Shahid Afridi reacts to Virat Kohli comments expressing willingness to visit Pakistan
Pakistan’s veteran all-rounder and former skipper Shahid Afridi has finally reacted to Indian star batter Virat Kohli’s remarks on playing in Pakistan. I welcome Kohli, whether he comes to the Pakistan Super League (PSL) or with the Indian team,” Afridi said while speaking during a tape ball event in Karachi on Saturday. Afridi’s comments refer to Kohli’s remarks, while speaking to Pakistani mountaineer Shehroze Kashif, wherein he said that he hopes to visit Pakistan “soon”. Hopefully, we [will] visit Pakistan soon [as] everyone has started visiting now,” Kohli can be heard saying in the video. “We should’ve taken this as a positive message rather than creating a controversy around such a great player,” he said while referring to the coverage being given to the Indian batter in the Indian news media.
Source:Pakistan Today
May 19, 2024 22:13 UTC
Pakistan, Australia agree to expand military-to-military cooperation
The chief of defence forces of Australia General Angus J. Campbell paid a visit to Army Chief Gen Asim Munir in Rawalpindi on Sunday. They engaged in discussions on matters of bilateral professional interest, with a particular focus on the global and regional security environment and cooperation between the two armed forces. Both parties expressed mutual desire to further expand military-to-military cooperation. The Australian chief of defence forces expressed his admiration for the high professional standards maintained by the Pakistan armed forces, their notable achievements in the fight against terrorism, and their continued efforts to promote regional peace and stability.
Source:The Nation
May 19, 2024 20:42 UTC
Kashmir crisis worsens
Is it possible to solve the Kashmir problem? Will Kashmir continue to burn, people will continue to die for years, and war will continue not only around Kashmir but also in the entire subcontinent? In this regard, the Kashmir problem is the oldest and most complex problem. The Kashmir movement is also a struggle for freedom, carried on by blood and life. Accepting people’s freedom and rights is the solution to the Kashmir problem.
Source:The Patriot
May 19, 2024 19:58 UTC
Interest rate
The real interest rates have been artificially kept low in Pakistan over the years despite mega-inflation. In real terms, it hovered around 40 per cent. Additionally, a higher interest rate is a tool to encourage and increase savings, sustain the worth of national currency, control inflation and stabilise the economy by giving fair treatment to all segments of society. Hence, there is a need to keep the interest rate unchanged. S. ISRAR ALIKARACHI
Source:Pakistan Today
May 19, 2024 18:52 UTC
IRCRA launches ‘Azadi Fellowship Program’ to promote religious freedom, democracy across nation
By Rehan KhanISLAMABAD, May 19 (APP): The International Research Council for Religious Affairs (IRCRA) has announced the launch of the Azadi Fellowship Program, hosted at the Islamic Research Institute (IRI) of the International Islamic University in Islamabad (IIUI). The highly anticipated program commenced on May 17 and will run until May 25, 2024, spanning a total of nine days. Speaking to the media, IRCRA President Muhammad Israr Madani explained that the Azadi Fellowship Program is designed to engage over 20 community youth and faith leaders, university and madrasa graduates, teachers, writers, and scholars from across the nation. This year, he said the fellowship will focus on enhancing participants’ understanding of religious freedom, democracy, and civic engagement. “We are thrilled to inaugurate the Azadi Fellowship Program, as this initiative represents our commitment to promoting religious freedom and democratic values in Pakistan.
Source:The Nation
May 19, 2024 17:33 UTC
Rooftop net meter policy to end
Pakistan informed the IMF that it wanted to replace the net metering policy with gross metering for rooftop solar panels aimed at discouraging their use, said the sources. Currently, the bidirectional meter calculates rooftop generation and the import of electricity from the national grid during night time. The Ministry of Energy viewed that due to less reliance on grid electricity, rooftop solar consumers were now slipping into the protected consumers’ category, paying very little for electricity. The lender also urged a review of the current captive power generation policy, in which industrialists get cheaper gas to produce in-house electricity. There is a possibility that captive gas may be discontinued from July to shift these industries to highly expensive grid electricity.
Source:The Express Tribune
May 19, 2024 17:20 UTC
Colonial Grip
An attempt by France to enforce a new voting law in Caledonia is what has sparked the protests. The colonial mindset and ways are all alike across the world. Just because Baku has openly called out France’s colonisation of territories, the latter now links every freedom call to Baku. One where India, France, and the West (generally) support Armenia and even have military ties. We have to watch if the Kanaks can, after all these years, break away from the colonial shackles weaved around them.
Source:The Nation
May 19, 2024 14:35 UTC
I welcome Kohli, whether he comes to PSL or joins the Indian team: Shahid Afridi
Former Pakistan cricket team captain Shahid Afridi says that Virat Kohli has spoken well about coming to Pakistan, I expected the same from him. Shahid Afridi while speaking at a tap ball event in Karachi said that he welcomes Virat Kohli, whether he comes to PSL or joins the Indian team. Talking about the Pakistan team, Shahid Afridi said that Saeem Ayub is quite talented, hope the boy will perform, Pakistan needs a boy who can play 6 overs well in the beginning. It should be noted that the video of Pakistani mountaineer Shahruz Kashif’s conversation with Indian batsman Virat Kohli is going viral. In a conversation with Shahroz, Virat Kohli expressed his hope of coming to Pakistan and said that now the cricket teams are coming, we hope to come soon.
Source:The Patriot
May 19, 2024 13:51 UTC
Hot and dry weather to persist in country with Lahore becoming world's 2nd most polluted city
The country is in the grip of hot and dry weather with Lahore on Sunday becoming the second most polluted city in the world. Meanwhile, the weather in the provincial metropolis of Punjab will remain hot and dry on Sunday. Similarly, Quetta is also experiencing hot and dry weather. The Met Office forecast partly cloudy weather with chances of rain-windstorm and thunderstorm at isolated places in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir. During the last 24 hours, hot and dry weather prevailed in most parts of the country, while very hot in southern and central parts.
Source:The Nation
May 19, 2024 09:16 UTC
HCCI opposes tax exemptions for oil, ghee, steel industries in tribal areas
HYDERABAD - President of Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HCCI) Adeel Siddiqui has said the tax exemptions extended to Federal and Provincial Tribal Administered Areas are causing financial losses to the industries of steel, edible oil and ghee in the country’s 4 provinces. In a statement issued here on Saturday he pointed out that receivables in steel, edible oil and ghee industries amounted to hundreds of billions of rupees. He believed that the tax exemptions were being availed in an unjustified way and demanded an impartial audit of those exemptions. On behalf of the business community, he called for putting an end to the discrimination being made with the steel, edible oil and ghee industries of the 4 provinces. Due to the higher cost of production in the country’s urban areas’ industrial zones, the industrialists are also paying higher taxes, he said and warned that if the discrimination was continued, the local steel, edible oil and ghee industries would be destroyed.
Source:The Nation
May 19, 2024 06:59 UTC
Toronto-bound PIA flight diverted to Karachi due to ‘technical fault’
KARACHI - A Toronto-bound Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight was diverted to Karachi after a “technical fault” it encountered during the take-off, says in media reports. According to PIA spokesperson Abdullah Khan, PIA flight, PK-781, departed from the Pakistani capital of Islamabad late Friday,The technical fault with the aircraft was “minor,” but the captain preferred to return instead of continuing the long flight over the Atlantic Ocean. “The decision to bring the plane to Karachi was made due to better arrangements at the engineering base and availability of spare parts,” Khan said in a statement. The airlines made the arrangements for the return of the flight to Karachi as well as food, transportation and accommodation of passengers, according to the PIA spokesperson. After resolving technical fault, the flight left for Toronto at 1pm today (Saturday) from Karachi.
Source:The Nation
May 19, 2024 03:55 UTC
Writing letter to army chief for nation’s sake: Imran
PTI founding chairman and former premier Imran Khan on Friday said he would write a letter to Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir not for his personal gains but for the sake of the country. Read Bushra retracts ‘no-confidence’ on judge during £190 million case hearingThe PTI founding chairman claimed that the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa governor, who was a beneficiary of Form-47, was launching personal attacks at the province’s chief minister. On talks with the government, Imran said there was no point in negotiating with those who had no power. When asked about his wife Bushra Bibi's medical test, the PTI founding chairman said he did not trust the PIMS hospital's reports. “The medical staff refused, so she didn't give the samples.”Reiterating his plan to write to the army chief, Imran said inform him about what was happening in Azad Jammu Kashmir and they must think about the country’s direction.
Source:The Nation
May 18, 2024 23:54 UTC
Pakistan outclass Turkmenistan in CAVA Nation’s Volleyball League
In a significant achievement, Pakistan secured victory over Turkmenistan in the final of the Central Asian Volleyball Association (CAVA) Nation’s Volleyball League held at the Liaquat Gymnasium in Islamabad. Pakistan emerged triumphant with a 3-1 win, showcasing both offensive and defensive prowess. Despite Turkmenistan’s comeback in the third set, Pakistan ultimately clinched the match with a decisive win in the fourth set. Earlier, Kyrgyzstan secured third place by defeating Sri Lanka 3-1. Pakistan remained undefeated throughout the competition, showcasing dominance in each match, including wins against Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Turkmenistan.
Source:The Nation
May 18, 2024 21:44 UTC
Pakistan Defeat Turkmenistan to Win CAVA Nation’s Volleyball League Final
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan defeated Turkmenistan in the final of the Central Asian Volleyball Association (CAVA) Nation’s Volleyball League at the Liaquat Gymnasium in Islamabad, Pakistan on Friday. Pakistan claimed a 3-1 win with the set scores of 25-21, 25-19, 20-25, and 25-14. However, Pakistan regained control in the fourth set, decisively winning 25-14 to clinch the match. Furthermore, Kyrgyzstan had the fourth set by a margin of 25-23. Their second win in the tournament came against Sri Lanka as the team defeated their opponents 3-0 on May 12, Sunday.
Source:The Nation
May 18, 2024 20:23 UTC
Answer to power crisis
The energy crisis is certainly a serious issue challenging Pakistan. In order to deal with the power crisis, the government has decided to increase the electricity price. According to reports, on some days there are fewer megawatts of power shortage, which is then bleached out through load shedding. Some of the factories in different areas experience many hours of load shedding a day. Any decrease in the price of electricity production will reduce the cost of megawatt-based production as well.
Source:The Patriot
May 18, 2024 20:15 UTC