HYDERABAD: January 03 –
An elderly worker cutting the tree with the help of a saw at his workplace.
HYDERABAD: January 03 –
A view of dense fog covering surrounding areas of Bhara kaho along Srinagar Highway.
ISLAMABAD: January 03 –
APP02-030124
ISLAMABAD: January 03 –
ISLAMABAD: January 03 –
CED urges pol. parties, national institutions to hold dialogue for ensuring free, fair elections
ISLAMABAD, Jan 03 (APP):Coalition for Elections and Democracy (CED), a coalition of leading civil society organization, has urged the political parties and national institutions to hold dialogue for ensuring free and fair elections in the country.
Through the dialogue, the key stakeholders must address complaints regarding level playing field for political parties and develop consensus to reduce political polarization before conducting next elections, said a news release by the Center for Peace and Development headed by its Executive Director Mukhtar Ahmad Ali.
All the stakeholders should work for implementation of constitutional obligations and holding of timely general elections in all areas of Pakistan. Any action that undermine the constitutional order, respect of government institutions, and credibility of upcoming elections must be avoided in the larger interest of democratic system and political stability, the news release added.
The CED consists of civil society organizations including Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI), Centre for Governance and Public Accountability (CGPA), Individual land (IL), Institute for Research, Advocacy and Development (IRADA), Parliamentarians Commission for Human Rights (PCHR) and Peace and Justice Network (PJN).
The CED has emphasized that, in many ways, the current political situation is unprecedented and, therefore, it requires a grand dialogue on an urgent basis without causing any delay in the ongoing electoral process. In this regard, it would be quite appropriate for the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to take initiative for engaging political parties for dialogue to address complaints and grievances so that credibility of the general elections could be ensured in a befitting manner.
The CED further emphasised that dialogue must have results within days, without affecting timeline for the General Elections in February 2024. The CED also stressed the need for facilitating voters in the flood affected areas besides ensuring national identity cards for them or access to polling stations due to damaging roads and tracks. There is also need for robust security measures to protect citizens’ participation in the electoral process.
Power shutdown notified for areas of provincial metropolis
PESHAWAR, Jan 03 (APP):PESHAWAR, Jan 3 (APP): Pesco authorities have notified power suspension in various suburban areas of the city due to maintenance work.
According to Pesco, power supply will remain suspended from RMT Grid Station on Jan 4 and Jan 9 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, resultantly consumers of Professor Model Town, Sheikh Yaseen and Regi feeders will face inconvenience.
Power supply will remain suspended from Peshawar Cantt Grid Station on 4 and 9 January from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, resultantly consumers of Tehkal, Islamia College, KTH, Commercial, Jahangir Abad,University Town, NCB, Air Port , PAF Base, Saddar Road, Mall Road, MES 1,2, Old MES, Babu Ghari, Marble Industry , SAA, Palosi 1, Behri Colony, Tehkal Payan feeders will face inconvenience.
Similarly, power supply will remain suspended from Pesco Colony Grid Station on 4 and 9 January from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, resultantly consumers of Bank of Khyber, Scarp 1, ICF, Darmangi, Warsak Road and Jail feeders will face inconvenience.
Power supply will remain suspended from Shahi Bagh Grid Station on 4 and 9 January from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, resultantly consumers of KSM, Industrial Naguman, Northern Bypass, Bakhsho Pull, Ghari Hamza, Old Naguman, Shah Alam, Latif Abad, Dalazak, Sarbuland Pura, Samar Bagh, New Takht Abad, New Naguman and Khazana feeders will face inconvenience.
Canals desilting under way in division
FAISALABAD, Jan 03 (APP):The Irrigation Department has completed desilting of eight canals, out of 24 so far.
Chief Engineer Shahid Salim Chaudhry said here on Wednesday that desilting campaign was in full swing in the region. He hoped to complete it according to the set time-frame. He said performance reports of the staff engaged in desilting were being reviewed on a daily basis besides monitoring by the officers concerned.
ECP announces January 22 deadline for postal ballot applications ahead of General Elections
ISLAMABAD, Jan 3 (APP):The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has set January 22 as the deadline for receiving applications for postal ballot papers for the upcoming General Elections for the National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Baluchistan.
According to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), this provision is exclusively offered to government officials, armed forces personnel, and individuals in public offices, along with their spouses and children residing in a location different from the registered constituency.
Additionally, individuals in detention and those with physical disabilities unable to travel, possessing a Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) with a physical disability logo issued by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), are eligible to cast their votes through postal ballots.
Likewise, individuals appointed by the Returning Officer, such as police personnel assigned duties at polling stations different from their designated voting location, must submit their postal ballot applications to the Returning Officer within three days of their appointments.
The ECP clarifies that these applications should be made using the specified form and submitted to the Returning Officer of the relevant constituency in which these individuals are registered as voters.
Those who receive postal ballots will not have the privilege to cast their votes in person at the polling stations. Alternatively, individuals can download the application forms from the Election Commission of Pakistan’s website, www.ecp.pk.
FIA arrests man for fraud
LAHORE, Jan 03 (APP):The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested a man from Okara for getting money from a man on the promise of sending him abroad.
The Anti-Human Trafficking Circle took action against Asif Gul for deceiving a man with false promise of employment in the United Kingdom (UK) and receiving Rs 2.49 million from him.
Earlier, the Anti-Human Smuggling Circle had filed a case against the accused in Lahore who had gone into hiding after getting money.
Upon his arrest, a thorough investigation has been launched.
8.17 million cotton bales reach ginneries across Pakistan, 77 pc increase recorded
MULTAN, Jan 03 (APP):Seed cotton (Phutti) equivalent to 8.17 million or 81,71,082 bales have reached ginneries across Pakistan till Dec 31, 2023 recording an increase in arrivals by 77.14 per cent compared to corresponding period of the year 2022.
According to a fortnightly report issued by Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) here Wednesday, arrivals to factories increased by over 3.5 million bales, hence the 77.14 per cent increase recorded in 2023 till Dec 31 compared to 2022.
Over 4 million or 40,78,769 bales’ arrival was recorded at ginning factories in Punjab, showing a surge by over 1.3 million bales compared to the year 2022 calculated at 47.66 per cent. In Sindh, arrivals were recorded at over 4 million or 40,92,313 bales, showing a jump by 2.241 million bales, recording a whopping 121.16 per cent increase compared to corresponding period of 2022.
Over 8 million or 80,82,744 bales were converted into bales at ginning factories.
Textile sector continued to maintain its position as the biggest buyer with a figure of over 7.3 million or 73,14,127 bales bought while exporters and traders bought 2,92,126 bales.
Exactly 241 ginning factories were operational in the country including 210 alone in Punjab that have so far prepared over 4 million or 40,80,064 bales in the province.
Arrival of cotton to ginneries in Balochistan was recorded at 187221 bales.
Exactly 5,64,829 bales were still present at the ginneries as unsold stock
AIOU resumes extra-curricular activities
ISLAMABAD, Jan 03 (APP):Vice Chancellor of Allama Iqbal Open University(AIOU), Prof Dr. Nasir Mahmood said on Wednesday there is a dire need to attract children to co-curricular and extra-curricular activities.
He said these activities instil the spirit of hard work in students while addressing the prize distribution ceremony of AIOU Annual Cricket Tournament 2024
Sports activities were halted due to the pandemic, now resuming those healthy activities is a very good initiative, he added.
The Vice-Chancellor emphasized the importance of sports in the physical and mental development of children and announced that sports activities will be organized in the university’s regional campuses.
Additionally, he mentioned that the renovation of residential colony blocks and the ground is in the planning stage, and sufficient funds will be allocated in the budget.
During a briefing on sports activities, Director of Student Affairs, Syed Ghulam Kazim Ali, informed the Vice Chancellor that cricket, badminton, table tennis and football teams have been formed at AIOU, and 60 teams participated in this cricket tournament with a total of 50 matches played.
DSA said that there were 2 categories in this tournament, one was the students’ category, and the other was the AIOU employees’ category.
The student category tournament was won by the university residential colony team while the final match of the employees’ category was played today between the admin and DRS teams, DRS team bags the winning trophy. At the end of the final match, all four finalist teams were introduced to the Vice Chancellor.
PSX turns around to bullish trend, gains 297 points
ISLAMABAD, Jan 3 (APP): The 100-index of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) turned around to bullish trend on Wednesday, gaining 297.25 points, a positive change of 0.46 percent, closing at 64,646.85 points against 64,349.60 points the previous trading day.
A total of 639,616,328 shares valuing Rs.20.282 billion were traded during the day as compared to 671,665,363 shares valuing Rs.24.451 billion the last day.
Some 366 companies transacted their shares in the stock market; 190 of them recorded gains and 159 sustained losses, whereas the share prices of 17 remained unchanged.
The three top-trading companies were K-Electric Ltd with 127,794,515 shares at Rs.5.47 per share, PTCL with 50,431,000 shares at Rs.13.49 per share and Pak Refinery with 35,835,842 shares at Rs.28.06 per share.
Pakistan Tobacco Company witnessed a maximum increase of Rs.57.89 per share price, closing at Rs.1,130.00, whereas the runner-up was Hoechst Pakistan with a Rs.30.00 rise in its per share price to Rs.1,350.00.
Pakistan Services Limited Limited witnessed a maximum decrease of Rs.27.34 per share closing at Rs.983.67, followed by Colgate Palmolive with Rs.17.49 decline to close at Rs.1,607.37.