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.
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has refused to travel abroad for his medical treatment under the conditions proposed by the government. The government wants submission of Rs7 billion as surety bonds — equivalent to the fines imposed on him by an accountability court in two corruption cases Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Avenfield properties — in which he was convicted.
Lahore’s air quality remained ‘hazardous’ with an air quality ranking of 447, according to Air Visual’s Air Quality Index (AQI) list. The Punjab capital is ranked second most polluted city in the world, according to Air Visual, which records air pollution levels across the globe in real time. According to Air Now, “the entire population is more likely to be affected” at hazardous level.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has taken notice of inaction of officers regarding citizens’ complaints lodged on the Pakistan Citizen Portal app. The PM office had observed that complaints were disposed of without proper inquiry, satisfactory reply, and documentary evidence. It also noted that the departments took “unnecessary time” in addressing complaints and the decision to resolve complaints was taken by “unconcerned officials”.
Former premier Nawaz Sharif’s departure from the country was postponed on Monday as the PML-N supremo’s name is yet to be removed from the Exit Control List (ECL) by the authorities. The former premier was set to depart for London via Doha today along with his brother Shehbaz Sharif and family physician Dr Adnan Khan. However, his ticket has now been cancelled.