Info we should know

Feb 28: Prime Minister Imran has addressed the nation in which he has announced major relief package for Pakistan nation.  Relief Package detail:  An internship programme for unemployed graduates Reduce petrol and electricity prices Increase cash assistance for Ahsaas beneficiaries  Educational scholarships 100% tax exemption for IT sector Tax-holiday for overseas Interest-free loans to the youth He has announced an internship programme for the unemployed youth, under which those with a graduate degree, would be offered Rs 30,000 per month through a transparent and merit-based system. Moreover ,  Rs 10 per litre reduction in petroleum prices, Rs 5 per unit cut in electricity tariff and some other measures also was the part of PM relief Package. The prime minister also announced to enhance the cash assistance, provided to eight million families under the government’s Ehsaas Programme, from the current Rs 12,000 to 14,000 to help the poor people. Imran Khan announ...

After successful completion of Kalam and Galiyat snow festivals that attracted thousands of tourists and adventure sportsmen, the Government of KP is going to organize a three days snow festival at scenic Gabin Jabba in Swat district from February 25-27, 2022 to promote adventure and winter sports in the province. As per Junaid Khan, Deputy Commissioner Swat, traditional stalls, food court, sports, ice village, kids play area and cultural events have been planned for Gabbin Jabba snow festival starting from February 25 in the newly explored tourists resort of Pakistan. Gabin Jabba would be yet another major event of winter sports in Swat bringing together thousands of skiers, skaters, snowboarders and adventure enthusiasts from across the country. Besides, culture events, music, traditional singers, khattak dance and Rabab with Tabla would  also enthrall tourists. Free mountain bike, bicycle race, archery and rock climbing would add colours to the festival. Like Kalam and Gilyat sn...

ISLAMABAD, Feb 20:International Mother Language Day will be marked on February 21 (Monday) across the globe including Pakistan to celebrate language diversity and variety worldwide. On International Mother Language Day the UN's Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and UN agencies participate in events that promote linguistic and cultural diversity.  They also encourage people to maintain their knowledge of their mother language while learning and using more than one language. Governments and non-governmental organizations may use the day to announce policies to encourage language learning and support. On November 17, 1999, UNESCO proclaimed February 21 to be International Mother Language Day and it was first observed on February 21, 2000. Each year the celebrations around International Mother Language Day concentrate on a particular theme.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 18:Prime Minister Imran Khan Friday said Scholarship Complaint Portal will ensure coordinated and timely resolution of students complaints. In a tweet on social media platform Twitter, he said, “Yesterday we launched a dedicated Scholarship Complaint Portal under umbrella of PM Portal.”  “This will ensure coordinated and timely resolution of students complaints. During CFY 2.6mn scholarships are being awarded to talented & deserving students across Pak amounting to Rs. 28.3bn,” he added. Pakistan Citizen’s Portal (PCP) is the most effective public complaints resolution platform, promptly addressing complaints and issues of the Pakistanis.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 17: The National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) is going to establish a network of modern air quality monitoring low cost sensors in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad to enhance capacity of the environmental watchdogs for gathering realtime air pollution data.   Under the Duke University project, a total of 55 low cost sensors will be given to NUST for developing a network of air quality monitors in the twin cities to augment ambient air quality monitoring capacity of the two mega cities. The university has developed a state-of-the-art air quality monitoring station and become the only varsity in the country to possess such a sophisticated piece of latest equipment.  The NUST through its indigenous and US embassy assisted initiatives managed to develop a locally made conventional air quality measuring gadget in collaboration with local technicians/engineers, also received latest low-cost sensors given by the US State Department under...

The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony on Thursday said legislation was under process to establish a recycling plant for sacred papers in the Federal Capital.     According to a ministry official, the ministry had drafted ‘The Publication of the Holy Quran Printing and Recording Amendment Bill 2020’ by suggesting amendments in the Quran Act 1973. The proposed law, he said, would cover the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), and was with the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, which in its last meeting had recommended to present it in the House after incorporating its amendments.  The official said at present no proper mechanism existed to ensure the sanctity of sacred papers. However under the new law, a ‘Quran Board’ would be set up to ensure high standard of printing of the Holy Book, besides taking optimum steps for sanctity of the sacred papers. It may be added that Religious Affairs and Interfaith ...

ISLAMABAD, Feb 17:Microsoft co-founder, and co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Thursday termed Ehsaas “a state of the art program”. Bill Gates was speaking during a meeting held with the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Dr. Sania Nishtar during his first ever visit to Pakistan. Dr. Sania thanked him for his words of appreciation for Ehsaas and his support.  Dr. Sania briefed him about Ehsaas and the focus on data, digitization and transparency as key drivers of all Ehsaas programmes.  Ehsaas programmes and initiatives are end-to-end digitized, reducing human discretion and exploitation.  Bill Gates was also briefed on governance reforms under Ehsaas and the Building and Rebuilding Institutions Initiative (BRI) of Ehsaas where changes have focused on a three-pronged approach around institutionalizing efficiency through digitization, embedding good governance, and minimizing financial and statutory risks....

At Beijing Olympics, tourists overcame the language barrier by using high-tech apps and a smartphone-like device to avoid getting lost in translation. Visitors to the Olympics village can have a pleasant time even though they don't speak Mandarin. With the help of high-tech apps tourists can translate from Mandarin Chinese and keep the tills ringing. Thankfully, help is at hand in the form of devices like the iFLYTEK Jarvisen, an artificial intelligence (AI) smart translator developed in China. That aimed to achieve "barrier-free communication" so that all may enjoy the Winter games and do so in a safe environment. Though China's "zero COVID" policy has stopped the influx of sports fans who would normally be cheering on their favourites, there are still thousands of athletes, coaches, journalists and technicians in China, who want to be a part of Winter Games. With staff and volunteers often wearing masks and visors, communication can be difficult, and Manda...

FAST University Islamabad Campus student have designed a smart cricket ball. This ball will provide a portable and inexpensive solution for measuring ball speed and spin rate. A group of three students from FAST university Islamabad has invented smart ball. As per students, conventional method of ball speed measuring was too much expensive and countries like Pakistan could not afford that technology at grassroots level.  “We have designed an inexpensive solution that provides reliable speed and spin rate of cricket ball without any special expertise and man power to operate the system” the group said. Students said that smart Cricket ball embedded with specialized microcontrollers that transmitted the data through Bluetooth to a mobile device which would help to improve analysis and bowling skills as well. This  smart ball had a power button, 3 axis- accelerometer that had ability to endure high level of stress 10000g and used I2C interface to communicate data, microcontroller...

Pakistan Embassy in Kabul has announced admissions in the 29th session of English Language & Basic Computer courses for Afghan students at the Vocational Training Institute of the Embassy. "The courses are free of cost and will start with effect from 27th Feb 2022,” Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq said in a tweet posted on social media account. https://twitter.com/AmbassadorSadiq/status/1493570192928088066?t=oo11azUbgqneJ0wdGQzIpg&s=19

Feb 16: Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) police Wednesday launched WhatsApp number, enabling citizens direct access to police related services on smart phones. The citizens will receive all information about police services after getting themselves registered by sending a simple message on WhatsApp number 03342874287, 033ICTP  ICTP. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad, Muhammad Ahsan Younus, in his video message termed the step towards modern policing in the federal capital. IGP said the citizens through WhatsApp could get services in both English and Urdu languages.

Feb 9: The agriculture department has invited applications from rice growers for providing them agri appliances and machinery on subsidized rates under Prime Minister (PM) Agri Emergency Programme.  In this program, male and female farmers belonging to Faisalabad, Jhang, Chiniot, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Mandi  Bahauddin, Narowal, Hafizabad, Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Bahawal Nagar and Okara were eligible for applying agri machinery.  Rice growers have to submit their applications up to February 20, 2022 and they would be provided rice machinery after balloting.  Application forms will be obtained from the offices of Assistant Director, Deputy Director and Divisional Director agriculture (extension). while the same could also be downloaded from website www.agripunjab.gov.pk and its photocopy would also be acceptable.  After balloting, successful farmers would be provided various kinds of agri appliances and gadgets  including Riding Type...

Moroccan little boy, Rayan survived five days inside a cold dark narrow deep well then passed away minutes after being rescued. The world mourns with Morocco. A heartbreaking story with a tragic ending.  Yesterday, Moroccans  buried Rayan, a five-year-old boy who spent five days trapped down a well, sparking a vast rescue operation that gripped the world but ended in tragedy. The boy had fallen down a narrow, 32-metre (100-foot) dry well last Tuesday, sparking a complex earth-moving operation to try to reach him without triggering a landslide. Well-wishers had flooded social media with messages of sympathy and prayers that he would be extracted alive. On Saturday night, crowds had cheered as rescue workers cleared away the final handfuls of soil to reach him after the marathon digging operation.  But grief replaced hope when it turned out that the boy was dead, news announced by the royal cabinet of the North African nation. King Mohammed VI called the parents to voice hi...

NCOC allows PSL matches with 50% vaccinated individuals in stadium Now, fully vaccinated cricket lovers can enjoy excited PSL matches of Lahore leg with 50% stadium capacity till  February 15.  The NCOC, which met with Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar in the chair, permitted 100 % stadium capacity for fully vaccinated spectators from February 16.  However, children under 12 years of age (un-vaccinated) would also be allowed in the stadium to watch the matches. Besides the second phase of the ongoing PSL matches, the forum also discussed the epidemic data, national vaccination progress and inbound health protocols.  The NCOC abolished the condition of  rapid antigen tests (RATs) for inbound passengers on arrival at Pakistani airports from February 8.  However, RATs would continue to be conducted for deportees from foreign countries and for non-vaccinated individuals arriving from land border terminals.

Hashtag "Boycott Hyundai" and "Boycott Kia" is trending on Twitter as the automobile manufacturer's  Pakistani dealership supported Kashmir's struggle for freedom on its tweet in Kashmir Solidarity day. Hyundai Pakistan Official (@PakistanHyundai) wrote, "Let us remember the sacrifices of our Kashmiri brothers and stand in support as they continue to struggle for freedom."  with a picture of Dal Lake of Srinagar is attached with the tweet, and the word "Kashmir" is marked with barbed wire. As the tweet has gone viral on social media, the indian has started  "Boycott Hyundai" and "Boycott Kia" started compaign on Twitter. Some Indian Twitter user are demanding for ban and apology from Hyundai while on the other one of the Pakistani Twitter user react to this trend by writing "Aag asi lagi k Maza aa gya"  https://twitter.com/Oye_lambu/status/1490354428515282944?t=YgxcKrLdG7e6--RjhzNfhA&s=19

Here is the Best places in Kashmir to visit. These Top Eye catching sites and spots, rich with nature’s bounties always have a soothing effect for tourist in Azad Kashmir. Neelum Valley, Ratti Gali,   Pir Chinasi, Banjosa Lake, Nergola Waterfall, Arang Kel, Toli Pir, Jari Kas Park, Dhani Waterfall, Sharda Peeth, In recent times, after the heavy rush and uncomfortable environment in Murree, Galiat, Nathiagali and Ayubia, The Azad Kashmir’s greenish and peaceful mountainous valleys are the first and foremost places for   family tourism. Kashmir is best alternative of tourist places like Murree as snow covered peaks and lush green valleys of Azad Kashmir has always been a source of attraction for the nature lovers. Soothing and picturesque waterfalls forming into streams and lakes alongside the zigzag roads and crisscross rivers have made Kashmir ‘a heaven on earth,’ with tremendous potential to attract tourists from around the country. During the Mugh...

Feb 6,  As per crona virus updates in Punjab almost 1200 new cases of COVID-19 were reported on Sunday moreover pandemic has claimed 12 lives which turned the death toll to 13,242. As per data shared by the spokesperson for Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department (P&SHD), the number of coronavirus cases in the province reached 488,603.   The Punjab health department urged the masses to follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) for their protection and cover their faces with masks besides washing their hands with soap several times in a day to protect themselves from COVID-19.  Contact 1033 immediately on symptoms of coronavirus, the healthcare department urged people. The P&SHD confirmed the maximum number of coronavirus cases were reported in Lahore with 623 cases while two cases was diagnosed with the virus in Attock, five in Bahawalnagar and Rajanpur, 48 in Bahawalpur, 11 in Bhakkar, eight in Chinot, seven in Dera Ghazi Khan, 41 in Faisalabad,...

Feb 5, Rawalpindi district police has started the crackdown against kite flying ban violators including sellers and flyers in the city. During recent crackdown police has arrested 58 violators and recovered over 13000 kites and 200 kites flying string rolls. Police have conducted frequent raids and operations in this context around the city. According to a police spokesman, the CPO had directed the officers concerned to utilize all available resources to arrest the kite flying ban violators, kite sellers and those involved in aerial firing. The CPO also appreciated police performance and directed to continue raids to take strict action against sellers and flyers. The CPO said that the kite flying ban violations and aerial firing would not be tolerated so strict action in accordance with the law should be taken against the violators, adding, special teams had also been constituted to control kite flying and aerial firing. A monitoring system had also been developed in this r...

An earthquake measuring 5.9 observed in Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu & Kashmir and its surrounding areas on early Saturday morning. As per National Seismic Monitoring Centre, the earthquake struck Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan and surrounding areas. The earthquake was at a depth of 210 km with the centre in Hindukush Region, Afghanistan. The shocks were also felt in Nowhsera, Mardan, Bunir, Dir, Abbottabad, Mingora, Kohat and other cities. People came out of their homes in panic and started reciting verses from the Holy Quran. No loss of life and property was reported so far.

Kashmiris of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) are facing a bloodbath with around-the-clock curfew, communication blackouts, arrests killings, and forceful suppression of protesters since 1948. Kashmiris killed in January 2022: During the last month of January in IIOJK, Indian troops in their unabated acts of state terrorism martyred 22 Kashmiris including a teenage boy. Of those killed, four youth were martyred in a fake encounter, according to the data issued by the Research Section of Kashmir Media Service on Tuesday. Kashmiris killed since 1989;  Moreover as per Kashmir Media Service, Indian occupied forces since 1989, had killed about 95,971 Kashmiris including 7,229 in custody, arrested 164,123, arson houses, shops, etc. 110,459, women widowed, 22,941, children orphaned, 107,857, women gang-raped/ Molested, 11,247 including killings in fake encounters, extra-judicial operations, and custody.         IIOK after...

Google gaming February 4, Google has launched a Gaming Growth Lab  for Pakistani Gamers in Pakistan. The programme will commence on March 1, 2022 . Interested organizations and individual candidates may apply from now until February 11, 2022. This five-week virtual programme is designed to help emerging mobile-gaming enterprises expand their offerings and Grow their businesses. And it will be delivered in both English and Urdu. Gaming Growth is the Google’s commitment to helping accelerate the digital Gaming industry in Pakistan. Pakistan’s Gaming ecosystem has been gaining great recognition both domestically and internationally. As per Google Regional Director , Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, Mr.Farhan Qureshi that they see a huge opportunity today to support emerging local developers and help them expand their offerings to an international audience.  Through the Gaming Growth Lab, Google will offer access to their products and platforms, like Cloud, Ads, AdMob, a...

Pakistan will get 40 million more doses of COVID-19 vaccine in the first quarter of current year under the COVAX facility, said United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Pakistan on Wednesday.  Since May 2021 Pakistan has already received over 91 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine under COVAX facility from UNICEF Pakistan. It was half of the total 175 million doses which were administrated in the country so far, added UNICEF Pakistan.  Global donor agency told that UNICEF also delivered 41 ultra-cold chain equipment and huge quantity of personal protective equipment, syringes, laboratory equipment and other essential supplies.   "Since the beginning of the COVID-19 emergency, more than 150 million people (60 per cent of the population) were reached with messages on COVID-19 prevention and access to services through national Media channels with UNICEF support, and more than 50 million at-risk people were reached through community engagement activities....

SpaceX has launched Falcon 9 carries an Italian Earth observation satellite. This is Fourth launch and landing of Falcon 9 this year. The satellite sent into space was funded by the Italian Space Agency, the Italian Ministry of Defense and the Italian Ministry of Education.  Purpose: It will 'monitor the Earth for the sake of emergency prevention, strategy, scientific and commercial purposes,' according to the European Space Agency.

February 1 to 14, a door-to-door vaccination campaign will continue to get rid of the Covid-19 epidemic latest wave. "Har Pakistani Corona say Mehfooz" campaign has been launched in which all persons above the age of 12 years will be vaccinated. In this campaign, more than 55000 vaccination teams will go door-to-door to vaccinate the unvaccinated individuals and more than 350,00000 people will be vaccinated. As per Federal Minister for Planning Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar, more than 80 million people had been fully vaccinated up till now, while around 100 million individuals had been injected at least one dose of vaccine. A total of 180 million individuals had been vaccinated with those who had gotten one dose of vaccine, he said. The Minister said that around 2.6 million people had also been vaccinated. Throughout Omicron spread, it was clearly observed that those cities and areas remain safe or less affected by pandemics where vaccination ratio was high as...

February 1 is celebrated as World Hijab Day, a worldwide advocacy campaign to help spread awareness about the hijab and Islam. Hijab is Modesty and Dignity. Hijab is privacy. Hijab is a choice. And democratic laws allowed the right of speech, right of wearing and right to exercise it's religious beliefs. The hijab day campaign was first stated in 2013. In 2017, World Hijab Day became a nonprofit organization with a mission to fight discrimination against Muslim women through awareness and education. It has aimed to raise awareness about Muslim women who wear the headscarf, who frequently face discrimination for doing so in every Feb. 1 Woman named,  Nazma Khan (Bangladeshi-american) is the founder of World Hijab Day. World Hijab Day will surely bring awareness to people. People will be educated about the hijab. And hopefully, this will help to reduce the discrimination against Muslim women who choose to wear the hijab. Also there must be an official event for sake of awareness abou...