Top Stories
PM arrives in China to attend Second Belt and Road Forum
F.P. Report BEIJING: Prime Minister Imran Khan arrives in China today (Thursday) on a four-day official visit to attend the Second Belt and Road Forum in Beijing. He will deliver a keynote speech in the opening ceremony of the Forum tomorrow (Friday). In a statement before his departure, the Prime Minister expressed resolve to take…
Bilawal’s advice to Imran: Using ‘sahiba’ as profanity sends the wrong message to women
F.P. Report ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari replied to Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday and said that using ‘sahiba‘ as profanity sends the wrong message to the women of the country. Speaking to the media in Islamabad, he said that women in Pakistan are working shoulder-to-shoulder with men for the development…
Pakistan will not be party to any internal conflict in Afghanistan: PM
F.P. Report ISLAMABAD: In the view of recent wave of violence in Afghanistan and the collapse of intra-Afghan dialogue, Prime Minister Imran Khan asserted “Pakistan will not be party to any internal conflict in Afghanistan anymore.” A statement was issued by the Prime Minister office on Thursday stated, “Pakistan is highly dismayed by the surge…
Hussain Asghar appointed as NAB deputy chairman
F.P. Report ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi has approved the appointment of Hussain Asghar as deputy chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Hussain Asghar has been appointed as NAB deputy chairman after formal approval of President Alvi after consultation with the anti-corruption watchdog’s chairman, Justice (Retd.) Javed Iqbal. A notification was also released in…
Statement on Dr Aafia was quoted out of context: FO Spokesperson
F.P. Report ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Faisal said on Thursday that Pakistan is engaged in bringing back Dr Aafia Siddiqui home and his recent statement on her was taken out of context. Dr Faisal reportedly told an international news outlet that Dr Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist and mother of three jailed in the…
Nawaz seeks SC permission for medical treatment abroad
F.P. Report ISLAMABAD: Ousted premier and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharir on Thursday approached the Supreme Court (SC) seeking permission to travel abroad for medical treatment. Nawaz’s counsel, Khawaja Hariss, filed the civil review petition against the top court’s March 26 judgment granting the former prime minister six weeks suspension of sentence on…
Global
US regrets Afghan civilian deaths, says answer is peace
WASHINGTON (AFP): The United States envoy negotiating with the Taliban voiced regret on Thursday over findings that US-backed forces were killing more civilians than the militants, and said the solution was a peace deal. A United Nations report released on Wednesday found that international and pro-government forces were responsible for the deaths of 305 civilians…
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China leads US on potent hyper sonic missiles
ZHUHAI (Reuters): China is leading the United States in a race to deploy hyper sonic missiles that would defeat existing air defense systems, according to senior US officials. The combination of speed, manoeuvrability and altitude of these missiles makes them difficult to track and intercept. They travel at speeds of more than five times the…
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Ex-US VP announces 2020 White House bid
WASHINGTON (AA): Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden officially entered the 2020 White House race Thursday, ending more than a year of speculation. Biden is joining a crowded field of Democrats seeking the party’s nomination to take on President Donald Trump in the next election cycle. “We are in a battle for the soul of…
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Russian, North Korean leaders discuss denuclearization
MOSCOW (AA): Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un concluded their summit on Thursday with a formal reception. Putin and Kim met in the Russian port city of Vladivostok to discuss bilateral relations and de-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The closed-door talks lasted 3.5 hours. Speaking to the participating delegations, Kim…
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Top Sri Lanka defence official resigns over blasts
COLOMBO (AFP): Sri Lanka’s top defence official resigned on Thursday over security failures that led to the deadly Easter bombings, as Catholic churches suspended all services fearing further attacks. Sri Lanka’s government has come under increasing pressure over the revelation it failed to act on intelligence about planned attacks, which claimed nearly 360 lives, and…
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Sudan converge on army HQ for ‘million-strong’ protest
KHARTOUM (AFP): Sudanese marchers converged from all directions on army headquarters for a “million-strong” demonstration Thursday to turn up the heat on the ruling military council after three of its members resigned following talks on handing over power. The rally comes after Sudan’s new military rulers and protest leaders agreed to set up a joint…
Read MorePakistan
IHC seeks reply from NAB in fake accounts case
F.P. Report ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday approved pre-arrest bail of a number of suspects named in fake bank accounts case. Those who had applied for bail in the case included Munir Jillani, Muhammad Hussain, Ijaz Ahmed Khan, Malik Bashir Ahmed, Mir Muhammad, Ali Gul Kalwar, Syed Muhammad Ali Shah and Suhail…
Saudi Shura Council chairman calls on PM Imran
F.P. Report ISLAMABAD: Chairman of the Saudi Shura Council Dr. Abdullah Bin Mohammad Al Ash-Sheikh called on Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad today (Thursday). During the meeting, Prime Minister Imran Khan reiterated commitment to peace and security of Saudi Arabia and sanctity of Harmain Sharifain. The prime minister conveyed his best wishes to King…
Sindh ruled by elements with ‘fake mandate’: Khalid Maqbool
F.P. Report KARACHI: Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said Sindh was being ruled by those with a ‘fake mandate. Addressing a press conference, Siddiqui alleged that census was tampered to benefit a particular political party in the elections in Sindh. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, who is also a federal minister for Information Technology…
Lt Gen Sher Afgun appointed as Col Commandant of Azad Kashmir Regiment
F.P. Report RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa here on Thursday visited Azad Kashmir Regimental Centre, said Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). According to the military’s media wing, COAS Qamar Javed Bajwa pinned ranks to Lieutenant General Sher Afgun as Colonel Commandant of Azad Kashmir Regiment. The army chief laid floral wreath…
Sheikh Rashid refers to Firdous Ashiq Awan as ‘sahab’
F.P. Report LAHORE: Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid on Thursday referred to Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan as “Firdous Sahab”. Addressing the media persons, Rashid said, “I do not think I am capable for the Ministry of Information. Firdous Ashiq Awan is a great minister and experienced. I…
Anti-polio campaign worker gunned down in Balochistan
F.P. Report CHAMAN: A female anti-polio immunisation campaign worker was gunned down and another injured on Thursday in Balochistan’s Chaman. Assistant Commissioner Syed Sami Agha told reporters that unidentified suspects opened fire at the immunisation team in Sultan Zai, a city near the shared border with Afghanistan. The suspects managed to flee after the shooting.…
Afghanistan
It’s ‘getting garder’ to track US progress in Afghanistan
KABUL (TOLO News): John Sopko, the US special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction told reporters on Wednesday in Washington that it’s getting “harder and harder” for the public to track the US military’s progress after 17-year war in Afghanistan. “What we are finding is now almost every indicia, metric for success or failure is now…
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Afghan Defense ministry to collect unnecessary check posts
KABUL (Afghanistan Time): Afghan Ministry of Defense is working on a plan to collect unnecessary check posts in nonstrategic areas of the country and to resemble them in large bases and outposts. Asadullah Khalid, Acting Deference Minister in a press briefing on Thursday explained the ministry will dissolve all the unnecessary check posts which are…
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Afghans push for truce as diplomacy takes center stage
KABUL (Afghanistan Time): Hundreds of women in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul marched through the city on Thursday, calling on the warring factions to reverse their previous decisions on their military plans and instead engage into the discussion for an immediate ceasefire to end the current bloodsheds. Addressing a gathering of at least 300 women in Kabul…
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US, Afghan forces killed more civilians than militants: UN
Monitoring Desk KABUL: Afghan civilians are for the first time being killed in greater numbers by US and pro-government forces than by the Taliban and other insurgent groups, a UN report released Wednesday revealed. The bloody milestone comes as the US steps up its air campaign in Afghanistan while pushing for a peace deal with…
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An Afghan Peace on Whose Terms?
Monitoring Desk KABUL: Remaining hopes for intra-Afghan talks and the success of a U.S.-Taliban meeting scheduled later this month in Qatar are both predicated on a belief in a changed Taliban. The group is thought to have evolved from the puritanical totalitarian regime of two decades ago into a more pragmatic, less dogmatic movement. Supposedly,…
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Afghan forces foil a massive attack by militants
Monitoring Desk KABUL: The Afghan security forces have foiled a massive attack by anti-government armed militants in Kandahar city by seizing 1.5 tons of explosives. Informed military sources said “The Kandahar Police foiled a massive attack by insurgents in Kandahar City during a special operation. Intelligence reports led them to a compound which they seized…
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Business
Japan court grants $4.5m bail to former Nissan boss Ghosn
Monitoring Desk TOKYO: A Japanese court granted Carlos Ghosn bail Thursday, meaning the former Nissan boss could soon walk out of his Tokyo detention centre to prepare his defence against multiple charges of financial misconduct. The Tokyo District Court set bail at 500 million yen ($4.5 million) as the 65-year-old auto sector legend faces four…
Clearance of empty trucks at Torkham completed
F.P. Report PESHAWAR: The clearance process of empty trucks and containers, which held at Khwar Maidan near Torkham border has completed. In a statement issued by Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) here on Wednesday, the clearance of hundreds of empty trucks and containers by authorities concerned at Torkham, has reduced cost transportation but…
MCB reports exceptional growth of 24% in PBT
F.P. Report KARACHI: The Board of Directors of MCB Bank Limited met under the Chairmanship of Mian Mohammad Mansha, on Wednesday to review the performance of the Bank and approve the condensed interim financial statements for the first quarter ended March 31, 2019. The Bank has declared first interim cash dividend of Rs. 4 per…
HACPL to replace of Takata front airbag inflators
F.P. Report LAHORE: Honda Atlas Cars Pakistan Limited (HACPL) announces the range of Honda vehicles in Pakistan which require replacement of Takata front airbag inflators. HACPL strongly encourages its customers for immediate replacement of front airbag inflator at its authorized dealerships as a precautionary measure to ensure safety for its customers. The Takata front airbag…
McDonald’s Pakistan and PIA sign MoU
F.P. Report KARACHI: McDonald’s Pakistan and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) inked a Memorandum of Understanding to put together a special offer for the passengers of the national carrier, in a ceremony held at McDonald’s Airport Branch, Karachi. As part of the agreement, McDonald’s will be branding the boarding passes with its special offer that will…
PMN, TMB sign an agreement to digitize Microfinance Industry
F.P. Report ISLAMABAD: Aiming to further its efforts towards bringing the unbanked and underbanked into the fold of financial services, Pakistan Microfinance Network (PMN) has signed an agreement with Telenor Microfinance Bank (TMB), in the presence of the management of both institutions, to digitize Pakistan’s microfinance industry through ‘Digital Services Platform (DSP).’ PMN is grateful…
Sports
Pakistan U16 team off for Bangladesh
KARACHI (PPI): The Pakistan U16 team, to be captained by Umer Eman, will leave for Bangladesh early Friday morning (today) for two three-day and three 50-over matches to be played from April 29 to May 15. The 16-member squad underwent rigorous training and practice sessions at the National Cricket Academy, besides and playing one three-day…
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Tiger Woods to return to Japan for PGA Tour event
TOKYO (Agencies): Newly crowned Masters champion Tiger Woods announced Thursday he will return to Japan for the first time in more than a decade to play in a new US PGA Tour event in October. “I’m excited to play in the inaugural ZOZO Championship in October, and return to Japan, one of my favorite countries.…
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South Africa sweat on injured Steyn for World Cup
CAPE TOWN (Agencies): South Africa face an anxious wait over the fitness of experienced seamer Dale Steyn after a flare-up of an old shoulder injury ruled him out for the rest of the Indian Premier League season, putting his World Cup prospects in doubt. The 35-year-old Steyn felt discomfort having played for the Royal Challengers…
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Manchester United’s Paul Pogba named in PFA Team of the Year
LONDON (Agencies): Manchester United’s Paul Pogba is the only non-Manchester City or Liverpool player to be named in the Professional Footballers’ Association’s Premier League team of the year on Thursday. The 26-year-old French World Cup-winning midfielder’s inclusion is a surprise after an indifferent season, although he hit a purple patch after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer arrived…
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Top spot just a number for Ko
LOS ANGELES (Agencies): World number one Ko Jin-young, with five top-three finishes in seven starts this season, seeks her third LPGA title of the year when the Los Angeles Open starts Thursday. The 23-year-old South Korean won last month’s LPGA Founders Cup, captured her first major crown earlier this month at the ANA Inspiration and…
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Hsieh sets up rematch with Osaka
Stuttgart (Agencies): World number one Naomi Osaka will have a chance for revenge on Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei this week when the two meet in the second round of the WTA tournament in Stuttgart. Hsieh came from behind to beat China’s Wang Qiang in three sets 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Wednesday to set up a second…
Read MoreFashion & Movies
Ranaut sisters continues attacking Alia Bhatt
Monitoring Desk MUMBAI: Bollywood actress KanganaRanaut’s sister RangoliChandel has again attacked Alia Bhatt on her statement to ‘remain silent’ in response to Ranaut sisters’ criticism. Taking a dig at ‘Raazi’ actress on social media, RangoliChandeltweeted a link of an article carrying Alias’s statement to which she wrote: “I really hope you go quiet darling… You…
King Khan likely to do a Tamil film
Monitoring Desk NEW DELHI: The famed actor of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan after the biggest flops in the industry, plans to start his debut in Tamil Movies with Vijay’s upcoming movie ‘Thalapathy 63’. According to PinkVilla, sources have disclosed that: “SRK has a prominent character that he’s playing in Thalapathy 63. It’s not like his…
Fatima Sana Shaikh bags next film with Saif Ali Khan
Monitoring Desk MUMBAI: Young actress Fatima Sana Shaikh, who began her career with superstar Aamir Khan, has managed to bag her next with Saif Ali Khan. The actress feels proud to have an opportunity to star against khans as they are on her wish list. Fatima will now be seen opposite Saif in Bhoot Police…
Shahrukh Khan turns rapper to urge the people of India to cast vote
Monitoring Desk NEW DELHI: Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan has now turned into a rapper for a very worthy cause. In the latest video posted on his Twitter, King Khan is seeing flaunting some cool rap skills to convince people of India to vote in the general elections. Composed by Tanishk Bagchi and written by Abby…
King Khan loves Salman’s Bharat trailer
Monitoring Desk MUMBAI: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif and Disha Patani are ready to make the audience cheer aloud in cinema halls as their next film Bharat looks like a total entertainer. Directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, the film is based on the Korean film Ode to My Father. Bharat revolves around the story of a…
Andhadhun earns over Rs 300 crore in China
Monitoring Desk BEIJING: After winning hearts in India, now Sriram Raghavan’s thriller Andhadhun is creating history in China. Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu and Radhika Apte have given stellar performances in the film and thus the film has crossed the Rs 300 crore mark at the box-office in China. Andhadhun, which was released in China earlier this…
Science & Technology
Apple all set to launch AirPods with a brand new design this year
Monitoring Desk WASHINGTON: Two new versions of Apple AirPods will go into production in the fourth quarter of 2019 or the first quarter of 2020, according to a research note from TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. One model will have a similar design and price to the current version of AirPods, which costs between…
First tremor detected on Red Planet
Monitoring Desk PARIS: Scientists said Tuesday they might have detected the first known seismic tremor on Mars in a discovery that could shed light on the ancient origins of Earth´s neighbour. A dome-shaped probe known as SEIS landed on the surface of Mars in December after hitching a ride on NASA´s InSight spacecraft. Its instruments…
Huawei announces smartphone shipment for Q1 2019
Monitoring Desk BEIJING: Chinese manufacturing giant, Huawei, achieved a milestone with its 2018 smartphone shipments. Huawei and Honor smartphone shipments reached 206 million units, ranking third in the world and close to Apple. At the Shanghai AWE 2019 conference held recently, Huawei’s consumer business CEO, Yu Chengdong, said that in 2019, Huawei and Honor smartphone…
UBL leads Digital Revolution in Pakistan
F.P. Report KARACHI: As part of the Bank’s Digital Agenda, UBL was the Title Sponsor of the 12th International Mobile Commerce Conference, held in Karachi. This half-day conference focused on Digital Transformation and how financial institutions like banks are using digital technology as enabler of digital commerce. Leading local and international experts from banks and…
Samsung delays launch of its new foldable phone after reports of defects
Monitoring Desk SEOUL: Samsung Electronics has delayed its media events to launch its new foldable phone in Hong Kong and Shanghai, which were planned for this week, after defective samples of the Galaxy Fold were reported last week. Samsung said the events were postponed but gave no reasons for the delay and added it had…
Whatsapp new feature to restrict users from taking screen shots
Monitoring Desk ISLAMABAD: Whatsapp is reportedly testing a new feature that would restrict users to take screen shot of the chats if they enable authentication feature in the app. According to Wabetainfo, the world’s biggest messaging app is working to introduce the new feature and may roll out it soon. In order to stop others…
Health
Larkana: 13 children test positive for HIV
F.P. Report LARKANA: HIV Aids Control Program on Thursday has claimed that as many as thirteen children were tested positive for human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) in Ratodero area of Larkana district. In-charge HIV Aids Control Program, Dr Abdul Hafeez said that the blood samples of 16 children have been sent to a laboratory for further…
‘Healthy environment is prerequisite of Malaria-free country’
F.P. Report LAHORE: World Malaria Day is globally observed on 25th of April. This annual international observance is a worldwide effort, to raise awareness about Malaria, its treatment and preventive measures, highlighting the need for better governmental and societal intervention in malaria control and prevention. This year’s theme for World Malaria Day is ‘End Malaria…
Admn convinces parents about anti-polio vaccine
Ghulam Mursalin Marwat LAKKI MARWAT: The district administration successfully convinced parents influenced by wrong and frightened rumours about anti polio vaccine, on immunization of their kids against the crippling disease. Many parents had refused to administer their children with oral polio vaccine after Monday incident that occurred in Peshawar following spread of rumours that some…
Peshawar incident affect anti-polio drive in Landi Kotal
Ahmad Nabi LANDI KOTAL: Scores of frightened parents in Khyber district on Tuesday refused to feed polio vaccine to their children, following the Peshawar incident. It is to be mentioned here that last day approximately 1000 children of two private schools of Mashu Khel, Badhber, the suburb areas of Peshawar had got ill after allegedly…
Pilots groundbreaking malaria vaccine
LILONGWE (AFP): Malawi on Tuesday launched the world’s first malaria vaccine in a landmark programme to prevent a disease that kills hundreds of thousands, mostly children, across Africa and around the world each year. After more than three decades in development and almost $1 billion in investment, the most advanced vaccine yet has been rolled…
Obesity can impair learning, memory: study
Monitoring Desk WASHINGTON: Obesity can break down our protective blood brain barrier resulting in problems with learning and memory, a study has found, Business Standard reports. Chronic activation of the receptor Adora2a on the endothelial cells that line this important barrier in our brain can let factors from the blood enter the brain and affect…
Travel
Travel influencer invasion as Pakistan launches tourism push
Monitoring Desk ISLAMABAD: They are young, Western, and full of praise for Pakistan: Travel influencers have moved in on the “land of the pure,” but critics warn their rose-tinted filters are irresponsible and sell an inaccurate picture of the conservative, militancy-scarred country. As security improves, cricketer-turned-prime-minister Imran Khan is keen to promote the nation’s tourism…
Sri Lankan travel industry faces uncertainty after terror attack
Monitoring Desk COLOMBO: Tourists are scrambling to flee Sri Lanka and cancelling holidays after a string of deadly suicide blasts that have sparked concerns the lucrative tourism industry could be sent into a tailspin. The attacks on hotels and churches came as Sri Lanka was emerging as a leading tourist hot-spot, named the world’s top…
Extended Ramadan holiday could boost the Turkish tourism industry
Monitoring Desk ISTANBUL: Local hoteliers and tourism associations have welcomed the Turkish government’s decision to extend the Ramadan holiday in early June to nine days, saying this could prove a boon to the industry and generate an additional 3 billion Turkish Lira income for the sector. The Ramadan holiday was initially scheduled for June 3…
Tunisia tourism sector makes flying start to 2019
Monitoring Desk LONDON: Tunisia wooed more tourists in the first quarter of this year, which saw a 17.4 percent increase in arrivals compared to the same period in 2018, according to Tunisian Ministry of Tourism data quoted by Asharq Al-Awsat. The tourism sector saw an influx of up to 787.8 million dinars ($262.6 million) of…
EU-China Tourism Year boosts tourism sector in Europe
Monitoring Desk BRUSSELS: While the EU-China Tourism Year 2018 (ECTY 2018) has officially come to an end, the success of the initiative continues to be felt, with growing numbers of Chinese tourists putting European destinations at the top of their tourism agendas throughout 2018 and beyond. Agreed in 2016 by the Chinese Prime Minister and…
The 7 most fascinating mosques in China
Monitoring Desk BEIJING: China has an ambiguous stance in regards to institutionalized faith. On the one hand, the People’s Republic recognizes five religions — Buddhism, Catholicism, Daoism, Islam, and Protestantism — and protects freedom of religious belief under its constitution, but on the other, the Council on Foreign Relations reports that “China is home to…
Articles
The World’s largest ocean cleanup has officially begun
Trevor Nace Ambitious dreams have now become a reality as the Ocean Cleanup deploys its $20 million system designed to clean up the 1.8 trillion pieces of trash floating in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Check out another Forbes piece on how Ocean Cleanup aims to reuse and recycle the ocean plastic. The floating boom…
‘My belief—my worry—is that Taliban will never change’
ShakibNoori The Taliban should be cautiously welcomed at the negotiating table but with a view on moderating the group. Afghanistan has been mired in violent conflict my entire life. Yet, more than anything else, Afghans still yearn for peace. While ongoing peace talks between the Taliban and the US offer hope that one day all…
US trade war with China and its implications
Fahrettin Sumer Western countries learned their lesson about the harms caused by trade wars during the Great Depression of 1929-1933. After World War II, the US and its allies wanted to create the International Trade Organization (ITO) for liberalizing trade, but the US Congress failed to ratify the founding treaty. Following that failure, the same…
Self-destruct approaches to Afghan peace
Iqbal Khan Much hyped expectation for a breakthrough in a push to end Afghan conflict has suffered yet another major setback. Trumped up intra-Afghan conference between the Taliban and Afghan government officials has been deferred without specifying the next date. This Doha meeting was not a part of ongoing direct talks between the Taliban and…
Mueller left a strong hint on obstruction
Cass R. Sunstein In coming to terms with Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report, we should adopt a principle of neutrality and put entirely to one side our enthusiasm, or our lack of it, for President Donald Trump. It is also essential to emphasize that the report, running to two volumes and some 448 pages, will…
America Can’t Solve Afghanistan’s Corruption Problems
Jerrod A. Laber On Monday, April 8, three U.S. soldiers and one contractor were killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan, bringing the total number of U.S. personnel killed there in 2019 to seven. For advocates of foreign policy restraint, every new American death represents the moral imperative for U.S. withdrawal from the region. To…
Editorial
Tribal districts uplift
Addressing a gathering in South Waziristan Prime Minister Imran Kjhan made a very ambitious announcement of Rs.100 billion yearly allocations for the execution of projects of socio-economic uplift in merged tribal districts. The announcement seems premature as in the recent meetings of Ninth Finance Commission the federating units have not yet agreed to allocate 3…
Rationale of centralized education
A deliberate but discrete policy decision was taken by the elected government in 1973to degenerate the quality of education from elementary to secondary level. Carrying on system of promotion of students irrespective of their scores in annual examinations was implemented. Pass secondary school certificates used to be issue by the schools and Boards of Intermediate…
Prime Minister’s Iran visit
Prime Minister Imran in his visit of Iran met Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and discussed the matters of cross border terrorism, bilateral trade and prospect of completion of Pakistan-Iran gas pipl.ine. The visit took place in the aftermath of Ormara terror attack, the responsibility of which has been accepted by an alliance of Baloch terrorist…
Actions versus promises
Giving a brief about the core points of the Prime Minister address to a meeting at Banigala, Special Assistant on Information and Broadcasting, Firdous Asiq Awan said that new team of cabinet has been tasked to control high prices spiral. About the rational of changing the finance minister, she clarified the former minster was not…
Reaction to cabinet reshuffle
In parliamentary form of government cabinet reshuffles or resignations of high profile ministers on differences with party leadership on political issues are regarded as routine matters. In the mother of democracies the UK sometimes major reshuffle have occurred in the governments of both political parties. But in Pakistan the opposition parties have overreacted to minor…
Crisis in agriculture
Whereas the agriculture sector plunged into crisis some 30 years ago, it reached to crescendo when Agriculture Ministry was devolved to provinces under 18th Amendment as the provinces slashed its budget by 60 percent despite the transfer 57 percent resources from center to the federating units under 7th National Finance Commission Award. The financial resources…
Letters to Editor
Police high handedness and aggrieved people
Through the lines of your esteemed news paper, i would like to draw the attention of the concerned authorities towards the sorry state of affairs of the people at the hands of police. Despite the tall claims made (still making) by previous government of reforming police department, no improvement whatsoever is seen in our area…
Stop child labour
“One who does not show mercy to our children is not from my community” [Holy Prophet (SAW)] Kindness towards children was one of the Prophet’s special characteristics. Children are flowers of heaven and they are the beautiful creation of God. Child labour is a terrible and big crime. In Pakistan it is an ever growing…
The devaluation of economy
What is behind the devaluation of Pakistani currency? What are its effects on our economy? The Pakistani currency has experienced a worst fall against the US dollar ever in the history of Rs 143 per Dollar. The rupee has lost about 35 percent since the first devaluation in Dec 2017. PM Imran Khan on the…
Rumors about abolishing of tax – free status of Malakand
It has been reportedly learnt that the Chief minister of KP Mahmood Khan has issued directives to all the ministries/ departments and quarters concerned to fulfill all the legal formalities before tabling any bill or law in the house for legislation. They have been further directed to share and discuss the theme of the bill…
Working women issues
In the past few years, the role of a woman has changed drastically in Pakistan. Women are now stepping out of their houses to earn and break free from all stereotypes that confine women to live inside home. Women can now be seen working as fire fighters, pilots,air traffic Controllers, bankers, company executives, labourers, farmers…
TF and Pakistan’s economic quagmire
Financial Action Task Force is a global body which aims at combating money laundering and terrorists financing. FATF grey list comprises of the countries which lacks in implementing strategic policies against terrorist financing. Pakistan was also grey listed from 2012 to 2015. But later due to efforts and policies, Pakistan was removed from the grey…