Pakistan’s current account deficit witnessed a sharp decline in July 2024, though it did not achieve a surplus. According to the current account statistics released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the country faced a current account deficit of $162 million in the first month of the current financial year. This figure represents a significant 78% decrease compared to the …

The Supreme Court has stopped the Islamabad High Court from taking further action on the issue of audio leaks of former prime minister Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi and the son of former chief justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar. According to details, the Supreme Court heard the audio leaks case on the request of the federal government, with Justice Aminuddin …

The price of gold surged to historical highs of over $2,450.00 per ounce in the second quarter of 2024, propelled by the accelerating decline of the US dollar. The dollar’s downward trajectory, fueled by the Federal Reserve’s accommodative monetary policy, rising national debt, and growing inflation concerns, has prompted investors to seek refuge in safe-haven assets such as gold. With …

We’re over halfway through 2024, and this year there have been some pretty big food recalls. While it may be upsetting, it’s not all that surprising to hear of recalls on such items as deli meats, chicken, and salad greens, since all of these are not shelf-stable and their production processes are more likely to cause food poisoning and get …

Pakistan’s debt-to-GDP ratio fell to a 6-year low in the financial year 2023-24 to 70 percent, as nominal GDP has grown faster than debt driven by higher inflation. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reported a 3.4 percent rise in the country’s total external debt and liabilities, which reached $130 billion by June 30, 2024, up from $126.142 billion last …

The government has decided to expand the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) to cover more beneficiaries, local media reported citing sources. According to sources, the target is to increase the number of BISP holders to 1 crore (10 million). Currently, the number of BISP cardholders stands at around 93 lakh (9.3 million), sources said. Sources said, a dynamic survey is …

Google for Startups has announced the launch of “AI Academy,” a program designed to promote artificial intelligence in Pakistan and the Asia Pacific region. This initiative is part of Google’s efforts to support developing and diverse startup communities worldwide. The AI Academy, stemming from the Google Chrome Book Initiative, will work with SIFC to create cross-border partnerships in Pakistan. The …

India, who overcame England to win the inaugural edition of the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup, will come up against hosts Malaysia, West Indies, and Sri Lanka in Group A of the second edition of the tournament that will be held from 18 January to 2 February 2025. In Group B, England are locked in with neighbours Ireland, as …

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed the brands of cricket balls that will be used in the 2024-25 cricket season, a strategic move aimed at enhancing the quality of the game to align with the specific needs of home playing conditions. As the domestic cricket season is set to commence next month, the PCB has announced that Duke balls …

ISLAMABAD: Torrential rains and flash floods starting in July have killed 187 people and injured 333 others in different parts of Pakistan, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has reported. Ninety-six children and 30 women were among the dead, the NDMA said in a report on Saturday. The eastern Punjab province was the worst affected area with 68 deaths, followed …

Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar chaired a meeting to address challenges faced by Exploration and Production (E&P) companies and vowed government’s commitment to ensuring energy security and fostering economic growth was at the forefront, as new measures were outlined to attract both local and foreign investment in the sector. Ishaq Dar led the first meeting of a newly formed …

BEIJING: Chinese Premier Li Qiang held talks with Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji Sitiveni Rabuka on Sunday in Beijing, calling on the two sides to push bilateral cooperation to a higher level. Noting that Fiji is the first Pacific island country to establish diplomatic ties with China, Li said that China has always regarded Fiji as one of …

ISLAMABAD: In the wake of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration of monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Saturday directed strict measures to monitor and control the spread of the disease in the country. During a meeting here on the measures against the spread of monkeypox, Sharif instructed to make the screening process …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s population and urbanization challenges are increasing, necessitating a new urbanization model, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said in a report. Pakistan’s annual growth in urban population is nearly double that of the rural population, the ADB said in its recent report titled “Pakistan National Urban Assessment: Pivoting toward Sustainable Urbanization.” Despite moderating in 2020 and 2021, the population …

ISLAMABAD: A bomb went off in Pakistan’s southwest Balochistan province, leaving at least three people injured, police said on Saturday. The explosion occurred near a university in Sariab Road area of Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan province, according to police in Quetta. According to initial investigations, the attack was carried out through an improvised explosive device, said police, adding …

All kids need to gain weight as they grow and mature, but for some kids, gaining the appropriate amount can be a real hurdle. In fact, despite increasing rates of childhood overweight and obesity, plenty of kids need a little help putting on some pounds. With the right nutritious foods, you can help your child gain weight the healthy way. …

Danish shipping company Maersk has announced to invest $2billion in Pakistan’s port and transport infrastructure over the next two years. According to state-owned news agency, the investment under this project will contribute to the infrastructure development and economic improvement. In this regard, Minister for Maritime Affairs Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh will visit Denmark this month for the signing of a Memorandum …

Renowned Balochi folk singer Wahab Bugti and Sindhi folk artist Sahib are set to perform alongside Indian rapper and singer Yo Yo Honey Singh in his forthcoming album, “Glory.” The album, slated for release on August 26 under the banner of T-Series, features an eclectic mix of artists from across the globe, showcasing a blend of traditional and contemporary musical …

Monsoon rains have intensified concerns about potential flooding in Punjab’s rivers and streams. According to the spokesperson for the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the province is facing heightened flood risks due to the ongoing rains. The PDMA has reported that while a low-level flood situation persists in the Indus River, a high-level flood is anticipated in the Chenab River …

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has formally reached out to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairman, raising concerns over the challenges airlines face due to the lack of federal excise duty (FED) differentiation for labour visas to Gulf countries. In its letter, the IATA emphasized that airlines will struggle to differentiate and verify passengers based on the specific …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken a significant step towards economic self-reliance by forming a seven-member committee tasked with reviewing and implementing a sustainable development plan for Pakistan’s economy. The committee will be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, according to a notification issued on Wednesday. The economic development project is based on recommendations proposed by …

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Founder Chairman Imran Khan, currently detained in Adiala Jail, addressed journalists informally, providing insights into his stance on recent developments and allegations. During the conversation, he expressed his lack of fear regarding the arrest of General Faiz. He emphasized that if he were afraid, he would not have publicly discussed the need for a judicial commission. “I …

Lahore Airport has been placed on high alert after the emergence of monkeypox (mpox) cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). In response, the Border Health Management convened an emergency meeting with all airport managers, tightening protocols to prevent the spread of the virus. As part of the precautionary steps, thermal scanners have been installed at Lahore airport to monitor incoming passengers, …

ISLAMABAD: Three terrorists were killed and one was injured in a clash with security forces in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the country’s military said in a statement. The incident occurred in the North Waziristan district on Friday when the security forces launched an operation after receiving a tip-off regarding the presence of the militants in the area, said the …

ISLAMABAD: The health department in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province has initiated a 10-day polio vaccination campaign since Thursday, targeting 85 different parts of its provincial capital Karachi. Running from Aug. 15 to 25, the campaign focuses on high-risk areas across Karachi, aiming to vaccinate approximately 1,037,000 children aged four months to five years, the health department said in a statement.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan strongly condemns the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by extremist settlers led by Israeli ministers, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said Friday. This act is a violation of Geneva Conventions and blatant disregard of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding the historical city of Jerusalem, the ministry’s spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said at a weekly media briefing. …

BEIJING: A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Friday criticized Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities for distorting the mainland’s punitive measures against separatists. The DPP authorities deliberately confuse the vast majority of Taiwan compatriots with a very small number of diehard separatists seeking “Taiwan independence,” and blur the line between espionage activities and normal people-to-people exchanges across the Taiwan Strait, said …

There’s many an adage about “a woman’s place being in the home,” but Philip Morris Pakistan Limited (PMPKL) Leaf Sustainable Agriculture, is reclaiming this outdated statement and turning it on its head. The Pakistan side of the “Pashtun belt” in the northwest of the country is a major production center for flue-cured Virginia tobacco. The Pashtuns who live there are …

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has released data on social media content blocking over the last three and a half years, revealing the varying success rates across different categories. Advergic | Full Service Ad Tech and Ad Optimization Company Advergic helps content creators to maximize their ad earnings while delivering the best possible user experience to the readers. advergic.com From …

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Minister for Works and Communications Shakeel Ahmed Khan has resigned, citing ‘corruption’ within the provincial government. Khan, PTI MPA, submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, expressing his dissatisfaction with the current administration. I cannot go along with the corruption anymore and compelled to quit his job, the minister said in his resignation forwarded to …

The World Health Organization has declared that an outbreak of mpox, a viral infection that spreads through close contact, represents a global health emergency for the second time in two years. Here’s what that means. A “public health emergency of international concern” or PHEIC is WHO’s highest form of alert. It is announced when diseases are spreading in new or …

Noor Bukhari, a former movie star who quit the entertainment business for religious reasons, strongly condemned anyone who made fun of Pakistan on Independence Day. Noor expressed her displeasure at several videos she had seen of people making fun of the nation in a statement posted on her official Instagram story. She emphasized that Pakistan is like a mother to …

America has responded to recent reports regarding the arrest of military officers in Pakistan, emphasizing that it considers the matter to be an internal affair of the country. Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh addressed the issue during a weekly briefing, saying the United States was aware of the reports and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to maintaining strong ties with Pakistan. She insisted …

An application has been filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) challenging the installation of firewalls and the shutdown of the internet. The petitioner argued that users across the country are facing difficulties accessing social media networks due to these measures. The application asserts that the installation of firewalls infringes on fundamental rights and calls for an immediate halt to …

In a targeted attack, an explosion occurred on a police mobile in the Pir Bala area of Peshawar’s Warsak Road on Friday, leaving five people injured. According to initial reports, the explosion resulted in injuries to two policemen and three passers-by. The wounded individuals were immediately shifted to Lady Reading Hospital, where a spokesperson confirmed that their conditions were stable …

The cellular internet in Pakistan is currently experiencing severe slowdowns, profoundly impacting digital activities across the country. The ongoing internet issues are causing significant disruptions, with the internet industry reportedly losing $50 million per day. This has particularly affected IT exports, which are losing around $13 million daily, highlighting the specific impact on the technology sector. Reports indicate that the …

NEW YORK: Chinese artist Liu Jingtao on Thursday kicked off his solo exhibition of 17 artworks on Chinese landscapes, Tibetan buddhist art, and fine-brush flower-and-bird paintings in New York City. Included are several thangka paintings bearing innovative characteristics, one of which was displayed in the Carrousel Hall of the Louvre in Paris, France, in 2023. Liu, an artist from central …

ISLAMABAD: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said Thursday that its foreign exchange reserves reached around 9.3 billion U.S. dollars during the week ending on Aug. 9, marking an increase of 119 million dollars. Net foreign reserves held by commercial banks came at around 5.4 billion dollars, the central bank said in a statement. Total liquid foreign reserves held by …

BEIJING: The Explanation of the Resolution of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernization will be published on Friday. The explanation, made by Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, will be published in this year’s 16th issue …

FUZHOU: Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong has called for coordinated efforts in promoting green and low-carbon development, further strengthening ecological and environmental protection, and making steady progress toward the country’s dual carbon goals. Liu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks in a speech delivered at the opening …