Islamabad, Lahore, Rawalpindi partially shut down as govt braces for protests

By

-

October 22, 2021

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: Authorities have suspended the Metro Bus service in Rawalpindi and blocked roads in Islamabad and Lahore as the government braces for protests organized separately by a banned outfit and Opposition parties in the above-mentioned cities.

A day earlier, the Ministry of Interior had written to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to suspend internet services in various areas of Lahore due to a banned outfit’s protest.

The provincial government subsequently suspended internet services around Multan Road, Grand Battery Stop, Iqbal Town, Nawankot, Samanabad and Sabzazar areas of Lahore.

Containers have also been placed at various points in Lahore, such as the Samanabad turn at Multan Road and at the Grid Station Stop. Containers have also been placed at the Dubai Chowk in Iqbal Town’s Boulevard area to thwart protesters’ attempts at assembling.

Police have placed containers on the entry and exit points of the city. Lahore’s traffic flow has also been adversely affected after various arteries of the city have been sealed by authorities.

Meanwhile, Islamabad Traffic Police have also issued a traffic plan (read below) as the city braces to deal with protests today.

Metro Bus service suspended in Rawalpindi
Stringent security measures have been taken in Rawalpindi, where authorities have suspended the Metro Bus service and blocked its surrounding roads.

Authorities have also blocked several roads in the city’s inner areas. Containers have been placed on the Sixth Road leading to the Faizabad area while the Faizabad Ojri Camp Road has also been sealed off.

The city’s administration has said that the Metro Bus will only operate from the IJP Road Stop to the Pakistan Secretariat while it will remain suspended from Saddar to Faizabad.

People from all walks of life are facing difficulties in arriving at their offices. Patients from far-off areas are also encountering difficulties in reaching hospitals as authorities have sealed major arteries in the city.

Multiple ambulances are stuck Murree Road as the road has been sealed by containers. A patient who was to be shifted to PIMS from the Benazir Bhutto Hospital were extremely worried after getting stranded at Murree Road.

His family members said the patient is suffering from kidney and liver ailments.

Even schoolchildren are forced to walk to their schools, with backpacks slung over their shoulders due to the roads being sealed.

The Islamabad administration has beefed up security measures to deal with the banned outfit’s intended long march to the city. The city’s traffic police have called on citizens to use the 9th Avenue and for those who want to traveI to Rawalpindi from Faizabad, to use the IJP Road.

“Faizul Islam Stop, Murree Road have been closed for traffic,” said an ICT spokesperson. “Those who intend to travel from Islamabad to the Murree Road should instead take the Islamabad Highway.”

The Jinnah Avenue Road from Express Chowk to D-Chowk has been sealed, said the spokesperson, adding that citizens should use NADRA Chowk and Ayub Chowk to enter and exit the city’s Red Zone area.

Traffic police have instructed citizens to use Park Road, Tramri Road and Lehtrar Road in the city to reach Islamabad Highway.

Citizen can also use the Srinagar Highway, 9th Avenue and IJP Road to travel to Rawalpindi, said traffic police.

Advertisment

34 of 65 Balochistan Assembly members have taken refuge at speaker’s house: Buledi

By

Sardar Jahanzaib

-

October 22, 2021

QUETTA: Acting president of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) Zahoor Buledi said that 34 out of 65 provincial assembly members had taken refuge at the residence of the Balochistan Assembly speaker after four members allegedly went missing.

In a statement, Buledi alleged that “four of our members were disappeared by the government yesterday”.

“It is the responsibility of the IG (inspector general of police) Balochistan to recover the missing MPAs,” he said.

Buledi further stressed that the IG Balochistan, “instead of falling under pressure from Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan”, should provide the lawmakers security and rescue the missing members.

He also said that the Chief Justice of Pakistan should take notice of the disappearance of members.

Buledi said the premises of the Assembly “is safe for us; we will remain in the Assembly till the vote on the no-confidence motion (against CM Khan)”.

In a tweet later in the day, Buledi said that he, along with some other MPAs visited the houses of the missing lawmakers.

Quoting the families, he said they have not returned since yesterday.

The Balochistan lawmaker had earlier alleged while speaking to the media that MPAs are being “tortured” and pressurised to back the government. This, he said, was conveyed to him by several lawmakers he spoke to.

Advertisment

PDM announces country-wide protests against inflation today after Friday prayers

By

Sara Maqsood

-

October 22, 2021

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to hold country-wide protests against the rising inflation today after Friday prayers.

The Opposition Alliance’s spokesman Hafiz Hamdullah said committees will be formed at the provincial level to hold the protests.

Committees will be formed in Punjab, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Islamabad to determine the locations of the protests in consultation with the districts, he said.

Hamdullah further said that the duration of the demonstrations is two weeks which can be extended over time.

“The PDM leadership and members of the parliament will participate in the protests as much as possible,” the spokesperson added.

He also said that the next meeting of the PDM steering committee will be held soon to review the political situation in the country.

Confirming the news, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said protests will be held in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Swat, Shangla and other cities tomorrow after Friday prayers.

“PDM is protesting tomorrow against rising inflation and unemployment,” Aurangzeb said.

Sharing further details, the PML-N spokesperson said a procession will be taken out from Jain Mandir Chowk in Lahore at 3pm tomorrow after Friday prayers.

In Karachi, the PDM rally will depart from Empress Market at 3pm tomorrow and a protest led by Engineer Amir Muqam will be held in Peshawar at 4pm.

Meanwhile, the Opposition alliance will stage a protest in Mianwali, which will begin from Railway Station Chowk to Committee Chowk on Sunday at 3pm.

The PML-N spokesperson further said that a rally will be held in Bhakkar on October 24 at 10am, which will start from Jhang Chowk Bhakkar and go all the way to to King Gate.

She said that protests will also be held in Sargodha, Peshawar, Swat, Shangla and other cities tomorrow after Friday prayers, at 3pm.

Advertisment

Govt seizes 30 metric tons of sugar being sold in black market

By

Tanzeel Ahmed

-

October 20, 2021

RAWALPINDI: The special price control magistrate in Rawalpindi has confiscated 30 metric tons of sugar being sold in the black market.

According to reports the sugar belonged to the government, was being illegally sold within the jurisdiction of the Ganj Mandi police station.

A case has been registered against two suspects — identified as Tariq Shahzad and Tayyab — upon the request of the special price control magistrate.

According to the first information report (FIR) filed against the suspects, Tariq sold the sugar for Rs90 per kg to Tayyab.

After acquiring the sugar, Tayyab misappropriated the price of the sugar and sold it off in the black market to make illicit profits, the report said.

It should be recalled that a day ago, Prime Minister Imran Khan was briefed on the prices of commodities in the country after which he had decided to reduce the tax on food items, per sources.

Sources had said that PM Imran Khan had also directed the authority concerned to take strict measures against hoarders and artificial inflation.

The premier had reportedly issued orders to the federal ministers to take steps for the implementation of Price Control Committees and also directed them to monitor the artificial inflation in their constituencies.

Advertisment

Negotiations with IMF moving forward positively: Governor SBP

By

Our Correspondent

-

October 20, 2021

LONDON: Pakistan’s negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are moving forward in a positive manner, said Reza Baqir, Governor, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

He was addressing overseas Pakistanis at an event in London, where he has been for the last four days.

Baqir’s statement came shortly after IMF Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department Jihad Azour had said that talks between Pakistan and the IMF on the $6 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) are progressing in a “very good” manner.

Unveiling the ‘Regional Economic Outlook: The Middle East and Central Asia – October 2021’, Azour had said: “The discussion around the sixth review is currently progressing around various pillars.”

The IMF mission and Pakistani authorities are discussing the measures that the government of Pakistan is currently contemplating.

“The progress has gone in a very good step and the mission with the authorities is going through various details [sic],” he had added.

Baqir, meanwhile, told the overseas Pakistanis that he was bringing Prime Minister Imran Khan’s message to them.

He said inflation is currently a reality all over the world and isn’t just happening in Pakistan. He gave the example of the United States, saying that the country had not experienced the kind of inflation it is currently experiencing in the last 30 years.

The SBP governor said that so far 260,000 Roshan Digital accounts had been opened, through which Pakistan has received Rs2.6 billion.

Justifying the high rates of inflation, he said it is because of the rise in oil prices. “The exchange rate has been left to market forces since June 2019,” he said, adding that the pressure on payments is due to the fact that our economy is improving.

Earlier, reacting to news reports regarding Pakistan’s policy-level talks with the IMF for the resumption of the $6 billion EFF, Ministry of Finance Spokesperson Muzammil Aslam negated all reports, terming them as “baseless.”

“Shaukat Tarin, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance, has returned to Washington DC to join ongoing discussions with IMF,” Aslam wrote on Twitter.

On Sunday, Tarin had dismissed reports that the talks between Pakistan and IMF have failed, asserting that they were headed in a positive direction.

“The talks are continuing,” Tarin had told reporters, after addressing members of the Pakistani community at the consulate-general in New York Sunday night, during which he had said the government was working hard to achieve inclusive and sustainable economic growth that benefits all segments of society, especially the poor.

He went to New York on Friday from Washington, where, besides the loan talks, he attended the annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank. “I don’t know what’s the basis on which an impression has been given by some that the talks have failed — they are totally wrong,” he had said.

At this stage, Tarin had said that the final details were being worked out and the negotiations would conclude successfully.

Tarin had informed the media that Finance Secretary Yusuf Khan was still in Washington pursuing the talks with IMF officials and that he was in contact with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairperson as well as with him for any advice.

“There was an atmosphere of positivity and the next few days will show a productive outcome from the talks,” he had said.

In this regard, Tarin had said his meeting with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and other Fund officials were also very “useful and positive.”

“The nation shouldn’t be disillusioned by some unfounded negative reports,” Tarin had added.

Asked whether the IMF was demanding that Pakistan do more, Tarin had said that every banker will ask for more when someone applies for a loan. Pakistan, he said, had its red lines to protect its interests, although it has been made clear that the government will pursue the reform process for sustainable growth.

Advertisment

Three families of common leopard spotted in Margalla Hills Islamabad

By

Sara Maqsood

-

October 20, 2021

ISLAMABAD: Three families of common leopard spotted in Margalla Hills Islamabad as the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) officials said that there are not two but possibly three families of common leopard in the Margalla Hills National Park.

A recent camera image shows a bigger male leopard which had never been spotted before near the hiking trails. Not just leopards but wild animals including fox, martins, porcupines, barking deer, jackals and wild boars among others have descended from the hills, enjoying respite from humans and seem to be exploring empty spaces that were previously disturbed by trekkers and hikers.

“This was their habitat that was taken away from them. Not only have they been breathing cleaner air but enjoying freedom of movement, said an official of the IWMB.

He said that it was so rare to spot an animal as iconic as the leopard. Because the preying species of the leopard are being well protected by our staff, the leopard is flourishing.

Besides images of porcupines and deer, one of the camera trap shots showed a fox carrying a plastic bottle in its mouth. “It is as if the fox is cleaning up after, the official said, adding that the Wildlife staff staff also hopes to find goral deer, which disappeared from the Margalla Hills, a decade ago.

After the drop in outside noise over the last few weeks, various species of birds including pheasants are also benefiting from the lockdown and venturing into lower grounds. the official said.

He said the Wildlife Board has taken a decision to protect species of ground nestling birds from forest fires that destroy the jungle every summer.

A conservation programme has been launched to conserve species of birds particularly, he added.

He said that board has also issued licences to villagers to pick Kachnaar buds to help them during times when incomes have dropped. Familiar with the terrain, Mohibullah from the IWMB who installs camera traps, hopes to capture more fascinating images of animals in spaces where they were afraid to move before.

During the lockdown, wild animals are not at risk of contracting coronavirus. Since all human activity has been restricted in the national park, the animals are safe from the disease.

Advertisment

Pakistan’s petroleum prices still lowest in region: PM Imran

By

Sara Maqsood

-

October 15, 2021

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that prices of petroleum products in Pakistan were still lowest than other regional countries.

He said this while presiding over Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) parliamentary party in Islamabad.

During the meeting the prime minister directed the parliamentary party members to spend more time in the constituencies. He said that the development projects would be started in consultation with the MNAs, while health cards and Ehsaas Ration Cards would also be issued in consultation with the members of the Assembly.

Regarding rising inflation, Imran Khan said that the government is aware of inflation and is making every effort to control it.

He said that the prices of goods in the international market have gone up dramatically, adding that Pakistan still has the lowest price of petrol in the region, we cannot explain to the people the reasons for the rise in prices.

Advertisment

Villager injures rare pangolin in Margalla Hills

By

Our Correspondent

-

October 14, 2021

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) has found out the pangolin that was injured in an attack by a local villager in the Margallah Hills National Park (MHNP).

According to the details, when the pangolin was walking around in the forest area during a storm couple of days back, a local villager attacked it with an axe. The pangolin received severe injuries and was later found by an employee of the IWMB.

Now the IWMB is taking care of the pangolin that is considered one of the rare and attractive species of the national park. This mammal is always subjected to torture or poaching due to some false perceptions made by the people. The people consider that pangolin digs the graves in order to hunt the ants and this activity makes the graves porous and whenever it rains the water enters the graves eventually destroying them.

Inam Rasheed, an expert in biodiversity conservation, said Pangolins play an important ecological role as their burrowing behavior aerates and mixes the soil, improving its nutrient quality. Their abandoned burrows create additional shelter for other wildlife and their diet of ants and termites make them natural pest controllers.

He said the scales of pangolin consist of ‘Keratin’, which was the same material contained by human nails and hairs.

“The scales are used in the traditional Chinese medicines due to some wrong folk lore that they contain fantastic medicinal qualities. Similarly, it is believed that the flesh of the pangolin has extraordinary healing properties in a long list of ailments,” he said.

The IWMB chairperson said “We have now planned to install trackers before releasing the wildlife species inside the national park.

The elusive but ecologically vital pangolin is the only mammal in the world having scales on its fluffy and soft body. But, unfortunately, this armoured coat is its number one enemy.”

Advertisment

Premier orders setting up of leopard preservation zone on Margalla Hills

By

Tanzeel Ahmed

-

October 14, 2021

ISLAMABAD: Keeping in view the increasing leopard population in the Margalla Hills, Prime Minister Imran Khan directed the concerned departments to enure the setting up of Leopard Preservation Zone in the hills to preserve natural habitat for the endangered big cat species.

In a meeting of the committee on climate change presided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan, the approval of establishing the Wildlife Information Centre in Marghazar Zoo was also given

The Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) has stated that the population of leopards in the Margalla Hills was increasing and the animal was frequently spotted by visitors of hiking trails, especially on trails 4 and 6.

The IWMB with the assistance of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) is installing fences and gates around trail 4, which will be closed after sunset. Trail 4 was opened earlier in January to control crowding on other trails and monitor illegal wood cutting.

“The special leopard zone will provide a healthy eco-system to predators, permanently inhabiting the hills,” the prime minister said.

Prime Minister Khan, in principle, also accorded approval to the National Climate Change Policy, 2021 and the National Wildlife Policy, 2021.

He directed setting up of a think-tank to coordinate efforts among various ministries and devise out-of-the-box solutions for climate change mitigation. He also said Pakistan had established its credibility as a ‘Green Champion’ due to its flagship ‘Ten Billion Tree programme’, initiated by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.

Khan said the international community was acknowledging Pakistan’s realistic and tangible steps to mitigate impacts of climate change and directed the Ministry of Climate Change to review targets and formulate new goals, aimed at fast-tracking the steps required to preserve the natural environment.

“Preservation of the country’s national parks is paramount and stressed the need for inducting trained manpower and utilising modern technology,” he added.

The prime minister appreciated the efforts of Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam for environmental protection and highlighting Pakistan’s efforts in this field.

The IWMB observed that unlike Ayubia, no case of attacks on livestock had been reported in the Margallas within the federal capital’s jurisdiction because there was a significant wild boar and monkey population along with barking deer in the area.

The board also observed that there were five leopards in the hills which was testament to the fact that the national park had a healthy eco-system. It also cautioned visitors on trails 4 and 6 to be careful and urged the public to trek and hike in groups and return before sunset as the leopards roam between these trails, sleep through the day and come out after dark.

“In case hikers do come face to face with a leopard, running is not an option; instead one should freeze and show no signs of fear,” the board advised.

A few months ago, the IWMB released images of a female common leopard named Shezadi found to be a permanent resident of the territory between trails 4 and 6 inside Margalla Hills National Park. Shezadi was caught on camera after traps were set up by the IWMB staff for several evenings in a row in late January. Leopards patrol and control 50 square km of the territory.

The common leopard is a critically endangered species and top predator of the park and is also very territorial by nature.

Advertisment

Mazari inaugurates the first Transgender Protection Centre in Islamabad

By

Our Correspondent

-

October 14, 2021

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Human Rights Dr. Shireen Mazari inaugurated the first Transgender Protection Centre of Pakistan in H-9/4 Islamabad.

Addressing the audience at the event Dr. Shireen Mazari highlighted that Transgender Protection Centre will be established in other cities of Pakistan to mainstream the transgender community of Pakistan and ensure their rights.

She further emphasized that transgender community should be provided same employment and health rights as other citizens of Pakistan are granted.

She also stressed that PTI government included transgender community in Ehsaas Program and health card initiatives with the aim to provide them opportunities for their development.

Dr. Mazari also mentioned that transgender Protection Centre will provide legal aid, basic health facilities, psychological counselling and temporary shelter as well.

Ministry of Human Rights has taken various initiatives for effective implementation of Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2018 with the aim to ensure the protection, rehabilitation and fundamental rights of transgender persons as guaranteed by the Constitution in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973 to all of its citizen.

Under Section-6(a) of Transgender Protection Act, the Ministry of Human Rights has established a Transgender Protection Centre with a total cost of 35.8 million. It will protect and rehabilitate the transgender persons in need.

The Centre also provides rehabilitation, legal and medical, psychological care facilities and referral services to transgender persons. It will also help to generate awareness among general masses and the relevant stake holders.

The event was also attended by the Parliamentary Secretary for Human Rights Mr. Lal Chand, Secretary, Ministry of Human Rights Inamullah, officials of Ministry of Human Rights, and transgender activists and representatives from their community and media persons.

Advertisment

Tag: islamabad

Adblock Detected!