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.Ramazan delight for children. KARACHI: In the heart of Karachi’s historic old city area, a vibrant night fair during the holy month of Ramazan is bringing joy and excitement to children and families alike. From Pakistan Chowk to Kharadar and Bohra Pir, as well as surrounding neighbourhoods, the streets have been transformed into lively spaces filled with lights, laughter and activity. This traditional fair, which has been held for decades, begins on the first day of Ramazan and continues until Chand Raat, drawing large crowds throughout the month. Brightly lit swings, horse rides, and colourfully decorated carts have turned narrow…

.The World Health Organisation (WHO) logo is seen near its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, February 2, 2023. PHOTO: REUTERS GENEVA: Vaccine programmes are being challenged by rising misinformation and an uncertain pipeline for research funding, the World Health Organization’s immunisation experts said Wednesday. And the war in the Middle East will likely hamper the fight against polio, the WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation (SAGE) said. The group held its biannual meeting last week, focusing on Covid-19 jab recommendations, typhoid vaccine dosing schedules and oral polio vaccine doses in routine immunisation. “Emerging challenges for the future include uncertain…

.Britain’s Prime Minister Kier Starmer at 10 Downing Street in London on July 16, 2024. PHOTO: REUTERS LONDON: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday led urgent calls for young people who visited a nightclub at the centre of a deadly meningitis outbreak to come forward, as the number of cases rose. Starmer told parliament the outbreak centred on Canterbury, in southeastern England, had left two dead and others were seriously ill in hospital. Health experts were working to identify the close contacts of those who had contracted the life-threatening condition, Starmer said. He asked “anyone who attended Club Chemistry…

. ISLAMABAD: The Power Division on Wednesday said that the country’s power system remained stable and efficient during February 2026, successfully meeting electricity demand that remained higher than anticipated. According to a spokesperson, both electricity generation and consumption exceeded anticipated levels during the month, reflecting increased utilization of the system. He noted that seasonal factors such as reduced hydel availability, which is typical for this period, along with temporary outages of certain generation units, influenced the overall energy mix. Despite these conditions, the system was managed prudently through established operational protocols. He said strict compliance with the merit order dispatch…

Maritime. Photo: AFP (file) LONDON: Gulf states and Western nations strongly criticised Iran at an emergency meeting Wednesday of the UN’s maritime body, convened amid growing fears for thousands of stranded ships and seafarers. Numerous nations used opening statements at the International Maritime Organization gathering to lambast Tehran’s response to US-Israeli strikes, which has seen Iran target Gulf countries and commercial shipping. That has crippled maritime trade in or near the Strait of Hormuz, leaving around 20,000 seafarers stuck on approximately 3,200 vessels west of the crucial chokepoint, according to the IMO. “Qatar resolutely condemns the attacks and threats from…

Initiative will help produce value-added products, increase incomes of farmers, artisans ISLAMABAD: A major initiative aimed at transforming livestock fibre into high-value products has been planned to accelerate rural industrialisation in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) and Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK), thereby opening new income streams for farmers and artisans. The project is titled “Value Added Livestock Products (Wool, Hair and Mohair) for Rural Industrialisation of Pakistan (G-B and AJK)” and carries a total cost of Rs300 million. The three-year project, which will run from July 2026 to June 2029), is planned to be implemented across all districts of G-B and the…

.Tehreek-e-Kashmir (TeK) UK President Fahim Kayani. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE GENEVA: President of Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK and President of the All Parties International Kashmir Coordination Committee Fahim Kayani has expressed grave concerns over the human rights situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). He was addressing the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva. During his address, Kayani highlighted what he described as a “deteriorating human rights situation” in IIOJK, stating that political freedoms, due process, property rights, and the right to self-determination are facing increasing pressure. He drew attention to the continued detention of hundreds…

Aurangzeb says burden on public to be minimised as monitoring tightened, hoarding curbed ISLAMABAD: Amid mounting global price pressures, the government on Wednesday sought to reassure the public over fuel availability, saying supplies would remain uninterrupted while efforts continue to keep the burden on consumers as low as possible. Chairing a meeting of the petroleum price monitoring committee, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said market conditions and supply would be monitored on a daily basis, while authorities directed provinces to act against hoarding and ensure smooth availability during Eidul Fitr and the ongoing harvest season. “The government will ensure the supply…

.A power transmission tower is seen a day after a country-wide power breakdown, in Karachi, Pakistan, January 24, 2023. Photo: Reuters ISLAMABAD: Power consumers across the country may face another financial burden as the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) has sought an increase of Rs1.64 per unit in electricity tariffs under the monthly fuel adjustment for February. The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) is scheduled to hear the request on March 31. If approved, the increase is expected to impose an additional burden of over Rs14 billion on consumers nationwide, including those in Karachi. According to CPPA data, 7.696…

.Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan. Photo: File ISLAMABAD: Senior PTI leaders on Wednesday announced the launch of a post-Eid movement aimed at securing the release of party’s founding chairman Imran Khan and restoring what they described as constitutional rule in the country. The drive has been named “PTI Founder Release Peace Movement”. Addressing a news conference, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said the movement would begin after Eid and would be conducted in a peaceful manner. He said millions of young Pakistanis were facing disillusionment amid rising poverty and a deteriorating economy. “It is our duty to steer Pakistan…