Current Final

Author: News Desk

  • SBP-held foreign exchange reserves drop to 8-year low

    SBP-held foreign exchange reserves drop to 8-year low

    The foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) continued their declining spree, plunging by $584 million to reach $6.1 billion as of December 16.

    According to SBP, this is the lowest level of reserves since April 2014.

    SBP’s reserves have decreased by $11.6 billion over the past 12 months. The central bank’s reserves, which were $17.7 billion in December 2021 and are now at $6.1 billion, hardly cover a month’s worth of imports.

    Pakistan’s total liquid foreign reserves are currently $12 billion, with $5.9 billion of that amount held by commercial banks as net foreign reserves.

    The lack of foreign assistance along with a delay in the IMF program’s revival, a greater trade imbalance, and rising foreign debt payments severely depleted the reserves.

    The Fund’s criticism over an elevated budget deficit is said to be the reason why the ninth review discussions have been postponed.

    While the IMF urges that the government must stabilize the economy, the government seems unwilling to levy more taxes in order to raise income.

  • 8 Pakistani artists featured in ‘Top 50 Asian Stars’ list

    Hailing from diverse realms of showbiz, the Pakistani showbiz industry icons have dominated the Top 50 Asian Stars list. Having greatly contributed to the entertainment industry, these Pakistanis celebrities were recognised nationally and internationally.

    The list is published annually and this time, Pakistani actors and singers have made their nation proud. From Fawad Khan to Arooj Aftab, there have been eight stars who were listed among other South Asian artists on Britain’s EasternEye.

    The list includes Fawad Khan, Sajal Aly, Atif Aslam, Ali Sethi and Shae Gill, Humayun Saeed, Hadiqa Kiani, Arooj Aftab, and Riz Ahmed.

    In ascending order, Fawad Khan sits at number two. The handsome hunk broke records with his terrific performance in The Legend of Maula Jatt smashing all Pakistani box-office records globally.

    Following Khan is the iconic singer Atif Aslam securing the 13th spot. Aslam also became the most-streamed Pakistani singer of 2022.

    Sitting at number 16 is actress Sajal Aly. The diva made her international debut with the English film What’s Love Got To Do With It?  that propelled her to international stardom.

    At the 17th spot, we have Riz Ahmed. This British Asian actor has been shining bright like a diamond by winning a Best Live Action Short Film Oscar at the 94th Academy Awards for The Long Goodbye.

    For the 38th spot, Arooj Aftab jumped in to make it to the list. The New York-based singer is the first female Pakistani artist to win a Grammy award for Best Global Music Performance, along with securing a Best New Artist nomination.

    At number 40 we have the talented singer Hadiqa Kiani. The Pakistani pop icon with her soldout concerts, philanthropy, and humanitarian work during the flash floods in Pakistan helped her secure a spot on the list of accomplished artists.

    Another fine actor of Lollywood who recently made his Netflix debut is Humayun Saeed sitting at number 45. Saeed’s fine acting skills helped him land a key role as Dr. Hasnat Khan in the popular The Crown series. 

    At number 46 is the Pasoori duo Shae Gill and Ali Sethi for the roaring success of their Coke Studio 14 single.

  • ‘Sajal ka anjaam bohat bura hona chahiye tha’: Netizens unhappy with Daraar’s finale episode

    ‘Sajal ka anjaam bohat bura hona chahiye tha’: Netizens unhappy with Daraar’s finale episode

    Geo Entertainment drama Daraar directed by Sheherzade Sheikh and written by Misbah Nosheen concluded its run yesterday. The hit drama starring Syed Jibran, Momal Sheikh, Tara Mehmood, Amar Khan and Behroze Sabzwari is getting polarising responses for its finale episode.

    Many viewers were left disappointed with the conclusion since they wanted to see Sajal (Momal), who was guilty of destroying her cousin sister’s family, getting mercilessly punished. Almost all viewers were angry by the incomplete conclusion. A few viewers appreciated the morally instructive ending of Shaheer, believing that unlawful partnerships are bad for society.

    Daraar Drama on Geo Tv | Watch Full Episodes • Reviews • Cast

    However, fans stated that the drama’s plot was too gruesome and required a decent ending that depicted Sajal’s punishment for destroying a home and deceiving Irha, her parents, and Shaheer. The majority of viewers were unhappy with the conclusion.

    Check out the response by netizens:

    Daraar Last Episode Public Reaction
    Daraar Last Episode Public Reaction
  • ‘Ineffective after removal as CM’: PML-N, PPP withdraw no-trust motion against Elahi

    ‘Ineffective after removal as CM’: PML-N, PPP withdraw no-trust motion against Elahi

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Friday withdrew the no-confidence motion against Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, terming it unnecessary and ineffective after his de-notification as Chief Minister by the Governor of Punjab.

    PML-N leader Khalil Tahir Sandhu said , “The no-trust move became ineffective as the governor has denotified the CM.” He added that PML-N had withdrawn only the motion against the chief minister, and the ones against Speaker Sibtain Khan and the deputy speaker are still pending.

    On the other hand, Elahi and other MPAs of the PML-N and PML-Q started arriving at the Punjab Assembly on Friday afternoon.

    It is pertinent to mention here that the provincial assembly’s ongoing session will be held today following the speaker’s disposal on Tuesday of the governor’s order for Elahi to obtain a vote of confidence from the house, terming it “against the Constitution and Rules of Procedure”.

    Elahi on Friday filed a petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC) challenging Governor Balighur Rehman’s de-notification from the chief minister’s office.

    Governor Rehman de-notified Elahi in the late hours of Friday, citing a failure to take the vote of confidence from the provincial assembly as political turmoil in Pakistan’s largest province reached breaking point.

  • ‘A man I can trust’, says Reham Khan about her husband

    ‘A man I can trust’, says Reham Khan about her husband

    Reham Khan has tied the knot with an overseas Pakistani, 36-year-old Mirza Bilal Baig, who lives in the US. Mirza Bilal Baig is a corporate professional and has been married twice before. He has one child from a previous marriage.

    Reham Khan and Bilal tied the knot in a simple ceremony in Seattle.

    The news was shared by Reham from her official social media pages with pictures of the two.

    Reham, while sharing the news about her marriage wrote, ” I am delighted to share the good news with my followers & well-wishers that I have tied the knot in a simple marriage ceremony with Mirza Bilal. In the absence of my parents I want to request you for your prayers and kind wishes as I embark on my new life. Life is about love and understanding, and after a very long lonely struggle I finally met a man who impressed me with his intelligence and won me with his honesty and his composure. Although Mirza is a good 13 years younger to me, he is the sage in my life. A man I can trust. A man who will be around me in my darkest hour. A man who I feel safe with. Like you have welcomed me in your hearts and prayers, I am sure you will extend the same warmth to the man who I have chosen to share my life with. I would like to thank Mirza’s parents for warmly welcoming me into their beautiful family, and my children for being supportive as always. Special thanks to my son for fulfilling duties of being my Vakeel. Finally, as we are both hoping it will be third time lucky for us, I would politely request you to respect the privacy of our respective immediate families & our children.”

    Mirza Bilal Baig is a former model and has also been part of “The 4 Men Show”, “Dil Pey Mut Ley Yaar” and “National Alien Broadcast”.

    Have a look at his pictures:

  • Could Pakistan host the World Cup? Twitter makes some hilarious guesses on what could go down

    Could Pakistan host the World Cup? Twitter makes some hilarious guesses on what could go down

    We’ve seen the football and cricket world cups hosted in different countries around the world, and seen how the host would integrate their culture to bring a refreshing take. The internet went absolutely wild when Qatar topped the FIFA world cup ceremony by rewarding Messi with the bisht, a black cape that is given to Arab conquerers to symbolize them as revolutionary heroes.

    Now this Twitter user did ask his followers a simple question: how would the world cup in Pakistan take place?

    https://twitter.com/dafucboi/status/1605828372361158659?s=20&t=EF0uisS4gtsP6-OTDQS6kQ

    and Twitter users brought forth some hilarious scenarios

    https://twitter.com/grumpydesimil/status/1606061828940787714?s=20&t=EF0uisS4gtsP6-OTDQS6kQ
    https://twitter.com/alishbarajpoott/status/1606195292038201345?s=20&t=EF0uisS4gtsP6-OTDQS6kQ
    https://twitter.com/RangnarL7/status/1606135700390219777?s=20&t=EF0uisS4gtsP6-OTDQS6kQ
    https://twitter.com/thekidshazy/status/1606085206175141888?s=20&t=EF0uisS4gtsP6-OTDQS6kQ
  • ‘No action can be taken against any CM over speaker’s actions’: Elahi challenges governor’s denotification order in LHC

    ‘No action can be taken against any CM over speaker’s actions’: Elahi challenges governor’s denotification order in LHC

    Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Pervaiz Elahi on Friday filed a petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC) challenging Governor Balighur Rehman’s de-notification from chief minister’s office.

    In the petition, Elahi has appealed to the court to declare the governor’s move illegal.

    “No action can be taken against any chief minister over speaker’s actions,” maintains the petition.

    Governor Rehman denotified Elahi in the late hours of Friday, citing a failure to take the vote of confidence from the provincial assembly as political turmoil in Pakistan’s largest province reached breaking point.


    “Since the CM has refrained from obtaining the vote of confidence at the appointed day and time, he ceases to hold office. Orders issued this evening,” Governor Rehman stated.

    Following the governor’s instruction, Chief Secretary of Punjab Abdullah Khan Sumbal, also notified the dissolution of the provincial cabinet. “Mr Pervaiz Elahi has ceased to hold office of the Chief Minister Punjab with immediate effect,” reads the notification. 

  • ‘Suicide blast’ in Islamabad’s I-10: One policeman martyred, several injured

    ‘Suicide blast’ in Islamabad’s I-10: One policeman martyred, several injured

    A suicide blast in a vehicle left a policeman martyred and at least six people injured in Islamabad’s I-10/4 sector on Friday, the federal capital’s police said in a statement.

    Shortly afterwards, the Islamabad Police declared a “red alert” in the city.

    According to Deputy Inspector General of Police Sohail Zafar Chattha, the police spotted a “suspicious vehicle” with a man and a woman aboard at 10:15am in the area.

    “When the police stopped the vehicle, the couple came out of the car. The long-haired man, while being checked by the officers, went inside the vehicle on some pretext and then detonated himself,” he said in a media briefing at the crime scene alongside Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon.

    Police officials said that cops had stopped a “suspicious” taxi for snap checking when the explosion occurred.

    In a tweet, the Islamabad police said police officers were conducting snap-checking when they signalled to the suspicious vehicle to stop.

    “A suicide bomber aboard the vehicle detonated a bomb soon after the car stopped near the officers,” it said.

    Injured cops were moved to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences.

    All the hospitals in Islamabad have been put on high alert, a notification issued by the Ministry of National Health Services said. The ministry said to ensure the attendance of all the medical and paramedical staff.

    The Ministry of Health said that all federal hospitals should be kept on high alert keeping in view the current situation.

    Soon after the blast, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif summoned a report of the suicide blast and also condemned the terror incident.

    The PM also paid tribute to the martyred policemen, adding that the nation pays tribute to its martyrs. He added that the whole nation will fight against terrorism. 

    “The plan to shed innocent blood has failed due to the action of the law enforcement agencies,” said the PM. He also announced a martyr package for the family of Head Constable Adeel Hussain.

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah confirmed that “two terrorists” were killed in the blast.

    “The vehicle used in the blast was registered in Chakwal. The car entered Islamabad from Rawalpindi […] it was packed with explosives and headed for a high-value target in the capital,” he said.

    Sanaullah added that had the car reached its target, it would have caused heavy losses.

    The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement released on Friday.

  • ‘Fulfillment of my biggest wish’: Mawra Hocane shares pictures of Umrah with mother

    ‘Fulfillment of my biggest wish’: Mawra Hocane shares pictures of Umrah with mother

    Yesterday, actress Mawra Hocane shared pictures of herself and her mother performing Umrah together at Makkah.

    In the caption, Hocane revealed that this was her first Umrah and that she had wanted to do for a long time. Now she has gotten a chance to fulfill her wish.

    21/12/22 marks the fulfilment of my biggest biggest wish ALHUMDULILLAH

    We performed Umrah together, Mama & I.. twice.. what more could I possibly ask for now.. ALHUMDULILLAH ❤️
    Life truly feels complete.. I have to think hard now to wish again for a long time… just so so grateful..

    Thankyou.. all of you for all your prayers & best wishes.. I prayed for all of you as well.. my first Umrah will always be so so special for me.. a small little glimpse of my dreams coming true..

    Actors like Kubra Khan and Ameer Gilani sent their congratulations to the actress in the comments section

    The actress had previously shared a video clip of her walking around the Kaabah on Instagram

  • S&P Global lowers Pakistan’s credit rating to CCC+

    S&P Global lowers Pakistan’s credit rating to CCC+

    Pakistan’s long-term sovereign credit rating was downgraded by S&P Global from “B” to “CCC+” to reflect the continuous deterioration of the country’s external, fiscal, and economic metrics.

    According to S&P, Pakistan’s already meagre foreign exchange reserves would continue to be under pressure through 2023 without a drop in oil prices or an improvement in international aid. The nation also faces significant political risks that could alter its future course of policies.

    According to the report, Pakistan’s economic and fiscal results are predicted to be negatively impacted by this year’s devastating floods, skyrocketing food and energy prices, and rising global interest rates, with refinancing issues over the medium term.

    The agency maintained its outlook at “stable”.

    With barely enough reserves to pay one month’s worth of imports, a dollar shortage, and a delay in its loan programme with the International Monetary Fund, Pakistan is in the midst of an economic catastrophe. Despite the payment of a $1 billion bond this month, long-term dollar bonds continue to trade at distressed prices, reflecting investors’ lack of confidence in Pakistan’s capacity to meet its international debt commitments.

    Following the terrible floods that hit the country earlier this year, Moody’s lowered Pakistan’s sovereign credit rating by one notch, from B3 to Caa1, citing heightened government liquidity and external vulnerability risks.