Tag: Pakistan

  • Gold price in Pakistan is currently Rs5,000 higher than global market rate

    Gold price in Pakistan is currently Rs5,000 higher than global market rate

    The price of gold continued to increase in Pakistan on Monday, following the gains of last week. According to the All Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association, the rate of 24-carat gold rose by Rs2,000 per tola and Rs1,714 per 10 grammes, settling at Rs237,300 and Rs203,446, respectively.

    In the international market, the gold rate declined by $5, reaching $1,972 per ounce. Throughout last week, the rate of gold experienced fluctuations in both the domestic and international markets, amidst uncertainty surrounding the raising of the US debt limit.

    If the US debt limit, which is currently capped at $31.4 trillion, is not raised, it could trigger the first-ever US default.

    According to Geo, recent volatility in the domestic gold market can be attributed to various factors, including economic and political turmoil, high inflation, and currency depreciation. In such times, people tend to prefer buying yellow metal as a safe investment and a hedge.

    On May 10, the safe-haven bullion reached an all-time high of Rs240,000 per tola, driven by increased political uncertainty following the arrest of Imran Khan, the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). However, it subsequently dropped in line with the decline in the international rate.

    Pakistan’s gold price peaks above global market levels

    The jewellers’ body also highlighted that local gold in Pakistan is currently overpriced by Rs5,000 per tola compared to the Dubai bullion market. Consequently, the Pakistani gold market is presently more expensive than the world market.

    Data shared by the association revealed a significant jump in the price of silver, with an increase of Rs50 per tola and Rs42.87 per 10 grammes, settling at Rs2,900 and Rs2,486.28, respectively.

  • ‘Jhoom’ has intrigued audiences with a fresh take on enemies-to-lovers story

    The highly anticipated drama ‘Jhoom’ hit television screens across the country last week with Zara Noor Abbas and Haroon Kadwani starring as male leads in the exhilarating ‘enemies to lovers story’ between an older woman and a young man.

    Maryam (played by Abbas) is a doctor who has dedicated her life to her younger brother’s upbringing, adopting a ‘take no crap’ attitude from men while working long shifts at the hospital. While Kadwani essays Arryan, a former car engineer who has anger issues that emerged after his mother left his family.

    The first few episodes have released on media platforms and fans are already in love with the chemistry between Abbas and Kadwani, applauding the makers of the show for choosing to tackle age gap marriages while deciding to make their female lead an older and financially independent woman.

    https://twitter.com/apkokiyubataun/status/1659969693330059265?s=20

    https://twitter.com/HourlySyrup/status/1658088975230291969?s=20

    Something Haute founder Aamna Isani called it ‘intriguing’:

    “Two episodes of Jhoom certainly have intrigued me. It’s fresh. And appears to be thought provoking beyond the obvious. #Jhoom.”

    Here’s to hoping that the drama keeps us captivated with a gorgeous story, and hopefully not go down the ‘Tere Bin’ route?

    Finger’s crossed.

  • Imran challenges judicial commission investigating audio leaks

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, has challenged the three-member judicial commission that has been established by the government to look into a spate of audio leaks involving senior judges and the judiciary.

    The former Prime Minister (PM) on Monday moved the Supreme Court of Pakistan against the formation of the judicial commission. The petition was submitted by Imran Khan’s attorney, Babar Awan.

    In his petition, the PTI leader has said that no judge could be nominated to the judicial commission without the Chief Justice of Pakistan’s approval.

    He further said that the proper forum for any probe or taking action against any judge was the Supreme Judicial Council.

    On Monday, the judicial commission decided to make its proceedings public.

    Justice Qazi Faez Isa, Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court Naeem Akhtar Afghan, and Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court Aamer Farooq, are part of the commission.

    Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan appeared in the first meeting of the commission.

    Justice Qazi inquired from the attorney general that under which law the government formed the commission.

    The Attorney General said that this commission was formed under the Commission of Inquiry Act 2016.

    The federal government on Satur­day notified the formation of the commission to probe audio clips leaked on social media over the previous months.

  • Audio leaks commission to make proceedings public

    Audio leaks commission to make proceedings public

    The three-member judicial commission that was established to look into the audio leaks involving judges and the judiciary has decide to make its proceedings public.

    Justice Qazi Faez Isa, Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court, Naeem Akhtar Afghan, and Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court, Aamer Farooq, are part of the commission.

    Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan appeared in the first meeting of the commission.

    Justice Qazi inquired from the attorney general that under which law the government formed the commission.

    The Attorney General said that this commission was formed under the Commission of Inquiry Act 2016.

  • Pakistan is making desperate efforts to revive IMF programme before deadline

    Pakistan is making desperate efforts to revive IMF programme before deadline

    Pakistan is facing a critical situation as it seeks to revive its stalled Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The $6.5 billion programme is set to expire on June 30, and negotiations for the ninth review, due last November, have not been successful.

    Efforts to reach a Staff Level Agreement (SLA) with the IMF have been ongoing, but disagreements persist regarding the conditions set by the Fund. The SLA must be signed before Pakistan unveils its 2023-24 budget on June 9, or the current programme will fail.

    According to The News, two options are being considered. The first involves signing the SLA immediately, requesting approval from the IMF Executive Board for the next $1 billion tranche, and extending the EFF programme for a few months to complete the 10th and 11th reviews. The second option is to combine the 9th and 10th reviews, share budgetary figures with the IMF, and sign the SLA after the budget announcement. If approved by parliament, the IMF’s Executive Board could then grant an extension for the completion of the 11th Review by July or August 2023.

    However, finding a solution is proving challenging. Maintaining the status quo will not lead to any breakthroughs, and consensus must be reached between Pakistan and the IMF. Political uncertainty, inadequate economic management, and the inability to secure sufficient external financing have hindered progress.

    Without an IMF programme, Pakistan’s options are limited. The risk of default would increase, and reserves would remain weak. Although there are options available, such as striking the SLA in the next few days or combining reviews, they are becoming increasingly difficult. Life without the IMF would require seeking financing from other sources at higher costs.

    It is crucial for Pakistan to resolve its differences with the IMF and secure the continuation of the EFF programme. Failure to do so would have severe consequences for economic stability and future financing prospects.

  • Imran Khan suspects he can be arrested on Tuesday

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has said that he might get arrested again when he appears before a court in Islamabad on Tuesday.

    “On Tuesday, I’m going to appear before court in Islamabad for various bails and there are 80% chances that I will be arrested,” Imran said that while speaking to Fareed Zakaria on CNN.

    “Everything is being done just to dismantle our democracy, so right now, as we speak, over 10,000 workers have been arrested. My entire senior leadership is in jail,” he added.

    Imran Khan further said that the government is taking such actions against him because they fear they would lose upcoming elections.

  • Miscreants who attacked army installations will face military court, says PM Shehbaz

    Miscreants who attacked army installations will face military court, says PM Shehbaz

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has announced that miscreants involved in attacks on army installations and civil properties during the violent protests if May 9, will be tried in military courts and anti-terrorism courts (ATCs).

    Chairing a meeting on the law and order situation in Lahore on Sunday, PM Shehbaz said everyone who is involved in incidents of May 9 will be dealt with an iron hand.

    He added that the day will always be remembered as a “black day” in the history of Pakistan. He went on to say that the rioters “turned into enemies of the country” and carried out the attack on the GHQ.

    After Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s arrest, his supporters came out on the streets and allegedly attacked army installations which included Corps Commander’s House (Jinnah House) in Lahore Cantt and the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.

  • Health activists urge govt to impose higher taxes on cigarettes for public welfare

    Health activists urge govt to impose higher taxes on cigarettes for public welfare

    Health activists and civil society organizations are calling on the government to impose higher taxes on cigarettes in the upcoming 2023-24 budget, signaling a potential increase in smoking costs for Pakistani consumers.

    Advocates argue that regular tax hikes on tobacco products, in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), are necessary to combat the detrimental effects of smoking in the country.

    Sanaullah Ghumman, representing Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH), emphasised the importance of consistent taxation on cigarettes, urging the government to align with WHO guidelines. Ghumman’s plea reflects the growing concern over the devastating health consequences associated with tobacco consumption.

    Malik Imran, Country Head of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK), highlighted the impact of the government’s recent decision to raise the Federal Excise Duty (FED) on cigarettes in February 2023. This move generated an additional Rs11.3 billion in FED revenue for the fiscal year 2022-23, marking a 9.7 per cent increase from the previous year. Moreover, an extra 4.4 billion in VAT revenue was collected during the same period, representing an 11.5 per cent rise. These figures amount to a substantial boost of 15.7 billion, contributing 0.201 per cent to Pakistan’s struggling economy.

    Imran dismissed the tobacco industry’s claims of illicit trade as a diversion tactic to undermine the benefits of increased taxation. He emphasised that the economic gains resulting from higher prices indicate the viability of this approach, which aids in curbing smoking-related healthcare costs.

  • Dear ‘Tere Bin’ writer, marital rape is rape

    To Nooran Makhdoom, the writer of the drama ‘Tere Bin’.

    How you chose to write your script is your own business. But to say that a heinous act like marital rape is justified and needed for the script is completely wrong and horrifying, as well as an insight into how the Pakistani entertainment industry keeps alienating women every year.

    This spectacle started on Friday, when the promo for the upcoming episode showed that after accusing Murtasim of cheating on her with Haya, Meerab is raped by her husband as punishment. Social media users were rightfully horrified, which led to a stream of hashtags like ‘Shame on Tere Bin Makers’ and ‘Nooran’, with users beginning to withdraw their support from the once popular drama, and criticising the production team for taking such a heinous step without realising its consequences and impact.

    Instead of listening to your fans and hearing their well-justified complaints about Meerab’s rape, you, Ms. Makhdoom, have instead decided to double down on your stand and defend it. In your statement to Arab News, you said that this is just a drama, and that this had not happened for the first time, so fans should stop complaining about every single episode.

    Now, Ms Makhdoom, we have to point out that you are entirely wrong to dismiss these complaints. Because:

    a. Marital rape is a crime, and many women in Pakistan suffer from it.

    b. Films and dramas are more than just means of entertainment. They are powerful tools to influence audiences.

    Let us break down all of this to you because clearly, you are not aware about the audience you are writing for.

    Marital rape has been declared as a human rights violation by the United Nations High Commissioner For Human Rights in 1993, when they included it in the ‘Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women’. However, in Pakistan where approximately 40% of women have experienced physical or emotional violence in their lifetime, there are no laws that recognise this as an illegal act.

    Already Ms. Makhdoom, you must be aware that the country you are writing dramas for, is one where women are not granted financial independence or any form of security so that if they are suffering from violence, they find some solace and escape. But because of cultural restrictions that prevent women from finding support, as well as a dilapidating justice system that refuses to help survivors, very few women live to see the day when they are able to escape their abusers with ease.

    So to stress on why saying this is ‘just a drama’ is wrong, these kinds of scenes undermine the difficult realities of women in Pakistan. It refuses to acknowledge them as individuals with the right to reject sex from men, whether or not they are married to them. And such actions being normalised by some of the top rated dramas in this country will only further erode the little progress that has improve the rights of women in Pakistan.

    Furthermore, dramas aren’t ‘just dramas’ Ms. Makhdoom, but powerful instruments of change that can influence the masses that are watching them. As a script writer, you do not get to evade the responsibility that comes with being a public figure, because ultimately the public looks up to you and is watching your dramas to learn more about the society around them. Which is why, it speaks volumes about the way our entertainment industry has continued to dig itself further and further into a hole when one of the highest rated dramas of a country which has been declared as the fourth most dangerous country for women, thinks that showing marital rape is okay.

    It’s never okay. And we urge you, Ms. Makhdoom, to stop hiding behind such baseless defences, and actually look down to see the consequences of the narrative you are promoting. Women in Pakistan are in pain. And it is only when public figures like you take responsibility for your actions and stop churning out such debauched dramas for the sake of good ratings, that we can actually progress forward.

  • ‘No new military courts’: Khawaja Asif says govt is not snatching anyone’s basic rights

    ‘No new military courts’: Khawaja Asif says govt is not snatching anyone’s basic rights

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said on Sunday that there no new military courts are being established.

    “No new military courts are being established. Law is already present at this time. Courts are present and they have been working for the past 75 years continuously,” said the minister while talking to media in Sialkot.

    He further said that cases would be pursued against individuals whose “footage, faces and identity is showing that they are attacking military installations”, adding that the government was not “snatching anyone’s basic rights”.

    Khawaja termed May 09 protests as “an attack on Pakistan’s integrity and existence”.

    On May 09, supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) took to the streets after party Chairman Imran Khan was arrested from Islamabad High Court. In the ensuing riots, many military and government installations sustained damage, most notably, Jinnah House, the residence of Corp Commander Lahore.