Author: newsdesk

  • Pakistan’s GDP projected to climb by 5-6 per cent in FY 22-23

    Pakistan’s GDP projected to climb by 5-6 per cent in FY 22-23

    Finance Minister Miftah Ismail forecasted that Pakistan’s GDP would expand by 5 per cent to 6 per cent, and that the government would keep inflation under control, while speaking at the pre-budget conference on Tuesday, June 7.

    The Finance minister expressed his ‘high confidence’ in the agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and revealed that the government had developed a progressive fiscal budget with a deficit of less than 5 per cent, according to Express News.

    “We had to make difficult decisions; it’s difficult for any prime minister to authorise such a hike in petrol costs, but we were losing money.” “Every month, we lost more than 120 billion rupees,” the minister said.

    According to him, the PTI administration signed an IMF agreement that mandated the reduction of fuel subsidies.

    Miftah claimed the administration has re-engaged with China, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), among other countries, as part of the present government’s successful negotiations.

    “Following a meeting between Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto and Chinese Prime Minister [Li Keqiang], China decided to re-roll their $2.4 billion programme. China has lowered its borrowing rate from 2.5 per cent to 1.5 per cent, saving the country money “Miftah said, “Roughly $23 million”.

    He went on to say that the Saudis had agreed to increase Pakistan’s “oil line” and offer the country with a $100 million revolving credit.

    According to Miftah, the current government inherited a country with the world’s third highest inflation rate, 20 million people living in poverty, and widespread unemployment.

    He went on to say that the country’s debt payments had increased tremendously as a result of the amount of loans taken on by the PTI government.

    Pakistan’s economic paradigm, according to the minister, is inherently faulty. “We enrich the wealthy,” he remarked.

    The finance minister also spoke about one-time Rs2,000 assistance for 14 million families. The amount will be distributed in June at a cost of Rs28 billion to the government.

    Aside from the 7.3 million BISP recipients, the package also covers 6.7 million households with poverty levels of less than 37.

    According to Miftah, the country’s industry and consumers are heavily reliant on imports, causing the current account to be in deficit. He went on to say that Pakistan’s economy focuses on import substitution rather than export development, a paradigm that has been replicated in a number of developing countries.

    Aside from textiles, Pakistan has no big exports because the agriculture sector is failing to remain productive.

  • BE by MoltyFoam X PandaMart: Enjoy swift delivery of Mattress-in-a-box within less than 45 minutes!

    BE by MoltyFoam X PandaMart: Enjoy swift delivery of Mattress-in-a-box within less than 45 minutes!

    Master MoltyFoam has continually upgraded sleep comfort in Pakistan through quality products and high-class technologies. 

    BE by MoltyFoam takes pride in being “Pakistan’s First Mattress-in-a-Box.” With innovation being their most vigorous pursuit since the beginning. 

    Along with value for money, convenience, top-notch quality, comfort, and hassle-free mattress buying experience, the brand now offers its customers a mattress in a box delivery in 45 minutes. They are sure that choosing a mattress-in-a-box is a manageable and convenient way for you to secure a good night’s sleep.

    This sure sounds awesome, right? The brand’s recent collaboration with PandaMart promises you a swift delivery within 45 minutes. Simply download the FoodPanda app, select the size of your mattress and place your order online. The PandaMart rider will bring you BE by MoltyFoam’s Mattress-in-a-box straight to your home in less than 45 minutes!

    With the diverse mattress approach at Master MoltyFoam, they are eliminating barriers to ensure that your sleep is restful.

    This product is the renewed way to shop for a mattress by eliminating hassle, ordering online, an excellent 10-year warranty, and free shipping to your doorstep.

    Shop now and enjoy the fastest mattress delivery in Pakistan. Time to put all your worries to sleep. We know you’ll fall in love with BE. Because unbelievably good sleep starts now!

    This is a paid article.

  • Salman Khan cries while revealing favours done by Boney Kapoor and Suniel Shetty

    Salman Khan cries while revealing favours done by Boney Kapoor and Suniel Shetty

    Salman Khan and Boney Kapoor’s friendly relationship strained when Boney’s son Arjun Kapoor started dating Arbaaz Khan’s ex-wife Malaika Arora. This is also why Khan produced Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai without the senior Kapoor’s involvement, who had produced Wanted.

    Now, at the IIFA awards ceremony in Abu Dhabi, Salman expressed his gratefulness towards the veteran producer. The Tiger 3 star said, “Boney ji has helped me throughout my life. When my career hit a rough patch, Boney Kapoor gave me a film called Wanted. After that, he gave another film No Entry.“

    Salman also thanked senior actor Suniel Shetty, “When I didn’t have any money, actor Suniel Shetty had a shop called Mischief and I was eyeing a pair of stone wash jeans, boots, and a purse. I knew I couldn’t afford it because I didn’t have money. But Anna saw my eyes and decided to gift me what I yearned.” He even got teary eyed as he reached out towards the Hera Pheri hero’s son, Ahan Shetty.

    Khan called producer Ramesh Taurani ‘God-like’ and revealed that he had helped him after Maine Pyaar Kiya, when he did not have work for about six months. He revealed, “I didn’t have any film for 6 months. Then a god-like man came in my life – Ramesh Taurani. At that time my father had made a fake announcement from JP Sippy by paying 2000 rupees in a film magazine. I didn’t have any film. Ramesh Taurani went to Sippy’s office and he gave him 5 lakh rupees for music at that time and that’s how I got the film Pathar Ke Phool.”

  • After meeting Bilawal, German FM tests positive for Covid-19

    After meeting Bilawal, German FM tests positive for Covid-19

    German Foreign Minister (FM) Annalena Baerbock tested positive for Covid-19, her ministry confirmed on Tuesday, reports Reuters.

    Earlier, Baerbock met her Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari in Islamabad. She has also cancelled all further dates of the trip, which also included stops in Greece and Turkey.

    Responding to the news, FM Bilawal wished Baerbock a quick recovery. He tweeted, “Building on our excellent talks today, I look forward to our continued engagement and future interactions to further solidify Pakistan and Germany partnership.”

    Baerbock reached Islamabad today (Tuesday) on a two-day visit.

    Baerbock and Bilawal held a joint presser in the capital. It has been reported that Pakistan will inaugurate its Consulate General in Munich soon.

    ‘We support the work of the UN and their stance on Kashmir’: FM Baerbock

    During the presser, Bilawal said, “If India fails to condemn the comments, then it’s a reflection that it’s not a secular India but rather a Hindu-superiority India. We would want to engage with India but with a rationale.”

    Talking about the Kashmir issue, Baerbock said, “The foundation of human rights is indivisible and this counts for every region in the world. This also counts for Kashmir, this counts for women’s rights. This counts for minority rights and religious rights Therefore, we support the work of the UN and their stance on Kashmir to ensure that all human rights are being guaranteed.”

    “We believe that constructive approaches and measures from both sides are the only way forward to improve the relationships between India and Pakistan. The bilateral agreement along the line of control last year was a positive step”, she added.

    ‘Pakistan had been Germany’s closest and most reliable partner‘: FM Baerbock

    About the Afghan situation, the German FM said, “It is not the mistake of the people that the Taliban overthrew the government and since then have tightened their grip on Afghan society,” she said, promising that Germany would continue to provide humanitarian aid and support people who need it, especially women and girls.

    The diplomat highlighted that Pakistan had been Germany’s “closest and most reliable partner” in that regard, revealing that under this close cooperation between the two countries, 14,000 Afghans, who were at risk in the country, could travel to Germany via Pakistan and were able to start a new life in safety and without fear.

    ‘Pakistan does not want to be dragged in conflict’: FM Bilawal

    Bilawal also highlighted that Pakistan was playing an outside role in mitigating the economic crisis in Afghanistan. “This is the face of Pakistan. A modern Muslim country”, he said.

    While talking about the Ukraine crisis, Bilawal maintained that Pakistan “does not want to be dragged in conflict particularly given that we have just experienced decade after decade of conflict in Afghanistan”.

  • 60% of Pakistanis don’t agree with PTI’s long march: survey

    In a public survey by the Institute of Public Opinion and Research (IPOR), 60 per cent of Pakistanis do not like Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s idea to lead a long march towards Islamabad.

    According to 60 per cent of responders, Khan should run his campaign from the assemblies. On the other hand, only 23 per cent of Pakistanis support the idea of PTI’s long march.

    It has also been revealed that 48 per cent of PTI’s own supporters think that leading a long march is right, while 44 per cent are in favour of a struggle against the government in the assemblies rather than a long march.

    In the survey, more than 2,000 people from across the country participated.

    Meanwhile, 54 per cent of Pakistanis support the idea of holding fresh elections in the country, although 35 per cent of people suggest the assemblies should complete their constitutional term.

    A big majority of 86 per cent of PTI voters backed the idea of early elections, while 57 per cent of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) voters and 31 per cent of PML-N supporters said they favoured early elections.

  • Twitter reacts to Khan appointing nephew as PTI’s focal legal affairs person

    Twitter reacts to Khan appointing nephew as PTI’s focal legal affairs person

    Barrister Hassaan Khan Niazi has been appointed as the focal person for legal affairs to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), reporting directly to party Chairman Imran Khan. His appointment was made official on Sunday (June 5).

    The newly appointed focal person announced the news on Twitter. Twitterati reacting to the news, had both good wishes and skepticism for Hassaan as he is the former premier’s nephew.

    Journalist Alina Shigri lauded Hassaan for earning the position through “sheer hard work” and “not through nepotism!”

    Meanwhile, netizens questioned Hassaan’s appointment.

    A Twitter user said, “Is this Hassaan Niazi the same person who attacked a hospital in Lahore along with other lawyers in which some patients died, or is he some one other?”

    Another user questioned the appointment and wanted to know if it was through nepotism or morosi siyasaat? [dynastic politics]

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  • No plan proposed to raise petrol prices at pre-budget seminar, clarifies Miftah

    No plan proposed to raise petrol prices at pre-budget seminar, clarifies Miftah

    After a tremendous increase of Rs60 in less than a month, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail announced Tuesday that the price of petroleum goods in the country would rise even more.

    Ismail mentioned in his statement at the one-day pre-budget business conference that if the government had followed ex-prime minister Imran Khan and former finance minister Shaukat Tarin’s contract with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), petrol would have cost Rs300 per liter.

    “The previous government had agreed with the IMF that they would not give subsidies,” the finance minister said, lashing out at the Khan-led government for messing up the economic policies of the country.

    Furthermore, The News reports that the government cannot simply withdraw subsidies without also imposing taxes on petroleum items.

    “The IMF has asked for 100 per cent withdrawal of subsidy on POL products. Once the subsidy is over, then the government will have to impose taxes and petroleum levy,” the publication reported, adding that there is still a subsidy of Rs9.32 per liter on petrol and Rs23.05 per liter on diesel.

    The finance minister had ruled out the potential of a financial emergency in the country the day before, as the government took efforts to address the country’s continued economic upheaval.

    No petrol hike discussed at the pre-budget meeting

    UPDATE: Miftah Ismail, on the other hand, has clarified that he never mentioned a hike in petroleum prices during the pre-budget meeting, despite the fact that social media and known channels have been swamped with headlines of yet another hike, with several netizens sharing images of folks rushing to petrol pumps yet again. “Channels running these tickers are doing a disservice to their viewers,” said the Finance Minister.

    “In the pre-budget seminar I never even spoke about petroleum prices. Channels running these tickers are doing a disservice to their viewers. There will be no increase in prices today and there is no summary or plan to raise prices,” he tweeted.

  • ‘Tum apnay janazay ka bandobast karo’: Retired general gives life threats to journalist for asking a question

    ‘Tum apnay janazay ka bandobast karo’: Retired general gives life threats to journalist for asking a question

    Veterans of Pakistan, an organisation of former military officers, held a press conference in Islamabad yesterday (June 6). A video from the conference went viral where retired Lieutenant General Asif Yasin Malik threatened journalist Azaz Syed for asking a question.

    Azaz asked, “General Saab, do you think that generals should give back the land given to them because of the present economic conditions of the country?”

    “Tum apnay janazay ka bandobast karo,” said General Malik to Azaz Syed. [Translation: You should prepare for your funeral].

    “Stop it,” General Malik shouted.

    Azaz interjected and said, ” Sir I am asking you a question, this is a matter of the country, you just did a press conference.”

    It is being reported that during the press conference, Brig (R) Mian Mehmood claimed that when the situation in Pakistan started to deteriorate, their team led by General Ali Quli went to meet the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

    “General Bajwa very clearly promised that he would hold elections in 90 days to make the situation in Pakistan better. Today we ask Gen Bajwa: where did his promises go?”

    A denial has been issued by military sources to BBC Urdu that no such promise [polls in 90 days] was made by the army chief. The military sources also told BBC Urdu that nobody can use the army for politics by using the name of ‘veterans’.

  • Two-day weekend approved for govt employees

    Two-day weekend approved for govt employees

    The federal cabinet okayed a two-day weekend for government personnel on Tuesday, but no decision on early market closure could be made.

    The meeting was hosted by Prime Minister (PM) Shahbaz Sharif, during which methods to limit loadshedding, which has increased in recent weeks, were reviewed. The meeting was unable to reach a consensus on early market closures and referred the matter to a sub-committee for additional study and consultation with stakeholders.

    Power Division gave a summary for the Energy Conservation Measure at today’s meeting, which included market closures by 7 pm with Saturdays off due to rising petroleum prices, according to Geo.

    As part of the austerity plan to decrease costs, the cabinet also approved a 40 per cent reduction in government employees’ petrol entitlement.

    Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif proposed four and a half working days a week on Monday to help save fuel and energy in the face of rising fuel prices and power shortages.

    “In the current situation, all around the country, there should be a total holiday on Saturday and Sunday and a half working day on Friday in every week,” the defence minister stated on Twitter.

    He suggested that there should be four and a half working days in a week, as well as an hour increase in office hours during working days.

    The federal minister, in another meeting, suggested changing market schedules at a separate meeting last week, which was led by the premier.

    Khawaja Asif has strenuously opposed the idea to open markets from 1 pm to 1 am, arguing that marketplaces should only be open during the day to maximise the use of sunshine, which is accessible 365 days a year.

    He had stated that even without Karachi, we could save 3,500MW if the markets adjusted their timings correctly, but that painful decisions would have to be taken.

  • ‘PhD in cringeonomics,’ Twitter reacts to Maryam’s tears

    ‘PhD in cringeonomics,’ Twitter reacts to Maryam’s tears

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) Vice President Maryam Nawaz Sharif addressed the PML-N Instagram team in Lahore. When Yeh Watan Tumhara Hai‘, was played, Maryam could be seen wiping her tears while listening to the milli-naghma.

    Maryam Nawaz re-shared the tweet and wrote: “I am in love with Pakistan.”

    Social media users were quick to give all kinds of comments on Maryam’s video. Have a look at the reactions:

    https://twitter.com/passingthedays_/status/1534106417762025472

    https://twitter.com/_amnahtweets/status/1534067890386763776