Tag: Pakistan

Imran Khan to visit Saudi Arabia soon: Saudi envoy

Posted on by admin

(NUT Desk) ISLAMABAD: Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Maliki on Monday announced that Prime Minister Imran Khan would visit Saudi Arabia soon, national News Channel reported.

“Prime Minister Imran Khan will be visiting the Kingdom before or soon after Eid,” the Saudi envoy announced adding that the prime minister would meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his visit.

On April 02, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has accepted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s invitation to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Meanwhile, PM Imran Khan to address nation at 4:30pm.

Prescribe medicines with generic, not brand names, DRAP tells doctors

Posted on by admin

(NUT Desk) LAHORE: All provinces have been asked by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) to make sure doctors prescribe medicines with their generic names in the public and private sectors.

DRAP gave the instructions after public complaints on the PM’s Citizen’s Portal against pharmaceutical companies and doctors reportedly colluding to provide people with costlier medicines under a brand name.

A letter was written to the health secretaries of all four provinces, Azad Jammu Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan and the Islamabad commissioner by DRAP Pharmacy Services Director Dr Abdur Rasheed.

It said citizens had complained through the Prime Minister’s Performance Delivery Unit (PMDU) against company-influenced brand-based prescription of medicines by doctors in government and private sectors.

“This practice adds to the economic burden of the country and puts financial load on patients due to purchase of pricier brands. Such practice is also against the Code of Ethics for medical and dental practitioners,” the letter read.

DRAP, therefore, directed the health authorities across Pakistan to take necessary measures to promote generic prescriptions by doctors and discourage the practice of incentivised prescription.

The Drug Act 1976, in its Section 7 “Registration of Drugs”, Clause-8, says that single-ingredient drugs (containing one active ingredient) shall be registered generally by their generic names, while compound drugs (containing more than one active ingredient) shall be registered generally by their proprietary names. Drug Lawyers Forum President Noor Mahar said doctors and pharmaceutical companies collude and are involved in the unethical practice of writing even single-ingredient drugs with their brands names in violation of the regulatory law.

For instance, he named a brand medicine manufactured with Amlodipine salt for heart patients is being sold at Rs460, while same drug with the another brand name is available for Rs49.

How smartly telecom companies are looting innocent citizens

Posted on by admin

Lahore 5th October 2020 By Muhammad Yasir (New Update Times)

All the telecom companies operating in Pakistan including Jazz, Warid, Youphone, Telenor and Zong are doing exceptional business despite the fact that the corona pandemic devastated every sector of economy in Pakistan like the rest of the world, but the profit ratio or business graph of these multinational giants did not have a significant impact on them. What is this rocket science??

The basic reason of this is continuous looting and deceiving their loyal customers through regular hike in charges and fake media campaigns claiming their packages as best one.

All the companies take pride in claiming that their talk or internet packages are cheapest and fast track etc but reality is altogether. At the moment no company is providing satisfactory service to its users in Pakistan, that’s why calls for protests against these companies are arising day by day.

News update times talked with some citizens backing the protest to know the reason and it was revealed that Jazz and Warid have severe signal problem. People are complaining that soon after the alliance between Jazz and Warid this problem arose and it is getting worse with each passing day.

Zong internet packages are a real dacoity on the pockets of customers as internet speed is so slow that it takes ages to open a single page sometime.

Telenor talk rates and whatsapp bundle packages are too costly and it also has signal problems in big cities or densely populated areas especially in Lahore, Gujranwala and interior Sindh.

You phone is regularly hiking the price of its internet bundle which is affecting its loyal customers. Telecom companies in the country are looting the innocent customers through service charges and deduct a significant share of the customer’s money. The telecom operator charge this amount soon after customers load money into their account and this amount go to the operators. Interesting thing is that companies are charging this amount without any service and no justification is given from their side.

Earlier these charges were different but not all the telecom operators are charging same percent of all amounts. When contacted telecom officials told online that low tariffs, low ARPUs, expenses on infrastructure and other elements are the reason to deduct service charges from the consumers. Sounds of protests are arising day by day. Here is such a post indicating the sentiments of the general public.

Protest. Protest. Protest

Protest against double and extra taxes

88 on a load of 100

Why the balance of Rs. While every call and message is also tax deductible.

Why has the Rs 140 package become Rs 167?

By whose order is this done?

Loading Rs. 200 costs Rs. 152, ie to pack Rs. 167, you have to load Rs. 230. Thus, you have to pay Rs.

Tax on load of Rs.100 + tax on each package + call setup charges are being deducted after package? (Load of 100 falls in 50)

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority should take action against all mobile companies in the public interest to stop looting the public in various ways once the tax has been deducted.

Chief Justice is requested to take Sumoto action to save the people from looting.

Share this message as much as possible.

Does PTI have a future in Government?

Posted on by admin

(NUT)By Ather Naqvi

The PTI government remains in the news, often for all the wrong reasons. In other words, it was a bad start. It must have been very difficult first two years of the PTI government in various ways. The economic challenge, the accountability process, the Covid-19 pandemic and the poor health sector, the flimsy education infrastructure, and the goals of meeting climate change targets, among others, must have put enormous strain on a government that claims to have inherited all these problems from the previous governments.

But is it an acceptable practice to absolve itself in this way? This should not be an excuse for a government’s inexperience, inability or a lack of vision to deflect criticism.

In the beginning, the PTI government’s famous “first hundred days” made a lot of headlines and kindled hopes in the raw minds of the youth, many of whom didn’t even have a vote registered in their name. The very first speeches of Imran Khan after becoming the prime minister showed he was ready to go all the way to bring about a positive change in the lives of the people.

Then came the reality check sooner rather than later. The economy was in bad shape and something had to be done. In sheer contrast to his earlier promises of not going to the IMF for a bailout he had to eventually knock the IMF’s door and that too after a prolonged delay, which further weakened our position at the bargaining table of the lender.

While Pakistan gasped for some air for the revival of its economy, the accountability process, which the PTI government claimed was across-the-board, added to the already uncertain political and economic environment. In such a situation, the critics of the government didn’t wait to remind the government of its promised austerity measures and other plans, such as keeping a small federal cabinet, generating employment for the jobless and homes for the needy, etc, which the government has no answer for. The covid-19 pandemic compounded the problems, needing massive resources.

The PTI government's future - Weekly Cutting Edge

Just like the economy, the foreign policy pieces also do not seem to be falling in the right places. After the UAE offered his hand of friendship to Israel, it has become very difficult for Pakistan to adjust to the new realities in the Middle East.

The only area perhaps where there are few disagreeing with the PTI government is the environment policy where it has to show the billion tree tsunami and other efforts to fight climate change. So far, the PTI government seems to be far behind in the race which it said it would win without any tough competition.

Nation is observing ‘Defence Day’ With Patriotic Zeal and enthusiasm

Posted on by admin

 

(Muhammad Yasir) Lahore 6th September 2020,

Pakistani nation is celebrating Defence Day with patriotic zeal to commemorate the sacrifices and valor of the armed forces against Indian aggression in the September 1965 war. Public and private organizations, educational institutions and the armed forces holding virtual ceremonies (Due to Corona Pandemic) to pay homage to the martyrs and ghazis of Indo-Pak 1965 war.

Citizens offered special prayers for the solidarity, integrity and independence of the motherland in all the mosques after Fajr prayers besides 31-gun salute at the federal capital and 21-gun salute at provincial capitals. An special wreath-laying ceremonies will be held at the graves of the September 1965 war including the Nishan e Haider Major Aziz Bhatti Shaheed.

At an investiture ceremony at Aiwan-e-Sadr, President Dr Arif Alvi will confer military awards upon officers and soldiers. In his message on Defence Day, President Alvi said we have successfully defeated terrorism and extremism and are now on the path towards economic prosperity.

He said Pakistan has made serious efforts towards securing peace in the region but unfortunately our enemy has hostile designs against us. We reaffirm our pledge that we will continue to support the people of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in their struggle till the realisation of their right to self-determination, he vowed.

Prime Minister Imran Khan said the nation and armed forces proved that rather than size, it’s courage and devotion that matters most. He said with the abrogation of articles 370 and 35-A of its constitution, India has not only violated the UN Charter but also unleashed a reign of terror on innocent Kashmiris.

PM Khan said India is also showing an “aggressive posture” on the Line of Control and such provocations are aimed at diverting the world’s attention from its atrocities in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Meanwhile, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) released a song on the eve of Defence and Martyrs’ Day to pay tribute to martyrs and heroes.

According to ISPR, the song “Har Ghari Tayyar Kamran” is a remake of an old patriotic song of the ’80s.

Pakistan’s top melody voices; Ali Hamza, Ali Azmat, Ali Noor and Asim Azhar have collaborated for the Defence and Martyrs’ Day. They paid tribute to the services rendered by Pakistan armed forces and its operational readiness.

The music video showcases the sacrifices of Pakistan as a nation in fighting terrorism and the evolution of our Armed Forces as a cutting-edge military structure; second to none.

Pakistan Army, Air Force and Navy fought aggressively in the 1965 Pakistan-India war and caused heavy casualties to the Indian side.

Radio Pakistan Lahore will broadcast special drama on national hookup “Sar Uthha Kay Chaly” at 09:10 p.m. while special transmission would be held by Radio Pakistan News and Current Affairs channel which include talks, discussions, interviews of renowned personalities highlighting the significance of the day, whereas, national songs will be part of the transmission.

Special Radio reports based on activities across the country regarding Defence Day celebrations would be part of ‘Radio Khabarnama’ while impressions of the families of martyrs under the title “Ham Nai Bhulay” in program Sukhi Ghar at 11:05 a.m would be broadcast.

Similarly, Pakistan Television (PTV) Lahore Station will also broadcast special program to highlight significance of the day while the other news channels will also run similar programs in connection with the Defence Day.

The historic day of September 6 reminds the nation the traditional vigour and enthusiasm, sending a message loud and clear to hostile India that the Pakistani nation and armed forces are fully prepared to frustrate any designs against the country’s sovereignty and integrity.

TPL Trakker’s Location Based Servicesto Power TPL Logistics’ Innovator, Rider

Posted on by admin

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) TPL Trakker, Pakistan’s leading IoT Company providing Tracking, Telematics, and Location Based Services and Solutions, has partnered with Rider, a rapidly growing end-to-end e-commerce logistics company.

Following the partnership, TPL Maps, the mapping arm of TPL Trakker will power the Rider Mobile App to ensure accurate and hassle free deliveries. TPL Maps is Pakistan’s leading digital location technology provider licensed by the Survey of Pakistan. As a location data powerhouse covering 400 cities, 4.5 million geo-coded address and 600,000 km of road network mapped across Pakistan, TPL Maps will be a key technology partner for Rider, which in a short period of time, has expanded operations to six cities since its inception last year.

In the first phase, Rider has deep-linked the TPL Maps Navigation App (available on Android & iOS) in its Drive4Rider App. Following this, they will integrate the base-maps and other Location Based Services in their backend platform and the “Rider – Smart Deliveries” app. Rider is a market innovator, bringing cutting edge route optimization to ensure timely deliveries directly to the doorstep, a significant challenge in the local market. Capitalizing on TPL Trakker’s vast pool of fresh data, scalability, and a distinctly localized approach, this collaboration will support the continued growth and success of Rider. Since the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak, a rising number of consumers are having their retail needs met online which has led to higher expectations from logistics providers. The Company found TPL Trakker’s Location Based Services (LBS) to be scalable, cost effective and proficient to fuel their mission of providing precise and timely last-mile deliveries in the highly competitive on-demand digital space.

A significant number of start-ups and established businesses in Pakistan are testing and choosing TPL Trakker’s LBS APIs to make their assets location-enabled. These include leading brands such as Telenor, Jazz, Bykea, foodpanda, Eat Mubarak and MiRyde. TPL is effectively powering the next generation of intelligent digital services in Pakistan and contributing to the digital revolution in the country through innovative IoT solutions.

Commenting on the partnership, Sarwar Ali Khan, CEO, TPL Trakker, said “Location Based Services are at the very core of successful modern logistics operations. With Rider’s expansion in the logistics space and given a  highly competitive market, their LBS requirements have become more complex and rigorous and this is where our LBS have been ideally positioned to meet their needs. We are proud to support Rider’s continued growth with our innovative services. Our data strength, technological performance, cost-efficiency and overall customer support is driving leading international and domestic brands to choose us as their preferred LBS partner.”
Salman Allana, CEO, Rider said, “With Rider, we are addressing some of the most complex logistics challenges in Pakistan and bringing tremendous efficiencies for our clients using ingenious applications and teams of experts across the country. We have evaluated and found TPL Trakker’s Location Based Services to be ideally suited to meet our needs as we expand our coverage into new territories. We are excited to see what the future holds with this collaboration.”