Month: January 2021

The persisting gas crisis in Pakistan has intensified, adding to the woes of the citizens as they are forced to turn to more expensive methods to compensate for the gas shortage.

According to Geo News, the gas shortage in Karachi has domestic and industrial consumers, as well as tandoors, teahouses, and hotels worried.

Adding to the crisis, the severe cold weather has also led to a reduction in gas pressure and suspension of gas supply in residential areas, further adding to the plight of the citizens.

Residents in Gujranwala are unable to light their stoves due to gas shortage and are forced to purchase expensive cylinders, while people in Ziarat and Kalat are forced to burn expensive wood for the same reason.

Furthermore, CNG stations in Multan have been shut down due to gas shortage, which has further added to the woes of the citizens, reported Geo News.

Low gas pressure is currently persisting in different areas of Quetta, in Nawan Kali, Sariab Road, Brewery, Bypass, and other areas, due to which domestic and business consumers are facing difficulties.

Meanwhile, Pakistan President Arif Alvi held a meeting with industrialists at the Governor House in Karachi and said he would take up the matter of gas crisis with concerned ministers.

President Alvi assured the business community that they would receive an update on the root causes of the gas crisis and the government’s strategy being devised to deal with the situation, reported Geo News.

Last month, The News International reported that the gas crisis in Pakistan is set to worsen in January 2021, as Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) will face a shortage of 500 mmcfd and will be left with no option but to close down Regasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) supply to the power sector. (ANI)

Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Ashutosh Sinha has claimed that people fear that COVID-19 vaccine can make them impotent. Sinha also backed party chief Akhilesh Yadav after the latter had said that he would not get vaccinated against COVID-19.

“If honourable Akhilesh Yadav has said this, then there will be something serious. We do not believe in the machinery of the government. He has said this based on facts. If he is not vaccinating himself, then I think COVID-19 vaccine might contain something, which can cause harm. Tomorrow, people will say the vaccine was given to kill/decrease the population. You can even become impotent, anything can happen,” Sinha, SP Mirzapur MLC said while speaking to ANI.

“And If Akhilesh Yadav is saying this, then I think no one should get vaccinated in the state,” he added.

Earlier in the day, Yadav had said that he will not get vaccinated against coronavirus for now as the “BJP government cannot be trusted”.

“I will not take the COVID-19 vaccine at this moment. That too given by Bharatiya Janata Party. How can I trust BJP’s vaccine, no chance? When our government will be formed, everyone will get a free vaccine. We cannot take the BJP vaccine,” said Akhilesh during a press conference in Lucknow.

“The inoculation programme under the BJP-led regime could not be trusted,” he added.

Yadav’s response comes after Dr Shekhar Mande, Director General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) said the COVID-19 vaccine is safe and would not have adverse effects and urged people not to hesitate to take it.

Union Health Ministry is carrying out pan-India COVID-19 vaccine dry run.

According to the Union Health Ministry, the objective of the dry run is to “assess operational feasibility in the use of COVID Vaccine Intelligence Network (Co-WIN) application in a field environment, to test the linkages between planning and implementation and to identify the challenges and guide the way forward prior to actual implementation”. (ANI)

Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Saturday visited two mock vaccination sites in Delhi to review the dry run drill for administering COVID-19 vaccine.

The minister first visited the GTB Hospital in Shahdara and later an Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) in Daryaganj.

The Health Ministry on Saturday conducted a nationwide mock drill at 285 session sites to test the end-to-end planned operations and the mechanism that has been set up to ensure smooth conduct of the COVID-19 vaccination that is expected to begin soon.

The minister later said in a tweet that details of how further 27 crore priority beneficiaries are to be vaccinated against COVID-19 until July are being finalised.

“In 1st phase of COVID-19 vaccination, free vaccine shall be provided across the nation to most prioritised beneficiaries that include one crore healthcare and two crore frontline workers. Details of how further 27 crore priority beneficiaries are to be vaccinated until July are being finalised,” he said.

In his remarks, he warned the citizens against falling prey to rumours and disinformation campaigns regarding the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine and rubbished the rumours being propagated on social media which are raising doubts in the mind of the public regarding the vaccine side-effects.

The Minister urged the media to exercise caution and to behave responsibly and check all facts before publishing or broadcasting any reports.

The minister expressed satisfaction at the preparations at the GTB Hospital.

“The entire exercise of the vaccination process is being systematically taken forward, including training of personnel for administering the vaccine. Detailed guidelines have been issued to multiple stakeholders after extensive deliberations, paying attention to each and every minute aspect,” he said.

Speaking on the preparedness for ensuring that the vaccine reaches even the remotest corner of the country, the minister said that the country’s cold chain infrastructure has been sufficiently upgraded to ensure last-mile delivery and adequate supplies of syringes and other logistics have also been provided for. (ANI)

Protesting farmer unions on Saturday said that farmers will enter Delhi on the Republic Day with their tractors, trolleys and other vehicles if their demand for the repeal of new farm laws is not accepted.

At a joint press conference, members of the coordination committee of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha said the major demands of the protesting farmers remain unresolved.

Krantikari Kisan Union President Darshan Pal said they had drawn up a plan of action to intensify the protest.

“Will hold a parallel tractor parade in Delhi on Republic Day in Delhi. We call on all nearby farmers to come to Delhi with their tractors and farm vehicles,” he said.

The farmer union leaders said that a fortnight-long nationwide campaign includes “Desh Jagriti Abhiyan” from Jan 6 to January 20 in which rallies, conferences and protests will be held across the country.

They said Lohri will be marked as Kisan Sankalp Diwas and January 18 as Mahila Kisan Diwas to underline the role of women farmers.

Azad Hind Kisan Diwas will be marked on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary on 23rd January by protesting outside Governors’ official residence in all state capitals.

They said the government has asked the farmers’ organisations to come up with ‘alternative proposals’ on their demand to repeal the three central farm Acts and the farmer leaders had responded by saying that there is no alternative other than repeal.

They said the government has refused to agree, even in principle, to our demand for legal right to purchase at MSP.

The farmer union leaders said that if the government does not meet their demand by the January 26, “they will be left with no option other than to start marching peacefully into Delhi”.

The farmer unions leaders had said on Friday that if the scheduled talks with the government do not succeed on January 4, farmers will march on KMP Expressway on January 6 and “Shahjahanpur blockade will also move towards Delhi”. (ANI)

Punjab-based farmers have sent legal notices to Union Minister Giriraj Singh, Gujarat Deputy CM Nitin Patel and BJP leader Ram Madhav for their alleged defamatory/ derogatory statement regarding ongoing agitation at various Delhi borders against the agriculture laws.

Farmers have sent the notices seeking an unconditional apology and unambiguous withdrawal of the alleged defamatory and derogatory statements made by the three leaders.

Statements by several political leaders have not issued in good faith or with responsibility, but mala fide intent and for oblique motives to further vested interests and defame the protesting farmers, read the notice.

A farmer from Amritsar, Jaskaran Singh Bandesha through notice to Giriraj Singh stated that farmers relentlessly giving their blood and sweat for the entire nation, and are widely considered to be the backbone of the entire country’s economy and the agricultural system.

The notice seeks unconditional apology from him for his statement in an interview, where he allegedly said, “Andolan mei kisan ke hit ki baaatein nahi ho rahi hain. Aaj kisan andolan mei videshi taakatein ghus rahi hain. Andolan mei Khalistan aur Sharjeel Imam ke posters lagaye jaa rahe hain”

Another farmer from Jalandhar, Ramneek Singh Randhawa, who sent a notice to Nitin Patel alleging that the latter said “In the name of farmers, anti-national elements, terrorists, Khalistanis, communists and pro-China people have sneaked into the agitation… We can see them having pizza, pakodi… All that is coming free of cost… Anti-national elements are giving them lakhs of rupees to stay put….”

Sukhwinder Singh Sidhu, a farmer from Sangrur, has sent a legal notice to Ram Madhav for allegedly made a defamatory statement against farmers’ agitation through his Twitter handle.

According to the AAP, co in-charge Punjab Raghav Chadha, his party’s legal team is helping farmers in these cases.

“AAP vowed to extend legal aid to farmers who wish to take legal recourse against pre-meditated smear campaign by BJP to discredit Farmers Protest. As promised, AAP helps farmers send Defamation notices to Union Minister Giriraj Singh, Gujarat Dy CM Nitin Patel & BJP’s Ram Madhav,” Chadha said.

Hundreds of farmers have been protesting at different borders of the national capital for over a month against the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. (ANI)

The cast and crew of Sajid Nadiadwala’s ‘Bachchan Pandey’ took off to Jaisalmer on Saturday to kickstart the shoot of the upcoming flick which will be headlined by Akshay Kumar.

Warda Nadiadwala took to Twitter to share pictures of the cast and the crew from the flight and announced that team will soon commence the shoot for the film.

“Get Set & Go Super pumped as we are off to Jaisalmer for #SajidNadiadwala’s #BachchanPandey with the entire cast & crew This one’s going to b a Fun crazy ride,” Warda tweeted along with the pictures.

The pictures saw the entire cast of the film including Kriti Sanon, Arshad Warsi, Parteik Babbar, aboard the special flight.

Kumar who will be essaying the main role of ‘Bachchan Pandey’ in the film was not seen with the team as they took off to Jaisalmer.

Sanon, on the other hand, expressed her excitement as she along with Nadiadwalas had shot for ‘Housefull 4’ in Jaisalmer.

“Super excited!! And full deja vu happening going to the exact same place we shot Housefull4 in!! Jaisalmer it is! #BachchanPandey,” she wrote on Twitter.

Directed by Farhad Samji, the film will be reportedly shot in places like Gadisar Lake and Jaisalkot.

Akshay’s eponymous character in the film ‘Bachchan Pandey’ is a gangster who aspires to be an actor, while, Kriti Sanon will essay the role of a journalist, who harbours dreams of becoming a film director.

The action-comedy also marks Nadiadwala’s 10th collaboration with Akshay. (ANI)

The Balochistan authorities have reversed plan to build a fence around the entire area surrounding the Gwadar port amid protests by locals against the fortification.

The Pakistan army, in collaboration with the Makran Administration, Gwadar Development Authority, Gwadar Port Authority and the Balochistan government, were planning to carry out the project to fence off the entire 24-square-kilometre area surrounding the Gwadar seaport to protect the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project from the rising number of attacks on Chinese installations by the people of Balochistan as a sign of protest.

Home Minister Zia Lango announced that the Balochistan government has stopped work on Gwadar fence on the instructions of Chief Minister Jam Kamal, Geo News reported.

Lango announced the decision in a news conference after attending an Open Kutcheri, adding that a parliamentary delegation would give its recommendation to the Chief Minister in this regard.

The South China Morning Post said that the reversal served as a microcosm of the security, political and economic challenges ahead for the USD 62 billion worth CPEC.

Like other Chinese business and even diplomatic interests in Pakistan, Gwadar has suffered multiple attacks by terrorist groups active in Pakistan’s most volatile regions.

Lango said on Tuesday the fence-building around Gwadar had been halted amid criticism from locals.

“The local people will not be kept away from decision making about Gwadar and a decision about fencing would now be taken after taking the local people into confidence over the issue,” he said.

The fencing plan has triggered resentment among the Baloch population, who thought the authorities would go beyond their constitutional limits if they went ahead with the fortification plan.

Baloch lawmakers, who swung into action to condemn the fencing plan, are contemplating a move in parliament against the government’s designs, Shakil informed in his article.

Asia Times quoted a member of the National Assembly from Gwadar-Lasbela, Mohammad Aslam Bhootani, who expressed resentment over the decision and said that fencing Gwadar in the name of security will create doubts in the minds of the local population.

“Gwadar should have been a hub of business and trade, but unfortunately, the government is making it a security zone, which will discourage investment in the area,” he said.

Mir Kabir Mohammad Shahi, a lawmaker and National Party senator, said that fencing off Gwadar city under the safe city project would divide the coastal area into two parts, adding that “Those who regularly visit the city will be given a card, without which no one could enter the city.”

“The decision of the federal government to fence the port city amounts to divide it into two parts. In an era when the Berlin Wall fell, the city is being divided under the garb of security concerns. It has raised serious concerns amongst people of the area,” Mian Raza Rabbani, Former Senate Chairman, and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator said in a statement. (ANI)

American singer Beyonce ringed into the New Year with special never-seen-before footage of the moments she had spent with her three kids in 2020.

The ‘Lion King’ star surprised her fans as she posted the four-minute-long video on Instagram which highlighted some of her memorable moments from the year 2020 that she had spent with her and her musician husband Jay-Z’s kids – Blue Ivy and twins Rumi and Sir Carter.

According to E! News, one of the clips captured Beyonce and Rumi dancing to the ‘Savage Remix’ in which the 39-year-old musician was featured on Megan Thee Stallion’s tune.

Another one from the IGTV video titled ‘Cheers to New Year Beyhive’ featured outtakes from Rumi and Sir Carter’s photoshoot with their celebrity mom.

Other parts of the footage featured behind-the-scenes moments from the New Year’s Eve celebration of the family from last year and also had snapshots of some of the major events that hit the world in 2020 including the coronavirus outbreak.

She went on to pen down a note on how 2020 has both divided and united everyone and how 2021 can be a better and brighter year.

“Cheers to a New Year Beyhive!! 2020 divided us and united us. Most could not see loved ones and we felt too many losses, but we were united by our humanity. This year for me has been about celebrating joy, chasing happiness, and living in love,” the ‘Crazy In Love’ singer wrote.

“As we all look forward and pray for new beginnings, my wish for you is that you honor yourself and those you love. Celebrate that you are an important individual who contributes to our beautiful collective. Here’s to a better and brighter 2021! Love, B,” she added. (ANI)

Afghan security forces killed 50 Taliban terrorists and injured eight others in an operation in Lashkargah city of southern Helmand and some other districts, the country’s Defence Ministry said on Saturday.

According to Pajhwok Afghan News, the Ministry, in a statement, said that the security forces busted Taliban’s hideouts in the operations in Lashkargah, Garamsir and Nawa district..The statement said 50 terrorists were killed including a commander who led a group of 100 militants. Eight others were wounded during the round-the-clock operations.

Nawab Shah Zadran, in-charge of the Afghan Army’s 215th Military Corps media office, told Pajhwok Afghan News that security forces on Friday night launched ground and air raids on Taliban in Nawa, Garamsir, Nad Ali districts and Bushran area of Lashkargah, the capital.

The official said Taliban terrorists had assembled in these areas to plan attacks on security forces.

He added Mualvi Abdul Salam, a commander of 100 terrorists, who was killed in the operation was among the 50 others killed and three landmine-planters were among the wounded.

The Taliban have not yet commented in this regard. (ANI)