Tag: Dubai

  • CAA gathers global players: Meeting in Dubai to discuss Islamabad airport outsourcing 

    CAA gathers global players: Meeting in Dubai to discuss Islamabad airport outsourcing 

    The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has convened a significant meeting in Dubai to address matters pertaining to the outsourcing of Islamabad airport. 

    Sources indicate that the CAA administration has scheduled this meeting for September 26 in Dubai, extending invitations to international companies interested in participating in the outsourcing of the airport. 

    This development follows the federal government’s issuance of tenders, soliciting applications for the outsourcing of Islamabad International Airport for a duration of 15 years. 

    According to ARY News, the Civil Aviation Authority has stipulated that interested bidders must submit their applications, along with a Rs5,000 fee, in favour of CAA by November 8. 

    Notably, the government recently made the decision to pursue the outsourcing of Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad International Airports, drawing keen interest from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey, China, and Saudi Arabia. 

    In response to this decision, CAA unions launched a protest movement, which has persisted despite attempts at negotiation by Aviation Minister Khawaja Saad. 

    The steadfast stance of CAA employees remains unwavering, with a spokesperson for the CAA Union asserting during a media address that the protest movement will persist until their demands are met. 

  • Bilawal Bhutto attends unveiling of Benazir Bhutto’s statue at Madame Tussauds in Dubai

    Bilawal Bhutto attends unveiling of Benazir Bhutto’s statue at Madame Tussauds in Dubai

    Foreign Minister of Pakistan Bilawal Bhutto Zardari attended the Commemoration Ceremony at which a wax figure of his mother, the Muslim world’s first female Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto, was unveiled at Madame Tussauds in Dubai.

    In a tweet on Sunday, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman said that, “With immense pride and humility, I attended the unveiling of the statue of the first Pakistani personality to be commemorated at Madame Tussauds today in Dubai – the inimitable, the indomitable, the irreplaceable, my mother, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.”

    He hoped that  statue will serve to inspire generations to come and remind us of the enduring resonance of the values of his mother lived and fought for – democracy, justice, human rights, rule of law, compassion, and freedom.

    He further expressed gratitude to the Madame Tussauds Dubai on behave of the Bhutto Family for the gesture, he said, “My family and I, and indeed, all Pakistanis are profoundly grateful to Madame Tussauds Dubai for honouring Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s memory and legacy.”

    The late Benazir Bhutto was the first female Prime Minister of Pakistan and the Muslim world. She became the head of the country at the age of 35, after a prolonged fight against the dictatorship of General Zia-ul-Haq, who had hanged her father, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

    Benazir Bhutto was killed in a terrorist attack in Rawalpindi after giving a speech at an election rally in December 2007. Just two months earlier, she had survived a terrorist attack on her convoy after her triumphant return to Pakistan.

  • Nawaz Sharif and family to celebrate Eid in Dubai

    Nawaz Sharif and family to celebrate Eid in Dubai

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice-president Maryam Nawaz has left for Dubai as the Sharif family plans to celebrate Eid-Ul-Azha in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) together.

    According to media reports, Nawaz Sharif has already reached Dubai.

    “Vice President and Chief Organizer of Pakistan Muslim League (N) Maryam Nawaz Sharif has left for Dubai on a private visit. Party leader Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has already reached Dubai. Other family members are also with him,” Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb tweeted.

    Reportedly, Maryam Nawaz will go to London after her visit to Dubai, however, Maryam Aurangzeb didn’t give further information about their huddle in Dubai.

  • Here are all the winners from the IIFA awards

    Here are all the winners from the IIFA awards

    The most anticipated awards in Bollywood. the IIFA awards, took place in Dubai with a lot of celebration and joy. The creme de la creme of the Indian entertainment industry showed up dressed to the nines, including celebrities like Hrithik Roshan, Salman Khan and Farah Khan.

    There were entertaining performances with Hrithik Roshan shaking a leg with Vicky Kaushal on his 90’s hit ‘Ek Pal Ka Jeena’, Anil Kapoor’s captivating opening speech, Abhishek Bachchan and Kaushal driving audiences to hysterics with their infectious energy and charisma.

    Among the films that won accolades at the festive night, ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ reined as the star of the evening as Alia Bhatt walked home with the Best Actress award while Hrithik Roshan was awarded Best Actor for his performance in ‘Vikram Vedha’.

    Here is a complete list of the winners from last night:

    Best Actor: Hrithik Roshan for ‘Vikram Vedha’

    Best Actress: Alia Bhatt for ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’

    Best Actress In Supporting Role: Mouni Roy in ‘Brahmastra Part One: Shiva’

    Best Actor In Supporting Role: Anil Kapoor in ‘JugJugg Jiyo’

    Best Director: R Madhavan in ‘Rocketry: The Nambi Effect’

    Best Original Story: Jasmeet K Reen and Parveez Sheikh for ‘Darlings’

  • Get ready Lahore for hosting four matches of Asia Cup

    Get ready Lahore for hosting four matches of Asia Cup

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly all set to disclose the hybrid model venue for Asia Cup 2023, with Gadhafi Stadium in Lahore emerging as the most likely host of the first four matches of the tournament.

    Lahore will be the hot favorite city to host because the country’s cricketing board is there and the city hosted the New Zealand series and PSL final for two years straight.

    Only four matches will take place in Lahore before the action shifts to Dubai under the current proposed model.

    As per media reports, Dubai International Stadium is the favorite option for the second venue in which India can play their matches as well as the rest of teams.

    Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) however has shown concerns over weather conditions in Dubai and rejected the proposal sent by PCB.

    BCB has reportedly said raised that they have no issues if the whole tournament shifts to Pakistan or even Sri Lanka, but they will not take any risk regarding players health ahead of World Cup 2023.

    PCB is reportedly trying to sort out the issue to ease teams’ concerns about the heat in Dubai, mulling changing the starting time of matches to 4:30 PM to alleviate concerns about player safety.

    India’s BCCI is not expected to raise objections over the 2023 Asia Cup venues given the fact that it will not be sending a team to Pakistan anyways.

    The 2023 Asia Cup is scheduled to take place in September with Pakistan, India, Nepal, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh taking part in the tournament.

  • India wants the whole Asia Cup tournament shifted to Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka agrees

    India wants the whole Asia Cup tournament shifted to Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka agrees

    Sri Lanka is now one of the strongest contenders to host Asia Cup 2023 as the recent meeting of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee Chairman with the Vice-President of Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Pankhaj Khimji seems to have not gone as well as was expected.

    According to a report, PCB Chief Najam Sethi met with ACC officials on Tuesday, May 9, where it was decided that Pakistan would pull out of the tournament because their proposal of hosting it in the UAE was not accepted.

    Asia Cup is scheduled for September this year, but the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary, who is also the President of Asian Cricket Council (ACC) had threatened that the Indian government would not allow their team to travel to Pakistan because of security concerns.

    Regardless of the current political crisis in Pakistan, the country has just concluded a New Zealand series in peace. Yet Indian media and BCCI officials have based their decision to not send their team to Pakistan on security concerns.

    In the recent meeting with Jay Shah and ACC officials, Najam Sethi proposed a revised ‘Hybrid Model’ in which four teams Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh will play their matches in Pakistan and then all the teams along with Pakistan will move to Dubai to play the whole tournament.

    ACC officials straight away rejected the proposal by raising questions about logistics, asking how broadcasters will travel between the two countries with all the crew and equipment.

    Sethi reply was that they only had to travel to Pakistan only once and then will go to Dubai.

    ACC officials said that ahead of World Cup they cannot take the risk and that weather conditions are not suitable in Dubai for playing cricket.
    Sethi reportedly pointed out that the BCCI held IPL 2020 in Dubai and also in the same season.

    An ultimatum on the matter is expected by the end of this month. Should the decision go against Pakistan, the country’s status as a participant in the Cup would be up in the air, with a boycott being likely in that event.

  • Sania, Shoaib Malik’s son spotted with Salman Khan

    Sania, Shoaib Malik’s son spotted with Salman Khan

    Sania Mirza’s sister Anam shared a reel of her trip to Dubai on her Instagram account, where Sania and Shoaib Malik’s son, Izhaan, was spotted posing for a picture with Bollywood superstar Salman Khan.

    His brief appearance in the video caught the attention of many fans, including Indian film director Farah Khan, who applauded Anam on her weight loss.

    According to India Today, Khan was currently in Dubai for the promotion of his upcoming film ‘Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan’. The actor has returned to Mumbai with high security after local police received an anonymous call on April 10, threatening to murder Khan at the end of the month.

  • Filipino TikToker embraces Islam with the help of Pakistani friend

    Filipino TikToker embraces Islam with the help of Pakistani friend

    Famous TikToker Fiona James, who is based in Dubai and originally from the Philippines, has converted to Islam during the holy month of Ramadan. With almost 800,000 followers on TikTok, Fiona changed her name to Zainab after accepting Islam at the Islamic Information Centre in Satwa, Dubai. She had been living in the UAE for over eight years and had always been fascinated by the call to prayer from the mosques. Hearing the azan made her feel calm and curious about the religion, and she even memorized parts of it. Zainab shared her story in an interview with Khaleej Times.

    According to reports, Zainab, the TikTok influencer who recently converted to Islam, is currently taking online classes from the Islamic Information Centre to deepen her understanding of the religion. She aims to complete the course within a month while also studying and memorizing smaller chapters of the Holy Quran. Zainab’s family is said to be happy and supportive of her decision to embrace Islam.

    “I feel very nice and very calm inside me. I embraced Islam on my own. No one forced me to accept this religion,” she added.

    Zainab’s Pakistani friend Salman, who is also a TikToker with two million followers, helped her learn about Islam. The two friends have created several videos together for the social media platform.

    “We are friends for five years. In Islam, one cannot be forced to embrace religion. Instead, it’s all about getting the right information and meeting the right people. Sometimes we used to discuss it also as she used to ask me questions time and again. I believe this encouraged her to come into the fold of Islam,” said Salman.

  • Gold price increases by Rs1,200 to Rs187,200 per tola

    Gold price increases by Rs1,200 to Rs187,200 per tola

    The per tola price of 24-karat gold witnessed an increase of Rs1,200 on Saturday and was traded at Rs187,200, up from Rs186,000 the previous trading day. The price of 10 grammes of 24-karat gold also increased by Rs1,029 to Rs160,494 according to All Sindh Sarafa Jewellers Association.

    Although gold is often used as an inflation hedge, it is quite vulnerable to monetary tightening, which raises the opportunity cost of owning the bullion, which is typically a non-yielding asset like other precious metals. In other words, a precious metal investment cannot be “put to use” to try to make a profit.

    According to the jewellers association, gold in the local market continued to be “undercost” by Rs3,000 a tola when compared to the Dubai market, maintaining its Friday trend.

    Dealers claimed it was difficult to determine if the potential increase in the policy rate of 100–200 basis points (BPS) had been included in the price of the yellow metal.

    According to a research report from Pearl Securities, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) may raise the policy rate by 100 to 200 basis points to reduce ongoing inflationary pressures.

  • Experts predict gold price may reach Rs200,000 per tola soon

    Experts predict gold price may reach Rs200,000 per tola soon

    On Wednesday, the price of gold reached another record high as it continued its upward trend. The price of precious yellow metal in Pakistan is currently higher than the global market.

    Gold prices increased by Rs900 per tola and Rs772 per 10 grammes, respectively, according to the All-Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association (APSGJA). These prices now stand at Rs188,600 and Rs161,694 respectively.

    Owing to the Pakistani rupee’s depreciation against the US dollar during the present cycle and the lack of US dollars, traders predict that the price of gold would reach Rs200,000 per tola.

    According to market analysts, the $6–$8 billion inflow from multilateral and bilateral creditors will pop Pakistan’s gold price bubble.

    Silver’s price per tola, however, stayed constant at Rs2,150. The cost of 10-gramme silver remained essentially constant at Rs1,843.27.

    Gold prices increased more than 1 per cent on Wednesday, reaching their highest level since mid-June due to a weaker rupee and mounting predictions that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates gradually rather than aggressively.

    The markets have now priced in the possibility that the central bank may raise interest rates by a full 50-100 basis points on January 23 after Pakistan’s December inflation data was revealed on Monday.

    Greater interest rates increase the opportunity cost of owning non-yielding metal, despite the fact that gold is regarded as a safe investment during times of uncertainty and a hedge against higher inflation.