BAS BOHUT HO GYA

SEOUL: Fresh off a $7 billion rescue for its loss-making South Korean operation, General Motors faces a new threat as U.S. President Donald Trump considers higher vehicle import tariffs that could "make or break" its Asian subsidiary.Earlier this month GM agreed on the bailout package with the South Korean government in return for a pledge to stay in the country for at least 10 years, purchase more Korean-made parts and produce two new models popular in the U.S. market.But less than two weeks later, the Trump administration launched a national security investigation into car and component imports that could lead to new U.S. tariffs similar to those imposed on imported steel and aluminum in March.Higher tariffs would be painful for Asian automakers whose shipments accounted for one third of U.S. vehicle imports last year through heavyweights such as Toyota Corp and Hyundai Motor.They could also have a devastating impact on smaller players such as GM Korea and its plan to becom...

LAHORE: Consequent upon the completion of its mechanical-run tests, Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project (NJHP) Unit-2 was successfully synchronised on Wednesday with the national grid.The unit has generated up to 185MW electricity on trial basis. The unit will gradually attain its maximum generation capacity of 242.25MW in due course of time. The Unit-2 will also undergo reliability test and reliability period in accordance with the contractual obligations.Unit-3, currently in its 30-day reliability period since May 18, has also been contributing 242.25MW (full capacity) to the national grid. NJHP has so far injected about 90 million units of electricity to the system, which equals to a revenue of one billion rupees.The 969MW NJHP has four generating units, each of them having a generation capacity of 242.25MW. Overall completion of the project is scheduled by July this year. from The News International - Business https://ift.tt/2H6c6RN

KARACHI: Bank Alfalah Limited has recently held an extraordinary general meeting (EOGM) to elect nine directors of the bank for a term of three years, a statement said on Wednesday.The EOGM was attended by the shareholders, directors and senior management of the bank.The elected board of directors includes His Highness Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Abdulla Nasser Hawaileel Al Mansoori, Abdulla Khalil Al Mutawa, Khalid Mana Saeed Al Otaiba, Efstratios Georgios Arapoglou, Dr Ayesha Khan, Gyorgy Tamas Ladics, Shehzad Naqvi and Nauman Ansari (President and CEO).All those elected will hold their positions for a period of three years, subject to approval from State Bank Pakistan, it said.Immediately following the EOGM, an emergent meeting of the newly elected Board of Directors was held. The Board appointed His Highness Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan as Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Board then also appointed Nauman Ansari as Chief Executive Officer of the bank, for a term o...

LAHORE: OLX on Wednesday announced investment in the CarFirst to jointly provide platform for car trade in Pakistan, a statement said.The announcement was made in a joint press conference at a local hotel. According to the agreement, OLX and CarFirst will jointly offer comprehensive solutions for all things related to cars, such as evaluation, certification, financing, insurance, live auctions, and others, it added.OLX and CarFirst will collaborate to add value across the customer’s journey, improving efficiency and transparency at every milestone of the car trading process.Globally, the OLX had announced $89 million global investment in the Series C funding round of the Berlin-based Frontier Car Group (FCG), the parent company of the online auto marketplace, CarFirst, operating in Pakistan, it said. from The News International - Business https://ift.tt/2H7eIic

New York: Starbucks closed more than 8,000 stores on Tuesday to train around 175,000 employees against racial bias, an unprecedented public operation that highlights America´s ongoing struggle with discrimination.The move follows the April 12 arrest of two black men in a Philadelphia Starbucks, which sparked outrage, protests and soul-searching about racial tensions that have deteriorated under President Donald Trump.For many, the training was overshadowed by ABC´s decision to cancel hit sitcom "Roseanne" after its star Roseanne Barr, a Trump supporter, made a remark decried as racist against former White House aide Valerie Jarrett."We realize that four hours of training is not going to solve racial inequity in America or anyone coming into our stores who may have a problem," Starbucks executive chairman Howard Schultz admitted on CNN. "But we have to start the conversation."While store managers declined to talk to media and the press was not invited to th...

BANGKOK: Thailand´s economy is expected to grow faster than previously projected due to strong exports, but domestic demand was not yet "broad-based" and monetary policy has to remain accommodative, minutes of the central bank´s last policy meeting showed on Wednesday.On May 16, the committee voted 6-0 to leave the Bank of Thailand´s (BOT) one-day repurchase rate unchanged at 1.50 percent, where it has been since April 2015.One panel member, Deputy Governor Paiboon Kittisrikangwan, did not attend the meeting."The committee viewed that growth development still warranted monitoring for some period.Accommodative monetary policy thus remained necessary to support more broad-based and stronger domestic demand," the minutes said.Private consumption expanded, but purchasing power had yet to fully extend to all economic sectors, they said.Higher farm income was a result of a lower base of comparison in previous periods, while earnings of low-income households remained fragi...

BERLIN: Germany´s jobless numbers dropped more than expected in May, pushing down the unemployment rate to a record low, data showed on Wednesday, reflecting the robustness of a labour market that has become a key driver of a consumer-led upswing. The Federal Labour Office said the seasonally adjusted jobless total fell by 11,000 to 2.358 million. That compared with an expected drop of 10,000 forecast in a Reuters poll.The unemployment rate fell to 5.2 percent in May, the Office said. That was the lowest since German reunification in 1990."Unemployment and underemployment have decreased again, employment within the scope of the social security system keeps rising and labour demand is still high," Labour Office head Detlef Scheele said in a statement. from The News International - Business https://ift.tt/2L8Q6Id

ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq inaugurated the trial transmission of the parliament channel of the state-owned television by pressing a button on Wednesday. “We opened the doors of parliament to everybody over the last five years in order to create awareness amongst the people about the functions of Parliament,” he said while speaking on a ceremony to inaugurate the TV channel on Wednesday.The NA speaker said we also invited the students from schools, colleges and universities to witness the proceedings of parliament. He said the idea behind the launch of the parliament channel is also to create awareness amongst people and generate public opinion that will help improve performance of the elected representatives.He said, through this channel, will be able to see whether or not their elected representatives are highlighting theirissues. The speaker appreciated the information minister and Information Secretary Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera for their efforts behind the laun...

PESHAWAR: The prototype bus of Bus Rapid Transport had made its way to Peshawar, said an official on Wednesday."I am glad that finally after a lot of struggle, the prototype bus makes its way to Peshawar," said Shahzad Khan Bangash, Additional Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, who is also chairman of the TransPeshawar Board of Directors. "This is just a demo version which has been already tested in China but we need additional testing as per the conditions of Peshawar," he added. It is one of 12-meter-long 155 buses which will be run on the main corridor as well as the direct service (feeder) routes of Peshawar BRT project.A total of 220 buses will be purchased by TransPeshawar for the project. Out of these 155 are 12-meter-long buses while 65 are 18-meter-long buses. First of its kind, these buses are hybrid and can run on diesel as well as electric. These buses are environment-friendly and tend to reduce carbon emission in the city.A communication said according...

ANKARA: Turkey and Pakistan have agreed on the sale of a batch of 30 Turkish-made T129 ATAK multirole combat helicopters, reports foreign media quoting Turkish officials.A government election manifesto revealed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey and Pakistan “just recently” agreed on the contract, which is the largest-ever Turkish-Pakistani defence contract. The two countries have been negotiating a T129 deal since 2014. This is the first export contract for the helicopter.Turkish Aerospace Industries, or TAI, maker of the T129 under license from the Italian-British AgustaWestland, has so far delivered 35 T129s to the Turkish Army and the Gendarmerie force.Before the deal, the T129 went through various tests in Pakistan. Most recently, the T129 was showcased at a March 23 military parade for Pakistani National Day. “We expect further [T-129] contracts to follow the order from Pakistan,” a Turkish defence procurement official said. “We are in talks with a number of co...

ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the federal cabinet under chairmanship of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Wednesday approved additional net package of Rs51 billion for providing cash support and slashing down electricity tariff for boosting the country’s exports during next three years.“The overall package will provide incentive to the tune of Rs65 billion, including cash incentive of Rs41 billion, Rs10 billion for industrial support in electricity, Rs12 billion zero-rating packaging material and Rs2 billion import duty waiver, on 255 tariff lines of raw material,” top officials of the Ministry of Commerce told The News after the ECC meeting.The ECC approved extension of Prime Minister’s Export Package for the next three years i.e. up to June 30, 2021. The package aims at improving the competitiveness of the textile and non-textile export sector to continue the export growth in the coming financial years.The PM’s Export Package was initially approved in J...

RAWALPINDI: At least three people were injured on Wednesday when personnel of the motorway police opened fire on a passenger bus near Rawalpindi toll plaza. The bus conductor and two passengers were injured with one of them said to be in critical condition.Motorway police claimed that the bus was carrying smuggled items and police personnel were attacked first. However footage obtained by a citizen showed otherwise. In the video the motorway police can be seen opening fire on the moving bus and then turning on to GT road from the motorway. The injured were shifted to a hospital for medical treatment after the bus stopped.According to Nasirabad police the motorway police opened fire on the bus heading to Lahore from Peshawar after they signalled the bus to stop. Inspector General Motorway Amjad Javed Saleemi was forced to take action after the video of the incident surfaced. The two officers involved in the incident were suspended and an FIR was filed against them by one of the injured....

MULTAN: The Minority Rights Commission (MRC) has condemned the killing of Sikh religious leader Sardar Charan Jeet Singh and rights activist in Peshawar. Some unidentified assailants gunned him down in his shop near the Kohat General Bus Stand, Kohat Road on Wednesday.In a joint statement issued here, MRC general secretary Akram Mirani, Khawaja Ghulam Farid Koreja and others expressed heartfelt grief and sorrow over the loss of religious leader and human rights activist.The MRCP office bearers said such attacks had claimed hundreds of lives of religious minorities. Rights activist Charan Jeet was very popular and respectable among Sikh and Muslim communities throughout Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He was an active member of different groups engaged in creating and promoting religious harmony and used to discourage militancy and terrorism.It is astonishing that on the second day of a democratic government’s end, an active and popular leader of Sikh community had been shot dead in the capital of ...

MULTAN: Muttahida Majlis-e-Aamal (MMA) secretary general Liaquat Baloch has said that the PML-N government has failed to expose the Indian water aggression.Talking to journalists here on Wednesday, he said the MMA believes the next general elections would be held according to the schedule. He said ambiguity, reservations and concerns about the next general elections have become clearer following the appointment of caretakers. He said the caretaker governments had been nominated in the centre and the provinces, which was good omen to the democracy. The appointment of caretaker governments would strengthen the democracy and transfer of power, he said.Baloch said the next general elections were challenge to all political parties. “The MMA will take part in the next general elections on all seats. The democratic process will protect the constitution, rule of law and bring balance between the state and politics. The MMA will move ahead along with all the component religious political partie...

KARACHI: Pakistan took the world stage by revealing its first-ever National Pavilion for the 16th International Architecture Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia, under exhibition title ‘The Fold’. This prestigious event set the world putting forward its best in the realms of art, design and architecture.With a history of over 120 years, La Biennale di Venezia is known to be an Oscar equivalent in the area of design. Its 16th International Architecture Exhibition with the theme of ‘Freespace’ commenced on May 25th and will continue till November 25th respectively Pakistan was trying to enter a pavilion for some years now. This year, a team of talented and passionate architects from Karachi won themselves an entry.The Pakistan pavilion is called ‘The Fold’ and is the team’s interpretation of the concept of “Freespace”, this year’s theme for the Biennale. The team approached this concept from the perspective of Karachi. As Pakistan’s fastest growing city, Karachi struggles with the ensuing...

TOBA TEK SINGH: Police registered a murder case against four accused as it was demanded by local protesters. Scores of locals of Gojra's New Chamra Mandi put a body of a youth, who was murdered by accused Qamar, Fayaz Shada, Umer and Farman, on a level crossing disrupting traffic for seven hours. On Tuesday night they ended the protest after the assurance of Assistant Commissioner Asif Ali Dogar and DSP Khurram Saeed. The DPO suspended Gojra city police official Khadim Hussain as well. The protesters told reporters that accused Fayaz had kidnapped the sister of the Khalid and forcibly contracted marriage with her and later killed him. He was the only son of his parents. Thousands of citizens attended the funeral of Kkhalid at Gojra. from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2L9yImQ

GUJRANWALA: An Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) team Wednesday arrested a man involved in Rs 60 million land fraud case from Mandi Bahauddin. Muhammad Shafiq of Mandi Bahauddin filed an application to the ACE, alleging that accused Asif Ghauri with the connivance of revenue officials had prepared bogus documents and transferred a piece of land worth of Rs 60 million in his name fraudulently. During the investigations the allegations got proved and the ACE team arrested the accused. Two revenue employees litigation clerk Rana Mahboob and Naib Qasid Rehmat Ali had been arrested earlier in this case. from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2Jl9hkX

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has made a mockery of the constitutional process of choosing caretaker chief ministers in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), showing political immaturity.In just three days, the PTI backed out on the names of the consensus interim chief ministers in Punjab and KP it had happily agreed. Rather, the final choice for Punjab, Nasir Mahmood Khosa, was its nominee, who was accepted by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif without much hassle.Out of the blue, the PTI announced two days after the accord in Punjab on Wednesday that it has withdrawn Khosa’s name because a controversy has been built about it. The reason - adverse public reaction - cited by the PTI behind its decision has in fact been nonexistent in the mainstream media.The retraction of Khosa’s name also hinted at a widely touted conspiracy to delay the July 25 general elections and the development was also linked with a resolution tabled in the Balochistan Assembly by provincial home minist...

Islamabad: Local cigarettes manufacturers continue flouting health ministry laws regarding cigarettes advertisement and promotion. Local manufacturers are offering cash prizes and other schemes which is a clear violation of regulatory directives of ministry of health.According to details, as per the health ministry law, tobacco advertisement guidelines 2009, tobacco advertising is completely banned and cigarette manufacturing companies cannot offer cash prizes, incentives or gifts to enhance sale neither these companies can use images of animals and humans on cigarettes pack. However, local manufacturers are continuously violating the regulations and offering different prize schemes that include motorcycles, Umra tickets, one free cigarette pack on buying of 5 cigarettes packs etc.According to the SRO of tobacco advertisement guidelines, offering free incentives like free cigarette samples and other such discounts are not allowed. Relevant government health departments failed to implem...

Islamabad: The International Islamic University (IIU) and US Embassy and Consulate in Pakistan on Wednesday agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation through the jointly-built Lincoln’s Corner and signed a memorandum of understanding.A ceremony in this regard was held at the IIU President’s office on the new campus of the university. IIU president Dr Ahmed Yousif Al-Draiweesh and US embassy deputy counsellor for public affairs Michelle Los Banos signed the MoU document.Established in 2006, Lincoln’s Corner at the IIU is a partnership between the International Islamic University and the US Embassy. It is a resource centre and event space for providing a platform for open dialogue between Pakistanis and Americans to promote mutual understanding and strengthen people-to-people ties.According to the MoU, both sides will cooperate at LC for cultural events, educational exchange programs and alumni activities. The LC is focused on library and information resources and also it organizes program...

Islamabad: The Federal Directorate of Education has formed a committee to probe the charge of sexual harassment during the ongoing intermediate examinations against a teacher of Islamabad Model for Boys, H-9.The committee consisting of IMPCC, H-8/4 principal Prof Atta Muhammad and IMCG principal Prof Bilquis Nabi will complete the inquiry and submit report to the FDE director general within seven days for necessary. Also, the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education formed a committee to probe harassment charge against a biology lecturer. The board’s controller examination heads the panel.On Tuesday, scores of students enrolled in a private college of Islamabad took to social media with the allegation that they were sexually harassed and groped by a federal board-appointed examiner during biology practical.After the posts went viral, the college administration requested the FBISE to launch probe the matter. On Wednesday, members of the inquiry committees visited the colleg...

ISLAMABAD: The Bahria College, Islamabad, on Wednesday regretted the unfortunate incident wherein scores of girls studying at the college were reportedly harassed and molested by a federal board-appointed examiner while they were appearing for their Intermediate examinations. “With regards to information appearing on Facebook, Bahria College Islamabad regrets the unfortunate incident where an external examiner appointed by FBISE harassed the female students during their HSSC practical exams,” a statement issued by the college reads.“The college administration has taken serious notice of the incident and has lodged a complaint with the FBISE as well as the Ministry of Education against Sadat Bashir, practical examiner for biology,” the statement added. from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2L9yvjy

LONDON: His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales charity the British Asian Trust has launched a special appeal to create awareness about the huge mental health challenges in Pakistan and Bangladesh.Supported by a range of celebrity ambassadors from the UK and South Asia the ‘Change Minds’ appeal included an Iftar event at Kensington Palace Pavilion on Tuesday night and a series of events in coming days to raise awareness as well as funds to help thousands of mental health patients.Organisers said that in Pakistan, as many as one in five families are affected by mental health problems, and yet there are fewer than 400 psychiatrists in the whole country. That’s just one for every 125,000 people affected in Pakistan and almost non-existent awareness about it.Renowned business tycoon Zameer Chaudhry told this correspondent that it’s a terrifying reality for the millions of vulnerable people in the country who are experiencing mostly treatable mental health related issues. He said that the Pr...

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in a reply to a query by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) with regards to the appointment of Principal Information Officer (PIO) Muhammad Saleem as Chairman of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has said the appointment was made strictly in line with the directions of the Supreme Court.It was learnt that the ministry had prepared a reply Tuesday to be submitted to the Election Commission, when the electoral body had sought explanation from the ministry, referring to reports about new chairman Pemra’s appointment, citing the ban imposed on new appointments.The ministry maintained that the appointment had been made in line with the directions from the Supreme Court, as Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar had contended that a transparent process should be adopted vis-à-vis the appointment of a new chairman Pemra.The apex court had constituted a committee headed by Deputy Chairman of the Pla...

WASHINGTON: The Annual Religious Freedom Report released by the Trump administration on Tuesday says religious persecution continues to grow against minorities in Pakistan.The report quoted data collected through the civil society organizations (CSOs). It particularly mentioned Abdul Wali Khan University case where a mob shot and beat to death student Mashal Khan, "following an accusation of blasphemy later deemed by investigators to be false, which prompted widespread condemnation in the country."Releasing the report at the State department, Secretary Mike Pompeo said the document was critical to "our mission to defend our religious liberty. The report stressed that authorities often fail to intervene in instances of societal violence against religious minorities, and police often fail to arrest perpetrators of such abuses.The report also mentioned the South Asia Terrorism Portal, saying that 231 persons were killed and 691 injured in 16 incidents of sectarian violence ...

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting Tuesday sought a comprehensive report on the costs incurred on giving coverage to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz on the state-run TV.The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Informed the committee that main financial problems of the state-owned TV would be solved, if its receivable amounting to Rs5,317.181 million were paid to it. The committee met under the chairmanship of the PTI Senator Faisal Javed Khan here and was attended, among others, by senators Dr Ghous Muhammad Khan Niazi and Syed Sabir Shah of the PML-N, Rubina Khalid of the PPP, MQM's Khushbakht Shujaat, Mushtaq Ahmed of the JI, secretary information and other senior officials from PTV.The panel chairman called the coverage given to a disqualified prime minister as biased and asked for detailed report on the expenditure incurred in this connection so far, involving the staff, equipment and DSNGs etc. He asser...

ISLAMABAD: On the day when its term expires, federal government is likely to notify the Federal Information Commission, an appellate body responsible for ensuring implementation of Right to Information Law, The News has learnt.Although government has missed a six-month deadline to set up the commission, still the appointment is termed a landmark development for transparency and good governance in the country, as it will for the first time ensure access to government information for general public.According to sources, three persons have been shortlisted for the commission including a leading civil society member who played vital role in promotion of RTI in Pakistan, a Grade 22 government officer and a person who is qualified to be the judge of high court.One of these three will be appointed as Chief Information Commissioner. The sources said civil society activists and RTI campaigner Zahid Abdullah is leading contender for the post. Zahid who lost sight in 2001 after an ailment, played...

LAHORE: Constitutional experts believe that the PTI’s withdrawal of Nasir Khosa’s name cannot stand in his way to become the Punjab caretaker chief minister for the 2018 elections.The PTI had proposed two names – Kamran Rasool and Nasir Khosa – for the top caretaker position in the province, while the PML-N suggested the names of Justice (retd) Sair Ali and Tariq Saleem Dogar.The names were shared between Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Mahmood-ur-Rasheed and Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to discuss with Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif respectively for their approval. On Monday, both Mahmood and Shahbaz announced that they had reached an agreement over the name of Nasir Khosa as a unanimously agreed caretaker chief minister.The legal experts say in the event of PML-N disputing the withdrawal of the agreed name and the matter leading to the judicial corridors, the PTI does not have plausible grounds to win this argument.Veteran lawyer Abid Hassan Manto says although the Constitu...

LAHORE: Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Wednesday told the Lahore High Court (LHC) that he respected the judiciary and could not think of insulting it.Ahsan made this statement before a three-member bench, headed by Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, which was hearing a contempt plea filed by Munir Ahmad against him over anti-judiciary remarks.The bench, referring to Article 68 of the Constitution, questioned the minister when the conduct of a superior court judge could not be discussed even in the Parliament then how did you do it before the public.To which, the minister said that his statement was a sort of complaint and he did not make any contempt of court. The bench adjourning further hearing till June 5 and asked for filing written statement besides ordering screening of contemptuous clip in the courtroom on the next hearing. from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2Jks8g6

LAHORE: Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, terming the withdrawal of Nasir Khosa’s name an absurd act, said the Constitution did not allow further dialogue on the already agreed issue.Commenting on the sudden withdrawal of the mutually agreed nomination, he said Nasir Khosa was a thorough gentleman and an honest individual and such an attitude towards him was disrespectful. He said there was no provision in the Constitution which allowed withdrawing a mutually agreed candidate that had been finalised for the caretaker chief minister.Rana Sana said such attitude exposed the PTI leadership for lacking the capacity to take important decisions and raised question regarding their ability to be trusted with running the country which, he said, was the major reason the people were not willing to vote them into power.Similarly, PPP Central Punjab President Qamar Zaman Kaira told media persons that the PTI had once again taken a U-turn. The PTI was dreaming about running the Federation in futur...

JHANG: A grade-IV employee of the Punjab Building Department, who retired from government service in May 2017, is running from pillar to post for his monthly pension and other post retirement benefits.M Saeed, resident of Mohallah Jalalabad Jhang Sadr, served the department as a plumber (BS-01) since his appointment as work charge servant in 2004. As per policy of the government, his services were regularised as per the Labour and high courts’ verdicts since 2016. He said after attaining the age of superannuation, he had to be retired from service on July 2017 but the department took no heed in issuing a retirement notification required for releasing pension. After waiting for one year, he appeared and submitted an application before Chief Justice Saqib Nisar in Supreme Court Lahore Registry for justice.The Supreme Court’s Human Resource Cell directed the C&W Department to immediately expedite the pension matter. from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2J6RavB

NANKANA SAHIB: The body of a missing youth was recovered here from a garden of a village Wakilwala on Wednesday. Ali Gujjar, 26, son of Gulam Muhammad of Adampur was missing from his house since the last two days. His body was hanging from a tree. It appeared he had committed suicide as he was reportedly an addict. from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2sneoaD

MD PSO’s name put on ECLBy Khalid MustafaISLAMABAD: As the PML-N government’s tenure is being completed at mid of tonight, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday put the name of Sheikh Imranul Haq, Managing Director (MD) of state owned Pakistan State Oil (PSO) in the Exit Control List (ECL) on charges of inflicting loss of $172.5 million onto PSO in the shape of demurrages paid to the vessels of furnace oil or other POL products for being berthed for months.Before joining as MD of PSO, Haq was CEO of Engro Vopak Terminal Limited and Elengy Terminal Pakistan Limited which established the first LNG terminal. He was brought as MD PSO by Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.His name was also involved in the NAB’s inquiry report completed in 2015 saying the multi-billion dollars LNG terminal contract was awarded to ETPL (Elengy Terminal Pakistan Limited) of Engro Pakistan based favours and no high measure of transparency, diligence and fair pl...

RAJANPUR/BAHAWALPUR: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday said disgruntled PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar was previously former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s friend, not his.“Nisar was Mian Sahab’s friend and my opponent,” said Shahbaz, who is also the PML-N president, and added, “I am talking about 1988.” He was talking to media after inaugurating the project under which DHQ Hospital Ranjanpur has been revamped, reported Geo News.Further speaking about the relationship between him and Nisar back then, Shahbaz said, “He used to constantly complain about me to Mian Sahab.” “If I have ever been scolded by Mian Sahab, it is because of Nisar,” he said, adding, “Our relationship was bitter for some time and then eventually we became friends.”Stating that Nisar is ‘immature’, Shahbaz shared, “He needs to be dealt with like a child and we keep trying to pacify him and resolve any issues.” When asked if he will succeed in convincing Nisar to put his differences aside this time round,...

RAJANPUR/BAHAWALPUR: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday said disgruntled PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar was previously former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s friend, not his.“Nisar was Mian Sahab’s friend and my opponent,” said Shahbaz, who is also the PML-N president, and added, “I am talking about 1988.” He was talking to media after inaugurating the project under which DHQ Hospital Ranjanpur has been revamped, reported Geo News.Further speaking about the relationship between him and Nisar back then, Shahbaz said, “He used to constantly complain about me to Mian Sahab.” “If I have ever been scolded by Mian Sahab, it is because of Nisar,” he said, adding, “Our relationship was bitter for some time and then eventually we became friends.”Stating that Nisar is ‘immature’, Shahbaz shared, “He needs to be dealt with like a child and we keep trying to pacify him and resolve any issues.” When asked if he will succeed in convincing Nisar to put his differences aside this time round,...

ISLAMABAD: As the summary for the appointment of Nasir Saeed Khosa as Punjab caretaker chief minister has been sent to Punjab Governor for his signature, the provincial cabinet has decided not to withdraw the name of the former consensus candidate despite a shocking change of heart by opposition -- Pakistan Tehrek-e-Insaf (PTI), The News has learnt.According to sources, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and his cabinet decided in a marathon meeting on Wednesday evening that the name of Nasir Khosa would not be withdrawn now as constitutional requirements had already been met and a purposeful and meaningful consultation had taken place between the chief minister and the Leader of the Opposition in the provincial assembly Mahmoodur Rashid. “The name of the Nasir Khosa as consensus candidate has been made public through a televised press conference attended by the opposition leader and the chief minister. So there is no provision for the reversal of the process,” said a source privy to...

HAFIZABAD: Two people died in a road accident at Motorway near Pindi Bhattian area of Hafizabad on Wednesday. Ali Waqar and Tariq Ali died and Muhammad Imran, Abdul Rashid and Hafeez sustained fatal injuries in a collision between a car and a truck near Pindi Bhattian. from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2slsvgu

QUETTA: The Balochistan Assembly on Wednesday approved a resolution demanding one-month delay in the upcoming general elections.The resolution, submitted by Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, demanded that the elections should be held in August, instead of July this year, because “a majority of the public wants to go on Haj for which [many] would be travelling to Saudi Arabia in July” and hence, they would be unable to vote in the elections.The resolution also expressed concern that the province receives monsoon downpours during the month of July, due to which many districts face flooding and a lot of residents are forced to move to other areas for shelter. Such a situation would deprive these people of the opportunity to vote, it states.Keeping these concerns in mind, the provincial government is therefore requested to ask the federal government to instead hold the elections in the last week of August so that everyone can exercise their constitutional right to vote, the res...

ISLAMABAD: Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday said the nation must carry forward the gains (of the war on terror) towards enduring peace and stability.According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army chief said this while addressing the officers and faculty of the Command and Staff College in Quetta.General Bajwa said the country, through great sacrifices of security forces and the nation, is on a positive trajectory of peace and stability. "The job is not completed yet and we have to carry forward the gains towards enduring peace," observed the army chief. He acknowledged and hailed the contributions and performance of young officers in the operations. General Bajwa advised them to continue excelling in their profession.Later, General Bajwa visited the headquarters of Southern Command in Quetta where he was briefed on the progress of border fencing along the Balochistan portion of the Pak-Afghan border, Quetta Safe City Pro...

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) here on Wednesday set aside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)’s delimitation of six more constituencies taking the overturned decisions number to 10 in the last two days.Justice Aamer Farooq of the IHC declared the delimitation of districts Bahawalpur, Kharan, Ghotki, Sheikhupura, Haripur and Kasur’s constituencies as void and sent these cases back to the ECP for rehearing in the matters.On May 29, the IHC bench had declared the delimitation of four districts constituencies, including Toba Tek Singh, Lower Dir, Jhang and Jhelum, as void and remanded these cases to the ECP for re-adjudication. Meanwhile, the IHC bench upheld the ECP’s delimitation decisions regarding Chiniot, Khanewal, Gujranwala, Umerkot, Sialkot, Jacobabad, Rahimyar Khan, Chakwal, Bannu, Kurrum Agency, Swabi, Mansehra and Rajanpur districts and rejected petitions against these. The IHC bench here on Thursday (today) would hear 31 more applications against the delimitat...

ISLAMABAD: The Prime Minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, has reminded that in a modern world there is no scope for any censorship.“Such measures may bring temporary benefits, but they are never in the interest of a country and the nation in the long run,” the prime minister said while addressing 28th award ceremony of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) here Wednesday at the Prime Minister Office (PMO). The ceremony was also addressed by Dawn Media Group CEO and APNS President Hameed Haroon, Secretary General Sarmad Ali and federal information and broadcasting Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb.The prime minister said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government has set the direction and it is proud not to have used censorship or the secret fund to control news content as it fully believes in the freedom of the press. He asked the media to ensure greater objectivity and impartiality in their news content. “We are proud to state that we never resorted to any such acts, despite seriou...

ISLAMABAD: Certain developments that took place on Wednesday are casting doubts about the holding of general elections on July 25th.Initially, it was Balochistan's Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti who on Wednesday morning called for a month-long delay in the general elections. Later, MQM’s Faisal Sabzwari came up with a similar demand seeking postponement of the election. And finally, the PTI’s surprised backtracking from the Punjab caretaker CM’s name Nasir Khosa, nominated by the PTI itself, caused serious doubts about the upcoming polls.Bugti submitted a resolution in the Balochistan Assembly demanding that the general elections should be held in August because the majority of the population intends to go to Saudi Arabia in July to perform Haj. He wants the one-month delay, ignoring the fact that the Haj this year precisely falls in the second half of August when Bugti wants the election to be held. Within hours of this election delay demand coming from Quetta, Faisal Sabzwari of the...

ISLAMABAD: Taking a major U-turn, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf core group Wednesday rejected the name of former federal secretary Nasir Khosa for the post of Punjab caretaker chief minister, apparently after reportedly a clear division on his name in the leadership.However, PTI Information Secretary Fawad Chaudhry insisted that the decision to withdraw the name of Khosa was taken following a sharp reaction in public and concern aired in this connection. He rejected the impression of division in the party ranks thereon.The core group met here with PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the chair to take stock of a number of important matters. The decision to withdraw Khosa’s name came after both Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Leader of Opposition in the provincial assembly Mehmoodur Rashid had agreed on his name.Already, the party has withdrawn the name of Manzoor Afridi for the slot of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa caretaker chief minister after its Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak and Leader of Oppositi...