Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) Chairperson Mustafa Kamal has been suspended within 24 hours as focal person for sanitation and cleanliness in Karachi. Mayor Karachi Wasim Akhtar had issued a notification on Monday designating Kamal as ‘Project Director Garbage’ on a voluntary basis. However, the mayor held a press conference on Tuesday afternoon to announce that he was suspending Kamal for “acting beyond jurisdiction and authority”.
COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa has been given an extension in term for three years. PM Imran Khan approved an extension in the term of the Army Chief. The decision has been taken in view of the the situation along the eastern border particularly Afghanistan and Kashmir, while nuclear threats from India are another reason for the decision.
Another Pakistani soldier martyred as India continues unprovoked shelling across the Line of Control (LoC), increasing the toll to four in last 24 hours. “Another brave son of soil laid his life in the line of duty,” said Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor in a tweet Friday morning. Sepoy Muhammad Sheeraz embraced shahadat in Buttal Sector.
President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi conferred military honour upon two brave sons of the soil, Wing Commander Noman Ali and Squadron Leader Hasan Mehmood, for downing an Indian jet on February 27 in the aftermath of which an Indian pilot was arrested. Wing Commander Noman Ali was conferred Sitara-i-Jurat and Sq Leader Hasan Mehmood Siddiqui was awarded Tamgha-i-Jurat.
The United States has further cut Pakistan’s aid by $440 million, bringing down its commitments under Kerry Lugar Berman Act to just $4.1 billion, which is slightly over half of the total amount that Washington had promised to give nine years ago. The decision to cut Pakistan’s economic assistance, was revealed about three weeks before visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to US.
The Multan-Sukkur Motorway (M-5) which is part of the multi-billion dollar China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project has been completed and will open for public this month. The motorway – stretching over 392 kms will reduce the duration of journey between the two cities from 6 hours to 3-3.5 hours. The mega project is completed at a cost of around Rs294 billion within 3 years.
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will hold a session in New York on August 16 to deliberate over the prevailing situation in Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK) days after India scrapped Article 370, Radio Pakistan reported. The request to convene the meeting was made by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi. China also backed Pakistan’s request, asking for the UNSC to meet behind closed doors.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has shown satisfaction with the current safety plan in place for next month’s Davis Cup tie between Pakistan and India in Islamabad. ITF had another round of security assessment after India requested the Tennis chiefs to reconsider if proper security measures were in place. India’s request came in the aftermath of Pakistan’s decision to expels Indian diplomats.
Death toll from rain related incidents has reached six, as monsoon rain wrecks havoc Karachi, drowning sacrificial animals and people alike in misery. Roads across the city are flooded with rainwater, while electricity supply is suspended in certain areas. A rescue operation conducted by the Rangers is currently underway as the megalopolis experienced heavy monsoon showers for a second consecutive day.
13 members of the Indian diplomatic staff in Pakistan, have reportedly left the country with their families via Wagah border. The staff members left after Pakistan decided to severe diplomatic ties with India in response to New Delhi’s illegal annexation of disputed Jammu and Kashmir region. Pakistan expelled Indian diplomats and also decided to suspend bilateral trade with India.