Current Final

Author: News Desk

  • President of Tajikistan to come to Pakistan for the second time tomorrow

    President of Tajikistan to come to Pakistan for the second time tomorrow

    Tajik President Emomali Rahmon will arrive in Pakistan tomorrow (Wednesday) on a two-day official visit at the invitation of Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif.

    This is the second time that President Rahmon will be meeting PM Shehbaz this year. This tour will be his second visit to Pakistan within two years.

    According to the Pakistani Foreign Office (FO), during Rahmon’s visit, the two sides will exchange views on further strengthening bilateral cooperation in a wide range of areas and are expected to sign multiple bilateral agreements and memorandum of understanding (MoU).

    The FO also termed Tajikistan an “important partner of Pakistan in Central Asia”.

    PM Shehbaz and President Rahmon had last met in September this year at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.

    At that time, the Pakistani prime minister thanked Tajikistan for its support to the flood affectees in Pakistan and shared details of the devastation caused by the massive floods.

    President Rahmon last visited Islamabad in June 2021 when former PM Imran Khan was in power.

  • VIDEO: New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern calls rival ‘arrogant prick’, apologises later

    VIDEO: New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern calls rival ‘arrogant prick’, apologises later

    New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern apologised for calling a political rival an “arrogant prick” in parliament on Tuesday. She made the comment about David Seymour, the leader of the libertarian ACT party, after he asked Ardern if she could “give an example of her making a mistake, apologising for it properly, and fixing it” during question time.

    In response, Jacinda Ardern agreed that the people had a difficult time with managed isolation but said that she supported the job the government had accomplished during the previous term.

    After ending her reply, Ardern sat down next to her deputy, Grant Robertson, and murmured: “Such an arrogant prick”. Her comment was picked up in the background by her desk microphone as House Speaker Adrian Rurawhe was talking and was broadcast on parliament television.

    Speaking to the media after the session had ended, Seymour said that Ardern had texted him to say sorry. “[She] said, ‘I apologise, it’s not something I should have said’ and she said, ‘As my mum would say, if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it’,” he added.

    Seymour went on to emphasise that the matter was resolved, closing his statement by saying: “At the end of the day, it’s not the end of the world.”

    Ardern’s office has also confirmed she had apologised to Seymour.

  • Asad Umar accuses govt of wasting eight months in starting Sukkur-Hyderabad motorway project

    Asad Umar accuses govt of wasting eight months in starting Sukkur-Hyderabad motorway project

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated the 306-kilometre Sukkur-Hyderabad M6 motorway on Monday. The Rs307 billion project is expected to bring economic benefits in terms of saving significant travel time.

    During the ceremony, the premier said, “I ask Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to keep an eye on the entire project so that quality is maintained and the project is completed in a timely manner.”

    The premier also said that the project should be completed within 30 months. He also said that it is being completed under a public-private partnership agreement.

    He credited his brother and former PM Nawaz Sharif for laying the foundation of constructing motorways in the country. Moreover, he pointed out that this project was unnecessarily delayed by the previous government.

    It is pertinent to mention that the project was announced by the then PM Imran Khan last year, and is being described as the biggest project in the development package announced by him.

    Ahead of the PM’s address, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader and former planning minister Asad Umar congratulated the people of Sindh for the start of work on the motorway but highlighted the delay of this project by the incumbent government.

    Taking to Twitter, he said Public Private Partnership Board gave approval for the project on 31st March 2022. “Before this, the contractor was also selected. Now after wasting 8 months, the imported government is starting work,” he wrote.

  • IHC grants 14-day protective bail to PM’s son Suleman Shehbaz

    IHC grants 14-day protective bail to PM’s son Suleman Shehbaz

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday granted protective bail to Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif’s son Suleman for 14 days in a money laundering case registered against him by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

    Last week, the IHC had barred authorities from arresting Suleman in the assets-beyond-means reference while hearing his petition for protective bail that would enable him to surrender before a trial court.

    Earlier today, Suleman appeared before a single-member bench of IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq for bail in the money laundering case.

    Amjad Pervez, Suleman’s lawyer, told the IHC CJ that his client has to appear before a special judge central in Lahore.

    After this, Justice Farooq granted protective bail to the PM’s son and directed him to appear before the relevant court within 14 days.

    Addressing the media after the hearing, Suleman addressing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, said, “The time of accountability is here; we will not spare him. We will not give him any space now; he will be punished.”

    Asked about Farah Khan, a friend of Imran Khan’s wife who allegedly sold the watches gifted to Khan, Suleman wondered why did she run away from Pakistan.

    “You are crying that Farah Gogi is not a public office holder. I was not a public office holder either,” said Suleman. He added that PTI chairman, while he was in power, did not even think about women and instantly arrested them.

    “You had the power, you could have proven the cases,” said Suleman.

    The PM’s son also slammed former National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman Javed Iqbal, saying that he was a “black stain” on the accountability system.

  • Girl kills big brother with boyfriend, younger brother for not letting her marry her lover

    Girl kills big brother with boyfriend, younger brother for not letting her marry her lover

    A girl from Gujranwala, with the help of her lover and younger brother killed her elder brother for not allowing her to marry the man she likes, SAMAA has reported.

    The incident took place in Dhullay area of Gujranwala city in Punjab. Asma and her brother Mudassar wanted her to marry the boyfriend but her elder brother Basharat stopped her.


    Initially, on October 2, the girl bribed a gunman with Rs.50,000 to assassinate Basharat. During the attempted shooting, Basharat was unharmed. On October 15, she again asked the hitman to shoot her brother. This time Basharan got injured and was admitted to hospital.


    In the hospital Asma and Mudassir killed Basharat by jabbing poison in his drip.


    Police have arrested the suspects.

  • Pakistan’s auto sector witnesses 39% increase in car sales in November

    Pakistan’s auto sector witnesses 39% increase in car sales in November

    According to data from the Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association, sales of passenger cars increased slightly in November 2022 compared to the same month in 2021.

    Analysts anticipate more improvement in the upcoming months due to the better availability of raw materials for the automakers following an increase in the issue of letters of credit. In percentage terms, the increase was 39 per cent month over month.

    According to The News, sales of all other models of cars, lorries, buses, tractors, jeeps, pick-ups, three-wheelers, and two-wheelers, other than the Suzuki Alto, decreased in November 2022 compared to November 2021.

    On the other hand, compared to the 90,303 units sold during the same period last year, car sales fell by 39 per cent in the first five months of FY23 to 55,144 units.

    According to PAMA data, there were 15,444 passenger car sales in November 22 as opposed to 15,351 in the same month last year, a rise of 0.60 per cent or 93 units. In November 2022, sales jumped from 11,129 units sold in October 2022 by 39 per cent, or 4,315 units.

    Sales of cars with 1300cc displacement or more were reported at 5,831 units during this time period, a 28 per cent decrease from the 8,102 units sold during the same period the previous year.

    Compared to 3,641 units sold during the same month last year, 1,854 units of 1000cc automobiles were sold in November 2022 (1,136 units of the Suzuki Cultus and 718 units of the Suzuki WagonR).

    Sales of sub-1 000cc cars were 7,759 units, an increase of 4,150 units, or 115 per cent, over the 3,609 units sold the previous year.

    Sales of the new Suzuki Alto were astounding, reaching 7,255 units, a 282 per cent increase over the 2,420 units sold the year before.

    Bus and truck sales dropped from 532 units in November 2021 to 342 units in November 2022. Jeep and pickup truck sales decreased from 3,363 vehicles sold during the same period last year to 2,947 units sold in 2022.

    Tractor sales, on the other hand, decreased from 4,617 units in November of last year to 1,240 units last November. In November 2022, 110,529 motorbikes and rickshaws were sold, compared to 166,731 in the same month the previous year.

    According to a Topline Securities study, Pakistan’s overall automobile sales were roughly 20,000 units, up 35 per cent month-over-month, mainly because CKD parts were more readily available in November 2022 than they were in October 2022, which increased output.

    In November 2022, Pak Suzuki reported a growth of 55 per cent month over month to 12,400 units, followed by Honda Cars’ increase of 38 per cent month over month to 1,973 units.

  • ‘Apni hadd mein raho’: Male MNA reacts after female ministers unite to slam his remarks against Hina Rabbani

    ‘Apni hadd mein raho’: Male MNA reacts after female ministers unite to slam his remarks against Hina Rabbani

    Women Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) from treasury benches extended their support for State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hina Rabbani Khar, after Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) MNA Abdul Akbar Chitrali criticised her on the recent visit to Afghanistan.

    MNA Chitrali said that he was not against any female minister, but he believed that the government should have included some tribal elders in the Khar-led delegation that visited Afghanistan.

    Minister for Climate Change Senator Sherry Rehman defended the decision, saying that if Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari decided to send a women delegation to [Kabul], he is correct in making this choice. “This is a message from Pakistan that this government and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) work and takes pride in promoting its women, protecting their rights and giving them representation,” she said.

    Quoting the example of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, the minister said she was the first elected woman prime minister of Pakistan and was highly praised across the globe.

    “This debate on gender difference has ended in the entire world, as to who is a man and who a woman. People are known for their performance and merit and not for their gender. Our women are excelling internationally and continuing to do so,” said the minister.

    Referring to the incumbent government, she said: “We, being coalition partners, are on one page and Khar’s visit to Afghanistan has projected the soft image of Pakistan.”

    Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb also spoke up, asking that all parliamentarians, especially the male community, should encourage and acknowledge the competency of women ministers appointed on merit.

    “Hina represented Pakistan in Afghanistan. This is a moment of pride for the entire nation,” she said, rebuffing Chitrali’s objections.

    She said the Taliban rulers had no problem negotiating with Khar, who had taken up Pakistan’s concerns very well during her trip to Kabul.

    Right from Fatima Jinnah to Kulsoom Nawaz and Najma Hameed, she said, women had sacrificed to strengthen democracy in the country. They were all pride of Pakistan, she added.

    “This is a wrong impression from our side that such gender discriminations is happening in our own parliament, in Pakistan. I got emotional seeing Hina Rabbani Khar sahiba sitting at the table alongside the Afghanistan government doing the negotiations. We in Pakistan should be proud of her,” said Aurangzeb.

    Later, Chitrali took to the floor of the house and promptly got into a verbal dispute with Aurangzeb and PPP Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Shazia Marri said, “Don’t try to scare me. I am not scared of anyone. Who are you? Aram say betho [ Sit down]. We respect women, but they should remain within their limits.”

    Ayaz Sadiq then intervened, after which Chitrali offered an apology, stating that he was sorry if his remarks hurt anyone.

    He added that his comments were taken in a negative context as he did not mean what his colleagues thought he had said.

  • Old Pakistani embassy building in US to be sold by govt after lying vacant for 15 years

    Old Pakistani embassy building in US to be sold by govt after lying vacant for 15 years

    Owing to the country’s dire economic condition, Pakistan has decided to sell its old embassy building located in the United States (US).

    The Foreign Office has permitted the Pakistani embassy in Washington to sell its old building, which has been vacant for the past 15 years, according to ARY News.

    According to sources familiar with the matter, the building in the heart of Washington is worth $5 to $6 million and is being sold as a result of Pakistan’s dire economic condition.

    A case involving two old Chancery buildings in Washington, DC, at 2201 R Street and 2315 Massachusetts Avenue, which had sat empty since the Pakistan Embassy there was transferred to a specially constructed Chancery Building in April 2003, was previously revealed.

    Earlier in August, sources stated that Pakistan was planning to give Qatar shares of the Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan, New York, in exchange for Doha’s investment in the aviation industry.

    The Roosevelt Hotel, which opened its doors in 1924, is one of the country’s iconic hotels and is located in Manhattan’s opulent downtown.

  • 765,000 people left Pakistan in 2022

    765,000 people left Pakistan in 2022

    765,000 people left Pakistan in 2022 to seek better educational opportunities outside the country, Waqas Ahmed reports for Express Tribune. Compared to the 225,000 departures in 2021 and the 288,000 immigrants in 2020, these numbers are almost quadruple.


    Almost 92,000 people in the list are doctors, engineers, informational technology experts and accountants by profession

    .
    “The effects of the deteriorating economic situation as well as political uncertainty have begun to affect the workforce of Pakistan,” a bureau official said while talking to The Express Tribune.

    “Hundreds of thousands of young men, including highly educated people, who are worried about inflation, unemployment and uncertain economic and political situation, are going abroad every year in search of employment,” he added.

    According to the documents, more than 92,000 graduates, 350,000 trained workers, and the same number of untrained labourers left the country in 2022. The documents additionally revealed that 736,000 individuals visited the Gulf states.

  • No one is ready to invest in Pakistan, says Imran Khan

    No one is ready to invest in Pakistan, says Imran Khan

    Imran Khan, Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), addressed his supporters on Monday about the alarming economic crisis in the country.

    He started off by clarifying that he was not only addressing the nation but was also speaking to the institutions as economic deterioration would affect the entire country.

    Khan said that amid the ongoing economic downturn, small and large-scale businesses are the most affected. He added that exports are also declining gradually.

    “This might be the biggest economic crisis that this country has ever witnessed,” the PTI chief said.

    Moreover, he urged the business community to speak up. “I want to tell all of you that you will be responsible for the destruction of the country if you do not speak up,” he said.

    He pointed out that no one is ready to invest in Pakistan as they have lost trust in the country’s economy.

    Khan, concluding the address, said that the only solution to the crisis is free and fair elections.

    The former Prime Minister has been asking for early general elections, however, the government has said that polls will take place on their scheduled time in October 2023.