Former test cricketer Sarfraz Nawaz has strongly opposed the decision to make Rameez Raja chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board(PCB). While doing a press conference in London, Sarfraz Nawaz said, “Rameez Raja is pro-India and had fully supported India in big three projects”. He added that Majid khan, Saleem Altaf, Zaheer Abbas, and Jawad khan are better suited to be the next PCB chairman.
Pakistani philanthropist and founder of Akhuwat Foundation has received the Ramon Magsaysay Award 202, also known as Asia’s Nobel Prize. He has received this award for his extraordinary contributions to the elimination of poverty in Pakistan. He is a social entrepreneur, former civil servant, and author. At the age of 64, he was conferred with Ramon Magsaysay Award.
New Zealand Cricket Board approved team for Pakistan tour. According to media reports, New Zealand Cricket has expressed satisfaction over the report of its security expert and Captain Tom Latham said in a statement from Dhaka on Zoom that he believed in Rigg Dixon’s report. The New Zealand cricket team has scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on 11th September.
The federal government has announced a reduction in the prices of petroleum products. According to the notification issued by the Ministry of Finance, petrol and diesel prices have been reduced by Rs 1.5 per liter. The new price of petrol for the next 15 days has gone up to Rs 118.30 per liter.
The Taliban celebrated with gunfire and diplomacy as the longest war with America came to its end after the last US troops flew out of Afghanistan. They celebrated their total return to power after two decades of war. "Congratulations to Afghanistan... this victory belongs to us all," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said it his interview.
During an operation conducted in the Mastung area of Quetta, Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) killed eleven terrorists. It is reported that those terrorists were associated with a banned organization. CTD took arms and ammunition in its custody recovered from the terrorist's compound.
Local gold in Pakistan is being sold for Rs. 95,165 per 10 grams and the price of one tola is Rs111,000. The rates were up by Rs350 per tola and Rs300 per 10-grams as compared to the previous prices.
It is reported that police have arrested three more suspects of the Minar-e-Pakistan incident in which a girl was brutally assaulted and molested by 400 men. Police have presented those three suspects before the magistrate. The court has sent them to jail for an identity parade. So far, 147 suspects have been sent for the identity parade. It is reported that the identity parade will take place on 1st September.
UAE real estate company, Diyár, is going to foray into downtown Lahore with the acquisition of a $30 Million super-prime waterfront development. Diyár in its statement said, "We have been eyeing Lahore’s prime real estate market for the last 24 months, patiently waiting for the right opportunity. We look forward to delivering a world-class scheme that will set a new standard in Pakistan’s uber-luxury real estate segment synonymous with our brand”.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in its fresh notification extended the restrictions imposed on inbound flights till September 30, as it continues the ban placed on countries in Category C. "All Pakistanis whose return to Pakistan from Category C countries may travel to the country without grant of a special exemption", the notification reads.
Federal Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed said, "I can confirm as your interior minister that we have not given the status of a refugee to even a single person". He clarified that people from Afghanistan arriving in Pakistan via the Chaman border will go back to their country and added that this was "a normal activity". He also mentioned that Pakistan has made arrangements to accommodate 3,000 people in Islamabad.
The final US troop's departure from Kabul airport is under way and “core diplomatic staff” have already departed today. A US official confirmed that the bulk of diplomates have been evacuated. President Joe Biden had set a deadline of Tuesday to withdraw all US forces from Afghanistan.
Former Prime Minister of Afghanistan and Hezb-e-Islami Chief Gulbuddin Hekmatyar has warned India to refrain from supporting the Ahmed Massoud group. He dismissed reports of unrest in Afghanistan and said, "some incidents of firing took place in Kabul, while the rest of the country is at peace". Moreover, he added, "The withdrawal of foreign forces under public aspirations is welcomed."
It is reported that in a Houthi attack on a military base belonging to forces of the Saudi-led coalition in southwest Yemen, 30 soldiers were killed and 60 injured. Yemeni southern forces spokesman Mohamed al-Naqeeb said, "The Houthis have carried out several attacks using armed drones and ballistic missiles on the al-Anad military base". He also said that the death toll may still rise as rescuers were still clearing the scene.
Tomorrow members of the Senate and National Assembly standing committees will visit General Headquarters (GHQ), where they would be briefed about changing situation in Afghanistan and its possible impact on Pakistan. Committee members will meet Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa as well. This meeting is arranged at the request of the defense committees.
A rocket blast was heard near Kabul airport. It is reported that a rocket hit a house in Khawja Bughra near Kabul airport. President Joe Biden had already warned that another attack was highly likely before the end of the evacuation. No casualty has been reported yet.
From tomorrow UAE will again issue tourist visas to the people of all countries who are completely vaccinated against COVID-19. The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) and the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA) announced this decision together. It includes all those countries which were previously banned to enter UAE.
The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) announced to expand the current coronavirus restrictions to 27 cities of the country to curb the spread of disease. NCOC will review this decision on 13th September. This decision is taken due to a surge in positive cases of COVID-19.
The government has released new order according to which Lahore petrol stations will not sell petrol to unvaccinated people from 1st September. Different banners and posters have been placed at petrol pumps of Lahore, saying, "From September 1, only customers with coronavirus vaccine certificates will be able to purchase petrol."
The National Command and Operation Centre said that Pakistan has so far administered more than 50 million doses. In an official Twitter message NCOC mentioned, “Well done Pakistan!!! Landmark of 5 Crore COVID vaccine doses (50 Million doses) crossed!!!” It also urged unvaccinated citizens to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
According to the technology website WeBeta Info, WhatsApp has introduced two new features regarding voice notes for its users. These features have been added in the new update of WhatsApp (2.21.18.3). Now WhatsApp users will be able to see real-time voice waves and to hear recorded messages before sending them. Users will be able to use these features after updating the application.
According to the updated record released by NCOC death toll due to COVID-19 in Pakistan has increased by 22 percent. It is reported that in the last 24 hours COVID-19 claimed 95 more lives taking the death toll to 25,415. Active cases in Pakistan are 92,844 whereas 3,235 recoveries were reported in the last 24 hours.
Federal Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed announced that the Chaman and Torkham borders are open and Pakistan is ready to issue 21-day transit visas to afghans coming to Pakistan. He said Pakistan will issue visas to people coming from Afghanistan if their details and documentation are correct. He also said, “We are willing to issue visas to the diplomats of all countries including the United States and the United Kingdom.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey held the first official talks with the Taliban in Kabul, as the situation rapidly changes in Afghanistan after the group's take over. He said that talks are underway and added that Turkey has not finalized the decision to help the Taliban to run Kabul airport after US troops withdraw.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has launched the "Roshan Apna Ghar" housing scheme for overseas Pakistanis so that they would be able to buy a house in their home country. He said that overseas Pakistanis are the country’s biggest asset and added, “Unfortunately, we have not been able to tap the full potential of overseas Pakistanis to our advantage.”
Director-General Inter-Services Public Relations Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar has said that the Pakistan borders are safe from the Afghanistan side. Addressing a media conference he said, "The Ashraf Ghani government ended in Afghanistan on August 15. No untoward incident occurred in the border areas". Moreover, he mentioned that security forces are trying their best to make sure that no terrorist would enter Pakistan from Afghanistan.
Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI) leader Nazir Chohan has claimed that 11 members will announce separation from the Tareen group. He said, “I am ashamed of my actions. You are my leader. Please forgive me. After reprimand and rebuke, the Prime Minister pardoned me”. Moreover, he claimed that PM Imran Khan has directed him to be active in the local body elections.
Pakistan cricket head coach Misbah-ul-Haq has tested positive for coronavirus, said Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in an official statement. It said, “Pakistan head coach Misbah-ul-Haq has tested positive and, as such, will not depart for Lahore with his side later today (Wednesday)”. The PCB said that the former captain is ‘asymptomatic’ and will complete his 10-day quarantine in Jamaica.
