Current Final

Author: News Desk

  • Number of repatriated Afghans exceeds four lakh

    Number of repatriated Afghans exceeds four lakh

    The deportation of illegally residing Afghans from across the country continues with another 2,473 Afghan citizens returning to Afghanistan yesterday alone.

    This included 232 families travelling in around 126 vehicles. Whereas on December 7, 2,473 Afghans were sent back, including 825 men, 523 women and 1,125 children.

    Samaa News reports an additional figure of 2,055 Afghan citizens who have returned among whom were 426 women and 1,045 children.

    Anadolu Agency reports that over 460,000 undocumented Afghan refugees left Pakistan last month while according to the latest UN figures, 1.3 million Afghans are registered refugees and 880,000 have legal permission to stay in Pakistan.

  • A hero in town: Roshan Bibi saves children, husband from bullets

    A hero in town: Roshan Bibi saves children, husband from bullets

    Roshan Bibi, a 28-year-old woman from Ghazar, saved her husband and children in a firing incident on a bus in Chilas.

    On December 2, when terrorists fired at a bus in Chilas, Roshan Bibi laid her one-and-a-half-year-old son, four-year-old daughter and husband on the floor of the bus and she herself lied down on top of them to protect them. Six shots were fired.

    Roshan Bibi along with her husband Syed Ahmad Shah and two children were travelling to Karachi at the time.

    In the tragic incident of firing on the bus, nine people were killed and 26 people were injured.

    Roshan Bibi was injured and shifted to Gilgit, where three bullets were removed from her body during an operation while three are still reportedly in her body, which are yet to be removed.

    Roshan Bibi has been transferred to a private hospital in Karachi.

  • Pak vs Australia’s PM XI: Storm in Canberra leads to a draw

    Pak vs Australia’s PM XI: Storm in Canberra leads to a draw

    The practice match between Pakistan and Australia’s Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra ended in a draw due to a massive electrical storm in Canberra, Australia.

    Pakistan declared on 391 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in the first innings thanks to a double century by captain Shan Masood.

    In the second innings, Australia’s PM XI scored 367 runs for the loss of four wickets. PM XI’s Matt Runshaw scored 136 runs, Cameron Bancroft 53, Cameron Green 46, Marcus Harris 49, and Nathan McSweeney scored 40 runs.

    For Pakistan, Khurram Shehzad, Faheem Ashraf, Abrar Ahmed, and Imam-ul-Haq took one wicket each.

    This four-day match was a part of the preparation for the Test match series. The three-match Test series between Pakistan and Australia will be played from December 14 to January 7.

  • State Bank of Pakistan to announce monetary policy decision on December 12

    State Bank of Pakistan to announce monetary policy decision on December 12

    The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) is set to unveil its monetary policy on Tuesday, December 12. A statement released by the central bank on Friday informed that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of SBP will convene in Karachi on December 12 to deliberate on monetary policy. 

    Subsequently, the central bank will issue the official monetary policy statement. In its preceding meeting on October 30, the MPC judiciously opted to uphold the policy rate at 22%, citing global market volatility. 

    The committee underscored the imperative of persisting with a stringent monetary policy stance to mitigate inflation.

    PKR ends another week in green

    The Pakistani currency is experiencing an upward trend against the US dollar for the past several sessions, concluding the week in positive territory on Friday. 

    According to the SBP, the Pakistani rupee gained 0.09 per cent, closing at Rs283.87 against the US dollar.

  • IMF board’s January meeting to shape future disbursements for Pakistan

    IMF board’s January meeting to shape future disbursements for Pakistan

    The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Executive Board is scheduled to convene on January 11 to endorse the Staff-Level Agreement (SLA) with Pakistan, marking the inaugural review of the $3 billion Stand-By Arrangement (SBA).

    In June, the IMF Executive Board granted approval for a crucial nine-month arrangement with Pakistan, aimed at supporting its economic stabilisation programme.

    This approval facilitated an immediate disbursement of $1.2 billion, with the remaining funds to be disbursed over the programme’s timeline, contingent upon two quarterly evaluations.

    Following negotiations between IMF staff and Pakistani authorities on November 15 in Islamabad, the SLA was successfully reached, paving the way for Pakistan to access SDR 528 million (approximately $700 million).

    This latest disbursement brings the cumulative total under the nine-month $3 billion SBA to nearly $1.9 billion.

    While the initial plan had tentatively slated the IMF Board meeting for December 7 to approve the initial tranche, the confirmed date is now set for January 11.

  • Overseas workers’ remittances to Pakistan dip to $2.3 billion

    Overseas workers’ remittances to Pakistan dip to $2.3 billion

    In November 2023, overseas workers sent a total of $2.3 billion in remittances to Pakistan, reflecting an 8.6 per cent decrease from the $2.5 billion recorded in October 2023, as per data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). 

    However, on a yearly basis, there was a 3.6 per cent increase in the monthly inflow compared to the same month in the previous year.

    Remittances are a crucial element in supporting Pakistan’s external accounts and play a vital role in boosting the country’s economic activity while also supplementing the disposable incomes of households dependent on remittances.

    The recent rise in remittances was attributed to an improved exchange rate following a crackdown against currency smugglers and hoarders. 

    This crackdown resulted in a reduction of the rate gap between the open and interbank markets. However, despite this positive trend, remittances have observed a decline on a monthly basis again this November.

    In the first five months of the fiscal year 2024, remittances amounting to $11 billion have been recorded, in contrast to $12.3 billion in the same period of the previous year.

    Breaking down the remittances, it was noted that overseas Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia sent the highest amount in November 2023, totaling $540.3 million. 

    This amount represented a 12.5 per cent monthly decline but was 5.5 per cent higher than the remittances in the same month of the previous year. 

    Remittances from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) also declined on a monthly basis by 13.6 per cent, from $473.9 million in October to $409.4 million in November. 

    However, there was a yearly improvement of 7.6 per cent. Remittances from the United Kingdom increased by 3.5 per cent to $341.7 million compared to October 2023.

    Conversely, remittances from the European Union declined by nearly 10 per cent on a monthly basis, amounting to $268.3 million in November 2023. Overseas Pakistanis in the US sent $261.5 million in November 2023, experiencing a month-on-month decrease of 7.7 per cent.

  • Pakistan Stock Exchange surges 2.33% to reach 66,223.63 points

    Pakistan Stock Exchange surges 2.33% to reach 66,223.63 points

    The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) maintained its upward trajectory, with the benchmark KSE-100 index reaching a new pinnacle on Friday. 

    At the close, the index concluded at 66,223.63, marking a noteworthy increase of 1,505.56 points, or 2.33 per cent.

    While surpassing the 66,000 level earlier in the day, a temporary slowdown occurred in the second half due to profit-taking. 

    Nevertheless, bullish activity returned during the final hour, propelling the benchmark index to an intra-day peak of 66,273.73.

    The market displayed widespread buying across key sectors such as cement, chemicals, commercial banks, fertiliser, oil and gas exploration companies, OMCs, and power generation and distribution sectors. 

    Thursday’s trading session had already seen a positive trend, with the KSE-100 settling at 64,718.08, reflecting a gain of 800.35 points, or 1.25 per cent.

    This continued momentum is attributed to enhanced economic indicators following the recent agreement between Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) authorities on the first review of the Stand-By Agreement (SBA) last month.

  • Fans do not like Bollywood star-kids Netflix film The Archies

    Fans do not like Bollywood star-kids Netflix film The Archies

    Netflix’s The Archies, a launch pad for Shahrukh Khan’s daughter Suhana, Amitabh Bachchan’s grandson Agastya Nanda, the late Sri Devi’s daughter, Khushi, has just been released on Netflix. The film made headlines for its close-to-the-original comic depiction but after its release on December 7, the film has mostly been planned, especially on Twitter. Netizens have varying things to say, most of them, uncomplimentary.

    Critics like Sucharita said the movie felt like a whole lot of nothing.


    One user said that the movie was cute. “The actors aren’t the best but they all look gorgeous”.


    Others outrightly criticised the film as “pathetic” and a “disgusting display of nepotism”.


    The meme brigade actively took part in roasting the film as one user posted, “If you’re struggling with heart problems, don’t watch this series. These kids’ acting might just trigger a heart attack, and I don’t think even CPR could save you from that drama!”


    One user was also reminded of Abhishek Bachchan while seeing Agastya.


    Some criticised that the new actors were not given due credit even though they performed better.

    Others are strongly criticising the promotional PR as a waste of money.

  • Mahira Khan snapped with Hollywood star Andrew Garfield

    Mahira Khan snapped with Hollywood star Andrew Garfield

    The Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia is unfolding right now. Pakistani cinema is gaining recognition on the global platform with movies like Wakhri and In Flames being featured at the event. showcase the talent and creativity of Pakistani filmmakers.
    On Thursday, Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt walked the red carpet at the festival. She not only attended the event but also posed with several Pakistani celebrities. Alia was dressed in an elaborate floral silver gown for the red carpet event.
    Hollywood actors including Johnny Depp, Will Smith, Sharon Stone, Michelle Williams, Freida Pinto, Joel Kinnaman, Paz Vega and Sofia Vergara were also in attendance at the festival.
    Pakistani stars, including Mahira Khan, Humayun Saeed, Ahad Raza Mir were also there, mingling with international stars like Alia Bhatt and Andrew Garfield. Humayun Saeed was also photographed with Adrien Brody, Nicolas Cage, Henry Golding, and Joel Kinnaman. His wife, Samina Humayun Saeed, was captured in a picture with Alia Bhatt. Take a look at the pictures below to see our Pakistani stars at the festival.

  • Minor child worker Rizwana’s first day at school

    Minor child worker Rizwana’s first day at school

    Rizwana, 13, a domestic worker who was assaulted by the wife of a civil judge, has started her education.

    Sarah Ahmed, chairperson of the Child Protection Bureau, stated that the girls studying in Child Protection School welcomed Rizwana on her first day.

    She added that along with education, Rizwana will also be taught cooking, given psychological counselling, and her medical monitoring will also continue.

    The young domestic worker, beaten up during employment by the wife of a civil judge in Islamabad, was under treatment in Lahore General Hospital for five months. Rizwana was brought to the facility from Sargodha with injuries on her head, face and back.

    According to the medical report, due to lack of timely treatment, Rizwana’s wounds were infected with worms, the girl had 15 injury marks on her body including her head, while her internal organs were also affected.