Reimagining Pashmina: ‘Modern charkha’ to revive declining art in Kashmir
Srinagar, June 19, 2021 (PPI-OT):Alongside the threat of fake and machine-made Pashmina products in the markets, the art of hand spinning of yarn has been witnessing a decline over time in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). However, the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir (SKUAST-K) has patented a ‘modern charkha’ that is now touted to revive the art of hand-spinning and also increase the output by around 150 per cent. “This charkha was invented by the SKUAST-K and we got the patent in February 2021. Traditionally, one would spin the yarn by moving the regular charkha…
India should brace for third Covid wave by October: Health experts
Bengaluru, June 19, 2021 (PPI-OT):A third wave of coronavirus infections is likely to hit India by October, a latest poll of medical experts from India said. The June 3-17 snap survey of 40 healthcare specialists, doctors, scientists, virologists, epidemiologists and professors from around the world showed a significant pickup in vaccinations will likely provide some cover to a fresh outbreak. Of those who ventured a prediction, over 85% of respondents, or 21 of 24, said the next wave will hit by October, including three who forecast it as early as August and 12 in September. The remaining three said between…
Modi has lost moral authority to rule: Kapil Sibal
New Delhi, June 19, 2021 (PPI-OT):Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has “without doubt” lost the moral authority to rule for not standing with people in need of medical aid during the second wave of Covid-19 and for doing playing political one-upmanship in polls instead. In an interview, the former union minister launched a hard-hitting attack on the prime minister saying the lack of a credible political alternative did not mean that he should stop discharging his duties believing that his political fortunes are secure. Sibal also attacked the government for what he called its ineptness…
Ladakh seeks repatriation of its docs, nurses posted in Kashmir
Jammu, June 19, 2021 (PPI-OT):In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, in order to fight COVID-19 outbreak effectively, the authorities in Ladakh have demanded shifting of the doctors and nurses belonging to the region and working in various hospitals of the Kashmir Valley to their hometowns. Ladakh authorities demanded repatriation of 85 of health workers including doctors and nurses deployed in the Kashmir Valley. They said presently, 85 health workers from Ladakh are deployed in Kashmir division and out of these 22 are posted in Medical College Srinagar, nine in Soura Institute of Medical Sciences Bemina, five in Soura Hospital,…
Amarnath Yatra likely from June 28, 50,000 devotees to be allowed
Srinagar, June 19, 2021 (PPI-OT):The annual Amarnath Yatra is likely to begin from June 28 in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), with a limited number of pilgrims to be allowed and proper COVID-19 protocol to be followed. The permission has been granted for langar at Baltal from June 28 to August 22. An official of Amarnath Shrine Board told media that there will be a limit on numbers of devotees this year. “Around 50,000 pilgrims will be allowed this year in view of the pandemic. The Yatris have to follow proper COVID protocol. Only those will be allowed…
HEC, United Nations Development Programme, Australian High Commission and Sehat Kahani inaugurated three Wellness Centres in universities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Peshawar, June 18, 2021 (PPI-OT):Sehat Kahani, with support from United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), HEC and the Australian High Commission in Pakistan (AHC), inaugurated three Wellness Centres in leading universities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under its Mental Health Initiative to extend holistic mental health counselling and support services to the students. These Wellness Centres, with a dynamic approach to mental health and wellness were constructed at Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University (SBBWU) in Peshawar, GIKI University in Topi and Hazara University in Mansehra. Under this initiative, the students are not only provided with a Wellness Centre consisting of an in-person counselling…
Federal Minister for Science and Technology to PSQCA-Complex, Karachi
Karachi, June 18, 2021 (PPI-OT):The Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Senator Shibli Faraz during his visit to PSQCA appreciated the efforts made by PSQCA in respect of automation of their services for importers and exporters and local manufacturers for ease of doing business. He advised to devise the database system and should link it with Customs and integrated with each other, tracking and timelines may also be included. Secondly, outsourcing of inspections, samples collection and testing of some mandatory products as a Pilot Project, he directed to do the needful in this regard on priority. He further directed that…
Decision on Amarnath yatra soon: LG Sinha
New Delhi, June 18, 2021 (PPI-OT):Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha on Friday said that the government will soon take a decision on conducting the annual Amarnath pilgrimage but made it clear that saving people’s lives is its top-most priority. The 56-day yatra to the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine, located in the upper reaches of Himalayas, is scheduled to start from the twin routes of Pahalgam and Baltal on June 28 and culminate on August 22. The pilgrimage was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic. For more information, contact: Kashmir Media Service Phone: +92-51-4435548, +92-51-4435549 Fax: +92-51-4861736 Email:…
All-party meet on Kashmir, Mehbooba, Farooq, others invited
Srinagar, June 18, 2021 (PPI-OT):The Government of India has formally invited Kashmiri regional party leaders including Mehbooba Mufti, Dr Farooq Abdullah and Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami to attend an all-party meet on Kashmir in New Delhi scheduled on 24th of this month to discuss certain matters concerning the Union Territory. It is going to be the first-ever all-party meeting between the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of IIOJK since the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019. It is expected that various issues like delimitation and holding of the assembly elections in the territory will be discussed in…