Yoga is normally linked with India and there are not many formal institutions in Pakistan to teach yoga. Though privately people like the physical part of yoga exercises. Many residents appreciated the move to organize Yoga classes with several people inquiring about the programme.
Tag: Pakistan
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What Is Education Emergency, The Plan Being Mulled By Pakistan PM? , world news
New Delhi: Pakistan, in a bid to tackle the alarming number of children dropping out of school, is anticipated to declare a four-year education emergency across the country. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to make this groundbreaking announcement in the coming days, according to Dawn.
What Is An Education Emergency?
An education emergency is a state of crisis within the educational system of a country. The crisis may involve challenges such as a high number of children out of school, low literacy rates, inadequate funding, a lack of essential facilities in schools, and other systemic issues.
It signifies a critical situation that demands immediate and coordinated action from the government, stakeholders, and the community to address the underlying causes and improve access to quality education for all.
Need Of Education Emergency In Pakistan
A daunting 26.2 million children, which accounts for 39% of all children in the country, are currently not enrolled in school. Concurrently, the country also struggles with a concerning literacy rate of only 62%, indicating deep-rooted problems in the system that require immediate attention. On top of that, the government allocates a mere 1.7% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to education. Recent statistics from Pakistan Education Statistics for the years 2021–22 highlight the urgency of the situation and the need for state intervention.
The lack of essential facilities like proper sanitation, clean water, and secure boundaries within educational institutions worsens the difficulties faced by students, especially those from marginalized backgrounds. It’s crucial to address these shortcomings in order to create an inclusive and supportive learning environment.
Pakistan’s National Conference on the Education Crisis
Originally set for Tuesday, the National Conference on Education Crisis overseen by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to address the imminent education crisis had to be delayed due to prior commitments by the PM.
As per the report from Dawn, the planned Conference on Education Crisis aims to mobilize collective efforts from various stakeholders. With the participation of chief ministers, development partners, diplomats, and respected education experts, the conference aims to develop comprehensive strategies and programs to tackle the underlying causes of educational disparities.
Recently, Pakistan Federal Education Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui has strongly advocated for declaring a national education emergency. Last month, after being briefed on the high number of out-of-school children and other educational gaps, Siddiqui pledged to urge the Prime Minister and federal cabinet to declare an emergency.
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With One Kg Flour Costing Rs 800, Pakistan Now Has Its Eyes On Dishes Served In Weddings
CM Maryam Nawaz said that cooking multiple dishes leads to unwanted expenditure. Government officials are raiding the parties and imposing fines on those not following the law.
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Who Is Ishaq Dar? Pakistan’s Newly Appointed Deputy Prime Minister. world news
New Delhi: 73-year-old veteran politician and Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar was appointed the country’s deputy prime minister on Sunday. According to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division, the appointment was made by Prime Minister Sharif “with immediate effect and until further orders”.
The announcement comes at a time when both Pak PM Sharif and Dar are away in Saudi Arabia to attend a World Economic Forum’s moot.
Dar who is a member of Shehbaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party has served as finance minister in two previous governments. He was the party’s go-to person for all economic problems, serving as finance minister for the fourth and last time in the previous Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition government.
Despite being the party’s finance expert for decades, surprisingly, Dar was appointed as the foreign minister when Shehbaz Sharif established his cabinet in March.
Dar also shares close ties with former premier Nawaz Sharif as his son is the son-in-law of the elder Sharif.
Dar was expected to be appointed chairman of the Senate, the upper house of the Parliament. However, he lost the race last month when the PML-N struck a deal with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), led by former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, to secure its support for the coalition government.
The party consented to allocate the positions of president and chairman of the Senate to the PPP, leaving Dar with no alternative but to accept a different role within the government.
The PML-N and the PPP agreed on a power-sharing deal to form the coalition government even though the former prime minister Imran Khan-backed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-backed independents won majority seats at the 266-member National Assembly.
It is not the first time a deputy prime minister has been appointed. Chaudhry Parvez Elahi served as Deputy Prime Minister during the tenure of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) from June 25, 2012, to June 29, 2013. His role at that time was mostly symbolic as he was rewarded by then-President Asif Ali Zardari. for supporting the PPP government.
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‘Prefer To Remain In Jail Rather Than…’: Imran Khan Says No Negotiation, No Deal With Pakistan Govt | world news
Lahore: Pakistan’s jailed former prime minister and PTI chief Imran Khan has said that he would prefer to remain in jail for nine more years than strike a deal with those who have enslaved his country. The PTI boss has categorically ruled out an agreement with those ”who have enslaved the country.” In a message for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and workers on the party’s 28th Foundation Day, Khan said that the “ worst dictatorship” was imposed on the country which was becoming the basis for the “destruction” of the economy, government rule, democracy and judiciary”. Khan also called on every individual to play their role in stopping this descent towards the country’s ruin.
“It is my message for the nation that I will give any sacrifice required for actual freedom but will never compromise on my or my nation’s freedom,” the former Pakistan PM said. The cricketer-politician further alleged that he has been kept behind bars for the past nine months due to “fake and concocted cases”.
“I will remain in jail if I have to for nine more years, or more, but I will never strike a deal with those who have enslaved my nation,” he said in his message.
On April 25, 1996, Chairman Imran Khan laid the foundation of Pakistan Movement on the principles of justice, humanity and self-control. Despite the hardships, difficulties and continuing oppression and exploitation, Pakistan Movement continues its patient struggle for the real freedom of Pakistan. #28YearsOfStruggle pic.twitter.com/DCAgkir1hS — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 25, 2024
Since losing power in April 2022, the 71-year-old former cricketer-politician has been found guilty in at least four cases. Khan is currently lodged in Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi because of these convictions. After disagreements with the powerful military, Khan’s political party has faced a crackdown. Many party members have been arrested or left the party after violence erupted following Khan’s arrest last year.
Khan’s party leader, Shehryar Afridi, recently said they are willing to talk with the Army chief and other military leaders for the country’s security. They won’t talk with other political parties like the PPP or PML-N. Afridi called these parties “rejected” and said they can only talk with the military leadership. He also said that if these parties abandon their positions, then PTI will decide whether to work with them or not.
Afridi mentioned that Khan wanted to talk with the military from the beginning, but there was no response. If there had been a response, they would have made it public.
Earlier, PTI leader Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said Khan was being pressured to accept a deal, but PTI denied having any secret talks with the military. In the February 8 election, independent candidates supported by PTI won over 90 seats in the National Assembly. However, the PMN-L and PPP formed an alliance after the election, keeping Khan’s party from forming a government.”
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Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi Arrives In Pakistan On A Three Day Visit | world news
New Delhi: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi arrived in Pakistan on a three-day visit on Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan said.
Upon arrival, Raisi was received by Federal Minister for Housing and Works, Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Iran, Ambassador Mudassir Tipu.
Pakistan Foreign Ministry said that the Iranian President is accompanied by his spouse and a high-level delegation comprising the Foreign Minister and other members of the cabinet and senior officials.
“President Raisi has an extensive program in Pakistan reflecting depth and breadth of Pakistan-Iran ties. He will meet the President and the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Chairman Senate and Speaker, National Assembly,” the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan wrote on X.
During the visit, Raisi is also slated to visit Lahore and Karachi and meet with the provincial leadership there.
The Foreign Ministry revealed that following delegation-level negotiations between PM Shehbaz and Raisi at the PM Office, many memorandums of understanding (MoUs) will be inked by the two countries.
Additionally, President Zardari will hold a banquet in honor of his Iranian counterpart at Aiwan-e-Sadr.
Raisi is scheduled to visit Lahore as part of his high-profile tour of Pakistan, where he is expected to meet with Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Governor Balighur Rehman. The Iranian leader is also due to meet with Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Governor Kamran Tessori in Karachi later, reported The News International.
The Iranian President’s visit to Pakistan, however, comes at a time when there is escalation of tensions in the Middle East. The United States will be closely monitoring his visit, which coincides with the tension between Iran and Israel.
Raisi, according to The News International, would stay in Karachi and return to Tehran on Wednesday.
The provincial authorities are on high alert due to the high-profile visit and public holiday has been declared in Karachi on April 23.
It should be noted that the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline remains a major reason for Pakistan’s tolerance of some key security issues with Iran.
The pipeline was an old idea, but implementation began much later when Asif Ali Zardari was nearing the completion of his first term as president. Iran has built its part, but Pakistan is hesitant to proceed at its end, due to pressure from Saudi Arabia and the risk of debilitating US sanctions.
Moreover, the combination of Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is working together and can keep Saudi Arabia and Iran in balance, writer Muhammad Amir Rana writes in his article for Dawn.
However, the writer says that Tehran could possibly remain a challenge for Islamabad.
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‘If Anything Happens To My Wife Bushra Bibi…’: Ex-Pak PM Imran Khan Warns Army Chief Asim Munir | world news
ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, who is currently detained at the Adiala Jail, has made strong allegations against Army Chief General Asim Munir, directly linking him to the incarceration of his wife, Bushra Bibi. The 49-year-old Bibi, facing charges in a corruption case and an illegal marriage with Khan, is currently held at their residence in Bani Gala, Islamabad. In a statement conveyed to journalists via his official social media account on He vehemently warned against any harm befalling his wife, asserting relentless pursuit of General Munir, vowing, “If anything happens to my wife, I will not leave Asim Munir as long as I am alive.”
The case of the founder-chairman of Tehri Insaf, Imran Khan, talking to the journalists in the jail: “At the last hearing, the name of the king of the jungle was taken, so today the walls have been made by installing additional glasses in the court,
There is law of the jungle in the country and all this is being done by the king of the jungle – If the king of the jungle wants, then Nawaz Sharif can… — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 17, 2024
Amidst his accusations, Khan painted a grim picture of Pakistan’s current state, denouncing a perceived ‘law of the jungle’ prevailing under the helm of powerful figures. He lambasted the selective application of justice, contrasting the clemency extended to political rivals like Nawaz Sharif with the swift condemnation faced by himself and his party. “If the king of the jungle wants, all the cases of Nawaz Sharif are forgiven, and when he wants, we are punished in three cases in five days,” he alleged.
Touching upon economic matters, Khan advocated for investment-driven stability, critiquing the reliance on IMF loans and emphasizing the need for a conductive legal framework to attract investments. He cited the recent clash between police and army in Punjab’s Bahawalnagar region, highlighting what he deemed as preferential treatment towards the military, further underscoring the erosion of the rule of law.
Additionally, Khan lamented the alleged obstructionism faced by his party in electoral processes, framing resistance against oppression as a form of righteous struggle. He urged party members to safeguard each vote in upcoming by-elections, framing the act as a form of resistance against perceived injustices.
While Khan’s accusations reverberate, the army has yet to respond to these weighty allegations, leaving a cloud of uncertainty hovering over the already tense political landscape.
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Twitter Ban: Pakistan Imposes Curb On Elon Musk’s X |
New Delhi: The Pakistan Interior Ministry informed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that the disruption of social media platform ‘X’ in the country aims to address concerns regarding its misuse, as reported by Dawn.
Ministry’s Submission To The Court
Interior Secretary Khurram Agha, representing the ministry, submitted a report to the IHC in response to journalist Ehtisham Abbasi’s petition challenging the ban. (Also Read: Viral Video: Zomato Boy Delivering Food On Harley-Davidson Surfaces Online — Watch)
Background Of Ban
Access to ‘X’ has been disrupted in Pakistan since February 17, following allegations made by former Rawalpindi commissioner Liaquat Chattha against the chief election commissioner and chief justice of Pakistan regarding rigging in the February 8 general elections. (Also Read: ‘Open To Anything,’ Says Microsoft Worker Who Was Laid Off After 3 Decades Of Service)
Reasons For Ban
The interior ministry’s report cited the failure of Twitter/’X’ to comply with lawful directives and address concerns about misuse, leading to the imposition of the ban.
The decision was made in the interest of national security, public order, and the country’s integrity, considering reports from intelligence and security agencies.
Government’s Objective Of Ban
The ban on ‘X’ aims to counter hostile elements seeking to create chaos and instability, with the ultimate goal of destabilizing Pakistan.
The platform’s lack of registration and cooperation with Pakistani authorities necessitates regulatory measures to ensure accountability and adherence to national laws.
Response From Rights Bodies And US
Rights bodies, journalists’ organizations, and internet service providers have condemned the social media disruption. The United States called on Pakistan to lift restrictions on social media platforms.
Court Proceedings
The IHC has been overseeing the matter, with Chief Justice Aamer Farooq warning of further action if satisfactory reasons for the disruption are not provided. Additional hearings are scheduled, with the next hearing set for May 2.
(With ANI Inputs)
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Indian Prisoner Sarabjit Singh’s Killer Amir Sarfaraz Tamba Shot Dead In Pakistan
Sarabjit Singh died after a week following a brutal assault by inmates including Tamba, inside the high-security Kot Lakhpat jail.