Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Pakistan will be installing three new air quality monitoring systems in Islamabad. In order to increase the capital’s capacity to accurately measure the air quality, the monitors will be installed in areas with the highest industrial and vehicular emissions like Peshawar Mor, Rawat, and Taramri Chowk. EPA has prepared the project concept-I in this regard which will be sent to the Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC) for final approval.
Punjab Finance Department announced the fare for Pakistan’s first modern mass transit system Orange Line Train. The initial proposal from the finance department suggests that the provincial government wants to keep the fare between Rs. 40 to Rs. 50 for a single trip. The train project still requires several tests before the official launch, according to Punjab Transport Secretary, Asad Rehman Gilani.
Bannu SP, Nisar Ahmed Khan, has registered a case at the Margalla Police Station in Islamabad after he and his wife were robbed by thieves impersonating as CIA officials. The two were robbed at Margalla Road in Islamabad in November when fake officials stopped their car and asked them for the documents. The document inspection then turned into an armed robbery, as the robbers stole 8 tolas of gold.
Turkey’s own Game of Thrones, a fiction series called Dirilis: Ertugrul’ will soon be aired on Pakistan’s state television, PTV, in Urdu dubbing. Prime Minister Imran Khan had recommended all Pakistanis to watch the drama serial which is based on history of the Muslim Oghuz Turks. All five seasons of the show will be dubbed and aired next year.
As a result of an investigation, the National Crime Agency (NCA) of the United Kingdom has agreed to a settlement worth £190 million with the family of property tycoon Malik Riaz. The assets will now be returned to the state of Pakistan. The assets worth £190 million include a UK property valued at approximately £50 million and all funds in the frozen accounts.
Latest album by Coldplay, Everyday Life features the late and great qawwal Amjad Sabri. In an interview, frontman Chris Martin described ‘Church’,’ the second song on the album features two other singers. There’s this guy who was a Pakistani singer, called Amjad Sabri who was sadly murdered and then there’s their friend Norah, a guy from Jerusalem.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lahore issued orders to freeze immovable properties in Pakistan belonging to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz President Shehbaz Sharif and his sons – Hamza and Suleman. The reason behind was an investigation pertaining to accumulating assets beyond means of income and money laundering. The order cites an investigation against accused Shehbaz Sharif, his sons and others for offence(s) of corruption and corrupt practices.
The Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) government is going to make a second refund to the pilgrims who performed Hajj under the recent government scheme. As per details, the government has decided to distribute Rs. 800 million, saved from hajj expenses, among 53,000 Hajj pilgrims. The refund is being made from the savings on train fares and accommodation.
The government has decided to develop an indigenous LNG shipping facility, by building the operational capacity of Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) in the next few years. As the import of LNG has been on the rise since the past couple of years to meet the local demand,, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs asked PNSC to make a joint-venture setup in the coming months with the private shipping service.
The government is looking to import Euro IV emission standard fuel in a bid to curb air pollution caused by vehicular emission. According to Prime Minister Imran Khan, the country will shift to the Euro V emission standard by the end of 2020. A three year deadline will be given to the oil refineries to enhance the quality of fuel after which they will be closed down for not meeting the set directives.