Day: May 18, 2024

Pakistan's Ambassador Hassan Zaigham says Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Foreign Minister of Kyrgyzstan have assured that Kyrgyz government is making all-out efforts to ensure safety of all foreign nationals, including Pakistanis. Talking to Radio Pakistan's News Current Affairs Channel, he said Pakistani nationals are peaceful and are not responsible for any violence, but they were trapped in violence that erupted in the city. He said that a mob of around one thousand people did not target any particular nationality holder. He said the mob targeted all foreign students including Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Indians. The Ambassador said that violence broke out due to some social media posts. Hassan Zaigham said the overall situation in Bishkek is under control now and there is no panic like situation. He requested the people not to share the unconfirmed and false reports, circulating on the social media. He said that Pakistan's Embassy has received about six hundred calls of the relatives of students. T he Ambassador said that an advisory has also been shared with students to stay indoor until the situation becomes normal. Hassan Zaigham said that with the help of Kyrgyz private airline, arrangements are being made for special flights from Kyrgyzstan to Pakistan. Source: Radio Pakistan

A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight from Islamabad to Toronto had to turn back to Karachi due to a technical issue reported by the captain while flying over Russia on Friday. The Boeing 777 aircraft, carrying 268 passengers, was supposed to depart from Islamabad at 2:15 pm but left an hour late, as per flight inquiry. PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan explained that PIA flight PK-781 had to return to Karachi due to a technical issue. The captain decided to turn back while the plane was flying over Russia, about four hours into the flight. The flight landed back in Karachi after 1 am on Saturday. He stated that the issue with the aircraft was minor, but the captain opted to return rather than continue the lengthy journey over the Atlantic Ocean. According to sources, the aircraft, with registration number AP-BGZ, had previously experienced the same problem. Abdullah Hafeez Khan added that the decision to return the aircraft to Karachi was based on better engineering facilities and spare pa rt availability. The authorities made the arrangements to receive the flight at Jinnah International Airport Karachi, and passengers were accommodated at the airport hotel. The flight is now set to depart for Toronto at 1 pm today (Saturday). Source: Pro Pakistani

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said the government will continue to take steps to create further ease for the citizens for the issuance and renewal of National Identity Cards. Talking to the NADRA officials during his visit to the NADRA Center in Lahore today, the Interior Minister directed to better manage the rush during the night shift. He said that it is encouraging to see that the citizens' work is being done promptly at the NADRA Center. Source: Radio Pakistan

The Punjab government has decided to dissolve the Zakat Department and is considering integrating it into the Social Welfare Department. According to sources, the Chief Minister of Punjab has preliminarily agreed to dissolve the department and combine it with Social Welfare. However, the Punjab government has requested additional recommendations from the steering committee regarding this matter. The committee will work on a strategy to incorporate the Zakat Department into the Social Welfare Department. Recommendations to abolish the Zakat department were submitted to the Punjab Chief Minister yesterday. Back in February of this year, around 24,000 deserving Zakat recipients in the Rawalpindi division found themselves without financial aid for approximately six months. This was due to the failure to elect chairpersons for 3,510 local Zakat committees within the Punjab Zakat and Ushr department, as well as the non-release of Zakat funds. Source: Pro Pakistani

Pakistan's Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic Hassan Zaigham met the Kyrgyz Deputy Foreign Minister Imangaziev Almaz in connection with the incidents of violence in Bishkek. Ambassador Hassan Zaigham strongly raised the concerns of Pakistani nationals particularly the large number of affected Pakistani students and their families. He urged the Kyrgyz Government to prioritize the safeguarding of Pakistani nationals. The Kyrgyz Deputy Foreign Minister informed that the Kyrgyz authorities have controlled the situation which is now back to normal. He said that the Kyrgyz Police is providing security to all the hostels and the matter is being directly supervised by the Kyrgyz President. Deputy Foreign Minister Almaz assured the ambassador that the Government of Kyrgyzstan would take legal action against the perpetrators of yesterday's attack. He shared that fourteen foreign nationals including some Pakistanis were discharged after first aid. One Pakistani national remains under treatment. Source: Radio Paki stan

The Federal Government has established the country's first 'Climate Change Authority' under the Climate Change Act 2017. A three-member Supreme Court bench in its judgment had directed the Federal Government to establish the Climate Change Authority to cope with the risk of global warming and environmental degradation. Climate Change Act 2017 states that the headquarters of the Authority will be in Islamabad and it may set up its offices at other places as per the requirement. Source: Radio Pakistan