Author: newsdesk

  • Pakistan records 17% increase in exports to Afghanistan, SBP data shows

    Pakistan records 17% increase in exports to Afghanistan, SBP data shows

    According to a report by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Pakistan’s export of goods and services to Afghanistan has increased by 17.02 per cent during the first eight months of the current fiscal year (2022-23) compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.

    From July-February (2022-23), overall exports to Afghanistan reached US $346.522 million, while during the same period last year, exports were recorded at US $296.109 million, showing a growth of 17.02 per cent.

    Furthermore, the year-to-year basis also showed an increase of 60.49 per cent in exports to Afghanistan, rising from US $38.222 million in February 2022 to US $61.345 million in February 2023. Meanwhile, on a month-on-month basis, exports to Afghanistan also rose by 82.58 per cent during February 2023, reaching US $61.345 million, compared to US $33.598 million in January 2022.

    In contrast, Pakistan’s exports to other countries decreased by 9.65 per cent during the eight months, dropping from US $20.632 billion to US $18.639 billion, according to SBP data.

    The imports from Afghanistan into Pakistan during the period under review were recorded at US $13.540 million, which was a significant decrease of 88.65 per cent compared to last year’s US $119.328 million in July-February (2021-22).

    Year-on-year, imports from Afghanistan also dropped by 98.89 per cent, from US $13.723 million in February 2022 to US $0.151 million in February 2023. However, on a month-on-month basis, imports from Afghanistan increased by 11.02 per cent during February 2023, reaching US $0.136 million, compared to US $0.122 million in January 2022.

    Overall, the imports into Pakistan also witnessed a decrease of 21.02 per cent, from US $47.336 billion to US $37.388 billion, according to SBP data. Based on the trade figures, the trade of goods and services with Afghanistan witnessed an 88.35 per cent increase in surplus during the period under review compared to the previous year, with a recorded surplus of US $332.982 million against US $176.781 million during the last year.

  • 14-year-old girl delivers baby after rape by brother, father, DNA of baby matches with brother

    14-year-old girl delivers baby after rape by brother, father, DNA of baby matches with brother

    Trigger Warning: Sexual violence

    A 14-year-old girl was allegedly raped by her father and brother, Humaira Kanwal reports for BBC Urdu.

    The girl, a resident of Azad Kashmir, was taken to hospital by her mother after she complained of stomach pain. Doctors discovered that the girl is pregnant and about to give birth. 

    The hospital staff decided to report the case to the police, but the girl delivered the baby before officers could arrive at the facility to record her statement. 

    Investigation has revealed that the victim has alleged that both her brother and father raped her several times during the last few months. The DNA of the baby she has birthed matches that of her brother’s. 

    While talking to the BBC, the investigation officer said that both the father and brother of the girl were arrested and after the completion of physical remand, they are now in jail on judicial remand. In statements given to the police, the brother and father have confessed to raping the girl.

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    ‘Completely unnecessary’: Tere Bin’s latest episode is drawing criticism for including an attempted suicide scene
    
			
    Drama serial ‘Tere Bin’ had been hitting the right notes for a while with electrifying chemistry between Yumna Zaidi and Wahaj Ali who star as conflicted enemies turned lovers. Fans have lauded the series for Ali’s powerful acting as well as Zaidi’s feisty and headstrong character Meerab who isn’t afraid to stand up for what she believes in. However, a recent episode has left fans conflicted with some arguing that the series has diverted away from the true nature of the male lead, Murtasim.
    

    In the previous episode, Meerab is kidnapped by her male friend, Rohail, who takes her to his house and confesses his feelings to her. After being unable to contact his wife and panicking, Murtasim rescues her from Rohail’s clutches and threatens to shoot him if he ever comes near her again. But this incident leaves our hero traumatised, thinking that Meerab is still in love with Rohail and had gone to Karachi solely to meet him.
    

    Now in the latest episode, Murtasim refuses to engage with his wife, despite her attempts to make him happy while cooking his favorite dishes. As the attempts fall flat, Murtasim accuses her of cheating by visiting Rohail in Karachi. When Meerab’s explanation doesn’t satisfy him, he takes his wife to the rooftop and asks her to jump from there to prove herself.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    Fans have slammed this scene as a complete betrayal to Murtasim’s character. Something Haute editor Aamna Isani wrote that the scene was completely unnecessary and had shattered the efforts the show had made in the previous episodes to put Murtasim in a positive light.
    

    “Like the slap, the jump scene was also totally unnecessary and stripped Murtasim of the human light he was portrayed in when he cried. Very confused, poor writing I’d say. #TereBin,” she wrote.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    Journalist Marvi Sirmed criticised ‘Tere Bin’ for turning Murtasim in to an ‘alpha male’ who tries to domesticate the free-spirited and ambitious Meerab, and slammed the writer Noor Makhdoom for this controversial scene.
    

    “But this final nail in the coffin of sanity was put when a stupid toxic Murtasim asks Meerab to jump from roof in order to prove her innocence. A grim reminder of Seeta’s Agni Priksha. What nonsense. Really Ms Makhdoom, what bloody nonsense?” she wrote.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    Many users had to point out that in previous episodes, Murtasim had spent two nights in his village with the antagonist Haya, an act that had angered Meerab. But did it lead to Murtasim being forced to prove his innocence? Then why was this imposed over Meerab?
    

    

    


    

    

    

    This is not the first time Tere Bin has attracted criticism for including controversial scenes that were contrary to the characters’ build up. For instance, the slap scene in episode five attracted intense backlash as social media users criticised the show for peddling sexist stereotypes once more.
    

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Pakistan’s hopes for IMF agreement rise as Saudi Arabia confirms $2 billion in additional deposits
    
			
    Pakistan’s hopes for IMF agreement rise as Saudi Arabia confirms $2 billion in additional deposits
    
			
    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has informed Pakistan that Saudi Arabia has confirmed $2 billion in additional deposits, which has rekindled hopes of an early agreement signing. Since January, Islamabad has been negotiating with the IMF for the release of $1.1 billion from a $6.5 billion bailout package that was agreed upon in 2019.
    

    To unlock the funding, the Pakistani government has cut back on subsidies, removed an artificial cap on the exchange rate, added taxes, and raised fuel prices. However, assurances from friendly nations for additional funds have delayed the agreement.
    

    The lender has informed Pakistani authorities of the development and the Fund staff is reportedly satisfied with the latest confirmation. The report states that the Saudi authorities are set to make a public announcement, possibly during the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to the kingdom.
    

    The Saudi envoy in Pakistan had also hinted in a recent interview that his country had always supported Pakistan in critical situations and that good news would be shared soon. The sources have stated that all eyes are focused on the UAE for getting confirmation on another $1 billion deposit from them, which may pave the way for striking the staff-level agreement (SLA) with the IMF.
    

    Finance Minister Ishaq Dar is expected to visit UAE on his way to the US where he will hold talks on the release of funds. However, there is still another stumbling block in the way of signing the SLA with the IMF. The Ministry of Petroleum, in consultation with the PM Office, had announced an unplanned cross-fuel subsidy for owners of motorcycles and cars up to 800cc, which needs to be scrapped at this stage.
    

    The government has not yet withdrawn the proposed cross-fuel subsidy, which cannot be implemented in a half-baked manner. Such schemes were considered in the past during the tenure of former finance minister Shaukat Tarin and even during the era of the PDM-led government when Miftah Ismail had the charge of the Ministry of Finance.
    

    Even Miftah Ismail had allocated Rs48 billion on the eve of the last budget in the name of Sasta Petrol, but it could not be implemented because such schemes could not be designed properly. The announcement of a half-baked cross-fuel subsidy had provided an excuse to the IMF for delaying the SLA signing, as they were still raising questions for getting more details to ascertain how the scheme was going to be implemented in a transparent manner.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    ECP announces polls in Punjab on May 14, issues schedule
    
			
    ECP announces polls in Punjab on May 14, issues schedule
    
			
    The Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) on Wednesday announced that polls in Punjab will be held on May 14 as directed by the Supreme Court.
    

    As per the revised schedule, the process will start from appeals against acceptance or rejection of nomination papers which can be filed by April 10, while the appellate tribunal will decide the appeals by April 17.
    

    

    

    

    Revised lists of candidates for each constituency will be published on April 18, while candidates can withdraw their nominations by April 19.
    

    Election symbols will be allotted on April 20, while polling will be held on May 14.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Snake on a plane: Pilot makes emergency landing after finding cobra on board
    
			
    A South African pilot had to make an emergency landing after discovering a cobra under his seat. The poisonous snake was five feet long.
    “To be truly honest, it’s as if my brain did not register what was going on,” Rudolph Erasmus, the pilot said to BBC.
    

    “I told them: ‘Listen, the snake is underneath my seat. It is inside the cockpit, so we are going to have to execute a landing as fast as possible,” said Erasmus while talking about how he handled the situation.
    

    He first thought the cold feeling on his back was his water bottle, however as he turned to the left and looked down, “I saw the cobra receding its head backwards underneath the seat.”
    

    The plane was going from Bloemfontein to Pretoria. Along with the serpent, the private aircraft, a Beechcraft Baron 58, was carrying four passengers.
    

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    People will take to streets if SC ruling blocked, warns Khan
    
			
    People will take to streets if SC ruling blocked, warns Khan
    
			
    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has warned that people would take to the streets if the government attempts to block the implementation of the Supreme Court’s (SC) ruling that directed polls in Punjab to be held on May 14.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    The former Prime Minister talked to his supporters via video link as the party marked ‘Youm-e-Tashakkur’ or ‘thanks giving’ to celebrate the top courts verdict. The speech was broadcasted from his Zaman Park residence through a satellite link on mega screens installed at 75 locations across the country, including in 13 cities of Punjab.
    

    Addressing his supporters, the former prime minister said, “The nation should wait for my call to ensure that the incumbent rulers should not run away from holding elections; otherwise, neither history nor future generations will pardon this generation for not waging jihad against the forces undermining the rule of law.”
    

    Talking about elections, Khan said, “I will complete interviews and selection of candidates in 10 days,” adding that the nation will not let the incumbent rulers run away from elections.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    Talking about his rivals, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari, Khan said ‘absconder’ Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari were sitting in London and Dubai, respectively, and taking decisions about the fate of Pakistan. 
    

    The PTI chairman further lamented that the incumbent rulers were also trying to divide the Supreme Court while also working to create a rift between the PTI and the establishment, which “might repeat events of 1971”.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    ‘Why would we contact Amir?’; Chief Selector Haroon Rasheed clears rumors about bowler’s selection
    
			
    ‘Why would we contact Amir?’; Chief Selector Haroon Rasheed clears rumors about bowler’s selection
    
			
    Chief Selector Haroon Rasheed has cleared rumors about bowler Muhammad Amir’s selection in the team.
    

    “We have mentioned that from day one that selection doors are open for every player who performs and is fit. The same goes for Muhammad Amir but we did not contact anyone,” he said.
    

    The Chief Selector also stated that if a player has been dropped, it does not mean that he will not be considered for future series.
    

    “Azam Khan did not perform well in the series against Afghanistan, but mistakes happen. However, the door is open for his return if he works on his issues and improves. Many cricketers in the world have been dropped and made a comeback and played cricket for a long time,” Rasheed pointed out.
    

    Mentioning that the team already has Mohammad Rizwan and Mohammad Haris as wicket-keeper batters, and Azam Khan waiting in the wings, Rasheed said that young cricketers like Amir Jamal can also make it to the national team by performing well.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Gas shortage worsens in Pakistan amid rising demand and low reserves
    
			
    Gas shortage worsens in Pakistan amid rising demand and low reserves
    
			
    Minister of State for Petroleum, Musadik Malik, stated on Wednesday that the general public cannot receive gas 24/7 due to a decline in the commodity’s reserves, which is a significant reason. Pakistan relies heavily on natural gas for energy, and with increasing demand and insufficient supply, load shedding has become a daily occurrence in many areas of the country. This situation worsens during Ramadan when Pakistanis consume more gas for cooking and other purposes, particularly during sehri and iftar timings.
    

    During a conversation with journalists in Karachi, the minister mentioned that gas load shedding would end during sehar and iftar but did not specify when. “We cannot provide gas for 24 hours as our reserves have decreased,” he stated. Recently, the issue of gas scarcity in Karachi has caught the attention of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has directed relevant officials to ensure an uninterrupted supply of the commodity. He has instructed that the supply of gas must be monitored, and no negligence should be tolerated.
    

    Due to the widening gap between gas supply and demand, the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has announced its decision to suspend supplies to captive power plants and industries. The gas utility has stated that this decision has been made due to low gas supply, and the volume of gas in pipelines has decreased. In response, the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has called for immediate government action to address the shortage of gas supply to Karachi’s industries, stating that the industries cannot operate without gas and would be forced to halt production.
    

    KCCI President Muhammad Tariq Yousuf said, “It is highly unfair to have such an attitude towards Karachi’s business community, which, despite facing so many challenges, contributes around 54 per cent in terms of exports and more than 68 per cent in terms of revenue.”
    

    While talking to journalists, Malik said that his visit to Karachi was aimed at resolving the gas supply issues faced by the people and urged them to pay their utility bills. “The gas bill of the rich and poor has been separated; rich people will have to pay more now,” he said, adding that the separation of gas bills for the rich and the poor was now in effect.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Police arrest five people for ‘sacrificing’ woman in Indian temple
    
			
    Indian police have arrested five men accused of conducting a human sacrifice in a temple in Assam. In 2019, the headless body of a woman was found in Guwahati, leading to an investigation.
    

    Shanti Shaw, 64, was beheaded with a machete at the temple as an “offering” to the temple goddess, police said.
    

    “The five people planned the killing of the woman,” police commissioner Diganta Barah said while talking to the media on Tuesday. “A total of 12 people took part,” he added.
    

    He continued by saying, “During investigation, we found this was a case of human sacrifice to please Maa Kamakhya (a Hindu goddess)”. The commissioner added that the alleged ringleader, Pradeep Pathak, 52, had orchestrated the killing as part of a religious rite to mark the anniversary of his brother’s death.
    

    “The accused apparently believed that the sacrifice would appease the soul of the deceased,” he added.
    

    Between 2014 and 2021, 103 instances of human sacrifice were reported to India’s National Crime Records Bureau.