Blaze News - Pakistan

The Sindh Employees’ Social Security Institution (SESSI) has initiated departmental action over the HIV outbreak among children at Kulsoom Bai Valika Hospital, suspending two doctors, removing a dispenser and issuing show-cause notices to 37 doctors, nurses and other medical and administrative staff as investigations intensify into the incident that has left 78 children diagnosed with HIV. According to an official notification, Dr Amanullah Memon and Dr Huma Aman have been suspended with immediate effect and directed to report to the SESSI head office. The inquiry committee has accused both doctors of negligence, maladministration and violations of medical protocols. Dispenser Basharat Khan has also been removed from his duties, while 37 employees have been served show-cause notices and directed to submit their replies within 14 days. Kulsoom Bai Valika Hospital is the same facility where dozens of children were allegedly infected with HIV due to the use of reused or unsafe...

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has approved a Diaspora Doctor Locum Programme (DDLP) under which overseas Pakistani and foreign specialist doctors will perform advanced surgeries and provide medical services in 12 public sector hospitals across the province. Chairing a meeting of the Punjab Specialised Healthcare Department, the chief minister approved the launch of the programme aimed at bringing highly qualified international medical professionals to the province. A dashboard and operational web portal will also be established for the programme. The participants were informed that the inauguration of the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology, Sargodha, was expected on July 15, the NS Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research on July 31 and the Jinnah Institute of Cardiology in Lahore on August 15. The chief minister received detailed briefings regarding the progress on the institutes besides healthcare service delivery in the province. Under the locum programme, ...

A strengthening high-pressure system in the upper atmosphere is expected to intensify heatwave conditions across Sindh, while Karachi may experience extremely hot and humid weather during all three days of Eidul Adha. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, humidity levels in Karachi could rise to 80 per cent in the morning and 70 per cent in the evening, making temperatures feel up to five degrees Celsius higher than the actual reading. Although sea breezes are expected to remain active throughout Eid, the heat intensity could still feel as high as 42°C. On Tuesday, Karachi recorded a maximum temperature of 36.2°C, but due to 62 per cent humidity, the heat index reached an uncomfortable 42°C. Meanwhile, Jacobabad recorded the highest temperature in Sindh at 49.5°C during extreme heat conditions. The Met Office said the ongoing high-pressure system has become stronger, causing moderate to severe heatwave conditions in most districts of Sindh until Ma...

A state-of-the-art laboratory has been formally inaugurated at Bacha Khan Medical Complex MTI, Swabi, with officials saying it would offer a full range of modern diagnostic facilities. The facility, established above the new emergency block of the teaching hospital, was inaugurated by former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Labour Minister Faisal Khan Tarkai, who jointly cut the ribbon at the ceremony. UNICEF K-P Health Team Lead Dr Inamullah, members of the hospital administration, and MTI Swabi board member Dr Tufail Muhammad, along with other dignitaries, were also in attendance. Read: K-P 'revolutionises' healthcare system Hospital Director Dr Khalid Masood briefed the visiting delegation on the laboratory’s capabilities, stating that it was equipped with all essential modern diagnostic services, including microbiology, haematology, histopathology, TB culture, and other advanced testing facilities. Following the inauguration, the d...

Two school-going children were killed in a drone strike in the Shah Tangi area of Mamund tehsil in Bajaur district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Thursday, police said. Deputy Superintendent of Police Niaz Muhammad confirmed the incident and said the injured were immediately taken to the hospital; however, both children succumbed to their injuries on the way. According to local sources, the incident took place while the children were returning home from school after completing their classes. Read: 3 injured in terrorist drone attack on cricket ground in K-P's Bajaur The deceased were identified as 10-year-old Hassan, son of Israr, and a 12-year-old boy, the son of local religious scholar Maulana Mumtaz. The incident triggered panic in the area, with residents strongly condemning the strike and demanding a transparent investigation. Sources said grief gripped the affected families, while a large number of local residents gathered at the site after the incident. The origin of t...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended the Pakistan Navy for its readiness and professionalism, stating that the naval forces were fully prepared to launch an operation akin to the historic Operation Dwarka. However, the Indian Navy avoided confrontation after witnessing the befitting response from Pakistan’s ground and air forces. PM Shehbaz arrived in Karachi on Monday for a day-long visit and visited the Pakistan Navy Dockyard, where he met with naval officers and personnel. "The Indian military, after facing setbacks on land and in the air, was not ready to take on our naval forces. Otherwise, the Pakistan Navy would have revived the memories of Operation Dwarka," the PM told officers and sailors. "During the Indian misadventure, the world saw that our Navy was fully prepared. Naval weapons had been deployed, and the Pakistan Navy was once again ready—just like in 1965—for Dwarka," he added. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif addresses the officers and sail...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has constituted a three-member inquiry committee to investigate the alleged irregularities in the leasing of valuable Port Qasim Authority (PQA) land, following explosive revelations by Senator Faisal Vawda that the land was leased at throwaway prices during the current government’s tenure. According to a notification issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, the land was allocated for a small and medium industrial park. It added that the alleged financial irregularities in the leasing process will be probed by the panel.  The committee will be led by the chairman of the prime minister’s inspection commission, who has been appointed as the convener, while Intelligence Bureau (IB) Director Sirajuddin Amjad and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director Syed Shahid Hussain will serve as its members. The committee has also been assigned a special task to examine the legal strategy of PQA in seeking the cancellation of the lease, including efforts to ov...

Security and health officials heaved a sigh of relief as the 35-year-old American woman, Onija Andrew Robbins, who has been receiving psychiatric treatment at JPMC, was declared fit to travel and discharged on Friday evening. She was escorted to the Women Police Station by an all-female squad from where she was taken to the Jinnah Interantional Terminal and put on a flight back home. Earlier, hospital officials confirmed that arrangements for her travel, including necessary documents and an air ticket, were pending from the US Consulate General in Karachi. Once the formalities were complete, she was sent off. The hospital had been in regular communication with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the US diplomatic mission regarding her return. Medical reports had indicated major improvement in her condition. Her hemoglobin level had risen from four to 9.9. However, she continued to battle bipolar disorder, which would require ongoing treatment. According to Prof Chooni Lal, head ...

The Sindh government ordered on Sunday an inquiry into the damage to the gates of the Sukkur Barrage and appointed focal persons to immediately update the farmers about the possible water shortage and crop losses. The provincial Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro announced a five-member committee comprising his department’s senior officials to find out the causes of the barrage gate collapse, identify the real culprits behind it, and determine the responsible officers. The committee would submit its report in five days. Sukkur Barrage over the Indus River – the largest single irrigation network of its kind in the world – was built over 90 years ago and is considered the pride of Pakistan's irrigation system. The barrage consists of 66 gates with seven off-take canals to irrigate 70% of the province’s arable land. On Thursday, the barrage official said in a statement that damages had been detected to gates number 44 and 47 of the barrage. They added that the water supply into all th...

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced a Rs400 billion package for farmers, including a Punjab Kisan Bank, Green Tractor scheme, local manufacturing of harvesters and agricultural tools along with an Oil Seed Promotion Programme. The CM and PML-N President Muhammad Nawaz Sharif presided over a meeting in which a comprehensive briefing on the Kisan Package was given. It was agreed in principle to establish a Punjab Kisan Bank for granting loans to the farmers on soft terms. Approval was also granted for the CM Punjab Green Tractor Scheme for the farmers. The CM turned down a proposal for disbursement of only Rs600,000 in subsidy on a tractor. She directed the authorities to give 70 per cent subsidy on small and 50% on big tractors. On the proposal of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, the number of tractors under the scheme was increased by 10,000. CM Maryam Nawaz called for the completion of the first phase of the tractor scheme within a year. It was also decided that the nu...

The Election Tribunal (ET) Islamabad on Wednesday imposed Rs15,000 on the returning officer of the NA-47 constituency of Islamabad for not appearing before the tribunal and ordered him to appear in any case in the next hearing. The tribunal gave a last chance to the RO to appear. The tribunal also gave the last and final opportunity to PML-N MNA Tariq Fazal Chaudhry from NA-47 to submit his reply. The MNA was ordered to submit Forms 45, 46 and 47 along with the affidavit. In a written order, the tribunal stated that MNA Tariq Fazal didn’t submit the answer as per the court order and it was the last and final chance to submit Forms 45, 46 and 47 along with the affidavit. Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri of the Election Tribunal heard the application of Shoaib Shaheen, an independent candidate from the NA-47 constituency, against poll rigging in the constituency. Lawyers appeared before the court on behalf of Shoaib Shaheen. Justice Jahangiri remarked that the Election Commission of Pakis...

Norway's Ambassador to Pakistan, Per Albert Ilsaas called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages, and safe and unhindered humanitarian access to alleviate the suffering of Gazans. "We must put an end to the escalating violence in the occupied Palestinian territories," he urged, reflecting Norway's commitment to global peace and humanitarian efforts. The envoy’s remarks came at a reception he hosted to celebrate Norway's Constitution Day on Friday, while delivering a heartfelt plea for peace in Gaza. This national day, observed annually on May 17, commemorates the signing of the Norwegian Constitution in 1814 and pays homage to the royal family. The event was attended by up to 450 guests including a distinguished assembly of diplomats, government officials, bureaucrats, the diplomatic community, journalists, civil society activists and notable figures from various sectors of society, all gathered to honour Norway's national heritage. Speaki...

The Sindh government and the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) have agreed to collaborate on providing non-formal education, vocational, and technical training to out-of-school children. NAVTTC Chairperson Gulmina Bilal Ahmed met with Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah to discuss these initiatives. Present at the meeting were Sindh Textbook Board Chairman Abdul Aleem Lashari, NAVTTC Sindh Director General Aziz Chandio, and Chief Program Manager RSU Dr. Junaid Ali Sammo. Ahmed stated that out-of-school children will receive technical education after school hours with NAVTTC's support, including trainers from the private sector. The scheme will also benefit regular students. Minister Shah emphasized the importance of technical training in the modern economy and the need to support children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. He noted that non-formal education would provide these children with employment opportunities. Additionally, the Sindh...

The port city experienced a further rise in temperature due to hot gusts of north-westerly winds from Balochistan blowing into the city on Wednesday. The temperature reached 39.9 degrees Celsius. The weather was hot and humid, with the city's humidity increasing to 52%. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), Wednesday's maximum temperature of 39.9 degrees Celsius marked an increase of 2.1 degrees from the previous day. The PMD Early Warning Centre forecast indicates that the temperature may exceed 39 degrees on Thursday and Friday. Hot and dry north-westerly winds are anticipated between the morning and afternoon, however people will get some respite when the cool and refreshing sea breeze - the south-westerly winds from the sea, start to blow during the evening. Humidity levels are expected to range between 34% and 35%. The Early Warning Centre also predicts that the weather will remain hot in the upper and central parts of Sindh, with maximum temperatures ...

A young Japanese musician enthralled the audience with his performance at the residence of the Japanese Ambassador to Pakistan in the federal capital on Tuesday. Singer Kenta Shoji was invited to the residence of WADA Mitsuhiro, the Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan. The singer first mesmerised the audience with his mastery of playing the piano and then sang captivating songs in Japanese, English and Urdu languages. The singer from Kyoto (Japan) took the audience by surprise when he sang popular Pakistani hits by Vital Sign “Dil Dil Pakistan” and “Aitebar”, and received great applause from the attendees. Kenta started playing the piano at the age of 20. He has produced a wide range of vocal/piano songs covering his favourite genres of music such as Soul, R&B, Rock, Pop and Jazz. In 2022, he launched his album “Skip”. The following year he started travelling around the world performing his music on the streets and at various live music events. Published in The Express Tribune, May 15t...

A comprehensive water quality testing campaign is being launched for all Water and Sanitation Authority (WASA) sources and end users. A meeting was held under the chairmanship of Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) DG Kinza Murtaza, to discuss this campaign, during which WASA MD stated that a water quality analysis lab has been established at Rawal Lake filtration plant to regularly monitor & analyse the quality of water supplied through Rawal Lake filtration plant, the overhead reservoirs of Khanpur Dam and other mini filtration plants and tube-wells that fall under the jurisdiction of WASA. The lab would also assess the quality of water in the distribution system as it reaches the consumer’s tap. Presently, the WASA Lab is analysing three kinds of water quality parameters, which are, physical, chemical and bacteriological parameters. Physical parameters include water appearance, temperature, PH level, turbidity, conductance, dissolved oxygen and its Total Dissolved Solids (TDS...

The Lahore High Court (LHC)’s Rawalpindi Bench and the district courts observed a complete strike on the call of the Pakistan Bar Council and the Punjab Bar Council. The strike was called in protest against the violent arrests of lawyers in Lahore a day earlier. Due to the strike, more than 8,000 cases could not be heard in the sessions, civil, magistrate, family and special courts throughout the district. Consequently, the hearings were adjourned without any progress. Moreover, the hearings of family matters of women who had come from remote areas also could not be carried out due to the strike. The bustling courthouses, which remain operative until 4pm, seemed deserted at 9am. The office bearers of the high court and district bar associations restricted lawyers from attending court. As a result, the courtrooms were left devoid of lawyers in the early morning. All unheard cases were adjourned and rescheduled on new dates. The judiciary did not register new bail applications and shut d...

The price of electricity supplied through ex-Wapda distribution companies (XWDISCOs) has been increased by Rs2.83 per unit as part of the fuel cost adjustment (FCA) charges for the month of March, according to a notification issued by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) on Wednesday. The power regulator added that the additional charges would be retrieved from the consumers in their electricity bills for May. The notification read that the additional charges would be applicable to all categories of consumers except Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCs) and lifeline ones. Even K-Electric customers will be exempted from this price hike. This increase will burden the consumers with an additional Rs26 billion. Last month, the government had sought clearance from Nepra to extract about Rs23 billion additional in FCA from consumers for electricity consumed in March despite 79 per cent of power generation coming from cheaper local fuels. The Central Power Purchasing A...

Featuring 29 embassies, the International Food Festival “Taste of the World” was held here on Sunday as a fundraising event for vulnerable segments of society in the country. The event was a celebration of culinary diversity and cultural exchange, bringing people together through the universal language of food. The participating embassies offered a unique and authentic taste through cuisine ranging from savoury dishes to sweet treats representing the flavours and traditions of the world. Taste of the World, a charity event, is the collaborative effort of many embassies, IFWA (Islamabad Foreign Women’s Association), Serena Hotels, the Head of Missions’ Spouses (HOMS) Group with the participation of the Pakistan Foreign Office Women Association (PFOWA). IFWA and the Serena Hotels have a long history of partnership that aims to make a meaningful impact by raising funds for charity projects that benefit vulnerable groups, especially women and children in Pakistan. Aziz Boolani, the Chief E...

An Accountability Court in Karachi has ordered National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to present all documents in the reference against alleged allocation of government land in Clifton by MQM leader Syed Mustafa Kamal and others. During the hearing of the reference on Saturday, Mustafa Kamal and other accused appeared in court. The court inquired whether NAB had filed a request to restore the reference. The NAB prosecutor replied that they had filed the request. The prosecutor alleged that Mustafa Kamal had illegally allotted shops in Jahangir Kothari Parade, which were part of the park's land. Defence lawyer Safia Hassan Sabir Advocate argued that the shops were allocated in 1984, and Mustafa Kamal was not even in the picture at that time. The court remarked, verbal arguments are not enough, documentary evidence is needed. The NAB prosecutor replied that the documents were not available, and the office was also closed. The court expressed surprise, wondering how NAB court could be w...