Current Final

Author: News Desk

  • Economic crisis: 95 per cent of Pakistanis fear unemployment

    Economic crisis: 95 per cent of Pakistanis fear unemployment

    In Pakistan, 95 per cent of Pakistanis are worried about the possibility of unemployment, while only 5% are confident of job security.

    Apsus Pakistan’s new survey, based on public opinion, says that there has been a clear increase in the rate of Pakistanis claiming to be unemployed in the last one year.

    According to the survey, 95 per cent of Pakistanis are afraid of unemployment due to the country’s economic conditions, while only 5 percent are confident of job security.

    In the survey, 63 per cent said that they, or someone they know, lost their job; and 99 per cent claimed that it was difficult to buy daily necessities, while 99 per cent were not confident about buying a house or a car.

    About 96 per cent of Pakistanis expressed their inability to save and invest to meet their financial needs in the future.

  • State Bank maintains interest rate at 22% as inflation takes a breather 

    State Bank maintains interest rate at 22% as inflation takes a breather 

    The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has announced its decision to maintain the key policy rate at 22 per cent, as outlined in their official statement released today. 

    The decision to uphold the policy rate at 22 per cent was reached after careful consideration by the MPC, which took into account various economic factors. One of the pivotal factors influencing this decision was the recent trend in inflation.

    In particular, the MPC noted a significant decline in inflation from its peak of 38 per cent in May to 27.4 per cent in August 2023. This trend, coupled with the expectation of a continued downward trajectory in inflation, was a key factor in maintaining the current policy rate. 

    Despite recent increases in global oil prices, which have been passed on to consumers through adjustments in administered energy prices, the MPC remains confident in the outlook for inflation, particularly in the latter half of the year. This optimism is based on several factors, including the positive territory of real interest rates on a forward-looking basis.

    Additionally, the expected alleviation of supply constraints due to improved agricultural output and recent administrative measures against speculative activities in the foreign exchange and commodity markets are anticipated to support a favorable inflation outlook. 

    The MPC also highlighted four noteworthy developments that have occurred since its last meeting in July: 

    1. Improved Agricultural Outlook: The latest data on cotton arrivals, improved input conditions, and satellite data indicating healthy vegetation for other crops have contributed to an improved outlook for agriculture. 

    2. Rising Global Oil Prices: Global oil prices have experienced an upward trajectory and are currently hovering around the $90/barrel level. 

    3. Current Account Deficit: As expected, the current account shifted from surplus to deficit in July, partly attributed to the recent relaxation of import restrictions. 

    4. Positive Regulatory Measures: Recent administrative and regulatory actions aimed at enhancing the availability of essential food commodities and curbing illegal activities in the foreign exchange market have started to yield positive results, narrowing the gap between interbank and open market exchange rates. 

    The SBP’s MPC affirmed its commitment to closely monitoring risks to the inflation outlook and expressed its readiness to take appropriate actions when necessary to achieve the objective of price stability.

    Furthermore, the MPC highlighted the importance of maintaining a prudent fiscal stance to manage aggregate demand effectively. This fiscal responsibility is seen as crucial to achieving the medium-term target of 5-7 per cent inflation by the end of the fiscal year 2025. 

  • Asad Umar gets pre-arrest bail in cipher case; Qureshi, Imran bail pleas rejected

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Umar got pre-arrest bail in US cipher case from a special court on Thurday. On the other hand, PTI’s Chairman Imran Khan and Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s bail pleas got rejected in the same case while their judicial remand has been extended till September 26.


    Special prosecutor Shah Khawar told the judge Abul Hasnat that Umar’s arrest is not necessary at this stage.


    “Asad Umar’s arrest is not required in the case as yet and no evidence against him has been gathered as of now,” Shah Khawar told the judge, adding that if investigators found evidence against the former finance minister, he would be informed.


    “If Asad Umar’s arrest is required, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) will proceed according to law,” the judge ordered.


    Judge Hasnat also instructed FIA to inform Asad Umar before arresting him.

  • 7th straight win: Pakistani rupee gains 86 paisas, closes at Rs297.96 per US dollar

    7th straight win: Pakistani rupee gains 86 paisas, closes at Rs297.96 per US dollar

    The Pakistani Rupee (PKR) has extended its impressive winning streak against the US dollar for the seventh consecutive session, concluding at PKR 297.96 to the dollar. This marks a gain of 86 paisas when compared to the previous rate of Rs298.82 in the interbank foreign exchange market on Wednesday.

    The PKR’s recent surge follows its all-time low of PKR 307.10 on September 5, 2023. Within this short span, the Pakistani rupee has appreciated by PKR 9.14, equivalent to an impressive 3 percent increase in the interbank foreign exchange market.

    Following a concerted effort by authorities to suppress illicit black market activities in the major cities of Pakistan, the Pakistani rupee continued its upward trajectory against the US dollar, marking a substantial three-point gain in the open market on Thursday.

    The Exchange Companies Association of Pakistan (ECAP) reported a noteworthy recovery of the rupee, which surged to 298 in relation to the greenback, reflecting a significant increase.

    This crackdown on black market operators was initiated earlier in the month in response to a precipitous decline in the rupee’s value, hitting a record low of Rs333.7 on September 5. The impetus for this decisive action stemmed from appeals made to Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen. Asim Munir by currency dealers, beseeching him to intervene and stabilise the escalating value of the American currency.

    As a direct outcome of these concerted efforts, the Pakistani currency rebounded to a level below 300 per dollar in the open market earlier this week. This positive shift also saw a substantial influx of tens of millions of dollars back into the country’s interbank and open markets, according to reports from dealers.

  • Environmental Protection Agency seals brick kilns, impounds cars

    Environmental Protection Agency seals brick kilns, impounds cars

    In a crackdown by the Rawalpindi Environmental Protection Department, 12 brick kilns and six stone crushing units have been sealed while 33 vehicles have been seized for violating environmental laws.

    Express Tribune reported that as per a spokesperson, the purpose of the operation is to counter increasing smog in the region.

    Authorities also identified numerous dengue larvae breeding sites during the operation, and filed cases against 35 property owners, sealing 20 properties.

    The operation was conducted by Environment Protection Department Deputy Director Maria Safeer, Senior Inspector Romaisa Babar and inspectors Maqbool Hussain, Mohsen Shah and Inamul Haque.

    After inspecting 350 vehicles, 124 smoke-emitting cars were issued challans by the authorities, 33 were impounded, and a total fine of Rs228,800 was imposed.

    Similarly, 152 brick kilns were thoroughly examined which revealed that 18 of them were emitting excessive smoke.

    Cases against seven kiln owners have also been filed.

    Additionally, eight hospitals received notices for contributing to pollution, with two of them being charged accordingly.

  • ‘Aliens’ presented in Mexican Senate

    ‘Aliens’ presented in Mexican Senate

    Mexican senators have been presented with supposed remains of “non-human” mummies as a witness stated, “we are not alone” in the universe.

    Two withered bodies were presented before Mexican Senators on Tuesday, simultaneous to a video footage of “unexplained anomalous phenomena” by Jaime Maussan, a sports journalist turned UFO enthusiast.

    Claiming that the remains were more than 1,000 years old, Maussan said they belonged to “non-human beings that are not part of our terrestrial evolution”.

    “It’s the queen of all evidence,” Maussan claimed. “That is, if the DNA is showing us that they are non-human beings and that there is nothing that looks like this in the world, we should take it as such.”

    However, previous claims by Maussan about mummies found in Nazca, Peru, in 2017, turned out to be false. Tuesday’s hearing, organised by Sergio Gutiérrez Luna -a lawmaker from the governing Morena party- included participants from around the world who made calls for transparency and international cooperation.

    Maussan proposed that Mexico could become the first country to accept the existence of aliens.
    Gutiérrez Luna, however, said that Congress did not have a stance on the theories as of yet but he also highlighted the importance of listening to “all voices, all opinions”.

    Well-known politicians, such as US Republican senator Marco Rubio, have pushed for more disclosure, and in 2022 Barack Obama told CBS that the government has “footage and records of objects in the skies, that we don’t know exactly what they are, we can’t explain how they moved, their trajectory”.

  • JUI-F leader Hafiz Hamdullah injured in Mastung blast

    JUI-F leader Hafiz Hamdullah injured in Mastung blast

    Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Hafiz Hamdullah has been injured on Thursday in a blast in the Mastung area of Balochistan, Geo News has reported.

    According to initial details, the senator and JUI-F spokesperson was going to Mangochar when the roadside explosion took place.

    JUI-F has said in a statement that Hafiz Hamdullah was sent to Quetta after he was given initial medical aid and is “out of danger” now.

    The senator’s gunman, also injured in the blast, has been sent to Mir Ghaus Bakhsh Raisani Hospital for further treatment.

    Frontier Constabulary (FC) and Levies officials reached the site and cordoned off the area. Investigations have begun.

  • Judges disagreement only on constitutional cases coming to court: CJP Bandial

    Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Atta Bandial has said on Wednesday that judges of the apex court only disagree on whether constitutional cases should come to the Supreme Court (SC) or not.

    While addressing a ceremony hosted by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) in his honour, the Chief Justice said that judges only disagree on whether constitutional cases should come directly to the apex court or not. “There is no contradiction amongst us on constitutional principles,” he stated, emphasizing that the apex court and judiciary are the protectors of the constitution.

    A large numbers of lawyers along with nearly all SC judges attended the farewell dinner ceremony, however, Justices Yahya Afridi and Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi didn’t attend the event.

    CJP Bandial is going to retire on September 16, while Justice Qazi Faez Isa will be the next CJP, joining office on September 17.

  • 10-year-old Fatima case: Suspect Asad Shah appears in court

    10-year-old Fatima case: Suspect Asad Shah appears in court

    Pir Asad Shah, compounder Imtiaz and driver Ijaz were produced in an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in the rape and suspicious death of 10-year-old Fatima in Ranipur Haveli, Khairpur.

    The suspects were produced in the court after the completion of seven day physical remand.

    According to the Khairpur police, the investigation has not been completed yet, so they will seek further remand.

    Khairpur police has also said that Hina Shah and father Fayaz Shah, also accused in the case, are still on the run.

    Fatima’s case

    A domestic maid, 10-year-old child Fatima Phuriro, was found dead under suspicious circumstances in Ranipur.

    The child had been working as a domestic worker at a haveli owned by an influential local, Pir Asad Shah Jilani.

    Fatima’s mother, Shabana, was informed about the death by the employer who asked her to remove the body from the premises where two of Fatima’s sisters were also employed.

    According to DIG Sukkur Javed Jiskani, the parents initially did not share the facts of the case with the police and claimed that the girl was suffering from gastroenteritis. While her diagnosis was also confirmed by Dr Abdul Fatah Memon who treated her, the DIG revealed that Fatima was taken to the hospital either by the Pir or his staff and that the SHO was present at the time she was pronounced dead.

    It was not until videos of the child were leaked by an unknown source and circulated in social media that the case caught media’s eye. By then, the family had buried Fatima on August 15.

    The body was later exhumed and sent for an autopsy which revealed that the girl had been raped both vaginally and anally.

  • iPhone 12 sales temporarily stopped in France

    iPhone 12 sales temporarily stopped in France

    This week, Apple revealed the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, however, only a few hours later, France announced a temporary stop on iPhone 12 sales in the country.

    France’s radiation watchdog (ANFR) released a public statement highlighting that iPhone 12 violates radiation levels, bringing this to Apple’s attention and calling for a halt on sales for iPhone 12 and provide a solution.

    “The French National Frequencies Agency (ANFR) is instructing Apple to withdraw the iPhone 12 from the French market as of September 12, 2023, after the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) limit for this model was exceeded,” the French agency wrote in a statement. “ANFR enjoins Apple to implement all available means to rapidly remedy this malfunction. Failing this, Apple will be required to recall any units already sold.”

    According to TechCruch, this is not a big deal for a business as Apple can “roll out a software update to fix the issue”.

    It has been noted that France’s junior minister for telecommunications Jean-Noël Barrot giving an interview to Le Parisien regarding the matter is “interesting”.

    According to Next INpact, it is not new for ANFR to identify a device with a concern regarding radiation levels. It could be that the French minister is “using this opportunity to start a media campaign”.

    Moreover, as TechCrunch highlighted, Apple told Reuters and the AFP that the iPhone 12 has been deemed as compliant by international regulators. Also, it has “independent third-party lab results that show that it complies with all SAR standards around the world. The company plans to both contest the ANFR’s results and engage with the agency to find a way forward.”