Author: newsdesk

  • Pakistan’s weekly inflation reaches lowest point at 28.6% since October 2022

    Pakistan’s weekly inflation reaches lowest point at 28.6% since October 2022

    The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) recorded a weekly inflation increase of 0.70 per cent, reaching 28.55 per cent on a year-on-year basis for the week ending June 6.

    This represents the lowest rate since October 20, 2022, when SPI inflation stood at 27.1 per cent. Furthermore, short-term inflation surged to an all-time high of 48.35 per cent for the period ending on May 4.

    During the week, a total of 51 items were monitored, and their price movements were analysed. Out of these items, 24 (47.06 per cent) experienced price increases, 10 (19.61 per cent) witnessed price decreases, and 17 (33.33 per cent) remained stable.

    This table showcases the items that recorded either an increase or decrease in their average prices during the specified week:

    Item Increase/Decrease
    Tomatoes Increase (42.25%)
    Onions Increase (8.70%)
    Potatoes Increase (4.79%)
    Wheat flour bag 20 kg Increase (4.05%)
    Gur Increase (4.01%)
    Sugar Increase (3.48%)
    Shirting Increase (3.02%)
    Hi-speed diesel Increase (2.95%)
    Garlic Increase (1.90%)
    Matchbox each Increase (1.66%)
    Curd Increase (1.43%)
    Pulse mash Increase (1.29%)
    Fresh milk Increase (1.20%)
    Rice irri-6/9 Increase (0.74%)
    Rice basmati broken Increase (0.67%)
    Mustard oil Increase (0.59%)
    Prepared tea Increase (0.56%)
    Long cloth 57″ Gul Ahmed/Al Karam Increase (0.51%)
    Mutton Increase (0.40%)
    Beef with bone Increase (0.39%)
    Toilet soap Increase (0.24%)
    Powdered milk Nido 390 gm polybag each Increase (0.13%)
    Georgette Increase (0.08%)
    Cooked daal Increase (0.04%)
    Bananas Decrease (7.51%)
    Chicken Decrease (2.80%)
    Eggs Decrease (1.17%)
    LPG Decrease (0.96%)
    Vegetable ghee Dalda/Habib 2.5 kg tin each Decrease (0.74%)
    Cooking oil Dalda or other similar brands, 5L Decrease (0.72%)
    Vegetable ghee Dalda/Habib or other superior quality, 1 kg pouch each Decrease (0.81%)
    Pulse masoor Decrease (0.47%)
    Pulse moong Decrease (0.31%)
    Pulse gram Decrease (0.24%)
  • PTI leader Abdul Basit Chaudhary arrested while fleeing to Afghanistan

    PTI leader Abdul Basit Chaudhary arrested while fleeing to Afghanistan

    The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Abdul Basit Chaudhry while he was attempting to flee to Afghanistan.

    The PTI leader got arrested at the Torkhum border as he was trying to cross the border.

    According to an FIA report, the accused is on the Exit Control List (ECL), and he had a plan to move from Afghanistan to Europe.

    Last month, in an interview, the caretaker information minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) said that there is a possibility that the leaders of PTI Swat are hiding in Afghanistan.

  • China launches its first homegrown PC operating system as a competitor to Windows and macOS

    China launches its first homegrown PC operating system as a competitor to Windows and macOS

    China has unveiled its inaugural domestically produced open-source desktop operating system, known as OpenKylin. This move reflects the nation’s determination to reduce its reliance on technology from the United States.

    The release of China’s version took place on Wednesday and is rooted in the existing open-source Linux operating system. It was designed through the collaborative efforts of approximately 4,000 developers and has found applications in various sectors, including the country’s space programme, finance, and energy industries.

    State media referred to an industry report, stating that China’s expansive market for operating systems had a value of 15.5 billion yuan ($2.1 billion) in the previous year.

    Creating an operating system independent of US technology has emerged as a significant objective within China’s tech industry in recent years. Numerous companies and organisations have actively contributed to the development of the OpenKylin system.

    Notably, the China Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team, overseen by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, stands as a prominent supporter.

    Over a dozen Chinese companies are currently engaged in endeavors to produce operating systems capable of replacing Microsoft’s Windows and Apple’s macOS. One such company, UnionTech Software Technology Co Ltd, is actively working on what it terms the “Unity OS.”

  • ‘I am giving laptops, not Kalashnikovs to youth’: PM addresses distribution ceremony

    ‘I am giving laptops, not Kalashnikovs to youth’: PM addresses distribution ceremony

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif relaunched the programme for distribution of laptops among outstanding students on Friday.

    During his address at the distribution ceremony amongst the students of various universities in Islamabad , the Prime Minister reminisced about his tenure as the Chief Minister of Punjab and highlighted his efforts for the youth of the province. Addressing the youth directly, the Prime Minister said that the future of the country relies on them.

    While talking about the laptop scheme, the PM said, “I am giving laptops, not Kalashnikovs to youth”.

    He further added that while some may view these laptops as machines, for him, they represent a mission.

    Referring to the steps being taken for uplift, he said five billion rupees have been allocated in the budget for provision of agriculture loans to the youth. He said five billion rupees have also been earmarked to provide vocational training to them.

  • First ever retirement ceremony organised to honor police dogs

    First ever retirement ceremony organised to honor police dogs

    A ceremony was organised for the first time to honor police dogs retired from service at the Central Police Office (CPO) in Lahore on Friday.

    The retried police dogs were presented with a service badge as a symbol of admiration of the heroic efforts they have made for the safety of the people of Pakistan. They were then adopted by families and went to their new homes.

    An animal welfare organization, JFK Animal Rescue And Shelter, shared some clips from the event on their Instagram and declared this to be an important day for animal rights. They explained in the post that previously, when Pakistani police dogs retired from service, they were euthanised after they turned 8 years old.

    “This is a very old practice that prevailed all over Pakistan because they are deemed useless after retirement regardless of their superior intellect and hard work,” the post said.

    JFK was very proud to announce that a historic MOU was signed with the Punjab Police to end the practice of euthanizing sniffer dogs, under which the dogs will no longer be put to sleep but be put up for adoptions three months prior to their retirement date and the adoptions will take place with the help of JFK.

    They further appreciated the Punjab police and IG Punjab for a wonderful step and showing concern for animals.

  • Pak-US relations back to normal: PM Shehbaz

    Pak-US relations back to normal: PM Shehbaz

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday that Pakistan wants to improve its mutual relations with the US in multiple fields. He further added that the relations between the nations are “back to normal” now.

    Addressing a ceremony of celebration of the 247th Independence Day of the US, Sharif said that Pakistan and the US made many efforts to make their relations better by putting aside any misgivings and misunderstandings.

    “Over the last 75 years, our relations have had ups and downs, but on the whole, we have been very good friends,” he stated.

    He said that the US was the largest trading partner of Pakistan, and both countries have played a major role in the war against terrorism.

    The prime minister also appreciated US support for 2022 flood victims. “We value the support of the US, which had been the biggest donor and very helpful in providing relief to millions of flood-affected people,” he observed.

    The US ambassador to Pakistan, Donald Blome, said in his remarks that the economic partnership between the countries is expanding.

    Shehbaz Sharif also congratulated US President Joe Biden and the people of the United States on their 247th Independence Day.

  • Britney Spears assaulted by NBA player’s security guard

    Britney Spears assaulted by NBA player’s security guard

    Pop star Britney Spears has been physically assaulted by a security guard of NBA’s Victor Wembayana at ARIA Hotel where she was dining with her husband Sam Asghari. Sources report that the singer tried to approach the basketball player for a picture, tapping him on the shoulder to catch his attention, when the security guard member shoved her in the face.

    According to US Weekly, the head of the security team later went to Britney and apologised, but the singer’s team has filed a police case against the guard.

    Spears addressed the incident on her Instagram, detailing how she had approached the athlete in the hotel by tapping on his shoulder and was hoping to congratulate him on his success, countering his statement that she grabbed him from behind. She was back handed in the face by his security team. Spears also revealed that she has yet to receive an apology from the athlete:

    “Physical violence is happening too much in this world. Often behind closed doors. I stand with all the victims and my heart foes out to all of you!! I have yet to get a public apology from the player, his security or their organisation. I hope they will…”

    She also slammed Wembayana for laughing away the matter:

    “Watching the player smile and laugh was cruel and demoralizing with the situation that took place. I am 5’3 and he’s 7’4.”

    Spear’s husband, Sam Asghari, took to his Instagram stories to condemn the act of violence on his wife:

    “I am opposed to violence in any form, especially without justification in the defence of yourself or someone else who is unable to defend themselves. Self-defence can be unavoidable, but the defense of any woman, especially my wife, is not debatable. I consider my reaction subdued considering what ocurred, and I hope the man in question learns a lesson and changes his disregard for women.”

  • Kiara Advani learned how to make an unusual dish to win over Sidharth’s mother

    Kiara Advani learned how to make an unusual dish to win over Sidharth’s mother

    Desi mothers-in-law have to be impressed by prospective bahus, and being a Bollywood A-list actress won’t spare you from the ordeal.

    While doing press rounds for promoting her film ‘Satyaprem Ki Katha’, Kiara Advani told Mirchi Puls about how she bonded with her mother-in-law, Sidharth Malhotra’s mother, with the help of an unusual dish.

    Advani, well known for her love of pani-puri, known in Pakistan as gol gappay, said that she learned how to make the dish for the first day she visited Mumbai:

     “Of course. Meri mother-in-law jo hain, unko pani puri itna pasand hai! Woh abhi humare saath reh rahi hain, Mumbai mein aayi hui hain Delhi se. So, on her first day, mujhe pata hai ki unko pani puri kitna pasand hai, I said aaj ghar mein hum pani puri banayenge. Jo maska lagaya… I knew she will love me to another level. She was so happy.”

    Sidharth and Kiara, who starred together in ‘Shershaah’ in 2021, got married in February in a star-studded wedding with celebrities like Karan Johar, Juhi Chawla and Shahid Kapoor in attendance. In a previous interview, Advani spoke about how happy she was in her bride era, and called Sidharth her home:

    “I got married recently, and it was a love marriage. So naturally, I believe in true love. A home is made by two people and I feel incredibly lucky that my partner, the man I have chosen, my husband is also my best friend. He is my everything, my home. Wherever I am, he is my family, my home.”

  • State Bank of Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves surge to $4.46 billion with $393 million increase

    State Bank of Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves surge to $4.46 billion with $393 million increase

    The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has announced an increase of $393 million in its foreign exchange reserves, bringing the total to $4.46 billion. In an official statement, the central bank stated that this rise occurred on June 30, 2023. The boost in reserves is seen as a positive development for the country’s economy.

    At the same time, the overall liquid foreign reserves held by Pakistan now stand at $9.74 billion, with commercial banks accounting for $5.28 billion of that amount. These figures reflect the country’s efforts to stabilise its foreign reserves and strengthen its financial position.

    This increase in foreign exchange reserves is largely attributed to Pakistan’s recent agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The country signed a staff-level agreement with the IMF, amounting to $3 billion, for a duration of 9 months. The IMF’s “Stand-By Arrangement” with Pakistan has been successfully concluded, signaling a positive outlook for the nation’s economic stability.

    Nathan Porter, the IMF Mission Chief, commended Pakistan for its commitment to achieving its economic goals and acknowledged the parliament’s crucial role in this accomplishment. He emphasised that the staff-level agreement under the Stand-By Arrangement is a significant milestone.

    The agreement is now awaiting final approval from the IMF’s executive board, which is anticipated to occur in mid-July. Once approved, Pakistan will be eligible to receive the $3 billion loan from the IMF.

    In his remarks, Porter highlighted the parliament’s efforts to enhance tax revenues, an essential component of Pakistan’s economic growth. The parliament has taken noteworthy steps to increase funds allocated to the Benazir Income Support Programme and has also limited tax exemptions.

    These measures are expected to lead to an increase in tax revenues, which, in turn, could result in a primary surplus of 0.4 per cent for Pakistan’s economy. The additional funds generated through these increased tax revenues can then be directed towards crucial social sectors.

    Overall, the increase in foreign exchange reserves for the State Bank of Pakistan is an encouraging sign for the country’s economic stability. With the IMF agreement on the horizon and the parliament’s dedication to boosting tax revenues, Pakistan is poised to make significant strides in its economic development.

    The final approval of the agreement by the IMF’s executive board will mark a crucial milestone in Pakistan’s journey towards a more prosperous future.

  • Woman forced to drink acid by husband, father-in-law

    Woman forced to drink acid by husband, father-in-law

    Trigger Warning: Acid attack

    A woman in Islamabad was forced to drink acid by her husband and father-in-law over a trivial issue.

    Police said the incident was reported on Thursday at Malot area of the capital city. The dispute started during a discussion related to milk for a child, upon which the husband Wahab, along with his father Abid Ali, tortured the woman and attempted to kill her.

    The officials further said Abid Ali grabbed her while Wahab brought acid from the washroom and forced it down her throat. The suspects escaped afterwards. The woman was shifted to a hospital as her condition worsened.

    A case has been filed by the acid attack survivor at the Police Station Bani Gala.