Islamabad: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb has extended gratitude to all who contributed to the re-recording of the national anthem.

Addressing media in Islamabad today (Saturday), she paid rich tribute to the people who paid their role in the development of the country and made Pakistan's defense indispensable.

Congratulating the nation Pakistan's Independence Day, she said the journey of development will continue under the democratic government of Pakistan.

Marriyum Aurangzeb said the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has organized a calendar of activities on the directions of the Prime Minister in connection with Independence Day celebrations.

She said an effort has been made to project the cultural diversity and heritage of the country.

The Minister said the National Anthem has been re-recorded after 68 years, with the participation of 155 singers, 48 musicians and 6 bandmasters.

She said the project was completed in collaboration with various departments including Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and ISPR.

The brass bands of all three armed forces also participated in this national effort.

The new compositions, recorded with excellent imaging have created a rainbow of all the cultural and regional colors of Pakistan.

The Minister also urged the opposition not to promote division and play its role for country's development by strengthening democratic values.

Alphabet Inc's YouTube is planning to launch an online store for streaming video services, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.

The company has renewed talks with entertainment companies about participating in the platform, which it is referring to internally as a "channel store", the report said, citing people close to the recent discussions.

The platform has been in the works for at least 18 months and could be available as early as this fall, the report added. https://on.wsj.com/3w22hAv

Alphabet did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

With more consumers cutting the cord on cable or satellite TV and shifting to subscription-based streaming services, the planned launch will allow YouTube to join companies like Roku Inc (ROKU.O) and Apple (AAPL.O) in a bid to gain a portion of the already crowded streaming market.

Earlier this week, the New York Times reported that Walmart Inc (WMT.N) has held talks with media companies about including streaming entertainment in its membership service.

SOURCE: REUTERS

Rahim Yar Khan: Thirteen passengers were killed while five were injured when a sugar-laden truck collided with coaster in Rahim Yar Khan’s (RYK) Liaquatpur tehsil, rescuers and police said.

According to a Rescue 1122 handout, the accident occurred in Feroza Town and rescue officials from Liaquatpur and Khanpur tehsils along with 10 emergency vehicles as well as district administration’s cranes were involved in the rescue and clearance operation.

The handout said that the dead and the injured were moved to Feroza Rural Health Centre for treatment.

The rescue operation was completed after 7:30pm.

He said an inquiry would be initiated to ascertain the main reason for the incident after the completion of rescue activities.

Medical aid was being provided to the injured and the DC instructed that the bodies be sent back to their native areas after identification, said a handout from the district information office.