LAHORE, MAR 27 (DNA) – Pakistan would soon initiate an e-payment system as almost 97% work in that regard had been completed, announced Punjab Finance Minister Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha.Speaking at the ‘Doing Business Reforms Exhibition’, organised by the Punjab Planning Department in collaboration with the World Bank on Monday, she said, “All provinces are on board and we are very close to fulfilling this long overdue demand of our business community.”
US orders expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats
WASHINGTON, MAR 26 (DNA) – United States ordered the expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats and the shuttering of the Russian consulate in Seattle in response to Moscow’s suspected involvement in the poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal in England. The move may be contingent on how European capitals respond to the nerve agent attack, a source said.
Jacqueline Fernandez suffers eye injury during shooting of Race-3
NEW DELHI, MAR 25 (DNA) – Bollywood diva Jacqueline Fernandez reportedly suffered eye injury on the sets of her upcoming movie Race-3, but the stunner has started shooting again after receiving treatment. “Yes, it was a minor injury. Jacqueline is hurt above the eye while playing squash. She is better now and has resumed shooting,” producer Ramesh Taurani told news agency IANS.
Karachi set to witness high-octane PSL final today amid tight security
KARACHI, MAR 25 (DNA) – Amid extraordinary security arrangements, cricket-mad Karachi is all set to witness the final showdown of the third edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL) between defending champions Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United. The air of festivity and excitement is palpable in the city of lights as Karachiittes are going to savour big-time cricket at the National Stadium Karachi (NSK) after nine-years of cricketing drought.
Huge rallies led by students demand tighter US gun controls
WASHINGTON, MAR 25 (DNA) – Hundreds of thousands of Americans galvanized by last month’s Florida school massacre rallied in cities across the country on Saturday to demand tighter gun laws. Carrying signs with slogans such as “If they choose guns over our kids, vote them out,” protesters in Washington jammed Pennsylvania Avenue as students from the Parkland, Florida, high school where 17 people were shot to death called on lawmakers and President Donald Trump to confront the issue.
Govt agrees to stop cotton imports during crop picking
ISLAMABAD, MAR 25 (DNA) – The government has agreed to put a halt to cotton imports during crop harvest in an effort to ensure farmers get an attractive price and are encouraged to plant more in the next season as cotton production has dropped sharply over the past four years. Earlier, on the persistent demand from textile millers, the current government allowed duty-free import of cotton, but that hurt the interest of Pakistan’s growers and benefitted Indian farmers who have been exporting a significant quantity of cotton in times of need.
Padukone says India ‘long way’ from ending mental illness stigma
NEW DELHI, MAR 24 (DNA) – Bollywood superstar Deepika Padukone called on Friday for bolder efforts by Indians to end the stigma surrounding mental illness. “We have a long way to go,” said the actress, who went public about her struggle with depression in 2015 and won praise for her campaign to spark public discourse on mental health in a country that has traditionally considered such illnesses taboo.
Avian flu detected in seabirds in South Africa
JOHANNESBURG, MAR 24 (DNA) – South Africa has detected an outbreak of avian flu in seabirds, citing the highly pathogenic H5N8 strain that infected the country’s poultry industry last year. Last year’s outbreak resulted in poultry farmers culling millions of birds and prompted neighbouring countries including Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana to ban poultry imports from South Africa.
Iran’s ‘houses of strength’, between the ancient and the modern
TEHRAN, MAR 24 (DNA) – few streets and several centuries apart, Iran’s gyms come in distinctive breeds, ancient and hyper-modern, reflecting a society torn between outside influences and the continuing strength of religious ritual. The musical differences are among the most striking. In the shiny new Sport Plus gym in central Tehran, the soundtrack is all pounding DJ mixes and dirty basslines imported from Europe.
Cigarette production: CCP advises to lower criteria for tracking system’s introduction
ISLAMABAD, MAR 24 (DNA) – Amid painstakingly slow progress on the introduction of electronic monitoring system to curb over Rs50 billion annual tax evasions by cigarette manufacturers, the antitrust watchdog has advised the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to lower the qualification criteria for creating a level playing field.
