Current Final

Author: News Desk

  • Local market witnesses marginal gain in 24-karat gold prices

    Local market witnesses marginal gain in 24-karat gold prices

    On Tuesday, the 24-karat gold market demonstrated resilience, with a subtle uptick of Rs150 per tola, settling at Rs214,450 per tola.

    According to the Karachi Sarafa Association, the price for 10 grammes of 24-karat gold reached Rs183,856, reflecting a marginal gain of Rs128 compared to the preceding session.

    Simultaneously, the price of 10-gramme 22-karat gold experienced a modest rise, reaching Rs168,535.

    Contrary to the gold market’s movements, silver prices remained steadfast, exhibiting no change.

    The 24-karat silver maintained its position at Rs2,580 per tola, while the 10-gramme silver was traded at Rs2,211.93.

    It is noteworthy that the domestic gold market faced a downturn last week, attributed to a decline in international prices.

    International spot gold, on the other hand, hovered around $2,021, marking a 0.2 per cent change compared to the preceding session.

    As the market watches these fluctuations, all eyes are set on the forthcoming minutes from the Federal Reserve’s January policy meeting, scheduled for release on Wednesday.

    The outcome of this meeting is poised to have a considerable impact on the trajectory of both domestic and international precious metal markets.

  • I thought I was in love, but I was mistaken, says Nazish Jahangir

    I thought I was in love, but I was mistaken, says Nazish Jahangir

    Nazish Jahangir is a firm fan favourite and a popular actress but success has not shielded her from heartbreak. The actress opened up about her personal life in a recent interview.

    During the conversation, she confessed that she was once trapped in the illusions of love, which had blinded her.
    “When a person falls in love, even a rational person stops thinking with their mind. Everything about the other person seems perfect, but when the heart breaks, understanding dawns,” she said.
    She further explained, “I am someone who values truth, so I couldn’t stay in that past love for long. After that experience, I’ve become more practical. Now, I keep my mind and eyes open.”
    When asked what she would do if her past love were to return, she replied, “I have moved on and I am sure I won’t have any relationship with someone who has ever broken my heart.”
    Nazish Jahangir began her career in 2017 and quickly gained popularity in a short period. She showcased her acting skills in various hit dramas, including ,’Kam Zarf’, ‘Sarab’ and ‘Dil Tanha Tanha’.

    At one point, there were rumors about Nazish Jahangir’s relationship with actor and host Mohsin Abbas Haider, but neither of them has openly addressed the speculation.

  • Deepika expecting first child: Indian media reports

    Deepika expecting first child: Indian media reports

    Bollywood queen Deepika Padukone and husband Ranveer Singh are expecting their first child, The Week has reported.

    The actress is reportedly in her second trimester. Rumors about the actress being pregnant gained strength on February 19 when she appeared at the BAFTA awards in a dress that concealed her midriff.

    The actress, who married fellow A-lister Ranveer in 2018, has talked about becoming a mother in multiple interviews. In January this year, she was asked if she looked forward to becoming a mom, to which she replied, “Absolutely. Ranveer and I love children. We look forward to the day when we will start our own family.”

  • PTI’s Faisal Javed appears in court after ‘hiding’ for months

    PTI’s Faisal Javed appears in court after ‘hiding’ for months

    On Monday, Senator Faisal Javed of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) appeared in  Peshawar High Court (PHC) after “hiding” for months and and secured transit bail. 

    PHC Chief Justice Mohammad Ibrahim Khan granted transit bail to the PTI leader, who hasn’t been seen in public since several months.

    The court granted bail against bonds worth Rs100,000 and ordered the PTI senator to appear before the concerned court.

    Talking to journalists outside the court, Faisal expressed joy over being granted bail and noted that, “Everyone is going through testing times. I hope that all the oppressed return home.”

    The judge approved also Ali Amin Gandapur’s transit bail petition for a case against him in Islamabad. Gandapur is the PTI nominee for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister.

  • Mehwish Hayat, Ali Rehman’s ‘Daghabaz Dil’ teaser looks like a blast

    Mehwish Hayat, Ali Rehman’s ‘Daghabaz Dil’ teaser looks like a blast

    The teaser for the movie ‘Daghabaz Dil’, starring Mehwish Hayat and Ali Rehman Khan, is out. Directed by Wajahat Rauf and produced by Badar Ikram and Shazia Wajahat, the film features a stellar cast including Momin Saqib, Saleem Sheikh, Babar Ali, Beo Zafar Rana, Tazeen Hussain, Laila Wasti, Ayesha Khan, and Michelle Mumtaz. The teaser, released by Shazia Wajahat and Badar Ikram, introduces the characters and storyline. Mehwish Hayat and Ali Rehman Khan shine with their on-screen chemistry. Watch the teaser here:

    Network is the media partner for the film. The script, story, and dialogue are written by Mohsin Ali and Wajahat Rauf. Mehwish Hayat and Ali Rehman Khan have fantastic on-screen chemistry.

  • ‘We will vote for PML-N on our own terms’: Bilawal Bhutto

    ‘We will vote for PML-N on our own terms’: Bilawal Bhutto

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that his party will vote for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) “on our own terms.”
    “Progress [in talks] can only be made if ‘someone’ is willing to change their position […] We stand by our position and will not change it,” Bilawal said without naming PML-N.

    He spoke to the media outside the Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday afternoon after attending the hearing of a presidential reference challenging the death sentence of his grandfather, former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

    Bilawal’s remarks come as the coordination committees of the PML-N and PPP are set to hold a sixth meeting today to reach an agreement over the formation of the future government after both parties failed to secure National Assembly (NA) seats in sufficient numbers to form their government in the Centre.

  • UC Chairman shot dead in Karachi over children dispute

    UC Chairman shot dead in Karachi over children dispute

    A UC Chairman was killed as a result of firing between two groups over the issue of children in Bhitaiabad, Karachi.


    The incident followed a fight among children in Bhataiabad Street No. 19, during which people from two groups fired at each other, as a result of which one person was killed and six people were injured, reports Geo News.


    According to the police, the deceased person was identified as Sabir Magsi, chairman of UC-9 from Pakistan Peoples Party.


    As soon as the incident was reported, a heavy contingent of police and rescue personnel reached the spot and shifted the injured to the hospital.

    Counselor Shaukat Nazir told the media that the victim was a businessman and had left behind a widow and two children. “The victim was with me sometime before the incident and was killed by a bullet in the neck,” he said.


    Shaukat Nazir further elaborated that the incident took place during a children’s fight. He asserted that the administration will take legal action after the burial.

  • Palestinian mother allowed to bring daughter to Canada two weeks after death

    Palestinian mother allowed to bring daughter to Canada two weeks after death

    Samar Elkhadour, a Palestinian woman who had been trying to get her daughter Jana out of Gaza, for the past several years. She finally got the call from Global Affairs Department of Canada allowing her daughter with special needs to immigrate to Canada, two weeks after her death. The news was featured in CBC Montreal News.


    Jana was born with severe cerebral palsy and was living with Samar’s in-laws in Gaza. Samar was living in Canada and was trying to get her daughter to join her as she dealt with Jana’s immigration process. Jana died on January 8 – four days after her 13th birthday – in Gaza, due to malnutrition and lack of medicine and two weeks later, Samar got the green light from the Canadian government to bring her but it was too late.


    Samar talked to host Debra Arbec in a show and spoke her heart out. She shared how she had hoped to give her daughter the comfort she deserved had she been allowed to move in with her family. She along with her husband and other children left Gaza back in 2017 as a refugee but the immigration bureaucracy in Canada did not help them at all. Back then, her daughter was relatively safe because the escalation was not spiking. However, after October 7, she decided to move her to a church because she thought she’d be safe there under international law. “What happened after that, the Church was surrounded by tanks and snipers and there were restrictions on the entry of food,” Samar related with teary eyes, “Jana could only have soft food and since it is a war, this is a privilege”. Her health deteriorated and because she was not given proper medication she passed away.


    When the interviewer asked about the time she got to know about the green light to bring her daughter to Canada, Samar replied, “I laughed, because it’s ridiculous. It was a child’s life at stake.”


    The two then went on to discuss the immigration process in Canada and Samar highlighted the double standards of the process especially with Palestinians. She stressed the immediate need of a ceasefire.

  • Senator Mushtaq Ahmed demands resignation from Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Raja

    Senator Mushtaq Ahmed demands resignation from Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Raja

    Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Senator Mushtaq Ahmed has demanded that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja resign from his post as he didn’t fulfil his responsibility to conduct free and fair elections in the country.

    While addressing the senate, he said that the February 8 elections were fake and that they will not accept the fake government as the result of these rigged elections.

    Senator Mushtaq Ahmed then accused the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) of committing treason and suggested that the electoral body should apologise to the nation for its actions.

    “Legal proceeding should be carried out against the CEC under Article 6 of the constitution, for the ECP was given Rs 50 billion from the national exchequer but it failed to hold transparent polls,” he alleged.

    The JI senator also said that the money wasted in the name of elections should be returned and a case should be lodged against CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja.

  • Pakistan grapples with 23% surge in power generation costs amidst economic woes

    Pakistan grapples with 23% surge in power generation costs amidst economic woes

    In a startling development, the cost of power generation in Pakistan has surged by a staggering 23 per cent in January 2024, compared to the same period last year, reports the brokerage house Topline Securities.

    The average cost per kilowatt-hour (KWh) soared to Rs13.8, marking a significant increase from Rs11.20/KWh recorded in January 2023.

    The substantial hike in costs is attributed primarily to elevated expenses in power generation from gas and nuclear sources, which witnessed a spike of 43 per cent and 24 per cent, respectively, on a yearly basis. Moreover, the fuel cost for furnace oil (FO) also surged by 22 per cent year-on-year, according to data from Topline Securities.

    This surge comes as a severe blow to the populace, which is already grappling with high inflation and sluggish economic activity. Rising electricity bills have compounded the financial burden on citizens.

    In terms of power generation, Pakistan witnessed a marginal decline of over 2 per cent in January 2024 compared to the same period last year, with total generation amounting to 8,313 GWh (11,175 MW).

    The decline in power generation was predominantly due to a decrease in coal-based generation, which plummeted by 20 per cent year-on-year. Gas and wind power generation also witnessed declines of 10 per cent and 55 per cent, respectively.

    However, there was a 9 per cent increase in power generation on a monthly basis, indicating some fluctuation in the generation patterns.

    Coal emerged as the primary source of power generation in January 2024, constituting 23.4 per cent of the total generation mix, surpassing nuclear and RLNG (re-gasified liquid natural gas). Nuclear energy accounted for 20.8 per cent of the overall generation, while RLNG contributed 18.2 per cent.

    Renewable sources like wind, bagasse, and solar collectively made up a modest portion of the generation mix, indicating a potential for further development and investment in sustainable energy solutions.

    Overall, the surge in power generation costs coupled with a slight decline in generation highlights the challenges facing Pakistan’s energy sector and underscores the need for strategic measures to ensure an affordable and sustainable power supply in the country.