Tag: Pakistan

  • Gold price hits record high as economic conditions push people to buy precious metals

    Gold price hits record high as economic conditions push people to buy precious metals

    On Thursday, the price of gold increased by 1.4 per cent to break the Rs166,000 per tola barrier as it proceeded to set new milestones.

    According to figures provided by the All Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association (APSGJA), the price of gold increased by Rs2,250 per tola and Rs1,929 per 10 grams to settle at record highs of Rs166,400 and Rs142,661.

    A day earlier, the price of gold reached a record high of Rs164,150 per tola as investors sought safety in the safe-haven metal amid growing worries about the nation’s economic situation getting worse.

    In the meantime, domestic silver prices held steady at an all-time high of Rs1,860 per tola and Rs1,594.65 per 10 grams.

    As the precious metal often reflects world prices, which have been under pressure this year as a result of the US Federal Reserve’s aggressive tightening efforts, the gold surge is particularly notable.

    The price of gold increased by $10 per ounce on the global market, reaching $1,784.

    The country’s gold prices were reaching new highs, but gold traders regret that the lucrative nature of the industry had vanished.

    Here, only investors are purchasing gold. In contrast, artificial jewellery is being used during weddings and other rituals.

  • US warns Taliban of action if terrorists ‘regroup’ in Afghanistan

    US warns Taliban of action if terrorists ‘regroup’ in Afghanistan

    The United States (US) has warned of action if the superpower sees “international terrorists regrouping in Afghanistan” while saying that US’ broader goal was to make sure that “terrorists and others aren’t able to use Afghanistan as a launch pad for attacks on Pakistan.”

    US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price, in a press briefing, stated: “We also have capabilities when it comes to counterterrorism in the region that does not leave us entirely beholden to the Taliban.”

    He also mentioned the killing of the al-Qaeda leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri by a US strike in August this year to prove the superpower’s capabilities to act against terrorists.

    The spokesperson also added that the Afghan Taliban had been “either unable or unwilling to live up to the commitments that they’ve made in a number of areas.”

    Answering a question, Price said, “Of course, we’ve seen other groups also active. You mentioned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), among others. We are determined to work with our partners in the region, including Pakistan, to do what we can to take on the threat of terrorism in the region, and certainly the threat of terrorism that extends well beyond the region.”

    Terming Pakistan an “important partner”, Price said that the US values its bilateral relationship with the country. “We welcome opportunities to expand cooperation in areas that are of mutual interest to us and to Pakistan. That, of course, does include when it comes to counterterrorism”, he added.

    Earlier this week, Pakistan’s Head of Mission to Kabul Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani escaped an assassination bid in Afghanistan. Last month, a suicide attack— for which TTP claimed responsibility— rammed a police escort for a polio vaccination team in Quetta.

  • Nawaz Sharif will return to Pakistan in January 2023, says Ayaz Sadiq

    Nawaz Sharif will return to Pakistan in January 2023, says Ayaz Sadiq

    Ayaz Sadiq, former Speaker of the National Assembly and senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), has claimed that the party supremo, Nawaz Sharif, will return to Pakistan in January 2023.

    The PML-N leader made the claim while speaking on Geo News’ programme ‘Capital Talk’ while talking about his party head, who has been living in London in self-exile for the past almost four years.

    Nawaz will allocate tickets to candidates for the next general elections, Ayaz Sadiq said, adding that polls would be held in the country in 2023.

    “It seems that the assemblies would be dissolved between March-June 2023,” he predicted.

    The PML-N supremo had left for London in November 2019 following an illness in jail after then prime minister Imran Khan had permitted him to go abroad for medical treatment.

  • British High Commissioner, Christian Turner, to leave Pakistan

    British High Commissioner, Christian Turner, to leave Pakistan

    British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Christian Turner, has been appointed as the Director General Geopolitical (Political Director) at the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

    He was appointed to the position of British High Commissioner in December 2019. He will take up a senior diplomatic position in mid January next year. This follows the end of a standard three year diplomatic posting tenure.

    During his three year tenure, Turner has enjoyed widespread popularity on social media for adopting Pakistani culture. A recent video in which Turner spoke in Urdu and Pothwari language ahead of the first Test between Pakistan and England went viral, with social media users appreciating his efforts to learn local languages.

    No announcement has been made regarding the appointment of a new High Commissioner to Pakistan. The Deputy High Commissioner, Andrew Dalgleish, will take on the role of chargé d’affaires to cover an expected interim gap until a new High Commissioner arrives.

  • CJ takes notice of ‘brutal killing’ of Arshad Sharif

    Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Umar Ata Bandial, has taken Suo Moto notice of the ‘brutal killing’ of journalist Arshad Sharif.

    The Hon’ble Chief Justice of Pakistan has issued notices to Secretary Interior, Secretary Foreign Affairs, Secretary Information and Broadcasting, DG (FIA), DG (IB) and President PFUJ and has fixed the matter today, on 6th December, 2022 at 12:30pm before a five member larger bench to be headed by Justice Bandial.

    Arshad Sharif was assassinated in the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya, on October 23 in what their local police claimed was a case of ‘mistaken identity’.

    PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry welcomed the move by the Chief Justice.

  • Pakistan aims to build $8.2 billion rail link with Uzbekistan

    Pakistan aims to build $8.2 billion rail link with Uzbekistan

    Pakistan plans to build a rail link with Uzbekistan in an attempt to expand relations with Central Asian states. The project will roughly cost $8.2 billion.

    The decision to build the rail link was disclosed in a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Railways which was held at the Old PIPS Hall in the Parliament Lodges, reports SAMAA.

    The meeting was chaired by Senator Deputy Chairman Mirza Muhammad Afridi. The meeting was attended by Senator Dost Muhammad, Senator Shahadat Awan, Senator Mushtaq Ahmad, Railways Ministry Secretary Zafar Ranjha, and other concerned officers.

    During the meeting, Ranjha said that the government is deliberating on an Afghan Transit project which will link Pakistan with Uzbekistan.

    Uzbek Ambassador to Pakistan, Oybek Usmanov met with Finance minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad on Saturday. During the meeting, he apprised the Uzbek Ambassador of the potential investment avenues in Pakistan.

    The Uzbek ambassador expressed the Uzbek government’s strong desire to improve trade, investment, and business relations with Pakistan on a variety of fronts.

  • Russia agrees to provide petrol and diesel to Pakistan at discounted rates

    Russia agrees to provide petrol and diesel to Pakistan at discounted rates

    State Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik announced on Monday that Russia has agreed to supply Pakistan with cheap petrol, diesel, and crude oil.

    Malik said he wanted to congratulate the public for a fruitful trip to Russia, calling it “more successful than our expectations,” during a news conference in Islamabad.

    According to The News, the state minister for petroleum, the secretary for petroleum Capt. (retd) Muhammad Mahmood, the joint secretary, and representatives of the petroleum division made up the delegation from Pakistan that travelled to Moscow to look into the possibility of obtaining Russian crude oil and other petroleum products at a lower price.

    Malik said that Russia lacked liquefied natural gas (LNG). The import of LNG is the subject of ongoing discussions with Russian private companies, and Malik added that state-run LNG producers in Russia have also been contacted.

    The state minister claims that negotiations with Moscow about the pipeline projects have advanced significantly.

    The News last week stated, citing sources, that during negotiations in Moscow, the Pakistani team requested a 30–40 per cent discount on Russian crude oil; however, the Russians refused, stating that all volumes had already been promised.

  • Sarah Inam murder case: Shahnawaz, mother indicted

    A district and sessions court in Islamabad has indicted prime suspect Shahnawaz Amir and his mother Sameena Shah, on Monday in the Sarah Inam murder case.

    The indictment was issued by sessions court judge Atta Rabbani while dismissing Sameena’s plea requesting the court to discharge her from the case. The verdict on the plea was reserved earlier in the day after legal arguments were finished.

    In September, news of Sarah’s murder rocked Islamabad as details of the crime spread across social media and news networks.

    Central to the sensationalism surrounding the crime was the fact that the alleged murderer was the son of renowned columnist and political analyst, Ayaz Amir.

    It has been reported that after murdering her with a blow to her head with a dumbbell, Shahnawaz dumped her body in a bathtub.

  • Nawaz Sharif to return back to Pakistan anytime now: reports

    Nawaz Sharif to return back to Pakistan anytime now: reports

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif has finalized plans to return home to Pakistan before the next general elections.

    According to media reports, Nawaz Sharif has instructed his party that if Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan dissolves the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assemblies, new elections should be held in both provinces within 90 days as per the constitution, while Nawaz himself will head the election campaign of these provincial elections.

    The former Prime Minister has also completed consultations about his return with his lawyers. His legal team will begin pursuing reviews of his convictions in courts immediately after his arrival.

    Media reports also suggest that it has been decided at the highest level that Nawaz Sharif will no longer keep himself away from domestic politics and will directly lead his party and supporters in the next election.

  • Here is when Polio will end in Pakistan according to UNICEF

    The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has expressed confidence that polio virus will be eradicated from Pakistan by the end of next year, following effective measures to check its spread.

    UNICEF’s Regional Director for South Asia, George Laryea-Adjei, said that according to available data, the potentially fatal virus is in control in Pakistan.

    “We are using all available resources and services at our disposal to reach every girl and boy in Pakistan with life saving vaccines and protect them against the entirely preventable disease,” he said.

    “The programme is back on track to stop all wild poliovirus transmission in 2023,” he added.

    Adjei noted that compared to a year ago, Pakistan was in a far better position to eradicate polio. He stated that certain obstacles complicated efforts to entirely eradicate the pathogen.

    He lamented the attacks on health workers and polio teams in various areas of Pakistan and voiced his concern about them. He also praised the polio teams’ bravery.

    Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries in the world where polio has not yet been eradicated. To formally eradicate the disease, a nation must be polio-free for three consecutive years. Nigeria was declared free from wild polio in August 2020.