Author: newsdesk

  • Gold price drops by Rs1,400 to Rs241,500 per tola

    Gold price drops by Rs1,400 to Rs241,500 per tola

    In a significant turn of events, gold prices in Pakistan fell on Saturday, aligning with a downward trend in the international market.

    The price of gold per tola dropped by Rs1,400, settling at Rs241,500, as reported by the All Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA).

    Similarly, the price of 10 grammes of gold decreased by Rs1,201, reaching Rs207,047. This decline follows a notable rise on Friday when the price per tola had surged by Rs1,600 to hit Rs242,900.

    On the international stage, gold prices also saw a decline on Saturday. According to the APGJSA, the international rate was set at $2,320 per ounce, including a $20 premium, after experiencing a $43 drop during the day.

    Contrarily, silver prices showed an upward trend in the local market, increasing by Rs100 to reach Rs2,850 per tola.

    It is noteworthy that gold prices had previously peaked in April, hitting an all-time high of Rs252,200 per tola in Pakistan.

    The recent fluctuations highlight the ongoing volatility in both local and international precious metals markets.

  • Anger after fireworks trigger Greek forest fire

    Anger after fireworks trigger Greek forest fire

    Firefighters said Saturday that fireworks launched from a yacht started a forest fire on the Greek tourist island of Hydra, near Athens, sparking widespread anger.

    The fire, which started on Friday evening, has been brought under control, authorities said.

    The blaze was “caused by a fireworks launched from a boat and burned the only pine forest on the island in a place that is difficult to access and has no road,” said the island’s seasonal firefighting team on Facebook.

    The island’s mayor, Giorgos Koukoudakis, told public television channel ERT that he was “outraged that certain people are starting fires in such an irresponsible manner.”

    The news also sparked fury on social media.

    Greece has recently toughened penalties for arson, with perpetrators now facing up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to 200,000 euros.

    The country has been bracing for a particularly difficult summer as authorities warned that strong winds and high temperatures mean there was a “very high risk” of forest fires.

    The Mediterranean country recorded its first heatwave of the year last week, with temperatures passing more than 44 degrees Celsius (111 degrees Fahrenheit) in some locations.

    Greek firefighters on Friday battled wildfires fanned by three days of fierce winds that left at least one person dead.

    Last year, a fierce two-week heatwave was followed by devastating wildfires in which 20 people died.

    Scientists warn that human-caused fossil fuel emissions are worsening the length and intensity of heat waves worldwide.

    Rising temperatures are leading to extended wildfire seasons and increasing the area burnt by the blazes, according to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

  • Imran Khan writing book in jail, journalist Zahid Gishkori reveals

    Imran Khan writing book in jail, journalist Zahid Gishkori reveals

    Senior journalist Zahid Ghishkori has revealed on Neo TV on Friday that incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan is writing a book in Adiala Jail.

    A close friend of the PTI founder stated that Khan has been dedicatedly writing the book over the past few months, adding that the book will be about Khan’s achievements and highlights of his political career.

    According to the journalist, Khan has already completed the 300-page book, but it is not clear whether he will publish it after his release or during incarceration.

    Gishkori confirmed that the book’s does not have a title as yet, but he was of the opinion that wide audiences will relate with the topics and stories in the book.

    Gishkori also predicted that the book will be a bestseller and might set new sales records.

  • ‘I chose music over marriage’; Shazia Manzoor on staying single

    ‘I chose music over marriage’; Shazia Manzoor on staying single

    The queen of soulful singing, Shazia Manzoor, is back with a bang on our airwaves, belting out Coke Studio’s latest single ‘Turri Jandi’.

    The iconic singer ruled the music industry for years, but kept a low profile, choosing to mostly keep her private life away from the limelight.

    Which is why she has stunned fans with her candid confessions in a revealing interview with Sohail Warraich on Aik Din Geo Ke Saath.

    The veteran journalist asked her, “You are the only child of your parents. Why did you not get married?”
    Shazia replied, “I told my parents that I’ve decided not to get married, and it was a surprise to them.” She continued to say, “I believe an artist’s marriage is to their art. Those who love their profession often find their first love in it.”

    The crooner then said that she had dedicated herself to her career. “Perhaps I didn’t give marriage the attention it deserved during that time. I’m a human with my own desires and emotions, but circumstances didn’t allow my relationships to progress. However, I have no regrets about these choices.”
    Shazia Manzoor was formerly engaged to someone in her family, but the engagement ended when she began her singing career.

    She concluded, “I haven’t given up on the idea of marriage altogether. If I find the right person, I would definitely consider it.”

  • Pakistan’s first Human Milk Bank in Sindh suspended

    Pakistan’s first Human Milk Bank in Sindh suspended

    Following a recently revised fatwa from Dar ul Uloom Karachi, the Sindh Institute of Child Health and Neonatology (SICHN) in Karachi announced on Friday the suspension of its ‘Human Milk Bank’ and referred the matter to the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) for further guidance.

    “Initially, the Human Milk Bank was established after seeing and receiving a fatwa from Darul Uloom Karachi, which provides religious endorsement to proceed,” the notification stated, elaborating on the basis of establishing SICHN.

    However, a recently revised fatwa issued by Darul Uloom Karachi dated June 16, 2024, has prompted SICHN to discontinue the functionality of the Human Milk Bank and seek further guidance from Dar ul Uloom.

    Pakistan’s first Shariah-compliant Human Milk Bank and Early Childhood Center at SICHN was inaugurated on June 10 by Sindh Health Minister Dr. Azra Pechuho, along with officials from UNICEF and the Pakistan Pediatric Association (PPA).

    It was intended to provide breast milk to babies “born before 34 weeks of gestation or less than 2 kg of weight” who could not receive the required nutrition from their mothers.

    The official statement also highlighted details of the fatwa, issued on December 25, 2023, that were made conditional for the endorsement of the milk bank, e.g., that Muslim children only be given Muslim women’s milk, ensuring kinship, hygiene, and that this service should be provided free of cost.

    However, the recent fatwa available on Dar ul Uloom Karachi’s official website includes a detailed analysis of the establishment of a milk bank that did not comply with Shariah laws because of the hard maintenance of the concept of kinship and other religious concerns.

  • Swat blasphemy lynching; ‘Whoever kills is a murderer’ says religious scholar Assim Alhakeem

    Swat blasphemy lynching; ‘Whoever kills is a murderer’ says religious scholar Assim Alhakeem

    Religious extremism and mob vigilantism across the country are on the rise. With the recent instance of the mob lynching of a man accused of blasphemy in Swat, a Twitter user asked renowned Saudi cleric Assim Alhakeem whether killing a person who has committed blasphemy is allowed in Islam.

    The religious scholar replied, “This is prohibited and whoever does this is a murderer and must be executed by the Muslim ruler if the heirs of the victim demands a life for a life.”

    On Thursday night, a violent mob invaded the police station in Swat where the suspect had been taken into custody, assaulting him till he died, then burned his body in the Madyan area of Swat district.

  • Over 12 hours of electricity load shedding in Karachi

    Over 12 hours of electricity load shedding in Karachi

    Amid intense heat, Karachi continues to face severe electricity load shedding lasting between 12 and 14 hours. Despite the challenging weather, unannounced power cuts persist throughout the city, extending well past 2 am in many areas.

    Neighbourhoods such as Lyari, Kemari, Sarjani, Baldia Town, and Orangi endure prolonged load shedding, with interruptions lasting up to 14 hours. Similarly, Gizri, Korangi, Landhi, Liaquatabad, Qayyumabad, and Shadman experience more than 10 hours of power cuts. In Malir, Memongoth, North Karachi, and North Nazimabad, residents face load shedding exceeding 12 hours.

    In response to these challenges, a spokesperson for Karachi Electric maintains that power supply across the city remains normal, despite reports of extensive and prolonged interruptions in various neighbourhoods.

  • PTI demands court martial for Gen Bajwa

    PTI demands court martial for Gen Bajwa

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has demanded on Friday that former army chief Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa should be held accountable for violating his oath.

    PTI made the demand after former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Muhammad Zubair claimed that Bajwa was in contact with PML-N president Nawaz Sharif two months before the ouster of incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

    Zubair said on Kashif Abbasi’s show that Nawaz Sharif and the former army chief met multiple times in London.

    Following Zubair’s revelations, PTI demanded that the former army chief should be court-martialled for “dragging the military into politics, tainting its reputation, and putting national security at risk.”

    PTI said in its press release that “Jati Umra elites” are responsible for every conspiracy against the constitution, law and democracy in the country.

    The party allegedly blamed Bajwa by saing “Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa is a national criminal in every respect as he put the institution of army, country, Constitution and democracy at stake for his personal interest.”

  • More than 1200 students illegally admitted to 15 medical, dental colleges

    More than 1200 students illegally admitted to 15 medical, dental colleges

    New reports reveal that 15 medical and dental colleges across Pakistan have illegally admitted students.

    According to officials from the federal health ministry, last year, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) had barred admissions to 15 medical and dental colleges, where over 1200 students are currently enrolled.

    Officials reported that despite warnings from the PMDC, these colleges granted illegal admissions to students. Previously, 15 medical colleges had received partial approval from the former Pakistan Medical Commission, while charging students fees and other expenses totaling over one billion.

    The colleges in question are located in Karachi, Sanghar, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar. The FIA (Federal Investigation Agency) is currently investigating 18 medical and dental colleges implicated in the admissions scandal.

  • Dr. Sania Nishtar’s dual roles as Senator and CEO

    Dr. Sania Nishtar’s dual roles as Senator and CEO

    Dr Sania Nishtar, elected as a senator in 2021 on a PTI ticket, recently took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a picture of her shaking hands with French President Emmanuel Macron, thanking him for co-hosting the launch of her organisation Gavi’s investment event.

    Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is an international organisation created in 2000 to improve access to new and underused vaccines for children living in the world’s poorest countries. Sania Nishtar was appointed its CEO in 2024.

    The mission statement on its official website reads, “AS PART OF ITS MISSION TO SAVE LIVES AND PROTECT PEOPLE’S HEALTH BY INCREASING EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF VACCINES, GAVI HAS HELPED VACCINATE MORE THAN 1 BILLION CHILDREN IN 78 LOWER-INCOME COUNTRIES, PREVENTING MORE THAN 17.3 MILLION FUTURE DEATHS.”

    However, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Anny Marri quoted her tweet with strong criticism that Nishtar is a serving senator while also serving the interests of her own company.

    She wrote, “Pakistan’s senator so diligently serving Gavi’s interests as their CEO! Guess serving an international pay master while being a member of Pakistan’s upper house seems just fine to her. But maybe she can sometimes deign to attend the Senate from where she gets paid every month?!”

    Furthermore, an X user asked Marri whether Nishtar had resigned, to which the PPP senator replied, “No, no. Not only did she not resign, she’s getting paid by Senate every month. To be free of the burden of conscience – must be a great feeling. Seems these guys have a monopoly over it.”