Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Defence Production Zubaida Jalal while speaking to a local news channel revealed that Pakistan has received three times more foreign exchange this financial year by exporting defence related products. “More than $200 million (Rs31 billion) has been earned by defence production’s export and this amount would increase in coming years”, she informed at the sidelines of the Dubai airshow.
After British royal couple, Queen Maxima of Netherlands will be visiting Pakistan next month. The Queen is expected to meet President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan, as well as State Bank Governor Reza Baqir, Adviser to PM on Finance Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and NADRA Chairman Usman Mubin. She will discuss progress of financial services to improve economic situation of Pakistan.
Pakistan on Monday conducted a successful training launch of a surface to surface ballistic missile Shaheen-I, a statement by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated. The launch was conducted as part of a training exercise “aimed at testing the operational readiness of Army Strategic Forces Command”. The Shaheen-I missile is capable of delivering all types of warheads up to a range of 650 kilometres.
Officials in Lahore have decided to use artificial rain to decrease the smog level in the provincial capital. Commissioner Lahore Division Asif Bilal Lodhi has said that the idea will be executed if smog levels go out of control. Lodhi says there will be no compromise on people’s health and urged the traffic police, transport, and agriculture departments, to take concrete measures.
Monal Restaurant is built on military land in the Margalla Hills which the army wants back, Capital Development Authority (CDA) Member Planning Dr Shahid Mahmood told a parliamentary committee. He told the National Assembly Standing Committee on Climate Change that 15 years ago the CDA “did not know it was building Monal Restaurant on military grasslands until the army started claiming it.”
All public and private schools will be closed again for two days after the air quality in Punjab and adjoining districts surpassed hazardous levels. A notification issued by the government stated, “In the wake of dense smog, public and private schools operating within the territorial limits of Lahore, Faisalabad and Gujranwala districts will remain closed on November 15 [today] and
In a bid to control passive smoking, district authorities have drafted a comprehensive plan to turn Lahore into a tobacco-smoke free city. The plan seeks to ban smoking in all public spaces, including parks, marriage halls and public transport. The sale of cigarettes within 50 metre radius of any educational institute will also be prohibited and an awareness campaign will be launched.
The Edhi Foundation was awarded the Isa Award for Service to Humanity in a ceremony in Bahrain’s capital Manama for its humanitarian services. The award is worth a US$1 million reward, along with a medal of pure gold and a high certificate of appreciation. The charity organisation was shortlisted along with several other qualifiers from other countries by an international jury.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Chief Executive Officer Air Marshal Arshad Mahmood Malik has said that monthly operational losses of the national flag carrier have been cut to half. The CEO said that the losses have been brought down to Rs1.5 billion as compared to more than Rs3 billion suffered earlier. However, a lot more still needs to be done to deal with PIA’s liabilities.
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Museum in Karachi has dedicated an entire section to Operation Swift Retort, which led to downing of India’s Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. Varthaman’s likeness and the remains of the aircraft he piloted form the main attractions of the exhibit. A mannequin painted to resemble the wing commander and dressed in his flight overalls has put on display.