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Author: News Desk

  • In a first, KSE-100 rises past 156,000-mark as bulls extend historic rally

    In a first, KSE-100 rises past 156,000-mark as bulls extend historic rally

    A historic rally at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) has resulted in the benchmark KSE-100 Index climbing more than 1,800 points to surpass the 156,000-mark.

    According to the PSX website, the market opened on a bullish note and touched the highest level of 156,080.79 points at 10:20 am, an increase of 1,803 points from the previous close of 154,277.19 points. 

    As of 11:20 am, the KSE-100 was hovering at 155,636.72 despite the devastation caused to the agriculture, livestock and housing sectors by flash floods in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

    Reports said that confidence is being witnessed in sectors related to construction, recovery and energy as experts believe that investors are keen to invest in the cement sector due to post-flood reconstruction activities in some areas of central Punjab and KP.

    Strong buying was seen in major sectors, including cement, commercial banks, oil and gas exploration, oil marketing companies and power generation, while index-heavy stocks such as HBL, MCB, MEBL, HUBCO, MARI, OGDC, PPL, POL, SSGC, SNGPL, DGKC and LUCK traded higher.

    Last week, the KSE-100 Index rose 5,659 points, or 3.8%, closing at 154,277 — the fourth-highest weekly finish this year. Gains were supported by local investor demand, optimism over the prime minister’s China visit and positive macroeconomic signals, even as foreign investors remained net sellers.

    According to AKD Securities, the stock market is expected to remain positive in the coming weeks, with the upcoming Monetary Policy Committee’s meeting and any developments over circular debt remaining in the limelight. 

    The brokerage firm said that the KSE-100 is anticipated to sustain its upward trajectory, with a target of 165,215 points by December 2025, primarily driven by strong earnings in fertilizers, sustained ROEs in banks, and improving cash flows of E&Ps and OMCs, benefiting from falling interest rates and economic stability.

  • Economy suffering $1.4 billion blow due to floods: report

    Economy suffering $1.4 billion blow due to floods: report

    Flooding in major parts of the country have inflicted damages worth $1.4 billion to Pakistan, initial estimates in a report by Arif Habib Ltd have shown.

    According to the reports, the agricultural sector was the worst-affected with $1 billion in damages due to the destruction of key crops such as sugarcane, rice and cotton as over 1.3 million acres of farmland remain submerged in Punjab. Catastrophic losses in Sindh have added to the threats facing food security and rural livelihoods.

    The transport and communication sector has been hit hard with damages valued at $333 million whereas losses worth over $31 million have been reported as a result of the destruction of roads, bridges and communication networks.

    Livestock losses, while relatively minor in aggregate at $2 million, have dealt a severe blow to rural households where animals often serve as critical assets.

    While total losses are equivalent to 0.33% of the country’s GDP, the floods are also expected to widen Pakistan’s trade deficit by $1.9 billion for the ongoing year. 

    With shortages in essential commodities such as rice, sugar, and vegetables, food inflation is expected to spike, potentially raising the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to 7.2% in FY26, up from the pre-flood estimate of 5.5%. Early signs of this strain are already evident, with sharp price increases reported for wheat, tomatoes and onions.

    Separately, soaring retail prices of perishable food items spiked short-term inflation to 5.07 percent year-on-year in the week ending Sept 4.

     Measured by the Sensitive Price Index (SPI), short-term inflation refers to recent and frequent changes in the price of goods and services within an economy, rather than a long-term trend. It is measured to quickly gauge shifts in consumer prices and purchasing power over a very short period.

     SPI inflation has been on an upward trajectory for the past seven weeks, fueled mainly by sharp increases in the prices of tomatoes, onions, potatoes, rice, chicken, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and wheat flour. Official data showed that inflation increased by 1.29pc on a weekly basis.

    Tomatoes led the surge, retailing at up to Rs300 per kg in Islamabad, while sugar climbed to Rs195–200 per kg. Meat prices also maintained a steady upward trend in recent weeks.

  • Throwback to when Sanjay Dutt shared how much his father missed ‘home’ – Pakistan

    Throwback to when Sanjay Dutt shared how much his father missed ‘home’ – Pakistan

    A heartwarming old video of Indian actor Sanjay Dutt has recently resurfaced online, where he opens up about a touching moment with his father, Sunil Dutt.

    In the video, Sanjay recalls an emotional incident when his father expressed how much he missed his homeland — Pakistan.

    “One night, I returned home from a shoot around 2 am and found my father sitting alone, looking very sad. I assumed he was missing my mother, so I gently asked, ‘What’s wrong, Dad?’ He looked at me and said, ‘Puttar, menu kaar di yaad andi ay yaar’ [son, I miss my home]. I replied, ‘But Dad, this is our home.’ He shook his head and said, ‘You won’t understand… Pakistan is my home. That’s the place I truly miss.’”

    He went on to say that what happened during Partition was a harsh memory for both sides.

    Sunil Dutt was born as Balraj Dutt on June 6, 1929 in the Nakka Khurd village of Jhelum district, British India – now part of Punjab, Pakistan. He was born into a Punjabi Hindu family that migrated to India after the Partition of 1947.

    Dutt later moved to Mumbai, where he became an actor, film producer and politician, adopting the screen name Sunil Dutt to avoid conflicts with another actor named Balraj Sahni.

    Sanjay Dutt’s most famous works with his father, Sunil Dutt, include Rocky, which was released in 1981, and Rajkumar Hirani’s Munna Bhai M.B.B.S that was released in 2003.

  • Pakistan dominates Gateway International Scrabble Tournament with clean sweep

    Pakistan dominates Gateway International Scrabble Tournament with clean sweep

    Pakistan’s scrabble players stamped their authority on the international stage once again, sweeping all trophies at the 4th Gateway International Scrabble Tournament.

    The three-day event featured 80 players from nine countries, including World No 4 Thacha Koowirat. Despite the strong competition, Pakistani players outshone everyone with their stellar performances.

    In the senior category, former Asian Youth Champion Husham Hadi Khan claimed the title by winning 17 of his 24 games with an impressive spread of 1190. 14-year-old Ahmed Salman finished second, while former World Youth Champion Affan Salman secured third place with a brilliant run.

    Pakistan also dominated the youth category. Misbah Ur Rehman lifted the title, Shah Jehan Ahmed finished second and Musab Fareedi grabbed seventh spot.

    Last month, Pakistan also lifted the team trophy at the 20th World Youth Scrabble Championship where seven-year-old Taimoor Wasim stole the spotlight by winning the U-8 world title. It was Pakistan’s sixth team trophy in the tournament’s history, with more than 200 players from 20 countries participating.

  • ‘Depression and breakdown’: Chris Gayle makes shocking revelations about IPL experience

    ‘Depression and breakdown’: Chris Gayle makes shocking revelations about IPL experience

    Former West Indies star Chris Gayle has launched a scathing attack on the Indian Premier League (IPL), revealing that Punjab Kings disrespected him and forced him into early retirement from the tournament.

    “My contract with Punjab Kings ended earlier than expected. I felt I was not being respected as a senior player. You give so much to a franchise, but when you are not valued, it feels like you are being treated like a child,” he said during an interview.

    The batter admitted the experience took a heavy toll on his mental health. “It felt like I had the weight of a building on my shoulders. For the first time in my life, I went into depression. Mental health is more important than money,” he said.

    Gayle recalled breaking down during a one-on-one call with then-coach Anil Kumble. “I cried during the conversation. I was so hurt, but I thanked him [Kumble] because I could not even continue talking.”

    He also shared details of a conversation with captain KL Rahul. “He called me and said, ‘Chris, if you want to stay, you will play the next match.’ I told him, ‘Listen, I wish all the players all the best.’ Then I packed my bags and left.”

    Gayle represented Punjab Kings in four IPL seasons before walking away from the league in 2021.

  • Ali Sethi wins $100 for guessing Nusrat hits like a pro

    Ali Sethi wins $100 for guessing Nusrat hits like a pro

    Pakistani singer and global sensation Ali Sethi just proved his die-hard love for the legendary Ustaad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and walked away $100 richer for it after taking on a spontaneous musical challenge on the streets of New York.

    In a viral video, a content creator stopped Sethi and challenged him to guess three songs by his favorite artist. When asked who that was, Sethi didn’t skip a beat, “Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan,” he said with pride.

    The first track was the iconic Afreen Afreen, which Sethi nailed within seconds. Before jumping into the game, he introduced himself casually: “I’m Ali Sethi, I’m a musician and former creator.” When asked for a song recommendation from his own playlist, he cheekily offered Rocket Launcher, reassuring viewers that “it’s less scary than it sounds” and perfect for cruising in your car.

    Next up was Mast Mast, another Nusrat classic. Sethi not only guessed it right away, but also spoke passionately about Nusrat’s genius, noting how the maestro blended diverse musical influences to create timeless magic.

    The final song, the monster hit Mast Nazron Se Allah Bachaye, was a bit difficult to guess. Sethi hesitated at first but quickly bounced back, singing it on point just in time. Despite the brief stumble, the content creator still handed over the $100 cash prize, recognizing Sethi’s true fan energy.

    It was a lighthearted moment, but one that showed Ali Sethi’s deep admiration for the late qawwali legend and his ability to bring a little desi soul to the streets of NYC.

    Sethi has announced his much anticipated North American tour, beginning from September 28, 2025, at Massey Hall in Toronto. The planned string of performances spans coast to coast, including renowned venues such as Boston, Philadelphia, New York and many other places in North America.

  • Mobile location for Rs500, records for Rs2,000: Special team formed to probe massive data leak

    Mobile location for Rs500, records for Rs2,000: Special team formed to probe massive data leak

    Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has formed a special team to investigate reports suggesting a massive leak of citizens’ SIM data.

    “Following the interior minister’s directives, the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency has constituted a special investigation team to probe the matter and submit its report within 14 days,” read an official press release issued by the ministry.

    It said that the team will thoroughly examine the circumstances, adding that those involved in the leak will be identified and brought to justice through legal action.

    Earlier, media reports said that data of all consumers was being sold online, detailing that information regarding mobile location was being sold for Rs500, mobile data record for Rs2,000 and details of foreign trips for Rs5,000.

    This, however, isn’t the first time that users in Pakistan are at risk of a massive data breach.

    The National Cyber Emergency Response Team of Pakistan (PKCERT) in May issued an advisory warning that the login credentials of more than 180 million internet users in Pakistan had been stolen in a global breach, urging people to take immediate protective measures. 

    PKCERT – a federal government body responsible for safeguarding digital assets, sensitive data and critical infrastructure against cyberattacks, cyberterrorism and espionage – had identified the breach involving a publicly accessible, unencrypted file containing more than 184 million unique account credentials.

    The breach reportedly exposed usernames, passwords, emails and associated URLs tied to major social media services as well as government portals, banking institutions and healthcare platforms.

    The leaked database was believed to have been compiled using malware, and the data was stored in plain text – being left completely unprotected with no encryption or password safeguarding.

  • Bilal Maqsood’s ‘dost’ Anwar Maqsood gets hilarious new look on birthday

    Bilal Maqsood’s ‘dost’ Anwar Maqsood gets hilarious new look on birthday

    If you’re a legendary writer, entertaining audiences since many decades, how do you celebrate your 86th birthday? Why, with a new hilarious look, of course.

    Singer and song-writer Bilal Maqsood took to Instagram to wish his father Anwar Maqsood on his 86th birthday.

    Bilal shared a picture of his father with an orange wig on his head. White balloons were also seen in the background. “Salgirah Mubarak Meray Dost,” Bilal wrote as the caption of the picture.

    Many artists and actors from the Pakistani industry showered more wishes upon the maestro.

    Anwar Maqsood is known for famous Pakistani TV shows such as Loose Talk, Sitara Aur Mehrunnisa, and Show Time. He also wrote scripts for the popular shows Fifty-Fifty and Aangan Terha, and presented programs like Studio Dhai and Studio Ponay Teen.

    Maqsood is a prolific scriptwriter who has achieved success with his stage plays, such as Pawney 14 August, Sawa 14 August, Anwar Maqsood ka Dharna, and Siachen.

    He is a huge lover of the Urdu language and appears in various conferences around the country.

    Bilal is one of his father’s biggest admirers. He often shares heartwarming moments and conversations with him on social media, and each one is truly endearing. Bilal once shared that many of his songs are written by his father.

    “The thing is I won’t call it a collaboration since he’s a part of strings now. We have grown with my father’s poetry. Starting from Durr; that was the first song he wrote for Strings. Before that, we wrote the two albums ourselves,” he said.

  • Two men arrested for raping, robbing transgender in Bahawalnagar

    Two men arrested for raping, robbing transgender in Bahawalnagar

    Bahawalnagar police have arrested two men on Sunday for raping and robbing a transgender person in Allama Iqbal Town of the city’s Marot area.

    According to reports, the victim, who earns a living by dancing at weddings, was at home on September 9 when two men from Chak 314-HR arrived at her door. They asked her to perform at a wedding, but then attacked her.

    One of the men raped the transgender while the other stood guard. When neighbors rushed to the house after hearing her screams, the suspects snatched her wallet containing cash and documents along with her mobile phone and fled.

    Police said they traced and arrested the suspects shortly after the incident.

  • Carlos Alcaraz beats Jannik Sinner to win US Open

    Carlos Alcaraz beats Jannik Sinner to win US Open

    Carlos Alcaraz created tennis history on Sunday night with a stunning four-set victory over defending champion Jannik Sinner in the US Open final in New York. 

    The 22-year-old Spaniard won 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 to claim his second US Open crown and sixth Grand Slam title. The result gave Alcaraz revenge for his defeat to Sinner in the Wimbledon final earlier this year.

    Sinner’s loss also continued a long-running trend at Flushing Meadows, where no man has defended the title since Roger Federer’s five straight wins from 2004 to 2008.

    With the win, Alcaraz became the youngest man in history to win multiple Grand Slam titles on all three surfaces. He has now lifted two trophies each at Wimbledon, Roland Garros and the US Open. The Spaniard joined Mats Wilander, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic as the only men to achieve the feat.

    Youngest players to win multiple Grand Slams on all three surfaces

    Carlos Alcaraz – 22 years, 125 days (2025)

    Mats Wilander – 24 years, 6 days (1988)

    Rafael Nadal – 24 years, 88 days (2010)

    Novak Djokovic – 34 years, 9 days (2021)

    Wilander and Nadal both achieved the mark at age 24, while Djokovic reached it much later at 34. Djokovic remains the only man to win three or more majors on every surface, completing that milestone in 2023 at the French Open.

    Multiple Grand Slam winners on all three surfaces

    Mats Wilander: 2 Hard, 3 Clay, 2 Grass

    Rafael Nadal: 6 Hard, 14 Clay, 2 Grass

    Novak Djokovic: 14 Hard, 3 Clay, 7 Grass

    Carlos Alcaraz: 2 Hard, 2 Clay, 2 Grass

    Alcaraz also reclaimed the world No. 1 ranking from Sinner and will return to the top spot on Monday for the first time in two years. The Spaniard ended Sinner’s 27-match winning streak on hard courts at Grand Slams.

    He now holds a 10-5 career record against the Italian and has beaten him in seven of their last eight meetings. The two young stars continue to dominate men’s tennis, having shared the last eight Grand Slam titles between them.