Pakistan would receive its first consignment of the Indian-manufactured Oxford AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine by mid-March. Pakistan would get 16 million free doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca’s vaccine, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, from the vaccine alliance GAVI. The remaining doses are expected to arrive by June. India is supplying the COVID-19 vaccines to 65 countries.
A 20-year-old TikTok star allegedly committed suicide in Peshawar’s Tehkal area after his marriage proposal was turned down. Shahzad Ahmad had 0.3 million followers on the popular video-sharing application. He had also made attempts to end his life in the recent past but was saved. Shahzad was found hanging from the ceiling fan in his room. Police have started investigation into the case.
A day after the National Command and Control Centre (NCOC) re-imposed restrictions to curb spread of Covid-19, Pakistan reported more than 2,000 virus cases for the first time since January. An NCOC press release stated that 42,164 tests were conducted on March 10, which translates into a positivity rate of 5.3 per cent, while the total number of active cases in the country is 17,627 as of March 11.
The United States has prevented Turkey from supplying 30 locally-made attack helicopters to Pakistan. Turkey’s presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin has stated that “the US has blocked Turkey’s helicopter sale to Pakistan, which will likely lead to Islamabad buying it from China.” The ATAK T-129 is a twin-engine, tandem seat, multi-role, all-weather attack helicopter based on the Agusta A129 Mangusta platform and is equipped with American engines.
PML-N politician Hina Pervaiz Butt told Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Hafeez to “shut up and focus on cricket” a few days ago after the all-rounder took to social media to praise PM Imran Khan. After Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Hafeez took to Twitter to appreciate the premier, Hina Butt was particularly very irked and told the cricketer to ‘shut up’.
The National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), will meet today, Tuesday, to revisit last month’s decision to lift several coronavirus restrictions as COVID-19 cases have surged. On Monday, the NCOC held a meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar and discussed rising positivity rates, corresponding actions, and the national vaccine strategy.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led federal government’s austerity drive has helped save the national exchequer millions of rupees. The expenditures of the Prime Minister’s House and Prime Minister’s Office have significantly been cut, according to an official data. “Rs218 million were allocated in the last fiscal year to meet the operating expenses, however, only Rs46 million were used.”
The struggle for equal rights for women globally has been going for decades. While significant progression has been made internationally, Pakistan still has a long way to go. As we take baby steps towards this international goal, Total Parco has made a major contribution by giving women of Pakistan equal opportunities by hiring them at their filling stations.
US President Joe Biden has nominated a Pakistani-American, Dilawar Syed, to serve as the deputy administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA). Confirming the news released by the White House, Dilawar said he was “deeply humbled & honored” on the nomination, which is yet to be confirmed by the US Senate. Dilawar currently serves as the president and chief executive officer of Lumiata.
Turkey is in talks to co-manufacture warplanes and missiles with Pakistan, a foreign media outlet claimed. Turkish defence and government officials have held periodic talks with Pakistani counterparts — the last high-level discussion was in January — about developing and manufacturing military hardware with Pakistan, according to people from both countries who are familiar with the negotiations.