Category: Uncategorized

  • Gold price drops by Rs1,400 to Rs241,500 per tola

    Gold price drops by Rs1,400 to Rs241,500 per tola

    In a significant turn of events, gold prices in Pakistan fell on Saturday, aligning with a downward trend in the international market.

    The price of gold per tola dropped by Rs1,400, settling at Rs241,500, as reported by the All Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA).

    Similarly, the price of 10 grammes of gold decreased by Rs1,201, reaching Rs207,047. This decline follows a notable rise on Friday when the price per tola had surged by Rs1,600 to hit Rs242,900.

    On the international stage, gold prices also saw a decline on Saturday. According to the APGJSA, the international rate was set at $2,320 per ounce, including a $20 premium, after experiencing a $43 drop during the day.

    Contrarily, silver prices showed an upward trend in the local market, increasing by Rs100 to reach Rs2,850 per tola.

    It is noteworthy that gold prices had previously peaked in April, hitting an all-time high of Rs252,200 per tola in Pakistan.

    The recent fluctuations highlight the ongoing volatility in both local and international precious metals markets.

  • Swat blasphemy lynching; ‘Whoever kills is a murderer’ says religious scholar Assim Alhakeem

    Swat blasphemy lynching; ‘Whoever kills is a murderer’ says religious scholar Assim Alhakeem

    Religious extremism and mob vigilantism across the country are on the rise. With the recent instance of the mob lynching of a man accused of blasphemy in Swat, a Twitter user asked renowned Saudi cleric Assim Alhakeem whether killing a person who has committed blasphemy is allowed in Islam.

    The religious scholar replied, “This is prohibited and whoever does this is a murderer and must be executed by the Muslim ruler if the heirs of the victim demands a life for a life.”

    On Thursday night, a violent mob invaded the police station in Swat where the suspect had been taken into custody, assaulting him till he died, then burned his body in the Madyan area of Swat district.

  • Dr. Sania Nishtar’s dual roles as Senator and CEO

    Dr. Sania Nishtar’s dual roles as Senator and CEO

    Dr Sania Nishtar, elected as a senator in 2021 on a PTI ticket, recently took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a picture of her shaking hands with French President Emmanuel Macron, thanking him for co-hosting the launch of her organisation Gavi’s investment event.

    Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is an international organisation created in 2000 to improve access to new and underused vaccines for children living in the world’s poorest countries. Sania Nishtar was appointed its CEO in 2024.

    The mission statement on its official website reads, “AS PART OF ITS MISSION TO SAVE LIVES AND PROTECT PEOPLE’S HEALTH BY INCREASING EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF VACCINES, GAVI HAS HELPED VACCINATE MORE THAN 1 BILLION CHILDREN IN 78 LOWER-INCOME COUNTRIES, PREVENTING MORE THAN 17.3 MILLION FUTURE DEATHS.”

    However, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Anny Marri quoted her tweet with strong criticism that Nishtar is a serving senator while also serving the interests of her own company.

    She wrote, “Pakistan’s senator so diligently serving Gavi’s interests as their CEO! Guess serving an international pay master while being a member of Pakistan’s upper house seems just fine to her. But maybe she can sometimes deign to attend the Senate from where she gets paid every month?!”

    Furthermore, an X user asked Marri whether Nishtar had resigned, to which the PPP senator replied, “No, no. Not only did she not resign, she’s getting paid by Senate every month. To be free of the burden of conscience – must be a great feeling. Seems these guys have a monopoly over it.”

  • Bushra Ansari has a funny request for Humayun Saeed

    Bushra Ansari has a funny request for Humayun Saeed

    Bushra Ansari is equally humourous on screen and off. Proof of this fact was the funny request she made to Humayun Saeed, showing she loves to keep things playful.

    She appeared as a guest in the ‘Zabardast’ show hosted by Wasi Shah, where she revealed hilarious things.
    “I’ve stopped Humayun Saeed from calling me ‘Aapa’. My husband is younger than him, so he should refrain from calling me ‘Aapa’ from now on,” she said with a deadpan expression.

    “I actually don’t mind being called ‘Aapa’, people say it with respect, and it’s better than being called Madam all the time,” she added later. “I was just joking around, it’s what I do.”
    Recently, Bushra Ansari admitted that she had married Iqbal Hussain, disclosing the couple’s long-term relationship. She is also part of upcoming drama ‘Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum’

  • Meher Bano Qureshi has emotional birthday message for father ‘Qaidi 805’

    Meher Bano Qureshi has emotional birthday message for father ‘Qaidi 805’

    Meher Bano Qureshi, a member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the daughter of incarcerated senior party leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi, took to X (formerly Twitter) to emotionally wish her father on his birthday on Saturday.

    Shah Mahmood Qureshi is currently imprisoned in Adiala Jail for cases related to May 9 event; however, the Islamabad High Court acquitted him in the Cipher case earlier this month.

    Meher Bano wrote to her father, “Happy Birthday Baba @SMQureshiPTI ♥ Not a day goes by that we don’t miss you. We thank you for your sacrifice. It is because of you that we hold our heads high and it is because of you that we will never give up fighting for our Pakistan. Inshallah this too shall pass and every single prisoner of conscience will return home to their families soon. Love you & miss you.”

    Earlier this week, Zain Qureshi, who is the son of Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that he expects his father would be released from prison after Eid ul Azha.

    “This is my second Eid without my father. He has offered the greatest sacrifice.” I’m hoping he’ll be released from jail after Eid,” Zain told journalists in Multan following Eid prayers.

  • How many tourists visited Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during Eid?

    How many tourists visited Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during Eid?

    Pakistanis celebrated Eid-ul-Azha from June 17 to 19. During this extended break, more than 400,000 tourists reportedly visited various tourist spots in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

    Over 174,000 tourists visited Naran Kaghan, 162,000 tourists traveled to Galiyat, 46,000 visited Malam Jabba, and 23,000 explored Upper Dir.

    According to the tourism department, 2,920 tourists visited Upper Dir, 1,830 visited Lower Chitral, and 570 explored Upper Chitral during this period.

  • 24-karat gold price increases by Rs1,600 to Rs242,900 per tola in Pakistan

    24-karat gold price increases by Rs1,600 to Rs242,900 per tola in Pakistan

    The price of gold in Pakistan saw a significant increase on Friday, with 24-karat gold reaching Rs242,900 per tola, marking a rise of Rs1,600 per tola. Despite this increase, the price is notably Rs4,500 below its actual cost due to a decline in purchasing power.

    The Karachi Sarafa Association reported that the price of 24-karat gold per 10 grammes rose to Rs208,248, an increase of Rs1,372. Similarly, 22-karat gold prices also saw a hike, reaching Rs190,894 per 10 grammes.

    In contrast, silver prices remained stable in the domestic market. The price of 24-karat silver stood at Rs2,750 per tola and Rs2,358 per 10 grammes.

    On the global market, spot gold was trading near $2,364 an ounce, a modest increase of $3.9 or 0.17 per cent from the previous session. The precious metal is poised for a second consecutive weekly gain, bolstered by softer U.S. economic data that has fueled investor optimism about potential monetary easing.

    Thursday’s data showed a moderate decline in first-time applications for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, coupled with a drop in new housing construction. Additionally, retail sales data from the previous month were tepid, all of which have increased the likelihood of a rate cut in September, according to Reuters.

    Lower interest rates tend to reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion, making gold a more attractive investment. Meanwhile, China’s yuan fell to a fresh seven-month low against the dollar, further influencing the global economic landscape.

  • After ex-COAS Bajwa, PTI begging ‘someone else’ now for relief: Khawaja Asif

    After ex-COAS Bajwa, PTI begging ‘someone else’ now for relief: Khawaja Asif

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif took Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to the cleaners saying that PTI is “begging someone else” for relief because previously that “someone” was former Army Chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa.

    Asif alleged that Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) leader Aun Chaudhry hid former Prime Minister Imran Khan in the car’s trunk to take him to General (retd) Amjad Awan’s house.

    Asif also claimed that Imran Khan tried everything to seek relief falling short of holding General Bajwa’s feet.

    The Defence Minister’s hard-hitting statement came in response to PTI Secretary-General Omar Ayub Khan’s criticism of the government’s new economic budget.

  • Denmark’s men footballers refuse salary rise to secure equal pay for women

    Denmark’s men footballers refuse salary rise to secure equal pay for women

    Denmark’s male footballers have refused a salary increase for playing for the national side to gain their female counterparts equal basic pay, the players’ union said on Friday.

    “The men’s team chose not to ask for a salary increase … to improve the conditions of the women’s team,” union spokesperson Magnus Hviid told AFP.

    He welcomed “an extraordinary measure to help take this small step in the right direction”, but acknowledged there were “still more glass ceilings to break to ensure equal opportunities and conditions within national teams”.

    Hviid said the action “obtained the same basic salary for the women’s national team and the men’s national team, as well as better insurance coverage for the women’s team”.

    The agreement, signed at the end of May, provides for identical match bonuses for women and men during away matches.

    However for the moment due to no bonus for home matches there remains a disparity in the overall pay between the women’s and men’s national teams.

    The Danish football federation (DBU) and the union have agreed to bring forward negotiations on a new deal for the women’s national team after the summer break.

    Denmark are competing in Euro 2024 and are joint second in Group C after two draws against England and Slovenia.

  • Section 144 imposed in Punjab as PTI calls for protest

    Section 144 imposed in Punjab as PTI calls for protest

    The Punjab government has imposed Section 144 across the province for seven days, citing security reasons.

    The decision came after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) called for a nationwide protest at 2PM today to “protect the sanctity of the vote.”

    The orders issued by the Home Department said that Section 144 will remain enforced throughout the province from June 21 to 27.

    Furthermore, it also said that due to the current situation of public order and security threats in the province, any public gathering of people can be a soft target of terrorists and miscreants, which can be a serious threat to law and order.