WEB DESK, July 23(ABC): Nanocarbons for purifying water get a lot more efficient by exposing a precursor mixture to high voltage. Nagoya University scientists have developed a one-step fabrication process that improves the ability of nanocarbons to remove toxic heavy metal ions from water. The findings, published in the journal ACS Applied Nano Materials, could aid efforts to improve universal access to …

WEB DESK, July 23(ABC): Device for harnessing terahertz radiation might enable self-powering implants, cellphones, other portable electronics. Any device that sends out a Wi-Fi signal also emits terahertz waves —electromagnetic waves with a frequency somewhere between microwaves and infrared light. These high-frequency radiation waves, known as “T-rays,” are also produced by almost anything that registers a temperature, including our own …

LAHORE, July 23(ABC): Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on Saturday while launching a tirade against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and former president and Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari said that the thieves should not be allowed to sell national assets. In his latest Tweet, the former PM said, “How can Imported govt …

WEB DESK, July 23(ABC): PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz Saturday said that the party will not accept “one-sided” decisions by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, after it said that Chief Minister Punjab Hamza Shahbaz will work as a trustee CM till Monday (July 25). The Supreme Court’s decision came during a hearing on PML-Q leader Pervez Elahi’s petition against Punjab …

LAHORE, July 23(ABC): The Supreme Court of Pakistan Saturday directed Chief Minister Punjab Hamza Shahbaz to work as a trustee CM till Monday (July 25) during a hearing on PML-Q leader Pervez Elahi’s petition against Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Mazari’s ruling in the provincial CM’s election. The apex court further directed Hamza to work in accordance with the law …

ISLAMABAD, July 23(ABC): The establishment is considering a “soft intervention” under which it may mediate between PTI Chairman Imran Khan and the coalition parties — comprising PML-N, PPP, JUI-F, and others — sources told The News Saturday, as political and economic crises grip Pakistan. The sources told the publication that there are chances of a “grand dialogue” between the Opposition …

ISLAMABAD, July 23(ABC): The coalition government on Saturday demanded that a full court hear the petition filed against the ruling issued by Deputy Speaker Punjab Assembly Dost Muhammad Mazari in the election of the province’s chief minister. A joint statement has been issued in this regard, urging the chief justice to constitute a full bench to hear the case. Mazari …

ISLAMABAD, July 23(ABC): Finance Minister Miftah Ismail Saturday announced that the government is allowing the imports of all the items that have reached the ports by June 1 with a minor surcharge to prevent the importers from facing any losses. Taking to Twitter, Miftah said that the shipments of many luxury items, banned by the government, have reached the ports. …

LAHORE, July 23(ABC): PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry said PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain’s ability to make decisions is “limited due to his illness” — after the former prime minister decided to not back PTI’s candidate for the Punjab chief minister, his own relative Pervez Elahi. It seemed like the PTI and PML-Q were going to win the CM …

LAHORE, July 23(ABC): PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat has said he has old standing relationship with the institutions therefore, he cannot support those who criticize the institutions. “ “Stability is in Pakistan due to the institutions. I have old relations with the institutions. I can not support those who criticize the institutions.”, he said this while talking to media men here …

LAHORE: The Supreme Court is hearing PML-Q leader Pervez Elahi’s petition against Deputy Speaker Dost Mazari’s ruling in the Punjab chief minister’s election. A three-member bench — headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, and comprising Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar — is holding the hearing at the Supreme Court’s Lahore registry. At the outset of the …

LAHORE, July 23(ABC): The Supreme Court is hearing the PTI and PML-Q’s joint petition against Deputy Speaker Dost Mazari’s ruling in the Punjab chief minister’s election. A three-member bench — headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, and comprising Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar — is holding the hearing at the Supreme Court’s (Lahore Registry). The deputy …

ISLAMABAD, July 23(ABC): Despite high international crude and POL prices, the country’s imports of oil products and crude hit record highs — both in volume and money terms — on the back of a rising US dollar against the rupee and the government’s decision to raise local POL prices to revive the stalled International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, reported. Having …

LAHORE, July 23(ABC): Following a dramatic three-vote victory against PML-Q and PTI joint candidate Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, PML-N leader Hamza Shahbaz on Saturday took oath as chief minister of Punjab. Governor Punjab Baligh Ur Rehman finally administered the oath to Hamza Shahbaz. The oath-taking ceremony took place at Governor House and was attended by PML-N leaders and other government officials. Hamza …

ISLAMABAD, July 23(ABC): A marginal increase was witnessed on Saturday in new COVID-19 cases in Pakistan, data from the National Institute of Health, Islamabad (NIH) showed. According to the NIH data, 23,423 diagnostic tests were performed in the last 24 hours, with 693 returning positive, indicating a 2.96% positivity ratio. The virus claimed two more lives in the last 24 …

LAHORE, July 23(ABC): PML-Q leader Pervez Elahi, who was PTI’s candidate for the chief minister’s slot, Friday castigated Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Mazari for giving a contentious ruling on the chief minister Punjab election, saying Article 6 applies to him for subverting the Constitution. “Deputy Speaker Dost Mazari has committed contempt of court and violated the Constitution,” said Pervez …

WEB DESK, July 23(ABC): Following PTI chairman Imran Khan’s call over Hamza Shahbaz’s victory in the Punjab Assembly, party workers staged country-wide protests against the CM Punjab election, reported. After a crucial Punjab Assembly session on Friday, PML-N’s candidate Hamza Shahbaz retained the post of the Punjab chief minister against Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervez Elahi through a three-vote victory. Punjab Assembly Deputy …

WEB DESK, July 23(ABC): Following PML-N’s Hamza Shahbaz’s ‘surprising’ victory in the Punjab Assembly Friday, PTI Chairman Imran Khan asked the masses to take to the streets tonight against the deputy speaker’s ruling. The PTI chairman was addressing the public after PML-N’s candidate Hamza Shahbaz retained the post of Punjab CM against Pervez Elahi in the run-off election held in the …

WEB DESK, July 23(ABC): Following an end to Friday’s dramatic Punjab Assembly session which retained Hamza Shahbaz as the chief minister of Punjab, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked Allah for the party’s victory today. “His [Chaudhry Shujaat’s] role today is the victory of democracy and constitutional values and I pay tribute to him for his contributions,” he wrote on Twitter, adding …

LAHORE, July 22(ABC): Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Hamza Shahbaz has been elected as the Chief Minister of the Punjab province by securing majority of votes in the runoff election. Hamza Shahbaz secured 179 votes whereas Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi – the Joint Candidate of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) – bagged 176 votes. Although 186 votes were cast …

LAHORE, July 22(ABC): Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Friday said ahead of Hamza Shahbaz’s possible victory in the Punjab CM election said that now the rules of the game will be the same for everyone. Taking to Twitter, she wrote that PML-N has not forgotten the treatment done to the party, adding that now …

LAHORE, July 22(ABC): Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has refused to support Pervaiz Elahi in the election for the Punjab Chief Ministership. According to sources, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain confirmed writing the letter. In a major development before the voting, PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi said that his uncle, Chaudhry Shujaat, has refused to back Imran Khan s candidate. He said …

LAHORE, July 22(ABC): Punjab will once again be the centre of attention today (Friday) as all eyes are set on the crucial session of the Punjab Assembly to hold the process of the chief minister’s election between incumbent CM Hamza Shahbaz and Punjab Assembly Speaker Pervez Elahi. The contest, which began after a delay of three hours, is expected to …

RAWALPINDI, July 22(ABC): A huddle of the military’s top brass was held Friday to discuss the defence and security environment of the country, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Nadeem Raza chaired the meeting that took place at Joint Staff Headquarters (JSHQ), with all services chiefs in presence, the military’s media wing …

LAHORE, July 22(ABC): PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Friday, vowed to keep a close eye on Lahore — considered to be the political heart of Pakistan’s largest province, Punjab. “I will not keep away from Lahore. Next month, I will live here twice a week,” he said, from his residence in Zaman Park. Seemingly upbeat ahead of the election for the …

KARACHI, July 22(ABC): The US dollar continued its ascent on Friday against the Pakistani rupee, as it trades at a new all time high of Rs228 in the interbank market. The new rate was a climbed by Rs1.19 after the business day started in interbank. As per the economic experts, the downfall of Pakistani rupee against the US dollar is …

LAHORE, July 22(ABC): Punjab will once again be the centre of attention today (Friday) as all eyes are set on the crucial session of the Punjab Assembly to hold the process of the chief minister’s election between incumbent CM Hamza Shahbaz and Punjab Assembly Speaker Pervez Elahi. The contest is expected to shape the country’s future political scenario. The session …

LAHORE, July 22(ABC): PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari last night again met PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain in a bid to woo him to support PML-N’s candidate Hamza Shahbaz, Geo News reported Thursday. The political temperature in Punjab continued to mount as the clock ticks on the crucial Punjab assembly session for the chief minister’s election, taking place this afternoon. A …

ISLAMABAD, July 22(ABC):  Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb berated PTI Chairperson Imran Khan for criticising the chief election commissioner (CEC), saying Imran Khan is asking for a National Reconciliation Order (NRO) from the CEC due to the foreign funding case. “Imran Khan is venting his anger on [the] CEC. However, Sikandar Sultan is not like NAB’s [National Accountability …

ISLAMABAD, July 22(ABC): Pakistan recorded a slight increase in fresh COVID-19 cases as the virus claimed seven more lives during the last 24 hours, the National Institute of Health, Islamabad’s (NIH) data showed Friday morning. According to the NIH data, during the last 24 hours, 23,035 diagnostic tests were conducted, out of which 679 came back positive. However, as per …

LAHORE, July 21(ABC): Former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan Thursday claimed that the government employed all efforts to defeat his party in Punjab by-polls. Addressing his party workers in a televised speech, Khan expressed his anger with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) even after winning the by-election. He said that those who conducted the Punjab by-election should …

RAWALPINDI, July 21(ABC): The Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Mehmet Pacaci met the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa at Pakistan Army’s General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on Thursday. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), matters of regional security situation, mutual and professional interest with special emphasis on defence and security collaboration between …

ISLAMABAD, July 21(ABC): Japan has removed Pakistan from the category of red-listed countries in relation to COVID-19. “As a result of the efforts of the embassy of Pakistan, Tokyo, the government of Japan has removed Pakistan from the category of red-listed countries in relation to COVID-19,” a statement of the Pakistan embassy in Tokyo said. The new categorization will come …

LAHORE, July 21(ABC): Awami Muslim League (AML) chief and former Interior Minister Shiekh Rashid on Thursday said Asif Ali Zardari tried to pit the Chaudhry brothers against each other but Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi will be the Punjab Chief Minister despite his failed attempts. Sheikh Rashid in a press conference today said that the blind incumbent rulers are talking about initiating …

WEB DESK, July 21(ABC): A US-based startup working with engineers from the University of Toronto and the University of Sheffield named CO2Rail Company is aiming to develop a train that removes carbon dioxide from the air as it moves ahead, reported.  Train travel is nowhere close to being carbon neutral, emitting 14 grams of CO2 per mile. The team is …

ISLAMABAD, July 21(ABC): Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said Thursday that 50 PTI members of Punjab Assembly (MPAs) can vote for PML-N’s chief minister candidate Hamza Shahbaz on July 22 (tomorrow) — claiming that they might violate their party’s policy. “Not five, but 50 PTI MPAs can either use their right to vote [for Hamza] or they might refrain from casting …

BANNU, July 21(ABC): JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman Wednesday raised questions over the delay in the announcement of the verdict in the PTI’s prohibited funding case — which was reserved by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on June 21. It should be noted that on June 15, Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja directed not to refer to the PTI’s case …

ISLAMABAD, July 21(ABC): Finance Minister Miftah Ismail announced on Thursday that the government will nominate a new governor of the State Bank of Pakistan — a post that has remained vacant for more than two months — in the next week. Addressing a press conference along with Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, the finance czar of the country said that the …

WEB DESK, July 21(ABC): Several lawmakers from the PTI might express their resentment on Friday by not voting for the party candidate, Parvez Elahi, in the election for chief minister Punjab, says the province’s former finance minister. “In private conversations, we are seeing a lot of dissent within the PTI ranks,” Awais Leghari, an MPA from the ruling PML-N, who …

WEB DESK, July 21(ABC): Former director-general of Intelligence Bureau Aftab Sultan has been appointed National Accountability Bureau chairman, reported Thursday, citing sources. Sources privy to the matter said approval for Sultan’s appointment was given in today’s federal cabinet meeting. The allied parties had opposed the suggestion to appoint Sultan as the NAB chairman. However, the PML-N held consultations and finally …