Author: newsdesk

  • PM Shehbaz urges Finance Ministry to ensure strict adherence to IMF guidelines in upcoming budget

    PM Shehbaz urges Finance Ministry to ensure strict adherence to IMF guidelines in upcoming budget

    In a meeting held between Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday, it was emphasized that the upcoming budget, scheduled to be presented on June 9, should strictly adhere to the parameters set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    PM Shehbaz Sharif has expressed his optimism about reaching an agreement with the IMF, dispelling media reports suggesting a populist budget typically seen in election years.

    An informed source, who was present during the meeting, highlighted that Pakistan cannot afford to deviate from the IMF’s prescribed principles in the budget. The PM’s resolve to adhere to these guidelines was reinforced after his recent telephonic conversation with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. It was during this conversation that PM Shehbaz Sharif personally appealed to Georgieva to revive the stalled $6.5 billion bailout package.

    The discussion between the PM and the IMF Managing Director took place due to the finance ministry’s inability to break the deadlock over loan talks in the past four months. However, the source disclosed that PM Shehbaz Sharif expressed satisfaction after his conversation with Georgieva, leading to an agreement to share the budget details with the IMF.

    Furthermore, the IMF Managing Director indicated the possibility of a revival of the programme. This positive development prompted PM Shehbaz Sharif to inform the Turkish media during his visit to Ankara that Pakistan remains hopeful of finalising a deal with the IMF this month. He assured that Pakistan had met all the required conditions and that the upcoming budget would align with the terms and conditions set forth by the IMF.

    “We are still very hopeful that the IMF programme will materialise. Our ninth review by the IMF will match all terms and conditions, and hopefully, we’ll have some good news this month,” PM Shehbaz Sharif stated during an interview with Anadolu in Ankara, where he was present for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s inauguration ceremony.

    According to Geo, the PM further clarified that while some actions are typically met after the board’s approval, this time, the IMF insisted on meeting those actions before granting approval. He affirmed that Pakistan has fulfilled these requirements as specified by the IMF.

    As the budget presentation approaches, all eyes are now on the Ministry of Finance, which has been tasked with ensuring strict compliance with IMF parameters. With the PM’s renewed optimism and the positive signals received from the IMF, there is a growing sense of hope that Pakistan will be able to secure the much-needed financial support to address its economic challenges.

    It remains to be seen how the upcoming budget will reflect the government’s commitment to IMF compliance and whether it will lead to a successful conclusion of negotiations with the international financial institution.

  • Gender-based discrimination is also harassment, rules Supreme Court

    Gender-based discrimination is also harassment, rules Supreme Court

    The Supreme Court, while allowing review petitions against its July 5, 2021 judgment, said on Tuesday that harassment law does not apply just to sexual harassment but also addresses gender-based discrimination at the workplace.

    Justice Ayesha A. Malik issued a 14-page judgment in the harassment cases involving Pakistan Television (PTV) employee Nadia Naz. A three judge SC bench in 2021, passed the judgement that the petitioner failed to establish the case of sexual harassment within the contemplation of the Act.
    SC in its Tuesday judgment wrote, “Both the president [of the country] and the Islamabad High Court decided the case of [complainant] Nadia Naz on the understanding that harassment means sexual harassment having a sexual nature and form and did not examine the facts in the context of Nadia Naz’s perspective and her understanding of the injury caused.”
    “It includes a broad range of conduct and behaviour which results in workplace problems with serious consequences, one of the main being gender inequality.”

    “Being an issue grounded in equal opportunity and equal treatment of men and women in matters of employment, sexual harassment in any form violates the dignity of a person as it is a demeaning practice that aims to reduce the dignity of an employee who has been forced to endure such conduct,” read the judgment.

    “Sexual harassment as gender-based discrimination is gender-based hostility, which creates a hostile work environment. It is a reflection of the unequal power relations between men and women which translates into a form of abuse, exploitation and intimidation at the workplace which makes it a violation of a basic human right.”

  • Russian crude oil shipment faces delay, expected to reach Pakistan on June 11

    Russian crude oil shipment faces delay, expected to reach Pakistan on June 11

    In a recent development, a Russian cargo vessel carrying 100,000 tonnes of crude oil has experienced delays and is now expected to reach the Omani port of Duqm on June 7. This delay has caused a setback in Pakistan’s plans as the oil was initially scheduled to arrive in Oman on May 27-28.

    According to an official, the crude oil will be transported to Pakistan via smaller ships from the Omani port, which will take approximately two weeks to reach Port Qasim in Karachi. The Russian vessel, loaded with Ural crude on April 21 at a Russian port, encountered a delay of 10 days due to technical issues. Subsequently, it arrived at Egypt’s Suez Canal on May 17, where it faced a lengthy 12-day wait in a queue to cross the canal.

    Following its journey across the Red Sea, the vessel is anticipated to reach Duqm on Tuesday. Upon arrival, the crude oil will be unloaded onto a smaller vessel with a capacity of 50,000 tons. This smaller vessel is expected to reach Port Qasim on June 11. The remaining 50,000 tons of Russian crude will be transported separately and is scheduled to arrive at Port Qasim on June 20.

    According to The News, authorities have assured the safe and smooth arrival of the Russian crude, despite the logistical challenges that caused the delay. The official stated that the transportation cost has already been settled with the Russians, so the delay will not result in additional expenses. However, there is a concern that if the price of crude oil decreases during this period, it could have detrimental effects on the country.

    Pakistan Refinery Limited (PRL) has been entrusted with the responsibility of refining the test cargo of Russian crude oil. PRL will blend this oil with crude imported from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Aramco. The test cargo will provide valuable data to the government regarding the quality, yields, and commercial viability of the Russian oil. Additionally, it will assist the government in assessing transportation costs, refining expenses, and refining margins for the country’s refineries.

    The government is eagerly awaiting PRL’s test report, which will aid in making informed decisions about future oil imports and refining processes.

  • Markets nationwide to close at 8 pm to save energy

    Markets nationwide to close at 8 pm to save energy

    The National Economic Council has decided to close shops across the country at 8 pm.

    The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, with the participation of the Chief Ministers of Sindh, Punjab, and KP.

    The Balochistan Minister of Planning also participated in the meeting. During the meeting, it was decided to close shops across the country at 8 pm.

    In a press conference held after the meeting, Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal stated that the decision to close shops at 8 pm was made to save energy.

    He further mentioned that commercial areas will be closed at eight o’clock, green energy will be promoted, and LED bulbs will be installed.

  • WhatsApp introduces user-friendly picture tool for editing

    WhatsApp introduces user-friendly picture tool for editing

    WhatsApp has rolled out a highly anticipated feature on the app, showing its commitment to improving user experience.

    The latest feature on the instant messaging platform is the picture editing tool, which has been introduced for the Desktop version of the app, as reported by WABetainfo.

    An article published on the website stated that the recently added feature is a “crop tool” for the drawing editor that allows users to trim images as required.

    “This addition has been eagerly awaited, as previous versions didn’t have this functionality. With this update, WhatsApp beta users on Windows can now enjoy the convenience of cropping their images within the app itself, making it easier for users to edit media,” it said.

    The “crop tool” also saves time for users as they no longer have to crop pictures using external image editing tools before sending them via the Desktop version.

    The built-in crop tool lets users easily crop their images without leaving the WhatsApp interface.

    However, not all users currently have access to the new feature as it has initially been released to some beta testers. It will be made available to more users soon.

  • This Twitter user is leaking audios of judiciary, politicians and the big judge wants to find him

    This Twitter user is leaking audios of judiciary, politicians and the big judge wants to find him

    Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Tuesday asked authorities to track a Twitter account, which had been responsible for leaking audio conversations linked to judiciary.

    The CJP mentioned the Twitter account which goes by the username @indibell_.

    “Check out Indibell’s Twitter handle, is it operating from outside the country or inside the country?” The CJP directed the Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan.

    Here is the Twitter account:

    Justice Bandial made the remark while hearing petitions against the audio leaks inquiry commission. The five-judge bench conducted the hearing is led by CJP Bandial, and includes Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Shahid Waheed.

    The federal government set up the Commission on May 20 in exercise of its power under Section 3 of the Pakistan Commissions of the Inquiry Act, 2017, to inquire about the audio leaks.

  • Video: Money Heist-inspired dacoits loot 10 million from Lahore bank

    Video: Money Heist-inspired dacoits loot 10 million from Lahore bank

    A group of dacoits rushed into a private bank at Barki Road in Lahore and plundered millions in cash on Monday morning before running away, police have confirmed.

    Five armed men went inside the bank, snatched away the security guard’s weapon and collected over Rs10 million cash.
    The suspects deprived a customer of Rs4.1m and looted Rs6m from the cash counter.

    The gunmen also manhandled security guards and injured them on offering resisting.

    A police team rushed to the spot on an emergency call, collecting necessary evidence including CCTV footage, and launched an investigation.

  • What, huh, Sindhi no longer spoken in Pakistan? Cha toh pee ain, Shah sb?

    Naseeruddin Shah, Bollywood’s acting powerhouse, recently spoke to ‘Tried & Used Productions’ about the BJP government’s attacks on Urdu language. Condemning the enmity displayed towards Urdu, he said that other than Pakistan, India is the only country where the language is spoken.

    However, a comment given by the actor ignited the ire of Pakistani Twitter users. Shah said that in Pakistan, people speak more Punjabi than Urdu, and Sindhi is not spoken there at all.

    We would like to point out that Sindhi is the official language of Sindh province and is taught as a compulsory language in all schools there.

    Turns out, Naseeruddin Shah may know everything there is to know about acting, but he doesn’t have much general knowledge.

    Many users had to question Naseeruddin’s confidence in saying that Sindhi isn’t spoken in Pakistan, when in reality it is the official language of the province, and is proudly spoken by locals.

  • Pervaiz Elahi family used Punjab Assembly peon’s accounts for money laundering, FIA tells LHC

    The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has informed Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday that former chief minister Pervaiz Elahi son and two daughters-in-law committed money laundering through a peon of the Punjab Assembly.

    The report submitted by the FIA ​​revealed the son of Pervaiz Elahi, Rasikh Elahi, his wife Zara Elahi and sister-in-law Tehreem Elahi (the wife of Moonis Elahi) were involved in money laundering and used the bank accounts of Qaiser Iqbal Bhatti, who works as a peon in the Punjab Assembly.

    The report also revealed that millions of rupees in unexplained transactions had been found in the accounts of Parvez Elahi’s peon and family.

    According to the report, Bhatti has been engaged in mysterious transactions totaling Rs175 million.

    Rasikh Elahi and others have challenged the FIA inquiry and the alleged harassment.

    “No fundamental right of the petitioners is jeopardised. The FIA is investigating the case on merit,” the reports state.

  • ‘India vs Pakistan would be louder’; Kohli on watching the FA Cup final

    ‘India vs Pakistan would be louder’; Kohli on watching the FA Cup final

    Indian batting virtuoso Virat Kohli has expressed his thoughts after watching FA Cup final in United Kingdom.

    Virat Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma recently had the opportunity to witness the highly anticipated FA Cup Final between Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium.

    Virat and Anushka were seen cheering for Manchester City.

    The Indian cricket team is on tour to the United Kingdom for the final of World Test Championship.

    In a video posted by Manchester City on their official Twitter account, Kohli shared his thoughts on the experience and the electrifying atmosphere at the stadium.

    “The atmosphere during India’s premier matches clashes, like with Pakistan, is similar to what fans experience during the football games here [in UK]. India versus Pakistan during a World Cup would be louder, but the passion and support of fans here is incredible to watch,” Kohli said.

    Kohli also expressed his admiration for Manchester City as a team, mentioning that he follows their performances closely.

    “Watching Manchester City play is a great thing because I follow the team pretty closely ever since I had a chat with Pep to understand his mindset,” he added.

    Kohli delivered a memorable performance in the T20 World Cup 2022 by playing an outstanding innings against Pakistan. Scoring an unbeaten 82 runs off 53 balls, he showcased one of his finest T20 international innings to date.