Author: newsdesk

  • Same people who conspired against Nawaz Sharif brought the protesters to Faizabad, says Khawaja Asif

    Same people who conspired against Nawaz Sharif brought the protesters to Faizabad, says Khawaja Asif

    As the Supreme Court began to consider review petitions related to the Faizabad sit-in verdict, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and former defence minister Khawaja Asif claimed on Thursday that the protesters of the sit-in were brought to Islamabad by the “same people” who were involved in a plot against former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

    “If there was any flaw in the decision of the Faizabad sit-in case, all these things would not have happened. The Faizabad sit-in case decision should be implemented,” the PML-N stalwart said during Geo News show Capital Talk.

    Government officials distributed money in a video, and that is “proof” of who was responsible for bringing the protesters to Faizabad, he added.

    The PML-N leader also said that “the purpose of the sit-in was to somehow block the return of Nawaz Sharif”.

    The former defence minister stated that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was handed a victory in 2018 while Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz were in jail.

  • Fallout of cheating scandal: MDCAT test to be conducted again

    Fallout of cheating scandal: MDCAT test to be conducted again

    Fall out of the cheating scandal of the Medical Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) continues, with the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa announcing that it will again conduct the test following the insistence of candidates.

    Chief Education Secretary Arshad Khan presented a report regarding MDCAT in the supervisory cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Azam Khan.

    After discussing the report in the meeting, it was decided to conduct the test again within six weeks under the supervision of Khyber Medical University.

    On this occasion, caretaker information minister Barrister Feroze Jamal Kakakhel told the media in a briefing that the forensics of the gadgets seized from more than 200 students in MD CAT will be carried out.

    The minister said that samples of all the gadgets have been sent to Islamabad, to clean the systems from duplication and prevent such incidents.

    Previously, Peshawar police arrested seven suspects, including the mastermind “facilitating” cheating in MDCAT.
    City police also received several complaints of some students cheating via Bluetooth devices and more equipment.

    Additionally, 74 candidates, including men and women have also been arrested and 19 cases have been registered at eight police stations in the provincial capital.

    The case

    Dozens of candidates had been caught cheating in the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) MDCAT exams conducted in a number of cities on September 10.

    Over 40 candidates, including 20 female candidates, were arrested in Peshawar while 10 were taken into custody in DI Khan.

    All of the detainees were said to be using Bluetooth to cheat in the test. And as reported by Geo, DI Khan police sources claimed that VIP passes were issued to the candidates for which a hefty amount was paid to take the exam through dishonest means.

    Students and parents filed complaints to the Human Rights Cell in Peshawar regarding the results and integrity of the system which were then sent to the PHC chief justice.

    The applicants asserted that approximately 200 students were caught using Bluetooth devices during the examination.

  • No extension for tax return deadline, only commissioner-requested extensions accepted

    The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has officially announced that the deadline for income tax return submissions remains unchanged, concluding on September 30.

    However, individuals may request an extension of up to 15 days by submitting an application to their respective commissioner.

    FBR officials report that over 1.7 million tax returns have already been filed, with expectations of the total reaching over Rs2 million by the September 30 deadline.

    More to follow..

  • Here is why you should give Green Line train a try

    Here is why you should give Green Line train a try

    With continuous hikes in petrol prices and dearth of good transport facilities that are comfortable, clean, and economically reasonable, travelling to another city within Pakistan can be a hassle.

    We spoke to Omer Khan, a passenger who recently travelled from Lahore to Islamabad on the Green Line train.

    Khan claims to have had a very pleasant experience.

    In a four hour journey, he was served two samosas and “excellent” chai which can be ordered as many times as one wants.

    Credit: Dawn

    He said that there were only a few other passengers, probably owing to ticket price of Rs 3250 for one way. However, as Khan stated, it is still way cheaper than travelling from one’s own car as the petrol will now cost between Rs 25,000 to 30,000.

    The seats are said to be comfortable and rotatable. Additionally, functional sockets with charging ports are available.

    Most importantly, the train and its bathrooms are clean, and Khan hopes that the standard will be maintained because often times, the standard of facilities decline.

    Green Line train was first inaugurated by Nawz Sharif in 2015, operating between Karachi and Islamabad. It reportedly only stops at main train stations.

    In 2022, however, the train operation was suspended following floods that drowned train tracks. On November 28, 2022, China Railway Construction Corporation delivered 46 high-speed coaches to Pakistan Railways in accordance with an agreement signed in 2021.

    This year in January, the-then Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reinaugurated Green Line Express train service.

    Travelling between Islamabad and Karachi, it starts its journey from Margalla station and stops at Rawalpindi, Chaklala, Lahore, Khanewal, Bahawalpur, Rohri, Hyderabad and Drug Road on the way.

  • Pakistan’s forex reserves decline by $59 million to $7.64 billion due to debt payments

    Pakistan’s forex reserves decline by $59 million to $7.64 billion due to debt payments

    The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reported a weekly decrease in foreign exchange reserves, with a decline of $59 million, bringing the total to $7.64 billion as of September 22, according to data released on Thursday.

    The overall liquid foreign reserves of the country amounted to $13.16 billion, with commercial banks holding net foreign reserves of $5.52 billion.

    The central bank attributed this reduction in reserves to debt repayments, stating, “During the week ending on September 22, 2023, SBP’s reserves decreased by $59 million to $7,636.7 million due to debt repayments.”

    Notably, Pakistan’s central bank reserves had increased by $56 million the previous week, following four consecutive weeks of decline, during which SBP reserves had dwindled by a cumulative total of $416 million.

    In July, SBP’s reserves received a boost when Pakistan received approximately $1.2 billion as the first tranche from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), following approval of a new $3-billion stand-by arrangement. Additionally, inflows from Saudi Arabia and the UAE contributed to the increase.

    Despite these positive developments, the central bank’s reserves have come under pressure due to ongoing debt repayments, increased import payments following the easing of restrictions, and a lack of fresh inflows.

  • Things will get more expensive amidst soaring petroleum prices: Finance Ministry

    Things will get more expensive amidst soaring petroleum prices: Finance Ministry

    Due to the persistent escalation in energy and petroleum prices, it is anticipated that inflation will maintain its elevated trajectory in the months ahead.

    In its latest monthly economic update, the Ministry of Finance has presented a forecast indicating that inflation is poised to remain at an elevated level during the upcoming months. The report projects inflation to fall within the range of 29 per cent to 31 per cent for the month of September 2023, primarily attributing this surge to the notable uptick in prices of petroleum products and electricity.

    Furthermore, the report identifies several contributing factors to this inflationary pressure, including the possibility of surging transportation costs, a dearth of essential services and commodities, and the depreciation of the dollar, which has had a mitigating effect on imported inflation.

    In response to these challenges, the finance ministry has implemented rigorous measures to combat illegal currency exchanges and stockpiling activities while actively working to stabilise the exchange rate.

    The report also highlights a global trend of decreasing food grain prices, albeit with notable exceptions such as rice and sugar, whose prices have surged due to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

  • Pakistani rupee set to become best performer against US dollar following record-low recovery

    Pakistani rupee set to become best performer against US dollar following record-low recovery

    In September, Pakistan’s rupee emerged as the global front-runner in currency performance, driven by the interim government’s vigorous measures to curb illicit US dollar trading.

    According to a comprehensive report by Bloomberg, the Pakistani rupee has experienced a remarkable surge of nearly 6 per cent during this month, a notable accomplishment given the downward trajectory of most other currencies like the Thai baht and South Korean won against the strengthening US dollar, fueled by expectations of prolonged high US interest rates.

    On Thursday, the rupee exhibited resilience by rising 0.1 per cent, reaching Rs287.95 per dollar after hitting a record low of approximately Rs307 earlier in the month.

    Khurram Schehzad, the Chief Executive Officer of Alpha Beta Core Solutions Pvt. Ltd., a financial consultancy located in Karachi, commented on the situation, highlighting the prevalence of leakages through informal channels such as hawala and hundi trade, which are common in South Asia.

    Schehzad noted, when the USD rate reverses, everyone from hoarders to exporters, who have been holding onto their export proceeds, starts offloading their dollars.

    The Bloomberg report underscores the Pakistani government’s intensified efforts to crack down on illegal dollar trading, which have significantly contributed to the rupee’s resurgence.

    In addition to these measures, the central bank has raised capital requirements for smaller exchange companies and mandated large banks to establish their exchange entities, aiming to enhance transparency and oversight in the retail foreign exchange market.

  • Nawaz Sharif will appear in court after his address at Minar-e-Pakistan

    Nawaz Sharif will appear in court after his address at Minar-e-Pakistan

    Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is set to return to Pakistan after a prolonged absence, will address a rally at Minar-e-Pakistan the day after his arrival, followed by a court appearance.

    Rana Sanaullah, the President of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in Punjab, stated that party head Nawaz Sharif is scheduled to arrive in Lahore on October 21. On the first day of his return, he will kick off the PML-N’s election campaign with a speech at Minar-e-Pakistan. Following this, he will appear in court on the next day.

    It is worth noting that the Interim Prime Minister had previously stated that legal opinions would be sought regarding Nawaz Sharif’s return, and his homecoming would be conducted in accordance with Pakistan’s laws. Various legal aspects surrounding his return will need to be considered.

    On the other hand, Khurram Dastgir Khan, a leader of the PML-N, remarked that Nawaz Sharif left the country by choice after the consent of two courts and will now return based on the same judicial consent.

    Previously, caretaker Interior Minister Sarfaraz Bugti had stated that if Nawaz Sharif did not receive bail from the court, he would be arrested. He opined that Nawaz Sharif might even prefer to surrender himself, as there is no need for a large-scale operation to apprehend one individual.

    Reacting to the Interior Minister’s statement, Rana Sanaullah, called the statement “crossing the line.”

    Rana Sanaullah stated, “Sarfaraz Bugti should see how the matter concluded when former Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid gave his statement. There is no political agenda on the part of the caretaker government. It is a positive development that Nawaz Sharif wants to rejoin Pakistan’s politics.”

    In response, Bugti clarified that his statement had been taken out of context and manipulated for political purposes. He emphasized that the government had no political agenda and welcomed Nawaz Sharif’s return to Pakistani politics.

    The anticipation surrounding Nawaz Sharif’s return has generated significant political interest, as observers closely monitor developments leading up to his homecoming and subsequent political activities.

  • Minor housemaid missing from Pir’s house

    Minor housemaid missing from Pir’s house

    It has been a month since a minor housemaid working at an influential pir family in Karachi went missing.

    The girl’s father, Ayaz Chandio, fears that his 16-year-old daughter, Aqsa Chandio, has either been killed or sold by her employer.

    Aqsa went missing on August 15 and as the father filed a complaint, Darakhshan police registered an FIR under Section 365-B (Kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman to compel for marriage etc) of the Pakistan Penal Code on August 17.

    Ayaz spoke with Times, a Sindhi news channel, expressing fears that Aqsa has either been killed or sold by the frmale employer.

    The employer had informed Ayaz Chandio of Aqsa’s disappearance after which he came to the coastal city from Khairpur. However he has claimed that he was detained at the family’s house for two days.

    He also said that the neighbour recalled that they could hear Aqsa’s cries and screams every night.

    The employer’s brother threatened Ayaz and warned him that he would not be able to return to his village, Pir Jo Goth, if he highlighted the disappearance.

    He has also complained that the police have not been taking the case seriously.

    According to DIG-South Syed Asad Raza, Aqsa was kidnapped from the Seaview apartment on August 15.

    The police constituted a special team, probed some suspects and arrests were expected very soon.

    According to investigators, Aqsa had a mobile phone that she secretly used which infuriated her employees. Ayaz was called but by the time he arrived, Aqsa had left.

    The mobile phone is currently in police’s custody.

  • ‘Daku’ bnaya ishq nay

    ‘Daku’ bnaya ishq nay

    Love can make a daku out of a normal guy.

    A private bank’s cash van carrying Rs 6 crore and 35 lacs was robbed on September 19 in Karachi’s Korangi area.

    The suspect, Zohaib, has not been arrested yet.

    According to investigative authorities, Zohaib was the employee of a private security company, and had been working in Karachi since the past 10 months. He left his job two months ago to get married to his love.

    Officials revealed that after reaching his wedding destination in Okara, Zohaib found out that the girl he was interested in had already gotten married elsewhere.

    In a statement provided by relatives to investigative authorities, it was mentioned that the suspect was distressed due to the failed love affair and became a robber.

    Investigative authorities further revealed that Zohaib returned to Karachi and rejoined the same security company. He robbed a bank’s cash van in September and is still on the run.