Current Final

Author: News Desk

  • Surge in Covid-19 cases in Pakistan

    Surge in Covid-19 cases in Pakistan

    Pakistan’s Covid-19 positivity rate has gone to 1.22 per cent today (Thursday), according to the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad.

    According to NIH data, 144 people have been found infected with the virus and one death has been reported.

    The positivity rate was at 0.83 per cent on Wednesday with 106 cases.

    In April, Pakistan reported zero Covid-19-related deaths for the first time since the breakout of the pandemic in the country.

    In March, the government announced the closure of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC). The body was set up in March 2020 to deal with Covid-19.

  • Microsoft advises users to move on as Internet Explorer dies at 27

    Microsoft advises users to move on as Internet Explorer dies at 27

    Microsoft has formally advised users to abandon the 27-year-old Internet Explorer in favour of the company’s newer Edge browser.

    Support for Internet Explorer 11 is being terminated today, the legendary web browser is being phased out in favour of Microsoft Edge.

    After moving away from the Internet Explorer branding with the release of Windows 10 in 2015, it’s the end of an era on the internet.

    There aren’t many changes for users. Internet Explorer’s usage has dropped dramatically in recent years, as it accounts for less than a 5 per cent market share of all browsers.

    For years, Microsoft has worked to discourage users from using Internet Explorer, referring to it as a compatibility solution rather than a browser that businesses should actively use.

    While Microsoft’s Edge, which is powered by Chromium, is now the default browser in Windows 11, the MSHTML engine that powers Internet Explorer is still included. It exists solely to enable IE mode in Microsoft Edge, which Microsoft states will be supported until at least 2029.

    For web apps and sites that require Internet Explorer, businesses have mostly switched to Edge’s IE mode. This IE mode for Edge was established by Microsoft in 2019, and it supports older ActiveX controls that are still used by many legacy sites.

    Multiple businesses will be caught off guard by the Internet Explorer retirement, or will not be able to completely phase out its use in time.

    Some government departments and financial institutions in Japan have been reluctant to respond to the IE retirement, according to Nikkei this week. For example, the Japan Pension Service website must be viewed in Edge’s IE mode.

    Thousands of comparable enterprises and instances of Internet Explorer usage are expected to exist around the world.

    For years, Microsoft has been warning of today’s Internet Explorer retirement, and it’s still being cautious with alerts and redirection until the browser is completely eliminated in the coming months.

  • Ahsan Iqbal’s remarks about cutting down chai consumption make international headlines

    Ahsan Iqbal’s remarks about cutting down chai consumption make international headlines

    Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal’s recent statement about cutting down on tea has not just taken social media by storm but international media has widely covered his remarks.

    “I appeal to the nation to reduce tea intake by one or two cups daily because we borrow money for tea import as well,” said Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday.

    People in Pakistan urged to drink fewer cups of tea was how BBC covered it.

    CNN’s headline says: Pakistanis told to drink less tea as nation grapples with the economic crisis

    People in Pakistan urged to drink fewer cups of tea, was how Iqbal’s statement was covered by the Saudi Gazette.

    AlJazeera also reported Ahsan Iqbal’s statement: Pakistan minister slammed for ‘drink less tea, save money’ appeal

    Turkish news media outlet TRT also did a story and a video on the same with the title: Pakistan minister stirs controversy with ‘drink less tea, save money’ plea

    Indian media also jumped in and did a news piece with the title: Pak Minister Asks Citizens To Drink Less Tea As Economy Faces Loan Burden: Report

    The Print wrote: ‘First roti, now tea? Pakistan’s angry response to the minister who wants them to drink less

    ABC Australia did a video report on Ahsan’s statement.

    ‘Cutting chai’ | Pakistan Minister urges people to reduce tea consumption, wrote The Hindu.

  • Rs720 million money laundering case: Moonis Elahi appears before FIA

    Rs720 million money laundering case: Moonis Elahi appears before FIA

    Former Federal Minister for Water Resources Moonis Elahi appeared before the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) after the agency filed a Rs720 million money laundering case against him.

    After his appearance, the former federal minister said the FIA gave him a questionnaire, claiming that its “purpose” was not to conduct an investigation but to arrest him.

    “The government did all this so attention could be diverted from the budget in the Punjab Assembly. If I tell the PML-N today that we will support you, all cases will end,” the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader further said.

    He added that all information regarding his finances is available in his tax returns. According to Moonis Elahi, the FIA has not issued a notice till date but he would appear again if summoned.

    The investigation agency also arrested two of Elahi’s close associates – Nawaz Bhatti and Mazhar Iqbal – on the charges that both of them used to facilitate Elahi to embezzle money.

    After the case was filed, Moonis rushed to the FIA’s office on Wednesday night but he was told to appear the next morning.

    Prior to this, a special central court in Lahore dismissed Elahi’s pre-arrest bail plea in this case.

    ‘Will not abandon Imran Khan’: Moonis Elahi

    When the case was registered earlier, Moonis denied receiving any notice. He said, “I would have come to the FIA office if I had received the notice. I came to know about the FIR from the media. They have skipped a legal step.”

    Moonis said that he is coming to Lahore to appear before the FIA and they can arrest him if they want to.

    “The PML-N is at a loss to understand that it can pressure me to change my loyalty towards former premier and PTI chairman Imran Khan. We will not abandon Khan, come what may,” he said.

    Moonis added that he never heard of the two other persons named in the FIR. However, he admitted to investing in the Rahim Yar Khan (RYK) Sugar Mills, calling it his “declared investment”.

    What is the case?

    According to the FIA’s First Information Report (FIR), the case against Elahi was registered on Tuesday in which the state has been named as the complainant. The agency said that it has “solid evidence” against the PML-Q leader.

    According to media outlets, the FIA was also investigating suspicious transactions worth Rs250 million involving the PML-Q leader’s sugar mills. Moonis is a shareholder in Alliance Sugar Mills.

    According to the FIR, proceedings against Moonis under the Money Laundering Act started during former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s tenure. Last year, Khan had tasked the FIA to investigate the sugar crisis throughout the country and find out who benefitted from it.

    Following this, FIA released a report claiming that some of Khan’s own party members and Moonis were among those who had allegedly gained from the sugar crisis in Pakistan.

  • No memes: Twitter is angry over another petrol price hike

    No memes: Twitter is angry over another petrol price hike

    The federal government increased the price of all petroleum products yesterday (June 15). This includes an increase of Rs24 per litre for petrol and Rs59.16 per litre for high-speed diesel (HSD). This is the third hike in petroleum prices in less than a month.

    Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Miftah Ismail criticised the PTI government for reaching an erroneous agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which tied the incumbent’s hands and forced it to raise oil prices to get the economy back on track.

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif tweeted, “Acutely aware of the impact that a fuel price hike causes. Govt is left with no choice but to raise the prices due to IMF deal that PTI govt signed.”

    Read more-Govt hikes price of diesel by Rs59, petrol by Rs24

    People on social media are expressing their anger and exasperation after the latest petrol bomb was dropped by the government.

    https://twitter.com/Noobiy12/status/1537272865426395136
    https://twitter.com/Zohadtweets/status/1537250462994407424
  • Intra-day trade: Pakistani rupee touches Rs207.7 against US dollar

    Intra-day trade: Pakistani rupee touches Rs207.7 against US dollar

    In intra-day trade in the inter-bank market on Thursday, the local currency sank to Rs207.7 against the US dollar, continuing its downward trend.

    The rupee hit an all-time low against the dollar on Wednesday, closing at Rs206.46.

    This was partly due to the strengthening of the dollar on the international stage, but it was also due to the local currency market anticipating a greater increase in inflation.

    Finance Minister Miftah Ismail had previously stated that the government’s budget for 2022-23, which was announced last week, failed to persuade the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to disburse the next tranche of Pakistan’s $6 billion loan programme, and that changes to the finance bill would be required.

    The finance minister has declared unequivocally that the IMF is dissatisfied with the budget and that it will be revised.

    Experts believe that the rupee would only stabilise if the amendments are put into the Finance Act. He predicted that the local currency will remain volatile in the coming days.

    Pakistan’s government announced a third increase in petroleum prices in less than three weeks late Wednesday, as it tries to placate the IMF, which has emphasised the elimination of energy subsidies in order to resuscitate its bailout programme.

    The next payment of the IMF scheme is slated to give Pakistan $900 million, but the global lender has put the programme on hold due to a variety of circumstances, including fuel subsidies and a worsening current account deficit. It has also stated that greater direct taxes are required.

  • ‘Will DG ISPR decide if there was any conspiracy or not?’: Imran Khan

    ‘Will DG ISPR decide if there was any conspiracy or not?’: Imran Khan

    Former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan responded to Director-General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major-General Babar Iftikhar’s statement on the alleged foreign conspiracy and asked if he would decide whether the conspiracy was hatched or not.

    “Will DG ISPR decide if there was any conspiracy or not? He can only explain his point of view but can’t decide himself. Therefore, if you want to probe the conspiracy, ask the chief justice of Pakistan to probe and decide,” he said.

    Khan said that when he was PM, he had decided to form a commission to probe the conspiracy behind the no-trust motion, but proper investigation was not done.

    “Now there is only one way: the chief justice of Pakistan should conduct an open hearing to probe the ‘Lettergate’ conspiracy,” he added.

    Did not make any political statements, but clarified on behalf of the services chiefs of the Pakistan armed forces: DG ISPR

    Major-General Babar Iftikhar said that he “did not issue political statements” when he commented on the outcome of the National Security Committee (NSC) meeting.

    DG ISPR said he did not make any “political statements”, rather it was a clarification on behalf of the services chiefs of the Pakistan armed forces.

    He also responded to the claims of former Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed that “none of the services chiefs in the NSC meeting said that there was a conspiracy”.

    “He was in a way trying to convey that he was speaking on their behalf,” the DG ISPR said, stating that he was the spokesperson of the services chiefs, not Sheikh Rasheed.

    “I am the spokesperson of the services chiefs. If someone speaks something about the services chiefs, then I will have to clarify it — there is nothing political about this,” he said.

    DG ISPR further said that the services chiefs had provided detailed input in the meeting and they had presented information based on intelligence reports, not mere speculation or opinion.

    “This cannot be considered as someone’s opinion; it was a proper briefing based on intelligence reports,” he said.

     The military was ready to support the investigation in any way possible

    On the demands of the formation of a judicial commission to probe the matter, the DG ISPR said the military was ready to support the investigation in any way possible.

    “By all means, judicial commission or whatever forum the government of the day decides […] the institution will provide complete assistance,” the military’s spokesperson said.

    Intelligence agencies clarified in NSC meeting that there was no conspiracy against Khan: DG ISPR

    DG ISPR while talking to a private news channel said that no conspiracy was hatched to oust Khan. He said that the military leadership was present in the NSC meeting and the participants were clearly briefed by the intelligence agencies.

    “[They were] briefed that there was no conspiracy or evidence of any kind [against the then government], nothing like that happened. Participants were told in detail that there was no evidence of any conspiracy,” said the DG ISPR.

  • Govt hikes price of diesel by Rs59, petrol by Rs24

    Govt hikes price of diesel by Rs59, petrol by Rs24

    On Wednesday, the federal government increased the price of all petroleum products, including Rs24 per liter for petrol and Rs59.16 per liter for high-speed diesel (HSD). In less than a month, this is the third hike announcement.

    The Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Miftah Ismail criticised the previous PTI government for reaching an erroneous agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which tied the incumbent’s hands and forced it to raise oil prices to get the economy back on track.

    The frequent hikes have had a significant impact on the public transit sector, as well as low-income persons who are unable to afford fuel at such exorbitant prices.

    Finance Minister stated that the government faced a significant challenge in reviving the country. “If oil prices do not rise, the government may risk default”. He went on to say that raising the prices of petroleum items was a difficult decision.

    Prime Minster (PM) Shehbaz Sharif also tweeted in this regard, saying that the government had no alternative but to raise petrol prices in order to restore the bailout.

    New POL prices

    Petrol will now be sold for Rs233.89 per liter after a Rs24.03 increase, HSD will cost Rs263.31 per litre after a Rs59.16 increase, kerosene oil is priced at Rs211.47 per liter after a Rs29.49 increase, and light diesel oil will cost Rs207.47 per liter after a Rs29.16 increase.

    In an attempt to justify the increase, the Finance Minister stated that the international price of gasoline was $120 per liter and government had no choice but to pass on the burden of overseas prices to Pakistani consumers

    He also chastised Imran Khan, the PTI chairman, and former Prime Minister, for causing the current crisis with his policies. “I’ve been watching the country’s position for 30 years, but I’ve never seen an inflationary situation like this,” he added.

    According to Ismail, the administration is bound by agreements reached by the PTI government with the international lender.

    He admitted that the increase in gasoline prices will hurt the middle and poor classes. He did add, though, that the government would take measures to mitigate the impact on the most disadvantaged.

  • Shraddha Kapoor’s brother Siddhanth detained for consuming drugs, father Shakti reacts

    Shraddha Kapoor’s brother Siddhanth detained for consuming drugs, father Shakti reacts

    Indian actor and star kid Siddhanth Kapoor, son of veteran Bollywood actor Shakti Kapoor and brother of A-list actress Shraddha Kapoor was held by Bengaluru Police on Sunday night for reportedly consuming drugs at a party in the city.

    The cops stormed a hotel on MG Road where the party was held after receiving a tip. According to reports, Siddhanth’s sample was one among the six that tested positive. According to police, it was unclear if these persons used drugs before coming to the party or if they used them inside the hotel. Siddhanth Kapoor is younger brother of Bollywood actor Shraddha Kapoor.

    Apparently, the Kapoors had no idea which hotel Siddhanth was staying at. The Bengaluru Police revealed that Siddhanth Kapoor was one of the six persons who had reportedly ingested narcotics. Siddhanth tested positive for marijuana. He was taken to Ulsoor Police Station.

    Shakti Kapoor has refused to believe that his son Siddhanth Kapoor would’ve consumed drugs after the latter was arrested in Bengaluru. Shakti Kapoor said that his son consuming drugs was just not possible.

    Police raided a five-star hotel in Bengaluru late on Sunday and took into custody 35 guests for a medical test. Siddhanth was among the six who were found to have consumed the substance.

    Clearing air on whether his son has been arrested or detained, Shakti Kapoor told Hindustan Times, “I’m in Mumbai and I don’t know what is happening. I got to know from news channels only. All I know as of now is that there is no arrest and Siddhanth has only been detained.”

    Siddhanth has acted in various films, including Shootout at Wadala and Chehre. He has worked as an assistant director on films such as Bhool Bhulaiyya, and Dhol. Meanwhile, Shraddha Kapoor is now in Spain filming Luv Ranjan’s project alongside Ranbir Kapoor.

  • Ambassador Masood Khan met President Biden in Washington

    Pakistan’s ambassador to Washington Sardar Masood Khan met United States (US) President Joe Biden at the White House for a “meet and greet”.

    The Pakistani embassy said that Khan also went to have a official photograph with the US President, which is an established tradition in Washington DC for a newly appointed envoy.

    During the meeting, President Biden and Ambassador Khan had a brief conversation on building a strong basis to move US-Pakistan ties forward.

    According to the embassy statement, the official photograph has completed all formalities hence formalising Khan’s position as Pakistan’s envoy to the country.

    Apart from Masood Khan, ambassadors from 46 other countries were also present at the White House to get their official photographs with Biden. Previously, due to Covid restrictions, like Khan, they were also unable to meet the US President.

    Ambassador Khan was sent to Washington in March by the previous government. Following the ouster of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, it was speculated that it would impact Masood’s appointment.

    But Pakistan’s envoy to the United Nations (UN), Ambassador Munir Akram clarified that current ambassadors continue to represent the country in foreign capitals unless specifically asked by the new government to return home.