Airlines are looking for new revenue streams as they burn through cash while fleets are largely grounded and people stay at home due to the worst ever global crisis. A recovery is expected to take years and cost carriers billions of dollars more. Here’s a look at what airlines are peddling as they try to make up for the hit from Covid-19.
The walls of the Hub Dam are close to being breached as massive pressure is being exerted on them, warned the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA). The dam, which is filled to its maximum capacity due to recent torrential rains, has not been repaired for many years and meets 20% of Karachi’s and 100% of Hub’s water needs.
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday rejected the resignation of Special Assistant on Information Lt Gen (retd) Asim Saleem Bajwa. “The Prime Minister is satisfied with the evidence and explanation presented by Asim Saleem Bajwa,” read a statement issued by the PM’s office. The SAPM handed in his resignation to the prime minister today and requested him to relieve him of his duties as his aide.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader, Altaf Hussain has been fined by the British government for not paying nearly over £2 million to the national exchequer over a period of 20 years. Further investigations are underway for evading taxes over large earnings running into millions of Pounds. The tax investigation is based on income, payments, assets accumulation and National Insurance contributions which were never paid since 1995-2015.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that the remaining matches of the fifth edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL) would be played in November. The PSL matches were suspended on March 17 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The four matches will be played in Lahore on November 14, 15, 17 with only the Qualifier and Eliminator 1 to be a double-header.
Pakistan plans to import a specific variety of cannabis seeds to begin research on its industrial and medical use to tap into the $25 billion cannabidiol (CBD) market. The science and technology minister, Fawad Chaudhry said that hemp seeds are used for producing oil, leaves for developing medication, while stems are used for fibers which are gradually replacing cotton in the textile industry.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has ordered authorities to release from prison all female prisoners who suffer from physical or mental illness or who are age 55 or older. The premier has asked for the release of under trial and convicted women prisoners who fulfil the criteria of apex court’s order passed in April. Khan also announced that all juvenile prisoners around the country will be released.
The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) has been declared Asia’s best-performing market by New York-based global markets research firm, marketcurrentswealthnet.com. In its report published Tuesday, the firm also declared the PSX the world’s fourth best-performing market, a development local economists view as a signal that the country’s otherwise contracting economy is recovering.
French satirical weekly, Charlie Hebdo, has announced it will be republishing hugely controversial sketches of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The sketches will be published to mark this week’s start of the trial of alleged attackers who massacred twelve people at Charlie Hebdo’s offices in Paris in 2015, owing to the same controversy.
The federal cabinet has green-lighted the issuance of a first licence for medical and industrial use of hemp leaves, locally known as Bhang. Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry tweeted that the cabinet which met with Prime Minister Imran Khan in the chair in Islamabad approved first license for the ministry and Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR).