ISLAMABAD, AUG 21 (DNA) – The government has so far released Rs53.615 billion under its Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the fiscal year 2017-18 for various ongoing and new schemes against their total allocations of Rs.1001 billion. The released funds include Rs5083.980 million for federal ministries and Rs14420 million for special areas, according to data of Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform. Out of these allocations, Rs2600 million have been released for Communication Division (other than National Highway Authority) for which the government has earmarked Rs13660 million under PSDP 2017-18.
Comedy legend Jerry Lewis dies at 91
WASHINGTON, AUG 21 (DNA) – Veteran Hollywood comedian Jerry Lewis, who died Sunday aged 91, perfected a goofy brand of slapstick that endeared him to millions over the course of a career spanning six decades. One of the most popular American entertainers of the 1950s and 60s, Lewis made his name as the clown behind such quirky comedies as “The Nutty Professor” but also won acclaim as a writer, actor and philanthropist. The comedy legend, who at the peak of his popularity was among the world s biggest movie draws, died at his home in Las Vegas early Sunday morning.
Muslim national council to help ’embed Islam in a 21st-century British context’
LONDON, AUG 21 (DNA) – Britain’s Muslim clerics are going to set up their first national council in which the most senior imams are to issue progressive religious rulings in order to “embed Islam in a 21st-century British context.” Qari Asim, one of the prominent imams in Britain, said the authority will promote an interpretation of Islam in line with British values. Asim, who is the chief imam of Makkah mosque in Leeds, said British Muslims needed an authoritative and credible voice that could speak out on the issues as diverse as terrorism, organ donation and Islamophobia.
Week-long Turkish Food Festival begins at Islamabad Serena Hotel
ISLAMABAD, AUG 19 (DNA) – The Islamabad Serena Hotel, in collaboration with the Embassy of The republic of Turkey, inaugurated a week-long Culinary Art Turkish Food Festival at the Grand Zamana Restaurant.The experts of Turkish cuisine were transported from the one and only Ottoman Imperial Palace and Hotel on the Bosphorus, Çırağan Palace Kempinski located in timeless Istanbul, Turkey. The Islamabad Serena hotel was delighted to welcome sous-chef, Serdar Öngel, chef de partie, Davut Kutlugün and pastry chef and chocolatier, Servet Kanat, who are the experienced chefs exclusively came for this festival from the magnificent Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul.
Qatar and Pakistan exploring new maritime cooperation
KARACHI, AUG 19 (DNA) – After launching weekly direct shipping service between Hamad Port and Karachi Port, Qatar and Pakistan are exploring new avenues of maritime cooperation. Vice-Admiral (Retd) Azhar Shamim Anwar, Managing Director of Bahria Foundation Pakistan, has said that Qatar and Pakistan are exploring maritime cooperation and in future ‘fully operational Gwadar Port will take them to new heights’.“Bahria Foundation also runs a transshipment hub in Karachi and through our transshipment services, we can facilitate Qatar in its trade arrangements with China,” Anwar said while talking to The Peninsula during his visit to Qatar last week.
Saba’s latest bridal shoot for Indian magazine leaves fans dumbfounded
LAHORE, AUG 19 (DNA) – The latest bridal shoot of Pakistani stunning actress Saba Qamar for magazine ‘Vogue India’ has left her fans across the globe dumbfounded. Donning Zainab Chottani’s outfits, the Hindi Medium star looked elegant while her co-model Shehzad Noor also belongs to Pakistan. However, the shoot was covered by the famous fashion photographer Shahbaz Shazi. The photoshoot of Baaghi actress has stirred the social media with appreciation and applauses.
London acid attack: Assault victim Jameel Mukhtar says he’s ruined for life
LONDON, AUG 19 (DNA) – “I can’t be around anybody, I’m embarrassed to even talk to people,” says Jameel Mukhtar. “I don’t go outside anymore, I can’t even look at myself in the mirror.” It is almost two months since he was doused with acid through a car window as he waited at traffic lights with his cousin, Resham Khan, after celebrating her 21st birthday. Muktar remembers the liquid feeling cold, and then starting to burn, melting through his skin, clothes and shoes. Unable to see, he crashed the car and dragged Khan out of the passenger seat, stripping off her burning clothes and banging on the doors of nearby homes for water to wash off the burning liquid.
Sunny Leone gets a jaw-dropping welcome in Kochi
KOCHI, AUG 18 (DNA) – Hundreds of die-hard fans gathered at MG Road, virtually shutting it down, to have a sight of Bollywood actress Sunny Leone as she arrived in Kerala’s Kochi for inauguration of a mobile phone showroom. According to details, police had to resort to baton-charge to control the fans while the Canadian-born star looked so overwhelmed by the warm welcome and responded to the love by waving her hand. The social media have also started comparing the crowd with the events organised by political personalities including United States former and new presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump apiece.
Seizure of bank accounts by FBR perturbs investors at PSX
KARACHI, AUG 18 (DNA) – Investors at Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) have been perturbed and disturbed on seizure of bank accounts and withdrawal of cash from their accounts, hurting the investment trend at the local bourse. Pakistan Stock Exchange Brokers Association wrote a letter to Federal Board of Revenue and Securities Exchange Commission on the field officers of Inland Revenue Department for recovery of demand against the brokerage houses are seizing bank accounts of the brokers, which under your instructions have been earmarked/reserved for funds of “clients only”. Such an action by officers of FBR besides being unlawful also puts the whole clearing cycle of the Exchange in danger.
Taking aim at China, India tightens power grid, telecoms rules
NEW DELHI, AUG 18 (DNA) – India is tightening the rules for businesses entering its power transmission sector and making stringent checks on both power and telecoms equipment for malware – moves that government and industry officials say aim to check China’s advance into sensitive sectors. Chinese firms such as Harbin Electric (1133.HK), Dongfang Electronics (000682.SZ), Shanghai Electric (601727.SS) and Sifang Automation either supply equipment or manage power distribution networks in 18 cities in India.
