- PTI Minister vows to take measures for increasing tax on cigarettes
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Khan on Thursday said the government will take all necessary measures to ensure the implementation of relevant laws to enhance tax on cigarettes.
Speaking to participants of a seminar titled ‘Implications of the Cigarette Tax Policy in Pakistan’ he said health was already a neglected sector in Pakistan.
The event was organized by Social Policy and Development Centre (SPDC) in collaboration with the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (Sparc). The purpose of the seminar was to share findings of recent research work on tobacco taxation conducted by SPDC and to discuss implications of tax policy for cigarette consumption, government revenues, and health outcomes.
- Nawaz files appeal as UK rejects plea for visa extension
Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif filed an appeal in the British Immigration Tribunal on Thursday after the Home Department refused to extend his stay in the country on “medical grounds” any further.
The decision of the UK Home Department prompted the Imran Khan government to offer the PML-N supreme leader to arrange his return to Pakistan at a notice of 24 hours if he is willing.
- Islamabad sees highest single day Covid-19 cases since April 29
The capital saw the highest number of Covid-19 cases reported on a single day since April 29 as 441 people were diagnosed with the disease on Thursday. Furthermore, a male patient (70-79), a resident of Rawat, succumbed to the disease and the positivity rate jumped to 10.5pc.
- Three get death for gang rape in Kasur
A gender-based violence court on Thursday awarded a death sentence to three people in the gang rape of a mentally challenged minor girl.
The court also slapped a fine to compensate the family of the survivor.
The accused abducted a 13-year-old girl from Eisanagar on Aug 21, 2019, detained her at a deserted house, and raped her. Locals and family found her at the house of Javed, one of the four accused, on hearing the hue and cry of the girl.
- Boosters for health workers: Covid reinfection in vaccinated people on the rise in Punjab
Data shows that 10 percent of the 140 Covid-19 patients in Punjab have been reinfected with the virus despite being vaccinated.
Most of the reinfected vaccinated people are front-line healthcare workers of the public sector hospitals of the province.
The worrisome data was shared at a meeting of the Corona Experts Advisory Group (CEAG) on Thursday.
- Major nations ignore WHO call to stop booster plans
Germany, France and Israel will go ahead with plans to administer Covid-19 vaccine boosters, disregarding an appeal by the World Health Organisation to hold off until more people are vaccinated around the world.
- Abdul Rashid Dostum back in Afghanistan, to fight for besieged home
Infamous warlord Abdul Rashid Dostum has returned to Afghanistan as the Taliban inch closer to taking control of his longtime stronghold in the north and fight for control of a string of cities elsewhere.
- Biden allows Hong Kong citizens to stay in US for 18 months
President Joe Biden announced on Thursday that Hong Kong citizens currently in the United States who fear for their safety amid the political crackdown back home will receive a temporary safe haven.
- Mirwaiz slams India on second anniversary of Kashmir annexation
On the second anniversary of India’s smash and grab of the occupied and erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said the move had complicated the Kashmir issue, opened new regions of strife, and led to a military standoff on the border with China.
- Messi to leave Barcelona over ‘financial obstacles’
“Despite FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi having reached an agreement and the clear intention of both parties to sign a new contract today, this cannot happen because of financial and structural obstacles (Spanish La Liga regulations),” Barca said in a statement.
“As a result of this situation, Messi shall not be staying on at FC Barcelona. Both parties deeply regret that the wishes of the player and the club will ultimately not be fulfilled.
- Giants fall, Crouser sets record as swimmers navigate elbows
US men continued to splutter on the athletics track at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday, while kayaker Lisa Carrington became New Zealand’s most decorated and American Ryan Crouser broke his own shot put world record three times.
COVID-19 Updates
- With 4,745 new COVID-19 cases, 67 deaths recorded in the last 24 hours
- 79.992 COVID-19 cases are active in the country
- The total death tally of Covid-19 stands at 67
- 2,095 people recovered from Coronavirus in the last 24 hours
- The positivity rate of Covid-19 is recorded at 8.1%
- Over 199.5 million are infected globally
- More than 4.2 million have died due to the virus
- Over 170 million recovered from COVID-19
- India reports 44,643 new coronavirus cases in last 24 hours
- CanSinoBIO says booster shot can reverse drop in antibodies
- Islamabad reports highest number of cases since April 28
- 541 cases reported in KP, 87 in Balochistan
- Punjab reports 964 cases, 19 deaths
- Pakistan records 2,095 Covid recoveries
- 279,329 citizens vaccinated in Sindh on August 5: Murtaza Wahab
- Delta sweeps Sydney as Australia widens Covid-19 restrictions
- CNN fires three employees for coming to work unvaccinated
- California to mandate Covid-19 vaccines for health workers
