Two self-taught Pakistani teenagers have developed the world’s first multi-platform game to help fight Covid-19 pandemic. STOP the SPREAD—developed by 13-year-old Nabhan and 14-year-old Kenan— will help bust myths and apply behavioural changes to embrace the “new normal” in an experiential learning simulation game. The kids started working on the game in February 2020, and released it online on April 4, 2020.
The police have confiscated fake Pakistani currency from an official of Indian High Commission during investigation of a hit and run case in Islamabad. The police seized fake 10,000 Pakistani rupees from official Silvades Paul. The tenure of the Indian High Commission official is to expire in December 2020, who was later handed over to senior diplomats of Indian High Commission.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Paris Club of creditor nations have agreed to suspend debt service payments from Pakistan, Chad, Ethiopia and the Republic of Congo as part of a G20 debt relief deal, the group said. The latest agreements bring to 12 the number of countries to receive debt relief under the deal with a total of $1.1 billion in debt deferred as a result.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza has undermined the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) statement regarding COVID-19 in Pakistan by saying the organisation is only looking through a “health lens”. Mirza stated government, on the other hand, is pursuing a “holistic strategy to combat the coronavirus”. His remarks came after WHO recommended imposing an “intermittent lockdown” in Pakistan.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said Pakistan has been ranked among the top 10 countries in the world reporting the highest number of new cases of Covid-19. In a letter to the four provinces, WHO stated Pakistan did not meet any of the prerequisites for opening of the lockdown and advised to observe a strict two-week lockdown.
The community members of an area in Lahore have paid tribute to the warrior hero of Turkish television series, Dirilis: Ertugrul , by erecting a statue of Ertugrul in their neighbourhood. The warrior in the statue in the Maraghzar Housing Scheme situated along the Multan Road is seen carrying a sword and riding a horse.