Latest news with #PIA
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Kerala HC junks plea to quash vigilance case related to Kudumbashree Mission fund misappropriation
Kochi: High court has dismissed the petition seeking to quash the vigilance case related to the alleged misappropriation of Rs 2.16 crore allocated by the State Kudumbashree Mission to the High Range Rural Development Society (HRDS), which had been appointed as the project implementing agency (PIA) for projects aimed at supporting underprivileged youth. Justice A Badharudeen dismissed the plea filed by G Sreeraj of Kottarakkara, who was serving as the state programme manager (finance) of Kudumbashree Mission and is the third accused in the case. The prosecution alleged that all three accused — HRDS secretary Aji Krishnan, HRDS employee Praise Pious and Sreeraj — entered into a criminal conspiracy and abused their official positions, thereby misappropriating Rs 2.16 crore out of the Rs 5.63 crore granted by the State Kudumbashree Mission to HRDS for implementing skill development courses and providing placement assistance to economically disadvantaged youth. As programme manager (finance), Sreeraj was responsible for scrutinising financial statements and audit reports submitted by the PIA in connection with the projects. However, he allegedly failed to report the diversion of funds, despite being aware of it, thereby facilitating the misappropriation. In his defence, Sreeraj argued that he was the last in the hierarchy involved in processing fund release requests and that such applications from the PIA were routed through five other senior officers, including director (finance) and chief operating officer, before reaching him. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Undo Rejecting this defence, HC observed that the FIR contains specific allegations against all three accused and held that an effective investigation is necessary. The court ruled that the petition to quash the FIR cannot be entertained at this stage and directed that the investigation proceed.
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Malay Mail
MACC detains two Penang Airport Immigration officers over ‘counter-setting' scheme
GEORGE TOWN, July 29 — Two Immigration officers have been arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Penang in a special operation targeting a corruption scheme known as 'counter-setting'. The officers, stationed at Penang International Airport (PIA), allegedly allowed foreign nationals to bypass official Immigration checks and enter the country without proper clearance. A source familiar with the investigation said the two were detained after MACC received information about their role in facilitating unauthorised entry. They were arrested under the MACC Act 2009 [Act 694]. The special operation, which is still ongoing, aims to uncover the modus operandi and network behind the scheme. It is believed that a wider group of personnel may be involved in 'counter-setting', exposing systemic weaknesses at Malaysia's entry points. According to the source, the two officers are now assisting MACC in tracing higher-level links and identifying others connected to the operation. MACC has urged members of the public to report any information related to corruption or abuse of power in both the public and private sectors. Last week, it was reported that an enforcement officer was arrested at Terminal 1 of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) for suspected involvement in similar 'counter-setting' activities.
Evening Standard
3 days ago
- Business
- Evening Standard
Best VPNs to protect your cybersecurity: UK surge
New customer bonus: None Offering no-fuss security, Private Internet Access does exactly what it says on the tin. The company urges users to "take back control" of their online freedom, connecting subscribers to servers situated around the planet and boasting lightning-fast speeds that are ideal if you're a serial streamer or share files. If offers all the usual defences, including ad and malware blocking and encryption settings that you can customise if you wish, plus round-the-clock live support, so if you run into trouble, help is always at hand. PIA also prides itself on offering 100 per cent open-source VPN apps with source codes that are publicly available, boosting its transparency. As with its peers, the longer you sign up for, the cheaper things get. The one-month plan costs £9.99pm, but sign up for a year, and the monthly cost drops to £2.71. If you're happy to commit to three years of its service though, you can enjoy online security, antivirus features and a dedicated IP for as little as £1.67pm across unlimited devices.
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Govt bans land travel for Arbaeen pilgrims
Listen to article The federal government banned the overland travel for pilgrims heading to Iraq for the Arbaeen, citing security concerns in the restive Balochistan province, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed on Sunday. Naqvi said that the decision had been taken after consultations with the Foreign Ministry, the Balochistan government, and the security agencies, adding that the pilgrims would be allowed to travel to Iraq only by air. Arbaeen, marking the 40th day of mourning after Ashura, sees millions of pilgrims, including thousands from Pakistan, travel to Karbala, Iraq, annually. Traditionally, many Pakistani pilgrims journey by road through Balochistan and Iran. However, due to the deteriorating law and order situation in the province — including increased terrorist attacks by Indian proxy outfits — the government deemed the move necessary for public safety and national security. "After extensive consultations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Balochistan Government, and security agencies, it has been decided that Zaireen will not be allowed to travel to Iraq and Iran by road for Arbaeen this year," Naqvi posted on X. "Zaireen will, however, be able to travel by air. Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to arrange maximum flights to facilitate their pilgrimage in the coming days," he added. "This difficult decision was taken in the interest of public safety and national security." On the direction of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for arranging flights to facilitate the pilgrims, the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) announced four special flights from Karachi between August 8 and 11, with return flights from Najaf scheduled from August 18 to 21. According to a PIA spokesperson the fare has been set at Rs212,000 per person, and the ticket sales had started. He added that more flights could be scheduled if necessary. Officials said passengers traveling by air individually will have to be sponsored by local people, otherwise they cannot enter Iraq. Meanwhile, private airlines have sharply increased fares, with tickets now ranging between Rs300,000 to Rs350,000. Tour operators estimate group travel expenses at $1,400 per pilgrim, compared to just $550 for land travel. This has raised fears that tens of thousands of low-income pilgrims might be unable to afford the journey. Salars — pilgrim group leaders — argue that the ban that has been announced just 15 days before Arbaeen has caused significant financial losses. They said that many people had already made advance payments for visas, vehicle certifications, and hotel bookings. They demanded that the government allowed supervised bus convoys under security agencies' protection or provide alternative transport arrangements. "This loss isn't borne by the rich but by the poor," a pilgrimage organiser told The Express Tribune on condition of anonymously. He questioned why the ban wasn't announced earlier during a recent trilateral meeting between Pakistan, Iran, and Iraq, where travel restrictions were discussed. During a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Naqvi briefed him on Balochistan's security situation and the new pilgrim policy. The prime minister directed for the initiation of the Gwadar Safe City project to enhance security in the region. Naqvi emphasised the need for better pilgrim management. Starting next year, he said, the pilgrims will only be allowed to travel under officially registered group organisers, with special embassy-issued visas required for independent travel. This system aims to curb illegal travel and overstaying issues. Meanwhile, Naqvi also visited Quetta and Azad Kashmir. In Quetta, he paid tribute to martyred soldiers at the Frontier Corps headquarters, praising their sacrifices in maintaining peace. Later, in Muzaffarabad, he met the family of Major Rab Nawaz, a martyred officer, and offered condolences.
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- General
- Express Tribune
Remembering Airblue Flight 202
Listen to article Fifteen years ago, on July 28, 2010, Airblue Flight 202 tragically crashed into Islamabad's Margalla Hills, taking the lives of 152 individuals, including my father. For those of us who lost loved ones that day, the pain remains raw. We remember the passengers and crew who boarded that flight with dreams and plans, only for it to end in devastation. The question that has haunted us since remains: what has Pakistan done to ensure such tragedies never happen again? The answer today, thankfully, is more hopeful than it has been in the past. The years following the Airblue crash saw a series of aviation disasters, each serving as a grim reminder of systemic failures. From Bhoja Air's crash in 2012 to PIA's in Havelian in 2016, and more recently, the Air India runway overshoot in 2024 that made international headlines, the aviation world has had painful lessons. The United States has its own spate of recent aviation challenges. However, in Pakistan, we haven't seen a major aviation disaster in the last few years. For this, appropriate credit must be given. Globally, the Boeing 737 Max tragedies raised awareness about flight safety and the dangers of cutting corners. These incidents, along with others, remind us why oversight, transparency and strong safety cultures matter. A recent article in The Wall Street Journal noted that flying has become safer overall: in 2023, as many as 17 people died for every billion passengers flown, down from 50 the year before. That's real progress, driven by a culture of learning from mistakes without assigning blame — so people can report problems early and fix them before something goes wrong. It's not clear if Pakistan has adopted this mindset. Let us not mistake a break in accidents for lasting safety. The absence of crashes doesn't mean the job is done. If history has taught us anything, it's that complacency is the enemy of progress. Just a few years ago, we learned that nearly one-third of pilots in Pakistan had fake licences. That wasn't just embarrassing — it was dangerous. Some of those pilots flew for years. How was this possible? What's changed to make sure it never happens again? Fixing aviation isn't just about technology — it's about leadership. Systems and rules are only as strong as the people who enforce them. Those who run Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority must hold airlines, pilots and regulators to the highest standards. Safety checks should be routine, honest, and shared with the public. Investigations must be fair and free from pressure. We also can't forget the families. Too often, they're treated like afterthoughts — waiting months for death certificates, or struggling to get answers. We need to do better. From grief counseling to clear legal support, the system should make space for compassion, not confusion. I now serve as the mayor of Saratoga, California, a small city of 31,000 people my father once chose as home. He came here hoping for a better life for his children. I've come to see firsthand how complex government can be, even at the local level. Writing smart policy, enforcing it fairly, and making government work is hard. But it matters. My father's death, caused in part by government failure, is what drives my belief in what government can — and must — do when it's done right. It's not easy, but no one ever said it should be. Fifteen years without my father has been a lifetime of grief, but also of reflection. When I think about how far we've come, I find cautious optimism. But optimism must be coupled with action. The absence of recent crashes is not a reason to relax — it's a reason to stay alert. Let Pakistan's safety gains be a foundation to build on, not a reason to sit back. As we remember the lives lost on Airblue Flight 202 and all the tragedies that followed, let this anniversary be not just a day of mourning, but a call to action. May the next 15 years bring not only the absence of crashes, but also the presence of excellence in every aspect of Pakistan's aviation industry!
