2020 news that got views

Here's a look at what Pakistanis read, liked and shared the most in 2020

2020 was no doubt a year of series of misfortunate events but there surely has been light at the end of this tunnel.

Though coronavirus stayed in focus for most part of the year, there have been others who have managed to make headlines.

Let’s have look at what the masses read, liked and shared the most in 2020.

 

1. Nine-year-old Pakistani girl beats Indian professor, sets world record in chemistry

^{Young Pakistani girl hopes that her achievement will inspire kids around the world to continue taking strides in science. PHOTO: TWITTER}

A nine-year-old Pakistani girl breaking the record of Indian professor became the fastest and youngest in the world to arrange the chemical elements of the periodic table in the shortest possible time.

Natalia Najam, the Lahore-based science enthusiast, achieved the Guinness World Records title after arranging all elements of the periodic chart in just 2 minutes and 42 seconds on July 18, 2020.

2. American comedian's tweet on Abhinandan sends Indian social media into a frenzy

^{Edited photo shows the smiling US comic and the Indian pilot sipping tea with the caption 'stay home, stay safe'. PHOTO: TWITTER/(@JeremyMcLellan)}

American comedian Jeremy McLellan once again managed to rile up social media users in India after posting an edited photo of himself with Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman.

In the image, the roughed up pilot can be seen sipping on the now iconic cup of tea given to him during his 60-hour capture in Pakistan in February last year with the wreckage of downed Indian Air Force (IAF) Mig-21 in the background.

3. China again bails out Pakistan to pay Saudi debt

^{A Reuters file image}

China again bailed out Pakistan as it agreed to immediately provide $1.5 billion financing line to repay the $2 billion Saudi Arabia debt.

4. 332 passengers flown to Qatar on special flight

^{PHOTO: FILE}

As many as 332 passengers departed for Qatar through a special flight of a private airline amid the suspension of flight operations in Pakistan.

It is pertinent to mention that the government had suspended commercial flights operations in view of the coronavirus pandemic.

5. Five airports closed for international flights

^{International airline Thai Air also announces a temporary suspension of its operations, between Karachi and Bangkok. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE}

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) closed five airports of the country for international flights after the National Security Committee (NSC) limited such operations to three airports of the county as part of the sweeping measures to contain the spread of coronavirus in the country.

A notification, issued by the CAA director transport and economic regulatories, said the international flights being operated from Quetta, Sialkot, Multan, Faisalabad and Peshawar had been relocated to the airports in Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore.

6. Supreme Court hints at banning YouTube

The Supreme Court hinted at banning YouTube in Pakistan while hearing the case of a man, Shaukat Ali, involved in a sectarian crime.

Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin and Justice Mushir Alam were on the bench hearing the case. The court objected to unregulated content on social media, particularly comments regarding the judiciary, the armed forces and the government.

7. Sindh reports 47 new coronavirus cases, ballooning Pakistan tally to 183

^{File Photo}

On March 16, 2020 provincial authorities in Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Monday confirmed 115 and 15 new cases of novel coronavirus respectively, pushing the total number of confirmed cases in Pakistan to 183.

8. PIA to partially restore international flights from April 2

^{PHOTO: AFP}

The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has decided to partially restore international flights from April 2 after grounding them on March 21 to stem the spread of the rapidly spreading coronavirus infections.

Initially, international flights will only be operated from the New Islamabad International Airport.

Two charter flights will travel to Canada and passengers will have to wear masks and gloves. Other flights will remain suspended. The passengers coming from abroad will be kept in quarantine.

9. What's in a name?: The curious case of Mo(h)(a)(e)njo Daro

^{Mohenjo Daro. PHOTO: REUTERS}

Since the ancient city’s discovery in 1922 by R.D. Banerji, there has been constant scepticism around the civilisation’s epithet. Over the years, several spellings of the site’s name have appeared in various publications adding to the dubiety of the case, but three contenders have remained the most recurrent--Moenjo Daro (Mound of the Dead), Mohanjo Daro (Mound of Mohan) and Mohenjo Daro (Mound of Krishna).

However, the latest controversy emerged when Pakistan People’s Party MPA Qasim Siraj Soomro moved a resolution in the Sindh Assembly to declare Mohenjo Daro as the site’s official name, while defying the epithets Moenjo Daro and Mohanjo Daro.

10. Moringa tree: a nutritional and medicinal miracle

^{Photo: Balcony Garden Web}

Covid-19 has no cure so far besides one’s own immune system winning over the deadly virus. This has compelled people to look up to superfoods like moringa to build up their defence against the contagion.

Agriculture scientists believe moringa oleifera, commonly called the ‘drumstick’ or ‘horseradish’ tree, can be helpful in boosting immunity owing to its extraordinary nutritional value. University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) Department of Agronomy Professor Shahzad Maqsood Ahmed Basra highlights that it is a naturally growing tree available in tropical and subtropical areas of the subcontinent for centuries.

“The drumstick tree, locally known as Suhanjana or Mungay, has enormous therapeutic potential and proven benefits in treatment of over 300 diseases,” Dr Basra told The Express Tribune.

11. PTI stakes claim on G-B govt

^{PHOTO: NNI/FILE}

Prime Minister Imran Khan stacked claim on the Gilgit-Baltistan government after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) emerged the biggest party in election for the region’s legislative assembly.

12. Three PIA aircraft not allowed to land in Dubai

^{File photo}

Three Pakistan International Airlines flights (PIA) on Thursday were not allowed to land at Dubai International Airport.

According to PIA spokesperson, all three flights remained airborne for 45 minutes. However, the aircraft were permitted landing after PIA officials intervened.

“Dubai International Airport official did not allow PIA aircraft to land due to fear of coronavirus,” the spokesperson said.

13. Should Maulana Tariq Jameel head the FBR?

^{Maulana Tariq Jameel. PHOTO: ONLINE/FILE}

Midway through the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s tenure, it seems safe to say that “honest leadership” is not enough to collect taxes and increase tax base in Pakistan, top tax expert of the country Dr Ikramul Haq said in the Express News programme, The Review.

The renowned tax expert noted that enforcement of laws and use of technology were keys to achieving tax collection targets for the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). “If tax collection can be increased through honesty alone, we should request Maulana Tariq Jameel to head the FBR,” Haq quipped. The comment came in the context of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s strong belief during his election campaign before the 2018 elections that an “honest leadership” could convince people to pay taxes and become a tax-compliant nation.

14. ‘Pakistan has effective drug for COVID-19’

^{A man with a mask on his chin stands at the entrance of his shop displaying a Covid-19 precautionary sign for the customers in Karachi. PHOTO: REUTERS}

An article, “Pakistan has effective drug for COVID-19, Over 300,000 pieces exported to China”, published by Economic Daily - China Economic Net (CEN) on February 21st has got 5.71 million page views on Toutiao.com and 38,000 likes.

In nearly 10,000 comments, in addition to a lot of thanks to Pakistani friends for their help, some netizens were interested in the "multinational enterprise" mentioned in the CEN reporter's article and wanted to know the hero behind the scenes who urgently dispensed the effective drugs at a Bayer subsidiary in Pakistan.