LAHORE – Chief Minister Punjab Hamza Shahbaz Sharif inaugurated the Commissioner Lahore Under-13 Hockey League 2022 by hitting the ball with a hockey and also displayed the glittering trophy during the opening ceremony held here at the National Hockey Stadium on Thursday. The CM Punjab revealed that the talent hunt scheme of U-13 Hockey League has been made part of the annual calendar of Sports Board Punjab and the continuation of hockey league being organized every year would be extended across the Punjab province. Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Asadullah Faiz said that holding of U-13 Hockey League is an effort through which Pakistan can reclaim its lost glory. “Over 1100 U-13 players took part in the trials from across Lahore Division.” He urged the former and current hockey players to help locate future stars from among participants of U-13 Hockey League. The anthem of U-13 Hockey League was also launched on this occasion.

Currently, NFT news indicates an increasing demand for an NFT regulatory framework to give consumer protection, legally and online. This bill opens a global demand and need for a progressive regulatory framework around the world. In other words, there’s no written contract for consumer or creator protection, which leads to the demand for a proper regulatory framework. How can the NFT regulatory framework benefit the community? To keep up with the rising market, the demand for a legal and proper NFT regulatory framework needs to be met.

Havaldar Lalak Jan, Nishan-i-Haider, is one of the many soldiers who rendered the ultimate sacrifice during the war fought at the country’s doorstep with never-seen-before esprit de corps. 23rd anniversary of Havaldar Lalak Jan, Nishan-i-HaiderBehind the blaze of Jan’s martyrdom glory, however, is inconceivable selflessness so high that the question of survival yielded to the urgency to fight to the death. Answering the call of duty and final momentsIn May 1999, while the enemy was preparing for a major offensive, Havaldar Lalak Jan was serving in Company Headquarters. Havaldar Lalak Jan.On July 7, the enemy fired artillery at Lalak Jan's post. Bullets rained throughout the day and at night the enemy again attacked Lalak Jan's post from three sides, leaving Jan severely injured.

Nowhere has the state oppression against religious minorities seen greater belligerence than in the Muslim-majority Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK). Fearing strong public resistance against such draconian measures, the state authorities have imposed a military siege to clamp down on dissent. Since August 2019, Indian state forces have carried out extrajudicial executions with brazen impunity, targeting civilians, journalists, academics and students. The consistent use of pellet guns by Indian security forces to disperse crowds raised serious alarm among rights activists and humanitarian agencies. Kashmiri women are vulnerable to gender-based violence and rapidly increasing instances of rape by security forces.

ISLAMABAD – The meeting of National Coordination Committee on Foreign Funded Projects (NCC-FFP) was held at the Ministry of Economic Affairs Monday to review foreign funded World Bank project – “Hydro-Met and Climate Services Project worth $188 million”. Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) for Economic Affairs emphasized the need of quick delivery and resolution of issues that are becoming obstacle to completion of the project. For which, he directed tasks to expedite the process of approvals, signings, implementation and monitoring to the involved stakeholders of the project. During the session, the decisions were recorded and deadline was given to the executing agencies to be followed rigorously. The follow-up meeting is decided to be held on 15th of August to discuss further progress and monitor compliance of the decisions.

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has said that they are saddened by the rise in prices of petroleum products but are helpless. Talking to the media in Faisalabad, Sanaullah said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf came to power and only took revenge, “they trapped political opponents in false cases and took revenge from the people by raising prices”. Sanaullah said that due to bad governance during the last three years, inflation increased, adding that it would now be eliminated. The minister said that the Imran Khan was trying to make that person the chief minister, whom he used to call the biggest dacoit of Punjab. Last night, he said, Imran Khan was saying that if he was not brought back to power, “he (Imran) will start crying”.

Lashing out at former prime minister Imran Khan for "ignoring Punjab" — Pakistan's most populous province with 120 million people — PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz on Monday said that the ex-PM staged "the biggest drama in the history of Pakistan under the name of foreign conspiracy". This is the biggest drama in Pakistan's history," she said while addressing an election rally in PP-170 Lahore. Maryam said that Imran Khan had been maligning US diplomat Donald Lu in his speeches. "Now a video has surfaced in which Bushra Bibi [Imran Khan's wife] can be heard instructing to make traitor trends," she added. The people of Punjab know that Imran Khan is the enemy of the progress of Punjab.

The story is a classic parallel of Pakistan’s economic woes since 2008. Skipping details of the causes of infamously recurring balance of payments crisis, the subsequent economic (mis)managers have overlooked the perennial “cancerous” issues plaguing the economy. Real statesmen – even when not in power – wouldn’t detach themselves from the economic reality. At each economic dip – 2008, 2013, 2018 and 2022 – our situation has worsened. The writer is an investment specialist with keen interest in political economyPublished in The Express Tribune, July 4th, 2022.

The Government of Punjab has revealed its plans to issue a red warrant for the repatriation of Farah, a close friend of former first lady Bushra Bibi, on corruption charges. Addressing a news conference with Punjab Law Minister Malik Ahmad Khan in Islamabad, Federal Law Minister Attaullah Tarar alleged that former premier Imran Khan, Bushra, and Farah “looted” Pakistan. He claimed that Farah got an industrial plot spanning 10 acres valued at Rs600 million registered to her name by paying Rs83 million. “Imran Khan, can this corruption be against your will?” he questioned. A red warrant allows the government to request International Criminal Police Organisation’s (Interpol) help in arresting and repatriating individuals living in another country.

If Pakistan prefers military operation over dialogue, the TTP fighters will infiltrate Afghanistan into their covers and carry out unrestrained cross-border attacks against the country. Second, TTP enjoys massive support from the Afghan Taliban owing to close ideological affiliations. So, Pakistan should never expect the Afghan Taliban to support it against the TTP in the event of a military operation against the terrorist organisation. The country can not afford a massive military operation that incurs an enormous cost to the national exchequer. In sum, the ground realities point to the fact that another military operation against the TTP is expected to do more harm than bear any fruitful result.

It is being reported that both the parliamentary committee and the military leadership are on the same page with regards to holding talks with the outlawed TTP. Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah addressed a press conference over the weekend and stated that the military leadership will be keeping the committee abreast of any developments or progress in the talks, and that the contours of the negotiations would then be debated in parliament. Therefore, cultivating consensus is the way to go. Mr. Sanaullah has further stated that the talks would be held only under the Constitution of Pakistan, adding that neither anything over and above the Constitution would be negotiated nor would any such agreement be reached. This is the most critical aspect around which the talks should be centered.

India facing ‘possible collapse as a nation’, says Nobel laureate Amartya SenIndia's leading economist and Nobel laureate Amartya Sen says India is facing a possible collapse as a nation. Addressing an inaugural ceremony of a research center in Kolkata, he said India can not be the property of Hindus alone but belong to all communities. The fascist BJP government has been under severe criticism from human rights experts at national and international level for its Hindutva and anti-minorities policies, especially targetting the Indian Muslims.

Why is speaking Punjabi at educational campuses deemed uncivilized? I involved her and other siblings in polemics that if we can use English words while speaking Urdu, why we can’t use Punjabi ones in Urdu. Being myself a teacher of English, once at an English medium school, the only complaint against me was I used Punjabi words, though quite sparingly. When Shakespeare and Francis Bacon can use Latin and French in their literary pieces, why can’t we use Punjabi words in Urdu or English? Why is speaking Punjabi at campuses wherein a dominant majority is Punjabi speaking, deemed a violation of discipline and so-called civilization?

It has been officially announced that talks with TTP are in progress and the Afghan Government is acting as a facilitator. This has even been the case with regards to insurgent groups, as was witnessed between the UK and the IRA, the US and Afghan Taliban, among several others. However, there will be many opposed to the idea of peace with TTP for a number of reasons. For that purpose, they may offer allegiance to splinter groups of TTP and also carryout operations under the guise of the Taliban to antagonise the Pakistani establishment, which may misconstrue such attempts violative of peace agreement by TTP. When it comes to the parliament, majority of the members should be supportive of peace talks, but achieving a total consensus would be an unrealistic endeavour.

PCB has added one new franchise to the Kashmir Premier League (KPL), the season 2 of KPL would have seven instead of six teams. According to details, PCB has issued to no objection certificate (NOC) for the inclusion of one new franchise to the KPL. The new franchise added to the league would be Jammu Jaanbaaz. The draft for season 2 of the league would be held after Eid-ul-Azha. Only six teams had participated in the inaugural season of the Kashmir Premier League including Rawlakot Hawks, Muzaffarabad Tigers, Mirpur Royals, Kotli Lions, Bagh Stallions and Overseas warriors.