West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee congratulated Jay Shah (son of Union Home Minister Amit Shah) on becoming the International Cricket Council (ICC) Chairman.
The post read, “Congratulations, Union Home Minister! Your son has not become a politician but the ICC Chairman—a post much more important than most politicians’ !! Your son has indeed become very, very powerful, and I congratulate you on this most elevated achievement. Kudos!”
In response, people had things to say.
An ‘X’ user wrote, “Start by congratulating your brothers, BOA President Ajit Banerjee and Joint Secretary Babun Banerjee, for their outstanding performance in the Paris Olympics.”
The founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, has allegedly said that former spymaster General Faiz Hameed was removed as the head of the Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) in 2021 on the demand of former Pakistan Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif.
Speaking to journalists at Adiala jail, Khan said, “After America withdrew from Afghanistan in August, the PTI-led government started negotiations with the Afghan Taliban in September to terminate Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The Afghan government was ready to cooperate with the government, and General Faiz also briefed the Opposition. But now the incumbent government is blaming PTI of terrorism.”
He added, “In the PTI-led government, Intelligence agencies were busy stopping the terrorists, but now they are after the PTI leadership, which is increasing hate.”
He remarked, “As soon as the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa retires, four constituencies will open, which will force the incumbent government to fall.”
Responding to the PTI rally scheduled for September 8, he stated, “The rally will take place in Islamabad on September 8, and the whole nation must join it.”
On Thursday, the Pakistani rupee (PKR) saw a slight depreciation of 19.23 paisa, or 0.07 per cent, against the US dollar (USD) in the interbank market.
The rupee settled at PKR 278.64 per USD, compared to the previous closing rate of PKR 278.45. Throughout the trading session, the rupee reached an intraday high bid of PKR 278.80 and an intraday low ask of PKR 278.70.
In the open market, exchange companies quoted the USD at PKR 279.13 for buying and PKR 280 for selling.
Here’s how Pakistani currency performed against other major currencies:
Currency
Change
Previous rate
Thursday’s rate
Swiss Franc
+50.26 paisa
330.25
330.75
British Pound
-38.65 paisa
368.46
368.07
Euro
+1.12 rupee
310.72
309.60
Chinese Yuan
+13.78 paisa
39.06
39.20
Japanese Yen
+0.01 paisa
1.9261
1.926
Saudi Riyal
+4.93 paisa
74.21
74.26
UAE Dirham
+5.24 paisa
75.86
75.81
PKR exchange rates for Thursday
In comparison to other major currencies, the Swiss franc gained 50.26 paisa, closing at PKR 330.75, up from PKR 330.25 in the previous session. Conversely, the British pound depreciated by 38.65 paisa, settling at PKR 368.07, compared to PKR 368.46 from the day before.
The PKR also strengthened against the Euro, gaining 1.12 rupees to close at PKR 309.60, up from PKR 310.72. The Chinese yuan saw an increase of 13.78 paisa, closing at PKR 39.20 compared to PKR 39.06 previously.
Against the Japanese yen, the PKR gained 0.01 paisa, ending at PKR 1.926, compared to PKR 1.9261 a day earlier. The Saudi riyal closed at PKR 74.26, reflecting a gain of 4.93 paisa from PKR 74.21 the previous day. The UAE dirham appreciated by 5.24 paisa, closing at PKR 75.81 compared to PKR 75.86.
In recent months, the PKR has largely fluctuated between PKR 277 and PKR 279 as traders await approval from the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Executive Board for a new $7 billion Extended Fund Facility. In a positive development,
Moody’s Ratings upgraded Pakistan’s local and foreign currency issuer and senior unsecured debt ratings from Caa3 to Caa2. Moody’s also anticipates IMF approval for Pakistan’s Extended Fund Facility in the coming weeks.
Globally, the US dollar stabilised on Thursday, recovering some of its previous losses. Traders are now looking forward to a key US inflation report at the end of the week, which may provide further insights into the future direction of interest rates.
So far in the current financial year, the PKR has depreciated against the dollar by 30.11 paisa, or 0.11 per cent. However, for the calendar year, the PKR has appreciated by 3.22 rupees, or 1.16 per cent.
Foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) saw a rise of $112 million over the past week, bringing the total to $9.4 billion as of August 23, according to data released on Thursday.
“During the week ending on August 23, 2024, SBP reserves increased by $112 million, reaching $9.4 billion,” the bank stated in its report. This follows a smaller increase of $19 million the previous week.
In total, the country’s liquid foreign reserves reached $14.77 billion, with commercial banks holding $5.37 billion of this amount. The central bank did not provide any specific reason for the increase in its reserves.
The rise in reserves comes as Pakistan seeks to raise up to $4 billion from Middle Eastern commercial banks by the next fiscal year (FY26). This effort is part of a broader strategy to address the country’s external financing needs, as explained by SBP Governor Jameel Ahmad in a recent interview.
Ahmad also mentioned that Pakistan is in the final stages of securing an additional $2 billion in external funding, which is crucial for obtaining the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approval for a $7 billion bailout programme.
In related financial news, the international price of gold rose to $2,516 per ounce on Thursday, marking an increase of $4 during the day, according to the All Pakistan Gems and Jewellery Traders and Exporters Association (APGJSA). Silver prices, however, remained steady at Rs2,950 per tola.
Actress Saman Ansari recently appeared as a guest on Ahmed Ali Butt’s Podcast.
The host, Ahmed Ali Butt, asked, “What is one thing you would like to buy for Yumna Zaidi?”
Ansari responded, “Many years ago, Yumna used to live with me, so I knew what she needed back then. But now, Mashallah, she has come such a long way; how would I know what’s missing in her life?”
The host asked again, “So if you meet her now, what would you buy for her?”
Ansari replied, “If I get to meet her now, I think what would make her happy is if I got something for her mom. She is extremely close to her mother, so if I were to get anything for her, it would be an unlimited gift for her.”
Saman and Yumna have worked together on the drama serial Jugnoo, which was written by Amna Mufti and directed by the seasoned director Farooq Rind.
Gold prices in Pakistan experienced a notable decline on Thursday, reversing the momentum of consecutive record highs achieved in the previous sessions.
This drop in local gold rates occurred despite an uptick in international prices, reflecting a divergence between domestic and global trends.
In the local market, the price of gold per tola fell by Rs2,200, bringing it down to Rs261,500. Similarly, the price of 10-gram gold witnessed a decrease of Rs1,886, settling at Rs224,194, as per the rates provided by the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA).
This decline comes after a steady increase that saw gold prices reach Rs263,700 per tola on Saturday, following a rise of Rs1,700.
Contrary to the local market trend, the international gold price edged up on Thursday. According to APGJSA, the global rate for gold was reported at $2,516 per ounce, including a premium of $20, marking an increase of $4 during the day.
Despite this rise in international prices, the local market’s reaction suggests other factors at play in determining gold prices in Pakistan.
Meanwhile, silver prices in the local market remained stable, with no change reported. The rate for silver stood firm at Rs2,950 per tola, reflecting a steady demand and supply situation.
This fluctuation in gold prices highlights the complexities of the market, influenced by both domestic and international factors, making it a subject of keen interest for investors and consumers alike.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch has stated that citizens must follow the rules of the country they visit, following the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ex-Member of National Assembly (MNA) Faheem Khan in Saudi Arabia.
When a journalist asked whether Saudi Arabia had released Khan, she responded, “You are a journalist; confirm his arrest or release.”
Earlier, PTI revealed that Saudi Arabia had arrested their former MNA. PTI Karachi alleged that the Pakistani incumbent government was involved in his arrest.
Some claims suggest that Khan was filming a video near the Holy Kaaba on May 9, which may have led to his arrest.
Sindh PTI President Haleem Adil Sheikh said the party is constantly in contact with Khan’s family in efforts to secure his release.
In the latest development of the Sania Zehra murder case, Federal Minister for Law, Azam Nazeer Tarar, has said that the case is pending and the evidence process has been completed.
Talking to the the Senate Functional Committee for Human Rights in Multan, he said that in our country, an autopsy is rarely carried out “Former Prime Minister (PM) Benazir Bhutto’s autopsy was also not allowed.”
He added, “Thankfully, evidence has been collected in the Sania Zehra murder case, and further discourse could affect it.”
He then claimed that he knows his society and remarked, “We live in Pakistan, not Norway.”
“We want everything like the West but do not want to control the population as it has been controlled in the West,” he concluded.
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan’s recent video has left his fans feeling sad.
A video currently going viral on social media was shared by leading paparazzi accounts in India. The video appears to be from an event where Salman Khan was invited as a special guest.
Bollywood actress Sonali Bendre was also present at the event.
According to Indian media, when Sonali arrived at the ceremony, Khan tried to get up from his seat to greet her but struggled.
In the video, Khan can hardly be seen standing up from his seat. He eventually stands, waits for Sonali, hugs her when she arrives, and then sits down.
Fans became emotional after watching the video of Salman. In the comments, they noted that seeing their legends and heroes age makes them feel as though they are aging too.
Khan and Sonali Bendre worked together in the 1999 blockbuster film Hum Saath Saath Hain.
Sajal Aly is known for her amazing performances and as a talented actress. Yesterday, she shared behind-the-scenes pictures from her recent project, Zard Patton Ka Bunn, on Instagram, with the caption: “Sharing some special moments from my ZPKB, where I captured the charm of Bahawalpur through my camera!!!”
In the drama, Sajal Aly plays the character of Meenu, a strong and determined woman who dreams of becoming a doctor. Zard Patton Ka Bunn is a collaborative production of Momina Duraid Production and Kashf Foundation.
Written by Mustafa Afridi and directed by Saife Hassan, the show airs every Sunday at 8:00 PM on HUM TV.
Sajal Aly’s role in Zard Patton Ka Bunn reflects her dedication to telling meaningful stories, and her latest pictures showcase the beauty of Bahawalpur through her camera lens.
