He inquired about health of patients and inspected the treatment facilities being provided to them. He also directed hospitals' administration that standard health facilities and treatment should be provided to them.
Abid, after toiling hard and performing consistently in the domestic cricket circuit for the past seven years, finally made it to the national side this year, kicking off his international career with a century against Australia in the United Arab Emirates in March.
The right-hander, who idolises Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar, opened his Test career with a hundred as well, which came against Sri Lanka in the first Test at Rawalpindi early last month. Abid went on to score another century in the second Test in Karachi.
With the PCB not yet having awarded Abid for his unique achievement, Misbah too missed out on mentioning his name while he talked about happenings in Pakistan cricket in 2019.
Misbah, however, expressed concern over the injury and form issues of opener Fakhar Zaman, pacer Hasan Ali and leg-spinner Shadab Khan, the trio which played a key role in Pakistan’s ICC Champions Trophy triumph in 2019.
According to Misbah, who was a part of the PCB’s cricket committee during the 2019 ICC World Cup, said the absence of Fakhar, Hasan and Shadab was one of the major reasons of Pakistan’s failure to qualify for the semi-finals of the mega event.
Misbah also hailed the emergence of middle-order batsman Babar Azam as a mega star across all formats, as he retained No.1 position in the world T20 ranking and he is also ranked in top ten batsmen of the ODI format.
The emergence of fast bowlers Nasim Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi was also an encouraging prospect for Misbah, who, earlier into his tenure as the head coach and chief selector had admitted that Pakistan was struggling to find good pacers.
Nasim, after a tough debut against Australia in November’s first Test in Brisbane, was rested in the second, but bagged five wickets in a match-winning bowling performance in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Karachi. Shaheen took five in the first innings of the match as well.
“Nasim got five wickets in the last Test against Sri Lanka. Shaheen bowled well in the World Cup and he showed glimpses of being a Test bowler in South Africa, and bowled really well in Australia and here in Pakistan against Sri Lanka,” said Misbah.
“We will hopefully bank on these two promising fast-bowlers in the future.”
Misbah also praised the performance of wicket-keeper/batsman Mohammad Rizwan, who is finally looking to consolidate his place in the national side after former skipper and wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed was dropped. It also indicates that Sarfraz will have to wait to make a come back in international cricket.
“Mohammad Rizwan performed very well for us in Australia, which was very good for us. Iftikhar Ahmed joined the team in the latter part of the year and the way he has put up performances in the T20I performances was certainly a plus for us,” Misbah said.
Meanwhile, Misbah did not express satisfaction over the overall performance of Pakistan in all the three formats.
”Overall, we are on the right track. The more we play the longer format, the more we will improve. We need to do a lot of work in white-ball cricket ahead of the all-important ICC T20 World Cup next year,” said the former Pakistan captain.
“Retaining number one position in T20Is was a big positive for us. No doubt, we did not perform up to the set standards, but this is something we look to build on.
“Pakistan ended 2019 on a high note with victory against Sri Lanka, but, overall, it was a tough year for Pakistan in Test cricket.”
Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar administered the oath to the chief justice-designate at a ceremony at the Governor House.
Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, high court judges, government officials and representatives of lawyers’ bodies were present on the occasion.
Justice Mamoon Rashid Sehikh was named the new LHC chief justice after Justice Sardar Muhammad Shamim Khan reached the age of superannuation on Dec 31. His tenure as the top LHC judge will span just two months and 18 days.
Justice Qasim Khan, senior pusine judge of the high court, will succeed Justice Mamnoon Sheikh as LHC CJ on March 18, 2020 and will serve in the office for about one year and four months.
Addressing a full court reference on the high court premises held in his honour on Dec 31, Justice Shamim Khan had said, “I am honoured to head the Lahore High Court, which is providing best justice to the people.”
“After taking oath I took steps for prompt decisions on the cases pending in the high court,” Justice Shamim said. “Providing best infrastructure to the judiciary was my next priority,” the chief justice said.
The moment when the clock struck 12, everybody was on their feet as celebrations started and fireworks show across most of the cities made the atmosphere lively everywhere.
Enthusiasts took to different roads across the country to celebrate the new year. Most of the Karachiites took to the seashore to celebrate the New Year in style.
The moment when the clock struck 12, everybody was on their feet as celebrations started and fireworks show across most of the cities made the atmosphere lively everywhere.
Enthusiasts took to different roads across the country to celebrate the new year. Most of the Karachiites took to the seashore to celebrate the New Year in style.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan Rangers, Sindh and Karachi Police held a collaborative meeting on Tuesday to discuss and finalise security preparations for New Year’s Eve tonight.
Law enforcement officials will not put up security checkpoints in the city to avoid undue nuisance to those willing to celebrate.
Motorbikes without silencer and one-wheeling are strictly prohibited and will be taken action against by law enforcers.
Those indulging in over speeding will also be stopped and dealt with in accordance with the law, aerial firing is also strictly prohibited and can lead to jail time.
Those willing to bathe in the sea on the occasion of New Year’s Eve will also be stopped and if found doing so, they will be charged a fine.
Talking to journalists, Mishal Malik said that the lockdown imposed in occupied Kashmir on August 5 by the Indian occupation forces crossed 150 days.
She said that the New Delhi’s government was trying to change the demography of occupied Kashmir and added that India planned to build townships for hundreds of thousands of Hindus in the Muslim-majority territory.
Mishal Malik said that the Indian forces were committing grave human rights violations in the occupied valley, adding that all the Kashmiri leadership, including Yasin Malik, has been placed under house arrest.
She said that Indian government kept Yasin Malik in death cell.
He was talking to members of Senate belonging to the PTI and its allied parties, who called on him in Islamabad.
The Prime Minister said the cancer of corruption has hollowed the country's economy and its elimination is the basic component of the manifesto of PTI government.
He also renewed his pledge to bring the corrupt elements to book with continuation of efforts against the evil.
During the meeting, the overall situation in the country, government-led reforms, relevant legislation over the public issues and strategy for carrying the benefits of government's achievements to the public were discussed in detail.
Declaring 2020 as the year for the public relief, the Prime Minister said in the upcoming year, the government would strive to further bring stability in the economic system so that its fruits could be reaped by the common man, thus bringing betterment in their lives.
In the video, when Boom Boom was asked about his short-tempered nature, he said, “Once I had smashed a TV set out of anger.”
Giving details about the incident, Afridi said once he saw his daughter trying to imitate ‘arti’ after watching an Indian drama. “This act of my daughter angered me and I smashed the TV,” he said.
Afridi said, “I asked my wife to watch Indian drama unaccompanied and not with the daughters.”
India has been rocked by the protests since December 12, when the government passed legislation easing the way for non-Muslim minorities from the neighbouring Muslim-majority nations of Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan to gain Indian citizenship.
Combined with opposition to a proposed national register of citizens, many Indians fear the move will discriminate against the minority Muslim community and chip away at the country's secular constitution.
Protesters plan at least three demonstrations in New Delhi, the capital, including the area of Shaheen Bagh, where hundreds of residents have blocked a major highway for 18 days.
Poetry recitals and speeches are planned by organisers at a protest outside New Delhi's Jamia Millia University, which was stormed by police this month.
“New Year's resolution to defend the constitution,” read the schedule for another protest planned in New Delhi, now in the grip of its second coldest winter in more than a century.
Police said they planned to deploy additional forces in New Delhi on New Year's Eve, with traffic curbs imposed in some parts of the capital.
“All precautionary measures are in place,” said police official Chinmoy Biswal, who oversees the southeastern part of the city that includes Shaheen Bagh and Jamia Millia University.
“Recently, there have been no incidents. So we hope things will remain fine,” he told Reuters.
In the southern city of Hyderabad, at least two small groups of demonstrators have been organising flash protests, to skirt police restrictions on larger gatherings.
Typically, half a dozen demonstrators pop up in public places, such as malls and coffee shops, holding up placards and encouraging passersby to join in, a member of one of the groups, which has held 11 protests, told Reuters.
“Every day, we are doing something, somewhere,” said the person, who sought anonymity for reasons of security, adding that another protest is planned to be staged on Tuesday night.
Street-side poetry recitals, stand-up comedy, and music performances are also planned in the financial capital of Mumbai and the eastern city of Kolkata.
All three cities have seen large, peaceful protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Citizens' Register (NRC), which were part of the election manifesto of Modi's ruling Hindu nationalist party.
But some protests have turned violent, particularly in the populous northern state of Uttar Pradesh, and at least 25 people have been killed in clashes with police since early December.
Initially caught off guard by the scale of the protests, Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has scrambled to douse public anger, with Modi declaring that there had been no discussions on the NRC, contradicting party colleagues.
The BJP has also launched an effort, backed by a social media campaign, to explain that the CAA is not discriminatory and is needed to help non-Muslim minorities persecuted in the three neighbouring countries.
Addressing a press conference after a meeting of the federal cabinet, Awan criticised the opposition's "hypocrisy" for wanting to amend the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) laws for 11 years and now objecting to the PTI government's introduction of the new NAB law.
Leaders of the main opposition PML-N and PPP have alleged that the government introduced the ordinance to stop NAB from probing mega corruption cases involving the PTI government.
"They (opposition) are internally overjoyed but publicly they are criticising a government move done in goodwill," said Awan, the special assistant to the prime minister on information and broadcasting.
She said although it is the opposition's right to criticise, the attitude adopted by it over the law is "inappropriate".
According to Awan, the new NAB law, which the government amended through a presidential ordinance promulgated last week, will be placed before the parliament where debate will be held on it.
"For the law to be passed through the Senate, it is important for the opposition to come on board. But the government will not bulldoze this entire process to forcefully implement the law," she said.
The government spokesperson revealed that prior to the cabinet meeting, an in-camera briefing was held during which detailed discussions took place on the accountability laws.
She said Prime Minister Imran Khan while addressing the business community reiterated that he had "picked the thorns out of their way" through the NAB ordinance. The ordinance is aimed at facilitating investors because investment in the country will lead to job creation, Awan added.
On Monday, Prime Minister Imran had vowed not to retreat or succumb to any pressure over the issue of the NAB ordinance and said that the amendments — which benefit legislators, bureaucrats and the business community — were made keeping in view the opposition’s longstanding demand.
According to NAB Lahore sources, Javed Latif has been summoned again due to providing an incomplete record in the inquiry.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Mian Javed Latif on Thursday had challenged the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) inquiry against him in Lahore High Court (LHC).
The PML-N leader adopted the stance that he is being subjected to political revenge for holding a seat in National Assembly (NA) and also requested the court to stop the anti-corruption watchdog from carrying out investigation against him.
Moreover, Mian Javed Latif further submitted plea seeking interim bail in assets beyond income case.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) senior leader stands accused of making billions of rupees’ assets in the name of his family members under section 9 (a) of the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO 1999).
In this regard, the record from concerned departments including, Revenue, LDA, DCs and Banks have has been sought, sources said.
The assets of MNA Javed Latif rapidly increased after coming into politics, the sources within NAB said and added that Javed Latif, before coming into politics owned a 12-marla inherited house in Habib Colony, Sheikhupura, which has now had been extended up to 1.5 acres.
Australia's largest city usually puts on a dazzling display of pyrotechnics over the glittering harbour but this year's celebrations have been overshadowed by calls to cancel the fireworks as devastating bushfires rage across the country.
Toxic smoke haze has shrouded Sydney for weeks and a petition to cancel the event out of respect for fire victims attracted more than 280,000 signatures.
Fireworks displays were scrapped in Australia's capital, Canberra, and Sydney's western suburbs due to elevated fire danger and extreme weather conditions but fire authorities said it was safe to go ahead over the water.
More than 100,000 fireworks were scheduled to light up the skyline for 12 minutes to about one million spectators crowding foreshores and parks.
Critics wanted Sydney to use the $6.5 million ($4.5 million) spent on the display to fight bush-fires ringing the city, but officials say the event is worth 130 million Australian dollars to the economy and cancelling it would not help those impacted by the fires.
"We have committed to harnessing the enormous power of the event to raise more money for drought — and fire — affected communities," Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.
Crowds have been warned to take care as strong winds gusted in the harbour, forcing the cancellation of a boat display that would have blasted water into the sky — just hours before the fireworks were due to start.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Monday offered the MQM-P an equal number of seats in Sindh Government on the condition that the party will leave the coalition government and help the PPP oust it from power.
Sources told Geo News a government committee headed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) former secretary general Jahangir Tareen will meet the MQM-P leadership this week on the directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan. It is still not clear who the members of the committee, which will be led by Tareen, are.
The government will review the MQM-P's demands, hear its grievances on the issue of missing persons and take stock of the party's demands for Karachi's funds.
MQM-P leader Khawaja Izhar said his party was ready to accept Bilawal's offer and join forces with the PPP if it improved the local government system in Sindh.
"Our hopes from the federal government are dying as they did not honour their promises," he said.
In response to Bilawal's offer, Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar, who is also an important leader of the MQM-P, had said the party will take the final decision on whether it should quit the coalition government or not.
He said while the MQM-P and the PPP could "sit together" to solve Karachi's problems, the mayor said his party had not joined the coalition government for seats but to resolve Karachi's outstanding issues.
“MQM-P has never indulged in the politics of ministries. We supported the PTI so that Karachi's issues could be resolved,” Akhtar had said.
He said the Karachi's problems were discussed with senior PTI leader Jahangir Tareen but the party did not take responsibility.
The MQM-P also issued a statement on Monday, in which it said that while the party was not satisfied with the PTI-led government's performance, it will continue to support it.
The top court’s two-member bench headed by the Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed also issued notices to summon Attorney General, PIA managing director and chairman of Higher Education Commission (HEC) in the next hearing.
During the hearing related to the case filed against possession of fake degrees by the PIA workers, the lawyer told the apex court that the employees have received educational degrees from a private university of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) without attending a single class.
The lawyer added the employees had also received departmental promotions on the basis of such degrees.
The top court’s judge remarked that [AJK’s] Al-Khair University is just an exhibitory varsity as degrees were sold out without completing educational procedures.
It seems the degrees were illegally possessed [by the PIA employees], whereas, the airline has also accepted the degrees from the private university [without carrying out verification process], the judge added.
The administration of the national flag-carrier has been directed to ensure verification of educational degrees of its employees from the recognised institutions.
Later, the hearing was adjourned until one month after ordering the concerned authorities to complete scrutiny of the educational degrees of PIA employees.
Thousands of people in Australia have fled to the seafront to seek shelter from bushfires racing to the coast. Several holiday spots along the coast between Sydney and Melbourne are currently cut off by fire fronts.
The blazes have destroyed more than ten million acres. Scores of homes and properties have been destroyed, and power cut to several towns that are still in the fires’ path.
The high court resumed the hearing of the case related to the appointments of ECP members on two seats as the secretary of the National Assembly (NA) sought 10 days for submitting its reply in the previous hearing.
During the hearing, CJ IHC Justice Athar Minallah remarked every committee has powers to legislate own rulers. The lawyer representing the Speaker NA argued that the government has made mistake in the parliament, To this, Justice Minallah remarked parliament cannot make any mistake as it the institution representing 220 million nationals.
The lawyer sought more time for the parliamentary committee to legislate rules. The IHC chief justice ordered the government and the opposition to make a joint decision regarding the ECP appointments.
Later, the hearing was adjourned till January 15.
The cabinet members will meet under the chair of PM Imran Khan to discuss 8-point agenda. The overall political and economic situation of the country will be reviewed.
The draft bill of the National College of Arts Institute is expected to be presented in the meeting. Matters related to handing over of Sohail Ahmed to UK authorities is also on the agenda of today’s meeting.
The appointment of Small and Medium Enterprises (SEMs) CEO is also on the cards, while the cabinet would be briefed on financial statistics.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the epicentre of the quake was 260 kilometres away from Mingora at a depth of 42 kilometres.
The jolts created fear among the locals and many came out of their residences and office buildings.
In an article, he said the PTI government strongly believed in making Pakistan a welfare state and in financial year 2020 budget, the government substantially increased pro-poor spending under PM Ehsas program.
He said the big projects under CPEC targeted to be completed in 2020 include the trade and transport connectivity projects of KKH Phase-II Havelian-Thakot (118km) road and Sukkur-Multan (392km) highway.
The minister said these projects will significantly reduce the transit time and encourage greater trade of goods and services. He said 40 billion rupees in Chinese grants is being invested in Gwadar for upgrading the airport and roads infrastructure.
He said the big project under CPEC to be launched in 2020, is the up-gradation of Railways Main Line (ML-1) at a cost of nine billion US dollar which will significantly enhance the railway infrastructure for trade in goods and services.
Talking to a delegation of National Security Workshop from Balochistan in Islamabad, he said the elements who nurtured fears that their corruption would be exposed, and that they would be nabbed, have been crying hoarse.
The prime minister said a country could not progress when criminals held the high offices. He said a leader did not instill fear in the nation to secure their votes but a real leader always give hope.
About government’s reforms, the prime minister said they faced fiscal and trade deficit challenges but due to the government’s efforts on the economic front, stability was achieved as manifested in the economic indicators of the country.
Imran Khan said the economic stability is a vital component of the national security and the nations facing the burden of debts had to face numerous national security issues.
The prime minister said a long term future planning is essential to utilize the human resource and counter the national challenges.
He said the national economy could be stabilized to a great extent only if the country enhanced its agriculture produce by taking advantage of the latest technology.
To other questions, he said the government is paying full attention to the infrastructure development and economic prosperity of Balochistan province.
The OGRA has proposed raising Rs2.25 per litre on high-speed diesel, while Rs3.10 on kerosene oil.
It recommended an increase in the price of light diesel oil by Rs2.08 per litre. The OGRA has submitted a summary in this regard to the government.
The OGRA summary proposing new rates will take effect from January 1st after approval by the prime minister, said petroleum division.
If the recommended changes are approved, then the new petroleum prices from January 1, 2020, will be as follows:
Petrol: Rs116.60
Diesel: Rs127.26
Kerosene oil: Rs99.45
Light diesel oil: Rs84.51
Last month, the federal government slashed the price of petrol by Rs0.255 per litre for the month of December.
According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Finance, prices of light and high-speed diesel have been slashed by Rs2.9 and Rs2.40 per litre respectively. Meanwhile, the prices of kerosene oil has been slashed by Rs0.83 per litre.
According to details, the two dignitaries discussed matters pertaining to the province of Sindh.
The meeting underscored development projects being undertaken in the province with emphasis to the projects being undertaken in Karachi.
The president and governor both expressed resolve to work for the betterment of the people in the province.
President Arif Alvi lauded the efforts being made by the federal government to develop the province in accordance with the vision of ‘Naya Pakistan’.
On the occasion Governor Sindh, Imran Ismail assured the president that the development and revamping initiatives that have already been undertaken by the federal government in the province were near completion.
Talking to media in Islamabad on Monday, he said we are committed to ensuring the contribution of seminaries in the national development.
He said the government is also planning to launch a comprehensive program in all the four provinces to enroll the out-of-school children and uplift the quality of education.
He said the federal government will extend all-out assistance to the provinces for strengthening the education system in the country.
He said the uniform national curriculum is an indication of national spirit and it will bring further improvement in the education system.
Some 120 men and women were arrested over the past week for offending public morals, including wearing “inappropriate clothes”, Riyadh police said in a series of statements on Twitter since Tuesday.
It added that unspecified penalties were imposed on the violators.
Another 88 people were arrested in various harassment cases, police added in separate statements, after several women complained on social media that they were harassed at the MDL Beast music festival in Riyadh earlier this month.
The electronic music festival, which drew tens of thousands of fans, was billed by organisers as the biggest to be hosted in the kingdom.
Police did not offer any details, including the duration of the detentions.
This marked the first such crackdown since de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman began easing social restrictions in the conservative kingdom, lifting decades-long bans on cinemas and women drivers while allowing gender-mixed concerts and sporting extravaganzas.
The relaxed social norms have been welcomed by many Saudis, two-thirds of whom are under 30. But in September, Saudi Arabia said it would penalise violations of “public decency”, including wearing “immodest clothing” and public displays of affection, after the austere kingdom began issuing tourist visas for the first time.
Men and women must avoid “tight-fitting clothing” or clothes with “profane language or images”, read an instruction on an English language website launched by the tourism authority.
“Women should cover shoulders and knees in public,” it added.
The public decency guidelines, first approved by cabinet in April, are widely perceived to be vague and have sparked public concern that they would be open to interpretation.
They have also stoked fears of a revival of “morality policing”.
Speaking after South Africa's 107-run win in the first Test against England on Sunday, Du Plessis was asked his opinion about plans for an annual 'Super Series' of one-day games, involving the so-called 'Big Three' of India, Australia and England, with one other country to be invited on a revolving basis.
"The last year or so you can see what's going on in terms of the big three countries," he said.
"There's a lot of movement going towards that, a lot more matches being played against the top three, or big three. It's probably better if you include more teams, better to grow the game as much as you can."
Du Plessis pointed out that there was inequality of fixtures, especially in Test cricket, with new Test nations such as Ireland and Afghanistan struggling to get fixtures.
"There's a lot of smaller nations not playing a lot of Test cricket, they're actually playing less," he said.
The building, which was constructed 12 years ago and housed 25 flats as well as a couple of warehouses, was evacuated by the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) in the wee hours of the morning, so no loss of life was reported. It had started to lean sideways before crumbling to dust.
The utility connections to it had already been disconnected by the authorities.
According to the building's residents, cracks in its pillars and foundation had appeared earlier and there were creaks and noises around the time of Fajr prayers. They were aware of risk, they said.
Back in 1987, the original plan of a ground-plus-one floor structure near Timber Market in Ranchore Lane's Soomra Gali had been passed but the top five storeys, as well as the penthouse were illegal. The substandard construction and chasing higher profits left more than 24 families homeless, with residents managing to save only a small number of household items.
Officials present at the site opined that substandard material was used in the construction, which led to the building's decrepit state and eventual collapse. The building, which was constructed 12 years ago, had also experienced a fire in the past, as per its residents, and repair work had been done prior to that.
Sources informed Geo News that a completion plan and no-objection certificate (NOC) is usually provided after the building is constructed legally.
Sindh CM takes notice
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the incident and summoned a report from relevant officials, including Commissioner Karachi and the SBCA.
The director-general of the SBCA, Zafar Ahsan, confirmed that a three-member investigative committee had been set up to probe the matter. The team would also conduct a survey of the downed building as well as those in its surroundings.
The PPP leader made the offer while delivering a speech at the inauguration ceremony of multiple development projects in Karachi. In his speech, Bilawal blamed the federal government for depriving Sindh of its due rights.
“We are ready to give you the same number of ministries in Sindh,” Bilawal said, addressing the MQM. He said that, "the PPP will support the toppling of PTI rule".
“The economic situation is dangerous and the PTI government is making policies that go against the [interests of] poverty-stricken people,” he said.
He lambasted the PTI over the removal of over 800,000 names from the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), terming it a “cruel” step.
It is pertinent to mention here that Dr Sania Nishtar had recently struck off the names from the list of BISP beneficiaries after finding patterns of lifestyle and expenditures that did not fit the profile of deserving beneficiaries.
Talking about Karachi, Bilawal said that the city "is very important” and acknowledged that, “we need to give basic rights to the Karachiites”.
He also blamed the PTI for the ongoing gas crisis in Sindh and accused it of "stealing gas".
"The gas policy of the government is unconstitutional. Sindh’s right is being taken away,” he said.
Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar, who was present for the event, said that it was the party that would decide on Bilawal's offer.
“MQM-P has never indulged in the politics of ministries and our support for PTI is based on Karachi's issues,” Akhtar said.
“However, we [the MQM and PPP] can sit together for the resolution of Karachi's problems.”
Akhtar did, however, express his dismay at the federal government's performance in Sindh.
He said that the city's problems were discussed with senior PTI leader Jahangir Tareen but the party did not take responsibility.
Addressing a ceremony here in the federal capital, the prime minister said: "We will take responsibility and extend this health card and insurance facility to the entire transgender community.
"This government is accepting the transgender community — something that the previous governments had not done unfortunately."
The PM said his government found it difficult to fulfil the promises they had made to the public earlier due to the difficulties the administration inherited from former regimes.
"We have not been able to provide the promised welfare system yet but, despite the difficult economic situations, we have decided to extend the health card facility to the weak and poor sectors of our society," he said.
PM Imran highlighted the importance of the health card scheme, saying it provided a security blanket to the poverty-ridden households and that they would be able to "seek medical treatment at any hospital in their time of need".
The premier said he was well aware of what life-threatening diseases such as cancer could do to poor families, who sometimes had to resort to even selling off their belongings to seek basic healthcare.
"This is why this health card is important because it gives confidence to the poor," he added.
The PM assailed former governments for "pretending that the transgender communities do not even exist" and treating them like "non-persons".
"We will give you complete protection in the society and abolish the unfortunate practices even," he added.
In the presser after the stumps on Day 3 of the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam trophy 2019-20 final at National Stadium Karachi where he struck a double-century (218) against Northern.
“My career cannot be decided on one ball, if I will get another chance and will play more balls, I will be satisfied and will also not complain about my selection in the side.
Umar Akmal in the T20 series against Sri Lanka in October played two matches and got out on the first delivery both the times.
Umar also added that Test Cricket is getting advanced and the batsman who plays run-a-ball adds depth to the side.
“Getting selected in the team is on the chief selector, I know my style of play and the Test format has also changed. As per my performances, I am pretty sure that soon I will make a comeback,” He added.
On the question of whichever teams he plays, the team ends up winning the tournament he thanked Almighty and added that still there is hope after these stellar performances in domestic cricket, he will be able to make a comeback.
Umar, as a part of this year Quaid-e-Azam trophy the competition has been really good.
“This year, cricket is being played really good. In all the six teams there are competitive players. Yes, some players were not selected due to so much competition but I pray that they will soon be part of any of these sides.” Umar concluded.
In a statement, Marriyum said that innocent members of opposition parties are bearing jail terms for 15 months without any solid proof. The only crime of PML-N General Secretary Ahsan Iqbal was that he exposed ineligible leaders of PTI, she added.
She said that Norowal Sports complex benefited the youth and people of Norowal.
The spokesperson said that that incompetent government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has presented National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) plus to protect its leaders.
She asked the Chairman will he respond that “Did Ahsan Iqbal misuse his powers?”
Prime Minister PM Khan will distribute Sehat Insaf card among the transgender persons, today.
In this regard, a special ceremony will be held in PM House to hand over the cards to the members of transgender community, the sources said.
On December 27, following the directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the federal government had made progress on expanding the health insurance scheme, health Cards to other parts of the country.
PM Khan had ordered concerned authorities to provide details regarding the issuance and outcomes of the health Cards.
In September, Special Assistant to the PM on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan had said Sehat Insaf Card and Ehsaas programme are the government’s practical steps to help the deprived, poor and needy and bring them onto the path of economic and social prosperity.
Under the scheme, the treatment for angioplasty, brain surgery, cancer and other diseases will be done free of cost.
At least 15 million people will benefit from this policy. The card holders could receive medical facilities up to Rs 720,000. The medical facilities would be available in more than 150 private and government hospitals.
In a statement, he said reforms in the NAB ordinance were long overdue as a special parliamentary committee was also set up during the previous PML-N tenure for the purpose.
The body did a lot of work on the reforms but unfortunately, couldn’t finish the assigned task, he added.
FM Shah Mehmood Qureshi stressed the incumbent government has floated a proposal in the shape of the ordinance.
This draft law will be brought to Parliament for legislation, the foreign minister said, asking parliamentarians to give suggestions, if they wish, in this regard.
About loopholes in the NAB ordinance, Shah Mahmood said evidence gathered by the anti-graft watchdog in many cases appeared incomplete while the prosecution’s arguments were weak in other cases, which benefitted the people who looted the national exchequer.
He said NAB could be revamped with loopholes addressed adequately to make it more effective.
FM Shah Mehmood Qureshi rejected the impression that NAB is being used for arm-twisting of political opponents.
Gilgit Baltistan remained under the shadow of blood curdling weather with Gupis -11°Celsius, Astore and Bagrote -10°C, Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said in its weather report.
Dense fog prevailing in most plain areas of Punjab and upper Sindh while in few districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during morning and night hours. Cold and dry weather reported elsewhere in the country while very cold in upper areas.
According to sources the meeting has been called to inform the government spokespersons about the government narrative on the NAB ordinance.
The government legal team and leaders will attend the sitting while it will also consider country’s political and economical situation of the country.
On the other hand the premier will also distribute the sehat insaf cards among eunuchs
According to a PIA spokesman, the flight schedule was affected due to heavy fog and the flights schedule was affected due to low visibility.
The spokesman asked the passengers to register their numbers with the authorities in ticket booking section so that they could be informed regarding any delays.
On the other hand, the thick fog has badly affected the flow of road traffic in several cities of Punjab.
The Motorway section from Sher Shah Interchang to Sukkur (M5) has been closed as visibility was very low, said Motorway Police spokesperson.
Similarly, Motorway section from Peshawar to Swabi (M1) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has also been closed due to dense fog.
According to the Pakistan Metrological Department, Dense fog is likely to prevail in Islamabad, most plain areas of Punjab and upper Sindh while in few districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during morning and night hours on Monday.
Cold and dry weather is expected elsewhere in the country while very cold in upper areas, said the MET office in its forecast.
In the presser after the stumps on Day 3 of the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam trophy 2019-20 final at National Stadium Karachi where he struck a double-century (218) against Northern.
“My career cannot be decided on one ball, if I will get another chance and will play more balls, I will be satisfied and will also not complain about my selection in the side.
Umar Akmal in the T20 series against Sri Lanka in October played two matches and got out on the first delivery both the times.
Umar also added that Test Cricket is getting advanced and the batsman who plays run-a-ball adds depth to the side.
“Getting selected in the team is on the chief selector, I know my style of play and the Test format has also changed. As per my performances, I am pretty sure that soon I will make a comeback,” He added.
On the question of whichever teams he plays, the team ends up winning the tournament he thanked Almighty and added that still there is hope after these stellar performances in domestic cricket, he will be able to make a comeback.
Umar, as a part of this year Quaid-e-Azam trophy the competition has been really good.
“This year, cricket is being played really good. In all the six teams there are competitive players. Yes, some players were not selected due to so much competition but I pray that they will soon be part of any of these sides.” Umar concluded.
“In accordance with established procedure, today we have sent a package of documents to the World Anti-Doping Agency,” RUSADA director general Yury Ganus told reporters in Moscow.
“The package contains a notice about disagreement with WADA sanctions.”
Ganus, who has long argued for a major crackdown by Russia against doping cheats, warned that the legal challenge could backfire, however.
The formal statement of disagreement with WADA will trigger an appeal process against the ban at the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Ganus, whose rigorous stance puts him at odds with his own government and supervisory board, argues that Moscow needs to accept the sanctions and own up to its faults in order to be able to reform.
He however said he was obliged to relay the position of the supervisory board.
He said he also sent a letter to WADA informing the anti-doping agency of his personal stance.
“I regret to inform you that all my attempts, including attempts to introduce changes to the RUSADA notice, have failed,” said the letter.
Ganus told AFP on Thursday that “it is practically impossible” to contest the ban.
WADA this month banned Russia for four years from major global events, including the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, over manipulated doping data.
Under the sanctions, Russians will still be allowed to compete, but only as neutrals and if they can demonstrate that they were not part of what WADA believes was a state-sponsored system of doping.
Putin has called the sanctions politically motivated, indicating a lengthy legal battle loomed.
He argued that the majority of Russian athletes were clean and should not be deprived of the right to compete under the Russian flag due to the actions of some individuals.
Ganus warned that contesting the doping ban could in fact make matters worse because CAS could make sanctions against Russia more severe.
“We are creating a platform for it. We themselves are creating risks,” he said. “First of all, it would be a public hearing,” he said, adding that some officials could request that the Court of Arbitration for Sport toughen up rather than soften the punishment against Russia.
He referred to the position of United States Anti-Doping Agency chief Travis Tygart who has called for a blanket ban on Russian athletes at the Tokyo Olympics.
Tygart said that allowing “neutral” Russian athletes to compete at the Olympics in 2016 and 2018 had been ineffective.
“WADA must get tougher and impose the full restriction on Russian athlete participation in the Olympics that the rules allow,” Tygart said in November.
Speaking to AFP on Thursday, Ganus said he had information that his British counterpart could also call for severe sanctions against Russia.
The suspension was handed to Russia over falsifying data from a doping testing laboratory that was handed to WADA earlier this year as part of a compliance reinstatement process.
The significant extent of state-sponsored doping in Russia, notably between 2011 and 2015, was revealed in an independent report by sports lawyer Richard McLaren, released in 2016.
The issue has dealt a colossal blow to the status of post-Soviet Russia as a major sports power after hosting events such as the 2013 World Athletics Championships, the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and the 2018 World Cup.
The Sochi Games later became notorious for the number of doping violations by prominent Russian athletes.
The doping scandal has also divided Russian sports stars, with three-time world champion high jumper Mariya Lasitskene calling for sports officials to be held to account over the ban.
The victims, all Hasidic members of the Jewish faith, were transported to local hospitals — two in critical condition — the Orthodox Jewish Public Affairs Council (OJPAC) tweeted after receiving a call at 9:50pm.
A suspect has been taken into custody and a vehicle safeguarded, a spokesman for the NYPD told AFP.
Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo said in a statement that he was “horrified” by the “despicable and cowardly act”, and had directed the State Police hate crimes task force to investigate.
“We have a zero tolerance for anti-Semitism in NY and we will hold the attacker accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” he tweeted.
CBS New York reported that a man brandishing a machete went into the rabbi's property in Monsey, New York State, an area with a large Jewish population, and knifed at least three people before fleeing.
“I was praying for my life,” witness Aron Kohn, 65, told the New York Times, describing the knife used by the attacker as “the size of a broomstick”.
Yossi Gestetner, a co-founder of the OJPAC for the Hudson Valley region, told the New York Times one of the victims was a son of the rabbi. “The house had many dozens of people in there,” Gestetner said. “It was a Hanukkah celebration.”
Surge in attacks
The attack comes as US police battle a rash of attacks against Jewish targets. Last year a white supremacist walked into a Pittsburgh synagogue and killed 11 people, the deadliest attack ever committed against the Jewish community in the United States.
While earlier this month, six people including two suspects, were killed in a Jersey City shooting at a kosher deli, which authorities said was fueled in part by anti-Semitism.
A report in April from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) stated that the number of anti-Semitic attacks in 2018 was close to the record of 2017, with 1,879 incidents.
In response to the recent surge in hate-crimes in New York, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Friday that the NYPD was stepping up patrols in three neighbourhoods and increasing the number of visits to houses of worship.
After Saturday's attack, the mayor also tweeted that he has recently spoken to longtime Jewish friends who are fearful of outwardly showing their faith. “We will NOT allow this to become the new normal,” he wrote.
“We'll use every tool we have to stop these attacks once and for all.” But de Blasio's commitments have not yet eased fears of further persecution — either in the US or around the world.
In Israel, President Reuven (Ruvi) Rivlin expressed his “shock and outrage” regarding the attack. “The rise of anti-Semitism is not just a Jewish problem, and certainly not just the State of Israel's problem,” he said in a statement.
“We must work together to confront this evil, which is raising its head again and is a genuine threat around the world.” In the US, Jonathan Greenblatt, national director of the ADL, called for increased protection for the Jewish community from the authorities.
Previously, the Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL), which had announced opening CNG stations at 8pm on Thursday, extended the closure till Friday 8pm.
Sources say the SSGCL has held a meeting with the CNG leaders' association during the past few days.
During the meeting, it was decided that a proper schedule will be announced in the next week according to which gas supply for CNG stations will be ensured.
On Saturday, the Sindh government held the Centre responsible for the ongoing gas shortage in the province.
Speaking at a news conference, Sindh Information Minister Saeed Ghani mocked Federal Minister for Power Omar Ayub Khan over allegations that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was not allowing the federal government to lay down a gas pipeline in the province.
Following a visit to the SSGCL headquarters in Karachi a day prior, Ayub had said the provincial government had not given the company the "right of way" for a long time, which he said was the fundamental reason CNG shutdowns were taking place in Sindh.
Ghani took exception to Ayub's statement, saying the provincial cabinet had received two projects, which the federal government pursued and the Sindh government had gone "out of its way to solve Centre's problem".
While Ayub had placed "complete responsibility" for the gas shortage on the Sindh government and the PPP government, Ghani said: "We are not getting gas in any department and the blame has been put on the provincial government. The federal government is responsible, this is the job of the federal government."
He said that under Article 158 of the Constitution, the province that produces the gas has the first right to it, after which the remaining gas can be distributed to other provinces.
The provincial information minister said that despite the fact that Sindh has produced 70 per cent of the country's gas, the province continued to experience gas load shedding and shortages.
“Countries usually have only one premier investigation agency at the federal level. USA has FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation), India has CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation). We need to merge FIA and NAB,” he tweeted.
Chaudhry also called for talks between the opposition and the government to ensure that such an agency could be formed.
The minister tweeted in response to a news story tweeted by journalist Mansoor Ali Khan. The story had reported that the newly passed NAB Ordinance by the government will empower the FIA.
Currently, the two bodies are separate entities but their jurisdictions and operations overlap in some areas.
NAB, according to its website, is an independent body tasked with eliminating corruption "through a holistic approach of awareness, prevention and enforcement".
Meanwhile, FIA, also according to its official website, is tasked with "the investigation of certain offences committed in connection with matters concerning the Federal Government". The agency has a separate anti-corruption department as well.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, passed by the Indian parliament on December 11, offers citizenship to refugees of several faiths including, Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism but does not grant the same to Muslims.
The statute, deemed "fundamentally discriminatory" by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, has triggered widespread protests in India, of which Qureshi took note in his press conference in Multan today.
“There are protests all over India because of the Citizenship Amendment Act. India is completely divided over the move. It is split into two schools of thoughts,” he said.
“The entire country is out on the streets protesting against the law. Twenty-five people have been killed in protests so far,” the foreign minister detailed.
Qureshi said that the Indian authorities' internet blackout in India's northern states "has unmasked [Indian Prime Minister Narendra] Modi’s Hindutva thinking".
He said that Muslims, Hindu and Sikhs have all been protesting against the controversial law, noting that even the chief ministers of several states, including Assam and Madhya Pradesh, have been leading the rallies.
'India's global image stands tarnished'
The foreign minister said that the world has also taken notice of the issue.
“The international media has been publishing scathing editorials over what is happening in India,” he said, adding that "India’s image has been tarnished all over the world."
Qureshi also addressed the situation in occupied Kashmir, which has been under a lockdown for nearly five months. He said that Islamabad has asked newly appointed Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud to have the issue of occupied Kashmir discussed at Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
“The Saudi foreign minister has assured us that he will raise the issue at the forum,” he added.
'No dialogue until situation in occupied Kashmir is resolved'
Qureshi dismissed the possibility of any dialogue with India until the issue in occupied Kashmir is resolved.
“Due to the situation in occupied Kashmir, Islamabad is not mentally ready to sit down with New Delhi,” Qureshi said.
The foreign minister further said that Islamabad had written a letter to the United Nations (UN) over India’s military maneuvers in occupied Kashmir on December 12. “The letter states how India can affect peace in the region. On the basis of our letter, China has requested that military observers brief the UN about the situation in Kashmir.”
“The world should know what India is capable of,” he asserted. “We are aware of our responsibilities and are doing what we can on diplomatic and political fronts.”
Qureshi again urged the human rights bodies to take notice of the issue in occupied Kashmir. “The issue of Kashmir has taken such a turn for worse that we need an OIC session of the foreign ministers. We are trying to have the session as soon as possible,” he said.
He also said that Pakistan has good relations with all the Muslim countries in the world and that “we will continue to make sure there are no issues between the Muslim countries.”
Taking to Twitter, the prime minister said he had issued the directives to provide temporary homes for the shelterless "given the extremely cold weather conditions".
Given the extremely cold weather conditions I have asked CMs of Punjab & KP to ensure that no person is left out without shelter; & their administrations must take immediate action to provide temporary shelters plus food for those who cannot be accommodated in existing Panagahs.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 29, 2019
"Given the extremely cold weather conditions I have asked CMs of Punjab & KP to ensure that no person is left out without shelter; & their administrations must take immediate action to provide temporary shelters plus food for those who cannot be accommodated in existing Panagahs," he tweeted.
Prime Minister Imran inaugurated the first shelter for the homeless in Lahore last year. The government set up similar Panagahs to provide food and a roof for the poor.
She said Prime Minister Imran Khan is squeaky clean, due to which he doesn’t fear accountability.
The country’s top court declared him “Sadiq and Amin,” she said, adding even the worst of his enemies failed to accuse him of any financial wrongdoing and will remain so.
آئے روزنیب کے خلاف محاذ کھولنے والے لیگی ترجمانوں کا نیب ترمیمی آرڈیننس پرسیاست کرناافسوسناک ہے۔وزیراعظم عمران خان کا دامن صاف ہے۔انہیں احتساب کا کوئی خوف نہیں،سب سے بڑی عدالت نے انہیں صادق اورامین قرار دیا۔
— Firdous Ashiq Awan (@Dr_FirdousPTI) December 29, 2019
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NAB’s duty is to take action against mega corruption scandals, which it would do with more powers, she added.
عمران خان کا کرپشن کے خلاف جہاد بھرپور قوت سے جاری ہے۔نیب کا کام میگا کرپشن اسکینڈلز کے خلاف کارروائی عمل میں لانا ہے اور یہ کام نیب اور بھی قوت سے انجام دے گا۔
— Firdous Ashiq Awan (@Dr_FirdousPTI) December 29, 2019
Those government employees who achieved personal objectives by exploiting procedural loopholes or institutional flaws will face action, she warned, adding public office holders who multiplied their wealth while being in office are no exception.
ایسے سرکاری ملازمین کے خلاف ضرور کارروائی ہوگی جنہوں نے طریقہ کار کی غلطیوں یا محکمانہ نقائص سے ذاتی مفادات حاصل کئے ہونگے۔اختیارات کا ناجائز استعمال کرتے ہوئے اثاثہ جات میں بے پناہ اضافہ رکھنےوالے پبلک آفس ہولڈرز کاروائی سے ہرگز مبرا نہیں۔
— Firdous Ashiq Awan (@Dr_FirdousPTI) December 29, 2019
In a statement, the PPP senator summoned details about the incident from Pakistan’s ambassador in Turkey and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director general in this regard.
He said two Pakistanis died in the incident while eleven others got wounded. It is distressing that 23 Pakistanis were among the 71 migrants on board the ill-fated boat, he added.
The committee chairman asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to make arrangements for safe return of the Pakistani migrants stranded in Turkey.
In a statement earlier on Dec 27, the Foreign Office spokesperson had said, “We have learnt with deep sorrow about the tragic incident of a boat capsizing in Lake Van, Bitlis Province in the east of Turkey, which carried nationals of various countries including Pakistan.”
The Pakistan embassy in Turkey and Consulate General in Istanbul are in contact with the local Turkish authorities to seek further information and provide all possible assistance to the Pakistani nationals involved, she said.
As per the information shared by the Turkish authorities, a total of 71 individuals of various nationalities were present on the boat when it capsized including 25 from Pakistan. Turkish authorities carried out the search and rescue operation in the aftermath of the accident. Unfortunately, 2 Pakistani nationals lost their lives.
“Our Missions in Turkey are in touch with the local authorities to ascertain the identity of the deceased individuals. The families of the deceased will be notified upon confirmation of their identities and all possible assistance will be extended to the bereaved families for repatriation of the remains of their loved ones,” read the statement.
Other 23 Pakistani nationals present on the boat have been rescued and are with the local Turkish authorities, it said, adding those in need of medical attention are being treated in local hospitals.
Sharing a British travel magazine’s list of Pakistan’s most breathtaking natural wonders, he wrote: ” Pakistan is a land of unimaginable beauty, hidden natural wonders and untapped tourism potential.”
Pakistan is a land of unimaginable beauty, hidden natural wonders and untapped tourism potential. https://t.co/Zvs5x5aOId
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 29, 2019
Attabad Lake, Hunza Valley, Saiful Muluk, Thar Desert, Deosai Plains, Trango Towers, Hingol National Park, Neelum Valley, and Baltoro Glacier figure on Wanderlust’s 2020 Hot List destination Pakistan offers.
Presiding over a high-level meeting on promotion of tourism on Dec 5, Prime Minister Khan had said Pakistan is emerging as an attractive destination on the international tourism map owing to its beautiful natural landscape.
Long queues of all kinds of vehicles were witnessed at the CNG stations which opened at 7am.
A spokesperson for the SSGCL said CNG stations will remain open across Sindh until 7pm.
He said gas pressure has improved to a great extent yet the gas utility faced hardships to ensure smooth gas supply to domestic consumers and industries due to a widnening demand-and-supply gap.
According to a new schedule, gas supply to CNG stations will remain suspended on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for 24 hours.
Meanwhile, gas supply to industries has been suspended for 24 hours and will resume Monday morning.
In a statement on Saturday, Minister for Power Omar Ayub Khan had said domestic consumers are getting uninterrupted gas supply across the country.
He urged them to raise their voice for Muslims "suffering in Kashmir and India at the hands of the RSS-led BJP government".
The premier's request came during a winter meeting of the medical association held in Peshawar.
He said APPNA is the most powerful and influential Pakistani group overseas. "You are the most educated, with the most awareness."
The premier said that the Pakistan government not only wishes to have an institutional arrangement with APPNA but to have them lobby for the country.
"India's lobby in America right now is far more powerful than Pakistan's. India's point of view always overshadows that of Pakistan and American policies for Pakistan are affected by that viewpoint," he explained.
"What India is doing right now in Kashmir and with Muslims [in India] is in violation of all humanitarian laws and international laws. In the 21st century, we are witnessing a fascist, racist government.
"The programmes they are bringing in are identical to those in Hitler's Nazi Germany when they committed genocide of the Jews. The exact same pattern is being followed by the RSS-led BJP government in India," said PM Imran.
He said that while the Pakistan government has been trying to raise awareness in America on this, the APPNA group will prove instrumental in furthering the cause.
"Raise your voice for Kashmiris who have been suffering for five months in an open prison and not only for that but for the change in demography which is considered a war crime."
The premier said that the Citizenship Amendment Act in India also poses a danger and there is a need for Pakistani Americans to highlight it. "Even enlightened Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and Parsis have stood up against an Act whose purpose it is to target Muslims," he said.
"I don't think you realise your lobbying strength. It is under utilised," added the premier, urging the group to take advantage of their position in the US.
He warned of India undertaking a false-flag operation in Azad Kashmir to draw attention away from their actions which had for the first time been met with international criticism.
He urged the body to begin raising its voice because the "situation in India will further deteriorate".
"Once this demon is out of the bottle, it will never go back in. This is what history has shown us. When a movement is launched based on hatred [...] the Nazi Party created a Jew register before their genocide and in Myanmar, Muslims were asked to register," he said, calling to attention similar moves being made by India.
"To counter where all this is headed, you must be prepared beforehand and lobby with full force."
'Corrupt status quo'
The premier also spoke of the government's efforts to tackle the strong resistance to change that was being put up by those who wish for the "old, corrupt ways" to remain. He underscored the importance of reforms with which much-needed quality will be brought to institutions.
"Quality is of extreme importance in Pakistan. Unfortunately, our institutional collapse is due to the fact that our quality has declined when it comes to our educational institutions and hospitals."
He said that was the reason why hospital reforms were being brought in so that quality standards comparable to healthcare institutions abroad can be duplicated in Pakistan.
He regretted that the efforts for reform had been met with a lot of resistance by the status quo. "The status quo or mafia which derives benefit from the old, corrupt system, creates hurdles everywhere."
PM Imran said they dub the reforms as privatisation knowing full well that is not the case. "They purposely do it to sway public opinion and to mobilise people for demonstrations and to sabotage our efforts."
He said due to an overall "decay in the system" it was impossible to find quality healthcare in government hospitals.
"The hospitals have fallen under bureaucratic control and [the bureaucrats] have no idea of what the administrative structure of a modern hospital is."
The prime minister said with the reforms being brought in in Punjab and KP, the aim is for government hospitals to compete with private hospitals.
"We are not privatising. The management structure of private hospitals will be implemented in government hospitals so the common man can avail good quality treatment."
He said the "old, corrupt ways" do not only pose a challenge in the health sector but across all sectors, such as FBR (Federal Board of Revenue), the tax collection machinery which the government is trying to automate.
He said a lot of resistance is always put up when change is brought in. "Which is why I always tell people not to give in to fear. This was bound to happen and we were expecting it."
"There are two types of government. One only wishes to complete their tenure. Our government is one that wishes to bring in reform," said the premier.
He said it was the government's task to withstand pressure and resistance to change, but one thing was clear: Pakistan can never progress without change. "Our corrupt status quo has destroyed our institutions."
The premier said that a lot of governments fear that they will be dissolved and take a back foot when it comes to implementing change.
"I assure you our government will in no way step back from reforms."
