WEB DESK, July 17(ABC): In a Twitter message on the day of polling, Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja said that voting wouldn’t only “strengthen democracy but also stabilise Pakistan.” The CEC stressed the public should ensure participation in the polling process by exercising their right to vote. He also directed the officials and authorities concerned to take action where …

ISLAMABAD, 17 July(ABC): Former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan faces a popularity test today (Sunday) in by-elections on 20 Punjab Assembly seats, which will decide the fate of provincial government led by Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz. Sunday’s vote in Punjab is seen as a possible bellwether for national elections that must be held by October next year, although …

ISLAMABAD, July 17(ABC): Pakistan has registered a slight decline in its daily coronavirus caseload as the country reported 605 new infections of the pathogen during the last 24 hours, data from the National Institute of Health showed Sunday morning. As per the latest statistics of the NIH, 21,233 COVID-19 diagnostic tests were conducted across the country and out of which …

LAHORE, Jul 16 (ABC): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Saturday directed for special preventive measures to stop the spread of dengue virus in the country. He was chairing a review meeting here on the situation regarding dengue virus. The PM asked the Chief Secretary Punjab to form a special committee to undertake monitoring in detail about the arrangements made by the …

RAWALPINDI, Jul 16 (ABC): The Pakistan Army troops will perform only Quick Reaction Force (QRF) duties in case of any law and order situation arising during the polling of by-elections in Punjab. The Army troops carried out reconnaissance of the most sensitive locations in respective areas as 3rd tier responders to any law and order situation in line with directions …

ISLAMABAD, July 16(ABC): Minister for Finance and Revenue Miftah Ismail here on Saturday reiterated the firm commitment of the government to bring economic stability, reducing inflation, ending power load shedding as well as building foreign exchange reserves for achieving sustainable, inclusive economic growth and social prosperity in the country. Addressing a press conference along with Minister for Information and Broadcasting …

ISLAMABAD, July 16(ABC): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former premier Imran Khan has said that the country could not afford a weak army after witnessing the plight of those countries which failed to build a strong army. Addressing a seminar in Islamabad today, Imran Khan said that a strong army was necessary for the country. He expressed concerns over negative …

LAHORE, July 16 (ABC): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Saturday reiterated that the protection of minorities and their welfare were among the top priorities of the government. The prime minister was talking to Ramesh Singh Arora, a member of Punjab provincial assembly, who called on him, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.

ISLAMABAD, Jul 16 (ABC): President Dr Arif Alvi Saturday called for creating enabling environment to ensure women’s participation and inclusion in economic, business, trade, and industrial sectors on a fast-track basis. The [resident expressed these views while talking to a delegation of the Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Peshawar (WCC&IP), led by its President Mrs Shahida Parveen, that called …

ISLAMABAD, Jul 16 (ABC): Minister for Railways and Aviation Khawaja Saad Rafique on Saturday announced 10 per cent cut in fares for the passengers travelling in the economy class of main express trains, as well as both the economy and business classes of the Pakistan International Airline (PIA), domestically. “Following the footsteps of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Pakistan Railways …

ISLAMABAD, July 16(ABC): Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has warned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan to not spread unrest during upcoming by-polls for 20 seats of Punjab Assembly. Interior Minister said that Imran Khan has lost the election and reiterated that law will come into action if Daska-like situation is repeated. We will ensure free and transparent by-elections, he …

WASHINGTON, July 16(ABC): The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved $200 million in financing to support Pakistan in transforming the agricultural sector by adopting climate-smart technologies to improve water-use efficiency, build resilience to extreme weather events and increase incomes of small farmers. According to the press release by the World Bank, the agricultural sector in Punjab is central …

LAHORE, July 16(ABC): Accountability Court on Saturday granted exemption to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif from personal appearance in Ashiana Housing Scheme case hearing while Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz has been granted exemption for Ramzan Sugar Mills case for one day. The Father-son duo did not appear in the two different references as they submitted the plea, requesting the court …

RAWALPINDI, July 16(ABC): Awami Muslim League Pakistan (AMLP) leader Sheikh Rashid on Saturday requested the establishment of Pakistan to stay away from the Punjab by-poll elections, slated to be held on Sunday, July 17. Former Interior Minister Rashid said that tomorrow is a very important day. “Country might not have witnessed such election,” he said. In a video message, Sheikh …

WASHINGTON, July 16(ABC): A board meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the final nod regarding disbursement of a $1.17 billion tranche to Pakistan will take place in three to six weeks, spokesperson Gerry Rice said. During a press briefing on Thursday, Rice said: “Board meeting can follow any time between three, six weeks, within that period could be …

KARACHI, July 16(ABC): Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) Saturday warned of heavy rainfall tonight and tomorrow as low air pressure has intensified. Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfaraz said that low pressure is present in the southeast Arabian Sea which may cause heavy rainfall in Sindh cities including Karachi. On Friday night, following a hot and humid day, different areas of Karachi received light …

WEB DESK, July 16(ABC): Two Japanese firms — Itoki Corporation and Koyoju Gohan KK — are collaborating to bring vertical “nap boxes” to the country in order to promote a healthier office culture, reported. The collaboration between arose from a business-matching event at which Tokyo-based Itoki, a furniture specialist, met plywood supplier Koyoju Gohan from Hokkaido. On Thursday, the two …

ISLAMABAD, July 16(ABC): Ahead of the by-poll in 20 constituencies of Punjab scheduled to be held tomorrow (Sunday), the government has made deliberate efforts to avoid hiking gas and electricity tariffs. The increase in electricity and gas tariffs, which is to be announced in order to comply with the conditions laid forth by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has not …

LAHORE, July 16(ABC): Pakistan has reported 10 deaths in the last 24 hours by novel coronavirus as the number of confirmed positive cases has surged to 1,545,647. The nationwide tally of fatalities has jumped to 30,438 on Saturday. According to the latest figures by the National Institute of Health (NIH), at least 737 persons were tested positive for COVID-19 across …

ISLAMABAD, July 15 (ABC): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday paid tribute to the martyred Lieutenant Colonel Laiq Baig, saying that the officers and jawans of the Pakistan Army were rendering great sacrifices for the motherland. Lt-Col Laiq Baig, who was abducted on the night between July 12 and 13 while returning from Quetta, was martyred while two terrorists were …

LAHORE, Jul 15 (ABC): Provincial Disaster Management Authority has alerted the line departments to take all precautionary measures against possible threat of rains and flooding from July 15 to 17. As predicted by the Meteorological Department, thundershowers and torrential rains in different parts of Bahawalpur and DG Khan Division are expected along with thundershowers in Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Multan, Gujranwala, Lahore, …

ISLAMABAD, July 15(ABC): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Umar has said that the incumbent government is planning to rig the Punjab by-polls by using provincial machinery. The PTI leader said that Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz is an illegal CM from the day one. While he added that our contenders for the Punjab by-polls are receiving threat phone calls. He …

WEB DESK, July 15(ABC): After announcing a nearly Rs19 per litre reduction in the price of petrol, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has vowed to provide more relief to the public “as soon as” the government gets an opportunity to do so. The PM sent out this message a day after announcing a major cut in the prices of petroleum products, …

WEB DESK, July 15(ABC): PTI Chairman Imran Khan and PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz have, over the last few weeks, addressed many public gatherings in different parts of Punjab ahead of the by-elections in the province that are set to take place on July 17. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had unseated the 25 dissident members of the PTI who voted for …

ISLAMABAD, July 15(ABC): The federal cabinet on Friday approved the formation of a committee which will deliberate whether treason proceedings under Article 6 should be initiated against PTI’s top leadership, including the party’s chairman, Imran Khan. In a post-cabinet meeting press conference, Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb said the cabinet approved the formation of a committee under Minister for Law …

ISLAMABAD, July 15(ABC): The federal government has decided to launch a crackdown against social media users who post content that is deemed defamatory. The decision comes after Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal was heckled by PTI supporters at a restaurant on Islamabad-Lahore Motorway last week. The video of the PML-N leader being heckled at a …

WEB DESK, July 15(ABC): Meta said on Thursday it’s flagship social network Facebook is introducing ways for users to maintain up to five profiles, a major shift from the “real name” requirement the company has maintained since its inception. The product change would “help people tailor their experience based on interests and relationships,” like posting different types of content aimed …

WEB DESK, July 15(ABC): Researchers have designed a simple, low-cost device for subcutaneous injection of viscous formulations. MIT researchers have developed a simple, low-cost technology to administer powerful drug formulations that are too viscous to be injected using conventional medical syringes. The technology, which is described in a paper published today in the journal Advanced Healthcare Materials, makes it possible to inject …

WEB DESK, July 15(ABC): The lens can be used to produce high-resolution images with a wide field of view. It can serve as a camera lens in smartphones and can be used in other devices that depend on sensors (high resolution wide angle selfie obtained using metalens. A lens that is a thousand times thinner than a human hair has …

WEB DESK, July 15(ABC): During the current coronavirus pandemic, one of the riskiest parts of a health care worker’s job is assessing people who have symptoms of Covid-19. Researchers from MIT and Brigham and Women’s Hospital hope to reduce that risk by using robots to remotely measure patients’ vital signs. The robots, which are controlled by a handheld device, can …

WEB DESK, July 15(ABC): Researchers have developed electronic artificial skin that reacts to pain just like real skin, opening the way to better prosthetics, smarter robotics and non-invasive alternatives to skin grafts. The prototype device developed by a team at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, can electronically replicate the way human skin senses pain. The device mimics the body’s near-instant …

WEB DESK, July 15(ABC): Extremely energy-efficient artificial intelligence is now closer to reality after a study by UCL researchers found a way to improve the accuracy of a brain-inspired computing system. The system, which uses memristors to create artificial neural networks, is at least 1,000 times more energy efficient than conventional transistor-based AI hardware, but has until now been more …

WEB DESK, July 15(ABC): A hand-held video game console allowing indefinite gameplay might be a parent’s worst nightmare. But this Game Boy is not just a toy. It’s a powerful proof-of-concept, developed by researchers at Northwestern University and the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in the Netherlands, that pushes the boundaries of battery-free intermittent computing into the realm of fun and …

WEB DESK, July 15(ABC): The camera will explore cosmic mysteries as part of the Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time. Crews at the Department of Energy’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have taken the first 3,200-megapixel digital photos – the largest ever taken in a single shot – with an extraordinary array of imaging sensors that will become the …

WEB DESK, July 15(ABC): Researchers at Helmholtz Zentrum München and the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have developed the world’s smallest ultrasound detector. It is based on miniaturized photonic circuits on top of a silicon chip. With a size 100 times smaller than an average human hair, the new detector can visualize features that are much smaller than previously possible, …

ISLAMABAD, July 15 (ABC): After the IMF nod to revive the loan programme, the emboldened Pakistani rupee pounded on the US dollar in the interbank trading on Friday morning and scored a handsome gain. As the trading started, the Pakistani rupee wasted no time and soared past the greenback by Rs1.05. According to the forex traders, the US dollar is …

NEW YORK, July 15 (ABC): Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal on Friday while underlining the need to create mechanisms to provide the high upfront capital costs to developing countries on affordable terms said that developing countries should also have level playing field for economic recovery. Speaking at an event of the United Nations on Sustainable Development Goals …

LAHORE, July 15(ABC):Former Interior Minister and Awami Muslim League (AML) Chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Friday responding to the Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah’s statement pertaining to the implementation of Articles 5 and 6 challenged the incumbent government to apply Article 6. While talking to media in Lahore, Sheikh Rashid said that the government should take aforementioned action against them  if …

ISLAMABAD, July 15(ABC): After striking a staff-level agreement with the IMF, Pakistan has made plans to generate approximately $9 to $10 billion in loans from other multilateral creditors, including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and Islamic Development Bank through programme and project lending during the current fiscal year. The revival of the IMF programme will pave the way for …

ISLAMABAD, July 15(ABC): The number of daily COVID-19 cases in Pakistan has once again reared its head as the country reported 779 new infections in a single day, National Institute of Health, Islamabad (NIH) data showed Friday morning. The last time Pakistan reported over 700 cases was on July 9 when 732 infections had surfaced. The new infections were detected …