Current Final

Author: News Desk

  • Punjab, KP governors will be from PPP

    Punjab, KP governors will be from PPP

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) representative Faisal Karim Kundi has confirmed that the party will not be part of the federal government at present, and former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has all rights to form a federal cabinet.

    The PPP leader also said that the governors of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) will be from the PPP, while those of Sindh and Balochistan will be from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

    He further said that PPP will vote for prime minister and speaker of the National Assembly, adding that PPP will support government legislation.

    The former member of the National Assembly (NA) also confirmed that PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif will be the Prime Minister (PM) of Pakistan, adding that the PPP has nothing to do with cabinet formation. 

    “Shehbaz Sharif has to lead, and we hope he will lead in a better way,” he remarked.

  • Pneumonia endemic: 405 kids died in Punjab this year

    Pneumonia endemic: 405 kids died in Punjab this year

    Pneumonia endemic is still spreading in Punjab despite the weather warming up, with 13 children dying of the respiratory illness in the previous 24 hours, reports Geo News.

    The heartbreaking death toll includes two children from Lahore, three from Faisalabad, and two from Bahawalpur, highlighting the widespread impact of the illness across various regions. Additionally, two children in Sheikhupura, and one each in Gujranwala, Multan, and Rawalpindi succumbed to the disease.

    In the last 24 hours, 304 more cases of pneumonia have been reported in Punjab. According to the data of the health department, 29, 603 children have been infected with pneumonia so far this year, out of which 405 lost their lives.


    The Punjab Health Department has issued a plea to parents, urging them to ensure that children complete the immunization course offered free of cost. Immunization remains one of the most effective preventive measures against pneumonia and other infectious diseases, offering vital protection to vulnerable children.

  • Humayun Saeed reveals how he got chosen for part in ‘The Crown’

    Humayun Saeed reveals how he got chosen for part in ‘The Crown’

    Humayun Saeed, renowned actor and producer, has been entertaining us since decades. The actor appeared last year in Netflix’s giant hit ‘The Crown’, playing Princess Diana’s love interest, Dr. Hasnat.
    Elizabeth Debicki played Lady Diana. The pair’s on-screen chemistry blew fans away.

    Humayun Saeed recently appeared on Mohib Mirza’s show, The Knock Knock Show, where he talked about how he got picked for ‘The Crown.’

    “I got ‘The Crown’ by luck. Yes, I auditioned for the role because that’s the process. They watch an actor’s work and then choose. When I got the role, I was thrilled. But I felt a bit nervous when they asked me to audition. They gave me two scenes to prepare. Then my agent said, ‘There are eight actors from India and Pakistan, so get ready for auditions.’ First, I made it to the top five, and then I made it to the top two.”

  • Fans in frenzy after Indian actress, Feroze Khan spotted together

    Fans in frenzy after Indian actress, Feroze Khan spotted together

    Indian actress Githika Tiwari recently shared a picture with Pakistani actor and singer Feroze Khan on her Instagram story. In the caption, she called him “super cute”. Githika Tiwari and Feroze Khan are co-starring in a movie directed by Zulfiqar Ali, but details about the film haven’t been revealed yet.


    Pictures and videos of the two stars have been circulating on social media, sparking rumors about their relationship. Githika Tiwari often posts photos with Feroze Khan on her Instagram, showing their on-screen chemistry.


    Recently, a video of the pair sitting together in a car went viral. The video was shot on the set of their new movie.

    Neither Feroze Khan nor Githika Tiwari have responded to the rumors circulating on social media. In an interview, Feroze Khan mentioned that the movie is being filmed in London. This movie will mark Feroze Khan’s first collaboration with an Indian actress and might be released on a streaming platform.

  • How many Afghans have left Pakistan so far?

    How many Afghans have left Pakistan so far?

    The repatriation of Afghans living across Pakistan continues.

    According to official data, from February 15 to February 19, another 3,396 Afghans left Pakistan, including 1,245 men, 1,025 women, and 1,914 children. 210 families have reportedly been repatriated in 124 vehicles to Afghanistan.

    A large number of illegal Afghans have been returning to Afghanistan from Pakistan fearing arrest, even before the announcement by the government of Pakistan.

    According to official data released on February 19, a total of more than 493,000 Afghans have returned to their country as of yet.

  • Prince William calls for an end to war on Gaza

    Prince William calls for an end to war on Gaza

    The British Prince William has said that the “sheer scale of human suffering” had brought home the need for peace in an enclave “where too many have been killed”, reports Al Jazeera.

    In a rare, direct intervention for a member of the royal family, William, the heir to the British throne, said it was critical that aid gets through to those who need it in Gaza.

    “Sometimes, it is only when faced with the sheer scale of human suffering that the importance of permanent peace is brought home,” he said in a statement.

    The 41-year-old visited the British Red Cross headquarters in London on Tuesday to hear about their work supporting people affected by war in the Middle East.

    “I, like so many others, want to see an end to the fighting as soon as possible,” he said. “There is a desperate need for increased humanitarian support to Gaza. It’s critical that aid gets in and the hostages are released.”

    Previously, the heir apparent of the British throne, Prince William, was reportedly set to commence a number of royal engagements in order to “recognise the human suffering” as a result of Israeli operations on Gaza and in the Middle East.

    Kensington Palace has said that the future King will also take into consideration increasing anti-Semitism around the world.

    He is set to meet with humanitarian workers in the region while also visiting a synagogue to listen to the youth countering anti-Semitism.

    “The prince and princess were profoundly concerned by events that unfolded in late 2023 and continue to hold all the victims, their family and friends in their hearts and minds,” his office said.

  • PML-N to hold parliamentary meeting today to form provincial government   

    PML-N to hold parliamentary meeting today to form provincial government   

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will hold the first meeting of its Punjab parliamentary board today to complete the formation of the provincial government.

    PML-N vice president, Maryam Nawaz, and candidate for chief minister, Punjab, will address the meeting at Jati Umra in Lahore at 2pm today.

    The PML-N scion will talk about her goals and plans as the next chief minister of the province, making her the first female to hold the position. Additionally, she will discuss strategies for electing the speaker and deputy speaker of the Punjab Assembly.

    PML-N nominated the scion of the Sharif family for the Punjab chief minister position after she won in the general elections held on February 8. She won one seat in the National Assembly and another in the provincial assembly—NA-119 and PP-159—both located in Lahore.

    According to insiders of PML-N, party supremo Nawaz Sharif will join the meeting via video link.

  • PSL 9: Multan Sultans defeats Islamabad United by 5 wickets in a thriller

    PSL 9: Multan Sultans defeats Islamabad United by 5 wickets in a thriller

    In the fifth match of HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9, Multan Sultans defeated Islamabad United by 5 wickets in a thriller.

    Multan Sultans captain Muhammad Rizwan won the toss and decided to field first.

    Islamabad United’s innings

    On behalf of Islamabad United, Agha Salman scored 52 runs and Jordan Cox scored 41 runs. Apart from this, Azam Khan scored 13 runs, Shadab Khan 11, Colin Munro 8, Alex Hales 2, Nasim Shah 2 while Imad Wasim Safar, Faheem Ashraf scored one run each.

    The whole team could score 144 runs in 20 overs.

    For Multan Sultans, Muhammad Ali and Abbas Afridi took 3 wickets each, Usama Mir took 2 wickets and David Wiley dismissed one player.

    Multan Sultan’s inning

    From Multan Sultan’s Captain Rizwan scored 43 runs, Reza Handricks scored 58 runs and Iftikhar Ahmed scored 18 runs. Multan acheived the target in 19.5 overs.

    From Islamabad Nasim Shah took 2 wickets, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim and Tymil Mills took one wicket each.

  • FBR collects Rs5.15 trillion in taxes in less than eight months

    FBR collects Rs5.15 trillion in taxes in less than eight months

    The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has revealed that it has achieved a remarkable milestone by collecting revenue amounting to Rs5.15 trillion from July 2023 to mid-February 2024.

    This represents a substantial 30 per cent increase compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year, according to an official press release.

    The report indicates that the growth in tax revenue is attributed to a comprehensive strategy employed by the FBR, with a keen focus on both domestic and import taxes.

    Tax refunds during this period witnessed a substantial 28 per cent growth, further contributing to the positive financial trajectory.

    A breakdown of the month-wise revenue collection for the period from July 2023 to January 2024 reveals that overall growth in domestic taxes reached an impressive 40 per cent. Concurrently, import duty and related taxes experienced a significant uptick of 16 per cent.

    The surge in revenue collection aligns with the revival of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and increased scrutiny of FBR’s collection processes.

    However, growth in import taxes faced challenges, primarily due to downward adjustments in import tariffs over the years and recent restrictions on import licences imposed by the State Bank of Pakistan to address balance of payments concerns amid foreign exchange constraints.

    The report acknowledges that revenue collection from imports incorporates the impact of improvements in import valuations, resulting in an additional Rs151 billion in collections.

    Additionally, the anti-smuggling drive witnessed a substantial 69 per cent growth in the fiscal year compared to the previous year (FY 22–23).

    Despite these achievements, concerns were raised regarding the decline in the growth of import taxes. This decline is attributed to two main factors: the gradual reduction in import tariffs and recent restrictions on import licenses.

    The need for continued efforts in anti-smuggling activities was emphasised, particularly in Baluchistan, where the customs force currently consists of only 378 personnel.

    Strengthening the enforcement efforts by increasing personnel in this region was suggested as a potential solution.

    The report concludes on a positive note, highlighting that the revenue mobilisation from domestic taxes now accounts for over 64 per cent of the total revenues collected in the current financial year.

    Simultaneously, the share of import taxes has decreased to 36 per cent, marking a significant shift from the 50 per cent share observed just three years ago. This indicates a positive trend in the diversification of revenue sources for the FBR.

  • Factors behind the continuous decline in car financing in Pakistan

    Factors behind the continuous decline in car financing in Pakistan

    In January 2024, the automobile financing sector in Pakistan witnessed a significant downturn, as car financing recorded a notable decrease to Rs246.26 billion.

    This marks a 25.82 per cent year-on-year (YoY) decrease and a 1.98 per cent month-on-month (MoM) decrease compared to Rs331.98 billion in January 2023 and Rs251.25 billion in December 2023, respectively. The latest data from the central bank provides these insights.

    This decline in automobile financing extends to the nineteenth consecutive month, with a total decrease of Rs114.29 billion over the past 19 months.

    Several factors contribute to this decline, including higher interest rates, increased car prices, regulatory restrictions on acquiring loans, and elevated taxes on the import of automobiles and their parts.

    According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) data, consumer financing for house building amounted to Rs207.62 billion by the end of January 2024.

    This reflects a 3.44 per cent YoY decrease compared to Rs215 billion in the same month last year. Looking at monthly changes, financing for house building saw a marginal 0.26 per cent MoM decrease compared to the previous month’s Rs208.15 billion.

    Financing for personal use stood at Rs243.1 billion, showing a 4.47 per cent YoY decrease and a 0.54 per cent MoM decrease.

    Consequently, the overall credit disbursed to consumers declined to Rs813.96 billion during the review month, registering a fall of 9.04 per cent YoY and 0.52 per cent MoM.

    The outstanding credit to the private sector also experienced a decline, decreasing by 0.76 per cent YoY to Rs8.35 trillion in January 2024. On a monthly basis, this represents a 2.21 per cent decrease compared to the credit of Rs8.54 trillion in December 2023.

    Analysing credit distribution to the private sector, loans to the manufacturing sector amounted to Rs4.81 trillion in the review period, showing a slight 0.33 per cent YoY increase. However, on a monthly basis, there was an 0.89 per cent MoM decline, as December recorded loans to this sector at Rs4.85 trillion.

    Borrowing from the construction sector stood at Rs190.15 billion in January 2024, experiencing a 0.97 per cent YoY decrease and a 5.05 per cent MoM decrease compared to the previous month.

    Looking ahead, the data indicates that loans to the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sectors rose to Rs397.27 billion in the month under review, marking a significant 16.95 per cent YoY increase.

    However, on a sequential basis, loans to this sector recorded a fall of 4.82 per cent MoM.