In honour of his father, Sajid Ali Sadpara has hoisted the Green Flag for the second time over K2 this morning. The bodies of Muhammad Ali Sadpara, John Snorri, and Juan Pablo Mohr were discovered on K2 on Monday. The rope-fixing team guided Sajid Sadpara, Ali Sadpara’s son, to the body of his father. Earlier, Sajid had gone on an expedition to retrieve the bodies of the three climbers.
Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed said Zahir Jaffer’s name has been placed on a provisional no-fly list known as the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL). In addition, Rasheed said Zahir’s name will be added to the Exit Control List (ECL). On Monday, the Islamabad court extended the physical remand of Zahir Jaffer by two days.
In a major achievement against the crippling virus, Lahore has become the first polio-free city in the country. The fifth environmental sample taken from the city for the poliovirus has tested negative. Earlier four environmental samples for the virus had tested negative. Lahore Deputy Commissioner paid rich tribute to the doctors, polio workers, and the parents for making the city polio-free.
On-campus classes for grades from nursery to eighth at all private and government schools in Covid-19 affected cities will remain suspended until April 28, Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood has announced. O-level exams will also be held as per the schedule, he announced while speaking to the media after chairing a meeting of health and education ministers at the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC).
In a major step, considered first of its kind in the region, UAE cabinet has adopted a new remote work visa to enable employees from all over the world to live and work in the UAE for one year and approved a multiple-entry tourist visa for all nationalities. The new resolutions aim to position the UAE as an ideal work and tourist destination.
The federal cabinet has decided to cap maximum retail price of the Russian and Chinese Covid vaccine injections, being imported by the private sector. The government has fixed the maximum sale price of Sputnik V Russian vaccine at Rs8,449 for two doses and China’s Convidecia at Rs4,225 per injection. In Pakistan, Covid-19 vaccination is so far being carried out through the Adult Vaccination Counters (AVCs).
Kuwait will lift a ban on work visas for Pakistan, announced Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed as the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister begins his two-day official trip to Islamabad. According to Ahmed, Kuwait would start issuing work visas to Pakistanis once the Covid-19 restrictions are lifted. Kuwait had banned work visas for Pakistan in 2011 and despite attempts by previous governments the restrictions could not be lifted.
US hunter, Joseph Bradford has paid $80,000 or Rs17.12 million for the trophy-hunting permit for a Markhor in Chitral. Bradford used the traditional method of archery. It was for the first time that the hunter used an arrow and a bow to hunt an animal. The horns of the hunted animal were measured at 40 inches. 80 percent of the
According to the United Nation’s Human Development Index (HDI) 2020 rankings, Pakistan ranked 154th among 189 countries. Previously, HDI rankings were measured by combining indicators of health, education, and standards of living. This year, the development index included ‘a nation’s carbon dioxide emissions’ and ‘material footprint that put enormous strain on the planet’. The United States stood 17th in the rankings.
President Dr Arif Alvi approved the government’s “stringent” and “holistic” Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Ordinance, 2020 to help expedite cases of sexual abuse against women and children. Under this ordinance, special courts are to be set up across the country to expedite trials and cases of rape at the earliest. The courts are to deal with rape cases within four months.