Pakistan’s airspace is “safe” for all kinds of flight operations, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) revealed after a European air safety agency this week warned of a “continued possible threat” to aircraft flying at low altitudes in Karachi and Lahore cities. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued an advisory stating that the presence of “violent non-state actor groups with confirmed anti-aviation weaponry” in Pakistan.
The condition of a 14-year-old housemaid, Rizwana, who was subjected to ‘brutal torture’ by a civil judge’s wife in Islamabad, suddenly worsened at Lahore General Hospital (LGH). LGH Chief Executive Prof Al-fareed Zafar has declared the next 48 hours highly crucial for the girl, Rizwana, saying the special board of senior doctors treating the girl fears that she may need the ventilator support.
The Senate on Thursday passed a bill proposing amendments to the Pakistan Army Act 1952. The bill was moved by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and was rushed through without being referred to a standing committee. The bill includes a section regarding punishment for defaming army to two years and a fine along with rules for retired army officers.
EXIM Bank of China has rolled over its loan of $2.4 billion with Pakistan for two years to strengthen Islamabad’s foreign reserves. The announcement was made by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on his Twitter handle. According to ARY News, the federal government has revised the terms and conditions for the debt rollover. Pakistan is also exempted from paying additional interest on the loan.
Farhat Shahzadi — famously referred to as Farah Gogi, has refuted the claims of becoming a witness against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi. The friend of the former first lady denied appearing as a witness against the ex-premier and his wife, terming the news “baseless and false”, Geo News reported.
A day after it dropped strong hints about Ishaq Dar being the most suitable candidate for caretaker prime minister, the PML-N appears to be back-pedaling, apparently in the wake of outright rejection of the idea by both its ally PPP and the opposition PTI. While a PPP minister described the report as ‘false’, the PTI chairman said Mr Dar as caretaker PM would be a ‘big joke’.
An Indian woman has travelled to Pakistan in order to marry and stay with a man from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa after their Facebook friendship turned into a love affair. Thirty-five-year-old Anju, a resident of the Indian city of Delhi, embarked upon the journey to the country a few days ago to see her 25-year-old lover, Nasrullah, who hails from the scenic region of Upper Dir.
Pakistan gave initial approval on Monday for signing a framework agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to hand over two more Karachi port terminals, including the development of a new multipurpose cargo terminal. This will be the second major seaport terminal deal that Pakistan will sign with the UAE in less than two months.
In a late-night move, the federal cabinet approved a massive hike in electricity base tariff through circulation summary as Pakistan is moving ahead to meet the IMF conditions. The federal government has increased the basic power tariff by Rs3 to Rs7.5 per unit for several consumers on the recommendation of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra).
Petroleum dealers in Pakistan have issued a warning to close down filling stations across the country indefinitely, starting from Saturday morning. The decision comes after the outgoing government failed to honour its commitment of increasing their profit margins, leaving them dissatisfied with the current situation. Minister of State (Petroleum Division) Musadik Malik had reached out to the association’s chairman.