England’s Harry Brook celebrates after scoring a century (100 runs) during the second day of the third cricket Test match between Pakistan and England at the National Cricket Stadium
Governor Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori watching third cricket Test match between Pakistan and England at the National Cricket Stadium
A girl selecting old books from a roadside setup at Mall Road
Imran Khan sets horrendous record of corruption during his govt tenure, says Marriyum
ISLAMABAD, Dec 18 (APP): Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Sunday said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan set a horrendous record of corruption during his government’s three and half years tenure, but ironically failed to prove a single allegation levelled against his political opponents.
“Imran Khan will come to his sense once he starts answering about his corruption,” she said in a news statement.
She also clarified that the country had not defaulted, but Imran Khan had in every way.
“Leave the institutions aside, tell about the thefts and corruption done by you and your spouse while heading the previous government,” she said while rejecting the PTI’s chief undue criticism of the heads of different institutions.
The minister believed that Imran Khan would not dissolve the provincial assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at any cost.
She alleged that Imran Khan was desperately seeking an NRO-like concession from the incumbent Chief Election Commissioner.
She further asked Imran Khan to get ready to answer before the court which would hear the cases of his alleged corruption in the foreign funding and Toshakhana scams.
The minister said Imran Khan, who was a foreign agent, was found involved in looting Toshakhana and receiving prohibited funding from abroad. “Imran Khan is incompetent and will never come to power again,” she remarked.
Saudi govt facilitating Hajj, Umrah pilgrims to fullest extent possible: Ashrafi
ISLAMABAD, Dec 18 (APP): Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Interfaith Harmony and Middle East Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi said the Saudi government was facilitating the Hajj and Umrah pilgrims to the fullest extent possible.
In his remarks at a Hajj Conference organized by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony and the Hajj Organizers Association of Pakistan (HOAP) the other day, he said the Saudi government, particularly Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, were making all-out efforts to create more facilities for pilgrims and religious tourists.
Ashrafi, who is also the chairman of Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC), said as part of the preparations for Hajj pilgrims and other religious tourists, the government of Pakistan was in constant contact with the government of Saudi Arabia.
He said the pilgrims were expected to have more facilities this year, which was a welcome development, adding that the Saudi government made the best arrangements for Hajj last year.
He said, in collaboration with HOAP, the PUC would arrange a series of trainings for pilgrims across the country.
He said the Saudi government’s recent initiatives to facilitate the Umrah visa were appreciable and commendable. “Every Muslim values Saudi Arabia’s government and public services,” he maintained.
Ashrafi said the entire Islamic world was grateful to Saudi Arabia’s leadership for not suspending Hajj despite the Corona pandemic as it was a tremendous accomplishment on the part of the Saudi administration.
He said the nation was thankful to Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Religious Affairs Minister Mufti Abdul Shakoor for the pilgrims’ arrangements made last year.
He said the government would continue to assist Hajj organizers and any such initiatives that would benefit pilgrims and religious tourists.
PM, Zardari discuss political, economic situation
LAHORE, Dec 18 (APP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Sunday here held a meeting with Co-Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party Asif Ali Zardari and discussed in detail the overall political and economic situation in the country.
During the meeting held at the Model Town residence of the prime minister, they agreed that nobody would be allowed to create political instability in the country.
They decided to take decisive action against those who were conspiring to push the country toward economic default.
They consulted on matters related to relief to the public and for increasing economic activities in the country.
The former president appreciated efforts of the prime minister to reduce the prices of petroleum products.
The two leaders agreed to speed up relief activities for rehabilitation of flood affectees and to save them from the harsh winter.
They concurred that the allied parties would enhance their political strength. They were unanimous in their view that political stability was imperative for the economic progress of Pakistan and they would go to any extent to save Pakistan from economic hardship.
They resolved that the coalition government would continue to move forward for political stability and economic development.
The special assistants to the prime minister Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan and Attaullah Tarar were also present during the meeting.
Citizens asked to adopt preventive measures to limit influenza transmission
ISLAMABAD, Dec 18 (APP): The National Institute of Health (NIH) has advised citizens to adopt special preventive measures for limiting influenza transmission in the prevailing high-risk season.
According to NIH, if someone was sick or had been in close contact with persons having a flu-like illness, he or she should take these precautionary measures to prevent the disease.
These measures included frequent and thorough hand washing with soap, use of hand sanitizer when away from hand washing facility, covering mouth and nose while sneezing or coughing, taking rest when sick, avoiding crowds, and adopting social distancing measures.
It said that patients with chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes, cardiac and lung diseases, besides pregnant women, elderly people, and children under five years are at higher risk of developing severe or complicated diseases.
It said that the institute has also asked the health authorities and other stakeholders to ensure taking preventive and control measures for seasonal influenza.
Health authorities have been advised for adopting measures encompassing preparedness to deal with the increased workload expected in the outpatient and in-patient departments during these days, it added.
The institute has also issued an advisory for the prevention and control of seasonal influenza in the wake of the expected upsurge of influenza cases in different parts of the country. The advisory discussed that influenza or seasonal flu can spread from person to person through coughing or sneezing or can contaminate hands or other surfaces.
The advisory said that vaccination was the most effective way to prevent infection and severe outcomes caused by influenza viruses, particularly in high-risk groups.
Flu viruses are continuously changing with the likelihood of the emergence of new flu viruses every year. This makes influenza an unpredictable disease with varying extent of spread, timing, severity, and length of the season.
An upsurge of cases in Pakistan is usually observed in the winter season as the flu cases increase due to drop in temperature during December and February. It said that the Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC) at the Field Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Division (FE&DSD) of NIH was regularly monitoring the flu situation.
PM, Shujaat discuss political, economic situation
LAHORE, Dec 18 (APP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Sunday held a meeting with President of Pakistan Muslim League(Q) Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain at his residence here and inquired about his well-being.
The prime minister presented a bouquet to Chaudhry Shujaat.
The federal ministers Tariq Bashir Cheema, Chaudhry Salik Hussain and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan were present during the meeting.
The two leaders discussed the political situation and the prime minister informed about the efforts to restore the economy and give relief to the people.
Chaudhry Shujaat appreciated the sincere efforts of the prime minister to take the people and country out of the problems.
They agreed to further improve and strengthen mutual cooperation and work together.
They agreed that political stability and close cooperation were necessary to resolve issues facing the country.
A group photograph with Chief Guest Senator Taj Haider Chairman organizing committee with players of 8th Benazir Bhutto Shaheed National Tennis Championship during closing ceremony held at Islamabad Tennis Complex
Workers of PPP women wing holding a rally in favor of PPP Chairman and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in front of Press Club
