Passport Fees Go Digital, Lahore Accident, and More
Today's top news includes the new payment procedures at passport offices, a tragic accident in Lahore, and government measures to tackle the energy crisis. Additionally, we will look at the monsoon situation in the country and decisions made by the media regulatory authority.
You will no longer need to carry cash to obtain a passport, as all passport offices across the country have been fully transitioned to a 'cashless' (digital payment) system. Following this change, citizens will only be able to pay their fees through banking apps or other digital means. This initiative aims to speed up the process and eliminate cash transactions in offices.
In Lahore, 14 children have died as a result of a private tuition center's roof collapsing. The accident occurred while the children were in class. According to local authorities, the building was in a dilapidated condition, which led to this tragic incident. Rescue teams arrived at the scene and conducted operations to pull out those buried under the rubble.
The government has decided to purchase LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) from the international market on an emergency basis to avoid electricity load-shedding in the country. This step was taken following a delay in gas supply from Qatar to ensure the continued supply of gas and electricity to factories and homes. Meanwhile, two people have died due to recent monsoon rains in the country's northwestern regions, after which the administration has been instructed to remain on alert.
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has suspended the license of private TV channel 'Geo News' for 15 days. This action was taken for broadcasting religious content during a program, for which the channel has also issued an apology.
For more details and other news, such as drone attacks from Afghanistan, protests against inflation in Azad Kashmir, and an international conference on women in Islamabad, please check the app's news section.