We take it on ourselves to keep you updates with what’s going on in Pakistan. Here are 8 news stories of the day for you. An over-night raid at Jama Cloth Market provoked shopkeepers to stage a violent protest
What happened: In the early hours of Tuesday morning, a large number of traders and shopkeepers from Jama Cloth Market staged a violent protest on M. A. Jinnah Road protesting against a late-night raid by customs authorities on one of their markets to seize alleged smuggled items. The claims: The accused traders allegedly raided Allahwala Building on Monday night, which was being utilized as a warehouse by multiple traders, according to a police. The traders claimed that the Customs Intelligence took their items worth Rs70 million and the officers shared no documentary proof of their assertion. The protest: “As word of the raid spread, shopkeepers and laborers flocked to the area near Khaliq Dina Hall and blocked the route,” an officer said. He also reported that the protestors started pelting police officers with stones who were simply there to keep the ‘protest under control.’ The police fired rounds into the air to disperse the crowd and clear the way for traffic on the main M. A. Jinnah Road, which was clogged with ambulances en route to the nearby Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi. An explosion outside a plastic warehouse in Lahore severely injured a worker
What happened: On Wednesday, an explosion at a plastic warehouse in Lahore seriously injured a worker. Details: A labourer named Ashraf was injured when a blast erupted in the scrap outside a plastic godown in Shahdara’s Fazal Park neighbourhood. The injured have been taken to the hospital by rescue crews. The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and a bomb disposal unit arrived on the scene and gathered evidence. After a thorough inspection, the investigating teams declared the location safe. According to DSP Shahdara Mohammad Nasir, preliminary investigations indicate that the explosion was not caused by explosives. Sheikh Rasheed plans to build more plastic roads in Islamabad and other cities
What happened: “Plastic will be used to construct roads in the federal capital and other cities because this concept is environmentally friendly,” Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid said on Monday at the launch of the world’s first plastic road project, which saw a patch of Ataturk Avenue carpeted with plastic mixed bitumen. Details: The minister praised Chairman Amer Ali Ahmed of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and other collaborators for coming up with the concept. Students and environmentalists were among those who attended the inaugural ceremony. There was also a ceremonial stroll planned. Also: Coca-Cola, the National Incubation Centre, and the CDA collaborated on the initiative, which used 10 tonnes of plastic bottles. It should be mentioned that a number of countries throughout the world have previously built plastic highways. Bhawalpur DC seals a private college in Hasilpur for ‘spreading obscenity’ through concerts on campus
What happened: Following video footage of these occurrences going viral on social media, the deputy commissioners of Bahawalpur and R Y Khan have ordered investigations into “dances and other activities” during college functions in their respective jurisdictions. The charges: Police launched a case against 40 people, including the principal, some staffers, and students of a private college in Hasilpur, on the instructions of Bahawalpur DC Irfan Ali Kathiya, on Wednesday, for engaging in “obscene” activities, while the assistant commissioner in charge also sealed the college. The footage: The video clips of the college principal, several personnel, and females dancing and causing a ruckus went viral on social media, drawing the attention of the district administration. During the college function, video clips showed ladies and boys dancing on the stage, with the college principal and others joining them and showering cash notes on them. A female bank cashier fled with Rs 2.3 million cash; FIA books case against her for ‘fraud’
What happened: In Multan on Tuesday, a female bank cashier is claimed to have fled with Rs2.3 million in cash. Details: Customers gave her cash and checks, which she deposited into her personal account rather than the accounts of the account holders. The cashier worked at the private bank from June to August before “fleeing,” according to FIA officials. On the allegation of the area sales manager, a fraud case was filed against the lady cashier. An investigation into the matter is currently underway. Balochistan government will be holding their local body elections without using Electronic Voting Machines
What happened: The government of Balochistan has chosen to hold local body elections, but has stated that no Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be utilised for polling. Why it matters: The decision was made at a meeting of the provincial cabinet in Quetta on Tuesday, which was chaired by Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo. The Balochistan Cabinet also resolved to organise party-based local government elections. The provincial cabinet believed that because many areas of Balochistan lacked electricity, EVMs could not be employed in the voting process. Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Micro-Health Insurance Program will be providing health insurance worth Rs 1 million to Pakhtun families
What happened: Prime Minister Imran Khan is launching the Micro Health Insurance Program today in Peshawar, just days before the local body elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. How it would help: The micro health insurance programme, known as Kamyab Pakistan, will give free medical care worth Rs1 million per year to 7.5 million families in the province. The insurance scheme’s debut barely 10 days before the local government election is likely to draw criticism from the ruling PTI’s political opponents. What else: During his visit to Peshawar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet with Chief Minister Mehmood Khan and Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shah Farman, as well as other political leaders. He will attend the Ehsaas Ration Discount Program registration ceremony in the province capital, where he will be briefed by the PM’s Special Assistant for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Dr Sania Nishtar. Bilawal Bhutto believes that The Local Government Amendment Bill plans to empower people of Karachi
What happened: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the Chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), has asserted that the Sindh Local Government (Amendment) Bill, 2021, enacted by the Sindh Assembly, will empower the people of Karachi and fulfil all of the promises made to them. How it’s helping: Chairman, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari of the Pakistan People’s Party remarked that the country’s suffering was clear, and that the Pakistan People’s Party’s goal was to alleviate common people’s problems. People will continue to suffer, he warned, as long as this particular government is in power and the IMF accord is in place. He also stated that the PPP’s aim was to highlight the country’s existing poverty and unemployment, and that the PPP would continue to protest atrocities such as rising gasoline prices and gas shortages. More: He further said that Karachi’s proposed town division would aid in the better management of the city, as seen by the results. He further stated that whenever the PPP becomes the government, the country will see additional advancements.