monday. Rawal Dam authorities in a statement announced opening of the spillways at 11:00 am today (Monday). “Around 6000 cusecs of water will be discharged from the lake,” according to the administration. “Rawal Dam reservoir has maximum capacity of 1752 feet water conservation, while present water level at the dam has been 1751.9 feet,” the dam management said. “After opening of the spillways the water level at Soan river will rise and water could overflow from the banks of the stream,” the dam administration said. Soan River is an important stream of the Pothohar region in North Punjab and drains much of the water of the area. It is pertinent to mention here that monsoon season this year has rained more water over Pakistan filling three major reservoirs in the country to their maximum capacity. The Water reservoir of Mangla...

Brighto Paints with its partnering firm Unique Trading Company sought to further globalize the Pakistani paint industry while simultaneously strengthening ties with Qatar by opening its second exclusive showroom in Qatar. Attendees included dignitaries and businessmen who are at the forefront of furthering economic ventures between Qatar and Pakistan such as H.E Syed Ahsan Raza Shah the Pakistani Ambassador to Qatar, Unique Trading Company Chairman Mr. Abdul- Rahman Mohammed Al-Muftah and G.M Mr. Imran Rafique. Brighto Paints has made continuous efforts to solidify relations with the State of Qatar as shown by the fact that H.E Syed Ahsan Raza Shah the ambassador to Qatar was present at the opening of this second Brighto Paints showroom. H.E Syed Ahsan Raza Shah went on to reminisce on his past visit to the Brighto Paints Showroom in Abbottabad, Pakistan which he visited due to his own personal paint needs and there he saw his picture of inaugurating the first Qatar showroom was prou...

KARACHI: The Sindh government on Monday demanded of the federal government to announce agriculture loan and tax waiver for rain-hit farmers of the province. Agriculture Minister Ismail Rahoo said in a statement that the provincial government declared 20 districts of the province calamity-hit due to the devastation caused by recent rains there. He said the government would make all-out efforts for rehabilitation of farmers affected by monsoon rains and waive provincial agriculture tax of rain-affected crops. Read More: Karachi districts among 20 declared calamity-hit by Sindh govt He regretted the agriculture sector is already under pressure due to flawed policies of the federal government as rising prices of fertilisers, diesel, electricity, and gas have added to the woes of farmers who are running up debts. Ismail Rahoo said the calamity-hit districts suffered hugely due to recent rains that played havoc with crops of cotton, tomatoes, chilies, rice, sugarcane, and others. He dem...

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday extended the interim bail of former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and former petroleum secretary, Arshad Mirza, in an illegal appointment case till September 3, ARY News reported. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) stalwart and the former petroleum secretary named in the case turned up before the court for the hearing. A two-judge bench headed by Justice Omar Sial heard the illegal appointment case. Read More:  Court to indict Ex-PM Abbasi, others after filing of LNG reference The high court extended the interim bail of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) stalwart in the illegal appointment case and sought arguments from the counsels in the next hearing. Last month, the Sindh High Court had extended till Aug 27 the interim pre-arrest bail of the former prime minister and the former petroleum secretary. On May 19, the high court had granted them bail against a surety bond of Rs500,000 each. Read More:  SHC grants ...

PESHAWAR: Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) Peshawar service has been reopened for the public, said spokesperson Trans Peshawar on Monday, ARY News reported.  The service which was temporary halted on 9th and 10th Muharram now has been restored for the general public. Residents can travel via BRT service to their desired destinations from 6am to 10pm, said spokesperson. The spokesman said BRT Peshawar is providing best travel facilities to the citizens of Peshawar and those who came from other areas. Peshawar was declared among the highly sensitive districts from security perspective during Muharram. Since BRT is the largest project of Peshawar which affects tens of thousands of people, the administration had considered it suitable to close it for two days to avoid any possible security issues. Read more:  PM Imran Khan inaugurates Peshawar BRT project The long awaited BRT Peshawar project was inaugurated by Prime Minister Imran Khan on August 13 after which a large number of pe...

ISLAMABAD: The government has so far disbursed soft loans amounting to over Rs 260 million among 552 female entrepreneurs under the Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme (YES) of Prime Minister’s Kamyab Jawan Programme. “It constitutes 30 per cent of the total disbursed loans which are amounting to one billion rupees. So far 2,190 qualified male and female entrepreneurs have received concessionary loans under the Kamyab Jawan Programme,” state-owned wire service reported, quoting a document. Read More: SBP raises loan limit for women entrepreneurs under refinance scheme Out of total disbursed loans, around 70 per cent of the soft loans went to 1,638 male candidates, who were given over Rs 690 million. The ‘YES’ was launched under the banner of Kamyab Jawan Programme in October last year with the seed allocation of Rs100 billion. Special Assistant to PM on Youth Affairs Usman said in an interview that banks have so far approved two tier financing of Rs 3 billion for 7,592 eligible business...

A bug involving US-based telecoms giant CenturyLink briefly interrupted internet service in several global markets Sunday, affecting popular streaming services, gaming platforms and webcasts of European soccer, the company and specialized media reported. “We are able to confirm that all services impacted by today’s IP outage have been restored…” the company said in a mid-morning Twitter post. “We sincerely apologize for the impact this outage caused.” Contacted by AFP, the company provided no further details. CenturyLink is based in Monroe, Louisiana. It was not immediately clear whether the disruption was related to damage from destructive Hurricane Laura, which passed through Louisiana late last week, causing widespread power outages. Apps and websites including major streaming service Hulu, as well as the PlayStation network and XBox Live platforms reported disruptions, CNN reported. France’s Telefoot soccer network was also affected, interrupting broadcasts of early-afternoo...

Schools and businesses reopened in Auckland on Monday after the lifting of a lockdown in New Zealand’s largest city to contain the resurgence of the coronavirus, but face masks were made mandatory on public transport across the country. The Pacific nation of 5 million people had appeared to have succeeded in halting community transmission of COVID-19, but a fresh outbreak in Auckland prompted the government to place the city back in lockdown earlier this month. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern scaled back the restrictions in Auckland on Sunday, but made masks compulsory on public transport. Ardern said on Monday that she was confident the new measure would be taken up across New Zealand, adding that “a bit of smiling with the eyes behind the mask” and kindness to Aucklanders in particular, would help get the country through the latest outbreak. “We have a plan that we know will work. We just need everyone’s compliance and help. If everyone sticks to those guidelines and rules, couple...

KARACHI: Several areas of Karachi remained submerged and without electricity for more than 90 hours after unprecedented rains lashed the city on Thursday, ARY News reported on Sunday. People took to social media to protest against prolonged power outages as K-Electric, the sole electricity supply company in Karachi, failed to restore power supply in some areas of the metropolis. Several areas of Karachi including Defence, Clifton, Lyari, SITE area, Orangi, Korangi, Old City Area, Yousuf Goth, Punjab Colony, Maripur  Baldia Town, Liaquatabad, Nazimabad, Gulberg, Sadar, Jacob Lines and MA Jinnah road remained without electricity since Thursday. The prolonged power breakdown sparked protests and sit-ins on Sunday in several areas, including in Gulistan-e-Johar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Lyari and Korangi. Further, Karachi Electric (KE) said that two feeders in DHA’s Phase 4 and Muslim Commercial had been powered up. “Clifton Block 7 and two of the three feeders in Bath Island have also be...

KARACHI: Karachi to receive more showers today (Monday) under seventh spell of monsoon, said Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Monday, ARY News reported. A statement issued by the Met office said that seventh spell of monsoon rains entered Sindh on Sunday evening which could aggravate existing urban flooding and waterlogging in Lower Sindh. Under the influence of this system rain and wind-thundershowers, with isolated heavy to very showers, are expected in Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Shaheed Benazirabad, Dadu, Tharparker, Nagarparker, Mirpurkhas, Islam Kot, Umar Kot, Sanghar, Sukkur and Larkana. Heavy to moderate showers are expected in parts of Karachi today, while the weather will remain cloudy. Read More:  33 die from electrocution, drowning in Karachi during record rainfall On the other hand, PMD has advised all concerned authorities to remain alert during the forecast period. The Met Office earlier issued a warning of urban flooding in Karachi, however,...

U.S. cases of the novel coronavirus surpassed six million on Sunday as many states in the Midwest reported increasing infections, according to a Reuters tally. Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota have recently reported record one-day increases in new cases while Montana and Idaho are seeing record numbers of currently hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Nationally, metrics on new cases, deaths, hospitalizations and the positivity rates of tests are all declining, but there are emerging hotspots in the Midwest. Many of the new cases in Iowa are in the counties that are home to the University of Iowa and Iowa State University, which are holding some in-person classes. Colleges and universities around the country have seen outbreaks after students returned to campus, forcing some to switch to online-only learning. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Sunday said his state was sending a “SWAT team” to a State University of New York (SUNY) campus in Oneonta in upstate New York to c...