According to Pakistan’s first Islamic calendar, Eid on June 5

Federal Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry made good on his promise to create Pakistan’s first Islamic calendar on Sunday. He presented the calendar and an online moon sighting portal on Sunday.

Through the online portal (which comprises both a website and mobile application), people will be able to see where the moon is over their territory. By launching this calendar, we are eliminating the uncertainty that always prevailed in Pakistan around Eid, he announced.

The five-year calendar has already set the dates for Eidul Fitr. According to it, this year’s Eid will be on June 5. The next four Eids are May 24, 2020, May 3, 2021, April 22, 2022 and April 10, 2023.

He said that the creation of this calendar will not reduce the role of religious clerics. He also said that knowledge is important and there is nothing wrong with using that knowledge.

He told religious clerics to use the technology available to them for important issues like moon sighting. If you’re so bent on using the naked eye to sight the moon, then glasses then become haram (forbidden) too, he said. If using 50-year-old telescopes is halal and 100-year-old glasses is okay but using new technology is haram, then it doesn’t make sense, he said. Don’t worry, it won’t end your role, he consoled religious clerics.

Chaudhry said that application was prepared with input from experts of the Meteorological Department and SUPARCO. The application will be available from Monday on the Google Play Store, he announced.

Using the application, you’ll be able to see the moon on the app and where it is, he explained. The moon’s location over eight strategic locations will be mapped on the application, said Chaudhry. They have based their moon-sighting on three main principles — 6.8% altitude, luminosity of 0.8% and 38 minute difference between sunset and the moon’s visibility.

The proposal has been sent to the Council of Islamic Ideology and will be presented before the federal cabinet on Tuesday. He also announced that August will be declared a science and technology month across Pakistan.

Chaudhry stirred up controversy with his plans for the calendar as it was seen as a challenge to the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee. Before the official announcement of Ramaza, Chaudhry took to Twitter to announce that his ministry would make an Islamic calendar with Eid, Ramazan and Muharram dates pre-decided. In response, Mufti Muneebur Rehman, the head of Pakistan’s moon sighting committee, told Chaudhry to mind his own business.

Chaudhry had said on Twitter that the country’s future cannot be left to maulvis (religious clerics).

Taufeeq Umar returns for Australia Tests

Taufeeq Umar, the left-hand opening batsmen, has made a comeback to the Pakistan Test squad for the two-match series against Australia in the UAE. Taufeeq played the last of his 43 Tests in July 2012.

Balloon blast victim dies

LAHORE: A 15-year-old boy, who suffered critical burns along with 40 others when gas-filled balloons exploded on April 21, died at Mayo Hospital late on Friday.

Three children who had suffered three to four percent burns are still under treatment at Jinnah Hospital but their condition is stated to be normal. The injured had been rushed to General, Jinnahand Mayo hospitals following the incident. Mayo Medical Superintendent Dr Amjad Shahzad said Naveed Asghar of Dev Kalan village was referred here from Jinnah Hospital with above 40pc burns and was in a critical condition. He said a team of plastic and surgery department doctors was treating the patient but he succumbed to his wounds. He said Asghar was the only victim received by Mayo Hospital. During a ceremony on Walton Road to inaugurate a new fly over by the chief minister on April 21 near Dev Kalan village, Kamahan Road, several helium-filled balloons had landed in a make shift playground and caught fire when someone touched them with a cigarette, according to initial police inquiries. Jinnah Hospital received majority of the injured and relatives of some of the patients claimed doctors had discharged them in haste. MS Dr Muhammad Rauf denied the allegations saying most of the victims had been discharged after proper treatment. Presently, he said, only three children wereunder treatment at private rooms of the hospital. Dr Rauf said the discharged children had been visiting the health facility for follow-up treatment. On Saturday, he said the doctors called seven children for assessment and cleansing their wounds.

Two brothers re-arrested in Pakistan for cannibalism

Two brothers previously jailed for cannibalism and then released, have been arrested again after police discovered a child's severed head at their home in a remote village in northwest Pakistan. Mohammed Arif Ali was arrested early Monday after neighbors alerted police to a "foul smell" coming from his house in the village of Kahawar Khan in the Bhakkar district of Punjab, district police chief Ameer Abdullah Khan told Media.When they went to investigate, they discovered the decapitated head of an infant next to a burning stove. The head, which is now being examined at a hospital in the nearby village of Darya Khan, looked to be around five days old, Abdullah said Arif Ali was arrested at the scene, while his brother, Mohammed Farman Ali, was apprehended by police hours later on the outskirts of their village. Police said both men confessed to eating human flesh. The brothers were released from prison last year after serving a two-year jail term for similar offenses -- they admitted dismembering a woman's body they had stolen from a graveyard in Darya Khan where they lived at the time. With no explicit law on cannibalism in Pakistan, the two men were convicted of desecrating a dead body and other public order offenses in a case that provoked widespread revulsion across Pakistan.

Foreign investors keen to invest in Pakistan: Dar

Washington: Finance Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar says foreign investors have shown a keen interest in various sectors of Pakistan with a focus on energy after an improvement in the fundamentals of national economy.

He was talking to representatives of Standard & Poor's and Moody's in Washington. The Minister said the government is taking concrete steps to fill the gap between power production and supply. He said various projects are underway to add power to the national grid.
The Finance Minister said Pakistan's economy is gaining momentum and has successfully completed first two quarterly reviews of International Monetary Fund (IMF). He specifically mentioned privatization of public sector entities through capital market and strategic sale transactions.
Ishaq Dar hoped that Pakistan's GDP is expected to increase from 3.6 to 7 percent and tax to GDP ratio from 8.5 to 13 percent. He said inflation is expected to be contained within a single digit of eight percent. Dar said the stock market has been gaining momentum during the last few months. The representatives of rating agencies appreciated the launch of Pakistan Sovereign Bonds in international market. They also lauded the recent improvement in the economic performance of the government.

A Tourist Guide to Quetta

Quetta is a south-western city of Pakistan, situated at an elevation of 5,500 ft (1677m). Quetta has a dry climate with no factory chimneys to pollute its fresh and invigorating mountain air. Winter sets in by November and lasts till end February. Snowfall is light, though it is not unusual to have one as late as March.

Getting There:
Quetta has the fourth largest airport in Pakistan. Visitor can come to quetta by air via Lahore, Karachi or Islamabad. Domestic flights are available on daily basis. PIA also runs direct flights from Dubai to Quetta.
Quetta is also connected to other majors cities of Pakistan by road and railways.

Shopping:
Some prominent bazaars of Quetta are located on the roads Shahrah-e-Iqbal (the Kandahari Bazaar) and Shahrah-e-Liaquat (the Liaquat and Suraj Gang Bazaar, Alamdar road (little Tokyo). Here, tourists can find colourful handicrafts, particularly Pashtun embroidery which is admired all over the world. The Pashtun workers are prominently expert in making fine  carpets, with their pleasing and intricate designs, fur coats, jackets, waist-coats, sandals and other creations of traditional Pashtun skills. local handicrafts, specially green marble products, mirror work and embroidered jackets, shirts, and hand bags, pillow covers, bed sheets, dry fruits, etc. Apart from Pashtuns, a large numbers of Punjabis and Urdu speakers also live in Quetta.


Attractions:
About 50 km, from Quetta is the valley of Pishin, which is surrounded by thousands of acres of vineyards and orchards, made by boring holes into rocks to bring to the surface the deep water.

Hanna Lake nestles in the hills ten kilometres (six miles) east of Quetta, a startling turquoise pool within bare brown surroundings. There is a lakeside restaurant with picnic tables shaded by pine trees.

Pakistan beat Srilanka in first ODI

Pakistan's innings was built around a brilliant 122 from Mohammad Hafeez which saw them post an impressive total of 322-5 in their 50 overs but were made to work hard for their win, finally bowling Sri Lanka out in 49.4 overs.

Besides Hafeez's 122, Sohaib Maqsood (73) and debutant opener Sharjeel Khan (61) were the main contributors on a flat pitch.

Sri Lanka had all but lost the match at 221-7 but Sachithra Senanayake (42) and Seekkuge Prasanna (42) gave Pakistan a scare during their 87-run partnership for the eighth wicket -- a record for Pakistan-Sri Lanka one-day internationals.

Sri Lanka needed 27 off the last two overs but both the batsmen were out in quick succession to hand Pakistan a deserved win.

Pakistan captain MIsbah-ul Haq said his bowlers needed to improve on this performance.

"It was a hard fought win. We need to improve on the bowling and fielding, too many lapses," said Misbah.

Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews was full of praise of his team's battling display.

"We witnessed a great match, especially the stand between Seekkuge and Senanayake, very pleasing to see how they fought," said Mathews.

Sri Lanka got off to a solid start with Tillakaratne Dilshan (30) and Kusal Perera (64) batting quite comfortably against the spin-cum pace Pakistan attack.

Dilshan pulled a short Junaid Khan delivery straight to deep square-leg before Kumar Sangakkara (23) and Perera added 47 for the second wicket.

Perera, who hit five boundaries and a six off 68 balls, also holed out off Hafeez before leg-spinner Shahid Afridi then struck twice, dismissing Sangakkara and Lahiru Thirimanne (10) in quick succession.

Dinesh Chandimal hit a 50-ball 46 while Mathews made 31 off 32 balls during a resolute 73-run stand for the fifth wicket before the tail wagged.

Paceman Junaid finished with 3-44.

Earlier, Hafeez smashed 122 off 129 balls in a power-packed Pakistan batting performance after they won the toss.

Hafeez, whose place was in danger over poor form after only 147 runs in the last eight one-dayers, hit seven boundaries and four sixes in his seventh one-day hundred.

He hoisted paceman Suranga Lakmal over long-on for a six to reach the three-figure mark.

Hafeez added 140 for the third wicket with Maqsood and 83 for the second wicket with Sharjeel to give Pakistan a good platform.

Maqsood was run out after hitting four sixes and two boundaries during an entertaining 68-ball knock.

Shahid Afridi, promoted to fifth in the batting order, produced a fiery 12-ball knock of 34 studded with three sixes and two boundaries as Pakistan mustered 103 in the last ten overs.

Hafeez and Sharjeel raised the scoring rate, with the opener hitting two sixes and a four off paceman Thisara Perera in the 13th over and then hit spinner Sachitra Senanayake for a boundary towards long-off to bring up his half-century off 46 balls.

Dropped on 56 by Thisara off Seekkuge Prasanna, Sharjeel failed to benfit from the lapse, holing out off the same bowler five runs later.

Lakmal finished with the best bowling figures of 2-73.

The second match will be played in Dubai on Friday followed by the third in Sharjah on Sunday and the last two in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday and Friday.

JF-17 Planes of Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif paid a visit to Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) Kamra for briefings on the exports of the Pakistan Air Force’s aircraft, the JF-17 Thunder, Express News reported on Wednesday.
Nawaz was the guest of honour at the inauguration event for the roll out ceremony of the 50th JF-17 aircraft. The event was attended by delegates from China as well as the PAF.
Speaking at the end of the inauguration, the premier appreciated China’s efforts to help Pakistan manufacture 50 JF-17s and also commended the bravery of the Pakistan Air Force.
“Pakistan’s skies are safe due to the efforts of the Pakistan Air Force”, Nawaz said.
Furthermore, he said the last time this project was supposed to be launched, the PAF met with political hurdles which the PML-N government had cleared.
During his speech Nawaz also stated that the inauguration of the planes is a means to “expand the friendship between China and Pakistan.”
Nawaz also reflected on the past joint ventures that Pakistan and China invested in together which include the Karakoram Highway, Chashma Power Plant and the Karachi Civil Nuclear Plant.
Concluding the speech, Nawaz said “We will fulfill all the needs of the Pakistani Air Force”.
The PAC JF-17 is a light weight, single engine, and multi combat aircraft which has been developed by the Pakistan Air Force, the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and the Chengdu Aircraft Industries Corporation (CAC) of China.
The aircraft is 15 metres long and is said to be able to tackle all kinds of weather.

Pakistan beat Srilanka by 3 wickets in first T20

Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by three wickets in the first Twenty20 International at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.Chasing 146 for victory, Pakistan made it home with five balls to spare with Shahid Afridi making an unbeaten 39, including a six to win.Sri Lanka made 145 for 5 in their innings with Angelo Mathews top-scoring with 50.Pakistan, who won the toss and elected to bowl first, restricted their opponents with none of the Sri Lanka top four able to score at better than a run a ball.Saeed Ajmal picked up the milestone wicket of key man Kumar Sangakkara for 21.Ajmal has got his 400th International wicket. Mathews did provide a spark with five boundaries and a six in his 34-ball innings before falling in the final over to Sohail Tanvir, who was the pick of the bowlers with 2 for 34. Sri Lanka set a targetof 146 runs for Pakistan in 1st T20I at Dubai. A 50-run partnership between Sharjeel Khan and Mohammad Hafeez gave Pakistan a solid foundation, and they reached 67 for 1 at halfway after Lahiru Thirimanne took a stunning catch to remove opener Ahmed Shehzad for just four.However, Khan went for 34, and then Ajantha Mendis removed Hafeez for 32 and Umar Akmal for five in consecutive balls, the latter run out at the non-striker's end after the bowler deflecteda Sohaib Maqsood drive onto the stumps.Umar Amin came and went forjust eight before Afridi took the total past 100 with a boundary, leaving Pakistan needing 43 from the final five overs."Boom Boom" Afridi smashed Nuwan Kulasekara for two sixes in the 16th over, and although Lasith Malinga picked up two late wickets, Afridi dispatched Kulasekara for a third six to win the match.

South Africa beat Pakistan by 4 wickets in 3rd ODI

Vernon Philander led a strong performance by South Africa’s bowlers to set up a four-wicket consolation win for the hosts in the third and final One-day International against Pakistan at SuperSport Park on Saturday.South Africa this avoided a first ODI series whitewash at home as Pakistan celebrated their first-ever series win over the Proteas.Man-of-the-Match Philander took three for 26 in a Pakistan total of 179 all out. South Africa made heavy weather of the chase but won with 68 balls to spare, steered home by an unbeaten 48 from skipper A.B. de Villiers.Seeking an historic sweep in South Africa, Pakistan struggled in their last game ontour, with only captain Misbah-ul-Haq (79 not out) holding off the bowlers.Misbah hit four fours and two sixes in his gritty knock after Pakistan were 97-7 at one point. Makeshift opener Umar Amin scored 25, as did Sohaib Maqsood, while Misbah and Abdur Rehman (22) shared a 51-run stand for the eighth wicket but South Africa was ontop in the last game despite missing strike bowler Dale Steyn, all-rounder Jacques Kallis and opening batsman Graeme Smith.Philander, recently recalled to the one-day side after starringfor the South African Test team, struck with the fourth ball of the match when AhmedShehzad was caught at first slip without scoring. Ahmed made a century when Pakistanclinched the series by winning the second match in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday.Fellow new ball bowler Lonwabo Tsotsobe had Asad Shafiq caught behind in the fourth over and Pakistan were unable to build any significantpartnerships against hostile bowling on a pitch which offered good bounce.The best stand of the innings was 51 for the eighth wicket between Misbah and Abdur Rehman (22).South Africa made a fast start, with Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla putting on 39 on35 balls for the first wicket before De Kock mistimed a hook against Bilawal Bhatti and was caught at backward square leg.The momentum slowed as new cap Henry Davids was tied down by Saeed Ajmal before being stumped off the wily off-spinner after struggling to seven off 18 balls.Amla made 41 before being run out after a superb stop and quick throw by Umar Amin at backward point.In contrast to his dazzling 74 off 45 balls in Port Elizabeth, where he played one big shot too many and was out before South Africa ‘crossed the line’, in his words, de Villiers playeda risk-free innings to ensure that South Africa successfully chased down a target for the first time in eight recent attempts.South Africa appeared to be cruising home until Amla was run out in the 16th over to make it 75-3. J.P. Duminy (16) and David Miller (24) also fell after getting starts but de Villiers guided the Proteas home with three fours in his measured 48 from 63 balls.Saeed, who adjudged Man-of-the-Match, was again the best Pakistan bowling, taking two for 34 in 10 overs.With the series decided, both sides showed several changes.Kallis and Steyn, both with minor injuries, were rested from the South African team, while Smith was absent because of a family bereavement.Pakistan made four changes. Mohammad Hafeez and Junaid Khan were injured, according to captain Misbah, while Shahid Afridi and Nasir Jamshed were rested. The newplayers were Umar Amin, AsadShafiq, Sohail Tanvir and Abdur Rehman.While Pakistan head home to prepare for the series against Sri Lanka in the UAE, India are due to arrive in South Africa on Monday for three One-day Internationals and a two-match Test series.

پاکستانی فوج کے نئے سربراہ جنرل راحیل شریف نے راولپنڈی میںمنعقدہ تقریب میں باضابطہ طور پر بری فوج کی کمان سنبھال لی

جنرل راحیل شریف پاکستان کے بری فوج کے 15ویں سربراہ ہیں اور انھوں نے جنرل اشفاق پرویز کیانی کی جگہ لی ہے جو چھ سال تک پاکستان کے بری فوج کے سربراہ رہنے کے بعد ریٹائر ہوئے ہیں۔پاکستان کے سرکاری ٹی وی کے مطابق اس تقریب میں اعلیٰ فوجی اور سول شخصیات شریک ہوئیں۔کمان کی تبدیلی کی تقریب میں آزاد کشمیر رجمنٹ کے ایک دستے نے جنرل اشفاق پرویز کیانی کو اعزازی گارڈ آف آنر پیش کیا جس کے بعد اپنے الوداعی خطاب میں انھوں نے کہا کہ جو بھاری ذمہ داری انھیں سونپی گئی تھی وہ باعزت طریقے سے ان سے عہدہ برا ہوئے ہیں۔جنرل اشفاق پرویز کیانی چھ برس تک برّی فوج کے سپہ سالار رہےجنرل کیانی نے کہا کہ جب انھوں نے کمان سنبھالی تو فوج کو بہت سے چیلنجز کا سامنا تھا جن سے نمٹنے کےلیے یکسوئی کے ساتھ پیشہ ورانہ صلاحیتیں بروئے کار لانے کی ضرورت تھی اور آج جب وہ ریٹائر ہو رہے ہیں تو فوج اندرونی اور بیرونی خطرات سے نمٹنے کے لیے تیار ہے۔انھوں نے یہ بھی کہا کہ’میں نے اپنے دور میں جو بھی فیصلے کیے ان میں ملک و قوم اور فوج کا مفاد مقدم رکھا‘ اور یہ کہ اگر نیت صاف ہو تو مشکل وقت میں نئے در کھل جاتے ہیں اور خود ان کے ساتھ ایساہی ہوا۔ان کا یہ بھی کہنا تھا کہ قوموں کے سامنے مشکلات آتی رہتی ہیں لیکن ان سے نمٹنے کے لیے ’ہمیں اپنی صفوں میں اتحاد قائم رکھنا ہوگا‘۔تقریب سے خطاب کے بعد جنرل کیانی نے پاکستانی فوج کی کمان کی علامتی چھڑی ستاون سالہ جنرل راحیل شریف کے ہاتھ میں تھما دی جس کے ساتھ ہی پاکستانی فوج میں ان کا 42 برس سے زیادہ عرصے پر مشتملعسکری کریئر اختتام کو پہنچ گیا۔اس دوران جہاں وہ نومبر 2007 سے28 نومبر 2013 تک بری فوج کے سپہ سالار رہے وہیں انہوں نے ڈائریکٹر جنرل ملٹری آپریشنز، وائس چیف آف آرمی سٹاف اور پاکستانی فوج کی خفیہ ایجنسی آئی ایس آئی کے سربراہ کے طور پر بھی خدمات سرانجام دیں۔

Pakistan beat South Africa in second ODI for series win

PORT ELIZABETH: Pakistan held on for a thrilling one-run win in the second one-day international on Wednesday to beat South Africa in an ODI series for the first time, making its short-notice tour an historic one.Pakistan defended its 262 in a rain-shortened 45-over game by the smallest of margins as South Africa fell just short of the nine runs it needed off thelast over at St. George's Park to take the three-game series to a decider.Pakistan has the chance to be the first team ever to whitewash South Africa at home in an ODI contest in the final game.A century partnership between Hashim Amla (98) and AB de Villiers (74) took South Africa to the brink of victory, but Amla's wicket fell off the last ball of the penultimate over. Junaid Khantook 3-42 for the victorious tourists, who just held on under intense pressure.Earlier, Ahmed Shehzad's 102 set up victory for Pakistan, while Dale Steyn's career-best 6-39 was part of a losing effortfor South Africa as the world's leading team in test cricket continued to struggle for consistency in ODIs.Following a 4-1 drubbing by the South Africans in United Arab Emirates at the start of the month, Pakistan turned the tables dramatically weeks later to send South Africa to its first one-day series defeat at home in over two years.The Pakistanis have the chance to become the first team to ever whitewash South Africa at home in the final game in Centurion this weekend.Pakistan wasn't even meant to tour now, but was asked to fill a gap in South Africa's home schedule after India shortened its upcoming series. It also lost key players to injury before the series started and still came through for a momentous win.Shehzad's 102 off 112 balls with eight fours and two sixes laid a winning platform in PortElizabeth.He shared a 124-run partnership for the third wicket with Sohaib Maqsood (42) after coming through an early onslaught by Steyn in overcast conditions at the start of the day.Umar Akmal added a quick-fire42, but it was Pakistan's cool under pressure at the end thatsealed their triumph as a partnership of 110 between Amla and De Villiers looked to have put South Africa on track to come from behind to win and stay alive in the series.Saeed Ajmal struck for the crucial wicket of Amla on the last ball of the penultimate over and Khan had JP Duminy caught off the second ball of the last over as Pakistan fought until the end to make sure of its moment in history.Misbah hails series victoryPakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq hailed the series win against South Africa.Misbah admitted that a win seemed unlikely with two overs to go.He said: “But there is always pressure on the side batting second. We knew that we would have a chance if we hadone good over so that South Africa needed more than a runa ball in the last over, especially if they had new batsmen at the crease.”“It really means a lot to us to beat South Africa in a bilateralseries for the first time, especially doing it in South Africa,” said Misbah.It was especially satisfying because Pakistan were recently beaten 4-1 by the same opponents in the UnitedArab Emirates.“It is a young side and now they believe they can win. Thatwas what was lacking (in the previous series),” said Misbah.De Villiers struggled to explainyet another failed run chase by his team, who have now lost their last seven matches when batting second.“I had the game in my hands with Hash out there with me,” he said.“I've finished a lot of games like that before and I was on abit of a roll there. I should have caught my breath a little bit and looked at the situation again. It is very disappointing.”

Pakistan introduces its own drones

The Pakistani military on Monday announced its first fleet of indigenously developed surveillance-capable drones ata ceremony attended by the Army chief.According to a press release, the introduction of the two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), called the ‘Burraq’ and‘Shahpar’ systems in the Pakistan Army and Air Force, are “a landmark and historic event, wherein a very effective force multiplier has been added to the inventory of the armed forces.”Pakistan already has several types of unarmed surveillance drones in operation, but ‘Burraq’ and ‘Shahpar’ are the first to be developed locally.The drones have been developed in cooperation withthe National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM) is a civilian controlled Pakistani scientific research organisation.“In the future, these UAVs could also be gainfully employed in various socio-economic development projects as well,” said the release from ISPR, the media wing of the military.The unveiling ceremony was attended by Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Chief of the Air Staff Tahir Rafique Butt, Director General Strategic Plans Division Lt-Gen (R) Khalid Ahmed Kidwai, and senior officers from the armed forces, scientists and engineers, said the ISPR statement.The induction of the indigenously developed surveillance capable UAVs in Pakistan’s armed forces is a force multiplier, and will substantially enhance their target acquisition capabilities in real time, said the Army chief while appreciating the work of NESCOM scientists and engineers.The ISPR statement did not state whether the surveillance drones were also capable of being armed with precision missiles, like the UAVs that theUS uses to target suspected Taliban and al Qaeda militantsin Pakistan’s tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.According to earlier reports in the media, the Pakistani military has working to develop its own armed drones, but has been unsuccessful with a lack of precision munitions and advanced targeting technology.According to one report, Pakistan carried out weapons tests earlier last year with the Falco, an Italian drone used bythe air force for surveillance that has been modified to carry rockets.According to the same report, the military was also conducting similar tests with the Shahpar.An unarmed version of the Shahpar was unveiled for the first time at the International Defence Exhibition (IDEAS) in Karachi in November last year.Industry insiders say that the Chinese government has also reportedly offered to sell Pakistan an armed drone it has produced, the CH-3, whichcan carry two laser-guided missiles or bombs.

Bomb blasts killed two in Pakistani city of Quetta

A series of bomb explosions have killed at least two people and injured several others in the troubled southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta, security sources say.The casualties came after coordinated blasts rocked Sirki roadand Moti Ram road areas in Quetta,the capital of Balochistan Province.The injured were shifted to a nearby hospital for necessary medical treatment.Law enforcement agencies say theyhave launched an investigation into the deadly bombings. Pakistani officials often blame Baloch separatist groups for such attacks. Quetta has experienced a fresh spate of violence and militancy over the past few months. Militant attacks and bomb explosions have killed hundreds of people in the volatile city so far this year.Pro-Taliban militants and some Baloch insurgent groups have carried out numerous attacks against security forces as well as civilians.The Pakistani army has launched several operations in the troubled northwestern and southwestern regions in a bid to flush out militants from the volatile areas.Despite the Pakistani government's operations against militants, they have still been able to spread their influence in various regions of the country and kill thousands of people, who have lost their lives in bombings and other militant attacks since 2001, when Pakistan entered an alliance with the US in the war on terror.