Qatar Airways has reportedly suspended its flight operations temporarily in Pakistan, leaving many travelers clueless. The flight operations were to resume on June 1, after the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had granted special permission to the Doha-based airline for landing in Pakistan. Reasons for suspension however, remain unknown. Travelers complain that the airline’s counters on airport are deserted and call center is non responsive.
A new high-security compound built in Gwadar, visible in recent satellite images has come to attention of international analysts. While, the compound has been identified as being used by the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC Ltd), it has anti-vehicle berms, security fences and a high wall. Sentry posts and elevated guard towers cover the perimeter between the fence and the inner wall.
Shehbaz Sharif, leader of the opposition in National Assembly, has been granted pre-arrest bail till June 17 by a Lahore High Court division bench. A day ago a team of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) raided Sharif’s Model Town residence to arrest him in cases related to money laundering and assets beyond known sources of income, after he refused to appear before NAB the third time.
Senior PTI leader Faisal Javed Khan has also become part of the Ertugrul debate and defended the airing of foreign content after criticism from Science Minister Fawad Chaudry. In response to Fawad’s tweet, Faisal said that Ertugrul will help our industry and will also give us chance to export our content abroad. He added that we also need to improve our content.
Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has stated that foreign dramas will have a ‘devastating’ long-run effect on Pakistani productions. The show that was allowed to be broadcast on the directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan, gained massive popularity in the country. The federal minister used a Tweet to exclaim his ‘surprise’ at the PTV for “taking pride on other countries productions”.
The Pink Bus Service started in 2018 to facilitate women in Mardan and Abbottabad in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has already been shut down. The Japanese government donated 14 pink buses for the cause and KP government had intentions to gradually expand this project to other cities. However, the service was not making profits and closed within an year.
Rapidly rising COVID-19 cases in Pakistan means the country is headed towards the third phase, known as the ‘Lag Phase,’ claimed Pakistan Infection Control Society president Prof Rafiq Khanani. Lag Phase is characterized by an exponential increase in number of cases. With the public exhibiting constant carelessness towards SOPs and a weak healthcare system, Pakistan would continue to witness severity in the pandemic until September.
Two officials of the Pakistani High Commission in Delhi were expelled by India, after being accused of espionage by Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Abid Hussain Abid, 42, an assistant in the Pakistani mission, and Mohammad Tahir Khan, 44, a clerk, were accused of obtaining documents about the Indian security establishment from a local person. Pakistan as was quick to reject the claims as “false and unsubstantiated”.
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has directed petrol pumps to maintain a minimum supply of 20 days. In order to ensure the quantities OGRA has asked Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan (HDIP) to physically inspect the availability of petrol and high speed diesel at depots, retail outlets (petrol pumps) and refineries of all oil companies.
There is no shortage of beds, ventilators and medical facilities for COVID-19 patients, said the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Health Dr Zafar Mirza. He said only 28% of available ventilators are being used for patients with COVID-19, according to Radio Pakistan. The minister added that around 723 patients were in critical condition while 201 of them were on ventilators.