Tag: Punjab

  • Gold prices go up by Rs350 per tola to Rs130,300

    Gold prices go up by Rs350 per tola to Rs130,300

    The price of gold in the local market soared by Rs350 per tola (11.7 gramme) on April 13. All Pakistan Jewellers Manufacturers Association stated that the precious yellow metal is currently trading at Rs130,300 per tola.

    Accordingly, the cost of 10 gramme of gold jumped by Rs300 to Rs111,711. Silver prices in the local market as of April 13, remained constant at Rs1,520 and Rs1,303.15.

    Gold prices touched a one-month high in the international market as surging consumer costs bolstered its desirability as an inflation hedge, while investors seemed to ignore the Federal Reserve’s imminent interest rate hike and a healthier dollar.

    By 12:40 pm. ET (1640 GMT), spot gold had risen 0.6 per cent to $1,978.81 per ounce, after reaching its highest level since March 14 at $1,979.95. Gold futures in the United States (US) increased 0.3 per cent to $1,982.6.

    Read more: Car sales up by 53.7 per cent in 2022, despite repeated price hikes

    Bullion prices surged $22 per ounce on the global market, settling at $1,977 per ounce. When compared to the Dubai market, gold prices in Pakistan are approximately Rs5,000 cheaper.

  • ‘Hamza is like my brother’, Aleem Khan dispels rumours of differences with him

    ‘Hamza is like my brother’, Aleem Khan dispels rumours of differences with him

    The member of disgruntled Jahangir Khan Tareen (JKT) group Aleem Khan dismissed the reports about any differences with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) nominee for Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Hamza Shehbaz Sharif, saying: “Hamza is like my younger brother.”

    In a tweet, Khan took a jibe at Hamza’s contender Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) Pervaiz Elahi and said, “Elahi is seeing his defeat. He has come to know that defeat has become his destiny. I have a very lovable and respect relation with Hamza. He is like my younger brother. Nothing has happened and will never happen.”

    “Pervaiz Elahi should admit his defeat. Come to the polls. There will be no need for them to do such things,” Khan added.

    Following this, Hamza also dropped a tweet. He said, “The lies which have been propagated against me and Aleem Khan are baseless and a product of someone’s imagination. Khan is a respected brother and a senior politician. Seeing a clear defeat in Punjab, such a bay is being flown.”

    Earlier, it was claimed that Khan is involved in an altercation with Hamza and he had threatened to resign from his seat.

    The Punjab Assembly’s crucial session for the election of a new CM is likely to take place on April 16. PML-N has claimed of having the support of 202 Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) in the house.

  • Gold loses shine, price drops by Rs2,000 to Rs132,300 per tola

    Gold loses shine, price drops by Rs2,000 to Rs132,300 per tola

    Gold prices fell sharply in the local market on April 8, following the US dollar’s loss of value versus the rupee.

    The price of precious yellow metal dropped by Rs2,000 to Rs132,300 a tola (11.66 grams). Similarly, the cost of 10 grammes of gold decreased by Rs1,715 to Rs113,426. On the flip side, it jumped from $6 to $1,933 per ounce (28.3 gram) on the global market.

    The yellow metal in Karachi is reportedly selling for as low as Rs129,400, while 10 grams is being sold at Rs110,940. This rate for 24K gold announced by the Sarafa Bazar Association is also followed by the majority of gold markets in cities including Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, and Karachi.

    The Pakistani rupee (PKR) gained Rs3.50 yesterday against the US dollar, making it the greatest single-day gain since April 2020. The local currency is currently trading at Rs184.68.

    During inter-day trading on April 7, the domestic unit crossed the Rs189 threshold, notwithstanding the political uncertainty. However, following a Rs2.5 depreciation, it concluded at Rs188.18.

    The gold correction had been overdue for a long time, since the political turmoil had created widespread panic, and individuals were transferring their capital to gold, as various rules had made it difficult for everyone to buy dollars.

  • SSP Discipline advises officials to treat every complainant as a VVIP

    SSP Discipline advises officials to treat every complainant as a VVIP

    On Wednesday, SSP Discipline Lahore Ejaz Rasheed paid a surprise visit to Nishtar Colony Police Station, inspecting the front desk, reporting and record room, prison and presence of personnel, hygiene, and other pertinent sections of the office.

    The SSP told the police officers that resolving legitimate public complaints at the police station must be their first priority. He was of the view that police stations represent the department’s image and that boosting quality and providing justice to civilians should be their main focus.

    He remarked that every complainant who comes to the police station is a VVIP and the department must treat everyone with dignity and respect.

    SSP Discipline also inquired about police station personnel’s concerns regarding their job and the resources allocated to them. He also instructed the officers to accomplish the declared offenders and professional criminals’ arrest targets.

    On this occasion, SHO Nishtar Colony, Incharge Investigation, and other relevant police officers and personnel were also present.

  • ’We have no link with Farah Khan’: Bushra Bibi’s son

    ’We have no link with Farah Khan’: Bushra Bibi’s son

    Musa Maneka, son of first Lady Bushra Bibi, has categorically said that his mother’s close friend Farah Khan’s “corruption” has nothing to do with the Maneka family.

    “Farah Khan has settled in Dubai and our family has no link with the alleged deals done by Farah Khan,” said Musa while speaking to Geo News.

    The first lady’s son Musa told Geo News that Farah Khan has “nothing to do” with the Maneka family. And what she did with his mother and Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan was “not right”.

    “Farah Khan set off for Dubai on April 3 and reached there through a foreign flight EK623 from Lahore. She used a Pakistani passport and attended an iftar dinner in Abu Dhabi yesterday. According to family sources, Farah was invited to the iftar dinner by Maryam Riaz, sister of Bushra Bibi,” reports The News.

    Geo News’ Lahore Bureau Chief Raees Ansari visited Farah Khan’s village near Sheikhupura. He said that Farah Khan has built a hospital, school, and roads in a very short time in this village, which looks more developed than all the villages of Punjab.

    Farah Khan become controversial after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) dissident Abdul Aleem Khan levelled a number of allegations against former Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, on April 4, saying that he was involved in bribery over transfers and postings in Punjab. He also accused Farah Khan, of being complicit in these transfers.

    Aleem Khan accused Farah Khan of corruption with the connivance of her “contacts in the power corridors”. Later, rumours started making rounds suggesting that Farah Khan left for Dubai on Sunday in the wake of the no-confidence motion.

    It is pertinent to mention here that Farah joined PTI four years ago. She was also present during the wedding ceremony of PM Khan and Bushra Bibi.

  • No-Trust Twist: Deputy Speaker calls Punjab Assembly session, PML-Q brings no-confidence motion against Deputy Speaker

    No-Trust Twist: Deputy Speaker calls Punjab Assembly session, PML-Q brings no-confidence motion against Deputy Speaker

    Deputy Speaker of Punjab Assembly Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari summoned a crucial session to vote on Chief Minister (CM) Punjab at 7:30pm on Wednesday (today).

    Following this, it has been reported that Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) has submitted no-confidence motion to remove the deputy speaker. While reacting to the news, Mazari said that he can still preside over the session.

    However, journalist Hamid Mir said that the gates of the Punjab Assembly have been sealed.

    According to local media channels, the deputy speaker issued a written order for convening session of the assembly on Tuesday. The order reads: “Deputy speaker orders that instead of the earlier announced date of April 16th, the next sitting of 40th session of Punjab Assembly will now be held on Wednesday at 7:30pm.”

    Talking to Geo News, Mazari clarified that today’s session agenda includes vote on the election of a new CM Punjab. He said, “I have released the order of the day in the light of Supreme Court directions.”

    “We are answerable to the apex court. We will not postpone the voting and will try our best to complete the process today”, he added. While talking about the confusion regarding the session dates, Mazari claimed that Punjab Assembly staff have not been cooperating with him and Assembly staff is responsible for the confusion.

    When asked about the legal status of his order, Mazari said that it is just an order that needs the Assembly secretariat’s signature, without which the session cannot be held. He added that the Assembly staff and Secretariat Assembly should issue a gazette notification on his order but they are not following the legal procedures

    On the contrary, PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi told Dawn that the notice circulating on the media is ‘fake’ as it does not have a diary number and is written on a plain piece of paper. He asserted that the session would be held on April 16.

    In a tweet, journalist Ahmad Waleed claimed that spokesperson of the Punjab Assembly has also said that the session will be convened on April 16, adding that “no notification” was issued for today’s meeting.

    Earlier, through an official notification, Mazari himself postponed on Tuesday the session of the Punjab Assembly till April 16.

  • Islamabad Traffic Police creates special squads to curb road stunts, one-wheeling

    Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) has constituted special squads to prevent one-wheeling and road stunts in the federal capital.

    The special squads were created on the orders of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad, Muhammad Ahsan Younis to control one-wheeling, car racing, and rash driving, which endangers not only the offenders’ lives but also many other motorists.

    Various ITP units and special squads would conduct continuous patrolling operations at different spots of the metropolis, particularly on 7th Avenue, 9th Avenue, Margalla Road, Kashmir Highway, Islamabad Expressway, and Murree Road, and take action against motorists who engage in dangerous road stunts.

    The police officers and squads in these regions would maintain intensified watch, prohibiting young folks from being involved in dangerous actions.

    SSP Traffic, Rai Mazhar Iqbal stated that one-wheelers and rash drivers would face severe punishment. He urged parents to keep a close eye on their children and not allow them to play stunts on the roadways, endangering their lives.

    Read more: PIA prohibits pilots and cabin crew from fasting during Ramzan

    One-wheeler’s bikes will be seized, according to the SSP Traffic, while heavy fine tickets will also be issued to them.

  • Punjab Governor Sarwar removed early in the morning: What really happened?

    Punjab Governor Sarwar removed early in the morning: What really happened?

    Federal Information and Law Minister Fawad Chaudhry tweeted in the morning around 9am that Governor Punjab Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar has been removed from his position. “A new governor will be announced later. According to the Constitution, the Deputy Speaker will be the acting Governor.”

    Senior journalist Hamid Mir tweeted that he spoke to Chaudhry Sarwar, who told him that the Prime Minister’s Office was forcing him to do unconstitutional things that he refused. “He said Fed Govt wanted me to delay today’s session of the Punjab Assembly when he resisted they sacked him on the demand of Ch Pervez Elahi,” added Mir.

    However, Mir deleted his tweet and later tweeted a new one saying, “Governor @ChMSarwar called me and said he is still governor.”

    Rumour has it that Governor Sarwar was allegedly helping Hamza Shehbaz in today’s chief minister elections in Punjab.

    In November 2018, a video surfaced in which Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and Tariq Bashir Cheema could be seen complaining to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Jahangir Khan Tareen that Chaudhry Sarwar should be controlled as he was not letting Usman Buzdar work.

    “Sir, control Sarwar! He will not let your chief minister continue,” Cheema could be heard telling Tareen.

    https://twitter.com/PakPressWatch/status/1061957553251405824

  • Private students in Punjab will soon be able to take FSc exams

    Punjab’s Higher Education Department (HED) has decided to make another alteration to the intermediate test guidelines to facilitate private students in the province.

    Private students will now be eligible to sit at the FSc yearly examinations, according to reports, with the latest modification due to take effect in the academic year 2023.

    However, the students will be required to submit certificates to confirm their appearance in practical exams before taking the annual exams.

    The students will be able to obtain these certificates from any college affiliated with any of the eight boards of secondary and intermediate education.

    This change is undoubtedly great news for private candidates who wanted to enroll in sciences. Previously, private students were bound to choose between humanities and commerce.

  • Is Firdous Apa going to join PML-N?

    Is Firdous Apa going to join PML-N?

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) leader and former special assistant to the Prime Minister (PM) on information and broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has termed the news regarding her wish to join the government’s rival political party —PML-N as “fake”.

    According to Geo News, it was earlier reported that the former SAPM had conveyed the message to the PML-N leadership in London through renowned singer Waris Baig — who had met PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and former finance minister Ishaq Dar in London.

    As per the news outlet’s sources, Awan did not demand a ticket from her constituency Sialkot.

    Geo News further revealed that the PML-N’s top leadership discussed the matter for ten minutes.

    However, Awan was not given any assurance regarding her addition to the party and was told to contact the PML-N leadership in Punjab.

    It is pertinent to mention that Awan has been not seen by the public on mainstream media for quite a while.