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After obtaining a UK visa, approximately three dozen other countries opens up the travel opportunities to where the visa holder can enter without the need for additional visas. This greatly simplifies travel planning, saving both time and money by eliminating the need for multiple visa applications. As of late 2024, while the UK visa application process remains complex and costly, it offers significant advantages by providing easier access to various destinations. UK visa holders can enjoy seamless travel experiences to countries that either allow visa-free entry or offer visas upon arrival. These destinations span from the Caribbean to Europe, as well as Bahrain, Qatar, and several Arab and African countries. from ARY NEWS https://ift.tt/sBM79yq https://ift.tt/BJS6Psd

Max has roped in Hollywood actress and comedian Whitney Cummings as the host of the “Friends” game show. To Read Lifestyle Stories in Urdu- Click Here The four-part competition series titled, “Fast Friends,” will see fans of the popular sitcom face off in several puzzles and games themed around the show. Set to stream on Max, the winning team of the game show will be crowned the ultimate ‘Friends’ fans. Reacting to her joining the show, Whitney Cummings said, “As a longtime fan of ‘Friends,’ I am beyond thrilled to host the first ever game show. After 30 years, the fandom surrounding this beloved series only continues to grow, and now I have the great pleasure of awarding the ultimate fans with bragging rights for life.” The show will be filmed inside “The ‘Friends’ Experience: The One in New York,” a two-story building having 18 nostalgia-filled rooms, activations and recreated sets, with production to begin in October. Max is yet to announce a release date for the game show a

ISLAMABAD: In a recent development, the Privatization Commission has extended the bidding date for the privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) by one month, pushing it to October 31, 2024, ARY News reported on Thursday. Following the extension, the draft agreement is now set to be signed on October 25, 2024, while the deadline for submitting advance money has been moved to October 28, 2024. The sudden decision to extend the bidding deadline has left companies interested in PIA’s privatization surprised. READ: PIA privatization bidding on Oct 1st, NA body informed   Aviation sources warn that this extension could negatively impact the privatization process. The Privatization Commission has not provided a clear explanation for the abrupt change, though advance deposits were initially due by September 27, 2024. Despite the extension, all preparations for the bidding were reportedly in place for the original deadline of October 1. A consortium of six private companie

Multiple users shared an image on social media platform X on Wednesday, claiming that an Islamabad doughnut shop was “sealed” after its employee allegedly disrespected the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa. However, the picture being circulated dates back to September 11 when it was sealed for violating standard operating procedures (SOPs) related to the spread of dengue. Screenshot of Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa from a video. A video involving CJP Isa also began making rounds on social media on Wednesday. The video shows Chief Justice Isa standing at what appears to be a shop with two women. One of the women is seen speaking to a man, seemingly the shop’s employee whose face cannot be seen, regarding an order. According to the audio in the video, the employee apparently makes disrespectful remarks about the top judge after identifying him. The video going viral on social media platforms showed a watermark reading “EHTASHAMABBASI”. Ehtesham Ali Abbasi,

England pacer Josh Hull has been ruled out of the squad for the Test series against Pakistan, scheduled to begin on October 7. Hull suffered a quad injury which would keep him out of the Pakistan tour, as per the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). “Josh Hull has been ruled out of our Test tour of Pakistan due to a quad injury,” said ECB in a brief statement on social media as England is yet to decide on calling for a replacement. Hull was one of the six pacers included in England’s 17-member squad for the three-match away Test series against Pakistan. However, his injury has forced the young pacer to join Mark Wood and Josh Tongue on the sidelines. It is worth mentioning here that the 20-year-old made his Test debut against Sri Lanka earlier this month, after playing only 10 first-class matches. In his debut game, Josh Hull bagged three wickets as England were beaten in the third Test at The Oval. He was then ruled out of the limited-overs series against Australia. His inj

ISLAMABAD: The number of polio cases in Pakistan reached 22 this year after the latest case was reported from Pishin, a district of Balochistan, ARY News reported citing sources. The National Institute of Health (NIH) confirmed that another polio case is reported in Pakistan, bringing the total number of cases this year to 22. The National Polio Testing Laboratory has also verified after determining that the new case is caused by the wild poliovirus type 1, medical experts say. The affected patient is a child of two and a half years old and genetic testing of the polio virus is currently underway to determine its origin and relation to other cases. According to NIH, this year, Balochistan has reported the highest number of polio cases, with 15 confirmed incidents. Sindh has reported four cases, Punjab one, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa one, and Islamabad one. Read More: Polio worker rape: Court serves notices to SSP, DHO, Civil Surgeon The experts suggest that the emergence of this new case

KARACHI: A young man’s tortured body was discovered inside a cupboard found in a garbage dump in Karachi’s Orangi Town, ARY News reported citing police. According to details, the victim identified as Hassan Shah was a carpenter by profession and a resident of Sector 9, Orangi Town. Hassan Shah’s mother reported him missing since Sunday night and his tortured body was found later. The victim Shah was the father of a minor daughter. According to police Hassan Shah’s body was found wrapped in a cloth, hidden inside a drum, and placed in a cupboard. The case has been registered a team is formed to apprehend the culprits. Read More: 10-year-old girl’s body found from garbage dump in Karachi Earlier last month, a body of 10-year-old girl was found in a garbage dump in Karachi. As per details, the body of a girl was found from a garbage dump in Lucky Star area of Saddar, Karachi. The body has been moved to the hospital for legal formalities. The identify of the girl could not be asce

Sucker Punch Productions has announced working on a sequel video game to PlayStation‘s popular title Ghost of Tsushima. The developer has said that the game titled Ghost of Yōtei, will arrive in 2025 with a new protagonist, Atsu, and a new storyline. As per Sucker Punch, “Atsu’s journey takes place in 1603, more than 300 years after the events of ‘Ghost of Tsushima,’” and “is set in the lands surrounding Mount Yōtei, a towering peak in the heart of Ezo, an area of Japan known as Hokkaido in present day. In 1603, this area was outside the rule of Japan, and filled with sprawling grasslands, snowy tundras, and unexpected dangers. It’s a far cry from the organized samurai clans who lived in Tsushima, and it’s the setting for an original story we can’t wait to tell.” Sucker Punch Productions communications manager Andrew Goldfarb said in a PlayStation blog, “When we set out to make a new ‘Ghost’ game, we wanted to maintain the core pillars established in ‘Ghost of Tsushima’: playing as

LAHORE: A specialized “Panel of Officers” has been formed to investigate the murder of Javed Butt, brother-in-law of Taifi Butt, ARY News reported on Tuesday. Approved by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) investigation, Zeeshan Asghar, the panel includes two SPs and two DSPs, tasked with examining all aspects of the case. Superintendent of Police (SP) Sadar, Shahzad Rafique Awan, SP Rana Zahid, DSP Iftikhar Rasool Bajwa, and DSP Ijaz Ahmad Dhillon will spearhead the investigation. The panel is set to begin formal inquiries from Wednesday, with Amir Musab expected to be nominated in connection with the case. READ: Lahore police identify shooter in Javed Butt murder case It is worth mentioning here that the arrested shooter disclosed the details of the person who ordered the kill of Tefi Butt’s Brothers-in-law in Lahore. Police have arrested two shooters, Azhar and Ilyas, from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), who have provided crucial details during their interrogation. The suspects reveal

Shan Masood will continue to lead Pakistan in the upcoming series against England, despite losing his first five Tests as captain. Masood, a 34-year-old top-order batsman, was named captain in the 15-man squad announced on Tuesday for next month’s first Test in Multan. There had been media reports Masood faced an axe after Pakistan’s shocking 2-0 defeat against Bangladesh last month. Pakistan had never lost to Bangladesh before the twin defeats took Masood’s record to five losses since replacing Babar Azam as skipper in November last year. He lost his first series 3-0 in Australia. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) stuck with Masood as Australian head coach Jason Gillespie sought consistency. The first of three Tests start in Multan from October 7, the second will be played in the same city from Oct 15 and the third in Rawalpindi from Oct 24. The PCB said the squad was for the first Test only. “The 15-man squad is for the first Test and based on the recommendation of head co

NEW YORK: Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to enhancing cooperation with Maldives in different sectors, ARY News reported. Speaking to Maldives President  Dr. Muizzu on the sidelines of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), PM Shehbaz said that Pakistan wants to enhance cooperation with Maldives in the fields of trade, tourism, education, investment and climate change. During the meeting, both leaders underscored the deep-rooted ties between Pakistan and the Maldives. PM Shehbaz and President Muizzu agreed on the need for increased people-to-people exchanges and collaborative efforts to promote economic growth and sustainable development in their respective countries. The two sides also recognised the shared responsibility of South Asian nations to work together for peace, prosperity, and stability of the region. Read More: PM Shehbaz attends inaugural session of UNGA Earlier, PM Shehbaz attended the 79th Un

As wars rage worldwide, with civilian casualties a daily occurrence, critics of the United Nations say the body is failing at its most basic job, while experts warn the organisation is being scapegoated for things that are beyond its control. Maintaining peace and international security is one of the UN’s central missions, but its record has been badly tarnished as bloodshed intensifies in conflicts across the world, including in Gaza , Ukraine and Sudan . The UN’s detractors point to those brutal conflicts, among others, as evidence that the global organisation — hosting its centrepiece gathering of world leaders in New York this week — has failed in its mission. The UN’s chief, however, has a different view. “It’s obvious that we are not having peace and security in the world, and it’s obvious that it’s not because of the UN as an institution that doesn’t happen,” UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres told AFP . “It’s because of member states.” The Security Council, the UN bod

LAHORE: A case has been filed against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur and 250 to 300 others, including Shahid Khattak, at Manawan Police Station, Lahore, ARY News reported on Monday. The case was registered after a complaint from SHO Hudiara Hamas Hameed, the charges include terrorism, attempted murder, and other serious offenses. As per the FIR, Lahore Police personnel were stationed on the Sialkot-Lahore Motorway when the group of people, led by Ali Amin Gandapur, allegedly attacked them. Armed individuals in the group reportedly smashed the windows of the toll plaza, broke barriers blocking vehicles, and damaged CCTV cameras, causing panic among citizens. The FIR also stated that these acts spread terror and chaos at the scene. Earlier in the day, the KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur said he would not apologise to anyone and instead demanded the government apologize to him first. In a video message a day after the Lahore rally, Gandapur said that Pakistan Teh

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif felicitated the people and the government of Saudi Arabia on the 94th anniversary of the kingdom’s national day. Addressing the reception hosted by the Saudi Embassy to celebrate the anniversary, President Zardari reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in the areas of economy, trade, defence, culture, education and people-to-people contacts. The event was attended by provincial governors, Punjab chief minister, federal ministers, diplomats, dignitaries, and civil and military officers. While extending heartfelt felicitations to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud and the people of Saudi Arabia on their National Day, the president highlighted that both brotherly countries enjoyed excellent relations in various fields

The government will convene a National Assembly session in the first week of October to present and seek approval for the controversial “ Constitutional Package ”, government’s legal adviser Barrister Aqeel Malik said on Sunday. The package is a set of amendments to the Constitution, one of which will aim to fix the tenure of the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) for three years. The legislation was expected to be introduced in the National Assembly and the Senate after the government failed to table it as previously scheduled, despite hectic efforts to garner the required support. PPP Sindh President Nisa Khurro had said that his party leadership was making efforts to create consensus among the political parties on the constitutional amendments, saying “efforts will continue until a consensus is reached”. Speaking on the Dawn News programme ‘Doosra Rukh with Nadir Guramani’, today, Barrister Aqeel said that approving the package is an “ongoing process” and stressed the need for c

KARACHI: The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) chief stressed the need for fair elections to bring forward genuine public representatives in Pakistan, ARY News reported on Sunday. The chief of JUI-F, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, expressed concern over the current state of political representation in Pakistan, stating that people are increasingly aware that their so-called representatives do not truly represent them. He emphasized the need for fair elections to bring forward genuine public representatives, especially in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), where he claimed that no current representative can face the people. Rehman criticized the prioritization of personal political interests over national needs, stating that the country’s constitution, institutions, and parliament are not being respected, warns that until the constitution is implemented properly, instability and anxiety will persist in the country. He called for a stronger state, capable of holding individuals accountable for

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Sunday that 12 people had been arrested for being operatives collaborating with Israel and planning acts against Iran’s security. “As the Zionist regime (Israel) and their Western backers, most notably the United States, have not succeeded in their sinister goals against the people of Gaza and Lebanon, they are now seeking to spread the crisis to Iran with a series of actions planned against our country’s security,” the statement said. Tensions in the Middle East have shot up since thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies used by Lebanon’s Hezbollah members exploded in an attack widely blamed on Israel. Hezbollah and Israel have exchanged some of the heaviest cross-border fire in a conflict running in parallel to the almost year-long Gaza war. The Revolutionary Guards added that members of the network of 12 operatives were arrested in six different Iranian provinces, but did not say when. In late July, the political leader of Palestinian Islamist

LAHORE: The Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Ali Amin Gandapur, announced his determination to secure the release of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder, who is currently jailed in Adiala Jail, ARY News reported on Saturday. Addressing PTI workers on Lahore’s Ring Road, Gandapur stressed his commitment to fulfilling his promises, despite the roadblocks and obstacles created by the Punjab government. He criticized the provincial administration, calling their actions to block roads and disrupt the rally “foolish,” and praised the resilience of the PTI supporters who managed to participate in the rally despite the hurdles. READ: PTI Lahore rally ends as police intervenes to prevent schedule violation “The people’s full participation in the rally shows their confidence in us,” Gandapur said. In a video message after the rally, he thanked the people of Lahore and KP for their strong turnout and expressed gratitude for their support. Gandapur vowed to address ‘serious is

PESHAWAR: A nine-month-old girl has been diagnosed with polio in the Safi Tehsil of Mohmand district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, ARY News reported. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department confirmed that the first polio case was reported in the province in 2024, taking Pakistan’s toll to 20 this year According to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department, the affected baby had only received 2 polio doses. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur ordered the suspension of the relevant District Health Officer (DHO) and EPI Coordinator over their ‘negligence’ Earlier on September 18, Pakistan  reported another polio case as a two-year-old Quetta boy has been confirmed to be infected with the virus, ARY News reported citing the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) for polio sources. According to NEOC sources, this is the 18th polio case that has been reported in Pakistan so far this year out of which 14 emerged from Balochistan alone. NECO Focal Person Dr. Ayesha Raza Farooq said t

ISLAMABAD: Every Pakistani now owes PKR 295,000 to national and international institutions, a courtesy to successive governments’ habit of running the state business on debt. The average debt per citizen in Pakistan has reached PKR 295,000, according to the Ministry of Finance. This significant increase in debt highlights the growing financial challenges facing the country. The Ministry of Finance has reported a significant increase in Pakistan’s total debt, which has surged by PKR 8.36 trillion, bringing the total to PKR 71.24 trillion. This marks a substantial rise from the previous fiscal year 2022-23 when the total national debt stood at PKR 62.88 trillion. The current debt level is equivalent to 67.2% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The domestic Pakistan debt has seen an increase of PKR 8.350 trillion, reaching a total of PKR 47.160 trillion. On the other hand, Pakistan’s external debt now stands at PKR 33.062 trillion. Out of that, the net government external d

RIYADH: King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques,  on Thursday announced the launch of the ‘King Salman Foundation’, local media reported. “The non-profit foundation is an extension of the charitable and humanitarian works of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud,” the Kingdom media outlet reported. “We will always continue, God willing, to invest in people, develop their culture and pride in their identity as a permanent approach because we seek to confront human challenges and sustain the prosperity of societies. We look forward to making the foundation a lasting impact on the individual and society,” the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account. The King, in a royal order, approved adoption of the King Salman Non-profit Foundation’s bylaws. The King’s love of culture, history, and knowledge is reflected in the Foundation, which also upholds accomplishments in the nonprofit industry. The Foundation is in favor of sus

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued a detailed ruling on petitions challenging the Election Commission’s decision to change the Election Tribunal in Islamabad, ARY News reported on Thursday. AS per the details, Chief Justice Amir Farooq’s 44-page judgment annulled the Election Commission’s June 10 decision and accepted the petitions filed by PTI leaders. The court ordered that the applications of Anjum Aqeel, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, and Raja Khurram be considered pending and directed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to reassess the petition. The ruling highlighted that the ECP had acted in haste without collecting an affidavit regarding the issue of bias. Furthermore, the petitioners were not given an adequate opportunity to present their case, violating Article 10A of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to a fair trial. The judgment emphasized that the parties were not properly heard, rendering the ECP’s decision legally unsound. It clarified th

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday reported another polio case as a two-year-old Quetta boy has been confirmed to be infected with the virus, ARY News reported citing the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) for polio sources. According to NEOC sources, this is the 18th polio case that has been reported in Pakistan so far this year out of which 14 emerged from Balochistan alone. NECO Focal Person Dr. Ayesha Raza Farooq said that polio vaccination campaigns faced disruptions in certain areas of Balochistan, creating an opportunity for the virus to spread. She stressed the importance of ensuring multiple doses of the vaccine reach every child, urging that it is crucial for eradication efforts Earlier on September 5, the National Institute of Health (NIH) presented detailed statistics on polio cases in Pakistan before the National Assembly. According to the NIH, a total of 45 polio cases have been reported across Pakistan over the past four years. In 2021, only one polio case

QUETTA: The committee assigned to investigate the last month’s blaze that damaged several classrooms and offices of Post-Graduate Degree Science College Quetta on Monday declared that a short circuit had caused the fire. Additional Secretary Colleges Jahanzeb Mandokhail headed the inquiry committee formed on the orders of Provincial Education Minister Raheela Hameed Khan Durrani. Speaking at a joint press conference, Mr Mandokhail, Deputy Commissioner Quetta Saad bin Asad and Principal of Science College Mohammad Azmat presented the inquiry report and said that college record remained safe in the incident. According to the report submitted to the provincial government, the fire broke out between 2am and 2:30am on Aug 31 and the college watchman alerted the police about it. Inquiry report says UPS battery triggered fire The fire brigade arrived at the scene within 15 minutes of the alert and managed to control the fire by around 6:30am. The fire destroyed one office and partial

KARACHI: Chairman of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, expressed his opinion that Justice Mansoor Ali Shah would be the next Chief Justice of Pakistan, ARY News reported on Tuesday. In an exclusive conversation with ARY News, Bilawal emphasized that both the current and incoming Chief Justices are highly respected figures. He criticized the current functioning of the parliament and the slow justice system, recalling that his family waited 50 years for a verdict in the Zulfikar Bhutto murder case. Bilawal called for caution in making the Supreme Court’s judges controversial and stressed the need for consensus in any constitutional amendments. “This is not an ordinary constitutional amendment, which is why we want to create a consensus,” he said, adding that amendments made in the past often lost significance or were overturned. He praised Justice Qazi Faez Isa’s willingness to reduce his own powers and respect the Parliament’s Practice and Procedure Bill. Bi

KARACHI: Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Board of Directors held its first meeting discussing the age limit for the recruitment of directors and flight inspectors, ARY News reported on Monday. The meeting, chaired by Secretary Aviation Ahsan Mangi, it was proposed to extend the age limit for the recruitment of directors and flight inspectors on contract from 60 to 65 years. This proposal aims to allow the continued service of retired CAA directors. On the recommendation of the DG-CAA, the board has referred the matter to the executive committee for approval. The meeting also discussed the resumption of flights from Pakistan to European countries as a session with European Union officials is scheduled for September 18 and 19 to discuss this matter. Additionally, the resumption of flights to the UK will be addressed in January next year following a meeting with British authorities. The decision to hold the board meeting at the Pakistan Airports Authority headquarters, rath

KARACHI: The Sindh government on Monday removed Jacobabad’s Deputy Commissioner (DC), Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and District Health Officer (DHO) over their ‘negligence’ that led to the alleged rape of a polio worker, ARY News reported. According to notifications issued here, the deputy commissioner and district health officer have been removed from their respective positions. The SSP Jacobabad has been directed to report CPO while the deputy commissioner is directed to report services general administration. Earlier on Saturday, the lady polio worker told Jacobabad court that she was raped but police forced her to change the statement. The polio worker was allegedly raped last week in Allah Bux Jakhrani village. The sessions judge Jacobabad had summoned the rape victim polio worker and the police in the court. The police officials confessed that the influential people had intervened, and the victim’s statement was changed from abduction and rape to robbery. “Accused

Astronomers have recently discovered a small asteroid, named 2024 PT5 by the scientists, which will temporarily come into Earth’s gravity, creating a short-term orbit around our planet. This asteroid, 2024 PT5, measuring only 33 feet in length, will loop around Earth for almost a month, from September 29 to November 25, during which time it will be considered a “mini-moon,” according to a new report published in the journal Research Notes of the American Astronomical Society. Despite its earthlike orbit, scientists are confident that 2024 PT5 is a natural object and not space debris. Researchers speculate that this asteroid may have once been a fragment of our regular Moon, adding an intriguing layer to its story. However, there is some debate within the scientific community about whether 2024 PT5 should be classified as a “mini-moon” due to its brief visit. Read More: Astronomers detect Earth-size exoplanet through repeating radio signal Mini-moons like 2024 PT5 are of particular

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has removed all officers of its Anti-Corruption Wing in Lahore, signalling a major reshuffle within the department, ARY News reported. According to an official notification, the deputy director of the FIA, along with several other key officers, has been relieved of their duties. The notification further said that three assistant directors have also been removed from their posts. In addition, two inspectors, three sub-inspectors, and an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) have been stripped of their positions. This move affects the entire Anti-Corruption Wing, which has now seen a complete overhaul of its leadership and staff. Read More: FIA interrogates PTI founder at Adiala jail for ‘anti-state’ post All the removed officers have been transferred to the office of the Additional Director General (ADG) North in Islamabad for further assignment. The decision to remove these officers follows growing concerns over the performance of the Ant