Author: newsdesk

  • Daraz Group to reduce 11% workforce in response to challenging market conditions

    Daraz Group to reduce 11% workforce in response to challenging market conditions

    Daraz Group, an e-commerce subsidiary of Alibaba Group, will be reducing its workforce by 11 per cent in response to the challenging market conditions.

    The CEO, Bjarke Mikkelsen, noted the adverse impact of a war in Europe, significant supply chain disruptions, rising inflation, heightened taxes, and the elimination of crucial government subsidies on the company’s operations, which are in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.

    Daraz, which was founded in Pakistan in 2012 and acquired by Alibaba in 2018, is the largest e-commerce platform in Pakistan and serves over 100,000 SMEs in the country.

    According to Ehsan Saya, Managing Director of Daraz in the country, Pakistan remains the company’s largest market with the largest number of employees across its markets.

    He adds, “almost one-third of the staff in Pakistan is from regional teams which work with teams in Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Singapore, and China.”

    Ehsan Saya confirmed to Reuters that the 11 per cent reduction in the workforce of Daraz Group will also result in an equivalent cut in its workforce in Pakistan. The group did not provide further details regarding the specific number of employees affected and further details on the restructuring.

    In a letter, CEO Bjarke Mikkelsen stated that Daraz has been able to grow its active shopper base from three million in 2018 to over 15 million currently, with an average order growth of nearly 100 per cent until last year. The company reported having access to 500 million customers in 2021 and a workforce of 10,000 employees. In the past two years, Daraz has invested $100 million in Pakistan and Bangladesh.

  • ‘Miracle moment’: Indian man walking to Makkah reaches Pakistan after waiting months for visa

    ‘Miracle moment’: Indian man walking to Makkah reaches Pakistan after waiting months for visa

    A 29-year-old Indian man named Shihab Chottur arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday through the Wagah border during his journey to Makkah to perform the Hajj.
    The Keralite had begun his walking 8,640-kilometer trek from Malappuram on June 2, 2022. He had been waiting for a Pakistani visa in Amritsar since the previous four months in order to continue his journey. .

    Shihab has so far walked 3,300km, covering seven states from Kerala to Punjab.
    In September last year, he was denied entry to Pakistan since there is no agreement between New Delhi and Islamabad about transit visas for people travelling on foot.

    Chottur decided to remain in a school in Amritsar while he awaited the visa.

    He was granted a two-day transit visa for Lahore and is presently in Pakistan.

    While sharing videos on his instagram, Chottur wrote, “Miracle Moment” to describe his arrival in Pakistan.

  • Supreme Court directs FBR to collect 50% super tax from big companies within seven days

    The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ordered organisations earning more than Rs150 million to submit 50 per cent of the super tax imposed on them to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) within seven days.

    A two-member bench consisting of Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Athar Minallah heard the plea filed by the FBR against an interim order issued by the Lahore High Court (LHC). The FBR’s counsel, Salman Akram Raja, informed the bench that the LHC had temporarily prohibited the FBR from collecting the tax pending a final decision.

    However, counsel for the respondents argued that the government’s super tax on corporations was unconstitutional. The Supreme Court suspended the interim order of the high court and allowed the FBR to collect 50 per cent of the super tax from these industries within seven days.

    Last year, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the implementation of a 10 per cent super tax, also referred to as the “poverty alleviation tax,” on 13 key industries to increase tax collection. The government stated that the “tough decisions” were made to safeguard the economy.

    According to Geo, the sectors subject to the tax included cement, steel, banking, airlines, textile, automobile assembly, sugar mills, beverages, oil and gas, fertilizer, cigarettes, chemicals, and LNG terminals.

  • APC postponed again as PM Shehbaz prepares to leave for Turkey

    APC postponed again as PM Shehbaz prepares to leave for Turkey

    The federal government again put off its all parties conference (APC) scheduled for February 9, as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will pay a solidarity visit to Turkey.

    Marriyum Aurangzeb, Minister for Information and Broadcasting announced the change to the APC schedule for the second time in two days

    An earthquake of a 7.8-magnitude hit southern parts of Turkey and neighbouring Syria on Monday, killing over 4,800 people and injuring many.

    APC to be held on Februray 9 now

    Earlier, Aurangzeb has announced that APC has been rescheduled to February 9. Earlier, it was set to take place tomorrow (February 7).

    After last week’s deadly bombing in a Peshawar mosque, PM Shehbaz Sharif urged all political parties to come together to tackle terrorism and extended an invitation to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan to attend the moot.

    ‘Unite!’: PM Shehbaz wants everyone to come together against terrorism

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Friday called for national unity against terrorism “or else history will not forgive us”, as he addressed an Apex Committee meeting in Peshawar.

    The moot was attended by the Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, Chief Ministers of all the provinces and other senior officials.

    “On Monday, a ghastly suicide attack martyred over 100 people and we are here to show solidarity with the families of those affected by the attack,” said the Premier. He added that the attack was “very unfortunate” but also noted that the attacker reached the mosque after passing through the check post in Police Lines.

    “Over 80 people who were praying at the mosque were subjected to martyrdom barbarically,” he said. “We are here to express sympathies with their families and this is the purpose of the meeting,” he said.

    Pointing out that the terrorist managed to breach a security check post and reach the mosque, Shehbaz Sharif said that the government should not feel hesitant in admitting the facts.

    “After APS, this was the most distributing incident that has taken place in the city. The nation is asking that after the elimination of terrorism a few years ago, how come this incident took place in Peshawar,” stated the Prime Minister.

    “What measures will be taken to stop this terror wave? It is the need of the hour that provinces and the Centre, along with the leadership of political parties, take ownership and shun their differences, be they political or related to any religious reasons. We should unite and tackle this.”

    Condemning the “baseless” allegations levelled after the attack on social media and other platforms, Shehbaz Sharif promised that the security lapse will be in investigated, “but to say that it was a drone attack or something else is very inappropriate.”

    The prime minister said in the past years, operations Zarb-i-Azb and Raddul Fasaad “broke the back of terrorism” and sacrifices were rendered in its wake. “Our friends and foes give testimony to this,” he added.

    “Eradicating terrorism which had spread across four provinces was not easy. Many people lost their lives confronting terror. Our police and armed forces gave huge sacrifices. Our citizens were on the frontline.”

    He said history would never forget the martyrs and their sacrifices. “And such sacrifices cannot be forgotten.”

    The Premier said that Pakistan was carved out of India to become a leading nation, adding that if they do not act against terrorism now, history will not forgive them.

    “You [PTI] were ready to resettle who were shedding blood but not ready to shake hands for the sake of the nation. The double standard will not work now,” said PM Shehbaz.

    He said that he had extended an invitation to his predecessor Imran Khan.

    “I have also invited the leader of a political party who was not willing to shake hands with me. We now have to rise above personal likes and dislikes,” said the premier.

    Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) minister Shaukat Yousufzai said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had received the invitation for the meeting, however, they will be skipping the huddle.

    “We cannot sit with those who are taking vengeful acts against us,” said Yousufzai.

  • Gul-e-Rana, Nabeel Qureshi, Hira Mani and Mani attacked and robbed by mob while shooting in Karachi

    Film director Nabeel Qureshi took to Twitter to share that while shooting a scene near Jamsheed Quaters Martin Road in Karachi, they were attacked and robbed by a mob who stole their phones and equipment. Among the crew were veteran actress Gul-e-Rana, Hira Mani and her husband Mani.

    “We have been attacked by mob in PIB colony/ jamsheed quater martin road during shoot they got into the house we were shooting a hundred people they harassed women, beat the shit out of crew, stole mobiles, equipment.”

    The director went on to share that the actors were currently at the PIB police station to report all of their missing items. He further went on to demand that the Sindh Police take strict action, and also reached out to fellow actors to raise awareness about proper security.
    “We are sitting here in PIB police station, they attacked like anything honestly this never happened before in karachi, they were equipped with weapons, they stole mobiles wallet they do not care about ladies they raise their hands etc.”

    He continued by asking that Sindh Police and Sindh Rangers “take strict action against these ppl, to make example out of it @ManiSalmanKhi@HiraMani_real i request to my fraternity all the actors producers to make sure that this shouldn’t happened again to any of us!”

    “We are sitting here in PIB police station, they attacked like anything honestly this never happened before in karachi, they were equipped with weapons, they stole mobiles wallet they do not care about ladies they raise their hands etc.”

    “We want #sindhpolice & #sindhrangers to take strict action against these ppl, to make example out of it @ManiSalmanKhi@HiraMani_real i request to my fraternity all the actors producers to make sure that this shouldn’t happened again to any of us!”

    Other actors like Falak Shahzad Khan, who was also present at the scene of the crime, shared Qureshi’s post on Instagram, and said that he was attacked by the mob, along with Gul-e-Rana and Hira Mani.
    “We were at the shoot. …they attacked on the team. Got into the house.”

    Hira Mani also addressed the incident on Instagram, saying that it was an unfortunate incident to witness. She further wrote that she was grateful for her team members for fighting against the culprits.

    ‘It was a very unfortunate incident to witness today and I wish and pray no one faces that ever in their life.

    I want to thank my team members who fought till their last with the culprits to save us and are very bad condition in the hospital right now.

    Please take a moment to pray for their speedy recovery.”

    Other actors like Ahsan Khan and Mahira Khan have reached out to send their solidarity to the actors.

    Taking to his Instagram page, Ahsan Khan called for law enforcement to take swift action against the group that was responsible for attacking the crew.

    “In these days and times security is a must for areas like Jamsheed Quaters. I demand the law enforcement agencies to take swift action in this regard and bring the people responsible for this cowardly act to justice! What happened with Nabeel and his team is not ok and we should stand up for them!”

    Actor Mahira Khan had shared Nabeel’s post, and in the tweet she demanded authorities to investigate the perpetuators behind this incident.

    “I don’t believe this!! Who is responsible ? Who will answer for this?”

  • Indictment deferred after Imran skips Toshakhana case hearing

    Indictment deferred after Imran skips Toshakhana case hearing

    A sessions court in Islamabad deferred the indictment of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman skipped today’s hearing citing health reasons.

    The PTI chairman is recovering from wounds he sustained in a gun attack on November 3, 2022 during a rally in Wazirabad.

    “How can we frame charges if exemption pleas are filed again and again?” the judge asked.

    Imran Khan’s lawyer, Barrister Ali Zafar, argued that they had not been provided attested copies of the evidence and complaints.

    At this, ECP’s lawyer said that they had provided the said documents in front of the court. However, the judge directed the lawyer to ensure that all the required material is provided to the defence.

    During the proceedings, the ECP lawyer asked, “Why did Imran Khan not appear before the court? We have seen him dancing on the container.”

    At this, Zafar told the ECP lawyer to refrain from giving such statements.

    He also requested that any date after February 15 be fixed instead.

    “Give us a date when Imran Khan will appear” the judge asked.

    “He will come if he is able to,” the counsel responded.

  • PM Shehbaz approves hike in gas and electricity tariffs to fulfill IMF demands

    PM Shehbaz approves hike in gas and electricity tariffs to fulfill IMF demands

    With only three days remaining to resolve differences, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved an increase in electricity prices on Monday in an attempt to reach an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The annual base tariff is expected to increase by approximately 33 per cent.

    The decision was made during a virtual meeting held at the Prime Minister House after the IMF maintained its stance that Pakistan must fulfill its prior commitments.

    Sources familiar with the discussions indicated that there may be an average increase of Rs7.74 per unit in the base tariffs, but the increase for higher consumption levels will be much higher. Despite this, the Prime Minister still hopes that the Power Division can negotiate with the IMF to reduce the demanded increase.

    With the Prime Minister’s approval, the revised circular debt reduction plan, which includes details of the increase in prices due to quarterly and annual base tariff adjustments, will be shared with the IMF today.

    Power Minister Khurram Dastgir declined to comment on whether the Prime Minister had agreed to increase electricity prices, including the maximum increase for high-end consumers.

    According to sources, the IMF is seeking a 50 per cent increase in prices, while the government is proposing a range of 20 per cent to 33 per cent increase. The discussions began on January 31st and the IMF delegation was in Islamabad until February 9th.

    The IMF has stated that it is in Pakistan at the request of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, with the expectation that the government will implement all of its outstanding actions, including tax increases. If the IMF agrees to the measures proposed by the government, a meeting between Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and IMF Mission Chief Nathan Porter may take place the same day to finalise the measures.

    The sources stated that the Power Division presented several options for increasing tariffs to the Prime Minister, including a Rs4.26 per unit increase in quarterly tariffs and a Rs7.74 per unit average increase in the base tariff.

    The IMF has asked the government of Pakistan to increase electricity prices by over Rs12 per unit to fully cover the additional budget subsidy demand of Rs675 billion. The Power Division believes it can recover Rs43 billion with a lag from July to December 2023, reducing the need for a price hike by the same amount.

    During budget planning, the government allocated only Rs355 billion for power subsidies in the current fiscal year, but the Power Division has requested an additional Rs675 billion in subsidies, bringing the total requirement to over Rs1.03 trillion. In a recent meeting, it was noted that the delayed decision-making has increased the cost of reviving the IMF program.

    The government still hopes the IMF will consider absorbing some of the increase through subsidies, but these subsidies must be supported by additional revenue measures. The IMF also refused the government’s request to exempt up to 300 units for consumers from the price increase, remaining firm on its stance to raise prices for consumers who use 200 units or more per month.

    According to Express Tribune, the Prime Minister has given direction to implement a maximum increase in electricity prices to those with high consumption levels. However, these consumers may struggle to bear the additional cost, which is primarily due to political decisions such as subsidies for exporters and insufficient subsidies in the budget, as well as inefficiencies in the power sector.

  • ‘Hum 2 Humaray 100’ dedicated an episode to teaching children about consent

    At a time when television is littered with misogyny and misrepresentation of women and their issues, it is heart warming to witness shows like ‘Hum 2 Hamaray 100’ take the lead in creating awareness about social issues.
    The show recently broadcast a poignant scene where they recognized the rights and responsilibities of children in Pakistan.
    A grown adult sits down with children in a room and teaches them about the good touch/ bad touch concept. She explains to the children that if any adult, aside from their parents touches them without their consent and makes them feel uncomfortable, then they must immediately tell their parents.
    The writer, Syed Zain Raza, shared the clip on his Instagram account, and in the caption he wrote that because of a rise in rape and sexual assualt cases in Pakistan, he felt it was necessary to teach children about body autonomy and learning to say ‘no’.

    “GOOD TOUCH / BAD TOUCH

    In this episode of Hum 2 Humaray 100 we tried to talk about an extremely important topic that is more prevalent than ever, but we rarely see conversations around it. Our children are unsafe in parks, schools, neighbourhoods, transit, and sometimes even their homes. This is why they need to know about good touch and bad touch. They need to know when they are in danger.

    If we don’t have these conversations with them in a positive way, then someone else will have them in a negative way. Children should be taught about bodily autonomy and what to do if they feel threatened, scared, and uncomfortable around an adult. They need to be told that they will not get in trouble for telling their parents and that it is never their fault.

    I was really glad that the channel allowed us to talk about this sensitive topic without any censoring and/or dictations. And most importantly, thank you to my director @angelinemalikofficial who allowed me to go ahead and write about all these topics with her full support! It is a boon to have a progressive and woke director in a time like this.”

    In the comments section, social media users applauded the show runners for addressing a sensitive topic in a gentle and uncensored manner, which would help more parents and children watching this show learn how to communicate with each other regarding matters of bodily autonomy.

    Activist and makeup artist Leena Ghani praised the writer for bringing such an important topic to mainstream channels and dealing with it in a sensitive way.

    “Such an important conversation about consent and done with so much sensitivity and care. Well done Zain. This is the kind of content and awareness we need,” she wrote.

    Another user recalled the impact this scene had on her mother, that she went on to give the same guidance about consent to her neices.
    “Mother was watching this scene on TV and it impacted her so much that right after that when nieces came she needed to explain this to them. Quite powerful ”

  • Pakistan nears finalisation of IMF loan agreement: Power Minister announces positive progress

    Pakistan nears finalisation of IMF loan agreement: Power Minister announces positive progress

    Power Minister of Pakistan, Khurram Dastgir, announced that the country is close to sealing a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and that the agreement has been achieved on almost all the issues between the two sides.

    With a $350 billion economy, Pakistan is in need of a crucial installment of $1.1 billion from the IMF to avoid default. However, the IMF has identified a significant gap of approximately Rs900 billion, equivalent to 1 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which has been a hindrance in reaching a staff-level agreement.

    Minister Dastgir reassured that the IMF has not demanded the government to cut its defense budget during his appearance on the Geo News program “Capital Talk” on Monday.

    The Minister stated that instead of cutting the defense budget, the IMF has asked the Energy Division to reduce its losses. The Fund has also emphasized the need for the government to reduce line losses in the northern, southern, and western regions of the country. The Minister emphasized that the IMF has made it clear to Pakistan that the country must establish its financial stability by increasing its tax revenues and reducing losses.

    He also mentioned that the international community is not displaying leniency towards Pakistan since the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. The Minister indicated that the country must take the necessary measures to align its financial position and meet the expectations of the IMF and the international community.

  • Pakistan sends aid to Turkey to help in Earthquake relief operations

    Pakistan sends aid to Turkey to help in Earthquake relief operations

    Pakistan has send aid along with rescue and relief teams to it’s close ally Turkey after powerful earthquakes devastated the southern region of the country early on Monday morning.

    “On the instructions of Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir, Pakistan Army has dispatched two contingents; Urban Search and Rescue Team comprising rescue experts, sniffer dogs, search equipment and a Medical team comprising Army doctors, nursing staff and technicians along with 30 bedded mobile hospital, tentage, blankets and other relief items,” Radio Pakistan has reported.

    The aid contingents have been flown to Adana, Turkiye via special PAF aircraft, to undertake relief efforts for Turkish people while working in close coordination with the Turkish Government, AFs and their Embassy in Islamabad.

    “The contingents will stay there till the completion of relief and rescue operations.”
    The National Disaster Management Authority in a tweet wrote, “NDMA dispatched humanitarian assistance to the earthquake hit Turkiye through PAF C-130 aircraft from Nur Khan Air Base.”

    Pakistan on Monday said it will send two C-130 planes carrying relief and 36 search and rescue personnel.

    Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said early on Monday that 45 countries had offered help with search and rescue efforts.

    The confirmed death toll in Turkey and Syria has soared above 4,300.