Thursday, October 1, 2020

UK financing breathing devices

The United Kingdom, through Karandaaz’s Risk Participation Facility with Meezan Bank, is financing the development and production of a high flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) devices, which can also be used as a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices, by Alsons Group. Karandaaz, funded by the United Kingdom’s Office of Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), has established a $50 million financing programme with Meezan Bank, which enables vendors and distributors of participating corporates and other eligible SMEs access to finance. The HFNO device is very important for hospitals to treat novel coronavirus (Covid-19) patients with lung infections apart from other serious respiratory diseases, and has been approved by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), to help manage oxygen levels.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 2nd, 2020.



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Bizarre: 29 tonnes of carrots dumped on a street in London

carrots london university

A truckload of 29 tonnes of carrots was dumped outside a London university as an art installation highlighting food wastage.

Surprised by the unusual sight outside Goldsmiths College in New Cross, which is part of the University of London, people shared photos and videos of the heap of carrots on social media platforms.

“Does anyone know why a significant volume of carrots has just been dumped on Goldsmiths university campus?” tweeted a journalist, George Greenwood while sharing a picture of the street.

After the tweet went viral, the university in its response said that the heap of carrots was part of an art installation by a student.

“It is an installation called ‘Grounding’ by the artist and MFA student Rafael Perez Evans. His work is part of Goldsmiths’ MFA degree show. Rafael has arranged for the carrots to be removed at the end of the exhibition and donated to farm animals,” it tweeted.

The artist, Evans said: “The produce in the piece are unwanted carrots. Carrots that the food industry in the UK deems not worthy of shelves. The full 29 tonnes of vegetables will be collected after the exhibition and sent to feed animals.”

Netizens slammed the carrot pile as an “appalling waste of perfectly edible food.” A musical theatre student, Eden Groualle  described the installation as “very bizarre.” However, others supported the artwork, saying that the carrots used were indeed rejected by the food industry.

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Mother of three children gang-raped in Punjab

gang-rape punjab mother

QADIRPUR RAN: Another gang-rape case has been reported in Punjab, where a mother of three children was sexually abused in Qadirpur Ran, Multan, ARY News reported on Friday.

As per details, the gang-rape case was reported in Badhala Sant area in Qadirpur Ran. The incident is said to be one month old, while rapists are still at large.

The victim’s family has accused that influential family is forcing them to settlement.

In the recent past, the number of rape cases in Punjab is increasing rapidly.

Yesterday, a young woman waiting for transport to commute at Jaranwala Road was allegedly gang-raped by six men.

Read more: Man arrested for attempting to rape 12-year-old girl in Lahore

In a separate incident of gang-rape reported in Okara in the month of September, a woman was allegedly gang-raped during a robbery in Depalpur.

Police registered an FIR of the incident against seven suspects on the complaint of the victim’s husband. The woman was shifted to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, Depalpur in critical condition, a police official had said.

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Coronavirus claims 15 more lives in Pakistan in 24 hours

Pakistan coronavirus deaths

ISLAMABAD: The novel coronavirus claimed fifteen more lives during the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll from the disease to 6,499.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 31,697 samples were tested for the infection during this period, out of which 625 declared positive. The number of Covid-19 cases across the country has reached 313,431 with the addition of the new cases.

Read More: DC Mirpurkhas dies of coronavirus in Karachi

Thus far, 298,055 patients have recuperated from the infection. There are 8,877 active Covid-19 cases in the country. More than 3.5 million tests have been conducted across the country.  As many as 480 patients under treatment at various hospitals are said to be in critical condition.

Read More: $150 million to be provided to poor countries for COVID-19 vaccines

So far, Sindh has reported 137,467 cases of the coronavirus, Punjab 99,605, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 37,845, Balochistan 15,302, Islamabad 16,650, Gilgit Baltistan 3,808, and Azad Jammu and Kahsmir 2,754.

6.39 million infections

India’s coronavirus case tally climbed to 6.39 million after it reported 81,484 new infections in the last 24 hours, while related deaths were just shy of 100,000 mark, data from the health ministry showed on Friday.

Deaths from coronavirus infections rose by 1,095 in the last 24 hours to 99,773, the ministry said.

The post Coronavirus claims 15 more lives in Pakistan in 24 hours appeared first on ARY NEWS.



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PML-N expels five MPAs for violating rules

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Thursday announced expulsion of five of its members of the Punjab Assembly (MPAs) for violating party rules, as they had met Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar without the leadership's permission.

The decision to expel Ashraf Ansari, Jalil Sharaqpuri, Faisal Niazi, Nishat Khan Daha and Abu Hafs Muhammad Ghiyasuddin was announced by PML-N Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal after the approval of the senior party leadership.

The inquiry against the said MPAs came into effect on the consent of PML-N Punjab President Rana Sanaullah.

Ghiyasuddin, one of the expelled MPAs, said, “The PML-N is trying to expel us from the party to give a strong message to many more parliamentarians who were at the verge of leaving the party for being used as cannon fodder by the Sharif family for fighting their personal wars.”

He said that the decision of the party was illegal as they had done nothing wrong. The party “won’t be able to disqualify us on the mere grounds of meeting another political leader”.

“Shehbaz Sharif sat with Asif Ali Zardari, who he had vowed to drag through the streets of Larkana for plundering national wealth. Is that not defection,” he asked. “The PML-N voted for the COAS extension bill, is that not defection,” he asked.

“Party leaders change their narrative when they desire, is that not defection,” he asked, adding that most of the Sharif family members had fled the country and left it upon them to fight their personal wars.

“I met Punjab CM Buzdar to complain against the Narowal DPO for his high-handedness. “My son was thrashed by the police on the road and fictitious cases are being registered against him.”

He said that he met the Punjab CM only in this regard, adding that he had requested other party MPAs to accompany him to put pressure on the CM. “How can party expect us, who have children in Pakistan, to stay quiet in such matters.”

Of the five MPAs, four held a meeting with the Punjab CM on September 29. Those who met the CM included Ansari, Ghiyasuddin, Niazi and Sharaqpuri.

Earlier in June, a total of six PML-N Punjab Assembly members, including the five MPAs, and one PPP parliamentarian had met the Punjab CM to discuss issues related to their constituencies. Of the six MPAs of the PML-N that met the CM in June, five had earlier in March, along with another PML-N MPA, held a similar meeting with him.

The seven MPAs who had met the CM this year were Sharaqpuri of PP-139 Sheikhupura-V, Mohammad Arshad of PP-244, Bahawalnagar, Ashraf Ansari of PP-57, Gujranwala, Nishat Ahmed Daha of PP-206, Khanewal, Ghiyasuddin of PP-47, Narowal, Azhar Abbas of PP-269, Muzaffargarh and Faisal Niazi of PP-209, Khanewal.

Further, the PML-N parliamentarians were issued show-cause notices for being absent from the joint session of parliament held for the voting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) related legislation. Those issued show-cause notices included Raheela Magsi, Kulsoom Parveen, Dilawar Khan and Shamim Afridi. “The party will take its decision after receiving replies,” Ahsan Iqbal said.

CWC meeting

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Central Working Committee on Thursday accorded approval to its social mobilisation plan under which protests will be held against the arrest of Shehbaz Sharif by NAB and movements to oust the incumbent PTI government will be launched countrywide.

As per details, two protests will be held against the arrest of Shehbaz Sharif. One on October 3 in Lahore, while the second on October 9 in rest of Punjab.

Further, former premier Nawaz Sharif will address MPAs and provincial assembly ticket holders on October 7 and later on October 8, Sharif will address party’s senators, MNAs and ticket holders of both the houses of parliament. On October 12, the PML-N will organise a workers convention in Karachi.

Later, from October 12 to December 4, the PML-N will organise workers conventions (WCs) and provincial general council (PGC) meetings at district level. Of these WCs and PGC, seven will be held in Punjab, three in Sindh, three in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and two in Balochistan.

The PML-N will hold a Jalsa, which is being dubbed as a mega show, in Gujranwala on October 16 led by Maryam Nawaz.

Jalsas are also planned at the Lahore union council level to mobilise workers from the third week of November.

The PML-N leaders will also address the Pakistan Democratic Movement public gathering in Quetta on October 11, while announcements for remaining PDM public gatherings would be made by October 5. Between October and November, the PML-N will also hold social mobilisation rallies at district and constituency levels.

From October 25 to 15 November, four jalsas will be organised in southern Punjab.

Election campaigning for Gilgit-Baltistan will commence from October 15 and conclude on November13.

From October 10 to November 15, the PML-N leaders will engage with bar associations, traders, businessmen, teachers, doctors, students and civil society leaders. This will be followed by social media and media activities from October to February.

The PML-N will also hold four seminars in October in the provincial capitals on the PDM’s goals and objectives. The PML-N will also continue its fund raising activities.

 



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PML-N expels five MPAs for violating rules

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Thursday announced expulsion of five of its members of the Punjab Assembly (MPAs) for violating party rules, as they had met Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar without the leadership's permission.

The decision to expel Ashraf Ansari, Jalil Sharaqpuri, Faisal Niazi, Nishat Khan Daha and Abu Hafs Muhammad Ghiyasuddin was announced by PML-N Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal after the approval of the senior party leadership.

The inquiry against the said MPAs came into effect on the consent of PML-N Punjab President Rana Sanaullah.

Ghiyasuddin, one of the expelled MPAs, said, “The PML-N is trying to expel us from the party to give a strong message to many more parliamentarians who were at the verge of leaving the party for being used as cannon fodder by the Sharif family for fighting their personal wars.”

He said that the decision of the party was illegal as they had done nothing wrong. The party “won’t be able to disqualify us on the mere grounds of meeting another political leader”.

“Shehbaz Sharif sat with Asif Ali Zardari, who he had vowed to drag through the streets of Larkana for plundering national wealth. Is that not defection,” he asked. “The PML-N voted for the COAS extension bill, is that not defection,” he asked.

“Party leaders change their narrative when they desire, is that not defection,” he asked, adding that most of the Sharif family members had fled the country and left it upon them to fight their personal wars.

“I met Punjab CM Buzdar to complain against the Narowal DPO for his high-handedness. “My son was thrashed by the police on the road and fictitious cases are being registered against him.”

He said that he met the Punjab CM only in this regard, adding that he had requested other party MPAs to accompany him to put pressure on the CM. “How can party expect us, who have children in Pakistan, to stay quiet in such matters.”

Of the five MPAs, four held a meeting with the Punjab CM on September 29. Those who met the CM included Ansari, Ghiyasuddin, Niazi and Sharaqpuri.

Earlier in June, a total of six PML-N Punjab Assembly members, including the five MPAs, and one PPP parliamentarian had met the Punjab CM to discuss issues related to their constituencies. Of the six MPAs of the PML-N that met the CM in June, five had earlier in March, along with another PML-N MPA, held a similar meeting with him.

The seven MPAs who had met the CM this year were Sharaqpuri of PP-139 Sheikhupura-V, Mohammad Arshad of PP-244, Bahawalnagar, Ashraf Ansari of PP-57, Gujranwala, Nishat Ahmed Daha of PP-206, Khanewal, Ghiyasuddin of PP-47, Narowal, Azhar Abbas of PP-269, Muzaffargarh and Faisal Niazi of PP-209, Khanewal.

Further, the PML-N parliamentarians were issued show-cause notices for being absent from the joint session of parliament held for the voting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) related legislation. Those issued show-cause notices included Raheela Magsi, Kulsoom Parveen, Dilawar Khan and Shamim Afridi. “The party will take its decision after receiving replies,” Ahsan Iqbal said.

CWC meeting

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Central Working Committee on Thursday accorded approval to its social mobilisation plan under which protests will be held against the arrest of Shehbaz Sharif by NAB and movements to oust the incumbent PTI government will be launched countrywide.

As per details, two protests will be held against the arrest of Shehbaz Sharif. One on October 3 in Lahore, while the second on October 9 in rest of Punjab.

Further, former premier Nawaz Sharif will address MPAs and provincial assembly ticket holders on October 7 and later on October 8, Sharif will address party’s senators, MNAs and ticket holders of both the houses of parliament. On October 12, the PML-N will organise a workers convention in Karachi.

Later, from October 12 to December 4, the PML-N will organise workers conventions (WCs) and provincial general council (PGC) meetings at district level. Of these WCs and PGC, seven will be held in Punjab, three in Sindh, three in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and two in Balochistan.

The PML-N will hold a Jalsa, which is being dubbed as a mega show, in Gujranwala on October 16 led by Maryam Nawaz.

Jalsas are also planned at the Lahore union council level to mobilise workers from the third week of November.

The PML-N leaders will also address the Pakistan Democratic Movement public gathering in Quetta on October 11, while announcements for remaining PDM public gatherings would be made by October 5. Between October and November, the PML-N will also hold social mobilisation rallies at district and constituency levels.

From October 25 to 15 November, four jalsas will be organised in southern Punjab.

Election campaigning for Gilgit-Baltistan will commence from October 15 and conclude on November13.

From October 10 to November 15, the PML-N leaders will engage with bar associations, traders, businessmen, teachers, doctors, students and civil society leaders. This will be followed by social media and media activities from October to February.

The PML-N will also hold four seminars in October in the provincial capitals on the PDM’s goals and objectives. The PML-N will also continue its fund raising activities.

 



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SC terms report on missing persons ‘unsatisfactory’

The Supreme Court has expressed resentment over the report submitted by the police on recovery of missing persons in Balochistan, terming it “unsatisfactory” and sought a comprehensive one within two weeks.

A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed and comprising Justice Faisal Arab and Justice Ijazul Hassan, heard the constitutional petitions regarding missing persons and suo motu notice against target killing of the Hazara community members at the SC Quetta registry on Thursday.

During the proceedings, the bench categorically rejected the report submitted by SSP Investigation Crime Branch, Muhammad Akbar Raisani, remarking that the officers “will have to be removed from their positions” if they fail to submit a detailed and complete report.

The bench slammed the authorities over their failure in recovering the missing persons.

The relatives and family members of the missing persons were present at the SC Quetta registry. Home and Tribal Affairs Department Additional Chief Secretary Hafiz Abdul Basit, MPA Abdul Qadir Nayal and top hierarchy of Balochistan police were also present.

The SSP investigation presented the report regarding the missing persons’ cases, which was rejected by the bench with clear instructions to complete the report from every angle and submit it within two weeks.

The chief justice ordered the Balochistan police to recover the missing persons at the earliest.

The bench expressed anger and reprimanded the SSP investigation for appearing in civil clothes dress in the court.

“Irony is that people are missing and their relatives are roaming around police stations to register their complaints,” CJ Gulzar remarked.

The chief justice further remarked, “Police officials do not know how to investigate cases. Missing persons’ cases were reported between 2017 and 2018 while the police performance in their recovery has been zero.”

The chief justice also expressed great resentment against SSP Operations, Quetta Ghulam Asghar, remarking that it is the prime responsibility of the police to register cases of missing persons but the police failed to perform its duty “satisfactorily”.

CJ Gulzar reprimanded the SSP operations, remarking that responsibility of the police is to investigate the crime scene. “Police is not supposed to send letters and correspondences.”

When SSP operations apprised the court that a letter was sent to the department of excise and CBR, the chief justice remarked, “The police do not know their responsibilities and duties and you people succeed to alleviate to higher ranks and secure top positions.

“The persons who prepared the report presented before the court must be removed from service and sent back home.”

On the inconclusive report, an irked CJ remarked, “Was this a report? The person who prepared it must be fired from service.”

Further, the court also expressed grave concerns over vehicle smuggling, aerial firing and other crimes ongoing in Balochistan on a daily basis.

The court adjourned the hearing for four weeks. The bench will hear the case in Islamabad.

The Balochistan IG police is ordered to appear before the bench through video link.



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SC upholds finality of settlements

The Supreme Court has ruled that no fresh financial claims can be raised after a final settlement has been reached, underscoring the sa...