Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The government on Saturday once again claimed that there will be no electricity load shedding during Sehar and Iftar timings. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Water and Power announced that urban areas will face four hours of power cuts and six hours of load shedding will be carried out in rural areas. The announcement came a day after Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar, while presenting the federal budget 2017-18, announced that 10,000 MW electricity would be added to the national grid system before next summer season which would help end power crisis in the country. The minister said fiscal deficit had been controlled, load-shedding reduced, and GDP growth rate recorded at 5.3 per cent, which was proposed to cross 6 per cent during the next fiscal year. The holy month of Ramazan will begin in Pakistan on Sunday (May 28) as moon was not sighted in any part of the county on Friday evening. This was stated by Chairman Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman while addressing a news conference after a meeting of the committee in Islamabad.

Ramazan: National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Saturday said that Ramazan teaches us to follow the path of goodness and moderation, the way that seeks to promote righteousness and restraint immorality. He expressed these views in his greeting message on the advent of holy month of Ramazan being observed by the Muslims around the world. “Ramazan is a month of blessings in which Muslims across the globe seek benevolence of Almighty Allah through fasting and praying. The holy month warrants to be observed by generously helping those who are less privileged and deprived of basic needs.” Highlighting the divine blessings bestowed upon Muslims in this holy month, the speaker said, “This sacred occasion provides us a prospect to seek forgiveness for our sins and benevolence of Almighty Allah. Ramazan enjoins upon the Muslims to reflect munificence to fellow beings by helping those who are needy and less fortunate.” “Almighty Allah is magnanimous and opens up countless doors of his blessings for those who generously assist disadvantaged brethren to alleviate their miseries.” “Fasting in Ramadan guides us to feel for those who are victims of misfortune developing a sense of sacrifice and charity in the society,” he said. “Muslims reject the extremists and bigots who behind the facade of religion spread terrorism and militancy. Such mindset has brought a bad name to a peaceful religion and put its followers to shame.” “Muslims need to unite against these wicked forces who seek to fulfil their vested and political interests through nefarious and devilish plots in the name of Islam,” he said.