February | 2017 | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Monthly Archives: February 2017

When a guitar and Sarangi took over Qalandar’s shrine

Pakistan Press Foundation

SEHWAN SHARIF: In a world of logic and rationalism, there often occur moments which defy any explanation. It’s the moment when a devotee glances at his place of worship, his spiritual guide for the first time. It’s the moment when a thing of beauty comes to life in front of your eyes – like watching evolution give […]


As threat of climate change looms, experts decry ‘woefully insufficient’ planning by authorities

Pakistan Press Foundation

Given that Pakistan ranks among the top ten countries most vulnerable to climate change, the current provincial budgetary allocations made for environmental upkeep in Sindh – a province most at risk – are woefully insufficient. This point of concern was raised by speakers at the launch of a ‘Climate Public Expenditure Review’ organised on Monday […]


Online education: Pact inked for Pakistan’s ‘first digital university’

Pakistan Press Foundation

LAHORE: The Information Technology University (ITU) and the global education platform, edX, have signed a deal to integrate online learning courses in the varsity’s existing degree programmes. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the ITU and edX, the non-profit online learning destination founded by Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) was signed on Monday. ITU […]


Action against ‘blasphemous’ websites sought

Pakistan Press Foundation

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Monday sought a reply from the secretaries of the ministries of interior, information technology, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on a petition seeking a crackdown on alleged blasphemous websites. Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui directed the respondents to file the reply by March 7. […]


Pemra chief asked to move SC against LHC decision on DTH licences

Pakistan Press Foundation

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) Monday directed the authority chairman to file an appeal with the Supreme Court against the Lahore High Court (LHC) decision of setting aside DTH licences auction. At its 125th meeting here, Pemra asked its Chairman Absar Alam about the delay in going against the LHC decision.  It […]


Pakistan Chowk comes alive with art fair

Pakistan Press Foundation

Two months ago no one would have even thought of passing by the Pakistan Chowk, in the Old City area, let alone attend an art exhibit. But since its rehabilitation in December, the Chowk is slowly becoming a centre for young artists to gather and experiment with art. With sheds placed around the Chowk, on […]


LITERARY NOTES: Proposed constitutional amendment bill and official language: are we back to square one?

Pakistan Press Foundation

Over the past few years, Coke Studio has become an idea of its own. It represents all that has been missing in the mainstream Pakistani narrative – the colours, the vibrancy and a gamut of ideas that we need Pakistan to be represented by, especially in such difficult times. It’s in fact a ray of […]


LITERARY NOTES: Proposed constitutional amendment bill and official language: are we back to square one?

Pakistan Press Foundation

MARVI Memon and nine other members of the National Assembly have introduced a bill to “further amend the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan”. The proposed bill is titled “Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2014”. The bill says that “in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, for Article 251, the following shall be substituted”, […]


Summer to hit Pakistan sooner

Pakistan Press Foundation

ISLAMABAD: The country will continue to experience the impact of climate change this year as the mercury is expected to rise across Pakistan in the next 10-15 days. Pakistan Meteorological Department chief Dr Ghulam Rasul told The Express Tribune that the temperature is likely to touch 30˚C by mid-March. “It is expected that the mercury level […]


Trump govt’s war against media continues

Pakistan Press Foundation

Media-government conflict never reached such an alarming level in US LAHORE: While the sitting US President Donald Trump had announced during his first full day in office that he had a “running war” with the media, branding journalists as being one of the most dishonest human beings on the planet, he now wants his compatriot […]


Court to hear petition against five bloggers

Pakistan Press Foundation

Islamabad –  The Islamabad High Court will take up a petition against the five bloggers and administrations of pages on social media, allegedly involved in defiling and disgracing the names of holy personalities and places of Islam. A single bench of IHC comprising Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui will conduct hearing of the petition on Monday […]


International comedians wowed Karachi with candid show

Pakistan Press Foundation

KARACHI: Comedy is the most underrated and one of the most challenging of art forms, whether it is in cinema, theatre or some other medium. Just like any kind of oration, standup comedy is difficult to perform as well. Imagine a room full of strangers expecting you to make them laugh. It’s petrifying for a comic […]


Human trafficker arrested in Saddar

Pakistan Press Foundation

Personnel of the Anti-Human Trafficking Circle (AHTC) of Sindh’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) claimed on Saturday to have arrested a human trafficker. A spokesman for the FIA Sindh said AHTC personnel conducted a successful raid under the supervision of Additional Director Lubna Tiwana in the Saddar locality and arrested a man named Atique Qaisar Bhatti. […]


We’ve won terror war at operational level: Nisar

Pakistan Press Foundation

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan claimed on Saturday that Pakistan has won the war against terrorism at the operational level, citing the dramatic decline in terrorism since the PML-N government came to power in June 2013. “We have won the war at the operational level and our enemy will not be allowed to disturb […]