In order to come to a final conclusion to the Afghan war, Pakistan will soon extend a formal invitation to representatives of Afghan Taliban to visit Islamabad. The meeting will hope to convince the insurgents for a permanent ceasefire. The Taliban spokesperson has already indicated that the group’s representatives would be willing to travel to Islamabad if given a formal invitation.
In another positive development, the United States has assured Pakistan that it will soften its travel advisory, enabling Islamabad to attract foreign investors. Adviser to PM on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood while talking to media said US was going to soften the travel advisory. Removal of travel advisory would mean both countries can engage in business activities.
An alarmingly high rate of HIV/AIDS cases in Pakistan has raised concern globally, resulting in United Nations labelling the country among 11 countries with highest ratio of the disease. Newly released report states that sharp increase in cases in Pakistan, despite grant of “massive funding” by international health partners, has proved to be a severe blow to global efforts to curtail HIV/AIDS.
The US State Department has announced on its Twitter account that Trump administration is ready to approve $125 million for Pakistan to provide technical support to its fleet of F-16 aircraft. The programme has been sent to Congress for approval after being given a go-ahead by State Department. The good news comes immediately after PM Imran Khan’s visit to USA.
Pakistan’s ace bowler, Mohammad Amir has announced his retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect. The bowler however, reaffirmed his commitment to playing white ball cricket for Pakistan. The 27-year-old cricketer shared that he was considering retirement from the format “for some time”, adding that it “has not been an easy decision to make”.
In a federal cabinet meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan, the government has decided to allow dual national Pakistanis to contest elections. Keeping the PM’s vision to utilise talent and resources of overseas Pakistanis, five major regulatory bodies were brought under the cabinet to approve a proposal for removing the column of profession from the national passport.
In a latest development, Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has announced that Pakistan will send its “first person to space” in 2022. In a Tweet, the minister said that selection process shall begin from February 2020. Starting with 50 pilots, the list will come down to 25 and finally one will be selected to carry out the mission.
A public service initiative by Ministry of Climate Change has revealed that 56 out of 59 skin whitening creams being used in Pakistan have been found highly toxic. These creams, produced both locally and internationally, contain mercury more than permissible limit of 1 ppm with content being as high as 44292ppm. High content of mercury can severely damage nervous system.
In an official post on social media, Pakistan International Airline’s (PIA) has lauded President of Pakistan for ‘leading by example’ to make way for others. Recounting President Arif Alvi’s travel experience on flight PK 301 from Islamabad to Karachi, the national flag carrier commended his decision to adjust three of his family members in economy class due to flight load.
The ambassador of United Arab Emirates (UAE), Hamad Obaid Alzaabi has revealed that the UAE Consulate will open a visa centre in Karachi this September. Opening first week of September, the visa centre will be UAE’s biggest facility in Asia. Similarly, another visa centre in Islamabad will be functional in October. The entire team for the centre would come from UAE.