Author: newsdesk

  • Party number game: what’s going on right now

    Party number game: what’s going on right now

    PTI will form a government in centre, says Barrister Gohar Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) acting chairman, Barrister Gohar Khan, has said that PTI will form the government in the centre. He also said that PTI-backed candidates are leading in the 2024 election, adding that according to Form 45 received by the party, PTI-supported candidates have won 170 National Assembly seats so far.

    He rejected the possibility of accepting PML-N head Nawaz Sharif’s offer to all parties to get together to form a government.

    MQM wants Shehbaz to come to Karachi to ‘manao’ them

    Muttahida Quami Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Khalid Maqbool Siddique has asked former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif to come to Karachi to discuss the post-election situation and the possibility of forming a coalition.
    According to the results of the 2024 elections, MQM-P has won 17 National Assembly (NA) seats, making it an important stakeholder in forming a government.

    Not in touch with the PTI Independents, waiting for all votes to be counted: Bilawal BhuttoPakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal avoided questions about forming an alliance with the PMLN or PTI-backed Independents, hinting that it isn’t going to be an easy process to make a PDM.

    The former Foreign Minister avoided questions about forming an alliance with the PMLN or PTI-backed Independents, hinting that it isn’t going to be an easy process to make a PDM version 2.0.

    Bilawal Bhutto said that the PPP is not in touch with the PTI-backed candidates but is waiting for all election results before it takes any decision, adding that PPP is not in the position right now to announce anything.

    The PPP chairman said that it is also important to see what independent candidates decide before making any major decision.

    PTI has not decided who will be its candidate for Prime Minister, although it should be Khan: Waleed IqbalPakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Waleed Iqbal said, while talking to Geo News that PTI has not yet finalised its candidate for Prime Minister. He also said that, while he believes the candidate should be Imran Khan, the decision will be taken after consulting with the former prime minister.

    However, Khan cannot be a candidate for Prime Minister since he has been disqualified, did not run for election, and is currently serving a jail sentence in three cases.

    MQM heading to Lahore to meet NawazMuttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s (MQM-P) delegation is heading to Lahore on the invitation of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for a post-election meeting.

    The delegation includes Governor Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, and Farooq Sattar.

    Earlier, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Asif Ali Zardari also met Shehbaz Sharif in Lahore.

    On the other hand, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Mariam Aurangzeb said that PML-N has no intention to talk to PTI-backed candidates to form a government.

  • What has Imran Khan’s son said about the general elections?

    What has Imran Khan’s son said about the general elections?

    Imran Khan’s sons, Kasim and Suleiman Khan, had urged people to vote in the 2024 general elections in Pakistan, held on February 8. They shared their message on Twitter, asking everyone to vote and get their friends and family to do the same.
    The two posted a picture holding the PTI flag and said, “Tomorrow is a big day for Pakistan. Your vote is important because it is your future.” They asked people to make a video saying they voted for PTI and share it on social media with #votePTI.
    Their tweet quickly became popular online, showing how their message resonated with many. By encouraging people to support PTI, they hope to make a difference in the upcoming elections and remind everyone of the importance of voting in democracy.

    And after polling he took to X (formerly twitter) and said, “Thank You all for voting PTI”

  • Mohsin Dawar injured in a firing incident

    Mohsin Dawar injured in a firing incident

    Leader of the National Democratic Movement (NDM), Mohsin Dawar, has sustained severe injuries in a gunfire attack.

    Party officials claimed that police officials targeted Dawar as he entered a government compound along with a group of people, protesting delays in result.

    He was sitting outside the RO office for two nights and decided to enter the office today after three days of delay.

    Dawar has been a member of the National Assembly from August 2018 until August 2023.

  • Indian actor says Pakistani content is better than Indian content

    Indian actor says Pakistani content is better than Indian content

    Pakistani TV shows are getting more and more popular worldwide, and especially across the border in India. All our hit shows are not just avidly followed here but also across the border. Indian TV channels and media might just be fretting that their own shows aren’t as popular as they used to be.
    Indian actor Sushant Singh recently talked to the media about this. “Our neighbouring country, Pakistan, who we usually see as our enemy, is making amazing TV shows. Just look at their shows and then look at ours. What are we giving to the people? Why are we making low-quality shows? When people criticize our shows, why aren’t we trying to improve? Are we going to keep making the same kind of shows? What message are we sending to actors and viewers — to watch our shows or to stop watching because we won’t change? Don’t we want to get better? We’ve made great shows despite tough conditions, and we should keep striving for better quality,” he said.

    He also stressed the importance of actors’ voices being heard.

  • PKR registers only 0.92% rise against US dollar since the onset of 2024

    PKR registers only 0.92% rise against US dollar since the onset of 2024

    The Pakistani rupee (PKR) maintained its upward trajectory for the 13th consecutive week, gaining 12.88 paisa against the US dollar and settling at PKR 279.28 per USD.

    This positive momentum marks a notable shift from the previous week’s closing rate of PKR 279.41 per USD.

    Analysing the broader financial trends, the PKR has appreciated against the US dollar by 6.71 rupees, or 2.4 per cent, during the current financial year. Looking at the calendar year, the PKR has shown a gain of 2.58 rupees, or 0.92 per cent.

    Friday’s trading session witnessed the PKR displaying strength as it appreciated by over 6 paisa. The intraday high (bid) reached 279.9, while the low (ask) touched 279.6, showcasing the currency’s resilience in the face of market fluctuations.

    In the open market, exchange companies quoted buying rates at 278.89 and selling rates at 281, contributing to the overall positive sentiment surrounding the PKR.

    Comparatively, against major currencies, the PKR experienced a marginal loss of 26.91 paisa against the Euro, closing at 300.87.

    Meanwhile, the British Pound became more affordable by 20.31 paisa, closing at 352.33. The Swiss Franc saw a decline of 1.59 rupees, closing at 318.89, and against the Japanese Yen, the PKR gained 1.71 paisa, closing at 1.8695.

    In the global currency market, the Chinese Yuan lost 0.4 paisa, closing at 38.82, while the Saudi Riyal closed at 74.47, experiencing a marginal loss of 1.43 paisa. The U.A.E. dirham also saw a decrease in value of 1.57 paisa, settling at 76.05.

    Shifting focus to the money market, the benchmark 6-month Karachi Interbank bid and offer rates experienced a 9 basis point increase, reaching 21.05 per cent and 21.3 per cent, respectively.

    This upward movement in yields follows the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) maintaining the policy rate at 22 per cent for the fifth consecutive meeting, contributing to the evolving financial landscape.

  • Pakistan’s forex reserves dip by $173 million, SBP cites debt repayments

    Pakistan’s forex reserves dip by $173 million, SBP cites debt repayments

    The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has reported a decrease of $173 million in its foreign exchange reserves on a weekly basis, revealing a total of $8.04 billion as of February 2, according to data released on Thursday.

    The country’s overall liquid foreign reserves are reported to stand at $13.09 billion, with commercial banks holding net foreign reserves amounting to $5.05 billion.

    The SBP has identified debt repayments as the primary factor contributing to the decline in reserves. In an official statement, the SBP stated, “During the week ending on 2-Feb-2024, SBP’s reserves decreased by US$ 173 million to US$ 8,044.0 million due to debt repayments.”

    This follows a trend from the previous week when Pakistan’s central bank reserves experienced a decrease of $54 million. The ongoing challenges related to debt servicing continue to impact the nation’s foreign exchange reserves.

  • Gold prices in Pakistan remain unaffected by political uncertainties

    Gold prices in Pakistan remain unaffected by political uncertainties

    Despite political uncertainties, the domestic bullion market exhibited stability, with 24-karat gold maintaining its price at Rs215,500 on Friday, showing no deviation from the previous session.

    This stability is indicative of the domestic gold market functioning normally, aligning with international gold rates and the exchange rate.

    The Karachi Sarafa Association reported that the prices of 10-gramme 24-karat gold and 10-gramme 22-karat gold also remained constant at Rs184,756 and Rs169,360, respectively.

    Similarly, silver prices showed resilience in the domestic market, with 24-karat silver being traded at Rs2,600 per tola and Rs2,229.08 per 10-gramme.

    On the global stage, the international spot gold exhibited minimal fluctuations, standing at $2,033.5 as of 12:40 pm.

    This stability in both domestic and international markets suggests a steady scenario despite the prevailing political uncertainties.

  • Election 2024: Meme game going strong

    Election 2024: Meme game going strong

    Polling day is over but the results are STILL not released in full and voters are fed up. They’re dealing with the delay in the best way they know, with memes about politics. The memes are spreading quickly on social media like Facebook and Twitter.
    Check out a few below:

  • What does Maryam Nawaz have against anchors?

    What does Maryam Nawaz have against anchors?

    Maryam Nawaz breaks silence at 3:08AM. The night of the general election of Pakistan, PML-N’s Maryam Nawaz who is also a candidate from Lahore has retweeted a tweet by a twitter handle, Faisal Ranjha, who tweeted: This chaos is created by Suited, booted anchors sitting in cozy studios.

    She reposted the tweet at 3:08AM on Friday morning, causing an uproar on the media. Election results are still awaited as the country waits to find out who the new Prime Minister of Pakistan will be. According to the election results so far, independent candidates backed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are leading.

  • Mobile signals are restored in Karachi, not in Lahore

    Mobile signals are restored in Karachi, not in Lahore

    Senior Journalist Gharidah Farooqi wrote in her post on X (previously Twitter) that mobile signals are restored in Karachi but are still suspended in Lahore.

    It’s election night in Pakistan, but mobile signals have been suspended in Lahore for almost 20 hours. According to the election results so far, independent candidates backed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are leading.