President Dr Arif Alvi has said that continuous reigniting passion for the country, availability of quality human resources in all sectors, strengthening the institutions, overcoming biases and quality leadership capable of taking timely and effective decisions by upholding moral, ethical and human values were essential ingredients for making a strong nation. President Alvi was addressing the 35th Convocation and Graduation Ceremony of the Air War Course here at Air War College Institute on Wednesday. Air War College Institute President Air-Vice Marshal Hussain Ahmed Siddiqui, presented a course report and highlighted the features of the MS degree course of one and a half years duration. As many as 70 officers completed the war course. At least 18 officers from 10 friendly countries also completed their graduation course from the Air War College Institute.

The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on Monday claimed to have arrested 11 persons belonging to different banned outfits in 65 operations carried out throughout Punjab in the last few days besides recovering explosives and banned literature from them. Among others Muhammad Israr, Kashanul Haq and Muhammad Hashim are the detainees. Naming those arrested, the CTD said these were Muhammad Israr, Kashanul Haq, Muhammad Hashim and others.

This rep opens up the file on Georgia kicker commitment Peyton Woodring . “They were going to wait probably until after the camp season to officially offer me,” Woodring said. Woodring had to beat out the nation’s best to earn the only offer that Georgia has given to a kicker in the 2023 class. I had a really day and also at Alabama I had a really good day which was the reason I got that offer.”They had a gamut of kicks. It is easier whenever you get to college and you get a really really good holder and snapper that are really consistent.”When he’s eventually kicking in Athens, his leg power will stand out early and often.

Karachi – President Dr Arif Alvi on Wednesday said that requirements for acquisition of knowledge are changing rapidly in the present era, so acquisition of technology is the only way to gain modern education. The President was addressing the convocation and graduation ceremony of No 35 Air War Course at Air War College Institute, Karachi, as chief guest. He congratulated the participants on the successful completion of their course and achieving a great milestone in their career. He said that in modern warfare whether conventional or unconventional, no service could achieve success single-handedly and a joint strategic planning is required. The ceremony was also attended by various high ranking civil & military officers and diplomats from allied countries.

China is particularly concerned over the security of its nationals in Pakistan after the increased attacks against its interests and personnel. Read more: Chinese nationals to get security boostAccording to a statement from the Prime Minister Office, Shehbaz assured the Chinese delegation the Pakistan would continue to support Chinese investors with competitive incentives, access to high-quality infrastructure and unwavering security arrangements. At the start of his trip, the senior Chinese diplomat held talks with Foreign Minister Bilawal. A top Chinese diplomat expressed his gratitude to army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa for enhancing security for Chinese nationals in Pakistan. Pakistan is believed to have been not in favour of allowing private Chinese security companies to operate instead it has assured Beijing of foolproof security to the Chinese workers in Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday rejected India’s “mischievous” attempt to link the accused of the murder case in Udaipur with a Pakistani organisation. However, today Rajasthan’s Home Minister Rajendra Singh Yadav claimed that one of the accused in the case had visited Karachi in 2014. The Indian Express quoted Yadav as saying that Ghouse Mohammad, one of the accused, was in Karachi for 45 days in 2014. For the past 2-3 years, he had been making calls to 8-10 phone numbers from Pakistan,” Yadav was quoted by the Indian publication. According to Indian Express, Director General of Police ML Lather said that the accused had gone to visit the office of “Dawat-e-Islami”.

Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Miftah Ismail speaks during an interview with Reuters at his office, in Islamabad, Pakistan June 11, 2022. PHOTO: REUTERSFinance Minister Miftah Ismail has said he would be content with being replaced with senior PML-N leader Ishaq Dar and would happily vacate the post for the latter if the party leadership decided to do so. The former finance minister can head back to the country if he desired so, he added. He further said that Dar was also part of the government’s economic team and was involved in SBP interviews. Ishaq confirms his returnThe finance minister's statement followed Ishaq Dar confirming his return to the country next month to the BBC Urdu, saying he was currently preparing for his homecoming.

Mainly hot and humid weather expected in most parts of the countryMainly hot and humid weather is expected in most parts of the country during the next twelve hours. However, rain-thundershower is expected in Kashmir and Southern parts of Sindh. Temperature of some major cities recorded this morning: Islamabad twenty-seven degree centigrade, Lahore thirty-two, Karachi thirty, Peshawar twenty-nine, Quetta twenty-four, Gilgit seventeen, Murree twenty-one and Muzaffarabad twenty-four degree centigrade. According to met office forecast for Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, partly cloudy with chances of rain-wind and thundershower is expected in Srinagar, Anantnag and Baramula, hot and humid with chances of rain-wind and thundershower in Jammu, partly cloudy with chances of rain and thundershower in Leh, partly cloudy in Pulwama and Shopian. Temperature recorded this morning:Srinagar, Pulwama and Baramula twenty degree centigrade, Jammu thirty, Leh thirteen, Anantnag and Shopian twenty-one degree centigrade.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Wednesday appealed the nation to follow the anti-COVID SOPs as a surge was being recorded in the coronavirus cases in the country. The prime minister, in a tweet, said that the front line workers and doctors had rendered numerous sacrifices to keep the countrymen safe from the disease. It merits mention that Pakistan has reported one death in the last 24 hours by novel coronavirus as the number of confirmed positive cases has surged to 1,535,144. According to the latest figures by the National Institute of Health (NIH), at least 541 persons were tested positive for COVID-19 across the country in the past 24 hours. Pakistan has conducted 15,462 tests in the past 24 hours out of which 541 persons were tested positive for the disease.

It is easier to unite under a coalition when a common enemy and a common goal of power can be seen over the horizon. A different set of parties, with wildly different ideologies, have spent barely a few months in government when the cracks in their coalition have started to appear. The upcoming by-elections for several constituencies make the problem worse as the majority party in the coalition government must make the difficult decision of allocating tickets either to reward members of other parties for joining the coalition, dissident members of the PTI, or their own long-suffering loyalists. The majority party, the PML-N, will have to proceed with caution and display leadership in keeping the coalition together. The strength of the coalition will play a part in their performance in the July 17 by-elections.

There is no stronger indication of a country living under tyrannical rule than perhaps its government possessing extreme control over the inflow and outflow of information. Access to information, no matter where it comes from, is integral and such a restrictive policy goes against the values that platforms like twitter were created upon. Another idea that must be explored is the use of information as a way to control people. The global community must question why a country would restrict access to information, even if it may be false, unless there is some degree of truth to it. Hiding and banning information does not come out of a sense of protectiveness but, instead, of self-preservation.

Stunting refers to the stagnation of mental and physical growth due to malnutrition, and entails deficiency of nutrients that are necessary for full-scale growth. Unfortunately, the rate of stunting is quite high in Pakistan. Almost 60pc population of the country is young, scores of cases related to stunted growth and malnutrition are reported daily, particularly among children who are more prone to such afflictions. The condition poses serious health issues, such as functional disability, poor mental health, improper physical growth, fragile skin, and debility with weak immune system. Besides, awareness campaigns should be conducted regularly to educate people about the detrimental impact of malnutrition on children’s mental and physical health.

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has provisionally collected Rs6,000 billion against the budgeted target of Rs5,829 billion set for the whole fiscal year (2021-22). The gross revenue collection amounted to Rs6,305 billion for July-June (2021-22) and after payment of refunds of Rs305 billion, the net collection stood at Rs6,000 billion. Breakup of tax collection revealed that the net income tax collection stood at Rs2,191 billion during July-June (2021-22) against Rs1,671 billion during the same period of 2020-21, reflecting an increase of Rs520 billion. The FBR has provisionally collected Rs2,515 billion sales tax during 2021-22 against Rs1,963 billion in the corresponding period of 2020-21, showing an increase of Rs552 billion. The provisional collection of customs duty was Rs974 billion during 2021-22 against Rs734 billion in the corresponding period of 2020-21, showing an increase of Rs240 billion.

ISLAMABAD – Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Marriyum Aurangzeb has said the federal cabinet has approved new rules under visa regime review for Afghan citizens, under which Pakistan’s consulates all over the world will process the visas of Afghan citizens by considering their current nationality and passport instead of their country of origin. She said to promote trade with Afghanistan, a sub-category has been included in the work visa category under which drivers, transporters and helpers have been included in the online visa system. She said visa regime review also includes relaxation of visa provision for Afghan patients. The federal cabinet also approved the country’s first ever National Hazardous Waste Management Policy. Marriyum Aurangzeb said Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has directed to initiate the inquiry and a comprehensive report of the matter will be submitted in the next federal cabinet meeting.

The FO’s spokesperson, in a tweet on Monday, expressed concern over the “diminishing space for plurality of voices and access to information in India”. Diminishing space for plurality of voices & access to info in #India is extremely alarming. Read India blocks Pakistan’s BRICS invitationDeeply concerning that #India has blocked flow of information to Indian @Twitter by withholding access to following official accounts👇🏽📍@PakinIran📍@PakinTurkey📍@PakinEgypt📍@PakistanUN_NY. — Spokesperson 🇵🇰 MoFA (@ForeignOfficePk) June 27, 2022Islamabad said that the Twitter accounts of Pakistan’s missions in Iran, Turkey, Egypt, and the United Nations were amongst the many that have been blocked. Earlier, according to Indian media, India’s ministry of information and broadcasting had moved to block Pakistan-based social media and YouTube accounts claiming that they were responsible for spreading false information.