Indian Sub-continent

HERAT, Afghanistan, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- Afghan counter-narcotics police have rounded up 4,500 drug addicts from different parts of western Herat province over the past week and sent them to the rehabilitation center, the state-run Bakhtar news agency reported Monday.

The addicted persons would be reintegrated into their families after recovery, the media outlet quoted Faizuddin Rahimi, head of the provincial rehabilitation center, as saying.

NEW DELHI (AP) — India is preparing to relaunch its INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier after a major refit, a critical step toward fulfilling its plan to deploy two carrier battle groups as it seeks to strengthen its regional maritime power to counter China’s increasing assertiveness.

06 Feb 2023; MEMO: The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) has banned Wikipedia for not complying with a request to remove content deemed "blasphemous" from the site.

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- At least three people were killed and 12 others injured in a road accident in Khanewal district of Pakistan's eastern Punjab province on Sunday, rescuers told media.

According to the rescue team, the accident took place after a passenger van collided with a truck near Shamkot interchange on the motorway in the district, resulting in the casualties.

The rescue team reached the site and shifted the victims to a local hospital. All the deceased were from the same family.

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Gen. Pervez Musharraf, who seized power in a bloodless coup and later led a reluctant Pakistan into aiding the U.S. war in Afghanistan against the Taliban, has died, officials said Sunday. He was 79.

COLOMBO, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Lanka Coal Company, incorporated to procure and supply coal for coal-fired thermal plants of Sri Lanka, on Saturday requested over 12 million U.S. dollars to buy coal for power plants.

Chairman of the Lanka Coal Company Shehan Sumanasekara told media that he has asked the money from Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera.

The Lanka Coal Company needs 2 million metric tons of coal annually, or 33 ship loads, to manage energy needs, he said.

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) of Pakistan has launched a mobile application for foreign currency declaration of international travelers, the board said on Saturday.

"The travelers can benefit from the PassTrack APP to keep record of the currency limits and promote culture of compliance for the country's progress," the FBR said in a statement.

COLOMBO, Feb 3 (APP): Minister of state for Foreign Affairs, Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar arrived here on Friday on a two days official visit of Sri Lanka.

The Minister of State was received by Sri Lankan State Minister for Tourism, Ms. Diana Gamage, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Maj. Gen. (R) Umar Farooq Burki and officials of the High Commission.

During the visit, Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar will attend 75th Independence Day of Sri Lanka as a guest of honour.

HYDERABAD, Feb 03 (APP): Deputy Commissioner Matiari Syed Jawad Muzaffar has directed the staff to finalize arrangement in connection with the Kashmir Solidarity Day.

In this regard, banners and panaflexes were being fixed on all intersections and important buildings in the city, inscribing Kashmir-related slogans.

He also directed the education authorities to participate in the rallies and hold special programs in educational institutions to highlight the gross human rights violations and brutality of Indian forces in Indian-occupied Kashmir.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Friday the International Monetary Fund was giving his country a "tough time" over unlocking stalled funding from a $6.5 billion bailout at a time of "unimaginable" economic crisis.

Hours after his remark, the Pakistani rupee hit a record low against the U.S. dollar in a steep slide since last week.

"Our economic situation is unimaginable," the premier said, adding the IMF visiting mission was giving Pakistan a "tough time."