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  • More rains expected from August 10-13: Met Department

    More rains expected from August 10-13: Met Department

    The Pakistan Meteorological Department has predicted more monsoon rains from August 10 to August 13.

    According to a statement issued by the PMD, rains and thundershowers are expected in Kashmir, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and parts of Balochistan from August 10-13.

    The PMD has also warned that rains can cause flash flooding in different cities including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Shakargarh, Sialkot, Narowal, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Dir, Karak, Lakki Marwat, Bannu and Kashmir.

    In addition, the PMD has warned of urban flooding in Karachi, Thatta, Badin, Hyderabad, Dadu, Jamshoro, Sukkur, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirabad and Mirpurkhas due to heavy rains.

    The Met Department has advised travellers and tourists to remain more cautious during the forecast period.

  • PSX resumes recovery as KSE-100 index gains 670.87 points

    PSX resumes recovery as KSE-100 index gains 670.87 points

    The KSE-100 increased for the fourth consecutive session on Friday as the rupee continued to strengthen against the US dollar, maintaining positive investor confidence at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX).

    The price of WTI crude oil was $87.95 per barrel during the day, while Brent crude oil was being sold at $93.75 per barrel, bringing the global oil prices to multi-month lows.

    The domestic equities market gained 670.87 points, or 1.62 per cent, to close at 42,096.24 points as a result of this development.

    The Pakistani currency’s ongoing rebound, which continued for the sixth day in a row against the US dollar, provided additional support for the market.

    Despite initial selling pressure on the market and a period of time in which the KSE-100 index traded flat, investor interest picked up toward the end of the first session, and the market closed roughly 300 points higher.

    The rise gained momentum in the second session, which enabled the index to pass the 42,000-point threshold and conclude with significant gains.

    The day ended strongly for index heavyweights in the banking, fertiliser, cement, chemical, automobile, and cement industries. On a weekly basis, the benchmark KSE-100 increased by 4.85 per cent. Capital Stake said that the PSX had strong sentiment for the fourth straight session.

    According to Topline Securities’ analysis, Pakistan’s stocks saw good momentum as a result of softening global energy prices for coal and oil, which experienced some correction.

    The decline enabled the market maintain its purchasing mood from Thursday and helped the KSE-100 index conclude the day at 42,096 points.

  • Man fired for coming 20 minutes late to office for the first time in 7 years

    Man fired for coming 20 minutes late to office for the first time in 7 years

    A man was allegedly fired for arriving 20 minutes late to work for the first time in more than seven years. One of the sacked employee’s coworkers posted about the incident.

    Reddit user @No_StopItStepbro in a post wrote, “Co-worker who has never been late in 7+ years, gets fired for the first time being late.”

    “This happened last week and today Monday we just found out he was fired for being 20 minutes late FOR HIS FIRST TIME EVER… tomorrow me and ALL my coworkers will be late and will continue to come in late until they rehire him.”

    The post added that as a mark of protest, all the employees of the company have decided to come late to the office until the person is rehired by the company.

    The post has generated at least 4.1k comments with several people sharing their stories of coming late to work.

  • Sajal Aly set to play Fatima Jinnah in forthcoming partition series

    Sajal Aly set to play Fatima Jinnah in forthcoming partition series

    Actor Sajal Aly is set to essay the late Fatima Jinnah in a series based on the Indo-Pak independence. Samiya Mumtaz and Sundus Farhan will also be playing Fatima Jinnah’s older portions. All the actresses will perform different phases of the life of Fatima Jinnah during the independence movement.

    The writer and director of the series, Danial K Afzal says the prologue is ready for the series based on partition.

    “The prologue teaser has three scenes, one of Bombay, one of the ’47 train carrying the beheaded corpses, and the third when she [Fatima Jinnah] stood for the elections,” said Afzal while talking to Dawn.

    Each scene in the teaser corresponds to a consequent season. “It will be a series with three seasons and 15 episodes per season.” He explained the series is divided into three seasons. “The first season is going to be pre-independence, the second is going to be during the independence and the third will be post-independence,” said the director.

    Afzal said that the series has been scripted entirely from the perspective of Fatima Jinnah and “we’ve only shot the prologue in which Sundus Farhan will play the pre-independence Fatima Jinnah, then the main chunk that is independence will be played by Sajal Aly and post-independence, the whole ’65 era, will be played by Samiya Mumtaz,” he explained.

    Mader-e-Milat Fatima Jinnah was a key figure in the independence of Pakistan. Several movies have been made on partition and several actresses got to portray Fatima Jinnah but the biopic on her life specifically has never been made. It has been reported that it will be Sajal Aly (for the phase of age 50) who will depict her along with Samiya Mumtaz (for the age 70) and Sundus Farhan to showcase Jinnah in her 30s.

    Dananeer Mobeen will also be seen in the series as a journalist from Bombay.

    The series, which is being made by a new production house called Aur Studios, may have a TV release, but is mainly being targeted towards an OTT audience. The teaser is apparently all set to hit screens, but the prologue will release on 14th August.

  • Rupee gets stronger by Rs2.11 to close at Rs224.04 against US dollar

    Rupee gets stronger by Rs2.11 to close at Rs224.04 against US dollar

    During intraday trade on Friday in the interbank market, the Pakistani rupee (PKR) climbed by Rs2.11 against the US dollar for the sixth session in a row.

    In the course of the day’s trading, the local currency gained Rs2.11 or 0.94 per cent versus the dollar and closed at Rs224.04, down from Thursday’s closing of Rs226.15.

    Dollar to PKR rate – Friday 8 August 2022

    At yesterday’s closing, the rupee marginally increased by Rs2.65 or 1.17 per cent.

    Following the government’s austerity measures, which caused a sharp rise in inflation but also prevented the nation’s economy from collapsing, the rupee has been on the upswing.

    On Wednesday, PKR increased by Rs9.58 against the US dollar, the local currency saw a significant gain. The biggest one-day rise since 1999, it grew by 4 per cent.

    In his speech at an event at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), Finance Minister Miftah Ismail said that if the nation can manage imports, exports may be increased through a number of strategies.

    After the coalition partners made unpopular decisions, Miftah stated Pakistan was “on the right track” and that the pressure on the rupee will continue to lessen in the days ahead as it strengthened against the dollar.

  • Chaudhry Shujaat to remain PML-Q’s president: ECP

    Chaudhry Shujaat to remain PML-Q’s president: ECP

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has said that former Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain would remain the Pakistan Muslim League -Quaid’s (PML-Q) president and Tariq Bashir Cheema its secretary-general.

    A four-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja heard Chaudhry Shujaat’s plea. During today’s proceedings, CEC Raja said the ECP is issuing notices to the parties in the case — PML-Q leader and Shujaat’s cousin, Pervaiz Elahi, and Punjab Secretary-General Kamil Ali Agha and both — Shujaat and Cheema — would retain their positions till the next hearing. The CEC adjourned the proceedings till August 16.

    Read more: ‘Stop making a mockery of family’: Chaudhry Shujaat asks Pervaiz Elahi to return home

    PML-Q’s Central Working Committee (CWC) unanimously decided to remove Hussain and Cheema from their party positions in July. Talking about the removal of Shujaat as PML-Q chief, Kamil Ali Agha said, “It has become necessary to isolate Chaudhry Shujaat to save the party from destruction.” He also said that due to a conspiracy hatched by Salik Hussain and Cheema, a letter was used to ask PML-Q MPAs to vote for the PML-N, damaging the party’s reputation.

  • Army chief reaches out to Saudi, UAE authorities to discuss IMF programme

    Army chief reaches out to Saudi, UAE authorities to discuss IMF programme

    Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has spoken with the rulers of two Gulf countries — the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) — to discuss the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme.

    According to media reports, the extended fund facility worth $1.2 billion with the IMF was discussed with the Gulf countries, including the upcoming executive board meeting of the IMF, which is expected to ratify the loan programmme.

    It is pertinent to mention that the loan programme reportedly came under discussion and a positive development is expected for Pakistan soon.

    The development has taken place a week after the COAS was reported to have reached out to US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman over resuming the programme with IMF. He appealed to the US to help Pakistan secure an early dispersal of $1.2 billion in funds.

  • ‘Largest prison in the world’: Politicians condemn atrocities in occupied Kashmir

    ‘Largest prison in the world’: Politicians condemn atrocities in occupied Kashmir

    Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir is being observed today in Pakistan to mark the day when Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi revoked the special status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s (IIOJK). In violation of the United Nations (UN) resolutions and international law, India scrapped Articles 370 and 35-A of the Indian Constitution that granted special autonomous status to IIOJK and imposed a military siege on the territory on August 5, 2019.

    Pakistani politicians expressed solidarity with the people of occupied Kashmir.

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that India’s actions are “aimed at altering the demographic structure of the occupied territory”.

    “The Jammu and Kashmir dispute has been a battle of hope against overwhelming odds, of courage against fear and of sacrifice against tyranny.”

    The premier also paid tribute to the martyrs of IIOJK for their sacrifices and courage.

    “Pakistan will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our Kashmiri brothers and sisters in their just struggle. We call upon international community to take practical steps to hold India accountable for its gross and widespread human rights violations in IIOJK and to facilitate a peaceful resolution of this long-standing dispute,” tweeted President Dr Arif Alvi.

    The president further added, “The resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UNSC Resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people is the only way to ensure durable peace and stability in the region.”

    “More than 1.5 billion people in the region deserve to see the dawn of peace and prosperity, which has been held hostage by India in IIOJK.”

    Similarly, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said that the Indian authorities assumed that their moves would crush the spirit of Kashmiri resistance “but the Kashmiris’ spirit of resistance became stronger and it continues to strengthen”.

    Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari released a video message on the occasion of Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir.

    He said that the presence of the Indian troops has turned occupied Kashmir into the most militarised region in the world.

    “Over the past seven decades, three generations of Kashmiris have awaited for the world community and UN to honour their solemn commitment.”

    Former FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi called India a rogue state.

    “India continues to act as a rogue state with unrelenting violence in #IIOJK. Yet indigenous resistance movement for Kashmiri’s inalienable right to self-determination stands strong. Pakistan will always stand by ppl of Kashmir.”

    “Modi government has made IIJOK the largest prison in the world,” tweeted federal Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman.

  • Women drivers less likely to be involved in accidents than men: Study

    Women drivers less likely to be involved in accidents than men: Study

    A new study conducted by scientists at the Newcastle University in England shows that women are less likely to be involved in road accidents. Moreover, they are better at taking control of cars due their faster reaction time.

    The study says that women tend to avoid driving recklessly and have more control over their vehicles. They are better at taking back control of the vehicles because of relatively faster reaction time than men.

    For this study, 43 men and 33 women were chosen wherein they had to use driving simulator. It revealed that women took back control of the car faster than men. Additionally, relatively smaller proportion of women were recorded in hasty takeovers proving them more patient while driving.

    The test was run at two different speeds, 30 mph and 60 mph, in clear, rainy, snowy and foggy conditions, with visibilities of 3,280 feet, 1,312 feet, 656 feet and 328 feet respectively.

    Women exhibited more control of the steering wheel and relatively quicker reaction time to different situations. On average, women took 2.45 to react and gained back control while men took 2.63 seconds.

    This reaction time shows that women are less likely to be involved in road accidents as compared to their male counterparts.

  • ‘Consider it their right to slam players,’ Javeria Khan lashes out at critics ‘who do not follow women’s cricket’

    ‘Consider it their right to slam players,’ Javeria Khan lashes out at critics ‘who do not follow women’s cricket’

    Pakistan cricketer Javeria Khan has given a befitting reply to the critics “who do not follow Women’s Cricket in Pakistan, consider it their inalienable right to slam the players if they underperform.”

    “Questioning selection of the team, accuracy of shots, playing techniques or approaches, and strategies applied during the game is welcome”, wrote Javeria in a message shared for critics on her official Twitter account.

    “Constructive criticism is always healthy, whether relative to women’s or men’s crickets. But resorting to vile comments, and attacking players’ private lives is both outrageous and unwarranted.”

    “One should first step and walk in another person’s shoes before coming up with sweeping judgments or labelling someone as a failure. PS: Teams, athletes, and systems do not grow overnight. This is an evolutionary process that takes time. Women’s team needs your support and constructive criticism,” she concluded.

    Javeria Khan’s post came after Pakistan’s women’s cricket team is facing criticism for recent performances. The team suffered back-to-back defeats in the Commonwealth Games 2022. Australia Women defeated Pakistan Women by 44 runs on August 3.

    However, the Pakistani women’s side was particularly trolled after losing to India at the first T20 clash on Sunday (July 31) at Commonwealth Games.