Parties favour stronger LGs over new provinces

ISLAMABAD: While acknowledging imperfections in the current governance system, mainstream political parties have favoured strengthening the constitutionally guaranteed local government system instead of creating new provinces. During a day-long discussion on the need for new provinces or administrative units, participants also blamed the bureaucracy for poor governance and inadequate service delivery. At the discussion, organised…

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Houthis kill 6 in attack on vessel

. SANAA: Yemeni authorities said six people were killed by Iran-backed Houthi rebels attacking a vessel in the Bab el-Mandeb strait, while US forces fired on a ship they said was trying to break a blockade of Iran’s ports. Yemen’s coast guard said the dead included four crew members and two members of the government-allied…

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Air Force One under shadow of Iran threat

US president secretly switched planes in Turkey amid security concerns, official says WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump secretly slipped out of Turkey last month on an alternate military plane, which he boarded while hidden inside a catering truck, as part of an elaborate ruse prompted by an Iranian threat, according to a US official. The clandestine…

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Extremists waging a futile conflict: Bugti

QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti announced on Tuesday criticised a small extremist element attempting to push the Baloch people into a futile conflict through violence. He stressed that destroying infrastructure, bridges, and commercial transport directly harms the livelihood and progress of the local Baloch community. He said that the Balochistan government will…

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1 in 4 children in Punjab stunted

LAHORE: Punjab has recorded a decline in the prevalence of stunting among children from 36 per cent in 2018 to 27%, while wasting has dropped from 15% to 10%. However, the fact that more than one in four children still remain stunted keeps infant feeding and maternal nutrition high on the provincial health agenda. The…

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Parking plaza row lands in court

The months-long dispute between the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) and the contractor of the city’s only parking plaza reached the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday, which suspended an Additional Sessions Judge’s decision ordering the return of possession of the parking plaza to the contractor. Following criticism over the handling of the parking plaza issue,…

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Govt fixes Hajj package at Rs1.2m

. Saudi authorities are using drones to track and apprehend violators of Hajj regulations. PHOTO: PIXABAY ISLAMABAD: Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf has announced that the government has fixed the Hajj package at Rs1.2 million for the 40-day scheme and Rs1.3 million for the short Hajj scheme lasting 20 to 25 days. The…

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Federal debt hits Rs83.6tr

SLOW PACE: The government’s external debt rose from Rs23.4 trillion to Rs24.2 trillion – a jump of Rs783 billion – which was lower than previous trends due to the appreciation of the rupee against the US dollar in the last fiscal year. PHOTO:FILE ISLAMABAD: The federal government’s debt, excluding loans from the International Monetary Fund…

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Lawyer alleges serious lapses in murder probe

Seeks criminal inquiry against three officers, questions handling of victim’s smartwatch, guesthouse Lawyer and rights activist Jibran Nasir addresses a press conference on the Mir Raza case. — SCREENGRAB EXPRESS Lawyer Jibran Nasir on Tuesday alleged serious negligence in the investigation into the murder of waffle chain owner Mir Raza, questioning the handling of key…

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