Town is Australia names streets after legendary Pakistani cricketers

An upcoming housing estate in Melbourne, Australia has named its streets after legendary cricketers from around the world, including some famous names from Pakistan. The streets in the Rockbank Suburb have been named after Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Inzamamul Haq, Javed Miandad and Shoaib Akhtar. Property Developer Varun Sharma revealed that after naming the streets, the inquiries doubled in number.

Another PIA aircraft faults: Flight PK-605 denied take-off

Another Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight, PK-605, was denied take-off due to a technical fault. The aircraft which had arrived at Gilgit Airport from Islamabad was cancelled out of safety concerns. Upon inspection by the Civil Aviation Authority, it was discovered that the landing gear wheel was missing a bolt. This is the second case of fault in PIA plane since the deadly crash on May 22nd.

PTI presents tax-free ‘relief budget’ in light of coronavirus situation

Federal Minister of Industries and Production Hammad Azhar presented Rs7.14 trillion ‘tax-free’ budget 2020-21 on Friday. The budget for fiscal year 2021 comes amid a health crisis that caused our GDP to shrink by Rs3,300bn, and has been referred to as the ‘corona budget’. As Azhar highlighted the PTI-led government’s efforts to streamline the economy, he was challenged by the opposition’s loud jeering. 

First made-in-Pakistan testing kit for Covid-19 approved by DRAP

Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry, has announced that the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has approved the first made-in-Pakistan testing kit for Covid-19. The kit was developed by the scientists at National University of Science and Technology (NUST) Attaur Rahman School of Applied Biosciences (ASAB). Fawad shared the news on Twitter and congratulated the developing team.

SAPM Mirza pays tribute to health workers, presents relief package

Paying rich tribute to doctors and medical professionals, SAPM on Health Dr Zafar Mirza has announced a seven point package for front line medical staff. While acknowledging the efforts of frontline workers, Mirza said that the package does not equal the efforts they are making. The highlights of the package include: financial incentives, healthcare of doctors and their families and support mechanism.

Malaysia, Indonesia withdraw from Hajj this year due to Coronavirus fears

Owing to the pandemic, Malaysia has decided to withdraw from this year’s Hajj, a ritual for which Muslims all over the world travel to Makkah. Malaysia’s Religious Affairs Minister stated it was not safe for the 31,600 pilgrims from Malaysia due to go this year to take part. Last week Indonesia also pulled out 200,000 of its pilgrims from the annual pilgrimage.

Hafeez Shaikh presents a fragile state of Pakistani economy

Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance Abdul Hafeez Shaikh presented the Pakistan Economic Survey 2019-20 on Thursday, highlighting the fragile state of the Pakistani economy in the outgoing fiscal year. Shaikh revealed that the GDP is expected to contract 0.38% in FY 2020 despite 2.67% growth in the agricultural sector, as the industrial and services sectors see growth of -2.64% and -0.59% respectively this year.

Pakistani truck artist raises voice against racism with a George Floyd mural

A Pakistani Truck artist, Haider Ali, has paid his own kind of homage to George Floyd with his mural on the wall of his house in Karachi. Alongside Floyd’s image, are famous songs written as slogans in popular truck poetry manner. “This artwork not only pays reverence to George Floyd but it pays a tribute to everyone fighting inequality and injustice,” says Haider.

Punjab govt starts closing down major quarantine centers

The government of Punjab has started closing quarantine centers across the province, including six in Lahore, following a change in the policy under which the suspected Covid-19 patients were earlier required to quarantine at these centres. Under the new policy, those arriving at Lahore and other airports from abroad are just being screened through thermal scanners rather than tested on the spot.

Army unofficially back in control in Pakistan : Bloomberg

The global leader in business and financial data, Bloomberg, speculates Army is slowly tightening its grip in Pakistan and is unofficially back in control. With Imran Khan’s dwindling popularity and more than a dozen military officials in prominent government roles, the idea seems plausible to many. Military has certainly been Pakistan’s most important institution, but the supporters of “New Pakistan” had not envisioned this.