Traders urge govt to extend working hours of bakeries, confectioneries, grocery stores
LAHORE: Several businessmen have urged the government to increase working timings of grocery stores, bakeries and confectioneries. Various officials of the Lahore Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) believe that grocery stores, bakeries and confectioneries should be allowed to operate till 10 pm as these are important businesses and directly connected to the public. “The situation caused by the coronavirus lockdowns and limited working hours is causing trouble in the business sector. On the other hand, in a survey conducted by Pakistan Today, many people expressed that only limited working hours can reduce the spread of the pandemic. Other than opening bakeries and grocery stores, there are many other important needs of the people.
Source:Pakistan Today
April 29, 2021 18:11 UTC
Instead of opening a can of worms
On Wednesday the Supreme Judicial Council announced its decision not to proceed further against Mr Justice Isa. He was then taken to PM’s Adviser Shahzad Akbar’s office where Mr Memon was told to proceed against Mr Justice Isa in a money laundering case. Mr Memon claims he refused to comply with the directives as he considered them illegal. The former maintains that Mr Memon was never called for any meeting with the PM or himself on Mr Justice Faez Isa’s issue. Senator Naseem too has categorically rejected Mr Memon’s claims, maintaining that he never discussed any issue regarding Mr Justice Isa with Mr Memon.
Source:Pakistan Today
April 29, 2021 17:48 UTC
PM talks to Bill Gates
Prime Minister Imran Khan and Bill Gates, Co-Chair of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on Wednesday discussed matters including COVID-19 response, polio eradication and climate change and agreed to continue working together on the shared objectives. The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the work of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for fighting poverty, combating COVID-19 pandemic and inequalities around the world. Recalling his recent letter addressed to Bill Gates on climate change, the Prime Minister apprised him about Pakistan’s flagship initiatives including the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami. Bill Gates acknowledged Pakistan’s commitment to address climate change and agreed that the world must come together to face this global challenge. He also suggested Prime Minister Khan to leverage Pakistan’s unique voice to raise awareness for increasing global support for smallholder farmers.
Source:Pakistan Today
April 29, 2021 17:37 UTC
Pakistan to register Khewra salt at foreign markets
This will prevent Indian traders to market Pakistani rock salt as Himalayan Pink Salt. Rock salt of Khewra, which, after being traded to UAE, was being re-exported as Himalayan salt of Indian origin. In this regard, the PMDC has completed the formalities for registration rock salt with the Geographical Indications (GI) registry following which the country will file for registration at foreign markets. Karachi based salt trader, Ahmed Khan, said that there was a very high demand for rock salt world over, not only as table salt but also for industrial usage and as a healing agent by massage centres in Korea and Thailand. “Most of the salt business is the hands of small traders who need investment for packing and other value addition, but they cannot get bank loans etc.
Source:Pakistan Today
April 29, 2021 16:32 UTC
PPP leads the race in Karachi’s NA-249 by-polls
KARACHI: A close contest ensued between Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in NA-249 (Karachi West-II) on Thursday. Counting started after polling ended on Thursday at 276 polling stations comprising 796 polling booths which were established in the constituency, Radio Pakistan reported. According to unofficial results, PPP’s Abdul Qadir Mandokhel is leading the race with PML-N’s Miftah Ismail close behind, unofficial results from 63 of 276 polling stations show. Earlier, taking strict notice of PTI lawmakers’ presence in the NA-249 constituency during the by-poll, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) directed them to leave. He also urged caution in light of the current coronavirus situation and told voters to wear a face mask.
Source:Pakistan Today
April 29, 2021 15:57 UTC
Senior journalist Khurram Baig passes away
Senior journalist Mirza Khurram Baig, popularly known as KB, passed away on Thursday, family and friends have confirmed. Read more: Veteran journalist Zia Shahid passes away in LahoreKhurram Baig started his journalistic career in print with Pakistan Press International (PPI). Always trying to raise the standard,” said Kamal Siddiqi, who was his Editor at The Express Tribune in 2013. Also read: Veteran journalist Ahfazur Rahman passes awayKB had also worked as media consultant and content strategist, and had an interest in big data. He had a nearly four-year-long association as Business Editor at Qineqt, an international organisation that helps businesses determine strategy based on data.
Source:The Express Tribune
April 29, 2021 15:53 UTC
Govt announces six-day Eid holidays
The country's nerve centre for Covid-related decision-making, in a statement, also announced "stay home stay safe strategy" for mobility control from May 8 to 16 which included the Eid holidays. Travel nodes leading to the tourist destinations, particularly the scenic valleys of Murree, Swat, and northern Gilgit-Baltistan region, which attract hundreds of thousands of tourists from across the country during Eid holidays, will also remain closed during the said period, the ministry added. There will be a complete ban on inter-provincial and inter-city transport during the Eid holidays, except for the residents of Gilgit-Baltistan, who will be allowed to travel to their hometowns. The country on Thursday recorded another 5,480 new cases and 151 deaths, raising the total caseload and death toll to 815,711 and 17,680 respectively. The country of 210 million people has so far vaccinated around two million people.
Source:The Express Tribune
April 29, 2021 14:48 UTC
SL’s Karunaratne, Thirimanne make Bangladesh toil in second Test
PALLEKELE: Openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Lahiru Thirimanne posted hundreds and a double century stand as Sri Lanka reached 291-1 against Bangladesh on an ominous first day of the second Test on Thursday. Captain Karunaratne scored 118 for his 12th Test century, then Thirimanne hammered his third century and second this year. Karunaratne was watchful in the first hour, settling in before cutting loose once the ball got older. He became 19-year-old medium-pacer Shoriful Islam’s maiden Test wicket. In the last over before stumps, it looked as if Shoriful had a second as Thirimanne was given out leg before wicket.
Source:Pakistan Today
April 29, 2021 13:18 UTC
Inbound flights reduced as coronavirus cases surge
Later, the CAA notified the extension in travel restrictions on Category C countries amid the third wave of coronavirus pandemic on Thursday. The aviation authority extended the travel restrictions of 23 countries placed in Category C till May 4 in view of the decisions taken by the NCOC. The travellers from Category A will not have to present their Covid reports for boarding or landing in Pakistan. However, those coming from countries in the B travel category will have to make sure a negative Covid PCR report at a maximum of 90 hours prior to boarding. The new travel restrictions will remain in effect until May 4.
Source:Pakistan Today
April 29, 2021 12:35 UTC
Sindh starts vaccinating police against Covid-19
KARACHI: Sindh has started vaccinating the police force on a priority basis to protect them against coronavirus, a meeting of the provincial task force on pandemic was told on Thursday. Earlier this month, the Sindh police chief had approached the Home Department with the request that the personnel should be declared frontline workers to ensure their early vaccination. Since the outbreak in Pakistan in February last year, 24 personnel of Sindh Police died due to coronavirus. The body was informed that four centres had been established in Karachi for the vaccination of personnel. There are 1,872 hospital beds in the province having an oxygen facility, and 343 of them are filled.
Source:Pakistan Today
April 29, 2021 11:08 UTC
Punjab mulls general lockdown in high-risk cities before Eid
LAHORE: Punjab government is considering imposing a general lockdown in cities registering an alarming rise in Covid-19 cases before Eidul Fitr. A meeting of the Punjab cabinet headed by Chief Minister Usman Buzdar mulled over the serious Covid-19 situation and decided to further tighten restrictions in 12 cities, including Lahore. “The meeting mulled over an option to impose complete lockdown in cities witnessing higher COVID positivity,” reports citing sources said. Punjab remains the most affected province from Covid-19 as it reported a record of 103 deaths on Thursday, health department officials said. According to the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department, the new deaths took the total to 8,327.
Source:Pakistan Today
April 29, 2021 10:41 UTC
PIA suspends staffer for harassing trainee
KARACHI: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Thursday suspended an instructor at its training centre for harassing a trainee. The revelation of harassment came to light in a purportedly leaked audio clip, following which an investigation committee was formed to ascertain the facts. Following the committee’s report, Agha Waseem was served show-cause notice and suspended from his job with immediate effect. He has been asked to submit a response within seven days.
Source:Pakistan Today
April 29, 2021 09:56 UTC
Court summons Zardari in NAB case
ISLAMABAD: An accountability court in Islamabad on Thursday summoned former president and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari in a reference pertaining to a transaction of over Rs8.3 billion through fake bank accounts. Accountability judge Asghar Ali Shah directed him to appear before the court on May 20 along with another suspect Mushtaq Ahmed, a former staffer of the President House. The two have been nominated as accused in the reference filed before the court by the NAB. According to the reference, a transaction of Rs8.3 billion took place between Ahmed and a private housing society. The amount was used to purchase properties in a posh locality of Karachi with Zardari being the beneficiary of those assets.
Source:Pakistan Today
April 29, 2021 08:37 UTC
5,480 new Covid-19 cases, 151 deaths recorded
ISLAMABAD: The nation recorded 5,480 new coronavirus infections on Thursday, taking the national tally to 815,711. Most deaths occurred in Punjab followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Out of the total 17,680 deaths, 4,629 deaths occurred in Sindh, 8,327 in Punjab, 3,238 in KP, 677 in Islamabad. About 233 deaths were reported in Balochistan, 106 deaths in Gilgit Baltistan (GB) and 470 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). According to NCOC, the total active Covid-19 cases across the country were reported to be 89,838.
Source:Pakistan Today
April 29, 2021 08:26 UTC
PM orders misconduct investigation against staff of KSA embassy
Prime Minister Imran Khan addressing a ceremony in connection with the Roshan Digital Account, on April 29, 2021. SCREENGRABPrime Minister Imran Khan announced on Thursday that a high-powered investigation has been ordered into the misconduct of the embassy staff in Saudi Arabia with the Pakistani laborers and workers. Speaking at a ceremony to inaugurate Roshan Apni Car and Roshan Social Work services under the Roshan Digital Account, he said those found involved in extorting and mistreating Pakistani laborers will be given exemplary punishments. The premier expressed to overseas Pakistanis for sending in record remittances of $1 billion through the Roshan Digital Account, saying an enormous potential still needs to be tapped. "Pakistan's problem is that no one paid attention to increasing the exports, and that became the biggest obstacle in the country's progress."
Source:The Express Tribune
April 29, 2021 08:17 UTC