Pakistan

WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Imran Khan urged the international community on Tuesday to create fiscal space for developing nations to help them cope with the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Addressing a meeting of world leaders on the pandemic’s economic impact via video link, the prime minister also emphasised the need to ensure an equitable and affordable distribution of a …

LAHORE: Flour millers paint a gloomy picture of the sector after a couple of months, fearing the masses will turn violent over not finding wheat flour in the market. “The federal government should immediately import wheat to ensure availability of flour in the market. Otherwise, people will come out on the roads and pelt stones at government offices as well …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will this week begin the process of selling unused telecom spectrum in an auction it hopes will raise around $1 billion and enhance network capacity, said three senior government officials familiar with the matter. The spectrum is in the 1800 and 2100 MHz bands typically used by operators for 4G LTE (long-term evolution) networks that offer faster video …

RAWALPINDI: After the end of monsoon season, the dengue mosquito is coming out from safer places as larvae was found in 963 places in the city and cantonment areas from Sept 19 and Sept 28. According to data available with, the dengue larvae was found in Dhoke Babu Irfan, Dhoke Hassu, Dhoke Mangtal, Gharibabad, Shakrial, New Afzal Town, Railway Scheme …

LAHORE: Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Umar Sheikh has opened a ‘Pandora box’ as he ‘challenged’ the powers of incumbent provincial police chief Inam Ghani in the transfer/posting of deputy superintendents of police (DSPs). Mr Sheikh is of the view that the appointment of DSPs in Lahore should be the jurisdiction of the CCPO rather than the IGP. While writing …

ISLAMABAD: Hafiz Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi was appointed as special representative to the prime minister on religious harmony. A notification issued by the PM Secretariat said: “The prime minister has been pleased to appoint Maulana Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi as Special Representative of the Prime Minister on Religious Harmony, with immediate effect. The appointment of Maulana Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi shall be in …

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday upheld the promotions of bureaucrats in BS-20 and 21 and dismissed the petitions filed against them, declaring that the government has the right to enhance the qualifications and standards for recruitment and promotion in order to maintain efficiency in service. The petitioners in the matter included incumbent Lahore Capital City Police Officer …

ISLAMABAD: Amidst perception of a fast shrinking space for dissent and right to express, the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) — a mother institution regulating the affairs of the legal fraternity — constituted on Tuesday a much-needed seven-member Journalistic Defence Committee to protect the rights of journalists. According to the PBC, the committee was formed in view of alleged policies of …

ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI: Primary schools will open in the twin cities today (Wednesday) in the third phase of educational institutions reopening, following months shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) has directed all area education officers to visit at least seven schools every day to ensure that health guidelines and standard operating procedure (SOP) to limit …

SWABI: All the five basic health units across the Gadoon Amazai mountainous region here have long been without female doctors, locals complained here on Monday. They told Dawn that BHUs in Ghani Chathra, Gabasni, Gandaf, Mangal Chai and Malik Abad also lacked the required equipment and medicines. They said health department officers and elected representatives had repeatedly been informed about the matter, …