LAHORE, Nov 22 (DNA): Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar has said
that the government is not afraid of opposition rallies and is asking
them to stay away from rallies due to the risk of Corona spike.

The opposition wants to halt the transparent accountability process in
the country but it will never happen. The main challenge for the country
right now is inflation, eradication of corruption and good governance,
not the opposition or its rallies. The country needs solidarity but the
opposition is trying to create chaos and Pakistan cannot afford such a
situation.

There is no option but to follow SOPs to avoid Corona spike.He was
talking to delegations from different districts of PTI at the Governor’s
House. Governor Punjab Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar said that even today the
Pakistan army and the government are on the same page and all
institutions are working together for the development and prosperity of
the country. He said that no one else could hold such a large number of
rallies like PTI did under the leadership of Imran Khan.

The government is not intimidated by opposition’s rallies. The
government is established and will remain so. Governor Punjab Chaudhry
Mohammad Sarwar said that due to the rapid spread of Corona, we are
asking the opposition to give up the politics of rallies but if they
think that they will overthrow the government through rallies then this
is their dream that will never be fulfilled.

In view of the Corona Pandemic, it is in the interest of the nation that
the opposition should refrain from engaging in protest politics.

He said that due to the successful economic policies of the government,
Pakistan is moving in the right direction and the future of Pakistan is
in safe hands. The government is taking all possible steps to address
issues including inflation and I am sure that the government under the
leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan will rid the country of
inflation as well as strengthen the country economically.

Earlier, the Governor of Punjab, while expressing condolences over the
demise of the mother of PML-N leaders Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif,
prayed that Allah Almighty grant her a high position in Heaven and
bestow patience on her family.

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 22 (DNA): Prime Minister Imran Khan has reiterated not to
take measures like a lockdown that will start hurting national economy
which at the moment is showing signs of robust recovery.

In a series of tweets on Sunday, he said second COVID-19 spike in
Pakistan is of concern as number of patients on ventilators has
increased during the last 15 days.

The utilization of ventilator facility has increased 200 percent in
Peshawar and Multan, in Karachi 148 percent, in Lahore 114 percent and
Islamabad 65 percent.

The Prime Minister said across the world, there is a second spike and
complete lockdown in most countries.

He said PDM is deliberately holding public meetings endangering lives
and livelihoods of people because if cases continue to rise at the rate,
we will be compelled to go into complete lockdown and PDM will be
responsible for consequences.

The Prime Minister said opposition is callously destroying peoples’
lives and livelihoods in their desperation to get an NRO.

He made it clear that they can hold millions of jalsas but will not get
any NRO. DNA

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KARACHI, Nov 22 (DNA): Amid rising Covid-19 cases, Pakistan
International Airlines (PIA) has introduced “flexible timings” for its
employees to mark their attendance with biometric machines.

According to a notification issued by the national flag carrier’s chief
human resources officer, the PIA management introduced flexible timings
to prevent the employees from crowding around biometric machines.

These timings will be effective from Monday (Nov 23). If any employee
marks his/her attendance at 8am in the morning, he/she can leave at
4:30, the notification said, adding if one marks his/her attendance at
8:30am, he/she can sign out at 5pm.

The minimum working hours that the airline’s staffers are required to
observe are eight hours and 30 minutes. DNA

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ISLAMABAD, NOV 23 (DNA) – Allama Iqbal Open University has finalized arrangements for online examinations of spring 2020 semester for the students settled in Middle East including KSA, Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain & Oman. As per schedule, these examinations commence today i.e. 23 November.

The central focus of the Vice Chancellor, AUOU, Prof DR Zia Ul Qayyum is to shift basic university operations, academic as well as administrative, from manual to digitally automated system which has finally enabled the university to conduct online examinations for the overseas Pakistanis within the backdrop of COVID -19 pandemic.

Roll number slips have been dispatched to the students and the same are also uploaded on the university website(www.aiou.edu.pk) or can be obtained by sending an email to [email protected].

For further information, the students may contact Directorate of Overseas, Education Programs & E Learning, Room No. LG-08, ICT Building, AIOU, Islamabad. They may also contact on the following numbers in case of any further query.=DNA

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 22 (DNA): Federal Ministers have criticized opposition’s
Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) for insisting on holding rally in
Peshawar despite government’s ban due to surging coronavirus cases in
the country.

Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has said that
opposition wants to slaughter the entire cow for its 2kg meat.

In a tweet, the federal minister used the example of a cow to explain
the situation. “The Opposition wants to sacrifice the entire cow for its
2kg meat,” he said, “Fools, if the disease continues to spread and
people’s lives are on stake, then for what [purpose] are you doing
politics for?”

He said that politics and power were connected with people’s lives and
well-being. “Change your strategy; if you really want to hold jalsas
then hold virtual ones,” he said in the tweet.

Federal Minister for Planning and Development, while sharing the recent
stats about rising coronavirus in the country, said that these numbers
are being shared to send a message to political leaders that the novel
virus is threating lives.

Asad Umar, in a tweet, said that coronavirus patients on ventilators in
last 15 days rose by 200% in Peshawar, Multan 200%, Karachi 148%, Lahore
114%, and Islamabad 65%. He also revealed that Multan and Islamabad’s
ventilators capacity utilization has reached 70 percent.

Federal Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar said that
‘spread coronavirus movement’ of opposition is proof of their
selfishness. He asked that what opposition wants to achieve by spreading
the novel coronavirus in the country.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Political Communication Shahbaz
Gill has said that PDM parties are endangering lives of people for their
personal interests and warned that second wave of coronavirus can be
more deadly.

Earlier, when government imposed smart lockdown in the country,
opposition was in favor of complete lockdown but now because of their
hatred for Imran Khan, they are about to cross a red line, he said.

It is pertinent to mention here that Head of Pakistan Democratic
Movement (PDM) has said that the biggest virus
facing Pakistan is the government itself. He also said that PDM’s
Peshawar rally will go ahead as planned under all circumstances.

Addressing a press conference in Peshawar on Saturday, the PDM head said
that despite the illegitimate government’s efforts, PDM will hold its
rally in Peshawar. He said that Sunday’s historic rally will leave the
PTI government bamboozled.

This statement comes at a time when the country is facing a serious
spike in coronavirus cases with the number of deaths also on the rise.

Addressing these concerns, said that the government is
only touting the dangers of coronavirus since it sees no other way of
stopping PDM rallies. This illegitimate government itself is the biggest
virus, ridding the nation of its rule will be the biggest reprieve, he
said. DNA

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Lahore : Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif’s mother Shamim Akhtar has passed away in London, the party confirmed on Sunday.

The development was confirmed by senior PML-N leader Ataullah Tarar, who announced the tragic news on Twitter. Begum Shamim Akhtar was 90 years old.

“Mian Nawaz Sharif and Mian Shahbaz Sharif’s respected mother has passed away,” he tweeted.

Begum Shamim Akhtar had been ill for quite some time and was being treated in London, said PML-N sources. She passed away this morning, according to party sources, at the Avenfield Apartments where she was staying with Nawaz Sharif.

According to party sources, Begum Shamim Akhtar had been ill since the past week and her condition had been fragile due to her old age.

Speaking to Geo News, Ataullah Tarar said that he spoke to Suleman Shahbaz over the phone who confirmed his grandmothers death and said that arrangements are being made to bring the body to Pakistan for burial.

He said that PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shahbaz had been informed about Begum Shamim Akhtar’s death. Tarar said that a request will be submitted to the court to allow Shahbaz and Hamza Shahbaz to be released on payroll so they can attend the funeral.

As soon as news broke of Begum Shamim Akhtar’s demise, condolences from all quarters started pouring in. PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and former president Asif Zardari expressed their grief over her death.

KARACHI : Pakistan Navy Ship (PNS) Zulfiqar visited Aqaba port of Jordan, said PN spokesperson on Sunday.

According to the spokesman of the Pakistan Navy, PNS Zulfiqar was warmly welcomed by the hosts at the Aqaba port and the Commanding Officer met the host officials and discussed issues of mutual interest.Commander Royal Force of Jordan inspected PNS Zulfiqar.

The Jordanian authorities were also apprised of the Indian atrocities in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and the plight of Kashmiri people.

The ships of the two countries also took part in a joint exercise.

Earlier in the month of July,

Yarmook, a state-of-the-art 2300-tonne Corvette Pakistan Naval Ship (PNS), was inducted into the country’s naval fleet.

The commissioning ceremony of the modern naval ship was held a Pakistan Navy Dockyard in Keemari Karachi.

Speaking at the occasion, the Naval chief had said that the introduction of this vessel into the naval fleet would significantly enhance Pakistan Navy’s capability to safeguard its maritime borders.

Shaping the Future of Journalism by Strengthening Accountability and Content Diversity

Islamabad– Pakistan’s most prestigious and sought-after journalism  Recognition, the AGAHI Awards, recognizes 43 journalists for media excellence and ethics. The AGAHI Awards in its Eighth year received thousands of submissions in more than 40 categories from across

the country. A jury of national and international experts, development specialists, academicians,  and  media  professionals,  evaluated  the  submissions  made  by journalists from print, television, radio, and the online media.

The  AGAHI  Awards  are  the  annual  event  in  Pakistan  to  benchmark  journalism excellence   in   Pakistan,   recognizing   courage   and   commitment   showcasing outstanding contributions of journalists from across the country. Over the years, the  winners  have  produced  work,  often  in  the  face  of  political  and  economic pressures  sustaining  public  trust  in  the  media  impacting  the  lives  of  people  all over the country.

The  AGAHI  Awards  aim  to  encourage  fact-based,  data-driven  news  reporting and investigative journalism in Pakistan. The AGAHI Awards celebrate content centric to human interest and impact driven journalism in the country.

Leading   opinion-makers,   field   reporters,   senior   journalists,   policymakers, ambassadors,    diplomats,    public    policy    experts,    academicians,    leading professionals  from  the  media  industry  and  representatives  from  think  tanks attended the award ceremony.

Puruesh Chaudhary, President AGAHI and the co-founder of the AGAHI Awards in her keynote address said, “the AGAHI Awards is a commitment to promote ethical   journalistic   practices   for   safeguarding   public   interest.   The   Awards encourage  journalists  to  use  the  AGAHI  Awards  evaluation  criteria,  to  gauge their  content  to  be  unbiased,  balanced,  and  accountable.  This  year  we  have seen the dramatic rise on the use of technology in education, health, information communications;  however,  we  need  to  equally  reflect  on  the  importance  of human  expression  and  media  freedom,  both  fundamentally  critical  to  our collective evolution.

Amir Jahangir, Chief Executive Officer, Mishal Pakistan and co-founder, AGAHI Awards,  shared  his  vision  for  creating  the  awards  and  said  “the  media  in Pakistan is transitioning from passive consumption to an interactive model, this transition  is  not  only  confronting  media  sustainability  but  also  creativity  and skillset challenges as well. This change is also exposing media to be exploitedby both the state and non-state actors for information laundering. We must collectively ensure the journalists and content creators have freedom and independence to work in an environment that supports fairness, truth and accountability in Pakistan.”

Speaking  on  the  occasion,  Moonis  Abdullah  Alvi,  Chief  Executive  Officer,  K-Electric,  said,  “Journalists  are information  guardians.  It  is  because  of  their  efforts  that  people  can  learn  about  the  world  around  them.  I remember reading news stories as a young executive and imagining the events unfolding in my own mind as I read on. That is the power of journalism. To inform, educate and empower the mind. It is an honor for KE to be part of the Agahi Awards. We look forward to supporting and recognizing the efforts of Pakistan’s journalistic community even more in the future.”