Weekly News Round-Up (30th– 5th February)
This week in the news, find out how Pakistan is winning in its fight against Polio, the country’s international cricket revival, Pakistanis winning accolades globally and more! Read on to find out all the news you’ve missed this week.
Pakistan Marks Historic One Year Free From Polio
The last polio case in Pakistan was reported on the 27th of Jnauary 2021 in Balochistan and since then, it’s been an entire year of zero polio cases! This milestone wouldn’t have been possible withotut the efforts and support of 380,000 polio workers across Pakistan who put their lives at risk and traveresed through difficult terrain to battle polio. However, the battle is far from being won. According to a recent tweet by Faisal Sultan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services, ‘the environmental samples from a few places highlight the need for a final push’.
Pakistan Becomes The Largest Recipient Of US Vaccines
On the 1st of February 2022, the United States of America donated an additional 4.7 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine to Pakistan via COVAX. So far, the USA has shipped 47.3 million vaccines to Pakistan – making Pakistan the latest recipient of US vaccines.
Uyghur Skier Lights Cauldron At The Opening Ceremony Of The Beijing Winter Olympics
The Beijing Winter Games opened on Friday night in the snow- and ice themed ceremony at the Bird’s Nest stadium that concluded with the cauldron lit by two young Chinese Olympians, one of them a member of China’s Uyghur minority. The identity of the final cauldron lighter is traditionally kept secret until the last moment, and the inclusion was noteworthy since China’s treatment of its Uyghur Muslim minority – which Washington deems genocide – was the trigger for a diplomatic boycott by several Western countries including the United States. Furthermore, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, the highest-profile foreign leaders present for the Games, could be seen in the stadium. Prime Minister Imran Khan and his delegation arose from their seats to join the spectators for welcoming Pakistan’s squad passing through the venue waving the National Flag. However, the athletes from Russia, unable to carry their flag due to doping violations, marched instead under the standard of the Russian Olympic Committee. (Source: Reuters)
Pakistan’s Sole Athlete Ready To Shine At Beijing Winter Olympics On February 16
A five-member squad will be representing Pakistan at the Beijing Winter Olympic Games. “Pakistani contingent comprises one athlete and four officials,” Agha Hunain Abbas Khan, Olympic Attach, Embassy of Pakistan Beijing told APP. The sole athlete representing the country is 26-year-old Muhammad Karim who is an Alpine Skiing Athlete hailing from Naltar, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).
“I have been preparing for the Beijing Winter Olympics for three years …I’m very excited and fully prepared to participate in the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. I heard that they used the very latest technologies on ski slopes and the world’s best sports facilities there. I can’t wait to see all these things,” he told media before his departure to China.
Muhammad Karim is the only Pakistani skier to have participated in two Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, and Pyeongchang, South Korea. He will compete in the Slalom event on February 16 at the China National Alpine Skiing Centre, Yanging District, Beijing. (Source: Tribune)
Australia To Play A Three-Test Series In Pakistan After 24 Years
Cricket Australia on Friday confirmed its first tour of Pakistan since 1998, locking in a three-Test series despite lingering security concerns. Australia will play Tests — in Rawalpindi, Karachi and Lahore – fresh off the back of a comprehensive home Ashes victory against England.
They will also play three one day internationals and a T20 capping the month-long tour on April 5. The fixtures are March 4-8: 1st Test, Rawalpindi; March 12-16: 2nd Test, Karachi; March 21-25: 3rd Test, Lahore; March 29: 1st ODI, Rawalpindi; March 31: 2nd ODI, Rawalpindi; April 2: 3rd ODI, Rawalpindi; April 5: T20I, Rawalpindi. (Source: AFP)
PSL 7 Updates & How Karachi Kings Plans To Make A Comeback!
PSL 7 is in its final leg and Multan Sultans are in the lead! The schedule for the weekend matches consists of Islamabad United vs Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi vs Multan Sultans on Saturday, while Karachi Kings will battle it out against Islamabad United on Sunday. However, with four defeats in a row, Karachi Kings are ready to give it their all on Sunday and win their first match!
Karachi-Based Startup Raises Largest Early Funding in Pakistan, MENA
This week, Karachi-based startup ‘Truck It In’ raised $13 million in early-stage funding – the largest for a local logistics startup in Pakistan and the MENA region. The ’s seed round is jointly led by venture capital firms Global Founders Capital and Fatima Gobi Ventures, amongst others. ‘Truck It In’ was established two years ago and is focusing on Pakistan’s small- and medium-sized truck operators that represent 80% of the fragmented market. The startup is now planning on doubling its workforce and is going on a hiring spree to employ more than 400 employees. (Source: Bloomberg)
Dr Arshad Ahmad, LUMS VC named International Educator of the Year
The Academy of International Business (AIB), the premier global organization of international business and management scholars, has named LUMS Vice-Chancellor, Dr Arshad Ahmad, the AIB International Educator of the Year for 2022. Dr Ahmad is the first recipient from a South Asian university to receive this prestigious award. He joins eminent colleagues from Europe, North and South America, Australia, and China who have previously received this high distinction. Established in 1959, AIB’s membership spans more than 70 countries worldwide. AIB fosters excellence in education by advancing the highest professional standards in international business and management.
In thanking AIB, Dr. Ahmad said that “this Award is a tribute to 35 years of excellenceat LUMS and its relentless commitment to innovation and the transformation of education through inclusive, global learning networks.”
HSY Highlights Timeless Pakistani Traditions In Vogue
Pakistani fashion designer HSY’s designs were recently mentioned in the latest edition of Vogue. HSY had recently designed businesswoman and friend, Umber Ahmad’s wedding outfit. The motifs of Umber’s wedding gown were inspired by historic Mughal drawings, while the design was inspired by the draping of an old photo HSY found of a Russian princess. HSY wanted to modernise the traditional style with subtle signals and so he incorporated the ombré of lighter to darker deep pomegranate, the use of long lines in the beading rather than more circular patterns, and draping of the skirt which was more than four times the normal amount. The designs were created by 7 artisan women from the Kashf Foundation and took 6 months to complete. However, the pièce de résistance of the entire outfit is Umber’s dupatta made from a thin silk netting which was completely hand-beaded, weighed 26 pounds and was more than 20 feet long.
Rohail Hyatt Gets Copyright Stolen to song ‘Jugni’
The popular song ‘Jugni‘ was produced by Hyatt, performed by Arif Lohar and Meesha Shafi and featured in Coke Studio’s season 3 in 2010. The song’s music video has been uploaded to Hyatt’s official YouTube channel and has amassed more than 76 million views since it was posted in 2010. However, on the 2nd of February Hyatt tweeted, ‘With much controversy over copyright infringement recently, here I am with a claim on YouTube. A company called Bquate SAC has claimed ‘Jugni’ and even after disputing it, they retain their claim. Team YouTube, please help claim it back!’. The screenshot posted alongside the tweet shows Bquate SAC as the licenser on YouTube. Ironically, Bquate’s website says it is a “music platform that helps established artists, songwriters, managers, labels and publishers take control of their music, content [and] data”. (Source: Dawn)
Zara Noor All Set Out To Wow Audiences in ‘Badshah Begum’!
ow Aid
Zara Noor Abbas is all set to blow us away with her upcoming role in ‘ Badshah Begum’. In a post shared on Instagram, she wrote, ‘Hum aurtain kisi ki jageer naheen, keh hum per shartain aur baaziaan lagayee jayein [We women are not someone’s property that we have conditions attached and people betting on us].’ The drama is written by Saji Gul and includes a talented lineup of actors such as Yasir Hussain, Farhan Saeed, Abbas, Ali Rehman, Komal Meer and Shahzad Nawaz. The drama will air on Hum TV and is a joint collaboration between Momina Duraid Productions and Rafay Rashdi Productions.
Farhan Akhtar To Tie The Knot On February 21
Shibani Dandekar and Farhan Akhtar started dating in 2018 and are all set to tie the knot this month on the 21st! According to the news, the couple plan to tie the knot in a court marriage and a day or two later, celebrate their union with family and close friends at Javed and Shabana Azmi’s Khandala farmhouse, Sukoon. The event will be a simple affair and the invites haven’t been sent out yet.
Queen Elizabeth Marks 70 Years On the British Throne
Queen Elizabeth marks 70 years on the British throne on Sunday, a milestone never reached by any of her predecessors over the last 1,000 years and one which only a few monarchs across the globe have ever achieved. Elizabeth will mark ‘Accession Day’ in private as is customary, not viewing it as something to celebrate. But there will be four days of national events to mark her Platinum Jubilee in June. Queen Elizabeth has continued to carry out official duties well into her 90s but has been seldom seen in public since she spent a night in the hospital last October for an unspecified ailment and was then instructed by doctors to rest. (Source: Tribune)
