Author: newsdesk

  • Pak vs NZ: PCB announces free tickets for second test

    Pak vs NZ: PCB announces free tickets for second test

    The executive committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to waive off entry fee for the second Test match between Pakistan and New Zealand, set to begin on January 2, 2023. A PCB official confirmed the news to GEO News.

    “Free entry for Karachiites in all stands during the second Test, except two VIP ticketed stands. Entry will be on a first come first serve basis,” the official said.

    The cricket board has gotten in touch with educational institutions, orphanages, and nursing homes to invite them to watch the second test.
    The ongoing Test between Pakistan and New Zealand has attracted a limited number of spectators to the stadium.

  • ‘Dhokha’: Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain’s son says Elahi betrayed family by joining hands with IK

    Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain’s son Chaudhry Shafay Hussain has said that his father’s cousin— Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Pervaiz Elahi—betrayed the family by backing out of an agreement made with the current ruling coalition at the last minute.

    In an interview with ARY News, Chaudhry Shafay recalled the entire incident, recalling that Elahi asked Chaudhry Shujaat to convince Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to give Elahi the Chief Minister’s seat. However, at the last minute, he switched over to Imran Khan.

    When asked what reason did Elahi give for backing out of the deal, Shafay said that he said former army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa asked him to join hands with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). However, Shafay Hussain said Elahi should have told the party chief about the telephone call from Bajwa.

    According to Shafay, former president Asif Ali Zardari said he convinced PDM leadership including Nawaz Sharif to grant Elahi the top seat after clearing many obstacles.

    Shafay also addressed Moonis Elahi’s “sofware update” statement about Chaudhry Shujaat, terming it ‘inappropriate’. “One should not say something of this sort about the one who taught you politics,” he opined.

    Shafay accused Moonis of playing his own politic. Political families work together and Moonis doesn’t want that, Shafay said about his cousin.

    He also hinted at expelling some Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs) from the party.

  • SBP to lift import restrictions next week

    SBP to lift import restrictions next week

    The government has lifted import restrictions on commodities intended for vehicle manufacturing, mobile production, solar power equipment, and nuclear reactors for power generation projects commencing in 2023, despite Pakistan’s limited foreign exchange reserves.

    Simultaneously, authorised dealers (ADs – largely commercial banks) have been encouraged to prioritise the import of food and energy products. They should consider enabling the import of non-essential and luxury products after first providing for the necessities.

    The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reminded ADs on Tuesday that for the past eight months, they had been required to obtain prior permission from the Foreign Exchange Operations Department, SBP-BSC, before initiating any import transaction involving HS Code Chapters 84, 85, and certain items of Chapter 87.

    “It has now been decided to withdraw instructions (of prior permission) with effect from January 2, 2023. Consequently, requests for import transactions already submitted to SBP-BSC pertaining to referred HS codes stand returned to the ADs for appropriate disposal at their end,” the SBP said in the circular.

    Arif Habib Limited (AHL) Head of Research Tahir Abbas said that the import system may “continue to work in its present form. The removal of restrictions will not re-open imports in a full-fledged manner.”

    He stated that due to the country’s short foreign exchange reserves, the government has encouraged banks to first allow the import of necessary items before catering to others.

    The SBP advised ADs (commercial banks) to “prioritise and facilitate the import of essential sectors such as food (wheat and edible oil) and pharmaceuticals (raw material, life-saving or essential medicines, and surgical instruments, including stents).”

    According to Express Tribune, the second priority of ADs is to focus on energy imports “like oil, gas, and coal” (for power projects based on the merit order of the Ministry of Energy).

    Imports for export-oriented businesses should be prioritised as well. They should facilitate “imports, especially of raw materials, input goods, and spare parts, by the export-oriented industries,” stated the SBP. Imports of agri-inputs should be the fourth priority of ADs, as explained by SBP: “import of items required as inputs for agriculture (seed, fertilizers, and pesticides).”

  • ‘Benazir ke sandwich khanay unkay college jata tha’: Imran Khan

    ‘Benazir ke sandwich khanay unkay college jata tha’: Imran Khan

    A clip from a two month old interview of Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan has gone viral on social media. In the interview, Imran Khan narrates his memories with former Prime Minister Shaheed Mohtarma Benzair Bhutto when they were both studying in London.

    Journalist Haroon Rasheed interviewed Imran Khan in October and asked him about the food in Oxford. In response, Khan said, “I remember that I was hungry all the time in England’s winters. We used to have three meals in Pakistan, breakfast, lunch, evening tea and dinner. Then my mother used to give me milk.”

    Khan said that when he went to England, he would get hungry again as soon as he ate in the dining room. “This hunger would take over the time,” he recalled.

    Imran Khan then said that Benazir Bhutto, who was also studying in another college in Oxford at the time, would hold an open house on Sunday. “She was contesting union elections. I was friends with Benazir. An Indian friend, Vikram Mehta, used to be with me. We both used to go to Benazir’s college because we would be hungry,” added Khan.

    “Benazir was living in great splendor and used to make sandwiches herself, which we would go and eat,” he told Haroon Rasheed.

  • Plans of long-term caretaker govt in pipeline, claims journalist

    Plans of long-term caretaker govt in pipeline, claims journalist

    News anchor Meher Bokhari in her programme ‘Program Hum Meher Bokhari Kay Sath’ on Hum News has claimed that a crucial meeting has taken place where plans of installing a long caretaker government in Pakistan have been discussed.

    She said that considering the worsening economic conditions in the country, the caretaker government can be in place for six months or even two years, emphasising that the situation has slipped out of politicians’ hands.

    During her show, she pointed out that the incumbent government has failed to steer the country out of the economic crisis, despite making promises to do so. Moreover, she said that since the takeover of the coalition government, the dollar value rose exponentially, plunging the country into economic disaster.

    She highlighted Pakistan’s failure to get the next International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) tranche and the reluctance of friendly countries to help Pakistan.

    Reacting to the journalist’s claims, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Fawad Chaudhry termed it a “stupidity”, stressing that the “country’s crisis is more political than economic”.

    In a tweet, he said that these are “schemes” to keep Imran Khan out of politics but are not in Pakistan’s favour. Terming general elections as the only solution to the country’s problems, he added that PTI will resist the move of forming a technocrat government.

    However, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday assured the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) that the country will not default but admitted that the economy is in a “tight position”.

    “It’s been three months since I took charge. We hear every day that we will default. How will there be a default? There is no chance that Pakistan will default,” the finance minister said.

    It should be noted that the financial situation in the country is perilous with inflation at the highest levels in recent years. A day earlier, the price of gold rose by Rs4,500 to a fresh all-time high of Rs182,700 per tola. The price of gold has increased by more than Rs20,000 per tola since the beginning of December.

  • ‘If my mother or sister can’t study, then I won’t accept this education’, Afghan professor tears up diploma in protest against ban on women’s education

    ‘If my mother or sister can’t study, then I won’t accept this education’, Afghan professor tears up diploma in protest against ban on women’s education

    A professor from Kabul University tore up his diploma during a live news interview, protesting against the ban on women’s education placed by the Taliban administration.
    “From today I don’t need these diplomas anymore because this country is no place for getting education. If my sister & my mother can’t study, then I DON’T accept this education,” the emotional Professor stated.

    The act of revolt comes after the Taliban placed a ban on female education across the country. The Acting Higher Education Minister Neda Mohammad Nadeem said the ban was a result of women wearing inappropriate clothes and interacting with men.
    “They didn’t observe Hijab; they were coming with the clothes that most women wear to a wedding,” he said.

    The controversial decision has led to a rise of protests all over the country, with video clips emerging on social media, showing men choosing to walk out of university in protest against the ban.

  • ‘I want children but not their mother’: Salman Khan opens up about wanting to be a father

    ‘I want children but not their mother’: Salman Khan opens up about wanting to be a father

    Bollywood actor Salman Khan, who turned 57 years old on Tuesday, had once in an old interview, confessed that he wants children but ‘not the mother’.

    Salman loves kids and it clearly shows when he pampers his sister Arpita Khan and her husband Aayush Sharma’s children Ayat and Ahil.

    In fact, the Bajrangi Bhaijaan actor has also been spotted interacting with the little ones quite a few times.

    While talking to Mumbai Mirror in the year 2019, Salman reacted to the comment that said he loved children. While smiling, he said, “I want children, but with children comes the mother. I don’t want the mother, but they need one. But I have a whole village to take care of them. Maybe I can work out a win-win situation for everyone.”

    Salman Khan Wants Kids But Not The Mother© salmankhan_instagram

    Meanwhile, last night, Salman threw a party on the occasion of his 57th birthday. The actor was spotted several times by the paps greeting his guests, seeing them off as well as cutting the cake and celebrating.

    In fact, interestingly, Salman was also seen exchanging warm hugs with Shah Rukh Khan. Fans went crazy after the video surfaced on social media.

    Salman Khan Wants Kids But Not The Mother© salmankhan_instagram

    On the work front, Salman completed the shooting schedule for his upcoming Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan. Helmed by Farhad Samji, it also stars Pooja Hegde and Venkatesh Daggubati in key roles.

    Shehnaaz Gill, Palak Tiwari, and Vijender Singh will also feature in the film. It is set to release on Eid 2023. Salman will also be seen in Tiger 3, also starring Katrina Kaif.

    The action-packed movie was earlier slated to hit the theatres on April 23, 2023, but will now be released on Diwali next year.

  • Flour prices hit record high in Punjab due to inter-provincial smuggling

    Flour prices hit record high in Punjab due to inter-provincial smuggling

    Owing to increased smuggling of wheat and subsidised flour bags to other provinces, the price of flour in the Punjabi capital increased by Rs5 per kilogramme to Rs140. 

    Smuggling has exacerbated Punjab’s flour problem, increasing open-market prices to an all-time high. According to sources, the subsidised flour bags were being smuggled into Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkwa at a cost of Rs2,400 each bag.

    Prices for 10-kg and 20-kg flour sacks in Lahore have risen to Rs1,400 and Rs2,800, respectively, while Chakki flour has risen to Rs140 per kilogramme, according to Dunya News.

    Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the local administration in Jhang stopped an attempt to smuggle flour bags from a local flour factory, seizing nearly 1,000 20 kg bags from a truck.

    According to wheat dealers, the open market price of wheat has risen to Rs4,700 per 40 kg. Furthermore, the rate for a commercial unit of power from 6 pm to 10 pm has risen to a staggering Rs70 to Rs80, severely hurting the economics of grain trading.

    Lahore Atta Chakki Owners Association has requested the government to immediately prohibit the inter-provincial movement of wheat and its products in order to halt the ongoing rise in wheat prices.

  • Heavy fog across Punjab disrupts air and road travel, info number provided

    Heavy fog across Punjab disrupts air and road travel, info number provided

    Heavy fog in cities across Punjab including Lahore, Faisalabad and Sialkot has disrupted air and road travel. According to Pakistan International Airways (PIA), four international flights had to be diverted to Islamabad because of foggy weather.
    According to a representative from Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Pakistan International Airways (PIA) four flights including PK-248 from Dammam to Lahore, PK-224 from Dubai to Faisalabad, PK-716 from Madina to Lahore via Karachi and PK-244 from Dammam to Sialkot had to be shifted to Islamabad after intense fog reduced visibility. The representative further explained that visibility at Multan Airport was poor till 2 pm, while at Lahore’s Alama Iqbal Airport fog had not reduced until 4 pm.
    The representative advised travelers to double check with their airlines for flight updates by either visiting the website www.caapakistan.com.pk or call the numbers 114, 0800 00114 and 111 222 114.

    Reports are also stating that railway networks are facing difficulties in Punjab as intense fog reduces visibility. A representative from Pakistan Railways Administration said that trains were traveling at low speed to take safety measures and prevent accidents.
    Due to these precautions, trains are late by six or seven hours to arrive at their destination. The Karakoram Express was late by up to six hours, while Karachi, Alama Iqbal and Khyber Mail Express arrived late at their destination by five hours

  • ‘Bajwa helped Imran get NRO for Bani Gala house’: PML-N’s Malik Ahmad Khan

    ‘Bajwa helped Imran get NRO for Bani Gala house’: PML-N’s Malik Ahmad Khan

    Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) Malik Ahmad Khan has alleged that the former army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa had helped to give a National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan to save him from disqualification in the Bani Gala case.

    According to Malik, the-then Chief Justice Saqib Nisar was influenced by Gen Bajwa to decide a case about Imran Khan’s Bani Gala residence case in his favour. Later, Khan was declared Sadiq and Ameen by the court.

    The News contacted the former chief justice who denied the story, he said that it’s all “rubbish, total bullshit and completely baseless.” Justice (retd) Nisar insisted that he was never influenced while dispensing his judicial duties directly or indirectly by the-then Army Chief. Nisar said that the entire locality of Bani Gala was illegally built. His verdict was about the regularisation of all properties in the locality as they could not be razed to the ground.

    Malik said that the PTI Chairman should come forward and say under oath that he had not been given a NRO in the Bani Gala residence case when it was being heard by the court of the-then CJP Justice (retd) Nisar.

    The SAPM while speaking on Channel 92 political talk show, ‘Breaking Views with Malick’, said that he had all the evidence about how and when it happened, who were the characters involved, and who sent messages to whom. When asked by the anchor if Malik Ahmad Khan was saying that the then army chief had influenced the-then Chief Justice of Pakistan to decide IK’s Banigala house case, Malik Khan said, “I stand by it, I have all the evidence.” He further said that the collateral victim of this case was Jehangir Khan Tareen.

    It is pertinent to mention here that Malik Ahmad Khan was among those Leaguers who had been close to the retired army chief. Malik Ahmed Khan had also been occasionally meeting the-then army chief.