Ansar Bhatti
ISLAMABAD: A Special search and rescue mission will be flown today to search for missing climbers. Special forward looking infrared ( FLIR) will be used for the search mission.
High altitude climbers are also engaged for ground search as a result of any location spotted through FLIR mission. All efforts are geared up for search of National hero Ali Sadpara and his brave team including John Snori of Iceland and Pablo from Chile.
LAHORE : The Pakistan Cricket Board has decided to increase the prices of the PSL 6 tickets. Online booking for the tickets is expected to start tomorrow.
The board has made the coronavirus SOPs for the people coming to the stadium to watch the matches. They added that the SOPs have been forwarded to the Ministry of Health and the National Command and Operation Centre.
The officials said that the PCB will announce the SOPs once they are approved by the ministry and the NCOC.
The booking procedure for the tickets and ticket prices will be announced as soon as the approval is green-lighted.
PSL 2021 tickets will be sold online only: PCB
The PCB has signed an agreement with an e-ticketing platform for the sale of tickets of the PSL’s sixth edition which commences at the National Stadium in Karachi from February 20, said a statement issued by the authority this week.
The statement was issued after the NCOC had last week permitted the PCB to allow a limited number of spectators in the stadiums during PSL with strict COVID-19 SOPs, including social distancing.
“With a socially distant seating plan cricket fans can now be a part of the game again as both HBL PSL 6 venues Karachi and Lahore will have 20% of the total seating capacity of the stadiums available for the spectators,” the cricket board said in the statement.
As announced by the PCB last week, around 7,500 ticketed spectators will be allowed access inside the stadium per match day, while around 5,500 will be able to attend each match day at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
The sixth edition of the league will be played between February and March in Karachi and Lahore.
In the opening match on February 20, defending champions Karachi Kings will face 2019 winners Quetta Gladiators.
The matches will continue in Karachi till March 7 before the action shifts to Lahore for the second phase from March 10 when Peshawar Zalmi will face Karachi Kings at the Gaddafi Stadium.
ISLAMABAD : Minister for Federal Education Shafqat Mehmood has said the PTI government is working on a new policy to make student unions more effective as their ties with political parties have produced negative results for society.
Addressing the Vice-Chancellors Roundtable Conference at Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad on Wednesday, Mehmood said measures need to be taken to promote patience and tolerance in universities’ faculty.
The federal minister said universities are facing many issues, including hostels, discipline and narratives that need to be addressed.
He underlined the need for students’ characterisation, enabling them to listen and bear the opinion of others.
While commenting on the matter of politicisation of student union, he said the relationship between political parties and student unions have produced negative effects on the education sector.
He said the government is not against student unions, rather it is in the process of formulating new policy on students unions to make them more effective.
ISLAMABAD : Pakistan has recorded 57 more coronavirus-related deaths in past 24 hours, surging the overall death toll to 12,185.
According to the latest statistics of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), the COVID-19 has claimed 57 more lives and 1,502 fresh infections were reported.In the past 24 hours, as many as 1,732 patients have recovered from the virus in a day and 1,760 patients are still in critical condition.
The total count of active cases is 30,225 and the positivity rate stands at 4.01 per cent.
According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), with fresh inclusion of the infections in the country the national tally of cases now currently stands at 559,093.
A total of 37,452 tests were conducted across the country during this period. Overall 516,683 people have recovered from the deadly disease so far while 8,325,543 samples have been tested thus far.
DNA
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan strongly condemned Houthi militants’ drone attacks on Abha International Airport in Saudi Arabia, causing a civilian plane on the tarmac to catch fire. These attacks threaten peace and security of Saudi Arabia, as well as the region. We call for the immediate cessation of such attacks.
Pakistan reiterates its full support and solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia against any threats to its security and territorial integrity.
DNA
RAWALPINDI, FEB 10: General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) visited Logistics installations in Rawalpindi, today.
COAS was briefed regarding various facilities being developed and upgradation of existing infrastructure. COAS appreciated performance and commitment in provision of top class facilities and services. COAS appreciated indigenous development & maintenance program of diverse equipment and concept of one window operation for enhance operational efficiency .
Earlier on arrival, COAS was received by Lieutenant General Azhar Saleh Abbasi, Chief of Logistics Staff & Lieutenant General Aamir Abbasi, Quarter Master General.
ISLAMABAD, FEB 10 (DNA) – The Supreme Court of Pakistan has directed the Attorney General of Pakistan Khalid Javed to complete his arguments regarding the procedure of Senate elections by tomorrow (Thursday).
A five-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed hearing the presidential reference seeking the court’s advice over open ballot in the upcoming Senate election.
Top state lawyer while responding to a question of the court said that mostly people vote to the charisma of a leader but in principle they should vote to a party and its election manifesto.
“What is charismatic with the PTI,” the chief justice questioned. “Whether the people voted for a good personality and good dressing,” the top judge asked. “The vote usually given to a party and not an individual candidate,” Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan remarked.
“The people rejected Indra Gandhi when she violated the constitution,” the state lawyer further said. “People question parties about compliance of their election promises,” AG Khalid Javed further said.
“Publication of a party’s election manifesto is also a legal requirement,” Justice Ahsan said. Forwarding his contentions, the Attorney General said that a member voting against the party’s line could not be made accountable under the law, his or her falling from grace in public eyes is the real failure.
“Political parties, also allot their party tickets to bad fellows, but carrying bags stuffed with notes to offer is another thing,” AG argued.
“Do you think a member casting his vote against the party line is dishonest,” Justice Ahsan questioned. “It is not dishonesty but if someone votes against the party, he or she should cast it openly,” the AG replied. “A voter in Senate election doesn’t enjoy absolute freedom,” AG Khalid Javed said.
“You are giving references of Indian court verdicts,” Justice Umar Ata Bandial said. “No secret ballot clause like Article 226 is present in the Indian constitution,” Justice Bandial further said. “Indian constitution separately elaborate whether an election should be secret or not,” Attorney General replied.
Article 226 not says that all elections under the constitution should be conducted by the secret ballot vote, he further said. “Do you think the founders of the constitution were unaware of the Senate election,” chief justice questioned. “The buying and selling of votes, which exists presently, was non-existent in those days.
In 1973, they were unaware of the bags stuffed with money will change hands,” the attorney general said. “The money won’t have this role in politics if democracy remained continue,” Justice Ahsan remarked.
The court will hear the contentions of Mian Raza Rabbani after conclusion of the arguments of the attorney general, the chief justice said before adjournment of the hearing till tomorrow. The presidential reference was submitted by Attorney General of Pakistan Khalid Javed Khan after approved by President Arif Alvi under Article 186 of the Constitution. = DNA
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ABU DHABI – Etihad Airways has claimed to be the first airline in the world to have vaccinated all operating pilots and cabin crew against Covid-19.
Tony Douglas, group chief executive officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “We proactively made the vaccine available to all our employees to not only help combat the effects of Covid-19 but to make travellers feel confident and reassured the next time they fly with us.
“We are the only airline in the world to make Covid-19 testing mandatory for every passenger and crew member before every flight and now, we are the first airline in the world with 100 per cent vaccinated crew on board.”
He added: “I chose very early on to be vaccinated to demonstrate my own support of the national vaccination programme and to encourage everyone at Etihad who was eligible for the vaccine, to receive it as soon as possible.
“I would like to thank the entire Etihad family for everything they have done to help us reach this milestone – I am truly humbled.”
In 2020, Etihad took significant steps towards supporting employees to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.
In collaboration with the health authorities, the airline facilitated access for its frontline staff to the United Arab Emirates’ emergency use programme.
Etihad was one of the first employers in the capital to secure places for their frontline staff – including pilots and cabin crew – in the vaccination programme.
Etihad also ensured the Etihad Airways Medical Centre became an accredited COVID-19 vaccination clinic.
Following the government target to vaccinate half of the UAE population by the end of March, Etihad is ahead of schedule with over 75 per cent of its entire workforce already having received at least one dose of the vaccine.
With even more activity still planned as part of the Protected Together initiative, this figure will continue to grow as more employees step forward and choose to vaccinate.
RAMALLAH, FEB 10 – Israel’s frantic and highly politicized reaction to the Pre-Trial Chamber’s ruling on International Criminal Court (ICC) jurisdiction in the State of Palestine was predictable.
However, it is highly regrettable that States Parties to the Rome Statute are encouraging Israel’s intransigence with political statements that have no place in the discussion on the Court’s independent proceedings, including Germany, Canada, Australia, Austria, Brazil, and others.
It is particularly dismaying to see States Parties, including members of the United Nations Security Council, taking positions that run counter to their obligations under the Rome Statute. Such politicized attacks on the pursuit of accountability also undermine their role in encouraging a path forward towards peace in the region.
Seeking justice for victims and accountability for international crimes must never be controversial. Justice is a requisite of peace. Denying Palestinian victims the right to pursue peace is an inexcusable act of cruelty. Thankfully, these political positions are inconsequential to the proceedings at the ICC.=DNA
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RAWALPINDI, FEB 10 (DNA) – RCCI organized virtual international Trade Forum UK Chapter via zoom meeting. The Online Program discussed the Trade & Investment opportunities in Pakistan and brief discussed about export opportunities after Brexit.
Chief Guest Joint Secretary Ministry of Commerce Aaisha Makhdum, Group Leader RCCI Sohail Altaf, President RCCI Nasir Mirza, Chairman Regional Trade Promotional Committee RCCI Khurshid barlas, President Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, UK Steve Allen, Trade Counselor London Shafiq Ahmed Shahzad, Attaché Trade & Investment London Muhammad Akhtar, Chairman UKPBC Javed Malik and hundreds of investors from Pakistan and UK attended this session.
Joint Secretary Ministry of Commerce Aaisha Makhdum said that Ministry of commerce give all possible support to investors for trade friendly. Group Leader RCCI Sohail Altaf said that Pakistan & UK enjoy historical cordial relations that boost our trade opportunities. President RCCI Nasir Mirza said that we are excellent economic relations with investments on both sides. Chairman Regional Trade Promotional Committee RCCI Khurshid barlas said that After the successful Virtual International Trade Forums for Africa, ECO & Gulf-Middle East Chapters.
Now, RCCI organized Virtual International Trade Forum ( UK Chapter). Reason for these forums is to connect & provide orientation for respective regions to our businesses, with the aim of increasing the exports and investment to Pakistan. President Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce ,UK Steve Allen added that there are huge opportunities for Pakistan’s export in agriculture, textile and food items to UK. In this context, there is a need of early formulation of Pakistan’s trade delegation to UK for getting new orders from UK. Moreover, Pakistani community in UK also plays a crucial role in Pak-UK Trade and at present, 80% of our trade with UK is conducted by Pakistani companies. Counselor Trade & Investment London , UK Shafiq Ahmed Shahzad said that UK was the third largest export destination of Pakistani goods. Consultant TDAP Kamal Sherayar brief on Post Brexit.=DNA
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