Current interim Chief Minister of Punjab, Mohsin Naqvi has been appointed as Appointed Head of Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman (PCB) Management Committee.
In the past 13 months, the Pakistan Cricket Board has got its fourth new chairman. After accepting the resignation of former PCB Management Committee Chairman Zaka Ashraf, Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar has nominated Mohsin Naqvi as his candidate in the PCB Governing Body.
According to the PCB constitution, Election Commissioner Khawar Shah will form a 10-member board of governors as the interim chairman, with Mustafa Ramday as the other representative of the prime minister.
Mohsin Naqvi will no longer be caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab after the general elections. After this, he will participate in the election of PCB chairman and become a strong candidate to become the head of the cricket board for three years.
On January 19, Zaka Ashraf resigned from the post of PCB chairman, after serving in the post since July last year. He was initially appointed for four months and later, his tenure was extended by caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar till ODI World Cup 2023.
Amid the increase in trade of non-duty-paid cigarettes, representatives from the Pakistan Tobacco Company (PTC) on Monday expressed profound apprehensions regarding the sustainability of their business.
They attributed their concerns to ‘inappropriate’ policy measures.
The recently released data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) Large Scale Manufacturing (LSM) Index unveiled a significant and alarming trend within the legitimate tobacco sector.
According to the report, the production of the legitimate tobacco sector experienced a forty-fold decline compared to the overall LSM output between July 2023 and November 2023.
Interestingly, despite this decline, the consumption of cigarettes has remained stagnant.
This troubling trend highlights the adverse impact of policy decisions that disproportionately affect the legitimate tobacco industry.
The representatives emphasised the necessity for a comprehensive and balanced approach to ensure a level playing field for the sector, ultimately securing its long-term sustainability.
Despite the implementation of a Track and Trace System (TTS), the representatives pointed out the rising incidence of fake stamps being affixed to counterfeit packs of leading cigarette brands.
According to APP, Qasim Tariq, Senior Business Development Manager, revealed that approximately 850 million counterfeit cigarette sticks are currently being sold across Pakistan, resulting in a substantial loss of around Rs5.7 billion.
This rise in counterfeiting raises serious questions about the efficacy of the much-lauded track and trace system, which is yet to be implemented across local cigarette manufacturers in Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
The representatives urged law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to conduct extensive enforcement at the retail level to tackle this growing menace.
Additionally, the representatives expressed concerns about a recent misleading report circulating in the media regarding missed revenue collection by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
They refuted the claims in the report, stating that they are not only false but also raise questions about the intentions behind publishing such information.
The report suggested that the illicit sector is less than 10 per cent across Pakistan, contradicting the FBR’s claim of illicit trade being over 36.5 per cent for the period in question.
Furthermore, the report alleged that government revenue declined due to fiscal changes in the excise structure but failed to present the complete picture.
The representatives clarified that from 2012–16, the government switched to a 2-tier structure from a 3-tier structure, causing revenues to fall by more than 25 per cent.
The subsequent increase in excise in 2015-16 led to illicit trade hovering close to 50 per cent of the market. To combat this, the government reintroduced a 3-tier system, increasing revenues by more than 40 per cent and discouraging the illicit cigarette trade.
The representatives emphasised the need for an extensive government-led national anti-illicit trade strategy, effective fiscal measures, and strict enforcement against illicit trade across the value chain, with a key focus on the retail level.
In Monday’s trading, the per-tola price of 24 karat gold in Pakistan witnessed a decrease, dropping by Rs600 to Rs215,700, as reported by the All Sindh Sarafa Jewellers Association.
This marks a slight dip compared to its previous sale at Rs215,300.
Similarly, the cost of 10 grammes of 24 karat gold experienced a decline of Rs514, settling at Rs184,071, down from Rs184,585. The price of 10 grammes of 22 karat gold also saw a reduction to Rs168,731 from Rs169,203.
Meanwhile, the silver market remained stable, with the per tola and ten-gramme prices maintaining their positions at Rs2,600 and Rs22,229.08, respectively.
On the international front, the price of gold took a downward turn, decreasing by $8 to $2,042 from $2,050, according to the association’s report.
In Monday’s interbank session, the Pakistani rupee (PKR) exhibited a slight appreciation of 4.51 paisa against the US dollar (USD), settling at PKR 279.85 per USD, compared to the previous closing of PKR 279.9 per USD. The intraday fluctuations showed a bid high of Rs280.1 and an ask low of Rs279.8.
In the open market, exchange companies quoted the dollar at 279 for buying and 281 for selling. Notably, Pakistan received the second installment of SDR 528 million, equivalent to $705.6 million, from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last week.
The first review report under the standby arrangement emphasised the importance of market-determined exchange rates and the gradual development of the foreign exchange (FX) market.
Against major currencies, the PKR experienced fluctuations:
Euro: lost 37.07 paisa, closing at 304.84 compared to the previous value of 304.47.
British Pound: increased by 39.06 paisa, closing at 355.33 compared to 354.94 from a day ago.
Swiss Franc: Saw losses of 20.03 paisa, closing at 322.08 compared to 322.28 in the previous session.
Japanese yen: lost 0.19 paisa, closing at 1.8895 versus 1.8876 a day ago.
Chinese Yuan: Lost 2.38 paisa, closing at 38.89 against 38.91 from the previous session.
Saudi Riyal: Closed at 74.62 with a loss of 1.2 paisa from its value of 74.63 a day ago.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) head and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif addressed an election rally in Mansehra, where he is also contesting in the general elections set to take place on February 8, 2024.
PML-N leader and husband of the party’s vice president, Maryam Nawaz, Capt (retd) Mohammad Safdar, was the chief organiser of today’s rally in Mansehra.
Nawaz Sharif said, “If I had not been disqualified, even the people of Mansehra would have the facility of a metro bus service.”
The PML-N supremo criticised his political opponents for ruining the country’s economy, adding that “Nawaz Sharif left a better Pakistan.”
Mansehra is the stronghold of PML-N, as the party won seats there in the 2013 and 2018 polls.
After Nawaz Sharif’s return to Pakistan, he has been acquitted in two major corruption cases, clearing the way for his participation in the upcoming general elections set to take place on February 8.
Islamabad Police’s Inspector General, Dr. Akbar Nasir Khan, has stated that the security situation in Islamabad is “under control”.
His statement comes hours after it was reported by news platforms that educational institutions were unexpectedly shut over security concerns.
Arab News reveals that parents received messages from schools on Monday morning “urging them to pick their children a few hours after they had dropped them off” for reasons pertaining to their “safety and security.”
According to IG Islamabad, however, the situation is under control.
“I would like to inform you that the security and law and order situation in Islamabad is currently under control,” Dr. Khan said in a video message posted on X (formerly Twitter).
“As of now, there is no situation which should cause you to bring about any change in your [routine regarding] schools and colleges and usual way of life out of fear,” he added.
He added that citizens should avoid moves that could threaten the security of the city.
On Monday morning, several educational institutes located in Islamabad reportedly closed until further notice amid security concerns.
Educational institutions and universities in Islamabad have been closed for today amidst security concerns after LEAs flag credible intelligence of a Female suicide bomber who could be used to target educational institutions in the city. #Pakistan
According to news reports, Bahria University, Air University, and National Defence University were shut down. Security, in particular areas of and around Margalla road, F-8, and F-10, had been beefed up.
However, according to ARY News, a number of other schools and colleges were also shut down, adding that sources reported that threat alert suggested that ‘terror attacks’ were to be carried out by “female suicide bombers affiliated with the banned organisations between January 22-24″.
Geo News reported that according to the Islamabad Police, security was already tight due to the upcoming elections and protests outside the Press Club. Additionally, search operations were conducted yesternight in certain areas.
Following Operation Marg Bar Sarmachar, Pakistan and Iran have mutually agreed that ambassadors of both countries will return to their respective posts by January 26, 2024 and the Iranian Foreign Minister is going to visit on January 29, 2024.
In a joint statement issued on Monday, the Foreign Office said that at the invitation of Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani, his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir Abdollahian will undertake a visit to Pakistan on January 29.
In a post on X, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Iran Mudassir Tipu said he was “so delighted that leaderships of both Pakistan and Iran so deftly handled a challenging moment astutely- swiftly putting relations back on track”.
I am so delighted that leaderships of both and so deftly handled a challenging moment astutely- swiftly putting relations back on track. We have great potential ahead & both brotherly countries must collectively promote peace & development in region .
Along with that the Foreign Office (FO) said on Monday that Iran’s foreign minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian would visit Pakistan on January 29.
The visit comes days after tensions escalated between the two countries following an Iranian air strike in Pakistan, leading Islamabad to strike terrorist hideouts in the neighbouring country’s Sistan-Baluchestan province.
“Following the telephone conversation between the foreign ministers of Pakistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran, it has been mutually agreed that ambassadors of both countries may return to their respective posts by January 26, 2024,” the FO said in a statement.
The FO said that the Iranian foreign minister would travel to Pakistan on Jan 29 at the invitation of FM Jilani.
: PR NO. 2️⃣3️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣4️⃣
Joint Press Statement of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran
Previously, Pakistan has targeted terrorist hideouts inside Iran in response to the violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard that killed two children and injured three girls.
Hideouts used by terrorist organisations namely Balochistan Liberation Army and Balochistan Liberation Front were successfully struck in an intelligence based operation, code name ‘Marg Bar Sarmachar’, ISPR has stated in a recently released statement.
According to a statement by the Foreign Office (FO), a number of terrorists were killed during the intelligence-based operation codenamed ‘Marg Bar Sarmachar’. Meanwhile, Iran’s IRNA news agency reported that nine people, including seven “non-Iranian nationals”, were killed in the strike targeting a village near the city of Saravan.
The Khorasan Diary reported, that “7 BLF millitants involved in attacks in Pakistan have been killed/injured in Pakistan’s strikes in Iran.”
7 BLF MILITANTS INVOLVED IN ATTACKS IN PAKISTAN HAVE BEEN KILLED/INJURED IN PAKISTANS STRIKES IN IRAN.
A top Pakistani security official told The Khorasan Diary that 7 militants wanted to Pakistan have been killed or injured in the strike in Shamesar, Iran.
In a video posted, it can be seen the damage caused by Pakistani Strikes in approximately 200 kilometres away from PAK-Iran border.
TKD MONITORING: A video uploaded by news outlets of Saravan city at dawn shows at least one site hit by Pakistan early this morning. Multiple bodies are under the debris it states. Saravan city in Sistan wa Balochistan province of Iran is approximately 200 kilometres from… pic.twitter.com/LrLr58iMBO
Publication The Khorasan Diary also claimed that Jaishul Adal, the same militant group, Iran claimed to have targeted has taken the responsibility for the attack on Saravan Corps of Sistan Wa Baluchistan province, Colonel Hossein Ali Javadanfar, adding that the security official was assassinated along with two of his guards.”
ALERT: The deputy commander of the Saravan Corps of Sistan Wa Baluchistan province, Colonel Hossein Ali Javadanfar, was shot dead when he was returning from an administrative mission on the Khash-Zahedan road, Iran. Iranian state media reported. Jaishul Adal, a militant group… pic.twitter.com/LiizDcCVFT
Previously, The Iranian strikes were part of a series of attacks carried out by the country in recent days in Syria and Iraq as a response to recent terrorist attacks on its territory. They have heightened concerns about regional stability, particularly amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
Pakistan undertook a series of highly coordinated and specifically targeted precision military strikes against terrorist hideouts in Siestan-o-Baluchistan province of Iran. A number of terrorists were killed during the Intelligence-based operation – codenamed ‘Marg Bar Sarmachar’, says the official statement released by the Foreign Office of Pakistan.
“Last night’s unprovoked and blatant breach of Pakistan’s sovereignty by Iran is a violation of international law and the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,” FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in a statement on Wednesday.
A context to the response by the Foreign Office
Foreign Ofiice of Pakistan provided a detailed context to Operation Marg Bar Sarmachar.
“Over the last several years, in our engagements with Iran, Pakistan has consistently shared its serious concerns about the safe havens and sanctuaries enjoyed by Pakistani origin terrorists calling themselves Sarmachars on the ungoverned spaces inside Iran. Pakistan also shared multiple dossiers with concrete evidence of the presence and activities of these terrorists. However, because of lack of action on our serious concerns, these so-called Sarmachars continued to spill the blood of innocent Pakistanis with impunity. This morning’s action was taken in light of credible intelligence of impending large-scale terrorist activities by these so called Sarmachars,” the statement read.
The Foreign Office described the action as a part of its resolve to “defend its national security against all threats.” Moreover it mainatianed that “Pakistan fully respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The sole objective of today’s act was in pursuit of Pakistan’s own security and national interest which is paramount and cannot be compromised.”
Strict monitoring of Air Space
Geo News’ Azaz Syed quotes Civil Aviation Authority that amid the escalation of tensions in Islamabad-Tehran ties, Pakistan has started strict monitoring of all flights from the West including Iran.
Meeting of Foreign Minister with Iranian Counterpart
Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani Wednesday told his Irani counterpart that no country should follow its path of launching an attack on a neighbouring nation’s soil against the menace of terrorism unilaterally.
“No country in the region should tread this perilous path,” Jilani told Iran’s FM Hossein Amir-Abdollahian during a telephone call hours after Tehran claimed it had targeted “terrorists” in Pakistan.
Iranian response
There is a group called Jaishal Adal, which is an Iranian terrorist group that have taken refuge on Pakistan-Iran border. Several times we have talked to Pakistani security officials that this group killed our security personnel and we responded by killing Iranian terrorist on Pakistani soil. I have spoken to my Pakistani counterpart, the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, we do respect the sovereignty of Pakistan but we don’t allow our national security be compromised and be played with. We have no hesitations when it comes to our national interest and those terrorist groups inside Pakistan and those affiliated with Israel” the Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said while speaking in Davos at The World Economic Forum.
WE RESPECT PAKISTANS SOVEREIGNTY BUT WILL NOT COMPROMISE ON OUR NATIONAL SECURITY SAYS IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER
There is a group called Jaishal Adal, which is an Iranian terrorist group that have taken refuse on Pakistan-Iran border. Several times we have talked to Pakistani… pic.twitter.com/NHLrTyCwqn
India India in a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs said, “This is a matter between Iran and Pakistan. Insofar as India is concerned, we have an uncompromising position of zero tolerance towards terrorism. We understand actions that countries take in their self-defence.”
China, close partners of Iran and Pakistan, urged restraint, with foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning saying both should “avoid actions that would lead to an escalation of tension”.
United States of America
The United States, meanwhile, condemned the Iranian strikes in Pakistan, Iraq and Syria, with State Department spokesman Matthew Miller saying Tehran had violated the “sovereign borders of three of its neighbours in just the past couple of days”.
Caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi stated on Monday that the government has identified over 500 social media accounts involved in a campaign against the judiciary.
“Action will be taken against those involved in the recent malicious campaign against Supreme Court (SC) judges, in accordance with the law and constitution,” he said, talking to media in Islamabad while he was flanked by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials.
Solangi said that after the decision of the SC on the electoral symbol “bat” of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), a vicious campaign was started against the judiciary.
“Article 19 of the Constitution marks a boundary for freedom of speech,” he stated.
On the other hand, PTA officials said that it has the authority to remove objectionable content from social media. He also said that awareness regarding the use of social media is essential, as most people spread lies on social media platforms without any authentic information.
“Social media’s outreach is enormous and easy, but people are not aware of its utility,” he said.
Famous actor Sajid Hasan joined the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) on Sunday. The party’s Sindh President, Mahmood Molvi, officially welcomed him in a ceremony where Sajid Hasan received the party flag.
During the event, Sajid Hasan talked about the importance of politics that brings people together instead of creating divisions. “Now we think it’s the right time to do something meaningful for the young generation and the country.”
شوبز کی معروف شخصیت ساجد حسن استحکام پاکستان پارٹی میں شامل, صوبائی صدر محمود مولوی نے ساجد حسن کو پارٹی پرچم مفلر پہنا کر پارٹی میں خوش آمدید کہا، استحکام پاکستان پارٹی کے جنرل سیکریٹری علی جونیجو، سید علی حسین نقوی، رضوان خان، مسرت شاہ اور دیگر بھی موجود.#IPP#IPPSindh… pic.twitter.com/xWxzZRwtYH
— Istehkam-E-Pakistan Party – Sindh Chapter (@IPPSindh) January 21, 2024
Mahmood Molvi warmly greeted Sajid Hasan, recognizing his significant presence in both the entertainment industry and the business sector.
Sania Mirza’s sister, Anum Mirza, has shared a message on social media from the family as the rumor mill went in overdrive following Shoaib Malik’s surprise wedding on Saturday. Anum wrote that Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik have divorced.
Shoaib Malik surprised everyone by getting married to actress Sana Javed. Both of them posted wedding photos on social media.
Sania Mirza’s father, Imran Mirza, confirmed to Indian media that his daughter’s marriage to the Pakistani cricketer had ended in divorce. Anum Mirza released a statement on Instagram on Sunday morning on behalf of the family and Sania’s team.
In the shared note, it was written, “Sania has always kept her private life hidden from the public, but today the need has arisen for her to share with everyone that few months have passed since Shoaib and her divorce.”
The Instagram post also conveyed Sania’s best wishes for Shoaib’s new life. Fans were urged to avoid false news and respect Sania’s privacy during this difficult time.
