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                        <title>Pakistan News, Latest News Pakistan, Pakistan Headline | The Express Tribune</title>
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			<title>PM Shehbaz vows equal education opportunities to realise Quaid-e-Azam’s welfare-state vision</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623506/pm-shehbazvows-equal-education-opportunities-to-realise-quaid-e-azams-welfare-state-vision</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623506/pm-shehbazvows-equal-education-opportunities-to-realise-quaid-e-azams-welfare-state-vision#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 26 13:05:20 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Says disparity in education is the bottleneck which has stalled educational progress in Pakistan]]>
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				<![CDATA[Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said ending disparities in access to quality education was essential to transforming Pakistan into the welfare state envisioned by Quaid-e-Azam, stressing that millions of children remained deprived of opportunities enjoyed by pupils from privileged families.

He was addressing an International Youth Day 2026 event attended by members of the government, students and families in Islamabad.

&ldquo;Pakistan cannot become a welfare state as envisioned by Quaid-e-Azam without ensuring standardised, quality education from Karachi to Peshawar,&rdquo; the prime minister said during his address at the award distribution ceremony of meritorious students.

PM Shehbaz said he had tried his best to maintain Pakistan&rsquo;s competitiveness in the education sector with other countries, but acknowledged a stark divide between children who had access to elite institutions and overseas education and those who could not even obtain basic educational opportunities.

&ldquo;There is sheer misfortune that at one end we have Pakistan where pupils of privileged backgrounds receive the best education ... and can even move overseas for better education in North America and the UK because of their family&rsquo;s resources, while on the other hand there is another [face of] Pakistan where millions of pupils are deprived of even basic educational opportunities,&rdquo; he said.



On International Youth Day, we celebrate the energy, talent and resolve of Pakistan&rsquo;s youth. Our young people are the driving force of Pakistan&rsquo;s progress and prosperity, with their innovation and leadership shaping a brighter future for our nation.

My government remains&hellip; pic.twitter.com/wAFS1rNqpY
&mdash; Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) August 12, 2026


The prime minister pointed to a premier school in Lahore&nbsp;as an example of the disparity, saying children of parliamentarians, governors and other influential families studied there while underprivileged children could not even imagine enrolling in such institutions.

&ldquo;This disparity is the bottleneck which has stalled educational progress in Pakistan,&rdquo; he said.



On International Youth Day, we celebrate the energy, talent and resolve of Pakistan&rsquo;s youth. Our young people are the driving force of Pakistan&rsquo;s progress and prosperity, with their innovation and leadership shaping a brighter future for our nation.

My government remains&hellip; pic.twitter.com/wAFS1rNqpY
&mdash; Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) August 12, 2026



First national youth policy

PM Shehbaz also announced what he described as Pakistan&rsquo;s first national youth employment policy, saying the government wanted to move beyond merely preparing young people for jobs and instead help them create businesses and employment opportunities for others.

He said women would have a 35 per cent quota in the labour force under the policy, and at least 10% of the quota has been allocated for startups.

The prime minister said empowering young people through education, technology, entrepreneurship and equal access to opportunities was central to building the Pakistan envisioned by Quaid-e-Azam.

He called for a national commitment to narrowing the educational divide, arguing that children in villages and towns possessed immense intelligence and could compete with their counterparts anywhere in the country if provided with proper educational facilities.

The challenge, he said, was to ensure that talent rather than family background determined a young Pakistani&rsquo;s prospects.



وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف نے پاکستان کی پہلی نیشنل یوتھ ایمپلائمنٹ پالیسی باضابطہ طور پر متعارف کرا دی ہے، جس کا مقصد نوجوانوں کو بہتر روزگار کے مواقع، مہارتوں کی ترقی، صنعت سے مؤثر روابط اور جدید ٹیکنالوجی سے ہم آہنگ صلاحیتیں فراہم کرنا ہے۔ وزیرِاعظم یوتھ پروگرام کے تحت تیار کی&hellip; pic.twitter.com/F4mVDEBRcW
&mdash; Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) August 12, 2026


Danish schools as welfare-state model

The premier said the government was seeking to address the imbalance by expanding the network of Danish Schools beyond Punjab to Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Balochistan.

He said the objective was to provide disadvantaged children with education of a standard comparable to elite institutions, but free of cost.

The initiative, he stressed, was not charity but an effort to realise the principle of equal opportunity embedded in the welfare-state model envisioned by the country&rsquo;s founder.



&quot; پنجاب اور باقی صوبوں میں لاکھوں بچے اور بچیاں انتہائی قابل اور ذہین ہیں لیکن غریب والدین کے بچوں کو تعلیم کے بنیادی مواقع بھی میسر نہیں ہوتے۔

دانش اسکول کی بنیاد اس سوچ کے تحت رکھی کہ اگر ایچسن کالج میں صرف امیر کے بچے جا سکتے ہیں، تو قائداعظم کے پاکستان میں ہر بچے کو تعلیم&hellip; pic.twitter.com/ti2m6wyY3i
&mdash; Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) August 12, 2026



Narrating the story of an orphan from Rahim Yar Khan who secured admission to a Danish School on merit, the prime minister said the girl had described the institution as both a mother and father because it provided her with education and boarding.

Read: US, Iran agree to extend 60-day ceasefire ahead of August 17 deadline

Speaking on the educational enterprise his government has undertaken, PM Shehbaz said, &ldquo;This initiative is not a favour to the children; it is their right.&rdquo;

He warned that failure to provide young people with relevant modern education would be an &ldquo;unforgivable&rdquo; failure on the part of the government.



&quot; آج کا دور تکنیکی تعلیم، آئی ٹی اور اے آئی کا دور ہے۔ اگر ہم نے جدید علوم کو اپنے سفر میں شامل نہ کیا تو ترقی کی دوڑ میں بہت پیچھے رہ جائیں گے۔

رحیم یار خان کے دانش اسکول کے دورے کے دوران میری ملاقات ایک بچی، عائشہ، سے ہوئی۔ اس نے بتایا کہ اسے پڑھنے کا بہت شوق تھا اور اس نے&hellip; pic.twitter.com/lfRHd3pkNf
&mdash; Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) August 12, 2026



Focus shifts to IT, AI and technical education

The prime minister said Pakistan&rsquo;s education system also needed to respond to the rapidly changing global economy.

&ldquo;This era is of technical education, Information Technology (IT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). If we don&rsquo;t include these latest disciplines in our journey, we will lag behind the rest of the world,&rdquo; he said.

As part of the government&rsquo;s initiatives, he said, 1,000 students had been sent to China the previous year to acquire knowledge in agricultural technology.

This year, he added, high-achieving matriculation and intermediate students would be selected for education and training in IT and AI in China.

He also announced the establishment of a Danish University in Islamabad, describing it as a flagship institution that would offer education in emerging disciplines. Classes at the university are scheduled to begin next year, he said.

Read more: DPM Dar condemns Houthi attack, orders repatriation of three Pakistanis&rsquo; remains

The prime minister said the government had so far distributed around 700,000 laptops among meritorious students, while another 250,000 laptops would be given to high achievers this year.

The laptop scheme, he said, had enabled young people to enter the &ldquo;digital era&rdquo; and earn livelihoods using technology.

&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>18 terrorists killed in VBIED blast, security operation in Balochistan: ISPR</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623508/18-terrorists-killed-in-vbied-blast-security-operation-in-balochistan-ispr</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623508/18-terrorists-killed-in-vbied-blast-security-operation-in-balochistan-ispr#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 26 13:18:07 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Says eight killed as VBIED detonated while being prepared by terrorists; 10 more killed during clearance operation]]>
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				<![CDATA[Eighteen terrorists affiliated with Fitna-al Hindustan were killed after a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) detonated prematurely while being prepared, followed by a joint clearance operation in Balochistan&rsquo;s Surab district, the military&rsquo;s media wing said on Wednesday.

The federal government last year officially designated all terrorist groups operating in Balochistan as &#39;Fitna al-Hindustan&#39;, accusing India of sponsoring a proxy war through these outfits.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the blast occurred on the morning of August 12 while the explosives-laden vehicle was being prepared by terrorists.

&ldquo;The premature detonation during preparation resulted in the confirmed killing of eight terrorists, with multiple others injured. However, the blast and secondary detonation of other explosives stored there by the terrorists of Indian proxy have also reportedly caused tragic casualties among three nearby civilians,&rdquo; it said.

The statement said security forces and Balochistan Police reached the site and launched a joint clearance operation to trace the perpetrators and their facilitators.

&ldquo;During the operation, security forces proactively detected the movement of fleeing terrorists, effectively engaged and neutralised ten more. In total, eighteen terrorists affiliated with Fitna-al Hindustan have been eliminated in these incidents so far. However, during the intense exchange of fire, two brave soldiers also sustained injuries,&rdquo; the ISPR said.

It further added that sanitisation operations were continuing in the area to eliminate any remaining terrorists.

&ldquo;The relentless counter-terrorism campaign under the vision of Azm-e-Istehkam (as approved by the Federal Apex Committee under the National Action Plan) by the security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,&rdquo; it said.



Eighteen terrorists affiliated with Fitna Al Hindustan have been killed in Surab district, Balochistan. Eight died after an under-preparation VBIED detonated prematurely, while security forces neutralized 10 more fleeing terrorists. According to ISPR, three civilians were&hellip; pic.twitter.com/W6INkG2GVo
&mdash; Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) August 12, 2026


Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari praised security forces and Balochistan Police for their operation against terrorists.

In a statement, PM Shehbaz expressed grief over the loss of civilian lives and said&nbsp;&ldquo;Fitna-al Hindustan terrorists are enemies of the peace and people of Balochistan.&rdquo;&nbsp;

The prime minister said the fight against terrorism would continue until the complete elimination of the menace from the country.

President Zardari expressed his best wishes for the speedy recovery of two soldiers injured during the operation.

He also conveyed his condolences over the deaths of civilians and said that&nbsp;&ldquo;Operations against Fitna-al Hindustan terrorists and their facilitators should continue.&rdquo;&nbsp;

He added that the nation was determined to eliminate foreign-backed terrorism from Pakistan.

A day earlier, security forces also neutralised five terrorists belonging to the proscribed Fitna al-Hindustan during a &quot;high-tempo, intelligence-driven operation&quot; conducted in Balochistan&#39;s Panjgur district.

Terrorism is a growing problem for Pakistan, with the number of attacks rising every year since 2022, according to Armed Conflict Location &amp; Event Data (ACLED), a global monitoring organisation. Data from ACLED shows attacks in Pakistan rose nearly fourfold to 2,425 in 2025 from 658 in 2022, and over the same period, TTP attacks increased more than sevenfold to 838 from 118.

READ: Security forces kill 12 terrorists in Balochistan IBOs: ISPR

Although Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has borne the brunt of terrorism, Balochistan has also remained a major target of Indian proxies, which often target civilians and military installations in the province.

In one such attack on the last day of 2025, terrorists targeted innocent civilians in Balochistan&rsquo;s Gwadar and Kharan districts, where 18 people, including women, children, the elderly and labourers, embraced martyrdom.

The forces continued operations across the provinces against what the state describes as Indian-sponsored terrorists and their proxies, but despite these efforts, the groups have continued to target civilian and defence installations.

Earlier this month, at least 30 people, including 27 police personnel, were martyred when terrorists identified by the state as the Indian proxy Fitna al-Hindustan ambushed police personnel deployed in the Kach Mangi Phase III area of Ziarat, triggering hours-long gun battles. The attackers also abducted several civilians and police personnel after the assault.

In the aftermath of the attack, the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps and Balochistan Police launched a joint operation, which remains underway, with forces intensifying action against terrorists across the province.]]>
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			<title>Pakistan ready to assist Saudi-led maritime coalition to ensure shipping security: FO</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623454/naqvi-in-tehran-to-promote-peace-stability-and-constructive-engagement-fo</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623454/naqvi-in-tehran-to-promote-peace-stability-and-constructive-engagement-fo#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 26 07:48:59 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Islamabad]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Condemns the attack on commercial vessel in the Red Sea that resulted in the deaths of three Pakistani nationals]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan on Wednesday expressed readiness to support the Saudi-led maritime coalition to safeguard shipping security and freedom of navigation, following an attack on a commercial vessel in the Red Sea that resulted in the deaths of three Pakistani nationals.

&quot;We support freedom of navigation and maritime security in international waterways under international law. Pakistan is a signatory to this coalition and abides by its communiqu&eacute;. We are ready and willing to assist Saudi Arabia and other coalition partners in the operationalisation of this communiqu&eacute; to preserve the safety and security of the global supply chain, as well as maritime traffic,&quot; said&nbsp;Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Tahir Andrabi during a weekly press briefing.

The statement came after six people were killed and 10 others wounded when the Houthis&nbsp;attacked a commercial vessel carrying food supplies in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait on Tuesday.&nbsp;Those deceased included four crew members &mdash; three Pakistanis and one Indonesian &mdash; as well as two members of the Yemeni armed forces, while eleven Pakistani and Indonesian sailors were also rescued.

Andrabi, during a presser today, said Pakistan was in contact with Saudi authorities and other relevant parties to determine further details about the incident, which resulted in the deaths of Pakistani nationals.

&ldquo;Pakistan strongly condemns this attack on a non-combatant commercial vessel. Such attacks endanger innocent lives, constitute a violation of international law, and pose a serious threat to freedom of navigation, maritime security, and the safety of commercial shipping in the Red Sea,&rdquo; he said.

The spokesperson said efforts were underway, in coordination with concerned authorities, for the retrieval and repatriation of the remains of deceased Pakistani nationals and for providing medical assistance to an injured Pakistani citizen.

&ldquo;We are in contact with the relevant Saudi authorities. In fact, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has instructed our mission in Riyadh to remain in contact with the Saudi authorities, as well as the internationally recognised government of Yemen, to ascertain further details of the incident and the circumstances surrounding it,&rdquo; he said.

He added that the government would continue to closely monitor the situation and share further details with the media as they became available.

Andrabi said that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi&#39;s visit to Tehran was focused on promoting &ldquo;peace, stability and constructive engagement&rdquo; among the parties in the region.

Naqvi landed in Tehran on Tuesday as part of Pakistan&#39;s latest diplomatic push to help end the conflict between Iran and the United States and revive stalled negotiations between the two sides. His visit came as Islamabad sought to use its longstanding ties with Tehran, alongside its relations with Washington, to encourage a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.

He said the visit provided an opportunity to discuss bilateral relations, security-related matters and regional developments, with particular emphasis on efforts to promote peace and stability.

&ldquo;His visit provides an opportunity to discuss bilateral relations, security-related matters, and regional developments, with a particular focus on efforts to promote peace, stability and constructive engagement amongst the parties in the region,&rdquo; Andrabi said.

&ldquo;Pakistan is making all-out efforts to bring the two parties to the negotiating table,&rdquo; Andrabi said, adding that Islamabad sought to &ldquo;pave the way for peace and stability in the region&rdquo;.

&ldquo;Pakistan will continue to offset spoilers using direct and indirect channels and enable continuation of constructive dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues,&rdquo; he said.

Andrabi said Pakistan remained engaged alongside its &ldquo;brotherly states&rdquo; in sincere efforts to resolve the crisis in the Middle East and the Gulf.

The visit also came amid growing hopes of a possible breakthrough, with Defence Minister Khawaja Asif saying Washington and Tehran could be moving towards an agreement. &ldquo;Things are shaping up again in favour of a peace arrangement or a deal,&rdquo; Asif told Bloomberg News, adding that &ldquo;the signals in the last two three days are that we are close to some sort of an arrangement.&rdquo;



🔴LIVE: Spokesperson&#39;s Weekly Press Briefing 12-08-2026 at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad https://t.co/MMRHzhUaWE
&mdash; Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 12, 2026


Andrabi, speaking on the newly signed Makkah Joint Agreement, said that the pact was &ldquo;purely defensive in nature&rdquo; and would enable the three countries to make &ldquo;unified efforts&rdquo; to confront security threats and challenges.

The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye on Friday, establishing a framework for collective security and defence cooperation under which an armed attack on any one of the three countries would be considered an attack on all. The pact was built on a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement signed by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in September 2025, which contained a similar mutual-defence commitment.

Andrabi said the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, signed at the August 7 summit in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, reflected the three countries&#39; resolve to &ldquo;share the burden of regional peace and security&rdquo; and strengthen &ldquo;collective security&rdquo;, Andrabi said at the Foreign Office&#39;s weekly briefing.

Describing the summit as the &ldquo;highlight of this week&rdquo;, the spokesperson said the agreement represented a &ldquo;natural step&rdquo; in the long-standing brotherly relations between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye.

&ldquo;The agreement is purely defensive in nature and allows unified efforts to confront threats and security challenges to the member states,&rdquo; he said. Andrabi said the pact reflected the three countries&#39; commitment to promoting &ldquo;peace, security and stability in the region and beyond&rdquo;.

Read: US-Iran deal back in sight amid fresh diplomatic push

He said Pakistan had played a &ldquo;pivotal role&rdquo; in bringing the Makkah Accord to fruition, referring to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar&#39;s description of the agreement as a &ldquo;historic milestone&rdquo;.

Dar had underscored that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir and the Foreign Office, Pakistan had played a key role in finalising the accord, Andrabi said.

Dar had also commended the leadership for &ldquo;safeguarding Pakistan&#39;s national interest&rdquo; and &ldquo;strengthening strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye&rdquo;.

Recounting the foreign minister&#39;s activities this week, Andrabi said that FM Dar held three telephone conversations on August 10 with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Iran and Kuwait.

During his call with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Dar discussed bilateral and multilateral cooperation, regional developments and &ldquo;the importance of close coordination&rdquo;.

With Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, Dar exchanged views on regional and international developments, efforts to promote &ldquo;peace and stability&rdquo; and the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, Andrabi said.

Read More: Iran downplays concerns over Makkah pact

Dar also spoke with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Al-Sabah, with discussions focusing on the Makkah agreement, regional developments, Pakistan-Kuwait relations and follow-up to the Kuwaiti foreign minister&#39;s visit to Pakistan, particularly regarding enhanced bilateral cooperation and investment.

On August 11, Dar spoke with Bahrain&#39;s Foreign Minister Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, who congratulated him on the signing of the Makkah defence agreement and expressed his intention to visit Pakistan. Dar welcomed the proposed visit and &ldquo;reaffirmed Pakistan&#39;s commitment to dialogue and diplomacy for regional peace and stability&rdquo;, Andrabi said.

Dar also spoke with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand on August 9, with the two sides discussing regional developments, including the Makkah agreement and the evolving US-Iran situation.

&ldquo;The situation in Palestine, particularly East Jerusalem, was also discussed,&rdquo; Andrabi said, adding that the two ministers agreed to &ldquo;remain actively engaged&rdquo; in their bilateral interactions.

Dar also spoke with Senegalese Foreign Minister Cheikh Niang, with the two ministers expressing their commitment to strengthening Pakistan-Senegal relations and cooperation on matters of mutual interest. They agreed to enhance &ldquo;ongoing cooperation and coordination&rdquo; at multilateral forums, particularly the United Nations, he said.

Andrabi said Dar also held telephone conversations with Democratic Republic of Congo President F&eacute;lix Tshisekedi and former Guinea-Bissau president Sissoco Embal&oacute; on August 10.

He briefed them on the &ldquo;contours and significance&rdquo; of the Makkah agreement and its role in strengthening regional peace and security, while discussing further advancement of Pakistan-DRC relations through high-level exchanges.

Pakistan and New Zealand also held bilateral political consultations and a joint trade committee meeting, Andrabi said.

Also Read: Trump claims US controls Iranian money

The two sides discussed cooperation in economic development, science and technology, education, counterterrorism and people-to-people contacts and agreed to enhance cooperation at multilateral forums, particularly the United Nations.

The joint trade committee discussed bilateral trade and investment in agriculture, livestock, information technology, education and services, as well as cooperation in &ldquo;sustainable agriculture, wool production, and plant protection&rdquo;.

A key outcome was the signing of an education cooperation arrangement aimed at &ldquo;deepening collaboration in the education sector&rdquo; and strengthening ties between students and educational institutions.]]>
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			<title>Norwegian foreign minister to visit Pakistan tomorrow after a decade</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623511/norwegian-foreign-minister-to-visit-pakistan-tomorrow-after-a-decade</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623511/norwegian-foreign-minister-to-visit-pakistan-tomorrow-after-a-decade#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 26 13:47:40 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
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				<![CDATA[Will explore ways to expand cooperation, particularly in trade and investment, climate change, renewable energy]]>
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				<![CDATA[Norwegian Foreign Affairs Minister Espen Barth Eide is set to undertake an official visit to Pakistan on August 13-14 to discuss deepening bilateral ties, marking the first visit by a Norwegian foreign minister to the country in a decade, the Foreign Office (FO) said on Wednesday.

Eide is visiting Pakistan at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and FM Ishaq Dar.

During his two-day visit, the Norwegian foreign minister will hold delegation-level talks with Dar, with discussions expected to cover the full spectrum of bilateral relations between Pakistan and the Kingdom of Norway.



🔈 PR No. 2️⃣0️⃣9️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣

Curtain Raiser: Visit of the Norwegian Foreign Minister to Pakistan

🔗⬇️ pic.twitter.com/unWEL2b9hz
&mdash; Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 12, 2026



The FO said the two sides would explore ways to expand cooperation, particularly in trade and investment, climate change, renewable energy, education and people-to-people contacts.

Read: Naqvi in Tehran to promote &lsquo;peace, stability and constructive engagement&rsquo;: FO

The talks will also include an exchange of views on key regional and international developments.

The visit comes amid sustained high-level engagement between Islamabad and Oslo. Dar and Eide held telephone conversations in March and April this year, while Norwegian State Secretary Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik visited Islamabad in May.

The FO said Eide&#39;s visit would provide an opportunity to further strengthen the longstanding and cordial relations between Pakistan and Norway and identify new areas of mutually beneficial cooperation.

In 2015, Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende came to Islamabad on an official visit and held talks with senior officials and the army chief.]]>
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			<title>California Senate passes resolution recognising Pakistan-US relations</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623445/california-senate-passes-resolution-recognising-pakistan-us-relations</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623445/california-senate-passes-resolution-recognising-pakistan-us-relations#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 26 06:31:07 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623445</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Recognises contributions of the Pakistani-American community to US state's economy, culture and social fabric]]>
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				<![CDATA[California&#39;s state Senate unanimously passed a resolution celebrating the enduring relationship between Pakistan and the United States and recognising the contributions of the Pakistani-American community to the state&#39;s economy, culture and social fabric, the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington said in a press release on Wednesday.

Presented by Senator Melissa Hurtado, the resolution &ldquo;highlighted the pivotal role played by Pakistani-Americans in California&rdquo; and &ldquo;commended their achievements across diverse fields&rdquo;, the press release said.

It also &ldquo;urged all Californians to join in celebrating the friendly relations between the two nations&rdquo;, according to the release.

Pakistan&#39;s Ambassador to the US Rizwan Saeed Sheikh expressed gratitude to Hurtado for her leadership and &ldquo;reaffirmed Pakistan&#39;s commitment to deepening people-to-people ties and building on the current positive trajectory of Pakistan-US bilateral relations,&rdquo;&nbsp;the embassy said.

The Council of Pakistan, led by Dr Imran Sharief, also made &ldquo;important efforts&rdquo; towards the passage of the resolution, the statement added.

The California State Assembly also adopted a resolution to &ldquo;promote relations between Pakistan and the State of California,&rdquo;&nbsp;while recognising the contributions of Pakistani-American businesses and investors towards advancing economic cooperation between Pakistan and California.

Also Read: US-Iran deal back in sight amid fresh diplomatic push

It also &ldquo;recognised and acknowledged&rdquo; Ambassador Sheikh&#39;s achievements in promoting bilateral ties between the two countries, the press release said. The pronouncements were made by Assembly&nbsp;member Matt Haney.

The resolutions were passed during Sheikh&#39;s official visit to California, where he met state lawmakers to strengthen economic and political engagement.

During a meeting with Senator Eloise Gomez, Sheikh discussed opportunities to &ldquo;expand trade, investment, and economic cooperation&rdquo; between Pakistan and the United States, according to the press release.

Gomez commended &quot;Pakistan&#39;s role in promoting regional peace and stability,&rdquo;&nbsp;while Sheikh extended an official invitation to her to visit Pakistan, it said.

The ambassador also hosted a working lunch for Haney and Assembly member Sharon Quirk-Silva, with discussions focusing on &ldquo;key aspects of bilateral cooperation&rdquo;.

Sheikh extended invitations to both legislators to visit Pakistan to &ldquo;further enhance bilateral collaboration across key sectors,&rdquo;&nbsp;the embassy said.]]>
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			<title>Public hospitals staff to be tested across Sindh</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251863/public-hospitals-staff-tested-across-sindh</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251863/public-hospitals-staff-tested-across-sindh#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 10:29:19 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[sameer.mandhro]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251863</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Health department to restart contact tracing for coronavirus]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Sindh government issued directives on Saturday for all public hospitals to get its staff tested for Covid-19 as well as begin coronavirus contact tracing again.

In a letter issued by Sindh health director general Dr Irshad Ahmed Memon, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, the heads of all public-sector hospitals have been asked to get their respective facility's staff tested for the coronavirus on priority basis. Besides, they have been instructed to continue tests for the diagnosis of other suspected Covid-19 cases.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Dr Memon stressed the need for all hospital employees to get tested, claiming, however, that Sindh had the least number of infected health department employees among the provinces.

Another health department official, also emphasising the need for "immediate" screening of healthcare professionals, said the decision had come late.

"It is feared that most health workers do not [properly] follow standard operating procedures. This eventually leads to multiplying the number of infected persons, even in far flung areas," he explained.

This was confirmed by other officials, too, who pointed out that SOPs were particularly ignored at private clinics. They can then carry the virus to public hospitals, the officials added.

Saying that health department officials did all they could to monitor health workers and ensure they followed SOPs, they noted that it was near impossible to keep a watch over private facilities.

According to the health department, there are 1,500 rapid response teams in Sindh that collect samples for Covid-19 testing, besides serving at various healthcare facilities and helping Covid-19 patients in getting admissions to hospitals.

"But after several of them contracted the infection, the number of tests conducted daily was reduced," explained a senior health department official. He, however, added that other reasons also factored in reducing the number of tests. "[Following this], routine testing was disrupted," he explained.

Speaking on the matter, Pakistan Medical Association general secretary Dr Qaisar Sajjad also called for the immediate screening of healthcare professionals. "We had asked for it in March but orders for it have only been issued now."

He was also of the opinion that the government was giving rise to confusion by decreasing the number of tests.

"While the number of tests [conducted daily] is going down, the number of cases are shooting up," he observed, explaining that fewer cases being reported had led to people disregarding SOPs.

"Over 60 per cent citizens have stopped wearing masks," he claimed.

Contact tracing

With the health department also announcing to recommence Covid-19 contact tracing, a health department official told The Express Tribune that the exercise was stopped due to "some confusion."

"But we are starting it again so that [suspected] cases can be traced and screened," he confirmed.

The health dept's silence

Meanwhile, all senior department officials, including spokespersons, have reportedly been instructed not to talk to the media for reasons unknown. "Only a few are privy to this development," a health official, on condition of anonymity, disclosed to The Express Tribune. "We have been told not to share any information with the media." He added that none of the department's officials had access to the daily update on pandemic statistics given by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.

"This is the only department for which the CM releases data," the official said. "And while we work in the health department, we don't have access to it." 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2020. ]]>
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			<title>MQM-London ‘hitman’ apprehended</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2252248/mqm-london-hitman-apprehended</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2252248/mqm-london-hitman-apprehended#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 18:29:02 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2252248</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Police claim he was involved in over 100 murders]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) police claimed on Saturday to have arrested a notorious target killer, allegedly belonging to Muttahida Qaumi Movement-London (MQM-L) and involved in over 100 murders, during a targeted operation in Orangi Town. The police reportedly seized arms and ammunition from his possession as well.

According to SIU SSP Irfan Bahadur, the suspect, namely Shakeel alias Haddi, was a member of MQM-L’s ‘death squad’ and had confessed to the killings of Pirabad police SI Aleem Shah and Orangi Town police constable Rana Sohail in 2011, during his initial interrogation.

Bahadur added that he was also involved in an attack on Awami National Party (ANP) leader Bashir Jan and the targeted killing of ANP’s Shah Faisal Colony in-charge, Nabi Gul, among others.

The SSP claimed Shakeel had also killed a medico-legal officer at Qatar Hospital and MQM-Haqiqi’s Asif Malang, while also setting fire to the ‘astana’ of Khalid Baba, burning three people to death.

According to the police, Shakeel admitted to involvement in over 100 murders on the basis of ethnicity, sect and politics, on the orders of the MQM-L leadership.

Cases against him and other members of the ‘death squad’, including Ajmal Pahari, Saeed alias Bharam, Danish alias Mama, Omar alias Mullah, Zeeshan alias Dada, are registered in several police stations across the city, as well as with the SIU. Further investigation is underway.]]>
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			<title>2,179 people diagnosed with coronavirus in Sindh</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2252371/2179-people-diagnosed-coronavirus-sindh</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2252371/2179-people-diagnosed-coronavirus-sindh#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 23:50:45 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2252371</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[CM Murad says province's daily testing capacity has been stretched to 12,000]]>
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				<![CDATA[Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah shared on Sunday that 2,179 people were diagnosed with coronavirus overnight, of the total 9,244 samples tested on the day.

Shah added that 435,393 samples have been tested to date in Sindh, of which 80,446 have been positive, which constituted around 18.4 per cent of the total.

The CM apprised that the testing capacity in the province has been stretched to 12,000 a day, courtesy of the laboratories established in Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Gambat and Sehwan, which have been functional for the last month.

According to Shah, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences in Hyderabad could conduct 2,000 tests, Syed Abdullah Shah Institute in Sehwan 100, Gambat Institute 300 and Ghulam Mohammad Maher Medical College in Sukkur could screen 100 samples.

Moreover, the chief minister stated that 26 more people succumbed to the contagious disease overnight, taking the death toll to 1,269 in the province. He claimed that the government has curbed the mortality rate by spreading awareness among the masses.

Shah added that 34,654 people were currently infected by the virus, of whom 33,110 were in home isolation, 88 were quarantined at isolation centres and 1,456 were being treated at different hospitals. He added that 655 patients were in critical condition and 94 of them have been put on ventilators.

Meanwhile, he said that 1,079 more patients had recovered from the contagious disease, pushing the number of recovered people to 44,523 - around 55.5 per cent of all those affected.

Furthermore, the provincial capital saw 1,406 new Covid-19 cases. He presented the district-wise breakup, saying 555 were diagnosed with the virus in East, 358 in South, 171 in Korangi, 138 in Central, 109 in West and 75 in Malir district.

Separately, Sukkur had 86 new cases, Hyderabad 54, Ghotki 40, Khairpur 38, Jamshoro 26, Mirpurkhas 22, Thatta 19, Larkana 17, Sanghar 14, Naushero Feroze 12, Matiari 12, Shikarpur 12, Shaheed Benazirabad nine, Umerkot eight, Dadu seven, Kashmore and Tando Allahyar three each, and Jacobabad one.]]>
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			<title>Youngster killed while shooting TikTok video in Karachi</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2252250/youngster-killed-shooting-tiktok-video-karachi</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2252250/youngster-killed-shooting-tiktok-video-karachi#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 18:39:33 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category><category><![CDATA[archives]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2252250</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Faraz lost control of car due to speeding, rammed into tree]]>
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				<![CDATA[A youngster was killed and two of his friends injured in a car accident while filming a video for popular video-sharing platform TikTok in Korangi on Saturday night.

The deceased, identified as Faraz, lost control of the car he was driving due to speeding and ran into a tree. As a result, he and his friends, Ayaz and Ahsan, were injured. They were rushed to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) for treatment, where Faraz succumbed to his injured.

According to the police, the car was completely wrecked in the collision. They added that the statements of the injured could not be recorded till the filing of this report.

The body was handed over to the family after the completing of medico-legal formalities.

This is not the first time that a life has been lost while filming a TikTok video. On June 21, a 17-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed himself while making a video. He was reportedly filming himself while holding his father’s pistol to his temple when he accidentally pulled the trigger.

Karachi teenager shooting TikTok video ‘accidentally’ kills himself

Meanwhile, in April, a 22-year-old man died after being hit by a train while shooting a video at the Jumma Goth railway station in Bhens Colony.

According to the Landhi Railway police, Kashif had been running on the railway tracks while doing a TikTok challenge when the train hit him, causing critical head injuries. His friends, who were also filming videos, took him to JPMC, where he succumbed to his wounds.]]>
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			<title>Illegal plasma sale thrives in Lahore</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251888/illegal-plasma-sale-thrives-lahore</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251888/illegal-plasma-sale-thrives-lahore#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 10:56:28 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Imran Adnan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251888</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[First Covid-19 patient recovered through trial treatment last month]]>
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				<![CDATA[Following a surge in confirmed coronavirus cases and a significant increase in the number of patients recovering, a black market of blood plasma has emerged across the country, particularly in the provincial capital.

People are selling blood plasma of the patients who have recovered from coronavirus for tens of thousands of rupees, The Express Tribune learnt on Saturday.

The blood plasma or convalescent plasma is currently being trialled as a possible treatment for coronavirus disease in different countries, including Pakistan, as it contains antibodies developed by the immune system of people who have won the battle against the virus.

Though a large number of patients overcoming the disease are willing to donate plasma free of charge, some black sheep are using popular social media platforms to contact critically ill coronavirus patients seeking donation.

A patient who wanted to sell his blood plasma after his recent recovery said, “I don’t want to earn money but to recover my expenses incurred on the treatment since thousands of rupees were spent on medicines, consultation and food. I believe there is no harm in recovering the cost while people are selling their blood plasma for tens of thousands of rupees in the city.”



Other people involved in the unethical trade also have their own reasons. Thousands of posts are available on social media indicating that the illegal activity is happening openly without the fear of law enforcing agencies or accountability.

On June 13, a Twitter user posted her thoughts on the issue: “People are making money by selling their plasma to patients in Pakistan.

Humanity is dead.” Meanwhile, many people were of the view that there was nothing wrong with it. They commented that people also sell kidneys and blood.

Besides blood plasma, people have posted requirement for medicines such as Remdesivir, Besimivir and other drugs considered beneficial in coronavirus treatment. To save the lives of their loved ones, some people have expressed their willingness to pay any amount for these scarcely available drugs. In May, the National Institute of Blood Diseases (NIBD) confirmed that the first coronavirus patient who had been treated with plasma therapy had recovered.

The sale of oxygen cylinders is also on the rise in the online black market. A 6-litre cylinder along with regulator and stand is being offered for Rs23,000, while an 8-litre variant is being sold for Rs28,000 and 12-litre equipment is available for Rs35,000.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, an oxygen cylinder dealer, Rashid Malik, highlighted that the prices has increased three-fold owing to very high demand. “Mostly these cylinders are being imported from China, Turkey and Russia. In normal days, we were selling a 12-litre cylinder for Rs12,000 to Rs15,000 and 6-litre for Rs6,000 to Rs7,000,” he disclosed.

The Ministry of National Health Services has already announced action against illegal trading of blood plasma and black marketing of life-saving drugs used for coronavirus patients in the country. Health experts are warning citizens not to pay donors for blood plasma since it is still an experimental therapy.

As per the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act 2012, commercial dealing and trade of human organs and tissues is illegal in the country.

Section 11 of the law highlights that whoever makes or receives any payment for the supply of, or for an offer to supply, any human organ; seeks to find a person willing to supply for payment of any human organ; or offers to supply any human organ for payment shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 10 years and with fine of up to Rs1 million.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>Woman commits suicide with two daughters</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251906/woman-commits-suicide-two-daughters</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251906/woman-commits-suicide-two-daughters#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 10:41:58 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Tariq Saeed Awan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251906</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Victim’s husband wanted to marry off girls against their wish]]>
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				<![CDATA[A mother of seven children ended her life by consuming poisonous pills along with her two daughters over a domestic dispute in Mohalla Selwan, Kundian on Saturday.

A sense of shock and mourning spread in the neighbourhood after the incident.

As per details obtained by The Express Tribune, Muhammad Tahir Qureshi, son of Allah Din, a resident of Mohalla Selwan, and his wife had a dispute over marriage proposals for their daughters. The husband allegedly pressured his daughters to accept the marriage proposals as per his wishes, while the wife and daughters did not agree to the proposals.

As a result of the dispute, Tahir’s wife and daughters, 12-year-old Anza and 11-year-old Asma, swallowed a poisonous substance.

The mother and two daughters were shifted to a rural health centre, where doctor referred them to the Mianwali DHQ Hospital after immediate medical aid. However, the three victims could not survive.

As soon as the incident was reported, Kundian police and Rescue 1122 teams reached the spot. After postmortem was conducted and police completed the legal procedure, the bodies were handed over to the heirs.

Cases where multiple members of the same family committed suicide or were killed by their own family have been also been reported earlier in the province.

On Monday, a woman reportedly poisoned herself and four other members of her family due to financial problems in Okara.

A poor labourer of Okara, Nazar Mohammad, who failed to repay a loan, was struggling to make ends meet due to which his family often quarreled over financial issues.

Nazar’s son, 20-year-old Waqas Ahmed, married 19-year-old Naheed two months ago. The couple lived in Ghouspura neighbourhood of Basirpur Town, Okara with Nazar, his 45-year-old wife, and sons, 18-year-old Ashfaq Ahmed and 16-year-old Sattar Ahmed.

The family reportedly had a debt of Rs150,000. The whole family was worried about paying back the debt and there were often altercations in the house.

Naheed’s in-laws often pressured her to bring money from her father to settle the debt.

Reportedly, Naheed was fed up with the daily quarrels and allegedly fed her in-laws food containing poison, due to which her husband Waqas and brother-in-law Ashfaq died, while her other brother-in-law, 16-year-old Sattar Ahmed, and mother-in-law were severely affected.

In March last year, a man shot and killed his wife and three children, over a domestic dispute, before committing suicide in Rai Chand area of Chiniot.

In April 2019, a man committed suicide after killing his father and sisters over a family dispute regarding his ex-wife, whom he wished to remarry, in Shafiqabad, Lahore.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>Letter to Punjab IGP seeks ban on PUBG video game</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251900/letter-punjab-igp-seeks-ban-pubg-video-game</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251900/letter-punjab-igp-seeks-ban-pubg-video-game#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 10:45:21 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category><category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251900</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Official says excessive violence in game triggers aggressive behaviour among youth]]>
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				<![CDATA[A letter written to the Punjab inspector general of police (IGP) on Saturday sought a ban on online game Player Unknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG).

The letter was penned by SSP Liaqat Ali Malik on the instructions of CCPO Zulfiqar Hameed. It mentioned that the online video game has devastating impacts on the mental health of the youth and two incidents of suicide have been reported in the city.

It stated that excessive violence triggers aggressive behaviour among the youth and they become addicted to the game. The CCPO said the game should be banned and an awareness campaign should be launched.

A matric student had committed suicide in Gulshan-e-Abbass Phase-II a few days ago. The boy was found hanging in his room. The police also spotted a smartphone beside the body with the PUBG game app running on it.

His parents also confirmed to the police that they had stopped the boy for playing the game. In another incident, a 20-year-old student of second year at the FC College University Lahore also reportedly committed suicide after being scolded by his parents for playing the PUBG. The victim identified as Jonty Joseph was living in North Cantonment. On the day of the incident, his father reportedly reprimanded him for playing the PUBG for a long period.

He took the punishment so seriously that he locked himself inside a room. The next day when he did not open the door, the family broke it and found him hanging.

The victim also worked part-time to assist the family financially and after work would remain busy in playing the game late at night.

On May 18, a man approached the Lahore High Court to ban the video game. “The game has a negative impact on children. They are becoming more ruthless and violent,” maintained the petitioner.

The PUBG, which has been developed by a South Korean company, is a 2017 survival game in which players are dropped onto an island to battle it out against others. The multiplayer game allows players from all over the world to compete against each other or in teams.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>NGO offers transgender people foreign scholarships</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251895/ngo-offers-transgender-people-foreign-scholarships</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251895/ngo-offers-transgender-people-foreign-scholarships#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 10:51:06 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Asif Mehmood]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251895</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Programme will allow selected persons to attend month-long training in host country]]>
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				<![CDATA[&nbsp;

While educational opportunities have been few and far between for gender minorities in Pakistan, a local NGO has stepped in to create an international platform for the development of the country’s transgender persons. The Gender Guardian (TGG), a non-governmental organisation working to train and educate transgender persons in Pakistan, has partnered with various foreign NGOs to allow transgender citizens the opportunity to participate in a month-long training program in four different countries.

Transwoman Sania Abbasi, who is a makeup artist and has been associated with TGG as a teacher for the past several months, is among the many aspirants of the training scholarship. If selected for the coveted programme, Ms Abbasi says it will bring her immense pride to be one of Pakistan’s first transgender persons sent abroad for training in social work and welfare. “This is a wonderful opportunity for us to be able to represent our country on an international platform and I have been working tirelessly towards achieving my goals. I can’t wait to work alongside international NGOs. I want to learn from them and also share my personal experiences with the world.”

According to The Gender Guardian (TGG) Head Asif Shehzad, his organisation is committed to providing equal opportunities to transgender people through the provision of free vocational training and formal education. “We have taught and trained dozens of transgender people in various skills such as driving, cooking, makeup, sewing and etc over the last couple of years. However, through this scholarship the selected participants will be able to use share their skills and talent with the world and for the first time, have access to international cultural exchange and training,” said Shehzad. Speaking further about the scholarship programme, Shehzad also informed that The Gender Guardian has been working towards compiling a digital database of transgender persons registered with TGG as well as other people who donate to the organisation. “So far, we have partnered with NGOs working in Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. Using our database, we will select candidates every six months to be sent to these four countries for a month-long training, while people from the same four countries will also have the option to come and train in Pakistan. Our selected candidates will be working alongside their host country’s NGOs and represent Pakistan on an international level,” he explained.

Sania Abbasi, believes this scholarship will allow the people of the world to see the skills and talent of Pakistan’s transgender person, who often tend to be stereotyped as people limited to sex work. “As a gender minority, we have little no resources for pursuing higher education or going abroad, because of which we have very limited opportunities for work. However, this scholarship opportunity for transgender people to showcase their abilities and break the stereotypes associated with them,” she asserted.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>‘Pakistan’s progress linked to Balochistan peace’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251914/pakistans-progress-linked-balochistan-peace</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251914/pakistans-progress-linked-balochistan-peace#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 10:35:52 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Balochistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251914</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[NA speaker chairs parliamentary committee meeting to discuss issues facing province]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser on Saturday asked Balochistan parliamentarians and public representatives to suggest solutions to the socio-economic problems being faced by the province and its people.

Chairing the maiden meeting of the special parliamentary committee on Balochistan in the Parliament House, Qaiser said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) emanated from Gilgit-Baltistan and culminated in Balochistan, which increased the significance of the province.

“Balochistan and its issues are always a priority of the incumbent government,” he said. “Parliament and public representatives are the best option to put forth solutions to the socio-economic issues faced by Balochistan and its people,” he said.

“Pakistan’s progress is linked to peace and progress in Balochistan,” Qaiser said, stressing the need for the committee to look into the matters related to ensuring transfer of the real benefits of CPEC to the local people.

Committees in the parliamentary system across the world, Qaiser said, played a recommendatory role, therefore, this committee would make all-out efforts to recommend the best possible solutions to the issues faced by Balochistan.

The speaker mentioned that the issuance of an executive order, regarding immediate implementation of 6% employment quota in all federal departments, underscored the seriousness of Prime Minister Imran Khan towards addressing the issues of Balochistan.

On the occasion, the speaker formed a four-member sub-committee, headed by Dr Fehmida Mirza, to develop comprehensive terms of reference (ToRs) encompassing all the issues related to Balochistan. It was also decided that a representative from the Balochistan National Party and Defence Minister Prevaiz Khattak would be invited to assist the sub-committee in developing the ToRs.

Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri appreciated the initiative of the speaker to constitute the special committee.

He noted that the government was seriously looking into the resolution of the issues confronting peace and development in the province.

Mirza, the inter-provincial coordination minster, told the committee that Balochistan’s issues had always been the top priority of the parliamentarians.

She pointed out that comprehensive ToRs were essential to make the committee more effective. Khattak said that the government had taken various steps to mitigate the grievances of the people of Balochistan.

Representing Balochistan National Party (BNP) chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal, National Assembly lawmaker Agha Hassan Baloch contended that the issues of Balochistan were getting intense since 2006 and needed to be redressed forthwith.

He called for examining the recommendations, proposed after a meeting between previous parliamentary committee, headed by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, and late Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>Balochistan collects Rs2.5b from mineral sector</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251919/balochistan-collects-rs2-5b-mineral-sector</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251919/balochistan-collects-rs2-5b-mineral-sector#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 10:38:28 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[APP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Balochistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251919</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Computerised weighing scales have been installed]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Balochistan government has collected Rs2.5 billion from the minerals sector during the current financial year, despite coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent lockdown that was imposed to curb virus spread.

The government has collected the huge amount from mining sector and deposited in the provincial treasury, an official of the Balochistan government said. Computerised weighing scales have been installed besides increasing mining check posts in the province, he added.  

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>First phase of HingIaj road construction completed</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251913/first-phase-hingiaj-road-construction-completed</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251913/first-phase-hingiaj-road-construction-completed#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 10:35:07 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[mohammad.zafar]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Balochistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251913</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Project was approved at a cost of Rs120 million]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The first construction phase of Hinglaj Mandir Link Road project has been successfully completed with the special funds from Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal.

The Hindu community of Lasbela has expressed gratitude to the government of Balochistan, according to official sources, as 90% of technical work of the temple stands completed.

The project was approved at a cost of Rs120 million to construct a 13km road to the temple which is adjacent to the Gwadar Coastal Highway.

The first phase of the 4.7 km Link Road project has been completed this week while phase two of the project will be completed in the next financial year.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>Bilawal, Mengal agree on joint strategy for budget</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251810/bilawal-mengal-agree-joint-strategy-budget</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251810/bilawal-mengal-agree-joint-strategy-budget#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 00:50:02 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Khalid Mehmood]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category><category><![CDATA[Balochistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251810</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Both leaders express concern over spread of coronavirus in country]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto telephoned Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) chief Akhtar Mengal on Saturday and discussed the current political situation in the country.

According to details, both the leaders agreed on a joint strategy for the next year’s fiscal budget.

They also exchanged views on the 18th Constitutional Amendment and government’s measures on the National Finance Commission (NFC) award.

“By criticising the 18th Constitutional Amendment, Imran Khan is attacking the constitution,” Bilawal said.

They expressed concern over the growing number of Covid-19 patients in the country and deliberated the holding of all parties’ conference next week.

Bilawal, Shehbaz reject federal budget

“PTI-IMF budget is anti-people. We cannot accept it,” the PPP chairman said.

“Due to the incompetence of the government, coronavirus has spread everywhere,” he added.

Both the leaders also rejected the increase in the petroleum price and noted that this was the time to provide maximum relief to the people.

A few days back, Mengal announced his party's withdrawal from its alliance with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led federal government over its failure to implement accords with the party.

Speaking during a session of the National Assembly, he said: "I am officially announcing that our party is ending its alliance with the PTI. We will stay in Parliament and will keep talking about issues."

Mengal added that the PTI had signed two agreements with the party at the time of government formation after the 2018 elections and later during the presidential elections, but not a single point of the accord was implemented.]]>
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			<title>K-P wants revival of tourism hit hard by Covid</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251918/k-p-wants-revival-tourism-hit-hard-covid</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251918/k-p-wants-revival-tourism-hit-hard-covid#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 10:37:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[K-P]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251918</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[CM Mahmood Khan orders early opening of provincial tourism authority]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[In an effort to boost the tourism sector, which has been hit hard by the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, the provincial chief executive has directed for expediting efforts for opening the newly established provincial tourism authority.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan issued these orders while presiding over the 22nd board meeting of the Board of Directors of the Tourism Corporation of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (TCK-P).

CM Mahmood directed to finalise formalities for opening the newly established K-P Cultural Tourism Authority immediately.

The chief minister also ordered to take steps for liquidation of TCK-P and handing over its assets and liabilities to the culture and tourism authority. The TCK-P employees would be absorbed in the authority, he added.

The chief minister termed tourism as a major economic sector and said its promotion is a top priority of his government.

The meeting was briefed on the progress so far made on the liquidation of the TCK-P after the establishment of the Culture and Tourism Authority as provided in the K-P Culture and Tourism Act, 2019.

The meeting decided to constitute a committee headed by K-P Additional Chief Secretary Shakil Qadir to streamline and expedite all the legal, administrative and financial matters with regard to the liquidation of the TCK-P in a prescribed manner.

The committee would draft and present its recommendations to the competent forum within a week. Other members of the committee would finance secretary, law secretary, tourism secretary and establishment secretary.

K-P Chief Secretary Dr Kazim Niaz, Additional Chief Secretary Shakil Qadir, Finance Secretary Atif Rehman, Tourism Secretary Khushal Khan and TCK-P Managing Director Junaid Khan, private sector members of the board and other relevant officials attended the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>Poor internet access for students echoes in K-P assembly</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251303/poor-internet-access-students-echoes-assembly</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251303/poor-internet-access-students-echoes-assembly#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 27 Jun 20 09:14:06 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[shahid.hamid]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[K-P]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251303</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Debate on Rs55.42b supplementary budget completed]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Lawmakers on Friday took up the issue of poor internet connection for students in the remote areas of the province, noting that the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic means that online classes are the only means for obtaining education for students now.

This was discussed as the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly resumed on Friday to debate the provincial budget for the fiscal year 2020-21.

MPAs raised questions on online classes in the province. They urged the provincial government to ensure students have access to 3G and 4G networks, especially in the merged districts, so that they can access classes.

Moreover, they lamented that a girls college built in the Mohmand tribal district has yet to start functioning even though its structure was completed years ago.

During the discussion on the supplementary budget for the fiscal year 2019-20 worth Rs55.42 billion, the issue of a laptop scheme was raised.

Opposition lawmakers including Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Nighat Orakzai, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl’s (JUI-F) Maulana Lutfur Rehman, Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) Inyatullah Khan, Mir Kalam Wazir, Shafiq Afridi, Baseerat Bibi, Khushdil Khan, Shagufta Malik and others said that a handsome amount had been allocated for the information technology sector in the supplementary budget to provide laptops to teachers.

They noted that if teachers can be provided laptops, then what about the students and called for greater transparency in the programme.

The opposition benches also raised concerns over the plight of the inmates in prisons across the province during the pandemic. They slammed the government for losing control of the bureaucracy.

Police reforms

On the directions of Deputy Speaker Mahmood Khan for a senior police officer attend the assembly proceedings, an SP level officer arrived at the assembly on Friday.

However, the deputy speaker did not allow him to enter the session as he expressed his anger over the absence of senior officers.

He then directed a DIG level officer to attend the session.

Later, Peshawar CCPO Ali Gandapur visited the assembly lobby and marked his presence.

Lawmakers from across the aisle pointed to the need for police reforms. They also asked the CCPO to explain reports of extrajudicial killings and the harassment of citizens at checkpoints set up across the province.

Members of the opposition expressed their reservations over the dormant status of the public safety commission. With no check and balance on the department, they claimed that the police was doing what it wants.

The secretary of the home department was also accused of deliberately delaying the process of activating the commission. Opposition lawmakers also pointed to the incident in the Zangi area where a motorcyclist was killed when he failed to stop at a checkpoint.

Discriminatory allocations

Shafiq Afridi from the Khyber Tribal District accused the government of dividing development funds based on the personal likes and dislikes of the finance and chief ministers. Moreover, he said that lawmaker of the merged districts has been completely ignored. 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>K-P up in arms against custodial torture</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251292/k-p-arms-custodial-torture</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251292/k-p-arms-custodial-torture#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 27 Jun 20 09:19:02 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondents]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[K-P]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251292</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Govt asks PHC to probe yet another instance of police high-handedness]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Scores were left injured on Friday as police and protesters clashed in the Tehkal area of the provincial capital as the latter demonstrated against the excesses of the former.

The clashes came even as the government wrote to the provincial judiciary, asking it to probe reports of police detaining an Afghan national, stripping and parading him naked and then torturing him for abusing officers in a video.

Several protests and rallies were held across the province on Friday to protest the torture of Rafiullah alias Amir of Tehkal.

The largest protests were staged in the Tehkal area, outside the Peshawar Press Club and in front of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly building. Protesters filled the road from Saddar to the press club, blocking it for all sorts of traffic. Former Awami National Party (ANP) provincial assembly member Alamgir Khan Khalil and members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Youth Wing also participated in the protest.

They held aloft banners condemning the police brutality and of filming a detainee in a compromised position and then leaking the videos. Chanting anti-police slogans, they demanded a judicial inquiry into the case and kept the road closed for nearly two hours.

As the protesters neared the provincial assembly, they were charged by police in riot gear. At this, the protesters started pelting police officers with stones.

To disperse the crowd, the police resorted to firing tear gas canisters.

The clashes left scores of protesters and police officers injured.

Meanwhile, protests against police excesses were also held in Mardan, Swabi, Bajaur, Charsadda, Nowshera, Malakand, Lower and Upper Dir, Swat and other southern districts. Lawyers, social workers, students and local political leaders participated in those protests.

Judicial inquiry

In a media briefing at the Information Cell in the Civil Secretariat on Friday, Adviser to the K-P Chief Minister on Information Ajmal Wazir said that the provincial government has written to the Peshawar High Court’s registrar to nominate a judge who will lead a judicial commission to probe the Tehkal incident under the K-P Tribunal of Inquiry Ordinance.

Wazir said that soon after the video went viral on social media, the provincial government had taken immediate action by suspending and booking the four police personnel involved, including an SHO. Moreover, the SSP Operation was removed from his post.

On the judicial commission, he confirmed that the PHC had been requested to form the probe body. He added that the body will be tasked with identifying those responsible for the incident and that later they will be tried as per the law.

Noting that the commission has been directed to complete its inquiry within 15 days, Wazir said that the government will make the inquiry public.

The adviser, however, urged the public not to malign the entire police department due to the actions of a few

“The misconduct and wrongdoings of a few personnel should not be blamed on the entire police department,” he said, reiterating the immense sacrifices rendered by the provincial police force in the war against terror apart from serving on the frontlines against the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>Another case of police excesses surfaces</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251290/another-case-police-excesses-surfaces</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251290/another-case-police-excesses-surfaces#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 27 Jun 20 09:19:42 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Yawar Hayat]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[K-P]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251290</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The report further showed that the additional SHO had been previously found guilty of framing a man in a fake case]]>
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				<![CDATA[After Peshawar, a case of police excesses has emerged from Haripur where a senior police officer allegedly beat up a clerk at a filling station for refusing service to his son.

A report submitted to the district police officer's (DPO0 office stated that additional SHO SI Muhammad Nawaz's son had gone to a filling station in the Batrassi area of Haripur to get fuel for his motorbike. Because he was not wearing a face mask nor a helmet, the clerk on duty refused to provide him with service as per a campaign being run by the district police.

At this, additional SHO Nawaz and his driver arrived at the fuel station where they beat up the workers. Nawaz’s driver also allegedly snatched cash from the cashier's pocket and then fled.

The owner of the filling station and workers subsequently approached the DPO and urged him to intervene. The DPO took notice of the incident and suspended Nawaz and launched an inquiry.

The report further showed that the additional SHO had been previously found guilty of framing a man in a fake case and allegedly took a bribe to set the case aside.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>Virus cases in Indian Occupied Kashmir top 7,000</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2252336/virus-cases-indian-occupied-kashmir-top-7000</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2252336/virus-cases-indian-occupied-kashmir-top-7000#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 23:11:02 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Anadolu Agency]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jammu &amp; Kashmir]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2252336</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[2,700 infections, including 41 virus-linked deaths, confirmed in last 2 weeks]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Coronavirus cases in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&amp;K) region crossed the 7,000-mark including 94 deaths, officials said on Sunday.

As many as 127 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, taking the national tally to 7,093, according to the latest data by the government.

Since June 13, the data revealed, about 2,700 cases have been registered while 41 people, including a 15-day-old baby, have died.

The Doctors Association of Kashmir has warned of community transmission, saying that more than 90% of the region's population is susceptible to the infection.

AJK president lauds Joe Biden for urging India to restore people’s rights in IOJ&amp;K

Dr Suhail Naik, who heads the association, told Anadolu Agency the recent numbers indicate that the virus has arrived in the community, and is going to spread amid an ease in restrictions.

“We cannot bear the excess load of cases in our underdeveloped healthcare systems... the only remedy available is social distancing, hygiene and prevention,” he said.

While educational institutions remain closed, and public transport is still suspended in the region, some businesses have reopened.

As the pandemic crisis is looming, Indian forces continued their human rights violation in the valley, killing over 130 freedom fighters in over 40 gunfights in 2020 so far.]]>
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			<title>AJK president lauds Joe Biden for urging India to restore people’s rights in IOJ&amp;K</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2252239/ajk-president-lauds-joe-biden-urging-india-restore-peoples-rights-iojk</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2252239/ajk-president-lauds-joe-biden-urging-india-restore-peoples-rights-iojk#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 22:27:03 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jammu &amp; Kashmir]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2252239</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[US former vice president has said restrictions on dissent, such as preventing peaceful protests, weaken democracy.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[While welcoming US Democratic presidential nominee and former vice president Joe Biden’s statements over the restoration of rights of Kashmiris, Azad Jammu and Kashmir President Sardar Masood Khan has said that Biden’s remarks are a proof that the world community has refused to buy the Indian narrative on Occupied Kashmir.

Biden has asked New Delhi to take all necessary steps to restore rights of all the people of Kashmir and asserted that restrictions on dissent, such as preventing peaceful protests or shutting or slowing down internet, weakens democracy.

The US ex-vice president also expressed disappointment over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the enforcement of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in different states of India.

“We welcome the US Democratic Party leader’s remarks and urge Indian-Americans and Muslim-Americans to applaud Joe Biden’s policy statement together because nobody wants India to be ruled by theocratic fascists. Kashmiris’ liberties and fundamental rights, especially their right to self-determination, should be restored. It’s a just demand,” President Masood said in Muzaffarabad on Sunday.

Earlier addressing a function held in connection with the disbursement of cash grant among the affectees of Indian shelling living along the Line of Control (LoC), the AJK president said that relief being provided by the federal government to 610,000 members of 80,000 families is the recognition of their sacrifices as well as acknowledgement of the responsibilities being shouldered by the state government.

"Azad Kashmir is not only a strong defence line of Pakistan, but the people living close to the LoC and facing India's direct aggression are the defenders of the motherland," he added.

While commenting on Prime Minister Imran Khan's announcement to include more than 100,000 people affected by the Indian firing at the LoC in the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme and to issue health cards to 1.2 million people of Azad Kashmir, he said that the people of occupied and the liberated territory want to become part of Pakistan not because of geographical location but on the basis of their faith and ideology.

Joe Biden seeks restoration of peoples’ rights in Occupied Kashmir

The AJK president said that India's ruling party BJP and the RSS have planned to eliminate the Kashmiri people, occupy their lands, reduce the number of Muslims in the assembly of Occupied Kashmir, and to turn the whole state into a colony of India, but the people of both the liberated and occupied parts of Kashmir would offer stiff resistance.

He went on to say that it is high time that the government and the people of Pakistan as well as the valiant people of Azad Kashmir adopt an aggressive policy to counter India because "India is constantly threatening to attack Pakistan, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan".

"Instead of saying that we will defend Pakistan and Azad Kashmir, we should also talk about the liberation of Khalistan, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Mizoram, and tell the world that India is no longer a secular state but it has emerged as a fascist state," he added.

President Masood also said that India's anti-Muslim moves have awakened the Muslims across the world, and a wave for the renaissance of Islam has risen in the whole Muslim world. "It is now clear that whether it is Kashmir or Palestine, the Muslims are prepared to safeguard their interest."

Referring to Azad Kashmir, he said that the liberated territory can emerge as an economic engine for Pakistan. At present, he maintained, that 2,000 megawatts of electricity is being generated in Azad Kashmir while the territory has a potential of producing another 8,000 megawatts of electricity "though our own demand is between 300 and 400 megawatts, and the surplus electricity is injected into the national grid".

On completion of Kohala, Gulpur, Azad Pattan, Dudhnial and many other projects in the coming decade, Azad Kashmir will become the biggest electricity generating region of Pakistan.

President Masood said that Azad Kashmir is not only strategically important for Pakistan's defence but it can also play an important role in the economic uplift of the country. "That is why, we say that Pakistan is incomplete without Kashmir and Kashmir has no identity without Pakistan."]]>
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			<title>Hinduism being masqueraded as secularism in India, says AJK president</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251761/hinduism-masqueraded-secularism-india-says-ajk-president</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251761/hinduism-masqueraded-secularism-india-says-ajk-president#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 00:33:43 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jammu &amp; Kashmir]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251761</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Masood says 13,000 Kashmiri boys have been abducted and kept in prison houses where they're being subjected to torture]]>
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				<![CDATA[Sardar Masood Khan, the president Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), has said that after grudgingly accepting the independence of Pakistan, India adopted a secular doctrine, an insincere attempt to hide prevalent Hindu nationalism under the guise of secularism.

He made these remarks while addressing two separate web-conferences organised by the Institute of Policy Studies on the topic of “India: Past, Present &amp; Future: Perceptions of the Muslim World”; and by the Pakistan High Commission UK on the topic “Seeking Justice for Kashmiri Victims of Sexual Violence and Physical Torture, and Widows”.

Speaking at the IPS session – which was attended by leading international experts from the United States, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Nigeria – the president said Hindu fascists romanticise an imaginary state of "Akhand Baharat" that they claim to have existed before the arrival of Muslim rulers in the sub-continent. This notion, he said, is not only unsubstantiated by history, it is also counterintuitive.

Referring to the faux secularism adopted by India, the AJK president said that over the decades, this glue of secularism had has come off and the real face of India’s political masters has been exposed. "Not long after independence, on 27 October 1947, India began working on its imperialistic agenda, and invaded the Jammu and Kashmir State. Driven by its Hindu-extremist policy, India has carried on with this agenda over the years," he said.

Masood Khan said that lawmakers and the leadership of BJP, the RSS and their affiliates have publicly declared that they would do away with Muslims from within India. This, he said, has caught the attention of Hindu zealots from across India which has consequently impacted the larger political landscape of the neighbouring country.

This BJP-RSS nexus has waged three wars in the region; one against its minorities inside its own borders, the second one against Kashmiris in the occupied territory of Kashmir and the third one against all its neighbouring countries. "Considering Pakistan as enemy number one, they have threatened to wipe off Pakistan from the face of the earth by the use of nuclear weapons," he informed.

The AJK president said that India’s ambition of becoming a colonial and imperial power in the region has led it to using the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh for sabotaging the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It has also formed a four-member alliance QUAD – comprising of India, USA, Japan and Australia – to oppose the BRI and, especially, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

“India is the biggest barrier for progress in the region. SAARC has been struggling for decades and that too because India has been standing in the way of economic integration as it wants to establish its hegemony in South Asia,” said the president.

'Existing tensions surfacing in new China-India row'

Speaking about the situation in IOJ&amp;K, he said that India is practicing the policy of lebensraum by reoccupying the State of Jammu and Kashmir, bifurcating it and now bringing it under the direct rule of Delhi. He compared the new domicile rules introduced in the occupied valley, to the policy followed by Nazi Germany against the Jews, based initially on economic strangulation, followed by demonisation and marginalisation and finally physical extermination.

The president apprised that in IOJ&amp;K political leaders have been incarcerated, the youth are being killed and tortured in jails all over Occupied Kashmir and northern India. He added that 13,000 Kashmiri boys have been abducted and kept in prison houses where they are being subjected to torture and brainwashing. Bipin Rawat, India’s Chief of Defence Staff, has said that these boys (some as young as 10 years old) are more dangerous than a pellet-firing shotgun because they raise the slogan of Azadi (freedom) and self-determination, he said.

The AJK president said that members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) should start a boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against India, while the corporate sector of these countries should be discouraged to invest in India as they are committing human rights violations against Kashmiris and Muslims of India.

"Start by banning the import of non-halal meat into OIC countries and the formation of a Kashmir Humanitarian Fund with the help of the Islamic Development Bank and Islamic Solidarity Fund.”

He also suggested an international civil society movement be mobilised to delegitimise Hindutva and campaign to declare RSS a terrorist organisation. “The biggest and the most trained terrorist organisation in the world is the RSS. They have openly declared to target Muslims not only in South Asia but all over the world”, he added.

Appreciating the supportive role of the OIC, Masood Khan appealed to the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council to raise their voice against Kashmir and call out the egregious human rights violations taking place in IOJ&amp;K.

Speaking at the web-conference hosted by Pakistan High Commission, the president appealed to powerful nations to make moral and legal choices for bringing India to justice and helping dismantle this machine of torture in IOJ&amp;K. “Silence is a crime when such torture is openly taking place in any part of the world”, he said.

He added that 25,000 Hindus from all over India have been given domiciles of IOJ&amp;K; and in the same manner, in which Muslim Indians have become second class citizens, Kashmiris have to run from pillar to post just to prove that they are state subjects. “If we don’t stop this now, IOJ&amp;K won’t be a recognisable entity like it is today. Two million Hindus will be brought in over the coming years” he said.

The AJK president said that India’s non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council will lead to three setbacks in the Council. Firstly, it will try to delete the agenda from the UNSC calendar; secondly, they would make efforts to stop us from holding informal meetings on Kashmir; and thirdly, they will imperil funding of the mandate of the UNMOGIP. “As a permanent member of the UNSC, the United Kingdom can stop this and create a balance in the UNSC,” said the president while speaking to his audience.

He urged the British citizenry and its civil society to lead the campaign of letter writing and awareness-raising on Kashmir in the international realm.

He also thanked MP Steve Baker for his active and vocal role in raising his voice for the Kashmir people by authoring a letter. He urged him to use his clout with 10 Downing Street and the FCO to mobilise the UK towards Kashmir advocacy in both the British Parliament and the UNSC.

The web-conference hosted by the Pakistan High Commission London was attended by Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK Nafees Zakaria, MP Afzal Khan, MP Naz Shah, MP Steve Baker, MP Tony Lloyd, MP, Imran Hussain, MP Khalid Mahmood, Lord Qurban Hussain, Councillor Aasim Rashid, Mr Muzammil  Ayub Thakur, Chairman JKSDMI Raja Najabat Hussain, President Tahreek-e-Kashmir UK Fahim Kiyani, Dr Nazir GIllani, Syed Ali Raza, Shaista Safi and other leading members of the civil society.]]>
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			<title>World leaders urged to help end Indian atrocities against Kashmiris</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2250999/world-leaders-urged-help-end-indian-atrocities-kashmiris</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2250999/world-leaders-urged-help-end-indian-atrocities-kashmiris#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 20 21:06:07 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jammu &amp; Kashmir]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2250999</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[On International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, AJK president condemns BJP-RSS regime]]>
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				<![CDATA[Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan has urged the international community and United Nations to help end the most "cruel, inhumane and degrading" treatment of the people of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&amp;K) by occupation forces,

“We fully agree with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’s statement that torturers must never be allowed to get away with their crimes, and systems that enable torture should be dismantled or transformed,” he said in a video message released on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture observed across the globe on Friday.

The AJK president said that torture is a crime against humanity and it is prohibited by international law and all religions. "Yet, this crime is committed everyday by the Indian forces and authorities in the occupied territory, most brutally and systematically."

He appealed to the United Nations not to generalise and blur the focus on torture where it is pervasive. In Occupied Kashmir, he said, torture is most rampant and most egregious.

“Torture has been committed by the BJP-RSS regime by reoccupying and colonising Jammu and Kahsmir against the will of its 14 million people, dividing their state into two parts, and enforcing decrees whereby the entire territory is now ruled by a foreign capital, Delhi."

While lambasting the Modi-led government, President Masood said: “As we mark this day today, Kashmiri young men are hunted down and killed in cold blood in fake encounters, demonstrators are blinded and sexual molestation is used as a weapon of war.”

Kashmiris, he went on to say, are being deprived of their homeland by bringing Hindus from all over India and settling them in the occupied territory through new domicile rules.

“Stripped of their permanent residence rights, Kashmiris are being robbed of their jobs, livelihoods, businesses and land. Systematically, the demography of the disputed valley is being altered permanently."

PM urges int'l community to hold India accountable for atrocities in IOJ&amp;K

The AJK president said what India is doing in occupied region is a war crime according to the Fourth Geneva Convention, the ICC Statute and international humanitarian law.

Referring to arbitrary arrest of political leaders and political activists, he said thousands of political detainees  – illegally incarcerated – are being subjected to the vicious torture leading in many instances to death and disability.

President Masood demanded that political prisoners in the Tihar jail in India - Yasin Malik, Asiya Indrabi, Shabbir Shah - should be released forthwith and Syed Ali Geelani and other Hurriyet leaders - hundreds of them holed up in cramped prisons - should be set free.

Some 13,000 boys and children, as young as 10, are caged in concentration camps where they are being tortured and brainwashed, he said while calling for the international community led by the United Nations to play ts role for their release.

He also made a demand that India should be asked to repeal all draconian laws that empower occupation forces to commit crimes with impunity.

“Kashmiris are citizens of planet Earth. Listen to their screams of SOS. Save their bodies; save their souls. Silence too is a crime while such massive torture is taking place right before our eyes.”]]>
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			<title>Fact check: Imran Khan was not recently taken to PIMS; viral image of him in hospital bed is AI-generated</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623487/fact-check-imran-khan-was-not-recently-taken-to-pims-image-of-him-in-hospital-bed-is-ai-generated</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623487/fact-check-imran-khan-was-not-recently-taken-to-pims-image-of-him-in-hospital-bed-is-ai-generated#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 26 11:19:30 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Fact Check By iVerify]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623487</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Rumours circulated on social media about ex-PM's blood pressure issues, that he was taken to hospital for treatment]]>
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				<![CDATA[Multiple users, a majority of whom appear to be PTI supporters, based on their past posts, have been sharing an image on social media platforms YouTube and X since August 11, 2026, purportedly showing incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan lying on a hospital bed at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). However, the image is AI-generated and he was not recently taken to the hospital.

Imran has remained incarcerated in Adiala jail while facing multiple legal cases. In early 2026, concerns over his health intensified after his legal team reported that he had developed central retinal vein occlusion, resulting in significant vision loss in his right eye.

The former prime minister was subsequently taken to PIMS in Islamabad for an eye examination and follow-up treatment under government supervision. The hospital later stated that he was clinically stable. At the same time, PTI leaders and Imran&rsquo;s legal team continued to demand treatment at a hospital of their choice and access for his personal physicians, keeping public attention focused on his health. He has since been regularly taken to PIMS for procedures.

Rumours have been circulating on social media recently about his blood pressure issues and that he was taken to the hospital for treatment for them.

How it started

On August 11, a pro-PTI user, based on its past posts, shared an image on X, allegedly showing Imran lying on a hospital bed.

The caption of the post read: &ldquo;Breaking news: Meet the mentor. A photo of Imran Khan from PIMS hospital has gone viral, causing a huge stir everywhere. It may be recalled that three days ago, Khan was brought in due to high blood pressure.&rdquo;

It gained 581,100 views.

Former journalist and vlogger Sami Abraham also shared the same visual while questioning the image&rsquo;s authenticity. His post accumulated 35,000 views.

The same image was subsequently shared by several other pro-PTI accounts on X and YouTube, as seen here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here.

Methodology

A fact-check was initiated to determine the veracity of the claim due to its high virality and keen public interest in Imran&rsquo;s health.

A keyword search did not yield any news reports or official party statements on any recent hospital visit or admission of Imran at PIMS. A reverse image search also did not yield any results of the image used by credible news outlets or PTI platforms.

He was last taken to PIMS for eye treatment on June 15, 2026, the hospital said in a statement. It said Imran was brought for follow-up eye treatment, which included the administration of a fifth anti-VEGF intravitreal injection to him.

When reached out,&nbsp;Dawn&rsquo;s&nbsp;Rawalpindi correspondent Tahir Naseer confirmed to iVerify Pakistan that the ex-prime minister was not brought to Pims recently. &ldquo;There is no such confirmation from both Adiala jail and the hospital,&rdquo; he said.

Express News&nbsp;correspondent Zaigham Naqvi also confirmed the same.

A visual examination of the image shows a toilet-paper holder hanging directly behind Imran&rsquo;s bed &mdash; an unusual placement in a hospital patient-care setting.



While this discrepancy alone does not prove AI generation, it provides an additional visual red flag.

The image was next analysed using OpenAI&rsquo;s content verification tool and uploaded to OpenAI Verify, which checks files for provenance signals associated with OpenAI-generated content, including C2PA (Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity) metadata and SynthID watermarks.

The tool detected a SynthID signal, indicating that the image likely originated from OpenAI&rsquo;s generative tools.



SynthID works by embedding an invisible digital watermark directly into AI-generated media content. Unlike normal metadata, the watermark forms part of the content itself and is designed to remain detectable even after the media is doctored, such as cropping, applying filters or lossy compression.

OpenAI notes that a detected signal reliably indicates that the content likely originated from its tools.

The image was also analysed through other AI image detection tools with Fake Image Detector flagging it as 67 per cent likely to be a computer-generated or modified image while Deep AI said it was 68% likely to be fake and created by AI while Undetectable said it was 32% likely to be real and thus likely created by AI.







Fact-check status: False

The claim that a viral image shows former prime minister Imran Khan lying on a hospital bed at PIMS, Islamabad, amid ongoing concerns about his health is false.

The viral image is AI-generated and he was not recently taken to the hospital.

This fact check was originally published by iVerify Pakistan &mdash; a project of CEJ-IBA and UNDP.]]>
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			<title>US State Dept urges increasing civilian oversight to improve Pakistan's fiscal transparency</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623510/us-state-dept-urges-increasing-civilian-oversight-to-improve-pakistans-fiscal-transparency</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623510/us-state-dept-urges-increasing-civilian-oversight-to-improve-pakistans-fiscal-transparency#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 26 13:28:08 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623510</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Report says defence budgets are not 'subject to adequate parliamentary or civilian public oversight']]>
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				<![CDATA[The United States State Department said on Wednesday that Pakistan needed&nbsp;to increase civilian oversight of public finances to improve its fiscal transparency.

According to the State Department, fiscal transparency informs&nbsp;citizens how government and tax revenues were spent and was&nbsp;a critical element of effective public financial management. Transparency provides citizens a window into government budgets and those citizens, in turn, hold governments accountable.

The National Assembly passed the Rs18.8 trillion&nbsp;Finance Bill 2026-27 in June.&nbsp;The defence budget was approved at Rs3 trillion, including at least Rs335 billion provincial contribution.&nbsp;

In its&nbsp;2026 Fiscal Transparency Report: Pakistan, the State Department noted that Pakistan continued&nbsp;to lag in disclosing key financial data, including debt obligations and the budgets of military and intelligence agencies.

The report added that the government did not &quot;publish its executive budget proposal within a reasonable period&quot; and that it made only &quot;limited information on debt obligations, including major state-owned enterprise debt, publicly available&quot;. In addition, it said that the military and intelligence budgets were not &quot;subject to adequate parliamentary or civilian public oversight&quot;.

The report also identified some positive steps and stated that during the review period, the government made its &quot;enacted budget and end-of-year report widely and easily accessible to the public, including online&quot;.

According to the report, publicly available budget documents provided a &quot;substantially complete picture of most of the government&rsquo;s planned expenditures and revenues, including natural resource revenues&quot;.

It further stated that the information in the budget was considered &quot;generally reliable and subject to audit by the supreme audit institution&quot; and that the supreme audit institution met &quot;international standards of independence&quot;.

The State Department also noted that audit reports were made publicly available within a reasonable period and provided substantive findings, and that the &quot;government specified in law or regulation, and appeared to follow in practice, the criteria and procedures for awarding natural resource extraction contracts and licenses&quot;.

&quot;The government made basic information on natural resource extraction awards publicly available. The sovereign wealth fund had a sound legal framework, and the government published accessible information on public procurement contracts,&quot; it further said.

The report also recommended steps that Pakistan could take to improve fiscal transparency, which include &quot;making its executive budget proposal publicly available within a reasonable period&quot;, &quot;disclosing detailed information on government debt obligations, including for state-owned enterprises, and &quot;subjecting the military and intelligence agencies&rsquo; budgets to parliamentary or civilian public oversight&quot;.

Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi, while responding to a question on the report during his&nbsp;weekly press briefing&nbsp;today,&nbsp;acknowledged that &quot;this is a development that took place yesterday&quot;.&nbsp;



Weekly Press Briefing by the Spokesperson @TahirAndrabi

Response to the United States&rsquo; Report on Fiscal Transparency pic.twitter.com/EJNE3jVqTf
&mdash; Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 12, 2026


Andrabi said that while Pakistan adhered&nbsp;to internationally established best practices regarding fiscal transparency, budgeting processes and financial disclosure, it was simultaneously bound by its own constitutional, legislative&nbsp;and regulatory frameworks.

He further added that Pakistan was &quot;currently in an IMF (International Monetary Fund) programme, which, by its design, is focused on structural reform and improving fiscal management. Pakistan has completed three IMF reviews, and its reform process and the measures taken under the process have been widely appreciated, including the credit rating upgrades by the three international rating agencies, as well as by the IMF&quot;.

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			<title>Fact check: Viral visuals claiming armed PTI supporter killed in Rawalpindi was innocent, abducted are fake</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623530/fact-check-viral-visuals-claiming-armed-pti-supporter-killed-in-rawalpindi-was-innocent-are-fake</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623530/fact-check-viral-visuals-claiming-armed-pti-supporter-killed-in-rawalpindi-was-innocent-are-fake#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 26 16:02:47 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Fact Check By iVerify]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623530</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Viral visuals had logo and Urdu text inconsistencies, suggesting they may have been digitally altered]]>
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				<![CDATA[Multiple PTI supporters have been sharing two visuals on social media platforms X and Facebook since August 11, 2026, purportedly showing screenshots from a news bulletin of&nbsp;Express Digital. They claimed that the alleged PTI worker who was recently killed in Rawalpindi was innocent and had been abducted two days before his death. However, the visuals are fake, and no such news was reported.

It should be mentioned that&nbsp;Express Digital&nbsp;is a platform that has been dormant for over a year.

A man was shot dead by law enforcement officials on Rawalpindi&rsquo;s Mall Road on August 11, 2026, after he allegedly opened fire on a security patrol, injuring one official. The suspect, identified as Muhammad Hussain, son of Muhammad Baaz, was a resident of Khyber Agency. Police recovered a pistol, bullets, a political party flag, a cap, and a mobile phone from him. A case was registered under the Anti-Terrorism Act with the Crime Control Department, Rawalpindi, and further investigation is under way.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, speaking on news channels, identified the suspect as an &ldquo;active member&rdquo; of PTI and accused the party of pursuing &ldquo;politics of violence&rdquo;, pointing to its announced long march to Islamabad on September 27.

PTI denied any organisational link to the attacker. PTI Islamabad Regional President Amir Mughal rejected Tarar&rsquo;s claims. Meanwhile, Shafi Jan, aide to the chief minister of KP, acknowledged that the attacker may have been a PTI supporter but said he held no party position and that it was unfair to link an individual act of violence to the entire organisation. The party demanded an independent judicial inquiry into the incident.

How it started 

On August 11, a PTI supporter&nbsp;shared&nbsp;a visual on X featuring an&nbsp;Express Digital&nbsp;breaking news template and Hussain&rsquo;s photograph. The Urdu text on the visual attributed a statement to Hussain&rsquo;s mother, claiming that her son had been abducted two days earlier and was later killed in Rawalpindi.

The caption reads: &ldquo;What kind of justice is this, and what kind of lawless state is this? In Rawalpindi, the police brutally killed this man and, to save their own skins, immediately pinned the blame on him, claiming he had opened fire on the security forces.&rdquo;

The post accumulated 11,000 views.

The same screenshot was&nbsp;shared&nbsp;on Facebook by another PTI supporter with the following caption: &ldquo;Express Digital News, drama exposed.&rdquo;

The post gathered 1,200 likes.

The same day, another visual featuring the same&nbsp;Express Digital&nbsp;template also began circulating on X. The image,&nbsp;shared&nbsp;by a PTI supporter, carried the following text: &ldquo;He wasn&rsquo;t a terrorist; an innocent man was killed by mistake, police disclose.&rdquo;

Meanwhile, the caption read: &ldquo;Breaking: Rawalpindi Police, admitting their mistake, have declared the PTI worker innocent. An innocent worker was killed by mistake!&rdquo;

The post racked up 43,000 views.

Another pro-PTI account&nbsp;shared&nbsp;the same screenshot on X with the following caption: &ldquo;Breaking News: Who is responsible? Where have those who held the press conference gone now?&rdquo;

The post received 2,900 views.

Methodology

A fact-check was initiated to determine the veracity of the claim due to its virality and keen public interest in the incident.

The visuals used the name of the&nbsp;Express Digital&nbsp;platform, associated with&nbsp;Express News.

Keyword and reverse image searches were conducted to determine whether similar reports &mdash; linked to the alleged innocence and abduction of Hussain &mdash; were carried by&nbsp;Express News&nbsp;or other credible domestic media outlets, but no such news stories were found.

Investigating&nbsp;Express Digital&rsquo;s&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;and&nbsp;YouTube&nbsp;pages showed that they were dormant, with the last posts dated back to March and July 2025, after which the pages appear to have remained inactive.

Muhammad Haris, senior YouTube executive at&nbsp;Express News, confirmed the same, adding that it hadn&rsquo;t published any such news of the sort.

Express News&nbsp;correspondent Khalid Mehmood also said that nothing of the sort was reported or heard of.

Furthermore, examining the visuals closely revealed several inconsistencies. First, the logo in the viral visuals differed from the original&nbsp;Express Digital&nbsp;logo, with &lsquo;express&rsquo; written in uppercase in the former and in lowercase in the latter, while the text box for &lsquo;digital&rsquo; is black in the former and white in the latter.



Second, the Urdu text used in the viral visuals appeared inconsistent with the channel&rsquo;s usual graphic style. The font, formatting, and placement of the text appeared unusual, giving the impression that the text may have been digitally added to the visuals rather than being part of an original&nbsp;Express Digital&nbsp;graphic.



Fact-check status: False

The claim that viral visuals show a media outlet reporting that the PTI supporter killed in Rawalpindi on Aug 11 was innocent and abducted before death is&nbsp;false.

The visuals are fake, and no such news has been reported by any media outlet.

This fact check was&nbsp;originally published&nbsp;by iVerify Pakistan &mdash; a project of CEJ-IBA and UNDP.]]>
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			<title>US Congressmen urge Marco Rubio to raise Imran's detention with Pakistan</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623339/us-congressmen-urge-marco-rubio-to-raise-imrans-detention-with-pakistan</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623339/us-congressmen-urge-marco-rubio-to-raise-imrans-detention-with-pakistan#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 17:41:05 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Cite a letter by UN special rapporteur, which raises concerns about torture on Imran, solitary confinement]]>
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				<![CDATA[A group of bipartisan United States Congress members on Tuesday sent a letter to&nbsp;Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging him to take up the detention of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder and former prime minister Imran Khan with Pakistan.

Imran has been imprisoned since August 2023, currently serving a sentence at Adiala Jail in a &pound;190 million corruption case. He also faces pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) related to the protests of May 9, 2023. His party has regularly raised concerns about his health and well-being in detention.

In a post on X today, the PTI&#39;s US account posted the letter from the lawmakers to Rubio.

&quot;We are concerned about former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Imran Khan&#39;s conditions in detention at the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi, and throughout their entire time in custody,&quot; the letter said.&nbsp;

It said that, as per a&nbsp;December 2025 communication by the United Nations special rapporteur on torture, Imran was&nbsp;held in solitary confinement &quot;in excess of international norms up to 23 hours a day in his cell&quot;.

It added that reports also asserted he was facing &quot;severe eye damage&quot; with Imran&#39;s lawyer stating&nbsp;in February court submissions that he&nbsp;had &quot;lost 85%&nbsp;of his vision in his right eye&quot;. &quot;Mr&nbsp;Khan also raised concerns of &#39;slow poisoning&#39;&nbsp;in October 2023, at the onset of his detention,&quot; the letter said.

READ: UN expert decries Imran&#39;s detention

The lawmakers said that in a separate December 2025 communication, the special rapporteur also raised concerns regarding Bushra Bibi&#39;s treatment.

&quot;She is allegedly being confined in a small, airless, overheated cell for prolonged periods of time, and denied access to clean drinking water and quality food. Her family and legal visits have been restricted, and she has faced significant weight loss, infections, and untreated medical complications. Reports indicate that Ms&nbsp;Khan has experienced significant eye damage, too,&quot; the lawmakers said.

READ MORE:&nbsp;UN expert flags &lsquo;serious risk&rsquo; to Bushra Bibi&rsquo;s well-being

They added that the UN special rapporteur had&nbsp;noted that&nbsp;&quot;immediate attention&quot; was warranted&nbsp;in both their&nbsp;cases.&nbsp;

&quot;We request that the State Department review these concerns and assess the current status of Mr and Ms Khan&#39;s conditions. Moreover, we urge the department to address their continued detention and human rights directly with the Government of Pakistan,&quot; the letter demanded.



The world is watching...

A bipartisan group of thirteen U.S. lawmakers has written to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging action on the detention conditions of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Khan in Adiala Jail.

Citing UN concerns over solitary&hellip; pic.twitter.com/YdpbJxEOrv
&mdash; PTI USA Official (@PTIOfficialUSA) August 11, 2026


The lawmakers who signed on to the letter included Suhyas Subramanyam, Joe Wilson, Gus Bilirakis, Ro Khanna, James McGovern, Pramila Jayapal, Donald Beyer Jr, Ilhan Omar, Frank Pallone Jr, Greg Casar, Rashida Tlaib, James Walkinshaw and&nbsp;Johnny Olszewski Jr.

Last year, US Congressmen Wilson and August Pfluger sent a joint letter to Rubio, urging him to engage with Pakistan&#39;s military&nbsp;to secure Imran&#39;s release.

ALSO READ: US Congressmen urge Marco Rubio to secure Imran Khan&#39;s release

The letter, dated February 25, 2025, stated that Imran&#39;s imprisonment, which began in August 2023, was the result of politically motivated charges. It referred to Imran&#39;s ouster in 2022 through a vote of no-confidence as a &quot;suspension of democracy&quot; in Pakistan, leading to strained ties between the two countries.]]>
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			<title>Pakistan, US renew Fulbright-HEC partnership to support 66 PhD scholars</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623307/pakistan-us-renew-fulbright-hec-partnership-to-support-66-phd-scholars</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623307/pakistan-us-renew-fulbright-hec-partnership-to-support-66-phd-scholars#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 12:22:00 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[APP]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[HEC commits at least $4.54 million annually for five-year deal]]>
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				<![CDATA[The government&nbsp;and the United States have renewed their longstanding partnership in higher education through a new five-year agreement between the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) that will also entail supporting 66 PhD scholars over a&nbsp;five-year period.

They also reaffirmed&nbsp;their shared commitment to academic excellence, human capital development&nbsp;and international educational cooperation.

The Ministry of Education and Professional Training welcomed the renewed agreement, which will cover the period from Financial Year 2026&ndash;27 through Financial Year 2031&ndash;32 and encompass the Fulbright Master&rsquo;s and PhD programmes, Visiting Scholar Programme for post-doctoral scholars, Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) Programme&nbsp;and Hubert H Humphrey Fellowship Programme.

The initiative will offer Pakistani scholars and academics opportunities to pursue advanced education, undertake research, strengthen professional expertise, and contribute to Pakistan&rsquo;s socio-economic development upon their return.

As part of the financial commitment, the HEC will provide at least $4.54 million annually, with the total funding commitment capped at Rs6.48 billion over the five-year period. The agreed payment schedule provides for $2m&nbsp;by June 30, a further $2m&nbsp;by January 31, and the remaining balance by April 30, subject to the timely release of government funds.

Read: Cambridge announces AS, A-Level results for June 2026 examinations

Any interest earned on HEC funds held by USEFP will be reinvested in student grants, further supporting the educational objectives of the partnership.

The selection process under the renewed agreement will remain merit-based, with no fixed quotas for any particular group, region, or category. The HEC will participate directly in the selection panels and will contribute to identifying priority fields of study aligned with Pakistan&rsquo;s national development and security priorities.

This collaborative approach will help ensure that the programme continues to respond to emerging national needs while maintaining the highest standards of academic merit and transparency.

To strengthen oversight and assess the effectiveness of the programme, a Joint Review Committee comprising representatives of the partner institutions will meet twice a year to review programme performance and impact. USEFP will also provide HEC with annual audited financial statements, while relevant records will remain open for review by the&nbsp;HEC upon reasonable notice, reinforcing transparency, accountability, and effective financial governance.

The renewed partnership also envisages broader collaboration beyond scholarship opportunities. HEC and USEFP will undertake joint visibility and awareness initiatives across Pakistan, drawing on HEC&rsquo;s extensive network of higher education institutions to ensure wider outreach and greater awareness of international academic opportunities.

The agreement further provides scope for exploring future collaboration in faculty and administrator exchanges and other related academic and educational initiatives.

The new agreement builds on the original Fulbright-HEC PhD partnership signed in February 2016, under which $25.786 million was committed to support 125 Pakistani scholars during FY 2016&ndash;20. That landmark initiative itself emerged from the high-level engagement between the US and Pakistan, including the meeting between then-US president Barack Obama and then-premier Nawaz Sharif in October 2015, and was linked to the US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor launched in June 2015.

Read More: Inequality in education

The renewed agreement marks an important milestone in what has evolved into a decade-long partnership between HEC and USEFP and represents the third phase of the Fulbright-HEC collaboration. Over the years, the partnership has played a significant role in strengthening Pakistan&rsquo;s academic and research capacity and in fostering enduring educational links between Pakistan and the US.

The signing ceremony for the renewed agreement was rescheduled from its original date following the passing of the father of Dr Peter Moran, executive director of USEFP. The continued commitment of USEFP to advancing the partnership despite these circumstances was deeply appreciated.

The government said it remained committed to expanding access to quality higher education, strengthening research and innovation, developing a highly skilled workforce, and creating meaningful international academic partnerships. The renewed Fulbright-HEC agreement reflected these priorities and underscored&nbsp;the enduring value of educational cooperation in promoting mutual understanding, knowledge exchange, and shared progress between Pakistan and the US.]]>
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			<title>Senate panel orders action on medical seats</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623207/senate-panel-orders-action-on-medical-seats</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623207/senate-panel-orders-action-on-medical-seats#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 02:07:11 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[PMDC told to probe vacancies and fee disparities]]>
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				<![CDATA[A Senate panel on Monday directed the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSRC) and the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to take immediate measures to address vacant seats in medical colleges, examine fee disparities and strengthen monitoring of medical education institutions.

The directives were issued by the Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, chaired by Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani.

The panel asserted that it will not allow long-standing issues in medical education to remain unresolved, adding that, &quot;every vacant seat, every fee increase and every regulatory gap must have a clear answer&quot;.

The committee reviewed PMDC&#39;s preparedness for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2026. It was informed that PMDC had rescheduled the MDCAT 2026 examination to Sunday, Sept 20, 2026, to ensure a transparent, secure and well-organised process and provide relief to candidates.

The vice chancellors of universities conducting the MDCAT shared their input on various other matters, including vacant seats and the fee structure of medical colleges, particularly institutions charging higher fees.

The minister for health informed the committee that several colleges had sought an increase in fees and that universities could not independently increase their fees.

Of the 61 medical colleges considered, 35 had qualified on the prescribed criteria. The committee sought details justifying and scrutinising the fees, along with audited financial statements, for each of these 35 qualified institutions.

PMDC was also asked to share the status of institutions that had not qualified but were nevertheless charging higher fees and displaying those fees on their websites. PMDC informed the committee that notices had been issued to non-compliant institutions and that monitoring was under way.

The committee asked for details of the notices issued in this regard.

The committee emphasised that any increase in fees should be supported by clear criteria and credible evidence, including educational standards, faculty strength, infrastructure and audited financial information.

The issue of vacant seats in medical colleges was discussed at length. The minister stated that vacant seats were a genuine and broader concern and could not be attributed solely to fee levels or MDCAT eligibility percentages.

The committee was informed that the ministry had examined the issue in comparison with other professional fields and that the declining interest in medical education also required consideration.

The committee discussed increasing the number of seats in public-sector medical colleges as one possible measure. PMDC informed the committee that additional seats had already been allocated following inspections, including seats for Punjab, erstwhile FATA and Balochistan.

The committee also discussed the position in Sindh in this regard. Members of the committee and vice chancellors of admitting universities explained that an increase in public-sector seats would require additional infrastructure, registration capacity and physical space. The chairman decided that a separate meeting would be held with the Government of Sindh and relevant representatives to examine the matter in detail.

The committee stressed that vacant seats must be properly investigated before any further policy decision is taken. PMDC was directed to inspect private colleges having vacant seats and submit a report identifying the reasons for the vacancies.

The committee expressed grave concern over the delay in providing the information required during its previous meeting and directed that the report be submitted within one month.]]>
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			<title>Minister back smaller units</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2622863/minister-back-smaller-units</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2622863/minister-back-smaller-units#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 08 Aug 26 22:54:13 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[He argued that while the 18th Amendment had transferred powers from the federal government to the provinces]]>
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				<![CDATA[Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan has backed the creation of smaller provinces and new administrative units, stressing it was imperative to restructure governance in order to bring political and financial powers, resources and public services closer to citizens.

In a video message released on Saturday, the minister noted that the purpose of creating smaller provinces and administrative units should be to ensure more effective governance. He argued that while the 18th Amendment had transferred powers from the federal government to the provinces, a similar devolution had not taken place from provinces to districts.]]>
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			<title>PM lauds Balochi song blending folk culture with national unity</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2622964/pm-lauds-balochi-song-blending-folk-culture-with-national-unity</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2622964/pm-lauds-balochi-song-blending-folk-culture-with-national-unity#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 09 Aug 26 15:50:30 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[ISPR releases Balochi-language patriotic song ‘Pak Ae Watan’ ahead of Independence Day]]>
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				<![CDATA[Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday praised a Balochi-language patriotic song released ahead of Independence Day, praising its message of love for the country.

&ldquo;As Independence Day approaches, my heart is filled with pride to see this beautiful and patriotic song coming from Balochistan,&rdquo; the prime minister said in a statement on X.



As Independence Day approaches, my heart is filled with pride to see this beautiful and patriotic song coming from Balochistan.

My heartfelt appreciation and sincere gratitude to the singers, performers, producers and everyone behind this wonderful effort. You have beautifully&hellip; pic.twitter.com/GAKhK93Fwg
&mdash; Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) August 9, 2026


While expressing his heartfelt appreciation and sincere gratitude to the singers, performers, producers and everyone involved in the effort, he hailed the song, saying: &ldquo;You have beautifully captured the spirit of love for our beloved homeland.&rdquo;

Earlier in the day, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) released a Balochi-language patriotic song, &ldquo;Pak Ae Watan&rdquo;, ahead of Independence Day.

The song was sung and composed by Akhtar Chanal Zahri, with music by Sami Khan, and was produced by Multiverse Entertainment.

The song, &ldquo;Pak Ae Watan&rdquo;, focuses on unity among the four provinces and Azad Jammu and Kashmir as well as Gilgit-Baltistan, and highlights the spirit of making sacrifices for the country.

Accompanied by a video, the song draws on Baloch folk traditions, music and voices while conveying a message of national unity and presenting them as an integral part of Pakistan&rsquo;s wider national identity.





It presents Pakistan as more than a geographical entity, portraying the country as a central part of the people&rsquo;s identity and highlighting their willingness to make sacrifices for it.

The patriotic song promotes unity, solidarity and brotherhood, while celebrating national pride across Pakistan&rsquo;s diverse regions, languages and communities.]]>
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			<title>PIACL board approves bonus for employees</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2622699/piacl-board-approves-bonus-for-employees</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2622699/piacl-board-approves-bonus-for-employees#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 07 Aug 26 23:53:11 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Bonus aims to encourage employees, acknowledge their services]]>
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				<![CDATA[The board of directors of the Pakistan International Airlines Corporation Limited (PIACL) has approved a bonus equal to one basic salary for the airline&#39;s employees during its 102nd meeting, the first held after the airline&#39;s privatisation.

In an official statement issued on Saturday, the board said the decision reflected the new management&#39;s strategy of placing the workforce at the centre of efforts to revive and expand the national carrier.

The bonus aims to encourage employees, acknowledge their services and prepare them to contribute towards the airline&#39;s new goals.]]>
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			<title>Over 300,000 put under 1,291 smart lockdowns</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2242020/smart-lockdown-imposed-1292-areas-across-pakistan-ncoc-told</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2242020/smart-lockdown-imposed-1292-areas-across-pakistan-ncoc-told#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 13 Jun 20 15:20:13 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Razya Khan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Punjab, Sindh cross grim mark of 50,000 cases]]>
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				<![CDATA[The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) was informed on Saturday that smart lockdowns had been enforced in 1,292 localities across the country during the last 24 hours to prevent the further spread of Covid-19.

The forum, which serves as the nerve centre of the country’s unified efforts to contain the spread of novel coronavirus, heard that a total of 308,600 people now remain under the restrictions in various parts of the country.

A total of 10 localities in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), having a population of 60,000, were put under smart lockdown, the forum was told. The smart lockdowns had been enforced in 844 localities of Punjab, confining 15,200 people.

Similarly, the lockdown had been imposed in 414 localities of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, with a population of 11,000, seven localities in Sindh with a population of 7,000, 12 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and five areas in Gilgit-Baltistan.

It was also informed that the federal and provincial authorities were ensuring compliance with the health guidelines and instructions, particularly regarding workplaces, industrial sector, transport, markets and shops, besides pursuing the track, trace and quarantine (TTQ) strategy.

The NCOC meeting, chaired by Planning Minister Asad Umar, was also informed that over 13,116 violations of health guidelines were observed across the country in the last 24 hours and punitive actions were taken against 1,541 markets and shops, 33 industrial units and 1,429 vehicles.

Later, the NCOC released details of ventilators and beds’ availability for Covid-19 patients across the country. According to a statement, 379 beds, 68 oxygenated beds and 43 ventilators were available in AJK. Though there was no patient on the ventilator there.

In Balochistan, 2,148 beds, 262 oxygenated beds and 36 ventilators were available for the virus patients. It said that no Covid-19 patient in the province was on ventilator. There were 151 beds, 43 oxygenated beds, 28 ventilators available in Gilgit, where one patient was on ventilator.

Islamabad had 514 beds, 262 oxygenated beds, 90 ventilators, while 18 patients were on ventilators, the NCOC said, adding that 4,856 beds, 1,081 oxygenated beds and 340 ventilators were available in K-P, where 85 patients were on ventilators.

In the most-affected provinces, 9,276 beds, 3,500 oxygen beds and 387 ventilators were available in Punjab, where 233 patients were on ventilators, while 8,274 beds, 739 oxygenated beds and 368 ventilators were available in Sindh, where 83 patients were on ventilators.

50,000 cases

Punjab and Sindh, two of the most populous provinces of the country, each crossed the grim mark of 50,000 coronavirus cases on Saturday, as the country endured another day of over 6,000 new infections amid a record-breaking surge in the pandemic.

In the last 24 hours, each of the two provinces recorded more than 2,000 new cases. According to the official data released on Saturday morning, the number of recoveries also crossed 50,000. However, as the day progressed, more Covid-19 positive cases were confirmed.

By midnight, the nationwide tally of Covid-19 patients stood at 135,943 with 50,087 cases in Punjab, 51,518 in Sindh, 17,450 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 8,028 in Balochistan, 1,093 in Gilgit-Baltistan, 7,163 in Islamabad and 604 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The virus has so far, claimed at least 2,597 lives.

The NCOC said that some 839,019 people had so far been tested, with nearly 30,000 tests conducted over the past 24 hours. The data showed that death ratio in confirmed cases also rose to 2%, from 1.7% earlier, while recoveries also climbed from 20% to 32%.

Spread among medical staff

According to the data, 3,858 health workers, treating the virus coronavirus patients, have also fallen victims to this pandemic. The disease has so far, claimed the lives of 36 health workers – 14 in Sindh, 7 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 5 in Balochistan, 6 in Punjab, 2 in Gilgit-Baltistan and 2 in Islamabad.

According to the report, the health workers affected by coronavirus included 2,327 doctors, 476 nurses and 1,055 other staff. Among them, 266 health workers are being treated in various hospitals, including 3 on ventilators due to their critical condition. Over 1,450 have recovered so far.

(WITH INPUT FROM APP)]]>
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			<title>Tales of survivors: ‘Isolation, not coronavirus, was my worst nightmare’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2188962/tales-survivors-isolation-not-coronavirus-worst-nightmare</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2188962/tales-survivors-isolation-not-coronavirus-worst-nightmare#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 20 17:32:30 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Sher Wali]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[I was convinced that if my time is not up, this virus can never kill me]]>
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				<![CDATA[I’ve lived my worst nightmare. It wasn’t the coronavirus, but the prolonged treatment [read: observation] in isolation that made it a hellish experience. Imagine being confined to a tiny room with no social interaction whatsoever for almost a month. Doctors and nurses were the only visitors, who, too, would check on me once or twice a day.

If you’re sick, you need your loved-ones around you. The sense of having someone who cares about you gives you strength to fight illness. Conversely, social isolation makes you more vulnerable to sickness. Your immune system doesn’t respond properly in isolation and it takes you longer to heal.

In my case, it wasn’t me alone; my wife also shared the isolation ordeal at Mohammadabad Hospital, in Danyore, Gilgit-Baltistan. Interestingly, she didn’t have any symptoms, but tested positive for the virus. We both were in the isolation ward, while our five kids were at home – alone and worried.

The ordeal started after a trip to Iran. My wife and I went in a group of 22 pilgrims to visit the holy shrines in Iran. We mostly stayed in Qom, though our pilgrimage also took us to Mashhad, and to neighbouring Iraq.

Tales of survivors: ‘Never before had I seen doctors dressed up like aliens’

On Feb 22, we were preparing to return to Pakistan when we heard about the outbreak of some contagious disease in Qom. Until then, I didn’t know much about the coronavirus.

On Feb 25, we took a flight for Lahore. At Tehran airport, they didn’t allow anyone to board the flight without screening. Neither of us was sick. At Lahore airport, we were screened again. We drove to Rawalpindi where we stayed for two days. While fellow pilgrims dispersed, we took a bus for Gilgit on Feb 28 and reached our village Nomal, some 15km from Gilgit city, in the evening.

In the night I felt feverish. I took it for travel fatigue, took over-the-counter fever reducers from my neighbour and tried to sleep. It didn’t help. I started having chills.

Next morning, I called up the District Headquarters Hospital Gilgit and told medics about my travel and fever. A team of doctors immediately came to see me and my wife. We were then driven to the DHQ hospital in an ambulance. They took samples to test us for the novel coronavirus, while we were shifted to the Civil Hospital Basin. The samples were sent to National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad for PCR test because the facility wasn’t available in Gilgit-Baltistan. I lost my appetite but I tried to force-feed myself so that I could gather some energy to fight off my illness. After a couple of days, our test reports were received from NIH: both of us were positive for COVID-19.

After the diagnosis, they shifted us to the Mohammadabad Hospital, where we were to stay for the next 25 days. Interestingly, by now my fever was gone, while I had no cough, no muscle soreness, no sore throat, and no shortness of breath. My appetite returned to normal [I started eating more than I normally do]. My wife remained asymptomatic throughout all this time.

Tales of survivors: How I became Pakistan's first COVID-19 patient

I’m a 51-year-old ex-serviceman and my wife is 45. I had heard that the coronavirus could be fatal for people of my age and older. Doctors sought to reassure me. But honestly, I wasn’t scared one bit. It is part of our faith that every living being has to die one day. I knew if I was destined to die, I’d die no matter what. But if my time is not up, this virus can never kill me.

We were tested several times during our 25-day nightmarish sojourn. We had no symptoms, but would still test positive. I’ve heard that my wife’s reports were mixed up with another patient’s at the NIH.

Luckily, the PCR testing facility was made available in Gilgit in the meantime and we were tested locally for the first time. The results were negative and a repeat test a day later confirmed the virus was out of our bodies. It was a huge relief.

We were discharged from the hospital on March 28, but doctors said we should avoid socialising for 14 days. We’ve rented a house in Gilgit city to spend these two weeks here. It’s been five days now and we are counting the days till we are completely in the clear.

My advice to the sick: Don’t dread this virus. Keep your faith in God and power up your will, Inshallah you will defeat it. To everyone else, I say take all precautions possible. If not out of concern for the virus, then think of the ordeal isolation can create.

 (Narrated to Naveed Hussain)]]>
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			<title>'We honour his sacrifice': Dr Usama's fight against COVID-19</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2182160/honour-sacrifice-dr-usamas-fight-covid-19</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2182160/honour-sacrifice-dr-usamas-fight-covid-19#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 20 06:55:24 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[shabbir.mir]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Gilgit Baltistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[It is a national tragedy and we will award him the status of national hero, says G-B CM]]>
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				<![CDATA[“We will again see what the issue is, and if they [quarantined pilgrims] need further treatment, they will be shifted to DHQ or city hospital, but if they can be treated here, we will provide treatment to them here.”

These were the last words of young doctor Usama Riaz, heard in a video recorded at a quarantine centre at Sakwar, Gilgit – where he ultimately ended up contracting the novel coronavirus while checking pilgrims returning from Iran and Iraq.

“Usama was continuously on duty and unfortunately was without proper protective gear necessary to handle coronavirus patient,” said a doctor referring to his video in which Riaz is seen wearing an ordinary mask. The video went viral on social media attracting sympathies for the young doctor.

Pakistani volunteers 3D-print ventilators, join war against COVID-19

According to relatives, Riaz returned home on Friday night from duty and went to bed. “But he couldn’t wake up next morning,” said the relative, adding he was rushed to combined military hospital (CMH) and then the district headquarter (DHQ) hospital where a CT scan machine was found to be out of order. The relatives appealed for airlifting him to Islamabad for treatment but that did not materialize either.

The 26-years-old Riaz, who was a resident of Chilas town, was then put on a ventilator at DHQ Gilgit, where he remained for the next three days before passing away on Sunday.

“It’s a national tragedy and we will award him the status of national hero,” Chief Minister Hafeezur Rehman told The Express Tribune.

“He was our frontline defence and we honour his sacrifice.”

Riaz’s death brings the tally of fatalities to five in Pakistan. The country has so far above 800 known cases of the virus. Sindh has reported the highest number of cases.

Mehtabur Rehman, a local journalist, who visited the quarantine centre said, “I visited the centre where Usama was deputed and found the situation deplorable”.

“As far as protective gear, there was no such thing on the ground,” said the journalist who was later put on quarantine on ‘suspicion’ of visiting the centre without following the standard operating procedures. Rehman termed the quarantine as a vendetta for exposing the government’s false claims.

Young doctor screening coronavirus patients dies of COVID-19 in Gilgit

The Pakistan Medical Association of Gilgit-Baltistan (PMA G-B) reacted to Riaz’s death and accused the government of showing negligence towards genuine issues of the doctors.

“Dr Riaz had contracted COVID-19 due to the negligence of government and its health department,” said President PMA G-B Dr Zulfiqar Ali while addressing a press conference in Gilgit.]]>
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			<title>New coronavirus case emerges in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan's tally rises to 20</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2173948/new-coronavirus-case-emerges-gilgit-baltistan-pakistans-tally-rises-20</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2173948/new-coronavirus-case-emerges-gilgit-baltistan-pakistans-tally-rises-20#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 11 Mar 20 09:27:47 +0500</pubDate>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Gilgit Baltistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[The 14-year-old boy, a resident of Skardu, was held at an isolation centre where he tested positive for COVID-19]]>
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				<![CDATA[The second coronavirus case of Gilgit-Baltistan emerged on Wednesday, raising Pakistan’s tally of total confirmed cases to 20.

The 14-year-old boy, a resident of Skardu, was held at an isolation centre where he tested positive for the mysterious viral pneumonia-like disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

So far 20 Pakistanis have been tested positive for COVID-19 with 15 of them belonging to Sindh, four in Gilgit-Baltistan now and one in Balochistan.

First coronavirus case surfaces in Quetta, raising Pakistan’s tally to 19

On Tuesday, the first coronavirus case emerged in the Balochistan capital. The 12-year-old patient had arrived in Quetta along with his parents from Iran via Taftan border, head of a government hospital said.

The family belongs to Dadu district in Sindh, said the medical superintendent (MS) of Fatima Jinnah Hospital, adding that parents, three siblings and paternal aunt of the child are tested negative.

One patient has already fully recovered and was discharged from the hospital in Karachi last week.

Meanwhile, Dr Zafar Mirza, the de facto health minister, has said the federal government is looking closely at the changing situation and new cases are being provided with the best medical care.

“No need to worry… the situation is completely under control. The federal and provincial governments are jointly making all-out efforts to protect the masses from coronavirus on war footing,” he wrote using his official Twitter handle.

Dr Mirza admitted that the coronavirus cases in Pakistan had doubled in the last 24 hours.

“This is not surprising. Disease has spread in 106 countries. All 19 cases have brought this from abroad. All are stable. There is no evidence of local spread as yet. If we act responsibly we can avoid spread,” he wrote.

He also advised the public to observe hygiene by washing hands properly, avoid touching face and keeping distance with sick people.

“The government is working hard to contain the spread, but we all need to take our part in this fight,” he added.

All educational institutions in Sindh and Balochistan have been closed till March 13 over fear of the contagious disease’s outbreak.

The mysterious COVID-19 virus, which originated in a vet market of the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, has since then spread to more than 110 countries of the world, killing over 4,000 and infecting over 115,000 people, mostly in China thus far.

But new outbreaks in Europe, the Middle East and in Asia have fanned fears of the contagion taking hold in poor nations that lack the healthcare infrastructure to cope.

There are growing fears in Pakistan — sandwiched between China and Iran, both hotspots for the disease — over how the country would deal with the outbreak.]]>
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