Category: General

Minister for Planning Asad Umar has warned against a new wave of COVID-19 with new variant named Omicron in the country.

In a tweet on Sunday, he said there are clear evidence of a beginning of another Covid wave which has been expected for last few weeks.

The minister advised the people to strictly follow Standard Operating Procedures including wearing face masks.

Meanwhile addressing a press conference in Karachi, he said the federal government has spent 250 billion rupees from its budget to procure COVID vaccines.

Asad Umar said as per its target, the government has vaccinated over 70 million people by December, 2021.

Responding to a tweet by a PPP leader saying the Sindh Province was unable to procure vaccine as per law, the minister said there is no law that stop any province from purchasing vaccines.

Asad Umar said that the country and the provinces cannot move forward without empowered local governments.

He said that 18th Amendment greatly increased the powers of the provinces.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib has said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has introduced exemplary health insurance project for the welfare of poor segment of society.

Talking to media persons in Multan on Sunday, he said each deserving family will avail treatment facility worth one million rupees through health card.

He said educated youth is being provided with loans of five hundred thousand rupees each so that they can earn their livelihood easily.

He said that ten dams are being built in the country which will help in producing cheaper electricity.

He said steps are being taken to ensure availability of Urea fertilizers to the farmers with providing required gas to the fertilizer producing units.

Source: Radio Pakistan

The world ushered in the New Year 2022 with scaled-back celebrations due to new restrictions aimed at slowing soaring Covid-19 cases amid the hope a better new year. New Zealand first welcomed the New Year 2022 with breathtaking fireworks that were launched from the Sky Tower in Auckland.

New Year also dawned in Australia with splendid fireworks display went ahead at Sydney harbour.

Welcoming hundreds of thousands of spectators from around the world, the UAE's Ras Al Khaimah New Year's celebrations dazzled all with a spectacular fireworks display that smashed two Guinness World Records.

The Omicron Coronavirus variant dampened New Year festivities around much of the world.

New York City scaling down its famous ball drop celebration in Times Square, as only 15,000 spectators were allowed into the official viewing area instead of the usual 58,000.

Around the globe, events were scaled back or cancelled outright, such as with the traditional fireworks over the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur.

In London, officials announced the spectacle would come to life on the television screen, as Big Ben rang in the New Year for the first time since 2017 following a restoration.

In Asia, celebrations were mostly abridged or cancelled. In South Korea, a traditional midnight bell-ringing ceremony was cancelled for the second year, while festivities were banned in Tokyo.

China, where the Coronavirus first emerged in late 2019, was on high alert, with the city of Xian under lockdown and New Year events in other cities cancelled.

Source: Radio Pakistan

A high-level meeting was held in Lahore today to review system of devolution of powers to lower level under the new Local Government Act.

Chairing the meeting, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar said for the first time, direct elections will be held in the province under the new Local Government Act.

He said the new local government system will empower the people in true sense as the grievances of general public will be addressed at their doorsteps.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi has said the AJK government is committed to hold local bodies Elections to transfer the power to gross roots level according to the vision of Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan.

Addressing the District Bar association Mirpur in Mirpur on Wednesday, he said the AJK government is taking concrete measures to give representation to youth and women in local bodies system.

On Kashmir issue, he said brutal Indian forces are killing innocent Kashmiris for last 72 years.

Source: Radio Pakistan

In compliance with the policy directions of the Prime Minister’s Office, Director General, Federal Directorate of Education (FDE), Dr. Ikram Ali will convene e-Kachehri on Thursday, 30th December 2021 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon via Zoom Video Conferencing.

The purpose of conducting e-Kachehri is to listen to the concerns of the students, parents and the general public relating to the educational institutions working under ambit of FDE.

Details are available on social media platforms of Federal Directorate of Education and Radio Pakistan.

Source: Radio Pakistan