- International experts, invited to Pakistan by the Federal Health Ministry for technical review and guidance in the wake of number of polio cases reported in Sindh province, has stressed urgent measures and have held the district leadership as the key to give polio eradication drive a shot in the arm with a view to finally ridding the country of the disease that causes permanent irreversible disability among children.
- Harmful chemicals are posing a serious threat to human survival thus endangering global environment, said Ijaz Ahmad Qureshi, Secretary Ministry of Environment here on Friday. He was presiding over the inauguration ceremony of the national consultative workshop on 'Obligation and implementation status of Pakistan on chemicals-related environmental treaties', Organised by the Ministry of Environment.
The Punjab Finance Minister on Tuesday said that the forthcoming provincial budget 2008-09, most probably, would be presented in the Punjab Assembly on June 17 and the government has decided to provide targeted subsidies on food items, agriculture and to the industry.
A mega water project for Karachi city K-IV, which was planned keeping in view the future need of water in the metropolis, has been approved by the Sindh government and its PC-I is under process while treatment plant for industrial and domestic waste to save the Arabian Sea from pollution would also be installed in the city, besides the work on the installation of 35MW power plant at Dhabeji pumping station by the end of June, The Nation has learnt on Tuesday. Karachi city is receiving 650MGD water currently and K-IV comprising 150MGD water would be the latest addition.
Hours long power outage has compelled the residents of Defense Housing Society (DHA) to stage protest and react violently after two grid stations in Landhi and Korangi tripped off on Tuesday.
Dust storms and rains hit some parts of interior Sindh on Tuesday, killing six persons, injuring dozens and damaging property worth millions of rupees, besides causing suspension of electricity supply to many areas. The Met Office had forecast dust storm and rains in Sindh, particularly over coastal areas including Karachi, Badin and Thatta. The rains turned the weather pleasant; however, at some areas, dust storm resulted in some casualties and damage to properties.
The Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) is all set to prepare a master plan to beautify Lahore Canal to secure nature conservation interests and ensure social and recreational activities. Under the plan, green belts alongside canal will be improved by planning trees and flowers in abundance. To gravitate the attention of public, a number of picnic spots would be set up. Sitting arrangements, big umbrellas and kiosks would also be established. Stalls and makeshift shops would be installed
After receiving the transplanter machines, Capital Development Authority (CDA) would chop no trees in future, said Malik Abid, Director Parks CDA. The Authority had chopped down thousands of trees last year during the construction of 7th and 9th Avenues and a number of other development projects, which had provoked serious criticism from media as well as residents of the capital city. The same also had left bad impact over the pleasant climate, for which the city was known for decades.
World Antismoking day is observed throughout the world on May 31, 2008 each year. This day provides us the opportunity to highlight and re-emphasize the injurious effects of smoking on human health. This day would be observed in AFIC/NIHC on 31st May 2008 with a renewed pledge to take this message to patients suffering from heart disease and general public and convince them to quit smoking.
In Mexico City, mass protests about the cost of tortillas. In West Bengal, disputes over food-rationing. In Senegal, Mauritania, and other parts of Africa, riots over grain prices. And in Yemen, children march in public to call attention to child hunger. This chain of events is in stark contrast to the falling food prices that consumers have come to expect over the past several decades.
