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Pakistan Considers Importing Cheaper Oil and Gas From Iran to Ease Energy Costs
OGDCL Begins Oil Production From Newly Discovered Bobi Deep-1 Well in Sindh
Maize Prices Drop Nearly 20% Across Punjab as Demand Weakens and New Crop Boosts Supply
Rare June Snowfall at Babusar Top Attracts Thousands of Tourists
Chinese Exchange Praises SECP Reforms, Signals Stronger Investment Interest in Pakistan

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Pakistan Considers Importing Cheaper Oil and Gas From Iran to Ease Energy Costs

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OGDCL Begins Oil Production From Newly Discovered Bobi Deep-1 Well in Sindh

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Maize Prices Drop Nearly 20% Across Punjab as Demand Weakens and New Crop Boosts Supply

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Chinese Exchange Praises SECP Reforms, Signals Stronger Investment Interest in Pakistan

Imran Khan Serves Rs 10bn Defamation Notice to Health Minister Over Spreading Misleading Information

Image: Twitter

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf Chairman Imran Khan has sent a defamation notice to health minister Abdul Qadir Patel for his controversial presser in which he said that traces of cocaine and alcohol were found in the ex Prime Minister’s urine sample.

Khan’s lawyer Abuzar Salman Khan Niazi sent the notice under the Defamation Ordinance, 2002 over “dissemination and circulation of wrongful, baseless, false, misleading, erroneous, malicious and defamatory information” against the PTI Chairman in his press conference on May 26. In his presser, Patel said that the medical reports of Imran Khan showed traces of cocaine and alcohol in his urine tests. He further said that Khan’s “mental health” is also “questionable.” The notice raised the question that “How alcohol and cocaine consumption can be traced through a urine test?”

“The report emphasises a lot on mental state of our client [Imran Khan]; however, no details of mental state examination have been provided,” it said. According to the notice, the minister made those remarks “knowingly, consciously, willingly, deliberately and maliciously which is highly irrational and negates the principles of ethics and morals”.

Furthermore, it said that those remarks are “also in violation of the standards and ethics which members of [the] Federal Cabinet must possess and display”. It stated, Mr. Patel was “responsible and liable for the defamatory circulation and dissemination” causing “a loss” to the PTI chief’s “goodwill, injury to his reputation and adversely affected his honour. Likewise, you have also caused emotional trauma, mental agony, anguish and distress to our client.”

Imran Khan has asked Abdul Qadir Patel to admit his mistake, retract his comments and tender an unconditional apology over the misleading statements. It also demanded “Rs 10 billion for defaming…and levelling false allegations” and that money would be “donated to Shaukat Khanam Memorial Cancer Hospital.”

Imran Khan Does Not Qualify for Dialogues, Says Shehbaz Sharif

Image: Twitter

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has responded to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan’s invitation for talks by saying that arsonists and anarchists who damaged the symbols of our state do not qualify for any dialogues.

The Prime Minister shared his opinion via a tweet in which he emphasized on the importance of dialogues in politics and said that talks are deeply embedded in the political process and they help the democracy evolve and mature.

Sharif said that in politics it happens that the leaders sit with each other and then they reach a consensus.

Sharif further said, “However, there is a major difference here, the anarchists & arsonists who wear the garb of politicians and attack the symbols of the State do not qualify for a dialogue.They should rather be held to account for their militant actions. This is the prevalent practice even in developed democracies.”

No Talks With PTI Unless Imran Khan Owns and Apologizes for May 9 Damages Says Ishaq Dar

Image: Business Recorder

The Finance Minister Ishaq Dar while talking to a private TV channel said that no talks are possible with the PTI leader unless he owns up to the May 9 incidents and apologizes for them.

The Finance Minister further said that the Tehreek e Insaaf chairman should accept his mistakes and promise not to repeat them.

Recently, Imran Khan said in a video message that he is ready to talk to the decision makers due to the worsening situation in Pakistan.

Khadija Shah Apologizes for Attacking Jinnah House

Image: FILE

Renowned fashion designer and a political activist Khadija Shah was a prime suspect in the May 9th attack at the Jinnah House.

Khadija has been an active member of PTI and was taken into custody for her involvement in the controversial events that took place on May 9th. Earlier Khadija has also tweeted against the top military officials.

However, recently Khadija appeared in a video clip in which she has apologized for her involvement in the attack and the tweet against military’s high command.

It is not yet known whether the video is new or old.

It has been reported that Khadija has been unwell and is suffering from stomach issues for the last two days. She voluntarily surrendered herself at Lahore’s Iqbal Town police station on May 23rd and has been in a judicial custody by an anti-terrorism court.

Khadija belongs to an influential family. Her father is the ex interim finance minister, Salman Shan, her grandfather is General (retd) Asif Nawaz Janjua.

She owns the clothing brands “Elan,” and “Zaha.”

Prime Minister Youth Program to Reinstate Laptop Scheme and Promote Youth Engagement

The Prime Minister Youth Program is set to reintroduce the laptop scheme this year, as announced by Shaza Fatima Khawaja, the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Youth Affairs. During a recent press conference, the SAPM revealed the government’s plan to provide 100,000 laptops to the youth.

Expressing regret over the scheme’s discontinuation by the previous government, the SAPM highlighted the significance of laptops in facilitating education and remote work, especially during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic. The laptops previously distributed under the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government played a vital role in ensuring continuity in education and work.

In addition to the laptop scheme, the government has launched the National Innovation Award to promote a culture of startups among the youth. This award aims to recognize and encourage innovative ideas and initiatives.

The SAPM also emphasized the government’s commitment to promoting healthy activities among the youth. Sports activities have seen substantial participation, with approximately 54,000 children taking part over the past year. Hockey trials were conducted in twenty-five regions, while volleyball trials were held in twenty-eight regions.

Furthermore, the SAPM announced the commencement of nationwide registration for football trials, offering a platform for talented individuals from all across Pakistan to showcase their skills in the sport.

These initiatives collectively reflect the government’s focus on empowering and engaging the youth. By providing educational opportunities, encouraging innovation, and promoting a healthy and active lifestyle, the government aims to create a promising future for the youth of Pakistan.

Pakistan Prepares to Host Asian Rugby Championship Division 1 with Hopes of World Cup Qualification

Pakistan Prepares to Host Asian Rugby Championship Division 1 with Hopes of World Cup Qualification

Pakistan is eagerly gearing up to host the prestigious Asian Rugby Championship Division 1 in July, presenting a golden opportunity for the national rugby team, known as the Men in Green, to secure a coveted spot in the Asian Rugby Championship and move one step closer to their dream of qualifying for the World Cup.

Under the seasoned guidance of experienced coach Gert Mulder from South Africa, the Pakistani rugby team is primed to deliver a strong performance in the upcoming tournament. Mulder’s coaching prowess has been instrumental in the team’s past successes, including leading them to victory in Division 2 and triumphing over formidable opponents like Thailand.

The tournament will feature two pivotal matches for Pakistan against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), scheduled to take place on the 4th and 8th of July in Lahore. These matches hold immense significance as the team that accumulates the most points in these encounters will secure a coveted berth in the Asian Rugby Championship, propelling them closer to their ultimate dream of participating in the prestigious World Cup.

With the advantage of playing on their home turf, the Pakistani team is hopeful of leveraging the unwavering support of their passionate fans and exhibiting their exceptional skills on the rugby field. The tournament serves as a remarkable platform for Pakistan to establish its presence in the regional rugby landscape and elevate the profile of the sport within the country.

The Asian Rugby Championship Division 1 provides an excellent opportunity for Pakistan to showcase its talent, dedication, and determination on a grand stage. The team aims to make a resounding impact, not only in terms of performance but also in promoting rugby as a flourishing sport in the nation. As they prepare to lock horns with the UAE, the Men in Green are focused and driven, ready to seize this momentous occasion and etch their names in the annals of rugby history.

Siblings Separated During Partition Reunite in Pakistan After 75 Years

A recent reunion of a brother and his sister from India and Pakistan have made people happy on both sides of the border.

Mahinder Kaur, an 81 year old lady, came to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur, Pakistan, from India while her brother Aziz Azad, who is now 78 years old, came from Azad Kashmir. Both the siblings travelled to Kartarpur along with their families on Monday.

Kartarpur is a 4 km-long Corridor in Pakistan which offers visa-free access to Indian Sikh pilgrims to pay a visit to the sacred Darbar Sahib.

Both the siblings belong to the Bhajan Singh family who was residing in the Indian Punjab at the time of partition. After the partition, Aziz Azad moved to the Kashmir in Pakistan while his other family members chose to stay in the Indian Punjab.

According to Hindustan Times, Aziz made several attempts to meet his family, however, they were not successful. Later, with the help of a social media post, both the brother and sister came to know that they are estranged siblings.

Up on meeting his brother in Kartarpur, Mahinder hugged him and kissed his hands. The siblings also visited the Darbar together and shared a meal there.

Mahinder thanked the Government of Pakistan and India for creating the Kartarpur corridor.

Muslim Hands Identifies Emerging Football Talents in Mirpur Trials, Prepares for Norway Cup

Muslim Hands Identifies Emerging Football Talents in Mirpur Trials, Prepares for Norway Cup

Preparation of Muslim Hands team for Norway Cup, Trials were held at Boys Degree College in Mirpur for selection in the team of emerging talents of Mirpur and surroundings.

Muhammad Rasheed, the coach of the Muslim Hands street child football team conducted the trials of the players.

Coach Muhammad Rashid praised the football talent in Kashmir during the Mirpur Trials and said that there is a lot of sports talent in Kashmir that needs to be discovered.

So that the talent of Kashmir can be raised and introduced to foreign countries.

“He said that the role of Muslim hands is very important in football”.

Many youths have played at the national and international level from the Mirpur-based football academy of Muslim Hands. At present, they are representing various departments.

He further said that even now a large number of street children are playing in the Mirpur-based academy of Muslim Hands.

Muslim Hands is playing a very important role in bringing out street child talent from Mirpur through this academy.

A large number of rushes were seen during the trials in Mirpur, which was full of excitement.

Sindh Government Set to Launch E-Taxi Service in Karachi, Including Pink Taxis for Female Passengers

Sindh Transport Minister, Sharjeel Memon, announced on Thursday that the Sindh Government is introducing an e-taxi service for passengers in Karachi, with a special focus on providing safe transportation for women. This innovative initiative will feature pink-colored taxis specifically designated for female passengers, aiming to offer convenience and reliability.

The first phase of the project will witness the launch of over 200 electric taxis, with 50 of them being pink e-taxis dedicated to serving women in Karachi. The introduction of these pink e-taxis seeks to address the need for a modern, affordable, and environment-friendly transportation option for female commuters in the metropolis. Minister Memon expressed his intention to extend this service to other major cities across the province in the future.

In addition to the e-taxi service, the Sindh Government has decided to enhance its existing public bus service, known as the Peoples Bus Service. This enhancement involves the addition of 500 new buses valued at Rs. 25 billion. The government aims to provide affordable travel facilities to the public through the electric taxi service, generating employment opportunities for unemployed youth and contributing to significant savings in oil expenses through the use of eco-friendly taxis.

The introduction of the Sindh E-Taxi service marks a significant step towards sustainable and inclusive transportation solutions in Karachi. By prioritizing the safety and convenience of female passengers, the government aims to promote gender equality and address the unique transportation needs of women in the city. The implementation of electric taxis not only contributes to environmental sustainability but also presents an opportunity for job creation and economic growth.

As the e-taxi service rolls out, the Sindh Government’s commitment to improving public transportation and providing affordable travel options is evident. The launch of pink taxis for female passengers showcases a progressive approach towards ensuring a safe and comfortable travel experience. The initiative holds great promise for transforming the transportation landscape in Karachi and serving as a model for other cities in the province.

Surprise Signings: Foreign Talents Set to Bolster Pakistan’s Football Team

Surprise Signings: Foreign Talents Set to Bolster Pakistan's Football Team

In an exciting development for the Pakistan’s football team, another foreign player, Rahis Nabi, is poised to join the squad ahead of the upcoming crucial football season. Rahis Nabi, a 24-year-old midfielder who has previously played for esteemed teams such as Burnley and West Brom, had also represented the Men in Green during the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers.

The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) took to Twitter to announce that the England-born midfielder is eager to represent the Shaheens. This news comes hot on the heels of reports that former Manchester United prodigy Otis Khan is on the verge of receiving international clearance to play for the Pakistan national team in forthcoming events.

Last week, Pakistan’s national football team received further good news when FIFA granted approval for a change in national eligibility for talented player Easah Suliman, who hails from England. Head coach Shehzad Anwar had previously confirmed that Easah Suliman, Otis Khan, and Hamza Zahid, a player for Al-Rams Club, would be available for Pakistan in June.

In an exciting lineup of tournaments, Pakistan is set to participate in a four-nation Cup in Mauritius commencing on June 8, just before the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship. During the FIFA international window in June, the Men in Green will compete against the host country Mauritius, as well as Kenya and Djibouti, in a 10-day tournament.

The PFF has also finalized a participation agreement with SAFF, confirming Pakistan’s involvement in the tournament scheduled from June 21 to July 4, where they will face India among other teams. This presents a significant opportunity for Pakistan to showcase their footballing prowess on the international stage.

As the team prepares for the upcoming challenges, the addition of foreign talents like Rahis Nabi, Otis Khan, and Easah Suliman brings a fresh boost of skill and experience to the Pakistan football team. Fans eagerly anticipate the performances of these players as they don the green jersey and contribute to the team’s success in the forthcoming season.

PTI Forward Bloc in The Making As Jahangir Tareen Becomes Active

Image: APP / File

Ever since a massive crackdown against the Pakistan Tehreek e Insaaf (PTI) leaders has started, sources claim that the former PTI leader Jahangir Tareen has also become active and he is busy making a Forward Bloc in the party.

Sources further claim that Tareen has been meeting PTI lawmakers from Southern Punjab who joined Imran Khan’s PTI on Tareen’s suggestion as Tareen has a huge influence on them.

If sources are to be believed, Tareen has also set up a political office in Lahore as he is planning his political come back.

Tareen was disqualified as the Secretary General PTI on December 17, 2017 when the Supreme Court of Pakistan declared him dishonest under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution and Section 99 of Representation of People Act (ROPA) on the basis of multiple charges levelled against him. Tareen is now expecting gbY his disqualification orders will soon be reverted.

Names of PTI Leaders Who Have Left The Party So Far

Image: Express Tribune

It all started when Imran Khan was arrested and violent riots broke out in different parts of the country on 9th of May. Then Khan was released and a crack down was started against those who harmed public and private properties of people.

Many PTI Leaders denounce the violent protests and parted away with the party on that ground.

Here is a list of those PTI Leaders who have left the party so far due to several reasons.

Punjab

  • Asad Umar – PTI Secretary General
  • Shireen Mazari – Senior Vice President
  • Fawad Chaudhry – Senior Vice President
  • Fayaz ul Hasan Chohan – Ex Provincial Minister
  • Abdul Razaq Khan Niazi – Ex MPA
  • Makhdoom Iftikharul Hasan Gilani – Ex MPA
  • Mian Jalil Ahmed Sharaqpuri – Ex MPA
  • Khawaja Qutab Fareed – Ex MNA
  • Aamer Mahmood Kiani – Founding member
  • Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain
  • Malik Amin Aslam – Ex federal Minister
  • Faizullah Kamoka – PTI West Punjab President
  • Dr Muhammad Amjad – Former PTI central deputy secretary general for Islamabad
  • Syed Saeedul Hassan- Ex Punjab MPA
  • Faizullah Kamuka – PTI West Punjab President
  • Saleem Akhtar Labar – Ex MPA

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

  • Dr Hisham Inamullah Malik – Ex provincial minister
  • Ajmal Wazir – Ex-KP government spokesperson
  • Usman Tarakai – MNA
  • Malik Jawad Hussain – MNA
  • Muhammad Iqbal Wazi – Ex-KP minister

Sindh

  • Bilal Ghaffar – MNA
  • Jay Prakash – MNA
  • Omar Omari – MNA
  • Mehmood Moulvi – PTI Sindh Vice President
  • Aftab Siddiqui – PTI Karachi President
  • Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah – MPA
  • Sanjay Gangwani – MPA
  • Dr Imran Shah – MPA

Balochistan

  • Mubeen Khilji – Former provincial minister Mubeen Khilji

8 Pakistanis Included In The List of 103 United Nations Peacekeepers Globally

Image: Reuters

The United Nations (UN) is going to honor eight Pakistanis among 103 peacekeepers from across the world on May 25 at the 75th anniversary of UN Peacekeeping.

The announcement was officially made on Tuesday. The list of Pakistani peacekeepers include six martyred who lost their lives during a helicopter crash in March 2022 while serving with the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). Their names are Major Faizan Ali, Havildar Muhammad Ismail, Naib Subedar Sami Ullah Khan, Lt Col Asif Ali Awan, Lance Havildar Muhammad Jamil Khan and Major Muhammad Saad Nomani.

With 4,200 Pakistani police and military personal serving for UN peacekeeping globally, Pakistan is ranked the fifth contributer for this cause. These peacekeepers are mostly deployed in theCentral African Republic, Cyprus, Mali, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan and Western Sahara.

Injured, Stranded Young Pakistani Climbers Requests Authorities for Airlift from Mount Everest

Image: Express Tribune

Asad Memon, a young Pakistani mountaineer from Sindh has reached out to Pakistani embassy in Nepal and requested them to make necessary arrangements for his airlift to Kathmandu.

Memon made Pakistan proud by summiting the highest peak in the world on Friday, however he dislocated his hand while coming back.

Memon told local newspathat he got injured betweCamp 4 and Camp 3 while descending nad suffered from a dislocated hand. He further added that he continued moving toward the base camp with one hand only and reached there in three days (normally, it take one to two days to reach base camp).

Asad Memon was also given first aid in the camp. He said, “With my hand dislocated, I can’t travel to Kathmandu by any other means and the only option was air service from the base camp which depends on weather conditions.”

Pakistanis, beware of Israeli hackers!

Pakistanis, beware of Israeli hackers!

The federal government has issued a warning to provincial governments and ministries regarding the activities of hackers from Israel within Pakistan. Recent reports indicate an increase in Israeli hackers involved in stealing personal information from individuals, primarily targeting them through various social media platforms.

To address these concerns, the federal government has circulated a notice to all provincial governments, ministries, and divisions, alerting them to these malicious activities. The reports also highlight the active involvement of Israeli companies in the theft of personal information, urging caution when sharing personal data with suspicious entities.

In an effort to mitigate the risks, the government’s circular includes cybersecurity guidelines aimed at helping individuals safeguard themselves against potential hackers. These guidelines advise against sharing personal email addresses with unknown individuals and discourage the use of official email accounts for personal communication.

Furthermore, the guidelines stress the importance of refraining from sharing personal information and documents with unauthorized websites, as well as avoiding clicking on unfamiliar links to prevent falling victim to hacking attempts. It is strongly recommended not to install unidentified or suspicious applications on devices and to exercise caution when using public Wi-Fi networks as a preventive measure.

Asad Memon Becomes the Eight Pakistani and the First One from Sindh to Summit Mount Everest

Image: Express Tribune

Asad Memon, a young Pakistani mountaineer, was part of a 15-member team that successfully climbed the highest peak in the world despite the bad weather. He was the only Pakistani in the team and hoisted Pakistani flag on the 8,849-metre-high peak.

He is the eighth Pakistani and first mountaineer from Sindh to summit Mount Everest. Memon has already climbed four of the seven highest mountains in the world.

Due to the bad weather, Memon suffered some injuries like knee injury, burns and a broken hand. Hopefully, he will recover soon and will create a new world record soon.

WhatsApp Allows Users to Edit Sent Messages Within 15 Minutes

image: CNBC

The most awaited WhatsApp feature has been rolled out finally. Now users will be able to edit their messages within 15 minutes of sending a message.

“For the moments when you make a mistake or simply change your mind, you can now edit your sent messages on WhatsApp,” the Meta Inc messaging app announced on Monday. To edit a sent message, users will have to long press the message and then choose “edit” from the drop down tab. The modified message will show a ln “edited” label without showing the history.

Instagram Outage Affects 180,000 Users Worldwide

image: BBC

Instagram faced a global outage on Sunday after a technical glitch was reported, affecting more than 180,000 users worldwide.

According to the Meta Platform Inc., the services were resumed for many users after the issue was resolved.

A Meta spokesperson told the media that “Earlier today, a technical issue caused some people to have trouble accessing Instagram. We resolved the issue as quickly as possible for everyone who was impacted.”

The company, however, did not disclose the number of affected users. According to Downdetector.com (an outage tracking website), in the United States, more than 100,000 users were unable to access Instagram. More than 24,000 users were affected in Canada while the number was 56,000 in the Britain. So overall, more than 180,000 users reported issues with Instagram on Sunday.

This is the Reason India is Withdrawing its 2000-Rupee Note

Image: REUTERS

The Central Bank of India has announced to remove the 2000 rupee note from circulation in the market ahead of general and state elections. The announcement was made on Friday according to which citizens are asked to exchange or deposit the highest denomination currency notes by September 30th, 2023.

The 2000 rupee note was introduced in 2016 and is likely to remain a legal tender in the future.

This decision reminds us of the 2016 move when the Modi government withdrew 86% of the economy’s currency overnight. However, the recent decision seems to be less shocking as the notes with lower values have been withdrawn for a longer period of time.

The question is why the government is Withdrawing 2000-rupee notes now? According to economists, the 2000-rupee notes were introduced in 2016 to stabilize the Indian economy’s currency in circulation post-demonetisation. However, the central bank emphasises that it is time to reduce circulation of high value notes while halting their printing for the last four years.

The Reserve Bank of India said, “This denomination is not commonly used for transactions.”

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Rupa Rege Nitsure who is Group Chief Economist at L&T Finance Holdings said, “Making such a move ahead of the general elections is a wise decision.” She added, “People who have been using these notes as a store of value may face inconvenience.”

Why is Lahore Main Baraf trending on Twitter?

As the scorching summer heat continued to envelop Lahore with temperatures soaring over 40 degrees Celsius, the city found itself captivated by a mysterious billboard phenomenon. Sprinkled across the urban landscape were billboards proclaiming, “Lahore Main Baraf, -10 degrees Celsius coming up.” A wave of intrigue swept through the city as people eagerly speculated about the possibility of snowfall during the summer season.

The billboards sparked a mix of excitement and disbelief among the Lahore residents. Some were thrilled by the prospect of a winter wonderland in the midst of sweltering heat, imagining the joy of building snowmen and engaging in frosty escapades. Social media platforms buzzed with anticipation as the hashtag #LahoreMainBaraf trended, with users eagerly sharing their theories and hopes for this unusual phenomenon.

Meanwhile, skeptics emerged, suggesting that this could be an elaborate marketing stunt by a company seeking to create a buzz around an upcoming winter-themed park. They theorized that the billboards were merely a prelude to a grand announcement, igniting a winter extravaganza within the city.

As the debate raged on, the mystery deepened. The company behind the billboards remained tight-lipped, fueling speculation and curiosity. Residents scoured news outlets, eagerly awaiting any official statements that might shed light on the enigmatic campaign.

Here is how people are reacting to Lahore Main Baraf trending on social media:

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