Author: newsdesk

  • Pakistan’s textile industry struggles as exports fall by 28% in February

    Pakistan’s textile industry struggles as exports fall by 28% in February

    On Monday, the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) released provisional data indicating that Pakistan’s textile sector exports declined significantly by 28 per cent, totaling $1.2 billion in February 2023, compared to $1.67 billion in the same month the previous year.

    Additionally, APTMA reported that textile exports for the first eight months of FY23 decreased by 11 per cent to $11.24 billion, down from $12.60 billion in 8MFY22. These declines are alarming for Pakistan, whose economy is already struggling with depleting foreign exchange reserves.

    The country’s central bank has only $3.81 billion in reserves, which is barely enough to cover a month of imports.

    Industrialists in Pakistan have expressed concern about the ongoing slump in the textile sector. Data released by the Pakistan Cotton Ginner’s Association (PCGA) on Friday revealed that cotton arrival in Pakistan also decreased by 34.5 per cent year-on-year.

    Last month, APTMA urged the federal government to implement a uniform gas price of $7 per MMBtu for the export industry throughout the country to ensure a level playing field.

    APTMA also warned that the government’s decision to suspend the regionally competitive energy tariff (RCET) of electricity for Export Oriented Units (EOUs) would harm the textile industry, particularly in Punjab.

    In December, APTMA wrote a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, warning that the country’s textile exports could fall below $1 billion a month from 2023 onwards, highlighting a range of issues affecting the sector, which is currently operating at less than 50 per cent capacity utilization.

  • ‘Hitler ko bhi public support thi’, says Zardari about Khan’s popularity

    ‘Hitler ko bhi public support thi’, says Zardari about Khan’s popularity

    Former President and Pakistan People’s Pakistan (PPP) Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari has talked about the current political crisis in the country in a wide-ranging interview with Nasim Zehra.

    In the interview, he ruled out the possibility of talks with the PTI Chief Imran Khan. At one point, he called him “too arrogant” for that.

    Zardari again raised questions about Imran’s perception as a politician. When asked about public support towards Khan, he said that even Adolf Hitler had public support when he made the Nazi party.

    When asked about Khan’s refusal to show up at court hearings, Zardari disclosed the difficulties he had to face while he was under the custody of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) during Imran Khan’s tenure as Prime Minister (PM).

    The former president took a jibe at the PTI head, stating that he always appeared in court whenever he was summoned.

    “NAB se mera jhagrah tab hua, jab unhy ne mujhe Eid ki namaz bhi nahin parrhne di” (My fight with NAB started only when they didn’t let me offer Eid prayer).

    He said, “Later, I went to court and complained to them, then they shifted me to Adiala Jail.”

    Talking about the economy, Zardari believed that borrowing money from countries won’t help Pakistan unless the nation expands its resources and stand on its own feet.

    Zardari also said that PPP will not boycott the elections if they take place however it’s a “dangerous mode”.

    He also admitted that there is a law and order problem and lack of money but added that the “Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is an independent body and everybody will have to follow their instructions.”

    He also revealed that discussions with PM Shehbaz haven’t taken place yet over this matter.

  • ‘Imran Khan ko mukammal taur par sadiq aur amin nahi qarar diya tha’: Saqib Nisar

    ‘Imran Khan ko mukammal taur par sadiq aur amin nahi qarar diya tha’: Saqib Nisar

    Former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar has said that he did not declare former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan Sadiq and Amin [truthful and honest] on all aspects of his conduct.

    Journalist Adil Shahzeb disclosed details about his conversation with Nisar, stating that the former CJP said, “Imran Khan was declared Sadiq and Amin on three points. Akram Sheikh had only asked for a verdict on three points he gave against Imran Khan. On all three points, Imran Khan was found, Sadiq and Amin.”

    Nisar claimed that those talking about the court verdicts today “do not know anything about the law”.

    “The person who is attacking the courts today was a favourite of the courts. Apart from one case, he always got relief from the courts,” the former CJP claimed.

    The former CJP also revealed that his WhatsApp has been “hacked” for two days and the data has not been recovered.

    “I fear that my data may be used for special purpose however, the hackers will be disappointed,” said Nisar. He also claimed that before the hack different recordings were merged and audio was created.

    In the past few weeks, there had been speculation on Twitter that “explosive” audio leaks related to judiciary might surface soon.

    Journalists Azaz Syed and Umer Cheema also talked about possible audio conversation leaks on their YouTube show ‘Talk Shock’.

    Talking about the former spymaster, General (retd) Faiz Hameed, the former CJP was asked if he pressured Nisar to disqualify Nawaz Sharif in the Panama case. “Who is Gen Faiz Hameed, to pressurise me? I am being accused that I am lobbying for Imran Khan in the judiciary, why would I do that, I am worried about the future of my children,” said Nisar in reply.

    He also said that the contact between them was reserved to Lt Gen Hameed messaging him to ask about how he was doing.

    The former top judge said that he would no longer give interviews and a book about his life would be published after his death that would have the “complete story”.

  • ‘I got emotional while watching my father in The Romantics’: Ranbir Kapoor

    ‘I got emotional while watching my father in The Romantics’: Ranbir Kapoor

    Ranbir Kapoor opened up about the emotions he experienced while watching his late father, Rishi Kapoor, on the Netflix documentary ‘The Romantics’.

    Kapoor passed away in 2020 at the age of 67 from leukemia.

    At a press conference ahead of his upcoming movie ‘Tu Jhooti Mein Makaar’, the Indian Express reports that the actor revealed he missed his father everyday and had gotten incredibly emotional about the experience of losing one parent, and how it has shaped his relationship with his daughter:

    “I miss him a lot. I miss him every day. Especially now, I have seen The Romantics and hearing him talk I felt really emotional. I remember that day when he was shooting for the show – the next day, he was admitted to the hospital and we lost him in a month’s time. Losing a parent is a very big deal in anyone’s life. I think of him every day. I am also blessed with a daughter. I feel like somewhere he would have been very happy for this moment in my life. He is with me every day. My phone’s wallpaper still has him.”

    The ‘Tamasha’ actor had previously talked about his experience of parenting with his wife Alia Bhatt, and revealed that currently his wife and child were in Kashmir and he was missing them both:

    “Naturally your heart, body and mind wants to do everything for your child. Unfortunately, Alia is shooting in Kashmir and has taken Raha away with her. I’m terribly missing them both. They are going to be back (in Mumbai) after another five days. So, I am looking forward to that. Alia and me, both being actors, and both being busy at work, we will have to divide our priorities to balance it out.”

  • Ayesha Omar shares advice for women who wish to enter the industry

    Actor and singer Ayesha Omar was a guest on UrduFlix’s “The Shoaib Akhtar Show” where she offered advice to young women who wanted to form a career in the entertainment industry.

    Omar stressed that the most essential tip for women to remember is that if they’ve shifted to a new city, it is safer to live in an apartment building rather than a house:
    “I was just giving this advice to a girl who had shifted to Karachi and was an actor. She was terrified because someone had smashed the windows of her car outside her house. I told her it’s essential that if she’s living alone, she lives in an apartment rather than a house. This is for all women who are divorced, or moving out of their parents homes and want to live independently, it’s the safest thing for them to live in apartment buildings. Given the realities of this country, we have to adjust to it. You can’t change them. You have to be careful, you can’t fight everything.”

    The second tip Omar revealed was to learn to be independent, and stop relying on other people to complete your tasks:

    “Take care of your health and your expenses on your own. You cannot expect that you’ll find help out there. It’s your body and your life so take care of it. I take care of my own food, clothes and makeup wherever I go, and there is a lot of joy in doing so. You’re less stressed out as well… I’ve learned that if there are 20 people whom you keep requesting to do your work, those 20 people won’t do it. So you must conserve your energy and do things on your own.”

    Sanam Jung was also a guest along side Omar, and she also told aspiring actors to remember not to reveal your personal struggles to people in the industry.

    “Never share your home issues or financial problems with anyone in the industry, because they take advantage and they will take you for granted.They will know how desperate you are for work, so they’ll call you at inappropriate hours,” she said.

    Watch the complete interview here:

  • Heartwarming video shows IBA students hosting farewell party for hostel cook

    Heartwarming video shows IBA students hosting farewell party for hostel cook

    A moving video of a hostel cook receiving a farewell party from students at IBA has been doing the rounds on social media.

    Zakir Lala, who was IBA’s oldest working employee, and had worked there for over 31 years, was given a farewell by students at the end of his tenure.

    https://twitter.com/idrikki541/status/1630915796766531584?s=20

    Speaking to BBC Urdu about why they chose to say goodbye with a grand gesture, one student revealed that Lala had taken care of them when they were alone in university.
    “Zakir Lala is one of the oldest employees of our hostel and this was the least that we could do for him,” he said.
    Lala revealed that he was moved and grateful for the love the students had showered on him.
    “I did not expect the amount of respect these children had shown me. I am very grateful to God that these students have sent their prayers,” he remarked.

    Twitter users have called this a “beautiful tribute” and a thoughtful way to celebrate Zakir Lala’s service.

    https://twitter.com/xtrracover/status/1631888669203222529?s=20

  • Pakistani rupee gains against US dollar amidst hopes for IMF deal

    Pakistani rupee gains against US dollar amidst hopes for IMF deal

    Pakistani rupee on Monday gained against the US dollar due to two key developments: the country secured $500 million from the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and there was optimism around a potential deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    During intraday trading, the local currency witnessed an increase of Rs3.46 against the greenback in the interbank market, with the exchange rate at around 11:45 pm being Rs275.

    However, last week the rupee made even greater gains against the US dollar. The State Bank of Pakistan reported a 2.38 per cent appreciation, equivalent to Rs6.63, in the interbank market, with the local unit closing at Rs278.46 on Friday.

    According to the General Secretary of the Exchange Companies Association of Pakistan (ECAP), Zafar Paracha, the hype around the earlier dollar appreciation was caused by the country’s financial institutions and international players manipulating rates.

    Paracha noted that the destabilized currency damages Pakistan’s image and discourages foreign direct investment and local investors. He anticipated that with the IMF agreement and inflows from friendly countries, the dollar should remain in the range of Rs260 to Rs265.

    He also highlighted that Pakistan’s political condition has been impacting the dollar rates, which is a new phenomenon. He mentioned that increasing Pakistan’s tax base, not tax rates, is crucial, and the government should reduce expenditures and subsidies given to elites.

    According to Geo, there is hope for a deal with the IMF, with a government official expressing optimism about striking a deal, and another official expecting to reach a staff-level agreement with the IMF in the coming days, although the Fund has not provided a timeframe for finalizing the agreement.

  • Constabulary personnel martyred in Balochistan attack

    Constabulary personnel martyred in Balochistan attack

    A bombing has left at least nine personnel of the Balochistan Constabulary (BC) martyred and 13 people wounded in Bolan, Balochistan on Monday morning.

    According to media reports, preliminary evidence suggests that the blast was a suicide attack. However, the exact nature will be disclosed after a thorough investigation.

    So far, no one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

    BC is a department of the provincial police force that provides security at important events and in sensitive areas, including jails.

    Pakistan is dealing with a rapid rise in terror attacks since talks with the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) broke down in November last year.

    Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo has condemned the attack on Balochistan Constabulary and expressed grief.

    This is a developing story.

  • ‘Wazaarat rakhna mushkil hoga’: Bilawal warns of leaving PDM

    ‘Wazaarat rakhna mushkil hoga’: Bilawal warns of leaving PDM

    Pakistan People Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said on Sunday that it will be difficult for his party to remain part of the federal government if the center does not fulfil its promises of giving relief to flood victims of Sindh.

    Addressing a ceremony at the inauguration of Seed Subsidy programme for flood-affected farmers in Karachi on Sunday, Bilawal said, “Prime Minister [Shehbaz Sharif] and the federal government made promises for the flood victims and those promises and announcements need to be fulfilled. I will be talking to the premier; we [will] take up this issue in the National Assembly.”

    “Wherever these promises were made need to fulfilled, otherwise it will be very difficult for us [PPP] to continue working in the ministry,” added Bilawal.

    However, PPP Co-Chairperson Asif Ali-Zardari has said that they stand with the Shehbaz-led government.

    It is pertinent to mention here that PPP is part of the federal coalition government with Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari holding the Foreign Minister slot while among other portfolios, that of the State Ministry for the same also being held by the party’s Hina Rabbani Khar.

  • Basic necessity becomes luxury in Quetta: Flour shortage drives prices up to Rs2,800 per 20kg bag

    Basic necessity becomes luxury in Quetta: Flour shortage drives prices up to Rs2,800 per 20kg bag

    In Balochistan’s capital of Quetta, a shortage of flour has led to skyrocketing prices for 20kg bags of the commodity. According to reports, profiteers are taking advantage of the situation and selling flour bags for between Rs2,640 to Rs2,800 in Quetta and surrounding areas.

    The residents of Quetta are frustrated that they are unable to obtain flour at the government’s fixed rate and are instead forced to pay an excessive price. They are calling on the provincial government to take action against the profiteers and ensure the availability of flour.

    According to ARY News, the President of Flour Mills Association Balochistan, Nasir Agha, has also weighed in on the crisis. He stated that the supply of wheat to the mills has been suspended for the last ten days, and he blamed the incompetence of the Balochistan food department for the current situation.

    With prices for flour continuing to rise, it remains to be seen how the provincial government will respond to the demands of the residents and the Flour Mills Association.