Category: Pakistan

LAHORE: The seat booking/reservation has been completed in all trains running between Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Lahore. According to a spokesperson for the Pakistan Railways on Friday, booking/reservation in up and down express trains running from different cities, including Lahore, has also been completed and closed. The booking for Green Line, Khyber Mail, Tezgam, Allama Iqbal Express, Hazara Express, Awam Express, Karakoram Express, Business Express, Shah Hussain Express, Millat Express and Bahauddin Zekeriya Express has been completed. The department was considering a proposal to attach two additional coaches with regular trains on Eid, the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Railways booking and reservation offices will remain closed on the first day of Eidul Azha. According to a notification issued here on Friday, the reservation offices across the country will also remained closed on the second day of Eid from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. After two days, all reservation offices will work according to the schedule.

SRINAGAR: Slaughter of cows, calves and camels on Muslim festival Eid al-Adha has been banned in the Muslim-majority Jammu and Kashmir. An order issued by the Animal Husbandry Department and addressed to the police chief for 97% Muslim Kashmir valley, and its divisional commissioner, has asked officials to stop “illegal killing/sacrifice” of cows, calves, camels and other animals besides taking legal action against those transporting these animals and “violating rules on Eid”. The order said that a large number of sacrificial animals are likely to be slaughtered on the festival of sacrifice. “In view of animal welfare, the Animal Husbandry Ministry of the government of India has requested for implementation of precautionary measures to strictly implement the animal welfare laws such as Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Transport of Animals Welfare Rules. . . ,” the order reads. An overwhelming majority of Kashmir Muslims slaughter and eat sheep or goat on Eid. Although the slaughter of cows, calves and bulls stands officially banned, hundreds of meat shops sell beef and buffalo meat. The practice of sacrificing bovine animals was, until a few decades ago, prevalent in rural areas but catching up in the capital Srinagar too. Only a small number of camels are sacrificed and their slaughter on Eid is a relatively new practice. The fresh order is apparently aimed at placating the sentiments of the Hindus in the region, who are a minority as a whole (28-30%), but a majority in Jammu region, the voter base of India”s ruling Hindu supremacist government.

KARACHI: Government of Sindh on Friday announced public holidays on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha from July 20 to 22, throughout the province of Sindh for all government offices, autonomous bodies and corporations. A notification issued to this effect said that the public holidays are announced for all organizations under the administrative control of Government of Sindh, except essential services, the departments and offices engaged in prevention and control of Covid-19 emergency.

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Ali Muhammad Khan Friday informed the Senate that National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) had suspended its 39 officials and lodged FIRs on further 10 personnel on reports of alleged corruption in the Karachi office. He said this in a reply to the calling attention notice of Senator Faisal Ali Subzwari to draw the attention of the Minister for Interior, towards the fake CNICs issued by NADRA in large number in its Karachi office. He said that the report of issuing fake CNICs to a large number of people was not true, however, the investigation team was probing the matter and the NADRA was vigilant. He said that there was a set procedure of issuing CNICs to eligible citizens of Pakistan after thorough confirmation through different means like fingerprints, personal appearance, submission of certificates, and authorized officers’ letters to ensure authenticity. Replying to another calling attention notice of Senator Hidayatullah Khan to draw the attention of the Minister for Interior, towards the law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the minister said that the provincial government of KP was efficiently managing the law and order situation in the province. He said that the police reforms had been introduced in KP to ensure merit and transparency in the police department and to win the trust of the people. He said that the KP police remained successful in maintaining peace with the support of other law enforcement agencies. He said that 79 organizations had been declared proscribed, many suspected had been arrested while 5000 suspicious bank accounts had been seized.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday strongly rejected the allegations of Afghanistan”s Vice President Amrullah Saleh against Pakistan Air Force trying to help Taliban. The Afghan vice president Thursday had accused the PAF of warning Afghan security forces that it would retaliate against any move to dislodge Taliban fighters in the strategic border region of Spin Boldak. The Foreign Office said the “Pakistan Air Force never communicated anything to the Afghan Air Force”. Giving background of the situation, the Foreign Office said the Afghan side conveyed to Pakistan its intention of carrying out air operation inside its (Afghanistan) territory opposite of the Pakistan”s Chaman Sector. The FO said Pakistan responded positively to Afghan government”s right to act in its territory. Inspite of very close border operations normally not acceded to by internationally accepted norms and standards, Pakistan took necessary measures within its territory to safeguard its own troops and population, it said. The FO said Pakistan “acknowledged the Afghan government”s right to undertake actions on its sovereign territory”. “However, as alleged by the Afghan Vice President, Pakistan Air Force never communicated anything to the Afghan Air Force,” it said. The FO said such statements undermined Pakistan” sincere efforts to play its part in an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led solution.

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Navy Ship ”ZULFIQUAR” (with embarked helicopter) visited Portsmouth, United Kingdom, as part of Pakistan Navy’s overseas deployment. Upon arrival, the ship was warmly welcomed by officials from Royal Navy, Deputy High Commissioner and Defence & National Advisor of Pakistan at UK, a news release said here. During stay at the port, the Mission Commander Commodore Syed Rizwan Khalid along with Commanding Officer PNS ZULFIQUAR Captain Rao Ahmed Imran Anwar called on Commander Naval Base Portsmouth Cdre J J Bailey. During the interaction, matters of mutual interest came under discussion and contribution of the Pakistan Navy to regional peace and maritime security was acknowledged. The Mission Commander conveyed well wishes from Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi for the people of UK in general and Royal Navy in particular. He also extended his gratitude for whole hearted support provided in making the ship stay comfortable. The High Commissioner of Pakistan to United Kingdom Moazzam Ali Khan also visited onboard PNS ZULFIQUAR and interacted with the Mission Commander. After the port visit, PNS ZULFIQUAR participated in 3rd PN-RN Bilateral Naval Exercise (WHITE STAR-III) with Royal Navy Ship HMS TYNE off Portsmouth. The exercise encompassed advanced Maritime maneuvers including Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO) Boarding and Force Protection drills. The exercise was aimed to enhance military cooperation through naval engagement and augment interoperability between the two friendly navies. The visit of PNS ZULFIQAR to the United Kingdom would further foster navy to navy relations and go a long way in strengthening diplomatic and military relations, between the two countries.

KAR ACHI: Former president of Pakistan and senior PML-N leader Mamnoon Husain who passed away here on Wednesday was in his 80s.

Mamnoon Husain received education up to matric level at his home and got admission to Government Commerce College and later did MBA from IBA Karachi.

He mostly remained associated with the shoe business of his family. The family had set up a big business dealing with shoes in East Pakistan. Later, Mr Husain also started exporting fruits. `He may be considered one of the pioneers of fruits business.

Mamnoon Husain joined politics in late 1960s as he was closely associated with then politiciancum-businessman Abdul Khalig Allahwala after whose name is a big market on M.A. Jinnah Road.  Mr Allahwala also served as deputy mayor Karachi.

Mamnoon Husain remained joint secretary of the then Muslim League in the 1970s. Subsequently, he focused on his business and was considered an active member of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

When Nawaz Sharif came to power first time in 1991, Mamnoon Husain along with some business-men joined the PML-N and remained its active member. He was made governor of Sindh during the second government of Nawaz Sharif in the late 1990s.

During Musharraf regime, Mamnoon had held three posts in the PML-N Sindh simultaneously when the party was under persecution. He was elected as president of Pakistan when the PML-N came to power in 2013. After completing his tenure as president on Sept 9, 2018, he almost abandoned politics and kept a low profile.

Mamnoon Husain was diagnosed with cancer in February last year and had been under treatment. He was admitted to a private hospital some days ago where he breathed his last. He left behind a widow and three sons.

ISLAMABAD: The price of 24 karat per tola gold witnessed an increase of Rs 450 and was traded at Rs109,350 in the local market on Thursday against its sale at Rs 108,900 the previous day, Karachi Sarafa and Jewellers Group reported. The price of 10 gram 24 karat also increased by Rs386 to Rs93,750 from Rs 93,364 whereas that of ten gram 22 karat went up to Rs 85,938 and Rs 85,583.The price of per tola silver increased by Rs20, from Rs1440 to Rs1460 whereas that of ten gram silver went up by Rs17.15 from 1234.56 to Rs1251.71.The price of gold in international market increased by US $8 and was traded at US $1825 against its sale at US $ 1817.