Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan on Thursday defended the government’s new social media policy, saying that the new rules had been created for the protection of citizens. “There was no mechanism that protected our citizens’ interests [… or] our national integrity,” she said, adding that after the enactment of the new policy, social …

KARACHI: The Asia Internet Coalition (AIC) has regretted that the Pakistan government released its rules on regulating social media without consulting stakeholders and urged the authorities to reconsider its move. The AIC is an industry association that comprises leading internet and technology companies, namely Facebook, Twitter, Google, Amazon, AirBnb, Apple, Booking.com, Expedia Group, Grab, LinkedIn, LINE, Rakuten, and Yahoo (Oath). In a …

ISLAMABAD: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is seeking $425 million from the World Bank group to develop run-of-river hydropower projects on Swat River Basin which has an estimated energy potential of 2,000MW. The KP government has developed a project at a cost of $782m. However, this financing plan is indicative and efforts would be made to mobilise as much commercial financing …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Turkey on Thursday finalised two memorandums of understandings (MoUs) to increase the level of economic engagement and mobilise the untapped potential for increasing trade and investment. The understanding was reached during a meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Trade and Investment held on the sidelines of the two-day visit of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Two …

The new coronavirus outbreak could mean a reduction of $4-5 billion in worldwide airline revenue, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) said on Thursday. The UN agency reported that 70 airlines have cancelled all international flights in and out of China and 50 others have reduced their operations. Preliminary estimates show this has meant a reduction of nearly 20 million …

India’s halt on Malaysian palm oil imports has disrupted global edible oil trade flows, with Indonesia diverting supplies to feed India, Malaysia rushing to tap markets left behind by Jakarta, and India substituting palm with other oils. India, the top global palm oil buyer, imposed restrictions on imports of refined palm oil last month, a move sources said was retaliation …

ISLAMABAD: The government on Thursday hinted at further tightening of civil expenditures to compensate for slippages on targets committed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on revenue collections. This came from the Ministry of Finance at a meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance and Reve­nue as the talks between an IMF visiting mission and the government authorities …

SYDNEY: Steve Smith and David Warner will be ready for whatever South African crowds throw at them when the Australia batsmen return to the nation two years after the ball-tampering scandal, paceman Josh Hazlewood has said. The pair will fly out with the Australia squad on Friday for a limited overs tour in the duo’s first visit to the country …

The HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) has become synonymous with quality cricket and the six league franchises are supported by passionate fans who give it their all to cheer their respective teams. Over the course of four years, the matches between Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars have attracted large crowds, and massive viewership as fans anticipate the contests with bated …

ISLAMABAD: The UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency has announced its partnership with Peshawar Zalmi to promote the refugee cause through cricket in Pakistan. Peshawar Zalmi are one of the most popular franchises and were champions of Pakistan Super League (PSL) Twenty20 competition — which have been taking place since 2016 — in 2017. As part of the partnership, Peshawar Zalmi …