Islamabad, Nov 21: Chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), Allama Raghib Naeemi, clarified his earlier remarks on Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), attributing the controversy to a typographical error. He assured everyone that the council never declared VPNs un-Islamic or ‘haram.’ The clarification followed a CII statement that mistakenly labeled VPN usage as un-Islamic, prompting the Ministry of Interior to direct the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to block unregistered VPNs. Consequently, PTA blocked several VPN services. Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Allama Naeemi highlighted the misuse of social media for blasphemy, sectarianism, or extremism as unacceptable. He stated,…
Author: Mawadat Fatima
Islamabad, Nov 21: Saudi Arabia suffered their second defeat as the UAE secured a 17-run victory in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier B in Doha, Qatar. The UAE, who batted first, posted a total of 162-5 in 20 overs, while Saudi Arabia managed 145-6 in their reply at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium. The UAE’s innings began cautiously, with Ishtiaq Ahmad delivering a maiden over against Alishan Sharafu. Usman Najeeb continued to restrict runs in the next over. Sharafu fell for 19 in the fifth over, followed by skipper Muhammad Waseem in the next, leaving…
Islamabad, Nov 20: France reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the global effort to eradicate polio as Pakistan grapples with a rise in polio cases. During the Polio Oversight Board (POB) delegation’s visit to Pakistan, French Ambassador Nicolas Galey hosted a reception at his residence to engage stakeholders, including the government, diplomatic corps, and donor community, to address the polio outbreak. The French Embassy, in collaboration with Agence Française de Développement (AFD), is backing Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts through financial and operational support. This includes a $55 million concessional loan, partially funded by a $20 million grant from the Bill &…
Islamabad, Nov 20: Ambassador Nicolas Galey of France, while speaking as the Chief Guest at the final match of the Girls Basketball Tournament at Hamidi Hall, highlighted the transformative power of sports. He emphasized that qualities like teamwork, perseverance, and resilience, cultivated through sports, play a pivotal role in shaping personalities and preparing individuals to navigate life’s challenges. A total of eight amateur teams from different areas of Islamabad took part in an all-girls basketball tournament titled ‘Equal Playing Field.’ A large number of schoolgirls attended the intensely contested match that was ultimately won by ‘Dream Team’ but superbly fought…
Islamabad, Nov 20: Romina Khurshid Alam, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change, emphasized the urgent need for climate-vulnerable developing countries to develop comprehensive strategies to address the loss and damage caused by climate change. Highlighting the increasing severity of extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and droughts, she stressed the importance of integrating disaster risk financing into broader loss and damage efforts to build resilience and support long-term recovery. She made these remarks during her keynote address at the event ‘Pakistan and the Global Shield’ at the Pakistan Pavilion in Baku, held on the sidelines of the COP29…
Islamabad, Nov 20: Hyundai’s Elantra N Gets TCR Edition Upgrade A Performance Boost for Enthusiasts The 2025 Hyundai Elantra N is set to debut a special TCR Edition, inspired by Hyundai’s success in Touring Car Racing (TCR). This edition comes with performance and design upgrades, including 19-inch forged wheels and N Performance brakes with four-piston calipers. One of its standout features is a large, adjustable carbon-fiber rear wing, which enhances downforce for various driving conditions. The TCR Edition is powered by a 2.0L turbocharged engine delivering 276 horsepower, with a boost function that increases output to 286 horsepower. Drivers can…
Islamabad, Nov 20: Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, proposed a comprehensive strategy on Wednesday to align the GSP-Plus program with the 5Es framework to achieve export-led economic growth and ensure a prosperous future for Pakistan. He emphasized that the GSP-Plus program goes beyond trade preferences, serving as a roadmap for sustainable development and governance. Speaking at a conference titled Promoting Good Governance through Trade – Leveraging through GSP+, organized by the Fredrick Naumann Foundation, he highlighted its role as a driver of economic equity, transparency, and sustainability. The minister pointed out that challenges like weak…
Islamabad, Nov 20: Pakistan has developed 36 cannabis-based products, as revealed in a briefing to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Science and Technology. The session outlined progress in scientific research, particularly by the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR). PCSIR Chairman Dr. Hussain Abidi highlighted the creation of cannabis products and voiced concerns about potential challenges in marketing them. He also mentioned the labs’ achievements, including the production of election ink and earning Rs. 2.5 billion in exports over the last three years. The discussion underscored the importance of advancing pharmaceutical research, with PCSIR expected to contribute…
Islamabad, Nov 20: Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunications, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, has urged TikTok to utilize its platform for educational purposes. Speaking on Wednesday, Khawaja emphasized the potential of TikTok to impart various skills and basic education, assuring the Ministry of IT’s full support in achieving this objective. During a meeting with a TikTok delegation led by Director of Public Policy, Emir Gelen, Khawaja highlighted the importance of fostering quality and productive content on social media platforms. The discussion also included IT Secretary Zarrar Hasham Khan, who was present to support the conversation. According to a news…
Islamabad, Nov 20: E-Bikes Scheme Punjab Key Update for Students The Punjab government has raised the number of e-bikes available under the Chief Minister Youth Initiative, as reported by ARY News on Wednesday. The allocation has been increased from 20,000 to 27,200 bikes. A representative from the Punjab Transport Department confirmed that, following the instructions of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, orphaned students will receive bikes free of charge. Additionally, all female students who applied for electric bikes will also receive their bikes. The Bank of Punjab has approved loans for 20,000 students to purchase bikes. So far, 7,500 bikes have…
