Category: National

Eidul Azha holidays announced by Ministry of Interior

The government has announced a four-day holiday on accounts of Eidul Azha and Independence Day. According to the Interior Ministry notification issued on Wednesday, August 12 to 15 (Monday to Thursday) have been declared public holidays. Last month, Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry had announced this year’s dates for Eidul Azha and the beginning of the month of Muharram, based on scientific evidence.

Rs500 mn deposited into exchequer from Dar’s seized accounts

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has recovered Rs500 million from seized bank accounts of former finance minister Ishaq Dar. The amount recovered from the absconding minister has been deposited in the national exchequer. The anti-graft watchdog has also initiated a formal money laundering investigation against Dar. The amount of Rs. 500 million has been recovered from three different accounts of Mr Dar. 

K-P hospitals to set up separate wards for transgender community

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to set up separate wards for transgender persons in all public hospitals in a bid to avoid discrimination and ease medical facilitation for the marginalised community. The K-P CM called for immediate medical services to the transgender community in all government hospitals and other healthcare institutions in the province.

Over 500 Indian Sikh pilgrims arrive in Pakistan

A special delegation of over 500 Indian Sikh pilgrims have been allowed to visit Nankana Sahib for the celebrations of the 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion. The pilgrims crossed through Wagah border and will commence celebrations in connection with Baba Guru Nanak’s 500th birth anniversary from his birthplace in Nankana Sahib on Thursday,

Army plane on routine patrol crashes near Rawalpindi killing 17

17 people, including five crew members and 12 civilians, lost their lives after a Pakistan Army aviation aircraft on a routine training flight crashed near Mora Kalu Rawalpindi. According to an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release issued on Tuesday, 12 others were injured in the incident. According to witnesses, the crash happened around 2am and the plane was already on fire before crashing. 

Pakistan to soon invite Afghan Taliban formally

In order to come to a final conclusion to the Afghan war, Pakistan will soon extend a formal invitation to representatives of Afghan Taliban to visit Islamabad. The meeting will hope to convince the insurgents for a permanent ceasefire. The Taliban spokesperson has already indicated that the group’s representatives would be willing to travel to Islamabad if given a formal invitation.

High alert issued for Rawalpindi by intelligence services

Following an alert issued by intelligence services that militants could target security and other sensitive installations in the city, a high alert has been declared by the Punjab home department in the district with the police directed to be more vigilant of their surroundings. Militants may attack police stations within Rawalpindi and could also attack other sensitive installations.

PTI removes Iftikhar Loond as human rights focal person in Sindh

After reinvestigation, Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari announced the removal of Iftikhar Loond as focal person of human rights in Sindh. In a Tweet, Mazari said that ‘new evidence’ have been found and regretted the decision she had made earlier. Loond, who was appointed few weeks ago, has been accused of grievously assaulting one of his employees in Ghotki.

Maleeha Lodhi elected as vice president of UN’s economic arm

Pakistan’s ambassador to the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi was has been unanimously elected as one of the four vice presidents of the Economic and Social Council (Ecosoc), the economic arm of the UN. Ambassador Lodhi, who was elected by acclamation after her candidature was endorsed by the 54-member body, will assume the Asia Pacific seat in the Ecosoc bureau.

Dual national Pakistanis allowed to contest elections

In a federal cabinet meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan,  the government has decided to allow dual national Pak­is­tanis to contest elections. Keeping the PM’s vision to utilise talent and resources of overseas Pakistanis, five major regulatory bodies were brought under the cabinet to approve a proposal for removing the column of profession from the national passport.