Author: newsdesk

  • Pentagon expects continuation of healthy relationship with Pakistani armed forces

    Pentagon expects continuation of healthy relationship with Pakistani armed forces

    Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby has said the United States had a “healthy military-to-military relationship with Pakistani armed forces”, adding that “we have every expectation that will be able to continue to be the case”.

    The comments from the senior Pentagon official come two days after Shehbaz Sharif was elected as the prime minister of Pakistan, replacing Imran Khan who was ousted last week through a no-confidence vote.

    In a press briefing on Tuesday, Kirby said the US had shared interests with Pakistan with respect to security and stability in “that part of the world”.

    “We recognise that Pakistan plays a key role in the region. We recognise that Pakistan and the Pakistani people are, themselves, victims of terrorist attacks inside their own country,” he added.

    In response to a question about election of Shehbaz Sharif as the prime minister and allegations of the ousted premier Imran Khan against the US for its role in regime change, Kirby declined to offer a comment.

    “I think you can understand that we’re not going to comment about domestic politics inside Pakistan,” he responded.

    When asked whether the US was prepared in case Pakistan’s military intervenes amid street protests organised by former prime minister Imran Khan “with his very large crowd of supporters”, Kirby said he did not foresee any US military role there.

    “And I’m certainly not going to, again, wade into internal domestic politics in Pakistan,” he said.

    White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki had earlier said that a democratic Pakistan was critical to US interests.

    Ties between Islamabad and Washington touched a new low after former prime minister Imran Khan accused the US of conspiring to dislodge his government. He based his allegation on a diplomatic cable in which it was reportedly said that a State Department official had warned of consequences for bilateral ties if the no-confidence motion failed.

    Washington has denied the allegation.

    Mending fences with the US would be one of the top foreign policy priorities for the new government.

  • 57% people happy with Imran Khan’s removal: Survey

    57% people happy with Imran Khan’s removal: Survey

    According to Gallup Pakistan survey, 57 per cent of people are happy with the removal of Imran Khan through the no-confidence motion while 43 per cent are angry with the outcome.

    71 per cent of happy individuals cite rising inflation and poverty as the main reasons for their happiness while 11 per cent didn’t specify any reason.

    For those who were unhappy, the highest reason stated was that Khan was an honest person and a great leader while 15 per cent of people say that they simply like Khan.

    Moreover, the survey states that 53 per cent of males are happy with Khan being gone and 62 per cent of females are happy with the no-confidence motion’s result.

    The high number of happy people is in Sindh with 60 per cent, Punjab stands at second place with 57 per cent and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa stands at third place with 53 per cent.

    As per the Gallup survey, a great majority of 90 per cent have the intention to vote for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) while only seven per cent say that they will vote for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

    It is pertinent to mention that Khan was removed as a Prime Minister on April 9 by the National Assembly (NA).

  • Team Pakistan, Sri Lanka set to play Test & ODIs during July series

    Team Pakistan, Sri Lanka set to play Test & ODIs during July series

    Pakistan cricket team is set to tour Sri Lanka for test and ODIs series which will begin from July to August this year. Pakistan will play two Tests and five One Day International (ODIs) matches against Sri Lanka. Pakistan recently successfully hosted Australia for a full series after 24 long years … 3 tests, three ODIs, and a T20.

    Both Cricket Boards will announce venues and dates for the matches after mutual consultation. Pakistan will prolong its tour in Sri Lanka for the T20 Asia Cup, which will end in September.

    Before touring Sri Lanka, the West Indies team is visiting Pakistan in the month of June to play three ODI matches with Pakistan.

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to remove covid restrictions and bio-secure bubble during the Pakistan-West Indies series as the infection rate has significantly dropped in the country.

    England is scheduled to tour Pakistan for seven T20I matches after the Pakistan-Sri Lanka series.

  • Pakistan’s cotton fabric trade climbed by 28.23 per cent

    Pakistan’s cotton fabric trade climbed by 28.23 per cent

    In the first eight months of the fiscal year 2021-22, Pakistan’s textile and garment exports grew to $1.65 billion. The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) estimates that the textile and apparel sector brought in $12.607 billion this time, compared to $ 9.999 billion in exports from July to February 2020-21.

    Knitwear exports surged by 33.86 per cent to $3.302 billion on a year-over-year (YoY) basis, while non-knit readymade clothes trade increased by 25.11 per cent to $2.516 billion. Additionally, cotton yarn exports increased by 34.40 per cent to $815.375 million, up from $606.690 million the previous year.

    Cotton fabric trade climbed by 28.23 per cent in 2022, reaching $1.584 billion in value. Also, over the eight months of 2021-22, the distribution of bed clothing jumped by 20.34 per cent.

    The industry has engaged in synthetic fiber imports, which increased by 31.65 per cent from July to February 2021-22, and the cost of artificial silk yarn soared by $ 569.256 million.

    Consequently, the value of textile machinery in Pakistan has climbed dramatically over the last eight months, reaching $577.249 million.

    Read more: SBP determined to curb inflation, improve foreign exchange reserves

    For those unaware, Pakistan’s textile sector has the capacity to generate $30 billion in annual revenue. The country’s leaders and economic experts should assess the existing economic situation and devise an effective economic strategy to boost textile exports.

    To summarise, the industry has tremendous potential and can significantly contribute to the country’s economic success by providing job opportunities. Which could help the country’s GDP and GNP grow even more.

  • ‘The light that will always shine’: Mashal Khan being remembered on 5th death anniversary

    ‘The light that will always shine’: Mashal Khan being remembered on 5th death anniversary

    Social media is remembering Mashal Khan on his fifth death anniversary. He was lynched to death on charges of blasphemy.

    Mashal Khan, a 23-year-old student of the Department of Mass Communication at Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, was lynched by a mob and shot over allegations of blasphemy on April 13, 2017.

    In June 2017, a 13-member joint investigation team concluded that the allegations of blasphemy against Mashal Khan were unfounded and were used as a pretext to incite a mob against him.

    Have a look at the tributes:

  • 2 PTI men shot by JUI-F workers over social media comments

    2 PTI men shot by JUI-F workers over social media comments

    Two workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf  (PTI ) were injured during an armed scuffle with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) workers over some social media content and comments. The police said that the incident took place in Timergra area of Lower Dir. Police officials said that the workers of both parties started fighting over some social media comments, which resulted in two PTI workers getting injured after being shot. They were rushed to the nearest hospital subsequently.

    On Tuesday, a fight broke out between a man with dissident PTI’s Noor Alam Khan, PPP’s Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Nadeem Afzal Chan and Faisal Kundi.

    Noor Alam who was severely critical of Imran Khan was verbally abused and punched by a PTI supporter at an iftar after which his colleagues retaliated.

    “We were sitting for iftaar at a hotel and someone abused Noor Alam Khan before iftaar. We didn’t respond. When iftaar started, I said to the man why he is using this language. He started abusing even more and punched Noor Alam. That’s when we responded because he was uncontrollable,” says Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar.

  • Oil prices jump following Russia’s biggest production decline

    Oil prices jump following Russia’s biggest production decline

    Oil prices rose on April 13, after concerns that declining output in sanctions-hit Russia may affect supply, following the Russian announcement that peace negotiations to stop its invasion of Ukraine had reached a stalemate.

    Consequently, Brent crude futures were up 59 cents, or 0.6 per cent, to $105.23 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were up 60 cents, or 0.6 per cent, to $101.20 a barrel. The previous session saw both contracts rise by more than 6%.

    On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin criticised Ukraine for the termination of peace talks and stated that Russia will not abandon its “special operation” to disarm its western neighbor.

    He stated that peace talks with Ukraine are at a stalemate, but that the seven-week operation is going as planned. In a note, ANZ oil experts stated that this raises the threat of the prolonged potential of supply disruptions in the oil sector.

    According to those familiar with the figures, Russian oil and gas extract output declined below 10 million BPD on April 11, the biggest drop since July 2020, as a result of sanctions imposed by numerous nations after Russia invaded Ukraine and logistical difficulties, which hindered business.

    This is quite serious as Russia is the world’s second-largest oil exporter.

    According to reports, Russia’s Energy Minister Nikolai Shulginov said late Tuesday that the government was willing to sell oil and oil products to “friendly countries in whatever price range,” adding that Moscow was focused on guaranteeing the oil sector’s proper functioning.

    Read more: International oil prices declined by 4%, crashing below $100 per barrel

    Meanwhile, indications of a partial relaxation of some of China’s strict COVID-19 restrictions have fueled optimistic sentiment between some market players this week.

  • Are Nawaz Sharif and Ishaq Dar coming back to Pakistan?

    Are Nawaz Sharif and Ishaq Dar coming back to Pakistan?

    The federal government has directed the Ministry of Interior for the renewal of ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif and former finance minister Ishaq Dar’s passports, reports Ayaz Akbar Yousafzai for Geo News.

    The report came after Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif was sworn in as the premier following the ouster of former PM Imran Khan from power.

     Pakistani High Commission in London has also been directed to start work on the renewal of the passports of both Nawaz and Dar, suggests the news report.

    The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo was granted an eight-week bail on medical grounds in October 2019, and, he was allowed to travel to London for treatment for four weeks. However, Nawaz never returned and is still in London.

    In September last year, PML-N leader Mian Javed Latif claimed that Nawaz Sharif will come to Pakistan this year. He added that those who disqualified Nawaz also realised that there was no option except to have him back.

    Latif, while speaking during Geo News programme ‘Aapas Ki Baat’, said that Nawaz Sharif is expected to return to Pakistan after Eid.

    Latif further said that after coming to Pakistan, Nawaz will face the cases against him.

    “He [Nawaz Sharif] will face the courts and rule of law, but we expect neither should anyone should be treated as ladla [favourite] nor should anyone have to face brutality,” he added.

  • Why do some pen caps have holes in them? Here is the ingenious reason

    Why do some pen caps have holes in them? Here is the ingenious reason

    Most of us have used a ball-point at some point in our lives, but have you ever wondered why the cap of the pen has a hole in it? The reason might surprise you.

    The hole on top of the cap of a ballpoint pen serves a very specific and interesting purpose. The hole is meant to prevent suffocation if they are swallowed by a user, said a report published by Ary News on Wednesday.

    BIC Cristal, one of the oldest pen companies, has said that they added the hole on top of the cap to allow airflow. The hole would make sure that the person, in case he accidentally swallows the cap, is able to breathe and does not suffocate.

    The company wrote on their website, “In addition to helping prevent the pen from leaking, all our BIC caps comply with international safety standards that attempt to minimise the risk of children accidentally inhaling pen caps.”

    They added that some of these vented caps, like that used for the BIC Cristal, have a little hole in the top to comply with the existing safety standards.

    According to a report by The Independent in 2016, around 100 people in the US die by choking on pen lids.

  • UK distances from Pak ‘political affairs’ after Khan’s ex-brother-in-law extends support

    UK distances from Pak ‘political affairs’ after Khan’s ex-brother-in-law extends support

    British Foreign Office minister Lord Zac Goldsmith has landed himself in trouble after he tweeted in support of former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.

    On April 10, Zac Goldsmith — whose elder sister Jemima was once married to Khan — said that he was “sad” at the developments in Pakistan. Zac Goldsmith tweeted: “Imran Khan is a good and decent man, one of the least corruptible politicians on the world stage. I have no doubt he will be returned with a big majority in the upcoming elections.”

    British media reported that Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s office has slapped down Foreign Office minister Lord Goldsmith after he interfered in Pakistani politics over the ousting of Khan as Pakistan’s premier through a vote of no-trust.

    Downing Street was questioned if Lord Goldsmith, who is Foreign Office minister for the Pacific and the international environment, was speaking on behalf of the British government. A spokesperson responded: “With regard to Pakistan, we respect Pakistan’s democratic system and we would not get into its domestic political affairs. We have longstanding ties with Pakistan and are monitoring developments.”

    Zac and Jemima Goldsmith’s brother Ben Goldsmith also announced support for Imran Khan on Twitter following Khan’s ouster. He said: “My brother-in-law @ImranKhanPTI is a good and honourable man, motivated only by a strong desire to do good for his country.”

    His record as PM is exceptional, most of all on the biggest issue of our time: Pakistan under Imran is now a world leader on environmental restoration.”

    During Zac Goldsmith’s campaign against London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Imran Khan had supported Zac Goldsmith and urged his followers to support his election bid. Sadiq Khan had expressed his bewilderment over Imran Khan’s support for Zac Goldsmith.