LAHORE : The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has approached Saudi authorities requesting permission to operate 28 more flights to Saudi Arabia in view of the increasing number of passengers intending to travel to the kingdom.

According to a spokesperson for the national flag carrier, the airline expects to get a nod of approval in a day or two. After possible approval, the PIA will increase its flight to the kingdom, he said.

He said the PIA administration is in constant touch with Saudi authorities.

The national flag carrier had cut back on its Pak-Saudi flights with operating just 23 flights to the kingdom in a week because of travel restrictions brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

It is noteworthy that Saudi Arabia has decided to lift travel restriction in the kingdom from January 1 2021. The kingdom’s interior ministry announced that airports, ports, and border routes will be made operational from January 01.

Saudi citizens would be able to freely move in and out of the kingdom while citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council states, as well as expatriates and their dependents on valid visas, will be allowed to enter the Kingdom effective from Sept. 15.

Islamabad

18 September 2020

A senior Indian diplomat was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today to register Pakistan’s strong protest over ceasefire violations by the Indian occupation forces along the Line of Control (LoC) on 17th September 2020, resulting in serious injuries to three innocent civilians.

Due to indiscriminate and unprovoked firing by the Indian occupation forces in Hotspring and Jandrot Sectors of the LoC, 15 year old Irum Riaz s/o Muhammad Riaz; 26 year old Nusrat Kausar w/o Abdul Rauf; and 16 year old Mukheel s/o Muhammad Hussain, residents of Andrala Nar Village, sustained serious injuries.

The Indian occupation forces along the LoC and the Working Boundary (WB) have been continuously targeting civilian populated areas with artillery fire, heavy-caliber mortars and automatic weapons. This year, India has committed 2280 ceasefire violations to date, resulting in 18 shahadats and serious injuries to 183 innocent civilians.

Condemning the deplorable targeting of innocent civilians by the Indian occupation forces, it was underscored that such senseless acts are in clear violation of the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding, and are also against all established humanitarian norms and professional military conduct. These egregious violations of international law reflect consistent Indian attempts to escalate the situation along the LoC and are a threat to regional peace and security. It was added that by raising tensions along the LoC and the WB, India cannot divert attention from the grave human rights situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK).

Indian side was called upon to respect the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding, investigate this and other such incidents of deliberate ceasefire violations and maintain peace along the LoC and the WB. The Indian side was also urged to allow the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions.

LAHORE : The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to present former director-general Punjab Excise and Taxation general, Muhammad Akram Gondal before an accountability court today (Friday).

Muhammad Akram Ashraf Gondal was taken into custody on Thursday in liquor licence case.

According to NAB sources, the anti-graft body apprehended Akram Ashraf Gondal on the charges of issuing a liquor license to a private hotel illegally.

The sources said the NAB will soon release details about the detention and charges against Akram Ashraf Gondal soon. It is pertinent to mention here that the former director-general had appeared before the NAB several times but he failed to prove his innocence in the liquor licence case.
Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar and Principal Secretary have appeared in the case before NAB earlier.

Earlier on August 12, two government officials had shown their consent to become approver against Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Usman Buzdar in liquor licence case.

Former director general Excise and another person, whose name had been kept secret had filed a plea to National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to become approver against CM Usman Buzdar, sources had said.

The approvers in their initial statement had stated that they were forced to issue liquor licence to a private hotel from the chief minister house Punjab.

ISLAMABAD, Sep 18:Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MNA Kanwal Shauzab said that the opposition parties have no public agenda and All Parties Conference (APC) was being held to seek NRO-like deal but the government would not bow to the blackmailing tactics of opposition parties.

Talking to a private news channel, she claimed that the purpose of opposition parties to convene APC was only to put pressure on the government to get National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), adding, opposition just making APC a fun for safeguarding their personal interests.

She said Imran Khan’s government is not going to give any relaxation on corruption and actions against corrupt elements will be remain continue.

Prime Minister Imran Khan is an honest and hardworking leader and he will continue strict accountability, she said, adding, PM categorically said that the government will not bow down before blackmailing tactics.

She criticized that the Pakistan Peoples Party’s Sindh government had turned the mega city of Karachi into ruins, and the constituencies of the opposition parliamentarians are being especially targeted, adding Asif Ali Zardari should only focused it and work for the people in his own constituency.

DNA
A farewell dinner in the honour of H.E Mr Yao Jing, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan was hosted by General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), today.During the interaction matters of mutual interest, regional security and enhanced bilateral cooperation came under discussion. COAS thanked Ambassador for his services and appreciated his contributions for fostering strong ties between the two countries and support towards defence/ security cooperation, handling of COVID Pandemic and stance on Kashmir.Ambassador appreciated and acknowledged Pakistan’s positive role in the region and pledged to play his role for further improvement in diplomatic cooperation between both countries.