Author: Sudhir Ahmad Afridi

Hefty increase in education and healthcare sector receives Rs 27 billion in new federal budget ISLAMABAD: In the recently unveiled budget for the fiscal year 2024-25, the federal government of Pakistan has underscored its commitment to enhancing the education and healthcare sectors through substantial financial allocations. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb announced that Rs 93 billion has been allocated for the education sector, aimed at bolstering educational infrastructure and improving learning outcomes nationwide. Additionally, Rs 27 billion has been earmarked for healthcare, signaling a concerted effort to uplift public health facilities and services across the country. Key highlights of the budget…

“I don’t know which province is getting what share in giving relief to the people,” says PPP leader KARACHI: Syed Khursheed Shah, a senior leader of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and a government ally, expressed concerns over the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) approach to preparing the federal budget. Shah is concerned about the lack of communication and involvement from the PPP in the budget formulation process. “What kind of proposals? What kind of budget? The government did not say anything, nor did they take it into confidence,” stated Shah. He was unaware of the critical aspects of the budget,…

KARACHI: The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) Karachi has arrested the suspected killers of gold medalist student Ittiqa Moin, who was murdered in the city’s Gulshan-e-Iqbal neighborhood last week. According to CIA sources, the Specialized Investigation Unit (SIU) team conducted raids in Quetta and Khuzdar, capturing the suspects involved in Ittiqa’s murder. The arrested individuals were also involved in armed vehicle and motorcycle thefts in Karachi. The CIA revealed that the two suspects fled to Balochistan after killing Ittiqa, a 27-year-old well-educated student, in Gulshan-e-Iqbal on June 1. According to the FIR registered on the complaint of Usman Moin, brother of…

KARACHI: The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will convene in Karachi on Friday to sight the Zilhaj moon. The meeting, led by Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, will take place at the Meteorological Department office. The Pakistan Meteorological Department has predicted that Eidul Azha is likely to fall on Monday, June 17. According to the Climate Data Processing Centre, the Zilhaj moon is expected to be sighted on Friday June, 7 making Eidul Azha’s celebration on Monday, June 17. Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfaraz stated that the new moon, which marks the start of the Islamic month of Zilhaj, will be born precisely…

Burney nabbed for his alleged involvement in serious offenses, including human trafficking KARACHI: Sarim Burney, a prominent human rights activist, was arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Wednesday for his alleged involvement in human trafficking. Burney, known for his advocacy work, was taken into custody upon his arrival at Karachi Airport from the United States. Sources report that Burney has been under FIA surveillance for some time due to suspicions of serious offenses, including human trafficking. His arrest followed a carefully coordinated operation by the FIA’s Anti-Human Trafficking Team. Upon landing at Karachi Airport, Burney was immediately detained…

KARACHI: Syed Mustafa Kamal, a member of the Central Committee of MQM-Pakistan, expressed heartfelt condolences and sorrow to the parents of Atiq, who was martyred by gunshots the day before. He stated that for the past 50 years, only in Sindh, an oppressive quota system has been implemented, which has closed the doors of educational institutions and government offices for the capable people of urban areas in Sindh. These sentiments were expressed in a statement issued from the MQM-Pakistan Central Election Office, Pakistan House. Mustafa Kamal further stated that for the past 50 years, fake domiciles have been issued repeatedly,…

Ice cream parlor owners, brothers attacked by at least six men on three motorcycles; police say ‘personal enmity’ probable cause of attack KARACHI: Two of five brothers were killed while two others sustained injuries on Thursday after at least six men on three motorcycles opened fire on their vehicle near Karachi’s Gurumandir area on Thursday. The fifth sibling miraculously remained unharmed in the attack. The five brothers were heading for a court appearance at the Central Jail, the local media reported. The rescue officials shifted the bodies and injured to a nearby hospital. The deceased were identified as Shahid and…

KARACHI: In a significant development on Wednesday, an additional district and sessions judge acquitted Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Imran Qureshi, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Tariq Bajari, and other accused in a case related to an alleged robbery in Karachi’s Orangi Town. The court’s decision came after the acquittal plea submitted by the defendants was accepted. During the hearing, the prosecution failed to identify the accused as responsible for the incident and admitted that there was no involvement of SSP Imran Qureshi, DSP Tariq Bajari, and the other defendants. Furthermore, the prosecution did not present any evidence to support…

KARACHI: Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has stressed the need for continuous improvement in the law and order situation in the metropolis while acknowledged a “significant drop in street crime from 254 cases per day in January to 170 in April.” He also commended police and other law enforcers in curbing street crime in Karachi. After receiving a briefing from IG Sindh Police Ghulam Nabi Memon on law and order, particularly street crime, CM Shah expressed cautious optimism about the progress made thus far. The police chief highlighted a comprehensive survey revealing 3,000 scrap dealers operating in the city, with…

Yousuf Khan alias Gul Yousuf was carrying a US-made hand grenade in a lunchbox at the time of his arrest KARACHI: A team of The Counter Terrorism Department CTD of Sindh police and intelligence agency in an operation near the Naurus Chowrangi on Manghopir Road arrested a commander of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. Yousuf Khan alias Gul Yousuf was carrying a US-made hand grenade in a lunchbox at the time of his arrest, said a spokesperson for the CTD. The spokesperson told the media that Yousuf belonged to TTP faction of Commander Azmatullah. Yousuf joined TTP in 2006. In 2009,…