Meanwhile, the maize crop is to be grown over 1.512 million acres to produce 9.254 million tonnes for the commodity during the period under review, whereas sugarcane 1.241million acres for producing about 7.667 million tonnes of the crop. According to the Annual Plan 2024-25, the cotton second major crop the country to be grown over 3.118 million acres, whereas the output of cotton output was set at 10.873 million bales during the crop season 2024-25. For minor crops, the area and production for gram for 2024-25 have been projected at 865.0 thousand hectares and 410.0 thousand tonnes, potato at 335.0 thousand hectares to produce 8,100.0 thousand tonnes and onion crop would be cultivated over 123.0 thousand hectares for producing 1,920.0 thousand tonnes of onions. The other minor crops including lentil cultivation was projected at 6.64 thousand hectares to achieve 4.56 thousand tonnes, for mung bean 214.8 thousand hectares and 178.8 thousand tonnes and for mash 11.05 thousand hectares and 8.60 thousand tones, respectively. The plan for 2024-25 will focus on improving crop productivity per unit area, addressing the country’s low productivity compared to the region.

Tensions escalated at Sahiwal Teaching Hospital as confrontations broke out between doctors and police. Authorities detained Principal Medical College Imran Hasan, MS Teaching Hospital Akhtar Mehboob, Dr. Umar, and Dr. Usman, encountering resistance from the medical staff. The fire at Shiwal teaching hospitalOn June 9 a devastating fire broke out in the pediatric medicine ward of Sahiwal Teaching Hospital (STH) on Saturday morning due to a short circuit in the air conditioning system. 11 infants who were in critical condition due to the blaze, died over a period of a week while 74 were rescued by parents, hospital staff, security personnel, and Rescue 1122 teams. The building’s condition was being assessed, and an estimated millions of rupees worth of pediatric medical equipment were destroyed in the fire.

Since Modi, the leader of the extremist ruling party BJP, became Indian prime minister, he started implementing the ideology of Hindutva (Hindu Nationalism). Modi’s BJP party launched its large-scale, state-funded election campaign long before the date for the elections of the Lok Sabha held between April 19 and June 1, this year. World media entities, like Al Jazeera pointed out: “Most of the Indian media is openly promoting BJP and Narendra Modi. This can be judged from the verdict of the Indian Supreme Court which upheld the Modi-led government’s decision on Kashmir’s special status. So, Mondi’s election victory undermined Indian democracy and secular status.

ATTOCK - Punjab Food Authority Attock has discarded sub standard and unhygienic spices. As per the press release issued by PFA Attock, a raid was carried out on a herbal shop in Civil Bazar Attock where 53 kg substandard spices of different kinds not fit for human consumption were discarded. A fine worth Rs 25000 was also imposed on the owner of the shop.

ISLAMABAD - The hot weather condi­tions will continue to pre­vail across the country with chances of rain at isolated places in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and north­ern areas during the next 24 hours as per Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecast. The PMD has said that mainly hot and dry weather is expected in most parts of the coun­try, while very hot in cen­tral/southern parts. Partly cloudy weather with wind­storm/thunderstorm-rain is expected at isolated plac­es in Gilgit-Baltistan, Kash­mir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad and upper Pun­jab during evening/night. A shal­low westerly wave was af­fecting upper parts of the country. During the last 24 hours, hot and dry weather prevailed over most parts of the country, while very hot in southern/central parts.

Punjab's cabinet has approved the province's largest tax-free surplus budget in history, subsequently presented to the Punjab Assembly on Thursday. According to Express News, Punjab's budget was presented in the assembly by Finance Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman. For the first time, Punjab has closed Rs530 billion worth of dead schemes from the development budget and included new schemes. The budget includes Rs842 billion for development expenses and a surplus budget of Rs630 billion. The cabinet approved a record Rs842 billion development budget.

It reflects the wisdom, sagacity, and political maturity of the Indian electorate and the inherent strength of Indian democracy. The Indian electorate has decisively opted for the united, secular India as visualized by its founding fathers! Such an inward-looking policy will confine his political vision, influence, and reach to Hindu India only. Furthermore, PM Modi could continue his contentious policy to create the Hindu Rashtra that Hindutva ordains and he yearns for. Hindu Rashtra seeks Hindu supremacy, the imposition of Hindutva to the exclusion and/or total subjugation of all other religions, communities, and peoples.

ISLAMABAD, Jun 13 (APP):Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said on Thursday that all the allies, including the Pakistan People Party (PPP), were on board and ready to solve the country’s problems. Talking to private news channel, he said that having point of view and dissent is beauty of democracy, both within the party and allies had difference of opinions and disagreements but these issues must resolve through consultation and dialogue. To a question upon the development funds of MNA and MPA, Rana Sanaullah said that the funds will be distributed equally without any discrimination.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi urged the nation to support the cricket team during the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. Mohsin Naqvi reiterated that the team currently needs support, insisting that “we have to move ahead” in the tournament with the existing team. He maintained that the team’s poor performance indicated that it required a “major surgery”. “It seemed that a minor surgery would work but after this bad performance, I’m now sure that a major surgery is required. He further said that he “knows what is going on in the team and what are the reasons for losing”.

Now critics are expressing their bewilderment following multiple media reports that labeled Milliken as “Miss Alabama”. A previous Miss Alabama winner, Amie Beth Shaver, stated she has no familiarity with the Miss National American Alabama competition whatsoever. Shaver emphasized that there is only one recognized Miss Alabama title, which leads to the Miss America competition. In addition, there is Miss Alabama USA, which sends contestants to the Miss USA pageant. Sara Milliken is bullied for her appearanceMilliken was thrilled when she won the top prize in the National American Miss pageant.

New Delhi: Former IAS officer P K Mishra has been re-appointed as the Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a Personnel Ministry order said.His appointment will come into effect from June 10, 2024, it said. "The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Dr P.K. Mishra, IAS (Retired) as Principal Secretary to Prime Minister with effect from 10.06.2024. His appointment will be co-terminus with the term of the Prime Minister or until further orders whichever is earlier," the order said.

PHOTO: AFPAircraft from Greece and Jordan were helping Cypriot authorities battle a large wildfire in the southwestern Paphos region believed to have been started by an illegal landfill, officials said Wednesday. Around 48 people evacuated from the fire zone were taken to hotels, said local daily Kathimerini Cyprus. The community leader in the village of Lemona, Kyriakos Charalambous, told the Cyprus News Agency it took “too long” for aerial firefighting units to arrive. Wildfires often erupt in Cyprus during the sweltering summer months on the island which suffers from a severe lack of rainfall. The Department of Meteorology issued a yellow alert for Wednesday for extreme heat, with maximum temperatures expected to reach 41 degrees Celsius.

According to UNDP predictions in a report released earlier this year, Pakistan’s population might exceed 403 million by 2050 if the current growth rate is not addressed. I shudder to think what my country would look like with an unbelievable headcount of 400 million plus! Therefore, we should use our institutions and all media forums (print, electronic, and social) to educate and urge the nation about the importance of stabilizing the population at 245 million people for the next fifteen to twenty years. This would help us address many of our festering economic, social, political, and climate-related issues. Indeed, I believe that external help may be sought and utilized, including adopting the latest reproductive control techniques, to enable us to stabilize our population at the present level of 245 million.

Iran: Afghanistan Issues Should Be Priority for Neighbors’ Foreign Policyhttps://tolonews.com/afghanistan-1891903. Taliban: Pakistan, Iran expelled over 400,000 Afghan refugees so far in 2024https://www.voanews.com/a/taliban-pakistan-iran-expelled-over-400-000-afghan-refugees4. Taliban Declines to Attend Regional Meeting on Afghanistan in Tehranhttps://english.aawsat.com/world/5029401-taliban-declines-attend-regional-meeting7. Those responsible for massacre in Gaza will be held accountable: Turkish foreign ministerhttps://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240608-those-responsible-for-massacre-in-gaza13. Turkish foreign minister holds meeting with Hamas leader in Qatarhttps://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240609-turkish-foreign-minister-holds17.

PTC News Desk: The government announced on Thursday that Ajit Doval has been reappointed as India's national security advisor. PK Mishra was also reappointed by the cabinet's appointments committee to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's position as Principal Secretary. Doval will be in charge of intelligence, military concerns, and national security, while Dr. Mishra will handle PMO appointments and administrative tasks. The two maintain a relatively low profile despite their expertise, with NSA Doval staying out of the media and interviews. PM Modi's primary contact in the neighborhood and with P-5 is NSA Doval, who also manages India's RA&W external intelligence for the PM.