Info we should know

Traffic and driving license RAWALPINDI, May 31: City Traffic Police (CTP) Rawalpindi on the directives of City Police Officer, Rawalpindi Syed Shehzad Nadeem Bukhari on Tuesday launched 24-hour driving license service facility here at CTP Headquarters. According to a CTP spokesman, special arrangements had been made at CTP Headquarters on the instructions of Chief Traffic Officer Rawalpindi Naveed Irshad to provide round the clock driving license facilities to the students, businessmen, public and private sector employees and others.  The facility introduced for the first time in Punjab would make the citizens able to avail driving license services 24 hours at the Traffic Headquarters, he added. He said, CTP was making earnest efforts for the provision of the services related to the driving licenses and other traffic facilities to the public.  The spokesman said that under the first phase, driving learner permits, renewal of driving licenses and international driving licensing faciliti

ISLAMABAD, May 30: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday granted interim bail to Tiktok star accused Mrs. Nosheen Saeed known as ‘Dolly’ till June 8, in case pertaining to setting a fire in forests of Margalla Hills.  Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri heard the case filed by the Tiktok star seeking her pre-arrest bail.       At the outset of hearing, the court expressed annoyance with the petitioner’s lawyer over late appearance. The court said the lawyer had requested the court to hear the matter on the same day but he himself was absence.  The advocate prayed the court to grant some time for case preparation at this the bench adjourned the case till June 8. The court accepted the bail against surety bonds worth Rs100,000. It may be mentioned here that earlier a lower court had canceled the interim bail of the accused. The Tiktok star allegedly set fire in the forest of Margallah Hills to prepare her modeling videos for social media.

MULTAN, May 29: The recreational activities have been increased at swimming pools as the temperature has jumped over 40 degree centigrade from last few weeks in Multan and the suburban areas.  A large number of people, especially, youngsters start approaching swimming pools in order to get a sigh of relief from the scorching heat. Most of the swimming pools are situated outside the city areas, while few are within the city limits.  The swimming pool owners have increased the bathing charges as the sun crossed 40 degree centigrade. The bathing fee of Rs 500 was being charged from each person at the swimming pools which was Rs 250 to 350 in the previous years.  The business of swimming pool remained almost closed during the last two years due to coronavirus. Now, most of the owners have completed the repairing work of pools and make operational while renovation and repairing work was continued on many others. 

ISLAMABAD, May 29: Global Day of Parents will be marked on June 1 (Wednesday) across the globe including Pakistan to honor parents and their commitment to children worldwide. Parents play an important part in shaping one's life. People all over the world have the opportunity to appreciate parents and parental figures for the vital role they play in the development of families. Community leaders, parents, children, teachers, and family organizations get together in celebrating the day and promoting effective parenting. On September 17, 2012, the UN publicly declared that the Global Day of Parents would be held annually on June 1. This observance recognizes parents as vital in providing protection and positive development for their children. The UN also noted that parents of every race, religion, culture and nationality in all parts of the world were the primary caregivers and teachers of their children.

LAHORE, May 27:No case of monkey pox has been reported in the country, however, precautionary measures have been taken by the government departments. These views were expressed by members Punjab Assembly Khawaja Salman Rafique and Khawaja Imran Nazeer while talking to the media at a seminar held here on Friday. They informed that the diagnostic test lab facility has been provided in the BSL-III Lab of the Institute of Public Health (IPH). Earlier while addressing the seminar, Dean IPH Professor Sobia Qazi said that symptoms of small pox and chicken pox are very similar with the viral disease monkey pox, therefore, clinicians should get more information regarding the disease so that they could differentiate between the diseases and without solid reason and lab test, do not declare similar skin disease cases as monkey pox patients. Director Communicable Disease Control Dr Shahid Magsi informed the participants that no monkey pox case has so far been reported in this region including Paki

  ISLAMABAD, May 27:Youm-e-Takbeer will be observed on Saturday with national zeal and fervour to commemorate historic nuclear tests at Chagai in 1998. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has also released a national song in connection with the "Youm-e-Takbeer". It was aimed at highlighting the importance of "Youm-e-Takbeer" Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif had already announced ten-day celebrations on the completion of 24 years of nuclear tests.

Exam Postponed FBISE ISLAMABAD, May 26: Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) Islamabad had postponed two papers of the annual examination of matriculation within the county and abroad, scheduled on May 25, and 26 due to the Law and Order situation in the country.  According to the controller examination, now the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) papers that were postponed on May 25 and 26 will now be conducted on June 08 and 09 respectively.  The Federal Board has asked the students to download their new roll number slips from FBISE Website. However, all remaining papers will be held as per scheduled issued earlier by the Board.  Moreover, the practical exams that were earlier scheduled to be held on June 06 will now be started on June 10, 2022.

RAWALPINDI, May 24: Rawalpindi Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (RBISE) on Tuesday postponed Secondary School Certificate (SSC) Annual Examination, 2022 scheduled to be held on May 25. According to a notification, issued by Higher Education Department, Lahore, Government of the Punjab, owing to unavoidable circumstances in Rawalpindi Division, paper of Pakistan Studies, P-II, SSC annual examinations, 2022, scheduled to be held on May 25 has been postponed. Next date will be announced by the board in due course of time through electronic and print media, the notification said. To a question the RBISE spokesman said SSC annual examinations 2022 were being held under foolproof arrangements.  He informed that 17,796 students were appearing in the exams which had started in four districts of the division in accordance with the schedule announced earlier.  388 exam centers including 142 for boys and 139 for girls had also been set up besides 107 combined centers, he added.  The

PESHAWAR, May 24 :Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan on Tuesday announced that he would lead the long march to Islamabad from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday. Addressing a press conference here, Imran Khan claimed that a large number of people, including women and youth from all the provinces would march towards the Federal Capital to press the demand for fresh election in the country. He said the PTI march would be totally peaceful and there was no justification for  crackdown against his party workers. Holding a peaceful protest was their democratic right, he added. He said a free, fair and transparent election was the only solution of the economic challenges, such as price hike and rupee devaluation. "We need to stand on own feet as quickly as possible rather than relying on the International Monetary Fund." He pleaded for maintaining voting right for the overseas Pakistanis as they were remitting $31 billion dollars annually . Imran Kha

Traffic scenario in Rawalpindi for Imran Khan long march  RAWALPINDI, May 24: City Traffic Police (CTP) Rawalpindi has completed all the arrangements to maintain smooth flow of traffic amid long march call declared by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). According to the police spokesman, during the long march, more than 462 personnel would be on duty for the convenience of the citizens.  Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Naveed Irshad said additional personnel have been deployed on all major highways including Peshawar Road, Mall Road and Murree Road.  He informed that the traffic would be diverted from diversion points to alternate routes whereas additional duties have also been assigned on diversion points and alternate routes.  "There will be traffic police deployed at all points to maintain the flow of traffic," he added. The citizens should travel 20 minutes prior to their schedule to avoid any inconvenience and also avoid unnecessary travelling, he maintained

BEIJING, May 23 (Xinhua):Long-term exposure to PM2.5 air pollution increases the risk of cognitive decline and may prematurely result in Alzheimer's disease, according to a new scientific study. The results, which were published in the journal Biological Psychiatry, show that air pollution, such as PM2.5, ground-level ozone and nitrogen dioxide, can induce neurotoxic reactions and may exert adverse effects on human cognitive health. The study was conducted by an international team led by Chinese researchers from the Shanghai-based Huashan Hospital of Fudan University. They used data from 31,573 participants in a survey concerning health and aging, the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, and 1,131 participants from a cohort study on Alzheimer's disease. They found that a rise of 20 micrograms per cubic meter in PM2.5 exposure could lead to a 10 percent increased risk of cognitive decline, and exposures to ground-level ozone and nitrogen dioxide yielded elevated risk b

Pak mangoes in Chinese Markets Islamabad May 22:The first consignment of Pakistani mangoes of present season will be transported by air cargo service in Kunming, capital city of China's South-Western Yunnan province.  The shipment comprising 3-4 tons of "Sindhri" variety of mangoes is likely to arrive on May 28 as per the tentative schedule of the airline, Adnan Hafeez, director of Imperial Ventures (Pvt) Ltd. The Pakistani mangoes would be sold in the market after custom clearance and necessary certifications by the relevant Chinese authorities, he added.  "The Farm's Choice" an indigenous premium fruit brand operation by Imperial Ventures Private Limited has been extensively working on promotion and marketing of Pakistani Mango in China since last six years and has seen positive growth trend.  He said, this year, the expected export of mangoes from Pakistan to China is set to touch 100 tons which is almost 100% increase from last year but  the recent wave

ISLAMABAD, May 21: Since the implementation of the Device Identification Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS), the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has blocked about 26.03 million fake and replica mobile devices. As per Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, (PTA) Annual Report 2021, 175,000 international mobile equipment identity (IMI) devices were reported stolen also blocked by the authority. About 880,780 IMEI devices were identified as cloned and duplicated against 5.28 million MISDN banned on the network. As per the report, the telecom sector of Pakistan remained at a high growth trajectory and generated the highest-ever revenue of Rs 644 billion during the financial year 2020-21 as compared to Rs 592 billion in the previous year.  PTA has so far issued mobile device manufacturing authorizations to 30 companies, attracting investments to the tune of US$120 million, producing 10.1 million smartphones in 2021, and creating 2,000 jobs.  The world’s leading brands like S

PESHAWAR, May 20: Additional Secretary Health (Polio) and Coordinator Emergency Operations Center Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Abdul Basit renewed resolve for polio eradication saying that the government stand committed to wiping out the scourge from the last endemic region by vaccinating every eligible child against the crippling virus of polio. He said this while kicking off May round of anti-polio drive here Friday at EOC Headquarters by administering polio and vitamin A drops to the children. Deputy Coordinator EOC, Zamin Khan, Provincial Team Lead Polio UNICEF, Dr Andrew Etsano, Technical Lead N Stop, Dr Shabnam and EPI staff were also present on the occasion. Talking to media, Abdul Basit said provincial government was taking every measure to address ground challenges specially in the southern belt of the province and ensure conducive environment to frontline workers to achieve the target of vaccination. He said that polio eradication is our national responsibility and is a matter of our c

ISLAMABAD, May 19:Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said his decision to ban the import of luxury items will save the country’s precious foreign exchange. The prime minister in a tweet posted on his social media account said that as they would practice austerity, the financially stronger people must lead in the effort so that the less privileged among them did not have to bear the burden inflicted on them by the PTI government. The government has banned the import of following items: 1.      Mobile Phones 2. Home Appliances 3. Fruits and Dry Fruits (except from Afghanistan) 4. Crockery 5. Private Weapons & Ammunition 6. Shoes 7. Chandeliers & Lighting (except Energy Savers) 8. Headphones & Loudspeakers 9. Sauces, Ketchup etc. 10. Doors and Window Frames 11. Travelling Bags and Suitcases 12. Sanitary ware 13. Fish & Frozen Fish 14. Carpets (except from Afghanistan) 15. Preserved Fruits 16. Tis

Unhygienic food, Roadside food ISLAMABAD, May 18: Health experts on Wednesday urged masses to start eating healthy food in summer as consuming unhygienic food prepared by the roadside vendors can lead to serious food-born diseases including typhoid, cholera and gastroenteritis.  "The ratio of the above-mentioned diseases increased by 50 to 70 percent in summer because of unhygienic food and drinks", said physician Dr. Asma Nasim while talking to a private news channel.  A child specialist Dr. Syed Faisal Mahmood also said “The use of unhealthy food items causes not only illness but also poor body defense mechanism among school children", he warned, adding, that such kids complain of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cough, high fever, and headache.  They also highlighted that there was another practice of wrapping snacks and food items in newspapers by street vendors which is dangerous for health, adding, that newspapers contain bio-active materials and are known to have negat

ISLAMABAD, May 17: The import of mobile phones has witnessed an increase of 7.43 percent during the ten months of the fiscal year (2021-22) as compared to the corresponding period of last year.  Pakistan imported mobile phones worth the US $1810.234 million during July-April (2021-22) as compared to the imports of US $1684.988 million during July-April (2020-21), showing growth of 7.43 percent, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). Meanwhile on a year-to-year basis, the import of mobile phones also witnessed an increase of 43.56 percent during the month of April 2022 as compared to the same month of last year. The import of mobile phones during April 2022 was recorded at $213.895 million against the exports of $148.992 million in April 2021. On a month-on-month basis, the imports of mobile phones rose by 16.31 percent during April 2022, as compared to the imports of US $183.894 million during March 2022, according to the data. It is pertinent to mention here that the co

The health experts and physicians have advised the masses to avoid eating unnecessary spicy food and meat during heatwaves as it could add to the deadly impact of sizzling high temperatures prevailing in various parts of the country. As per ex-spokesperson Dr. Waseem A. Khawajah of  Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) told that the average temperatures were going to reach 40-50 degree Celsius during day times that could badly affect the masses particularly the children and elderly. Dr. Khawajah said the increase in temperature required general public to take extra preventive measures and precautions to avoid contracting heat strokes. The ex-spokesman, an expert gastroenterologist, informed that the masses should prefer to take apple gourd, arum, gourd, bottle gourd, luffa, zucchini, radish and cucumber like vegetables. He said the people should consume more fresh fruits, milk, dairy products, fresh juices and water. He advised that the masses should reduce the intake of meat,