A joint statement issued in Washington has revealed that United States, China and Russia have warmly welcomed Pakistan to a four-party consultation process aiming to bring peace to the war-torn region of Afghanistan after 18 years. The statement recognises Pakistan’s role in Afghan peace process and justifies Islamabad’s view that any development in Afghanistan also impacts Pakistan.
Honda Atlas Cars Pakistan (HACP) has decided to shut down its plant for 10 days as its inventories piled up to 2,000 units on plummeting car sales amid rising prices due to imposition of new, higher taxes in budget and steep currency devaluation in recent weeks. Extremely low car sales during first week of July has prompted the company’s decision.
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has launched the “Prime Minister’s Kamyab Jawan SME Lending Programme,” worth Rs100 billion for startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Citizens aged between 18 and 45 years may avail financing of up to Rs5 million each at a borrowing cost varying between 6% and 8% for a maximum period of eight years.
British-Pakistan boxer Amir Khan, who was supposed to fight Indian boxer Neeraj Goyat, has won international welterweight champion at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah by downing Australian fighter Billy Dib in just the second round. The Indian boxer was injured during a car accident and had to pull out of the fight, making Dib easy opponent for Amir.
To give relief to the retailers, the Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services directed the Ministry to amend the law for relaxing ban on ‘Sheesha’ smoking in the country. After issuing the directive, Senator Ateeq Sheikh remarked that Sheesha is widely smoked everywhere in the world, and even after the ban people in Pakistan are still smoking at home.
PTI’s local leader from Ghotki, Mir Iftikhar Ahmed Lund, has been appointed as the focal person for Human Rights in Sindh. In April, Iftikhar was booked for brutally torturing his driver, Allah Rakhio, with a steel rod after the drivers disagreement with Iftikhar’s cousins. Rakhio received eight stitches after a metal rod was forcefully inserted in his rectum.
Accountability judge Arshad Malik has claimed that he was offered a Rs500 million cash bribe by the son of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Hussain Nawaz, who demanded that the judge resign on the grounds that he “could no longer deal with the guilt of having convicted” Nawaz under duress in the Al-Azizia/Hill Metal Establishment reference.
The Islamabad High Court decided to remove accountability judge Arshad Malik from his post following a controversy revolving around the ‘leaked’ video tape of the judicial officer. The IHC judge directed the registrar office to write a letter to the law ministry regarding relieving judge Malik of his post and repatriating him to the parent department, the LHC.
Comsats University Islamabad has launched a project on artificial intelligence worth Rs. 1 billion with an aim to equip the students with modern subjects related to artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity, e-gaming, big data, and speed coding. To further this project, a consortium has been established which include six information and technology universities, which will further establish nine high-tech laboratories across Pakistan.
Khadija Siddiqi, who was stabbed 23 times in broad daylight in Lahore, has completed her bar degree from City Law School. Khadija Siddiqi has now officially become a barrister after passing 12 examinations. She graduates with an overall “very competent” grade. Her graduation ceremony for a “call to the bar” will be held at the Lincoln’s Inn in October.