A project that combines satellite images, mapping technologies and the local knowledge of villagers to help build climate-proof settlements in disaster-prone areas of Pakistan has won an international award. More than 1 million people have benefited from the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) Pakistan project, which was a gold prize winner at the World Habitat Awards.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has announced that around two million families would benefit from the government’s new Ehsaas Kafaalat Policy aimed at extending financial support to special persons. As the world observed the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the PM said on Twitter that under the new programme, the special persons would be eligible for a monthly stipend of Rs2000.
Two Pakistani companies have made it to the most coveted Forbes ‘Asia’s Best Under A Billion 2020’ list. Information technology company Systems Limited Pakistan (SLP) along with local textile giant Feroze1888 Mills Ltd have made it to this year’s list. The annual list recognises 200 top-performing small and mid-sized companies in the Asia-Pacific region with sales under $1 billion.
A Pakistan Army cadet has been conferred with the Best Foreign National Military Cadet award at the Royal Military College (RMC), Duntroon, Australia, DG ISPR announced in a Tweet. Muhammad Haris Mairaj of 141 Long Course has been declared the overall best foreign national military cadet at the passing out parade at the RMC Duntroon.
Sindh has become the first province in Pakistan, to enact a law to award employment rights to an estimated informal workforce of 3 million people. In 2018 Sindh passed the Home-Based Workers Act, making Pakistan the only country in south Asia where home workers were recognised as official labourers. It is believed that 12 million people across Pakistan are home-based workers, of which 80% are women.
United Arab Emirates-based Pakistani doctor, who contracted the coronavirus while treating blue collar workers at a small clinic in Abu Dhabi and died of COVID-19 on May 15, was recognized as a martyr and national hero by the Gulf state. Dr. Usman, who belonged to Rawalakot, Azad Kashmir, worked for a private health care group for 11 years but lost his job in 2019.
The positivity rate of coronavirus cases in Karachi has exceeded 20% and is the highest in the country, the National Command and Operation Center was told on Thursday. The city is followed by Hyderabad where the positivity rate stands at 18.43%. Khyber Pakhtukhwa’s Abbottabad reported the third-highest rate at 14.53%. Doctors have warned that the second wave of COVID-19 is more dangerous than the first.
An Australia-based Pakistani computer scientist, Shazia Sadiq, has been recognized for innovative STEM research by the prestigious Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE). ATSE has recognized Shazia for her work which focuses on developing solutions for Business Information Systems to more effectively process information, significantly improving business process management, governance, and risk and compliance data.
The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) plans to auction 254 of its huts at the Hawke’s Bay Beach to increase its revenue. Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Ali Shallwani cancelled the allotment of all the corporation’s huts at the beach. The land department was instructed to take control of the huts. Notices were issued to the allottees and the KMC says it will take action against defaulters.
Rumours are are circulating on social media that Khaani actor, Feroze Khan and wife Alizey have decided to part ways amicably and are no longer living together. There were also some reports that Alizey had deleted her Instagram handle after Feroze Khan unfollowed her and her family on social media handles. The rumours have disappointed fans of Feroze Khan and Alizey.