The Straight Forward

06/09/2022

India Can Still Qualify for Finals with Four “IFs”

06/09/2022

India Dropped From Asia Cup After a Defeat Against Sri lanka

06/09/2022

06/09/2022

Today, Pakistan is observing Defence Day with patriotic zeal and zest and remembering the valorous martyrs of the 1965 war, as the nation continues its battle against historic floods.

ISPR said on the occasion that Defence Day symbolises the unwavering resolve of the armed forces, backed by the "great Pakistani nation to defend [the] motherland against all odds".

“We owe our freedom ans peace to unprecedented sacrifices of martyrs 2 keep the flag high," ISPR quoted Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa as saying.

06/09/2022

A US-based NGO run by expats has launched a relief and rehabilitation project for flood victims worth Rs3.5 billion.

Helping Hand for Relief and Development (HHRD) has begun a project initially worth Rs3.5 billion for relief and rehabilitation of flood victims, and expects to pull in more groups and funds in future.

A number of countries want to work together for the rehabilitation of flood victims through HHRD, which has been working in Pakistan for the last 16 years in helping humanity irrespective of race, caste and religion, said Dr Mohsin Ansari, President of Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), a partner of HHRD, talking to the media here on Sunday.

Chief executive officer of HHRD in US, Javed Saddiqui, said the recent floods caused greater devastation than the 2005 earthquake though exact estimates of losses are yet to be assessed.

HHRD Country Director Muhammad Saleem Mansoori said torrential rains and floods engulfed the entire Pakistan, as majority areas of Balochistan, Sindh, South Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were the most affected, and the communities living in low-lying areas near the rivers were the worst hit. Thousands of people died while millions were left homeless and out of means to survive, he added.

“With waist high water standing all over the plains and above human height in many areas, there is nothing to eat, cook or take shelter. Women, elderly and children are the most affected as thousands of lives are endangered by water borne diseases and epidemics. These dire situations need immediate support and donations,” Mansoori added.

HHRD began relief projects in 21 flood-affected districts, providing relief initially to more than 70,000 people, including Balochistan, Sindh and KP, he said.

“Dry ration is distributed in relief camps, including cooked food, while medical camp has also started functioning under health programme,” he said, adding HHRD teams are also working in Fazilpur, Rajanpur, Taunsa Sharif in South Punjab.

In KP, relief projects are working in Charsadda, Nowshera, Swat, Malakand, Kohistan. In Sindh, relief is provided in Nawabshah, Dadu, Mirpur Khas, Badin, Sanghar, Shaheed Benazirabad, Kashmore, Kundhkot and Karachi. In Balochistan, relief is provided in Lass Bela, Nushki, Loralai, Quetta, Pashin, Qila Saifullah, Daki and Jafarabad, he said.

05/09/2022

A plan is underway to overburden power consumers with additional charges to steer the Radio Pakistan out of crisis, sources claimed on Saturday. According to a private news channel, a plan is under consideration to steer the Radio Pakistan out of crisis and for it power consumers would be overburdened with additional charges. Sources said a recommendation had been made to charge Rs15 from consumers on their electricity bills, which would burden them with Rs5 billion annually.

Sources said the state TV fees could be increased from Rs35 to Rs50 on electricity bills and Rs15 would be given to the Pakistan Radio from it. They claimed that the Radio Pakistan had forwarded the recommendation to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to resolve problems related to pensioners.

05/09/2022

The Punjab Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control department has suspended biometric verification for the registration and transfer of vehicles and motorcycles for three months across the province due to issues arising in the shift from the old manual registration system to biometric.

The system has come to a halt because of complications regarding registration and transfer of older vehicles and motorcycles. The older manual registration system was completely replaced with the biometric registration system for older vehicles and motorcycles in April of this year. However, the records for older vehicles and motorcycles had not been computerised, thus leading to delays in registration.

The biometric system will now reportedly be put on halt for three months from 11th September to 11th December to facilitate the registration of older vehicles and motorcycles. A total of 177,000 registrations are expected to be made, which will generate PKR15 billion for the department.

The biometric system was introduced by the department on 11th January with the aim to computerise Pakistan’s 50 year old records of vehicles and motorcycles. It will be active again in January 2023; to be reintroduced in phases with full implementation reported to be complete by June 2023.

05/09/2022

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Monday decided to shut down transmission of Bol News and Bol Entertainment for what it said was their failure to secure security clearance from the interior ministry.

In its meeting today, Pemra was told that it had also revoked the licences of the channel — owned by M/s Labbaik (Pvt) Ltd — in 2017, adding that the matter had been pending before the Sindh High Court until last year.

The Pemra said the SHC also wrapped the case in 2021. The meeting was informed that the channel could not be allowed to operate until the Ministry of Interior issued a security clearance.

01/09/2022

The local administration has decided to close the relief camp in Nowshera, and the victims have been directed to go home.

According to the details, the flood cell has said that the water level in Kabul river has recorded further decline at Nowshera, and the flow of water in all the rivers of the country is normal at present.

According to the flood cell, the current flow of water in Kabul River at Nowshera is 79,600 cusecs, while the district administration has said that the water flow is now normal.

Deputy Commissioner Nowshera has said that the administration has decided to close the relief camp from today, the people of the affected areas can go to their homes, the administration will collect the data of the affected areas from today.

The DC said that the people of the affected areas should go to their homes so that the cleaning work can be started and the data of the damage can be collected.

01/09/2022

The government has approved a decision to generate electricity from solar instead of expensive imported fuel to save valuable foreign exchange.

The approval was given at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Thursday.

The Prime Minister directed to ensure early construction of solar power plants. He asked the relevant departments to initiate work on the project on emergency basis.

Shehbaz Sharif directed to hold a pre-bid conference for all stakeholders this week.

Under the project, ten thousand megawatt of power will be generated from solar.

In the first phase, solar electricity will be provided to government buildings, tube wells operating on electricity and diesel and domestic consumers using less number of units.

The decision will help the country save billions of dollars.

The Prime Minister also directed to provide relief to the people in terms of supply of electricity before the onset of next summer season.

01/09/2022

Cricket legend Shahid Afridi Sunday invited Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh to visit Pakistan, saying he would "gladly become his host".

During an encounter on a private channel, ahead of the blockbuster match between arch-rivals Pakistan and India, the all-rounder told Harbajan that he would be his host if he planned to visit Pakistan.

I once again welcome you to visit Pakistan, even if there is no cricket [between the two countries],” he told the star Indian player.

Afridi further added that he would gladly become his host and would take the Indian player wherever he wanted to go

01/09/2022

I feel that Asia Cup final will be between Pakistan and Afghanistan and Pakistan will win the final: Nasir Hussain

01/09/2022

Pakistani authorities have decided to import onions and tomatoes from neighboring producers Iran and Afghanistan in light of the soaring prices and impending food crisis, after catastrophic floods across the country.

The recent torrential rains and flooding have affected the production of vegetables and other crops.

The Ministry of Commerce announced the decision at a meeting chaired by Commerce Minister Naveed Qamar. The minister also reviewed the availability of tomatoes and onions in the country.

31/08/2022

The key ceremony to commemorate Defence and Martyrs Day at the military's General Headquarters (GHQ) has been postponed in solidarity with victims of relentless monsoon rains that flooded parts of the country, the military’s media wing said.

In a tweet, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the decision was taken in solidarity with the flood-affected people of Pakistan.

It added that Pakistan Armed Forces shall continue serving our brothers and sisters struck by unprecedented floods.

In previous years, Defence Day was marked with national zeal and fervour to pay homage to the martyrs and victors who rendered supreme sacrifices in defence of the motherland.

However, this year deadly floods caused by monstrous rains have devastated the north and south of the country, affecting over 33 million while causing large-scale infrastructural damage.

Pakistan Army remained at the forefront in relief collection to support flood-affected people. As many as 81 relief collection points in Sindh, 73 in Punjab, 41 in Balochistan and 17 in KPK are functioning.

31/08/2022

Umar Ali, an elderly man of Bitgram, lost his life happily after winning a land dispute case after 18 years.

What has been the decision of the lawyer? Babaji, the decision has been made in your favor. It was heard that in front of the courtroom number three of the Supreme Court, Umar Ali, an elderly man of Bitgram, surprised his lawyer Sanaullah Zahid in his eyes filled with happiness. Looking at the side, he said with extreme emotion, 'The lawyer has been decided in my favor?'

The lawyer replied, "Yes, it is in your favor" and after saying this, the lawyer went ahead and immediately people shouted at him and said that your client has fallen.

'The decision has been made in my favour' were the last words the Butgram resident suffered a heart attack and collapsed. No longer.

Umar Ali bought three kanals of land in Bitgram in 2003, the neighbors filed a case and Umar Ali went from the subordinate court to the High Court, but the High Court also ruled against him.

In 2017, Umar Ali appealed to the Supreme Court against the decision, which after 5 years, at the first hearing, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Mazahir Ali Akbar Naqvi, after hearing the arguments, accepted Umar Ali's appeal and annulled the decision of the High Court.

Thus, after 18 years, the joy of getting justice for Omar Ali took his life

31/08/2022

Apple has announced that it will donate in the relief and recovery efforts being taken on the ground in Pakistan following devastating flood-induced rains that have affected millions of lives.

The announcement was made by Apple's CEO Tim Cook on Twitter that Apple will donate to relief and recovery efforts on the ground.

"The floods in Pakistan and surrounding areas are devastating humanitarian disasters. Our thoughts are with those that have lost loved ones, the many displaced families, and all those affected. Apple will donate to relief and recovery efforts on the ground," wrote Cook.

31/08/2022

PM Shehbaz Sharif Orders to Restore Electricity of Balochistan within 2 Days

28/08/2022

Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Normalisation Committee Chairman Haroon Malik has hinted at the possibility of hosting Palestine team for a match next month.

Haroon said, “Let’s put the plan into action” as Pakistan will be happy to host Palestine in the coming month. Haroon’s statement came after he was tagged by a sports journalist in a tweet sent out by FootballPalestine

Palestine national football team has currently no friendlies lined up in the coming international window in September and with the 2023 AFC Asian Cup just under a year away, they are looking for competitive matches to prepare for the event.

Pakistan, on the other hand, have not played an international match over the past three years and are looking to resume football activities in the country after its ban was lifted by FIFA after more than a year.

The PFF had already hinted that the men’s national team is actively looking for teams to play a series of friendly matches and the availability of Palestine might work in the favour of both sides.