LONDON: The United Kingdom and Schengen countries raised millions of pounds and euros in fees from rejected visa applications from Pakistan, new research published this month shows. The analysis released by Lago Collective, a community of researchers, policymakers and designers, shows that Pakistanis spent £5.3 million on rejected UK visa applications, with close to 40 per cent applications rejected from Pakistan in 2023. In the same year, around 50pc of Schengen visas from Pakistan were also rejected, with €3.344m spent on applications. The data was published in collaboration with the EUobserver, which reported that EU governments raked in €130m per year…
Author: Hasnain Abid Khanzada
MUZAFFARABAD: Rescuers faced immense challenges on Monday as they attempted to recover the bodies of the 10 missing persons and locate the wreckage of the vehicle that plunged into Neelum River, but there was no success, officials said. The tragic accident occurred on Sunday when a Taobutt-bound Land Cruiser jeep carrying at least 24 people — 18 inside, including the driver, and six on the roof — fell into the icy-cold water channel near Karimabad Parri village, more than 190 kilometres northeast of Muzaffarabad. Of the 18 inside the vehicle, only three had survived — the driver, a four-year-old boy who…
ISLAMABAD: The National Institute of Health (NIH) has issued an advisory regarding the Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) also called Naegleriasis, or brain-eating amoeba, an infectious disease of the central nervous system. Deaths related to PAM have regularly been reported from some hospitals in Karachi during summers since 2008. According to advisory, high temperatures associated with poor chlorinated water during early summer pose a risk of Naegleria fowleri infection. “To mitigate the risks associated with the hot season ahead, it is imperative to undertake immediate and long-term preventive measures in mega cities particularly Karachi. Vigilant surveillance is also imperative to pick…
RAWALPINDI: Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Khawaja Imran Nazir on Monday said the government has allocated Rs7 billion for provision of free medicines in the healthcare centres of the province. “In the last few months, shortage of medicines was created many times deliberately. The health department has identified around 375 corrupt employees involved in this practice and action will be taken against them,” he told media persons at the commissioner office. Accompanied by Commissioner Aamir Khattak, Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema, the minister said the situation in hospitals will improve in coming days, adding interviews were going…
QUETTA: Security forces arrested 85 Afghan nationals in the border district of Chagai district for allegedly crossing into Pakistan illegally, officials said on Monday. The Afghan nationals were found on the Pakistani side near the border without legal travelling documents. According to sources, the Afghan nationals entered Pakistan illegally to cross into Iran for further journeys. A senior security official said the Afghan nationals were arrested and handed over to the Levies force for further investigation. Levies Force officials said that after completing legal formalities and procedure, the Afghan nationals would be deported through the Baracha crossing gate on the…
GILGIT: The Babusar road, the famous tourist destination, was reopened for light traffic on Monday after remaining closed for seven months. Heavy snowfall in the area triggered the closure of the road. After removing snow at Babusar top and nearby areas the Babusar road was reopened for light traffic on Monday, Diamer deputy commissioner Fayyaz Ahmed said. He said the movement of vehicles on Babusar road from KP and GB sides has been allowed from 5am to 5pm every day till Eidul Azha. Because of threats of heavy melting of snow at daytime and freezing at night the traffic movement has…
ISLAMABAD: In a rare display of harmony between the government and opposition, all 42 Senate standing committees have been notified within the stipulated period. This was unlike in the National Assembly — which held its first session 40 days before the upper house — where the process of notifying standing committees has been stalled. On Monday, notifications regarding all 42 bodies were issued after the house unanimously adopted a motion to form standing and functional committees. Under Rule 174 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate, 2012, standing committees are to be formed within two…
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called a meeting of the federal cabinet today (Tuesday) to review the upcoming federal budget, which is expected to be tabled before the National Assembly tomorrow (Wednesday). The huddle will also provide the PM an opportunity to take his aides into confidence over decisions made during his recent visit to China, a source in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said. In addition, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb will launch the Economic Survey 2023-24 on Tuesday afternoon, which contains a roundup of the country’s economic performance over the past year. Separately, in a meeting with Prince Rahim Aga Khan, the PM invited…
ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly proceedings on Monday turned chaotic as the government rammed through four bills in a controversial manner amidst vociferous protests from the opposition, which accused the ruling coalition of bypassing democratic norms and stifling debate. The tumultuous sitting saw Energy Minister Awais Leghari facing the wrath of both treasury and opposition members over the ongoing power outages and loadshedding issues, with the minister conceding that power companies and its officials had been inefficient in addressing the problem. At the outset of the sitting, the opposition members belonging to the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) staged a token walkout…
LAHORE: The PPP has openly expressed its concerns over a lack of consultation by the Punjab government on critical issues, such as the budget and the recently-promulgated defamation law. Though the PPP is not formally part of a coalition government in the province since the PML-N enjoys a simple majority, it has supported the ruling party in the assembly during the legislative business. PPP Central Punjab general secretary Syed Hassan Murtaza referred to this agreement on Monday when he said that his party didn’t vote for the PML-N “to prepare the budget in the kitchen”. “You did not take PPP into confidence while preparing…
