Current Final

Author: News Desk

  • Gold prices hold steady in Pakistan despite international dip

    Gold prices hold steady in Pakistan despite international dip

    In a Monday market report, the All Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA) revealed that gold prices in Pakistan remained unchanged, defying a slight decrease observed in the international market.

    As per the rates provided by APGJSA, the gold price per tola stood firm at Rs214,300, showcasing resilience in the local market.

    The 10-gramme gold rate echoed this stability, with APGJSA reporting it at Rs183,728, remaining unchanged from the previous close.

    Despite the international market witnessing a slight dip, Pakistan maintained its pricing consistency.

    Internationally, the gold rate, with a $20 premium, settled at $2,043 per ounce on Monday. This marked a marginal decrease of $2 in the wake of market fluctuations, according to APGJSA.

    The association emphasised the steadfast nature of the local gold market despite the international trend.

    In contrast, silver rates in Pakistan remained unwavering, standing at Rs2,600 per tola on Monday, reinforcing the stability observed in precious metal markets locally.

  • The curious case of Rana Sana’s Twitter account

    The curious case of Rana Sana’s Twitter account

    We realise that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) stalwart Rana Sanaullah’s loss in February 8 general elections must be quite a shock but his Twitter (now X) account has gone off in an unexpected direction.

    Unlike PML-N leader Khwaja Saad Rafique, who used his account to gracefully concede defeat and congratulate his opponent Sardar Latif Khosa, Rana Sanaullah has decided that he wants to troll journalists.

    The account has, till now, picked a Twitter fight with Meher Bokhari, shared a song by the late Indian rapper Sidhu Mosewalla, and targeted legal analyst Reema Omer for praising Geo’s election coverage.

    It has also sent snarky replies to Hamid Mir and Gharidah Farouqi, while also tweeting multiple times against media channels.

    Rana Sanaullah has distanced himself from the the account, telling Geo’s Shehzad Iqbal that he doesn’t run the account, instead a team runs it.

  • PPP, PML-N discuss power-sharing formula in Sunday’s meeting

    PPP, PML-N discuss power-sharing formula in Sunday’s meeting

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have discussed the possibility of their parties appointing prime ministers for half of a five-year term as part of a power-sharing plan.

    The idea of appointing a prime minister for half the term was discussed during their first huddle on Sunday following the February 8 elections as part of their efforts to form a coalition government in the Centre and provinces, according to sources privy to the development.

    In 2013, PML-N and the National Party (NP) in Balochistan worked together to create a power-sharing plan. Under this plan, two chief ministers from the two parties took turns holding office for half of the five-year term.

    In Sunday’s meeting, the PPP and PML-N agreed to work together for the political stability of Pakistan after the general elections.

  • Won’t ally with PMLN – PPP, rather sit in Opposition, PTI’s Gohar Khan

    Won’t ally with PMLN – PPP, rather sit in Opposition, PTI’s Gohar Khan

    Barrister Gohar Khan, the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has said on Monday afternoon that his party will prefer sitting in the opposition rather than talking to political rivals Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) about forming a coalition.

    The statement comes as the other parties talk to independent winners and smaller parties to form a coalition government.

    PTI – backed candidates still form the largest group in the National Assembly, however, it will have to partner with other parties to get the requisite number to form a government.

    Gohar further hinted that the party is entitled to reserved seats in the assembly, and is forming a strategy to get them.

  • SBP reports 26% increase in overseas workers’ remittances

    SBP reports 26% increase in overseas workers’ remittances

    In January 2024, Pakistan witnessed a notable increase in the inflow of overseas workers’ remittances, reaching $2.4 billion, as revealed by data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Monday. This marks a 1 per cent rise compared to December 2023, where remittances stood at $2.38 billion.

    Year-on-year analysis underscores a substantial surge, with a 26 per cent increase from the same period last year, when remittances totaled $1.9 billion in January.

    The significance of these remittances cannot be understated, as they play a pivotal role in bolstering Pakistan’s external account and fueling economic activity. Additionally, they serve as a vital supplement to the disposable incomes of households dependent on remittances.

    Despite the uptick in January, the cumulative figure for July-January FY24 reflects a 3 per cent decline year-on-year, amounting to $15.83 billion, down by $386 million from the $16.32 billion recorded in the same period of FY23.

    Breaking down the sources of remittances, overseas Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia retained their leading position, contributing $587.3 million in January 2024. This marked a 2 per cent increase from the previous month and a substantial 43 per cent rise from the corresponding period last year.

    Remittances from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) experienced a slight dip of 3 per cent month-on-month, decreasing from $419.2 million in December to $407.6 million in January. However, the yearly comparison reveals a remarkable surge of nearly 51 per cent.

    The United Kingdom witnessed a marginal decline in remittances, with $362.1 million recorded in January, down by 2 per cent from December 2023.

    In contrast, remittances from the European Union saw a significant 20 per cent year-on-year increase and a 2 per cent monthly rise, totaling $290.1 million in January 2024.

    Meanwhile, overseas Pakistanis in the United States contributed $283.4 million in January 2024, marking a notable 32 per cent increase from the same period last year.

    The consistent flow of remittances, despite fluctuations in individual sources, underscores their enduring importance to Pakistan’s economy and the livelihoods of millions of households reliant on them.

  • Marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum dies in accident

    Marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum dies in accident

    Marathon’s world record holder athlete Kelvin Kiptum has died in a car accident.

    According to foreign media, 24-year-old Kelvin Kiptum, Kenya’s marathon world record holder, was travelling in a car that met an accident in western Kenya, killing him on the spot.

    According to Geo, Kelvin Kiptum’s coach, Rwanda’s Gervais Hakizimana, was also killed in the accident, while a woman in the car was injured and shifted to the hospital.

    It is being reported that Kelvin Kiptum was driving the car which overturned after he lost control.

    It should be noted that Kelvin Kiptum set the marathon world record with 2 hours 35 seconds.

  • Ali Amin Gandapur might be next Chief Minister KP and people are not happy

    Ali Amin Gandapur might be next Chief Minister KP and people are not happy

    Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) has secured the required majority in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly to form its government for the third consecutive time in the province with the party’s provincial president, Ali Amin Gandapur, likely to become the chief minister.

    The possibility of Gandapur becoming the Premier of the province has triggered severe backlash on social media.

    On November 8, 2017, then PTI MNA Dawar Khan Kundi, wrote a letter to then-chairman PTI Imran Khan about an incident that took place in Dera Ismail Khan, the constituency of Ali Amin Gandapur.

    A young orphan girl was stripped and then paraded naked in a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa village after her brother allegedly held a pre-marital affair with somebody. During the incident, nobody helped or sheltered the girl.

    As per Dawar, the logistics and physical support to the criminals who stripped the young girl were all provided by PTI Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. In a letter written to PTI Chairman Imran Khan, Kundi wrote, “I visited the family a week before and they asked, in fact, requested, me to make sure that Ali Amin Gandapur, Revenue minister K-P, may be forced and asked to withdraw his support from the criminals,”

    The letter further stated, “The notorious activities of Ali Amin Gandapur are a source of providing a bad name to the party as a whole,” Dawar wrote. “You must ask CM K-P Parvez Khattak to remove Gandapur from his ministerial portfolio and ask forgiveness from the bereaved family.”

    Dawar Khan Kundi concluded his letter to Imran Khan by saying, “It is the time that PTI should stand with that orphan girl and provide justice to her as soon as possible.” However Ali Amin Gandapur has vowed he had nothing to do with the incident, saying that if charges of his involvement are proved, he was ready to be hanged till death.

    Amid this, people are not happy with Ali Amin Gandapur being Chief Minister.

    X (former Twitter) user @faraz_lhr wrote, “In 2017, Gundapur facilitated suspects involved in stripping a girl naked. Later a jirga forced the victim family to reconcile. Last month, the 5 suspects were shot dead.”

    User Crucifiedrantsuser wrote, “If Ali Amin Gandapur can be CM KP than why not PMLN in Center. If it’s all about morals Then where are the morals. How pti will defend Ali Amin n we couldn’t defend pmln?What media sells isn’t right. For me media has no credibility after this. How they projected things is absurd.”

    User @AmmarRashidT user wrote, “Can’t think of a better way to demonstrate you’re the non-dynastic non-traditional party that can deliver competent governance than by appointing a thuggish dynast with a disturbingly violent past to the most important position in the province you govern.”

    User @vanillasky458 wrote, “Haven’t heard anything on this from a PTI official, but Gandapur should not be CM. PTI did not get go through this fight only to make mistakes we’ve called out other parties for. Hope Jhagra wins his seat, no better choice than him.”

  • Hira Mani, Mani deliver speeches, sing song at MQM-P event

    Hira Mani, Mani deliver speeches, sing song at MQM-P event

    Hira Mani and her husband Mani captivated the audience with their speeches and performances at MQM-P’s celebration in Karachi’s Jinnah Ground.

    Hira also treated fans by singing the OST of her popular drama serial ‘Meray Pass Tum Ho’. The event was filled with cheers and applause as the couple showcased their talents, surrounded by MQM-P leaders.

  • Barrister Gohar and Sher Afzal Khan Marwat memes take social media by storm

    Barrister Gohar and Sher Afzal Khan Marwat memes take social media by storm

    Who knew that an unlikely pair of previously-unknown faces will become our desi version of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid? Or, our Pakistani version of Veeru and Jai?

    Millions of adult Pakistanis voted in the country’s recent general election despite disruptions like mobile service suspensions and delayed results. However, accusations of unfairness and uncertainty cloud the electoral process in 2024.
    Amidst this, people turned to the internet for humor, and memes. A photo, taken during a press conference, featuring PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Senior Vice President Sher Afzal Marwat has become all the rage. Marwat, known for his intense speeches, looks serious while Gohar appears calm.
    Check out these memes:

  • ‘Thappay par thappa’, Firdous explains why she slapped a police officer

    ‘Thappay par thappa’, Firdous explains why she slapped a police officer

    Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) leader Dr Firdous Ashiq has finally offered an explanation for a viral video in which she can be seen slapping a police officer on the night of general elections.

    Awan said that she slapped a police officer as the person in uniform was facilitating one political party on election day. The IPP leader also said that if the law does not take its course, then citizens will teach corrupt police officers a lesson.

    The video was widely slammed on social media, with users calling out the IPP leader for resorting to violence.