Pakistan

RAWALPINDI: Nine localities in the district were placed under smart lockdown on Friday after the number of patients in these areas increased in the last two weeks. Besides, eight people lost their battle against Covid-19 in the twin cities. According to the district administration spokesperson, six areas fall in Rawalpindi, two in Taxila and one in Kallar Syedan. The areas …

LAHORE: The PPP is planning to instill young blood into the party ranks beginning with induction of Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari as chairperson of its youth wing. The younger daughter of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto has already exhibited her political abilities in her first formal public appearance at the Multan rally of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) last month. She is …

ISLAMABAD: The National Account­ability Bureau (NAB) on Friday submitted a report to the accountability court of Islamabad, reaffirming allegations against Senate Deputy Chairman Saleem Mandviwalla in connection with the fake bank accounts case. Though the report was submitted to substantiate the role of Tariq Mehmood, the alleged front man of the Mandviwalla Builders and Developers in the case, it focused …

ISLAMABAD: Army Chief Gen Qamar Bajwa on Friday emphasised combat readiness and improved interoperability with China. In his remarks at an air base he visited for witnessing Pak-China Joint Air Exercise Shaheen-IX, Gen Bajwa said that joint drills with China were important “to increase the combat readiness of both countries to face emerging geo-strategic challenges”. Shaheen-IX exercises, which are participated …

• 1.2m families can avail treatment • Says business-friendly policies bearing fruit ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday launched the health card facility for 1.2 million families in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). “By launching this facility we want people on the other side of Kashmir to know how we treat our people,” the prime minister said while addressing a …

PESHAWAR: Senate Deputy Chairman Saleem Mandviwala on Thursday declared the federal government’s decision about early Senate elections unconstitutional and said those elections would be held in line with the laid-down procedure and schedule only after the retiring Senators completed their term. “The government’s desire to hold the Senate polls before schedule can’t be fulfilled unless a necessary amendment is made …

ISLAMABAD: In response to a statement of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the employees of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) on Thursday alleged that the medical teaching institution (MTI) ordinance was a conspiracy to lease out belongings of the hospital. The prime minister had said he wanted to bring a system of reward and punishment in Pims to run it …

LAHORE: A team of senior police officers has recommended a five-year plan for reorganisation of the Lahore police with a centralised headquarters of the Capital City Police Lahore and 12 new police bureaux. The team also proposed handover of the operational command of the Punjab Police Integrated Command & Communications (PPIC-3) to the Lahore Police and the Punjab Safe City …

KARACHI: The Sindh government on Thursday decided to close all madressahs across the province which continued their educational activities despite closure of other educational institutions, including schools, colleges, universities and coaching and training centres, in a move to contain spread of the coronavirus pandemic. A notification issued by the Sindh home department said that the orders were put in place …

KARACHI: The 13th death anniversary of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto is set to become another power show of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) as Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari directly contacted on Thursday leaders of the parties in the PDM and invited them to attend the Dec 27 rally in Larkana. The PPP chairman first called former …