Pakistan

LAHORE: The federal government has directed all the provinces to commence Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) for diagnosis of Covid-19. It has also directed the provincial governments to make procurement of the World Health Organization-approved RAT kits to start process with effect from Nov 15 stating that ‘the RAT has certain advantages over RT-PCR, such as relatively low cost and return …

A crucial meeting of parliamentary leaders in the National Assembly and Senate called by NA Speaker Asad Qaiser for Wednesday (tomorrow) in which they were to be briefed by “military officials on the current issues of national security” was cancelled on Tuesday amid the opposition’s boycott. “The session of parliamentary leaders in the National Assembly and Senate under National Assembly …

PESHAWAR: The Awami National Party (ANP) on Monday withdrew its decision to march on Islamabad on Wednesday (Nov 11) after a jirga comprising federal ministers visited Bacha Khan Markaz to tender an apology over remarks by the interior minister that ANP workers were killed by militants in reaction to their stance on militancy. Federal Minister for Defence Pervez Khattak, Interior Minister retired …

Several localities in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Multan have been declared as coronavirus hotspots and put under lockdown with immediate effect, according to notifications from the Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department released late Monday, after 400 new cases were reported province wide for the first time since July 18. The notifications said there had been a “constant increase in positivity …

LAHORE: A number of workers, civil society members and parliamentarians took out a protest rally on Sunday against massive price hike, rising unemployment and other issues people have been facing since the PTI-led government took over in August 2018. The protesters including a number of women gathered at the GPO intersection under the banner of Haqooq-i-Khalq movement. They, while carrying …

GILGIT: Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) vice president Maryam Nawaz alleged on Sunday that the government had planned to rig Gilgit-Baltistan elections. “If the elections are rigged, we will not accept results,” she warned while addressing a public meeting organised by her party in Chilas, Diamer district. Ms Nawaz said Prime Minister Imran Khan’s “days are numbered as his fake government …

comm RAWALPINDI: The Gilgit-Baltistan administration has sought more than 2,000 extra police personnel from Punjab Constabulary to strengthen security during the upcoming general elections to be held in the region on Nov 15. According to sources, the personnel to be sent to GB will be equipped with antiriot equipment and they will also ensure implementation of preventive measures against Covid-19. …

KARACHI: Pak Sarzameen Party chairman Syed Mustafa Kamal on Sunday asked the government and opposition parties to initiate a grand national dialogue and formulate a plan to run Pakistan for next 20 years and to steer the country out of multiple crises that had been eroding the masses’ trust on democratic dispensation. “Let’s initiate a dialogue to save Pakistan. Let’s …

The Supreme Court on Monday granted bail to the chief executive and editor-in-chief of Jang Group of Newspapers, Mir Shakilur Rehman, in a 34-year-old case related to land he allegedly acquired “illegally” in the tenure of then chief minister of Punjab, Nawaz Sharif. The court granted Rehman bail against a surety bond of Rs10 million. Rehman was arrested by the …

ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi and AJK President Sardar Masood Khan on Sunday congratulated US Presidentelect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on their victory in the US election. In their separate messages, the two leaders expressed the hope that the new US leadership would improve its role for peace in Afghanistan and help resolve the Kashmir issue. In …