Latest News

Pakistan beat Afghanistan by six wickets in the U19 Cricket World Cup to secure a place in the semi-final. The side will now play arch-rivals India. Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bat first. It was a decision that did not prove favorable for them. Pakistan’s bowlers put on a disciplined performance as they dismissed the Afghan side for just 189. Captain Farhan Zakhil was the top-scorer with 40 (55) with seven boundaries to his name. Mohammad Amir Khan was the pick of the bowlers as he returned with figures of 3-58 in 10 overs while Fahad Munir ended with 2-29. An unbeaten half-century by Mohammad Huraira (64 off 76) helped the side home in the 42nd over. from SAMAA https://ift.tt/2GKRpx6

The FBR has collected Rs224 billion less in taxes this fiscal year compared to last year. A fiscal year is from July 1 to June 30. The FBR released some data about the amount of tax is has collected this fiscal year (July 2019 to June 2020) so far. In seven months (July to January) it collected Rs2,398 billion. That’s Rs224 billion less than last year, when it had collected Rs2,622 billion during this time. In January 2020, the FBR collected Rs315 billion but it had set a target of Rs425 billion. The FBR extended on January 31 the deadline for people to file their income tax returns/wealth statements until February 28. from SAMAA https://ift.tt/2GHFAYz

ISLAMABAD: A three-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC) will take up the plea challenging Peshawar High Court verdict to probe BRT Peshawar project on Monday, ARY News reported. The verdict of the PSH was challenged by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and the Peshawar Development Authority (PDA). The court has summoned Advocate General KP to appear before the court on Monday (February 3). It may be noted that the PHC had ordered the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to probe into alleged financial irregularities in the BRT Peshawar project. Earlier this week, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Information Shaukat Yousafzai had said that Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Peshawar project would be completed by the end of March this year. Read more: BRT Peshawar probe: FIA to seek more time from PHC to complete investigation Talking to media in Peshawar, the provincial information minister ruling out the propaganda of increase in the cost of the BRT Peshawar had said the total cost of BRT Pe

KARACHI: The minimum temperature in Karachi recorded 10.5 degree Celsius on Saturday, while maximum temperature is expected to remain between 25 – 27 ºCelsius, the met office said. The intensity of the cold wave has subsided and mercury moving upward due to suspension of the sea breeze blowing towards the city. Karachi will experience dry weather with cool night in coming 24 hours. The humidity will remain between 60-70 % in the morning and 25-35 % in evening. Mainly cold and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country, while very cold in northern Balochistan, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir. Light rain/drizzle is expected in Northeast Punjab and Kashmir during morning hours. In Punjab mainly cold and dry weather is expected in most parts on Saturday. However, light rain or drizzle is expected in Lahore and Gujranwala during morning hours. Quetta, Kalat and Ziarat in Balochistann Chitral, Malamjabba, Dir, Swat, Kalam and Parachinar in Khyber Pakht

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry in a tweet on Saturday said he is unable to understand the Hindu extremist organisation, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) campaign against him. “Unable to understand #RSS_Is_Terrorist_Organization camapaign against me on Delhi elections,” she tweeted. “I ll again say that for India not becoming #Endia it’s important to defeat #Modimadness in #Delhi n whole of India and people of India must rise against extremists.” Unable to understand #RSS_Is_Terrorist_Organization camapaign against me on Delhi elections, I ll again say that for India not becoming #Endia it’s important to defeat #Modimadness in #Delhi n whole of India and people of India must rise against extremists — Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) February 1, 2020 Read More: Pakistan r ejects Modi’s belligerent rhetoric In a tweet on Jan 30, he had said: “People of India must defeat # Modimadness ,Under pressure to lose another State Elect

Eight suspects have been arrested for robbing passengers on highways and roads in Sialkot, according to the police. Their ringleader was also apprehended in the operation conducted late Friday night. The police said the suspects belong to two “dangerous” gangs who had become a “symbol of terror” in the region. The police seized motorcycles, cash, cell phones and weapons from them. from SAMAA https://ift.tt/36O6l8e

The federal government has decided to maintain the price of petroleum products and kerosene oil for February despite OGRA’s recommendation to reduce it by Rs0.06 and Rs0.66 per litre respectively. OGRA had also recommended an increase of Rs2.47 in the price of high-speed diesel. The regulatory body’s proposal came after a 15% drop in the price of crude oil in the international market. However, the government has decided against reducing prices, meaning petrol will be available for Rs116.60 per litre, light diesel for Rs84.51, high-speed diesel for Rs127.26 and kerosene oil for Rs99.45 from SAMAA https://ift.tt/2S8YnRF

The US said Friday it was declaring a public health emergency and temporarily banning the entry of foreign nationals who had traveled to China over the past two weeks to contain the spread of a deadly new virus. Sweeping new restrictions will also be imposed on American citizens, with those returning from the province at the disease’s epicenter placed in facilities for mandatory 14-day quarantines, said Health Secretary Alex Azar. US citizens coming from other parts of China will undergo health screening at ports of entry and then be placed under monitored self-quarantine at home. “I have today declared that the coronavirus presents a public health emergency in the United States,” said Azar during a briefing at the White House, adding the directives would take effect on February 2 from 5:00 pm eastern time (2200 GMT). “Foreign nationals, other than immediate family of US citizens and permanent residents, who have traveled in China within the last 14 days will be denied entry into t

ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan says Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif has fallen into his own trap. Responding to a tweet by the opposition leader in which he said he had filed a lawsuit in the London High Court against Daily Mail Online for “publishing a false, defamatory & misleading story against me”, she said influencing the media is his quirk. Indulging in mud-slinging and hurling slurs at opponents is his identity and trait, Ms Awan said. شہباز صاحب!میڈیا پر اثر انداز ہونا آپکا وطیرہ رہا ہے۔ جھوٹی خبرو ں سے مخالفین کی بدنامی اور کردار کشی کرانا آپ کی شناخت اور خاصہ ہے ۔ آپ کے دور میں ایک اخبار کا دو صفحات تک سمٹ جانا قوم کو بھولا نہیں۔ https://t.co/6KMm9TqOQk — Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan (@Dr_FirdousPTI) February 1, 2020 She said Shehbaz Sharif has fallen into his own trap. The SAPM said the nation’s question to the PML-N leader is that had he been truthful, why would

PAKPATTAN: Swarms of locusts on Saturday landed in Noorpur, Haripur and Malka Hans areas of Pakpattan, ARY News reported. The locusts in large numbers, can be seen on the roads of Noorpur, Malka Hans, houses, trees and fruit farms in various parts of the area and the outskirts. The attack of grasshopper have badly damaged crops of wheat, potatoes and others. The residents are trying to get rid of the locusts by their own in order to save their crops from being damaged. The crop eating insects bring hunger with them by thoroughly eating crops and all vegetation they find at any place. Yesterday, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan had said the Pakistan government has declared a national emergency to combat locust swarms. Read more: Swarms of locusts invade crops in Pakpattan In a tweet, she had said that the decision was taken in a meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan. The meeting also approved the National Acti

KARACHI: A large number of people who booked properties in Bahria Town Karachi (BTK) staged a protest sit-in outside the company’s office on Tariq Road on Friday demanding justice and “true utilisation” of their hard-earned money. The protest was organised by the Jamaat-i-Islami, which launched a campaign against Bahria Town and announced that it would hold a protest demonstration outside the CM House on Feb 9. The protesters, including women and children, were holding placards and chanting slogans against the real estate giant. They asked the federal and provincial authorities to play their due role to resolve the issues, which had put the huge investment of middle and upper-middle class at stake. Addressing the protesters, JI’s city chief Hafiz Naeemur Rahman questioned the claims of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government that it won the election on the slogans of its anti-corruption narrative. He said Prime Minister Imran Khan had never said a single word against Bahria Town’s mal

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday decided to introduce major amendments to at least a dozen of its laws over the next six months to remain in continuous compliance with requirements of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The decision was taken at a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) — the country’s highest body on money laundering and matters related to the FATF — presided over by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh. The meeting was also attended by Minister for Economic Affairs Hammad Azhar, who heads the National FATF Coordination Committee of civil and security institutions, Communications Minister Murad Saeed and heads of relevant ministries and national institutions, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance. The meeting finalised a plan for compliance with FATF standards by June 2020 and targets were set for further legislation and procedural upgradations by various agencies and institutions. It was agree

Britain on Friday ended almost half a century of European Union membership, making a historic exit after years of bitter arguments to chart its own uncertain path in the world. There were celebrations and tears across the country as the EU’s often reluctant member became the first to leave an organisation set up to forge unity among nations after the horrors of World War II. Thousands of people waving Union Jack flags packed London’s Parliament Square to mark the moment of Brexit at 11pm (2300 GMT) — midnight in Brussels. “We did it!” declared Nigel Farage, the former member of the European Parliament who has campaigned for Brexit for years, before the crowd began singing the national anthem. It was a largely good-natured gathering, aside from one Brexit supporter who earlier set an EU flag alight. But Brexit has exposed deep divisions in British society, and many fear the consequences of ending 47 years of ties with their nearest neighbours. Some pro-Europeans, including many of

FAISALABAD:  The Airport Security Force (ASF) on Saturday seized bullets from an Sharjah-bound passenger’s luggage at the Faisalabad Airport, ARY News reported, citing sources. According to ASF officials, six bullets were found in the luggage of a passenger namely Sajid, during checking at the airport. He was handed over to the police for further investigation into the matter. Read more: Bullets of 9mm pistol recovered from woman at Lahore airport In another incident of the same nature, last month, bullets were discovered in the baggage of a woma n at the Islamabad airport. Seven bullets were found in the luggage of Miraj Bibi, a resident of KP’s Mohmand agency, according to ASF officials. She, however, was allowed to board a Kuwait-bound flight (KU-206) after she told the officials that the bullets were erroneously placed in the luggage. The post Bullets seized from passenger at Faisalabad airport appeared first on ARY NEWS . from ARY NEWS https://ift.tt/2GKcsQk

LAHORE: The prime minister’s decision of forming two new committees for negotiating with coalition partners has not only irked the allies but has also given credence to reports that all is not well in the ruling Pakis­tan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI). Opposition parties are trying to widen the cracks in the ruling coalition by offering the government allies share in provincial set-ups. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has reiterated his offer to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) “to work together” for resolving issues of Karachi. PM Imran Khan had on Thursday nominated Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood to hold talks with disgruntled Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) leaders, and named Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, Firdaus Shamim Naqvi and Haleem Adil Sheikh for engaging the MQM. Earlier, PTI leader Jahangir Tareen, federal Defence Minister Pervaiz Khattak and the PM’s advisor on accountabi

KARACHI: The second edition of the Adab Festival Pakistan kicked off at the Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi, on Friday evening with speeches that provided food for thought for the book lovers that had showed up for the three-day event. There were three keynote addresses on the inaugural day, first of which was delivered by former chief justice of Pakistan Asif Saeed Khosa. Before his address, he showed a nice gesture by remembering Justice Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim who passed away on Jan 7. “He was an icon in more ways than one. He served his country as an accomplished lawyer; judge of a high court, judge of the Supreme Court; attorney general; minister for law; governor; and chief of the Election Commission of Pakistan. In each of such sensitive positions, he served with independence, ability, grace and dignity, and earned nothing but respect and reverence. The vacuum created by his passing away shall be hard to fill, and he shall be remembered for a long time,” he said. Mr Khosa the

ISLAMABAD: A day after the government announcement that Pakistani nationals will not be evacuated from novel coronavirus-hit China for the fear of the epidemic spreading across Pakistan, the Senate was informed on Friday that the decision was not final and as and when the situation warranted they could be brought back. “It is not a definite decision and if the situation changes, we will evacuate the Pakistani students on its basis,” Leader of the House in the Senate Shibli Faraz told the upper house of parliament amid criticism by senators belonging to different political parties against the government’s earlier decision. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza on Thursday told a presser that the government had decided not to evacuate the Pakistanis from China for fear of the epidemic spreading across Pakistan. Mr Faraz explained to senators that the situation was being closely monitored. He said Pakistan’s ambassador to China Naghmana Hashmi was a competen

LONDON: The United Kingdom finally cast off from the European Union on Friday for an uncertain future, with Brexiteers claiming victory and popping champagne corks for an “independence day” they said marked a new era for the country. In its biggest shift since losing its global empire, the United Kingdom slipped away at 2300 GMT, turning its back after 47 years on the post-World War Two project that sought to build the ruined nations of Europe into a global power. Beside the British parliament, flag-waving Brexit supporters cheered, reveling in a mix of nostalgia, patriotism and defiance. Some sang “God Save the Queen”, while others hugged amid the smoke of fireworks. “The war is over: we have won,” Nigel Farage, a leading Leave campaigner, told the crowd. “This is the single most important moment in the modern history of our great nation.” On the white cliffs of Dover, the message: “The UK has left the EU” was projected between a British and an EU flag. Once considered the unlik

BEIJING/SHANGHAI: The total number of deaths from a coronavirus epidemic in China had reached 259 by the end of Friday, an increase of 46, state broadcaster CCTV said, citing numbers from the country’s National Health Commission. There were 2,102 new confirmed infections in China during the day, bringing the cumulative total to 11,791. The local health commission of Hubei Province, the epicenter of the epidemic, earlier on Saturday reported 45 new deaths from the outbreak on Friday, bringing the total to 249. The province has confirmed 1,347 new cases of infection on Friday, with the total reaching 7,153 by the end of the day. Hubei’s provincial capital Wuhan, where the virus is thought to have originated, reported 576 new confirmed cases over the day, and also saw 33 deaths from the virus. A total of 192 people in Wuhan have now died. The province remains under virtual quarantine, with roads sealed off and public transport shut down, but small numbers of travelers continue to br

ISLAMABAD: With around 40 per cent increase in Pakistan’s public debt and liabilities in 15 months, the government on Friday conceded major violations of the Fiscal Responsibility and Debt Limitation Act (FRDLA) for massively exceeding debt acquisition limits. In its debt policy statement laid before the parliament, the ministry of finance noted that total debt and liabilities that stood at Rs29.879 trillion at the end of the fiscal year 2018 crossed Rs41.489tr at the end of Septem­ber 2019, showing an increase of Rs11.6tr or 39pc. At the end of the fiscal year 2019, the total debt and liabilities were reported to have increased by about 35pc or Rs10.344tr to touch Rs40.223tr. Ramsha Jahangir The report said the FRDLA required that the federal government take measures to reduce federal fiscal deficit and maintain total public debt within prudent limits thereof. As such, it was required to limit the federal fiscal deficit excluding foreign grants to 4pc of gross domestic product

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday cautioned the United States that a historic opportunity to end conflict in Afghanistan could be lost if Washington did not act fast to clinch a deal with the Taliban. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, while talking to Dawn after a meeting with US special envoy for Afghan peace and reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad, said that “spoilers could exploit the status quo if it prolongs”. Read more: War, lies and failure About his conversation, he said: “I emphasised that there is no military solution to the conflict and if a political solution has to be achi­ev­ed then the progress made towards a political settlement [in talks between the US and Taliban over the past year] needs to be consolidated. It should not be lost.” Ambassador Khalilzad, according to the Fore­ign Office, updated Mr Qureshi on developments in negotiations with the Taliban and other related issues. The US and Taliban had a couple of weeks ago resumed their contacts in Doha, whi­ch some

ISLAMABAD: The government on Friday declared national emergency to eliminate the attacking swarms of desert locust which are destroying crops on a large scale in Punjab after wiping out the same in Sindh. The decision was taken at a meeting convened by Prime Minister Imran Khan at the PM Office. The meeting attended by federal ministers and senior officials of the four provinces also approved a national action plan (NAP) that requires a sum of Rs7.3 billion to overcome the crisis. On the other hand, Min­ister for National Food Sec­u­rity Makhdoom Khusro Bak­h­tiar informed the Nat­io­nal Assembly about the gravity of the situation and the steps so far taken by the federal and provincial governments to deal with the crisis. During the meeting at the PM Office, which was also attended by Mr Khusro and Adviser to the Prime Minis­ter on Finance Dr Hafeez Shaikh, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Infor­mation Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA

ISLAMABAD: Another four cases of polio, two each in Sindh and Punjab, have been found, an official of the National Institute of Health told Dawn. The samples of the patients were taken and referred to NIH last year. “A five-year-old boy, a resident of Deenpur union council (UC), Thull tehsil, Jacobabad district, became paralysed due to poliovirus. The other victim is a 48-month-old boy, a resident of Phulladyon UC, Sindhri tehsil, Mirpurkhas district,” the official said, requesting anonymity. “The children paralysed by poliovirus in Punjab are both girls and they belong to the same district and UC. They are four and 10 months old, residents of Aali Wala UC, D.G. Khan tehsil, ” he said. When contacted by Dawn, National Coordinator Emergency Operation Centre for Polio Dr Rana Safdar confirmed that four new cases had been detected. “As we consider the date of collection of the samples for placing the cases in the year, all four cases have been placed in 2019 and the tally for the yea

SHEIKHUPURA: Five people were gunned down on Friday over an old enmity in Sheikhupura’s area of Safdarabad, ARY News reported. According to the local police, unidentified armed men, who were riding motorbike opened indiscriminate firing over a vehicle near Sethwala, resulting in the death of five people. The deceased were on their way for a court appearance, when they were attacked. It may be noted that the clash has claimed 12 lives so far, and few days earlier, two members of a family were shot dead over the dispute. The deceased were identified as Akram, Shahid, Shakkoor, Shahnawaz and Khurram. The bodies were moved to the hospital, while further investigation into the matter was underway, said the police. Read more:  Five of a family gunned down in Sargodha In another incident of multiple gunfire deaths in Sukkur on December 3, 2018, two people were shot dead over an old enmity in Sukkur’s area of Pano Akil. According to the local police, unidentified armed men opened indis

ISLAMABAD: Responding to Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Accountability Shehzad Akbar’s allegations that former premier Nawaz Sharif used the Islamabad airport to pump ill-gotten money into the Chaudhry Sugar Mills (CSM), PML-N leader Malik Ahmed Khan on Friday challenged him to come up with documentary evidence to back up the charges. A day earlier, Mr Akbar alleged the former premier received kickbacks and commission in the Rs105 billion New Islamabad airport project. Speaking in ARY News’ Bakhabar Savera morning show, he termed the accusations baseless and based on surmises. Malik Ahmed Khan said he would stop appearing on TV shows if Shehzad Akbar proves the accusations. Read More: C haudhry Sugar Mills is major corporate fraud of Sharif family: PM’s aide He asked if the govt had any evidence, why was not it brought to the high court which is seized with the hearing of the CSM case or why didn’t the State Bank of Pakistan and Security Exchange Commission of Pak

The new maps is fast, accurate, and comprehensive from SAMAA https://ift.tt/3b2GlJJ

Suspension in place till February 2 from SAMAA https://ift.tt/2tfbUPl

AN image of the Sun’s surface at the highest resolution ever taken, shot by the world’s largest solar telescope in Hawaii, US.—Reuters IMAGES from a powerful new telescope installed on top of a volcano in Hawaii show the surface of the sun in the closest detail yet, revealing features as small as 30km across. They were captured by the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, which sits at around 10,000 feet above sea level near the summit of Haleakala volcano in Maui, Hawaii. The telescope, which features the world’s largest solar 13 feet mirror, could enable a greater understanding of the sun and its impact on our planet, according to the National Solar Observatory, a public research institute headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. A pattern of turbulent, “boiling” gas is shown covering the sun, which is some 93 million miles from Earth. Inside visible cell-like structures, each around the size of the US state of Texas, hot plasma can be seen rising bef

It will leave the 28-member bloc at 11pm GMT from SAMAA https://ift.tt/2ObAxnm

PESHAWAR/SWABI: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has constituted a three-member committee to probe the firing and killing of two lady health workers during the polio campaign in Swabi district on Wednesday. The committee has been told to submit its report within three days. A notification, issued by home and tribal affairs department on Thursday, said that a fact-finding committee on the directives of Chief Minister Mahmood Khan was formed to hold probe into the killing of vaccinators in the limits of Parmoli union council in Swabi. The special secretary of home department, Islam Zeb, DIG Kashif Alam of police department and Sharif Hussain, the additional secretary of home department, are members of the committee. The panel has been tasked to identify security lapse during the incident and also propose suitable action to avoid such mishaps in future. On Wednesday, two lady health workers were shot dead by unidentified motorcyclists in Swabi district. Meanwhile, the coordinator of

RAWALPINDI: Four persons were dead in a road crash at GT Road near Gujjar Khan, ARY News reported on Friday, citing rescue sources. As per details, a speeding car rammed into a roadside parked truck resulted in death of four persons, including three brothers. The deceased were identified as Arshad, Azhar, Sadiq and Hassan. The bodies were moved to the hospital for medico-legal formalities. On 21 December 2019,  at least four people were killed and 27 other sustained injuries  in two fog related incidents. Read more: At least 11 killed as van catches fire in Sargodha As per details, four people lost their lives and 13 other sustained wounds when a bus collided with a tractor trolley in Chak Chatha area near Hafizabad. The ill-fated bus was carrying wedding guests from Jokhiyan to Multan when it collided with the tractor trolley. Rescue teams reached the spot and shifted the injured to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital. In a separate road accident in Sultan Colony, fourteen people we

MIAMI: Kobe Bryant’s death in a helicopter crash has reminded everyone how fragile life is, Jennifer Lopez and Shakira said on Thursday, and the pop superstars plan to use their Super Bowl halftime show to convey that message. “Life is so fragile and that is why we have to try and live every moment as intensely as we can,” Shakira told a packed news conference. “We will be celebrating life, celebrating diversity in this country. “I am sure he (Bryant) will be very proud to see the message we are going to try to convey on stage because I think it is a very big moment for our community, the Latino community in this country.” Stopping short of saying they were planning a direct tribute to Bryant, the 18-times NBA All-Star who was killed in the crash along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others on Sunday, Lopez and Shakira promised a fun, power-packed 12-minute show but wanted to make a point. “I think this is just affecting everybody so much because it is reminding us,

Facebook shares came under heavy selling pressure Thursday as the latest earnings report for the leading social network highlighted mushrooming costs in dealing with privacy, abuse and misinformation. Shares plunged seven percent in opening trade to $207.57 as investors soured on Facebook even after a fourth quarter update largely in line with analyst estimates. Profit rose seven percent from a year ago to $7.3 billion, while revenue increased 25 percent to $21 billion in the final three months of last year, the update showed. The number of people using Facebook monthly climbed eight percent to 2.5 billion. For all its apps including Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp, the figure was 2.89 billion. Some analysts said the results pointed to weaker growth ahead for Facebook. “The specter of slowing growth took the edge off what has been an excellent run for the shares during 2019,” said independent analyst Richard Windsor on his Radio Free Mobile blog. “Despite the seemingly endless