Mangoes are among the main source of income for Pakistan's farmers. But the recent hailstorms have delayed harvests, which were already pummelled by last year's floods. Kamran Yousaf has the story.
Source: TRTworld.com
12 Pakistanis Among Survivors Of Migrant Vessel Tragedy Off Greece Coast
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, said yesterday that, 12 Pakistanis were identified among the survivors of a shipwreck that killed 79 people, off the coast of Greece on Wednesday.
“At this stage, we are unable to verify the number and identity of Pakistani nationals among the deceased,” Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said.
She said that, the Pakistani mission in Greece remained in contact with the local authorities, for the identification and recovery of Pakistani nationals among the deceased, and providing relief to the survivors.
The identification of the recovered bodies “will take place through DNA-matching with close family members,” she added.
A deadly shipwreck happened off Greek shores on Wednesday, leaving at least 79 passengers dead, the Greek national news agency AMNA reported
Source: Nam News Network
14 Killed, 20 Injured In Passenger Bus Crash In Punjab
At least 14 people were killed and over 20 others injured, when a passenger bus turned turtle in Chakwal district of Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province yesterday, police officers said.
The accident took place on the motorway near Kallar Kahar area of the district, when the driver of the bus lost control of the vehicle, due to brake failure, leading to the tragic crash, Deputy Inspector General of National Highways and Motorway Police, Muhammad Yusuf Malik, said.
At least five women and three children are among the people who have lost their lives in the accident, the officer said, adding that, the bus was on its way to Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab, from the federal capital, Islamabad, when it met the accident.
Upon receiving the information, police and rescue workers reached the site and shifted the injured to a nearby hospital, where several passengers were said to be in critical condition.
Taking notice of the accident, Prime Minister, Shahbaz Sharif, expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives.
He sought a detailed report of the accident and directed authorities concerned to provide the best medical facilities to the injured
Source: Nam News Network
PM Shahbaz Constitutes Inquiry Committee to Probe Greece Boat Tragedy
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has constituted a four-member inquiry committee to probe the Greece boat incident, in which many Pakistani nationals died.
So far, no official number has been given by the government regarding the number of Pakistanis who lost their lives in the tragic incident. However, an official condolence message issued by Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani said that he “deeply mourns the tragic loss of over 300 Pakistani lives in the recent boat accident off the coast of Greece.”
According to a report in Guardian, about 400 Pakistanis were on board. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Saturday that only 12 of the 78 survivors were from Pakistan.
Director General, National Police Bureau (Chairman) Ehsan Sadiq, Additional Secretary (Africa), MoFA Javed Ahmed Umrani, DIG Police Region Poonch, AJandK Sardar Zaheer Ahmad and Joint Secretary (FIA), Interior Division Faisal Nisar would be members of the committee and will submit a report in one week.
According to the terms of reference, the committee will ascertain facts of the Greece boat tragedy besides identifying loopholes and lapses in the legal/enforcement mechanism in Pakistan that exposed precious human lives to the vagaries of human trafficking in this particular case and similar incidents in the past.
The committee will also analyze similar past incidents and actions taken and take stock of the existing legal framework, enforcement measures (in the country), and international coordination to prevent, control, and punish human smuggling.
The committee will also prepare short and long-term recommendations (including legislation, enforcement measures, awareness campaigns, and improvement of national and international coordination) to apprehend agents, facilitators/masterminds/rackets and for the eradication of the menace of human trafficking.
Source: Pro Pakistani
Finance Ministry Directs AGPR to Stops Executive Allowance of AGP Officers
The Finance Ministry has directed AGPR to stop the Executive Allowance of the Auditor General of Pakistan officers.
The ministry has written a letter with regard to the stoppage/ recovery of Executive Allowance granted outside the federal secretariat.
It has been observed by the Ministry of Finance during the examination of the expenditures statement of the Federal Consolidated Fund that several departments outside the Federal Secretariat including AGP are drawing Executive Allowance.
In terms of Finance Division’s Office Memorandum F. No.10(02)R-312018-297 dated 19-07-2022 and 17-02-2023, only the employees in BPS 17-22 (excluding Private Secretaries) of the Federal Secretariat are entitled to draw the Executive Allowance Federal Secretariat means Ministries and Divisions only, as defined under rule 2(vii) read with Schedule-I of the Rules of Business, 1973.
You are advised to direct AGPR and its sub-offices to review the expenditure statements of the Federal Consolidated Fund and ensure that no one not expressly authorized is granted the Executive Allowance, the letter says.
It is also requested to stop such payments forthwith and ensure recovery of the payments already made. Needless to mention that the power to grant Executive Allowance rests with the Federal Cabinet, on recommendations of the Finance Division, only, it adds.
It is pertinent to note that the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) also directed the finance division to release Executive allowance for AGP officers but so far, the ministry has not complied with the PAC instructions.
Source: Pro Pakistani
Here’s the Latest Update on Pakistan Football Team’s Visas for India
Pakistani national football players are expected to receive their delayed visas on Monday for SAFF Championship in India.
The Pakistani football team is currently experiencing a delay in obtaining visas, which puts their participation in the upcoming SAFF Championship in India at risk. The team’s visa applications, submitted to the Indian embassy in Mauritius where they are currently located, have not been processed yet.
According to a source, it is expected that the visa processing will take place on Monday. This would allow the Pakistani players to arrive in Bengaluru either on Monday night or Tuesday morning, just in time for their scheduled match on June 21. However, the short timeframe has raised concerns about the team’s ability to adequately prepare for the tournament.
Visa issues are not uncommon in India and Pakistan due to bureaucratic and diplomatic hurdles. However, football fans eagerly await a resolution to this matter, as the upcoming SAFF Championship is set to provide a stage for the Pakistan team to showcase their skills at the international level.
Source: Pro Pakistani