QUETTA, July 6(ABC): The Balochistan government has declared Quetta a disaster struck area and imposed a state of emergency in the provincial capital after rain wreaked havoc, killing more than a dozen people in the province. Monsoon rains continued for a second day in several districts of Balochistan on Wednesday. Due to torrential rains, the rivers and canals of the …

ISLAMABAD, July 6(ABC): The fresh COVID-19 case count in Pakistan has grown past the 800-mark once again as the infection continues to spread with every passing day, National Institute of Health, Islamabad (NIH) data showed Wednesday morning. The last time the number of new COVID-19 cases grew this high was on July 2, when the country logged 818 new cases. …

LAHORE, July 6(ABC): PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz has criticised the PTI for approaching the Supreme Court after Punjab’s Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz announced to give free electricity to people consuming up to 100 units per month. The new announcement is expected to provide electricity to an estimated nine million poor families across the province. In a statement on Twitter, …

ISLAMABAD, July 6(ABC): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday disposed of anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan’s petition against his arrest, saying that the police took him into custody from Attock, which is “not under this court’s jurisdiction”. Khan’s counsel had filed a petition on Tuesday night after Attock police took the journalist into custody — a move that invited strong …

KARACHI, July 6(ABC): Engineers of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Tuesday declared the Indian plane that got stranded in Karachi as “unfit” for travel upon inspection at the Jinnah International Airport. The Indian airline Boeing 737 arrived from Mumbai and was forced to make an emergency landing in Karachi. Now an alternative plane, ‘SpiceJet’ SG 9911, will carry 138 passengers …

QUETTA, July 5(ABC): Eight people were killed in different accidents during the torrential rain and flood across the province. The deceased include a child and three women. In all, 24 deaths have been reported in the monsoon rains. Over mud houses collapsed during the rains, while over 2,000 cattle washed away. Hundreds of people have become homeless due the rains …

RAWALPINDI, July 5(ABC): General Musa Avsever, Commander Turkish Land Forces, called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa at GHQ on Tuesday. During the meeting, matters of mutual and professional interest with special emphasis on defence and security collaboration between the two brotherly countries, were discussed. “We highly value our brotherly relations with Turkey which are deeply …

ISLAMABAD, July 5(ABC): A crucial in-camera session of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) in Islamabad chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has agreed that a steering committee will be formed on the issue of talks with the banned outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP). The meeting was also attended by the heads of other security agencies, senior members of the National …

ISLAMABAD, July 5(ABC): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday has approved a summary to increase of basic electricity tariff by Rs7.91 in phases. According to sources, NEPRA had sent a summary to PM Shehbaz which was approved by him. In this regard, the sources further said that the first increase is Rs 3.50 per unit and from July 1, it …

ISLAMABAD, July 5(ABC): PTI Chairman Imran Khan Tuesday warned of revealing the elements involved in the alleged “foreign conspiracy”, saying that it would harm national interests. Addressing a press conference in the federal capital, the former prime minister said that he has recorded a video which involves information about those who have committed “treason” against the country. “I am quiet for …

WEB DESK, July 5(ABC): NASA has announced that it will be sending swimming robots to the “ocean worlds” in our solar system to explore what lies beneath the icy shells on different planets and moons. The space agency will be investing US$600,000 in a study that will look into the feasibility of sending tiny machine swimmers. However, these will look …

WEB DESK, July 5(ABC): Scientists at the University of California San Diego have developed Lithium-ion batteries that can perform well at freezing and scorching temperatures both. They used a temperature-proof electrolyte that allows electrical current to flow easily without taking the impact of the changes in temperature. Researchers believe that if the battery is introduced to electric vehicles, it will …

ISLAMABAD, July 5(ABC): Pakistan’s central bank looks set to raise its key policy rate by 125 basis points at its review on Thursday, as it attempts to tackle 13-year high retail inflation, according to the median estimate in a snap poll of 10 economists and market watchers. The economists, analysts and senior professors surveyed were widely split on the quantum …

ISLAMABAD, July 5(ABC): The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Tuesday issued fresh guidelines for Eid ul Adha, urging people to follow the issued SOPs as coronavirus cases climb across the country. COVID cases witnessed a spike in the mid of June, with officials fearing that the infections would spread further due to shopping and the celebrations leading up …

KARACHI, July 5(ABC): The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Tuesday reversed its uptrend as the local currency lost Rs2.38 due to renewed uncertainty regarding the revival of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme. According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the local currency closed at Rs206.94 against the US dollar in the interbank market, after a fresh decline of …

KARACHI, July 5(ABC): A Dubai-bound Indian flight carrying 138 passengers on board made an emergency landing at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi due to a technical fault. Sources within the aviation department said SpiceJet flight SG-11 developed a technical fault in mid-air. Since the plane was in Pakistani airspace, the flight captain sought permission for an emergency landing at Karachi’s airport, …

ISLAMABAD, July 5(ABC): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said protecting the poorest from the effects of difficult economic condition has been the priority of present government from day one. In a tweet on Tuesday, he welcomed Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz’s announcement of providing free electricity to the households using up to one hundred units per month. He expressed the …

ISLAMABAD, July 5(ABC): Finance Minister Miftah Ismail has said the government is focusing on effective structural reforms to ensure inclusive and sustainable growth in the country. He was talking to Country Director of Asian Development Bank Yong Ye in Islamabad. The Finance Minister apprised the ADB Country Director about the targeted revenue and development goals Yong Ye informed the Minister …

ISLAMABAD, July 5(ABC): Minister for Power Engineer Khurram Dastgir on Monday said around 7,000 MW of electricity would be added to the national grid before next summer season, which would help overpower load-shedding in the country. About 4,623 MW of electricity would be added to the system through those projects, which were launched by the last Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government …

ISLAMABAD, July 5(ABC): Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ms Hina Rabbani Khar called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Monday, repored. According to details, the meeting was held at the Prime Minister Office during which views were exchanged about the country’s foreign affairs particularly regional diplomacy. Hina Rabbani Khar briefed the Prime Minister about Pakistan’s participation in the …

ISLAMABAD, July 5(ABC): The COVID-19 positive ratio in the country has declined to 3.45% a day after the infection ratio was recorded at over 4.5% in the country, the National Institute of Health (NIH) data showed Tuesday morning. A day earlier, a 4.61% COVID-19 positive ratio was recorded in the country with 675 cases. According to the NIH, during the …

KARACHI, July 5(ABC): Former federal minister Babar Khan Ghauri was arrested from the Jinnah International Airport in the port city on Monday after he returned to Pakistan. The police arrested Ghauri after it was alerted about his return to the country. The police said they arrested the former federal minister as corruption and terrorism cases have been registered against him. The …

ISLAMABAD, July 04 (ABC): The government is ready to implement another condition of the International Monetary Fund regarding Rs7.91/unit increase in the basic power tariff. According to sources, the federal cabinet in its meeting today (Monday) will deliberate on raising the basic power tariff by Rs7.91 per unit. A summary in this regard will be presented during its meeting. Sources …

ISLAMABAD, July 04 (ABC): Finance Minister Miftah Ismail has summoned a meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) which would mull over import payments to Afghanistan in Pakistani rupees and other issues. According to sources, the Miftah Ismail-led meeting of the ECC would mull over an eight-point agenda. “It includes payment of imported items from Afghanistan in Pakistani rupee and …

ISLAMABAD, July 4(ABC): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday decided to provide subsidies on flour, sugar, ghee, rice and pulses at utility stores. Sources privy to the development said that Rs 68.22 billion has been proposed for subsidy on 5 basic items in the financial year 2022-23 and a summary has also been prepared on the directions of PM Shehbaz …

ISLAMABAD, July 4(ABC): Prime Minister’s Advisor on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Chaudhry Qamar Zaman Kaira on Monday said that the people were enduring power outages due to the sheer negligence of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led government, which had failed to commission several power generation plants as per schedule. Addressing a press conference along with minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum …

LAHORE, July 4(ABC): PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Monday said that Imran Khan used to speak against US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu but now he is sending messages to him for forgiveness. Addressing a rally in PP-170 Lahore ahead of by-election, she said that Punjab CM gave historic electricity bill relief to the poor people who had …

ISLAMABAD, July 4(ABC): Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Monday that the presser of PTI leaders Fawad Chaudhry and Shireen Mazari has confirmed that former first lady Bushra Bibi was the mastermind of campaign against the institutions. In a statement on Monday, she said they admitted in their press conference that the wife of former Prime Minister …

WEB DESK, July 4(ABC): Detecting diseases might become easier in the future with robots’ ability to “sniff” hidden illnesses, surprisingly including cancer, by smelling a person’s breath. Scientists are trying to find out techniques that can analyse chemical compounds in patients’ breath, sweat, and even tears and point towards diseases. Experts believe these chemicals are like “fingerprints” leading to diagnosis. …

LAHORE, July 4(ABC): Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz Monday announced that the provincial government will bear the power cost of households that consume up to 100 units of electricity in a month. Addressing a press conference in Lahore, the chief minister said that the Punjab government will bear the utility expenses of consumers who use up to 100 units of …

ISLAMABAD, July 4(ABC): Finance Minister Miftah Ismail has dismissed reports and tweets claiming that the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) bailout programme for Pakistan is being postponed or delayed. “I have been reading with some amusement all the tweets and stories about IMF programme being postponed or delayed due to some anti-corruption law. There is no truth to it,” tweeted Miftah, …

ISLAMABAD, July 4(ABC): PTI warned Monday that if former prime minister Imran Khan’s phone calls with his principal secretary Azam Khan were leaked, it would not sit quietly. “Ansar Abbasi sahab, in a blog, has said that an audio of former prime minister Imran Khan’s telephone call on a secure line with his principal secretary Azam Khan will be leaked,” Mazari told …

ISLAMABAD, July 4(ABC): The Pakistani rupee recovered on Monday, closing at 204.56 against the US dollar in the interbank market. According to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the local currency gained 0.14%, against the greenback. Last week, the local currency closed at 204.85. Traders said that the Pakistani rupee is expected to strengthen further this week as uncertainty …

ISLAMABAD, July 4(ABC): The non-recovery of missing persons despite judicial orders on Monday drew the ire of Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah, who warned of summoning the prime minister for an explanation if the authorities still fail to implement the orders. “It is a fact that nobody is doing anything [about it],” Justice Minallah remarked during the …

LAHORE, July 4(ABC): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has directed to revise the policy of gas load-shedding for gas-fired power plants to ensure productive delivery of exports. He was chairing a meeting in Lahore to discuss problems of those industrial and export sectors that help promote investment in the country. The Prime Minister said economic survival of the country lies …

ISLAMABAD, July 4(ABC): The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday declared the inquiry report pertaining to unrest during the by-election in NA 240 as unsatisfactory. A five-member bench of ECP headed by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) conducted the hearing on the matter. In the hearing, the Regional Election Commissioner submitted an inquiry report on NA-240 which stated that …

ISLAMABAD, July 4(ABC): Minister for National Health Services Abdul Qadir Patel has appealed the people to observe precautionary measures in view of rising trend of Covid cases. Talking to media in Islamabad on Monday, he said the positivity ratio of Corona cases is over four percent. He said the government has issued the Standard Operating Procedures, which were evolved earlier, …

ISLAMABAD, July 4(ABC): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday extended his heartiest felicitations to the people and government of the United States on the occasion of the country’s 246th Independence Day and expressed Islamabad’s desire to engage with Washington at all levels. Americans mark their nation’s birthday on July 4, which was the day when the country was liberated from …

ISLAMABAD, July 4(ABC): PTI Chairman Imran Khan Monday approached the Supreme Court against the amendments in election laws revoking voting rights of overseas Pakistanis through internet voting. On June 9, Parliament’s joint session passed the Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2022, and National Accountability (Amendment) Bill, 2022 — depriving overseas Pakistanis of voting rights through i-voting, abolishing the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs), …

ISLAMABAD, July 4(ABC): Pakistan’s coronavirus positivity ratio has remained high in the past couple of weeks, with the country posting an infection rate of more than 4% in the last 24 hours as well, official data showed Monday morning. The National Institute of Health (NIH), in the latest statistics, showed that the positivity ratio shot up to 4.61% in the …