Tag: Pakistan

  • Military officers appointed at NAB

    Military officers appointed at NAB

    In what is being called an effort to enhance the accountability process in response to the Supreme Court’s decision to revive corruption cases, the Establishment Division has officially assigned four military officers to various roles within the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), as reported by The News on Saturday.

    According to the notification, Brigadier Muhammad Khalid of Infantry has been appointed Director National Accountability Bureau in (BS-20), Lt Col Nadeem Muzaffar as Additional Director in (BS-19), Major Waleed Khalid of Military Intelligence as Deputy Director (BS-18), and Major Qais Kamran Syed of Military Intelligence as Deputy Director (BS-18).

    These military officers have been assigned on a temporary basis under the standard terms and conditions outlined in JSI-4/85, effective immediately. The notification was released following Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar’s approval.

    Reports indicate that, in addition to assistance from intelligence agencies, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has also requested technical support from experts in various government departments such as the State Bank of Pakistan, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and others to aid in their investigation of white-collar corruption.

  • Pakistani rupee appreciates by Rs5.07 against US dollar in five days 

    Pakistani rupee appreciates by Rs5.07 against US dollar in five days 

    The Pakistani rupee (PKR) showed a notable increase in value against the US dollar (USD), appreciating by 5.07 PKR in five days to reach a closing rate of 277.62 PKR per USD on Friday. This stands in contrast to the previous week’s closing rate of 282.69 PKR per USD.

    In today’s interbank trading session, the local currency exhibited a gain of 96 paisa. It reached an intraday high (bid) of 278.5 PKR and a low (ask) of 287.55 PKR.

    In the open market, exchange companies adjusted their rates, with the rupee strengthening by 1 PKR. These companies quoted the dollar at 274 PKR for buying and 277 PKR for selling, as opposed to the prior rates of 275 PKR for buying and 278 PKR for selling.

    This increase in the value of the rupee can be attributed to several factors. Notably, there has been a concerted effort, backed by the military, to curtail illegal outflows of US dollars from the country.

    Additionally, the government has implemented various measures aimed at bolstering the local currency.

    Addressing concerns related to Afghan transit trade, Pakistan’s Ministry of Commerce recently took a significant step by imposing a ban on 212 items that were previously imported into Afghanistan through Pakistan under the Afghan transit trade agreement.

    This move, enacted through a Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) issued on October 3, was executed in accordance with the authority granted by the Imports and Exports (Control) Act of 1950.

    Furthermore, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has imposed a 10% processing fee on five key categories of Afghan transit commercial goods imported into Afghanistan via Pakistan.

    In parallel, the State Bank of Pakistan has introduced recent reforms aimed at consolidating and redefining various types of exchange companies into a single category. These changes come with well-defined mandates and higher capital requirements, ultimately contributing to a more transparent financial landscape.

  • ‘No compromise after November 1’, Interior Minister tells Afghan immigrants

    ‘No compromise after November 1’, Interior Minister tells Afghan immigrants

    In a recent statement, the Interim Federal Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti has categorically stated that all illegal immigrants are to leave Pakistan before November 1. “There will be no compromise after that,” he remarked.

    He further said that it is the unanimous decision of all the stake-holders that Afghans should be given a grace period even though many of them are volunteering to leave. However, anybody who wants to leave must do that before the deadline.

    The policy is apparently for all illegal residents and is not targeted against Afghans.

    He clearly stated that illegal residents are those who do not own a visa. “Irrespective of their nationality, we are only going to send those back after the deadline,” he said.

  • International Journalists visit Jaranwala on the invitation of Mohsin Naqvi

    International Journalists visit Jaranwala on the invitation of Mohsin Naqvi

    The Caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab, Mohsin Naqvi, invited international journalists to Jaranwala on Thursday. The small town near Faisalabad was the site of a riot in August in which armed mobs burnt the homes and churches of the Christian community.

    The visit aimed to provide the journalists with an opportunity to observe the administration’s endeavors in assisting the Christian families impacted by the tragic events of August 18.
    Faisalabad Deputy Commissioner Abdullah Nayar Sheikh and CPO Muhammad Ali Zia provided an overview of the efforts undertaken to support the affected families, the process of restoring churches, and the transfer of churches to the administration.
    Journalists learned that each impacted household received a financial grant of Rs2 million and had the damaged electricity and gas meters in their homes replaced.
    Christian students were able to return to their educational institutions after receiving support in the form of school bags, textbooks, uniforms, and writing materials. Additionally, jobless workers from the private industrial sector were successfully rehired with the cooperation of their employers.

    The visiting media reporters included representatives from the Washington Post, BBC, AFP, Arab News, Russia Today, and bureau chiefs of different international news agencies in Islamabad.

  • Peshawar students protest after schoolmate shot dead by robbers

    Peshawar students protest after schoolmate shot dead by robbers

    On Thursday, students from Edward College, Peshawar, gathered to protest against the murder of their fellow student who was killed in broad daylight on Wednesday.

    The 17-year-old student, Hasan Tariq, was on his way home after school in a rickshaw when two robbers stopped him and asked for his phone. Tariq, however, resisted, so they shot him on the spot.

    Dawn reported that the incident took place in the red zone area which encapsulates the provincial assembly, Peshawar High Court, Corps Commander House, Governor’s House and other government offices.

    The students demonstrated outside Peshawar Press Club, had closed Saddar Road for the time being, while some protested outside the provincial assembly.

    The young protesters held placards, chanted slogans, and raised concerns about the increasing crime rate in Peshawar. They also condemned the police administration and called for justice for their school-mate.

    Tariq’s parents were also present at the demonstration.

    Caretaker Chief Minister Mohammad Azam Khan has taken notice of the incident.

    According to a statement, he ordered suspension of the relevant station house officer and directed the police chief to submit a report into the student’s killing.

    “Those involved in the murder will be arrested and brought to justice,” Khan stated.

    Simultaneously, the caretaker minister for information, Feroze Jamal Shah Kakakhel, visited the Manga Dargai area of Charsadda district, the native village of Hasan Tariq.

    He also visited Edwards College and met with Principal Shujaat Ali Khan and other faculty members.

  • ‘Actors are not prostitutes’: Mariyam Nafees slams stalker sending vulgar messages

    ‘Actors are not prostitutes’: Mariyam Nafees slams stalker sending vulgar messages

    Actress Mariyam Nafees has had enough with stalkers assuming it’s their right to be lewd to actresses.

    Nafees shared a screenshot on her Instagram stories of a message she recieved from an unknown person, who was trying to solicit a meeting with her after seeing her at the Lux Style Awards. The stalker tried to persuade Mariyam to hold a meeting, and asked her to name an amount.

    To which she had responded: “Bet your mom is ashamed to have a child like you. Not every woman is ‘bought-able’ you s****. Good luck dealing with my ‘friends’!”

    Mariyam shared the screenshot of the conversation and wrote in the caption: “Married or not- this never stops! Actors are not prostitutes!”

    In her next post, Nafees shared the complete contact information of the stalker, writing that she plans to expose the harassers this way.

    Another woman messaged Mariyam, whose conversation screenshots the actress shared in her Instagram stories. In the conversation, the woman solicited the actress to agree to take a photoshoot with a Pakistani magazine which innvolved “political level parties and bold shoots.”

    In 2021, Mariyam shared pictures of the indecent messages she recieved on Instagram from a man who asked her to visit his friend for a few hours and in return she’d recieve three lacs. Sharing the messages, the actress wrote in the caption:

    “The point of putting this up is because I truly want to put a stop to this.
    I don’t know who’s responsible for these morons to think this way and who’s entertaining them but no! Absolutely not! I and my esteemed co-actresses respectfully work for twelve hours (sometimes more) everyday and we refuse to tolerate this mentality. We come from educated backgrounds to make a name for ourselves, nobody and I mean NOT A SINGLE PERSON is allowed to disrespect us.

    Actresses are not prostitutes!”

    Her outspoken message was applauded by Adnan Siddiqui who defended her in a tweet, pointing out that actors were professionals like everyone else and were not for sale.

    “For those who think otherwise, let me put the record straight. Actors are NOT for sale. We work hard and work honestly as much as any other professional. No one’s allowed to disrespect us. Atta girl MariyamNafees”, Adnan tweeted.

  • Sweden convicts man over Quran burning in 2020 in historical first

    Sweden convicts man over Quran burning in 2020 in historical first

    A Swedish court on Thursday convicted a man of inciting ethnic hatred with a sacrilegious act he committed in 2020, the first time the country’s courts have tried someone for desecrating the Holy Quran.

    The conviction comes after a wave of desecrations earlier this year that stoked international outrage and made Sweden a “prioritised target”, prompting the country’s intelligence agency to heighten its terror alert level.

    The Swedish government condemned the acts, but repeatedly upheld the country’s extensive freedom of expression laws.

    The Linkoping district court in central Sweden found the 27-year-old man guilty of “agitation against an ethnic group”, saying his action had “targeted Muslims and not Islam as a religion”, and “can hardly be said to have encouraged an objective and responsible debate”.

    In September 2020, the man had recorded a video clip outside the Linkoping cathedral showing the holy scripture and bacon being burned on a barbecue, with a pejorative remark about the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) written on a sign under the barbecue. The man published the video on social media platforms X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube.

    The song “Remove Kebab” was used in the video, a song popular among far-right groups that calls for the religious cleansing of Muslims.

    The court said “the music is strongly associated with the attack in Christchurch”, New Zealand, in 2019 in which an Australian white supremacist killed 51 people at two mosques.

    The man had denied any wrongdoing, arguing that his action was a criticism of Islam as a religion. But the court rejected that argument.

    “The court finds that the chosen music to a film with such content cannot be interpreted any other way than as a threat against Muslims with an allusion to their faith,” the court wrote in a statement.

    “The film’s content and the form of its publication are such that it is clear that the defendant’s primary purpose could not have been other than to express threats and contempt,” it said.

  • Nawaz Sharif performs Umrah with son Hussain Nawaz

    Nawaz Sharif performs Umrah with son Hussain Nawaz

    Former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) head, Nawaz Sharif, who was in London since the last three years in self-imposed exile, performed Umrah in Saudi Arabia on Thursday.

    The PML-N supremo travelled from London to Saudi Arabia with his son Hussain Nawaz and close friends, to perform Umrah together.

    Nawaz Sharif will go to Dubai from the Kingdom, where he will stay for three days. After that, the former president will fly to Pakistan on October 21 to address a gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan. He will also explain his agenda to the people of Pakistan for the upcoming general elections.

    Sharif was accompanied on the Saudi visit by his close friend Mian Nasir Janjua, aide Waqar Ahmed, Karim Yousaf, and a few others.

    According to a report filed by Geo News, the flight carrying Nawaz home will be named ‘Umeed-e-Pakistan’. It can carry approximately 150 passengers.

  • Pakistan exports first batch of Changan Oshan X7 SUVs to Kenya and Tanzania

    Pakistan exports first batch of Changan Oshan X7 SUVs to Kenya and Tanzania

    Pakistan has made a significant foray into the global automobile market, marking a historic moment as it exported a batch of 14 SUV vehicles to Kenya and Tanzania, as reported by ARY News on Thursday.

    In a landmark achievement, Pakistan, through the collaboration of Master Changan Motors, a joint venture between Pakistan and China, has officially joined the league of car-exporting nations. This endeavour has solidified their position as the first automotive company to send SUV vehicles to foreign shores.

    The occasion was celebrated with a ceremonial event held in Karachi, commemorating the milestone of becoming the inaugural Pakistani-Chinese auto entity to export vehicles to two overseas destinations. Notably, the ceremony was attended by the Federal Secretary of Industries and Production, Asad Rehman.

    Rehnan also revealed the government’s intent to urge auto manufacturers to revise their car prices, especially in light of the notable depreciation of the US dollar (USD). He underlined the efforts in this direction by mentioning a recent newspaper advertisement released by an auto company, signaling its commitment to reducing vehicle prices.

    The export of the Oshan X7 SUV is a significant milestone for Pakistan as it ventures into the global automobile market, and this achievement carries even greater importance given the challenging economic conditions the country is currently facing.

    In a groundbreaking move, Pakistan’s collaborative effort with a Chinese automotive company, Master Changan Motors, marked their entry into the league of car exporters. They proudly achieved this milestone by sending the initial consignment of 14 SUV vehicles to Kenya and Tanzania.

    A special ceremony was organised in Karachi to celebrate the occasion, as it signified the first instance of a Pakistani-Chinese automotive company venturing into foreign vehicle exports.

    The Federal Secretary of Industries and Production, Asad Rehman was also present at the ceremony.

    During the ceremony, Asad Rehman conveyed the government’s intention to encourage auto companies to lower their car prices, given the significant decline in the value of the US dollar (USD).

    He also mentioned that an automotive firm had recently placed a newspaper advertisement advocating price reductions.

    Master Changan Motors, the Pakistan-Chinese automotive collaboration, proudly shipped its SUV model, the Oshan X7, to Kenya.

    This achievement is a notable milestone for Pakistan, considering the challenging economic circumstances it faces.

  • Junaid Safdar and wife Ayesha part ways amicably

    Junaid Safdar and wife Ayesha part ways amicably

    Junaid Safdar, the son of the vice president of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML- N) Maryam Nawaz and grandson of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has confirmed reports of his divorce with Ayesha.

    Taking to Instagram, Junaid Safdar requested the media to respect the couple’s privacy as it is their private matter, and wished his wife well.

    “News about my divorce is true. This is an entirely private matter and I request the media to respect our privacy. I hope with this decision we find our peace In Sha Allah. I will speak no further on this matter. I wish her well.”

    Junaid and Ayesha tied the knot in 2021 in a lavish ceremony held in the UK and Pakistan. Nawaz Sharif was present at the London event. The couple have kept away from the media since their marriage.

    Junaid has removed pictures of him and his wife from his Instagram account.