Latest news with #Nisar
Express Tribune
27-05-2025
- General
- Express Tribune
10,000 sq-ft national flag prepared in Karachi sent to Lahore
Listen to article A massive 10,000 square foot Pakistani flag, specially prepared in Karachi for Youm-e-Takbeer, has been dispatched to Lahore, where it will be hoisted at the Wagah Border opposite the Indian Tricolour on a 110-foot-high pole. The flag surpasses the size of the previous national flag flown at the same location by 400 square feet. The preparation of this monumental flag was part of celebrations marking the historic victory of Operation Bonyan al-Marsous and the national pride associated with May 28, Youm-e-Takbeer. The intricate production process spanned two weeks at a factory in Karachi's Korangi area, where around 25 skilled workers worked day and night on stitching and assembly. After initial processing at the factory, various materials were shifted to Hill Park (near Tariq Road), where the crescent and star were drawn, cut, and stitched onto the massive green canvas. Park visitors were drawn to the unusual sight and were seen taking selfies with the enormous flag and engaging with the flag-making team to learn more about the process. Speaking to Express News, Sheikh Nisar Parachamwala of VIP Flag Company said, "With this flag, we are breaking our own record. The previous national flag hoisted at Wagah measured 9,600 square feet; this one is around 10,000 square feet." He added that the most critical and technical phase in the process was cutting the crescent and star - a task that requires extreme precision and craftsmanship to ensure perfect curves and angles. The marking was done using chalk and rope before the crescent and star were carefully cut from white fabric and initially stitched onto the green fabric. Later, heavy-duty sewing machines were set up in the park to permanently attach the components together. Sheikh Nisar also emphasized the importance of fabric quality, stating that ordinary cloth is never used for national flags. "We use specially dyed, high-quality fabric that is resistant to strong winds, sunlight, and extreme weather. We oversee the dyeing process ourselves to ensure it meets our standards." The craftsmen behind the flag said they make flags for political parties and embassies throughout the year, but working on the national flag is always a source of pride and patriotism for them. "It's not just a job - it's an honour," one of them said. The finished flag was finally dispatched from Karachi to Lahore, where it will be proudly hoisted on Youm-e-Takbeer, a powerful symbol of national resilience and unity.
India Today
26-05-2025
- Science
- India Today
Isro ground PSLV fleet after launch disaster, continues to prep for Nisar launch
Days after the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle failed moments after launch, the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has temporarily grounded its trusted PSLV development comes following the failure of the PSLV-C61 mission on May 18, which was carrying the advanced EOS-09 earth observation decision comes as a high-level committee investigates the anomaly that led to the rocket's third-stage malfunction, resulting in the loss of the satellite and rocket over the Indian The PSLV, renowned for its 94% success rate with only four failures in 64 missions, encountered a rare setback when the third stage of PSLV-C61 suffered a sudden drop in chamber pressure, causing a loss of the first two stages performing reliably, the third stage's solid-fuel motor did not generate sufficient thrust, and the mission was aborted less than seven minutes after suspect a rupture in the fibre casing of the third-stage motor as a possible cause, with hot gases from the burning fuel potentially entering sensitive EOS-09 satellite, equipped with a sophisticated Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) capable of all-weather, day-and-night imaging, was intended to support environmental monitoring, disaster response, and national security loss is a significant operational setback for Isro, but officials remain confident in a swift the PSLV grounding, Isro's other launch vehicles remain for the high-profile Nasa-Isro Synthetic Aperture Radar (Nisar) mission, scheduled for launch in June 2025 aboard a GSLV rocket, are proceeding as Nisar mission, a $1.5 billion collaboration with Nasa, will deploy one of the world's most advanced radar imaging satellites to monitor Earth's changing systems and natural and external expert committees are now scrutinising telemetry and system diagnostics from the failed PSLV mission, with a detailed report expected by officials stress that the temporary grounding of PSLV is a standard safety measure and will not impact the schedule of other critical missions, including Nisar and the upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight Isro investigates the rare PSLV failure, its focus remains on ensuring flawless operations for future launches, particularly with ambitious crewed and international missions on the Watch
Business Recorder
26-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
BMP voices its concerns over delay in budget presentation
LAHORE: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry's Businessmen Panel (BMP) has expressed serious concern over the government's decision to delay the presentation of the federal budget for the fiscal year 2025-26 and the possible imposition of additional levies, including a sharp hike in the petroleum levy. The BMP Chairman and FPCCI former president Mian Anjum Nisar termed these developments deeply troubling for the already struggling business community and warned that such decisions would further strain the economy and damage investor confidence. He said that the federal government recently shelved its plan to present the budget on June 2 and is now expected to unveil the fiscal plan on June 10. The delay has been attributed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's foreign tour as well as internal disagreements over the finalisation of expenditures. He said that this postponement creates unnecessary uncertainty at a time when the business environment is already fragile due to inflation, high energy costs, and sluggish growth. Mian Anjum Nisar stated that the delay in the budget presentation sends a negative signal to the market, businesses, and foreign investors who are waiting for policy clarity. He said that businesses plan their fiscal year strategies based on expected policy announcements, and any delay hampers their ability to make timely decisions regarding investment, procurement, and employment. He added that the lack of transparency around budget planning is further eroding trust between the business community and the government. The BMP is particularly concerned about the government's reported move to increase the petroleum levy, which currently stands at Rs78 per litre. The government is reportedly considering raising this levy further in order to finance a larger Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) of Rs1 trillion for the next fiscal year. Mian Anjum Nisar warned that any additional levy on petroleum products would result in a significant increase in the cost of doing business, leading to a rise in inflation and further weakening the purchasing power of consumers. He noted that fuel is a key input for industries, transportation, and agriculture, and any increase in its price has a ripple effect across the entire economy. Instead of increasing indirect taxes like the petroleum levy, Nisar urged the government to focus on broadening the tax base, curbing unnecessary expenditures, and implementing structural reforms to improve revenue collection without burdening businesses and the general public. He also criticised the lack of stakeholder consultation in budget-making, especially when businesses are the biggest contributors to taxes and employment. Nisar said that the upcoming budget appears to be driven largely by the International Monetary Fund's directives, with little attention paid to the domestic realities faced by industrialists and exporters. He stressed that the government must engage with business leaders to frame policies that are sustainable and practical, rather than relying solely on external advice. The BMP also raised concerns about possible cuts to subsidies and increased energy costs in the upcoming budget. Nisar warned that the business community will not be able to absorb any further increases in electricity and gas prices, as production costs have already reached unaffordable levels. He said that many industrial units, especially small and medium enterprises, are on the verge of closure due to high input costs and lack of support from the government. The panel also criticised the government's handling of the circular debt issue in the petroleum sector. The plan to use inflated dividends from state-owned enterprises to clear circular debt lacks transparency and may lead to market distortions. Nisar said that instead of adopting temporary fixes, the government should address the structural flaws in the energy sector, including mismanagement, inefficiencies, and losses in transmission and distribution. Nisar further said that the recent abnormal increase in the share price of Pakistan State Oil (PSO), despite its poor financial condition, raises serious questions. He supported the IMF's decision to seek more clarity before approving the government's plan and expressed concern over the exclusion of PSO from the debt retirement scheme. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
India Today
21-05-2025
- Science
- India Today
Nisar to launch in June: This Nasa-Isro mission will see the Earth breathing
Imagine a sophisticated satellite orbiting about 700 kilometres above us, equipped with radar systems capable of detecting movements in the Earth's crust that are smaller than a this sounds like science fiction— it isn't— it's the description of the next big collaboration between the American space agency Nasa and the Indian Space and Research Organisation (Isro) that is set to transform how we 'see' our the Nasa-Isro Synthetic Aperture Radar Mission, is set to launch in June 2025 from the iconic Satish Dhawan Space Center in Shriharikota. After Isro's Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV) pushes this $1.5 billion mission into orbit, Nisar will unfold its 13-metre diameter radar antenna like an origami masterpiece to begin a systematic scan of Earth's entire surface every 6-12 days. India also plays a leading role in building the spacecraft. (Photo: Nasa) THE SATELLITE THAT SEES BENEATH THE SURFACENisar's mission is to provide unprecedented coverage of the planet. For three years, it will monitor the Earth's land surface and interior for subtle changes due to earthquakes, volcanoes, and human activities; its cryosphere for unprecedented melting of polar ice sheets and glaciers caused by climate change; and its coastal and ground waters for impacts of floods and aquifer can do all this at pioneering speed and resolution because, unlike conventional satellites that primarily capture visual imagery, Nisar employs a dual-frequency radar system combining L-band (24 cm wavelength) and S-band (10 cm wavelength) allows it to penetrate vegetation, soil, ice, and human-induced structures at different depths, even through cloud cover and darkness. You might still wonder, Why does it matter? Why should I care? Well, allow me to be your guide. We are all too familiar with space applications like the precision location services of GPS, or the prospect of the internet beaming down directly to our home from these applications provide great convenience and unprecedented opportunities, what Nisar is about to offer is essential for the existence of our civilisation. Nisar's data will cover the entire planet, but let's look at its applications and benefits in the Indian context. Nisar will give new insights into the science of earthquakes. (Photo: Nasa) WHY IT MATTERS TO INDIA: FROM HIMALAYAS TO PADDY FIELDSIndia, with its 7,500 km of coastline, Himalayan glaciers, and monsoon-dependent agriculture, faces unique climate challenges that Nisar is designed to north in the Himalayas, glaciers are retreating at alarming rates, endangering the availability of water in the vast agricultural plains that feed the country. Nisar's precise data will help monitor the progression of the melt and changes in the mass of glaciers across the entire Himalayan range. In the southern peninsular coasts, climate change is creating multiple threats from rising sea levels to flooding caused by extreme rainfall precision observations of the polar ice sheets will be valuable in improving climate models and predictions for sea level the subcontinent, Nisar will help monitor soil moisture content and depletion of groundwater aquifers. Nisar will monitor volcanic activity, track sea ice. (Photo: Nasa) The insights from the data will help in irrigation planning, water management, and drought prediction. Its data will allow us to differentiate crop types, seasonal changes in cultivation, and crop rotation practices, enabling sustainable food planning and land will be a sentinel delivering crucial intelligence for protecting Indian farms, to conserve precious water, and strategically boosting agricultural will also be a massive upgrade to the disaster preparedness and response capabilities of the country. Using interferometric radar techniques, the satellite will map subtle shifts in the Earth's crust along fault lines before, during, and after will give new insights into the science of earthquakes and help us understand the early warning signs. While it may not be possible to predict earthquakes, emergency responders will benefit from this data to identify areas to improve response time and save precious these applications, Nisar will monitor volcanic activity, track sea ice, and assess infrastructure stability, all with unprecedented detail and these perks for less than 100 rupees per person over its three-year mission. This ingenious technology is an incredible example of collaborative, peaceful, and creative applications of space.A $1.5 BILLION MESSAGE OF PEACEFUL PARTNERSHIPNisar exemplifies international cooperation in space mission brings together Nasa's expertise in L-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and Isro's proficiency in S-band radar also plays a leading role in building the spacecraft and launching the satellite. This partnership not only strengthens diplomatic ties between the United States and India but also combines complementary technical strengths to create a mission greater than what either agency could achieve of engineers, scientists, technicians, and students have worked across two different continents to build this impressive mission. Every day Nisar will beam down approximately 85 terabytes of data, equivalent to millions of phone camera images, all of which will be freely available to researchers, governments, businesses, and not-for-profit organisations worldwide under an open data policy. With this one giant leap in democratising Earth observation, there is a broader opportunity for India to affirm its status as a leader in space technology and its peaceful Indian research community has a unique opportunity to lead the world in Earth observation and climate climate scientists, the data analysts, the policymakers, and the university students can leverage this opportunity to create exciting research, applications, and businesses that can serve the national interest and also go beyond to make India a producer of critical climate data and Indian space sector stands at a crucial juncture, combining Isro's established excellence, growing international partnerships, and an impressive wave of innovative NewSpace is an authored article by Aafaque Khan. He was the former lead engineer of the Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) onboard the ISRO's Aditya L1 Mission)
Business Recorder
12-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
BMP says new Tax Ordinance could stifle investment growth
LAHORE: The Businessmen Panel (BMP) of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has raised significant concerns about the recently implemented Tax Laws (Amendment) Ordinance 2025. FPCCI's Businessmen Panel Chairman Mian Anjum Nisar observed that the ordinance could severely harm the country's investment climate, which is already under pressure due to various economic challenges. He further warned that if not reconsidered, these tax measures may discourage both domestic and foreign investors from engaging with Pakistan's economy, thus hindering growth. Anjum Nisar expressed disappointment that the new tax laws, while aimed at increasing government revenue, could backfire by creating unnecessary complexities in the business environment. 'The tax laws are intended to increase compliance and improve revenue, but they bring with them a set of challenges that may, in fact, make it harder for businesses to operate efficiently,' Nisar said. He emphasized that businesses already face multiple hurdles, including rising costs and an unpredictable economic environment, and the new tax regime could add additional layers of burden on businesses. 'The government needs to understand that businesses are the backbone of the economy. They are the ones who create jobs, drive innovation, and generate the taxes that support government functions,' he said. 'Unfortunately, this new ordinance adds layers of complexity that may make it more difficult for businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to thrive.' The FPCCI former Chairman highlighted that while Pakistan's economy is struggling to recover from previous setbacks, the business community must be supported, not further burdened. He stated that the law, as it stands, does not provide the needed incentives for businesses to flourish. 'What we need is a policy environment that fosters growth, encourages investment, and provides a stable foundation for entrepreneurs to take risks. This ordinance does the opposite by imposing measures that will only increase the difficulty of doing business,' Nisar added. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
