Shehri Tv

By Masood Sattar Khan (Pakistan News & Features Services) A ship, loaded with 17000 tons of foreign DAP, was anchored at the Gwadar Port on July 31. The fertilizer was being transported to Afghanistan on 550 trucks via Chamman.  For the first time, bagging of DAP has been done locally instead of the country of origin.  This step has helped locals to earn their livelihood, besides boosting the transportation business in the area.  The development of the Gwadar Port happens to be one of the marquee projects of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

By Masood Sattar Khan (Pakistan News & Features Services) The Gwadar East-Bay Expressway, an important project under the auspices of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), is scheduled to be completed by April 2021.  The Ministry of Maritime Affairs has acknowledged that the construction of East-Bay Expressway was an important line of the Gwadar Port through which the entire traffic of port will flow.  The East-Bay Expressway will connect the Gwadar Port and its free zones with a network of national highways.

By Mukhtar Alam (Pakistan News & Features Services) Amidst apprehension that COVID-19 spread may increase in the province during the Eid ul-Adha holidays, Karachi reported a daily new infection rate of 52% on July 30 when authorities in the government shared that Sindh’s fatality tally had crossed 2,200, with overall 120,896 infections. After witnessing a decrease in its new COVID-19 infections till July 27 (138 new cases, 27%), Karachi registered a gradual increase in the infection rate up to 51% by July 29.  On July 30, Karachi’s number of new infections came as 261. Earlier, Karachi, a six-district division, had reported an average 318 new coronavirus cases daily since July 24.  The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah in his routine COVID-19 statement, remarked that 20 more infected people died during the last 24 hours ending on July 30 morning in the province, taking the total death to 2,209, while 689 more patients recovered from the diseases.  He further s...

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi ( Pakistan News & Features Services) In order to ensure the safest possible train operations through Multan Division, the Divisional Superintendent, Pakistan Railways, Shoaib Adil, has mobilized all his resources, having deputed all his officers into their respective fields of operation. Following his directives, the Divisional Signal Engineer, Allah Ditta Lashari, inspected the signal system from Multan to Galewal.  He inspected the entire CBI system through Multan, Shershah, Shujabad and Galewal and checked the presence of staff on duty  He checked CBI system on tracks as well as from the office of respective station masters personally.  The DS Railways has made it loud and clear to all his staff members about the importance of signal system and called for regular inspection of the system by concerned officials.  Meanwhile the Assistant Mechanical Engineer, Shah Rukh Malik, also visited loco shed Multan. He inspected the presence of emplo...

By Masood Sattar Khan (Pakistan News & Features Services) The whole line of Havelian-Thakot of the Karakoram Highway Phase-II (KKH), a project of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), has opened for traffic. “This mega road project has been completed under CPEC initiatives, which would prove to be the backbone of the country’s economy and provide employment opportunities to a large portion of the population," Mahmood Khan, Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), at the imagination ceremony.  The 79-kilometer-long Class-II Highway Mansehra-Thakot and the Havelian-Mansehra expressway section, launched in November 2019, constitute the 118-kilometer Havelian-Thakot section.  Karakoram Highway, the only overland connection between China and Pakistan at present, was built with funding from China during the period of 1966 to 1978.  The first phase of KKH’s renovation and expansion project had been completed in 2013.  The following year, a memorandum on the se...

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi (Pakistan News & Features Services)  One in six Pakistani adults believed that they and their families were safe from COVID-19 even if they didn’t take any preventive measures, according to a study conducted by Aga Khan University (AKU) and The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).  The Pakistani researchers conducted an online survey of 1,406 adults across Pakistan over the first two weeks of May 2020 and compared the results with a similar study in Hong Kong. Hong Kong is widely regarded as a COVID-19 containment success story. It has seen just 2,770 cases and 22 deaths in 6 months despite being a part of China and never imposing a lockdown. In contrast, data collected in May 2020 showed Pakistan’s rate of infections per 100,000 people at 137 against Hong Kong’s 33 while Pakistan’s fatality rate per 100,000 was also three times higher at 21 despite imposing wide-ranging lockdowns across the country. “Comparing risk perceptions, anxiety levels and...

By Masood Sattar Khan (Pakistan News & Features Services)  The natural gas being produced from 28 wells in Sindh, while drilling is carried out in five areas in Ghotki, Larkana and Sanghar where sufficient amount of oil and gas is being expected to be fetched.  The information was provided by the Parliamentary Secretary on Petroleum, Khyal Zaman, in the National Assembly while responding to various questions related to the Petroleum Ministry.  He said that the Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGC) owed Rs 72 billion while the Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) owed a whopping Rs 192 billion.  Responding to a question from former Foreign Minister, Hina Rabbani Khar, Federal Minister, Omar Ayub, clarified that there was no change under the head of petroleum levy.  It was revealed that iron, copper and lead reserves were found in Chitral and survey of all minerals had been completed. A large quantum of oil reserves have also been discovered in Kohat, H...

By Masood Sattar Khan (Pakistan News & Features Services) Pakistan happened to the largest recipient of Chinese investment in the financial year ’20, it emerged on July 28.  China had invested an amount of USD 855.6 million in a period of 11 months of FY20, according to the details revealed by a Chinese website.  These investments mainly poured in the power sector under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the website further disclosed.  Meanwhile, the Pakistan government has decided to invite international tenders for Sukkur-Hyderabad motorway (M-6), a critical part of CPEC.  The tenders are expected to be floated on July 31, the website reported, having quoted the Chairman of the National Highway Authority (NHA), Captain (rtd) Sikandar Qayyum.

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi (Pakistan News & Features Services) The divisional authorities of Pakistan Railways have recovered land having been occupied by the mafia and grabbers in Multan upon the directives of the Divisional Superintendent, Shoaib Adil,  In a crackdown, launched by the divisional officials, the railway land worth Rs 130 million has been recovered during the last couple of months.  DS Shoaib Adil has appreciated the success achieved in recovering the railway land from mafia and directed that the campaign should continue unabated.  Meanwhile, upon his initiatives, another crackdown was underway against people crossing the tracks illegally as part of the ongoing drive for ensuring safe railway operation.  In this regard, on his instructions, warning boards have been installed at vantage points asking the trespassers to avoid crossing the railway line illegally or otherwise they will be arrested. Acting on DS directives, the Khanewal Railway Police arre...

By Mukhtar Alam (Pakistan News & Features Services) Only 6% of the COVID-19 active patients were admitted in hospitals of Sindh on July 27 when authorities in the government registered another 513 new cases, with 11 new deaths, across the province during the last 24 hours. The provincial data suggested that the burden of COVID-19 patients had significantly decreased from hospitals, while 94% of the infected cases were receiving treatment in home-isolation.  During a period from July 21-27, 4-6% of the entire COVID-19 patients were admitted in about 50 designated government and private hospitals across the province.  According to the provincial government’s report, as of July 25, a total of 5,323 patients were admitted at the hospitals, out of which 3,071 could be cured and 631 (12%) were still receiving treatment, while 1,621 (30%) lost their lives.  The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, in his routine statement on July 27, shared that there were 8,182 active...

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi (Pakistan News & Features Services) The Divisional Superintendent, Pakistan Railways Multan Division, Shoaib Adil, chaired the second seminar on safe train operation focussing on prevention of accidents. Attended by Station Masters, Traffic Inspectors, Permanent Way Inspectors, Train Examiners and representatives of Railway Police, the DS underlined the importance of prevention of any accident and exhorted that everyone will have to walk together to achieve this most critical objective. In this regard, he said that a vigil watch will have to be kept by all the officers and employees, including signal staff, engineering department, transport personnel and those who are posted at railway crossings which would help avoid occurrence of accidents. The biggest challenge, he reckoned, was illegally crossing of the tracks as well as trespassers and it needed a sharp crackdown against those unlawfully crossing the railway line or walking on or around the railway line....

By Masood Sattar Khan (Pakistan News & Features Services) The Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Fawad Choudhry, credited for reviving the ministry by swiftly launching a number of projects for the benefit of the masses and promoting Made in Pakistan concept, has reckoned that the future depended on drone technology. In a media talk, he pointed out that the next target of the Ministry was to use drones for traffic surveillance on highways on which hitherto a large chunk of amount was being spent on patrolling including fuel.  "To start with surveillance from Motorway, I am in contact with the Minister of Communications,” he revealed, adding that it will be spread later on all motorways around the country.  He emphasized that the use of drone technology will take over Pakistan’s agriculture implements that would practically benefit the growers. “These drones can be used for seeding, spraying and for crops surveillance,” the Minister stated.

By Mukhtar Alam (Pakistan News & Features Services) Amidst reports that various most affected cities of Pakistan have witnessed significant decrease in their daily number of new of COVID-19 infections in recent days, Karachi reported 42% of the total new cases registered in Sindh on July 26.  Authorities in the government shared on July 26 that Karachi reported 298 of the total 713 new cases in the province during the last 24 hours with 16 new related fatalities, against Pakistan's 20 deaths. After witnessing a gradual decrease in its new COVID-19 infections for a week, Karachi reported a 120% increase in the number of daily new cases on July 22 when authorities in the government confirmed 714 new cases in the city.  The megapolis has reported an average about 450 new coronavirus cases daily since July 22. It registered 417 new cases on July 16, which increased to 477 on July 17, but gradually declined up to 179 on July 20. The infections increased to 32...

By Tanzeel Rauf Farooqui (Pakistan News & Features Services)  Asif Ali Zardari, a man of multiple reputations, has turned 65 on July 26. Popularly known as the master of reconciliation, the former President of Pakistan is acclaimed to be a political maestro.  Born to Hakim Ali Zardari and Bilquis Sultana Zardari in a notable and prominent tribe on July 26, 1955, Asif Zardari had a resourceful background. His political rise, however, came after he married Benazir Bhutto, the daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, on December 18, 1987.  Elections were held the following year and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) came to power with Benazir Bhutto becoming the first women Prime Minister in Islamic world.  Upon the dismissal of the PPP-led government, Asif Zardari fell prey to political vindication and faced multiple and prolonged arrests starting in October 1990. He, however, was elected as a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan in the same mo...

By Masood Sattar Khan (Pakistan News & Features Services) China's domestically developed large amphibious aircraft AG600 successfully made its first sea-based test flight on July 26.  The test flight demonstrated the aircraft's ability to operate in challenging maritime conditions and conduct missions, including far sea cargo transport and maritime emergency rescue, the aircraft's developer said.  The AG600 aircraft took off from waters near the coastal city of Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province, on the morning of July 26. It was on show for around 31 minutes and finished a set of test maneuvers in the sky, before landing at an airport in Rizhao, Shandong Province.  The event marked the success of the AG600's first sea-based test flight, the aircraft's developer Aviation Industry Corp of China (AVIC) announced in a statement. It also prepared the aircraft to conduct missions, including far sea cargo transport and maritime emergency r...