Home 2

National

- Education officers to visit 7 schools per day to ensure health guidelines
  September 29, 2020ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI, Tuesday, September 29, 2020 (WNP/DL): Primary schools will open in the twin cities today (Wednesday) in the third phase of educational institutions reopening, following months shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) has directed all area education officers to visit at least seven schools every day to ensure that health guidelines and standard operating procedure (SOP) to limit the spread of Covid-19 are being implemented. A total of 193 FDE-run primary schools in Islamabad will reopen. FDE officials said that the city’s six area education officers have been told to visit at least seven schools per day. In addition, a team of FDE directors and officers from the Ministry of Federal Education and the capital administration will visit schools as well. Teams from the Private Educational Institution Regulatory Authority (Peira) will also visit primary schools, officials from the authority said. They said that it would be harder to enforce social distancing in primary schools compared to high schools, colleges or universities, particularly with students in nursery up until third grade, which is why teachers will have to make a special effort. Islamabad-based educational institutions have reported more than 30 cases of Covid-19 out of around 15,000 tests. Minister for Federal Education Shafqat Mehmood said that the positivity rate is 0.8pc in educational institutions across the country. At a press conference in Islamabad, he said that out of 171,436 tests carried out in educational institutions – not including primary schools – 1,284 have come back positive for Covid-19. He said school administrations, teachers and parents must be more attentive from Wednesday, when primary schools reopen, because young children cannot follow SOP and practice social distancing on their own. SOP has been issued and arrangements have been made by the district administration and education authority as primary schools open in Rawalpindi. Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood told media that the government had asked that preparations be made for primary schools to reopen. He said special arrangements have been made for younger students, but parents must also educate children on safety measures. He said teachers and school staff have been directed to explain safety measures and social distancing to students. He said the use of masks, hand sanitiser and other SOP will be monitored, and primary schools will be checked every day. He added that Covid-19 testing is continuing in educational institutions in Rawalpindi as part of the Punjab government’s goal to check all the schools, colleges and universities in the district. Seven out of 2,913 people tested for Covid-19 have been positive since the opening of schools and colleges on Sept 15, he said, while 2,744 were negative and the results of 162 are awaited. Mr Mehmood said teams have been working to collect samples from educational institutions. He said randomised testing has been carried out in 49 colleges and universities. He said the testing process has been slow because capacity cannot exceed 120 tests per day. All the results will be received in a day or two, Mr Mehmood said. Randomised testing will continue in schools where classes for sixth, seventh and eighth graders resumed on Sept 23.... Read more...

International

- Israel-UAE deal could open up US weapons sales to Gulf kingdom, experts say
  August 15, 2020JERUSALEM, Saturday, August 15, 2020 (Reuters/WNP/DL): Normalised diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates could pave the way for more US weapons sales to the Gulf Arab country, according to experts. Israel and the UAE announced on Thursday that they will normalise diplomatic ties and forge a broad new relationship under an accord that US President Donald Trump helped broker. The agreement makes the UAE only the third Arab state after Egypt and Jordan to make such a deal with Israel, which has enjoyed special access to US weapons sales. In a National Public Radio interview on Friday, US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman said that “the more the Emirates become a friend of Israel, become a partner of Israel, become a regional ally of the United States, I think obviously that alters the threat assessment and could work out to the Emirates’ benefit” on future weapons sales. The United States guarantees that Israel receives more advanced American weapons than Arab states get, giving it what is labeled a “Qualitative Military Edge” over its neighbours. One example is the F-35 jet made by Lockheed Martin Co that Israel has used in combat, but the UAE is currently unable to purchase. David Makovsky, director of the Project on Arab-Israel Relations at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy think tank, told Reuters the deal is “a win for the Emirates, which will undoubtedly be eligible for military sales that it could not obtain due to ‘qualitative military edge’ restrictions due to fear certain technologies could be used against Israel.” In May, the US State Department approved a possible sale of up to 4,569 used Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles to the UAE for $556 million. US lawmakers have tried to rein in Trump administration plans for arms sales, particularly to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, to pressure them to improve their human rights record and do more to avoid civilian casualties in an air campaign against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the war in Yemen. A US government watchdog report released on Tuesday said the State Department did not fully evaluate the risk of civilian casualties in Yemen when it pushed through a huge 2019 sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia and the UAE.... Read more...

Business

- Pakistan, Afghanistan for trade ties promotion under US initiative
  July 9, 2020ISLAMABAD, Thursday, July 09, 2020 (WNP/DL): The private sector representatives from Pakistan and Afghanistan met on Wednesday, July 8, to boost prosperity and create jobs in both countries. The participants in this United States (US) government-facilitated event addressed a range of trade issues between the two countries that have held back growth of the cross-border economy. The “Pakistan-Afghanistan Bilateral Trade – Private Sector Perspectives, Strategy and Recommendations” conference was a first-of-its-kind, cross-border dialogue. At an event organized by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) the participants met virtually because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Participants included the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Chaman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as well as a number of Afghanistan chambers of commerce and a variety of logistics service providers, transport operators, and traders from both countries. The participants highlighted a desire to forge closer cross-border private sector partnerships and government ties to promote trade between the two countries. Many of the participants expressed concerns over unscheduled closures of border crossing points, slow clearing processes, lack of facilities at the Torkham border, and increasing transport costs. They also supported the creation of a core team of representatives from all participants to plan subsequent coordination efforts with the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan. This inaugural virtual discussion sets the stage for a sustained and continued effort to improve trade relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. For more information on USAID programs in Pakistan, please visit the following web site: www.usaid.gov/pakistan/economic-growth-agriculture.... Read more...

Sports

- Three members of Pakistan tour party to England test positive for Covid-19
  June 22, 2020RAWALPINDI, Monday, June 22, 2020 (The Guardian/WNP/DL): Pakistan’s tour of England appears to be in the balance, with three of their players having tested positive for Covid-19 and a further batch of results set to be published in the next 24 hours. A 28-man squad to cover three Tests in August and the Twenty20 series that follows is due to depart from Lahore on Sunday and all players and members of the support staff were tested regionally over the weekend. The results from Rawalpindi, where five individuals were tested, came in early and showed Haider Ali, Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan have the virus but are asymptomatic. Imad Wasim and Usman Shinwari were shown to be clear. The trio have been told to self‑isolate at home and could join the tour at a later date – they are considered more likely to be in the team’s white-ball plans – while Imad and Shinwari will travel to Lahore in advance of the squad’s final departure. The Pakistan Cricket Board has confirmed these are the only batch of results currently known, with those from the players and coaches who used the testing centres in Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar not due to be published until Tuesday. Haris Sohail and Mohammad Amir have declined to tour. It leaves the England and Wales Cricket Board waiting on further positives results that could derail the tour, wipe out their second helping of men’s international cricket this summer and cost an estimated £80m in broadcast revenue. In the build-up to the first Test series against West Indies, Phil Simmons, the tourists’ head coach, revealed he was subject to racist abuse while playing league cricket in the North East 30 years ago and said his players will show solidarity with Black Lives Matters during the upcoming series. With the resumption of sport around the world there have been a number of gestures of support for the movement, with England and West Indies discussing how best to denote their own at the first Test in Southampton on 8 July. Simmons expects a plan to be agreed this week and when asked about encounters with racism in his own career – he won 169 international caps and enjoyed spells with Durham and Leicestershire – the former opener pointed to his time as a league player during the late 1980s and early 90s. “I encountered quite a bit up in the leagues. In county cricket I haven’t really encountered that much,” he said as his side prepared for the first inter-squad three-day warm-up match at Old Trafford that starts Tuesday. “It’s not a nice thing to face. Especially in the leagues where you’re by yourself sometimes. It affected my wife when I was up there. I played in three or four different leagues. It was one particular league up in the North East.” Simmons declined to elaborate on the details, which likely relate to his time in the North Yorkshire and South Durham league, and any gesture planned by the two squads next month will sit in conjunction with one to recognise those on the frontline during the Covid-19 pandemic. The ECB, still without a title sponsor for Test cricket after Specsavers opted not to renew its deal, has announced the three-match battle for the Wisden Trophy will be called the #RaiseTheBat series, with England sporting the names of cricket-related key workers on their training shirts. England’s players enter their biosecure bubble at the Ageas Bowl Tuesday and will be tested for Covid-19 before spending the first 24 hours predominantly in their rooms while waiting for the results. The 30-man training squad will then be split into two groups, with morning and afternoon sessions starting from Thursday. As regards the series, Simmons is tipping a battle of the all-rounders between Jason Holder and Ben Stokes. In a recent interview Holder, 28, expressed a degree of frustration that players from England, Australia and India have their on-field feats more widely lauded. It is perhaps summed up by the West Indies captain, whose double century in Barbados during the 2-1 series win against England last year propelled him to No 1 in the all-rounder stakes without the fanfare that Stokes, in second, often gets. “That rivalry is going to be huge for the series,” said Simmons. “Ben is the type of person who wants to be No 1 and he’s always going to be doing his best to get Jason’s position. Jason wants to keep it. They’re competitive in all aspects. “Jason’s bowling is a stronger point than his batting, and vice-versa with Stokesy. It’s a case of making sure we get Stokes early and nullify that threat later in the innings.”... Read more...

Domestic

- PML-N repeats history of attacking Supreme Court: Raja Basharat
  August 11, 2020LAHORE, Tuesday, August 11, 2020 (WNP/DL): Minutes after Maryam’s press conference ended, Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat and Information Minister Fayazul Hassan Chohan of the PTI did a presser of their own to respond to the allegations levelled by the PML-N leader. Basharat in his remarks said the type of “gunda gardi (thuggery)” seen outside the NAB office today was unprecedented in its 20-year history and even constitutional institutions and law-enforcement agencies were not safe from it. He said the PML-N had “repeated its history of attacking the Supreme Court” by carrying out the violence and made it clear “to what extent it can go to save corrupt people”. The media was a witness to all the events that unfolded outside NAB, the minister added. He claimed that Maryam was summoned by NAB in a personal capacity but she “showed up with a juloos (rally)”, which he said showed that the “PML-N doesn’t respect institutions and can go to any extent to pressurise them.” Basharat accused Maryam of having “misused” the concession of bail granted to her by courts which he said does not allow anyone to attack constitutional and legal institutions. “It is PML-N’s misunderstanding that they can pressure institutions by charging onto them like this,” he said. According to the minister, the government “took the necessary steps in order to establish its writ” following the violence. He said “strict action” will be taken and cases will be registered against the people who tried to take the law into their hands, who allegedly threw stones and injured police and who illegally gathered outside the NAB office. “The saddest part is that bags of stones were brought in Maryam’s security vehicles which were then given out to workers and used to attack police and the NAB office. Our investigation so far shows the cars which carried stones had fake number plates; some of these security vehicles were kept in front of Maryam’s car,” he alleged, saying the excise department was verifying their ownership and cases would also be registered for falsifying the number plates. Basharat said the violence “could have been avoided” if Maryam had gone to NAB alone or with a few workers. “I want to make it clear. You weren’t summoned to cause you harm but for your deeds. You were called to account for your past wrongdoings,” he added. He said NAB in a communique had nominated a few people allegedly involved in the violence, adding that those persons were unnamed but they were being identified through CCTV footage. He revealed that four injured security personnel were being treated at Jinnah Hospital while some were released after being administered first aid. He said cases would be lodged against the suspects responsible for causing injuries to police personnel and losses to state property and for interfering in the state’s functions. “Maryam said the stones were hurled from the front; they weren’t. You carried them with you to use against the administration, police, and NAB,” the minister said, adding that the government was moving forward on the issue based on footage captured by the media He added that the PTI government believed in the rule of law. “I assure you, no concession will be given. Cases against the people arrested and nominated will be taken to their logical conclusion,” he said. “The PML-N should face the facts and account for their theft. If they provoke , they will have to pay for it.”... Read more...

Culture

- Tariq Aziz, Pakistan’s first television host, passes away
  June 17, 2020LAHORE, Wednesday, June 17, 2020 (WNP/DL): Renowned radio and television anchor Tariq Aziz passed away in Lahore on Wednesday. He was 84. Aziz was born in Jalandhar on April 28, 1936. After partition, his family migrated to Pakistan and settled in Sahiwal, where he received his primary education. He started his career with Radio Pakistan in the 1960s and later went on to become Pakistan’s first television host. His programme Neelam Ghar — later named Tariq Aziz Show — started in 1974 on Pakistan Television and continued for four decades. He was also a poet and an actor and performed in several radio and television programmes as well as in films. His first film, Insaniyat, was released in 1967. Other notable titles he acted in include Salgirah, Qasam Us Waqt Ki, Katari and Har Gaya Insan. For his services to the entertainment industry, he was awarded the prestigious Pride of Performance Award by the government in 1992. Aziz dabbled in politics as well and was a member of the National Assembly from 1997-99. President Arif Alvi prayed for the anchor’s soul to rest in peace. “A chapter closes with the sad demise of Tariq Aziz,” he tweeted. A chapter closes with the sad demise of Tariq Aziz. May his soul rest in peace. I will fondly remember his opening greetings in Neelam Ghar. دیکھتی آنکھوں اور سنتے کانوں کو طارق عزیز کا سلام إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ — Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) June 17, 2020 Prime Minister Imran Khan said he was saddened to hear about Aziz’s death, who he said was an “icon in his time and a pioneer of our TV game shows”. Saddened to learn of the passing of Tariq Aziz, an icon in his time and a pioneer of our TV game shows. My condolences and prayers go to his family. — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) June 17, 2020... Read more...

No content has been found here, sorry 🙂

Bar & Bench

- SC for action against sugar mill owners
  July 14, 2020ISLAMABAD, Tuesday, July 14, 2020 (WNP): The Supreme Court on Tuesday, setting aside a stay order by the Sindh High Court, allowed the government to take action against sugar mill owners in light of recommendations of the sugar inquiry commission. A three-member bench, comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel and headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed, heard the case. In its short order, the top court told federal authorities to “operate in accordance with the law”. The court also cautioned the government against taking “unnecessary steps” against sugar mill owners. Additionally, government officials were restrained from commenting on the sugar commission report. The Supreme Court directed the high courts of Sindh and Islamabad — where cases pertaining to the matter were being heard — to issue a decision within three weeks. The IHC has issued a verbal order in the case but a detailed order is yet to be issued. During the proceedings, the attorney general argued that SHC’s order was “against the law”. He told the apex court that the government was also constituting a commission on the fuel shortage face by the nation recently but wanted the “stay order problem to be resolved first”. A detailed judgement is expected to be released later.... Read more...

Editorial & Opinion

- Stopping over signal violation, a female motorist lost her temper, abused traffic wardens
  November 27, 2019By Rehan Khan KARACHI, Nov 27 (WNP): An influential female motorist Tuesday lost her temper and started abusing traffic wardens on duty for stopping over signal violation from Khayabane Shujat to Khayabane Shahbaz. Apparently, she was looking from a well off and an educated family but her foul language and arrogant attitude with the traffic wardens were telling a different story about her social caliber. She, in fact, seemed to be an educated illiterate. Thanks to Allah Almighty, the traffic wardens took a timely initiative of making video clip of the whole incident and later on, uploaded on the social media. If they did not do so, they had to pay a huge debt in the shape of their jobs termination. Now, the top brass of traffic police if approached by some influential people from provincial power corridors would think at least hundred times before taking any action against these two dutiful wardens who performed their professional obligation diligently. On inquiring, she informed, she had no driving licence and declined to show even her computerized national identity card. She consistently misbehaved with traffic wardens which is clearly visible in the viral video clip. “Let me talk to your father,” she threatened them and made a phone call and asked to send someone to deal with these “old hacks” as it was below her standard to speak with them. Later on, she closed the window of her side and started the car and ran away. On the contrary, the traffic warden could not do any thing and he remained stand by on the road helplessly. He could not even resist as they commonly do with male road users on any traffic violation. He just screamed “you cannot move from here without challan” but no use. According to media reports on Wednesday, a first information report (FIR) has been launched against the ill-tempered signal violator and she would be arrested soon. But it is a universal truth that she won’t be taken to task because of her high social and political stature in the society and the case would be closed as usual happened in the past. Is there anyone who could imagine the embarrassment they would feel before their children when they would come know about this insulting incident about their parents. Physiologically, it would give a negative impression to their children and cause embarrassment for both sides. It is beyond comprehension that what lacked in the nurturing and grooming of the so called literate class’s siblings whose elders are a symbol of inspiration for others but their family members like this idiot becomes a source of disappointment and disrespect. Online verification of the registered vehicle discloses that the car carrying number plate “BGT-419” belongs to Pir Roshan Din Shah Rashdi. Let’s see what twist comes in the story as this humiliating incident is widely condemned and criticized on social media by the sanity.... Read more...

Crime

- Japanese ambassador strongly condemns PSX attack
  June 29, 2020By Shabbir Hussain ISLAMABAD, Monday, June 29, 2020 (WNP/DL): Ambassador of Japan MATSUDA Kuninori Monday strongly condemned the terrorists’ attack on Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) compound in Karachi. He while grieving over the loss of innocent human lives in the tragic incident also expressed his profound condolences and sympathies with the families of the victims and prayed for the early recovery of those sustained injuries. “My thoughts and prayers for the families of the victims of this gruesome incident. Terrorism is condemnable in all its forms and manifestations”, the he added. He termed the attack on PSX, the center of economic activity in Pakistan, a very unfortunate incident. The ambassador further said the government of Japan was committed to continuing its support to the Government of Pakistan and its security forces to combat terrorism.... Read more...

Photo News