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MPA Farrukh Shah, son of PPP leader Khursheed Shah, surrendered before the court on the order of the Supreme Court. The court ordered the NAB to detain Farrukh Shah on a two-day physical remand. Farrukh Shah was taken into custody by the NAB in the proceedings of the Sessions Court as the accountability court judge was on leave. A NAB reference was being heard in Sukkur court on charges of making assets worth more than Rs 1.23 billion, against 18 people including MPA Farrukh Shah, his father PPP leader Khursheed Shah, brother Zirak Shah, brother-in-law provincial minister Owais Shah Recently, during the hearing, the Supreme Court had ordered Farrukh Shah to surrender himself before the accountability court within three days. He appeared in the session judge s court and surrendered today. On the occasion of his appearance in the court, the PPP workers gave him a warm welcome and showered him with flower petals. He was accompanied by Sindh Provincial Minister for Transport Syed Ow...

The Covid-19 pandemic killed 57 more people in Pakistan during the last 24 hours, taking the nationwide death toll to 21,633. According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) data, the country’s caseload climbed to 939,931 after 1,194 more people tested positive for the deadly virus during this period. The 1,194 new infections emerged when 35,695 tests were conducted with positivity rate recorded at 3.334 per cent, the NCOC said. On Friday, the NCOC decided to speed up vaccination of citizens against Covid-19 in Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan. In a statement on his official Twitter account, Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar said that the federal government will set up mass vaccination centres and mobile vaccination teams for the purpose. Umar, who also heads the NCOC, said: “Vaccination needs to be geared up due to upcoming election in Azad Kashmir and tourism season in Gilgit Baltistan,” Source

Government employees protested outside parliament on Friday as a session of the National Assembly took place inside with Minister for Finance Shaukat Tarin unveiling the national budget for FY2021-22. The employees had gathered there after having travelled from different provinces, demanding a raise in salaries. The protesters said that for the past three years, they had not seen any raise in pay. They also demanded that contract employees be quickly regularised. A large contingent of police was present outside the parliament to guard against any untoward incident. The road leading up to the parliament was blocked off with barbed wire, but it proved unsuccessful to deter the protesters, who jumped over it. The government employees blocked off Shahrah-e-Dastoor (Constitution Avenue) where the parliament and all other important buildings are located and staged a sit in at the main gate of Parliament House. Later in the evening, the protest came to an end, with the protesters ask...

PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday said the Opposition would work together and give a tough time to the government, vowing to not let the budget sail through in the National Assembly. Bilawal, speaking to the media alongside Shahbaz after the parliament's budget session, said that the people who might have been listening to Minister for Finance Shaukat Tarin as he unveiled the government's proposals, "must have been thinking that this is some other country's budget". Bilawal said it did not sound at all like the budget Pakistan needs, with its "historic inflation, unemployment, and poverty". "The prime minister and finance minister's claims of economic growth are baseless amid such a situation." The PPP chairman said the finance ministers' claims were akin to "rubbing salt in the wounds" of the Pakistanis who are "suffering" due to the government's policies. ...

The National Assembly session for the presentation of budget 2021-22 has begun on Thursday with Prime Minister Imran Khan in attendance, reported. Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin is presenting the budget for the fiscal year 2021-22 having a total outlay of Rs8487 million amid ruckus from the opposition. The federal cabinet meeting headed by Prime Minister Imran Khan earlier in the day approved the Budget for 2021-22, giving a nod to a 10 percent increase in salaries and pensions of the government employees. Source

At least 18 persons were killed and 30 were injured as a passenger bus overturned in Khuzdar, reported on Friday. According to Balochistan Levies, the ill-fated bus was on its way to Khuzdar from Larkana, where it was overturned at Bhalonk area of Khuzdar. Getting the information, the rescue teams reached the spot and moved the bodies and injured to the nearby hospital. Earlier on May 31, at least six people had been killed while 30 others injured when the passenger bus they were travelling in had turned turtle after skidding off a bridge in Khanewal. According to rescue officials, the incident had taken place near Pull Rango. They had said the ill-fated bus was on its way from Lahore to Multan when it had met an accident. The driver of the vehicle had lost control while trying to avoid hitting a motorcycle, due to which the bus overturned, they had added. Source

The COVID-19 has claimed 47 more lives and infected 1,303 people over the past 24 hours, reported on Friday. According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) data, 47 more people lost their lives. The overall death toll has surged to 21,576, while 1,303 new COVID-19 cases surfaced when 40,483 samples were tested during this period. The positivity rate in the country witnessed a minor surge and was recorded at 3.21% during the past 24 hours. The number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 climbed to 937,434 out of which 43,618 are active. 2,841 patients are in critical care in various hospitals across the country. 1,874 more people recuperated from the disease in the last 24 hours, taking the number of recovered patients to 873,543. Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Punjab has reported a total of 343,499 cases, Sindh 343,499, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 135,383, Islamabad 82,001, Balochistan 26,084, Azad Jammu and Kashmir 19,675, and Gilgit Baltistan 5,682. Source

Opposition on Thursday submitted a no-confidence resolution against National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri. According to the details, the no-trust resolution against NA Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri was submitted by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmakers Khurram Dastgir Khan and Muhammad Javed Abbasi under Rule 12 of Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly. The sources said that the resolution – which demands the removal of the NA Deputy Speaker- was signed by the lawmakers of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and PML-N. The opposition lawmakers accused Qasim Suri of running the house “illegally”. They said that Qasim Suri had continued NA proceedings despite the opposition lawmakers pointed out the lack of quorum in the house. “All the legislation passed today was done in an illegal manner,” read the resolution. It further said that the it was tried to bulldoze the apportion and they were not allowed to speak in the house. Earlier today, the Nati...

The National Assembly (NA) has passed the Election Act Amendment Bill, 2020 containing dozens of amended clauses for bringing electoral reforms including the voting right for overseas Pakistanis. The Lower House has passed the amended Election Act, 2017 that was presented by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan. The Election Act Amendment Bill, 2020 contains dozens of amended clauses aiming to bring electoral reforms regarding the voting right for overseas Pakistanis, the open ballot for Senate polls, use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and other sections to ensure transparent and fair elections. The bill had earlier sailed through the NA Standing Committee on Parliament Affairs chaired by Mujahid Ali, however, the opposition members gave their dissenting notes by calling it legislation in haste. In a Twitter message, Dr Babar Awan has congratulated the overseas national for getting the right of voting after 73 years as the amended election bi...

Multan Sultans — who are struggling in the Pakistan Super League's sixth edition — got the better of Karachi Kings at Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium on Thursday, securing a victory by 12 runs. The Kings suffered an early blow as Sharjeel Khan was dismissed for four runs, while Martin Guptill and Najibullah Zadran were sent packing for 11 runs each. Even Babar Azam's 85 runs could not help the Kings in their 177-run chase. Imran Tahir secured two wickets, while Imran Khan was able to pick up three wickets. Multan Sultans' innings The Sultans had put up a competitive 176-run score on the board, courtesy 68-run partnership between the team's captain, Mohammad Rizwan, and Riley Rossouw. Rossouw scored 44, Sohaib Maqsood 31, and Rizwan hit 29 runs before being sent back to the pavilion. The Kings' skipper Imad Wasim saw his side off to a good start as he got Rahmanullah Gurba's wicket for just three runs in the first over, while Waqas Maqsood bowle...

The 11th General Elections of Azad Jammu and Kashmir will be held on July 25, the region's election commission announced Thursday. Elections will be held in 33 constituencies of Azad Kashmir and 12 constituencies of Muhajireen Jammu and Kashmir. Meanwhile, four constituencies have been added to this election as compared to the previous polls. According to the Election Commission, 2.82 million voters will exercise their right to vote in Azad Kashmir, of which 1.59 million are male voters, while 1.297 million are female voters. The Election Commission has said that nomination papers can be submitted till June 21 and scrutiny of papers will be done till June 22 while the list will be released on the same day. According to the Election Commission, objections can be lodged till June 28 and 29 and appeals can be lodged till June 30, while nomination papers will be returned by July 2. It should be noted that the AJK Assembly's terms will end on July 29, but so far, the schedul...

The medieval martial arts enthusiast who slapped President Emmanuel Macron across the face told a court he was a right-wing sympathiser who had acted because the president represented all that was rotten with France, BFM TV reported. Damien Tarel, 28, told the court in Valence that several days ahead of Macron's visit to the southeastern Drome region, he had thought about throwing an egg or a cream tart at the president, the news channel reported. "I think that Macron represents very neatly the decay of our country," he told the court, according to BFM TV. "If I had challenged Macron to a duel at sunrise, I doubt he would have responded." Macron later described the attack as an isolated incident and said violence and hate were a threat to democracy. Tarel faced a charge of assault against a public official, an offence which carries a maximum sentence of three years in jail and a 45,000 euro fine. He struck Macron on Tuesday after the president came over t...

Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Thursday predicted rainfall with wind and thunderstorm in eastern and central parts of the country from Friday. Met Office has said that moist currents from the Arabian Sea are likely to penetrate in eastern parts of Pakistan from Friday evening/night. Under the influence of this weather system rain-wind/thunderstorm is expected in Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan region, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Narowal, Sialkot, Lahore, Kasur, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Nowshera, Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Mardan, Buner, Dir, Shangla and Kohistan from Friday to Monday. Rainfall with wind or thunderstorm will lash Sargodha, Bhakkar, Layyah, Khushab, Mianwali, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Multan, Sahiwal, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Barkhan, Musa Khel and Zhob on Saturday to Sunday. Prevailing very hot weather conditions are likely to subside ...

The COVID-19 has claimed 76 more lives and infected 1,303 people over the past 24 hours, reported. According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) data, 76 more people lost their lives. The overall death toll has surged to 21,453, while 1,118 new infections surfaced when 43,900 samples were tested during this period. The positivity rate in the country witnessed a minor surge and was recorded at 3.1% during the past 24 hours. The number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 climbed to 937,434 after 1,303 people tested positive for the virus. 2,967 patients are in critical care in various hospitals across the country. 1,978 more people recuperated from the disease in the last 24 hours, taking the number of recovered patients to 871,669. Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Punjab has reported a total of 343,252 cases, Sindh 325,738, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 135,162, Islamabad 81,933, Balochistan 26,052, Azad Jammu and Kashmir 19,623, and Gilgit Baltistan 5,674. Meanwhile...

The COVID-19 has claimed 76 more lives and infected 1,303 people over the past 24 hours, reported. According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) data, 76 more people lost their lives. The overall death toll has surged to 21,453, while 1,118 new infections surfaced when 43,900 samples were tested during this period. The positivity rate in the country witnessed a minor surge and was recorded at 3.1% during the past 24 hours. The number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 climbed to 937,434 after 1,303 people tested positive for the virus. 2,967 patients are in critical care in various hospitals across the country. 1,978 more people recuperated from the disease in the last 24 hours, taking the number of recovered patients to 871,669. Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Punjab has reported a total of 343,252 cases, Sindh 325,738, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 135,162, Islamabad 81,933, Balochistan 26,052, Azad Jammu and Kashmir 19,623, and Gilgit Baltistan 5,674. Meanwhile...

Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday assured the business community of the army’s “complete support” for the economic uplift of the country. He made this assurance during a meeting with businessmen who called on him at the General Headquarters today, according to a statement by the military’s media affairs wing. A delegation of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) and the army chief discussed the “evolving regional economic environment” as well as the FPCCI’s role in the development of commercial and industrial hubs in Pakistan, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. During the meeting, Gen Bajwa appreciated the role of the business community in the economic uplift of the country and affirmed all-out support of the army in this regard. The delegation, meanwhile, acknowledged the Pakistan Army’s role and sacrifices in the provision of a "secure enabling environment" for economic prosperity in the country, acco...

The United Nations Security Council backed Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday for a second term, recommending that the 193-member General Assembly appoint him for another five years from Jan 1 of next year. Estonia’s UN Ambassador Sven Jrgenson, council president for this month, said the General Assembly was likely to meet to make the appointment on June 18. “I am very grateful to the members of the council for the trust they have placed in me,” Guterres said in a statement. “I would be deeply humbled if the General Assembly were to entrust me with the responsibilities of a second mandate.” Guterres succeeded Ban Ki-moon in Jan 2017, just weeks before US president Donald Trump took office. Much of Guterres’s first term was focused on placating Trump, who questioned the value of the United Nations and multilateralism. The United States is the largest UN financial contributor, responsible for 22 percent of the regular budget and around a quarter of the peacekeeping budge...

A Lahore Sessions Court on Wednesday granted bail to the member of the National Assembly (MNA) and PML-N leader Javed Latif in a sedition case. Javed Latif was arrested on April 27 after the public prosecutor requested the sessions court to revoke Latif's release on bail. After Latif's interim bail was dismissed, the police arrested him from the courtroom. Today, however, Additional Sessions Judge Hafeez-ur-Rehman heard the application and approved the bail, with a condition that he submits bail bonds worth Rs200,000. The sessions court reserved the judgment today and announced it later in the day. Javed Latif's post-arrest bail hearing has been held a total of four times since his arrest on April 27. In March, Latif had made a controversial comment which was deemed "anti-Pakistan" by the government, and a case was registered against him. Latif had said that if anything happens to PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz, "PML-N will not say Pakistan Khappa...

The federal government on Wednesday transferred Wajid Zia to the National Police Bureau and replaced him with Sanaullah Abbasi as the director general of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). According to a notification issued by the federal government, Wajid Zia has been posted as the director general of the National Police Bureau "with immediate effect". Zia had taken charge as the DG FIA in November 2019 after PM Imran Khan's government unceremoniously removed Bashir Memon. He had shot to fame after he headed the Panamagate joint investigation team. On the other hand, Moazzam Jah Ansari will take over from Abbasi as the inspector general of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police. Ansari was previously serving as the commandant of the Frontier Constabulary. Abbasi was appointed as the KP police chief in January 2020 and had replaced Dr Naeem Khan. Source

Minister for Railways Azam Swati on Wednesday confirmed that 63 people have lost their lives and 107 people got injuries in the horrific Ghotki train accident. Addressing a press conference after chairing a meeting at PR headquarters in Lahore, he said 20 persons are still under treatment at hospitals and three of them are in critical condition. Azam Swati said he reached the Ghotki accident site, soon after the incident and monitored the rescue and relief operation. Those who have become handicap in the deadly train crash will be provided help through Ehsas Program, Swati announced. An initial inquiry report into the incident has been received, the minister said and added that he will meet Prime Minister Imran Khan on coming Sunday or Monday. Deploring the condition of the track, he said the coaches of PR are 50 years old. “Updradation of tracks is necessary.” The minister said heirs of the deceased will be provided compensation of Rs1.5million, while the injured will be provi...

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah departed on Wednesday for the United States (US) on a week-long private visit, reported, quoting sources. They said the Sindh chief minister left for the US this morning and will likely present the provincial budget slated for June 15 via video link. Sindh chief minister Murad Ali Shah, who also holds the portfolio of provincial finance minister, is scheduled to unveil the budget for the upcoming fiscal year on June 15. A spokesperson for the CM House, however, said the chief minister departed for the US on a three-day visit. Murad will fly back home on Saturday night, he added. It is noteworthy that an accountability court on Tuesday set June 30 for indictment of the Sindh CM in the Nooriabad power plant reference. Accountability Judge Asghar Ali heard the reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The chief minister could not turn up before the court on Tuesday. The court accepted his application for exemption from appeara...

The number of COVID-19 cases is on the decline with every passing day as the positivity rate in Pakistan has dropped to 2.54 per cent during the past 24 hours. According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) data, 77 more people lost their lives. The overall death toll has surged to 21,453, while 1,118 new infections surfaced when 43,900 samples were tested during this period. The number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 climbed to 935,013 after 1,383 people tested positive for the virus. The number of active COVID-19 cases currently stands at 44,987. 3,196 patients are in critical care in various hospitals across the country. 2,244 more people recuperated from the disease in the last 24 hours, taking the number of recovered patients to 869,691. Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Punjab has reported a total of 343,031 cases, Sindh 325,110, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 134,928, Islamabad 81,871, Balochistan 25,961, Azad Jammu and Kashmir 19,566, and Gilgit Baltistan 5,6...

Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Tuesday said that the "only fault of the family that was killed in Canada was that they were Muslim", as he drew attention to Islamophobia catching pace in Western countries. Canadian police said a man was arrested for killing four members of a Canadian Muslim family after running them over in his pickup truck and targeting them in an attack motivated by hate. The foreign minister, addressing the National Assembly, said the Canadian police must surely be conducting its investigation, but he only saw hate as the reason for this attack. "This is a hate crime." Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's tweet against Islamophobia was encouraging, and this was the same issue that Pakistan had raised in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's recent summit, he said. Qureshi said that he had raised Pakistan's concerns in a meeting with the Canadian high commissioner. He said Pakistan is in touch with ...

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has nominated Pakistani right-arm pacer Hasan Ali for its May edition of 'Player of the Month' after his recent spectacular performances in the series against South Africa and Zimbabwe. Ali has managed to impress all with his fiery fast bowling and ability to bamboozle batsmen across the world. The right-arm pacer, according to ESPNcricinfo, is currently the leading wicket-taker in all formats of cricket in 2021. The ICC announced the nominations to recognise the best performances from both male and female cricketers across all forms of international cricket on Tuesday. The nominations for the men are: The ICC Men's Player of the Month nominees for May are in ? Hasan Ali ?? 14 Test wickets at 8.92 Praveen Jayawickrama ?? 11 Test wickets at 16.18 Mushfiqur Rahim ?? 237 ODI runs at 79.00 Vote now ?️ https://t.co/PPTfbb1PT5 #ICCPOTM pic.twitter.com/C9IFIyI35A — ICC (@ICC) June 8, 2021 Last month, the ICC had nominated Pa...

Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar on Tuesday held a press conference in Islamabad and talked about the allocation of the budget that the PTI-led government has allocated for different projects for the fiscal year 2021-2022. Providing details, Umar said that the government has to increase investment in health, education, and the environment, adding that all regions of the country should have equal opportunities for development. He said that the country's production sector will have to move forward but for this purpose, a lot of funds are needed, adding that the government has limited funds. "The national development budget for the next financial year has been set at Rs2102 billion, which is 36.4% higher than the current financial year." The federal development budget will be Rs 900billion, he said, adding that the government will give priority to water projects in the next financial year as well. "Development budgets for ener...

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday reiterated his government’s commitment to support the agriculture sector for economic uplift, but at the same time asked industrialists to avoid profiteering and cartelisation that embroils public in inflation. Addressing a delegation of farmers who called on him at the Prime Minister House today to discuss their issues, PM Imran said he firmly believed that the country would rise through the agriculture sector, and stressed upon the industrialists to “make profits, but avoid profiteering”. He asked them to not make cartels that ultimately burden the public with inflation. “I assure you the government will not let farmers be exploited and my team and I will keep in contact with you,” he told the farmers. He said his government’s efforts had resulted in the timely payment for sugarcane crops to farmers during the crushing seasons, which was not the case previously. He said he had asked his team to meet farmers and explore new innovations being ...

Two people were arrested after French President Emmanuel Macron was slapped by a man during a walkabout session with a crowd in the Drome region in southeastern France, BFM TV and RMC radio reported on Tuesday. BFM TV and RMC published a video clip, circulating on Twitter, which shows a man in a green T-Shirt, with glasses and a face mask, shout out “Down with Macronia” (“A Bas La Macronie”) and then deliver a slap to Macron’s face. ?? FLASH - Emmanuel #Macron s’est fait gifler par un homme s’écriant "À bas la macronie !", lors d’une visite à #Tain . (via @AlexpLille ) #Drôme pic.twitter.com/ncLhQymiET — Mediavenir (@Mediavenir) June 8, 2021 Macron’s security entourage quickly intervened to pull the man to the ground and move Macron away from him. Macron’s entourage confirmed that a man had attempted to slap Macron. Source

More than 100 lives were saved by a global sting that tricked criminals into using a messaging app which was created by the FBI to be secretly monitored by police and intelligence services. Eight hundred criminals have been arrested as part of the operation. “Not only have we heard about the number of arrests and the number of seizures, but over 100 threats to life that were mitigated,” Calvin Shivers, FBI assistant director, told reporters at the European police agency Europol’s headquarters in the Hague. More than 250 suspects in Australia and New Zealand were among arrests in 18 countries following the three-year operation against organised crime.   Source

Initial inquiry report into Ghotki train Accident has been forwarded to Minister for Railways Azam Swati, reported on Tuesday, citing well-informed sources. “The accident occurred after a right track’s welding joint broke which caused bogies of Millat Express train to derail,” the initial report states. The Karachi-bound Sir Syed Express collided with Millat Express’ coaches on the down track, causing the accident. The initial inquiry report has been forwarded to the Pakistan Railways (PR) minister Azam Swati. The death toll in a collision between Millat Express and Sir Syed Express has surged to 62. Meanwhile, Pakistan Railways has resumed its train operations after 30 hours, following the horrific train accident in Ghotki. The spokesperson of Pakistan Railways (PR) said that up track has been restored for rail traffic, while efforts underway to restore down the track. Following the Ghotki train accident, troops of the Pakistan Army and Pakistan Rangers Sindh had reached the s...

The number of COVID-19 cases is on the decline with every passing day as the positivity rate in Pakistan has dropped to its lowest 2.94 per cent during the past 24 hours, reported. According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) data, 53 more people lost their lives and 1,383 new infections surfaced when 46,882 samples were tested during this period. The number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 climbed to 935,013 after 1,383 people tested positive for the virus. 3,196 patients are in critical care in various hospitals across the country. 2,516 more people recuperated from the disease in the last 24 hours, taking the number of recovered patients to 867,447. Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Punjab has reported a total of 342,805 cases, Sindh 324,535, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 134,781, Islamabad 81,806, Balochistan 25,893, Azad Jammu and Kashmir 19,538, and Gilgit Baltistan 5,655. Source

British Prime Minister (PM) Boris Johnson has appreciated Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan for starting the 10 Billion Tsumani Trees programme to deal with climate change. In his message on World Environment Day Boris Johnson said that climate change is driven once again by our actions and the way we treat the natural world. He urged the countries to redouble efforts to control the rise in temperature. He saluted PM Imran khan for promising to plant 10 billion trees to tackle climate change and also vowed to start a Pakistan-like plantation drive in the United Kingdom. Addressing the ceremony in Islamabad to commemorate World Environment Day in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), yesterday, Prime minister Imran Khan termed it an honour for Pakistan to host the World Environment Day. He had said that previously only 640 million trees were planted in the country while the PTI-led KP government alone during its five-year tenure planted one billion sapli...

A clash between Myanmar soldiers and villagers wielding homemade guns left at least three civilians dead in the south of the coup-stricken country Saturday, state media said, although one witness put the death toll at 12. Myanmar has been in chaos and its economy paralysed since the military ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s government in February and unleashed a brutal crackdown on dissent. Fighting broke out in Kyon Pyaw in the southern Ayeyarwady region when villagers retaliated after more than 100 soldiers came to arrest members of a local defence force, a villager told AFP. The resident, who did not want to be named, told AFP that twelve civilians — including a four-year-old child — had been killed. “The villagers don’t have enough weapons and people,” they said, adding that many had fled. One soldier was also killed, they added. State TV MRTV gave a lower toll, reporting that three civilians had been killed and several members of the security forces had been injured in a clash. ...

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday expressed shock at the loss of lives arising from the Ghotki train accident, ordering a "comprehensive investigation" into the matter. At least 32 passengers have lost their lives and 64 others were injured Monday morning when two express trains collided at Ghotki between the Raiti and Obaro railway stations. Taking to Twitter, the prime minister reacted to the incident, instructing Railways Minister Azam Swati to arrive at the site and help the injured with the provision of medical assistance. "Shocked by the horrific train accident at Ghotki early this morning leaving 30 passengers dead. Have asked Railway Minister to reach the site and ensure medical assistance to the injured and support for families of the dead. Ordering a comprehensive investigation into railway safety fault lines," he tweeted. Army officers and Rangers personnel have arrived at the crash site in Ghotki and are currently involved in relief activities, s...

Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Monday berated the government over the Ghotki train accident and said PML-N and incumbent ministers are "paper tigers" who are politicking the issue. Two express trains collided on Monday in Sindh's Ghotki and killed over 45 passengers, while more than 100 others have been injured, said police and rescue officials. The Millat Express derailed and the Sir Syed Express train hit it soon afterwards, railways officials confirmed, saying that the collision took place between the Raiti and Obaro railway stations. A rescue operation is under way at the site of crash and the injured are being shifted to hospitals. Bilawal, addressing the floor of the National Assembly, said a tragic incident has occurred in Ghotki, as he lamented that a poor person's life is not safe during travel via the railways. "They (government) do political point-scoring even when an incident like these happen," he said, adding: "I want to con...

At least 50 people lost their lives and 70 others sustained injuries as Sir Syed Express train collided with a Millat Express between Reti and Daharki railway stations in Ghotki. According to the railways’ officials, the accident occurred when a Sargodha-bound Sir Syed Express collided with a Millat Express that was already present at the track after the derailment, said sources. As many as 14 boogies of both the trains were damaged out of which four were completely destroyed. DC Ghotki, Usman Abdullah confirmed the death of at least 50 passengers and added that over 70 people sustained injuries. Getting the information about the incident, the police and rescue teams reached the spot for the rescue and relief operation. DC Usman Abdullah said heavy machinery and cutters are required for the operation. Following the major train accident, up and down railway traffic has been suspended. The driver of the ill-fated Sir Syed Express train, Aijaz Shah said he was rescued by the local ...

An accountability court on Monday issued non-bailable arrest warrant for the former chairperson of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Farzana Raja over her continuous absence, reported. According to details, during a hearing of a reference against BISP in an accountability court, no-bailable arrest warrants were issued against Farzana Raja, besides also being declared proclaimed offender after her continuous absence from the court hearings. “Farzana Raja’s NIC should be blocked and her name be placed on the ECL,” Judge Asghar Ali directed besides also ordering to separate her matter from the case hearing and set a new date for her indictment. The court also summoned the NAB prosecutor during the next hearing set on June 14 after the counsel of the co-accused in the case argued that indictment could not be made on interim reference. National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Rawalpindi bureau had filed a reference against former chairperson BISP Farzana Raja and others accused of a...

The number of COVID-19 cases is on the decline with every passing day as the positivity rate in Pakistan has dropped to its lowest 3.02 per cent during the third wave of the pandemic. According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) data, 58 more people lost their lives and 1,490 new infections surfaced when 49,285 samples were tested during this period. The number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 climbed to 933,630 after 1,490 people tested positive for the virus. 3,205 patients are in critical care in various hospitals across the country. 1,820 more people recuperated from the disease in the last 24 hours, taking the number of recovered patients to 864,931. Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Punjab has reported a total of 342,498 cases, Sindh 323,828, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 134,558, Islamabad 81,766, Balochistan 25,819, Azad Jammu and Kashmir 19,519, and Gilgit Baltistan 5,642. On Saturday, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sul...

Pakistan lauds Chinese President Xi Jinping leadership in "combatting climate change and biodiversity loss", said Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday. Taking to Twitter, PM Imran thanked President Xi for the "strong message" he shared on World Environment Day 2021, which was hosted by Pakistan. He added that the message reflected both the countries' commitment to counter environment degradation. "We laud Pres Xi's leadership in combatting climate change and biodiversity loss and his offer to step up cooperation on ecosystem restoration," said the PM. The Chinese president, in his congratulatory letter to the World Environment Day events held in Islamabad, had urged the international community to work together with "unprecedented ambition and action to strive for a fair and reasonable system of global environmental governance featuring win-win cooperation and promote the sustainable development of humanity". Chinese state news agency...

Federal Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed on Sunday said that Prime Minister Imran Khan regrets that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was able to escape the clutches of the law by leaving Pakistan for Britain. He said that Nawaz deceived the government and went abroad using "fake medical reports" and the prime minister has great sorrow over this but the government stopped PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif from leaving abroad and put his name on the Exit Control List (ECL). Rasheed was speaking to the media after inaugurating a coronavirus vaccination facility at CDA Medical Centre, Qazafi Chowk, G-9 Markaz, in Islamabad. He said a person whose name was included in the ECL could challenge the decision in 15 days but Shahbaz Sharif did not challenge the interior ministry's decision. Rasheed went on to say that PM Imran Khan was lucky to have such an "incompetent" and "sluggish" Opposition. The Interior Minister thanked the World Health Org...

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday said that countries get bankrupted and indebted when their premiers and ministers are corrupt. Taking to social networking website, Twitter, PM Imran Khan said, “When low level officials take bribes it creates problems for the citizens as speed money is like a tax on them but countries get bankrupted and indebted when the head of state and his ministers are corrupt.” He also attached a link regarding US presidential actions titled ‘Memorandum on establishing the fight against corruption as a core United States… Source

LAHORE: With a considerable decrease in COVID-19 cases, the Punjab government on Sunday allowed the resumption of sports activities in the province with strict adherence to coronavirus SOPs, According to a notification, the government has allowed the resumption of 30 non-contact sports activities from June 7 (Monday). “Ban on 12 contact sports will remain in place,” reads the notification issued by the Punjab Sports Board. The sports activities set to resume from tomorrow include Cricket, Gymnastics, Basketball, Volleyball, Athletics, Baseball, Table tennis, Badminton, Swimming, Snooker and other sports activities. Punjab… Source

After two separate accidents at coal mines in China, two people died and 12 were missing, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Saturday. The two deaths took place at a mine run by Henan Hebi Coal and Electricity Co late on Friday, prompting authorities in the central province of Henan to launch an emergency response plan, CCTV said. It did not give details about the cause of the accident, which left six people missing. Last month, Henan's provincial government said it had approved the reopening of another mine operated by Hebi after it was shut for breaching regulations. In the north of the country, another six people were reported missing on Saturday after an accident at a coal mining plant in Heilongjiang province, the broadcaster said later. China has been carrying out safety inspections at coal mines across the country as record high coal prices encourage miners to ramp up production to meet supply gaps. In May, China's cabinet said it would work to stabilise rising c...