Author: newsdesk

  • JPMorgan warns of temporary PKR depreciation despite strong economic conditions

    JPMorgan warns of temporary PKR depreciation despite strong economic conditions

    Despite a robust Balance of Payments (BoP) position, Pakistan may experience a depreciation of the Pakistani rupee (PKR) in the near term due to the finalisation of outstanding dividend payments, according to a recent report from JPMorgan analysts.

    The report suggests that while the PKR is not perceived as overly expensive, analysts are anticipating more favourable foreign exchange (FX) entry points.

    They also noted that although the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has declared the removal of all FX restrictions, there could still be informal barriers affecting the repatriation of dividends.

    Should these informal restrictions be fully addressed at the commencement of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF), it might lead to a moderate increase in the USD/PKR exchange rate over the coming months. However, analysts expect any such increase to be short-lived due to positive BoP conditions.

    The current environment is seen as a promising opportunity for bullish trades in T-bills and bonds, especially with the anticipated large-scale interest rate cuts by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

    Since the beginning of the year, the PKR’s Nominal Effective Exchange Rate (NEER) has strengthened, reflecting improvements in the BoP, such as higher export revenues, stable remittance flows, and a gradual return of financial inflows.

    Although some concerns persist over foreign currency restrictions that might have artificially dampened FX volatility, the IMF’s latest report from May confirms the removal of remaining FX controls as of late January. This has resulted in a stable PKR with no significant premium in the informal or parallel market.

    Moreover, the import bill has increased only gradually, indicating limited pent-up demand. While the Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER) shows signs of potential overvaluation, it remains far from historical extremes and is expected to adjust downwards as inflation moderates.

    Overall, JPMorgan believes that any negative FX adjustments are likely to be minor, provided there is no significant worsening of the current account balance.

  • Sanam Saeed is a fan of Mahira, Fawad pairing

    Sanam Saeed is a fan of Mahira, Fawad pairing

    Mahira Khan and Fawad Khan, celebrated for their brilliant chemistry in Humsafar, have legions of fans, including Sanam Saeed.
    The talented actress who is reuniting with Fawad Khan after 12 years in the Zee web series Barzakh, told BBC Asian Network, that the Mahira Khan and Fawad Khan jori creates magic on screen.

    “Unlike Mahira Khan and Fawad Khan’s pairing, when I appear on screen with Fawad, people do not feel the same magic, and our pairing does not look as good.”
    While talking about coming together the superstar after more than a decade, she commented, “I myself cannot believe that Fawad Khan and I are working together on screen again after 12 years. But I think fans will be shocked to see us together on screen again after so many years.”

    Talking about different roles, Sanam that as an actor she has to play all kinds of roles. “Viewers should also see me as an actor and understand that I can’t appear in romantic roles every time.”

    The Barzakh actress also said, “Both Mahira Khan and Fawad Khan are beautiful and cute, so their pair looks good. However, Fawad Khan’s interaction with them can be different. It is not necessary that they always appear as a pair.”
    Fawad and Sanam’s last project together was Zindagi Gulzar Hai, which aired on HUMTV in 2012 and was written by Umera Ahmed.

    Bazarkh was released on the ZEE5 YouTube channel. The web series is directed and written by Asim Abbasi.

  • Is Amar Khan getting married soon?

    Is Amar Khan getting married soon?

    It seems that our public’s weird obsession with getting celebrities married off has not ended. At a recent event, famous actress Amar Khan was asked about her marriage plans. The exasperated star replied that she will get married when the right time comes up.

    “This is not something anyone can predict, but [I’ll get married] whenever it is the right time,” she told a reporter.

    When asked if she would ever propose to someone she likes, the ‘Baddua’ actress said it’s important that the other person feels the same way. “It is not about who I like, but it’s important that the other person has similar feelings for me, so I would like to give this opportunity to that individual,” she said.

    Amar also shared that she has received many proposals. She believes in fate and destiny and thinks everyone eventually finds the right person they are meant to be with.

    Talking about the qualities she wants in her future partner, Khan said, “Respect is the most important factor in any relationship. Compatibility, a good sense of humor, and other characteristics are nice, but I believe respect tops all of that. When partners have respect for each other, it gets easier to spend a good life together.”

  • Suspects in Hafizabad gang-rape case arrested

    Suspects in Hafizabad gang-rape case arrested

    The Hafizabad police claim to have arrested five suspects in the gang rape of a woman.

    Dawn reports that the police arrested the suspects during raids carried out in the district and a few other cities and shifted them to the Sukheke police station for interrogation.

    Police claimed that most arrests came in the light of information obtained from the one robber who was caught by the police soon after the rape with the help of geofencing.

    Dawn’s sources reveal that the police also picked up some relatives of the main suspect in order to exert pressure on them to surrender themselves to the police.

    A woman was allegedly gang-raped in front of her husband and three-year-old daughter in Hafizabad while they were going back to their home city, Chiniot, on a motorbike.

    One of the three robbers was arrested shortly after the incident and police teams were assigned the task to trace and arrest the rest of the robbers.

    Read more: Woman gang-raped in front of family while police argued over jurisdiction

  • Guess what a Pakistani air hostess was smuggling in her socks

    Guess what a Pakistani air hostess was smuggling in her socks

    A video of a Pakistani air hostess being detained by police while trying to smuggle cash hidden in her socks has emerged online.

    The incident has raised concerns about security and professionalism among airline staff. There have been numerous issues and blunders involving PIA staff in the recent past, including cases of misconduct and operation failures. But smuggling and such illegal activities are few and far between and instead involve individuals rather than any systemic flaws.

    The uniform the person in the video is wearing resembles that of state carrier PIA.

    Here is the video of Air hotess:

  • Rain on its way to Karachi

    Rain on its way to Karachi

    The Meteorological Department has shared that strong monsoon winds will likely enter Sindh on the night of July 28.

    From July 28 to July 30, rain with thunder is expected in various cities of Sindh, Tharparkar, Umarkot, Badin, Sajawal and other places of Sindh.

    There is a possibility of rain in Karachi, Sukkur, Larkana, Jacobabad and other places from July 29 to 30, while the temperature may increase in Karachi on Sunday and Monday, likely to reach 34 to 36 degrees celsius.

    As per the predictions of weather department, it will be partly cloudy and humid in Karachi on Sunday while there is a possibility of drizzle and light rain in the city tomorrow evening or night.

    From Monday to Tuesday, Karachi will experience thunder and heavy rain in some pockets.

    Today the city is expected to remain cloudy, reports Geo.

    In the last 24 hours, the city’s minimum temperature was recorded at 29.4 degrees Celsius, while the maximum temperature is expected to be between 33 and 35 degrees Celsius.

    Humidity in the air is 82 percent and the sea breeze is blowing at a speed of 11 km per hour.

  • Cambridge International Education takes action after A-Level maths paper leaked in Pakistan

    Cambridge International Education takes action after A-Level maths paper leaked in Pakistan

    Cambridge International Education UK has issued a report regarding the leakage of the A-Level Mathematics paper in Pakistan.

    The paper was reportedly leaked on May 2, and a majority of students in the country had access to it before the exam.

    Cambridge has decided not to award marks for the leaked mathematics exam. Instead, students will receive grades based on their performance in the remaining exams.

    Furthermore, the report specifies that marks will be allocated equitably to all students, ensuring fairness. Students who wish to retake the exam will have the opportunity to do so in November without having to pay a re-examination fee.

  • Ameer JI Naeem ur Rehman says its ‘suspicious’ that PTI candidates want re-elections

    Ameer JI Naeem ur Rehman says its ‘suspicious’ that PTI candidates want re-elections

    Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has hit out at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for demanding re-elections in the country, saying, “Form 45s are available, and if you avoid that and want a re-election then that means something is suspicious.”

    Naeem ur Rehman addressed a large gathering of JI supporters at the party’s sit-in in Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh.

    According to the Chief JI, most PTI candidates have a legitimate case on Form 45s, so asking for re-election would mean “they want a deal as well.”

    He also said, “There are those parties that complain about rigged elections, but in reality, they don’t have a problem with that; they’re complaining because they didn’t get the piece of the pie.”

    Naeem Ur Rehman said that those wanting re-election in the country are “in collusion with them” because it is very straightforward that a legal document (Form 45) is available; it should be utilised.

  • Modernism is not the same as vulgarity: Humaira Ali on feminism

    Modernism is not the same as vulgarity: Humaira Ali on feminism

    Renowned actor and model Humaira Ali thinks the true idea of feminism has been misunderstood.

    In a recent interview on Ahmad Ali Butt’s podcast ‘Excuse Me’, Humaira Ali, known for ‘Tamasha’, talked about feminism and women’s empowerment.

    “For me, feminism means respecting both men and women. No gender should dominate the other. Celebrating femininity is true feminism,” she said.

    “Women should stand up for their rights and be strong. Men and women are different physically, and that’s beautiful. Don’t blur those lines,” added the ‘Ehsaan Faramosh’ actor.

    Ali also shared her thoughts on how feminism is misunderstood today. “I believe the true idea of feminism has been distorted. It’s not about harsh words or vulgarity. There must be a difference between modernism and vulgarity,” she said.

    “It’s not about religion, country, or civilization. A woman should not be depicted badly under feminism,” she concluded.

  • ‘I have indecent videos of Khalil Ur Rehman Qamar’, says main kidnapping suspect

    ‘I have indecent videos of Khalil Ur Rehman Qamar’, says main kidnapping suspect

    The main suspect in the kidnapping of controversial writer Khalil Ur Rehman Qamar has claimed to Aik News HD’s Syed Haider Ali that he has two videos of Qamar, each one and a half hours long, where he wants to get intimate with the woman who honey-trapped him.

    Hassan Raza, the main suspect, introduced himself as a real estate agent. He affirmed that he is in possession of a video where Qamar is drinking alcohol and swearing while being drunk. He said that the police have taken all the video evidence from his place. However, he is still in possession of a memory card that contains videos of Qamar.

    Raza proclaimed that Khalil has lied to the police and hoped the police will listen to him.

    The anchor then asked, “Is it true that Qamar came on his own and the woman did not convince the writer to meet with her to discuss the drama project?” To which Raza replied, “Regarding Amna, Qamar kept kissing her feet. He filed an FIR against us to obtain all these videos.”

    The anchor further asked, “According to the police, you used the woman to honey trap Qamar, is the police not telling the truth?”

    The culprit replied that Qamar did everything himself. “He used to message Amna first. If the police get the call data record (CDR) of Qamar’s phone, they will find out who is guilty.”