President Dr. Arif Alvi emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive, long-term planning to foster sustainable growth in the tourism industry and attract foreign investment. Speaking at the 3rd Sustainable Mountain Sports Tourism Conference 2023 in Islamabad, he highlighted the crucial role of improved infrastructure, effective management, and a clean environment in capturing the interest of international tourists. President Alvi stressed the importance of providing more facilities to the tourism industry, identifying sports, particularly mountaineering, as a potential revenue source. He underscored Pakistan’s wealth of captivating attractions, including the highest mountain peaks, picturesque coastlines, ancient civilizations, and a rich cultural heritage.…
Author: Saifullah
Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, in an interview with a private FM channel on Wednesday, urged Afghan authorities to extradite terrorist leadership, especially that of the TTP, involved in terrorist activities within Pakistan. Baloch emphasized that Pakistan possesses substantial evidence against them and will take legal action. Addressing the recent deadly attack in Dera Ismail Khan, the foreign secretary delivered a strong demarche to the Afghan Charge D’Affaires, demanding that the Afghan government condemn the act, conduct an investigation, and take stern action against those responsible. Baloch stressed the need for Afghanistan to fulfill its obligations and prevent the…
Traffic Engineering & Transportation Planning Agency (TEPA) and the Town Planning Wing of Lahore Development Authority (LDA) joined forces in a coordinated operation on Tuesday, targeting the vicinity of Abdul Haq Road in Johar Town, Lahore. The collaborative effort resulted in the sealing of seven properties due to encroachments on the parking space along Abdul Haq Road. Various shops along this road were cleared of encroachments, with specific incidents including the demolition of stairs in the basement of a pharmacy, leading to the sealing of the area. Meditron Plaza saw the sealing of a store and office situated in the…
The Lahore High Court (LHC) has stirred controversy by acquitting the three main culprits of the infamous Kasur video scandal, despite their prior conviction and life imprisonment sentence by an anti-terrorism court (ATC). The decision, rendered by a two-member bench led by Justice Shahram Sarwar Chaudhry, has ignited public outrage. Raised serious questions about the efficacy of the justice system in handling heinous crimes. During the proceedings, appeals on behalf of the accused were presented by Abid Hussain Kuchi and Sohail Asghar Advocate, leading to a surprising turn of events. The Kasur video scandal, originating in 2015, involved the Ganda…
The federal government announced on Tuesday that it is now mandatory for individuals to undergo training for both the issuance and renewal of arms licenses. According to the updated guidelines, individuals seeking an arms license must participate in a thorough two-day training session before being eligible to obtain the license from either the federal district administration or the Ministry of Interior. The training, held at the Islamabad police shooting range, aims to provide aspirants with essential knowledge and skills related to firearm usage. Successful completion of this training will be a prerequisite for obtaining or renewing arms licenses. Furthermore,…
British filmmaker, producer, and former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s ex-wife, Jemima Khan, has refuted allegations of financing vloggers to garner support for her former husband and his political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The accusations were made by PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari during a recent interview with a private news channel. Responding to the claims on social media, Jemima stated, “This is not true,” emphasizing her commitment to only wishing for “peace & prosperity in Pakistan.” Zardari, in his interview, suggested that vloggers settled abroad were claiming Jemima’s financial support for these bloggers. Alleging the existence of a lobby with…
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has decided, in its convened session today, to maintain the policy rate at 22 percent. This marks the fourth consecutive meeting where the MPC has kept this stance unchanged. The decision aligns with market expectations, with the majority of participants anticipating the retention of the current rate. In the Monetary Policy Statement, released by the central bank, acknowledgment is made of the recent surge in gas prices during November, surpassing the MPC’s initial projections, which could potentially impact inflation. Despite the impact of elevated gas prices, the Committee…
In the ongoing legal proceedings, the indictment against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi in the cipher case faced delays and could not be filed on Tuesday. The Official Secret Act Special Court presided over by Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain at Adiala Jail, conducted the hearing, with the presence of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Special Prosecutor Zulfiqar Abbas Naqvi and legal representatives of both Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood. During the session, the court disposed of six petitions submitted by the lawyers. The judge mentioned addressing the issue of an open trial in jail concerning…
Moments after the City Council approved a resolution enabling K-Electric to collect Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) charges through citizens’ power bills, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi Amir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman announced a no-confidence motion against Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab. Expressing disappointment over the PPP mayor’s handling of the water crisis, alleged election rigging, and budget delays, Rehman insisted on addressing public concerns about water-related issues. He called for the transfer of the solid waste department to the local government and claimed rigging in the local body elections. Wahab defended the PPP’s mayoral victory, vowing to prevent corruption and interference in KMC’s jurisdiction.…
Pakistan is gearing up for the announcement of revised petrol and diesel prices for the upcoming fortnight, set to be effective from December 16th to January 1st. The government is expected to reveal the adjusted prices on Friday, December 15, with the changes taking effect after midnight on Saturday, December 16. As of December 1, the current petrol price nationwide stands at Rs281.34 per liter. In the previous review, the government maintained the petrol price, while high-speed diesel (HSD) experienced a Rs7 reduction, resulting in the current rate of Rs289.71, down from Rs296.71 before December 1. Recent reports from credible…
