Latest news with #MuhammadFaisal
Business Recorder
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Punjab govt amends official residences allotment policy
LAHORE: The Punjab government has made a special amendment to its official residence allotment policy to allocate a government house in GOR-I to DIG Operations Lahore, Muhammad Faisal (PSP). In an unusual move, two houses were allocated in Lahore instead of the standard one. According to official documents, Muhammad Faisal has been residing without formal allotment at House No. 9, Golf Road, GOR-I, and had submitted a formal request to the Punjab government and the Services & General Administration Departm ent (S&GAD) for permanent allotment. The S&GAD initially maintained that Muhammad Faisal was not eligible for government housing in GOR-I under the existing Punjab Residence Allotment Policy 2024. The documents highlight that clause 3.1(c) of the policy restricts eligibility to officers within the S & GAD cadre strength, whereas Muhammad Faisal belongs to the Police Department. Therefore, he was considered ineligible not only under the regular policy but also could not be accommodated under the Chief Minister's 10 percent hardship quota. However, when the Services & General Department formally opposed the allotment, stating that it would be a violation of the existing policy, it also noted that the only way to proceed would be to relax the policy itself. Additional Chief Secretary Punjab, Ahmad Raza Sarwar, reiterated that Muhammad Faisal was ineligible under the current rules. Despite this, Chief Secretary Punjab Zahid Zaman wrote in the same set of documents that since Muhammad Faisal is ineligible under current policy, the Punjab Cabinet should approve a policy relaxation so that a house in GOR-I can be officially allotted to him. Acting upon this, the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister directed that House No. 12, Golf Lane, GOR-I be allotted to DIG Operations Muhammad Faisal. To make this possible, Grade-22 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service, Zaheer Hassan, who was already residing in that house, was instructed to vacate it and instead be shifted to the house where DIG Faisal was residing without allotment. The Services Department was subsequently instructed to prepare a new summary for formal allotment. Additional Secretary (Welfare), Capt Samiullah Farooq (R), wrote in the file that as per telephonic instructions received from the Chief Minister's Office, the allotment summary was being resubmitted accordingly. The final decision approved the allotment of House No. 12, Golf Lane, GOR-I to DIG Muhammad Faisal. An interesting twist followed when it was revealed that House No. 12, which was now approved for DIG Faisal, was officially allotted to Grade-22 PAS officer Zaheer Hassan, who was asked to vacate the house. Furthermore, it was recommended in the same set of documents that House No. 5, Patiala House, be officially designated as the permanent residence of DIG Operations Lahore. However, House No. 5 had already been approved earlier for DIG Operations but is currently occupied by former DIG Operations Dr Haider Ashraf. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
The Sun
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Selangor FC aims for strong start in Charity Shield against JDT
THE curtain raiser for the 2025-2026 Malaysian League against Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) in the Charity Shield is more than just a trophy match for Selangor FC – it is seen as a morale booster to fuel a stronger campaign this season, according to the team's star player, Muhammad Faisal Abdul Halim. Muhammad Faisal, better known as Mickey, said the prestigious match would be the ideal platform to build momentum and test the team's readiness before facing a demanding season. 'We've been preparing for over two months. All the players are ready to play. I think we'll go there to get a positive result. It'll be a balanced match. In football, nothing is impossible. We'll give our best and leave the rest to Allah – who knows, it might be our fortune, insya-Allah. 'And I believe this is the beginning for Selangor to go all the way this season. We'll start on the right foot, insya-Allah. Regardless of the outcome, even if it doesn't go our way, we must continue our fight,' he told reporters after the launch of the publicity roadshow for The Sultan of Selangor's Cup (TSSC), which is scheduled to take place on Sept 27 at Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur. Asked whether the Red Giants were prepared for a packed schedule this season involving both domestic and international competitions, Muhammad Faisal stressed that it was the players' responsibility to bear that 'burden' as part of their job. He said players could not afford to stay in their comfort zone and must consistently strive to improve their performance and capabilities throughout the season. 'In the past, we had just the Super League domestically. Then last year, we went to the ACL2 (AFC Champions League 2), so we got to feel the difference in terms of rest and long-distance travel. But this year, we've added the Shopee Cup, which is very challenging. 'Our first game will be in Buriram. We'll travel from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok and then take a five-hour bus ride to Buriram. That's not easy. Not all players enjoy that – long travel, one day of rest, then a game, then returning and immediately having another match,' he said. He stressed that every player in the Selangor squad, whether in the starting eleven or on the bench, must maintain high readiness levels as the opportunity to play could come at any time, and only those truly prepared could meet the challenge. Meanwhile, TSSC chairman and team manager Tan Sri Abd Karim said the event was not just an ordinary football match but a symbolic occasion to relive the golden era of Malaysian football in the 1970s, especially the iconic rivalry between Selangor and Singapore, who met 23 times in Malaysia Cup finals, with Selangor winning 12 of those encounters. The 21st edition of TSSC will kick off with a match between the Selangor Veterans and the Singapore Veterans, followed by the main event between Selangor Selection and Singapore Selection. The Selangor Selection has lifted the Sultan of Selangor's Cup 10 times – in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2019 and 2024. The Singapore Selection, meanwhile, has won the title seven times – in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2016 and 2017 – while both teams were declared joint champions in 2004. - Bernama
Express Tribune
16-07-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Commuters suffer as transporters hike fares
In the wake of a sustained and steep rise in petrol and diesel prices, transport operators across all routes in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad implemented significant fare hikes on Wednesday. The increases has affected all modes of transportation in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, including local, intercity, and long-distance travel. A recent Rs11 per litre spike in diesel prices has also inflated the cost of transporting essential food supplies, raising concerns over an impending wave of inflation. Public transport fares have risen by Rs5 to Rs15 per passenger, sparking widespread frustration among commuters. Local rickshaws, taxis, and Qingqi rickshaws have followed suit, increasing per-passenger fares. Motorcycle ride-hailing services such as Bykea have raised their minimum fare to Rs100. Meanwhile, minibuses, wagons, and coasters have begun charging passengers additional fees for carrying luggage. Pakistan Railways has also announced plans to revise its fare structure. In parallel, goods transporters have collectively agreed on a 10% increase in freight charges for both intercity and long-route deliveries. Muhammad Faisal, the vice-president of the Goods Transport Union, explains that transporters refrained from raising fares following the previous fuel price hike on July 1. However, the latest diesel price increase — pushing rates to an all-time high of Rs. 284 per liter — has left them with no viable alternative but to adjust fares. Asif Khan, the vice-president of the Transport Federation, criticised the government's continued price hikes over the past six weeks. He noted that in the open market, the prices of tires, spare parts, and mechanical services have soared by 500% to 800%. Additionally, he highlighted rising traffic fines and penalties, all of which have pushed the transport sector to the verge of collapse. The impact of fare hikes is already visible, with a sharp decline in passenger numbers. "Where families once traveled together for weddings and funerals, now only one or two members make the journey due to rising costs," Khan said. He warned that if fuel prices, spare parts, motorway tolls, and vehicle costs continue to escalate, many small transport businesses will shut down, leading to increased unemployment. Faizan Ali, a Bykea motorcycle operator, echoed these concerns. "Our regular riders were those paying Rs50 to Rs100. With fares nearly doubling, many can no longer afford the service. Now, two passengers often share a single ride to split the cost." He further noted the disparity between international and domestic trends: "Global fuel prices are falling, yet locally, we continue to raise them." Citizens have criticised the government's decision, pointing out that global oil prices have dropped to a historic low of $65 per barrel, yet Pakistan has increased domestic prices. They termed it a cruel move and demanded immediate price reductions. Citizens noted that during the PTI government, global oil prices were around $120 per barrel while petrol in Pakistan was priced between Rs150-155 per litre.
Business Recorder
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
With militaries upgraded, risks multiply in conflict
India and Pakistan have significantly upgraded their military capabilities since the nuclear-armed neighbours clashed in 2019, posing increased risks of escalation even in a limited conflict, former military officers and experts say. In 2019, India carried out air strikes inside Pakistan after the bombing of an Indian military convoy in IIOJK and said it destroyed 'terrorist camps'. Pakistani jets conducted a retaliatory air strike and shot down an Indian aircraft during actions spread over two days. The neighbours have fought three wars - in 1948, 1965 and 1971 - and clashed countless times since gaining independence, mostly over the Kashmir region which both claim. Both acquired nuclear weapons in the 1990s and Kashmir is considered one of the most dangerous flashpoints in the world. Military experts say neither side will consider nuclear weapons unless pushed to the wall, but even a limited conflict would carry high risks of escalation. They say such a conflict is likely to involve aircraft, missiles or drones, where India and Pakistan are considered closely matched, although India's far greater resources would come into play over a longer period. 'Decision makers in both states now have a higher risk appetite for conflict initiation and escalation than prior to 2019,' said Frank O'Donnell, a non-resident fellow at the South Asia Program at the Stimson Center, a think-tank in Washington, as they had managed then to clash without nuclear weapons being used. 'But without a clear mutual sense of the precise actions, that could trigger inadvertent escalation,' he added. Both sides have acquired new military hardware since 2019, opening up new conventional strike options. 'Each side will think they are in a better position than last time,' said Muhammad Faisal, a South Asia security researcher based at the University of Technology, Sydney. 'It is only when we see actual combat that we will find out.' In particular, India believes that it was at a disadvantage in 2019 because it had to rely mainly on ageing Russian jets. It has since inducted 36 French-made Rafale fighter jets, a top Western aircraft, with more on order for its navy. To counter, Pakistan got one of China's most advanced war planes, the J-10, a rough equivalent of the Rafale, in batches since 2022. It has at least 20 of the aircraft, according to the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies. The planes carry advanced capabilities, with the Rafale armed with Meteor air-to-air missiles that operate beyond visual range. The J-10 is armed with the comparable PL-15 missile, according to a Pakistani security official who declined to be identified because they were not authorised to brief the media. To plug the gaps in air defences exposed on both sides in the 2019 conflict, India secured Russia's battle-tested S-400, a mobile anti-aircraft missile system. Pakistan obtained the HQ-9 from China, which is based on Russia's S-300, one notch down. 'Most certainly in some respects we are better off (than 2019),' said Anil Golani, a former air vice marshal in the Indian Air Force, and the director general of the Delhi-based Centre for Air Power Studies think tank. 'There's a lot of clamour for action in the country but, in my personal assessment, both India and Pakistan are not looking for an all-out conflict,' he added. Hanging over any conflict is China, India's rival and Pakistan's close ally and biggest supplier of military equipment. Although the US has urged India and Pakistan to ease tensions, it will closely watch any conflict for insights on Beijing's aerial strength. The Chinese plane and its PL-15 missile have not previously been tested in combat. 'It could be a contest between Western and Chinese technology,' said Faisal, adding 'for India, there is the dilemma of how many air squadrons to commit to the Pakistan front, as it must also guard against China.' China and India fought a brief border war in 1962 and the two armies have clashed, most recently in 2022, along their tense Himalayan frontier. Pakistan has a fleet of F-16s, the US aircraft acquired decades back when ties with Washington were stronger. These F-16s were deployed in the 2019 tussle, leading India to lodge protests with the US, although New Delhi now enjoys far closer ties with Washington. This time, to avoid the political fallout with the F-16 and to take advantage of having a more advanced aircraft, Pakistan will likely spearhead with the Chinese J-10, experts said. But a drone or ground-launched missile strike is considered more likely since neither would risk a pilot being shot down. India has turned to Israel for combat-capable drones, getting the Heron Mark 2, and it has US Predator drones on order. Pakistan has acquired Turkey's Bayraktar TB2 - used by Ukraine in its war with Russia - and the Akinci, also from Turkey, according to the Pakistani security official. Amid the standoff, Pakistan tested a surface-to-surface ballistic missile with a range of 450 km (280 miles) on Saturday, to show that the armed forces were ready to 'safeguard national security against any aggression,' according to a statement from the country's military. Pakistan also has a range of short-range and medium-range missiles, capable of being fired from ground, sea and air. There was no immediate comment from India on the test. India's capabilities include the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile of about 300 km range as well the Agni series of intercontinental ballistic missiles. The 2019 skirmish almost spiralled out of control, with multiple missile strikes threatened before US intervention calmed the situation down. Kaiser Tufail, a former fighter pilot in the Pakistani air force, said that India did not manage to establish deterrence in 2019, so it would aim for a more incisive strike this time, bringing more risks in its wake. Modi said following the 2019 skirmishes that the country had felt the lack of Rafale fighters at the time, which were on order, and suggested that the results of the clash could have been different if it had the French fighter. 'If you go beyond what we saw in 2019, it is very risky,' said Tufail. 'Nuclear-armed countries slugging it out is extremely dangerous.'Reuters Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Dickey's Barbecue Pit Now Open in Markham, ON with Chaudry Chicken Inc.
Texas-Style Barbecue Heats Up in Canada with New Restaurant at 9570 McCowan Rd Dickey's Barbecue Pit in Markham, ON Markham, ON, April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The wait is over, Markham! Dickey's Barbecue Pit is now open at 9570 McCowan Rd, Unit 003, Markham, ON L3P 8M1, serving up authentic, slow-smoked Texas barbecue. This marks the sixth Dickey's location for Chaudry Chicken Inc. and its owner Muhammad Faisal, and their second in the Markham community. Through Chaudry Chicken Inc., Faisal has become a standout multi-unit operator, bringing the bold flavors of Texas to barbecue lovers across Ontario. 'We are thrilled to officially open our doors and welcome guests to our newest Markham location,' said Muhammad Faisal, owner of Chaudry Chicken Inc. 'The response from the community has already been amazing, and we're excited to provide a place where families and friends can gather over real, pit-smoked barbecue made with care.' Founded in 1941, Dickey's Barbecue Pit is known for its slow-smoked meats, cooked low and slow over hickory wood daily. With a deep commitment to quality and tradition, the brand continues to expand across the globe—powered by franchise partners like Faisal who are passionate about exceptional food and service. 'We are proud to see Chaudry Chicken Inc.'s continued success and the opening of another Dickey's location in Canada,' said Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. 'Muhammad Faisal's leadership and dedication to the guest experience make him a valuable part of the Dickey's family.' Faisal's dedication to growing the brand across Ontario reflects the strong demand for authentic, Texas-style barbecue in Canada. 'Our global growth is driven by incredible operators like Muhammad Faisal who bring the heart of our brand to life in new markets,' said Roland Dickey, Jr., CEO of Dickey's Capital Group.'We're thrilled to see Dickey's expand further in Markham and across Canada through his vision and commitment.' Guests at the new Markham location can enjoy Dickey's full menu, including brisket, beef short ribs, smoked turkey and marinated chicken, alongside fan-favorite sides like mac & cheese, barbecue beans, coleslaw, and fried okra. Takeout, delivery, and catering services are also available to help guests enjoy barbecue on-the-go or at special events. To celebrate the opening, Dickey's Markham is offering limited-time promotions and exclusive specials. Don't miss your chance to taste Legit. Texas. Barbecue.™—now available in your neighborhood! For those interested in franchise opportunities with Dickey's Barbecue Pit in Canada, Muhammad Faisal is actively expanding and welcomes inquiries. He can be reached directly at +1-437-999-9284. About Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, in 1941 by The Dickey Family, Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. is the world's largest barbecue concept and continues as a third-generation family-run business. For over 80 years, Dickey's Barbecue Pit has served millions with its signature Legit. Texas. Barbecue.™ Slow-smoked over hickory wood-burning pits, Dickey's barbecued meats are paired with a variety of southern sides. Committed to authentic barbecue, Dickey's never takes shortcuts—because real barbecue can't be rushed. With over 866 restaurants across eight concepts in the U.S. and several countries, Dickey's Barbecue Franchise and Dickey's Restaurant Brands continues to grow under the leadership of Roland Dickey, Jr., CEO of Dickey's Capital Group, and Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey's Barbecue Pit, Inc. Dickey's has been recognized on Newsweek's 2022 "America's Favorite Restaurant Chains" list, Nation's Restaurant News 2024 top fast-casual brands for value, and USA Today's 2021 Readers' Choice Awards. The brand has also ranked in the Top 20 of Fast Casual's 'Top 100 Movers and Shakers' for four of the past five years. Additional accolades include Entrepreneur's Top 500 Franchise and Hospitality Technology's Industry Heroes list. The brand has been featured by Fox News, Forbes, Franchise Times, The Wall Street Journal, and People Magazine. For more information, visit For information about becoming a franchise partner, visit Attachment Dickey's Barbecue Pit in Markham, ON CONTACT: Louisa Garrett Dickey's Barbecue Pit lgarrett@
